David Tuan Bui's Top Five Stories of 2023

And with that, 2023 is about to be history as another year passes with me as a part of PTBOCanada. Peterborough has a population of just under 84,000 people. Tack on everyone in the Kawarthas and we’re still not bigger than some neighbouring cities like Oshawa, Whitby and beyond.

However, the amount of news, unbelievable stories and iconic people never seems to stop and I have had the pleasure to witness and report on a vast amount of it. I’ve been in this town for over 30 years of my life and I never stop learning more about my city.

Bui interviewing Rob Wilson, Petes head coach and Shawn Spearing, Petes captain shortly after the team’s OHL Championship. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

These are my top five stories in no particular order that I truly enjoyed covering in 2022.


The Petes went 10-1 at home during the playoffs en route to their OHL Championship. PHOTO by Samantha Bianco.

It’s no secret that I’m a hockey fan and only one of two Los Angeles Kings fans (that I know of) in Peterborough.

But to see my hometown Peterborough Petes win the OHL Championship was an unforgettable experience. I have been covering them since I started working for PTBOCanada in March 2021. Countless hours were spent watching games, highlights, conducting interviews and beyond.

I put in a lot of extra time and work during their playoff run, culminating in witnessing history before my eyes and playing a tiny role. I got to be on the ice to do post-game interviews and get immersed in the celebrations. I am certain I did not get home until 1 a.m. that night but it was well worth it.

I could have put a lot of Petes’ stories on this list but I’m going to keep it to one.


Elizabeth, Aurora and Matthew Gardner on the putting green of Bellmere Winds Golf Resort with the memorial poster of William in his memorial tournament. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

I have always been looking for reasons to go golfing ever since I picked it up as a Covid hobby but this was a touching story. So much so that I had to be a part of it as a journalist and a golfer.

The Gardner family had lost their five-year-old son William in a golf cart accident last year and started a memorial tournament in his honour.

The day was filled with fun but a lot of emotion but 155 golfers were out to show their support. I’ve been to several charity golf tournaments in my short golf life but that was a high number for an inaugural event compared to others that I’ve played in.


Erica Evans (left), Lou Warner (middle) and Payton Crough (right) celebrating the first-ever LAXNAI Women's tournament. photo by David Tuan Bui.

Sure enough, the above photo also made my top 10 photos story posted earlier this week.

I was selected to be a play-by-play commentator for the North American Invitational (LAXNAI) for a third straight year in Utica, N.Y. from late September to early October. Last year, women’s lacrosse was showcased but this year had the inaugural women’s tournament.

Peterborough’s Erica Evans, Lou Warner and Payton Crough were playing for BP Lawyers and became tournament champions. Evans was also named MVP.

Technically, I was off-duty from PTBOCanada at this point in time but with Peterborough women’s lacrosse making a statement in an international tournament, I could not help but indulge in turning it into a story.


Susan Tung, Hanoi House and NAKA Japanese owner (left) and Morgan Bell, general manager (right) showing HCSS students how to make Vietnamese spring rolls. Photo by Samantha Bianco

During May, students of Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board learned about Asian heritage. Naka Japanese and Hanoi House owner Susan Tung was invited to perform a food demo for students as part of the school’s Cook Eat Love culinary program.

They made fresh Vietnamese spring rolls which were a common and popular meal of my heritage. It consisted of Vietnamese sausage, vermicelli, lettuce, cucumbers rolled in rice paper. It was dipped in either a fish sauce or peanut sauce.

Of course, I had to jump in there and help the students learn how to prepare them after reporting on the event. I recall even having this meal with my family on the weekend prior to the demo so I was fresh off making them. That was a lucky coincidence.


Jenn and Braden Glasbergen entertaining a first-time Halloweener during the ghost pirate ship's last year. photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Glasbergen family did amazing things with their magnificent displays of Halloween, Easter, Christmas and a dinosaur park with ‘Seasons on Ravenwood.’

However, this was the final year they were doing it, including their large ghost pirate ship, amid several complaints regarding safety. The family also collected non-perishable goods and money to donate to St. Vincent de Paul.

It was an absolute spectacle to see year in and year out that also got national recognition. I am not sure if the holidays will be the same in Peterborough without them. I am glad I got to be a part of it in spreading the community cheer.


I’d also like to recognize PTBOCanada’s newest employee and colleague this year, our graphic designer Mark Dizon. If you have ever seen his work, it is marvellous. We met him at Fleming College as an international student from the Philippines.

He was the winner of a graphic design contest for the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough’s anti-stigma campaign called the ‘Missing Piece.’

