City Council Appoints David Potts As New Commissioner of Legislative Services

City Council has appointed David Potts as the new Commissioner of Legislative Services for the City of Peterborough, effective immediately.

Potts holds a law degree from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from Western University. He is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist, Municipal Law (Local Government). Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The announcement was made at the City Council’s meeting on Monday.

Potts also serves as the City Solicitor for the City of Peterborough, a position he has held since June 2018. Before joining the City of Peterborough, Potts was the City of Oshawa’s legal counsel for 19 years, including 17 years as its City Solicitor.

As the Commissioner of Legislative Services, Potts leads a department that includes Legal Services, the City’s Clerk’s Office, Court Services, Municipal Law Enforcement Services, and Realty Services.

Council has expressed its vision to enhance the delivery of the critical functions within the Legislative Services Department, including bylaw enforcement, to meet the community's needs better moving forward according to Mayor Jeff Leal.

“Dave has the experience and knowledge to lead the department through this exciting period of change,” he said.

“I am looking forward to working with Dave in this senior leadership role and use his knowledge and vast experience in our exciting journey to make the City of Peterborough a future-ready City,” said Jasbir Raina, Chief Administrative Officer.

Legislative Services is a new department for the City of Peterborough, which was created as part of a recent reorganization to position the City to be future-ready, realigning existing divisions, services and programs within the administrative structure of the City of Peterborough according to a press release.

Potts has served as the acting Commissioner of Legislative Services since the department was created on Oct. 2.

As the community positions itself for growth and progress, it will be critical that the City learns from the experiences of other municipalities while simultaneously implementing services in a way that considers the local context for Peterborough, Potts said.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the City’s talented, dedicated group of professionals in my new role as we implement Council’s vision as expressed through its Strategic Plan: Peterborough 2050,” he said. '“I’m grateful to Council and my staff colleagues for this additional opportunity to serve my hometown.”

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North York Man Arrested For a Stolen Vehicle Found In Peterborough

A 54-year-old North York man is facing charges after a vehicle reported stolen in Toronto was spotted in Peterborough Monday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 9:10 a.m., general patrol officers in the George Street and King Street area were alerted to the stolen vehicle by the Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system. The vehicle was idling with a person in the driver's seat.  Officers parked at the front and the back of the vehicle, approached it and took the driver into custody.

As a result of the investigation, a 54-year-old North York man was arrested and charged with:

• Possession Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 - in Canada

The accused was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 21, 2023.

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Peterborough County Launches 'Warden for a Day' Campaign For Grade 9-12 Students

In celebration of last week (Local Government Week), Peterborough County is inviting youth in grades 9 – 12 to enter the ‘Warden for a Day,’ contest running until Nov. 3.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

This initiative aims to inform students in the local community about the Warden's responsibilities, the services Peterborough County provides for its residents and the various career and elected office opportunities within local government according to a press release. The County says it aspires to raise awareness among young people about the significance of engaging in their local government.

The winner will be invited to participate in the Nov. 22 Peterborough County Council meeting and will join Warden Bonnie Clark at the County Courthouse for a lunch, a tour of County facilities and prizes

To enter, students must answer two questions in the format of a 60-second video:

1. What do you love about living in Peterborough County?

2. What is one thing that you would do as Warden?

The online submission form can be found online with the deadline on Nov. 3 at midnight.

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Peterborough Petes Defenceman Carson Cameron Selected To World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

Peterborough Petes rookie defenceman Carson Cameron has been named by Hockey Canada to the Canada White Roster for the upcoming 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge announced on Monday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The tournament will take place from Nov. 2-11 in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

The Petes selected the first-year Bobcaygeon defenceman in the first round, 13th overall, in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. Through nine games this season, the former Central Ontario Wolves captain scored one goal and added four assists for five points, putting him third in OHL rookie defenceman scoring. In the summer, Carson was among 66 under-17 players selected to participate in the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence Summer Meetings.

“We’re very excited for Carson,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “This is a great opportunity for him to represent Canada and feature alongside some of the top talent in the 2007 age group from around the world. We’re looking forward to watching Carson compete and can’t wait to see the experience that he brings back to the team.”

The Petes hit the ice on Friday when they travel to St. Catharines to take on the Niagara IceDogs.

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Peterborough Police Seeking Two Break-and-Enter Suspects Going Into Two Lansdowne Street Businesses

The Peterborough Police Service is seeking two suspects involved in two incidents at two businesses on Lansdowne Street West early Friday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

One business reported their security system showed a man and a woman attempting to enter the store before taking off in a black sedan. Police believe the incident happened around 4 a.m.  

