Bonnerworth Park Opening Celebration Date Changed to Saturday
/The official opening of the enhancements to Bonnerworth Park has been rescheduled from Thursday to Saturday at 1 p.m.
Photo bcourtesy of the City of Peterborough.
Peterborough Blogs
Burger Supremacy Runs In November For United Way's "Ultimate Burger Battle" Fundraiser
/United Way Peterborough & District has kicked off its first-ever Ultimate Burger Battle where local restaurants and Burger Ambassadors gathered for a ‘First Bite’ preview of this delicious new fundraiser at its facility on Thursday morning.
The Ultimate Burger Battle has been tested to delicious success in other communities, with United Way Thunder Bay launching the original event six years ago. Since then, it has expanded into a national event organized by United Ways across Canada, serving more than 60,000 burgers nationwide last year alone. SCreenshot, Instagram.
The month-long Burger Battle is a new community fundraiser that was announced during United Way’s Campaign Launch in late September.
Eight local restaurants have crafted a burger to battle for the title of Peterborough and County’s Ultimate Burger of the Year. For every burger sold throughout November, two dollars will be donated to United Way Peterborough & District to support its programs and services.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to bring the first-ever United Way Ultimate Burger Battle to Peterborough and District,” said Jim Russell, CEO of United Way Peterborough & District. “This campaign is a fun way to celebrate the creativity of our local restaurants while uniting the community around a shared cause. We’re especially proud to see participation from restaurants across both the City and County, a reflection of the wide reach and generosity of our region. Every Ultimate Burger sold helps build a stronger, more caring community, and I think that’s something we can all sink our teeth into.”
The Ultimate Burger Battle has showcases creations such as fish patties to burgers stacked high with pickled jalapeño peppers.
Restaurants joining Peterborough & District United Way’s inaugural Ultimate Burger Battle include:
The Dirty Burger Company
Double Dz's Diner
Agave by Imperial
The Vine
The Loon Lakefield
The Chemong Lodge
Pizza Villa & Pasta House
The Rink Tap & Grill
During November, a team of local Ultimate Burger Battle Ambassadors are tasting their way across Peterborough and the County, sharing their experiences, reviews, and behind-the-scenes peeks on social media.
This will help spotlight participating restaurants and encourage the community to join the fun by trying new burgers and voting for their favourites. Community members can get involved by voting online at uwpeterborough.ca for their favourite burger to help decide the People’s Choice Awards.
The Burger Ambassadors taking a bite include:
Laura Montague, PTBO Eaters
Dan O’Toole, BetRivers
Neil Morton, Consultant/ Entrepreneur, 2017 United Way Peterborough & District Campaign Chair
Tiffany Arcari, The Tiffany Show
Nour Mazloum, Peterborough DBIA
Pete Dalliday, TV Voice of the Lakers & Petes
Jason Wilkins, Muralist/ Illustrator
Paul Rellinger, Journalist, 2025 United Way Campaign Chair
“The Ultimate Burger Battle is a fantastic way to showcase the creativity and passion of our local restaurants,” said Nour Mazloum, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area executive director. “It’s more than just a culinary challenge; it’s an opportunity to bring people together, celebrate local talent, and support a meaningful cause. I’m excited to see our community come out, enjoy some incredible food, and cheer on their favourite spots in the spirit of friendly competition.”
“From the Adam Scott Cafeteria to Zeke’s — I’ve done the A-to-Z of Peterborough burgers,” said Pete Dalliday, Peterborough Lakers director of community engagement. “The Burger Battle just gives me another excuse to keep the streak going, support local spots, and have some fun for a great cause.”
The Ultimate Burger Battle Passport is available to help track burger adventures, and anyone who tries five or more burgers will have the chance to become an Ultimate Burger Battle Ambassador for 2026.
Workplaces can also get in on the fun through ‘Ultimate Burger Battle @ Work,’ a team lunch initiative that lets staff order burgers together in support of United Way workplace campaigns.
Proceeds support United Way Peterborough & District’s network of local agencies and initiatives working to address poverty and strengthen community well-being.
