Lakefield Trail to Host Family Paddle Day During National Paddling Week On June 20

Join us for the annual Family Paddle Day, A cherished tradition continues as the Lakefield Trail is hosting Family Paddle Day on June 20 at 5:30 p.m. at Lakefield Beach.

Photocourtesy of Lakefield Trail.

The event helps celebrate National Paddling Week.

Participants are welcome to bring their own canoes or kayaks or use Adventure Outfitters' provided ones on a first-come, first-served basis.

To ensure availability, Lakefield Trail recommends reserving your canoe or kayak in advance by contacting Adventure Outfitters at (705) 652-7986.

Paddlers will venture Lake Katchawanooka and the Marsh. After that, everyone is invited to enjoy an evening bonfire with hot dogs, marshmallows and a special ‘Canoe Cake’ baked by Jennie Mackenzie of the Lakefield Pantry.

“This event is more than just a paddling experience; it’s a celebration of community, camaraderie, and conservation. To celebrate Lakefield’s historical connection to canoe building, we strongly encourage anyone with a wooden boat to join in the Paddle Day event,” as stated in a press release.

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City of Peterborough Celebrates National AccessAbility Week

The City of Peterborough is celebrating National AccessAbility Week until Saturday and several events are being held to mark the occasion.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

This year’s theme is ‘Forward Together: Accessibility and Inclusion for All,’ emphasizing the need for a collective effort to create a barrier-free Canada.

“Our country’s strength lies in the diversity of people – all its people – and we can all contribute to this vision,” as stated by the Government of Canada on its website. 

National AccessAbility Week is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities, the work of allies and organizations that are removing barriers and the ongoing efforts to become a more accessible and inclusive Peterborough according to the City.

The following are events to help celebrate the week: 

Wednesday, - Red Shirt Day 

In support of Red Shirt Day, the City of Peterborough encourages residents to wear red on May 29, 2024. Established in 2019 by Easter Seals Canada, Red Shirt Day is about making a commitment to remove physical, attitudinal and systemic barriers to accessibility and inclusion. More information about Red Shirt Day is available at www.redshirtday.org. City Hall will be lit red on Red Shirt Day to create a visual display of solidarity and support for people with disabilities. 

Saturday - ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for All’ talk with Nicole Flynn 

Join Nicole Flynn, author of ‘A Life Worth Living’, at the Peterborough Public Library on June 1, 2024 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. for a talk about the experiences of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Refer to the Peterborough Public Library calendar of events for more information on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for All talk with Nicole Flynn.    

Peterborough Public Library – cloudLibrary 

CloudLibrary is a continuously growing collection of eBooks, eAudiobooks, movies, and comics that allows users to enjoy digital library materials anywhere they go. With a Peterborough Public Library card, people can access thousands of new and popular titles for all ages and interests on cloudLibrary. An introduction to the cloudLibrary video on the city's YouTube channel teaches you how to make cloudLibrary suit your accessibility needs, such as editing fonts and colours. Library staff will provide an in-person demo or a one-on-one coaching session upon request. 

2024 to 2028 Accessibility Plan 

Following National AccessAbility Week, Peterborough City Council will review the draft 2024 to 2028 Accessibility Plan at the June 3, 2024 General Committee meeting. The Accessibility Plan will be a new five-year plan to help make Peterborough more accessible and welcoming for everyone. The plan will be up for approval at the June 10 City Council meeting. All Council reports are available at www.peterborough.ca/councilmeetings. 

Rotary Greenway Trail Crossing at Hunter Street East 

Upgrades are coming in 2024 to the Rotary Greenway Trail crossing at Hunter Street East. The improvement will accommodate a general increase in trail usage and demand related to the recently constructed mixed-use developments immediately south of the crossing location. 

The project, which was endorsed by Peterborough’s Accessibility Advisory Committee includes enhanced crossing features, surface markings and lighting to ensure people of all abilities can use the crossing independently. 

“Upgrades to the Rotary Greenway Trail crossing demonstrates the City’s ongoing commitment to create a barrier-free community,” said Councillor Kevin Duguay, the Council representative on the City’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. “We’re listening to the needs of the community, value the role of the Accessibility Advisory Committee and the many disability-related organizations in our community who are collectively contributing to create a more inclusive Peterborough.” 

Other community events 

A variety of community events will be taking place during National AccessAbility Week, such as a Peterborough Council for Persons with Disabilities hosting a wheelchair and mobility device maintenance clinic and an all-abilities pickleball event. The week concludes with Peterborough Council for Persons with Disabilities hosting a free Capable Con Event on June 1, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Venture North parking lot. Capable Con is an event to celebrate everyday superheroes living with disabilities, held in a safe space to learn, share and promote inclusivity. Residents are encouraged to visit the CPD website at www.pcpd.ca for information. 

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Peterborough Police Searching For Man Allegedly Attempting to Run Off With a Toddler at a Park

The Peterborough Police Service is searching for a man who attempted walk away with a toddler at a park on Sunday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly noon, a mother and her toddler were in a park at Lock Street and McKellar Street when an older man engaged in conversation and then began to follow the pair around. After a few minutes, he scooped up the girl and started walking to the parking lot. When the mother started yelling, another man and a woman confronted him in the park. He put the girl down and left the area.

