Former Peterborough Petes Made NHL Debut With Toronto Maple Leafs in 4-0 Win Over the Dallas Stars

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Former Peterborough Petes Semyon Der-Arguchintsev made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night in a 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The centreman got the start after being called up from the Maple Leafs’s AHL farm team, the Toronto Marlies to their injury-depleted team. The 22-year old skated 7:16 and had a +1 rating.

Der-Arguchintsev was drafted in the third-round from Peterborough by Toronto in 2018. He finished his OHL career with 12 goals, 63 assists and 75 points in 55 games during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season before graduating into the Leafs organization.

The Maple Leafs return to home at the Scotiabank Arena to play the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

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Fleming Student Association Makes Multi-Million Dollar Donation to Support Student-Life

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Fleming College’s Student Administrative Council (SAC) located at the Sutherland Campus in Peterborough has donated $3,415,500 to the College announced Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

The funding was announced during a ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The donation comes from funds which were designated for transportation and programming enhancements that SAC saved from student fees.

“Fleming College’s Student Administrative Council continues to demonstrate student leadership,” said Maureen Adamson, Fleming College president. “This significant gift will make a difference in the lives of students for generations to come. We appreciate SAC’s ongoing commitment to supporting Fleming students.”

$2.3 million of the donation has been earmarked for an Endowment Fund in effort to create a permanent legacy at Fleming College through supporting transportation initiatives and food security programs that directly impact student life.  

More than $2 million of the contribution supports bursaries that help alleviate direct student transit costs, and create micro-bursaries for students facing emergency or hardship situations and unmet critical needs. $1 million will support capital enhancements to transportation at the Peterborough campus, and these funds will go directly to improving the quality of student transit spaces and amenities. The remaining funds will support food security projects that directly help students who are struggling with food insecurity.

Fleming SAC is a non-profit corporation that advocates for the social and political needs of students at the college. The SAC Board of Directors represent the collective voice on campus and implements programming that addresses the needs of students. 

“Fleming SAC is always there for students, and we have a deep history of supporting students while on campus,” says Joel Willett, SAC general manager. “This donation to the college is important to SAC and our Board as it signifies our existing and future commitment to students.” 

For more information visit the Fleming College website.

Local Woman Spending the Night Outside; Raising Money Through Homelessness Awareness Initiative

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Wilhelmina Don-Venus will be pitching her tent this Saturday, (International Human Rights Day) spending the night outside in Peterborough and raising money through her ‘Tent-Up To Make Homelessness #UNIGNORABLE’ initiative.

Photo Courtesy of Wilhelmina Don-Venus.

Don-Venus “… hopes to raise both awareness to the cold reality our unsheltered neighbours live during the winter months, and funds to support local homelessness initiatives and support for the almost 300 people in Peterborough who don’t have the basic human right of a safe place to sleep,” she says in a press release.

Beyond raising awareness, she wants her efforts to support the vital services that local, charitable organizations provide to those who are facing winter outside.

“There is a network of agencies who work to provide outreach, cold weather survival gear, counselling and so many integral supports to our neighbours experiencing homelessness and I want to help by raising funds to be invested in these services,” said Don-Venus.

Last year, she met ‘Jessica’ and her dog, ‘Hailey.’ Don-Venus says Jessica has been homeless for over 5 years and will likely face another winter outside.

“Her love and commitment to faithful companion Hailey has precluded her from many temporary and more permanent housing options,” said Don-Venus.

Although some local shelters provide accommodation for pets, she says Jessica had several bad experiences and no longer feels safe.

“While I can’t change the circumstances in Jessica’s life, I feel that it is very important for us all to do what we can, every day to have empathy and compassion for all of our neighbours,” she said.

The United Way Peterborough and District has set up a giving page to help Don-Venus reach her $2,500 goal by Dec. 13.

“We are all born equal in dignity and human rights and taking a moment to share a kind word or offer encouragement to those who are struggling is meaningful, and may be the one thing that keeps them going for another day,” said Don-Venus.