The Ultimate Burger of the Year, People’s Choice Winners and Most Burgers Sold will be crowned in early December.
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Fleming College Launches 'Fleming Ignites Magazine' To Highlight Its Community and Creative Impact
/The first issue of Fleming Ignites Magazine has been released, Fleming College’s new publication dedicated to celebrating its people, achievements and stories of its institution.
Photo courtesy of Fleming College.
Available in both print and digital formats, Fleming Ignites Magazine marks a new chapter in how the College shares its story, honouring its roots while embracing fresh and engaging ways to spotlight the energy, innovation, and community spirit that define Fleming according to Chris Jardine, Fleming associate vice president of marketing and advancement.
“This publication gives us the opportunity to share the Fleming story with purpose and clarity,” he said. “It honours where we’ve been while also shining a light on where we’re headed.”
The inaugural issue features a behind-the-scenes look at Fleming’s Apply Yourself Here campaign, a spotlight on applied learning at the Centre for Innovative Aquaculture Production and inspiring stories of student success and award-winning projects. The magazine also shows how the College is helping to meet workforce demands in healthcare and skilled trades. They’ll discover how alumni are making an impact in their fields, explore how faculty are leading research with real-world applications, and celebrate three generations of creativity at the Haliburton School of Art & Design.
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Peterborough Man Who Sprinted Onto Field From Last Blue Jays World Series Win Draws Parallels to This Year's Run
/Peterborough’s Mark Astrom ran onto the field to celebrate with the Toronto Blue Jays after Joe Carter hit a walk-off home run to win their last World Series in 1993.
Those memories remain vivid 32 years later, especially after Blue Jays outfielder George Springer hit a three-run home run in Game Seven to get Toronto to this year’s World Series from Monday night.
Astrom points to himself 32 years ago when he joined the Blue Jays celebrating Joe Carter’s home run in 1993. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
“Pitch by pitch, I was an absolute disaster leading up to that. I was pretty nervous, invested and pretty much in the game with the team,” explained Astrom. “I wanted to see them get there for the first time in 32 years. When that went out, everyone in our house got out of their seats and celebrated with them.”
The Blue Jays have had momentous home runs throughout their franchise, including Carter’s walk-off World Series home run in 1993 and José Bautista’s bat-flip home run in the 2015 American League Division Series. Astrom says Springer’s home run brings back familiar feelings.
“The sequence of his at-bat and even his reaction along the first-base line of jumping up and down was actually similar to Joe Carter's so that was a neat parallel.”
When Carter hit the home run, Astrom was around the tenth row behind the dugout. He jumped over the dugout, raced to home plate and started celebrating with the team.
“It was a matter of celebration, positivity and being a huge fan obviously,” explained Astom. “I remember (Roberto) Alomar's hand was on my back, my back on (Rickey) Henderson's back and we were just making space for him (Carter) to come down to home plate and just celebrated. It was an incredible moment in Toronto sports history.”
Since Monday, Peterborough has seemingly developed ‘Blue Jays Fever’ where businesses, organizations and communities are rallying behind the Blue Jays for another World Series win. Several places are decorated in Blue Jays decorations, team apparel is being worn in workplaces and restaurants feature menu specials revolving around the Blue Jays’ success this season.
Astrom says that moments like these in sports unite the community and create a positive epidemic.
“The beauty of live sports is for something as huge as the Blue Jays being back in the World Series in 32 years, it's going to bring together because they're going to be focused on what's on television or wherever they're watching it; but everyone's watching it live at the same and it's a beautiful thing.”
The Blue Jays start the World Series final against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game One at the Rogers Centre on Friday at 8 p.m.
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City of Peterborough Launches Interactive Map Showcasing Halloween-Ready Highlights
/The community is invited to contribute their favourite haunts and spooky Halloween displays at homes and businesses by sharing locations for the City of Peterborough interactive fall display map and guide.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
Created by the City’s Geomatics and Mapping program area, the interactive tool is designed to encourage locals and visitors to explore different parts of the city and showcase the community’s celebration of fall and Halloween.
