Peterborough Blogs
Ontario Convenience Stores Able to Sell Beer, Wine, Cider and Ready-to-Drink Alcoholic Beverages
/The Ontario Government has permitted all licensed convenience stores in the province to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages effective immediately, announced on Thursday.
Doug Ford, Ontario Premier (left) and Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario Minister of Finance (right) making the announcement at a convenience store in Etobicoke. As of Sept. 5, 4,187 convenience stores across Ontario are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, in addition to nearly 3,000 other licensed retail outlets as well as takeaway options from licensed bars and restaurants. Screenshot.
Doug Ford, Ontario Premier announced the coming of alcohol in convenience stores on Dec. 14 last year.
“Today’s expansion delivers on our government’s promise to give people in Ontario the same choice and convenience enjoyed by people throughout the rest of Canada,” he said. “With today’s announcement, we’re also creating new opportunities to produce and sell world-class Ontario-made beer, wine and ready-to-drink beverages in nearly 4,200 convenience stores across the province.”
By the end of October, as part of the government’s plan to expand alcohol sales, every eligible convenience, grocery and big-box grocery store in Ontario will be able to sell eligible alcohol if they choose to according to a press release.
“People finally have more options to responsibly and conveniently support local Ontario breweries and wineries – or whatever their drink-of-choice may be – even closer to home, and today’s announcement is another milestone in the government’s commitment to deliver more choice and convenience to consumers,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario Minister of Finance. “In addition to supporting Ontario retailers, domestic producers and workers in the alcohol industry, our vision for a better marketplace has come to life thanks to people and businesses across the province.”
The government adds that they are permanently allowing the transfer of wine and spirits between locations with the same owner and/or affiliated licensees to help bars and restaurants effectively manage inventory and is allowing licensed grocery and convenience stores to display alcoholic beverages in multiple areas of a store while maintaining small-producer shelf space requirements as well as policies that will continue to ensure the safe and responsible sale of alcohol.
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Peterborough Police Seek Information Of Motorist Striking Cyclist In Hit-and-Run
/The Peterborough Police Service is asking anyone with information about a hit and run to come forward that occurred early Wednesday morning.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 12:15 a.m., officers were called by EMS about a man who appeared to be the victim of a hit-and-run incident in the Brock Street and Bethune Street area.
Officers learned that the cyclist was allegedly struck by the vehicle in a parking lot before the latter fled the scene.
The victim was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for treatment and has since been taken to a Toronto area hospital for treatment of serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
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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Peterborough Petes Single Game Tickets Available For 2024-25 Season
/Single Game tickets for Peterborough Petes 2024-25 regular season home games are on sale while supplies last at the Grant Thornton Box Office.
Photo courtesy of Cade Dunford and the Peterborough Petes.
A full Petes home schedule can be found online with the Community Big 8 schedule and details can be found here. According to the Petes, more theme nights will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets can be purchased by clicking here, calling (705) 743-3561 or visiting the Grant Thornton Box Office during business hours.
Flex vouchers can be redeemed by visiting the Grant Thornton Box Office at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC). Vouchers can only be redeemed in person during box office hours (Wednesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Fans interested in purchasing a Petes 10-Game Flex Pack can visit the Petes Store in person or online by clicking here.
The best way to guarantee tickets to every Petes home game is by purchasing a season ticket package while supplies last. Season tickets start at just $353 for the entire 34-game home schedule and include thousands of dollars in benefits and incentives. Interested parties can contact the Petes Coordinator of Season Ticket Sales and Service Tyler Hall by clicking here or by calling (705) 743-3681 ext. 209.
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Miskin Law Community Complex Has Canadian Hockey Enterprises As Pad Naming Right Sponsor
/Canadian Hockey Enterprises (CHE) has been named a commercial tenant and Pad Naming Right sponsor of the south pad at the new Miskin Law Community Complex, announced on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
Miskin Law Community Complex is a new facility being built at the southeast corner of Lansdowne and Park streets, which will include a twin-pad arena, a Peterborough Public Library branch, an indoor track for walking and running, and a multi-use space. When the building opens, the south pad will be called the Canadian Hockey Enterprises Pad.
CHE offers camps and tournaments for adults and youth across North America.
“Canadian Hockey Enterprises is proud to call the new Miskin Law Community Complex home,” said Paul Crowley of CHE. “As founder of CHE I can passionately say it’s a dream come true for our seven full-time staff. Since 1987 CHE has called Peterborough home and has been organizing and offering International Tournaments and Camps for Men, Women, Boys and Girls. CHE will soon be launching our first CHE Academy here at the Community Complex. Check us out on the second floor and ask about our Hockey Programming or just drop by and say hello.”