We were impresses with his work so much that we hired him shortly after his graduation!

GDV FLEMING STUDENTS ADAM KEIZER (LEFT) MARK DIZON (MIDDLE) AND JAMES LEVESQUE (RIGHT) GAVE PRESENTATIONS TO THE MEDIA AND AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS OF THEIR CAMPAIGNS. DIZON IS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FROM THE PHILLIPINES AND CAME TO PETERBOROUGH FOR SCHOOL TWO YEARS AGO. PHOTO BY SAMANTHA BIANCO.

Peterborough and the Kawarthas never seem to stop with wonderful and fascinating stories.

I’ve enjoyed covering our City and County and will continue to do so with pride. I’m eager to see what 2024 has in store especially since I was able to welcome my first child in June, Serenity!

Here’s to a great new year, PTBO! 2024 should be a wonderful time!

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Hometown PTBO: 2023 Year-End Review

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday looks back on all our fantastic guests over 2023.

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David Tuan Bui's Top 10 Photos of 2023

As I mentioned in last year’s edition, I do not espouse the thought of calling myself one of the best local photographers in Peterborough.

But with each year comes experience, growth and maturity in every skill I honed in my young and short journalism career. We are only taught so much in journalism school and another great way to learn is to go into the world and try.

Again, like last year, my skills and Rome were not built in a day, much like the thoughts and reasoning behind great Roman philosophers I studied at Trent University, such as St. Augustine of Hippo and Cicero (okay, I’m getting a little carried away).

Nonetheless, my quest for knowledge and tenacity to learn has not stopped and rightfully so if I want to continue my journalism career.

However, it is flattering to know that some pictures I took have been used commercially for local organizations such as the Rotary Club of Peterborough, Peterborough Business Social Club and Hospice Peterborough. They are definitely signs of improvement for sure.

Nonetheless, these are my top ten photos that I have taken for PTBOCanada in chronological order:


RENEE OAKE (LEFT) WITH HER SON OSCAR WEINSTEIN (RIGHT) AFTER SWIMMING 150 LAPS IN THE LANE POOL. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The 37th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim held by the Rotary Club was back at the YMCA of Central East Ontario, raising money for Easter Seals and various Rotary projects.

This event has fundraised over $1.32 million since February and saw 19 teams try to raise over $50,000 for this year’s event.

A similar picture made my top five list last year with Renee Oake and her father Carl Oake. This year, it was her and her son Oscar Weinstein. You could see the jubilance of the two after Renee’s swim.


BURTON LEE, PETES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS (LEFT) ADDRESSING THE 165+ STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 AND 8 ABOUT HIS CAREER EXPERIENCE WITH THE TEAM. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

Immediately looking at this picture, you could tell Burton Lee, former Peterborough Petes executive director of business operations, had the charisma to capture the attention of the young students.

Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario and their World Choices program had students listen and learn intimately about the day-to-day lives of various careers.

We were also invited as guest speakers for this event too.


BUMSTEAD (LEFT) CAUGHT WALTER AFTER HIS THIRD CAST NOT A HALF-AN-HOUR INTO THE DERBY. HIS STEPFATHER JUSTIN DESBARBIEUX (RIGHT) DID IT LAST YEAR, FIVE DAYS INTO THE EVENT. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

We got a good look at ‘Walter’ from this shot as Ben Bumstead caught him just 30 minutes into the derby. He’s also the stepson of Justin Desbarbieux who caught it last year.

Walter is the top prize at the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Under the Lock Fishing Derby held every year at the Peterborough Lift Locks.


PHOEBE M., 3, HAS BEEN A REGULAR VISITOR TO THE CENTRE FOR THE PAST YEAR. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

Peterborough Child & Family Centre marked their 40th anniversary with a new Playscape for their facility and Phoebe (pictured) was enjoying every second of it.

You can tell she’s enjoying the new playground, and all the parents in the background are enjoying watching their children play.

The PlayScape features a repurposed downhill slide, a circular track for walking and biking, a play kitchen, a canopy and other playground equipment. It replaced a tall climber that had occupied the outdoor space for several years.


Kelli Marshall of Hiawatha First Nation (pictured) dances in a fancy shawl at a pow wow at St. John Catholic Elementary School. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

St. John Catholic Elementary School had a pow-wow to celebrate Indigenous culture in mid-May.

Many students and faculty had Indigenous roots and saw Members of Hiawatha First Nations, Haudenosaunee and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation come together for the sacred event.

