Trent University Honours Past Graduates With Alumni Awards

Trent University has distributed its 2023/24 Trent University Alumni Association (TUAA) awards to outstanding alumni to acknowledge the impact alumni make in their community, professions or with the University.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

 “Congratulations to all of the award winners who chose to study at Trent University because of their desire to create momentous change in the world and have gone on to lead that change in their professional careers and community with vision, commitment, and creativity,” said Sherry Booth, associate vice president of philanthropy and alumni engagement. “The work they do is important, and we are honoured to recognize their remarkable achievements.”  

A full list of 2023/24 winners is as follows: 

Distinguished Alumni Award 

Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet ’74 (Catharine Parr Traill College), former MP for Hochelga in Montreal who served as NDP whip and housing critic; Dr. Keith Stewart ’86 (Peter Robinson College), senior energy strategist for Greenpeace Canada; and Dr. Gesa Weyhenmeyer ’90 (Peter Robinson College), professor at Uppsala University in Sweden, are recipients of 2023/24 Distinguished Alumni Award. This is the TUAA’s top award that recognizes demonstrated leadership, community involvement and notoriety in their sectors of work.  

Spirit of Trent Award 

Henry GB Clarke '70 (Catharine Parr Traill College), a former City of Peterborough councillor and deputy mayor who supported hundreds of residents experiencing homelessness; and Alice Olsen Williams '69 (Otonabee College), a renowned Indigenous artist-activist who has supported many Indigenous causes are co-recipients of the Spirit of Trent Award, recognizing their commitment to making a difference in the world by demonstrating values and lessons learned at Trent. 

Young Leader Award 

The Young Leader Award, recognizing young alumni who have shown outstanding leadership throughout their first 10 years of alumni status, has been awarded to Jacob Dockstator ’10 (Peter Gzowski College), who has boldly, creatively, and collaboratively promoted economic development for Indigenous communities across northern Ontario. 

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Pig's Ear Tavern Approaching Final Stages Before Reopening In September

After closing six years ago, The Pig’s Ear Tavern is in the homestretch to open next month with new owners Ashley Holmes and Steve Robertson at the helm.

Co-owners Ashley Holmes (left) and Steve Robertson (right) outside the tavern with a new replicated sign with the same logo that was installed two weeks ago. The bricks are hand-painted to resemble the rustic look from years prior. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Trent alumni owners purchased the tavern in January and are putting the finishing touches to get the bar open for September.

The tavern is finishing up the bar’s construction, the washrooms and the windows and completing the liquor license process.

Both business partners want to keep the Pig’s Ear look and feel the same when they reopen the beloved tavern scheduled for next month.

“That's our intention is to keep it the same because what's The Pig's Ear is,” explained Holmes. “It’s more of a feeling than a place. Everyone that talks about it has all these memories about having really great times and that's what we want when people walk through the doors is to have it feel the same.”

“All of the upgrades we've done except for a couple would be transparent,” added Robertson. “People are going to walk in and they're going to feel as though it is the exact same spot that they last walked in, six to seven years ago.”

There are a few quality-of-life changes being made that both owners feel patrons will welcome when the bar reopens. This includes updated washrooms, the introduction of air conditioning and an expansion of drink options.

“Having more ciders, non-alcoholic drinks perhaps. It's not just going to be a beer hall that it was 15-20 years ago,” explained Robertson. “We need to keep up with the times in that respect and still keep the charm of the business.”

Both owners admitted that they cannot replicate the renowned legacy of former owners Lylie Ryder and John Punter. The new guard has received Ryder and Punter’s blessing as the former will forge a new chapter for the Pig’s Ear.

“The Pig's Ear is more than us,” said Holmes “We just get to be the ones that bring it back so it's not really about us opening any bar, we are opening this because of what it was and what we want it to be. The legend of the Pig's Ear is more than anything that Steve and I can do to it.”

“We can't really hope to fill the shoes of John and Lylie. They brought such personality to the institution that it's not something we're going to be able to replace,'“ said Robertson. “We have to bring our own personalities, specifically Ashley who is going to be running the bar. John and Lylie are after the fact, 'passing the torch’ and are very supportive of us doing this. They want to remotely be a part of what this is going to become.”

A grand opening date has yet to be announced for The Pig’s Ear.

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Rotary Club of Peterborough Makes $50,000 Donation to YES Shelter To Expand Housing

To expand housing, The Rotary Club of Peterborough has donated $50,000 to the YES Shelter for Youth and Families in a cheque presentation made on Monday afternoon.

This funding is a part of Rotary’s Centennial Celebrations, helping the community in their 100th year of local service. Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

This funding allows YES to open three new permanent spaces in their RISE Youth Housing Program. It facilitates the renovation and maintenance of an existing RISE Youth Housing location according to a press release.

“I am pleased to be presenting this cheque for the YES RISE Youth Housing Program to fund a place and program where youth are supported with skills to transition from homelessness and living in a shelter towards living on their own often finishing high school, a college program or into employment,” said Betty Halman-Plumley, Rotary president.

