Peterborough Police Seeking Missing 15-Year-Old Teen Last Seen In Bancroft

UPDATE: The missing person has been found.

The Peterborough Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in locating missing person, 15-year-old James McLean.

McLean was last seen in the area of the Shoppers Drug Mart in Bancroft in the early morning hours of Monday.

McLean is described as:

• Male

• White

• 15 Years Old

• 5’6” Tall

• Medium Build

• Blue Eyes

• Short Brown Hair

No description of the clothing McLean was wearing at the time is available.

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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Public Invited to Attend Mayor’s New Year’s Levee On Jan. 12

The public is invited to join Mayor Jeff Leal and City Councillors on Jan 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Canadian Canoe Museum, 2077 Ashburnham Dr., for the Mayor’s New Year’s Levee.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“2025 will be an important year for the City of Peterborough as we move projects forward, renew infrastructure, and deliver critical services,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “Please join me and members of City Council for a cup of coffee, tea or juice, light snacks, and some discussion about our community and the exciting plans shaping Peterborough’s future.”

The Mayor’s New Year’s Levee takes place in the Event Room, located on the second floor of the Canadian Canoe Museum.

There is limited parking available at the museum. Free parking is available across the road at Eastgate Memorial Park, 2150 Ashburnham Dr. and at Beavermead Park, 2011 Ashburnham Dr.

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Reuse Building at Hazardous Waste Depot Closed Jan. 2 - 4

The Household Hazardous Waste Depot’s Reuse Building at 400 Pido Rd. will be closed for maintenance from Jan. 2 to 4.

File Photo.

It will reopen with its regular operating schedule on Jan. 8.

The Reuse Building accepts paints, stains and other reusable products.

The rest of the Household Hazardous Waste Depot will operate on its regular schedule.

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Rotary Club of Peterborough Rename 'Breakfast Cup' To Honour Dedicated Program Volunteer; $6,000 Donation to Five Counties From Golf Fundraiser

The Rotary Club of Peterborough has renamed its friendly competition of its morning meal program the ‘Breakfast Cup’ to the ’Koeslag Cup’ to honour one of its late dedicated volunteers, Peter Koeslag, announced on Monday morning.

The Koeslag family as part of the newly named ‘Koeslag Cup’ with this year’s winner. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The announcement was made at the Northminster United Church during a club’s meeting, including a $9,000 donation to Five Counties Children’s Centre. The proceeds were raised from the Club’s ‘Fore For Kids’ golf tournament held on Sept. 26 at Bellmere Winds Golf Resort in Keene.

The Koeslag Cup was a Prince of Wales school breakfast program that started in 1994 with Rotarians Isadore Black and Dr. Garry Humphries. Rotarians and local volunteers would be in teams to prepare delicious and nutritious meals daily for Prince of Wales Students.

Koeslag has been known to make a challenge among the volunteers to see which group could create the most exciting breakfast menus for kids during the last weeks of school before the Christmas holidays and summer break.

“He enjoyed seeing the smile on people's faces, he didn't do it for money, he just did it because he loved doing that,” said Paul Koeslag, Peter’s son. “Part of it was because when he was younger, he didn't have those opportunities. Dad just loved helping people.”

The Rotary Club of Peterborough, which meets at noon two Mondays per month, is one of four clubs in the area and one of over 46,000 clubs, with 1.4 million members around the world. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

He created a special trophy that would be awarded twice yearly to the winning team, as judged by students and school staff.

“Peter was very active in the school program,” explained Kein Seim, Rotary president. “Between him and a couple other ones that have been it for 30 years, they've been instrumental in bringing it along. From pretty meagre beginnings to a full kitchen and full breakfasts, Peter himself is very handy. If we needed something, he would make it.”

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City of Peterborough Opening Summer Camp Registration On Jan. 2

Registration for the City of Peterborough’s Recreation and Park Services summer camp programs opens on Jan. 2.

File Photo.

Registration opens at 7 a.m. for Peterborough Sport and Wellness members and 9 a.m. for the public.

Day camps and summer instructional sports camps operate weekly from July through August. Day camps are offered in various themes and are held at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, Kinsmen Civic Centre and various parks and locations in the City.

For a complete list of day and instructional sports camps, including information on policies, payment options and the day camp lunch program, visit peterborough.ca/camps.

Registration for day camp or summer instructional sports camps can be found online.

Peterborough Recreation and Park Services offers day camps on PA Days, including during the holiday season and March Break.  

PA Day Camps occur Dec. 23, 27, and 30 and Jan. 2 and 3. These camps run from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and are held at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr.

One-day Winter Art Camps for children ages seven to 11 occur at the Art Gallery of Peterborough, 250 Cresent St., on January 2 and 3. Each session runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

March Break Camps run from March 10 to 14 at the following times and locations:

• Peterborough Art Gallery, 250 Crescent St., from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for children ages seven to 11

• Peterborough Museum and Archives, 300 Hunter St. E., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for children ages four to 11

• Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr., from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for children ages four to 11

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No Injuries Sustained From Bolivar Street House Fire

There were no injuries from a residence fire on Bolivar Street that occurred on Sunday afternoon.

File Photo.

At roughly 3 p.m., Peterborough Fire Services arrived at the single-family detached dwelling. Fire crews found heavy smoke exiting from the first and second floors and flames exiting from a first-storey window.

The fire crew initiated an exterior attack and then switched to an aggressive interior attack to bring the fire under control.

