Peterborough Police Investigating Fire Incident At Hunter Street Residence Early Tuesday Morning

The Peterborough Police Service has closed off a Hunter Street residence on the corner of Bethune Street to investigate a suspicious fire occurring early Tuesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 5:10 a.m., officers were called to the scene of the residence. Police have reported no injuries with minimal damage reported.

Police presence including Forensic Identification Unit Officers are in the area for the investigation.

While the residence is closed off, roads remain open without police guidance.

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Peterborough Petes Goaltender Liam Sztuska Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Peterborough Petes goaltender Liam Sztuska has been named OHL Goaltender of the Week with a 1.00 goals-against average and .978 save percentage in a win last week.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

Sztuska helped the Petes get back in the winning column, stopping 45 of the 46 shots in a 4-1 road win over the Owen Sound Attack.

The Petes goaltender often faces a lot of shots as he has taken at least 40 in 15 of his last 17 starts. Five of his 10 wins have at least 40 saves this season.

The 19-year-old Mississauga native has a season record of 10-22-4-1, posting a 3.86 goals-against average and .906 save percentage while facing the league’s third-highest total of 1,530 shots.

The Petes selected him in the fifth round, 94th overall, of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Titans U16 AAA program. The 6-foot, 181-lb. netminder has appeared in 63 games over three seasons, registering a 3.70 goals-against average and .902 save percentage. Sztuska won an OHL Championship with Peterborough last spring.

The Petes return home to take on the Barrie Colts on Tuesday, wearing their CHL Jersey Contest winning designs. The game jerseys will be auctioned after the game with proceeds going to the President’s Choice Children’s Charity. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Peterborough Transit To Provide Grade 8 Transit Quest Program During March Break

Peterborough Transit has partnered with Active School Travel Peterborough to provide the Grade 8 Transit Quest program from March 8 to March 17.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

The program encourages students to use public transit by providing a free transit pass during March Break.

The Quest’s purpose is to increase students’ familiarity of the Peterborough Transit system as they begin to travel independently. Peterborough Transit alos wants a goal of making transit a mode of transportation that is both normal and accessible for local youth. Children aged 12 and under ride transit free year-round.

As incentive, students will receive a destination passport along with their transit passes which features free or discounted travel destinations.

“This is a great program to encourage kids to get familiar with Peterborough Transit routes,” said Ashley Burnie, GreenUp program coordinator. “Transit is an ideal transportation option for students to get to part-time jobs, shopping or seeing friends across town.”

Active School Travel Peterborough will be distributing the Grade 8 Transit Quest destination passports and free transit passes to Grade 8 classes in the City of Peterborough this week.

Ten destinations are featured in the Transit Quest destination passport including the Sport and Wellness Centre, the Public Library, the Museum and Archives and the Art Gallery of Peterborough, among other local businesses. Participants are encouraged to post to social media with #PTBOTransitQuest to share their journey and return their passports to their teacher to be entered into a class raffle.

New to the program are on-bus orientations for classes upon request.

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Fleming College Offering Free Tax Clinic For Eligible Residents During March

Fleming College is offering free tax clinics to any eligible persons this March.

Administered through a program with the Canada Revenue Agency, the community tax clinics are supervised by Accounting program instructors and organized with the help of Enactus Fleming College’s Keys to Me program. Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

The clinics are open to eligible community members and Fleming students. Accounting students provide the clinics as a hands-on learning experience in their chosen field.

Clinics take place each Monday from March 4 to April 1 from noon to 4 p.m. in the Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre at Fleming’s Sutherland Campus.

To be eligible for the free clinics, individuals must:

• Have an income of $35,000 or less for individuals

• Have a combined income of $45,000 or less for a couple

• Have a combined income of $47,500 or less for a family of three

• Have a combined income of $50,000 or less for a family of four

Students will not prepare returns for anyone self-employed, for those who have capital gains or losses, employment expenses or have filed for bankruptcy.

Eligible residents can make an appointment at the clinic by emailing taxclinic@flemingcollege.ca, or registering online. Walk-ins can also be accommodated depending on availability.

Free parking is available for residents travelling to the Sutherland Campus for the tax clinic. Fleming requests that anyone coming to email the clinic in advance with your licence plate information and date of arrival to qualify for the free parking.

Anyone attending the clinic is asked to bring the following information:

• Social Insurance Number

• T2202A Tuition Receipt (if applicable)

• Rent Receipts for rent paid in Ontario in 2023 (if applicable)

• Medical expense receipts

• T4 Statement of Income (provided by your employer if you worked in Canada in 2023)

• Any other tax related slips you may receive in the mail, like a T5 or a T3 slip (for investment income)

• International students and new Canadians filing a tax return for the first time will need to provide their date of arrival in Canada

Fleming also welcomes eligible residents to drop off their tax information.

