Peterborough and The Kawarthas Entrepreneurs Awarded Grants and Mentorships to Help Spark New Tourism Ideas

Three finalists who made winning pitches for the second intake of the Peterborough and the Kawarthas ‘Spark’ program were each awarded a $3,000 seed grant and mentorship to help them get started with their new tourism ideas.

photo courtesy of peterborough and the kawarthas tourism.

The Peterborough & the Kawarthas “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program is a collaborative partnership initiative between the Tourism Innovation Lab and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism, with funding support from the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario.

The program’s goal is to find, foster and support new tourism ideas, experiences and partnerships that will enhance current offerings, address gaps or challenges, motivate travel and longer stays, and increase year-round visits in the region.

“It's a privilege to work with these local tourism innovators. Our team looks forward to supporting the development of tourism products that give visitors new and engaging ways to explore Peterborough and the Kawarthas,” said Joe Rees, Director of Tourism with Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development.

Ten applications were received, with the top five being invited to present their new tourism ideas at a virtual Pitch Session held on May 2. A panel of judges comprised of local partner representatives and a tourism innovator from outside the region selected the three winning applicants.

The 2023 Peterborough & the Kawarthas “Spark” Program winners are:

• Connor McIlveen & Glyne Pease, Shamrock Acres (Rustic farm venue/event space)

• Katie Jackson, Wanderlight Alpaca Experience (Mystery agritourism and culinary experience)

• Scott Williams, Wildflower Bakery (Sourdough bread-making workshops)

“We congratulate the second-round winners of the Peterborough & the Kawarthas ‘Spark’ program and are excited to work with them to help develop new and exciting tourism offerings in the region” said Justin Lafontaine, Program Lead for the Tourism Innovation Lab.

In addition to seed funds, mentorship and additional partner support, selected applicants gain access to a network of tourism innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders across the province.

For more information, visit the website.

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Over 60 Houses Participating in East City Neighbourhood Yard and Sidewalk Sale

The East City Neighbourhood Yard and Sidewalk Sale will take place on May 13 in Peterborough’s East City.

photo courtesy of East City Ptbo.

This neighbourhood event will have over 65 houses having yard sales from Parkhill Road to Maria Street and beyond, with some Hunter Street businesses having sidewalk sales. 

The yard sale runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. A complete map will be released a week before the event of the event’s social media platforms.

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Things To Do In-and-Around Peterborough This Weekend; May 5 - 7

File Photo.

Here are nine things to do in Peterborough City and County this weekend from May 5 - 7!

Peterborough Poutine Feast

Get ready for a poutine feast in Peterborough in Morrow Park!

Have a weekend filled with mouth-watering poutines and exciting family-friendly activities. Bring the kids and enjoy games and a bucket of mini donuts, and more while you indulge in Canada's iconic dish. With entertainment for the whole family, including live music and performances, there's something for everyone at this not-to-be-missed event.

When: May 4 - 7 (Thu. - Fri. 11 - 9 p.m., Sun 11 - 6 p.m.)

Where: Morrow Park

Tickets: Free admission

The Ennis Sisters In Concert At Market Hall

For over 25 years, The Ennis Sisters have been connecting to audiences across the world. From arts centres in their home province of Newfoundland and Labrador to performing for International leaders and delegates at the 75th anniversary of D-Day on Juno Beach, their harmonies resonate with us all.

A Juno Award, multiple ECMA’s, Music Newfoundland & Labrador awards and a SOCAN for top-grossing Canadian country song – along with endless accolades from fans and critics alike – tangible proof that they’ve tapped into something universal, beyond the notes on the page.

Flavoured by Celtic and traditional Newfoundland influences, Maureen, Karen and Teresa are known for their captivating sibling harmonies and their powerful, often humourous, storytelling. Their music offers a broad mix of original songs as well as uniquely interpreted tunes and ballads.

Live performance has been a staple of the Ennis’ experience, and continues to be.  Proven road warriors since 1997, they gained underground notoriety before translating it into the global success they’ve become – and they aren’t finished yet.  

The Ennis Sisters’  most recent album, On We Go, is a collection of original songs produced by Alan Doyle and recorded in scenic Quidi Vidi Village, NL. 

When: May 5, 8 p.m.

Where: Market Hall

Tickets: $40

League 1 Ontario Women's Home Game - Electric City FC vs Guelph Union

The Electric City Football Club Women’s Team is hosting the Guelph Union in their second home regular-season match at Fleming College.

When: May 6, 2 p.m.

Where: Fleming College

Tickets: $15 - $30

Verdi’s Requiem

From the composer of Aïda, La Traviata, and Rigoletto comes a monumental work that is every bit as tuneful, dramatic, and full of rhythmic intensity as those operas.  It features an amazing cast of four renowned Canadian soloists, a double choir, and the ‘orchestra’ of 12 brass musicians plus Ian Sadler at the pipe organ.

Location: Emmanuel United Church, 534 George St. N.

When: May 6, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Where: Emmanuel United Church, 534 George St. N.

