Fleming College Student Recognized As OCAA Volleyball All-Star

Fleming College student Dion Pearson-Laviolette has been named by the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) as a men's volleyball Second Team All-Star.  

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

Pearson-Laviolette was recognized at the 2022-2023 year-end awards prior to last week’s OCAA Men's Volleyball Championship at Fanshawe College in London, Ont.

The Fleming all-star is from Paisley, Ont. studying raphic design. The fifth-year OCAA athlete and outside hitter leading the Fleming Knights in several statistical categories.

Pearson-Laviolette played three years for the Knights before this season and had previously won Most Improved and Most Dedicated player.

He was ninth in the league in points with 230.5 and eighth in points per set for the Knights. The majority of his points came from kills where he had 178 on the year.

Pearson-Laviolette also had 36 total blocks (10th in the league) and 109 digs (21st in the league) leading the team to the playoffs with a 9-9 record.

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Peterborough Lakers Hire Jordan Winch as Team's Full-Time Coordinator

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers have added Jordan Winch as the team’s new full-time coordinator for marketing, sales and community events announced on Sunday.

Winch was present during the Lakers jersey presentation at The Pizza Factory on Jan 27 and the championship ring unveiling on Feb. 26. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Winch started his tenure with the team in December. His responsibilities are to assist the Board of Directors with sales, sponsorships, marketing initiatives and community events. 

“As a volunteer group, we thought it would be best to have someone doing this full time in order to better serve our fans, sponsors and community partners,” said Len Powers, board chair. “We are excited about the new ideas, strategies and tactics Jordan has already brought to the table.” 

Born in Peterborough, Winch is a Brock University Sports Management program graduate in 2018. He completed an internship with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Community Relations department. He worked in service and sales in the sporting goods industry for the past four years prior to joining the Lakers.

“Growing up in Peterborough, I know how special the Lakers are to this city and how hard the board of directors, players, staff, volunteers and sponsors work to create such a successful product both on the floor and in the community,” said Winch. “I want to assist these individuals, while also implementing new strategies, ideas and initiatives that will further enhance the strong impact the Lakers already have in this community.” 

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'Peppa Pig's Adventure' Musical to Hit the Peterborough Memorial Centre on July 25

A live musical of ‘Peppa Pig’s Adventure’ is hitting the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) on July 25, announced on Monday.

Online Image.

The performance is about Peppa Pig going on an exciting camping trip in the woods with George and her school friends, including Pedro Pony, Suzy Sheep and Gerald Giraffe. Lunchboxes are packed and Daddy Pig is driving the bus, Peppa and her friends are excited about their outdoor adventures, full of singing, dancing, games and surprises. 

After the show, the Peppa Pig's Adventure Photo Experience is available for ticketholders to ‘jump in a mud puddle’ alongside Peppa Pig & Friends. Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Tickets go on sale on March 17 at 10 a.m. with presales beginning Tuesday at 10 a.m. exclusively online. PMC Scoop members can purchase tickets starting Tuesday, at 10 a.m. to March 16 at 10 p.m. 

When tickets go on sale, they can be purchased online, over the phone at 705-743-3561 or in person at the Grant Thornton Box Office. 

For group sales of nine or more, the PMC asks you contact First Class Group tickets at lori@firstclassgrouptickets.com or 647-201-3349.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Lush Cannabis, Kawartha Hypnosis, Boss Lady Lashes and LEAPZONE Entrepreneurship 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…

Lush Cannabis Company opened in Cavan last year, and they’ve just expanded by adding a Peterborough location at 139 George St., Unit 2.

That’s across from the Holiday Inn between the Beer Store and Pet Value. Owner Brent Morrison and his staff offer a full-service cannabis shop with flowers, concentrates, edibles, drinks, as well as topicals, vaporizers, accessories and apparel.

Taryn Sparkes is a multi-certified, award-winning lash technician, and she has just relocated her business from British Columbia to Peterborough.