“Canadian Hockey Enterprises' decision to invest in our community through both a significant sponsorship and by establishing its offices at the Miskin Law Community Complex is a testament to the vibrant future of this facility,” said Councillor Gary Baldwin and Councillor Lesley Parnell. “Its commitment not only supports the development of our city's sports and recreation infrastructure but also strengthens our local economy. We are excited to see the positive impact it will have on our community and the opportunities it will create for our residents.”
CHE is now the third major sponsor supporting the city’s newest community complex. Miskin Law has secured the overall naming rights for the complex, known as the Miskin Law Community Complex. Russelle Toyota has secured the Naming Rights to the north pad, and now Canadian Hockey Enterprises will be the name on the south pad. These naming rights sponsorships will collectively contribute more than $1 million toward the project’s capital budget according to a press release.
Additionally, CHE has agreed to a 10-year lease with the City of Peterborough for approximately 161 square metres of space on the upper level of the Miskin Law Community Complex. The space will host CHE’s corporate and administrative offices. CHE will be responsible for finishing the construction costs of its lease space and paying the City a monthly lease rate for the office space.
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Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre's "Take Back the Night" Hits Peterborough Square For Survivors of Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Assault
/Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre and partnering community organizations will host the 46th annual Take Back the Night advocacy and awareness event in Nogojiwanong- Peterborough at the Peterborough Square Courtyard on Sept. 19.
Photo courtesy of Fleming College.
This year’s theme is ‘Shatter the Silence.’ The event offers an evening of speakers, performances, activism and solidarity and aims to bring a voice to survivors of gender-based violence and sexual assault according to a press release.
This event is free and open to everyone. Light refreshments are available for participants.
The event will take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with various community agencies tabling to share information about their resources and how individuals can connect for support. Later in the evening, art supplies will be available for anyone to make posters for the march.
From 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., there will be an evening of speakers, poets and performers, followed by a candle-lit solidarity march through the downtown streets of Nogojiwanong-Peterborough.
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Peterborough DBIA Brings Back 'Explore the Boro Scavenger Hunt' to Help Connect Trent Students to the Community
/Starting this week, Trent University students will discover their campus and the Peterborough community through Explore the Boro, a scavenger hunt to help familiarize students with local shopping and leisure spots while also supporting downtown businesses, announced on Wednesday.
The annual event—originally launched in 2021 as the bingo event Discover Peterborough—highlights local shops, cafés, and restaurants, helping students feel more connected to their new home. Photo Courtesy of Trent University.
Explore the Boro, co-hosted by Trent and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), encourages students to discover and engage with Downtown Peterborough.
“The excitement in Peterborough reaches a new level each fall as Trent students return to the city, bringing with them a vibrant energy that enriches our cultural, social, and economic landscape,” said Alison Scholl, senior manager, Community & External Relations at Trent University. “Explore the Boro offers a fun and engaging way for our incoming and returning students to immerse themselves in all that Peterborough has to offer.”
From Sept. 1 to 15, Trent students can participate in the scavenger hunt by completing missions via the Goosechase app. These missions range from snapping selfies at key landmarks to answering trivia questions. They allow students to earn points and discover hidden gems around campus and the city. Prizes will be awarded to the top three participants. The student with the highest score will win a $1,250 Boro gift card, redeemable at various downtown businesses.
“Trent students invigorate our downtown, and this event strengthens the bonds between students and local businesses,” said Nour Mazloum, DBIA executive director. “We’re excited to continue this valuable partnership, providing students with opportunities to explore, engage, and contribute to the cultural and economic vibrancy that makes Peterborough & the Kawarthas such a unique and welcoming destination.”
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Five Counties Children’s Centre Asking Public to Share Its Memories For 50th Anniversary
/Five Counties Children’s Centre (FCCC) is asking area residents to share their memories and moments of the Centre in the leadup to its 50th anniversary in 2025, announced on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of FCCC.
The Centre, which supports kids and families with physical, communication and developmental needs in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton-Minden, opened its doors in 1975.
To mark its golden anniversary, a year-long celebration is being planned in 2025. Ahead of its 50th festivities, Five Counties is launching its ‘Gimme 5: Your Story is Our Story’ appeal to encourage current and former clients, families, staff, volunteers, board members, donors and community supporters to share any recollections they have of the Centre.