The map will also highlight locations featured on the Trent Valley Archives’ guided ghost walks. The ghost walks are ticketed experiences taking place in late October and available for purchase through the Trent Valley Archives website.
Residents and businesses can submit their address to be included in the 2025 Fall Display Map by uploading at least one photo and requesting information through an online form on the City of Peterborough’s website.
To be eligible, displays must be visible from a public location such as the street or sidewalk. Submissions to the map will be accepted until Oct. 31..
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Peterborough County Launches Circular County Community Hub
/To empower residents and local businesses to adopt sustainable living practices based on the principles of a circular economy, Peterborough County has developed a Circular County Community Hub on Engage Peterborough County.
October is recognized nationally as Circular Economy Month. Photo courtesy of Peterborough County.
The Hub is built around sharing, reusing, repairing and recycling. The platform connects community members with local resources to help them reduce waste, extend the life of everyday items, save money and build a greener, more resilient Peterborough County according to a press release.
The County says its current ‘take-use-dispose’ system is no longer sustainable. The project’s goal is that residents and businesses will engage in the platform and share their ideas to help offer practical, local solutions that help Peterborough County shift toward a circular economy, where materials are kept in use for as long as
possible.
Key features of the Hub:
Interactive Share, Reuse, Repair, Recycle Map: Find local businesses and organizations that support sustainable practices, from repair shops to donation centers.
Community Engagement: Participate in forums, share ideas, and stay informed.
News Feed: Stay informed on upcoming Circular Economy events.
Rotary Club of Peterborough Seeking Nominations For 2025 Paul Harris Fellowship
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough is seeking nominations for its prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Recognition for 2025 in honour of the founder of Rotary International in 1905.
All of the Paul Harris recipients from last year’s event. Vocational Service: Dr. Douglas Chenoweth; Youth Services: Don Barrie; Environmental Service: Mike Henry; Community Service: Gordon Bowley & Sandra (Sam) Whitmore; International Service: Laurie Heigh and Club Service: Wayne Harding Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.
According to Rotary, the Fellowship recognizes local individuals for their leadership and service contributions within our community, the surrounding area and the world at large. It is considered the highest honour Rotarians can give.
Nominations in the following categories can be completed online with the deadline next Wednesday.
Categories include:
Community Service: To recognize an individual who makes a significant leadership contribution to the advancement and betterment of the Peterborough Community.
International Service: To recognize an individual who makes a significant contribution toward to betterment of the communities in other parts of the world, and/or leadership toward work peace and understanding.
Vocational Service: To recognize an individual who uses their vocational skills consistent wit Rotary ideals toward community and/or international matters.
Youth Services: To recognize an individual who makes significant contributions toward to youth (programs, services and/or related matters).
Environmental Service: To recognize an individual who supports activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of our environment.
Club Service: To recognize a Peterborough Rotary Club member for their outstanding service and dedication.
For the first time, the Rotary Club of Peterborough and Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha will celebrate the recipients at a joint Paul Harris Fellow Recognition Dinner on Nov. 20 at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club.
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Grady's Feet Essentials to Change Hands But Keeps Business In the Family
/With over 40 years in Peterborough, Tony and Kelli Grady of Grady’s Feet Essentials are passing the business on to family, Theresa Thibadeau and Mark Walsh, effective Sept. 1 next year.
(From left to right) Tony Grady, Kelli Grady, Theresa Thibadeau and Mark Walsh. Photo courtesy of Grady’s Feet Essentials.
The announcement was made on the business's Facebook page in a post. Thibadeau is Tony’s cousin, with Walsh as her husband. Thibadeau has been working at the store for the past 12 years, serving as manager in the last three.
“Theresa brings exceptional customer service skills and strong accounting experience,” explained Kelli. “She knows what makes Grady's special and is passionate about carrying that forward as she takes over ownership along with her husband Mark.”
