The Spades Reunited For This Awesome Jam Session

Peterborough rockers The Spades last played together in public August 10th, 2013 at their goodbye Hootenanny on Hunter Street show in front of thousands of adoring fans.

The Spades, August 13th, 2013 (Photo by Michael Hurcomb)

Late last summer, they reunited for a special jam session that was captured by the Peterborough music show Bandwagon.

"I don't know if there's more to to come from the band," Bandwagon's Ryan Lalonde tells PTBOCanada. "But if there's one thing I've learned from them, it's to never count them out. They've been incredibly missed on the local scene."

The Spades in Bandwagon

After watching this set below they performed on Episode 1/Season 7 of Bandwagon—one song from each of their official album releases—even more of their fans will hope the band reunites for good...

Episode 1 for Season 7 is a special 3 songs Bangwagon featuring an amazing reunion performance from The Spades performing at Quality Service Recording.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

These Guys Put Together A 14 Foot 7 Inch Snowman On Super Bowl Sunday

In the warmup to Super Bowl Sunday, Darryl Robertson and a bunch of his buddies in Peterborough played some snow football, just like they do every year before the big game.

#snow #football #superbowlsunday @ptbo_canada

A post shared by Darryl Robertson (@drrobertson14) on Feb 4, 2018 at 2:35pm PST

This year was a little different, with all that amazing 20 centimetres of white stuff that fell. When they got back from playing, they saw that the neighbours had constructed a 8 foot snowman. "All us adults decided we could do better," Robertson tells PTBOCanada.

So they got out some ladders and went to work on him...

Ninety minutes later, the guys had made the snowman on Laing Court into an epic dude that now stands 14 feet, 7 inches high.

The guys definitely scored a touchdown with neighbours and onlookers building this snowman. Well played.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

When Peterborough Was Peterboro & Peterboro'

Ever noticed the spelling "Peterboro" and "Peterboro'" on old postcards and letters and such?

We reached out to local historian Elwood Jones at Trent Valley Archives, who tells PTBOCanada the spelling has offically been Peterborough since 1825, though there was some ambiguity after that. "Newspapers sometimes used the shorter spelling, particularly in the period from the 1880s to the 1910s. Also, the railways preferred the shorter form on timetables and the signs when approaching the city limits or railway station."

Photo courtesy Niki AllDay

Jones collaborated with Healther Aiton Landry at Trent Valley Archives to provide this sampling below to PTBOCanada of how the spellings were often used interchangeably over the decades.

The mixed use of Peterborough and Peterboro in 1863 is caught in the 1863 Peterborough Examiner below. The Port Hope and Peterborough Railway posted the times for trains to and from Peterboro. The American Hotel is in Peterborough, but the small ads (all on the front page then) give their address as Peterboro or Peterborough.

Still in the 1860s, notice Port Hope & Peterboro’ Railway with the apostrophe added below. The newspaper, on the other hand, was sticking to the proper spelling of the time, "Peterborough".

Also, check out The Peterboro’ Review below and notice the mixed uses in the column to the left of the Review ad. Confusing, yes!

This sample from 1864 below shows the County using Peterboro’ officially, but it is still Peterborough Street in Norwood. Notice that Alex McNeil has his auction rooms in the Town of Peterboro’ and is selling property adjacent to park lots in the Town of Peterboro’, and in the County of Peterboro’, but one lot is “fronting on the old Peterborough Road.”

In the early 1900s, "Peterboro" was popular on postcards, and the local post office even used Peterboro seen here in 1909...

Curiously, Peterborough is used in the title for this postcard circa 1905, and for the Roy Studio logo, but the spelling on the train station is PETERBORO.

However, in this postcard below, Roy is signing as from Peterboro (see far left), and the Lift Lock is described as being in Peterboro (far right).

Even in this fairly recent photo from the 1970s, the Railway station has a new sign but is spelling Peterboro...

The newspapers and postcards in this post are from collections at the Trent Valley Archives.

The long and the short: Next time you spell Peterborough "Peterboro", just tell your friends you're going all old school cool. 

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

It Was A Marvelous Ride For A Moondance

It's the end of an era for an iconic downtown Peterborough music store. Moondance, which generations of vinyl lovers have been going to (it opened in 1972) is closing.

After surviving all the changes that have taken place in the music industry, the owner of the independent music store Mike Taveroff announced on a Facebook post that he is retiring, and the store will close for good Saturday, April 28th.

Moondance, whose About Us page on Facebook jokes that, "We're so old that we have music that isn't even on the internet!", was known as the place where you could track down any obscure recording—and if they didn't have it Mike would special order it for you.

"We hope that you’ll come in and check out the great deals to be had and have a blast from your past in this iconic place," he writes in the Facebook post.

Make sure to take a trip down memory lane and visit before it closes.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Ontario Speed Skating Oval In Lakefield Hosting Candlelight Skate

Polarfest is hosting a candlelight skate this Saturday (February 3rd) from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Ontario Speed Skating Oval in Lakefield.

The light from hundreds of candles will guide your way around the 400 metre Oval.

Admission is free and rental speed skates are available.

Organizers recommend that you bring a flashlight to guide your way from the parking lot to the Oval site. For more info, go the event page or email them here.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Super Bowl Party Planned For Chemong Lake Could Be Biggest Yet

For five years, there has been a Super Bowl bash on the ice on Chemong Lake, and organizers this year say it could be the biggest turnout yet.

A Facebook event page has been set up for the party, which starts at 3 p.m. this Sunday (February 4th) on Chemong Lake at the end of Ennis Road in Ennismore.