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Charges Laid On Three Peterborough Teens For Discharging Firearms and Air Guns In a Vehicle; Drugs Discovered After Arrest

Three Peterborough teens including two minors have been charged after shooting firearms and air guns in a car and drug possession on Sunday evening.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 10 p.m., officers received reports of a vehicle with people shooting a pellet gun at others in the Brock Street and George Street area.

During a police investigation, the vehicle returned to the area and more shots were heard. Officers followed the vehicle across the Hunter Street bridge and were able to get the vehicle to stop in the James Street and Mark Street area. As officers drew their firearms, they conducted a gun point arrest. All three suspects in the vehicle were taken into custody without incident. No one was seriously injured. 

During a search after the arrest, police discovered a loaded replica handgun, ammunition and a small quantity of drugs.

As a result of the investigation:

An 18-year-old Peterborough man was arrested and charged with:

• Discharge firearm with Intent

• Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose

• Possession of a Schedule I Substance- Cocaine

• Dangerous operation

• Flight from peace officer

The accused is being held in custody and will appear in court on Monday.

A 16-year-old Peterborough male was arrested and charged with:

• Discharge Air Gun with Intent

• Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose

• Possession of a Schedule I Substance- Cocaine

• Possession of Firearm or Ammunition contrary to Prohibition Order

• Fail to comply with sentence (Youth Criminal Justice Act)

A 14-year-old Peterborough male was arrested and charged with:

• Discharge Air Gun with Intent

• Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose

• Possession of a Schedule I Substance- Cocaine

• Possession of Firearm or Ammunition contrary to Prohibition Order

• Fail to comply with sentence (Youth Criminal Justice Act)

Both underage suspects are currently bound by a probation order with the following condition, to not communicate with several people including the one of the other people in the vehicle.

They are bound by a prohibition order with the following condition, to not possess any firearm, prohibited weapon or ammunition. 

Both youth are being held in custody and will appear in court on Monday.

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Peterborough Petes Get Back in the Win Column With Four Unanswered Goals Against Owen Sound For 4-1 Victory

After getting one victory in their last 13 games, the Peterborough Petes return to the win column, scoring four unanswered goals for a 4-1 win over Owen Sound at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre on Sunday evening.

Photo courtesy of Allison Kennedy and the Peterborough Petes.

Only one goal was scored in the first period and it came late. Peterborough was shorthanded after a holding penalty and Owen Sound wasted no time. It took 14 seconds to score on the man advantage with a Colby Barlow one-timer to make it 1-0 for the home team.

It was all Peterborough from when the second period started. The Petes got a powerplay of their own early in the stanza and capitalized on their opportunity to tie the game. Tommy Purdeller set up Quinton Pagé for a one-timer in the high slot and scored for a 1-1 game.

The Petes forced a turnover in their defensive zone as Braydon McCallum knocked an Attack defenseman down and got the puck on a rush. He dropped a pass for Pagé who fanned his shot but Brennan Faulkner got a shot on net. It was parried to the side by Attack goaltender Carter George but Petes defenseman Martin Matejicek got the loose puck. He got a one-touch pass to Pagé who scored a wide-open one-timer for his second of the game and a 2-1 Peterborough lead.

The visitors kept their foot on the gas as Caden Taylor undressed an Owen Sound defender and snapped it past George for an impressive unassisted goal to put Peterborough up 3-1 after two.

Owen Sound had Petes goaltender Liam Sztuska under siege all night, already having 35 shots on net prior to the final period. They got another 11 in the third, outshooting Peterborough in shots with 46-26 but could not find the back of the net a second time. Purdeller got an empty-net goal finish off the Attack and leave Owen Sound with a 4-1 win.

Pagé, Purdeller, Matejicek had two points each while Sztuska saved 45 of 46 shots on net for the win.

The Petes return home to take on the Barrie Colts on Tuesday, wearing their CHL Jersey Contest winning designs. The game jerseys will be auctioned after the game with proceeds going to the President’s Choice Children’s Charity. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Grand Events, BARKery, Big Papa Sandwich and Cormor

PTBOCanada is delighted to be running the Business Beat columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

There’s a new events space in Brookdale Plaza at 861 Chemong Rd. called Grand Events.

Owner and operator Leslie Grand is a local teacher who loves spending time meeting new people and providing people with special ways to celebrate life events. She offers a stress-free space where you can host a party without worrying about cleanup.

There are pre-planned custom-themed parties to make planning easy. They set up the party, provide the games and fun and clean it all up when you’re done. Grand Events will also be hosting community building events like coffee and tea socials, youth nights, and artisan craft shows. Find out more at grandevents.ca.

Looking for treats for your four-legged friend?

Downtown Peterborough’s Blackhoney is going beyond its bakery to offer a BARKery. The menu includes some creative options like bacon cheddar pupcakes, spinach and carrot yappetizers and a canine crunchies with peanuts, apple and carrot.

The BARKery offers specialty items to help with their joints, calm and relax them, or help them take their pills. Drop by 217 Hunter St., in behind the coffee house, with your furry friend and get some treats for everyone.

