Peterborough Blogs
Hydro One And The City of Peterborough Plant 500 Trees In Ashburnham Memorial Park To Restore Urban Canopy From Last May's Derecho
/During Canadian Environment Week, Hydro One and the City of Peterborough helped plant 500 trees at Ashburnham Memorial Park on the heels of the one-year anniversary of the derecho on Wednesday morning.
Jenn McCallum, co-founder of the Ashburnham Memorial Stewardship Group, her dog Blitz and her group of volunteers helping Hydro One and The City of Peterborough plant 500 trees in Ashburnham Memorial Park to help restore the city’s urban canopy after last year’s derecho. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Several volunteers from the Ashburnham Memorial Stewardship Group were on site also lending a hand. Councillors Joy Lachica, Gary Baldwin and Kieth Riel were also in attendance for the event.
Students were originally invited to aid in the tree planting but the air quality conditions were deemed unsafe for the kids to participate.
Hydro One had worked around the clock in order to restore power and help offset any damage caused by the storm. It inspired the company to do something positive for the community according to Teri French, Hydro One executive vice president.
“After the May long-weekend storm last year, I saw first-hand the devastation to the community of Peterborough,” she said. “Responding to this initiative, this tree planting provides such a great benefit for the community and the environment.”
The trees came from Hydro One’s community investment team which was able to supply the funding.
French says this tree planting is more important than ever now than ever before considering the benefits they give and seeing the latest weather conditions in Peterborough and beyond.
“Climate change especially over the last couple days, I think we've realized the importance that providing an urban canopy provides for communities,” she explained.
The City also ran a tree giveaway on Wednesday afternoon shortly after the event. All 250 trees were given away as the City thanked everyone who came out to pick one up according to a Twitter post.
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Peterborough Lakers Tailgate Party Cancelled Due to Air Quality Conditions; Home Opener Still A Go
/The Peterborough Lakers tailgate party for Thursday’s home opener has been cancelled due to the air quality conditions according to their Facebook post made on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Lakers.
The game against the Brampton Excelsiors is still scheduled to happen with a banner-raising of the team’s fourth-straight Mann Cup. The opening faceoff is set for 8 p.m.
The tailgate party was scheduled in the PMC parking lot for two hours prior to the home opener. Fans are asked to bring non-perishable goods as the Lakers are collecting in support of Kawartha Food Share.
Peterborough’s air quality reached a high of nine on the Air Quality Health Index Readings from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday which is considered a high risk according to Air Quality Ontario. Conditions have peaked at seven from 6 to 8 a.m. Wednesday morning but have declined to four which is a low-end moderate risk by mid-afternoon.
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New Partnership From Peterborough Lakers Provides Free Game Tickets to Five Counties Children
/The Peterborough Lakers have partnered with Five Counties Children’s Centre (FCCC) to provide kids who receive treatment within the organization free tickets to each home game this season, announced on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Lakers.
The initiative is part of the Five Counties Ticket Assist Program according to a press release.
There is also the first-ever Little Lakers Night planned for the team’s final regular season home game on July 27. Five Counties staff, volunteers and families will be present at the game, holding a raffle, organizing face painting and other activities and taking part in the ceremonial pre-game ball drop.
“The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers and Five Counties Children’s Centre are a winning combination, and we’re very pleased to be partnering with the team on some wonderful initiatives for our kids and families,” said Scott Pepin, FCCC CEO. “Five Counties is honoured to be part of the Lakers’ ‘drive for five’ this season.”
“The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers believe in giving back to the community – on and off the floor – so we are thrilled to work with Five Counties to spotlight its services and welcome kids and families who use the Centre’s services to enjoy thrilling lacrosse action live and in person,” said Jordan Winch, Lakers’ coordinator.
The Lakers kick off their home opener against the Brampton Excelsiors at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday. Peterborough opened their season on the road and beat Brampton 11-8 last Friday.
