Peterborough's Porter Martone Selected to Team CHL for Prospects Challenge

Peterborough and hockey forward Porter Martone has been selected to participate in the inaugural CHL USA Prospects Challenge from Nov. 26 to 27.

Martone spent time with the AAA U15 Peterborough Petes during the 2019-20 season. Photo by Jordan Cooper.

Martone has been selected to Team CHL for the two-day event. The 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge debuts this season with top CHL prospects facing off against the United States under-18 team.

The former Mississauga Steelhead has 33 goals and 38 assists in 60 games this past Ontario Hockey League Season. In nine games with the now Brampton Steelheads, the Peterborough native has ten goals and ten assists in nine games.

In April, he captained Team Canada to a gold medal at the IIHF U18 World Championship in Finland.

The event will be held at Budweiser Gardens in London on the 26th and at Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa on the 27th.

The following is the CHL roster:

Forwards:

• Carter Bear, Everett (WHL)

• Justin Carbonneau, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

• Braeden Cootes, Seattle (WHL)

• Caleb Desnoyers, Moncton (QMJHL)

• Benjamin Kindel, Calgary (WHL)

• Lynden Lakovic, Moose Jaw (WHL)

• Brady Martin, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

• Porter Martone, Brampton (OHL)

• Michael Misa, Saginaw (OHL)

• Jake O’Brien, Brantford (OHL)

• Cole Reschny, Victoria (WHL)

• Cameron Schmidt, Vancouver (WHL)

• Malcolm Spence, Erie (OHL)

Defencemen:

• Kashawn Aitcheson, Barrie (OHL)

• Quinn Beauchesne, Guelph (OHL)

• Blake Fiddler, Edmonton (WHL)

• Reese Hamilton, Calgary (OHL)

• Cameron Reid, Kitchener (OHL)

• Matthew Schaefer, Erie (OHL)

• Jackson Smith, Tri-City (WHL)

Goaltenders:

• Jack Ivankovic, Brampton (OHL)

• Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George (WHL)

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Peterborough Recognizes October As Canadian Islamic History Month

The City of Peterborough has officially recognized October as Canadian Islamic History Month and Islamic Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the province and country.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Mayor Jeff Leal has issued the following statement:

“Islamic History Month is a chance for Peterborough residents to learn more about the rich culture, heritage and many contributions Canadian Muslims have made to our community and our country.

From arts and culture to education, business, and science, members of the Muslim community have enriched every sector of Canadian society. Here in Peterborough, we are fortunate to witness first-hand the positive impact of Canadians Muslims, whether through the businesses that strengthen our economy, the academic and professional achievements that enhance our schools, or the vibrant cultural contributions that promote diversity and inclusion in our city.

Islamic History Month gives us the opportunity to appreciate the legacy of Canadian Muslims and reaffirm our commitment to building a community where everyone feels valued and respected.

On behalf of the City of Peterborough, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Muslim community for their continued contributions and leadership. Let us celebrate the diversity that makes our city and our country stronger.

Happy Islamic History Month!”

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Peterborough Police Seeking Aid In Locating Missing 61-Year-Old Peterborough Man

The Peterborough Police Service is looking for the public’s assistance in locating 61-year-old Peterborough man Ricky Clarke, who was declared missing on Tuesday morning.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police Service.

Clarke was last seen around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning walking southbound on Fairbairn Street. Family and police are concerned for his safety as he has been diagnosed with dementia.

He is described as:

• Male

• White

• 6’7

• Bald

• Last seen wearing black jeans and a blue bomber-style jacket with beige sleeves and a black toque

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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Two Pedestrians Struck By Vehicle In Lakefield and Taken To Hospitals

Two pedestrians were struck by a vehicle in Lakefield and taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries from Monday evening.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 5 p.m., officers arrived at Lakefield's Queen Street and Concession Street intersection. An 81-year-old woman and an 86-year-old man were taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre after being struck. The woman was flown to a Toronto hospital for further treatment of her injuries.

The Traffic Unit was called in to complete a reconstruction investigation. The road was closed for about four hours and the investigation is ongoing. 

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 Acquire Niagara IceDogs Captain For Two Draft Picks

The Peterborough Petes have acquired overage forward Gavin Bryant from the Niagara IceDogs in exchange for a third-round pick in 2026 (Guelph) and a ninth-round pick in 2028, announced on Tuesday morning.

Photo courtesy of the OHL.

