Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough Police responded to 57 calls in the first month of zero-tolerance approach to open air illicit drug use
/Three arrested since initiative began Oct. 5
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The first month of Peterborough Police’s zero-tolerance approach to open air illicit drug use has resulted in three arrests.
According to police, one of the arrests was for possession of cocaine, while another was for theft and the third was for outstanding warrants.
Police report the initiative, which launched Oct. 5, is a zero-tolerance approach to open air illicit drug use in Peterborough. This includes spaces such as parks, places of business, and places where children go such as playgrounds.
Police have record 57 calls for service under the new initiative. Police say during each interaction, officers had a conversation about the new approach and provided a pamphlet about local services available.
Of the calls for service, 17 were initiated by officers while 40 were citizen generated. Most of the location of the calls have been in the downtown core. However, police note there have been some calls to locations outside of the downtown.
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Teen accused of calling in last week’s bomb threat at Peterborough Regional Health Centre
/Police have arrested a teenage girl in connection with a bomb threat called into Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) last week.
File photo
At around 11:15 a.m. on Oct. 31, police report that PRHC received several threatening phone calls. According to police, one of those calls was a bomb threat.
Through investigation, police report officers determined the threat was not credible and was made by someone in another community.
Police state officers and hospital security also conducted a safety search of the building and cleared it several hours later.
On Nov. 4, London police arrested a London resident on behalf of Peterborough Police.
A 16-year-old female is charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.
She was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 27.
Under the Youth Justice Code, her name cannot be released.
Best Things to do in Peterborough This Weekend: Nov. 10 to 12
/Don’t know what to do this weekend? Don’t worry, we have you covered.
Photo/The Arkells
Friday
‘All Shook Up,’ the latest performance from St. James Players, opens Friday at Showplace Performance Centre. The musical is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and features the songs of Elvis Presley. The show runs Nov. 10 to 12, and Nov. 15.
Saturday
Comedian Andrew Finlan hosts Keep’n It Campy Variety Show fundraiser at Market Hall, 7:30 pm. The show includes performances by Peterborough’s top artists in the areas of stand-up and sketch comedy.
The Arkells take the stage at the Peterborough Memorial Centre along with special guest K.Flay. The concert begins at 7:50 p.m.
Sunday
7th annual Christmas Craft Show takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Morrow Building. Admission is $2, free for children under 12.
Home for the Holidays Gift and Vendor Market is a one-day free event featuring local artisans. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It takes place at Stonehouse Hall.
The Peterborough Petes host the Brantford Bulldogs at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Puck drop is 4:05 p.m. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
Do you have an upcoming event that isn’t listed here? Email tips@ptbocanada.com
Handgun, fentanyl and cocaine seized from Peterborough home
/Two people have been charged after police seized a loaded handgun, fentanyl and cocaine in a raid at a Park Street residence.
Photo provided by peterborough police
According to Peterborough Police, the Street Crime Unit was conducting an investigation into street-level drug trafficking from a Park Street address.
On Nov. 8, police state a search warrant was executed at a Peterborough home with help from the Emergency Response Team and canine unit.
Police report officers seized a loaded handgun, fentanyl, cocaine, prescription medication and Canadian currency.
As a result, two people were arrested.
A 41-year-old Peterborough man is charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of a firearm while prohibited, possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, carry concealed weapon, two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000.
The man was held in custody and scheduled to appear in court Nov. 9.
A 35-year-old Peterborough man is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000, and fail to comply with probation.
The man was held in custody and scheduled to appear in court Nov. 9.
Lang Pioneer Village Takes the Holiday Shopping Into the Past With Christmas Bazaar on Nov. 18
/Lang Pioneer Village is providing holiday gift ideas with its Christmas Bazaar on Nov.18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building at Lang Pioneer Village Museum on 146 Lang Road.
Photo courtesy of Lang Pioneer Village.
This indoor/outdoor market will feature a variety of local vendors selling unique hand-crafted gift items.
Hot dogs and refreshments are available for purchase. Several raffle items including two fully decorated trees and over $1000 worth of prizes are at the event. Photos with Father Christmas run from 10 a.m to 12 noon.
For vendors wishing to participate in this year’s Christmas Bazaar, a few outdoor vendor spaces are still available and can contact roconnell@ptbocounty.ca for details.
Admission to the event is by donation.
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Crimestoppers Bring Human Trafficking Awareness With New Transport Truck Wrap
/To bring human trafficking awareness to the city, Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers has unveiled a new truck wrap at the Ontario Truck Training Academy on Wednesday afternoon.
The truck wrap stretches along 53 feet and is the same design on both sides. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Dave’s Towing & Recovery also sponsored it with Crimestoppers with the work by Big Rig Wraps. The truck is part of the Ontario Truck Training Academy.
