Peterborough Woman Found Guilty With Careless Driving Causing Death of Three-Year-Old Girl From Woodglade Boulevard Collision

A 43-year-old woman involved in a motor vehicle collision on Woodglade Boulevard that resulted in the death of a three-year-old girl on March 23, 2023, has been found guilty of her actions.

File Photo.

The verdict was handed down on Friday. The 43-year-old Peterborough woman was found guilty of careless driving causing death under the Highway Traffic Act.

Sentencing will be held on Feb. 28.

The incident occurred when the woman’s vehicle came off the road and struck the girl in the driveway of the residence. The child was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries and has since succumbed to those injuries. No one else was injured in the collision.

The Peterborough Police Service Collision Reconstruction Unit investigated, and after a five-month investigation, the charge was laid on Sept. 6, 2023.

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Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Treblecock Studio, JA-NEO, Forbidden Pleasures and Power Hour

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…

Treblecock Studio is moving above ground to 157 King Street in downtown Peterborough.

Treblecock offers music, video, and film production. There’s a full podcast studio for those looking for a quiet space with top-notch recording equipment. Podcasts continue to grow in popularity due to the rich, focused content on a small business budget. There’s also the option to do it live on video. It’s not just an ideal studio space, owner David Joyce brings 35 years of experience in media production and works with a talented team of successful industry experts. Drop by Feb. 7 for their grand re-opening.

Some of Peterborough’s most distinguished businesses are being recognized in the 10th annual induction to the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.

New inductees include:

• Darrell Junkin, Craftworks at the Barn

• Toni and Kelli Grady, Grady Feet Essentials

• Grant Seabrooke, Machine Dynamics Ltd.

• Matt Holmes and Michael Riseley, Holmes Riseley LLP

• Donnell Leahy, Natalie McMaster and Julia Leahy, Natalie Donnell Entertainment

• Margo and Paul Hudson, Jo Anne’s Place Health Foods

• Nancy Wiskel, Dan Joyce Clothing

• Martin and Kelly Carbajal, La Mesita Restaurante

• Drew Merrett, Merrett Home Hardware Building Centre

• Diane Richard, Diatom Consulting

• Raj Patel, Ennismore Foodland

• Peter, Rita, Michael, Eric and Graeme Eatson, Peterborough Volkswagen

Tickets are available at ja-neo.org for the May 29 awards night at The Venue.

Forbidden Pleasures is closing its doors after Valentine’s Day following 35 years of business here in our community.

They have already closed their Market Square and Oshawa locations, but deals can still be had at the Brookdale Plaza store. Forbidden Pleasures was a groundbreaking venture as city’s first boutique-style adult store.

Power Hour, one of the Chamber’s signature events, is coming up on Feb. 21.

It’s your chance to hear from Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal, County Warden Bonnie Clark, MPP Dave Smith, and MP Michelle Ferreri as they take questions on local business issues. This lunch hour event is at The StoneHouse Hall with doors opening at 11 a.m. Get your tickets at pkchamber.ca.

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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New Canadians Centre Seeking New Board Members

The New Canadians Centre (NCC) is looking for board directors to join the governance team to fill three positions.

NCC began in 1979 when a group of volunteers committed to supporting refugees fleeing Vietnam. The NCC serves more than 2,000 newcomer clients annually. File Photo.

The positions are for two-year terms and board members may serve three consecutive two-year terms.

The NCC is asking that community members give five to ten hours per month to apply. They are looking for those with well-rounded governance experience and with a specific background in facilities management, capital campaigns, and/or IT/cybersecurity.

The information package and application form can be found online. The deadline for applications is at 5 p.m. on Feb. 23.

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Hometown PTBO: Peterborough Petes In-Game Host Hannah Elliott of Her Timeline With the Team and Hockey

This week on Hometown PTBO, David Tuan Bui talks with Peterborough Petes in-game host Hannah Elliott about her timeline working with the team, interacting with fans and growing up a hockey lover despite not playing the sport.

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City of Peterborough to Remove Ash Trees Three Sites Starting Monday

The City of Peterborough is removing roughly 150 dead and/or dying ash trees from three separate locations beginning Monday.