“Five Counties is made up of much more than bricks and mortar. The Centre was truly built on the magical memories and moments of the thousands of children and youth and their families we’ve been able to assist over the years,” said Scott Pepin, FCCC CEO. “The Five Counties story would be totally incomplete if we are unable to tell and share the many stories from members of our extended Five Counties family.”
To facilitate sharing, people can download and complete the Gimme 5 Story Package, which includes several questions to help prompt discussion and sharing. Anyone who has a story or memento to share can email 50@fivecounties.on.ca or call 1-888-779-9916, ext. 200. With approval, Five Counties will share some of the collected stories publicly during its 50th-anniversary celebrations.
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Voice of Business: The Call for Urgent Action on Homelessness
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A new campaign called “Solve the Crisis,” led by a group of Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM) was presented at a conference in Ottawa, hosted by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).
The conference included members from several caucuses and brought together some big names such as the minister of housing, mental health and addictions, and the minister of health. Those in attendance were Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC), Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC), and Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus (EOMC). The three caucuses announced their collective support for the “Solve the Crisis” campaign.
On a local note, Mayor Jeff Leal accepted a municipal innovation award on behalf of the city of Peterborough from the AMO. The award recognizes the city of Peterborough's innovative modular housing community project which started in 2023. The project helped to end a tent encampment of people experiencing homelessness on Wolfe Street. According to a CBC report, the modular housing project has successfully housed 47 people out of 50 units.
A report by AMO in 2023, found there were at least 1400 homeless encampments in Ontario communities. The encampments were situated in communities of any size, urban, small town rural, and northern Ontario. This eye-opening statistic set in motion the call for urgency in this crisis.
The leading organization is the OBCM which includes mayors of 29 cities with a population of 100,000 or more that makes up about 70 per cent of Ontario’s population. The OBCM thus advocates for issues and policies for Ontario’s largest cities.
At the conference the OBCM highlighted their demands for urgent action on homelessness and the opioid crisis, known as “Solve the Crisis.” The conference addressed the reality of an issue that continues to grow where municipalities do not have the sufficient resources and support to combat homelessness.
The campaign calls on specific demands from the provincial government and federal government. This involves creating a ministry responsible for overseeing housing needs and mental health supports, as well as a taskforce to develop an Ontario Action Plan. In addition, they’re asking for more funding, tools and resources to address homelessness.
During the conference, Health Minister the Hon. Sylvia Jones’ announced that the province would be investing $378 million into 19 new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs which will add up to 375 supportive housing units. On top of this, the province has implemented a ban on consumption sites within 200 metres of a school or childcare centre. Several mayors from OBCM voiced their gratitude for further investment from the province. Mayor Patrick Brown of Brampton stating, “Grateful for the Ford government’s focus on treatment for addictions and not band-aid solutions. I share their concern about the proliferation of safe injection sites in area close to families and children. This needs to stop".
Looking ahead, the OBCM, and our own mayor, remain steadfast on tackling this crisis and collaborating with all levels of government. In an interview with the Peterborough examiner, Leal mentioned he has had productive conversations with the minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Micheal Tibollo’s to help address our local needs. Leal said, “we want to continue to impress upon the need to have additional funding, both from a treatment perspective and (for) supportive housing”.
The city of Peterborough has already received both federal and provincial funding for housing, drug supervision and treatment programs. These include the current supervised consumption site, affordable housing and a future residential treatment centre.
Locally, we met with Fourcast to get a better understanding of Peterborough’s Consumption and Treatment Services Site (CTS). Fourcast is the lead agency operating the CTS site here in Peterborough. The CTS which has been active since June 2022, has seen a large success in preventing overdoses according to their 2022-2023 report. While a CTS is controversial in recent news and from communities, Fourcast involves community perspectives from community and business leaders in their operations with a community committee. Therefore, any community concerns will be reviewed in the committee. If you would like to see the past year's report on the CTS, please click the following link.
While the AMO acknowledges there have been some positive steps towards action, more is needed to combat this growing problem. With the success from modular housing and our own supervised consumption site, it will be interesting to see which municipalities will have the HART hubs. Thanks to the OBCM and pressure from Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across Canada, the homelessness crisis in Ontario is getting the attention it needs.
Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.
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Peterborough Petes Sign Defenceman 2023 Draft Pick to OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement
/The Peterborough Petes make another addition as they signed defenceman Thanasi Marentette to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.
Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.
