The 15th Annual Berlett Cup Kicks Off Men's League Play At the Peterborough Golf & Country Club

To kick off the men’s golf season, the prestigious 15th-annual Berlett Cup began for the Peterborough Golf & Country Club (PGCC) on Tuesday afternoon.

Connor Blair (left) and Taylor Blair (right) were co-captains of the defending-champion team, ‘Team Birdie Juice’ and plan to win the title for a second-straight year. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Cup is a summer league that runs from May to September. It is comprised of eight teams of 20. This year, 173 golfers including several new members participated in this year’s Cup.

Ian Armstrong, PGCC director, says the league highlights the spirit of golf and is a great way to kick off the season.

“It speaks to the culture of friendship, camaraderie, healthy competition, having fun and trying to shoot the best golf scores you can,” he explained. “The numbers demonstrate how much people love this day; it's the highlight of their week and it's the highlight of the summer golf schedule at the club.”

The tournament is named after the late Dan Berlett, who was a well-respected longtime member and former president of the PGCC.

“Dan was all about camaraderie, competitiveness, fairness and most importantly, getting men together and socializing after a round,” said Kurtis Sweeting, PGCC sport director.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The draft occurred a few weeks before the event. Last year’s defending champions were ‘Team Birdie Juice.’ Connor Blair, a member of the winning team, says the league brings out the golfers' competitiveness but in a fun and sportsmanlike way.

“It's quite competitive,” he explained. “Obviously we're out here to have fun but when strokes matter and you're playing against teams each and every week, I would say it can get heated at times and it's not out of the normal to see a two-footer be a gimmie late in the playoffs because you want to make sure everyone makes everything.”

The league marks the beginning of the golf season for everyone at PGCC. The golfers' eagerness to hit the links for the Berlett Cup is obvious according to PGCC members and staff.

“It (The Berlett Cup) speaks to number one, to the culture here at Peterborough,” said Blair. “We always get such a good showing and it's a very inclusive club. Whether you're brand new to the game or if you've played for 20 years, it's not uncommon to have a beer and meet someone for the first time or play with your buddies that you've played with for 10-plus years.”

“This event speaks to the culture and values of the club that we come together on a weekly basis to celebrate our friendship and our membership,” said Armstrong.

“This was a lot of members' home opener,” explained Sweeting. “We didn't get to open the men's officially due to weather but this is basically our official opening and the guys are excited.”

The PGCC hosted its Ladies Open tournament on Tuesday.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough Man Arrested and Hit With Multiple Child Pornography Charges

A 45-year-old Peterborough man is facing several child pornography charges after a six-month investigation.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

On Wednesday, Peterborough Police Service ICE Unit officers executed a search warrant at a local residence. 

As a result of a cooperative investigation effort between the United States Department of Homeland Security and Peterborough Police Service, the man was arrested and charged with:

• Imports, Distributes, Sells or Possession for the Purpose of Distribution or Sale of any Child Pornography

• Possession of Child Pornography

• Agreement to Commit a Sexual Offence against a Person under 16 years of age

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

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Kinsmen Minor Football League Registration Open For the Fall Season

The Kinsmen Minor Football League (KMFL) has opened registration for the 2024 Fall Season.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The League will consist of a Junior Division (kids born from 2014-2016) and a Senior Division (kids born from 2011-2013).

Weekly practices start on Aug. 26, Saturday games begin Sept.14 and the season concludes on Championship Day on Nov. 2. 

Cost is $395 with Early Bird pricing of $345 in effect until July 1.

All equipment, excluding mouthguards and cleats, is provided.

“We are very excited to open our 2024 Season,” said Bryan Junkin, KMFL president. “Due to the generosity of this community through sponsorships and fundraising, we are able to keep our player costs at last year's level and add a large amount of new player and training equipment.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough Police Seeking a Motorcyclist Who Fled After Attempted Traffic Stop For Speeding

The Peterborough Police Service is looking for a motorcycle driver who fled from an attempted traffic stop after speeding on Tuesday evening.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 7:15 p.m., a black motorcycle travelling at a high rate of speed passed several vehicles including a marked police cruiser on County Road 10 heading into Millbrook. 

Police estimate the motorcycle was going between 120-130 km/h at the time. 

The driver is described as:

• Male

• Wearing dark pants and a black t-shirt with white lettering on the back

• A dark-coloured helmet

Police believe the motorcycle is black. The officer activated their emergency lights but the bike did not stop.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

City of Peterborough Marks This Week As Emergency Preparedness Week

The City of Peterborough is marking this week as Emergency Preparedness Week by urging residents to be prepared in case of emergency.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

This year’s public education initiative theme is ‘Plan for every season.’  

By taking a few simple steps, residents can become better prepared to face the range of unique emergency challenges facing Peterborough on a seasonal basis. Residents are encouraged to: 

• Know the risks – Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to their community and region can help residents better prepare. 

• Make an emergency plan – It will help individuals and their families know what to do. 

• Prepare an emergency kit – Having basic supplies to enable residents to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours without power or tap water is a widely recommended guideline. During emergencies, it may take time for emergency services to reach everyone in need, especially if the situation is widespread or resources are limited. Being prepared to sustain themselves and their family for that initial period, not only eases the burden on emergency responders but also increases their chances of staying safe and comfortable until help arrives. 