The Ingersoll native was initially selected by the Owen Sound Attack in the second round, 37th overall, of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. Over three OHL seasons between the Attack and the Niagara IceDogs, he has played in 155 games, scoring 40 goals and adding 78 assists for 118 points. Last season, he led the IceDogs in scoring 54 points in 62 games while also serving as team captain.

“Gavin is a great fit for our group,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. “He has been a leader on every team that he’s played for in this league. We know that he’ll be a big influence to our team both on and off the ice.” 

Bryant has worn a letter on both teams he played for in the OHL. In 2022-23, he served as an Assistant Captain with the Owen Sound Attack. After being acquired by the IceDogs from the Attack before the 2023-24 season, he was named an Assistant Captain with Niagara before becoming Captain in January.

The overage forward has also been known for his community work in the OHL. This season, Gavin and the IceDogs announced the launch of Gav’s Corner, a new initiative aimed at uniting and supporting individuals impacted by Type 1 Diabetes.

The Petes return to action to take on the Kingston Frontenacs on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Before the game, the organization will honour alumni and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Jamie Langenbrunner with a banner-raising ceremony. Langenbrunner will be in attendance to take part in the ceremony which will feature speeches from dignitaries and a video tribute.

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Bailieboro Country Music Star Jade Eagleson Performs at World-Famous Grand Ole Opry In Nashville

Bailieboro and country music star Jade Eagleson stepped into the historic circle, performing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. for the first time on Friday night.

Photo courtesy of Austin Chaffe.

“I've dreamt about this moment my entire life,” said Eagleson. “To stand on the biggest stage in country music in front of all of my family, friends and country music fans was an incredible honour and a memory I will cherish forever. Thank you to the Opry for having me and I hope to be back on that stage very soon.”

The Grand Ole Opry is considered one of country music’s prestigious stages. The multi-platinum artist performed ‘Rodeo Queen’ and an emotional tribute to his wife and sons with his #1 track, ‘She Don't Know’ according to a press release.

The multi-platinum artist also shared new music as part of his Worth The Double two-pack: ‘Worth The Double’ and ‘Welcome To Rock Bottom.’

Eagleson will perform at several events in the United States before the end of the year including the Dallas Country, Folk and Red Dirt Festival, Red Dirt BBQ Festival Victoria, and Stoney's Rockin' Country in Las Vegas.

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Ontario Government Investing Over $10 Million For Faster Emergency Care and Increased Ambulance Availability For Peterborough County

The Ontario Government is investing $10,037,559 in Peterborough County to connect people to faster emergency care faster and increase ambulance availability, announced at Peterborough EMS on Friday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“When people call 911, they need to know that paramedics will arrive quickly to meet their needs. A delay in a service call of just minutes can lead to drastically different results,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “The Peterborough County-City Paramedics work hard to deliver emergency medical care. This investment will help all of us receive better service when our loved ones pick up the phone at that critical time.”

According to a press release, the province is increasing land ambulance funding by six per cent, bringing the province’s total investment in the region to $10,037,559 this year. The release continues to state that this base funding increase helps municipalities address increased costs and continue delivering high-quality emergency care.

“With record high population growth and call volumes, our Peterborough County-City Paramedics are working hard to keep up,” said Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden. “The Provincial funding announced today will help our paramedics service to continue providing the high quality of care that Peterborough County and City residents expect and deserve. Thank you to the province for this funding to help our paramedics do their job and keep our communities safe and healthy.”

To further reduce delays paramedics encounter when dropping patients off at a hospital, the Ontario government is investing $607,727 in Peterborough County through the Dedicated Offload Nurses Program to hire more nurses and other eligible health professionals dedicated to offloading ambulance patients in hospital emergency departments.

“Peterborough County/City Paramedics have worked closely with PRHC identifying and implementing strategies to assist with offload delays,” said Patricia Bromfield Peterborough County Paramedic Chief. “The continuance and increase of funding received this year is important for our ongoing staffing of this program and returning our ambulances back to the road to service the community.”

The program allows paramedics to return to the community faster and respond to their next 9-1-1 call sooner. It has significantly reduced ambulance offload times and increased ambulance availability for 9-1-1 patients across the province. As a result of this investment and the dedication of healthcare professionals, provincial ambulance offload time has been reduced by more than 50 per cent since its peak in October 2022 according to a press release.

