Grand Opening of New Law Firm Appears In Downtown Peterborough

Passageway Law is Peterborough’s newest law firm to open as they had their grand opening of their offices in downtown Peterborough on Monday.

Meryn Steeves, lawyer and partner (left); Laura Wilson, paralegal and Robert Hiseler, lawyer and partner launched the firm on Monday. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The firm is located at 201 George St. N., Unit 301A across from Greg’s No Frills. It is a full-service law firm that covers areas such as family law, wills/estates, real estates, business law, notary services, paralegal services and more.

Passageway Law consists of a three-person team with Meryn Steeves and Rob Hiseler who are lawyers and partners. They’re joined by paralegal Laura Wilson to round out the trio.

‘Empathy’ is one of the firm’s largest values to provide clients and was a significant part of their vision when they opened the business according to Steeves.

“Keeping a focus on the client's experience is key,” she said. “Understanding that each client is an individual, they're going through a major life event whether it's a separation, buying a house or planning for after their death, it's a big deal to come into a lawyer's office.”

The firm says they understand that coming into a lawyer’s office can be intimidating or nerve-wracking. Steeves notes that the firm wants to create a welcoming environment and there is no stigma attached to visiting them.

“Most people don't do it more than a couple of times in their lifetime so we want to really focus on their experience as they come through our doors and understand the human side of it and understand that this is a major life point for them,” she explains.

The name is meant to serve as a way to modernize their firm, rather than listing the brand partners in a traditional sense according to their website. ‘Passageway’ lets clients know that the firm is a warm, welcoming and innovative place that’s happy to serve Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

“It was a dream of ours to do something like this,” explained Steeves. “All of our Pinterest boards, our vision boards and see the space come together. We're so excited to have our own space, to create our firm and bring our vision to life.”

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Fleming College Offering Free Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

Fleming College is offering unemployed and underemployed workers a free chance to explore a career in skilled trades through two new pre-apprenticeship programs.

file photo.

Funded by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, these programs highlight the benefits of working in the Carpentry and Plumbing industries.  

Each course is 18 weeks long and includes full-time, in-class instruction which encompasses job readiness and safety training.  

The Carpentry course includes some instruction in Plumbing and Electrical work, and the Plumbing course includes instruction in Carpentry and Electrical fields.  

The course also includes a paid work placement which lasts eight to 12 weeks.  

There is no cost to these programs. Tuition will be covered, and tools, safety equipment and course materials will be provided.  

Courses begin June 12. Eligibility for these two unique programs is done through a competitive process. Visit here to fill out an expression of interest. Expressions of interest are due by 8 a.m. on May 10.

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City of Peterborough Asking Residents to Stay Off Wet Sports Fields

As the weather has become warmer, the City of Peterborough has asked users to stay off natural sports fields until further notice.

A SOCCER FIELD IN BEAVERMEAD PARK. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF PETERBOROUGH.

Several sports fields are extremely wet as reported by the City.

Using the wet fields can cause damage to it and its users. If fields require repairs, their opening could be delayed this season or they may have to be taken out of play while work is completed.

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Police Conclude No 'Ill-Intent" From Women Offering Ride to 10-Year-Old From Tuesday

Peterborough Police have determined that no ill-intent came from the woman who offered a ride to a 10-year-old walking to Edmison Edmison Heights Public School from Tuesday.

File photo.

The incident occurred in the Royal Drive and Marina Boulevard area. 

Officers have been in contact with the driver, the school and the student for the investigation which lead to the no ill-intent conclusion according to a press release.

Police thank the public for their response and sharing of information as it shows a commitment to safety in our communities. 

Residents can report any suspicious activity by calling Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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Peterborough Public Library and Bird Friendly Peterborough To Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day May 13

The Peterborough Public Library and Bird Friendly Peterborough will be celebrating World Migratory Bird Day in the FOL Community Room at the library on May 13.

photo courtesy of the peterborough public library.

Local environmental and wildlife groups will be on hand to help you with ideas and projects for making your gardens, yards and buildings more bird-friendly.

