Video: "Textuality" Film Premiere At The Venue

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Man Wearing "Born To Fish" T-Shirt Catches Walter At Greenwing Fishing Derby

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[chextvDOTcom]

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The Impact Of Peterborough's "Creative Class" On Local Economic Innovation & Growth

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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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Video: Mother's Day Jane's Walk In The Patch In Honour Of Jane Jacobs

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PtboPics: Saturday Farmer's Market Moves Outdoors For the Season

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[Peterborough and District Farmers Market]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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"Sleepy" Bobcaygeon Is Getting Busy Preparing For 25,000 Tragically Hip Fans Who Are Ready To Rock

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City officials are "hoping for the best but are planning for the worst" for the Big Music Fest hitting there June 25th and starring the Hip. This will be the biggest show ever to enter the Kawartha Lakes region.

[chextvDOTcom; Tragically Hip - "Bobcaygeon"]

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"Peteborough As A Welcoming Community" Photo Contest

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Peterborough Partnership Council on Immigrant Integration is hosting a photo contest in which you can send a maximum of three photos showcasing "Peterborough as a Welcoming Community." Photos can be sent up until May 15, 2011 to ppcii.ptbo@gmail.com.  

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Stuff to Do in Peterborough This Weekend

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Friday

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels presented by The Peterborough Theatre Guild, Showplace Performance Centre, 8 p.m. Tickets $25/Adults, $22/Senior, $15 Student 

Chasing Darkness at Market Hall, 8 p.m., $18 adult/$12 Students or Seniors

Saturday

Jane's Walk - Jackson Park Walking Tour, 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 

YWCA Freedom Walk, Nicholl's Oval, 10 a.m. 

Peterborough Wellness Expo, Evinrude Centre, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission $5

Peterborough Memorial Centre presents Charley Pride, 3 p.m. Tickets $66.50-76.50

Jane's Walk - Downtown Brick Work, 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. 

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels presented by The Peterborough Theatre Guild, Showplace Performance Centre, 8 p.m. Tickets $25/Adults, $22/Senior, $15 Student

Chasing Darkness at Market Hall, 8 p.m., $18 adult/$12 Students or Seniors

Peterborough Roller Derby Fundraiser - Raise Hell, The Red Dog, Tickets $10/in advance, $12/at the door [Related Link]

Sunday

MOTHER'S DAY!

Jane's Walk - Peterborough: A River Runs Through It, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 

Our Space Benefit, Trentwinds International Centre, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Tickets $10 or 2 for $15

Jane's Walk - A Walk Through the Auburn, 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels presented by The Peterborough Theatre Guild, Showplace Performance Centre, 2 p.m. Tickets $25/Adults, $22/Senior, $15 Student

 

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

PtboPics & Video: Women's Business Network Of Peterborough Celebrates 50th Anniversary

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Congrats to the Women's Business Network of Peterborough, which celebrated its 50th Anniversary last night at The Venue.

Hosts for the evening were WBN's Co-chairs Amy Simpson & Jocasta Boone

Jocasta gives us a walk through the decades and the rise of women's rights and influences 

A look back at the beginning of the WBN

 Jocasta Boone wins the Member of the Year awardKeynote speaker and fiddler Natalie MacMaster

 

 

 

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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PtboCanada Was There: Canadian Canoe Museum Welcomes Peterborough Paddling Club

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Last night, the Canadian Canoe Museum hosted the inaugural membership event for the Peterborough Paddling Club. Local author and canoe expert Kevin Callan and the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park Superintendent, Paul Smith, both were speakers.
 
Peterborough Paddling Club (PPC) is looking to bring together the local paddling community and promote the healthy pastime with local excursions. Starting May 11th, the PPC will be holding Wednesday night local paddling trips to destinations such as Omemee-Emily Park, Lakefield Beach and Marsh, Stoney Lake, Young's Point, Warsaw/Indian River, Coon Lake, Otonabee River and Lovesick Lake. There will also be multi-day excursions in the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park this year. Sign up on their webpage to attend these events.
 

Kevin Callan signing his latest book "Top 50 Canoe Routes of Ontario"

For more on the Peterborough Paddling Club, go to their Facebook page or to their website.
 
[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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