Fleming College Opens Gorgeous New 76,000 Square Foot A-Wing At Sutherland Campus

After years of planning, design and construction, the A-Wing was officially opened on Wednesday (March 27th) at Fleming College’s Sutherland Campus in Peterborough.

Preparing graduates for the evolving workplace was the driving force behind the newly renovated wing. The updated space will serve more than 3,000 students, and the facility will ensure programs continue to provide effective training to meet the evolving labour market needs.

Photo courtesy Fleming College

“This is a tremendous milestone for the college and the updated A-Wing now better provides opportunities for our students to prepare for today’s dynamic workforce,” says Maureen Adamson, President, Fleming College.

“The multi-purpose facility provides increased capacity for on-campus work-integrated learning opportunities and great access to simulations for task-based and scenario-based learning. This is another way Fleming is committed to producing the preferred graduate.”

Photo courtesy Fleming College

Indeed, the 76,000-square-foot building has all the amenities for students: It houses programs that include nursing, biotechnology, fitness and health promotion, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, paramedic, and personal support worker, as well as programs within the areas of justice and community development, business and culinary management.

Filled with natural light, the A-Wing features modern aesthetic appeal rich in simulation spaces, formal and informal student areas, and leading-edge technology to further support applied learning and student success.

Kudos to Fleming, and all involved in this project.

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Sure Sign Of Spring (And Lawn Work): Green Waste Collection Starts April 2nd

The City of Peterborough green waste collection begins on Tuesday, April 2nd. Leaf and yard waste may go out to the curb every week for collection on your regular collection day.

There are no quantity limits for curbside green waste collection. Green waste must be in paper yard waste bags, bushel baskets or a garbage bin labeled with the City “Green Waste” stickers. These stickers are free and available at City Hall, GreenUP and local Home Hardware stores (Merritt on Lansdowne Street and Kingan on Simcoe Street).

Weekly green waste collection (plastic bags are not accepted) will continue through until the last week of November.

For more details, call the City Waste Management Division at 742-7777, ext. 1657.

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Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area Launches Digital Main Street Service Squad

Starting in April, the innovative Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) will be leading the local Digital Main Street initiative with a Digital Service Squad to help main street small businesses improve their online capabilities. 

The DBIA received a $10,000 grant from Digital Main Street as well as support from Community Futures Peterborough and the DBIA’s own resources to establish a Digital Service Squad to help small businesses in the downtown area enhance their use of digital tools and techniques to better promote and sell online.

Photo courtesy DBIA

The Squad will see a trained online specialist visit and assist businesses at no cost to help them set up Google Business, conduct a digital-readiness assessment, and apply for a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant. 

“This program is going to make our downtown more competitive and vibrant,” says DBIA Executive Director Terry Guiel. “We know we have to meet our customers where it’s most convenient for them. The beautiful bricks and mortar physical locations will always be the core of what makes downtown what it is, but we need to help our businesses make the best use of their resources for promotions, serving their customers, and reaching new markets.”

Photo courtesy DBIA

HOW IT WORKS

-> Digital Main Street helps improve how small businesses use digital tools and techniques to become more successful.

-> Today’s digital economy is vital to small businesses, and DMS will help them adopt new digital technologies from e-commerce and social media to back-office systems such as payroll and inventory. 

Photo courtesy DBIA

Businesses within the downtown area will be introduced to the Digital Service Squad at the end of April.

For further information or to participate in the program, email DBIA Communications Manager Joel Wiebe here or call 705.748.4774.

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Hunter Street Staple Sam's Deli Re-Opens With New Look But Same Awesome Samwiches

Sam’s Place (188 Hunter St. W.) has opened with a new look and layout that is drawing rave reviews on social media from customers.

Sam's Place: The Best Dan Deli In Town, first opened its doors in 2011 and has established itself as a great deli in town. Aside from its regulars, it’s a rite of passage for those new to town—from university students to couples relocating here—and tourists to try this place.

Sam’s Place owner Sam Sayer (photo courtesy DBIA)

Owned by Sam Sayer, Sam's Place has become one of the go-to lunch destinations due to its great Samwiches, er, sandwiches, and its terrific customer service and involvement in the community.

Photo courtesy DBIA

It has a new look outside and in after renovations and brand tweaking but has the same service and quality of food, including great portion sizes to fill your belly.