In 1984, Ken Grady Sr. founded Grady’s Orthopedic Service from his home, crafting custom orthotics for local customers. He opened the first Grady’s Shoes storefront in downtown Peterborough a year later.
Two yeas later, Tony started helping after school each day. He purchased the store with his wife, Kelli, in 1997 and was rebranded as Grady’s Feet Essentials. They opened a kiosk at Lansdowne Place Mall in 2000. This led to further expansion into an entire storefront on the mall’s upper level in 2005 and a major renovation with the help of a retail designer in 2011.
In 2018, they purchased the former Angela Mark boutique building at 231 King Street in Peterborough which is their current location. Until the pandemic hit, they were restoring the building and using it for storage and office space. The pandemic forced them to think creatively, establishing a curbside pickup location and a satellite store at King Street. By February 2022, Grady’s Feet Essentials had officially relocated from Lansdowne Place to their newly renovated King Street location.
With next year being Tony’s 40th year involved in the business, it marked a great way to cap off a career, according to Kelli.
“That felt like the right milestone to pass the torch and explore new adventures,” she explained. “With our daughters pursuing careers outside the footwear world, we looked for someone who could carry on the Grady's legacy - and we're thrilled to have found that with Theresa and Mark.”
Tony and Kelli are remaining in the community as they are both members of the Rotary Club of Peterborough. Kelli serves as the director of membership and club service while Tony was appointed the new president in July. There are no concrete plans on what the couple plans to do after Grady’s Feet but are ready to take on what life brings them.
“We're keeping ourselves open to new possibilities - it will be fun to try new things and see where our interests and skills take us next,” said Kelli.
During the final year under the Grady’s, they are helping Thibadeau and Walsh with the transition of ownership, who will take over in September of next year.
“We are deeply grateful to the Peterborough community for supporting our store over the years,” said Kelli. “Grady's Feet Essentials has always been more than just a store - it's been about the relationships, conversations and trust we've built with our customers. As we step into a new chapter, we're excited to see the Grady's tradition continue with Theresa and Mark. This isn't goodbye - you'll still see us around the community and cheering on Grady's.”
Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha Seeking Local Projects to Support
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha invites local organizations and groups to submit project proposals for funding and support.
The Club has been involved in the Splash Pad at Nicholls Oval, the Outdoor Gym at Beavermead Park, Musical Instruments at Riverview Park and Zoo and has provided funding for Hospice Peterborough. Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha.
Priority is given to initiatives that include a ‘hands-on’ component, allowing the club to contribute not just financially but also through volunteer efforts.
Any organization with a project can complete the Local Funding Request Form located under the ‘Documents’ section.
The deadline for submissions is Nov. 15, 2025.
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United Way Announces Ambitious Goal to Raise $1.6 Million For 2025 Campaign
/The bar keeps being raised for United Way of Peterborough & District which unveiled its 2025 campaign goal to raise $1.6 million, announced at the Healthy Planet Arena on Thursday afternoon.
Last year’s goal was $1.5 million while 2023 was $1.45 million. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The 84th Community Campaign for United Way’s goal is a $1 million increase from last year’s $1.5 million. Jim Russell, United Way CEO said that it is positive that the goal gets raised every year.
“As our campaign chair (Paul Rellinger) said this morning, it's aspirational. We hit 1.55 (million) last year and nobody wants to be a part of doing less than what happened the year before,” he explained. “What you want in a campaign chair is some hunger, some animation and you don't want people to set the bar. I think it's appropriate that the goal is ahead of last year's number.
However, Russell wants to reiterate that the increased goal is not just for the sake of picking a number but rather, it is adapting to the increasing need of the United Way’s services to the community.
“The sad truth is that even the need in the community is pretty great,” he explained. “Waiting lists are longer for our services that our partners provide and so the need is there. It's picking a number for money needs to be invested in the right services in our community and we want to make sure that happens.”
@ptbo_canada The bar keeps being raised for Peterborough & District United Way which unveiled its 2025 campaign goal to raise $1.6 million. #ptbocanada #journalism #news #fyp #unitedway ♬ original sound - PTBOCanada
