Mayor Jeff Leal and Other Organizations Endorse New Event Centre In Downtown Peterborough

Mayor Jeff Leal has endorsed the approval and construction of a multi-sport and Event Centre to be built in Downtown Peterborough, announced at the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce on Monday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“A new Event Centre would revitalize the City’s downtown and transform the Waterfront, drive economic growth and investment, and cement Peterborough’s reputation as a regional hub and tourism destination for decades to come,” said Leal.

The Event Centre would take over the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC), which is celebrating its 70th anniversary. While Leal acknowledges that the PMC has served the City well during that span, it would be costly to maintain and cannot perform the same functions as a new Event Centre.

“It (PMC) is already unable to host modern events and that capability will continue to deteriorate as it ages,” he explained. City staff have found that it will take at least $22 million over the next 15 years just to keep its doors open.”

Leal says Peterborough needs to think about the next 70 years and dubbed the Event Centre project ‘Vision 2096.’

“This is a generational opportunity for our community. A new Event Centre will revitalize our downtown by driving foot traffic and encouraging investment,” he said. “It will transform our waterfront and stimulate economic growth and development, and it will make Peterborough a regional hub and tourism destination for the next 70 years.”

Leal assured that the building’s cost would not be a burden on the taxpayer but rather would be a plus.

“Other communities that have embarked upon this path have seen an assessment uplift,” The City of St. Catherine's with the Meridian Centre is a case in point.”

City Council has previously approved the building's preferred location at the existing City bus garage site on Townsend Street. If construction were to be done, Leal estimates 30 months for the project to be completed.

“When we built the PRHC, we started construction on that in July of 2005 and the official opening occurred in the spring of 2008,” said Leal.

@ptbo_canada Mayor Jeff Leal is endorsing construction of a new event centre to be built in Downtown Peterborough. ##ptbocanada##journalism##fyp##news##dailynews ♬ original sound - PTBOCanada

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce echoed Leal’s sentiments and also endorse the construction of a new Event Centre.

“From the Chamber’s perspective, this is about more than a building. It’s about economic opportunity,” said Brenda Whitehead, Peterborough Chamber president and CEO. “Aging infrastructure limits our ability to attract major events and stay competitive. A modern events centre strengthens Peterborough’s role as a regional hub while driving the kind of downtown activity that supports businesses across the entire region, and promotes opportunities for growth and further community development.” 

“Investing in a Multi-Use Sport and Event Centre is an investment in the future of our downtown,” said Nour Mazloum, Peterborough DBIA executive director. “Facilities like this bring consistent energy, attract visitors and create the conditions for local businesses to grow and thrive. The DBIA strongly supports moving this project forward as a catalyst for long-term economic development and vibrancy in Peterborough’s core.”

City Council will consider a report on options for next steps for the Event Centre project at their meeting on Monday night.

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.