Peterborough to Host Inclusive Sport and Recreation Expo

The City of Peterborough is hosting the Inclusive Sport and Recreation Expo, promoting inclusion and participation in sports and recreation in the community at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre on Nov. 19.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

In partnership with the Council for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the free event will run from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The CPD strives to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities in Peterborough by promoting equality, opportunity and inclusion and advocating to increase community capacity.

The expo is set to bring together the community of sport and recreation organizations and highlight/promote inclusiveness and participation for people of all abilities.

Families will have the opportunity to learn more about inclusivity in sport and recreation through demonstrations and peer engagement with local recreation groups. The event will include prizes, activities and a free swim.

The Inclusive Sport and Recreation Expo will feature approximately two dozen organizations including:

• Peterborough Pickleball

• Peterborough Cricket Association

• YMCA East Ontario

• Electric City Special Needs Sports

• Peterborough Curling Club

• Abilities Centre

• Autism Ontario Central East Region

• Peterborough Patriots Sports Club

• Peterborough Special Olympics

• Peterborough Challengers Baseball Association

• Peterborough Athletics Concussion Awareness

• Peterborough Petes

• Junior Achievement Northeast Ontario

• CapableCon-Council for Persons with Disabilities

• City of Peterborough Recreation Services Division

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Healthy Planet Arena Open For Indoor Adult Skating

Adult skating has returned to the Healthy Planet Arena effective immediately announced by the City of Peterborough on Monday.

The Healthy Planet Arena name was officially changed from the Evinrude Centre on Aug. 1. Photo Courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

Daytime skates are open to individuals aged 50 years and older and pre-registration is required.

“We’re excited to restart this popular program for adults who want to be social and stay active on the ice,” said Andrea Pade, City of Peterborough recreationist

The skates will run from Nov. 29 - Dec. 23 as follows:

• Morning skates on Mondays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

• Afternoon skates on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (except on Dec. 7, 9 and 16)

• Pre-registration is required for these skates. Skaters can pre-register online at https://cityofpeterborough.perfectmind.com or in person at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre at 775 Brealey Dr.

• The cost is $3.50 per skate (includes HST) and passes can be purchased for each individual skate time or people may purchase a Fall Session Skate Membership for $42 for access to all skate times this session. Fall Session Skate Memberships can be purchased in person at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre.

All participants must show proof of full vaccination, government-issued ID and pass the COVID-19 screening questions prior to entering the facility for the skate. Each skate will be limited to a maximum of 40 participants.

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Peterborough Splash Pads Now Open For the Season

Splash pads in city parks have opened for the season that began on Saturday announced by the City of Peterborough in a press release on Friday.

Lifeguard supervision is not provided at Peterborough splash pads. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Residents are encouraged to follow public health guidelines when using the water play structures.

Splash pads are open from noon to 7:00 p.m. every day. They are located at:

• King Edward Park, 455 George St. S.

• Nicholls Oval, 725 Armour Rd.

• Rogers Cove, 131 Maria St.

• Kinsmen Park, 1 Kinsmen Way (Sherbrooke Street and Clonsilla Avenue)

• Barnardo Park, Barnardo Avenue north of Sunset Boulevard

The splash pad season will end in September (weather permitting). Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The splash pads were commissioned for the season on Friday to open the following day after discussions with Peterborough Public Health on safe operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peterborough Public Health reminds everyone that public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 must be followed when attending and using splash pads. Signage is posted at splash pads to provide guidance on the measures as Public Health recommends the following:

• Do not leave home if you are not feeling well

• Maintain physical distancing of at least two metres from people who are not from the same household

• Bring hand sanitizer and use it frequently. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

Splash pads should be considered a “Hands-Free Zone”. Water play features in the splash pads that require gripping, such as water cannons, have been turned off or removed. Where there are buttons to activate water features, people should use their elbows or feet to push the buttons, depending on the height, instead of their hands.

Wear a mask if physical distancing is not always possible. If the splash pad is crowded or busy, come back another time.

“Children and their parents I believe, will be very happy to have our five splash pads open for the season as of May 29th,” said Councillor Lesley Parnell, the Chair of Council's Arenas, Parks and Recreation Portfolio. “This is a few weeks earlier than usual but they will be available as the warm weather returns. Additional fun activities are more essential than ever. Please continue to follow public health guidelines."

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City Closes Basketball Courts at Peterborough Park

The City of Peterborough has closed the basketball courts at Simcoe and Bethune Park the Peterborough Police Service’s request after gathering sizes there exceeded the provincial limits under the provincial shutdown and stay-at-home order announced on Saturday.

Photo Courtesy of City of Peterborough.

Signs have been posted at the basketball courts of the park indicating that they are closed. Their usage is not permitted during the closure.

The provincial public health regulations during the shutdown restrict outdoor social gatherings to a maximum of five people while maintaining physical distancing of at least two metres.

While outdoor exercise activity is permitted under the Province’s stay-at-home order, the gathering limits and physical distancing requirements remain in effect. Any sports or games where people may come within two metres of each other are not permitted to be practiced or played.

Information on the restrictions during the provincial shutdown and Stay at Home order is available at The Government of Ontario’s website as well as through Peterborough Public Health.

To report violations of the provincial shutdown and Stay at Home order, please contact Peterborough Police Service using the non-emergency number at 705-876-1122.

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Local Studio Dancing For New Building Despite Pandemic

After a few years of designing, Premiere Studio of Dance will renovate their current facility into a two-storey building.

The upgrades are projected to be done in a year with 20,000 square feet. The studio will be on the second level with prospective tenants on the lower floor. The current facility has 7,000 square feet.

