Peterborough Police Seeking Two Missing Teen Girls

UPDATE: The girls have been located.

The Peterborough Police Service is asking for the public’s assistance in locating two 14-year-old girls, Ireland MacLean and Chloe Drummond, reported missing Thursday afternoon.

They were first reported missing around 4:30 p.m. Since then, officers have been checking known locations, with information leading police to believe they went to Toronto last night. 

The Peterborough Police Service has since been working with the Toronto Police Service to locate the girls. Family and police are concerned for their safety.

The girls were last seen on a security camera in Peterborough at 11:35 a.m. in the Erskine Avenue and Barnes Crescent area.

The girls are described as:

Ireland MacLean

• 5’4

• Approx 130lbs

• Shoulder length dark hair

• Wearing black puffy coat, black/gray camouflage track pants, beige Sorrel boots, light gray shirt with pink skulls

Chloe Drummond

• 5’6

• Thin build

• Shoulder length black hair

• No description of clothing available

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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Three Days Grace Drummer Neil Sanderson Named Grand Marshall For 2024 St. Patrick's Day Parade

A true rockstar will lead the 21st Annual Peterborough St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17 as Three Days Grace drummer Neil Sanderson has been named this year’s grand marshall, announced at The Venue on Thursday afternoon.

Neil Sanderson, Three Days Grace Drummer said he is roughly one-third Irish mixed with Scandanavian/Dutch heritages. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Sanderson is best known for his work with Three Days Grace but has done work with Peterborough’s Thousand Foot Krutch and My Darkest Days. He has spent over two decades in the music industry, winning awards from Juno, Billboard Music and Loudwire Music with Three Days Grace.

The announcement was made by organizer Tim Burke who wanted to continue bringing in high-profile big names to the event after last year saw former sports anchor Dan O'Toole as the grand marshall.

“Dan was amazing last year and I couldn't ask for a better guy to do for us what he did for us in Peterborough,” he explained. “Neil came to mind. I talk to him occasionally and I asked him on Facebook. Within a day or less, he got back to me and it wasn't him saying, ‘Yeah, I'll do it,’ it was, ‘Thank you so much for asking me, I'd be honoured.’”

Sanderson confirmed the feeling Burke mentioned and was grateful for the opportunity, considering the worldwide success he and O’Toole have had in their respective careers.

“I've been lucky that from such a small town, we've been able to have the reach and audience that we've had on a global level. We look at that today and we feel blessed and we never take that for granted because it's amazing to see that world in that capacity” explained Sanderson. “I feel like I have a lot of big shoes to fill with over the years of great parade marshalls and I'm just going to do the best that I can.”

Sanderson’s mother would bring him to several parades when he was younger, such as the St. Patrick’s Day and Santa Claus parades, with several fond memories. During his adult years, he celebrated from dusk until dawn as he said with a chuckle but highlighted the upbeat and diverse music scene he would experience during St. Patrick’s Day.

“There's a lot of great live bands playing and that's what's really cool,” explained Sanderson. “I love live music and this city is rich with it; the music here is pretty eclectic.”

There are 77 entries in the parade so far but Burke says he is looking for more and sponsors.

“I can't believe how big it's growing,” said Burke. Last year, we had 87 so this year I'd like to hit maybe 100. It'd be pretty incredible to hit 100. I'm not sure if Peterborough parades have ever had 100 entries before so let's knock wood, luck of the Irish and all that stuff, let's do it.”

To register for the parade, visit the parade’s website and apply until March 1.

The parade is scheduled for 2 p.m., with the route beginning on George Street at City Hall and ending at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Prior to the event, a 5k run along George Street will occur to raise money for Right to Heal to help those with mental health and addictions.

To sign up for the run, contact Dave Dame of Runner’s Life at 876-8960. Donations can be given online at Right to Heal’s website.

A flag-raising will occur at City Hall on March 10 to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day.

For more information, contact Tim Burke at (705) 875-2542.

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50-Year-Old Man Deceased After Reported Missing On Dec. 23; Man Arrested and Charged With Indignity to Dead Body

A 41-year-old Peterborough man has been arrested and charged with indignity to dead body of a 50-year-old man who was reported missing on Dec. 23, reported by the Peterborough Police Service on Thursday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Peterborough Police Service confirmed the death as declared by the Coroner’s Office.

