Mayoral Candidate Keith Riel Sits Down With PTBOCanada Ahead of the Municipal Election

By Scott Arnold

With municipal election day approaching, PTBOCanada sat down with each of the candidates running for mayor of Peterborough to give voters an opportunity to hear directly from the people looking to lead the city.

Keith Riel is the latest mayoral candidates for the city of peterborough sit down with ptbocanada in our series of interviews ahead of the october 26th municipal election (photo by scott arnold)

In this interview, Keith Riel sits down with PTBOCanada to talk about his campaign, his priorities and his vision for Peterborough.

PTBOCanada will be releasing a mayoral candidate interview each day until all of the candidates have been featured.

• Thursday — Brian Lumsden

• Friday — Jacob Méthot

• Saturday — Keith Riel

• Sunday — Michael Eamon

• Monday — Neil Morton

• Tuesday — Rebecca Schillemat

Note: There are seven mayoral candidates, but Rob Hailman has announced that he is suspending his campaign (but will still appear on the ballot).

Online voting is now open and will remain available until 8pm on October 26th at peterborough.elections.vote/.

Advanced in-person voting will take place on Wednesday, October 14th from 10am to 8pm at Healthy Planet Arena, located at 911 Monaghan Rd.

On election day, Monday, October 26th, in-person voting will be available from 10am to 8pm. Voters should visit the location for their ward, as listed on their voter notification card.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Petes Give Up Five Power Play Goals in Loss to Sudbury Wolves

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Petes opened a three-game northern road trip with a 7-3 loss to the Sudbury Wolves on Friday night, with five of Sudbury’s goals coming on the power play.

after missing an entire season due to injury, Friday night was just the third game in a petes uniform for lucas Karmiris and his first game in sudbury since december 13th, 2024 when he played there as a member of the Brampton Steelheads (photo courtesy of the peterborough petes)

The loss drops Peterborough to 2-6 on the season.

Sudbury opened the scoring at 5:41 of the first period when Kingston Harris scored on the power play, assisted by Mason Walker and Kash Kwajah.

The Petes would respond later in the period with two goals in the final 6:05. Landon Roulston tied the game 1-1 on the power play, assisted by Braydon McCallum and Aiden Young. Adam Levac then gave Peterborough a 2-1 lead late in the period, with Grayden Strohack and Adam Novotný picking up the assists.

Carson Cameron extended the lead to 3-1 on a power play goal 4:14 into the second period, with assists from Levac and Novotný. That was the final Petes goal, though, as the Wolves would go on a six-goal run to finish the game.

Sudbury scored three goals in the second period, with all of them coming on the power play. Rowan Henderson scored the first of those three, followed by Jan Chovan just 52 seconds later, while Jean-Cristoph Lemieux scored the go-ahead goal to give the Wolves a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes.

The Wolves added three more goals in the third period, with Genc Ula scoring on the power play and Lemieux adding his second of the night. Mason Walker then scored a shorthanded empty-net goal with 39 seconds remaining to round out the scoring.

Despite the loss, Peterborough outshot Sudbury 32-25. The Petes went 2-for-5 on the man advantage, while the Wolves scored on five of their six power play opportunities.

Petes Scoring: Landon Roulston (1G), Adam Levac (1G, 1A), Carson Cameron (1G), Adam Novotný (2A), Grayden Strohack (1A), Braydon McCallum (1A), Aiden Young (1A)

The Petes continue their road trip Saturday night in Sault Ste. Marie against the Greyhounds, with puck drop at 7pm. They’ll wrap up the three-game trip Monday with a 2pm matinee against the North Bay Battalion.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Cancer Takedown's Fifth Year to Dish Out Body Slams In Support of Cancer Care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre

Cancer Takedown will ‘slam’ the evening with songs, stories, and solidarity for the fifth year to support cancer care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

Photo courtesy of Market Hall.

The event takes place on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. at Market Hall Performance Centre.