Ontario is also continuing to implement the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) across the province to ensure urgent patients receive critical care sooner. The system helps prioritize and triage emergency medical calls and dispatch paramedics sooner. Over the last year, the province has rolled out MPDS to Mississauga, Kenora, Thunder Bay, Ottawa and Renfrew and is accelerating progress to implement the system at the 15 remaining dispatch sites across Ontario over a year ahead of schedule.

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Peterborough U15 AAA Petes Undefeated to Capture BP Icefest Championship

The Peterborough Jesse’s Tap and Grill U15 AAA Petes reached the top of the mountain to become BP Icefest champions, defeating the Kitchener Jr. Rangers in overtime, 1-0, to cap off an undefeated run on Sunday night.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Minor Petes.

Their journey to the top started with routing Timmins 6-0 on Thursday.

In a close game, the Petes edged out the same Kitchener team 2-1 in overtime followed by a 5-0 win over Cambridge.

On Saturday, the Petes knocked off the Buffalo Regals 5-2 to advance to the quarterfinals.

They faced off against Burlington and shut them out 4-0.

The Petes got the Grey Bruce Highlanders in the semifinals and posted another shutout, winning 1-0 over Grey Bruce on Sunday morning.

With little rest, the Petes capped off their undefeated tournament with a win over Kitchener, earning their fifth shutout of BP Icefest.

Goaltenders Landen White and Matty Colling were outstanding all weekend.

Rostered players were Prestin Allen, Blake Brioux, Tyson Hawley, Taymon Browne, Liam Williams, Kotter Grove, Reid Cameron, Lucas McIntyre, Cole Roberts, Cooper Poskin, Hannu Packalen, Colton Adams, Kalum Phillips, Gage Cooper-Bailey, Joe Gusso, Taytem Adams. Landen White and Matty Colling were the goalie tandem that helped Peterborough with five combined shutouts.

Head coach Joe Hawley led the team which was backed by assistant coaches Rob Baker, Dan Robertson, Brock Davis and Kevin Sparling. Trainer Lynn Todd and manager Ben Adams were also part of the winning Petes team.

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Peterborough Woman Charged With Arson After Allegedly Setting Fire To Townhouse Deliberately

A 55-year-old Peterborough woman is charged with arson after a fire Friday evening.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 8:50 p.m., officers were called to a Stewart Street residence.  Police learned that a tenant had deliberately set the fire. There were no injuries and Peterborough Fire Services estimated $200,000 in damages.

The woman was arrested and charged with:

• Arson, Disregard for Human Life

The accused was held in custody and appeared in Weekend and Statutory Holiday (WASH) court on Saturday.

The Peterborough Police Service and the Ontario Fire Marshal continue to investigate.

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 Maple Light, Cancer Takedown, Peterborough County and Sarah Budd

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…

A Peterborough company has launched Canada’s first hard maple seltzer.

Maple Light founders were inspired to create the refreshing cocktail while boiling down sap in their sugar shack. Seeing an opportunity, they official launched Maple Light this summer. It’s a drink that is lightly and naturally sweetened with a hint of real maple syrup balanced with subtle citrus notes. The drink is now available at select bars, restaurants, and golf courses and is expected to launch in grocery and convenience stores this fall. You can order it at drinkmaplelight.ca

It's time for the third annual Cancer Takedown fundraiser on Nov. 7 from 7 to 10 p.m at Market Hall.

It’s a night of song, story, and solidarity featuring the comedic genius of Linda Kash and Megan Murphy and music from Melissa Payne, Kate Suhr, The Weber Brothers, and more. All proceeds go to cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. Tickets are available at tickets.markethall.org.

Thanksgiving may be behind us but our farming community is still very much at work harvesting their crops that feed our communities.

Peterborough County and the local OPP want to remind the rest of us to slow down and be aware that there are large, slow-moving vehicles on roads. The vehicles may not be fast enough to keep up with traffic, but our farmers are on a tight timeline to get the harvest in. Don’t expect them to pull over on the shoulder. Make sure you have a clear path and that the operator knows you’re behind them before passing. It’s the safe and respectful thing to do and the OPP are reinforcing that with careless driving fines for impatient drivers.

We at the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce bid farewell to Sarah Budd, our President and CEO for the last two years.

Sarah brought extensive experience from the non-profit world, having served for 15 years as the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region. She leaves the Chamber a stronger voice for businesses across the region. She will take that passion and energy for the business community to her new role as the manager of Community Development in the County’s new economic development department.

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