1,000 Participants Help Peterborough Butterfly Run Raise Over $92,000

Over 1,000 people got their feet moving for the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation’s (GPHSF) Peterborough Butterfly Run, raising over $92,000 at Millennium Park on Sunday.

Since 2018, more than 800 bereavement kits have been created to be provided to families and individuals by health care providers with the Peterborough Family Health Team and PRHC. Photo courtesy of GPHSF.

Participants could participate in the one km Kids Fun Run, one km Memorial Walk or the 5 km Run/Walk. The run was in support of anyone who has experienced a loss during pregnancy, the loss of a child, or is unable to conceive.

The proceeds were used to provide ongoing specialized education in Perinatal Bereavement Care to healthcare providers across Peterborough City and County, establish more than 10 lending libraries for individuals and their families located across Peterborough City and County and develop bereavement kits for families and individuals who experience early and later pregnancy loss and infant loss.

“It was great to feel the fellowship, support, and comradery of the crowd which is what the event has always been about,” said Vince Bierworth, GPHSF executive director. “No matter what format the event has taken, there are so many that support its mission. For that we are very grateful.”

The top three fundraising teams were: Macks Pack, The White Family and Team Bene’s Buddies. 

The top three individual fundraisers were Stephanie Sutton, Rebecca Mcevoy and Cally White.

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City of Peterborough Accepting Entries For 2024 Canada Day Parade

The City of Peterborough is accepting entries for the Canada Day Parade from community groups and businesses on July 1, announced on Tuesday.

Photo by Samantha Bianco.

Parade entry applications are open until June 14 at 4:30 p.m. 

“The Canada Day parade has been a family favourite in Peterborough for decades,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “It’s fantastic to have the community come together to celebrate our country and reflect on its history. Having an entry in the parade is an excellent opportunity for local businesses and community groups to connect with everyone along the parade route.”

Parade entry forms are available online and paper copies are available at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre at 775 Brealey Dr. and City Hall at 500 George St. N.  

While the Canada Day Parade welcomes both community groups and commercial floats, the latter will be charged a fee of $125, payable online, according to a press release.

Each parade entry will require a representative to attend a safety orientation meeting on June 25 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the banquet room of Healthy Planet Arena, 911 Monaghan Rd. 

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Meet Your Match at the Volunteer Fair at the YMCA On May 8

In celebration of National Volunteer Month, the inaugural Meet Your Match Volunteer Fair is being hosted at the YMCA of Central East Ontario on May 8.

Photo courtesy of Volunteer Peterborough.

The event is hosted by Volunteer Peterborough which creates a matchmaking service for organizations to find prospective volunteers that suit each other’s needs, interests and more.

The fair runs from noon to 4 p.m.

The organization and VolunteerPeterborough.ca were established in early September last year. Since then, 985 volunteers and 118 organizations have signed up.

Some organizations that are attending the event are:

• YMCA

• Peterborough ElderDog

• Camp Kawartha

• Victorian Order of Nurses Peterborough Victoria Haliburton (VON PVH)

• Community Care Peterborough

• Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN)

• Circles of Support and Accountability

• YWCA Peterborough Haliburton

• Peterborough Folk Festival

• Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region

• Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre

• United Way Peterborough and District

• New Canadians Centre

• Telecare Distress Centre of Peterborough

• Peterborough Symphony Orchestra

• Canopy Support Services

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough

• Mapleridge Recreation Centre

• Lang Pioneer Village

• YourTV

• YES Shelter for Youth and Families

• Peterborough Humane Society

• PARD Therapeutic Riding

• Peterborough Child & Family Centres

• Fleming College Simulation Centre

• Kawartha World Issues Centre

• Ontario Public Interest Research Group Peterborough

• Peterborough Musicfest

• 4th Line Theatre

• Fowler’s Corners and Lakefield Lions Clubs

• Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC)

• Home Care Workers Co-op and Cooperative Care Alliance

• For Our Grandchildren

• PATH - Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes

• Serenity Lane Animal Sanctuary

• Trent Valley Literacy Association (TVLA)

“Volunteering is also a great way to gain new skills and experiences while impacting your community. Become part of something bigger than yourself by contributing to local and global causes,” as stated in a press release.

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The Seventh Annual Kawartha Craft Beer Festival Gets the Taps Flowing For Two Days

The seventh annual Kawartha Craft Beer Festival is coming back to Del Crary Park for two days: May 31 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and June 1 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Kawartha Craft Beer.

The festival features Ontario Craft Breweries, cideries, distilleries, food vendors, merchandise vendors, a kids zone and live music throughout the weekend.

“We are thrilled to bring back the Kawartha Craft Beer Festival even bigger and better in our seventh year. We’ve got some new features at the event this year, and we can’t wait to see everyone back in the park enjoying fun, friends and craft beer,” said Kim Cranfield, Kawartha Craft Beer Festival owner.

