Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association Raised Over $42,000 From Annual Charity Auction

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association (PKHBA) had their most successful holiday fundraiser yet as they raised $42,377.39 during their annual Charity Auction on Dec. 7.

Photo courtesy of the PKHBA.

The annual Charity auction helps support housing initiatives in Peterborough and the Kawarthas by raising funds for PKHBA and Habitat for Humanity PKR.

“We cannot thank our local community enough for supporting this event, and Habitat’s affordable home-building efforts,” said Susan Zambonin, Habitat CEO. “Our local trades, contractors, and businesses have been tremendous supporters in helping Habitat homeowners have a safe and affordable place to call home.”

“This is a great opportunity for PKHBA members to give back to the community where they live, work and play,” said Rebecca Schillemat, PKHBA executive officer. “We are thrilled with the amazing support our community has shown for all types of housing in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. We're so thankful for all those who donated, sponsored and attended our annual charity auction last year and can’t wait to see what this year brings.”

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association plans to host the seventh Annual Charity Auction with Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region on Dec. 5th, 2024.

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Peterborough Lakers Get Six Players In Major Series Lacrosse Draft

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers got six players this weekend in the annual Major Series Lacrosse draft that took place at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville on Sunday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Lakers.

The Lakers had picks in each of the five rounds with an additional pick in the second round. 

The Lakers drafted: 

• First round – Koleton Marquis, F, Orangeville Northmen 

• Second round – Andrew Vradenburg, D, Burlington Blaze 

• Second round – Brenden Boyle, D, Burlington Blaze 

• Third round – Tommy Collins, F, Peterborough Lakers 

• Fourth round – Nolan Kenney, D, Peterborough Lakers 

• Fifth round – Andrew Kidd, G, Toronto Beaches 

Before the draft, the Lakers protected four graduates of the Jr. A Lakers program: 

• Captain/Defenceman Adam Thistlethwaite 

• Forward Zach Thompson 

• Defence/Transition Ben Trumble 

• Goaltender Deacan Knott, who is currently the backup goaltender for the Philadelphia Wings 

“I’m super excited to be getting this opportunity to become a Laker,” said Marquis. “Growing up, I’ve always known Peterborough to be the mecca of lacrosse and I can’t wait to be able to compete on the same floor where there has been so much history. Personally, I believe I can bring a skilled, fast-paced style of play to the Lakers, along with a ton of passion and positive energy to the locker room.” 

Marquis is currently in his second year at Johns Hopkins. 

Vradenburg was the hometown captain of the 2023 Minto Cup-winning Burlington Blaze, was drafted by Halifax last September and is currently on their practice roster. The Lakers now sport five members of that Minto Cup team, along with Brenden Boyle and three protected players in Thompson, Trumble and Knott, who were traded from Peterborough to Burlington halfway through last season. 

Collins finished fifth in team scoring for the Jr. Lakers last season and Kenney was brought in to play tough defence. 

Kidd, the Toronto Beaches standout, was drafted by the Albany FireWolves in September and is currently on their practice roster.

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Otonabee Conservation AGM Introduces Chair, Vice Chair and Announces Environmental Excellence Awards

During Otonabee Conservation's first Annual General Meeting since the pandemic, a new chair and vice-chair were appointed and Environmental Excellence Awards were awarded.

Otonabee Conservation CAO, Janette Loveys Smith (left), award winner, Cathy Dueck (middle) and Board of Directors Chair, Michael Metcalf (right). Photo courtest of Otonoabee Conservation.

Deputy Mayor Michael Metcalf from the Municipality of Trent Hills steps up from his role as Vice Chair into the role of Chair; stepping down after filling the role since 2022, is Deputy Mayor from the Township of Cavan-Monaghan Ryan Huntley. For 2024, the role of Vice Chair will be held by Councillor Kevin Duguay from the City of Peterborough.

“We have accomplished a lot together under Ryan Huntley’s leadership and guidance. He has inspired us to continue our good work with Otonabee Conservation,” said Metcalf, “I look forward to working together with the board and staff in 2024 to address issues and challenges across the Otonabee Region watershed.”