In 2024, the City planted 1,000 trees as part of the City’s Urban Forest Strategic Plan. Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The removal is occurring in wooded lots lining residential areas near Eldon Court and Cunningham Boulevard, along the south side of Farmcrest Avenue and Willowcreek Boulevard.

The trees being removed are infested with Emerald Ash Borer and pose a potential risk of harm to residents and private property. Once the trees are removed, woody material, including the trunk, limbs and brush, will be left on site to decompose naturally. The City says this adds organics to the site and encourages wildlife habitat.

Removing these trees is part of the good forestry practices required to maintain and enhance the City’s urban canopy as part of the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan.

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Peterborough Police Warn Public of Bitcoin Scams Surfacing With Information Campaign

The Peterborough Police Service, along with several convenience stores in Peterborough, have started an information campaign around scams and Bitcoin, announced on Friday.

Police say that scammers often ask victims to make payments in Bitcoin.  To raise awareness, the Peterborough Police Service Fraud Unit attended convenience stores with cryptocurrency machines and placed information posters near the machines.

Police also ask residents to be vigilant and remind everyone that government agencies will not ask for payment in Bitcoin, pre-paid VISAs, gift cards, wire transfers or direct deposits to personal accounts. Bitcoin transactions are irreversible. 

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Peterborough Petes Get Series Sweep With Fireworks Show In 8-6 Win Over the Saginaw Spirit

The Peterborough Petes kept the lamp lit, beating the Saginaw Spirit in a high-scoring affair, 8-6, for the series sweep at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of Claus Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The night started well for the visitors and the Spirit rung off three goals in the first half of the period. Things started to look bleaker as Peterborough was shorthanded late in the period. However, the Petes forced a turnover in the offensive zone as Brennan Faulkner intercepted a pass, fed Aiden Young the puck and deked Saginaw goaltender Kaleb Papineau for the Petes’s first goal.

In the final minute of the frame, Petes captain Johnathan Melee got the puck from the faceoff in the offensive zone. He threw the puck at the net and hit top shelf to cut the deficit to one goal after the first.

The Petes were able to tie the game up with the man advantage in the second period. Taylor won the footrace to the puck, centred a pass to the slot and Braydon McCallum tipped it home for a 3-3 game.

Saginaw regained the lead six minutes later thanks to Hayden Barch but Peterborough kept battling. Less than two minutes from that goal, Martin Matejicek took the puck coast-to-coast and beat Papineau five-hole to tie the game again. The Petes were not finished that period as Genc Ula wanted his turn from going end-to-end as he got the puck in his own zone, got into the opposing end and wristed it in from the point for the Petes first lead, 5-4.

Peterborough continued their offensive prowess to open the third as Brennan Faulkner found the scoresheet. Rio Kaiser won the puck battle after a dump and chase. He fed it to Faulkner, who made a wraparound bid and scored for a 6-4 lead. That was Kaiser’s first OHL point with the assist.

The Petes kept their foot on the gas pedal as they were on the powerplay. They won a board battle in the offensive zone corner as Young soccered the puck to his stick, passed it to the slot for an approaching Matejicek who one-timed it for a 7-4 Petes lead. With the Spirit having their backs to the wall, they fought back to make it close. Jacob Cloutier got a power play goal and Dimian Zhilkin followed up 36 seconds later to make it a 7-6 game.

With life still in Saginaw, they pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with just under three minutes in regulation to try and tie the game. Peterborough nailed the insurance marker after winning another board battle from behind their own net. McCallum ended up with the puck and sent it nearly 200 feet for the empty-net goal and an 8-6 win.

The Petes hit the road across Highway 115 and onto the 401 to take on their rival Oshawa Generals at the Tribute Communities Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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City Councillors Echo Mayor Jeff Leal's Statement Increased Homelessness Throughout Peterborough and the Country

Several City Councillors echo and endorse Mayor Leal’s statement regarding increased homelessness and the humanitarian crisis surrounding it which was made on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Councillors Gary Baldwin, Matt Crowley, Kevin Duguay, Dave Haacke, Lesley Parnell and Don Vassiliadis agree with the mayor and have made the following statement in support of Leal.