Upon their arrival, a second business reported that an employee noticed a safe with a significant amount of money stolen. Security system footage showed a man and a woman in the store leaving with the safe. Police believe this incident happened about 5:30 a.m. on Friday. 

The suspects are believed to be connected to both incidents and are described as:

Suspect #1:

• white male

• grey pants/sweater

• brown shoes

• average build

• black mask

Suspect #2:

• white female

• grey sweater

• black mask

• black pants

• white/black shoes

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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4th Line Theatre Announces Two Productions For Its 2024 Summer Lineup

4th Line Theatre has announced its 32nd summer season and two premiere productions ‘Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes’ and ‘Jim Watts: Girl Reporter’ on Monday morning.

Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes was written by Alison Lawrence (pictured). Photo courtesy of 4th Line Theatre.

The season will begin on July 1 with Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes, written by Alison Lawrence, based on the book by Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter and directed by Autumn Smith, who returns after appearing in the 2023 production of The Cavan Blazers. 

Beginning on July 30, Jim Watts: Girl Reporter, written by Beverley Cooper and directed by Kim Blackwell, will take the stage. Cooper wrote The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale for 4th Line, which had a sold-out run in December 2018.

“In our 2024 season, I am proud to share these two plays with audiences,” explained Blackwell, 4th Line’s managing artistic director “These world premiere productions have been developed through our new play development program.”

Longtime Musical Director Justin Hiscox returns to write original music, compose and musically direct for the summer season. Hiscox returns in 2024 for his 24th season after surviving a life-threatening illness this past summer.

Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes is a funny and enlightening exploration of the largely unknown story of the teenage girls who stepped up and worked on farms across Canada to feed the troops and all Canadians during WWII. These ‘Farmerettes,’ all in their 90s now, tell us that the summers they worked on those farms were the best of their lives, even 70 or more years later.

Jim Watts: Girl Reporter is a fascinating exploration of the experience of trailblazing youth who illegally flocked to Spain to fight fascism, attempting to stop its march across Europe in the mid-1930s. Jean ‘Jim’ Watts was the only woman to join Canada’s regiment in Spain, the MacKenzie-Papineaus. The play takes us from Toronto to Madrid, from political rallies to the battlefields of Spain—and Peterborough’s own Jim Higgins — union organizer and hero — figures prominently in the story.

“Both of the plays focus on young people who are willing to do just about anything to do their part,” explains Blackwell. “These young people were desperate to try and make a difference in a world gone mad. They were all true heroes.”

Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes

• Directed by Autumn Smith

• July 1 – 20, 2024

• Previews: July 1, 2

• Opening Night: July 3

• Monday to Saturday at 6 p.m.

Jim Watts: Girl Reporter

• July 30 – August 24, 2024

• Previews: July 30, 31

• Opening Night: August 1

• Tuesday to Saturday at 6 p.m.

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Peterborough Museum & Archives Granted the 2023 Tourism Award By Peterborough Chamber

Peterborough Museum & Archives has been recognized with the 2023 Tourism Award by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, presented at the Chamber’s Excellence Awards ceremony at The Venue on Wednesday.

File Photo.

“Peterborough Museum & Archives delivers exceptional programming and curates exhibits showcasing our history and culture,” said Councillor Matt Crowley. “It creates exhibits that are both local and speak to broader societal topics, like the fascinating Michi Saagiig basket exhibit that draws interest from our community and from throughout the greater region.”

He also congratulated the other finalists in the Tourism category: Kawartha Country Wines and Otonabee Region Conservation Authority, for their activities that contribute to the success of the Peterborough Region.

Award recipients and finalists for all the Excellence Awards categories are available online.

Peterborough Museum & Archives is a City of Peterborough service and facility that promotes local heritage and culture, providing various programs, special events and exhibitions. It is located at 300 Hunter St. E., next to Ashburnham Memorial Park on Armour Hill, in Peterborough.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Acceptance Nurse Psychotherapy, Evolve Dental Hygiene, Lily Rain Recovery and ComPassion Project

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…

Sheena Howard recently founded Acceptance Nurse Psychotherapy, a unique clinic offering psychotherapy for Trauma, Individual, Family, LGBTQ+, Substance Use and addiction, Couples, Yoga, Sex Therapy and ADHD.

The team of ten, all experts in their fields of nursing and certified psychotherapists, are there to help everyone. Located at 459 George St N, Peterborough, visit acceptanceclinic.ca for details and to book an appointment.

Kara Parcells opened her independent dental hygiene clinic within a wellness clinic in Lindsay last year but recently relocated her practice to her very own space at 230 Kent St. West.

