Peterborough DBIA Announce Information For Event Support Grant and Application Deadlines

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has released details for its 2025 Community Event Support Grant and application deadlines.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough DBIA.

This funding opportunity was developed to help financially support organizers who choose to host their community-minded events in the downtown core, which in turn helps create a lively, vibrant and active urban centre.

The DBIA states that this initiative aims to help foster an inclusive and thriving downtown community by encouraging diverse events that drive economic prosperity and increased foot traffic to the downtown core and also nurture the health of Peterborough’s social fabric by fostering an increase in community engagement.

The Peterborough DBIA will provide financial and in-kind support to selected events that align with their core strategic priorities. The number and extent of grants awarded will be determined by the availability of designated funds and the number of applications that fit the criteria. 

The DBIA event priorities are as follows:

• Reaching priority and diverse audiences

• Engaging the DBIA member businesses including restaurants, shops and services

• Bringing economic prosperity to the region, specifically within the BIA district 

• Encouraging tourism, downtown exploration and increased foot traffic to BIA member businesses 

• Building community connection to and within the downtown area

• Celebrating the unique cultures and identities of downtown Peterborough

The goal of the DBIA event states that its support grant is to empower event organizers to create and host events that encourage repeat visitation and year-round animation in the core by helping to offset costs such as advertising, administrative fees, supply costs, permit and rental fees, for example.

"Our goal is to provide support for event organizers who work to create memorable experiences in our downtown that not only bring economic benefits by increasing foot traffic to the businesses, but also strengthen our overall sense of community and connection,” said Nour Mazloum, DBIA executive director. “We look forward to collaborating with and supporting the visionaries and event planners who also work to create spaces where people feel connected. Together, we can showcase how special and important downtown Peterborough is for the social fabric and health of our community, and also for visitors who will want to choose this region as their destination of choice for enjoying a diverse set of unique and seasonal experiences.” 

Applicants who successfully meet the DBIA funding priorities can expect to receive support funds within two weeks of their scheduled event date. If the event requires in-kind support, organizers are asked to coordinate these requests with the DBIA at least two weeks before the event date. 

The event support grants will have two deadlines throughout the calendar year for application submissions:

• March 1: For events hosted from April 1 to Sept. 30

• Sept. 1: For events hosted from Oct. 1 to March 31, 2026

After a submission, the DBIA board will review all applications for the March 1 or Sept. 1 deadlines and decide on funding allocations in the board meeting that directly follows the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered for funding. All applications must provide the DBIA with a detailed budget outline for their event to be considered.

The event application form can be found at ptbodbia.ca or online.

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Ontario Government Invests $2.9 Million Into PRHC For Expansive Mental Health and Addiction Care Services

The Ontario Government is investing $2.9 million into the PHRC to expand the mental health crisis unit for faster and easier connections to high-quality, comprehensive mental health and addiction care services, announced at Showplace Performance Centre on Monday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan bui.

“This investment to enhance the PRHC Crisis Response Unit showcases our government's commitment to addressing mental health challenges,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. It will significantly impact the lives of patients and their families in Peterborough and nearby regions, allowing our healthcare professionals to maintain exceptional care for those in need.”

The expansion is meant to ensure that the hospital is better equipped to deliver responsive and comprehensive care to those in crisis according to Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC president and CEO.

“The addition of a purpose-built, expanded Crisis Response Unit at PRHC will have a profound impact on the lives of thousands of patients, improving care and alleviating overcrowding in our Emergency Department, which sees 80,000 visits a year,” she said. “The need for mental health crisis services in our region has grown substantially over the last decade, and we look forward to launching into the next phase of this project, which will ensure that our Mental Health Crisis Response Unit is equipped to provide the best possible care and support in the years and decades to come.”

Once opened, the expanded mental health crisis unit will include:

• Additional capacity to address high volumes of acute mental health and substance abuse incidents

• New crisis unit beds

• Separation for adult and youth mental health patients to enhance the delivery of care, so they can receive the appropriate and high-quality care in a safe space

The ministry says they are working with PRHC to complete early planning and design for this project. A construction schedule will be confirmed once further planning is complete and the project is tendered and awarded.

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Five Counties Children’s Centre Unveils Plans For 50th Anniversary Celebration

It’s the golden anniversary for Five Counties Children’s Centre as they have released details to celebrate its 50th anniversary since opening its doors in 1975.