Photo courtesy DBIA

Photo courtesy DBIA

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The Beloved Zoo Camel Gobi Has Passed Away

UPDATE (March 25th): People are leaving signs at the camel exhibit in honour of Gobi at the zoo. “We live in a wonderful community,” Zoo Manager & Curator Jim Moloney tells PTBOCanada. Here are some below (with Gobi’s mate Baika pictured in the background)…

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ORIGINAL POST (March 25th)

It is with great sadness that the staff of Riverview Park and Zoo have announced the death of their 10-year-old male Bactrian camel, Gobi.

Gobi came to the Park and Zoo from the Elmvale Zoo in the summer of 2009. With his large size, expressive face, and inquisitive and engaging nature, Gobi was a favourite with many of the zoo’s visitors.  

Gobi

Gobi had been in good health and his death was both sudden and unexpected. He was found to be very ill when Animal Care Staff arrived on Saturday morning.

The Park and Zoo’s Consulting Veterinarian and Animal Health Team provided treatment and care throughout the day but unfortunately Gobi died overnight Saturday night. His sudden death was an especially difficult loss for staff.

His remains have been sent to the Animal Health Laboratory at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph for determination of the cause of death.

The zoo would like thank their staff, staff from the Water Treatment Plant, and Dr. John Sallaway for their assistance in responding to Gobi’s sudden illness.

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A Beautiful Soul, The Soundtrack Of Your Life: R.I.P. Jonny Trash

He was an innovator, a vinyl legend/lover, an audiophile, an artist, an entrepreneur, a risk-taker, a community builder, a raconteur, a shit-disturber, a funny dude, a kind, gentle and humble soul.

His name was Jonathan Hall, aka “Jonny” and “Jonny Trash”, and his impact and legacy will be felt—and heard—for generations to come in this community.

Photo by Marlon Hazelwood

Jonny died Friday night (March 22nd) at the age of 44. “Jonathan you were the DJ for the soundtrack of my life for so many years,” one woman posted to his Facebook page. “Grumpy, sarcastic but still soft on the inside and always willing to give great big hugs. You will be missed and there is a hole that can’t be filled. Peterborough has lost a leader/innovator.”

”He was an amazing man,” his friend and former co-owner of Spanky’s David Koski tells PTBOCanada. “He was full of joy, full of life. He was my best friend. I am at a loss for words right now.”

Jonny’s music CV in Peterborough is one for the history books and one you could write a book about or do a documentary on.

He ran the iconic Trasheteria at the corner of Simcoe and Water, an alternative bar that had an 18-year run in town until it closed in 2012. He played music there that no one played and brought in bands (live gigs there brought goosebumps) and DJs that no one else did. He took chances on staff when no one else would. Relationships were formed there that lead to marriage and babies.

”He took a chance on me at the Trash on bar and gave me my start bartending,” his friend Kevin Stairs tells PTBOCanada. “It changed my life forever. I respected him as a human immensely.”

When the Trash closed, Jonny wrote, “A million or so of you have been through our doors over the past 18 years and danced the night away, done some patio schmoozing, checked out a band and escaped the mundane. Thank You.”

After the Trash, Jonathan co-founded Spanky’s on Hunter Street, whose tagline is “definitely maybe the best bar on planet earth.”

Being at Spanky’s watching Jonny spin was one of the bucket list things to do in Peterborough. Jonny spinning tunes was pure magic, as was the signature little bow he’d give you. He’d put you in a trance where you’d be glued to just watching him. People would come from far and wide to see Jonny spin. It was mesmerizing. It was soul.

Photo at Spanky’s by Eric Kelso Mckibbon

Photo by Rosalea Terry, Spanky’s, Halloween 2014

Jonny was also instrumental in creating The Hootenanny on Hunter Street, a music/community festival that has become one of the summer go-to events in town.

The street would close, the bands would play, and it was this moment that you were there. And would never forget. And Jonny would be standing off to the side like he did, out of the limelight, smoking a butt, admiring and loving and hugging.

Hootenanny on Hunter

When he left Spanky’s, he wasn’t done there. He opened The Twisted Wheel on Water Street with Mike Judson, which has vinyl DJs, live music, movie nights, bazaars and more.

It is an eclectic, eccentric bar—just what Peterborough needed. Indeed, Jonny was always opening bars that this city needed, pushing things, challenging stereotypes and convention about who we are as a city. This ain’t no backward town.

His latest labour of love was Nostalgic Journey, a lovely antique, vintage and collectables store that he and his girlfriend Kayley Duggan just took ownership of in early March.

Jonny was incredibly excited about this chapter of his life—and there were so many—of running this business. He just had this passion for life, and the journey.

