Swim, Bike and Run Hard at the Treescape Chemong Lake Triathlon On Aug. 11

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The Treescape Chemong Lake Triathlon will be held on Aug. 11 at the Ennismore Waterfront Park in Ennismore.

Photo courtesy of Treescape Chemong Lake Triathlon.

The park is located at 1085 Ennis Rd., with the event in support of BEL Rotary.

The triathlon welcomes participants of all ages and skill levels. It features a variety of race options such as the Try-a-Tri, Sprint Triathlon, Duathlon and a Team Relay Sprint Triathlon.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for families, friends and individuals to engage in a healthy, active lifestyle while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Chemong Lake,” said Ryan Driscoll, race director.

Race Day Schedule:

  • 8 a.m.: Race day check-in begins

  • 9 a.m.: Try-a-Tri start

  • 10:30 a.m.: Relay, Sprint Tri & Duathlon star

Race Categories and Fees (Prices increase July 1 for all events):

  • Try-a-Tri (ages 11 and older): 300 m swim, 10 km bike, 3 km run - $85

  • Sprint Triathlon (ages 12 and older): 750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run - $90

  • Duathlon (ages 12 and older): 3 km run, 20 km bike, 5 km run - $90

  • Team Relay Sprint Triathlon (ages 12 and older) (two or three members): 750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run - $100

“Participants and spectators alike will have the opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled day at Ennismore Waterfront Park,” said Driscoll. “The event not only promotes physical fitness but also supports a great cause. Funds raised from the triathlon will benefit the Rotary Club of Bridgenorth-Ennismore-Lakefield, helping to support their various community projects.”

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David Tuan Bui


City of Peterborough Appoints New Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management Commissioner

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City Council has appointed Blair Nelson as the City of Peterborough’s new commissioner for infrastructure, planning and growth management, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The decision was based on the recommendation of Jasbir Raina, chief administrative officer, during Monday’s meeting.

Nelson’s role is to lead a City department that includes Planning, Development and Urban Design, Building Services, Asset Management and Capital Planning and Engineering and Capital Works according to the City.

“City Council is focused on moving our community forward which includes substantial investments in our City’s infrastructure, implementing the new Official Plan to manage growth and alignment with Council’s Strategic Plan for our community,” said May Jeff Leal. “Blair’s extensive experience leading large, complex infrastructure projects will help position our City to continue the momentum that we’ve built.”

Nelson has served as the City’s Director of engineering and Capital Works since November 2022 and has held the City Engineer role with the City of Peterborough since July 2018. He joined the City in 2005 as an engineering design and construction technologist and has held progressively responsible positions, including Manager of design and Construction and Manager of engineering and Public Works, before moving into his current role.

Nelson is a Professional Engineer with memberships in the Professional Engineers of Ontario, Municipal Engineers Association, and Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. He was born and raised in the Peterborough area. He moved outside the community for school and returned to Peterborough to work as a project manager and engineer in the private sector before joining the City of Peterborough.

“I’m excited to continue to work with the knowledgeable and dedicated Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management team in this leadership role. We look forward to delivering essential services and infrastructure alongside our City colleagues to implement Council’s Strategic Plan,” said Nelson. “How we plan, build and manage our municipality is central to our community’s wellbeing.”

“Blair is a committed, forward focused and authentic leader who has proved his professional competence, managing many complex engineering projects in his career,” said Raina. “Blair possesses exceptional tacit knowledge about the City’s infrastructure and will prove to be instrumental in moving our City forward while we continue to invest over the next many years to maintain and build our critical infrastructure. I am extremely pleased that Blair has accepted a position in the City’s Leadership Team to lead this value-creating department.”

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Community Care Peterborough to Announce Grandparent of the Year Recipients Tuesday Night

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Children have made their nominations and Community Care Peterborough is announcing the recipients of its 36th annual ‘Grandparent of the Year’ awards in a ceremony at the Peterborough Public Library at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night.

Photo courtesy of Community Care Peterborough.

Community Care encouraged kids to nominate someone to recognize a grandparent, elder or a special older person in their life. The children who submitted their stories are also being honoured at the ceremony.

Nearly 200 written nominations from students in grades 1 to 6 were submitted, including a hand-drawn picture of them with their loved ones. This year, nominations from children in grade one were accepted; previously, it was open to grades two to six. Additionally, several dozen French applications were received that allowed children to practice their French language skills.

“Each year we are so touched by the array of heartwarming stories we receive from across the City and County of Peterborough,” said Danielle Belair, Community Care. CEO. “We are looking forward to celebrating the children and grandparents and to learn about their unique relationships.”

Eight awards are being presented with four winners and four honourable mentions in the primary (grades 1 – 3) and junior (grades 4 – 6) categories.

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Former Peterborough Petes Owen Beck and James Guo Win Memorial Cup, Beck Named Tournament MVP

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Former Peterborough Petes Owen Beck and James Guo can add a ‘Memorial Cup’ to their hockey resume as they won the tournament with the Saginaw Spirit in a 4-3 win over the London Knights on Sunday night.