“We’re excited to be back as the Presenting Sponsor at this year’s event.” said Richard Wood, Bobcaygeon Brewing Company president and co-Founder. “This is such a great event for our community and a great way for people to sample the amazing craft breweries we have here in Ontario.”

Early bird tickets are on sale until Tuesday, giving guests a savings of $5. Tickets allow access on both Friday and Saturday and include a beer mug and two drink tokens.

This year's lineup features 16 craft breweries, cideries and distilleries, seven food vendors and live music throughout the weekend. Guests will be able to do some shopping from our merchandise vendors and play lawn games and this year, a Kids Zone has been added for fun and games available to kids 12 and under.

Regular-priced tickets go on sale on May 1. Guests can pre-purchase event tickets, beer tokens and Kids Zone tickets. Early Bird weekend tickets are $20 + tax and fees. Regular-priced weekend tickets are $25 + tax and fees and sales begin May 1.

Each ticket comes a wristband, branded Festival mug and two drink tokens. Wristbands and 2024 Festival mugs are required to sample beer. Designated drivers and anyone under 19 are not required to purchase a ticket. 

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3,000 Trout Released Into 35th Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby a Go Starting April 27

There were 3,000 trout released into the Lift Locks ahead of the 35th annual Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Under the Lock Fishing Derby including top-prize rainbow trout ‘Walter’ on Wednesday.

GORDON BOWLEY, FISHING DERBY CO-CHAIR, holds Walter before throwing him into the canal. This is Bowley’s 25th year helping the fishing derby. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

Of the 3,000, 2,500 of them are rainbow trout and the other 500 are brook trout, tagged for instant prizes and a chance to win one of four grand prizes for the youth derby.

The event runs from April 27 to May 5. The youth derby, for children 15 and under, kicks off on the first day.

Walter, a six to eight-pound rainbow trout as the top prize, will earn $1,000 cash to whoever can reel him in.

The second and third-place grand prize fish ‘Rosie’ and ‘Berty’ are each worth $200 cash plus a free registration to OFAH day camp. The fourth grand prize ‘Kayak’ wins a sit-on kayak and paddle.

Nick Pellerin tosses a netful of trout into the Lift Lock to prepare for the fishing derby. Photo by David Tuan bui.

The all-ages derby will run from April 28 through May 5. For the third year, it will include tagged fish with cash prizes sponsored by local businesses.

Registration is required for all participants. Admission is $15 for the first child, $10 for siblings and $25 for adults. Purchase tickets online or in person at both Peterborough Canadian Tire locations.

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Rotarians Defeat Media To Promote Rotary Club of Peterborough's Kids 10th Annual Spelling Bee For May 4

The Rotarians got the last laugh and word in over the local media in a promotional spelling bee competition at the McDonnel Street Community Centre on Monday afternoon.

Donna-Marie Fennell of the Rotary Club attempting to defend her spelling bee title in the promotion Media versus Rotary competition. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Several media members —including yours truly— participated in the event to promote the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s 10th Annual Spelling Bee which will take place at the Whetung Theatre at Fleming College on May 4.

The competition is divided into two groups. The Junior Division for Grades 4-6 runs at 9 a.m. and the Senior Division for Grades 7-8 starts at 1 p.m.

“We’re hearing from teachers at participating schools that kids are very determined to make it to regional bee and they are focusing intently on studying their practice words,” said Catherine Hanrahan, spelling bee committee chair.

The event is being broadcast on YourTV Cogeco.

The top three spellers in each division will win prizes, trophies and more.

“We’ve had a number of local businesses come forward with some really generous prizes like a week at Camp Kawartha or a week at Trent Excalibur Camp, a party at Zap Attack and lessons at the Art School of Peterborough,” said Hanrahan. “We also have two bicycles generously donated by Canadian Tire on Lansdowne and Realtor Rebecca Quinn from Century 21 United Realty.”

Every participant will receive a grab bag with items like Family Swim Passes for the YMCA, Train Passes for Riverview Park and Zoo, free games from Zap Attack, handmade toys from Leslie Covert and silly putty from Crayola. The winning students' schools will also be eligible for bursaries from the Rotary Club of Peterborough for literacy projects.

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Second-Annual City Nature Challenge To Run From April 26 to 29

The second annual community bio-blitz will occur in Peterborough from April 26 to 29 as part of the global City Nature Challenge competition.

A bio-blitz is a survey that identifies wildlife with the goal of understanding the biodiversity of a location. Nature observations can be uploaded using the iNaturalist app and posted to the Peterborough project page. All the city's wild and naturally occurring plants, animals and insects are eligible as nature sightings. Wildlife observations will be tallied at the end of the competition to determine the winning community in Canada.

On April 26 and 27, the City of Peterborough and the Peterborough Field Naturalists will host guided nature walks at GreenUP Ecology Park, located at 1899 Ashburnham Dr., both days from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will feature family-friendly nature walks for all residents to learn how to make nature observations while exploring the park. Walks will be approximately 60 minutes, with the first tour at 11:30 a.m. and the last at 1 p.m. Guided tours depart from the event booth at the GreenUP Ecology Park Pavilion.

