Stuff To Do In Peterborough This Weekend

Frosty glass at the King St. Parking Garage. Photo: Evan HoltFriday:

Harry Manx presents Folk Under the Clock at Showplace Performance Centre - 8 p.m. Tickets $37.50

Peterborough Theatre Guild presents Art - 8 p.m. Tickets $18, $16/seniors, $10/students

Saturday:

Heritage Week Final day of this event with activities taking place throughout the city.

The Art School of Peterborough hosts the 1st Annual Art-a-Thon - Noon to Midnight, $5

Snofest Family Skating at Evinrude Center - 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. - Free

Ron James at Showplace Performance Centre - 8 p.m. Tickets $54

Peterborough Green-Up Disco Fundraiser at Splice, 8 p.m. Tickets $25

Peterborough Theatre Guild presents Art - 8 p.m. Tickets $18, $16/seniors, $10/students

Sunday:

YMCA Half Marathon begins at 12:30 p.m. (123 Aylmer Street) More info here

Peterborough Theatre Guild presents Art - 2 p.m. Tickets $18, $16/seniors, $10/students

To submit info for "Stuff to do in the Patch This Weekend", email evan@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.

A Look At The New Route For This Weekend's YMCA Half Marathon In Peterborough

Alana Callan (middle) at the start of last year's YMCA Half MarathonThis weekend, I decided to try out the new YMCA Half Marathon route. I have never run an unfamiliar race route before race day, and since the route has changed and runs through the city of Peterborough this year, I decided to give it a try.

The 21.1 km route begins at the YMCA located on Alymer street and takes runners through familiar aspects of the city. Many parts of the route are regular running routes for locals (around the Lake, out to Trent etc.). Runners leave the YMCA and run up Alymer Street to Perry Street and proceed down Crescent Street past the Little Lake Cemetery and then head to Lansdowne Street. From Lansdowne, you run up to Ashburnham Road past the canal and turn on Hunter to go through the Lift Lock tunnel and up and over "Museum Hill" and turn down Armour Road. Runners take a long trip down Armour Road to the turn-around.

It is an "out and back" route, and on the way out I had decided I hate "out and back" routes. But once I turned and headed back, I decided I quite liked running "out and back," as the run back was nicely familiar. Runners who have run the YMCA Half Marathon in the past few years will enjoy this new route for the change of scenery. I don't think I'll need to "draft" behind another runner this year as I have done in the past while running out by the airport and battling the wind.

There are four water and toilet stations this year, and I've been told that the local fire department will be taking care of the water station near the Peterborough Lift Lock.

The 33rd annual YMCA Half Marathon in Peterborough is in support of the YMCA's Annual Strong Kids Campaign, which encourages the healthy growth and development of Peterborough's youth. There is still time to register for this great event. It takes place this Sunday (February 27) starting at 12:30 p.m. and you can choose either the 5 km or 21.1 km race. There is also a kids 1 km fun run which is very fun to watch.

Click here for a PDF of the detailed route map.

[Contributed by Alana Callan]

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PtboPics: Family Day At Ontario Speed Skating Oval In Lakefield

There was a great crowd out today for Family Day at the Oval in Lakefield. Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal was out with his family (see his picture below), and the ice conditions were pretty good considering the warm weather we've had of late, so kudos to the ice crew. People were able to try speed skates which were made available, and there were hot dogs and hot chocolate being served. It was fun in the sun.

[Ontario Speed Skating Oval]

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What You Would Do With Peterborough Square

Photo: Evan HoltSo we recently posed the question on Twitter, "Peterborough Square. If someone handed you the building, clean slate, what would you do with it?" We received a range of interesting answers. Among them:

-- "Demolish it, build a public square & park around Market Hall with ice rink, outdoor stage, greenspace. Parking underground." —Candace Shaw

-- "Peterborough Square: Casino!" —David Feeley

-- "Dr offices. Professional buiding." —Paul Laing

-- "Ptbo Square partly demolished. Keep the theatre and leave the lower level for offices. Above should be a conference centre!" —Justin Beaudoin

-- "Convention centre, arboretum w/ space for farmer's market, town square." —Bill Juby

-- "PTBO Square should be an international flea market." —Catherine Hanrahan

Several people on Twitter really liked Candace Shaw's idea above, with Alana Callan remarking, "It would really put the focus back on downtown as a communal place, the 'heart' of the city."

