MPP Dave Smith Named Ontario PC Party Candidate In Next Provincial Election For Peterborough-Kawartha

Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith is going for a third consecutive term as he has been acclaimed as the Ontario PC party’s candidate in the next provincial general election, announced on Thursday.

Photo by Luke Best.

Smith earned his second term in a back-to-back after being re-elected in 2022 with 20,188 votes which is 38.5 percent of the ballots. Gary Stewart was the last Conservative MPP for the Peterborough-Kawartha riding to get elected for consecutive terms from 1995-2003.

Smith was declared the winner 38 minutes after the polls had closed. Premier Doug Ford was re-elected to a second term 11 minutes after polls closed. They earned a majority government seven minutes later.

“I want to thank the great people of Peterborough Kawartha for putting their trust in me to once again carry the banner for Premier Ford and the Progressive Conservatives in the next provincial election,” said Smith. “We have accomplished so much over the last seven years but my work is not yet finished. I want to thank my family for their unwavering support and all of my friends who have rallied around me to help make life better for everyone in our region.”

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Hometown PTBO: Josh Fredricks With the Grand Opening of His New Restaurant, "The Locker Room"

This week on Hometown PTBO, David Tuan Bui talks with Josh Fredricks about the grand opening of his new restaurant, The Locker Room, his past food ventures and why staying in Peterborough is best for raising his family.

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Downtown Holiday Night Market Hits Peterborough Dec. 6

Get into the holiday spirit, as the third annual Downtown Holiday Night Market will hit Peterborough on Dec. 6.

Photo courtesy of The Neighbourhood Vintage.

The market will run from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Bankers Commons Courtyard of the Commerce Building at Water and Hunter Streets downtown. The courtyard will turn into a marketplace filled with twinkling lights, over 25 vendorslive music.

Hosted by The Neighbourhood Vintage and First Friday Ptbo, the free, family-friendly event has local vendors, makers, musicians and food and drink purveyors.

“We are so excited to bring this collaborative market back to the community this December,” said Jacquelyn Craft market organizer and Neighbourhood Vintage. “Peterborough is lucky to have so many talented local creatives, and this market is an opportunity to get together with friends and family, get into the holiday spirit and support local all in one.”

“The winter months can be a quiet time of year for the First Friday Ptbo art crawls, with the colder weather and other holiday obligations pulling folks away from art-centred evenings. It's been so excellent to see these markets come to life over the years and bring our community together to celebrate local art and music,” said Emma Scott, local graphic designer and First Friday volunteer committee member. “We are so lucky to live in a city where small businesses, restaurants, and volunteers collaborate wholeheartedly with the arts community for events like this. When we help each other, we all thrive.”

Highlights of the Downtown Holiday Night Market include:

• Local Makers & Vendors: Discover handmade gifts, one-of-a-kind crafts, and artisanal goods from over 25 local creators. From jewelry and clothing to home decor and artwork, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

• Live Music: Enjoy the sounds of talented local musicians performing throughout the evening. Featuring local performers Kayla Mahomed, VanCamp, and Brad Renaud. From holiday classics to upbeat tunes, their performances will add to the festive atmosphere and provide a soundtrack to your shopping and dining experience.

• Delicious Food & Drinks: Savor seasonal flavors from local restaurants St. Veronus, Love You, Mean It, La Hacienda, and Vanilla Room. Whether you're in the mood for mulled wine or cider, gourmet street food, or sweet treats, there’s something to warm everyone up on a chilly night.

• Family-Friendly & Accessible: We are committed to making the Downtown Holiday Night Market an inclusive and accessible event for the entire community. Bring the whole family out to enjoy this special holiday market.

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Oshawa Woman Charged With Fraud After Forging Documents to Be Employed as a Personal Support Worker

A 38-year-old Oshawa woman is facing charges after providing false documents to obtain employment as a personal support worker.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

On Oct. 30, a Peterborough business made officers with the Fraud Unit aware of the incident. In conjunction with the National Association of Career Colleges (NACC), they determined that the certification provided during a job interview was fraudulent.

The woman was arrested and charged with:

• Utter forged document x2

The accused was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 17 

The Peterborough Police Service Fraud Unit has determined that the accused did not work as a personal support worker in Peterborough. 

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Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Add Four New Board Members

Four new people have joined the board of directors of the Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, announced at the organization’s 2024 Annual General Meeting.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

Melinda Gilmour, Barbara Lillico, Samantha Roan and Susan Scott were welcomed to the board. They join existing members Lesley Beagrie, board chair and already-serving board members, Joan Conrad, Lesa Fox and Margaret Keatings.

