Peterborough Gets Its Amazing Race Canada Moment

By Scott Arnold

After weeks of waiting and plenty of local curiosity, Peterborough and the Kawarthas finally got their turn on The Amazing Race Canada, and it was worth the wait.

The Amazing Race Canada host Jon Montgomery meets with Keith Knott at Lock 31 in Buckhorn during the Peterborough and Kawarthas leg of the race (photo via the amazing race canada)

Tuesday night’s episode, “We Got The Beaver,” sent the remaining teams through Peterborough and the surrounding area as they tackled challenges, raced between locations and tried to stay ahead of the competition.

For local viewers, there was plenty to spot.

Teams started their Peterborough stop at Rogers Cove, where they took part in a series of cottage games before heading to the Canadian Canoe Museum for a Detour.

There, teams had to choose between two challenges. The indoor option tested their knowledge of canoes, with teams having to correctly identify different boats. The outdoor option sent them to Beavermead Park, where they had to paddle a canoe through a series of obstacles on Little Lake. Teams that had been U-Turned had to complete both challenges.

From there, the race continued to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, where teams had to clean a turtle tank before heading east to Bobcaygeon.

(Photo courtesy of the amazing race canada)

At Kawartha Dairy, teams were tasked with delivering ice cream and butter tarts to locations throughout town. Once that challenge was complete, they were back on the road for the final leg of the episode.

(photo courtesy of the amazing race Canada)

The teams raced to Lock 31 in Buckhorn, where The Amazing Race Canada host Jon Montgomery was waiting with Keith Knott, the beloved former chief and band councillor of Curve Lake First Nation.

The episode also delivered plenty of the strategic drama that comes with The Amazing Race Canada, including a U-Turn Vote that forced teams to make some difficult decisions.

It was pretty neat seeing places that are part of everyday life around Peterborough and the Kawarthas transformed into race locations for a national television audience.

After all the speculation, filming and waiting to see how it would come together, the race finally made its way through our backyard. And judging by how many locals were tuning in, it was a pretty fun one to watch.

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

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City of Peterborough Celebrates National Tourism Week

With Peterborough rich in arts, sports, environment, history and landmarks, the City is joining the country by celebrating National Tourism Week until Friday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough,

The week is an annual initiative led by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. This year’s theme, ‘Canada: Powered by Tourism,’ highlights the sector’s national impact — contributing more than $100 billion annually and supporting one in 10 jobs across Canada.

The City says tourism plays a vital role in Peterborough’s economy and quality of life. Peterborough and the Kawarthas welcome more than three million visitors annually, contributing approximately $300 million to the local economy according to the City. It continues to state that in the Peterborough census subdivision, the tourism sector includes more than 400 businesses and supports more than 3,000 jobs. Peterborough continues to gain international recognition through tourism, with iconic attractions like the Trent–Severn Waterway and The Canadian Canoe Museum making headlines in 2025.

“Much of what makes Peterborough a sought-after destination for visitors also makes it an incredible place to live,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “National Tourism Week is an opportunity to celebrate the impact of tourism on our community and economy. It supports local jobs, fuels small businesses, and showcases the natural beauty and cultural vibrancy that make our city special. During the week, I hope everyone takes a moment to recognize the people and places that make Peterborough a destination worth exploring and sharing with friends from around the world.”

Residents and visitors are encouraged to share their favourite local experiences on social media using #TourismWeekCanada2025, tagging @ptbotourism.

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Peterborough County Announces Appointments to its Leadership Team

Peterborough County has added Rhonda Keenan as the new General Manager of Economic Development and Sarah Budd as the new Manager of Community Development.

peterborough county logo

The County announced the appointments in a media release Friday morning stating Keenan and Budd will join Tracie Bertrand, General Manager of Tourism and Communications, to “form a trifecta of excellence” driving the county’s future economic growth, community development and tourism.

“These faces will be familiar to those in our business community and bring continuity and years of local knowledge and expertise to their roles, said warden Bonnie Clark. “Together, this team will work collaboratively with our townships, First Nations, and the City to ensure that our County businesses are supported - whether through retention, expansion, or bringing new enterprises to our area.”

Keenan, Budd and Bertrand will be based in the new Lakefield economic and tourism office.

“As the CAO for Peterborough County, I couldn’t be more excited about the exceptional team of professionals we’ve engaged to support economic development and tourism in the County, townships, and First Nations,” said CAO Sheridan Graham. “I am thrilled for our businesses, residents, and visitors as we move The Kawarthas forward.”

Keenan is the outgoing President and CEO of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) which is disbanding later this year as the city and county bring economic development and tourism in house.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Peterborough County team. The County has an excellent corporate culture, is poised for growth, and offers the ideal mix of opportunity and lifestyle – the perfect combination for any economic developer,” stated Keenan. “I am excited to get to work with this amazing team and continue to help support sustainable economic growth across Peterborough County.”

"On behalf of the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) Board of Directors and our staff and stakeholders, I am very pleased that Rhonda will continue to serve the region and help drive economic development forward in this new role," stated Burton Lee, PKED board chair.

The board of the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce announced the resignation of Budd as president and CEO on Thursday.

"Although I love my position as President and CEO of the Peterborough & Kawartha Chamber of Commerce, I could not pass up the opportunity to join Peterborough County's new economic development division and to learn and work with the highly respected and successful Rhonda Keenan," Budd said.

"I am truly thrilled to be part of such a dedicated and forward-thinking team and excited to work with Rhonda and Sarah,” added Bertrand. “I look forward to continuing our collaboration to drive positive change and growth in the region.”

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