Art Gallery of Peterborough Releases Event Lineup To Celebrate Its 50th Anniversary

To celebrate the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s (AGP) 50th anniversary, they have launched their event lineup to commemorate the gallery’s founding in 1974.

director Celeste Scopelites marvels at the piece, “Comfort, Eyes That Speak” by Don Kwan. pHOTO BY dAVID tUAN bUI.

“This is a chance for us to recognize and thank our community, our artists, our volunteers, our talented staff and our partners at the City of Peterborough who have been supporting the Art Gallery of Peterborough for 50 years,” said Debbie Keating of AGP Board of Directors. “The Art Gallery of Peterborough Board sees this year as an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the future of the gallery.”

“A gallery is a pretty major establishment for the continuance of the culture from the perspective that it operates all throughout the year consistently,” said Celeste Scopelites, AGP director. “It becomes a hub for people to come and participate in various things for other kinds of events to be connected with it or an education stream for all ages. It becomes a place of engagement.”

On March 15, 1974, the AGP received its Letters Patent from the Province of Ontario, incorporating the AGP as a not-for-profit charitable organization.

In 1977, the AGP’s Board expanded on these aims and objectives.

“This gallery recognizes that, in a changing environment, its role is not static, but must be open to change; that it must reach out to its community; that it must be both a permanent institution and a ‘museum without walls’,” according to a press release statement.

The following are the announced events to celebrate AGP’s 50th anniversary:

Current Exhibitions: Seams and Strata

Nov. 23, 2013 – March 17

Reflecting on the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s 50th Anniversary in 2024, this juried exhibition invited artists to submit original works of art that resonate with themes of legacy, archives, nostalgia, ghosts, memory, survival and growth.

For Posterity: works from the Permanent Collection

Feb. 17 – March 24

Gathering works from the gallery’s early acquisitions, For Posterity reflects important gifts from key supporters and past exhibitions of the Art Gallery of Peterborough. The works from these early acquisitions chart the path of a nascent and savvy institution, driven primarily by women, dedicated to the creation of something strong and stable. It is a gift to future generations.

Galleria Extravaganza: The Best Sale of the Last (Half) Century

Opening Event: April 5, 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Sale Continues: April 6 – 7, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

This weekend event is inspired by a fundraising sale hosted annually by the dedicated group of volunteers who supported the Art Gallery of Peterborough through its first decades. In celebration of the gallery’s 50th anniversary, this sale will offer a collection of artful items donated by members and volunteers, making it a great opportunity to find some treasures.

A selection of special items will be available through an Online Auction which begins March 22. Bidding closes April 7 at 9 p.m. during the opening event. Browse the selection in the AGP’s Main Gallery all weekend as the in-person sale continues: April 6 – 7, from 11 a.m. through 5 p.m.

Proceeds from this sale will be directed to the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s Acquisition Fund from which artwork is purchased for the Permanent Collection. The AGP presents changing exhibitions curated from the Permanent Collection in dialogue with current exhibits each year.

50th Anniversary Celebration

August 20

McDonnel Street Community Centre

The Art Gallery of Peterborough is celebrating 50 years of accomplishments and is hosting a gathering at the McDonnel Street Community Centre. Gallery Director Celeste Scopelites invites the public to join AGP as they indulge in reminiscence and look towards thier future.

Special guests will include founders and key members of our community who have made significant contributions the gallery and its ongoing successes.

It’s All About ART Fundraising Auction

Oct. 26, 7:00 p.m.

The Venue

The Art Gallery of Peterborough's annual fundraising auction, It’s All About ART, is an initiative of the Board of Directors. Each year, they raise funds to support the gallery’s outstanding exhibitions and education programs. In honour of the decade of the gallery’s origin, they will be celebrating with a 70s theme.

Upcoming Exhibitions: Exhibitions during the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s 50th anniversary are rooted in intergenerational dialogue, reflecting the AGP’s 50 years of commitment to contemporary artists and emerging practices. This Spring, the AGP will present work by two Peterborough-based artists. Antoine Mountain’s Ets’ehchi’I: Traditional Dene Burial Practices opens with a special event on March 23rd from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Stan Olthius’ Interconnected includes large-scale kinetic sculpture with dance performance and sound to explore relationality, duality and exchange.

Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour – 40th Anniversary

Sept. 28 – 29

The Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour is a two-day event that offers the public a unique opportunity to connect with local artists and makers from Peterborough and the Kawarthas and to learn about their artistic practice with a behind-the-scenes look into the artist’s studio.

