Peterborough Police Service's 19th Annual CopShop Gives 23 Kids a Holiday Shopping Spree at Lansdowne Place

There were 23 kids who got to do holiday shopping with Peterborough Police Services during the 19th annual CopShop at Lansdowne Place on Thursday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The children enjoyed a limo ride from school and were partnered with a Peterborough Police Officer.

The officers will serve as personal shoppers for the kids and each will receive a $200 Gift Card to shop around. The young shoppers also received a Peterborough Petes goodie bag and winter boots donated from Sign-a-fied.

“CopShop is an event so many of our officers and civilian members look forward to each year,” said Detective Constable Mike Peckham of the Peterborough Police Service. “This year, we have about two dozen officers plus civilian members volunteering their time to build positive relationships and spend time with young people from the community in a fun way.”

“CopShop is our favourite day of the year,” says Helen Edwards, Lansdowne Place general manager. '“It’s magical to see the joy on the children’s faces as they shop and share in the holiday spirit. This event brings holiday cheer to our Centre and creates memories that last a lifetime.”

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Quaker Foods City Square to Hold Third-Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony This Friday Evening

Quaker Foods City Square is getting a little brighter as the community is invited to the third-annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Quaker Foods City Square on Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Photo courtesy ofthe Peterborough DBIA.

Put on by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) and the City of Peterborough, the event features family-friendly activities, festive entertainment and local vendors.

Attendees can browse goods from local makers, enjoy hot chocolate and BeaverTails pastries, and celebrate with live DJ entertainment throughout the evening.

“The tree lighting has become a cherished gathering point for our community to kick off the holiday season,” said Nour Mazloum, Peterborough DBIA executive director. “There is something very special about gathering together downtown on a December evening to enjoy local treats and warm drinks, discover unique gifts from our businesses, take in the music and watch the tree light up downtown with your neighbours.”

Mayor Jeff Leal will light the tree at 5:30 p.m. The event will also feature the return of the illuminated ‘Peterborough’ sign.

“The tree lighting ceremony is a wonderful reminder of the warmth, connection and generosity that define our City,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “I invite everyone to join us at Quaker Foods City Square as we come together to share in the holiday spirit, celebrate one another and welcome a season filled with light and hope.”

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Toronto Blue Jays Watch Parties To Be Held at Quaker Foods City Square Starting Saturday

The City of Peterborough is cheering on the Toronto Blue Jays with a World Series watch party at the Quaker Foods City Square starting on Saturday and for the duration of the postseason.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Events on Saturday will take place rain or shine with a live stream of the game beginning at 8 p.m., following Halloween in the Booro festivities already planned throughout downtown Peterborough. The World Series Watch Party is being organized by the Peterborough DBIA, with the City of Peterborough providing financial support for the screen, sound and servicing to the Park. 

“Downtown Peterborough is at its best when people come together to celebrate and connect,” said Nour Mazloum, Peterborough DBIA executive director. “We're thrilled to partner with the City of Peterborough to host these community watch parties for the Toronto Blue Jays as they advance to the World Series. This is a wonderful example of how downtown can serve as a place where people come together to share in special moments of excitement, pride and celebration.”

The public square on Charlotte Street will feature a mega screen live-streaming the game as the Toronto Blue Jays compete against the Los Angeles Dodgers for the World Series Championship. Snacks, vendors, and a ‘The Boro’ merchandise booth will be available. Free parking is available after 6 p.m. along the street and in the adjacent King Street Parkade.

“We’re looking forward to joining communities across Canada in cheering on the Toronto Blue Jays in a proudly Peterborough way – surrounded by community in downtown’s Quaker Foods City Square,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “I encourage community members and visitors to don their blue and white and mark this historic sports moment as we watch the Jays compete to become World Series Champions.”

Fans are asked to bring their own chairs, blankets and dress for the weather. All attendees are encouraged to wear their blue and white and/or or Blue Jays apparel while cheering for the team.

World Series Watch Parties are planned at the Quaker Foods City Square for Game 3 on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28. Additional watch parties are scheduled for games five to seven, depending on the results of the first four games.

