Anyone Missing A Peacock In Peterborough?

Steve Novak was surprised to see a Peacock early this morning around 7:15 a.m. (April 27th) on Beardsmore Road.

Photo by Steve Novak

"It must be from the zoo or farm as it was unafraid," Novak tells PTBOCanada. "I pulled over and got out—and was going to shoo it off the road and instead it shooed me back into my car!"

(The zoo tells PTBOCanada it's not their peacock.)

Photo by Steve Novak

It's definitely not often the case you see a peacock roaming the streets.

Photo by Steve Novak

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Peafowl Can Now Roam The Grounds At Riverview Park & Zoo

The Riverview Park & Zoo put out a message on Facebook about peafowl now being allowed to roam the grounds that is getting great response—with people fondly recalling when the peafowl used to be able to do this or excited to see it for the first time through their kid's eyes.

"We saw them today!! My daughter was SO excited when we found them!!" one mother posted on the zoo's Facebook page, along with this photo below.

"Last Wednesday we released several of our Common Peafowl on the zoo grounds," Jim Moloney, the zoo's Manager & Curator, tells PTBOCanada. "We have done this with the intent of allowing these birds to roam the property. The objective of the release was to allow more room for the birds to explore, providing them with additional enrichment in their lives and to allow an unobstructed view of the Peafowl by our guests."

Peafowl chillin' out

"We are asking that our guests respect the birds by not approaching them too closely, not feeding them and by not chasing them," Moloney tells PTBOCanada.

Great idea zoo! Well played.

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Lab Improvements & Loch Win 2017 Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition

The Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition had its Grand Finale at The Venue on Tuesday evening (April 25th) in front a great crowd. Six up-and-coming entrepreneurs pitched their businesses to a panel of judges with the goal of winning more than $55,000 in cash and business support services.

The winners: Loch (Tim and Dan Waggoner) and Lab Improvements (Alex Bushell and Steve Wright at right)

The 6 finalists were split into the Innovation Stream and the Goods & Services Stream based on their type of business. The winner of the Innovation Stream was Alex Bushell of Lab Improvements, the manufacturer of CapTrack, a portable, benchtop-sized device that manages refrigerated inventory and recaps specimen tubes for medical laboratories.

“We see an innovative idea that solves a problem their customers see relevant,” explained Warren Faleiro, Chief Technology Officer of FreshBooks and one of three 2017 Bears’ Lair judges.

Left to right: Warren Faleiro, Chief Technology Officer, FreshBooks (Judge); Alex Bushell and Steve Wright, Co-Founders of Lab Improvements

Tim and Dan Waggoner of Loch were the winners of the Goods & Services Stream. “We’re really grateful that Bears’ Lair exists and that there is such a supportive community for start-ups and entrepreneurs,” says Tim. “The prize package is going to push our business forward even further and faster.” Loch is the producer of sunglasses that are crafted exclusively from 500-year-old, water-recovered timber reclaimed from the Great Lakes and crafted in the Peterborough area.

Left to right: James Sculthorpe, President, Yorkshire Valley Farms (Judge), Tim and Dan Waggoner of Loch.

Alex Bushell from Lab Improvements and Tim and Dan Waggoner from Loch won $5,000 in cash and over $20,000 in business support services each. The cash and business support services—including marketing and advertising, public relations services, accounting services, strategic planning and consulting services, computers, office equipment and more—were donated by the 2017 Bears’ Lair sponsors.

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Peterborough Symphony Concluding 50th Season With Out-of-this-World Journey

On Saturday, May 27th at a spectacular season finale concert sponsored by Scotiabank, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra will take audience members on a vivid musical adventure.

Through the music of Grieg, Liadov and Stravinsky, the classical elements of earth, water and fire will be explored before leaving Terra firma for outer space. Holst’s large-scale orchestral suite The Planets will be the guide for a melodic tour of the galaxy featuring the Women’s Chorus of the Peterborough Singers.

This concert marks the first time in over a decade that the PSO and members of the Peterborough Singers have performed together. Both organizations are looking forward to collaborating again.

General admission tickets for The Planets are available from the Showplace Performance Centre box office at a cost of $38.50 for adults, $10 for students. Visit the box office in-person (290 George St. N, Peterborough), online or call 705.742.7469 to purchase tickets.

