Peterborough Blogs
The Boro Announces First Holiday Shopping Passport Early Bird Winner
/Derek Banville has won The Boro’s first Holiday Shopping Passport early bird draw of 2021.
Derek Baneville with Wild Rock Outfitters owner Scott Murison. Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA.
Banville’s completed Holiday Shopping Passport was drawn on Dec. 1 at The Pasta Shop located at 165 Sherbrooke St. in downtown Peterborough.
Banville’s winning passport came from Wild Rock Outfitters, where he purchased a new bike for his son’s November birthday. Derek was granted his $500 Boro gift card prize by shop owner Scott Murison at Wild Rock Outfitters on Dec. 2.
“My family loves shopping at Wild Rock. It’s our go-to place for camping gear. We are so grateful to win the first Holiday Shopping Passport draw of the year- and can’t wait to add a little more adventure under the tree this holiday season with our prize money,” said Banville.
Locals are encouraged to pick up a Holiday Shopping Passport at any one of the 150+ participating shops, boutiques, salons, restaurants, and cafes in downtown Peterborough. Each completed Holiday Shopping Passport increases the chance to win up to $1,500 in Boro gift cards.
With the holidays currently in full swing- there are still lots of opportunities to win BIG this festive season with two more $500 early bird draws coming up this December and the $1,500 grand prize in early January:
Early Bird #2 — $500, Dec. 8.
Early Bird #3 — $500, Dec. 15.
Grand Prize — $1,500, Jan. 12.
During Holiday Passport season shoppers receive a stamp every time they spend $10 at a participating downtown business. When a passport is filled (20 stamps), Passport holders simply complete the contact form located at the bottom of their passport and drop it off at a ballot box at any participating business.
Eager stamp collectors are welcome to collect free stamps at the Peterborough Public Library, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Visitors Centre, and the Boro Holiday Hub (located at 373 George St.)
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Hobby Shop Welcomes Gaming Community Back For In-Store Play
/Local hobby store Dueling Grounds is open again for in-store play, welcoming its tight-knit community back together after a long separation due to COVID-19.
Wayne Mittelstaedt (pictured) opened Dueling Grounds in Toronto for over a decade before moving to Peterborough. The store had its grand opening in town on July 2, 2017. Photo by Angela O’Grady.
The store is located at 304 George St N Unit 200 and holds the largest selection of new and used tabletop games in Peterborough.
Since its opening in 2017, players have flocked to the store to play games such as Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game, Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering, Pokémon and Warhammer.
When the pandemic hit, owner Wayne Mittelstaedt closed the store and quickly shifted to curbside pickup and delivery only.
“My passion has always been to create a community, bring people together and to play games. That’s why I opened the store,” said Mittelstaedt. “To lose that part of the business was really disheartening. It was a real struggle just to stay open. We were just trying to survive.”
The store has ran several charity events such as food drives and cancer fundraisers. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
When restrictions lifted and he was able to reopen the store to shoppers, he was hesitant to invite gamers in for play. As someone who is immunocompromised, he was unsure how safe he felt re-opening.
“We’ve had some setbacks. We’re re-opening a lot later than a lot of other places,” he said. “ The space itself is working against us because we’re a unit inside of another so we don’t have windows we can open. We have to now rely on the AC units for airflow.”
Solomon Skuljicak (left) and Joshua Butcher (right) playing the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game at the store’s weekly tournaments. The store hosts several weekly events and tournaments for several card and tabletop games. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The store officially re-opened for in-store play on Nov. 18.
“It filled my heart with a little bit of joy that had been missing,” reflected Mittelstaedt.
Building the community is more important than the games themselves according to the hobby store owner.
“This place brings together a gaming community,” said Mittelstaedt. “I’ve had more than one person say they’ve met their significant other here, I even had one person invite me to their wedding.”
Mittelstaedt’s main goal is to create a space where anyone feels comfortable.
“I’ve always considered the community I build as a safe space for everyone,” he said. “I have a place here where anybody is welcome and they feel included, safe and supported.”
The store is now open for in-person shopping, in-person play and can be booked for gaming events in advance.
Hours for in-store shopping are Tues.–Wed. 12:00-7:00 p.m., Thurs.-Fri. 12:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
For event times, visit Dueling Grounds Facebook page.
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Ice Cream Parlour Challenges Community To Fill Their Truck For Local Food Bank
/One of Central Smith Creamery’s trucks will be filled with non-perishable food instead of ice cream for three weeks as they and over 20 other businesses, schools and organizations are gathering items for Kawartha Food Share beginning Friday.
Steve Paul, logistics manager (pictured) has been working for Central Smith Creamery for the past seven years. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The local creamery is challenging the community to drop off any non-perishable goods to any participating location in the Peterborough and surrounding area from Nov. 26 to Dec. 17. Residents can also drop their items at Central Smith.
On the final day, the Selwyn-based business will collect the goods from each drop-off spot and deliver them to Kawartha Food Share.
The following is a list of participating businesses:
Modern Makers Market
Hanoi House
Taso’s
SOS Save Our Soles
Apollo Grill
The Pizza Factory
Two Dishes Cookshop
Jesse’s Tap & Grill
Kawartha Buttertart Factory
Great Canadian RV
Flossophy
Ennismore Eagles
Applewood Retirement Residence
Nateure’s Plate
Chemong Public School
Women’s Business Network of Peterborough
McWilliams Moving & Storage Ltd.
Hi Ho Silver
Kia Peterborough
Full Tilt Cycle
Dan Joyce Clothing
Sullivan Law
Publican House Brewery
Style Boutique
Holiday Inn
Lakefield Herald
Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
Some businesses may not be able to hold and store the donated items and can ask for monetary donations instead.