Cancer Takedown is co-hosted by comedic powerhouses Linda Kash and Megan Murphy. Acts include musicians Melissa Payne, Kate Suhr and Kate Brioux. Special guest performers include Beau Dixon and The Weber Brothers. Appearing are Anthony Bastianon and MD supergroup Good Medicine. Local talent Kim Dafoe will put on a unique performance. Nicholas Campbell, Brandon Munroe and Ian McKeown round out the lineup as the house band.

Beyond raising funds, Cancer Takedown says it aims to raise awareness of the emotional and mental burden of cancer, uniting people through shared experience. The show features cancer stories, focused on coping with the rollercoaster of emotions that are an inevitable part of the cancer experience.

Cancer Takedown was co-founded by husband-and-wife team Rick and Amy Kemp. Rick has been diagnosed with two separate cancers and, over the past eight years, has undergone every possible form of treatment. Both continue to cope with life-changing mobility issues for Rick and the ongoing mental challenges that the aftermath of cancer brings.

“The physical battle of cancer is tough, but the mental battle is even tougher. It’s a battle you can’t really fight; you just work your way through. Cancer Takedown is an opportunity to remind people they can get through.” Rick Kemp, Cancer Takedown Co-Founder.

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Peterborough’s Yard Waste Collection Season Nearing Its End for 2026

By Scott Arnold

There are still several weeks left to get your leaves, branches and other yard waste out before the City of Peterborough’s weekly collection service wraps up for the season at the end of November.

Meredith Kennedy, who recently completed cancer treatment at PRHC, hosted the Royal Service Charity Golf tournament to raise $12,500 in support of cancer care at the hospital. (Photo courtesy of Instagram, via prhc_foundation)

The City collects yard waste weekly from the first full week of April through the end of November. Once collection ends, residents can continue disposing of yard waste year-round at the City/County Landfill at 1260 Bensfort Road in Otonabee-South Monaghan.

Yard waste can be placed in reusable containers with the required yellow labels, bushel baskets or brown paper yard waste bags. Plastic bags and blue boxes are not accepted.

Reusable containers must be rigid, open-top bins with a maximum capacity of 80 litres, two fixed handles and removable lids that are not secured with bungee cords or other fasteners. Containers must be in good condition and weigh less than 13 kg (30 lbs) when filled.

Brush can also be tied into bundles using light rope or twine. Bundles must weigh no more than 13 kg (30 lbs), measure no more than one metre (three feet) long and have a maximum diameter of 30 cm (12 inches).

Residents should put yard waste out after 6pm the night before collection or by 7am on collection day.

What Can You Put Out?

Accepted items include leaves, brush, branches, hedge and tree trimmings, Christmas trees with decorations removed, grass clippings, lawn edging with soil removed, house and garden plants, trimmings and small quantities of sod within the weight limit.

Soil, stones, stumps, large quantities of sod, oversized brush and pet waste are not accepted.

The City also recommends using paper yard waste bags during late October and November, when freezing temperatures can cause yard waste to stick to the sides of containers and prevent a complete pickup.

Free yellow yard waste labels for reusable containers are available at City Hall, 500 George Street North

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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It Takes a Community to Feed a Community: Kawartha Food Share in Need of Volunteers for Porch Pirates for Good

By Scott Arnold

Kawartha Food Share is calling on Peterborough residents to help make its 7th Annual Porch Pirates for Good food drive a success on Saturday, October 24th, with volunteers needed to collect donations on the day of the food drive and distribute flyers the week prior, which will help get food to local families and individuals who need it.

Kawartha Food Share is looking for volunteers and food donations for its 7th Annual Porch Pirates for Good food drive on Saturday, October 24th. (photo courtesy of Kawartha Food Share)

The annual event brings the community together for a citywide food drive, with residents leaving non-perishable food donations on their doorsteps for volunteers to collect. Since the event began, Porch Pirates for Good has collected a combined 180,000 pounds of food.

But an event of this size takes plenty of helping hands to make it happen.