To learn more about ‘Tent-Up To Make Homelessness #UNIGNORABLE’, or to donate, visit the website.

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PRHC Expands COVID Assessment Centre Services Amid Ontario-Wide Respiratory Illness Surge

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The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has expanded services at its COVID-19 Assessment Centre to include cold and flu symptom testing and treatment announced Wednesday.

File photo.

The expansion comes after PRHC expresses seeing a surge in respiratory illnesses across the province.

Services at the COVID, Cold and Flu Clinic have expanded to include assessment, testing and treatment for patients with symptoms of COVID-19, cold and flu, including:

  • Fever or chills

  • Sore throat

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Decreased or loss of taste or smell

  • Runny nose or nasal congestion

  • Headache

  • Extreme tiredness

  • Cough (not related to other causes such as allergies)

  • Muscle aches or joint pain

  • Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as vomiting or diarrhea)

  • Abdominal pain (not related to other causes)

  • Pink eye (not related to other causes)

The clinic provides a “faster, more convenient option for patients with COVID, cold and flu symptoms to be seen by a physician, helping to alleviate some of the pressures currently being felt in the hospital’s Emergency Department (ED),” according to a press release.

They urge you to make an appointment at the clinic if:

  • You do not have a primary care provider.

  • Your symptoms or your child’s symptoms are getting worse or are not improving, and you feel that
    you need medical care. Children must be aged one year or older to be seen at the clinic.

  • You have been told by a health professional to go to the COVID, Cold and Flu Clinic.

  • You are at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 and you qualify for testing and treatment.

Patients must be one year of age or older, and walk-in appointments will not be accepted.

PRHC is reminding patients that masking continues to be required for anyone coming to the hospital, including the COVID, Cold and Flu clinic and is strongly encouraged in the community to protect all vulnerable people from the spread of illness. PRHC provides medical-grade masks for all patients and visitors.

Appointments can be made at the COVID, Cold and Flu Clinic by calling 705-876-5086.

$200,000 of Equipment Stolen From Peterborough Construction Site

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Peterborough Police are investigating a report roughly $200,000 in tools were stolen from a construction site Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday, officers were made aware of a theft that had happened sometime between 5:30 p.m. on Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday. The equipment had been taken from a locked container and several manholes at a construction site in the Lily Lake Road and Fairbairn Avenue area. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Peterborough Police Crime Line at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca

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The Art School of Peterborough Earns First-Place Honours in DBIA's Holiday Window Contest

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The Art School of Peterborough has earned the title of first place for the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) annual Downtown Holiday Window Contest announced on Wednesday.

This year’s theme was ‘Winter Wonderland’ that was launched on Nov. 14 in conjunction with DBIA’s Holiday Shopping Passports.

Raine Knudsen, The Art School of Peterborough receptionist released the following statement after being declared the winner:

"The Art School of Peterborough is humbled to win 1st place in the 2022 Holiday Window Contest! Thank you so much to everyone who has shown their support; to our students, our instructors and coworkers, our neighbours, and our local Peterborough community.

This year, we were inspired to create a woodland scene, with our favourite lovable forest creatures all joyfully hand-drawn with care. Just like a snowflake, the Peterborough community is extraordinary in every way, you are one of a kind, a fantastic individual, an exceptional find.

In celebration of the season, all visitors who happen to stop by the Art School will be treated to a hand-made ceramic snowflake ornament crafted by our talented art students. 

Thanks Peterborough, for all the support and love you’ve shown us, and so many other local businesses and non-profits this holiday season. The Art School wishes everyone a bright and beautiful winter holiday and happy new year!” 

This year’s winners are: 

  • 1st place — The Art School of Peterborough, 174A Charlotte St.

  • 2nd Place — Fork It, 288 Charlotte St.

  • 3rd Place — The Capital PTBO 370 George St.

The top three winners received $1,000, $500 and $300 for their winning windows. Locals voted online for their top three holiday window displays throughout the contest period from Nov. 14 to Dec. 5.  