Photo from 2017 Super Bowl party on Chemong Lake

The party includes a massive projection screen (see above) with multiple flat screens for viewing the game on ice and in a large Shaker hut.

Picture of hut from 2017

Guests for the Chemong Lake tailgate party are invited to come by snowmobile, four wheeler, or by vehicle (lots of parking is available on the street or the plowed parking lot on Ennis), and ask that you ensure you have designated drivers.

Layer up because it's winter... on the lake!

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

The Comeback Kid: Mike Fisher Comes Out Of Retirement, Returns To Smashville

Peterborough's Mike Fisher had an incredible season with the Nashville Predators last year, captaining the team to within two games of the Stanley Cup.

It would appear he has unfinished business. Yes, Fisher is coming out of retirement for the remainder of the season and is hoping to help lead Smashville to another Stanley Cup run this year (the Preds are currently 3rd place in the Western Conference).

The 37-year-old inspired Smashville with his leadership, grit and poise on and off the ice, and his return is huge for the team and NHL fans—none of whom saw this coming, not even his close friends.

"When Mike called to tell me he was going back, I said, 'Yeah right, they don't need an old man like you,'" his buddy Patrick McAuley tells PTBOCanada. "I thought he was trying to be funny. Once I was convinced he wasn't joking, I was really excited for him. He's a great example for people that hard work and dedication pays off."

The Preds tweeted out the news Wednesday (January 31st)...

What a sight. #Preds pic.twitter.com/DfSafQ1xQ3

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) January 31, 2018

Fisher says this will 100 percent be his last season and "he's all in", with a shot at another Hollywood ending—a Stanley Cup—within reach.

"Mike is a great leader, someone you can rely on and look up to," adds McAuley. "I'm honoured to call him a friend and can't wait to see if he can help the team to a Stanley Cup."

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Trent University United Way Campaign Raises $103,400 For Those in Need

Trent University’s faculty, staff and retirees came together to crush the University’s previous records for both fundraising goal and total funds raised for the annual United Way campaign, raising a whopping $103,400 for those in need locally.

“Each year, I’m blown away by the Trent community’s response to our United Way campaign," says Julie Davis, vice-president, External Relations & Advancement at Trent University, and education sector chair of the United Way cabinet. "Building on the success of last year’s $77,000 record-breaking campaign, we posted a challenge to go even further and raise $80,000 this year."

Julie Davis at far left

Retirees, faculty and staff smashed that $80,000 goal by more than $23,000, capping off a plaidtastic campaign.
 
Launched in October with a kick-off BBQ, Trent’s United Way campaign was supported by many employee-led special events, including a chili cook-off, white elephant tables, and a gift basket raffle before the holidays. These special events were paired with donations from retirees and employees.

United Way Campaign Chair Neil Morton (Co-Founder of PTBOCanada.com) and his Vice Chair Robert Gauvreau—both Trent alumnus—were on also on hand for the big announcement, where Gauvreau issued a 5k challenge to community and business leaders as part of UW's close campaign to hit their target of $1.85 million.
 
“Trent University’s 2017 campaign achievement is both humbling and awe inspiring," says Jim Russell, CEO of United Way of Peterborough and District. "The leadership and commitment of this organization is a shining example of indefatigable spirit to build community. We congratulate the Trent University community on this accomplishment.”

Robert Gauvreau (middle) announcing his 5k challenge and thanking Trent University

Trent’s campaign committee is made up of Linda Smith, staff co-chair; Dr. Susan Wurtele, faculty co-chair, Kathy Fife, retiree co-chair; and Alison Scholl, campaign coordinator.

Trent University was also well represented on the United Way cabinet: In addition to Julie Davis, recent Trent alumna Dorcas Mensah filled the youth ambassador position, and Marcus Harvey—executive director of the Trent University Faculty Association—served as the cabinet’s Labour representative.
 
Trent University has supported the United Way since 1965 and has raised more than $1.9 million for the organization.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Opening Day At New Peterborough Public Library Was A Hit

Opening Day at the new Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N.) took place Tuesday, January 30th, with hundreds of people checking out the beautiful renovations, which took place 18 months to complete.

The modernized version offers additional community space for programs and meetings, a redesigned Children’s Area, a new Teen Area, enhanced technology and more space to sit and read, or work. It is bright and airy. The library averages 20,000 visitors per month, and is sure to see a spike with this stunning new space.

Here are some pictures from Opening Day...

Multi purpose room is available to rent

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Peterborough's Cody Crowley Returns Home For Bout At Memorial Centre

On May 5th, CCC Promotions returns to the Peterborough Memorial Centre, as two of Canada’s top Welterweights duke it out at “Homecoming III: Mayhem at Memorial.”

CPBC International Super-Welterweight Champion and Peterborough loyalist, Cody “The Crippler” Crowley, will return home from his training camp in Las Vegas to take on Hamilton-based up-and-comer Kevin Higson.

Higson, WBA-NABA Canada Super Welterweight Champion, is Crowley’s toughest competitor yet, winning 12 of his 14 professional fights by going the full distance. Higson, who has won 5 bouts in a row, including notable wins over fellow Canadian contenders Phil Rose, Ryan Young and Junmar Emon.
 
In this epic main event, hometown boy Cody Crowley looks to defend his CPBC title on his home turf. In addition to putting his title on the line, Crowley will be fighting for the vacant CPBC Canadian title which will let the world know who is the best one 154 pounder in Canada.

Crowley is a dominating force in the Canadian boxing scene and is determined to earn his way to the top by only taking on qualified opponents to get there. The fighter is gradually reaching the pinnacle of his craft, with the help of elite-level coaching staff and training partners.
 
Tickets for the bout go on sale February 2nd online or by calling 705.743.3561.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.