“We are absolutely still looking for help,” says Kawartha Food Share General Manager Mackenzie McIlwain. “We need our community to also help us support our community and those community members who are experiencing food insecurity in Peterborough.”

A Citywide Food Drive With a Big Impact

Porch Pirates for Good will cover 57 routes across Peterborough, with volunteers collecting donations beginning at 9am on Saturday, October 24th.

In the days leading up to the event, flyers will be distributed throughout the city from Monday, October 19th to Thursday, October 22nd. Residents can attach the flyer to their food donations and leave them on their doorstep for volunteers to pick up on Saturday morning.

The donations will go directly to Kawartha Food Share, which supports 37 member agencies and 51 schools across Peterborough City and County.

McIlwain says the food drive plays an important role in helping the organization replenish its warehouse heading into the fall and winter months.

Why October Is Such a Critical Time

With Thanksgiving behind us and the Christmas season approaching, this is an important time for Kawartha Food Share to build up its food supply.

“The need is very, very high for us here and for our community as well,” says McIlwain.

“This is a very critical period of time for us to be able to get donations into the warehouse and then get those donations out to our 37 member agencies and the 51 schools that we support here in Peterborough City and County.”

Some of the most-needed items include pasta, pasta sauce, noodles, tuna, peanut butter, canned vegetables, canned fruit and fruit cups. Peanut butter can be particularly difficult to obtain, while peanut-free snacks are also needed for schools.

Every donation helps Kawartha Food Share continue supporting the local organizations and schools that rely on its food supply.

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The People Who Make It Happen

While food donations are essential, volunteers are just as important to the success of Porch Pirates for Good.

Volunteers are needed both to distribute flyers ahead of the event and to collect food donations on October 24th. McIlwain recommends teaming up with friends or family to distribute flyers, noting that covering a route alone can involve a lot of walking.

“It does turn into a lot of steps if you're just by yourself,” she says.

High school students are also welcome to volunteer and can use the opportunity to earn community service hours.

The work continues at Kawartha Food Share's warehouse, where volunteers help receive donations and unload vehicles throughout the morning. Typically, 30 to 40 volunteers help at the warehouse between 8am and 1pm.

“We usually have about 30, 40 volunteers just here to make all of that smoothly go well and to ensure that our porch pirates who are dropping off don't really have to lift a finger to pull out the food out of their cars. That's what we have our volunteers here for,” says McIlwain.

“Without our volunteers and without our generous community to help us out, we won't be able to run the food drive.”

Yes, You Can Dress Like a Pirate

As the name suggests, Porch Pirates for Good is meant to be fun, too.

Volunteers are encouraged to embrace the pirate theme and dress up while collecting donations or helping at the warehouse.

“If you do end up being a porch pirate, please dress up. It always adds to the fun of the day,” says McIlwain.

“It's going to be a really fun and impactful event.”

How to Get Involved

Anyone interested in volunteering for Porch Pirates for Good can contact Kawartha Food Share's office administrator at porchpirates@kawarthafoodshare.com for more information.

Residents can also take part by preparing a bag of non-perishable food donations, attaching the flyer distributed to their home and leaving the items on their doorstep for collection starting at 9am on Saturday, October 24th.

With 57 routes to cover, donations to collect and a warehouse to replenish, the success of the event depends on people throughout Peterborough stepping up to help.

Because feeding a community takes more than food. It takes people willing to show up for one another.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Section of Rotary Greenway Trail Closed On Oct. 15 For Maintenance

A section of Rotary Greenway Trail between Frances Stewart Road and Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School (1009 Armour Rd.) will be closed on Oct. 15.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The closure allows Hydro One to safely complete forestry work as part of its annual maintenance. Trail access south of Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School will remain open, and an alternate active-transportation route is along Armour Road. 

This weather-dependent work will include pruning trees and removing vegetation from grounds adjacent to hydro lines beside the trail to reduce power-outage risks during weather events.  

