August 24, 2014

PTBOCanada Spotlight: The Couples Resort Is A Beautiful Getaway In Algonquin Park

August 24, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

The Couples Resort is a stunning 5-star luxury couples lakefront resort located in Algonquin Park on Galeairy Lake, just over a couple of hours away from Peterborough. It is the perfect place for couples who crave romance and intimacy in a relaxed, beautiful setting. Couples are pampered with incredible accomodations, customer service, spa, gourmet meals and wine, and can participate in endless activities and adventures from canoeing to mountain biking—with idyliic Algonquin Park serving as your backdrop. The resort has breathtaking wilderness, pure fresh air, secluded forests and pristine waters. It is the ideal getaway for couples, and gets rave reviews and many repeat customers. Here are pictures to give you a flavour of what to expect...

The view from the other side of the lake of Couples Resort

Art gallery & studio located right on the Couples Resort property

For more on Couples Resort, go to their website, Facebook page and Twitter page. If you're considering a Fall getaway that's close to Peterborough and the Kawarthas, keep the Couples Resort top of mind! You can book online here.

August 20, 2014

13 Historical Facts About Indigenous People In Peterborough Area

August 20, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

Peterborough and the Kawarthas has an amazing native history and culture. Thanks to Rosanna Haroutounian for compiling this listicle for us...

1. Peterborough is the native territory of the Anishinaabeg, a group of indigenous people comprised of the Ojibwa, Odawa, Potawatami, Chippewa, Mississauga, Algonquin, and Delaware communities who controlled the Great Lakes Basin since the late 1600s.

2. Before it became known as Peterborough, the area was called Nogojiwanong, Ojibwa for “place at the end of rapids.”

3. The shores of the Odenabe River were a gathering place for indigenous people. Odenabe, or Otonabee, means “river that beats like a heart.”

4. Anishinaabemowin was widely spoken by the indigenous people in the area before indigenous languages and cultural practices were replaced by English and Christianity through the residential school system.

5. Through the treaties and land claims processes, Hiawatha First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Alderville First Nation, and the Mississaugas of Scugog First Nation have been established in the Peterborough area. These nations refer to themselves officially as Mississaugas.

6. By some accounts, the Mississaugas moved to southern Ontario, including the Peterborough area, from their homeland north of Lake Huron at the start of the 1700s. According to Curve Lake First Nation, however, the Mississaugas were originally from the Peterborough area. They migrated to the Mississauga River at the North shore of Lake Huron in the mid 1600s. They lived there temporarily to avoid disease and conflict resulting from British and French competition over the fur trade.

7. When Elsie Knott became chief of Curve Lake First Nation in 1954, she became the first Anishnaabe Kwe O’gimaa, or Native Female Chief, in Canada.

8. The first Mission House in Peterborough County was built at Rice Lake, present-day Hiawatha First Nation, in 1823. The Mission house, or church, was Methodist. It became Hiawatha United between 1925 and 1929.

9. Nathan Baggs, the first Methodist Missionary in Western Ontario, baptized Chief Paudash and most of his band at present-day Hiawatha First Nation in about 1820.

10. When Trent University established the Indian-Eskimo Studies Program in 1969, it became the first university in North America to have a department dedicated to the study of Aboriginal people. The program became the Department of Native Studies in 1972, leading the way for other native studies programs in Canada.

11. In 1978, Trent became the first Canadian university to establish a four-year Indigenous Studies Bachelor of Arts honours program, and in 1986, the Department of Native Studies at Trent worked with the Trent Frost Centre for Native Studies and Canadian Studies to develop the first Master of Arts program in Native Studies.

12. The first Native Studies PhD program in Canada was launched at Trent University in 1997. Its first graduates were awarded PhDs in 2005. In 2006, the Department of Native Studies changed its name to Indigenous Studies.

13. As part of the new four-year indigenous studies program, courses in the Anishnaabe and Mohawk languages were offered for the first time at a Canadian university. Trent University hired elders as course instructors to teach language and indigenous culture courses.