Note that this concert will not take place at Showplace, but at Emmanuel United Church East—formerly known as George Street United Church (534 George St. N, Peterborough).

Concert ticket holders are invited to attend Meet the Maestro, a pre-concert chat with PSO Music Director & Conductor, Michael Newnham, in the church at 6:40 p.m. before the concert at 7:30 p.m.

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Relly On The Roof Returns For A Seventh Year

Relly On The Roof returns for a seventh year May 5th to 7th—again raising funds for Habitat For Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha.

At noon on Friday, May 5th, Paul "Relly" Rellinger, along with the generous help from the Peterborough Fire Department, will be lifted to the roof of The Brick, located at 1200 Lansdowne St. W. While Habitat For Humanity volunteers collect donations in the parking lot below, Paul will live atop The Brick until noon on Sunday, May 7th.

Paul Rellinger

A highlight of the weekend will be a live music showcase outside The Brick on Saturday, May 6th, starting at 1 p.m. Featured performers are Rick and Gailie Young, Jan Schoute, Terry Guiel, John Crown, Elyse Saunders and Austin Carson. As well, barbecued hot dogs and soft drinks will be served by Habitat For Humanity volunteers over the course of the three days.

Presented as part of the annual Peterborough Cares fundraising initiative, founded by Camille Parent, 2016 saw a combined total of $19,690.95 raised—with Relly On The Roof accounting for $9,375.65 of that total.

For the Relly On The Roof event, Derek Deyell, manager of The Brick, is volunteering his time and store resources. Also providing invaluable support are Sobeys, Canadian Tire, Scotiabank, Tim Hortons and Boston Pizza.

Organizing Relly On The Roof on behalf of Habitat For Humanity is Resource Development Manager Emily Ferguson, while Community Engagement Co- Ordinator Kate Cook is responsible for the volunteer component which the event is so reliant on. Both can be reached at 705.750.1456.

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Fleming College Students Helped Convert Former GO Transit Bus Into Tour Bus For Country Band

Fleming College students embarked on an awesome project recently, transforming a former GO Transit bus into a tour bus for the James Barker Band, a up-and-coming Canadian country band who will take it across Canada on their upcoming tour—their first official tour bus.

March 13th: photo of Carpentry professor Sue Brown with two of her students

March 20th: Paul Jordan, Coordinator, Trades Fundamentals program; band member Taylor Abraham; Maxine Mann, Dean, School of Trades and Technology; School of Trades and Technology Academic Chair Rod McLeod; band member Connor Stephen; band member Bobby Martin; and Band Manager.

March 30th

April 13th: Fleming students & faculty at work on the bus

With the assistance of faculty from Fleming's School of Trades and Technology, students in a number of trades programs—Carpentry, Plumbing, Welding and Electrical—collaborated to complete the project over the past seven weeks before their semester ended on April 21st.

April 13th: Bunk beds coming along

The bus includes a kitchenette, bathroom, eight bunks, a closet, and lounge and seating areas.

April 21st: Seating area

April 21st

April 21st

The students finished their portion of the project on time, including wood work, plumbing, welding and wiring, and the only thing left to do is some trim work and paint.

The band (pictured below at Fleming's recent Open House) will soon be ready to take it on tour...
 

James Barker Band at Fleming

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Here's 1960s Pictures From Peterborough's Riverview Park & Zoo

Thanks to Riverview Park & Zoo's Manager/Curator Jim Moloney for digging through the archives and sending us these '60s pictures from the zoo.

[Related: 1970s zoo pics; 1980s zoo pics]

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Epic: Peterborough Lift Lock Will Be Attempting To Fit 300 Canoes & Kayaks Into Their Chambers At Once

Last June, 138 canoes and kayaks filled one of the Lift Lock Chambers as part of part of Lock 'n Paddle Day at the Lift Lock (aka Lock 21) in Peterborough for National Canoe Day celebrations. That broke the previous record of 101 set in 2007.

Well if you thought that was epic, then Trent-Severn Waterway's Manager of Operations Chad Buchner says wait until you see what they have planned for this year's Lock N' Paddle. Buchner tells PTBOCanada they are not only going to fill the west chamber again this year but also the east chamber—both tubs!