The $50,000 is part of the Rotary’s $100,000 commitment that was made last year.

“The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha is very pleased to partner with the Peterborough Rotary Club in providing funding for YES’ Rise Youth Housing Program,” said Paul Landau, Peterborough Kawartha Club president. “This program ensures that youth in the community have a safe place to live and also learn strategies to support their recovery.”

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Student Businesses Put Ideas to the Test at Innovation Cluster Slingshot Pitch Competition

Jagadheesh Sathya Nayarana Rao of ParkQuik got the top prize of $3,000 from the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas (ICPK) Slingshot Pitch Competition held at Venture North on Thursday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Innovation Cluster Peterborough.

The competition was a finale of the seven-week Slingshot Student Accelerator Program from six diverse student companies.

The contest turns students’ ideas into Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and crafting robust business models. It spans form healthcare innovations to AI-powered software solutions, the ideas have been brought to life by students from Trent University and Fleming College.

“This seven-week program was a transformative journey for me,” said Rao. “Winning the top prize in the final pitch competition not only validates my hard work but also provides essential funds to boost my business after the app launch. The program's hands-on approach to innovation and technology, along with expert mentorship, has prepared me for success.”

Camila Duarte, programs director, along with experts helped advisor the projects as advisors.

“Seeing these young entrepreneurs grow and succeed has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Duarte. “The Slingshot program exemplifies our commitment to fostering innovation, and we look forward to seeing these bright minds continue to thrive in the business world.”

Each of the six participating student companies has been granted a conditionally pre-approved loan of $20,000 from Community Futures Peterborough.

Judges for the final pitch included:

• Waun Broderick, CTO, & Co-Founder of Gyroscopic Inc, Innovation Cluster Expert in Residence

• Wael Nawara, Professor at Fleming College

• Jaime Nobes, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, Leapzone Lead and Science Teacher

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Schedule Released For MSL Final Between Peterborough Lakers and Six Nations Chiefs

The schedule for the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) final between the Peterborough Lakers and Six Nations Chiefs begins this Tuesday with game one at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Hagersville with an opening faceoff at 8 p.m.

Simliarities from this year and last year is that both these teams met in the MSL finals last year with the Six Nations Chiefs beating the Lakers three games to one in the regular season and ended up the same seed entering the playoffs. Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Lakers

The Lakers will need to win on the road to capture another MSL title as they are the second seed to the regular-season champion Six Nations.

Game one begins in Six Nations and will alternate the home field for each game of this best-of-seven series.

The following is the MSL final schedule:

• Game one: Peterborough Lakers vs. Six Nations, Aug. 15, 8 p.m. at Iroquois Lacrosse Arena

• Game two: Six Nations Chiefs vs. Peterborough Lakers, Aug. 17, 8 p.m. at Peterborough Memorial Centre

• Game three: Peterborough Lakers vs. Six Nations, Aug. 21, 8 p.m. at Iroquois Lacrosse Arena

• Game four: Six Nations Chiefs vs. Peterborough Lakers, Aug. 23, 8 p.m. at Peterborough Memorial Centre

• Game five: Peterborough Lakers vs. Six Nations, Aug. 25, 8 p.m. at Iroquois Lacrosse Arena*

• Game six: Six Nations Chiefs vs. Peterborough Lakers, Aug. 27, 7 p.m. at Peterborough Memorial Centre*

• Game seven: Peterborough Lakers vs. Six Nations, Aug. 29, 8 p.m. at Iroquois Lacrosse Arena*

*if necessary

The Chiefs are led by former Major Lacrosse League and the National Lacrosse League number-one pick Lyle Thompson who won the regular-season MVP this year. The youngest Thompson brother netted 35 goals and 48 assists for 83 points.

Between the pipes for Six Nations is the reigning President’s Cup MVP (from 2019) and Halifax Thunderbirds of the National Lacrosse League’s Warren Hill. His stats boast the best goals against average in the league with 6.69 in 11 starts. His backup Doug Jamison has the second-best percentage with 6.82 in eight starts.

Peterborough has firepower of their own in Holden Cattoni who the MSL Scoring Leader this season with 28 goals and 50 assists for 78 points.

Landon Kells and Drew Hutchinson have almost evenly split the goaltending duties for Peterborough, starting 11 and nine games respectively. Both goalies averaged under nine goals against average a game with 7.77 and 8.80 respectively.

Last year, the Lakers beat the Chiefs in six games to win the MSL Championship and be eligible for the Mann Cup (which they won their fourth straight).

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Fresh Boost, Naturopathic Medicine, TryberSecurity and Photo Booth Fun

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…

Fresh Boost is a new Health-minded takeout restaurant, in Bridgenorth.

Located at 892 Ward St. just before the Causeway, Fresh Boost offers a wide variety of banana, tropical, fruit blend and morning rush smoothies, parfait cups, salads, bowls, wraps, lots of protein options and more. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., stop in or find Fresh Boost on Facebook.