Kelli Marshall put her beautiful shawl on display and you could see all the colours and its design with this shot.


CELEBRITY GOLF ENTERTAINER AND INSTRUCTOR TODD KEIRSTEAD GETTING THE TRUST OF JENNIFER ARMSTRONG AS HE ROCKETS A TEE SHOT OFF HER AS ONE OF HIS MANY TRICK SHOTS. KEIRSTEAD WAS A GUEST ENTERTAINER AT THE 15TH HOLE AT THE QUARRY GOLF CLUB. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The third-annual "Be a Saint" St. Joseph's at Fleming golf tournament raised money to upgrade the facility’s infrastructure.

It turns out that celebrity golf entertainer and instructor Todd Keirstead was at the event performing trick shots and I got a solid shot of what he could do.

@ptbo_canada Editor David helps @PGATOUR golf entertainer Todd Keirstead with a trick shot at the Quarry Golf Club for the third-annual “Be a Stant” St. Joseph’s at Fleming’s golf fundraiser tournament! #ptbo #ptbocanada #fyp #journalism #journalismlife #journalist #journalistlife #peterborough #news #followers➕ #follow #following #golf #golftiktok #golftok #golfer #golflife #sports #sportstiktok #trickshot #trickshots ♬ Golf - Clean Cutt Crew

Apparently, I may have been off my rocker that day, and I wanted to be a part of it myself.


Rhaelynn Gaspari, 5 (left), celebrating her friend Charlotte Miller’s birthday, 5 (right), during the grand opening. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

It may have been the grand opening for Rollz Ice Cream but these two cute little girls stole my camera’s attention.

It was a way to kick off Charlotte Miller’s fifth birthday with her friend and being surrounded by balloons is a great way to tell the world that it’s your day!

The parlour serves rolled ice cream, milkshakes, waffles, falooda, cheesecake (from the Cheesecake Factory), popping soda and ice cream burgers.


Big Wreck consists of Ian Thornley (pictured), Dave MacMillan, Chris Caddell and Sekou Lumumba. photo by David Tuan Bui.

I always look forward to at least one show every year at Peterborough Musicfest. This year, it was Big Wreck.

I got close to Ian Thornley and got a good shot. You could see everything on him down to every detail.

Of course, I got to enjoy the concert after I was done taking my photos for the night.


An unexpected champagne cork pop leads to a bubbly surprise for Dani Guppy (left) and Pete Dalliday (right). photo by David Tuan Bui.

Pete Dalliday and Dani Guppy of 'Fresh Mornings With Pete & Dani,’ recorded their 1,005th episode with 100.5 FM Fresh Radio, a huge milestone for these two.

The celebrations had an unexpected pop of a champagne bottle as Dalliday was unravelling it and I got a shot of their reaction, especially Guppy’s. Her face says it all.


Erica Evans (left), Lou Warner (middle) and Payton Crough (right) celebrating the first-ever LAXNAI Women's tournament. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

I was selected to be a play-by-play commentator for the North American Invitational (LAXNAI) for a third-straight year in Utica, N.Y. and it was the inaugural women’s tournament.

Peterborough’s Erica Evans, Lou Warner and Payton Crough were playing for BP Lawyers and became tournament champions. Evans was also named MVP, so getting my shots and interviews was an opportunity I could not pass up.

Look at the size of that trophy. It was not small by any means. The expressions of the women, coupled with that championship, showed the prowess of lacrosse in Peterborough and the genuine hard work of winning an event.

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City of Peterborough Launches New Holiday Display Map

The City of Peterborough has launched a new interactive Holiday Display Map to celebrate the festive season with the community with outdoor lighting displays and decorations on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Community members and visitors are invited to explore neighbourhoods lit up for the holiday season using a guide created by the City’s Geomatics and Mapping program area.

Whatever holiday or celebration you are marking with your display, the City encourages everyone to share their festive spirit with the community.

Residents and businesses can submit their addresses to be included in the 2023 Holiday Lighting Map by uploading at least one photo and associated requested information through an online form.

Displays must be visible from a public location such as the street or sidewalk. Submissions to the map will be accepted until Jan.1.

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United Way Reaches 63 Per Cent of Its $1.45 Million Fundraising Goal

United Way Peterborough & District has reached 63 per cent of its $1.45 million 2023 Community Campaign fundraising goal, announced at Peterborough Public Health (PPH) on Thursday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“For 82 years United Way has facilitated a community campaign to meet the current and emerging needs in Peterborough,” said Jim Russell, United Way CEO. “This years campaign builds on that tradition of giving and public goodwill.”