“A sincere thank you to Deputy Mayor Huntley, who has been a great leader for the board of directors over the last two years,” said Janette Loveys Smith, Otonabee Conservation CAO. “I have enjoyed working with him and have appreciated his guidance. I am pleased to see Deputy Mayor Metcalf and Councillor Duguay step up in the Chair and Vice Chair roles and look forward to continuing to work with our eight member municipalities.”

Each year at the AGM, Otonabee Conservation honours four watershed champions with the annual Environmental Excellence Awards. These awards recognize the outstanding people and groups within our watershed who have demonstrated the advancement of watershed health through projects on the landscape and actions that contribute to a healthier environment for everyone.

This year’s recipients of the Environmental Excellence Awards are:

• Individual Conservationist Award: Awarded to Cathey Dueck
  Recognizing outstanding people who have undertaken projects, demonstrated leadership, and inspired others to create a healthier watershed.

• Environmental Stewardship Award: Awarded to Peterborough Humane Society
  Recognizing community or organized groups that have successfully undertaken projects that contribute to a healthier watershed.

• Conservation Partnership Award: Awarded to Brad Appleby
  Recognizing a municipal partner or agency who has made a significant, positive contribution to furthering the objectives of Otonabee Conservation in one or more areas of the Authority's operations.

• Business Award: Awarded to nefAB Canada Recognizing a business that has made a significant contribution to projects or programs at Otonabee Conservation, advancing our vision of a healthy watershed.

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Fleming Phoenix Roundup: Jan. 23

The Fleming Phoenix basketball and volleyball teams did not have the best of luck as they could not muster a win over the weekend.

Fleming’s MOntana Rank taking a dive at the ball. Photo courtesy of David Pickering and Fleming College.

The Phoenix men’s basketball team lost its home game on Friday, falling 89 to 64 to the visiting George Brown Huskies.

Shawn Blackwood had 21 points, Jason Diaz netted 13 points and Tristan Paguirigan scored 11 points as the team’s top scoeres.

The Phoenix will try to get back on track when they travel to Belleville on Wednesday at 6 p.m. to take on the Loyalist Lancers.

The Phoenix men's and women’s volleyball teams welcomed the Huskies to the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre on Saturday but could not leave home field with a victory.

The women’s team lost 3-0, losing the sets 25-15, 25-9, and 25-9. 

The men’s team won the first set 25-22, and then lost the next three sets 25-17, 25-20 and 25-23 for a final score of 3-1. 

The Phoenix volleyball teams head to the nation’s capital this weekend to play the Algonquin Wolves in Ottawa on Saturday and the La Cite Coyotes on Sunday. 

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Peterborough Police Make Lay Promotion of Hatred Charge From Distribution of Anti-Semitic Flyers Last Summer

The Peterborough Police Service has laid an additional charge against a 31-year-old Peterborough man in connection with the distribution of anti-Semitic flyers during the summer oof last year.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

The Criminal Code of Canada contains specific provisions and authorizations required to proceed with charges related to hate crimes. Investigators immediately sought authorization from the Ministry of Attorney General to proceed with such charge, and this is the first time the Peterborough Police Service has received authorization to lay a charge of:

• Willful promotion of hatred

Between May and July 2023, The Peterborough Police Service received reports of anti-Semitic flyers having been distributed across the city.

After a four month investigation, investigators identified and arrested a 31-year-old Peterborough man on Sept. 15. 

Following the arrest, the Peterborough Police Service applied to the Ministry of the Attorney General to have the incidents deemed as a willful promotion of hatred under the Criminal Code of Canada.  In December, the application was granted and earlier this month the accused was notified of the new charges.  The accused appeared in court on Tuesday for a first appearance on those charges.

“As a Service tasked with ensuring public safety and on behalf of our community, we are thankful the Ministry of the Attorney General agreed with our assessment that the charge of willful promotion of hatred was warranted,” said Chief Stuart Betts. “We take these types of incidents very seriously and believe that there is no room for hate in our community.”

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Trent Professor Earns National Teaching Award

Trent University professor David Newhouse and his work advancing Indigenous Studies has been named the recipient of the Lee Lorch Award – the highest honour presented by the Council of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), announced on Monday.

