Peterborough Petes Forward Owen Beck Selected to Team Canada For the 2024 World Junior Championship

Peterborough Petes forward and Montreal Canadiens second-round pick Owen Beck, has been named to the final roster for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, announced by Hockey Canada on Wednesday evening.

File Photo.

The tournament will take place from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Beck is representing Canada for the second time at the U20 level. In the 2023 World Juniors in Moncton, N.B. and Halifax, N.S., he was a late addition to the roster, joining Petes’ teammate and fellow 2023 OHL Champion, Brennan Othmann. In three games, Beck recorded an assist and won gold with a 3-2 overtime win over Czechia.

“We’re very proud of Owen,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “To have the opportunity to play for Canada twice is a very big accomplishment. We know that Owen will represent the Petes and the community of Peterborough very well and we’re looking forward to watching him play.”

Beck was initially selected by the Mississauga Steelheads 29th overall in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. He has played in 153 OHL games in his three-year career, scoring 61 goals and adding 86 assists for 147 points. In October last year, he was signed by the Montreal Canadiens to a three-year entry-level deal and made his NHL debut for the Canadiens in an emergency call-up on Jan. 2023 against the Ottawa Senators.

The Petes will try to get back in the winning column this Thursday as they host the Kingston Frontenacs for their annual Christmas Game. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Stu Harrison to Retire From 'Business Beat' Column; Chamber of Commerce's Joel Wiebe To Take Over

After retiring from the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce as CEO in November of last year, Stu Harrison is also turning the reins over to his weekly Business Beat column.

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The Business Beat column is featured every Monday morning on PTBOCanada.

The Chamber’s Joel Wiebe is taking over the column beginning in the second week of January. Harrison’s upcoming column is his last Business Beat, as the following Mondays are Christmas and New Year's Day.

He assures that Wiebe is using the same format so little will change.

The recently-retired Harrison served as the Chamber’s CEO for 20 years since joining as a volunteer. He vows to continue his philanthropic work such as the annual Easter Seals Telethon, for which he has volunteered for the past 45 years.

Sarah Budd assumed the role of the Chamber’s president and CEO after Harrison announced his retirement. She formerly served as the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough.

“Thanks for all of you support over the years, helping to strengthen our local business community,” said Harrison in an e-mail.

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Canadian Artist Shawn Desman to Hit The Venue With Special Guest Sofia Camara On March 1

To help mark his 2024 Ontario and Quebec tour, JUNO Award-winning pop artist Shawn Desman is performing at The Venue on March 1, announced on Wednesday.

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The multi-platinum artist has added rising pop artist Sofia Camara as a special guest for the tour.

2024 promises more new music and an expansion of live shows for Desman, according to a press release. 

Ticket availability can be found online on Desman’s website.

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Police Seeking Info of Robbery Suspect Who Fled With $300 From Peterborough Business

The Peterborough Police Service is seeking a robbery suspect following an incident at a Peterborough business Tuesday evening. 

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At approximately 8:50 p.m., officers were called to the High Street and Lansdowne Street area. An unknown male had entered a business, approached an employee and demanded money, indicating he had a weapon in his pocket. The employee complied and the male fled the store with about $300. K9 Gryphon was called and conducted a track in the area but a suspect was not located.

The suspect was described to police as:

• White male, approximately 5’10, medium build, stocky, with blue eyes, approximately 30-40 years of age

• Wearing a hoodie, face fully covered with a dark face covering, dark coloured hat, black pants, dark 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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Herod Financial Services Donates $25,000 to CMHA HKPR’s Journeying Together Program

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) has received $25,000 from Herod Financial Services towards the Journeying Together program that supports caregiver mental health.

Over the past nine years, Herod has brought in over $150,000 to CMHA HKPR. File Photo.

It provides education and support to caregivers and family members of individuals with mental health concerns. The program supports approximately 250 individuals annually, helping them learn how to better support their loved ones and themselves, according to a press release.

“We understand that mental health concerns are at an all-time high in our community, and we recognize the heavy burden this has placed on caregivers of loved ones with mental health issues,” said Jack Veitch, CMHA HKPR manager of community engagement and education. “Programs like our 'Journeying Together' program are more necessary now than ever.”

“It is so important for individuals experiencing a mental health concern to have a strong support system,” said Kevan Herod, Herod Financial Services CEO. “Journeying Together helps sustain the people who love and support their family member, friend or loved one who is having challenges. We are so blessed to be able to help the CMHA deliver this important service.”

“The Herods continue to lead the way in supporting the mental health of caregivers in our community,” said Veitch. “Their on-going generous support has been instrumental in the success of the program and has ensured that families are able to receive essential mental health care.“

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Voice of Business: Tax Ratio Increase a Hit to Local Manufacturing; Guest Column From Tim Barrie

Mayor Leal and Council,

In 2008, I was a part of a committee formed by the Kawartha Manufacturers Association and the Chamber of Commerce. We worked with the Council of the day to have them act on regulation 386/98 of the Municipal Act, 2001. The Provincial Government had brought in substantial changes to the municipal property taxes with current value assessment and revisions for tax fairness. It was found that municipalities overtaxed business properties relative to the services they received and that Industrial and Commercial rates should be at 85 per cent, and no more than 110 per cent of the residential rate.

Industry in Peterborough was paying 260 per cent of the residential rate in 2008 and Council committed to a 10-year journey to reach a 1.5 multiple milestone, with the intention to eventually get to parity with residential. Industrial tax rates reached that milestone two years ago.