Peppermint Bark is one of the featured ice cream flavours for Central Smith during the holiday season. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The food drive is a part of an annual community event the creamery runs during the holiday season.
“We always do something every year for Christmas time,” said Jillian Scates, Central Smith project manager. “We did a toy drive the year before. We thought this year we would do something for the community, challenge other businesses to get involved and donate during the holiday season.”
The following are the non-perishable food items that are being requested:
Cereal
Beans and Legumes
Peanut Butter
Rice Pasta Granola Bars
Canned Vegetables
Canned Fruit
Soup
Pasta Sauce
Chili
Children's Snacks
Stews Oats
Canned Meats
Condiments
Spices
Broth / Stock
Cooking Oil
Juices
The Boro Opens Holiday Hub Downtown To Spread The Christmas Magic
/A new festive pit stop for holiday shoppers has opened downtown Peterborough, to brighten the streetscape along George Street between Simcoe and Hunter.
Elves will wrap gifts at the Holiday hub every Friday. Photo by Angela O’Grady.
Located in the former Pensieri Shoe store at 373 George St., the pop-up Holiday Hub will provide complimentary gift-wrapping services for all downtown shoppers.
With two ‘elves’ on scene, any shopper with a gift purchased downtown (receipt required) can get that gift wrapped every Friday from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. until Dec. 17.
The new hub will also host a local toy drive in support of the Salvation Army and The Children’s Foundation. Visitors are also invited to take a selfie with the Grinch of George Street, painted by local artist Tim Wales and colour a picture of their own.
“We wanted placemake this space and turn it into a space where people could gather and enjoy all the magic that is the holidays, while getting some perks for shopping downtown,” said Hillary Flood, Peterborough DBIA. “We also will be turning it into a holiday market where you can enjoy a slew of local art vendors that will be happening on December 11 and 18.”
Initially, the Holiday Hub was initialized by The Boro as a ‘placemaking’ initiative to help animate a section of George Street that was under construction.
While the construction wrapped up sooner than anticipated the Holiday Hub will still act as a place to enjoy the holiday season.
“The idea behind it all is that when you have closed store fronts it can make the downtown feel kind of drab. So this is the first model of a positive intervention where we take over a store front for whatever reason and turn it into something that people want to gather in.”
The space being used for the Holiday Hub was donated to The Boro by Gentry Apparel, who own the building.
The Holiday hub will be open Fridays 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday Dec 11 and 18 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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Adopt a Grandparent Campaign To Bring Christmas Cheer To Rubidge Retirement Residence
/Michelle Allen, who’s grandparents live at Rubidge Retirement Residence, is hosting an ‘Adopt a Grandparent’ campaign with her young daughters in hopes to bring the Christmas spirit to residents.
Michelle Allen’s Grandfather Carmelo Grixti. Photo courtesy of Allen.
Allen’s grandparents moved from their home in Toronto to Rubidge Retirement Residence last year to be closer to their daughter that lives in Buckhorn.
“I was there not too long ago and just seeing my grandparents changed completely just made me feel like they need a little bit extra this year,” said Allen. “They were taken from their house that they raised their entire family in, and now they’re in a tiny little room, they don’t go anywhere. Those people did everything for me when I was growing up and now seeing them - it’s hard.”
In hopes to make the holidays feel a bit more comfortable, Allen, her daughters and her daughters classes are making cards and gift bags for residents.
With one donation of $25 supporters will ‘adopt’ a grandparent. With that donation each grandparent will receive a top-of-the-line bottle of foot/hand lotion, a pair of cozy socks, and personalized Christmas card.
Photo courtesy of Allen.
Allan is aiming to have all 142 residents and staff ’adopted’ by the first week of December so her and her daughters have enough time to wrap each gift and hand deliver them.
“It’s instilling in my daughters that the season isn’t about ‘what’s Santa bringing me’ it’s about giving to others and getting joy from that.”
To donate, reach out to Michelle at 647-989-0147 or at mallen88@live.com with any questions, or with an e-transfer.
Anyone that donated will be entered in a draw to win a gift basket.
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St Peter Teacher Running 100km Over 18 Hours Straight After Impressive Terry Fox Campaign
/UPDATED: 9:40 a.m. Nov. 26, 2021.
Mme. Julie Vallieres, a teacher at St Peter Secondary School, is aiming to run 100 km, running from 3:00 p.m. on Thursday to 9:00 a.m. on Friday.
Photo courtesy of Julie Vallieres.
When the annual Terry Fox campaign at St Peter launched in October, Vallieres vowed to do this run if students raised over $30,000. A small group of teachers also promised to camp outside the school Thursday night.
Students surpassed the goal on Oct. 27 with a final tally of over $33,000.
“I’m not an athlete, I’m just someone who started running for my physical and mental health,” said Vallieres. “I’m not fast, I just know that when I set a goal I will reach it. I just get so much confidence from it.”
Photos courtesy of Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic School Board
Her goal for the overnight run is 100 km over the span of 18 hours. She will periodically be joined by other teachers though she warned them she will not be slowing down for them.
“This challenge - when you compare to what Terry Fox did- it’s nothing,” said Vallieres. “I’m healthy, I’ve got both my legs. This is not a big challenge. Like Terry Fox said ‘Anything is possible when you try. Often the limits you give yourself, that’s you limiting what you can do.”
Vallieres bib has a quote in both French and English to represent St Peters French immersion program. Photo courtesy of Julie Vallieres.