“We love seeing our shop owners put their own creative spin on the holidays with our Holiday Window Contest. It really sets the tone of the season and brings a lot of charm into our historic downtown shopping district,” said Terry Guiel, DBIA executive director. “It’s incredible to see the community support our small businesses throughout the competition. This season we saw a record-breaking number of votes through our online voting portal with over 3000 votes cast.” 

To view this year's window display entries, locals can go online to theBoro.ca

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Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development Seeking New Board Members

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The Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) Board of Directors is accepting applications for new board members to serve for a three-year term beginning in April announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the PKED.

PKED says their ideal applicants will have demonstrated leadership in their industry, their commitment to the region’s growth and prosperity and will be capable of representing broad regional interests, and not just those of a specific industry, organization, or group.

A PKED board director expectations are to:

  • Feel passionate about growing the regional economy and willing to invest time and expertise into guiding PKED to fulfill its mission and mandate.

  • Possess a deep understanding of current business issues and trends and is committed to seeking solutions

  • Be committed to supporting the PKED team to capitalize on/pursue opportunities

  • Be well connected to the local business community, and committed to attending local business events

  • Be familiar with community economic development programs, policies and activities related investment attraction and growth

  • Understand how economic development seeks to improve the economic well-being and quality of life of a community by creating and retaining jobs and providing a stable tax base

  • Be age of majority, live or be employed in the City or County Peterborough

  • Have a post-secondary education or relevant business experience

  • Have previous board experience

  • Have a background in one or more of the following sectors is ideal: Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace, Agriculture, Cleantech, Tourism and Small Business

  • Demonstrate excellent leadership skills, resourcefulness, and the ability to act collaboratively.

  • Have time and capacity available to meaningfully prepare for and participate in board meetings, discussions and PKED events.

The board meets monthly and there may be additional committee or special meetings from time to time.

Applications from interested members of the public can be submitted by sending a resume or CV to recruitment@investptbo.ca on or before Saturday. Applications received after this date will be held on file for the next recruitment period.

Applications can also be accepted by visiting their website.

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David Tuan Bui


Voice of Business: Addressing Our Broken Links

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Businesses that adopt technology tend to be more productive, competitive, and resilient.

Many businesses have invested considerable time and money into new technology in recent years through necessity and rapidly changing consumer habits however small businesses are struggling to keep up with larger businesses in the digital world. This is especially true for rural and traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. Larger, urban businesses have more access to the resources, skills, and bandwidth they need.

Claudia Dessanti, Senior Manager of Policy at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) took the time to thoroughly research the subject with a new report titled Broken Links: Driving Technology Adoption within Ontario’s Small Businesses.

The right tools can help businesses improve productivity, improve customer engagement, reach new markets, and grow. In a time when many employers are having to make due with less-than-ideal staffing levels, technology can improve efficiency and allow them to make do with less.

Examples of digital technologies commonly used by small businesses include:

  • E-commerce websites/platforms

  • Digital payments systems

  • Cloud computing services

  • Search engine optimization

  • Project management software

  • Inventory management software

  • Digital collaboration tools

When surveyed by the OCC, small businesses across Ontario identified three main barriers to digital adoption:

  • Capital costs required - 51 per cent

  • Access to technically skilled workers - 42 per cent

  • Broadband connectivity - 35 per cent

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce has been pushing to reduce these barriers over the years. We are currently running the local Digital Main Street program which includes free access to local experts on our Digital Service Squad. They are available to help businesses work through their digital challenges and create plans to help get where they want to be. They are also able to help businesses apply for grants, including the Digital Transformation Grant and Canada Digital Adoption Program. For more details on this, reach out to Clarance D’Silva at clarance@acorn30.com.

In her report, Dessanti lays out nine key recommendations:

Access to Resources:

  • Broaden eligibility for technology adoption programs to include non-profit organizations.

  • Make it easier for small businesses to access digitization supports.

  • Improve access to private capital and credit for small businesses.

Access to Skills

  • Develop and scale successful digital training programs for small business owners and employees.