There were no occupants home at the time of the incident.

Peterborough Police Services and Peterborough County Paramedics were also on scene to assist.

Peterborough Fire Prevention along with City Police are currently investigating the cause of the fire.

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Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Dietrich Homes, Lakefield Literary Festival, The BORO and Peterborough Chamber

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…

Dietrich Homes has finished the first net zero-ready home in Peterborough and the Kawarthas at 303 Mullighan Gardens.

Dietrich Homes are dedicated to energy efficiency, sustainability, and innovation in homebuilding. A Net Zero Ready Home is built to exceed today’s building standards and is capable of generating as much energy as it consumes when paired with renewable energy sources. It involves superior insulation, high-performance windows, advanced HVAC systems and airtight construction.

The Lakefield Literary Festival is now a federally approved charity, offering tax receipts for donations of more than $100.

The Literary Festival is a volunteer-run organization that stated in 1995. It is a nationally renowned Festival that brings important Canadian authors to Lakefield every July and hosts a respected Young Writers Contest for secondary school students. It relies on generous donations from people and businesses for half of its annual revenue. Find out more and donate at lakefieldliteraryfestival.com.

Photo courtesy of the Lakefield Herald.

There’s still time to win big when you support local businesses.

Shop downtown with your Holiday Shopping Passport and you could win a $1,500 downtown shopping spree in Boro Gift Cards courtesy of the Downtown Business Improvement Area. Pick up your passport at participating downtown locations, get it stamped as you spend money, and drop it off at a participating location when it’s full. Parking is free downtown until the end of December. While you’re downtown, check out the lit-up tree at Quaker Foods City Square and skate on the outdoor rink.

Looking for a private office to rent?

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce have vacancies at the Business Centre at 175 George Street North in the beautiful and historic train station. It is fully accessible with shared kitchen space, boardroom, and reception. Offices are available for daily and yearly leased rentals. The Business Centre offers ample free parking and secure access when you want it. Contact the Chamber at pkchamber.ca for more information.

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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Showplace Showcases Results From $66,000 Grant By Ontario Government For Post-Pandemic Impact

Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith saw the work of a $66,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant for the Showplace Performance Centre to develop a new strategic plan for moving forward past the impacts created by the pandemic, on Thursday.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“This funding from the Provincial Government, through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, has played a crucial role in the strategic planning of Showplace Peterborough,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “This Performance Centre is a cornerstone of our community, providing arts, culture, and live entertainment for individuals of all ages.”

The 18-month grant has allowed Showplace to bring in outside expertise to develop the plan and help with the costs of hosting focus meetings and helping with promotion and administrative costs.

Ken Doherty, past board chair, presented the plan to an audience, unveiling a new vision, mission and values to carry Showplace into its next era as Peterborough’s premier destination for arts, culture and live entertainment.

“The Ontario Trillium Foundation knows that Showplace helps local artists thrive. Our new strategic plan, with concrete actions and measurable results, will see Showplace grow to be an even more vibrant part of our community,” said Doherty. “As we look to the future, partners like Trillium will help us engage new audiences and hold our spot as Peterborough’s premier choice for live entertainment.”

The full plan can be viewed below:

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Peterborough Public Health Provides Tips to Protect Yourself From Cold Weather

Peterborough Public Health (PPH) has again activated its Extreme Cold Response Plan (ECRP) for the region and have provided tips to stay warm during the cold temperatures.

A normal body temperature is approximately 37°C; changes of even one or two degrees to a core body temperature can increase a person’s risk of harm. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The ECRP mandates that PPH monitor temperatures and notify residents how to protect themselves when the temperature or wind chill reach temperatures that could cause negative health impacts according to PPH.

When it is activated, alerts will be shared on PPH’s social media, through media outlets, and with partner agencies. 

While extreme cold can put everyone at risk, health risks are greatest for the following individuals: 

• people experiencing homelessness 

• older adults 

• children, especially infants and young children 

• people taking certain medications 

• people with certain health conditions (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, mental illness, mobility limitations) 

• people who live in homes that are poorly insulated, without heat/power 

• people who are active outdoors (e.g., outdoor workers, winter sport enthusiasts)  

Residents are reminded to protect themselves and those in their care from extreme cold by: 

• seeking shelter when the temperatures drop or there is a wind chill 

• always wearing clothing appropriate for the weather 

• dressing in layers, with a wind-resistant outer layer 

• wearing warm socks, hat, gloves, and scarf 

• changing into dry clothing as soon as possible, if you get wet 

• paying attention to weather alerts, including wind chill alerts 

• knowing their own risk factors, such as certain medical conditions  

PPH says most common cold-related injuries are windburn, frostbite and hypothermia, all of which are preventable. They continue to state that there is a higher risk of heart attacks during extreme cold events since a person’s heart rate will increase as the body tries to pump blood faster to maintain warmth. It is also likely to be slippery during cold periods, increasing the risk of falls and injuries because of hazardous conditions. 

The City of Peterborough has extended the hours of Trinity Community Centre, located at 360 Reid St, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (overnight services remain 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.). PPH encourages residents of the County to visit heated public spaces, such as libraries, arenas or warming centres when needed.   

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Hometown PTBO: Jordan Leal Going FromCo-Owning The House of Scales to The Hub Sauce Co.

This week on Hometown PTBO, David Tuan Bui talks with former House Of Scales owner and The Hub Sauce Co. founder Jordan Leal about his decision to leave the former to focus on the latter which launched last year.

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