Beck winning the OHL Championship with the Petes during the 2022/23 OHL season. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

Beck was named tournament MVP and awarded the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy with four goals and one assist in the tournament. He scored the game’s first two goals and helped Saginaw become the first American-based Ontario Hockey League team to win the Memorial Cup.

“It's something nobody's ever going to take away from us,” explained Beck.

Beck’s first goal came in the opening period just after nine minutes into the game. He took the faceoff in Knights zone and a battle ensued for the puck. Beck was able to corral it and with traffic in front, beat former teammate and Peterborough Pete goaltender Michael Simpson as he went top shelf, bar down with his shot to make it 1-0 for Saginaw.

His second goal came on the power play in the final minute of the frame. Saginaw had been given a five-minute man advantage after a Landon Sim check to the head major penalty.

The Spirit wasted little time scoring as Beck got a pass at the faceoff dot from teammate Josh Bloom and one-timed it past Simpson in the top corner for a 2-0 lead.

Beck was traded to the Spirit for three draft picks and forward Aiden Young on Jan. 8 as part of the Petes rebuild.

He was originally acquired from the Mississauga Steelheads in exchange for Jack Van Volsen, Justin DeZoete, Peterborough’s second and third-round picks in 2025, Erie’s second-round pick in 2025 and Peterborough’s fourth-round pick in 2026 on Jan. 7 last year.

Guo logged one assist in the tournament en route to his Memorial Cup championship.

He was drafted 74th overall in the 2021 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

The Woodbridge native was traded to Saginaw and the Petes’s 2023 sixth-round pick for Cam Gauvreau, the Spirit’s fourth-round pick and Windsor’s 2025 third-round pick in 2025 in January of last year.

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Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development Have Announced Dissolution

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The Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) Board of Directors has formally announced its intention to dissolve the corporation announced on Monday morning.

The establishment of the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation (operating as PKED) in 1998 resulted from the 1997 GPA 2020. Photo courtesy of the PKED.

The decision came following written notice that The City of Peterborough and Peterborough County intend to change the delivery models of economic development and tourism and will not renew the tri-party Memorandum of Understanding between the City, County and PKED, which expires on Dec. 31 according to a press release.

The Board of Directors formed a dissolution committee and decided to cease operations by the end of the year in compliance with the Ontario Not-For-Profit Corporations Act.

“As reports on new economic development and tourism models are being considered councils in June, we eagerly await the opportunity to review them and to identify opportunities for service continuity for the businesses and clients that rely on PKED,” said Burton Lee, PKED board of directors chair. “As a high-performing economic development agency, the health and vitality of the local economy are at the core of our mission, and our team has a vested interest in supporting a mutually beneficial transition.”

According to the PKED, since last fall, the Board of Directors has been seeking clarity on the municipalities' plans. During that time, PKED was working towards a smooth transition to a new economic development model, with limited disruption of services to businesses, investors and visitors.

“The critical value of our team's knowledge, expertise and relationships with local, regional, national, and international partners, businesses, investors, and media cannot be understated,” said Rhonda Keenan, PKED's President and CEO. “It is our hope that the new models will include positions for our existing team of passionate and dedicated economic development professionals to continue serving the business community and attracting investment to the region.”

PKED is in the process of winding down operations for the second half of the year as stated in a press release.

“There will be a significant disruptive impact if these plans do not factor in the vast number of existing projects, programs and initiatives that PKED has developed,” said Lee.

PKED's Letters Patent and the tri-party MOU reflect that purpose and funding structure according to a press release. They continue to add that the City’s and County’s decision eliminates PKED's core funding structure. As a result, PKED cannot have the capacity or resources to deliver economic and tourism services on behalf of the region.

The dissolution resulted in the delivery of termination notices to staff and the provision of notice to vacate PKED's offices and the regional Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism Visitor Centre located in the Venture North business hub in downtown Peterborough, effective at the end of this year.

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Peterborough Lakers Acquire Oakville Rock Forward Rob Hellyer For Two Defensemen

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The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers have acquired forward Rob Hellyer from the Oakville Rock in exchange for defensemen Thomas Whitty and Matt Wright in a trade made on Friday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of the NLL.

Hellyer was with the Toronto Rock since being drafted in 2010 of the NLL until being traded to the Las Vegas Desert Dogs last August. He scored 77 points in 18 games this season. 

“He’s going to compete at a very high level,” said Mike Hasen, Lakers’ head coach and general manager. “He’ll handle the ball for us a little more. He does a lot of great things with and without the ball but he’ll be a presence for us that will stabilize the ball on the right side. He’ll be in the right spots for our offense to flow and click together.”

Hellyer last played in the MSL in 2019, with the pandemic cancelling the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The Rock sat out the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Between stints with the Rock, he also spent the 2018 season out west with the Victoria Shamrocks. 

