Ryan Foster Named Head Coach to the U16 AAA Peterborough Petes

Former assistant coach Ryan Foster has been named the head coach of the U16 AAA Peterborough Petes for the 2024-2025 season.

The U16 AAA Petes had 13 players drafted to the OHL. Graphic by Mark Dizon.

Foster was an assistant coach for former head coach Michael Farrugia for the Peterborough Elite Court Sports U16 AAA Petes 2022-2023 season. The latter was hired as an assistant coach for the Oshawa Generals in late November.

Foster was a coach and player in the Peterborough Petes minor system. During the 1993-94 season, he was part of the Peterborough Petes Provincial Jr. A team.

He has had several coaching stints with the Petes from 2016-2018 and 2021-2023 in peewee, bantam and midget divisions.

“I’m really thankful to get the opportunity to coach in the PMHC, particularly the U16 program,” said Foster. “I have been very lucky to work alongside some terrific coaches, hockey people and players these last few years and I am looking to bring that knowledge and experience to the 2024/25 team.

The U16 Petes had a successful last season as runner-ups to the Steve Richey Cup in January (in a 1-0 loss), crowned Ontario Minor Hockey Association champions in March (in triple overtime) and semi-finalists in the OHL Cup.

“The U16 program has been top-notch in recent years and we are looking to continue that trend with a team that is hard-working, disciplined and competitive,” said Foster.

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Fleming College Digs Deep For Official Groundbreaking of New Residence For Haliburton School of Art and Design

Fleming College celebrated the groundbreaking of its new residence at the Haliburton School of Art and Design (HSAD) on Friday.

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

The $16 million residence will contain 47 beds within two pavilions. These units will be divided into one- and two-bedroom units including accessible bedrooms according to a press release.

“The development of this residence not only demonstrates Fleming's commitment to the county of Dysart, it will provide safe and secure housing for all future students, as well as economic and housing opportunities for the region,” said Maureen Adamson, Fleming College President. “This development is an example of what college and community partnerships can build together.”

“Access to affordable housing is important for the well-being and success of Ontario’s postsecondary students,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “With this new student residence, Fleming College is providing more learners with local housing options so they can focus on their studies and feel part of their postsecondary community.” The new residence will be used by students in HSAD’s certificate and diploma programs, as well as students attending summer programs and workshops. The facility will also be used to attract new visitors attending conferences and arts-related workshops in the area.”

“Breaking ground for the new residence is not only the start of the construction process, but a start for new opportunities at Fleming’s Haliburton campus,” said Laurie Scott, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP. “Through conferences and workshops, students and visitors alike will be able to explore their limitless creativity in this state-of-the-art facility.”

The new residence is set to open in January 2025.

Olivia and Noah Continue Reign In Latest Top 10 Baby Names List

The Ontario Government has released its top ten names for baby girls and boys for 2022, with Olivia and Noah remaining as the top spots for the respective genders.

Serenity Bui (pictured) is the first daughter of PTBOCanada’s editor David Tuan Bui. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Top 10 girl names:

1. Olivia

2. Charlotte

3. Amelia

4. Emma

5. Sophia

6. Ava

7. Chloe/Isla

8. Evelyn

9. Lily

10. Mia

Top 10 boy names:

1. Noah

2. Liam

3. Oliver

4. Theodore

5. Jack

6. Benjamin

7. Lucas

8. William

9. Ethan

10. Leo

Olivia has held the top spot for girls for 14 consecutive years. Chloe has cracked the top 10 list for the first time, tied with Isla for seventh place.

Noah remains number one for the fourth straight year. Liam follows closely behind as the second-most popular name while Theodore inched up two spots this year.

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Police Seeking Information of a Pedestrian Hit-and-Run; Good Samaritan Thanked For Aiding the Victim

The Peterborough Police Service is seeking information from anyone regarding a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle and the latter fleeing the scene on Monday night.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Police believe the 28-year-old woman was struck by a dark SUV or truck at about 8:30 p.m. while walking in the intersection of St. Mary’s Street and Goodfellow Road. Police learned a Good Samaritan had stopped and helped the woman return home. She was then taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre to treat minor injuries.  

Peterborough Police would like to speak to the Good Samaritan, any other witnesses and the driver of the vehicle.  

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 Transit Making Service Adjustments For the Holidays Beginning Friday

Peterborough Transit service adjustments are being made for all routes during the holiday period from Friday until Jan. 7.

File photo.

All Route 11 and 11A Water trips will be suspended from Friday until Jan. 7, with regular weekday service resuming on Jan. 8.

Late evening trips after 11:32 p.m. will be suspended from Friday to Jan. 7 on all routes.

On Sunday, all routes end early, with the last trip departing no later than 7:15 p.m. (7:33 p.m. on Route 3 Park).

There will be no service on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

On Dec. 26, all routes will be on a Holiday/Sunday service schedule, with the last trip departing no later than 7:15 p.m. (7:33 p.m. on Route 3 Park).

On Dec. 31, all routes end early with the last trip departing no later than 7:15 p.m. (7:33 p.m. on Route 3 Park). Extended New Year’s Eve service will not be offered this year.

The Customer Service desk at the Simcoe Street Terminal will have adjusted hours for the holiday period:

• Sunday, December 24: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Monday, December 25: closed

• Tuesday, December 26: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, December 27 to Saturday, December 30: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Sunday, December 31: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Monday, January 1: closed

Regular hours resume at the Simcoe Street Bus Terminal on Jan. 2.

