Volunteer Peterborough Founder Given Charity Village Impact Award

Lois Tuffin, Volunteer Peterborough founder, has seen her community work pay back dividends as she received Charity Village’s Most Outstanding Individual Impact – Volunteer announced on Tuesday.

olunteer Peterborough founder Lois Tuffin networks with Joseph Hughes of Kids Against Hunger at the Chamber's Love Local Show at Lansdowne Place in September. Since launching in July 2023, VolunteerPeterborough.ca has signed up 1,524 individuals who are seeking volunteer roles and 162 organizations who rely on volunteers. It welcomes postings about non-profits and the roles they have open so volunteers can find this information in one handy location. Photo courtesy of Volunteer Peterborough.

The award recognizes her work to resurrect a match-making service in Volunteer Peterborough to help local non-profits. It celebrates the outstanding impact of a volunteer at a nonprofit or charity.

“I nominated Lois to shine a spotlight on her work with Volunteer Peterborough,” said Hannah Routly, subcommitte group member. “In just over a year, Lois and a fulsome team created a much-needed way to match volunteers with critical roles in our community. I hope this award shines light on this vital initiative and encourages others to support this work.”

Tuffin had received several nominations from Jennifer DeBues, executive director of the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough; Jayne Culbert, co-ordinator of Age-friendly Peterborough and Volunteer Peterborough’s operations co-ordinator Genevieve Ramage.

“In the past year in particular, we’ve seen how much people want to help and how willing they are to act when given an outlet,” said Tuffin. “It’s gratifying to see our team come together to create this volunteer movement.”

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Trent University Establishes New Doctor of Pharmacy, Optometry Pathways With Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Doctor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Optometry degrees have become more accessible to Medical Professional Stream (MPS) students at Trent University after a new agreement offering direct pathways into these programs at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), announced on Monday afternoon.

Dr. Stephen Kerr (left) of MCPHS and Dr. Michael Khan of Trent shake hands at the signing of the MOU. Photo courtesy of Tret University.

“We know how competitive the admissions process is for undergraduate students to gain entry into professional medicine programs both in Canada and abroad. Just a few years ago, the success rate for entry was about ten percent,” said Dr. Michael Khan, Trent provost and vice president Academic. “With this agreement, and a few others like it at Trent, we are making it easier for high-performing and high-potential students in Trent’s unique MPS program to pursue their dreams of becoming a health professional in their desired specialty and, ultimately, help increase access to medicine and care for people in Canada and the United States.”

The new agreement between Trent and MCPHS streamlines the admission process for Trent’s MPS graduates applying to MCPHS’s Doctor of Optometry (four-year), Doctor of Pharmacy (four-year) or Accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy (three-years) programs at the College’s campuses in Boston, Worcester, and Manchester says the University.

MPS graduates will receive various benefits through this partnership, including a guaranteed interview, preferential admission review, and financial support. The agreement will also establish several student awards, including renewable merit scholarships, one-time tuition, and housing awards ranging from $15,000 USD to $32,000, depending on campus and program.

“We are especially excited with this affiliation and thrilled to have the Medical Professional Stream students from Trent University matriculate into our doctoral programs. We feel the knowledge, confidence and preparedness of these students are particularly well suited to enter our university which, for over 200 years, has been training students for careers in health and life sciences,” said Dr. Stephen Kerr, professor and associate provost of Academic and International Affairs at MCPHS University. “MCPHS has thousands of Canadian alumni and the vast majority return and practice in Canada. This agreement certainly helps sustain our vision of empowering our community to create a healthier and more equitable world, and I’m confident will immensely benefit both of our institutions and countries.”

“I am a proud alumna of Trent and look back fondly on my experiences there. I was fortunate enough to participate in Trent’s Thailand Year Abroad Program, and this experience has had lasting effects, both personally and professionally. It was this immersive, applied learning experience that made me want to dedicate my 25+ year career to higher education, specifically in the internationalization and global engagement areas,” said Krista LaVack, associate director of International at MCPHS, who helped initiate the articulation agreement between the two institutions.

Applications for the 2025 intake at MCPHS are now open to eligible students currently enrolled in Trent’s Medical Professional Stream. MCPHS will host an information session at Trent in January 2025 for MPS students interested in learning more about the pathway.

“I’m so pleased to see our articulation agreement come to fruition. We look forward to witnessing Trent student success in our professional degree programs in the very near future,” said Lavack. “We’re confident they will come with the right academic foundation to succeed in our curriculum and in their chosen professions down the road.”

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Peterborough Police Identify Suspect From Thursday Business Arson

Officers with the Peterborough Police Service have released footage of a suspect involved in a fire that broke out in a business's outbuilding last Thursday morning.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

At roughly 8:20 a.m., officers arrived at Aylmer Street and King Street to investigate a fire in a shed. When police arrived, Peterborough Fire Services had already extinguished the fire.

The cause of the fire is believed to be suspicious at this time. No one was injured.

The Ontario Fire Marshal attended the scene Thursday for investigation. 

