Hydro One To Acquire Assets Of Peterborough Distribution Inc. From City Of Peterborough

The City of Peterborough and Hydro One have reached an agreement for Hydro One’s acquisition of Peterborough Distribution Inc. (PDI) from the City for $105 million plus terms that include distribution rate guarantees for customers as well as a separate agreement for the construction of a new regional operations centre in Peterborough.

The agreements comprising the transaction meet the terms and conditions approved by Council, including:

- A 1% distribution rate reduction and a five-year freeze in distribution rates for customers
- A second five-year period with distribution rate increases limited to inflation and an earnings sharing mechanism to offset rates in year 11 and onward
- Protections for PDI employees with employees receiving employment offers to move to Hydro One
- A sale price of $105 million
- An agreement to develop a regional operations centre and new fleet maintenance facility in Peterborough on specified pieces of land to be acquired concurrently with the closing of the acquisition of the assets of PDI following regulatory approvals

The agreements are subject to Ontario Energy Board (OEB) approval. The OEB regulates the province’s energy sector, including setting rules for electricity companies and establishing rates that energy utilities are permitted to charge.

PDI is one part of the Peterborough Utilities group of companies. PDI includes the “poles and wires” business of Peterborough Utilities. City of Peterborough Holdings Inc. retains ownership of the rest of the group of companies, including its water utility, the Riverview Park and Zoo, metering services, and its power generation business.

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Accessible Wheelchair Swing Is Now Open At Zoo After Modifications

After some modifications, the Riverview Park & Zoo has announced on their Facebook page that that their accessible wheelchair swing is now open to the public.

"We have completely removed the wood fiber ground covering and replaced it with interlocking soft tile for easier access to the swings with wheelchairs," the zoo says in a Facebook post.

If you want to use the accessible wheelchair swing, the zoo says to visit guest services (open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week) for help and instructions.

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Peterborough Game Developer's Maximum Football 2018 Now Available on PS4 & Xbox One

Peterborough-based boutique video development startup Canuck Play, which develops games with the aim to celebrate Canadian culture, has officially made Maximum Football 2018 PS4 and Xbox One certified. The game will officially be released on both PS4 and Xbox One on July 31st.

“This an amazing milestone for us,” says David A. Winter, President of Canuck Play. “We have been working for months both day and night to make this a reality for our player base. A lot of little pieces go in to being passed for certification.”

Canuck Play President David A. Winter

Maximum Football 2018 features multiple game options between Canadian football, American football, and College football.

Gamers will also have the ability to play full seasons; hone skills in practice mode; customize team and players; full post-play replay with free camera control; multiple-player body styles; and game weather that impacts game play.

As a client of Peterborough-based Innovation Cluster, Winter and Vice-President Sheryl Loucks combined their background of game developing and administrative skills to make Canuck Play a reality—officially launching their first game installment Canadian Football 2017 last year in July for Xbox One and PC Desktop, also being approved for PC distribution through Steam.

Throughout the past year, Canuck Play has grown a rabid fan-base. Since its launch last year, their games have been sold in 12 countries.

You can purchase Maximum Football 2018 directly from the XBox One and PS4 platforms.

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Watch This Dramatic Rescue Of A Trapped Kitten In Peterborough

For several days, Scott Arnold heard meowing coming from his back patio in downtown Peterborough but no one could figure out where the sounds were coming from.

Well, that is until Saturday (July 28th) when an OSPCA agent from the Peterborough Humane Society investigated thoroughly and discovered that the cat had somehow got itself embedded in a grate (covering a massive fan with huge blades) 6 feet under Scott's patio. Next thing you know they were dismantling a portion of the patio so the agent could squeeze between the boards and get down to the little guy...

The video captured by Arnold and posted to his personal Facebook page is being widely shared on Facebook, with nearly 5,000 views since being posted on Saturday.

Watch it below...

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Peterborough Ranked One Of Most Active Cities In Canada

Expedia has ranked Peterborough one of the 21 most active cities in Canada. 

Some of the factors Expedia looked at in compiling their list include: average number of marathons and hiking trails; access to bike paths, trails, and races; per capita gyms; and abundance of outdoor activities such as kayaking, canoeing, etc.

Photo by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada

"To paraphrase Salt-N-Pepa, you’ve got to push it when you’re in Peterborough, Ontario," Expedia says of Peterborough.