The section of the trail will be closed to allow the crews to access the worksite with heavy equipment, including lift trucks and stump grinders and to keep trail users safely away from the work area. 

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Peterborough Police Seeking Help Identifying Vehicle Involved In Hit-and-Run On Senior Riding An E-Bike

The Peterborough Police Service Traffic Unit is seeking the public’s help in identifying a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run collision on Aug. 14.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 2:40 p.m., a 75-year-old woman on an e-bike was clipped by a vehicle.  She was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for treatment of serious injuries. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Peterborough Police Traffic Unit at 705-876-1122 ext. 289, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit it online.

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Free Skate at Miskin Law Community Complex For Thanksgiving Monday

Residents can enjoy hitting the rink on Thanksgiving Monday as the Miskin Law Community Complex is hosting a free family skate from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Sponsored by Lift Lock Therapy, the free skate takes place in the CHE arena.

The Miskin Law Community Complex also features a free indoor walking track and a Peterborough Public Library branch. The library is closed on Monday; however, cardholders can access it between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. by scanning their library card at the door and entering their PIN. Card holders can then browse books, pick up holds and check out items using the self check-out machines.     

Several new swim sessions have been added to the swim schedule at Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre for Monday. Swimming is free for Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre members and $5.25 for non-members. The Fun Swim is $5.25 per person or up to $15.75 for a group of up to five swimmers.  

Swim times are as follows: 

• Lane swim: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. 

• Wellness Swim (Therapy Pool): 6 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.  

• Nursery Swim (Therapy Pool): 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. 

• Open Swim: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

• Fun Swim: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.  

The City notes ongoing construction at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre. Members and visitors are asked to follow all posted signage and directions.

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City Services On Thanksgiving Day Monday 2026

Many City services have modified hours and some facilities will be closed on Monday for Thanksgiving.

Photo courtesy of Dave Ellis.

Art Gallery of Peterborough 

Art Gallery of Peterborough, 250 Crescent St., will be closed on Oct. 10 and 11 for an exhibit changeover. 

The Art Gallery of Peterborough will also be closed for Thanksgiving on Oct. 12.  For information about gallery exhibitions and programs, visit agp.on.ca  

City Hall 

City Hall offices at 500 George St. N., including Service Peterborough, Building Services, the Clerk’s Office and the Provincial Offences Office, will be closed on Oct. 12.     

Online services are available at peterborough.ca. Fine payments can be made online at peterborough.ca/POA.    

Water Services Customer Service will be closed on Oct. 12. For water services emergencies over the holiday, including watermain breaks, leaking hydrants, low water pressure, emergency water shut-offs, water quality concerns, or rental water heater issues, call 705-748-9300. For more information visit peterborough.ca/waterservices.    

Environmental Protection Division Laboratory 

The Environmental Protection Division Laboratory, 425 Kennedy Rd., will be closed on Oct. 12. The laboratory will resume accepting water samples on October 13 at 8 a.m. For information on services, hours of operation and water testing, visit peterborough.ca/watertesting.  

Parking Services 

Parking in City-operated parking garages, surface lots and on-street parking spaces is free on weekends and statutory holidays. The Parking Services office located in the King Street Parkade, 202 King St., will be closed on Oct. 12. Visit peterborough.ca/parking to find more information, including parking locations.  

Peterborough Museum and Archives  

Peterborough Museum and Archives, 300 Hunter St. E., will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Oct. 12. Information about current exhibitions is available online at peterborough.ca/museum.    

Peterborough Public Library    

Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. N., will be closed on Oct. 12.   

Library card holders can access the Miskin Law Community Complex branch, 271 Lansdowne St. W., between 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 12 by scanning their library card at the door and entering their PIN to access the library. Card holders can then browse books, pick up holds and check out items using the self check-out machines.   

Audiobooks, eBooks, eLearning and eMagazines can still be accessed by visiting ptbolibrary.ca/DigitalCollections.   

Information and digital resources are available online at ptbolibrary.ca.    