Professor David Newhouse was one of Canada’s most outstanding university educators and winner of one of ten 3M Teaching Fellowships in May of 2022. Photo courtesy of Trent University.

Newhouse is the founding director of the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies at Trent.

“We congratulate Professor David Newhouse on winning the Lee Lorch Award,” said Dr. Michael Khan, Trent provost and vice-president academic. “His excellence as a teacher and as an educational leader has led to transformative change within educational institutions, creating space for Indigenous peoples, cultures, knowledge and histories.”

The Lee Lorch Award recognizes an academic whose teaching, research and service have contributed noticeably to the lives of their students, institution, field of study, and community. Prof. Newhouse will be presented with the award at the Spring CAUT Council.

Newhouse has been a professor, researcher and administrator for over 30 years. He served as the chair of the Department of Indigenous Studies at Trent starting in 1994 and was appointed the founding director of the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies in 2017. He helped launch Canada's first Indigenous Studies Ph.D. program, establishing the First Peoples House of Learning, securing more than $12 million in research funding and developing Trent’s Indigenous course requirement, ensuring all undergraduate students complete at least one course with an Indigenous focus.

“I do a little every day and things add up over time, so I was surprised to be awarded the prize,” said Newhouse. “It's nice to be recognized for my work with faculty, staff, and students in bringing Indigenous Knowledge to Trent University. The award is not just about me, but about the climate of support we've created for Indigenous peoples and their histories.” 

Prof. Newhouse holds several provincial and national leadership positions, co-chairing the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Indigenous Advisory Circle and acting as science officer for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Peer Review Committee in Aboriginal Peoples' Health.

He is also served as chair of CAUT’s Aboriginal Post-Secondary Working Group, before being elected to the Executive Committee as the Representative at Large, Aboriginal in 2018 – a position he holds to this day. Newhouse is also the founding editor of the CANDO Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development, the first peer-reviewed academic journal devoted to the subject and was the principal investigator for the National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education (NCCIE).

Recognized for his committed efforts to enhance students' educational experiences (Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike) over more than two decades, Prof. Newhouse was awarded Trent University’s Award for Educational Leadership and Innovation in 2016. He was also recognized for teaching and educational leadership, receiving a 3M National Teaching Fellowship in 2022. 

He is on a sabbatical working to convert a 10-year project into an academic text. His research is focused on modern Indigenous society and understanding the dynamics shaping Indigenous communities today. He uses literature to encourage critical thinking, reflective practice, and a deeper understanding by employing Indigenous teaching methods similar to elders' storytelling techniques that encourage interpretation over direct answers. 

His research was the genesis for the Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network (UAKN) that Newhouse has co-chaired since its inception in 2007. The UAKN is a research network of urban Indigenous peoples engaging in community-driven research to contribute to a better quality of life for urban Indigenous communities. Through the UAKN, he has helped shine a light on how urban Indigenous peoples see cities as home. 

“For more than 30 years, David has been an outstanding teacher, researcher, and leader at Trent and across the country,” said one of the award nominators. “He lives the qualities of the Seven Grandfathers Teachings, and in his commitment to these teachings, he has been a mentor and champion for many people. These are people who might otherwise have been overlooked or passed by and people who were not aware of their own talents and gifts. In that space, David provides people the opportunity to embrace their own responsibilities. Perhaps that is David’s most significant contribution to the classroom and academia.” 

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Cannonball and Floating Catwalk Challenge Added to 38th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim Fundraiser

The Rotary Club of Peterborough has added two fun activities, the ‘Cannonball’ and ‘Floating Catwalk’ Challenge, in addition to their swimming to fundraise for the 38th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim, announced at the Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club on Monday afternoon.

Various members and Rotary guess showcased swim attire to participate in the new events as an aternative to traditional swimwear. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The fundraising event is scheduled at the YMCA of Central East Ontario for March 1, beginning at 7 a.m.

The new activities for the annual fundraiser were added to allow those who cannot swim or provide an alternate activity to raise money for teams or individuals.

“Not everybody is a seasoned swimmer,” said Ken Seim, Rotary president-elect. “Some of the older groups that used to come out were having difficulty putting together a team and we thought, ‘let's change it up and make it more fun.’”