The owners of The Original Spaghetti House have opened Peterborough’s newest sandwich eatery at their 512 George St. South location.

Big Papa Sandwich offers quality cuisine with hand-picked ingredients. Sandwiches include chicken, veal, meatball, steak and sauteed veggie. Takeout and delivery are available. Check them out at the corner of George and Lansdowne Street.

A Peterborough company is looking to 3D print houses.

Cormor, lead by Dwight Corcoran and PTBOCanada founder Neil Morton, have machinery that uses innovative technology to print homes out of concrete. It’s the first large-scale 3D concrete printer in Canada.

They’re looking to build homes as well as commercial and industrial buildings through modular and on-site construction. The process offers a cost-effective and quick way to build high-quality and sustainable buildings.

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YMCA of Central East Ontario Brings VOLT Hockey to Peterborough

To help promote inclusivity, especially for those with varied abilities, the YMCA of Central East Ontario is bringing VOLT Hockey to Peterborough with help from seed funding from Under the Lock Hockey Tournament.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The YMCA will host two drop-in sessions during the March break on the 14th at 10 a.m. and 15th at 5:15 p.m. for kids aged six to 14.

VOLT Hockey includes those with a mobility challenge in our national sport. It has specially motorized chairs to participate in a three-on-three format in a gymnasium.

The chairs have a joystick to navigate the floor with a built-in custom T-shaped stick in the front to pass and handle the ball.

Over the decade of its inception, the Under the Lock Hockey tournament has had over 10,000 kids from boys/girls minor hockey, sledge hockey and special hockey international teams compete. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Seed funding came from leftover money from the Under the Lock Hockey Tournament. Despite winding down operations in 2018, their board of directors donated the remaining $9,634 to the YMCA to bring VOLT Hockey to Peterborough.

“Our YMCA is excited to be introducing this program in Peterborough,” said Cindy Mytruk, YMCA manager of partnerships and inclusion. “There aren’t enough opportunities for children with disabilities to participate ins port and this is just one more step to a more accessible and inclusive community. We are thrilled to be involved.”

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Plans are underway to find players to play, regardless of their physical capabilities. YMCA is seeking public input for a team name.

All submissions can be sent to cindy.mytruk@ceo.ymca.ca. All ideas are reviewed by a YMCA and The Children’s Charity Ontario team. The selected name will be announced on the YMCA’s website, Facebook page and newsletter. The deadline for suggestions is 5 p.m. on March 25th.

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38th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim Takes the Plunge For Easter Seals and Rotary Projects

The 38th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim plunged into the YMCA Central East Ontario pool to fundraise their goal of $50,000 for Easter Seals Ontario and Rotary Club of Peterborough on Friday morning.

Vanessa Oake Hogan (left) with her sister Renée Oake shortly after the latter did 146 laps in the swimming lane. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

This event has fundraised over $1.4 million for Easter Seals and Rotary Projects. Other recipients of the proceeds are literacy programs, various shelters (Brock Mission, Yes Shelter and more) Breakfast for Kids, Camp Kawartha, Rotary Trail and more.

Roughly $5,300 of the $50,000 goal was already raised online at the publication of this article but more funds have yet to be accounted for with a final tally.

Carl Oake started this event 38 years ago. He says he was inspired by the work the Easter Seals did because of his relatives. His mother’s twin sister contracted polio in the 1950s while a cousin of his was born with spina bifida - both physically debilitating diseases.

Carl’s daughter, Vanessa Oake Hogan, succeeded in the role of organizing the event in 2017 after the former was satisfied that the event had so much community support over the years. She and her sister, Renée Oake, were proud to carry on their father’s legacy.

“He built so much momentum with this event over the year and it's gained a lot of support with the community so it was a natural for us to carry it on,” said Vanessa. “It's definitely important for us to carry on dad's tradition.”

”I'm just proud to carry on the torch for my father for such a good cause,” said Renée.

Teams and groups could swim in lanes to participate in the fundraising event.

New to this year’s swim was the ‘Cannonball’ and ‘Floating Catwalk’ Challenge. They were alternative activities for those who cannot swim or could not get a team to help raise money while participating in the event.

“It was a great addition,” said Vanessa. “I think it's definitely something we would want to continue.”

The online fundraising page remains open for donations until March 15.

“It's always a lot of work leading up to it but it's the day of the event you say, 'Okay, it's all worth it,' and I'm really happy to have all the support and the volunteers,” said Vanessa.

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Peterborough Man Arrested On Multiple Drug Possession Charges Including Cocaine, Crystal Meth and Fentanyl

A 32-year-old Peterborough man is facing several drug possession charges after an investigation by the Peterborough Police Service Drug Unit on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police Service.

Drug Unit officers took the male into custody and executed a search warrant on a George Street North residence.

Officers seized:

• 100 grams - Cocaine

• 1,373 grams - Crystal Methamphetamine

• 118.8 grams - Fentanyl

• Approximately $10,000 in Canadian currency

The accused is held in custody and will appear in court on Friday.

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