Peterborough Blogs
Now Is A Great Time To Put Your Posters & Such On Event Boards In The City
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Not only is it a new month, but a new start for many coming to school in Peterborough. The event boards have been purged throughout the city (the one above is at Louis Street Parking lot) and welcomes your upcoming events. So post away.
[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]
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City Lights Pizza Has Closed Down & The Store Is Now For Lease
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[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]
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Does Peterborough Need A Town Hall Meeting To Address Safety In The Community?
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No doubt Peterborough is an amazing city in many many ways as we trumpet all the time here. We live in one of the greatest cities anywhere. But this post isn't about that great stuff. It's about the growing concerns many in the community have about unemployment, drugs (and more drugs), break and enters, robberies, domestics, and safety in the downtown (Exhibit A: man holds knife to a person's throat; Exhibit B: bloodied man with an axe).
Three people have been murdered in the city already this year—the latest earlier this week—and well, people are talking about this stuff and what can be done. Sure there is often a correlation between unemployment and crime, but still, people want answers about what can be done about it and safety in the community.
Cameras downtown and care meters and such are all good to a certain extent, but they are also bandaids. There has to be more effective ways for us to stand up and look after our community, and have each other's backs so to speak. If you allow all these things to fester, they don't just magically go away.
We raised the question on Twitter earlier this week about whether the Mayor's office should consider organizing a Town Hall meeting to bring the police chief, politicians and other community leaders together in one space to create a public forum for citizens to air their concerns, and to hear what our leaders have to say. Do it at the Memorial Centre, do it at the Venue, do it at Trentwinds—just find a space and try it. What's the harm? As one person on Twitter suggested, "The only way to effect change is through action. If the powers that be don't hear people's voices, we'll have more of the same."
Now we asked Mayor Bennett about the idea of a Town Hall meeting and here's 
what he had to say: "Thanks for the suggestion. The items that you have listed are some of the concerns that the City and Councillors address on a daily basis, and we have a public Committee process in place that is intended to engage people who are concerned about them. My suggestion is to direct concerns to your local Councillors so that they can assist by bringing the questions forward; contact the City Clerk so that you or a group of people can make a presentation to Council; and to take advantage of the currency of the Provincial election to compel some accountability for the many responsibilities that fall within the provincial jurisdiction. If my office can be of help in making any or all of these happen, just let me know."
So is that enough? Can they be doing more? Can we be doing more? What do you think about this notion of a Town Hall meeting? Or is this all being overblown and the same stuff happens in any community?
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Here Are Pictures Of Businesses That Have Been On The Move Lately Throughout Downtown
/A short walk downtown and it's hard not to spot the ever changing store fronts. Some unfortunately were unable to make a go of it so new businesses are moving in, while others have simply decided to move to different locations. Here are just a few of the store changes I noticed while walking about one recent afternoon, and who's settled in where.
If you know of other local stores changing locations, contact Julie Morris by clicking here.
[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]
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A Tourist Mobile Unit Has Been Set Up Outside Peterborough Square
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Man seeking info
Located outside of Peterborough Square, the GoDowntown mobile unit set up by the Downtown Business Improvement Association (DBIA) is here to offer help for events and destinations, and to offer general info to locals and tourists alike. So ask away.
[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]
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Mayor Bennett On The Peterborough Ex: What It Is, What It Was, What It Shall Be
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PtboCanada Review: The Bands At The Hootenanny On Hunter Put On A Show To Remember
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It was a sight to behold, the downtown streets of Peterborough filled with fans out for a great line-up of live music. Hootenanny took over Hunter Street West for the better part of Saturday. It was a free concert featuring a who's who of indie Canadian rock darlings. The patios of the Hunter Street restaurant district were filled to capacity with music fans and revelers.
The day began with sets from a number of locals including Bear Trees, Levon, Rikers and Union City. Others on the bill included Elvyn and Express & Co., with the show taking a strange turn thanks to the musical shenanigans of Hamilton, Ontario's B.A. Johnston. It's clear after hearing and seeing B.A. both in clubs and now on an outdoor stage, his banter and original music work under any circumstance. He was at his hilarious best accompanied by his own electronic samples and acoustic guitar work. I am sure B.A. likely found some new fans on this day.
Cuff The Duke, Oshawa's alt/country/pop darlings, played a warmly received set, which was matched by The
Wooden Sky performing Wooden Sky (see picture at right) who played right after—the later benefitting from a sun, sinking past the horizon, creating lovely light as a backdrop.
Next up were local darlings The Spades, who played a shortened set of favorites including an explosive cover of Fred Eaglesmith's "49 Tons Of Diesel Locomotive" as well as their rollicking track "The Revenge of Johnny Laundry".
As the night drew to a close, just past 10 p.m., the sounds of Hollerado belting out Neil Young's "Rockin' In the Free Word" seemed to epitomize the day. This was a show to remember. Thanks to the Peterborough Downtown Business Association and the organizing committee for creating a reason to brings throngs of folks to the downtown on a lovely summer Saturday.
There was a lot of love passed out by the performers throughout the day, but the best moment was when Gavin Gardiner of the Wooden Sky called out local scenester Mike Duguay, calling him the unofficial Mayor of Peterborough. Organizers Ryan Kemp and Jonathan Hall both deserve kudos for the inspired curatorial and organizational work that went behind this show. Looking forward to more of the same in coming years.
[Text and pics by PtboCanada's Jeffrey Macklin]
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PtboPics: The Hootenanny On Hunter Street Festival
/Hollerado
Hollerado
[pic from PtboCanada's Jeffrey Macklin]
The Spades
[pic from PtboCanada's Jeffrey Macklin]
[via]
[pic from PtboCanada's Julie Morris]
[pic from PtboCanada's Julie Morris]
[pic from PtboCanada's Julie Morris]
Levon
[via]
Bear Trees
[via]
stage ready to go...
[via]
[PtboCanada Review: The Bands At The Hootenanny On Hunter Put On A Show To Remember]
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