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City to Temporarily Close Roads For Canada Day Fireworks

Temporary road closures will be in place from noon to 10:30 p.m. to ensure public safety for the Canada Day fireworks display on Tuesday.

File Photo.

The following are the affected roads:

• Perry Street from the east side of George Street to the west side of Crescent Street

• Lake Street from the east side of George Street to the west side of Crescent Street

• Crescent Street from the north side of Romaine Street to the south side of Perry Street

• Lock Street from the north side of Romaine Street to the south side of Crescent Street

The fireworks display will take place at 9:30 p.m.

Detour routes will be in place.

The City requests that everyone follow all signage related to road closures and on-street parking restrictions in the area.

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List of City Services For Canada Day 2025

Many City services and facilities will operate under holiday hours or be closed on Canada Day this Tuesday.

File photo.

The Canada Day ceremonies start at 10 a.m. in front of City Hall. The decorated bike contest judging will take place at 10:45 a.m. The parade begins at 11 a.m., departing from George Street North near City Hall and proceeding south on George Street to Millennium Park. 

The celebration continues in Millennium Park, featuring an afternoon of free, family-friendly fun that includes music and dance, face painting, storytelling, a cultural marketplace, and food and beverage vendors. This event will run from noon to 6 p.m. 

The City will host a fireworks display over Little Lake starting at 9:30 p.m. on July 1, following the Peterborough Musicfest concert at Del Crary Park. 

City Hall offices, including Service Peterborough, Building Services and the Clerk’s Office, will be closed on July 1. Online services are available at peterborough.ca. 

The curbside collection for Zones 1 and 2, which typically takes place on Tuesdays, shifts back one day to Monday. Residents are asked to place green bins, recycling and garbage (Zone 2 only) to the curb by 7 a.m. Tuesday.

There are no changes to the curbside collection schedule for the Downtown Business Improvement Area. 

The City-County Landfill at 1260 Bensfort Rd. will be closed on July 1.  

Peterborough Regional Airport will be open regular hours, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Art Gallery of Peterborough will be closed on Canada Day.

The Peterborough Public Library and the Miskin Law Community Complex branch will be closed on Tuesday.

The Peterborough Museum and Archives will be open noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1. 

The Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre and the Miskin Law Community Complex will be open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 1. Summer hours will be in effect for the Sport and Wellness Centre starting Wednesday, with daily operation from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Sept. 1. 

The Kinsmen Civic Centre, Healthy Planet Arena, Peterborough Memorial Centre, Grant Thornton Box Office, McDonnel Street Community Centre including Peterborough Youth Space, and the Recreation Facility Booking office will be closed on Tuesday

Lifeguards will be on duty at Beavermead Beach from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is no lifeguard supervision provided at Rogers Cove. Peterborough Public Health tests the water at local beaches.

Splash pads in City parks are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The splash pad at the Riverview Park and Zoo is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Lifeguards supervise City wading pools daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  

Customer service at Peterborough Marina will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Riverview Park and Zoo is open from 8:30 a.m. to dusk. Guest Services is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Miniature train rides will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Otter Enrichment takes place at 1:30 p.m.and a Meet the Keeper session with Torti the African Spurred Tortoise will take place at 2:30 p.m. The Café is closed.  

The Provincial Offences office at 99 Simcoe St. will be closed on Tuesday. Fine payments can be made online at peterborough.ca/POA. 

Peterborough Transit will operate on a Sunday/Holiday service schedule on Tuesday. Temporary detours will be in place for some routes during the Canada Day Parade.  

The Customer Service desk will be open from 9 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

The Social Services office will be closed on Tuesday. From Wednesday, August 30, to Friday, office hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  

City-operated child care centres will be closed on July 1.

Emergency shelter services remain open: to access emergency shelter services outside of regular business hours or on holidays, please call After Hours service at 705-926-0096.

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Film Selected For Canada Day Movie Night

The City of Peterborough’s poll for the free Canada Day Movie Night has selected Fly Away Home as the feature film, held at Quaker Foods City Square on June 30.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

A total of 500 votes were cast to select the film for the City of Peterborough’s Canada Day Outdoor Movie Night. Fly Away Home was the winner with 217 votes.  