A graphic design of the projected new studio upon its completion with 10,000 square feet. Photo Courtesy of Robyn Carter

Robyn Carter, owner says she wants the timing right to minimize the pandemic’s impact during construction.

“We kind of want to get through COVID bump and then move forward,” she said. “We’re really excited for what the future holds for us.”

Photo Courtesy of Premiere Studio of Dance

The new facility will feature a larger space, more windows for natural light and sprung flooring to ease the dancers’ joint pressure. The current building has wood floors in all three studios.

The studio offers classes in-person and online for competitive and recreational. Jazz, tap, ballet and contemporary are some of the many different dance styles that the studio has to offer. All ages and skill levels are welcomed to register for classes.

Photo Courtesy of Premiere Studio of Dance

“Premiere Dance On Demand” is offered as online classes from uploaded videos and live stream lessons for both recreational and competitive.

“A good thing about the online dance is its dance for introverts (too),” Carter chuckled. “You can turn off your camera and take the class in the privacy in your own home.”

Photo Courtesy of Premiere Studio of Dance

Carter has danced since she was ten. She grew up dancing competitively in Oshawa and taught dance in her early teens.

The owner is a certified instructor through the British Association of Teachers of Dance — including all of her instructors — and offers that program at the studio.

Premiere Studio of Dance is located at 1046 Peterborough County Road 19, just northwest of Portage Place.

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Local Gymnastics Facility Lets Kids Shine Through Pandemic

Champions Gymnastics had reopened for competitive training and recreational classes after the lockdown ended in mid-February.

Due to Peterborough’s red zone declaration for Monday, Champions Gymnastics will pause all pre-school and recreational classes. Those courses will open once Peterborough has entered safer zones.

During the reopening, Marcel Rene, Champions Gymnastics President says he has done more than what is required to comply with COVID-19 protocols.

“This is one of the newest buildings in Peterborough but it’s probably also one of the safest,” he said. “We have a close relationship with the health department in Peterborough. We do more than the actual protocols here.”

Former Olympian Jessica Turos has made a public guest appearance at the gym for a book promotion in May 2019. Photo courtesy of Champions Gymnastics

All visitors are required to fill a COVID-19 self-assessment form prior to entering the building. Participants have their temperature taken prior to entering the gym.

Multiple hand sanitizer stations are set up through the facility. Some events such as the balance beam or floor exercise require gymnasts to sanitize or wash their hands before moving on to the next activity.

Only one other building in Canada has a facility specifically built for Gymnastics according to Marcel Rene, Champions Gymnastics President. Rene have coached the sport for over 50 years. Photo courtesy of Champions Gymnastics

The gym invested in a high-quality air exchange system to supplement their heating and air conditioning which Rene says the air is if they were outdoors without being outside.

“It’s extremely safe,” he said. “We only wanted to do this once so we wanted to do it the right way.”

The facility also had a cheerleading program which has been in place for the past two years. Photo courtesy of Champions Gymnastics

Rene wanted his facility open as much as the city would allow him to give the children an outlet to express themselves through gymnastics.

“I think sports or any social contact for any child is important,” he said. “They’re (kids) not going to understand the ins and outs of a pandemic and to social distance. It’s also our job to teach them.”

Champions Gymnastics allowed PTBOCanada including editor David Tuan Bui to do a demo of their facilities including the safety protocols.

Bui says that performing gymnastics is not as easy as it looks.

“I have a background in pro wrestling and have done feats similar to what these kids are doing,” he said. “I thought I was going to do well but I struggled more than I thought. These kids are incredibly impressive with how athletic they are.”

Champions Gymnastics is located at 2410 Lansdowne Street W. across from Heron Landing Golf Club. Photo courtesy Champions Gymnastics

Champions Gymnastics has been running for 33 years. Their last facility in their first 30 years only had 6,000 square feet. Their current building has 18,000 square feet and was specifically designed for gymnastics according to Rene.

“Coming in here and working with all these smiling faces, it puts you in a good mood in a hurry,” said Rene.

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Peterborough's First Adult Outdoor Gym Begins Construction At Beavermead Park In May

In June 2017, the City of Peterborough announced the generous support of the Rotary Club of Peterborough-Kawartha and the Rotary Club of Peterborough to bring the first Adult Outdoor Gym to Peterborough.

Located in Beavermead Park adjacent to the volleyball courts and near the children’s playground, it will consist of a variety of exercise machines—including some that are accessible for persons with disabilities.

The project is funded thanks to contributions of $25,000 from each of the two Rotary Clubs, and $40,000 committed by the City of Peterborough.

New World Park Solutions Inc. will begin work on the installation in May.

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City of Peterborough Is Moving To Online Registration For Recreation Programs

You will soon be able to search and register for programs online from your computers and mobile devices, thanks to the City of Peterborough.

They are now working together with PerfectMind—makers of innovative membership management, program registration, and facility booking software—to offer a user-friendly platform to connect members of the community with cultural and recreation services.

PerfectMind's unique platform has been used by major city governments throughout North America. PerfectMind improves the customer experience significantly by making it easy to find, reserve, and pay for programs and services using desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
 
Beginning in November, the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre (PSWC) was the first City facility offering the new software system. The PSWC features leisure and therapy pools, gymnasium, fitness centre, and a variety of health and fitness programs serving the residents of Peterborough and Fleming College, and will utilize a broad range of PerfectMind features within its membership base.

The balance of recreation, arenas, cultural services, and facilities will become active in the new system throughout December and January 2018.

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