Learn about Peterborough's new Bird-Friendly City certification, actions the library is taking, and how you can help make our communities more bird-friendly. This event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. will also feature door prizes, a live bird demo by a falconry expert, a family-friendly bird origami craft drop-in by library staff and a bird ID scavenger hunt.

“With our Native Plant Garden creating bird habitat in Library Commons, our new Birdwatching Kits, and bird-safe window treatments, the Library is proud to be a part of this Bird-Friendly City,” says Mark Stewart, Library Services Manager.

The Library will be launching its new collection of Birdwatching Kits that will be available to borrow with your library card. The kits have been made possible through generous donations from Peterborough Field Naturalists and Bird Friendly Peterborough. The kits come in a backpack and contain binoculars, bird identification guides and activities for adults and families.

The grand reveal of the Library's bird-safe window decal installation will be at 2 p.m., making it the first City building to do so in collaboration with BFP. Peterborough’s Bird Friendly City certification will be officially presented to Mayor Jeff Leal. City Councillors, City staff, First Nations representatives and BFP funders, along with the general public are invited to celebrate the day.  

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Petes Tack On Late Goal To Take Game Three With a 3-2 Win Over North Bay Battalion; Peterborough Leads Series 2-1

The Peterborough Petes continue their playoff home undefeated streak with a 3-2 victory over the North Bay Battalion and take game three with a late third-period goal and have a 2-1 series lead at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) on Tuesday night.

The Petes have yet to lose a home playoff game this postseason.. Photo courtesy Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough PEtes.

Both teams were evenly matched during the first half of the period. Petes goaltender Michael Simpson was tested early, making several glove saves in high-scoring areas to keep it scoreless. On the other end, Donovan McCoy and Tucker Robertson had one-timer chances but could not get it by North Bay goaltender Dom DiVincentiis.

Peterborough was able to draw first blood on the powerplay as Gavin White got it to Robertson. He fed it Brennan Othmann was able to power the puck through the five-hole of DiVincentiis as it inched across the goal line for a 1-0 lead, his sixth goal of the playoffs. It remained that way into the second period. Shots were 17-13 in favour of the Petes.

Peterborough had begun the second with a five-minute major as Chase Stillman had a match penalty for slew-footing (served by McCoy) in the final seconds of the first. North Bay mustered four shots on the Petes but Peterborough was able to kill off the penalty and keep it a 1-0 game.

Peterborough had a powerplay from a checking from-behind penalty and had some sustained pressure in the offensive zone. North Bay got aggressive during a clear attempt and a mix-up from in front of Simpson allowed Pasquale Zito to bury a shorthanded goal for a 1-1 tie in the dying seconds of the power play.

The Petes crashed the net with an offensive chance but offsetting penalties were called on both teams resulting in both being down a man. During the four-on-four, The Battalion had an odd-man rush and capitalized as Kyle Jackson fed Matvey Petrov for a one-timer goal and a 2-1 North Bay lead going into the third.

Peterborough started the period aggressively, taking several shots at DiVincentiis, trying to get the tie. Othmann was able to intercept a clearing attempt from North Bay in the Battalion’s defensive zone and dished a pass to Avery Hayes for a one-timer goal to tie it at 2-2.

Peterborough went back on the attack as J.R. Avon knocked a puck out of mid-air to seemingly score despite the net being knocked off. After review, the referees deemed it was no goal, despite the Petes arguing that North Bay had forced the net off.

The Petes kept the pressure on as DiVincentiis initially stopped a shot but the puck trickled behind him and Peterborough pounced on it for a goal. The refs waived it off after a lengthy review since the whistle had already been blown and the game remained tied.

With just over two minutes left in the period, Dubois got it to Samuel Mayer in the offensive zone as he picked a crucial moment to score his first goal of the playoffs. He was able to wrist one from just outside the faceoff circle and beat the goaltender clean for a 3-2 lead.

“I just kept saying to them over and over and over, just keep up the pressure,” said Rob Wilson, Petes head coach. “We felt it was coming You have those feelings as a coach on the bench whether you were going to get one and I had that feeling so I just said stick to the game plan, don’t change a thing, the process is working and I felt a goal was coming.”