2016 Lock 'N Paddle

So yes, on Saturday, June 24th this summer—as part of 150 Canada celebrations—the goal is for 300 paddlecraft to fit into the chambers at one time. It will be like a jigsaw puzzle to fit them all in but Buchner and the Trent-Severn team think they can do it.

2016 Lock N' Paddle

"We are going to try and squeeze 150 paddlecraft in each of the two chambers," Buchner tells PTBOCanada, which is fitting since Canada is turning 150.

Buchner says he hopes this will turn into a huge community event with hundreds of spectators lining Lock 21 to watch the Chambers fill up, and documenting the day on social media to share across Canada and beyond.

Manager of Operations Chad Buchner

More details are coming soon on the big day and how to be involved, so make sure to save that date—June 24th—and follow Trent-Severn Waterway on Twitter and Facebook as buzz builds for this amazing community event.

Learn more about the Lift Lock's amazing history here.

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The Parking Meter Was Broken But Here's A Feel Good Peterborough Story

Musician/actress Kate Suhr posted this message and photo to her Facebook page below about a great experience she had in downtown Peterborough.

Kate suhr (Photo by Sam Gaetz)

Suhr tells PTBOCanada she was compelled to post it to Facebook because it was such a genuine Peterborough moment:

"I was running late for a photoshoot with Jennifer Moher and the open parking spot I found at George and Hunter had a meter that was out of order," she tells PTBOCanada. "I decided to write a quick little note and left the money by the windshield.....silly, I realize.

I told Jen what I had done and she laughed so hard, both of us assuming the coins would be gone and I would have a ticket. Low and behold, hours later the money was still there and better yet—no ticket! I had a little giggle and couldn't believe it. Toronto is ruthless when it comes to parking, so this stunned me. I actually said out loud, 'I love this place.' Only in Peterborough."

True dat.

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314 Words That Could Change Your Life: A Letter From Erica

It’s very rare for a woman to be at the right time and place in her life to be able to share her story in this way. But Erica feels strongly about using her voice to help others who may be in need and not know what to do in a relationship involving domestic violence.

Five years ago, Erica turned to the YWCA in Peterborough for safety while ending a violent relationship. Today, she's sharing her story to inspire others to support the services that helped her get her life back.

Read her letter below about how the YWCA helped save her life and give her hope...

A Letter From Erica

"I remember looking at my newborn daughter’s perfect little face moments after she was born, thinking: all you’ll ever know is love. Everything will be different now. This time I can trust him. But I was so wrong.
 
The abuse that began during my pregnancy only got worse. No one in my family knew about the insults he screamed at me or the things he’d thrown at me when he got upset.
 
I’d never told anyone that the man who’d promised to love me had grabbed me by the throat until I was gasping for breath.
 
I can remember crossing the Burlington Skyway on the day we finally left. It was a 3 hour drive to my parents’ place in Ennismore and my body shook the whole way there. I was terrified of what would happen when he found out we weren’t coming back.  

That’s when my mom reached out to the YWCA.
 
My counsellor understood everything that was happening and told me my instincts were right: the most dangerous time for a woman living with abuse is when she tries to leave. She listened to what we’d been through, answered my questions and helped me see my options and all the help available.
 
For the first time in four years, I was able to breathe and feel safe again.           
           
My parents did everything they could to help. They opened their home and their hearts the moment they learned what was happening. But there were a lot of questions they didn’t have the answers to either, like: What would happen if we contacted the police? Should we get a restraining order? Was it safe to leave the house with my daughter?
 
The YWCA provided information and practical resources that we could put into action immediately. Their support changed everything! Suddenly we had options, a future. My daughter and I had our lives back!"  —by Erica

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Do you or someone you know need help? YWCA Counsellors are available around the clock to answer questions, provide support and offer practical resources that help women stay safe and change their lives.
YWCA helps women, as well as the people who love them, because abuse affects us all. If you think someone you know or love may be experiencing abuse and want to learn more about how to help, please call 1-800-461-7656 anytime, day or night. You’re not alone.

Learn more about Erica's journey. Watch this powerful video below about how she and her daughter rebuilt their lives after reaching out for help...

Five years ago, Erica turned to the YWCA for safety while ending a violent relationship. Today, she's sharing her story to inspire others to support the services that helped her get her life back.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat (ptbo_canada). Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here. Watch our PTBOCanada Love video here.