The following is the joint statement released by City Council:

As City Councillors for the City of Peterborough, we express our agreement with and strong support for the statement issued by Mayor Jeff Leal on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

The creation of 60 more temporary shelter beds is a substantial budget and service level decision that rightly belongs to Council as a whole.

This was not raised during the recent 2025 Budget review when City Council approved substantial increases in homelessness services funding to maintain and enhance services for people who are experiencing homelessness. 

We will repeat some of Mayor Leal’s words: 

“This Council has taken significant steps to help some of the most vulnerable in our community.  

In terms of shelter spaces, our community supports 127 shelter and drop-in centre beds provided in partnership with community agencies. That is among the highest per-capita provision of shelter beds in the Province. 

There are still people in our community who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. 

Municipalities are not equipped to address homelessness and its related health care, mental health, addiction, and housing issues. Our ability as municipalities to fund these services out of property tax revenue, which is based on property assessment rather than ability to pay, is limited. 

City Council decides how much to invest in homelessness services as it considers the various needs in our community. This Council is now, this year, more than doubling the City’s investment in the City’s Homeless Prevention Program for shelter services and drop-in centre spaces. 

This Council has shown compassion and political will. There is no question more needs to be done.” 

As city councillors, we recognize that additional, long-term, provincial and federal funding is needed for the complete housing continuum.

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Peterborough Chamber to Launch "Igniting Emerging Leaders" to Support and Network Young Professionals

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce is launching ‘Igniting Emerging Leaders – Young Professionals Group’ to help network young professionals under 40 at Shorelines Casino on Jan. 29.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

The free event is open and intended for emerging business leaders under 40 to receive new opportunities to connect and develop through the Young Professionals Group. It runs from 7 p.m to 8:30 p.m.

The group will offer opportunities to connect, fun activities, and insightful speakers on relevant and timely themes such as building a personal brand in the digital age says Nigel Broersma, Chamber director of business development.

“We are thrilled to launch our new Young Professionals program, which is a direct response to feedback from our members,” he said. “This initiative will feature quarterly meetings that blend social interaction, networking, engaging activities, and a speaker series. It’s an excellent opportunity for young professionals to learn, grow their knowledge, and build meaningful connections within our vibrant and expanding business community.”

Registration is online. The Young Professionals Group will meet quarterly at a different regional business. Attendees will be allowed to grow their relationships, ask questions and learn new skills.

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Central Smith Creamery Receives Grant Up to $200,000 In Government's Effort to Strengthen Dairy Sector

In an effort to bolster the dairy sector in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, Selwyn’s Central Smith Creamery has received a grant of up to $200,000 from the provincial and federal governments.

(left to right) Jillian Scates, project manager and co-owners Ian and Jennifer Scates are part of three generations who have been involved with Central Smith Creamery. The Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by provinces and territories. Photo by David Tuan Bui

The funding is used to purchase various technologies including an ultraviolet liquid storage tank, volume and temperature control systems, a fat tester system, liquefier load cells, an upgraded raw material management system and a robotic conveyor system.

The grants aims to enhance product quality and boost processing efficiency through the Dairy Processors Modernization Initiative, which offers cost-shared funding to dairy processors for improving efficiency, capacity, and food safety by adopting modern milk processing methods according to Dave Smith, Peterborough Kawartha MPP.

“Central Smith Creamery plays a vital role in our community by providing job opportunities and backing local initiatives. It's wonderful to witness their ability to enhance production capabilities through this project,” he explained. “Central Smith is establishing a standard of excellence within the industry. This upgrade is anticipated to boost efficiency and allow the company to satisfy increasing demand while upholding the high quality that customers have come to cherish.”

The Dairy Processing Modernization Initiative still accepts applications from cow, goat, sheep and water buffalo milk processors until the program is fully subscribed. The initiative provides up to $200,000 in cost-shared funding to each successful applicant to help dairy processing businesses increase production efficiency and food safety in their facilities. Funding can help cover the cost of new or refurbished equipment, training and more. The governments of Ontario and Canada are investing up to $8 million in the initiative through the Sustainable Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).

“We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to receive this grant, as it will enable us to elevate the level of support we offer to our customers across the country. The backing from the Ontario Government is incredibly valuable, and we sincerely appreciate it,” said Ian and Jennifer Scates, Central Smith Creamery co-owners.

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