Temporary Parking Lot Available During Simcoe Parking Garage Rehabilitation

The City of Peterborough has provided a temporary parking lot during the closure of the Simcoe Parking Garage for rehabilitation announced Tuesday.

The Simcoe Parking Garage under construction on Simcoe Street. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The lot is at the northwest corner of Simcoe Street and Aylmer Street North for downtown residents and visitors. It opened Tuesday and will remain in use during the closure of the Simcoe Garage. Driveway access to the lot is from Aylmer Street.

The temporary parking lot will provide approximately 30 new spaces, including two accessible spaces. That adds to the 1,490 public parking spaces in parking lots, garages as well as on-street spots in the downtown area.

Beyond the public, municipally-owned parking facilities, there are privately-owned, publicly available parking lots and garages in the downtown area, such as the Peterborough Square parking garage, that provide additional parking capacity.

A pay and display parking meter has been installed in the new temporary lot and customers can also pay for their parking in this lot using the HotSpot mobile parking app. The pay and display machine is located in close proximity to the accessible spaces.

The planned parking rates for this temporary lot will be consistent with other municipal downtown parking lots, with the $1.50 hourly rate applied between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., on weekdays, to a maximum of $10.50 per day. Patrons would receive free parking in the weekday evening hours, after 6 p.m., weekends and holidays.

During the rehabilitation project, customers who normally use the Simcoe Parking Garage are encouraged to use other parking spaces that are available in surface parking lots throughout the downtown area as well as the King Street Parkade. A map of public parking lots is available at peterborough.ca/parking.

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Public Energy Brings Circus Sundae to Peterborough

Public Energy Performing Arts is kicking off a seven-part outdoor event on Sunday at two separate locations.

Spumoni the Clown. Photo Courtesy of Public Energy.

The seven-part series will showcase a 25-minute program called Circus Sundae: Sweet & Salty by Flying Solo, a Toronto-based circus company that uses their own originally designed and fabricated apparatuses to create unique choreography, performed on the one-of-a-kind City Circus Truck.

Aerialists Nicole Malbeuf and Laura Lawless and contortionist Flexy-T will perform on the City Circus Truck, a flatbed trailer that will be parked on site.

Ice cream treats will be served to the audience while Spumoni the Clown attempts to create the ultimate mouth-watering ice cream sundae.

Circus Sundae will be at two parking lot locations on Sunday. Performances can be seen at the Peterborough Memorial Centre at noon and at Peterborough Collegiate (PCVS) at 3:00 p.m.

Both shows are free or pay-what-you-wish. Book your spot on the Public Energy website here.

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Lang Pioneer Village Will Resume Self Guided Living History Tours

Lang Pioneer Village will be open for self-guided living history tours on Wednesday.

A GUIDED TOUR OF THE MUSEUM THAT COMPLIED WITH THE COVID-19 PROTOCOLS IN 2020. PHOTO COURTESY OF LANG PIONEER VILLAGE.

The Museum has been operating under an altered guided tour format since the beginning of the pandemic however the province has moved to a stage that is permitting the Museum to resume living history programming with all necessary safety protocols in place to ensure a safe experience for all.

The Museum will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday until Sunday, Sept. 5.

Under the living history format, guests will be able to visit the Museum on the date and time of their choosing with no time limit to their visit.

Visitors will tour the village at their own pace and costumed interpreters stationed in some of the historic homes and businesses will introduce them to the building’s history and demonstrate traditional trades.

Visitors are required to wear masks when entering all buildings on the property, maintain two metres distance between themselves and visitors from outside of their group and are asked to practice proper hand sanitization and follow all posted signage while on site.

Only one visitor group will be permitted in the historic buildings at a time. Advance booking is not required but it is recommended.

“We’ve had our sights set on the day when we can open up again to a living history experience for our visitors. It is finally here,” said Laurie Siblock, museum manager, “Staff and volunteers are excited to welcome visitors back to a village filled with the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of the 19th century.”

Click here for more information.

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Former Trent Student Founds Website Incentivizing People to Shop Locally

In an innovative and creative way to incentivize people to shop local while promoting small businesses, former Trent student Nick Mitchell founded a new community engagement project called “Take a Challenge, Make a Change" (TACMAC).

Mitchell has been a lifeguard instructor in Kenya and a chef in British Columbia. Photo Courtesy of TACMAC.

Launching this Thursday, the website encourages participants — primarily post-secondary students — to engage in fun challenges to earn discounts or rewards and support charity while supporting small businesses.