The suspect was described to police as:

• Caucasian

• 65 to 70 years old

• Thin build

• Grey and white short hair

• Blue and grey plaid button-up short-sleeved shirt

• Khaki cargo pants which were over-sized

• Last seen walking toward Lansdowne Street

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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Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring East City Condo, DBIA, Kawartha Gymnastics and Living Well Senior Showcase

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…

TVM Group has opened its new nine-storey East City Condo building at the corner of Armour Road and Hunter Street East, on the former St. Joseph’s Hospital property.

They refer to it as rivalling Toronto’s most upscale offerings. The building features a contemporary interpretation of the original hospital legacy with masonry architecture. The site of the new building was formerly a parking lot. Parking is underground and includes a host of electric vehicle chargers. Find out more and book a tour at eastcitycondos.com.

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area has a new location and a new executive director.

The organization has moved into the Venture North building at 270 Water St. into unit 202A. They have also hired Nour Mazloum as their new executive director, taking over from Terry Guiel who left the organization in the fall. Nour brings experience and expertise from her time at Kingston Economic Development Corporation where she has worked for the last five years including the last two years as the marketing and communications manager.

Kawartha Gymnastics has a new location scheduled for a grand opening on June 15.

The new location is at 1575 Chemong Rd. in Peterborough. At 14,500 square feet, it’s twice the size of the old location. This new, bigger location will allow them to reconfigure the floor plan, enhance their equipment and training environment, and expand their programming and membership. The new building is going through some upgrades including a 30 by 20 in-ground foam pit.

The Living Well Senior Showcase is almost here.

Join us June 19 at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre for one of the largest seniors trade shows in Canada, featuring more than 100 exhibitors and two dozen workshops. Some booth spaces are still available for local businesses looking to participate. Chamber of Commerce membership is not required. The show provides a good opportunity both for those planning to retire and those well into their retirement years to see what the local business community has to offer. Learn more at pkchamber.ca.

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City Splash Pads Now Open For the Season

Peterborough’s six splash pads are open for the season, running from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, announced by the City of Peterborough on Friday.

File Photo.

City splash pads are at the following locations:

• King Edward Park, 455 George St. S.

• Rogers Cove, 131 Maria St.

• Kinsmen Park, 1 Kinsmen Way (Sherbrooke Street and Clonsilla Avenue)

• Barnardo Park, Barnardo Avenue, north of Sunset Boulevard

The splash pads at King Edward Park, 455 George St. S. and Kinsmen Park, 1 Kinsmen Way (Sherbrooke Street and Clonsilla Avenue) are undergoing repairs and/or final commissioning inspections and will open as soon as possible according to the City.

“Splash pads offer a fantastic and inclusive way for children and families to enjoy water play, promoting outdoor activity and social interaction in a safe, refreshing and accessible environment,” said Councillor Lesley Parnell. “We encourage everyone to get outside, get active, and enjoy the season.”

Beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead Park will not be supervised until the City’s lifeguard program starts on July 1. Wading pools in City parks will be opened later in the season when lifeguard supervision is provided.

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Niagara Man Wanted On Assault and Weapon Possession Charges From Two Incidents Arrested

A four-month investigation has resulted in a 25-year-old Niagara Region man facing charges in connection with two serious incidents involving assault and possession of a dangerous weapon in Peterborough.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

On Thursday, officers from the Peterborough Police Investigative Services Division along with Investigative Services Officers and the Tactical Team from Niagara Regional Police executed a warrant at a residence in Thorold. 

The man was arrested and charged with:

Incident on Nov. 24, 2023:

• Aggravated Assault

• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm

• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm

• Unauthorized Possession in Motor Vehicle

• Carry Concealed Weapon

• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose

Incident on Jan. 9, 2024:

• Aggravated Assault

• Possession of a Weapon for Dangerous Purpose

On Jan. 9, officers were called to a Peterborough residence about a 37-year-old man with a head injury. The male was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre before being transferred to a trauma hospital in Kingston for treatment. Through investigation, it was determined that the male had been assaulted and officers were able to identify a suspect. 

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

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Sarah McLachlan Kicks Off Canadian Tour Leg at the Peterborough Memorial Centre On Nov. 2

Grammy and Juno-award winning artist Sarah McLachlan has Peterborough and the Memorial Centre the first stop of her Fumbling Towards Ecstasy 30th Anniversary Tour.

Photo courtesy of Live Nation Entertainment.

Joining her is the acoustic harmony trio Tiny Habits on their first tour of Canada.

“I think it’s interesting as an artist or as a human for that matter, to be able to go back and look at a postcard of a time in your life and reflect on it,” said McLachlan. “I think this tour is going to be a real walk down memory lane for me and I’m hoping that my audience, many of whom have been with me for 30 years, will also be able to go back in time with me.”

The tour celebrates McLachlan’s third studio album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, first released Oct. 22, 1993.