So what do you think? Perfect world, what would you do with Peterborough Square? Leave it as is? Tweak? Radical change? Comment below, or elaborate on some of the thoughts above. 

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The Peterborough Roller Derby League Is Looking For More Players And A Permanent Location

Photo via Roller derby's entry on WikipediaWith Roller derby being pitched to the Pan Am Games, the sport is growing like wildfire. Local teams are starting to pop up in the likes of Barrie, Haliburton, Toronto, Timmins—and now Peterborough.

Cindy Moffitt (aka "Lucid Lou" in the Roller derby world), recently founded the Peterborough Roller Derby League with help from Kim Firlotte (aka "Falldown Firlotte"). The first game is already booked, but they still need your help. They already have enough recruits to form a team, but are always looking for more players. "Even if you have no idea how to roller-skate, that's no problem," Moffitt told PtboCanada at a recent "meat and greet". Calling new recruits "fresh meat" sets the theme of roller derby, a fast paced full contact game on roller-skates. The only requirements are a helmet, mouth guard, knee pads, wrist guards, elbow pads and, of course, roller-skates (quad wheels only). To play, it costs $45 annually for insurance, $30 monthly and $20 to register.

While Peterborough Roller Derby will be training and practicing at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre, they are looking for a more permanent location that has room for 8,000 to 10,000 square feet for their oval track. The derby is also looking for sponsors to sign up, and a local graphic artist to help them create a logo.

Moffitt was "stoked" at the attendance of the first meeting and has big plans for the club. "The sport is good for self esteem and confidence," she says. Connect with the Peterborough Roller Derby on Facebook.

[Written by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

[Roller derby]

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Kids Show Off Their Hand-Crafted Cub Cars At Crestwood

On Saturday (February 5th), the annual Kawartha Waterways Scouts Canada Kub Kar Rally was held at Crestwood Secondary School. Cubs from across the Peterborough area came together to test the limits of their hand-crafted cub cars. Trophys and medals were presented for both stock and custom designs, fastest run of the day, and overall fastest cumulative time. More than 150 kids entered cars they customized and decorated. —Text and pics by PtboCanada's Jeffrey Macklin

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Stuff To Do In The Patch This Weekend (Including Watching A Polar Plunge!)

Saturday:

Peterborough Symphony Orchestra presents Latin Heat featuring Marion Newman - Showplace Performance Centre - 8 p.m.

Africville Productions presents Celebrating Difference - The Venue - 8 p.m., Tickets $25 at the door

Sunday:

Kawartha Wilds Tracking Club - 9 a.m., meet at the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre. An opportunity to track and trail local wildlife (map) - FREE 

Family Sundays at Art Gallery of Peterborough - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., FREE

31st Annual Polar Plunge (see graphic at right), Rotary Park, Ennismore - 2 p.m.

To submit info for "Stuff to do in the Patch This Weekend", email evan@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.

The Wolf's TJ Connors Does Fastest Lap Ever Around Memorial Centre Ice

From the skills competition portion of yesterday's United Way Hockey Challenge in Peterborough, which raised $165,000. Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo and Peter MacKay, Canada's Minister of National Defence, were among the celebrities participating in the charity game.

[YouTube via TJConnorsBlog]

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3rd Annual Hockey Day In Peterborough Is This Saturday

 This Saturday marks the 3rd year for Hockey Day in Peterborough. Be sure to be at our historic Liftlock by gametime at 12:30 p.m., or watch live coverage of all the games on TVCOGECO.

For additional info, you can also check out the Hockey Day in Peterborough Facebook page.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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