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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In From the Cold Benefit Concert For Yes Shelter To Bring 25th Edition to Market Hall On Dec. 6 and 7

In From The Cold celebrates its 25th anniversary by bringing two nights of music as a benefit concert for the YES Shelter for Youth and Families at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Dec. 6 and 7, announced on Monday.

Photo courtesy of YES Shelter.

Proceeds from the concert will directly benefit the YES Shelter for Youth and Families. For over 30 years, the shelter has provided emergency shelter, housing, and support services to youth and families in Peterborough. Its mission is to offer a safe, supportive environment for individuals in need, helping them navigate difficult times and work toward a brighter future.

The concert has a mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas and winter songs. This year’s concert will feature three local groups:

• Carried Away: an acoustic string and vocal band known for their unique interpretations of holiday classics.

• Convivio Chorus: a dynamic choral group that will fill the hall with beautiful, heartwarming harmonies.

• Curtis Driedger: a talented singer-songwriter whose soulful performance will add a personal touch to the evening.

“I’m just so happy that 25 years later, our performers still want to do the show and that people still want to come and share our musical experience and support YES together,” said John Hoffman, In From the Cold founder. “On a deeply personal note, the thing I really love about In From the Cold is that each year we find new, interesting, and beautiful music that I’m excited to work on and perform. That keeps me feeling young. Each year, when I walk out on that stage, I feel like a kid again.”

Tickets are available for purchase at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, by phone at (705) 749-1146 or at emailing boxoffice@markethall.org. Prices range from $29 - $34. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the concert running from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

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Standard & Poor’s Maintains AA+ Credit Rating For City of Peterborough

Standard & Poor’s has maintained the City of Peterborough’s credit rating at “AA+” with a stable outlook in its recently released credit report on the municipality.

Standard & Poor’s is a financial services company that offers services including credit ratings, data analysis and equity research to both the private and public sectors worldwide. File Photo.

The report cites the City’s financial management practices and political and managerial commitment to disciplined fiscal policies.

“We expect the financial administration and council will keep political consensus to implement reforms and support fiscal sustainability in the future. This has been demonstrated by higher-than-historical tax levies to support a growth-oriented capital plan,” according to a statement made by Standard & Poor’s.

The ”AA+” rating is the second highest on Standard & Poor’s credit rating scale. 

They commented in its credit report that the City benefits from a diversified economy. It specifically cited an active tourism industry and growth in the manufacturing and aerospace sectors, which are fostering advancements in technology and creating jobs.

“We expect Peterborough's stable economy and prudent management will continue to support strong operating balances of 14.6 per cent of operating revenue, on average, from 2024-2026. While we expect significantly elevated capital spending on large projects will lead to high after-capital deficits in the short term, as the projects near completion, we expect deficits will decrease in 2025-2026,” stated the credit rating agency.

Standard & Poor’s commented that the local economy is “somewhat constrained” by an older population and that aging demographics could lead to greater spending on social services and budgetary pressures in the future.

Among the observations for the City of Peterborough’s strong credit rating, Standard & Poor’s has cited: 

• The City's exceptional liquidity position and supportive institutional framework continue to bolster its credit profile

• Peterborough demonstrates good financial management practices

• An extremely predictable and supportive local and regional government framework that has demonstrated high institutional stability and evidence of systemic extraordinary support in times of financial distress

• The City’s after-capital deficits will stay elevated in the short term, primarily driven by substantial spending on transportation projects and the new community complex

• The City’s debt burden will remain manageable and supported by robust liquidity

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Peterborough Police Service Opens Request For Proposal for Vehicle Towing Services

The Peterborough Police Service has opened a Request for Proposal for Vehicle Towing Services. 

File Photo.

The RFP is for 24-hour towing services and secure vehicle storage pound facilities for the PPS in the City of Peterborough, the Township of Cavan Monaghan, and the Village of Lakefield from 2025 through 2029.

Request for Proposals forms may be obtained by downloading them or contacting the Peterborough Police Service Traffic Unit by telephone at 705-876-1122, ext. 254, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Sealed Requests for Proposal must be received by noon on Dec. 6 by hand delivery in a sealed envelope labelled ‘Towing Application’ to:

Peterborough Police Service
500 Water Street
Peterborough Attention: Traffic Sergeant or Designate

Submissions will be publicly opened on Dec. 9 at 11:30 a.m. in the Hugh Waddell Boardroom (A meeting link will be provided for virtual attendance upon request).

Mandatory site visits will be arranged between Dec. 10 and Dec. 13. Awards are expected to be made by Dec. 23.

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Beach Boys Bringing Their "Endless Summer Gold" Tour To Peterborough Memorial Centre On April 4

The last stop of the The Beach Boys ‘Endless Summer Gold’ tour hits the Peterborough Memorial Centre as the last stop set for April 4.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The announcement was made on Monday by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Grammy® winner, New York Times best-selling author, co-founder, lead singer and chief lyricist of The Beach Boys, Mike Love.

Love has written or co-written the lyrics and hooks to some of the band’s most popular songs, such as California Girls, I Get Around, Fun, Fun, Fun, Good Vibrations and Kokomo.