Jonathan Hall at Nostalgic Journey, Saturday, March 16th, 2019 (photo by Neil Morton)

There is no easy way to sum up Jonathan Hall, and the impact he has had on people. Everyone in their tears will have different memories of him, different moments they will remember and share. But music was his light, his beacon. Music inspired Jonny to no end, and the music he played brought people together and gave them hope and happiness and escape in this dance of life.

Jonny was, quite simply, a living legend. Perhaps his friend Rosalea Terry puts it best, saying “He was one of the best people I have ever met. So kind and creative. The entire city is going to feel this one.”

Or perhaps Jonny himself put it best in his poetic goodbye note he wrote to the patrons of the Trasheteria in 2012, when he finished with this:

“Keep on being beautifully weird and different, funky and cool, wild and courageous… Be safe out there and perhaps we’ll see you down that winding road. Much love, Retro Rules, Bye for now.”

Bye for now Jonny. We will see you down the winding road.

—By Neil Morton

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Hundreds Form Human Chain Around Peterborough Mosque In Act Of Solidarity & Peace

In a symbolic act of protection for the Muslim community, hundreds of people formed a human chain around the mosque in Peterborough, Canada during prayer on Friday (March 22nd).

This comes one week to the day after a gunman opened fire on two mosques in New Zealand during Friday prayer, killing 50 people.

It was incredibly moving to see people there showing their support for the local Muslim association and those around the world.

Mayor Diane Therrien and MP Maryam Monsef (see pictures and video below) were both there to show their community support. “It’s important for me to be here with so many members of the community to show our love and solidarity with our Muslim community here in Peterborough,” Mayor Therrien tells PTBOCanada. “It speaks volumes about who we are as a community that we always come out to support each other when we need it.”

After the tragedy in New Zealand, Peterborough's Masjid Al-Salaam mosque—and others everywhere—are taking safety and security very seriously. The Peterborough Police Service service are keeping a close watch on the premises for protection.

Watch the footage below our video team captured…

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100 Women Peterborough Raises $10,200 In Under One Hour For Brock Mission Cameron House

At their first meeting of the year on March 19th, the 100 Women Peterborough group raised more than $10,200 in under one hour for Brock Mission Cameron House.

Brock Mission Cameron House, which has been open since the fall of 1996, is a short-term, emergency shelter for women with 12 beds. They have since added eight bachelor units to the site allowing for women to pay a modest rent and customize the program to suit the individual’s needs. The Life Skills program provides education and training for independent living in the future.

Bill McNabb, Executive Director of Brock Mission Cameron House, accepting the cheque from 100 Women Co-Founders Catia Skinner, Alyssa Stewart and Rosalea Terry,

The contribution from 100 Women Peterborough will help to fund a new laundry room as well as much needed upgrades to their current facilities.

"What an incredible experience to see 100 Women Peterborough at work,” says Bill McNabb, Executive Director of Brock Mission. “We are encouraged, inspired and grateful for their generous support in getting some much needed repairs and improvements for our shelter facility.”

Brock Mission provides crisis shelter, food, clothing and support to those in the Peterborough community who find themselves in need. They also provide links with existing community services.

HOW 100 WOMEN WORKS

100 Women members commit to donate $100 at each of the four events hosted throughout the year. The aim is to help women learn about the multitude of different causes in the community, help people in need, and join other like-minded women to empower and multiply the impact of their contributions.

One hundred percent of the funds raised by the membership will be donated to four non-profit organizations determined by the membership throughout the year.

Women that are interested in joining the group—it has quickly grown due to word of mouth—are encouraged to reach out via the website here.

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Inspire Women’s Portrait Project Showcasing Women Of Peterborough Police Service

Inspire: The Women’s Portrait Project is delighted to announce that 10 women from the Peterborough Police Service will be highlighted in their exhibit at the 7th Annual SPARK Photo Festival taking place from April 1st through to April 30th at the VentureNorth building in Peterborough.

“I shot 10 incredible police women—with my lens, of course!” laughs Heather Doughty, original founder of the Inspire Project. “Some were 30 years of service in. They were truly amazing—it was a most enjoyable session.” 

Photo by Heather Doughty

The 10 female police officers will have their stories told through the camera lens and through personal bios as a special segment of the Inspire: The Women’s Portrait Project exhibit on display during the SPARK Photo Festival (VentureNorth Building, 270 George Street North).

In addition, INSPIRE is honoured to be sharing exhibit portraits as part of the Women in Policing Symposium being held March 23rd at Fleming College. The symposium is a passion project of Detective Lindsey Leonard, who is one of the featured INSPIRE women. The symposium provides an opportunity for women interested in a policing career to meet local female officers and explore the profession at a hands-on and interactive venue.  

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