It’s a warm Friday evening and we find ourselves on the patio of Elements with some good friends for dinner. The patio is lively, yet very comfortable with soft lighting and comfortable seating.Lots of local folks gathered at Beavermead Park today to celebrate National Canoe Day. With children's activities, continuous paddling opportunities, a BBQ, displays from the Trent Severn Antique & Classic Boat Association and musical entertainment, there was something for everyone. I was able to participate in the family paddle and enjoyed the calmness of the water while learning about the Canadian Canoe Museum and its history from our guide Barry. —PtboCanada's Julie Morris
At right: Young paddlers Nate & Tori make sure they have the right paddles
The Canada Parks mascot, Parka, gives a wave
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[Market Hall]
[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]
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[YouTube via Pete on the Street]
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The perfect place to spend a soggy, gloomy Tuesday evening is in a warm, inviting, gourmet pub, so we head out to meet a friend at Brio Gusto...YWCA presents Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, 12 p.m. starting from City Hall.
Peterborough and District Farmers' Market 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Morrow Building Parking Lot)
The Great Gilmour Street Garage Sale, 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. [Map]
The Fowlers Corners & District Lions Club presents a Spring Craft Show 9:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Lions Hall at Orange Corners
Peterborough-Lakefield Community Police Auction, 10 a.m. (500 Water Street) [Related Link]
Peterborough Children's Water Festival at Riverview Park & Zoo - One day only!
2672 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps Annual Parade and Inspection, 12:30 p.m. (220 Murray Street)
Camp Kawartha presents their annual Green-in-Motion Fundraiser, Registration begins at 9 a.m.
Kawartha Community Midwives Annual Picnic, 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Riverview Park & Zoo, Shelter #2
Riverview Park & Zoo presents Rye Street to kick off their 2011 Concert Series. 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. in the Gazebo
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PRHC Radiologist Dr. Sarah (Sally) Harvie and her dance partner Jesse DiLiello (with choreography by Deona Scott) danced away with top honours on Saturday night at Dancing with the Docs: Disco Fever.
Six local physicians shed their scrubs and hit the dance floor at a gala fundraising dance competition at The Venue in support of the PRHC Foundation’s Closer Campaign. The Venue was transformed into a Studio 54 inspired discotheque, right down to the coloured lights and glimmering disco balls.
More than 300 guests at the event were also treated to a delicious seventies-inspired cocktail reception and buffet dinner. A live and silent auction loaded with amazing items kept guests busy in between activities.
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On the Gerti's patio. Photo by Evan HoltWith the arrival of spring, people shed their jackets and hats to once again take to the outdoors. In downtown Peterborough, the restaurant patios are busy, the streets are bustling, and "people watching" has returned as a seasonal pastime.
First impressions are that this is simply people enjoying the warmer weather and, perhaps, spending some of their hard earned income in anticipation of an active summer. The reality is that much more is going than meets the eye. The activities that we see are at the heart of the future of the local economy. It is from the interaction of people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives that economic innovation is begun.
Richard Florida of the Rotman School of Management, at the University of Toronto, and advisor on economic growth to the British Prime Minister, has attributed economic innovation and growth of cities to the role of the "creative class". Florida’s study of seven regions of 100,000 to 250,000 people in Ontario indicates that Peterborough is well positioned when compared to similar communities in terms of the creative class.
From rigorous measures used by Florida, Peterborough placed first in terms of its technological capacity—far ahead of Kingston and Guelph. In terms of the talent necessary to support growth, and cultural diversity and tolerance, Peterborough finished just behind Kingston and Guelph.
It is through venues where people gather together for social purposes rather than just employment that the creative class interacts. It is in places like downtown Peterborough, and the diversity of activities there that new ideas will come from interactions—planned and fortuitous.
Casual observations of the recent buzz downtown shows many young people working and gathering, and interacting with people of many ages and backgrounds. Art and music is thriving here in a way that is the envy of many other communities.
The attachment of young people to venues like those found in downtown Peterborough has positive economic consequences that are often overlooked by those who only see the activities as social, rather than economic.
The Municipal and Provincial governments are doing their part to develop the infrastructure—physical and social—necessary in supporting the activities of the creative class. Every local organization—private, public, and not-for-profit—needs to take into account the significance of supporting the creative class when making decisions that have community impacts beyond that of the organization itself.
Innovation, technologically and organizationally, is a reality even for small communities like Peterborough. It is time that we recognized the nature of economic growth in our time, practice innovation rather than just preaching it, and focus our efforts on promoting sustainable growth by nurturing the creative class.
[Contributed by PtboCanada's Tom Phillips Ph. D.]
[Editor's Note: This is Tom's first column for PtboCanada.com. He is Economist & Sustainability Director - Greater Ptbo Innovation Cluster]
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[Peterborough and District Farmers Market]
[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]
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How many of us have been craving the sights, sounds, and smells of the outdoor downtown Farmers' Market? Well the wait is over! This Wednesday (May 4th), the market kicks off the season at the Louis Street Parking Lot. Each Wednesday until October 5th, it runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
What is your weekly must-have item from the market?
[Peterborough Downtown Farmers' Market]
[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]
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