Gilmour, a registered nurse with additional certification as a community health nurse, serves as Director of Clinical Services at Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes Community Health Centre.

Roan recently joined Peterborough Public Health as the Manager of Indigenous Public Health. She is also pursuing her PhD in Indigenous Studies at Trent University.

Lillico retired after 25 years as Chief Executive Officer of the Peterborough Child & Family Centres.

Scott is a former journalist and communications specialist for several health care organizations. She also owned and operated her own communications consulting business.

The clinic also welcomed Danielle Howson to the role of Nurse Practitioner Lead and Executive Director. Howson has worked at the clinic for approximately four years as a nurse practitioner and now takes on the overall leadership of the clinic.

“I am so grateful to accept this new role within the Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic. I am pleased to continue to support and engage with the remarkable patients and staff of the clinic,” said Howson. “I respect the challenges that come with changeover of staff and leadership, and I remain optimistic that the clinic will grow and thrive in the coming months and years. The staff of the clinic are knowledgeable, skilled, and dedicated to providing exceptional primary health care and I am honoured to have their support as I learn this new role. I am equally looking forward to working closely with the board and the expertise they bring in guiding the clinic to success.”

“As our community experiences the pressures of shrinking primary care resources, we are pleased to work collectively as a Board towards our strategic goals of improved integration of services, diversity, equity and inclusive care delivery and collaborative practice,” said Beagrie. “To this end, I am delighted to welcome Danielle Howson to the position of Nurse Practitioner Lead and Executive Director. Danielle’s experience with the clinic and her professionalism will provide the leadership to guide our committed staff to achieve these goals. We welcome our new board members who will add a rich tapestry of skills and experience to our board - diversity of cultural backgrounds, communication and administrative experience, and leadership in health and social service sectors. Together, with our new and exciting team, we will capitalize on existing opportunities that will forward our mission and vision, and advocate for accessible and equitable primary care service for the city of Peterborough.”

The Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic has operated since 2011 after a grassroots, collaborative community effort to create an accessible, welcoming primary care clinic serving anyone without a primary care provider in the city and county of Peterborough, especially people experiencing barriers to health care access. The clinic has an interdisciplinary team with expertise in providing primary care to people with health risks including poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, experiences of violence and trauma, serious mental health challenges and social isolation.

The team comprises nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, registered social workers, mental health clinicians, personal support workers, and administrative support staff.

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Peterborough Lions Club Continuing Holiday Traditions With Annual Great Turkey Exchange

The East Peterborough Lions Club is making sure everyone is fed this holiday season with its Great Turkey Exchange.

The Great Turkey Exchange operated from 2009 until 2020. The program went on hiatus in 2021 after supply chain shortages made it difficult to get donations. The East Peterborough Lions Club has picked up the torch to continue the grassroots program. Photo courtesy of the East Peterborough Lions Club.

The Club is coordinating the collection and distribution of turkeys and hams for hungry families this Christmas.

The program has delivered over 17,000 Christmas dinners in the Peterborough area. Most of the turkeys and hams donated to the program came from individuals and businesses who recognize a traditional Christmas meal's sentimental and nutritional value.

“Our club has helped out by delivering turkeys to groups and we saw how grateful people are to have strangers help feed their families,” said Frank Hewitt, East Peterborough Lions Club president. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the program and fill such a great need in our community.”

The community can help in two ways:

• Donate turkeys and hams (for those who don’t have access to an oven)

• Donate cash to purchase these items

Donations will be welcomed at Kawartha Food Share at 665 Neal Dr. or by pickup if you email your address to greatturkeyexchange@gmail.com.

The food items will be distributed to families who cannot afford a turkey or ham and would have to go without them. Families in this situation should email greatturkeyexchange@gmail.com and ask to be on the donation list.

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United Way Reaches 30 Per Cent of Fundraising Goal; City Holds Chili Cook-Off & Bake Sale Fundraiser

Twelve chilis and baked goods made by City of Peterborough staff helped raise money for United Way Peterborough & District as the latter has announced that they raised 30 per cent ($450,000) of their $1.5 million fundraising goal at the McDonnel Street Activity Centre on Wednesday.

Mayor Jeff Leal was a judge to try our 12 different chilis made by City of Peterborough staff. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The United Way set its $1.5 million goal on Sept. 11 which runs until March 31.

The announcement occurred during the City of Peterborough's workplace campaign launch event.

