Downtown Peterborough Beta-Testing Downtown Ambassador Initiative

Downtown Peterborough announced on Friday (August 4th) that it's launching a Downtown Ambassador Initiative to create a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere for visitors, workers, residents and businesses in the downtown.

This initiative is intended to enhance the feeling of safety and inclusion in the downtown.

DBIA Executive Director Terry Guiel making announcement (photo courtesy DBIA)

Below are some of the Ambassadors' primary functions:

1. To provide tourism and visitor information such as locating certain businesses, parking locations and downtown events

2. To handle aggressive and/or inappropriate behaviours

3. To provide security and safety assistance for businesses when it is appropriate

4. To respond to vandalism, littering and graffiti in downtown as well as irresponsible pet owners

5. To provide emergency, first aid and conflict resolution assistance

Photo Courtesy DBIA

A security firm located in the downtown, Kawartha Guard Service, will provide staffing and management for the Downtown Ambassador program.

This new pilot initiative will run from August to September this year and will be then be evaluated.

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Peterborough Named One Of Most Active Cities In Canada By Expedia

Peterborough has been named as the No. 21 most active city in Canada in a new ranking released by Expedia.

Expedia's ranking system was based on the following criteria...

• Average number of marathons and hiking trails

• Access to bike paths, trails, and races

• Per capita gyms, including but not limited to CrossFit, yoga studios, rock climbing, etc.

• Abundance of outdoor activities such as kayaking, canoeing, etc.

Photo courtesy Peterborough & The Kawarthas Tourism

Peterborough has so many awesome outdoor activities to enjoy from canoeing to cycling, and it was great and deserving for Expedia to include the city on their list. You can read their writeup here.

Photo by Evan Holt

To learn more about the city's great outdoor and indoor adventures, go to the Visitor Centre at 270 George St. N.

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Iconic Pig's Ear Tavern Sign Up For Auction

Peterborough history lovers have a chance to get one of the most iconic pieces of local memorabilia, as the famous Pig's Ear sign is going up for auction.

The Piggy closed April 22nd after 150 years in Peterborough, and many items from inside the tavern have been auctioned off. Now, the coveted sign is up for grabs, starting Saturday, along with other antique and modern furnishings from the watering hole in an auction from Russland Auctioneers.

So for past and present revelers of “The Piggy”, this will be your chance to own the piece of its storied history. Go here for more.

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Peterborough Police Just Took A Pet Named Bear On A Ride Before He Was Put Down

Whether you're a pet lover or not, this is one of the best acts of kindness ever.

Peterborough Police received a request to take Millbrook resident John McKelvey's old and sick dog Bear on one last car ride in a police car before needing to be put down. Bear wasn't a police dog, he was just a pet that was dearly loved and wanted a ride in a police vehicle.

And Peterborough Police in an amazing and kind act of generosity did just that: In this beautiful moment for Bear that they posted about on their Facebook page, they gave him one last ride before going to heaven...

Peterborough Police also tweeted about it here...

We couldn't turn down the request from Millbrook's John McKelvey to take his old & sick dog Bear for one last car ride. #restwellbear -LG pic.twitter.com/bTxpdCd7hu

— Peterborough Police (@PtboPolice) August 2, 2017

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City Of Peterborough To Revisit Proposed Tagline After Response From Community

The City of Peterborough's Community Branding Project kicked off in March 2017 with a Community Consultation to understand the perceptions of Peterborough. Two Community Consultation Meetings and two Online Surveys garnered almost 600 responses.

Questions such as “If you were to describe Peterborough in one word, what would that word be?” informed the consultants, BrandHealth, on how City residents, businesses and visitors see our community. They used this input to identify a positioning area and proposed tagline.

On Monday, July 24th, BrandHealth presented a proposed tagline, “Peterborough—where roads and rivers meet”, to Committee of the Whole and requested feedback from Members of Council and the community.

The community provided valuable, insightful feedback on the proposed tagline. More than 900 responses have been received via the online survey (891 Responses) and email (16 emails). Community Branding was also well discussed on social media. The feedback was varied, however the overall assessment was that the City should revisit the tagline.

The City of Peterborough says they appreciate the feedback and BrandHealth will continue the process by developing an alternative tagline.

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Peterborough To Host Under-19 World Women’s Lacrosse Championship in 2019

Ten years after hosting the wildly successful world women’s field lacrosse championship, the same team of volunteers has announced it is hosting the exact event—but even larger—in Peterborough in 2019.

Aerial photo Trent field courtesy Trent University

In 2007, the Peterborough committee hosted 11 international teams at Trent University, drawing record crowds.

