Hometown PTBO: Kalvyn Watson's Minor and International Hockey Career

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with hockey player Kalvyn Watson about his junior hockey career with the Minor Petes and Soo Greyhounds and then going professional internationally.

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The Seventh Annual Kawartha Craft Beer Festival Gets the Taps Flowing For Two Days

The seventh annual Kawartha Craft Beer Festival is coming back to Del Crary Park for two days: May 31 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and June 1 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Kawartha Craft Beer.

The festival features Ontario Craft Breweries, cideries, distilleries, food vendors, merchandise vendors, a kids zone and live music throughout the weekend.

“We are thrilled to bring back the Kawartha Craft Beer Festival even bigger and better in our seventh year. We’ve got some new features at the event this year, and we can’t wait to see everyone back in the park enjoying fun, friends and craft beer,” said Kim Cranfield, Kawartha Craft Beer Festival owner.

“We’re excited to be back as the Presenting Sponsor at this year’s event.” said Richard Wood, Bobcaygeon Brewing Company president and co-Founder. “This is such a great event for our community and a great way for people to sample the amazing craft breweries we have here in Ontario.”

Early bird tickets are on sale until Tuesday, giving guests a savings of $5. Tickets allow access on both Friday and Saturday and include a beer mug and two drink tokens.

This year's lineup features 16 craft breweries, cideries and distilleries, seven food vendors and live music throughout the weekend. Guests will be able to do some shopping from our merchandise vendors and play lawn games and this year, a Kids Zone has been added for fun and games available to kids 12 and under.

Regular-priced tickets go on sale on May 1. Guests can pre-purchase event tickets, beer tokens and Kids Zone tickets. Early Bird weekend tickets are $20 + tax and fees. Regular-priced weekend tickets are $25 + tax and fees and sales begin May 1.

Each ticket comes a wristband, branded Festival mug and two drink tokens. Wristbands and 2024 Festival mugs are required to sample beer. Designated drivers and anyone under 19 are not required to purchase a ticket. 

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Peterborough Police Investigating Theft of Planters From a Business

The Peterborough Police Service Community FIRST unit is investigating a theft of planters from a business on March 19. 

At roughly 10:30 a.m., the business in the Reid Street and Simcoe Street area reported that a male came onto the porch, checked to see if the planters were movable, returned several hours later and took them off the front porch. 

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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Lakefield Couple Win Lotto Max Jackpot of $70 Million

Doug and Enid Hannon of Lakefield have hit the Lotto Max jackpot and have found themselves $70 million richer announced by Ontario Lottery Gaming (OLG) on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of OLG.

The win was from the Feb. 20 draw with their winning ticket purchased at the Kinmount Independent Grocer on Kawartha Lakes County Rd 121.

The couple originally kept their win a secret for several months before telling their friends and family.

Enid purchased the winning ticket on their way to their ‘camp,’ however, Doug discovered the big win the day after the draw.

“I was completely unaware that a winning ticket had been sold in our area. So, when I saw ‘Big Winner’ on the phone screen, I was shaking,” said Doug. “My heart was pounding. I had to stare at it for a while and process all those zeroes. Then I had to check it a few more times."

Doug, who has been retired for a few years, decided not to mention anything to his wife until she got home from work.

“I went to the garage and buried my head in some work while I struggled with disbelief and thought about our next steps,” said Doug.

He waited until dinner time to surprised Enid with the news.

“Doug told me to come into the computer room and the OLG website was on the computer screen, and he told me to check the numbers on ticket,” explained Enid. “When I realized we had won a prize, I first thought it was a $70,000 win. Doug told me to recount all the zeros and that’s when it hit me that we won $70 million!”

The couple decided to keep this multi-million dollar win a secret for a while. They agreed first to get financial and legal advice as they started making some money plans. Not telling anyone was very difficult for Enid as she is very open and expressive with all who know her.

“Keeping this secret was killing me,” she laughed.

A week prior to collecting their winnings, the Lakefield couple told their children and grandchildren about the huge win where everyone was in disbelief and extremely happy for them.

The married couple of 51 years have already made some plans with the money.

“I would like to travel across Canada to experience the beautiful nature of this country from coast to coast,” said Doug.