Participants can cannonball into the pool in the ‘Cannonball’ challenge or run across a tarp floating atop the water in the ‘Floating Catwalk’ challenge.

The Rotary Club presented a swim fashion show to promote wacky swim attire as an alternative to traditional swimwear like bikinis or shorts. A contest with prizes is being held for those who wear the aforementioned.

A goal of $45,000 has been set for fundraising efforts towards Rotary projects. Over $1.4 million has been raised to date.

“It’s our primary fundraiser and with that, we’re able to do our projects in town,” said Seim. “The Prince of Wales breakfast program, you heard about the international program that’s been done, Easter Seals Christmas party, work on the Rotary Trail, supporting stuff like the YES program, transitional housing and anew nurses station at Camp Kawartha.”

The public is encouraged to participate in the events as an individual or a team and can register online. Those registered will be assigned a fundraising page. The public can also donate directly via the website and receive an instant tax receipt.

Anyone can donate at any time online at the Rotary’s website.

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County of Peterborough to Install 21 Multi-Use Path Lighting Poles At James A. Gifford Causeway On Tuesday

The County of Peterborough is installing 21 Multi-Use Path (MUP) lighting poles on the south side of the Causeway is scheduled for Tuesday (weather permitting) and will extend throughout the week.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

Temporary lane restrictions will be in place with flagging operations during the installation.

The activation and verification of account status with Hydro One may delay the operational commencement of the MUP lighting illumination according to a press release.

Upon conclusion, Phase 1 (Road Works) of the Causeway construction project will be concluded.

“We will continue to provide updates as the project approaches its commencement,” according to a statement in a press release. “We appreciate your patience and understanding during this period.”

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Mount Community Centre to Complete Redevelopment After Donation

The Remembering Otto and Marie Pick Charitable Foundation has donated to complete the redevelopment of The Mount Community Centre (TMCC) to provide affordable housing, announced in a press release on Monday.

Photo courtesy of the Mount Community Centre.

The construction began in September 2014. The donation concludes the development of the Mount’s main building of seventy-nine apartments according to a press release.

“‘Operation Upstream’ as we call it, enables us to support unhoused and homeless people before they need more intense supports like those in our hospital system,” said Martin Pick. “In this way, we are helping others to a better place. We are pleased to contribute to the community with a gift to facilitate the completion of 11 more affordable apartments at TMCC.”

“These affordable apartments will have a positive impact in our community,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “On behalf of the citizens of Peterborough, I want to thank Martin and Denise Pick for their outstanding generosity. As a former Minister of Agriculture, I developed a wonderful relationship with Martin Pick. Pickseed is a national and international leader in providing grass seeds and forages for the world’s agricultural community. The Mount Community Centre has improved the lives and wellbeing of so many people in our City, and this gift will allow them to make an even greater impact. This is clearly the second miracle on Monaghan Road.”

“We are humbled and beyond grateful to share that Martin and Denise Pick have made a generous donation to support the continued redevelopment of TMCC,” said Steve Kylie, the Mount Board Chair. “The Pick Family has a rich history of multi-generational philanthropy and the family name is synonymous with community building.”

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Peterborough Petes Debut Black Alternate Jerseys On Saturday Night

The Peterborough Petes have officially unveiled their new black alternate jerseys during their home game against the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The jerseys are designed by Pioneer Inc’s. Kyle McDonald. They feature a full black design with a gray Petes logo outlined with white trim. Pioneer Inc. is the same company that designed the Petes new Maroon and White jerseys and the updated Petes logo that debuted at the beginning of the 2023-24 season.

“The Peterborough Petes are extremely excited to debut our official third jerseys at the PMC for our fans. We hope the fans enjoy the sleek new look and aesthetic design elements that are present throughout. These jerseys will serve as an alternative to the traditional maroon and white, moving the brand forward in a new unique way,” said Adam King Petes director of marketing. 

The jerseys will be worn with black helmets, gloves and socks to offer a full visual experience for Petes fans. The jersey will be the official Petes alternate third jersey through next season.

The alternate black jerseys are available in the Petes store in person or online.

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