—guest post by Rosanna Haroutounian

[photos via hiawathafirstnation.com]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

August 19, 2014

47 Tall Tales About Peterborough, Canada

August 19, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

These facts are all totally pretty much not true...

1. The Peterborough Lift Lock was originally constructed to be a giant boat teeter-totter.

2. Someone once went over Peterborough Falls at Millennium Park in a barrel.

3. Peterborough is the LARPing capital of Central Ontario

4. Little Lake was once called Big Lake.

Del Crary Park (photo courtesy David Feeley)

5. Del Crary Park was man-made and constructed in the shape of a pizza slice.

6. Northcrest Arena is built over a lost treasure of Peterborough sports trophies from the the early 20th century.

7. There are a vast array of tunnels connecting Trent University and Fleming College. There is also possibly a small community of people who live in them, a secret society.

8. The superslide at Riverview Park & Zoo was originally going to be constructed to extend right into the Otonabee.

9. Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch and Jason Dunn (formerly of Hawk Nelson) grew up playing ball hockey against each other.

10. Peterborough was originally thought to be named after Peter Pan. (The thought of our city being nicknamed “Never Never Land” was a bit of a turn off.)

11. Brad Pitt once hung out at Spanky's.

12. Jackson's Park was Canada’s first ever open-concept zoo, with free roaming large animals walking around.

Peterborough streetcars in olden days on George St.

13. A Peterborough streetcar once went all the way to downtown Toronto.

14. The pavement on Charlotte St. is Canada’s oldest serving road surface.

15. Before becoming a World Championship wrestler, Bobby Roode had dreams of being a professional shuffleboard player.

16. The Centennial Fountain at Little Lake continuously sprays Fresca, not water.

17. The City Court House served as the inspiration for the Hall of Justice in Super Friends.

18. Peterborough-raised Sebastian Bach got his break in the music business as the 6th member of New Kids on the Block.

19. Wild Water and Wheels was built with the idea of it eventually becoming Canada’s largest amusement park.

20. There is a secret vault at City Hall full of Quaker granola bars and Minute Maid in case a city wide food shortage ever arises.

21. The iconic Hi Tops sign went on a National Tour across Canada.

22. The term “Canadian Tuxedo” referring to a denim outfit from head to toe was created in Peterborough in the mid-1980s.

23. Peterborough is the Plaid Capital of Canada.

24. Dick Todd still plans on returning to coach the Petes on two more different occasions.

25. Quaker Oats invented the concept of people being happy about what they ate for breakfast.

26. There is a giant rainbow protecting downtown Peterborough

27. 95 percent of all people in Peterborough have had at least one make-out session on Armour Hill.

28. Much like London Bridges, the Hunter St Bridge was originally built up with wood and clay, wood and clay, wood and clay.

John Grant picture via PeterboroughLakers.ca

29. The Peterborough Lakers eat Cap'n Crunch as a team in the dressing room before every game.

30. Canoeists often break out in random gunwale bobbing on the Otonabee.

Telephone construction crew on Brock St. circa 1905

31. Brock Street has actually had high speed internet access since the early 20th century (see picture below).

32. From the air, Peterborough’s boundary is actually shaped like a baby T-Rex holding an ice cream cone.

33. The term "hipster" was actually invented by Mike Watt during one of his talking out loud dreams in 1996.

34. David Koski and Zach Galifianakis are the same person.

35. Gerti Sina is Mike Judson's shorter, older brother.

36. Canada’s first mini portable pickleball court was designed and built by Canadian General Electric in Peterborough.

37. Ping Pong is the unofficial official underground indie sport of Peterborough.

38. Ketchup is outlawed at Hot Belly Mamas. If you want a condiment, it has to at least be tabasco sauce.

39. The Peterborough Skateboard park is one of the largest continuously grafittied skating surfaces in Ontario.

40. The Lift Lock tunnel is haunted, and Casper has been seen on multiple occasions.

41. The White House Hotel on Charlotte St. has been mistaken for The White House on occasion.

42. The "Love Tunnel" at the Peterborough Zoo has lead to thousands of marriages.

43. Peterborough Chamber CEO Stu Harrison once served as a body double for Bruce Willis.

44. There is a person living in the Market Hall clock, and they play around with the time sometimes depending on their mood.