“I have been dreaming about a new kitchen for years and now I will get it, along with some other improvements to the house because we love where we live and we don’t want to move,” explained Anid.

However, the couple both agree that the number one priority for this money is their family.

“Our family is most important and we want to share this with them. I want to ensure everyone is safe, secure and well taken care of,” said both Doug and Anid.

They also want to share a portion of their winnings with some community causes that are close to them.

“This is truly a blessing for us and our family,” said Enid and Doug. “Like many people, you always hope to win the lottery, but we never dreamt this would happen to us! We are so very thankful.”

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Peterborough's Porter Martone Selected As Captain For Canada’s National Men’s U18 Team

Peterborough’s Porter Martone is representing his country on a global stage as he was selected as captain for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship in Finland.

Porter Martone (middle) is joined with Carson Wetsch (left) and Malcolm Spence (right) as alternate captains for the team. Photo courtesy of Hockey Canada.

The Mississauga Steelhead has 33 goals and 38 assists in 60 games this past Ontario Hockey League Season.

Martone spent time with the AAA U15 Peterborough Petes during the 2019-20 season.

The tournament starts Thursday and runs until May 5. Canada takes on Sweden in the preliminary match at noon on Thursday.

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Trent University Celebrates Public Sculpture At Campus Entrance

Trent University celebrated the art piece, ‘Potential,’ three pinecone sculptures at the entrance of the Symons Campus and was created by artist Floyd Elzinga.

Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent's president and vice-chancellor (left); Floyd Elzinga (middle) and Suzanne Bailey, Trent’s associate dean of graduate studies (right) with ‘Potential.’ Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The art piece was completed in April of last year. Elzinga took about a year to complete them. The sculptures were made of weathering (Corten) steel which adds a uniqueness to their colour from a scientific standpoint.

“It's a specific alloy of steel that develops rusty oxidized patina but that patina actually prevents it from deteriorating so that 'rust' actually prevents it from corroding further which is an 'irony,’” explained Elzinga.

‘Potential’ is appropriate for a campus with pine cones being the theme for the piece according to the Beamsville, Ont. artist.

“One of these pinecones would have 100 or more seeds in it and the potential refers to is that each of those seeds, the potential that they have inside them to become 100 trees that could go elsewhere,” said Elzinga. “It's that metaphor representing so much more life that can come out of it and I think it reflects well on the University. Students come to learn things and they are those seeds that take that knowledge to set their roots where that is.”

Family, friends and Trent faculty were on hand to celebrate the occasion of Elzinga’s accomplishments.

The sculpture was originally announced on National Philanthropy Day (Nov. 15), is the latest addition to the University’s Public Sculpture Initiative (PSI) which offers a nationally significant collection of public art, supported by philanthropy. 

Trent’s PSI was initiated by David James and his wife, Lili de Grandpré, and is supported by Jalynn H. Bennett's legacy gift and other donors and artists according to the University.

The work was commissioned after Suzanne Bailey, Trent’s associate dean of graduate studies, suggested Elzinga to Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent's president and vice-chancellor. The latter was immediately on board.

“Suzanne reached out to me on behalf of Leo and said, ‘we would love to see something by Floyd,’” said Elzinga. “It was at a point in my career that this was something I could afford to do and I think it's a great solution for that University to build a collection.”

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3,000 Trout Released Into 35th Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby a Go Starting April 27

There were 3,000 trout released into the Lift Locks ahead of the 35th annual Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Under the Lock Fishing Derby including top-prize rainbow trout ‘Walter’ on Wednesday.

GORDON BOWLEY, FISHING DERBY CO-CHAIR, holds Walter before throwing him into the canal. This is Bowley’s 25th year helping the fishing derby. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

Of the 3,000, 2,500 of them are rainbow trout and the other 500 are brook trout, tagged for instant prizes and a chance to win one of four grand prizes for the youth derby.

The event runs from April 27 to May 5. The youth derby, for children 15 and under, kicks off on the first day.

Walter, a six to eight-pound rainbow trout as the top prize, will earn $1,000 cash to whoever can reel him in.

The second and third-place grand prize fish ‘Rosie’ and ‘Berty’ are each worth $200 cash plus a free registration to OFAH day camp. The fourth grand prize ‘Kayak’ wins a sit-on kayak and paddle.