Five Counties Children’s Centre speech-language pathologist Diane has a little fun with one of her clients. Photo courtesy of FCCC.

The milestone is being marked throughout the year at its sites in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg, Campbellford and Minden; stories of support and success are the centrepiece of the Centre’s 50th-anniversary festivities.

Five Counties will share stories from current and former clients, families, staff members, volunteers and supporters who will detail their different experiences at Five Counties. The stories will be available on the Five Counties’ 50th anniversary web page and social media. Individuals who have a memory to share can still submit their story.

“The Centre is made up of much more than bricks and mortar, as it’s really been built on the magical memories and moments of thousands of clients and families,” said Scott Pepin, Five Counties CEO. “We’ve been fortunate to collect some amazing stories from members of our Five Counties family and look forward to sharing them with our communities.”

The first story featured from Five Counties is Mike Hannah, a Kawartha Lakes resident who was born with cerebral palsy. Well-known for his athletic exploits and charity work, Hannah remembers as a child in the 1970s being bused from school twice a week to the newly-opened Five Counties in Peterborough. He was bused there to receive speech and occupational therapy, as this type of treatment was unavailable in his school and Five Counties did not yet have a location in Lindsay.

“I would probably not be where I am today. Five Counties changed my life,” says Mike, recounting the treatment and support he received at the Centre.

Since its first year serving 126 kids/clients, the Centre has expanded to support more kids and families in Peterborough, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, and Minden/Haliburton. That growth is reflected in the 6,103 kids/clients in the area who received services last year through the Centre.

“While the numbers have changed, our commitment to enhancing children’s independence, well-being and quality of life has remained a constant for 50 years,” said Pepin.

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City of Peterborough Seeking Residents to Join Advisory Committees

The City of Peterborough is hosting a drop-in information session to encourage residents to be involved in local government by joining a board or committee.

File Photo.

The session runs from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at City Hall on Feb. 10 for anyone wishing to join an advisory committee.

The session takes place in the Doris Room. An option to attend virtually is available by emailing clerks@peterborough.ca or calling 705-742-7777 x1820.

Seats are available on a variety of City committees. These are volunteer positions. Terms run until November 2026.

Available seats include:

• Accessibility Advisory Committee

• Arenas Parks and Recreation advisory Committee

• Arts and Culture Advisory Committee

• Citizens’ War Memorial

• Museum and Archives Advisory Committee

• Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee

• Peterborough Public Library

• Planning Advisory Committee

• Property Standards Committee

• Transit Liaison Committee (One committee member must be a user of the accessible transit service)

Residents interested in serving on a City board or committee can obtain an application form from the Clerk’s Office at City Hall. Application forms can be completed online from the City’s website.

Completed applications must be returned by Feb. 14. An interview may be required for some positions.

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Peterborough County Hosting First Municipal Job Fair For Students On Feb. 13

Peterborough County is hosting its first-ever municipal job fair for post-secondary students from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Healthy Planet Arena on Feb. 13.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough County.

“For post-secondary students seeking meaningful and impactful careers, municipal government offers a diverse range of exciting opportunities,” said Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden. “I encourage you to attend our upcoming job fair to explore the wide range of available summer student positions. By working for a municipality, students will discover fulfilling career paths after graduation and contribute their skills and talents to building strong and vibrant communities.”

The job fair brings together representatives from four local municipalities, such as Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, Selwyn Township and the Municipality of Trent Lakes, to showcase municipal work's opportunities.

Students have an opportunity to speak directly with hiring managers about various summer positions and learn why municipal work is a valuable and fulfilling career choice.

This event offers attendees:

• Information on available summer job opportunities.

• Insight into the benefits of municipal employment, such as skill- building, resume development, and contributing to the community.

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Peterborough Petes Unveil Pink in the Rink Jerseys; Donations Being Accepted to Support Pedal For Hope

The Peterborough Petes have unveiled their 2025 Pink in the Rink jerseys to be worn on Feb. 1, in support of Pedal for Hope, announced on Monday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The game is when they host the rival Oshawa Generals. The jerseys were designed by Kyle McDonald of Pioneer Inc. and feature two special shoulder patches. The left shoulder bears the Canadian Cancer Society logo, while the right shoulder shows the logo of this year’s ambassador, Pedal for Hope.