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Peterborough Paramedic Chief Randy Mellow Announces Retirement After 37 Years

After 37 years of service in paramedicine, Chief Randy Mellow of Peterborough County-City Paramedics (PCCP), Senior Director of Emergency and Shared Services and Deputy CAO is retiring at the end of 2024, announced on Monday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“It has been an indescribable pleasure and rewarding experience to have worked at the County of Peterborough and to have served Peterborough County and City as Chief,” said Mellow. “I have watched with pride as this service grew with the support of Canada's best Paramedics, leaders, and support staff. I look forward to continuing to proudly support PCCP, the new Chief and the leadership team throughout the coming year in my Senior Director/Deputy CAO role.”

Chief Mellow had tendered his retirement with a year's notice according to a press release.

Mellow served as the Deputy Chief of Peterborough County-City Paramedics (PCCP) from 2007 – 2011, as the Chief in Essex-Windsor from 2011 to 2014 and again as Chief of PCCP from 2014 - present. He also served as the President of Paramedic Chiefs of Canada from 2015 - 2023.

Mellow’s successor will have an opportunity to train directly with him. The succession plan is in its final stages and will be launched imminently according to Peterborough County. A new Chief is expected for early next year.

During the transition period, Mellow is continuing his role as Senior Director of Emergency & Shared Services/Deputy CAO with Peterborough County throughout 2024.

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Winter Weather Travel Advisory Issued For Peterborough Until Tuesday Morning

A winter weather travel advisory is in effect for Monday night, issued by Environment Canada.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The advisory is in effect from this evening into early Tuesday morning.

Peterborough could expect snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 cm, possibly higher. Drivers could face reduced visibility in heavy snow and local blowing snow with icy and slippery road conditions.

Environment Canada predicts that rain showers are expected to quickly change to snow this afternoon or evening as colder air moves into southern Ontario. Snow could become heavy at times during the evening or overnight. Increasing northwest winds gusting to 50 km/h may result in localized areas of blowing snow in exposed areas.

Travel may be hazardous due to sudden changes in the weather.

Environment Canada reminds drivers to be prepared to adjust your driving to changing road conditions. Turn on your lights and maintain a safe following distance if visibility is reduced while driving.

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Police Warn Public of TikTok Challenge Causing Mischief Surfacing In Peterborough

The Peterborough Police Service wants to raise public awareness of a TikTok social media challenge as continued calls of residential doors and garage doors being kicked or knocked with perpetrators running away shortly after.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Known as the ‘door-knock challenge,’ people knock or bang on garage doors and/or kick the front doors of homes and run away while filming the process. This typically occurs later at night or in the early morning hours.

Peterborough Police Service continues to receive calls about these types of incidents including two in December in town.

The Service is concerned about this type of activity because it is aggressive and unnerving for unsuspecting homeowners, leading to more extreme situations in other municipalities, according to a press release.

Anyone with information on this activity 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 Petes Steamrolled By Rival Oshawa Generals, 5-1; Easton Rye Makes Team Debut

Peterborough could not keep up with rival Oshawa Generals and fell on the road 5-1 at the Tribute Communities Centre on Sunday night. Petes goalie Easton Rye made his OHL debut when he was substituted into the game late in the third period.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

Oshawa started the scoring as former Peterborough Pete Connor Lockhardt beat Liam Sztuska on a sharp-angle shot that ricocheted in for a 1-0 lead. Peterborough countered as Johnathan Melee took a shot from inside the faceoff circle and Jax Dubois pounced on the rebound for a tie game.

Unfortunately, it was all downhill for Peterborough from here as late in the period, the Petes turned the puck over in their own zone and Oshawa capitalized and scored on a rebound shot from Dylan Roobroeck for a 2-1 lead.

The Generals got a pair of goals in the second thanks to Beckett Sennecke and Calum Ritchie and extended Oshawa’s lead 4-1 going into the third period.

The home team kept pouring it on as Stuart Rolofs scored 10 seconds into the period off a one-timer and it was 5-1 Generals. Just under eight minutes into the period, Sztuska was pulled from the game and Rye filled in, playing 12:12 of the final frame. He stopped all seven shots faced in relief.

The Petes are on their holiday break and return to action on Dec. 28 to visit Kingston and fae the Frontenacs. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Leon’s Centre. The Official Road Game Watch Party is at Shoeless Joe’s Peterborough on Lansdowne Street.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Stu Harrison

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…

About 22 years ago I started compiling local business news for a weekly feature called the Business Beat. It came from a deep appreciation for small business people and what they go through to start a business and what they contribute to our community and it gave me the chance to stay connected to the media, a life-long love of mine.

But one morning, just a few Wednesdays ago, I woke up with a feeling that it was time to pass it on. I say Wednesdays because every Wednesday for 22 years I've spent about four hours researching, compiling, writing, recording and posting The Business Beat. I usually cover four stories a week, about 48 columns a year and 22 years of that adds up to just over 1,000 Business Beats, 4,000 businesses and about 500 eight-hour days of volunteer time. And yes, this is a volunteer thing I do, I don't get paid and no, you don't have to pay to appear in the Business Beat – I just wanted to clear up a few misconceptions...

I want to say thanks, to my wife Signe for putting up with all those Wednesday evenings with me at my computer and to those thousands of businesses who took a run at their dream. Many reached out after they appeared in this column to tell me what a difference it made, proving the power of the medium.

I'm very glad to tell you that Joel Wiebe, Vice President Government Relations at Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce has agreed to take over The Business Beat so this little kick-start for local businesses will continue. Joel is a journalist and I know he'll continue to snoop out good stories every week. The next couple of Mondays are Christmas Day and New Years Day so Joel will fire up his version of The Business Beat the second week of January.

And That... is the Business Beat for this week… From my family to yours, Happy Holidays.

“Like” StoosNews page on Facebook here!

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