The previous four Councils worked hard towards tax fairness in Peterborough. This Council is going backwards.

My company, Merit Precision, is a contract manufacturer of plastic, steel, and zirconium parts to a wide variety of industries over much of North America and Europe. We employ about 80 people in Peterborough.

Last year Merit paid $123,395 in property tax, or the profit on its first $2.47M in revenues.

Unlike Government, Merit is unable to raise prices to offset increased costs as pricing is set on the world stage. Unlike Government, Merit will have to reduce costs to maintain a realistic margin or go out of business.

The City of Peterborough does not have a tax revenue problem. It has a cost problem. I see nowhere in your deliberations that you have attempted to reduce your costs in any meaningful way. It is certainly appropriate to raise taxes to pay for capital improvements, but a 10 per cent increase for operations is outlandish.

If you do opt for the easy way out, please never again lament the lack of manufacturing jobs in this community.

Respectfully,

Tim Barrie

President, Merit Precision Ltd.

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce has issued a letter to City Council and a media advisory regarding the tax ratio increase.

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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Fleming Improves to 28th In Canada's Top 50 Research Colleges List

Fleming College has climbed to the 28th position on Canada's Top 50 Research Colleges list as they were listed 35th in last year’s placement. 

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

The annual ranking, published by Research Infosource Inc., recognizes colleges that drive research initiatives and contribute to Canada's knowledge economy. Rankings are based on research income through research grants, contracts and contributions from third parties. Data were obtained through surveys of publicly funded colleges and from 2022-2023 financial statements. During that time, Fleming had $4.858 million of sponsored research income, up 66.7 per cent from the previous year and a record-high amount for the college according to a press release.

“We are thrilled to see such a substantial increase in research funding and the tangible results of our strategic expansion into new areas of applied research at the college,” said Maureen Adamson, Fleming College president. “As we celebrate this milestone, we remain dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation and strong community collaboration to prepare our partners and students for the challenges of the future.”

Fleming College was also ranked fifth overall for industry research income between 2018-2023 amongst all medium-sized colleges.

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Photos: Grievers Seek Comfort and Reflect at Hospice Peterborough's 'Stars For a Dark Night'

Grievers of lost loved ones could come to reflect and have their stories heard at Hospice Peterborough’s ‘Stars For a Dark Night’ held at Peterborough Square on Tuesday evening.

Sandra Lockwood (left) and Avril Siddle (right) grieving to each other of the important people they have lost. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

The event allowed anyone who had lost a loved one to share their story with Hospice staff, volunteers or other grievers (either privately or on an open mic). It also had expressive arts, quiet reflection and a live performance from the Hospice Singers.

Hospice volunteer Sarah Lewis said this event could not have happened at a more perfect time. She had lost her father to cancer in 2021 and felt the holidays last year were not the same without him.

“Because I had lost my father around Christmas time, it was a time of grieving and I wasn't in the Christmas spirit,” she explained. “I think this can be such a difficult time for a lot of people who have lost somebody important to them so having a community gathering where we're allowed to grieve together, not hold that in and share through art, I think, is absolutely beautiful.”

The drop-in event had anyone who stopped by write a name on a star (paper or wooden) of someone they commemorated and remembered. It was placed on a window at Peterborough Square with other stars.

“This is a celebration of honouring and remembering our loved ones, our people who have passed on,” said Lewis. “(It’s nice) Just to gather to share stories, strengthen hope, poetry, art and song together and grieve as a community.”

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Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign Raises Over $33,000 For Kawartha Food Share

The Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign raised $33,645.48 for Kawartha Food Share (KFS) in a cheque presentation at the latter’s facility on Tuesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The campaign ran from Nov. 13 to 19, when KFS was announced as the fundraiser recipient in early November.

“In the past, we have donated at Christmas to Kawartha Food Share,” said Erika Rowe-Gallagher, Tim Hortons owner and operator. “It becomes a little more special and a little more meaningful at Christmas when we think of family.”

The proceeds were split 50/50 between the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps for youth aged 12-16 with disadvantaged circumstances. The other half was for KFS to help them fill their food bank.

“Hopefully this will stretch us a couple months into the new year. We're busy right now filling up our Christmas orders and getting things out before the year's end,” said Ashlee Aitken, KFS general manager. “Come January, the need is just as high so this will help us ensure that we can purchase food items for that time of year as well.”

The money came in time to help meet KFS's increasing demand over the holiday season.

“In the last couple of years, we have our numbers have significantly risen,” said Aitken. “Pre-pandemic, we were feeding anywhere from 7,500 to 9,000 people a month. Now we're feeding close to 12,000 people a month at food banks. Sometimes that number increased as high as 15,000.”

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City to Host Tree Lighting Ceremony At Quaker Foods City Square This Friday

The City of Peterborough is getting into the holiday spirit by hosting a community tree lighting ceremony at Quaker Foods City Square at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

The Peterborough Singers Choir will perform seasonal songs before Mayor Jeff Leal flips the switch to turn on the lights illuminating the 35-foot-tall tree.

Weather pending, the Square skating rink will be open for skating for the first time this season.

“Quaker Foods City Square brought a tremendous amount of energy to the downtown last winter with thousands of people enjoying the new outdoor skating rink,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “The tree will add to the festive spirit and vibrancy. I look forward to celebrating the season with the community at the upcoming tree lighting event.”

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