Event schedule

Friday, April 26

• 11 a.m.: Opening remarks with Councillor Joy Lachica, Co-Chair of Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management portfolio, Peterborough Field Naturalists and Dylan Radcliffe, Chair of the Peterborough Environmental Advisory Committee

• 11:30 a.m.: Walk and Talk about Pollinators with Carlotta James, Monarch Ultra

• 1 p.m.: The Natural and Cultural History of Little Lake, the Otonabee River and Meade Creek with Otonabee Conservation

Saturday, April 27

• 11 a.m.: Opening remarks with Mayor Jeff Leal

• 11:30 a.m.: Meet the Trees of Ecology Park with Vern Bastable, Peterborough GreenUp

• 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Children’s Activity Hub with Susan Chow, Trent University

• 1 p.m.: Discovering Nature in Early Spring with Drew Monkman

More information about how to participate in the City Nature Challenge is on the event web page at peterborough.ca/nature.

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Bobcaygeon Brewing Company Invites Public to Celebrate Its Ninth Birthday On Saturday

There have been nine years of flowing taps for Bobcaygeon Brewing Company which will celebrate its birthday this Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. at its Peterborough Brewery and Taproom at 649 The Parkway.

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) RICHARD WOOD, BOBCAYGEON BREWING COMPANY PRESIDENT; CHRISTIAN HARVEY, ONE CITY PTBO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; KATIE HARTING, MCTHIRSTY’S BARTENDER AND MATT CAMPBELL, BOBCAYGEON BREWING COMPANY VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES ENJOYING THE FIRST-POURED BLACKBERRY RASPBERRY GOSE FROM THE TAP that was launched on Oct. 7, 2022. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The brewery will offer nine unique cask selections featuring one-time-only variants of classic Bobcaygeon styles such as Cottage Lager with Lime, Dockside Red Ale with Black Currant, and Double Dry Hopped Northern Lights.

The Brewery is also doing four beer releases with two brand new beers:

• ‘Lansdowne Fog,’ which brings Earl Grey tea and vanilla over a classic English Ale base*

• ‘Hibernate,’ a Bourbon Barrel Aged Belgian Strong Ale*

• ‘Firefly Belgian Wheat’

• ‘Birch Bark White IPA’

*denotes new beer

The event features live music from TJ Shirk (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) and James Higgins (5:30 – 8:30 p.m.) and savoury New Zealand pies from Kia Ora Pies.

The back of the brewery will open its rain-or-shine beer garden for the day and the production side of the brewery will be open for the public to view and tour.

This is a family-friendly event featuring outdoor lawn games and non-alcoholic options.

For those wishing to sample the various beers on offer, tickets are $15. They include a limited edition sampling glass and two drink tokens which can be kept. Additional tokens will be available for purchase on site.

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National Youth Week Events in Peterborough From May 1 to 7

The City of Peterborough and community organizations are hosting National Youth Week from May 1 to 7.

National Youth Week is a movement that celebrates youth and their active participation in their community. Each year, the City’s Recreation and Parks Services Division partners with various organizations to host a wide range of activities for youth to promote National Youth Week and encourage youth participation in community programs. Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Events include a First Friday Art Crawl, an expedition to Jackson Park to learn about birds, create a needle-felted Baby Yoda and play drop-in sports.

The entire lineup of free events for youth 10 to 19 is available online.

Events will occur at various locations including the Peterborough Museum & Archives, the Peterborough Public Library, the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre, Jackson Park and Downtown Youth Space.

National Youth Week serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of providing youth with opportunities to lead, innovate and inspire according to Councillor Lesley Parnell, Community Services (Recreation and Parks, Fire Services, and Arenas) Portfolio Co-Chair.

“Beyond promoting activities for youth, it’s a time for us to reflect on how we, as a community, can better support the next generation to make Peterborough a more inclusive, vibrant and forward-thinking city,” she said. “Our City is committed to nurturing the dreams and capabilities of our young people.”

“Our youth play an essential role in social and cultural life of our city,” said Councillor Gary Baldwin. “Their insights and enthusiasm are the key to our community’s continued growth and prosperity.”

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Circus Antics of Cirque LuzDalia Hit Peterborough Memorial Centre On May 19

Circus show Cirque LuzDalia will entertain the masses at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on May 19 at 1:30 p.m., announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The 90-minute family-friendly show consists of acrobats, daredevils, aerialists, comedians and more.

For anyone arriving early, families can experience the kid's fun zone with face painting, play with circus toys and savour delicious circus treats before the show begins.

Just 10 minutes before showtime, join the circus in the ring for the ultimate kids' all-access pre-show experience. Children can get up close and personal with the magic behind the scenes.

Attendees will also have the chance to indulge in delectable circus treats and take home unique souvenirs, immersing themselves in the enchanting world of Cirque LuzDalia.

Prices range from $17.50* - $200.00*
*All ticket prices are subject to applicable fees and taxes. Prices are subject to change

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