From 2011 to 2021, Peterborough was the third-highest in the country, with 3.6 human trafficking incidents per 100,000 people. They trailed Thunder Bay and Halifax with 5.5 and 4.5, respectively, according to Statistics Canada.
Their data also showed that Peterborough jumped to 10.9 cases in 2021, only trailing Thunder Bay with 28.1.
“It is a problem that people aren't aware of and we wanted to make sure we're starting discussions,” said Alison Dyer, Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy (IJFS) detective constable of human trafficking. “We need people to see the sign, ask the questions, talk to other people, educate themselves, educate their children, etc.”
The wrap is the 26th truck that Big Rig Wraps has done nationally regarding human trafficking awareness. Photo by David Tuan bui.
While anyone can be susceptible to human trafficking, those who are more vulnerable and aged 13-25 are more likely to be victimized, according to Dyer.
“You have human labour trafficking, you have immigrants coming in and they're being forced to work for less wages,” she explained. “Then there are those that can romance someone like they're grooming them and then the end result is you have a girl working in the sex trade, whether by force, coercion or exercising control over them.”
Dyer says that noticing the signs is key to being able to determine if your children are involved in trafficking.
“If all of a sudden, your child is coming home with all of these purses, new clothing or they're hanging out with new people, start asking questions and start having the conversation,” she said.
Peterborough Pete Alumnus Zach Bogosian Traded From Tampa Bay Lightning to Minnesota Wild
/Former Peterborough Pete Zach Bogosian has been traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick, announced by the NHL on Wednesday afternoon.
Zach Bogosian as a Peterborough Pete. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.
Prior to his NHL career, Bogosian spent two years with Peterborough from 2006-08 and was the highest-drafted Pete in the NHL (with Mason McTavish in 2021). He had 18 goals and 76 assists as a Pete in two seasons.
He was selected third overall in the 2008 NHL draft by the Atlanta Thrashers (now Winnipeg Jets) after Steven Stamkos and Drew Doughty of the Lightning and Los Angeles Kings, respectively.
The 33-year-old defenseman has had a slow start to the season, with no points in four games with Tampa Bay.
The former Pete is in the final season of his three-year $2.55 million contract.
Bogosian won a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2020. He has had stints with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Peterborough Homeowners Staring Down a 9.59% Property Tax Hike in 2024
/While inflation has taken its toll on household budgets, it’s also hammering the financial books of the city of Peterborough.
Photo by Keegan Beekers.
Earlier this week, city staff released the draft 2024 budget. As a result of growing costs, the document proposes an all-inclusive property tax increase of 9.59 per cent in 2024.
So, what does that mean for the average homeowner?
The proposed increase would see your annual property tax bill grow by $167.17 per $100,000 of residential property assessment.
Or, if your property is assessed at $260,000, you would pay an extra $434.61 on your yearly tax bill.
To figure out what the proposal means for you, the city of Peterborough has a tool to help.
Where is the money being spent?
Proposed operating expenses for the city in 2024 will be $359 million ($173.9 million of that will be paid through property taxes).
Proposed capital costs will come in at $128.2 million.
The departments and agencies proposing to spend the most tax dollars include police, the fire department, social services, transit, public works, parks and recreation, and paramedics. Another large expense is capital financing costs.
The entire document is available to view HERE.
What’s causing the increase?
There are a number of reasons for the increase. However, general inflationary pressures are a big reason why.
However, other factors for the rise in costs include:
- Upgrading transit service
- Improving customer service
- Strengthening municipal law enforcement
- Rising policing costs
- Increased insurance costs
What could be cut?
Lowering the proposed increase by 1% would require $1.9 million in reductions. City staff have laid out a laundry list of possible cuts across a variety of departments.
Some of the larger potential areas to save money include (savings in brackets):
- Cancel downtown street surface repair program ($2.3 million)
- Defer traffic calming program ($700,000)
- Defer Towerhill Link Environmental Assessment ($600,000)
- Cancel Service Enhancement Plan ($530,000)
- Defer various new sidewalk installations ($500,000)
- Defer hiring four municipal law enforcement officers ($305,305) and purchasing two security vehicles ($200,000)
- Full cost recovery of planning applications ($300,000)
- Cut statutory holiday transit service ($190,000)
- Close directly operated child care ($150,000)
- Increase transit fees ($100,000)
Planned Capital Projects
There are 147 capital projects proposed to begin (or be completed) in 2024. The projects come in at a cost of $128.2 million.
Some of those projects include:
- New arena and aquatics complex
- Brealey Drive construction from Lansdowne Street to Sherbrooke Street
- Pavement preservation program
- Lansdowne Street rehabilitation from Park Street to Otonabee River
- Charlotte Street upgrades from Water Street to Park Street
- Transit Garage replacement
- Curtis Creek watershed improvements
- Bonnerworth Park Redevelopment Project
- Downtown street resurface repairs
How to get involved