  • Build more inclusive digital training programs.

  • Expand work-integrated learning programs and incentivize smaller employers to participate in them.

Broadband

  • Continue to prioritize and accelerate the rollout of broadband across Ontario.

  • Address inefficiencies and barriers to private sector broadband investments.

  • Explore “dig once” strategies, future-proofing of digital infrastructure, and opportunities for better data sharing around broadband gaps.

Progress is being made on the broadband portfolio. We recently hosted federal Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings for an announcement of $56 million in funding toward local broadband internet projects. The announcement is part of a plan to provide proper high-speed internet to everyone in Ontario by the end of 2025.

We have also been active with other chambers and the OCC on issues like “dig once” policies, digital training programs, and funding.

As a Chamber, we will keep advocating for supports for business to invest in technology, developing a local workforce with the technology skills we need, and increasing internet access

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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Quaker Foods City Square To Officially Open On Dec. 17

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A community celebration for the official opening of Quaker Foods City Square on Charlotte Street is occurring on Dec. 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., announced by the City of Peterborough on Tuesday.

The park was open temporarily on Canada Day for a ribbon-cutting ceremony of a new UN Peacekeepers Monument. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The celebration includs outdoor skating, music, hot beverages, face painting for children and other activities.

The public square is located on the site of the former Louis Street Parking Lot and is a year-round space for community events and activities with family-friendly features. It will included a refrigerated outdoor skating rink for the winter and water play for the summer.

The celebration is being run by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).

All activities are free, with treats and hot beverages available while supplies last, including:

  • Sweet treats

  • Hot chocolate

  • Face painting

  • Live DJ

  • Stilt walkers and performance art

  • Skating (weather permitting and must bring own skates)

The ribbon-cutting ceremony and brief remarks will be held at noon to officially open the square and recognize funding partner contributions and sponsors.

The $6.4-million project was supported by a non-repayable contribution of $750,000 from the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) as part of the Canada Community Revitalization Fund, to support the construction of the rink, as well as landscaping and water features.

The City also used $677,909 from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation from its share of gaming revenues provided as a host community for a casino, and $50,000 from the DBIA to support the project. PepsiCo Foods, through its Quaker brand, is providing approximately $240,000 over 15 years for the naming rights to the public square.

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Three Petes' Including Brennan Othmann Selected To World Juniors Camp; Peterborough's Owen Beck Also Chosen

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Brennan Othmann, Brian Zanetti and Tommy Purdeller were Peterborough Petes named for Team Canada, Switzerland and Italy respectively for the upcoming World Junior Championship selection camps while Peterborough’s Owen Beck was also selected for Canada.

Othmann currently leads the Petes in points with 31 in 22 games. Photo courtesy of the Peteborough Petes.

Team Canada’s roster selection camp is at Moncton, NB from Dec. 9 - 12.

This is Othmann’s second opportunity to represent Canada at the World Juniors, playing in six games for Canada at the 2022 World Juniors. He scored twice and added four assists on his way to a gold medal. Othmann has also represented Canada at the U18 and U17 levels.

“You can't take anything for granted, he explained. "There's a lot of good players on this selection camp roster and on the team, there are a lot of good players; a lot of good players that are signed. It's all about how hard you compete and how hard you work.”

Beck was also selected for the same camp as Othmann. The Mississauga Steelheads and Montréal Canadiens prospect will be in his first World Junior tournament if selected.

“He's a really good player and he's a great shot,” said Othmann. "I believe he's in my agency as well so it's good to see guys like that going and (I’m) happy that he's able to get out there and play with some of the top guys.”

Zanetti is competing in his second World Junior Championship with the Swiss U20 team. In the 2022 World Junior Championship, he played in four games nabbing two assists. Zanetti is one of two NHL-drafted players on the Swiss team.

Purdeller is representing Italy for the second time at the U20 level, after winning gold and securing promotion for Italy in last year’s World Junior Championship Div 2A. The NHL Draft-eligible forward played five games in the 2022 tournament, scoring twice and adding three assists.

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