The $1.45 million is a 10 per cent increase from last year’s goal, according to Russell.

“We are happy to update today on the success so far and the need to meet our goal, a goal which is 10 per cent higher than last year’s achievement and a goal that is based on the need in the community,” he said. “We are well on our way to meeting that goal but there is still time to give so that we can invest in building a strong, healthy and inclusive community for us all.”

During the media event, Peterborough Public Health donated $11,756.25 to United Way as part of its 2023 Workplace Campaign.

“The diverse projects served by United Way Peterborough address critical issues affecting the health and wellness of members of our community,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, PPH’s medical officer of health. “It was an honour to support this year’s tremendously successful campaign and my congratulations to all those who participated for the important funds that have been raised for our community.” said Piggott.

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Photos: Grievers Seek Comfort and Reflect at Hospice Peterborough's 'Stars For a Dark Night'

Grievers of lost loved ones could come to reflect and have their stories heard at Hospice Peterborough’s ‘Stars For a Dark Night’ held at Peterborough Square on Tuesday evening.

The event allowed anyone who had lost a loved one to share their story with Hospice staff, volunteers or other grievers (either privately or on an open mic). It also had expressive arts, quiet reflection and a live performance from the Hospice Singers.

Hospice volunteer Sarah Lewis said this event could not have happened at a more perfect time. She had lost her father to cancer in 2021 and felt the holidays last year were not the same without him.

“Because I had lost my father around Christmas time, it was a time of grieving and I wasn't in the Christmas spirit,” she explained. “I think this can be such a difficult time for a lot of people who have lost somebody important to them so having a community gathering where we're allowed to grieve together, not hold that in and share through art, I think, is absolutely beautiful.”

The drop-in event had anyone who stopped by write a name on a star (paper or wooden) of someone they commemorated and remembered. It was placed on a window at Peterborough Square with other stars.

“This is a celebration of honouring and remembering our loved ones, our people who have passed on,” said Lewis. “(It’s nice) Just to gather to share stories, strengthen hope, poetry, art and song together and grieve as a community.”

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YMCA Awards Three Distinguished People For Community Peace-Building

Jason King, Lee-Anne Quinn and Husayn Dharshi were honoured for their community efforts as they received a YMCA of Central East Ontario Peace Medal in a ceremony at their facility on Thursday morning.

Jason King (left) and Maj. Lee-Ann Quinn (right) have been awarded Peace Medals from the YMCA of Central East Ontario for making significant contributions toward peace-building in the community. Also receiving the award was Husayn Dharshi (absent). Coun. Alex Bierk also received the award from 2020 when the pandemic prevented an in-person ceremony. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The award celebrates community individuals who have made significant contributions toward peace-building.

“The recipients of the YMCA Peace Medal show us the importance of building communities, locally, nationally or internationally, where people feel that they belong and are included,” said David Allen, YMCA president and CEO. “Most often, their actions started small and grew into something bigger than themselves. That is the power of peace.”

King is fully blind from microphthalmia, a rare condition that makes eyes abnormally small and occurs before birth. He has played significant roles with the Council for Persons with Disabilities and Community Living. King has also volunteered at the Brain Injury Association, Lions Club and Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

“I want to see everyone succeed in life,” said King. “I've been very lucky over the years. I've had family that supported me. My father was huge influence in my life and made sure that I was able to do things like anyone else would be able to do. It's something that I'm passionate about, to make sure that people with disabilities can be recognized as people.”

King was nominated by one of his volunteers for the award and was told he was up for the award in late November.

“It's humbling to have one of my own volunteers put me in for something like this because I considered them my heroes,” explained King.

Major Lee-Anne Quinn spent 26 years in the Canadian Forces and retired from the military in September 2008. Quinn was an honorary Colonel with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment from 2018 to 2022, the first female in 100 years.

She has been deployed in Northern Ontario and the Yukon Territories. Her military service has also had international reach, extending to work in Somalia, Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan.

Since 2015, Quinn has assisted her sponsor team in getting 26 Syrian refugees to Peterborough. In May 2022, Quinn helped open the Borck Primary Care Clinic to provide healthcare for marginalized people. She says she believes helping the community is a moral obligation.

“If I want to see things be better, if I want to see the homeless get a chance to survive, it is my moral obligation to help make that happen,” Quinn explained. “No ifs, and or buts. You can't be a citizen and just show up. You need to be a citizen to show up and make a difference.”

She is a Guinness record holder. In 1993, she and her fellow military personnel did a 270 km non-stop stretcher carry and she was the only woman part of that group.