The 41-year-old Peterborough man has been charged with:

• Indignity to Dead Body

The family of the deceased is asking for privacy during this time.

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Hometown PTBO: Alzheimer Society's Jen Johnstone Discusses Alzheimer Awareness Month and a New Virtual Reality Experience With Dementia

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Jen Johnstone, executive director of the Alzheimer Society Peterborough Kawartha Lakes Northumberland Haliburton about staying in Peterborough following her Trent University tenure, Alzheimer Awareness Month and EDIE, a virtual reality simulation to experience the world with dementia.

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Habitat for Humanity Kicks Off National Student Writing Contest

Students from grades 4 to 6 are invited to share what home means to them in an annual national writing contest held by Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region.

ELLYOT READ HER STORY DURING THE GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY OF HABITAT’S PHASE TWO PROJECT ON LEAHY’S LANE. She was one of nine runner-ups from last year’s contest. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The contest is open and accepting entries, with submissions being accepted by mail or online until Feb. 23. Habitat’s goal is to receive 15,000 student submissions across Canada this year. 

“Nothing compares to the feeling of strength and security that comes from having a safe place to call home. Every child in Canada deserves to feel this way and that’s why we continue building and advocating for more affordable housing,” says Julia Deans, Habitat president and CEO. “The enthusiastic response to this annual contest where children share in their own words what home means to them is truly inspiring.” 

Every participating student earns Habitat earn a $10 donation provided by the contest sponsors to build safe and affordable homes. Across Canada, three grand prize winners will also receive a $30,000 grant to help their local Habitat for Humanity build homes for families needing affordable housing. In addition, nine runners-up will receive a $10,000 grant for their local Habitat for Humanity. 

Last year, over 12,000 entries raised $302,000, helping families in 42 communities across Canada build a brighter future through affordable homeownership.  

“We are very excited to have the opportunity again to engage students in conversations about home through the national Meaning of Home contest,” said Jenn MacDonald, Habitat communications and donor services manager. “It is truly amazing to see the level of thought and creativity the students put into their entries and the support of our affordable home-building efforts.” 

In the past four national competitions, there have been four student winners from local schools across the Peterborough and Kawartha Region including two winners from Edmison Heights Public School, one winner from Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board’s Virtual Elementary School and Ellyot from St. Catherine Catholic Elementary.

Their winning entries have raised a total of $40,000 for Habitat for Humanity PKR Leahy’s Lane developments which has already supported 41 local families and individuals into affordable homeownership in the City of Peterborough according to a press release.

“As this contest’s founding sponsor, we are amazed at the heartfelt student submissions that pour in year after year,” says Stuart Levings, President and CEO of Sagen. “We are proud to have a role in engaging children in caring for their communities at a young age while recognizing how meaningful it is to have a safe place to call home.” 

To enter the contest, parents and teachers can sign up at www.meaningofhome.ca with submissions being accepted until Feb. 23, 2024.  

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Trinity Community Centre Warming Room Extending Service Hours Until Saturday

Trinity Community Centre is extending its service hours. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Saturday due to extremely cold temperatures in the forecast for the Peterborough area, reported by the City of Peterborough.

Photo courtesy of One City Peterborough.

The Centre provides warming room services on behalf of the City and County of Peterborough and is located at 360 Reid St., with the entrance off Simcoe Street.

Emergency shelters are open and available to people experiencing homelessness who require emergency overnight shelter, according to the City.

Individuals are asked to contact the shelters first for space:

• YES Shelter for Youth and Families, 196 Brock St., telephone 705-748-3851

• Brock Mission Men’s Shelter, 217 Murray St., telephone 705-748-4766

• Cameron House Women’s Shelter, 738 Chemong Rd., telephone 705-748-4766

• Trinity Community Centre Overnight Service, 360 Reid St., telephone 705-991-5166.

Emergency After Hours Services related to emergency shelter are available through Social Services by calling 705-926-0096.