45. The Peterborough Economic Development's Jamie Coughlin has longer sideburns than Jason Priestley and Luke Perry did on 90210.

46. Quaker Oats has a giant scent machine and controls which aromas we get to smell on any given day.

47. Poutine, Euchre, The Caesar and The Mullet were all invented here.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

August 12, 2014

The Peterborough Patchbus Is Just About The Coolest Camper Van Ever

August 12, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

The Wolf's Ken Elrick II—aka "Dr Patchbeard"—has the hippest set of wheels anywhere. Here, in his own words, he tells us about "The Patchbus"...

The Patchbus is a 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Camper that I purchased in the fall of 2012 from a nice hippie couple in Cobourg. I've been interested in cars my whole life and had been looking for a while for a project car to play around with. The idea of buying a VW bus didn't really cross my mind until my dad got one of his own about a year prior. Since buying it, I've learned a lot about working on it, having swapped the engine out myself. I've used it as a daily driver around Peterborough as well as gone on road trips and camping trips with it. The pop-top and bunk beds allow for four to sleep comfortably—as long as they don't mind cuddling a little bit—so it's perfect for long trips. One day, it will take me across the country. One day. —Ken Elrick II

Here's a bunch of pictures of The Patchbus...

Ken Elrick going up the country in The Patchbus

At The Wolf/Kruz, VIP Parking for The Patchbus

Someone told The Patchbus it's all happening at the zoo

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

August 02, 2014

Go Get Your "I'd Rather Be In Peterborough" T-Shirt Along The Otonabee

August 02, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

These beauty tees are available at Pedal 'N' Paddle below Silver Bean Café at Millennium Park. Buy one, and tweet us pictures of you rocking one. Community pride.

Twitter is talking them up...

Friday Fun Fact: The I'd Rather Be in Peterborough logo was designed by the one and only George Elliott in the 1970s pic.twitter.com/7SEWAIl3AO
— Pete Dalliday (@petedalliday) August 1, 2014

Come and get one! #PedalNPaddle below @silverbeancafe @clairewrites @petedalliday @downtownPtbo @ptbochamber pic.twitter.com/ASvEucVGQL
— Lloyd Graham (@LEGnCAS) August 1, 2014

Who wouldn't? @EileenKimmett #PedalNPaddle @silverbeancafe @pktourism @clairewrites @downtownPtbo @Ptbo_Canada pic.twitter.com/ObyeBh14Qc
— Lloyd Graham (@LEGnCAS) August 1, 2014

After work I'm going to the #PedalAndPaddle to grab one of these sweet retro @Ptbo_Canada T's @LEGnCAS @petedalliday pic.twitter.com/Qydrg4rPpK
— Matty Buller (@TheMainEventMB) August 2, 2014

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

July 25, 2014

We Take You For A Paddle Boat Ride Around Peterborough

July 25, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

Our lifestyle reporter Julie Morris, along with her friend Tracey Johnston, set out on a paddle boat ride on the Otonabee River and Little Lake on Friday (July 25th)...

. @CupcakeJu and I have started our paddling adventure @Ptbo_Canada #pedalandpaddle #paddleboat pic.twitter.com/PIKJf6tjfK
— Tracey Johnston (@TraceyMJohnston) July 25, 2014

There is nothing better than being a tourist in your own city! Here are some pictures they snapped along the way...

Selfie: Tracey Johnston and Julie Morris

Yep, awesome city indeed.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

July 24, 2014

A Look From High Above At 14,500 People In Peterborough Rocking Out To Tegan & Sara

July 24, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

Tegan and Sara put on an amazing free show last night (July 23rd) in front of about 14,500 fans at Del Crary park as part of Peterborough Musicfest. And the action was caught from above by a plane.