Peterborough Regional Airport 

Peterborough Regional Airport, 590 Skyway Dr., will operate from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 12. Visit peterborough.ca/airport for more information.     

Public Works 

Public Works can be reached at 705-745-1386. This line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.    

Recreation Facilities 

The following recreation facilities will be closed on Oct. 12:  

• Health Planet Arena, 911 Monaghan Rd.  

• Kinsmen Civic Centre, 1 Kinsman Way  

• McDonnel Street Community Centre, 577 McDonnel St.  

Miskin Law Community Complex   

Miskin Law Community Complex, 271 Lansdowne St. W., will be open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 12.  

Peterborough Memorial Centre 

The Peterborough Memorial Centre, 151 Lansdowne St. W., and the Grant Thornton Box Office, will be closed on Oct. 12.    
  
Tickets for Memorial Centre events are available for purchase online at memorialcentre.ca.   

Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre 

Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr., will be open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 12.   

The Recreation Facility Booking office will be closed on Oct. 12. 

Peterborough Visitor Centre at the Lift Lock 

Peterborough Visitor Centre at the Lift Lock, 353 Hunter St. E., will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 12.  

The Peterborough Visitor Centre will then shift to shoulder season hours beginning Oct. 13, 2026, following Thanksgiving and the end of the Trent-Severn Waterway navigation season. The Peterborough Visitor Centre will be open Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Oct. 16 to May 14, 2027. 

For more information, visit ptbotourism.ca/plan. 

Riverview Park and Zoo  

The Riverview Park and Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., including on Oct. 12.  

Guest Services/Gift Shop: Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.     

Miniature Train Ride: Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours may change due to weather and maintenance.   

For updates and more information, visit riverviewparkandzoo.ca.   

Social Services and Child Care Centres 

The Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. will be closed on October 12. For information on Social Services, please visit peterborough.ca/SocialServices.     

Emergency shelter services remain open over the holiday. To access emergency shelter services outside of regular business hours, or on holidays, call the after-hours service at 705-926-0096.     

City-operated child care centres will be closed on Oct. 12.    

Transit 

Peterborough Transit will operate on a Sunday/Holiday service schedule on October 12. The Customer Service desk will be open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visit peterborough.ca/transit for details or call Transit Customer Service at 705-745-0525.     

Waste Collection and Facilities 

There are no changes to the curbside waste collection schedule on Oct. 12.    

The City/County Landfill at 1260 Bensfort Rd. will be closed on Oct. 12.    

The Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd. will be closed. The Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot’s normal operating hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.   

For more information on collection schedules, visit peterborough.ca/wastewizard. 

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Mayoral Candidate Jacob Méthot Sits Down With PTBOCanada Ahead of the Municipal Election

By Scott Arnold

With municipal election day approaching, PTBOCanada sat down with each of the candidates running for mayor of Peterborough to give voters an opportunity to hear directly from the people looking to lead the city.

Jacob Méthot is the latest mayoral candidates for the city of peterborough sit down with ptbocanada in our series of interviews ahead of the october 26th municipal election (photo by scott arnold)

In this interview, Jacob Méthot sits down with PTBOCanada to talk about his campaign, his priorities and his vision for Peterborough.

PTBOCanada will be releasing a mayoral candidate interview each day until all of the candidates have been featured.

• Thursday — Brian Lumsden

• Friday — Jacob Méthot

• Saturday — Keith Riel

• Sunday — Michael Eamon

• Monday — Neil Morton

• Tuesday — Rebecca Schillemat

Note: There are seven mayoral candidates, but Rob Hailman has announced that he is suspending his campaign (but will still appear on the ballot).

Online voting is now open and will remain available until 8pm on October 26th at peterborough.elections.vote/.

Advanced in-person voting will take place on Wednesday, October 14th from 10am to 8pm at Healthy Planet Arena, located at 911 Monaghan Rd.

On election day, Monday, October 26th, in-person voting will be available from 10am to 8pm. Voters should visit the location for their ward, as listed on their voter notification card.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.