“United Way Peterborough & District and the City of Peterborough have had a longstanding partnership which has included running one of the most successful workplace campaigns for a number of years,” said Jim Russell, United Way CEO. “Workplace campaigns were threatened by the pandemic, making it difficult to build community and engage employees in the campaign. Today, the City of Peterborough hosting their annual chili cook-off once again is a sign that we are turning over a new page in our community.”

The ‘30%’ signs were made from pictures of chili bowls. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Russell continued emphasizing the importance of hitting the campaign goal based on the community's needs.

“There is a rising need for support services in our community and a dwindling number of other funding sources available to sustain these services,” said Russell. “Participating in the United Way campaign means that you are building community by contributing to the largest non-government funder of social services.”

He continued to speak about the energy he has felt on the campaign trail and the power of the new donation match challenge.

“It has never been as easy as it is today to extend the reach of your gift through the Double Your Difference initiative,” said Russell. “We're finding that the energy of this year's campaign is contagious, with workplaces facilitating more creative employee giving opportunities than we have seen in recent years.”

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JA NEO Launches 'When I Grow Up' Campaign to Aid Youth With Tools For Their Future Careers

Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA NEO) has launched its ‘When I Grow Up’ campaign to inspire and empower youth with the tools and knowledge to explore and pursue their future careers, announced at the Venture North Building on Wednesday.

John McNutt, JA-NEO President and CEO making the announcement at the Venture North Building. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The campaign promotes financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship among young people, helping them envision and achieve their full potential according to John McNutt, JA-NEO President and CEO.

“The ‘When I Grow Up’ campaign is designed to address the root causes of systemic poverty, homelessness, youth unemployment and underemployment by equipping students with practical skills and experiences,” he said. “Through interactive workshops, mentorship programs and real-world career exploration opportunities, JA NEO is dedicated to preparing a financially informed generation for success, shielding them from systemic poverty and homelessness.”

JA NEO’s programs teach financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship to youth in grades 3 to 12.

JA NEO also introduced its Holiday Matching Gift Initiative, where every dollar donated until Dec. 31 will be tripled (up to $40,000). This was possible by matching donors such as Alf Curtis Home Improvements Inc., Peterborough Truss & Floor Ltd., and Peterborough & Distinct Construction Association.

Anyone can donate to the cause by clicking the link.

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Peterborough Police Seeking Three Suspects Who Fired Shots On Fairburn Street

The Peterborough Police Service has launched an investigation and is seeking three suspects who fired shots on Fairbairn Street Tuesday night.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 11:30 p.m., officers were called to the townhomes at 850 Fairbairn St. after several reports of gun shots. They learned that several units were struck with bullets and several more were fired into the air. No one was injured in the incident.

Officers are looking for three men, all dressed in black, who left the area in a black vehicle and headed north on Fairbairn Street.

Anyone with information or any dashcam footage and have driven in the area of Fairbairn Street and Parkview Drive in the last few days 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-Kawartha to Install 40 Electric Vehicle Chargers

Peterborough and the Kawarthas are building 40 new electric vehicle charging stations, announced on Tuesday.

File Photo.

“For Electric Vehicle drivers, locating a nearby and accessible charging station can determine whether they enjoy a quick stop or face a lengthy detour that impacts their work, school, or family commitments,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “By enhancing access to public charging infrastructure and strategically placing chargers where they are most needed, we are promoting the adoption of EVs in Ontario.”

These new chargers, part of the government’s $63 million EV ChargeON Program Community Sites Stream, will be located at:

• Four new chargers at Walmart Peterborough

• Eleven new chargers at Miskin Law Community Complex

• Four new chargers at 336 Lansdowne St. E

• Eight new chargers at 1781 Lansdowne St. W

• Four new chargers at Villa Wash & Esso Peterborough

• Five new chargers at Peterborough Chrysler Ltd.

• Four new chargers at the North Kawartha Community Centre, Apsley

“With more than 201,000 electric vehicles on the road in Ontario, we’re putting shovels in the ground to build more charging stations and make life easier for drivers,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “That includes a focus on smaller and underserved communities across our province where we are providing more certainty for parents and workers during their commutes.”

Each new EV charging site will include Level 2 charging stations, Level 3 or a combination.

The government has also launched a new Ultra-Low Overnight Electricity Price Plan and is exploring options for an Electric Vehicle Charger Discount Electricity Rate to further support EV adoption and reduce emissions. The new Ultra-Low Overnight Electricity Price Plan helps customers who use more electricity at night, including those who charge their electric vehicle, save up to $90 per year, according to the Ontario Government.

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