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Trent Valley Archives Offering New Walking Tour Through Jackson Park
/Trent Valley Archives (TVA) is offering a new hour and a half walking tour through Peterborough’s Jackson Park on Thursday, June 15.
photo courtesy of trent valley archives.
Jackson Park began as an industrial site before it became a public park in the 1890’s. Later the site of an amusement park and a spot to show outdoor films, the park then became a camp for children with alternative needs in the 1960’s when the City took over the park.
Led by noted historian Karen Carter-Edwards, the tour will explore the fascinating history of this wonderful Peterborough landmark. Participants can discover where the gamblers den, Devil’s gap and famous beach were located.
The tour meets in the upper parking lot through the main gates off Monaghan Road and will commence at 2 p.m.. It will run rain or shine, so TVA asks that participants dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.
The cost is $20 per person and registration/payment in advance is required. Tickets are available on the website by reserving with Heather at 705-745-4404, or by email.
Peterborough Folk Festival Announces Headlining Act Loreena McKennitt To Take the Stage August 20
/Award-winning composer and singer Loreena McKennitt is set to headline the Peterborough Folk Festival at Nicholls Oval Park on Sunday, August 20.
photo courtesy of the peterborough folk festival.
McKennitt says that in one way or another, we are all an extension of each other’s history. “Wanting to learn about our neighbours is also a desire to learn about ourselves,” says the singer from Morden, Manitoba.
To date, she has sold over 14 million albums with a catalogue that includes seven studio recordings, three seasonal recordings, a live in-concert DVD and two DVD documentaries. She’s won two Juno Awards, Canada’s premier music award, and garnered two Grammy Award nominations.
“We are so honoured to have Loreena McKennitt perform at PFF 2023,” says Ryan Kemp, artistic director of the festival. During her recording career spanning more than two decades, McKennitt’s ‘eclectic Celtic’ music has received critical acclaim world-wide, with gold, platinum and multi-platinum sales awards in 15 countries across four continents.
Now in its 34th year, Peterborough Folk Festival strives for gender parity, diversity and inclusivity in the performance line-up and throughout all aspects of the festival. Of the 28 artists who performed at the Festival in 2022, 11 were local.
“Not only is Ms. McKennitt a critically acclaimed singer and composer, she is revered for her passion for human rights and the protection of the environment,” says Kemp. “As the second-largest cultural event in the region promoting inclusivity and diversity, we are so grateful to have Ms. McKennitt share her incredible talent and generosity of spirit with all of those who attend the Festival.”
McKennitt is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Manitoba. In 2002 and 2012 she was the recipient of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals and in 2013 she was appointed to the rank of Knight of the National Order of Arts and Letters by the Republic of France. Recently, she was inducted into the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.
Each year, Peterborough Folk Festival welcomes more than 12,000 people to Peterborough and the surrounding region, making it the second-largest cultural event of the Summer season.
The Festival will feature three days of music, culture and community starting August 17th at Market Hall and continuing August 19th-20th at Nicholls Oval Park next to the Otonabee River.
For more information on how to get involved as an artist, volunteer or vendor, head over to the website.
Saints Edge Griffins In Fifth-Place Match 7-6 In OFSAA Boys Field Lacrosse Championships
/The St. Peter’s Saints (SPSS) led once all game but it was enough for a comeback 7-6 win and fifth place over the host Thomas A. Stewart Griffins (TASSS) in the OFSAA Boys Field Lacrosse Championships on Tuesday.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The Griffins came out to a 3-0 start in the first quarter, getting an early lead over the COSSA Champion Saints. They battled back to cut the deficit by one to make it a Griffins 3-2 lead but TASSS pulled away with a goal to make it 4-2 into the first half. Jeff Ralph, Griffins’ head coach knew that any lead against the Saints having played them before is never safe.
“We’ve been up against them before. We knew it was going to be a full 60 minutes to get the win against these guys,” he explained.
The Griffins kept their foot on the gas pedal, quickly scoring in the third quarter to restore their three-goal lead, 5-2. At this point, TASSS had dominated in time of possession and shots on goal.