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Tebey Golf Classic Returns To Support Youth Mental Health For May 30

To support youth mental health, the Tebey Golf Classic with Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) is hosted at Wildfire Golf & Country Club on May 30th.

Golfers, sponsors, partners and donors more than $200,000 has been raised since 2017. Photo courtesy of GPHSF.

Foursomes are available for $1,200. It includes a shotgun tee-off, meet and greet with Tebey, access to private in-person VIP acoustic performance with Tebey and special guests (TBA), activities and contests throughout the course, lunch and supper, prizes, professional photos of your foursome and the opportunity to play one of Ontario’s top private courses that has hosted PGA tour events. 

A $240 tax receipt will be provided to all foursomes, with funds raised to support Youth Mental Health programming through Peterborough Youth Services and YES Shelter for Youth and Families.

“I’m really looking forward to getting home for our annual golf fundraiser with GPSHF, Your Family Health Team Foundation,” said Tebey. "As someone who has expressed my own challenges with mental health well-being over the years, it's really important to me to support initiatives in this area of health services. I am especially proud to give back to these organizations like Peterborough Youth Services and YES Shelter for Youth and Families who provide essential and valuable assistance in my hometown area of Peterborough.”

A shotgun tee-off is scheduled for 12:30 p.m., with an outdoor acoustic performance at 7 p.m. 

“These funds help us to reduce wait times and to provide specialized services for children, youth and families,” said Gord Langill, Peterborough Youth Services executive director. “Mental health issues are affecting more people in more complex ways, and resources are limited, so every fund-raised dollar makes a difference.”

From YES Shelter for Youth and Families Executive Director “The Tebey Golf Classic is one of the highlights of our year at YES,” said Aimeé Le Lagadec, Yes Shelter executive director. “This incredible event has become crucial to the support provided to young people and families struggling severely with their mental health while experiencing homelessness in Peterborough."

Foursomes for the tournament can be booked online.

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Road Closures and Transit Detours In Place For Sunday's St. Patrick's Day Parade

Road closures and transit detours will be in place in Downtown Peterborough for the 21st St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday.

pHOTO courtesy of Tim Burke.

This allows staging and procession of the parade, the following road closures will be in place starting at 12:30 p.m.:

• Dublin Street between Aylmer Street and Water Street

• London Street between Aylmer Street and Water Street

• McDonnel Street between Aylmer Street and Water Street

• Murray Street between Aylmer Street and Water Street

• George Street from Parkhill Road West (south side of intersection) to Brock Street

The parade will start at 2 p.m., travelling south on George Street from Murray Street. During the parade, a rolling road closure will be in place along George Street from Brock Street to McGill Street. All road closures are expected to be over by 4:30 p.m.

No Parking signs will be posted along George Street before the parade. Residents and visitors are encouraged to park in the following downtown locations:

• King Street Parkade at 202 King St.

• Simcoe Street parking garage at 190 Simcoe St.

• Chambers Lot at 184 Hunter St.

• Reid Lot at 350 Reid St.

• Surface lot at 365 Aylmer St.

• Del Crary Lot at 100 George St. N.

• Downie Lot at 336 Downie St.

Parking in municipal lots and parking garages is free on weekends.

Residents are reminded to follow all on-street parking regulations that may be in place in the downtown area, including calendar parking where applicable. Please ensure fire hydrants and driveways are not blocked.

The following transit routes will have detours in place during the closure period:

• Route 2 Chemong

  • During the rolling road closure at 2 p.m.:

    • Southbound from Terminal: route follows Simcoe Street to Aylmer Street to Romaine Street to Park Street to Braidwood Avenue to Lock Street.

    • Northbound from Lansdowne Street at Borden Avenue follows the regular route to Lock Street to Braidwood Avenue to Park Street to Romaine Street to Aylmer Street to Simcoe Street.

• Route 4 Weller

  • During the rolling road closure, westbound will follow regular route to terminal only. Eastbound will travel to the bus stop at the Simcoe at Water streets. Customers will walk east to catch the bus at the stop at Simcoe and Water streets.

• Route 6 Sherbrooke

  • Southbound from Trent from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Regular route on George Street to Barnardo Avenue, right on Barnardo Avenue, left on Wolsley Street, left on Chemong Road, follow Route 2 to the terminal. 

  • Northbound from Terminal during the rolling road closure at 2 p.m. – Follow route 2 to Wolsley Street, right on Wolsely Street, right on Barnardo Avenue, right on George Street, left on Parkhill Road, left on Water Street where it resumes its regular route

• Route 7 Lansdowne

  • During the rolling road closure at 2 p.m.