Boss Lady Lashes is located at 950 Lansdowne St. W., Suite 18, next to Walmart. Sparkes specializes in volume and mega volume, offering more than 20 individual services from sets to fills, tints to waxes. She can even add some Henna Freckles. Sparkes also offers one-to-one training courses. You can book online at s.bossladylashes.ca or find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Rebecca O’Rourke of Kawartha Hypnosis has just introduced a fun new aspect to her business, Comedy Stage Hypnosis.

O’Rourke is inviting you to let loose and have some fun with a hypnotic comedy experience. It can make a great fundraising event, spice up your conference, or just a fun get-together. Kawartha Hypnosis has programs for weight loss, stop smoking, stress management, sleep, confidence and more. Visit kawarthahypnosis.com or on Facebook and Instagram.

The Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas has announced a new partnership with Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, to foster entrepreneurial skills among students.

The LEAPZONE Entrepreneurship Club is part of the KPR Pathways Initiative and is designed to allow students to develop entrepreneurial skills and encourage innovation and creativity. The program is open to Grade 9 to 12 students and equips them with the skills to plan, fund, start and run a business or social enterprise. For details visit kprschools.ca.

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Photos: Darling Insurance Hosts Sixth Annual Chili Challenge To Benefit The Nourish Project

Darling Insurance came to defend its title as they hosted the sixth annual Chili Challenge to benefit The Nourish Project at The Social Pub on Friday afternoon.

Brad Wood (left) and David Tuan Bui (right) winning the Pepto Bismol Chili Challenge trophy. The winning recipe was a maple bacon chili. Photo courtesy of Darling Insurance.

All subsequent photos by Samantha Bianco.

Six teams came and brought their own recipes to earn the ‘Chili Challenge’ title. The Social Pub, Darling Insurance, Team VanRahan, Peterborough Business + Social Club, Peterborough Humane Society and PTBOCanada were this year’s participants.

The public was invited and welcomed to try the chili flight, donate to the charity and voted for their top three teams.

The following are the standings of the competition:

1. PTBOCanada - 123 points

2. Team VanRahan - 90 points

3. Darling Insurance - 58 points

4. Peterborough Business + Social Club - 41 points

5. Peterborough Humane Society - 39 points

6. The Social Pub - 33 points

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Fundraisers Dive Into the Action at 37th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim

Big splashes were made that the 37th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim as 19 teams hit the pool lanes to raise a goal of $50,000 for rotary projects at the YMCA Central East on Friday morning.

Renee Oake (left) with her son Oscar Weinstein (right) after swimming 150 laps in the lane pool. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

This event has fundraised over $1.32 million for Easter Seals and Rotary Projects in the area.

The funds raised will go towards rotary projects such as Easter Seals, Camp Merrywood, equipment for Easter Seals families for home renovation, Camp Kawartha, Breakfast for Kids program, The Rotary Trail and supporting a residential treatment facility. 

Carl Oake started this event 37 years ago. He says he was inspired by the work the Easter Seals did because of his relatives. His mother’s twin sister contracted polio in the 1950s while a cousin of his was born with spina bifida - both physically debilitating diseases.

Vanessa Oake Hogan, event organizer took over running the event her father started and was satisfied that the event has had so much community support over the years.

“I'm very proud that he started it and very proud to have the opportunity to carry it on,” she said. “It's a lot of work but with Rotary's help, we seemed to be able to keep it going so there's a lot of pride.”

The Carl Oake Rotary Swim fundraising page still remains open for donations. A final tally is being made at a later date.

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Peterborough's Harrison O'Connor Named to Great Britain U16 Team For Riga Hockey Cup in Latvia

Peterborough’s Harrison O’Connor is representing Great Britain and their U16 team for the Riga Hockey Cup in Latvia that is running from April 21 to 23.

Seven other Canadians were selected with O’Connor to be part of the U16 Great Britain team. Photo courtesy of Patrick O’Connor.

The tournament features 16 European junior teams in a three-day event scattered throughout nine different arenas. It is known as one of the largest junior hockey tournaments in Europe. Each team is guaranteed seven games with three 15-minute periods.

Harrison is the son of Peterborough Petes assistant coach Patrick O’Connor. The family moved from England to Peterborough four years ago.