St. Peter’s displayed their resilience and battled back with three goals to make it a 5-5 game.
“Lacrosse is a game of runs, “ explained Rod Willis, Saints head coach. “You might go on a three or four-goal run so we had to be patient, wait until it came and really take advantage of the situation.”
Both teams had traded goals halfway through the fourth quarter with a 6-6 tie, including a game-tying score from Hayden Addison for the Saints.
With just 6:30 left, Addison scored again to give St. Peter’s the first lead of the game. TASSS pressured hard to try and tie the game. With under a minute left in the game, they had a chance to tie it from a high-scoring chance but Saints goaltender Geordy Addison made a clutch save and St. Peter’s was able to run out the clock for a 7-6 win.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Both coaches had respect for their respective Peterborough school counterparts.
“All the credit to them, they have a great team,” said Ralph. “They're very well-coached with Rod McGillis in his last high school game.”
“They're very well-coached,” said McGillis. “They have a couple very, very good players and on offense, a good offense. It's hard to stop. It takes a lot of character and a lot of patience and skill to get back into that game.”
McGills has announced his retirement from coaching following the game.
Both teams had won their first game on championship day in order to play each other for fifth place. The Saints beat the Denis Morris Reds based out of St. Catherines 11-9. The Griffins took down the Neil McNeil Maroons from Scarborough, 8-6.
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QUAKERborough Releases New Commercial Highlighting Plant Employees in the Peterborough Community
/Quaker Oats (PepsiCo Canada) has released a new commercial for the QUAKERborough brand, which includes employees from the local Quaker Plant at 34 Hunter St. W.
Photo courtesy of citizen relations PR.
“In 1902, Peterborough welcomed Quaker into the proud community we now like to call QUAKERborough – a place with great food and welcoming neighbours who make you feel right at home,” says Logan Chambers, Senior Director of Marketing with PepsiCo Canada. “Acknowledging the warmth and support that Quaker has received over the years, the brand is on a mission to personally welcome newcomers to the city with open arms with the help of our dedicated plant employees and the New Canadians Centre in Peterborough.”
The process started in April of this year, when Peterborough’s New Canadians Centre advertised a casting call on social media for a family new to the community.
Now two months later, the commercial shows the QUAKERborough van driving around the community, and assisting the new family in moving a couch into their home.
4th Line Theatre Seeking Retro Prop Donations For Upcoming Summer Production
/Dig out your attic for some relics as 4th Line Theatre is seeking prop donations or loans of items from the 60s for their upcoming production, ‘The Tilco Strike’ which is running from June 27 - July 22.
CAST MEMBERS FROM IAN MCLACHLAN AND ROBERT WINSLOW'S CROW HILL: THE TELEPHONE PLAY OF 2018. PHOTO COURTESY OF WAYNE EARDLEY AND 4TH LINE THEATRE.
The Theatre is asking for 1960s items either for loan or donations. These include bowling shoes, bowling pins, a bowling bag, an adding machine, bolo ties, a punch clock and a cardholder.
Volunteers are also needed for the productions. Anyone who signs up can also view any show for free.
Those looking to volunteer, need more information or donate are asked to send a photo to e-mail admin@4thlinetheatre.on.ca.
Written by D’Arcy Jenish and directed by Cynthia Ashperger, The Tilco Strike recounts the year-long fight between 35 poorly paid women and their hard-nosed male bosses at Tilco Plastics in Peterborough. The company was determined to crush the women and their union according to 4th Line Theatre.
The strike began in December 1965 over a $25 bonus and escalated into an epic battle between organized labour and strike-breaking employers. The women lost their fight but changed labour relations in Ontario forever.
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Peterborough Legion Branch 52 Finishes Second In Provincial Darts Tournament
/Members of Peterborough Legion Branch 52 hit the mark and took home silver in mixed darts at Branch 498 in Grand Bend, Ont. held on Saturday.
Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Legion.
