The Avant-Garden Shop Latest EPIC Ventures Winner

Congratulations to Brenda Ibey of The Avant-Garden Shop, who recently won the EPIC Ventures award and recognition from the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation.  

PtboCanada had the opportunity to visit the downtown store and chat with Brenda about her experiences over the years.  

Although some items do come to the store from the United States, Brenda has always strived to keep the store as local and as Canadian-based as possible. The store has a wide array of bird feeders, gardening supplies and décor for your home both inside and out.

The Avant-Garden Shop will be celebrating 10 years in business on December 12th and are commemorating the occasion tonight (November 22nd) by hosting a Customer Appreciation Event from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

There will be door prizes, refreshments and no tax on store items. It's a great opportunity to get started on some holiday shopping.

The shop is also part of the Peterborough and Area Garden Route. This initiative is to help support our local growers and garden boutiques in the area, as well as to promote and encourage the genuine love for all things nature and gardening within our area. For the complete list of participants and for more info, visit them on Facebook.

Along with their EPIC Ventures award, Avant-Garden also just won the award for Best Retail Business (non-chain) at the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards held in October.

The Avant-Garden Shop is located at 165 Sherbrooke Street and is open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can contact Brenda at 705.743.0068/Facebook/Twitter.

 

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris and Evan Holt]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada (hashtag #bethechangeptbo) or Like us on Facebook.

United Way Works Toward Reaching Their 2012 Goal: How You Can Help

As the United Way of Peterborough and District continues to fundraise to reach this year's goal of $2,562,172—PRHC alone raised more than $91,000 for the campaign, it was announced this week—they have a number of events currently running. Your support and generosity is needed for our community as the campaign makes its final push for this year. Check out their Events page for more ways that you can help, and see the poster below for more info on fundraising.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada (hashtag #bethechangeptbo) or Like us on Facebook.

A Myterious Entity Is Happening In Downtown Peterborough This Sunday

It's a wine-tasting and silent auction fundraiser at Brio Gusto on Charlotte St. in support of of Mysterious Entity Theatre. This year, there will also be a beer tasting station, hosted by Roland Hosier of St. Veronus. Tickets are available at Catalina's (131 Hunter Street), or by emailing m.entity@gmail.com. It takes place this Sunday (November 25th) from 2 to 5 p.m.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada (hashtag #bethechangeptbo) or Like us on Facebook.

Why Moving The Canadian Canoe Museum To A Waterfront Location Downtown Would Rock

The Canadian Canoe Museum announced today (November 21st) that a feasibility study is being undertaken starting in January to determine in part what it would take to move to a waterfront location downtown from their current location for the past 15 years at 910 Monaghan Road.

It's never made much sense to be where it is (more than one person has remarked as such), and moving this excellent museum right down by the water in the core of Peterborough seems like an entirely logical thing to do. It would drive many more tourists and cottagers—and even locals—into the downtown area to visit the museum.

Imagine touring the Canoe Museum, then stepping outside it and going canoeing and kayaking on the Otonabee River and Little Lake. And afterwards, tourists and the like can eat and shop and take in some theatre downtown. Brilliant.

"During the years that we've been operating on Monaghan Road, it has become apparent to us that we will need to redevelop the Museum in order to achieve these goals, and so we are commissioning a feasibility study as the first step," says the museum's director James Raffan in a PR release.

Funding for the study comes from private donors and a grant from the Peterborough Community Futures Development Corporation.

Where do you think a great place for a new site would be for construction of a facility near the downtown?

------------

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada (hashtag #bethechangeptbo) or Like us on Facebook.

You Gotta Eat Here! Book Featuring Reggie's HotGrill & Shish Kabob Hut

Back in 2011, we wrote about the Food Network Canada featuring Reggie's HotGrill and the Shish Kabob Hut on the show You Gotta Eat Here!. Well now the show's host John Catucci has released a new book version of the show, and it spotlights both Peterborough eateries—plus a recipe from each restaurant.

Read about how both restaurants came to be, as well as recipes for the Big Poppa Burger from Reggie's HotGrill, and Chicken Tigania (a tasty stir fry coloured brightly by red paprika) from the Shish Kabob Hut.

You Gotta Eat Here! is $29.99 and is available in hardcover format here in town at Firehouse Gourmet, Chapters, and the Shish Kabob Hut. Online, it's available via Chapters Online, Amazon.ca and in digital versions on the Apple iBookstore and Google Play Bookstore.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada (hashtag #bethechangeptbo) or Like us on Facebook.

Fundraising Record: PRHC Raises More Than $91,000 For United Way

Peterborough United Way campaign received amazing support once again this year from staff, physicians and volunteers with the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. This year, PRHC smashed their fundraising campaign goal of $80,000, raising more than $91,000—an all-time record for the Health Centre. "This is a campaign of people generously giving back to the community they belong to," says Ken Tremblay, PRHC President & CEO in a release. "Our staff and physicians at PRHC are known for their strong annual support of the local United Way, which helps to fund important programs and services for the residents of our community. This was a groundbreaking, absolutely phenomenal year for our campaign, thanks to the commitment and generosity of our team here."

Photo courtesy PRHC

[PRHC]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada (hashtag #bethechangeptbo) or Like us on Facebook.

Get Your Peterborough Festival of Trees City Sidewalks Tix

Tickets are now available for Peterborough Festival of Trees City Sidewalks. Festivities kick off on Tuesday, November 27th with the Tree Lighting Ceremony, and continue with unique events each night of the week. From Wednesday to Sunday, head down to Millennium Park to enjoy the Forest Fantasy (general admittance is only $5).

Proceeds support local health care initiatives such as Hospice Peterborough, Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation, and the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada (hashtag #bethechangeptbo) or Like us on Facebook.

Peterborough Woman's "The Wait" Poem To Help End Mental Health Stigmas

PTBOCanada contributor Beth McClelland wrote this courageous and inspirational personal poem that she's hoping will encourage others to start important conversations about mental health. Here she is reading it:

[YouTube; Canadian Mental Health Association Peterborough]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada (hashtag #bethechangeptbo) or Like us on Facebook.

Community Living Hosting Silent Auction This Thursday To Raise Money For United Way Campaign

Community Living Peterborough is hosting a Silent Auction to raise money for the 2012 United Way Campaign this Thursday (November 22nd).

Community Living, a United Way member agency, have set this year’s goal at $10,000—up from the $8,000 they raised last year.

The auction is open to anyone in the community, and takes place at the Community Living head office at 223 Aylmer Street from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. this Thursday.

Examples of some of the auction items available include:

1. 2 Floor seats to the Tracey Morgan stand-up comedy show at Casino Rama for January 26th, 2013

2. One Year Membership to Tamarac Golf and Country Club (valued at $1,050)

3. Two, 30 minute scenic flights for 3 people in a Cessna 172 airplane (sightseeing over Peterborough from Vector Air)

4. 2 tickets to any game (minus playoffs) from the Peterborough Petes

5. Sunday brunch for two at Chemong Lodge

6. Round of Golf for 3 with CPGA Professional James Clark (plus 2 power carts) from Oshawa Golf & Country Club

7. One month membership to GoodLife Fitness (valued at $150)

8. Guess Sunglasses (valued at $80.00)

-------------- 

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada (hashtag #bethechangeptbo) or Like us on Facebook.

New Season Of Peterborough Series "Bandwagon" Kicks Off With Sloan

[YouTube]

View Season 1 of Bandwagon here.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada (hashtag #bethechangeptbo) or Like us on Facebook.