Hasen was not necessarily looking to trade two young defenders, according to a press release. However, the team says the opportunity presented itself. The two defensemen were what Oakville’s general manager, Steve Dietrich, liked.

After playing Sr. B in Quebec last season, Joe Resetarits is returning to the Lakers.

“(Resetarits is) 100 per cent committed to being here and helping us to compete for a Mann Cup again,” said Hasen.

Season tickets for the six-game home schedule are available at the box office with single-game on sale this Thursday. The team’s home opener is on June 13 against Brooklin L.C.

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Group of Young People Sought By Peterborough Police After Showing a Knife and Taking a Cell Phone

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The Peterborough Police Service is investigating after a robbery involving a large group of youth on two victims in an incident Friday night in Peterborough.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 9:15 p.m., officers were called to the River Road South and Lansdowne Street East area. They learned that two people were approached by 15 to 20 young people. The latter asked to have a vape but when refused, a verbal argument ensued and one youth showed the victims a knife in a bag. The group fled towards Beavermead Park and one of the victims noticed their cell phone was gone.

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 Little Lake Cemetery, AON Inc., Canadian Canoe Museum and Four Mayors Breakfast

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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…

Jeff Wakeford is retiring after 38 years at Little Lake Cemetery and Highland Park Funeral Centre.

He’s trading in his suit for a set of golf clubs. The team thanked him for his many years of hard work, wisdom and outstanding service to the community. Little Lake Cemetery offers a full range of funeral, cremation and cemetery services. They also operate Highland Park Cemetery and Crematorium and Highland Park Funeral Centre.

AON is hard at work in Havelock.

Construction has begun on a new 128 bed long-term care home, called Station Place, which is planned to open in August of 2025. This new facility is expected to bring 140 jobs to the region. In preparation for this, they’re holding a career expo on June 27 at 6 pm at the Havelock Centre. They have opportunities for experienced professionals, students, recent graduates, and those looking for a new challenge. At the expo, AON will share more about what opportunities will be available, what qualifications will be required, and what you can do to become qualified for the specific roles available.

After much anticipation, the Canadian Canoe Museum is open.

Drop by 2077 Ashburnham Dr. and check out the beautiful new location on the shores of Little Lake. Take in the new exhibition space and see the collection of more than 600 watercraft and learn their stories. Grab some coffee and a sandwich at the new Silver Bean Café location. Get some first-hand experience and explore the water yourself in a rented canoe or kayak.

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce is holding a Four Mayors Breakfast on Thursday at 8 a.m. at the Burleigh Falls Inn.

The event will include Mayor Carolyn Amyotte from North Kawartha, Mayor Sherry Senis from Selwyn, Mayor Heather Watson from Douro-Dummer, and Mayor Terry Lambshead from Trent Lakes. The event will include a full buffet breakfast, networking time, and a moderated discussion on local business issues with the mayors. Get your tickets at pkchamber.ca.

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20 Peterborough Ladies Honoured At United Way's Inaugural Women of Impact Awards

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The United Way Peterborough & District honoured our local ladies at the inaugural Women of Impact Awards held in Keene at Farmhill Weddings.

Photo courtesy of Tiffany Arcari.

There were 20 people who received the distinction of ‘Women of Impact.’

“There are so many women in our community, at the United Way, all around us, making big things happen, without the expectation of celebration,” said Maryam Monsef Women United Peterborough chair. “They work quietly behind the scenes, holding it all together. Tonight is one small opportunity for the rest of us to honour them and remind them that we see them.”

“We hear consistently from local agencies that demand for services continues to grow, and that the demand is significantly out pacing the funding available. As a result, waitlists are growing longer and vulnerable people not able to access support they need when and where they need it most,” said Anne Ondercin, United Way director of philanthropy. “This is particularly troubling when we know many of these services directly support women, children and families.”

The following are the women that received the distinction:

  • Cassandra Babcock

  • Dr. Debbie Boyce

  • Cheyenne Buck

  • Patti Clancy

  • Wendy Couper

  • Susan Dunkley

  • Hillary Flood

  • Jennifer Garland

  • Dr. Jennifer Ingram

  • Carlotta James

  • Kristal Jones

  • Ann MacLeod

  • Laura Montague

  • Rosemary Powers

  • Denise Sayles-Morton

  • Peggy Shaughnessy

  • Lisa Trefzger

  • Lois Tuffin

  • Carmela Valles

  • Jill Wickins

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Peterborough Man Wanted On Warrant For Credit Card Theft and Fraud Arrested

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A 54-year-old Peterborough Man who was wanted on a warrant for credit card fraud has been arrested.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

An officer on patrol saw the suspect wanted on an outstanding warrant. Police advised the male to stop but the man took running. A foot pursuit followed and the suspect and was shortly apprehended and taken into custody.

The man faces the following charges:

  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime x2

  • Fraudulent Use of Credit Card x6

  • Theft Under $5000 x2

  • Breach of Probation x2

  • Fail to Comply with Undertaking

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

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