    • Westbound – Regular route to Lock Street, left on Lock Street, right on King George Street, right on Park Street to Lansdowne Street where it returns to regular route

    • Eastbound – Regular route to Park Street, right on Park Street, left on King George Street, left on Lock Street to Lansdowne Street to regular route

• Route 9 Parkhill

  • From 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

    • Westbound from Trent – Regular route to Parkhill at Water, right on Water Street, left on Barnardo Avenue, left on Wolsley Street, left on Chemong Road to Reid Street, right on Parkhill Road to regular route

    • Eastbound from Fleming – Regular route to Parkhill at Reid, left at Reid Street to Chemong Road, right on Wolsley Street, right on Barnardo Avenue, right on George Street, left on Parkhill Road to regular route

• Community Bus 22 (Blue)

  • Route will travel southbound on George Street to Barnardo Avenue, turn right on Barnardo Avenue, left on Wolsley Street, left on Chemong Road where it will follow Route 2 Chemong to the terminal. There will be a stop available on Aylmer Street at Simcoe Street.

• Community Bus 23 (Red)

  • During the rolling road closure, this route will travel eastbound on McDonnel Street to Aylmer Street, turn right on Aylmer Street to Romaine Street to Park Street where it returns to the regular route. There will be a stop on Aylmer Street at Simcoe Street.

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Peterborough Man Charged With Stunt Driving Going 50 KM/H Over Speed Limit

A 20-year-old Peterborough man faces a stunt driving charge after a traffic stop Friday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 7:55 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop after recording a vehicle travelling 100 km/h in a 50 zone on Clonsilla Avenue near Lansdowne Street.

The man was issued a court date of May 27, 2024, a 30-day license suspension and a 14-day vehicle impoundment.

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Spring Street Maintenance Underway In Peterborough

The City of Peterborough has begun its annual spring maintenance program of street sweeping and pothole treatment, announced on Thursday.

pHOTO courtesy of The City Of Peterborough.

Public Works crews are patching potholes throughout the City. They frequently occur in the spring when water gets below the road's surface through pavement cracks. Water expands when it freezes, increasing the size of the crack and repeated freeze/thaw cycles as weather changes weaken the pavement. Traffic in weakened areas can cause the road's surface to deteriorate, causing potholes.

The City asks motorists to use caution and reduce speed when approaching road maintenance crews, leaving a safe distance for crews to complete their work.

The street sweeping program removes pollutants from road surfaces and reduces urban runoff through the stormwater system to downstream water bodies. It also improves the cleanliness and aesthetics of City streets and parking lots by removing residual salt and sand used during winter operations, according to the City

Between March and May, once temperatures are continuously above freezing, 958 lane kilometres of roadway, including all city-owned sidewalks, trails and parking lots, must be cleaned. Several areas receive a secondary sweep as required based on the amount of residue on the surface. The work typically takes seven weeks to complete, weather pending.

This year, operations will start at the city’s east end, followed by the north and west ends and finish at the south end.

Residents are asked to keep streets clear to improve the street-sweeping program's overall effectiveness. By removing sports nets, placing garbage and recycling containers on the lawn or driveway and not parking on the street, residents can ensure sweeping equipment can reach the full street surface.

When approaching street-sweeping vehicles, please proceed with caution and allow for plenty of room for safe operations.

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Selwyn Township Receives $60,000 Grant For Installation of Accessible Kayak and Canoe Docks

In an effort to improve recreation accessibility, Selwyn Township has received $60,000 through the Inclusive Community Grants Program to install accessible kayak and canoe docking systems announced at The River Den in Lakefield on Thursday afternoon.

Sherry Senis, Selwyn Township mayor (left); Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility (middle) and Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP (right). Cho hade made three appearances in Peterborough City and County during his visit that including Peterborough, Lakefield and Havelock. pHOTO BY dAVID tUAN bUI.

The announcement was made by Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility; Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP; Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden and Sherry Senis, Selwyn Township mayor.

The installations are part of the ‘Creating an Inclusive Waterfront in Lakefield’ project which aims to improve the enjoyment of water-based activities for older adults and anyone with limited mobility.

They will be installed at Lakefield Beach and Isabel Morris Park and are expected to be completed by early spring of this year.

The installations provide barrier-free access to recreational water activities along the Otonabee River.