"This means pushing your endurance along Trent Canal when you’re riding your bike next to dozens of pros. Pushing your body up just a little higher off the safe ground at Rock and Rope Climbing Centre. And pushing your paddle skills on Little Lake to one day earn a glittering spot at the Canadian Canoe Museum in town."

Click here to view Expedia's entire ranking.

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Help Newly Planted Trees On Public Property By Filling Those Water Bags

During dry weather over the summer, residents can help ensure the survival of newly planted trees on public property by filling the water bags that are attached to the trees at least one or twice per week until the cooler (and wetter) fall weather arrives.

“Public Works staff are working hard to supply water to newly planted trees, recently laid sod and flower displays throughout the City,” says Paul Hambidge, urban forest manager with the City of Peterborough. “Even recent rainfall has been insufficient to make up the water deficit that all young trees are experiencing. Newly planted trees suffer significant loss of roots when they are lifted at the nursery, making watering during the first growth season after planting critical to their survival.”

Photo courtesy City of Peterborough

The slow release water bags attached to trees can hold 15 gallons of water. Based on current water use charges, one of the bags can be filled almost 17 times for $1.42—in other words, a newly planted tree can be watered all season for $1.42.

“Even if you have an established tree, it will still benefit from watering during a prolonged dry spell,” Hambidge adds.

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Peterborough's Flying Colours Corp. Installing Its First Gogo L3 AVANCE In Challenger Aircraft

Global air services company Flying Colours Corp., which is headquartered at Peterborough Airport, is installing Gogo AVANCE L3™ air-to-ground connectivity systems in two Bombardier Challenger aircraft, a CL604 and CL605.

The installation of the small form, fully integrated AVANCE L3 inflight connectivity and entertainment solution represents a first for Flying Colours, which has already installed several of the AVANCE L5 systems.

“As the privately-owned aircraft operate predominantly across North America, we advised our clients that the Gogo AVANCE L3 system will fulfil the flexibility, reliability and meaningful data-speeds needed by them,” says Kevin Kliethermes, director of sales for Flying Colours, which has facilities in Peterborough; St. Louis, Missouri; and Singapore.

“The solution is proving popular on mid-size aircraft with missions based mainly in North America," he adds. "We have more AVANCE installations confirmed, and expect the trend to continue as the ever-increasing demand for feature rich, high-speed data access at affordable prices continues.”

Once installed, the Gogo AVANCE L3 system will provide passengers with access to the Gogo Biz® Broadband network and will support, dependent on package, access to voice, email, web browsing, moving maps, and a selection of movies and TV programmes.

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That Moment When Rescued Eggs Start To Hatch At Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre

Many of the injured female turtles that come in to Ontario Turtle Conversation Centre in Peterborough are gravid (with eggs) so the team there is always on the watch for them. 

They also harvest deceased females' eggs, incubate them and when hatched, return the young turtles to their mother's home wetland. Pictured below on July 13th are OTCC's Margaret and Amanda who are busy planting eggs that were collected that morning.

Picture via OTCC Facebook page

Toward the end of July is always exciting for the team at OTCC, as that's when many eggs start to hatch. Indeed, according to their Facebook page post OTCC has admitted 685 turtles to date, collected over 3,200 eggs and their admitted turtles continue to lay eggs on a daily basis.

Here are some of those eggs hatching the other day...

Picture via OTCC Facebook page

Picture via OTCC Facebook page

Everytime you rescue an injured turtle—even one that is severely injured—and bring it to OTCC, imagine this: You might well be saving many turtle lives all at once.

For more info on OTCC, click here.

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Copper Branch Opening Peterborough Location

Vegan health food restaurant chain Copper Branch has opened a location in Peterborough at 1040 Lansdowne Street West.  

The 100 percent plant-based and organic quick-serve restaurant is officially opening their Peterborough branch to the public on Monday, July 23rd, and will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more info, "Like" their Facebook page.

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Patrons Rejoice As Memorial Centre Installs Hand Rails In Stands

Many patrons of the Memorial Centre are ecstatic to learn that hand rails have just been installed there to enhance the fan experience.

Photo via Peterborough Petes Facebook page

"Many thanks, always nervous going down those stairs—much needed improvement!" wrote one person on the Peterborough Petes Facebook page.

"Thank you so much," wrote another patron. "Now I don't have to put my hand on someone's shoulder while using the stairs and apologizing."

Definitely a weight off our shoulders. ;)

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