“Emergencies can vary widely in nature, so it is important for us to adapt our preparations accordingly. Whether it's a natural disaster, power outage, or other unforeseen event, having a well-thought-out emergency plan and supplies can provide peace of mind and increase our resilience in challenging situations,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. 

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough Golf & Country Club Growing Women's Golf As Longstanding Ladies Open Sees 65 Golfers Tee Off

With golf season back in full swing, 65 women hit the links for the annual Ladies Open at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club (PGCC) on Tuesday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The tournament has been with the PGCC for several decades spanning over 125 years of being in town. It has been a long-standing tradition to the course the continues to grow women’s golf each year.

“The ladies are really the lifeblood of this club,” said Jermaine Brissett, PGCC general manager. “They are involved in absolutely everything and they contribute to the club in so many ways. Having them kick off this year is absolutely perfect.”

“We're working on growing the sport and trying to bring in all age levels especially younger people,” said Michele Cavanagh, ladies golf director.

All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Women’s golf in Peterborough has grown in Peterborough as the club has seen more ladies hitting the links more than ever.

“If you see what we've been able to accomplish this season, our leagues are up 35 per cent,” said Kurtis Sweeting, PGCC sport director. “We've had 15 to 20 percent more play in years past. Golf is an accommodation sport.”

The club has several events catered specifically for women including League nights, tournaments, golf camps and even a wine and cheese night.

Couples evening league is a service that PGCC offers to appeal to both genders.

The tournament offered either an 18-hole or 9-hole format. Once the women have finished the first nine holes, the ladies playing half the course join in.

“The tournament actually gets bigger after nine holes which is kind of unique,” explained Brissett.

Whether teams score birdie, par or bogey, the message is that they all enjoy themselves playing the game.

“We've been working towards promoting the spirit of fun, friendship and golf,” said Cavanagh.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Twenty Community Groups Made Peterborough Parks Greener For the Great Community Litter Clean-Up

The first Great Community Litter Clean-up saw 20 community groups and organizations come together during Earth Week to pick up litter in Peterborough parks and along trails.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

There were 1.2 tonnes of litter collected which equals more than 133,000 plastic water bottles according to The City of Peterborough.

“As always, our community really came together for the betterment of the environment,” said Councillor Joy Lachica.“We all play a role in having a beautiful, litter-free City, whether by picking up litter, putting trash in the proper receptacles or packing our blue boxes to reduce blowing recyclables on collection day.” 

Groups can organize a litter clean-up in a park, trail or public space any time. Registration can be found on the City’s website to receive a free litter clean-up kit and arrange a designated time and location for Public Works staff to collect the garbage.  

A new online collaboration tool is available on the City’s community consultation website. Residents can log their completed litter clean-up event on an interactive map and connect with other people and clean-up groups in the community.

Through this forum, residents can also share news about their event plans, share ideas, and offer to help others. 

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough Woman Wanted On Warrants Arrested After Allegedly Spitting On An Officer Twice While Trying to Flee

A 45-year-old Peterborough woman wanted on warrants is facing several charges including allegedly spitting on an officer twice after an incident on Monday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 4:30 p.m., officers on bike patrol on the trail near McDonnel Street and Reid Street, spotted a woman wanted on warrants for assault, failing to comply with appearance notice, and failing to attend court. 

When the woman saw the police, she started walking away in the creek, attempted to climb a retaining wall and then got back in the creek before she was taken into custody by police according to a police report. 

While being walked to a nearby road, the suspect spat twice at one of the officers and then spat at the other while being placed in the police cruiser. 

The woman was arrested on the warrants and further charged with:

• Assault a peace officer X2

• Fail to comply with probation

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

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Country Music Star Tenille Townes Kicks Off Peterborough Musicfest For June 29

Five-time reigning Female Artist of the Year and country music star Tenille Townes is kicking off the 37th annual Peterborough Musicfest with a free concert at Del Crary Park on June 29.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Grande Prairie, Alb. native first fell in love with music from her parents’ influence at home. She then discovered her passion for songwriting at age 14.

“My grandparents gave me a guitar and I started learning the chords I needed to make songs out of what I was writing in my journal,” said Townes.

Towens has toured with well-known names within the music industry such as Stevie Nicks, Miranda Lambert, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Reba, Zac Brown Band, and Dierks Bentley.

Townes has won two JUNO Awards, 17 Canadian Country Music Association Awards and two Academy Of Country Music Awards.

This is her first appearance in the Peterborough area. 

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough County Beginning Phase Two Of James A. Gifford Causeway Construction This Week

Peterborough County is already commencing the final phase of construction on the James A. Gifford Causeway in Selwyn Township for this week.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

Phase 2 encompasses vital repairs to the bridge portion.

“The County is pleased to inform residents and visitors that despite the ongoing construction, the bridge and the road will remain open throughout the project duration. While we expect delays, we anticipate delays may be reduced in comparison to previous phases as we remain committed to minimizing disruptions as much as possible,” according to a statement in a press release from the County.

Completion is expected by November.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.