The Pedal for Hope tour is a part of Cops for Cancer at the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). In addition to supporting pediatric cancer research, the Pedal for Hope tour also raises funds to support the Pediatric Family Counselling Service. This program provides support to families and children coping with a cancer diagnosis, as well as young adults who have surpassed their diagnosis as they transition into adulthood.

Last season, the Petes Pink in the Rink Campaign surpassed the $1 million mark in funds raised for cancer research over the 15-year history of the event. The team announced a fundraising goal of $50,000 on Nov. 28. Fans can donate to the 16th annual Pink in the Rink Campaign online.

The Pink in the Rink Campaign will be supported by several activations this year. In addition to the Pink in the Rink t-shirts, an in-person silent auction during the game and an in-person game-worn jersey auction will take place on the ice post-game.

This year, fans are encouraged to send pictures of their loved ones battling cancer. The pictures will be featured on the video board during the game. Pictures can be emailed to imacgregor@gopetesgo.com before Wednesday at 11:59 p.m.

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Media Spell Out First-Ever Victory Over Rotarians To Promote Rotary Club of Peterborough's Kids 11th Annual Spelling Bee On May 3

To promote the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s 11th Annual Regional School Spelling Bee for grade-school children, the media got their first win over the Rotarians in a friendly competition at the McDonnel Street Community Centre on Monday afternoon.

Tiffany Arcari (right) effortlessly spells a word correctly to help Peterborough media defeat the Rotarians for the first time since it began in 2023. Photo by David Tuan bui.

Since 2023, media —including yours truly— has been pitted against Rotarians in a spelling bee competition, similar to what the kids will deal with.

Representing the local media were the Peterborough Examiner, The Tiffany Show/YourTV, KawarthaNow/Freq 90.5/Oldies 96.7, 100.5 Fresh Radio and PTBOCanada.

Tiffany Arcari of The Tiffany Show and Joelle Kovach of the Peterborough Examiner were the last two competitors standing to give the media their first-ever win against the Rotarians. The latter won in the head-to-head competition between the final contestants.

The kids event is divided into two groups. The Junior Division for Grades 4-6 runs at 9 a.m. and the Senior Division for Grades 7-8 starts at 1 p.m. at Fleming College on May 3.

Prizes for this year’s participants include week-long sessions at Camp Kawartha and Trent Excalibur Camp, Lazer Tag Parties at Zap Attack, gift cards for lessons at the Art School of Peterborough, Bikes and Art Supplies from Crayola.

The Rotary is asking any local schools in the region that want to participate or local businesses to sponsor the event to e-mail Spelling Bee Co-Chairs Mary-Anne Greco and Donna-Marie Fennel at spellingbee@peterboroughrotary.ca.

Editor’s note: I was eliminated in the fourth round last year with “legitimacy.” I was eliminated this year in the second round with “thoroughly.”

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Community Futures Peterborough Launches New Advisory Suite For Local Entrepreneur Support

The Business Advisory Centre (BAC) and Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) have officially launched their Advisory Suite to support local entrepreneurs, announced on Monday.

Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough.

The suite is located on the renovated basement level of the Venture North building. It has a fully furnished space equipped with a 360-degree camera device for meetings and virtual workshops, a collaborative workspace and a dedicated confidential advisory area.

“The new Advisory Suite at the Business Advisory Centre will be more than just a meeting space; it’s a haven for creativity, ingenuity, and problem-solving,” says Rose Terry, BAC manager. “Here, we are dedicated to walking alongside entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey—whether starting, growing, or scaling their businesses. This unique expansion of our offices at Venture North are designed to inspire and motivate. It will act as a resource hub with the support needed to turn visions into reality.”

The expansion alleviates the space constraints and enhances CFP’s capacity to deliver tailored support and resources to a rapidly growing number of entrepreneur clients, according to Devon Girard, CFP executive director.

“The Suite reflects our mission to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing them with the advisory services, business programs, and environment they need to succeed,” she said. “It enhances our ability to offer one-on-one guidance and creates a dedicated workshop space allowing for increased collaboration among local business owners.”

Lindsey Irwin, BAC cusiness advisor says the Suite is strategically designed to foster connectivity and accessibility, offering an ideal venue for small workshops, meetings and mentoring sessions.

“We’ve been inundated with business owners, each with unique ideas, hopes, and dreams for their businesses,” she explained. “This space gives them the chance to speak freely and confidentially, fostering genuine conversations and meaningful support.”

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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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