“We are incredibly proud of Harrison on his selection to the National Team, it’s the greatest honour to pull on that jersey,” said Patrick. “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication he has put in on and off the ice. He continues to develop and grow and the last four years in Peterborough have played a major part in this and he will proudly represent his new hometown.”

“It’s such an honour to play for my country and can’t thank the people who have helped me along the way including my coaches here in Peterborough,” said Harrison. “I would like to say a big thank you to the people who have helped me along the way: Scott Wasson, Jody Albert, Brodie Birkhof, Josh Gilliam, Rob Wilson and a big thank you to my dad Paddy O’Connor for making this possible.”

Harrison is a member of the U16 AA Petes. His family was immersed in the sport back in County Durham, England where Patrick notes it as a ‘big hockey town.’

“The city where I lived in Durham had an ice rink and it was built from coffin wood in the second World War and they used an ice-making plant because there was no refrigeration back then,” explained Patrick in a prior interview. “The Canadian Air Forcemen flew over and they had a base in Country Durham and a lot of really talented players came over.”

The 16-year-old forward was also a member of the Bradford Bulldogs U15 for the 2018-19 season with a goal in ten games played in England.

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The Peterborough Public Library Announces First One Book One Ptbo Title Selection

The Peterborough Public Library announces the selection of the One Book, One Ptbo title: Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice.

moon of the crusted snow by Waubgeshig Rice, book cover.

Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation. He has written three fiction titles, and his short stories and essays have been published in numerous anthologies. His most recent novel, Moon of the Crusted Snow, was published in 2018 and became a national bestseller.

He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002 and spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host. He left CBC in 2020 to focus on his literary career. Rice lives in Sudbury with his wife and three sons. His forthcoming novel, Moon of the Turning Leaves, will be published in October 2023.

One Book, One Ptbo aims to build community through the shared experience of reading the same book and participating in programs and events inspired by the themes found within the narrative.

“I’m thrilled and honoured that Moon of the Crusted Snow has been selected for One Book, One Peterborough. Connecting with readers through public libraries is a very special relationship, and I’m overjoyed that members of the Peterborough Public Library will have an opportunity to read my story through this important initiative,” said Rice.

Copies of Waubgeshig Rice’s book will be available starting in May. Community members can use their library cards to borrow this title in various formats, including traditional paperback, eBook, audiobook and even as a Book Club in a Bag kit.

The library will host programs to explore the book's themes this fall and is actively looking for community partners. If your organization is interested in hosting one of these programs, reach out to the Library before April.

Partial funding for this project was made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough.

For more information visit the website.

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Ten Things To Do In-and-Around Peterborough This Weekend; Mar. 3 - 5

Here are 10 things to do in Peterborough City and County from March 3 to 5!

Check out the First Friday Art Crawl!

First Friday Peterborough downtown monthly art crawl allows participants to experience the City’s art, music and food scene, while supporting local artists and taking in some city sights all at once. FFPTBO is dedicated to showcasing the immense artistic and musical talent in the Peterborough community. The art crawl is a self-guided tour of downtown galleries, studios, shops, and cafés that takes place on the first Friday of every month.

When: Friday Mar. 3, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Where: Downtown Peterborough

The Rolling Stones Tribute Band at Showplace

The Rolling Stones Tribute with special guests the UK Invasion Tribute team up for this incredible double-header performance!  This 12-person troupe will recreate some of the most iconic Rolling Stones live performances ever.  You can expect hits like Satisfaction, Paint It Black, Jumpin' Jack Flash and so much more! The U.K. Invasion brings you amazing performances by various British bands including Fleetwood Mac, Phil Collins and The Beatles. Horns, keys, sizzling guitars, along with lush vocal harmonies will make this a night to remember.

When: Friday Mar. 3, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N, Peterborough)

Tickets: Available online.

The Peterborough Theatre Guild presents Gibson and Sons

Directed by Jerry Allen and produced by Pat Hooper, this comedy performance stars Luke Foster, Dan Smith, Lyndele Gauci, Jade O'Keeffe, Brian McIntosh, Bethany Heemskerk and Sheila Charleton.