Outside of the military, she is a Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame inductee for softball and hockey, an Ontario Florence Nightingale Award recipient, was given the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Medal and has the highest national honour of being bestowed the Order of Canada. Quinn is a nurse practitioner in primary healthcare since returning to Peterborough.

“All you have to do is find a volunteer organization and if you have a morning or afternoon free during the week, you could make a difference,” she explained. “There's so many volunteer positions, honestly, just reach out to them and ask them if you can take a position. It means the absolute world to the citizens of Peterborough to have volunteers.”

Quinn with her peace medal, given by David Allen of the YMCA. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Husayn Dharshi is a support worker at One Roof Community Centre, a dedicated board member for Heads Up for Inclusion and an advocate for the city and public transportation with his software app, theBus.ca. Dharshi was not present during the ceremony but was honoured at the event. Allen noted him to bring a calmness to every space he enters. In a sometimes chaotic setting, his approach to community members is kind, generous, and tranquil, Allen continued.

Coun. Alex Bierk was awarded the Peace Medal in 2020 for his work as an advocate for safe consumption sites. He could not receive the medal then due to the COVID-19 pandemic that prevented in-person events.

Allen noted that Bierk helps give support and connections to anyone working on sobriety and brings awareness to the human face behind the statistics.

Nominations for next year’s awards open roughly in either August of September.

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City of Peterborough Installs 35-Foot Tree In Quaker Foods City Square

A 35-foot-tall tree was installed at the Quaker Foods City Square and put up by the City of Peterborough to add vibrancy to the downtown community space, including winter outdoor skating on Thursday.

free two-hour holiday parking is at all downtown municipal parking spaces including on-street parking, municipal parking lots, the King Street Parking Garage and the Simcoe Parking Garage until Dec. 31. Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Sourced from Ennismore, a tree lighting ceremony at the Square is planned for Dec.15 at 5:30 p.m. The City is releasing further information within the next couple of weeks.

“Quaker Foods City Square brought a tremendous amount of energy to the downtown last winter with thousands of people enjoying the new outdoor skating rink,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “The tree will add to the festive spirit and vibrancy. I look forward to celebrating the season with the community at the upcoming tree lighting event.”

The square opened in December last year. The City says it provides a year-round space for community events and family-friendly features including a refrigerated outdoor skating rink in the winter. The space is meant to bring the community together, similar to Springer Market Square in Kingston and Mel Lastman Square in Toronto.

The refrigerated skating rink is anticipated to open for the season by mid-December (depending on weather conditions). City staff are preparing the site and monitoring conditions to make and maintain safe ice conditions.

For the first time, Runner’s Life is offering skate rental services for visitors to the Square’s outdoor rink through a sponsorship with the City. Rental skates, helmets and skate sharpening services are available through this service.

“Runner's Life is excited to provide skate rentals and sharpening to downtown Peterborough. Downtown has always been a vibrant place, the heart of the city, and with the addition of Quaker Foods City Square, it’s only become better,” said Dave Dame of Runner’s Life. “The rink was very well received last year and we hope to open the door for more people to try skating and enjoy the dynamic spirit of downtown.”

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Lakefield Foodland Giving Free Turkeys To Those In Need On Dec. 13

Lakefield Foodland is brightening the holidays by giving away free turkeys to local needy families on Dec. 13.

SARAH BLESTOE AT LAKEFIELD FOODLAND AND ROSS GAVE AWAY TURKEYS LAST YEAR TO THOSE IN NEED ON DEC. 14 PHOTO COURTESY OF LAKEFIELD FOODLAND.

Turkeys are given away starting at 11 a.m. until supplies last at 1 Queen St. They are limited to one per family while supplies last.

“A lot of people can use a helping hand at this time of year. We want to offer our assistance to the people in Lakefield and area,” said Ross Bletsoe, Lakefield Foodland owner. “We have purchased frozen turkeys to give away to those in need. We support a lot of local charities, non-profit organizations and sports groups but this turkey giveaway lets us put our assistance right on the table for those who need it most.”

Recipients are asked to provide an address with a postal code of ‘K0L’ and identification prior to receiving a turkey.

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PTBOCanada Featured Post: Hear This Year's Successful Nomination Story of Lennox's Feel the Love Program With Peterborough Refrigeration

PTBOCanada Featured Post: Hear This Year's Successful Nomination Story of Lennox's Feel the Love Program With Peterborough Refrigeration

Sponsored post by Peterborough Refrigeration

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