“Our government proudly supports Selwyn Township in removing barriers to recreation through the Inclusive Community Grant,” said Cho. “Both projects will help people of all abilities stay active and close to home so they can continue to live healthy and independent lives.”

“There remain considerable barriers to participation in recreation and cultural activities for people with disabilities,” said Senis. “This is also true for seniors, people with limited mobility, and/or health-related issues. To achieve inclusivity for all, parks and recreation services must be accessible to residents and visitors of all ages and abilities.”

“Those with disabilities and limited mobility are often faced with obstacles or unwelcoming environments when they try to use outdoor spaces,” said Dave Smith. “This funding will allow individuals to have access to waterfront that will enable them to enjoy activities with their friends and families for years to come.”

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Photos: Minister Raymond Cho Mingles With the Residents and Staff of Canterbury Gardens

Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility of Ontario, stopped at AON Inc’s Canterbury Gardens Retirement Residence while visiting Peterborough to mingle with the residents and staff.

Minister Raymond Cho (left) enjoys the hospitality of Marilyn Thomas's (right) residence at Canterbury Gardens. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Cho was in town to make several announcements in the County including at the River Den in Lakefield and the Havelock Seniors Club in Havelock.

The minister told stories, opened a Q&A session for the residents and entertained them with an alto saxophone solo.

The Korean-born politician toured the Canterbury Gardens facility including visiting the residences and listening to the living conditions of the residents which were overwhelmingly positive.

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Hometown PTBO: Peterborough Petes Defenceman Carson Cameron Being Drafted to the Team and His Bobcaygeon Roots

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Peterborough Petes defenceman Carson Cameron about his Bobcaygeon roots, his hometown hotspots and getting drafted to the team.

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Man Asks To Finish FaceTime Call After Being Pulled Over By Officer; Peterborough Police Release Traffic Enforcement Initiative Results

While the Peterborough Police Traffic Unit conducted traffic enforcement initiatives in Lakefield and Peterborough, a man asked an officer if he could finish his FaceTime call after being pulled over on Wednesday.

File photo.

The man was holding his phone while operating a vehicle in Peterborough when he was pulled over according to a police report. When stopped, he asked if he could finish his conversation before speaking to the officer.

He was one of three people who were issued tickets when officers were at George and Simcoe Street. Two warnings were also issued in separate incidents.

In Lakefield, officers were in the area of Water and Bridge Street and issued two warnings connected to a three-way stop. 

Using a handheld device while driving can incur a penalty of $615 and up to six demerit points as a reminder from the Peterborough Police.

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Chase Lefebvre's Hat Trick Leads Peterborough Petes to Second-Straight Home Win Over Kingston Frontenacs, 5-3

Chase Lefebvre’s first career hat trick lifts the Peterborough Petes over the Kingston Frontenacs for a 5-3 win at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Wednesday night.

pHOTO Bcourtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The Frontenacs struck first as Petes goaltender Liam Sztuska opted to play the puck around his net and was picked up by Kingston’s Ethan Miedema. He took a sharp-angle shot but was saved. Matthew Soto quickly snapped it on the rebound and got it through for a 1-0 lead.

Peterborough got a powerplay roughly halfway through the period to try to get the equalizer. Quinton Pagé ripped a shot but was stopped by Kingston goaltender Mason Vaccari. However, Lefebvre had a juicy rebound and buried it at a wide-open net for a 1-1 tie.

The visitors got a powerplay opportunity late in the first frame. They regained the lead after Jacob Battaglia circled the offensive zone and shot against the grain, top corner to restore Kingston’s lead, 2-1.

Lefebvre responded once again for the Petes late in the second period on the man advantage. Nico Addy made a long pass in the offensive zone and Lefebvre's tip-in tied the game at two apiece heading into the third period.

The Petes earned their first lead of the game as Ryder Macintyre threw one at the net and Cam Gauvreau tipped it in front and scored for a 3-2 lead.

Kingston pulled their goalie with less than two minutes left in the game but Braydon McCallum got the puck in the defensive zone and sent it nearly 200 feet for the empty-net goal.

The Frontenacs kept things interesting. With the goalie still pulled, a point shot got deflected and created a loose puck situation. Both teams scrambled for it and Gabriel Frasca was able to get it past Sztuska for a 4-3 game with 1:26 left in regulation.

Lefebvre put the game out of reach, taking a shot from the neutral zone and buried the empty-netter for his first career OHL hat trick and a 5-3 Petes win.

The Frontenacs can get revenge on the Petes when the two teams head to Kingston on Friday for a 7 p.m. game at the Slush Puppie Place.

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