Dr. Kori Macarthur is a Naturopathic Doctor who recently launched her practice at the Peterborough Center of Naturopathic Medicine in East City and will be joining the team at the new Millbrook Apothecary within the next few weeks.

She also offers virtual care to anyone in Ontario online. Dr. Macarthur focuses on skin health, treating acne, eczema, psoriasis, digestion problems, hormonal health and more. You can contact Dr. Kori Macarthur at The Peterborough Centre of Naturopathic Medicine at pcnm.ca or korimacarthur.com.

Graeme Barrie is gearing up for the launch of TryberSecurity, a revolutionary cybersecurity platform tailored to the unique needs of startups and small businesses.

Cybersecurity has become a major concern for small businesses and startups as they face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. The TryberSecurity platform is an all-in-one solution and includes a secure and collaborative information-sharing space, informative training videos, policy templates and practical playbooks. Graeme is looking for founding members who will benefit from a lifetime membership at no cost. Visit trybersecurity.com for details.

If you are looking for a way to add some fun to your next event, check out Phillip Jolicoeur’s Photo Booth Fun.

Whether it’s a private party, graduation, wedding, anniversary, you name it, the Photo Booth Fun offers anything from silly photo props to stunning backdrops to the luxurious touch of red carpets and velvet ropes, Guests get on-the-spot, customized photo prints. If you are a not-for-profit or charity, you can even create sponsorship opportunities where every photo printed bears the sponsor’s logo. Bookings are available at pjthemarketingguy.com.

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City to Build 50-Unit Modular Bridge Housing Community For the Homeless Being Constructed In September

The City of Peterborough is creating a 50-unit Modular Bridge Housing on Wolfe Street for anyone experiencing homelessness with construction to begin in September.

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

Several of the individual units are being built off-site before being delivered to the property. Each unit will have access to electricity, a heating and cooling system.

Over the next several weeks, through conversations to identify how support services at the Modular Bridge Housing project will align with each individual’s specific needs, the City will provide offers of accommodation for the new units as stated in a press release.

The units will be a bridge to move people into more permanent housing.

“I'm proud of the progress we've made towards the plan at Wolfe Street, and I think it’s a significant step in the right direction to address the needs of the community, and establish structure and support in the area,” said Councillor Alex Bierk, vice chair of the City's Housing and Homelessness portfolios. “We are meeting people where they are at and have put in a lot of work to collaborate with community partners and create more accessible shelter options.”

Council approved a comprehensive homelessness strategy in May. Part of the strategy includes:

• The 50-unit Modular Bridge Housing project

• Opening a new winter overnight drop-in centre

• Creating a service hub to support the Modular Bridge Housing community

Details are being finalized on the location of the winter overnight drop-in centre that will be open for six months every year and a year-round daytime meal program that will replace the current One Roof community meal program and drop-in centre.

Once the new overnight drop-in centre opens and the Modular Bridge Housing project is ready, the Wolfe Street building will be converted from an overflow shelter program into a service hub to support the Modular Bridge Housing community.

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Local 23-Year Old Man Reported Missing by Peterborough Police

23-year-old Peterborough man Connor Tully has been reported missing and local police are asking the public for assistance reported on Friday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough POlice Service.

Tully was last seen at his residence in the St. Catherine Street and Cameron Street area of Peterborough last Sunday. His family and police are concerned for his well-being. 

Tully is described as:

• White male

• 5'8" 135lbs

• Red curly hair

• Freckles on face

• Blue eyes

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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Two Suspects Being Sought From Alleged Thursday Night Home Invasion

The Peterborough Police Service is looking for two people after two home invasions within minutes of each other early Thursday evening.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police Service.

At roughly 5:30 p.m., officers were called to a Bethune Street and King Street area residence. When they arrived, officers learned that two separate units had been entered. In one case, the homeowners reported that two men had entered the apartments armed with handguns and demanding money. One victim was allegedly struck with the handgun before the suspects fled.

A second unit was also allegedly entered and appeared to be ransacked. The homeowners were not home at the time. 

The suspects were described as:

Suspect #1:

• Male, black

• Approximately 6’3” in height, stocky build, approximately 200 lbs.

• Grey hooded sweatshirt (hood up) with dangling drawstrings, black sweatpants with a white logo on left upper thigh, black face mask, black and white running shoes.

Suspect #2:

• Male, black

• Approximately 5’7” - 5’9” in height, thin build, approximately 150 lbs.

• Black hooded zip-up hoodie (hood up), black track pants, black shoes, black face mask, grey satchel slung to left side.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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Peterborough Police Service Identifies 27-Year-Old Homicide Victim From Late Tuesday Night

The Police Service has identified Tuesday night’s homicide victim as 27-year-old Jacob Jansen of Peterborough announced on Friday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Police received permission from his family prior to releasing his identity according to a press release.

On Tuesday, Chief Stuart Betts provided updates regarding the investigation.

It is still ongoing and police continue to appeal to the public to come forward with any information. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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