Tickets: $35 adults/$10 students

The Storm is Passing Over: Peterborough Children's Chorus

Erben presents Lowery Mills with special guests Nitetime Drive and Far From Infamy. Lowery Mills is bringing their high energy southern rock show to Peterborough at the Erben. Expect a high voltage night that will keep you moving all night long with special guests Nitetime Drive and Far From Infamy.

When: May 7, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Where: 1509 Sherbrooke St

Tickets: $0 - $30

Peterborough Saturday Farmers Market

Buy directly from the farmer who grew it, raised it, harvested, or foraged it! Sixty percent of our vendors are primary producers who have gone through a third party inspection process to verify they grow 100% of what they sell. The remaining forty percent include bakers, prepared food vendors, artists and community groups.

Enjoy a festive market atmosphere with Peterborough’s finest prepared food vendors, artisans and musicians. 

Come find us every Saturday to find local produce, delicious takeaway meals and goodies, and artisan wares. We look forward to seeing you there!

When: May 7, 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Where: Peterborough Square

Pick Up Some Produce at The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market

We invite you to listen to the sounds of our local musicians while visiting our 100+ vendor outdoor market May 1 to October 31, rain or shine in the Morrow Building parking lot. From November 1 to April 30, we are 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. We at the Peterborough Farmers’ Market are proud to be part of this popular phenomenon.

As producers of local food and crafts, we stress freshness, quality and value as we deal each and every week with our market patrons. Come and enjoy this traditional shopping experience.

When: May 7, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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

Peterborough Petes Vs. North Bay Battalion (Game Six, If Necessary)

It’s the third round of the OHL playoffs! The Peterborough Petes take on the North Bay Battalion in the final home game of the series at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

When: May 7, 7:05 p.m.

Where: Peterborough Memorial Centre

Tickets: TBA

Something Rotten!

Set in 1595, the story follows the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, who struggle to find success in the theatrical world as they compete with the wild popularity of their contemporary William Shakespeare.

When: May 5 - 7, 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Where: The Peterborough Theatre Guild

Tickets: $15 - $25

Peterborough Petes Take First Home Playoff Loss From North Bay Battalion in 5-2 Loss; Series Tied at 2-2

The Peterborough Petes get their first home playoff loss in a 5-2 defeat against the North Bay Battalion to even the series at 2-2, at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Wednesday night.

Peterborough had led in faceoffs, penalties drawn and shots on net in Wednesday’s game. Photo courtesy Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough PEtes.

North Bay wasted no time opening up the scoring as they forced a turnover in the offensive zone. This resulted in Owen Van Steensel putting home the opening goal, beating Michael Simpsons for a 1-0 Battalion lead. The Petes drew a roughing penalty from North Bay but were unable to score on the man advantage. Fresh off the penalty kill, Josh Bloom forced a turnover in the neutral zone for North Bay. He passed it to Kyle Jackson after crossing the blue line and the latter sniped it past Simpson to give North Bay a 2-0 lead not halfway through the first period. Peterborough started to find their groove as Brennan Othmann carried the puck into the offensive zone with patience as he waited for help to arrive off a line change. Tommy Purdeller came to aid on the play, almost scored on his first shot but got his own rebound and buried it to cut the deficit in half at 2-1. That score would carry into the second period with the shots at 12-11 in favour of the Battalion.

Peterborough had a power play 3:41 into the period and seemingly had a wide-open net for a one-timer but the Petes could not get it at the net as the game remained 2-1. Four minutes later, North Bay had an outnumbered attack on Peterborough as Ty Nelson was able to rifle it past Simpson through the five-hole and the Battalion extended their lead, 3-1. The Petes would not go down quietly as just over five and a half minutes left in the period, J.R. Avon got a nice pass from Purdeller and sniped it past Dom DiVincentiis to make it a one-goal game, 3-2. That was Purdeller’s second point of the night as Shawn Spearing had the secondary assist. Peterborough drew a tripping minor penalty with 2:07 left to go but that was a blessing in disguise for North Bay. The Petes fumbled the puck at the blue line and resulting in a Van Steensel breakaway. Simpsons was up to the task and made the save. Shortly after the Battalion possessed the puck in their own zone, they had a two-on-two situation as Van Steensel got redemption and scored on a  sharp-angle shot for a 4-2 lead going into the third.

The Petes pushed hard to get on the board in the third period. The Petes were given their first penalty under eight minutes into the period but it eventually led to a shorthanded breakaway from Brennan Othmann. He chipped it just wide and the score remained the same. The Petes pulled the goalie in the final few minutes of the game, desperate to close the gap. Battalion captain Liam Arnsby was able to force a turnover while Peterborough had the extra attacker and added the dagger for a 5-2 lead. Peterborough registered 18 shots on net to North Bay’s seven but couldn’t solve DiVincentiis and the Battalion was able to split their road trip for a 2-2 series tie.

Van Steensel, Nelson and Purdeller were the three stars of the game.

The Petes play Game Five on the road in North Bay on Friday as the series has turned into a best-of-three. Tickets for Game Six go on sale starting at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday.

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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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