PtboCanada Was There: Peterborough Snofest Opening Ceremonies

The Scroll and Bow Strings Orchestra marked the opening of Peterborough Snofest today with a musical treat. Headed by Lakefield College music teacher John Kraus, they delighted the audience with their festive music.

Master of Ceremonies Catherine Hanrahan (pictured above) introduced many VIPs, including Mayor Daryl Bennett (pictured cutting the ribbon below), MPP Jeff Leal, Councillor Lesley Parnell and Snofest mascot Snofest Pete.

The ribbon cutting ceremony opens a week of events which can be viewed on their calendar, including Sunday's Snofest Idol at 2 p.m. at Showplace (free admission with nonperishable food donation is appreciated) and numerous food and game events throughout the week.

[Snofest]

[Words and Pictures by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Some of the Stuff PtboCanada Has Covered This Year

So we started this blog all about Peterborough in May. And it's been fun. Really fun. Peterborough, you rock. In one long run-on sentence, here's some of the stuff we've covered since we launched about 8 months ago: 

We've covered the life of a Peterborough ER doctor, Jake's closure, The International Dragon Boat Festival, Reggie's HotGrill, a smoking dude on a bike during the gas leak, Have You Seen Video..., a rock star of posters, a guy who draws, a mural man, the Christmas Parade, the Canada Day Parade, the Arkells at the Red Dog, happy people, people lying down, an anti-bullying event, a breakfast program, a zombie crawl, a yarn shop, a snow sculpture, an email that was the talk of the mayoral race, the YWCA shelter, a cheesy store, a book store, a person who misses Peterborough, the CIBC Run for the Cure, a dude who called on a wrestler in the Memorial Centre parking lot, awesome bands, the Peterborough Folk Festival, Focus Fair, 3 Loonie event, the Old Stone Symphony, Dean Del Mastro yearbook pics, Jay Scotland and Lois Tuffin taking a dip, beaches, bars & restaurants, Peterborough Square in 1987, Sarah Harmer at the Gordon Best, Twitterborough, and a BIG garage sale.

Thanks to all our contributors and readers, and all those who have been tipping us and following us on Twitter. Please continue to spread the word about PtboCanada.

[Related: Video: Peterborough Year in Review]

VIDEO: Peterborough Year in Review

2010 has been quite the eventful year in the Patch. Here's a sampling—in video—of some of the stuff that went down here this year. In no particular order (by date or ranking), here it goes:

The gas leak...

Flash mob at Fleming College...

Jay Scotland busted on "COPS Peterborough" for a good cause...

Jeff Martin covering "Love Will Tear Us Apart" at The Red Dog...

Coach Greg Walsh stands up for his player against racism...

Showdown at City Council between Paul Ayotte & Patti Peeters...

3 Loonies event for Kawartha Food Share...

The Terry Fox Run at Nicholls Oval ...

New YWCA shelter opens...

The Silver Hearts perform on Hunter Street after last call...

The Olde Stone Symphony...

Sebastian Bach arrested at Riley's...

Tim Horton's commercial that was filmed in East City...

Blue Rodeo at Showplace...

What do you think the most important moments/events were in Peterborough this year?

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Jay Scotland Teams Up With Dave Devall For A Great Cause

Clockwise from left: Graham Hart, Wally Macht, Jay Scotland & Dave Devall

The Salvation Army have been setting up their Christmas Kettle Campaign annually for the past 118 years, with the first kettle in Canada operating from St. John's, Newfoundland in 1906.   

On Saturday (December 18th), CHEX TV's Jay Scotland and Graham Hart, along with former broadcaster Wally Macht and former CTV weatherman Dave Devall, were on hand at Lansdowne Place encouraging donations to one of the many kettles throughout the city.

Many folks gathered and listened to the festive music from The Salvation Army Canadian Brass Band, and placed a donation in the kettle. (You can also donate online.) 

[Words by PtboCanada's Julie Morris; picture by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Peterborough Raises More Than $100,000 For Kawartha Food Share At 3 Loonie Event

The Wolf's TJ Connors broadcasting live at 3 Loonie event this morningCongrats Peterborough, you raised more than $100,000 for Kawartha Food Share this morning at the annual 3 Loonie event outside the studios of The Wolf and Kruz FM in downtown Peterborough. Amazing. Our city rocks.

[Picture by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Could You Be The Next Snofest Idol In The Patch?

2010 Snofest Idol winner Shannon StoobachIf you’re 14 to 22 years of age and think you’ve got what it takes to be the next Snofest Idol, fill out an entry form (you can download the 2011 Snofest Idol Entry Form from the homepage of the Peterborough Snofest website) and return it (along with a demo CD) to Showplace Performance Centre by Friday, December 17th. Completed entry forms and demo MP3s can also be emailed to Kruz FM's Catherine Hanrahan, who is media liaison for Snofest: Peterborough's Winter Carnival, which takes place January 8th to the 16th.

Selected contestants will be contacted by December 22nd, 2010, and should come prepared to sing two songs at the Snofest Idol Contest at Showplace (290 George Street North) on Sunday, January 9th at 2 p.m.

The winner gets a three-hour recording session, a photo shoot and $200. Second place takes home $100, and third place $50.

For more information, contact Catherine Hanrahan or Showplace at 705.742.7469.

[Snofest: Peterborough's Winter Carnival]

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PtboPics: The New City Council Is In The House

Former mayors Sylvia Sutherland and Paul Ayotte were in attendance at the Inauguration of Peterborough City Council today. It should be an interesting and—hopefully—highly productive and transparent four years with Mayor Daryl Bennett and the new City Council, which is composed of a mix of rookies and seasoned veterans.

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Video: The Venue's Grand Opening Was Last Night

[YouTube]

[Related: What About A Designated "Entertainment District" for Peterborough?]

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Red Pashmina Campaign To Empower Women Debuts At Peterborough Santa Claus Parade

Red Pashmina Campaign, a grassroots organization determined to empower women locally and around the world, is set to debut their initiative this Saturday (December 4th) at the Santa Claus Parade in Peterborough. The campaign is raising funds for a maternity clinic in Afghanistan—a country with the second highest infant mortality rate in the world—through the sale of red pashminas.

But in tandem with this effort, the campaign is asking Peterborough residents to nominate women in their own community who are making an impact. Residents can nominate women of their choice by purchasing a red pashmina. Red Pashmina Campaign volunteers will be handing out nomination forms on Saturday afternoon, and following the parade, pashminas will be available to purchase ($15 for one or two for $25). They will also be available for sale at a variety of locations around the Patch in the next few weeks.

For more info, call 705.559.9977 or email redpashminacampaign@gmail.com.

[Red Pashmina Campaign]

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Pictured: The front side of the postcard that will be handed out at the parade

PtboPics: Arkells At The Red Dog

Thanks to Michael Hurcomb for supplying these great shots to PtboCanada from the Arkells amazing sold-out gig last night that may go down as one of the best performances ever at The Red Dog.

To view more of Michael's photos from the gig, click here.

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