Other options included The Legend of Sarila, Kayak to Klemtu and Cheaper by the Dozen. Each movie has a Canadian connection through cast and crew, filming location, or theme. The poll was open from June 9 to June 13.

Quaker Foods will provide snacks and treats for the evening, and the City will offer free popcorn. Movie-goers are encouraged to arrive by 8 p.m. as supplies are limited.

The City reminds movie-watchers to bring an outdoor chair and water. 

The movie night will kick off the Canada Day festivities on June 30 at dusk (around 9 p.m.). The City is asking residents to bring lawn chairs, blankets and snacks to settle in. Free popcorn is handed out before the show.

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Public Asked to Select Film For Canada Day Movie Night

The City of Peterborough asks the community to vote for a film for the free Canada Day Movie Night at Quaker Foods City Square.  

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The movie night will kick off the Canada Day festivities on June 30 at dusk (around 9 p.m.). The City is asking residents to bring lawn chairs, blankets and snacks to settle in. Free popcorn is handed out before the show.  

The following are the film choices:

The Legend of Sarila

An animated adventure set in the Arctic, this film follows three Inuit teens on a quest to find the legendary land of Sarila to save their starving clan.
Featuring the voices of Christopher Plummer and Geneviève Bujold, it's Canada's first 3D animated feature film.

Kayak to Klemtu

A heartfelt drama about 14-year-old Ella, who embarks on a 500-kilometre kayak journey to her ancestral home in British Columbia to take a stand against a proposed pipeline project.
A heartfelt Canadian production rooted in environmental justice and Indigenous resilience.

Cheaper by the Dozen

A comedy about Tom and Kate Baker, who juggle their careers and raising 12 children. Though not a Canadian film, the director Shawn Levy was born in Canada and is a citizen of both Canada and the United States.

Fly Away Home

After losing her mother, a young girl helps orphaned geese learn to migrate south. Filmed partly in Ontario and starring Canadian actress Anna Paquin, this inspiring story is based on real events.

The poll is available online, with voting closing on Friday at 4 p.m. 

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Canada Day Parade Is Still Happening, Says City of Peterborough

The City of Peterborough says it still plans to host a Canada Day parade.

File Photo.

The City released a statement regarding the following:

“It was initially called a “procession” when the call for entries went out a couple of weeks ago as a way to reflect that the parade would be a bit different than previous years. The community was invited to not only watch the parade, but to join in by walking down George Street alongside their fellow community members. Community groups, businesses, and performers were still invited to put in entries.

The planning for Canada Day festivities is in full swing as the community gets ready to celebrate the country’s birthday. The plans have been informed by community feedback following last year’s event. The City heard the feedback over the last week on the plans for this year’s parade and has updated the plans to once again include vehicles in the parade.”

Applications for parade entries need to be submitted by the end of the day on June 8, 2025. The parade entry form is available online.

Original article below:

The City of Peterborough invites the public to celebrate our nation on Canada Day on July 1, at Millennium Park.

This year’s festivities will begin with a community procession from City Hall to Millennium Park starting at 10 a.m., featuring a decorated bike contest for participants of all ages. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative and playful designs.

The community procession is an inclusive and informal walk open to individuals, families, and local organizations who wish to walk, bike, or roll from City Hall to the park together.

Community groups, clubs, and businesses are welcome to join and are encouraged to register using the Performer/Participant form available online. Please note that this is not a traditional parade and no motorized vehicles or large floats are permitted.

The celebration continues at Millennium Park from noon until 6 p.m. with an afternoon of music, performances, food, cultural activities, and family programming. The event will conclude with a Peterborough Musicfest concert at Del Crary Park and fireworks over Little Lake at 9:30 p.m.

June 30 has a free outdoor movie night at Quaker Foods City Square starting at dusk.

Both events are free and everyone is welcome to attend.

Event highlights include:

• Community procession with bike contest

• Live performances by local artists and entertainers

• Kids’ activities and family zones

• Food and beverage vendors hosted by the Downtown Business Improvement Area

• Interactive cultural displays and information booths

• Evening concert presented by Peterborough Musicfest

• Fireworks finale over Little Lake

Forms are now available online for those interested in participating as Performers, Arts and Crafts Vendors, or Food and Beverage Vendors. The application deadline is May 30 at 4 p.m.