In what will be a boon to Peterborough tourism and the local economy, the 2019 Federation of International Lacrosse Women’s Lacrosse World Championship is expected to draw 20 teams as games will be played at Trent University and Fleming College.

Trent University's Julie Davis shares excitement to partner with Fleming & City of Peterborough on Under-19 Lacrosse Championship

The games begin on August 1st, 2019 with the finals taking place at the Trent University field on August 10th.

Photo from press launch at City Hall courtesy Trent University

The event will be co-chaired by long-time lacrosse organizer and coach Fred Blowes and world-level official Cheryl MacNeill. Both were deeply involved in the 2007 event and have recruited several key volunteers to return with them.

The full list of participating teams will be announced in 2018.

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Kawartha Local Launching All Local Marketplace In Downtown Peterborough

Rob Howard is launching his Kawartha Local Marketplace storefront (165 King Street) in downtown Peterborough with an Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 3rd.

The Marketplace is an exclusively all-local emporium with an incubator element that allows aspiring product developers direct and affordable access to the buying public.

165 King Street

"I can hardly wait to open the doors of the Marketplace," Howard tells PTBOCanada. "We've been working full out for over a month now to prepare a fun, all-local shopping experience and I'm grateful for the incredible encouragement and support from our suppliers, customers and member vendors."

Kawartha Local Marketplace is devoted to promoting local producers and artisans, and in addition to carrying items from Kawartha Local suppliers, it will provide a space where local entrepreneurs can sell their wares. "The Marketplace is where shoppers are guaranteed that everything sold in the store is made right here in Peterborough & the Kawarthas,” says Howard.

Owner Rob Howard

What’s unique is that Kawartha Local offers a retail incubator for new products. For an affordable fee, local makers can become members in the Marketplace, and receive dedicated floor space and direct access to the buying public. Indeed, the Marketplace has the potential to grow and develop into a thriving local creative hub.

The public is welcome to drop by to check out the new space located at 165 King Street this Thursday at the Open House from 4 to 6 p.m.

For more info on Marketplace, email Rob here.

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The Lift Lock Was Once Featured In The Saturday Evening Post

The iconic Saturday Evening Post is an American magazine that (aside from folding for two years before relaunching in 1971) has been running since 1821!

The magazine contains general human-interest type articles, and in the September 1958 issue Peterborough was featured. In an article entitled "Wonderful Waterways", the author describes his visit to our magnificent Lift Lock.

This is how the article described it...

"At Peterborough, Ontario, the author's boat enters one of the world's highest hydraulic lift locks. Like a huge chemist's scale, the lock raises and lowers vessels in 'pans' of water."

Norman Rockwell’s famous painting The Runaway, was the cover of this issue that featured the Lift Lock.

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West Nile Virus Confirmed in Local Mosquitoes: What You Need To Know

Peterborough Public Health (PPH) is advising the public that mosquitoes in the City of Peterborough have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). The mosquitoes were trapped from July 17th to 19th.

This is the first positive mosquito pool found in Peterborough this year. During the summer months and early fall, PPH sets five traps weekly; three traps are in fixed locations and two others rotate throughout the Peterborough City and County.

“Now that we’ve identified mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus in our area, it’s especially important that residents take care to prevent mosquito bites,” says Wanda Tonus, Public Health Inspector. “This is a good reminder for residents to eliminate any standing water in their yards and to take personal protective measures to avoid mosquito bites.”
 

Tonus notes that the majority of WNV cases do not show symptoms. About 20% of infected people will experience mild illness with such symptoms as fever, headache, and body aches—occasionally with a skin rash and swollen lymph nodes that last several days.

Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting or eye pain. Symptoms usually develop 2 to 14 days after receiving a bite from an infected mosquito. Less than 1% of infected people will develop neurological symptoms.
Although the risk of becoming infected is low, prevention against bites is the best protection.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELVES FROM BITES

-> Cover up when going outside between the hours of dusk and dawn.

-> Remember to wear: a long-sleeved shirt or jacket and long pants (tucked into your socks for extra protection) 

-> Clean up: once a week, get rid of standing water around your home in places such as bird baths, eavestroughs, wheelbarrows and flower pots, etc.

-> Keep bushes and shrubs clear of overgrowth and debris (adult mosquitoes like to rest in dense
shrubbery)

-> Turn your compost pile often

-> Use insect repellent containing DEET. (DEET is a powerful chemical. Read the label carefully and apply as directed You can also ask your pharmacist for help when choosing a DEET product.)

For more info, visit peterboroughpublichealth.ca.

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