North Bay had to pull their goalie and tried to tie it up but Simpson and the Petes stood tall and held on for the win and a 2-1 series lead.

Mayer, Othmann and DiVincentiis were the three stars of the game.

The Petes play game four at the PMC on Wednesday to continue the Eastern Conference Final best-of-seven series against North Bay Battalion. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.

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Ontario Government Funds Over $1.1 Million To Build 12 Addiction Treatment Beds

The Ontario Government has invested $1,138,800 for 12 addiction treatment beds into Four Counties Addiction Services Team (Fourcast) in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge (CMHA-HKPR) through the Addiction Recovery Fund, announced on Tuesday morning.

Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions (left) with MPP Dave Smith (right) at the CMHA building on George Street. In 2022, 539 individuals attended the emergency department resulting from an overdose, emergency medical services responded to 357 overdose calls and 59 individuals lost their lives to overdoses in Peterborough. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

This collaboration will create six residential treatment beds, six residential withdrawal management beds and six-day treatment spaces as a two-year pilot project in a new facility.

The City of Peterborough and the county of Peterborough each contributed $100,000 totalling $1,338,800.

“This is another treatment option for us,” said MPP Dave Smith. “Having the ability to have people from our community go to detox and complete their rehab here, close to home, is one more tool in the toolbox for them. Working towards sobriety is what we need to be doing and this is one of the options for people to use.”

“Treatment and recovery are the key to solving the addiction crisis. This investment in a bed-based residential treatment and withdrawal management program will establish pathways to save countless lives and build up the continuum of care in Peterborough region,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

No site for the facility has been selected but covers CMHA Kawartha, Haliburton and Pine Ridge. This fall is when the facility is projected to be open.

The beds are providing medical supervision and services to patients seeking to detox from substances. Patients will flow to residential treatment beds for up to 35 days. The treatment is being provided in a structured, substance-free, in-house environment.

The program will support participants daily to examine and work on issues related to their substance use. Treatment includes counselling or therapy, as well as psychosocial education and life-skills coaching.

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Peterborough Regional Farmers' Market Finds New Home at Quaker Foods City Square

The City of Peterborough welcomes the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market to the Quaker Foods City Square with operations every Wednesday and Saturday from May 3 to Oct. 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day.

photo courtesy of the peterborough regional farmer's’ market, website.

The public square on Charlotte Street, just east of Aylmer Street, is well situated in the heart of downtown Peterborough, with convenient access to Peterborough Transit and public parking at the King Street Parkade right next to the Square. The location is linked to the active transportation network with multiple trails and bikeways leading to downtown.

“We’re thrilled to have Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market operating in Quaker Foods City Square. The market fulfills two important roles for our downtown - it provides local produce, prepared food and local artisans’ work, and perhaps more importantly it helps build a sense of community. It will be a great experience to stroll through the Square, pick up some local goodies at the market and meet up with friends and neighbours,” said Town Ward Councillors Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica. 

“We are genuinely excited for this opportunity the City of Peterborough has given us. There is an understanding as to the importance a vibrant urban market can bring to the Peterborough Downtown Core. The site is on the former location of the Wednesday market and many vendors are overjoyed to be returning to a location that had a strong and vibrant place in the city. We look forward to a great summer filled with exciting events, and wonderful seasonal products,” shared Jeff Wagner, chair of the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market.

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Suspect Involved In a Carjacking and Robbery at a Peterborough Parking Lot Arrested in Windsor

A man involved in a robbery and carjacking incident in a Peterborough parking lot on Sunday morning was arrested in Windsor on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police Service.

The 30-year-old is held in custody and will face charges in multiple jurisdictions including the following in Peterborough:

• Robbery with violence

• Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose

• Assault with a weapon

• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

• Flight from peace officer

• Motor vehicle theft

• Fail to stop when signaled or requested to do so by a police officer (Highway Traffic Act)

Peterborough Police thank LaSalle Police Service, Windsor Police Service and the OPP R.O.P.E Squad for their assistance. 

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