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Roll, Stroll and Celebrate Canada Day With the City

The City of Peterborough invites the public to celebrate our nation on Canada Day on July 1, at Millennium Park.

File Photo.

This year’s festivities will begin with a community procession from City Hall to Millennium Park starting at 10 a.m., featuring a decorated bike contest for participants of all ages. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative and playful designs.

The community procession is an inclusive and informal walk open to individuals, families, and local organizations who wish to walk, bike, or roll from City Hall to the park together.

Community groups, clubs, and businesses are welcome to join and are encouraged to register using the Performer/Participant form available online. Please note that this is not a traditional parade and no motorized vehicles or large floats are permitted.

The celebration continues at Millennium Park from noon until 6 p.m. with an afternoon of music, performances, food, cultural activities, and family programming. The event will conclude with a Peterborough Musicfest concert at Del Crary Park and fireworks over Little Lake at 9:30 p.m.

June 30 has a free outdoor movie night at Quaker Foods City Square starting at dusk.

Both events are free and everyone is welcome to attend.

Event highlights include:

• Community procession with bike contest

• Live performances by local artists and entertainers

• Kids’ activities and family zones

• Food and beverage vendors hosted by the Downtown Business Improvement Area

• Interactive cultural displays and information booths

• Evening concert presented by Peterborough Musicfest

• Fireworks finale over Little Lake

Forms are now available online for those interested in participating as Performers, Arts and Crafts Vendors, or Food and Beverage Vendors. The application deadline is May 30 at 4 p.m.

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'Peter Robinson' Brought to Life As Grand Marshall For 25th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade

To honour the 25th anniversary of the Peterborough St. Patrick's Day Parade, the event is getting a blast from the past as ‘Peter Robinson’ has been named the Grand Marshall for this year’s event, announced at The Venue on Friday afternoon.

Tim Burke, Parade organizer (left), M. John Kennedy, actor (Peter Robinson) (middle) and Jeff Leal, Peterborough Mayor (right) march down George Street as a taste of things to come for March 16. Kennedy is also running a workshop to audition for theatre schools and ‘Fireside Munsch’ for this year’s Brand New Stages Festival at The Theatre on King and Market Hall respectively. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Actor M. John Kennedy plays the part of Robinson for the parade and in 4th Line Theatre’s production of ‘Wild Irish Geese’ from July 29 to Aug. 30.

Robinson, a Canadian politician and colonial administrator, was known to supervise the emigration of impoverished Irish families to Upper Canada. This year marks the 200th anniversary of that event.

“Peter Robinson was an advocate for responsible government, along with Lord Baldwin in 1849, so my job as Mayor of Peterborough, you can really trace it back to Peter Robinson, responsible government and the whole concept of British parliamentary democracy from Great Britain,” said Jeff Leal, Peterborough Mayor.

This year hits two other milestones, including the 25th anniversary of the parade and the 175th anniversary of Peterborough's founding, including the Peterborough Police Force.

“It's such a delight to be able to be here and represent him in celebrating the 200th anniversary of Peterborough, a place I grew up, I have a deep connection with the community,” explained Kennedy. “It's thrilling not only to bring this character to 4th Line this summer with 'Wild Irish Geese' but also to be here for this wonderful St. Patrick's Day Parade.”

For the past two years, former sportscaster Dan O’Toole and Three Days Grace drummer Neil Sanderson were named Grand Marshalls to their respective parades. This year, Tim Burke, parade organizer, opted to go with a revival of Peter Robinson after getting the idea from Mary Smith, Nine Ships vice-chair.

“Right off the bat, I went, 'Wow, what a great idea,’” explained Burke. “She knew a gentleman that plays the role and the connection with 4th Line Theatre is also amazing. As soon as she said it, a light bulb went off in my head.”

The parade is scheduled for March 16 at 2 p.m., with the route beginning on George Street at City Hall and ending at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

A flag-raising will occur at City Hall on March 10 at 11 1.m. to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day.

Over 100 entries for the parade have been submitted and more are expected to join.

To register for the parade, visit their parade’s website and apply. For more information, contact Tim Burke at timburke77@yahoo.com.

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