Challenges are complete by posting a picture of themselves at the establishments on Instagram with the hashtag #TACMACJACKPOT. Anyone who enters will be registered for a weekly jackpot for a chance to donate $100 —money supplied by TACMAC — to a charity of the winner’s choice.

The charitable idea stemmed from Mitchell’s time working at One Roof Community Centre. It inspired him to create a business dedicated to giving back to the community. The inspiration for creating TACMAC came from his time at Trent where his friends and classmates knew of very few places to spend time and shop in town and go to the same place repeatedly.

"I’ve come across so many of my fellow peers who time after time say there's nothing to do in Peterborough," said Mitchell. "The response was that they didn't know this (certain places) even existed."

Some examples include having a home cook-off with a friend based on one ingredient from The Food Shop or purchasing crickets from the House of Scales and make a meal from them.

TACMAC creates an outlet for students to experience Peterborough outside of the ‘campus bubble” according to Mitchell.

Photo Courtesy of TACMAC.

Businesses can register themselves through TACMAC’s website for a small fee to allow customers to take part in their challenges. The incentive is another way for entrepreneurs to promote and advertise their businesses.

Mitchell says the timing of TACMAC could not be any better since some people are unsure of what is open or closed during the current stages of the pandemic.

"It just gives people a clear-cut path to activities in Peterborough," said Mitchell. "There's probably going to be a lot of confusion to what's okay. When they see it on the website, it kind of reduces a bit of the anxiety."

Over 20 businesses have registered for TACMAC.

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Local Teacher Earns NYC Marathon Spot While Outpacing Mental Health

It is an opportunity very few people get but Julie Vallières has been selected as one of six Canadian teachers to run in the New York City Marathon in the fall.

Vallières has been helping her students battle mental health issues since 2015. She serves as the school’s cross-country and track and field coach. Photo Courtesy of Julie Vallières.

She was selected as part of Team Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) who pick 50 North American teachers as representatives.

Vallières submitted her video application to TCS with her story, how running helped her teaching and why she should be picked. She promoted running as a way to help with mental health issues her students were facing at St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School.

“I’m glad I get to be with people with the same passion for running,” she said. “It’s nice to gain some mental strength from running long distances.”

TCS supports physical and mental health among children and provided Vallières and other selected teachers with integrated technology education resources for easier teaching.

She learned about Team TCS from Niels Walkau, a local colleague and friend who participated in the marathon two years prior.

Vallières constantly trains, running four to five times a week to prepare for the 26.2 mile-long marathon. She has participated in several running events or marathons as part of her training regime.

The event is not set in stone for Canadians since border travelling is still in limbo from the pandemic. Vallières is hopeful that the world will have enough normalcy to allow her to participate.

“I’m hoping by then, everything will be good,” she explained. “I’m keeping a positive mindset here and we’ll be out of the woods with vaccines and stuff.”

Vallières plans to bring her family to watch her run at the marathon. Her children are eligible to participate in a 5-kilometre run, the day prior to the main event.

Last year, the NYC marathon was postponed but Vallières was able to earn a medal in their digitized version through an app.

“It will be a great experience for all of us,” she said. “It’s about the people that support the community. I know it’s a great experience and I want to be able to share it with my family.”

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Peterborough of Commerce, Rapid Screening Kits, Art Gallery of Peterborough and Electric City Special Needs Hockey Club

PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition… 

A significant announcement last week as the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce announced plans to pursue consolidation of the two organizations.

Unanimous votes to proceed from both Boards sets the stage for an approval vote of the respective members this fall. The consolidated Chamber will result in over 1100 members with nine full-time staff, in two offices as well as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing office in Lakefield.

Speaking of the Chamber, local businesses can now access Rapid Screening Kits that allow businesses to test for antigens and provide an early warning sign that an employee might have been exposed to COVID-19.

The program is being promoted by local Chambers, with the logistics, pick up and drop off location and staffing being provided by MPP Dave Smith. The program is another pandemic tool that helps keep staff and customers safe, and businesses open. For details and to register and order testing kits, visit peterboroughchamber.ca.

The Art Gallery of Peterborough and this year’s participating artists are gearing up for the 37th Annual Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour on September 25-26.

One of the longest-running studio tours in Ontario, the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour offers the public a unique chance to view art in the working spaces of artists.