The current lineup, including musical director Brian Eichenberger, Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, Jon Bolton, Keith Hubacher, Randy Leago and John Wedemeyer.

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The Beach Boys, The Beatles and Michael Jackson are the only artists to produce twelve Top 10 Singles within five years. The Songwriters Hall of Fame will induct its new members at the 2025 Induction & Awards Gala on June 12, 2025, in New York City.

The band also released their only official book, The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys, in collaboration with Genesis Publications. This hardcover edition chronicles their meteoric rise, from their first single, “Surfin’,” to their 1980 Independence Day concert. The book is available nationwide at thebeachboysbook.com.

Venue presale tickets are available on Thursday starting at 10 a.m., with general public tickets on Friday at 10 a.m.

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Ontario Museum Association Recognizes Peterborough Museum and Archives With Award of Excellence in Special Projects

The Peterborough Museum & Archives (PMA) has been recognized with the Ontario Museum Association Award of Excellence in Special Projects for its role in the “To Honour and Respect: Gifts from Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales, 1860” exhibition project on Friday.

File photo.

The Award recognizes innovative initiatives, approaches or techniques that profoundly advance the museum profession.

The exhibition featured 13 quilled wiigwassii makakoon (birch bark baskets) on loan from His Majesty King Charles III, through the Royal Collection Trust, United Kingdom. The makakoon were created by women of Hiawatha First Nation and gifted to the Prince of Wales on Sept. 7, 1860, when he visited on a cross-Canada Royal tour.

The exhibition focused on education, revitalization, and skill-building. Traditional quillwork and the Michi-Saagiig Nishnaabemowin language were integrated into the exhibition, project materials, and events. Interactions with the makakoon provided powerful moments to pass down traditional skills, strengthen intergenerational connections, foster healing, and promote cross-cultural understanding.

“The complex partnerships brought together for this project have helped to continue to strengthen the relationships between the PMA and local Indigenous communities,” said Dr. Amy Barron, Program Coordinator, Heritage Programs, Haliburton School of Art + Design, Fleming College. “Hopefully, this project can serve as a model for the loan of other Indigenous artifacts from overseas institutions, allowing these ancestors a chance to return home.”

‘To Honour and Respect: Gifts from Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales, 1860’ was a partnership between Hiawatha First Nation, the Mississauga Nation, the PMA, the Royal Collection Trust and the co-Curators, Dr. L. Beavis and Dr. L. Peers.

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Man Sent to Peterborough Regional Health Centre After a Collision; Another Man Charged With Careless Driving

A 78-year-old man was sent to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre after a collision at Park Street North and Chamberlain Street on Monday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Officers with the Peterborough Police Service are investigating the collision and say the incident occurred around 8 a.m.

Police had issued a 56-year-old driver a Provincial Offence Notice for obstructed windshield, failing to yield to a pedestrian and careless driving.

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Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Tidy Pawz, Summer Soul Yoga, NAKA Japanese and Eleven 14 Guidance and Care

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…

Rhonda Stillman has opened a new business.

Tidy Pawz Pet Parlour, a pet grooming business that began serving clients on Oct. 1. It’s located at 1434 Chemong Rd. in Unit 6 in Peterborough. Rhonda has been grooming pets for more than 25 years. Tidy Pawz comes highly recommended, providing a stress-free experience for pets and their owners. Rhonda's attention to detail ensures that every pet receives personalized care. Check out Tidy Pawz if you want to have your pet looking and feeling their best.

Summer Soul Yoga and Wellness is launching Athletic Reformer Pilates to their lineup starting in January.

Reformer Pilates is highly regarded for its ability to build core strength, flexibility, and muscle tone while minimizing joint stress. When using a reformer machine – which includes a sliding carriage, springs, and adjustable straps – participants can perform a wide range of exercises that target specific muscle groups with precision. The machine's resistance allows users to control and adjust their workouts according to their fitness level, making it suitable for beginners and seasoned athletes alike. Find out more and book your appointment at summersoul.ca.

NAKA Japanese Restaurant is under new ownership.

Founder Susan Tung has sold it to Emily Tan. Susan founded the restaurant at 213 Hunter St. W. in downtown Peterborough with vision of bringing Japanese comfort foods, like ramen, to Peterborough. She will shift her focus back to Hanoi House, her first restaurant, which she opened back in 2020. NAKA will continue its regular hours with the same thoughtfully curated menu that combines traditional Japanese flavors with a modern touch, creating a unique dining experience.

Eleven 14 Guidance and Care has a new office at 680 The Parkway in Peterborough.

Their new office enables them to offer Red Cross first aid of all levels, including emergency, standard, BLS, EFR and EMR from a new and convenient location. Their experienced instructors are Canadian Red Cross certified and committed to teaching everyone first aid skills. They offer instructions for various needs, including firefighters, businesses, social groups, and people just wanting to develop lifesaving skills. They can travel to convenient locations and are set up to teach large groups.

If you want to have your business featured on the Business Beat or know of a business doing something new and interested, shoot an email to joel@pkchamber.ca.

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