The new location is now fully accessible with lots of free parking. Called Evolve Dental Hygiene, Kara offers assessments, cleaning, stain removal, whitening, fluoride treatments, desensitizing, cancer screening, as well as holistic alternatives. For details visit evolvedentalhygiene.ca

The Lily Rain Recovery Center is a female gender-only center, offering effective alcohol and substance abuse treatment.

Their trauma-informed programming includes land-based teachings, SMART recovery, Acu-detox, Art-therapy, yoga, psycho-educational groups, relapse prevention, anger management, boundaries and more. They also offer family support and lifetime aftercare. They can accommodate up to 10 women maximum and their qualified staff are also living in recovery.

As Kieran Andrews has moved away from his ownership role at Wild Rock in Downtown Peterborough, he’s been spending some time reflecting on both his own position in our community as well as Wild Rock’s capacity to do good.

As a result, together with Wild Rock, Kieran recently announced the creation of the Wild Rock ComPassion Project. The initiative aims to connect Wild Rock staff and customers to organizations involved in everything from land and trail stewardship to pressing social issues like housing, addiction, and social justice.

It's classic Wild Rock and classic Kieran, good people doing good things. Check it out at Compassionptbo.ca.

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PTBOCanada's #PetLovePTBO Campaign Raises $4,000 For the Peterborough Animal Care Centre

After community support from PTBOCanada’s #PetLovePTBO campaign, $4,000 was raised and donated to the Peterborough Animal Care Centre in a cheque presentation at the facility on Friday morning.

(From left to right) Shawn Morey, PHS executive director; Si Grobler, donor relations manager, Hermione and Kirtus Evoy, PTBOCanada owner. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“It's community helping community,” said Shawn Morey, Peterborough Humane Society (PHS) executive director. “It's all about us working with our local community to continue the spread of wellness from an animal perspective so it's greatly appreciated all the way through.”

The campaign started in November last year, where toques (men's and women’s) and dog toys were sold to raise funds. This was two months before the PHC moved into the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre (PACC).

men’s/women’s toques and dog chew toys were sold as part of the #PetLovePTBO campaign. Photo by Jordan Cooper.

To date, the PACC has received $10 million in donations. Most of them were from the community and $1,560,500 from the provincial government in April. The Centre is still seeking another three million to help fund community programs, services and enhanced animal care.

“We'll have the ability to expand outwards, doing more outreach, more community service support, provide better opportunities from a care-enhancement perspective that we want to do for animals within our care,” explain Morey. 

The PACC’s grand opening occurred in late June and they immediately felt the impact of the community’s needs since relocated to Technology Drive. The shelter has a surplus of dogs available for adoption and is a crisis for PACC as they are seeking homes for them.

“With the number of animals we're getting calls for surrenders and strays coming into our care, our demand for services has grown by over 105 per cent since the second we walked in here,” said Morey. “It's timely, we need this building to provide these services, provide the care and wellness that we were able to do so but we are in a bit of a crisis mode.”

There are 42 dogs available for adoption but the PACC has a capacity for 36. They are currently not accepting surrenders but will still take in strays. Dog adoptions are by appointment only and can call 705-745-4722 x 201 to set one up.

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Scotiabank Cycling Through Its Annual Ride-A-Thon to Raise Money For Diabetes Research

Scotiabank is biking its way to helping type-1 diabetes research get one step closer to a cure with their annual Ride-A-Thon inside their Hunter Street branch on Friday.

Youth ambassador and TASSS student Tilly Stimpson, 15, leads off on the bike as one of 16 cyclists participating in the ride-a-thon. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Sixteen cyclists hopped on an exercise bike in 30-minute intervals throughout the day during the SunLife Ride to Defeat Diabetes event. The branch collected donations to help fund the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

The goal is $2,500 and Scotiabank will match the amount raised at the end of the day. The branch has participated in this event annually for roughly the last 10 years, said John D’Altoe, Scotiabank branch manager.

“There are a lot of employees that are impacted by type-1 diabetes and we wanted to make sure that we're showing our support,” he said.

Branch teller Donna Giles was the third person to ride the bike and the first of the Scotiabank employees. She says this event means a lot since her family has been heavily affected by diabetes.

“My son was diagnosed at the age of 11 and I just became type-1 as well in April so it's close to my heart,” explained Giles.

Scotiabank is the leading organization to raise money for JDRF at $296,640, with the National Bank of Canada as the next-best with $183,050.

“Knowing the people who are impacted is an important part of it and it's one of those silent diseases that a lot of people don't know a lot about so again, if we can do our part, we will,” said D’Altoe.

Donations can be made at the branch or online. $1,100 of the $2,500 goal was raised during this article’s publication.

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