Nick Pellerin tosses a netful of trout into the Lift Lock to prepare for the fishing derby. Photo by David Tuan bui.

The all-ages derby will run from April 28 through May 5. For the third year, it will include tagged fish with cash prizes sponsored by local businesses.

Registration is required for all participants. Admission is $15 for the first child, $10 for siblings and $25 for adults. Purchase tickets online or in person at both Peterborough Canadian Tire locations.

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Peterborough Police Investigating Gas Bar Door Glass Being Smashed; Officers Search For Two Suspects

The Peterborough Police Service is investigating after an incident at a Peterborough gas bar on Wednesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 3 a.m. on April 24, 2024, officers were called about the front door of a gas bar in the Lansdowne Street West and Rye Street area being smashed. 

When officers arrived, they found the door glass smashed but overall, it was still secure.

Officers searched the area for two people matching the following description:

  • Two males

  • Possibly in the 20s

  • Wearing toques and wearing reddish grey jeans

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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Fleming College Makes Changes to Program Offerings Amid International Student Cap

Changes to Fleming College’s program offerings for Fall 2024 were approved by the Board of Governors on Tuesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“As a result of the recent federal cap on international students coming to Ontario and the elimination of educational private partnerships, we have made difficult, but necessary, evidence-based decisions about program continuation and suspensions,” according to a statement made by Fleming.

Current students are not affected by these decisions. Fleming says their priority will be to enable program completion of any student who is currently enrolled in any of the suspended programs.

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Voice of Business: It’s Time to Prioritize Addictions and Homelessness at the National, Provincial and Local Level

Addictions and homelessness in our city is uncomfortable.

It’s uncomfortable for the people living it. It’s uncomfortable for the community dealing with the issues that surround it. And it brings about uncomfortable conversations.

It’s in stark contrast to the current political enthusiasm for housing. Don’t get me wrong, we desperately need big solutions for housing in our city, province and country and it will play a role in alleviating homelessness. Right now, it seems every government body has a housing policy that they’re sharing with anyone who will listen. They have goals with numbers attached to them and financial incentives for achieving them. We have government ministries dedicated to this file, with their own associate and deputy ministers for additional support. We might be in a housing crunch right now, but the action from all levels of government instills a certain amount of optimism that things will improve.

Unfortunately, there isn’t that feeling of optimism when it comes to dealing with addictions and homelessness. There are a lot of good things in the works. There are community groups spearheading new programs and governments launching new social supports. But there’s a lack of strategic planning to get us out of the crisis we are in. And make no mistake, communities across Canada are in a crisis.

We need governments to set targets for eliminating homelessness, decreasing addictions, reducing poverty, and eliminating barriers to mental health supports — targets that all levels of government can work together to achieve. This should be prioritized as one of the highest profile portfolios.

Defining this issue is also uncomfortable and complex. Many people addicted to drugs aren’t homeless and there are many homeless people who are not using drugs. We can’t ignore the role that poverty, trauma, and a lack of mental health supports play into this. It’s uncomfortable to address the fact that, in Canada, Indigenous people are eight times more likely to be homeless.

The Chamber recently met with a group of businesses who are frustrated with the increase in antisocial behaviour in their neighbourhood. They’re dealing with regular property damage, increased shoplifting, and people accosting and assaulting staff. They’re regularly cleaning up human feces, needles, and used condoms. They’ve invested in expensive security systems, shortened hours to avoid closing in the dark, and begun locking their doors during the day. As fellow humans, they want to continue to show compassion to our most vulnerable population, which also takes an emotional toll.

There is a real lack of optimism on this issue. Talking about this with businesses, elected leaders, and government staff alike, there is very little feeling that we are going to be in a better situation in the foreseeable future.

This is one of the biggest issues we are facing right now. None of us have the knowledge or means to fix it on our own. We need all three levels of government to prioritize and dedicate significant resources to this. We need to know that when these pilot projects and social service contracts run out, our community is going to be in a better position than when we started.

Let’s all get uncomfortable — We can’t shy away from this issue any longer.

Click here to listen to Joel’s interview on Ontario Morning with Ramraajh Sharvendiran

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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