One dollar per ticket sale will be donated to the non-profit Sarah McLachlan School of Music which provides music education and mentorship free to children and youth facing barriers to access.

Tickets will be available starting with the artist presale on Tuesday. Additional presales will run throughout the week before the general on-sale begins May 31 at 10 a.m.

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Siemens Canada Employees Plant 100 Trees and Shrubs at Riverview Park & Zoo

Employees from Siemens Canada in Peterborough planted 100 native trees and shrubs at the Riverview Park & Zoo on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Otonabee Conservation.

The planting was in partnership with Tree Canada and Otonabee Conservation.

A variety of native trees and shrubs, including buttonbush, speckled alder, tamarack, Saskatoon serviceberry, and silky dogwood will increase species diversity and enhance habitat for local wildlife in the area adjacent to the Otonabee River on the Riverview Park and Zoo grounds according to Otonabee Conservation. 

“Siemens employees have planted a wide selection of trees in the Peterborough-area in the past ten years, and more than 17,800 trees in total across Canada,” said Ian Almond, Siemens plant manager. “Beautifying our community and contributing to a more sustainable future is a responsibility and an honour. We are grateful to our employees and our local partners who help make it happen.”

“We are thrilled to continue working with Tree Canada and Siemens to make habitat enhancements in our watershed,” said Janette Loveys Smith, Otonabee Conservation CAO/secretary-treasurer. “We value our ongoing partnership and our shared commitment of supporting community engagement and the environment.”

“Riverview Park and Zoo, welcomes over 300,000 visitors a year with no admission fee for outdoor education and recreation. We are home to many native species of wildlife that share our natural spaces on the shores of the Otonabee River,”  said Cathy Mitchell, Riverview manager and curator. “This project, with support from our valued partners, will help achieve the goal to further naturalize the shoreline and create more bird and pollinator friendly spaces.”

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Art Gallery of Peterborough Receives $25,000 In Funding For Online Exhibition

The Art Gallery of Peterborough (AGP) is receiving $25,000 from Digital Museums Canada, a funding program managed by the Canadian Museum of History, to produce an online exhibition about the Gallery’s history. 

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

“‘Permaculture: The Story of the Art Gallery of Peterborough’ is going to help us remember and thank our founding members and understand the journey our gallery has been on over the last 50 years. I am excited to see the completed project,” said Debby Keating, AGP board president.

This project will celebrate the hard work, dedication and grassroots collaboration of a community, primarily driven by women, who were devoted to the prosperity of arts and culture in the Peterborough-Kawartha region. The completed digital exhibition is expected to launch in 2026. It will explore the origin story of the Art Gallery of Peterborough and take a deep dive into a few key moments in its history.

‘Permaculture: The Story of the Art Gallery of Peterborough,’ was one of eight selected nationwide by an independent advisory committee as part of the Digital Museums Canada (DMC) Community Stories funding stream. DMC recently announced an investment of more than $2 million in 18 new online projects developed by museums, heritage, cultural and Indigenous organizations across Canada.

“We were delighted to receive a record number of proposal submissions this year,” said Leah Resnick, DiMC director. “The DMC investment program provides critical funding as well as application assistance and mentorship for equity-deserving communities.”

Close to 150 proposals were received across the Digital Projects and Community Stories streams this year. Over 40 per cent of awarded projects are from organizations supporting equity-deserving communities.

The DMC investment program helps build digital capacity in Canadian museums and heritage, as well as cultural and Indigenous organizations and gives people living in Canada unique access to diverse stories and experiences. DMC is managed by the Canadian Museum of History, with the financial support of the Government of Canada.

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No Carpet For Lakers Classic? Not So Fast...

The Lakers Classic which runs Friday to Sunday is getting carpet after all at the Peterborough Memorial Center (PMC) according to a City Councillor and the Peterborough Lakers.

The Laker Classic is in its 36th year, missing only two seasons: one due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the other to a storm and tornado. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Lakers.

The Lakers issued a statement of disheartenment Wednesday morning, stating that the PMC was originally not going to install the new $325,000 carpet until June 12 without explanation.

“Despite our requests and the significant community impact of this decision, we were informed without explanation that the carpet would not be put down until June 12,” as stated in a Lakers press release. “This decision is a significant blow to our Junior Lakers and the many young athletes participating in the Laker Classic, who will miss the thrill of playing on the premier turf.”

On Wednesday night, the Lakers announced that the carpet would be installed in time for the event according to a Facebook post.

“After some discussion with the Mayor and the support of our lacrosse community, plans are now on to have the carpet laid and available for use by the JR’s and the Laker Classic this weekend,” as stated in a Facebook post.

Criticism was taken to the municipal government and their response confirmed that the PMC is installing the carpet for this weekend.

“I have been advised by City staff that the company which installs the carpet intends to have it in place for the weekend,” said Councillor Leslie Parnell.

The Classic has roughly 35-40 teams and 90-100 games over three days across five arenas. The tournament features divisions from Tyke to Midget with athletes aged seven to 16 across the province.

Playing on turf pays tribute to the Creator’s Game and includes many Indigenous teams from Kahnawake, Six Nations, and Akwesasne.

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