"Musicfest trys to get some aerial footage of one show a year," explains David Feeley, Musicfest board member and TVCogeco Manager, Programming & Community Relations. "This year, TVCogeco did a rental for an hour to get our own footage from around the city and the park." Take a look below at the aerial pictures TVCogeco supplied to us...

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

July 15, 2014

Cycle Tourism Signage Program & Digital Route Mapping To Launch In Peterborough & Kawarthas

July 15, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

Photo courtesy Sean Arruda (via Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism)

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism, part of Peterborough Economic Development, and Shimano Canada have partnered to create a new, marketable cycle tourism product. The multi-phase project will focus on a series of varied length cycling routes joining the County of Peterborough and the City of Peterborough through a regional cycling signage program and digital route mapping. These permanently sign-posted routes will take riders off of the beaten path, and introduce them to the best roads our region has to offer. The routes utilize scenic country roads throughout the County and tie into a number of trail systems in the City of Peterborough to highlight popular routes which are enjoyed by many of the area’s passionate local cyclists, but are yet to be discovered by visitors to the area—as cycle tourism contines to grow in popularity.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

July 10, 2014

PTBOCanada Sponsored Post: Win An E-Bike This Summer From Kawartha TV & Stereo!

July 10, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

Kawartha TV & Stereo wants to help celebrate the fun that is Peterborough in summer! They're giving away an E-Bike valued at more than $1,000 so you can cruise around to all of the great places that make our awesome city awesome, and be a tourist in your own town! The Tokyo E-Bike from Daymak has a 500W motor and a top speed of 32kph, ensuring you’ll make it to your destination in plenty of time. Kawartha TV & Stereo has an extensive E-Bike and scooter collection at the store, and they are always happy to pair somebody up with their dream-green-electric-machine!

HOW TO ENTER E-BIKE CONTEST!

To enter Kawartha TV & Stereo's Awesome Summer E-Bike Giveaway and have a chance to win the Tokyo E-Bike from Daymak (pictured at right and below around town), simply go to kawarthatv.com/flyers and sign up for their newsletter before July 31st. It's as easy as that. You’ll not only be entered to win the E-Bike by signing up—the draw is on July 31st—but you’ll also be automatically entered into every monthly draw they have for as long as you stay subscribed to the newsletter.

"Like" Kawartha TV & Stereo on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for more information and updates as they get closer to the big draw on July 31st!

Enter now, and have a look at the E-Bike that could be yours...

Remember to enter Kawartha TV & Stereo's Awesome Summer E-Bike Giveaway by going to kawarthatv.com/flyers and signing up for their newsletter! The draw is July 31st from that list of names.

For more info on Kawartha TV & Stereo (188 Park St. S) go to:

Website: KawarthaTV.com
Facebook: KawarthatTV
Twitter: @KawarthaTV
Contest/Newsletter Signup: KawarthaTV.com/flyers
Email: sales@kawarthatv.com
Phone: 705.740.0000

***If your business/organization is interested in a PTBOCanada Featured or Sponsored Post Advertorial, email sales@ptbocanada.com for info!

July 04, 2014

Here Are Photos Of A $80 Million Cham Shan Buddhist Temple Being Constructed Near Peterborough

July 04, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

There is a massive $80 million Cham Shan Buddhist retreat temple project under development on Ski Hill Road near Bethany (about 30 minutes south of Peterborough) by the Buddhist Association of Canada that I toured. It will be a re-creation of the Sacred Mountains of China. The largest Buddhist complex outside of China, it is being constructed over the next 20 years, with the main temple opening in the next couple of years. Conservative estimates are it will attract about 45,000 visitors annually from around the world, a potential boom to tourism in the area. The site was chosen because of its serenity and tranquility in a natural environment, perfect for a retreat.

The wooden temple was actually built in China, then taken apart and shipped to Canada. It will take about two years to re-assemble. There are no nails or glue, just interlocking rosewood brackets. The site, which will be a meditation centre, will also eventually feature a gift shop, restaurant and onsite accommodation. Here are pictures of what it looks like now during construction, and what it will look like upon completion. —Jamey Coughlin