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Police Searching For Driver After Fleeing From Failure to Stop Incident

The Peterborough Police Service is looking for a vehicle that failed to stop for a traffic stop at the intersection of Aylmer Street and Sherbrooke Street on Wednesday evening.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

At roughly 8:40 p.m., an officer spotted a vehicle with the wrong license plate.  When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle fled without pursuit. The in-car camera system in the police cruiser captured the vehicle which is described as:

• Black BMW

• Sedan

• Dark tinted windows

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 Woman Aiming To Claim Title of Greatest Baker With Votes In Online Competition

What started as a fun hobby has become a possible title of Greatest Baker for Peterborough woman Jamie Troke, who is competing in the online contest and seeking the public’s assistance for votes.

Photo courtesy of Jamie Troke.

Bakers advance to the next rounds based on an online voting system and Troke is currently a quarterfinalist and in third place at publication of this article. She must be in first place by Thursday at 10 p.m. to advance to the semifinals.

Anyone can vote for free with a Facebook account or a credit card once every 24 hours. More votes can be purchased.

Troke graduated from Kenner CVI in 2016 and attended George Brown College to hone her baking skills further. She started at a young age for fun and it grew to be her outlet to express herself, according to her voting profile page.

‘Greatest Baker,’ is an annual online baking contest run by Colossal.org. that supports the Andrew McDonough B+ (Be Positive) Foundation. They help families deal with pediatric cancer.

The winner receives $10,000, has their work featured in Bake from Scratch Magazine and meets ‘Cake Boss’ star Buddy Valastro.

Voting for Troke can be cast online.

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JA-NEO Unveils Class of 2024 Business Hall of Fame Inductees

Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA-NEO) has revealed this year’s exceptional business leaders into the class of 2024 Ninth Annual JA-NEO Business Hall of Fame (BHF), announced at the Venture North Building on Wednesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The nominees are being inducted at an event at The Venue on May 23. Each year, JA-NEO highlights nominees and their contributions that have significantly impacted the local business landscape, according to a press release.

“We are thrilled to unveil the distinguished class of inductees for the ninth consecutive year,” said John McNutt, JA-NEO CEO and president. These outstanding business leaders exemplify the spirit of entrepreneurship, demonstrating to local youth that building a successful business is both attainable and rewarding, with the potential to span generations.”

The 2024 JA-NEO Business Hall of Fame Inductees for Peterborough are:

• Tim Barrie: Merrit Precision Limited

• John Cunningham: Community Alternative, Ashburnham Funeral Home, Kawartha Aquamtion

• Gwyneth James: Formerly Cody & James Chartered Professional Accountants, Silverthorn Management Consulting

• Richard Labelle: The UK Shoppe

• Jill and Robert Staples: Staples Maple Syrup

• Jeanine Taylor: KawarthaNOW

• Nicole Truman: Fox Law Professional Corporation

• Cora Whittington: Golden Pathways Coaching, Facilitation, Retreat, and B & B.

• Andrew Winslow, Chris Winslow, Mike Winslow, Steve Gerolamy and Tom Gerolamy: Winslow Gerolamy Motors Limited

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Peterborough DBIA Holiday Shopping Passport Grand Prize Winner Announced

Amanda Kennedy has been named the winner of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) grand prize draw for the Holiday Shopping Passport in $1,500 Boro gift cards, announced on Wednesday.

Amanda Kennedy (left) stands with Deanna Guttman (right), owner of Needles in the Hay at 385 Water St. celebrating the grand prize win. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough DBIA.

The winning passport was drawn at the Peterborough DBIA office with Gerry Kretschmar, Niche Ptbo owner and operator on Wednesday. The winning passport was completed at Needles in the Hay at 385 Water St.

“I love shopping downtown because it turns a simple trip into a whole experience. You can grab a drink or some food, visit a variety of shops, and you receive a way better customer service experience because local businesses are so passionate and knowledgeable about what they offer,” said Kennedy Amanda. “I plan on trying out some of the classes offered by Needles in the Hay with my winnings and also purchase a new set of skis.”

The Boro gift cards were redeemable at participating downtown businesses including a variety of shops, boutiques, salons, restaurants, cafes and services.

During the Holiday Passport season, shoppers receive a stamp for every $10 spent participating downtown business. After 20 stamps, passport holders can complete the contact form and drop it off at participating businesses to be entered into the draw.

Three early bird winners were named prior to the grand prize draw.

“Supporting local business is vital for our community well-being,” said Sacha Lai-Svirk, DBIA board chair. “When dollars are spent locally, they are often re-spent and continue to circulate up to three times more money back into our local economy as a result.”

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