This year’s self-driving tour features 43 artists and makers at 36 studio locations across the City and County of Peterborough, where you can enjoy painting, jewelry, glass art, woodworking, pottery, textiles and more. Details at agp.on.ca

The Electric City Special Needs Hockey Club is reminding everyone of their important annual fundraiser – the Electric City Candle Company. Each year the players and coaches get together for a pouring party, making as many soy-based candles as they can, in a variety of amazing scents. The candle sales are an important part of the funding, allowing the club to provide opportunities for any child or adult with physical or developmental special needs. For details visit electriccityspecialneedshockey.com

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Peterborough Petes Launch Frontline Workers Drop The Puck Program

The Peterborough Petes recognizes deserving local frontline workers with the Frontline Workers Drop the Puck program announced on Friday.

Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Petes.

The Petes acknowledge that this past year and a half has required additional time, effort and a tremendous amount of dedication from the frontline workers throughout Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes.

Each week, the Petes will recognize and celebrate one frontline worker who was nominated by a colleague, member of the community or employer for their extraordinary work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

File Photo.

The Petes will be accepting applications recognizing frontline workers across all industries. These industries include but are not limited to, first responders, food and agriculture, manufacturing, public transit workers, grocery store workers and construction.

Nominations for this program opened on Friday and end on Aug. 20. The Petes will be selecting one nominee per week starting on Monday, August 9.

The frontline workers who are selected will be invited to participate in the ceremonial puck drop when the Petes return to the Memorial Centre for their home opener on Oct. 14 against the Sudbury Wolves.

Fans can nominate the same individual as many times as they would like. The more nominations an individual receives will result in a better chance of being selected to drop the puck at the Petes home opener.

Puck droppers will be determined based on the number of nominations that are submitted highlighting their work, in conjunction with a review of the reasons they were nominated.

To nominate a frontline worker, click here.

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Hometown PTBO: Jay Rowan Discusses the Sandbagger Hard Seltzer Story Including His Father's Influence and the Development of the Drink

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday speaks with Sandbagger Hard Seltzer founder, Jay Rowan about his father’s influence on the drink, how the drink was made, how golf impacted the drink and the story of having 2,000 cases of the drink when COVID hit.

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Lions Club Shoe Drive Shatters Goal By Collecting Over 2,500 Pairs of Footwear

After a month-long campaign and 2,549 pairs of footwear later, the Peterborough Lions Club concluded a successful Shoe Drive that ended Friday.

MPP Dave Smith (left) with Gwen Sawyer, Lions Club membership director after tallying the final total of pairs of footwear collected. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Lions Club.

Present at the ceremony were Lions Club President Garth McQuaig, Lions service chair Judy Jenkins, MPP Dave Smith, Haily Whitelock from Bioped Footcare & Orthotics and other committee members to announce the completion of the shoe drive.

Gently-used to brand new footwear of all kinds were accepted at the drive from shoes, flip-flops, cleats, skates and more were taken in as part of the month-long campaign. Community members could drop off their donations at the club located on 347 Burnham St. or at Bioped Footcare at 655 The Queensway, Unit 6.

Judy Jenkins with the shoe drive sign with a minor correction after Smith’s final donation. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The donated footwear is repaired and restored by Bioped before being redistributed to needing families or individuals, prioritizing locally before donating them abroad.

The club’s goal was 1,000 pairs which was easily shattered which was a pleasant surprise from the committee members.

"I couldn't believe the overwhelming support of our community," said Jenkins. "We put out what our need was and the community just rallied around us and the shoes just kept coming and coming and coming."

Over 150 garbage bags filled with shoes were donated to the Shoe Drive. Photo Courtesy Of Peterborough Lions Club.

Shoes that go abroad will go to needing families in countries such as Haiti, South Africa, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. They can sell the footwear in order to help sustain a living.

“One pair of shoes pays for food for one week for a family of four. Twenty pairs of shoes abroad pay for one year of education for a student which every student has to pay for their education from grade 1 and up. Another 20 pairs pay for the residence in which the students live,” explained Jenkins.

Smith officially made the last donation, removing his pair of shoes for the cause.

“The Peterborough Lion’s Club has been a key community-oriented organization for decades. They are always working – donating their time and resources – to support those who need support,” he said.

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Peterborough Fire Services Reminds Residents Open-Air Burning Not Permitted

Due to a recent increase in burning complaints, Peterborough Fire Services is reminding residents that open-air burning is not permitted within the City of Peterborough as per the Ontario Fire Code in a press release issued Friday.

Peterborough Fire Trucks at the ready. Photo Courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

Fire bowls, fire-pit tables and barbeques that burn propane or natural gas are examples of permitted appliances as long as they are Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) approved. Chimineas and other wood-burning devices are not approved appliances for open-air fires.

For more information click here.

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