The cast and crew work together to tell Kristen Da Silva’s story of Harry Gibson, who helps his father run the family business (a struggling small-town funeral home) through he sees it beginning to interfere with his love life. Missing his recently departed mother, and hungry for companionship and the chance at having his own family, he secretly turns to an unconventional method of meeting a woman: an online Russian bride service. When his bride Katya and her acerbic older sister Eva arrive on Canadian soil, the sisters are plunged into culture shock while the Gibson family is thrown into a tailspin.

When: Mar. 3, 4, 7:30 p.m. Mar. 5, 2 p.m. (matinee performance)

Where: The Peterborough Theatre Guild (364 Rogers St., Peterborough)

Tickets: $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and $15 for students and can be purchased online.

Parents Night Off: Easter bunny pottery craft at The Art School of Peterborough

Enjoy an evening out while your child(ren) enjoy the evening at The Art School of Peterborough. The evening will entail 1.5 hr of an art project, followed by a movie (Hop) and popcorn on location. This lines up with the PTBO First Friday Art Crawl if parents wish to explore the local art community or enjoy a night downtown.

When: Friday Mar. 3, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Where: The Art School of Peterborough (174A Charlotte St., Peterborough)

Tickets: $45, members $40.50, available online.

Enjoy Brews & Brunch at McThirsty’s Pint

Join McThirsty’s for the first ever Breakfast Club event!

Enjoy Cam Green's Pop-Up Brunch Menu from 11 a.m-3 p.m. Breakfast Club beers from 16 participating breweries, all making their favourite breakfast inspired beers. No tickets, just show up and enjoy!

When: Saturday Mar. 4, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Where: McThirsty’s Pint (166 Charlotte St., Peterborough)

Check out the Kawartha Rock & Fossil Club’s Annual Show!

The 28th annual Peterborough gem, mineral and fossil two-day show is happening at the Healthy Planet Arena!

The Club Event is taking place at the formerly-known Evinrude Centre with minerals, fossils, rocks, crystals, meteorites, gemstones, equipment, books, faceted stones, gemstone jewelry, beads and more.

A large display area is featured with mineral and fossil displays from members of the Kawartha Club and prominent Ontario collectors. Each day there will be silent auctions.

When: Saturday Mar. 4, Sunday Mar, 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Where: Healthy Planet Arena (911 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough)

Tickets: $5 and children under 12 are free.

Winter Fun Day at Lakefield College School

Experience some Canadian Winter fun with LCS! Enjoy outdoor winter activities including snowshoeing/walking in forested trails, tobogganing, roasting s'mores over a campfire, broomball on the outdoor rink and making maple taffy with homegrown maple syrup. No previous experience is needed, and all equipment is provided.

When: Saturday, Mar. 4, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Where: Lakefield College School (4391 County Rd. 29, Lakefield)

Inclusive Sport and Recreation Expo

This free event intends to bring together community sport and recreation organizations to highlight and promote inclusiveness and encourage participation for people of all abilities. It will provide children and their families an opportunity to learn more about the resources available and the inclusivity in sport and recreation through demonstrations and peer engagement. It will also be an opportunity for local groups to promote their organizations and showcase their inclusive programs to potential participants.

When: Saturday Mar. 4, 12 p.m.-3 p.m.

Where: The Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre located (775 Brealey Drive, Peterborough)

Pick Up Some Produce At The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market!

Visit the 100+ vendor market located inside the Morrow Building just south of the parking lot.

The establishment of a central market area for individual trade or sales has been a feature of societies all over the world for centuries. This trade has taken place in Peterborough for the past 190 years. This efficient method of commerce (ie. producer, direct to consumer) has gained much interest in recent years as small businesses have grown.

As producers of local food and crafts, the Peterborough Farmers’ Market stresses freshness, quality and value as they deal each and every week with market patrons. Come and enjoy this traditional shopping experience.

When: Saturday Mar. 4, 7 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Where: Morrow Park (151 Lansdowne St. W, Peterborough)

Jam out with the Receivers at The Black Horse Pub

Local fiddler Irish Millie has joined Ottawa-area sisters Fern and Willow and are performing at The Black Horse as The Receivers!

When: Sunday Mar. 5, 4 p.m.-7 p.m.

Where: Black Horse Pub (452 George St. N, Peterborough)