Snofest to Bring Winter Fun On Family Day Weekend
/The City of Peterborough is putting on a weekend of winter fun, skating, stories and pancakes as Snofest returns, starting Friday until Monday.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
Peterborough Blogs
City of Peterborough to Receive Over $10 Million Over Three Years Through the Housing Accelerator Fund
/The City of Peterborough will receive $10,690,354 in funding over three years through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).
Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.
It is a federal program run by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to support building more housing in Peterborough.
“Housing is a critical need in our community. This funding will help Peterborough build the foundation for greater housing development in our community. I would like to thank the federal government and the CMHC for recognizing the urgency here in Peterborough,” said Mayor Jeff Leal.
A City Council report in March will outline details about the initiatives and next steps.
The City’s HAF Action Plan aims to unlock housing development by providing direct incentives for constructing additional dwelling units, missing middle housing such as triplexes and fourplexes, and affordable housing and making systemic changes to municipal policies and procedures according to the City.
The following is the list of initiatives that make up the City’s Action Plan:
Reduce or eliminate residential parking requirements;
End exclusionary zoning and incentivize missing middle housing;
Increase process efficiency by implementing a public-facing e-permitting portal;
Implement a Community Planning Permit System;
Make City-owned land available and foster partnerships to develop housing;
Formalize processes and resources to support housing innovation and alternative construction methods; and,
Modernizing the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan.
The HAF grant will cover the cost of implementing these initiatives. Most of these initiatives are scheduled to be completed or implemented this year.
The City has already received 25 per cent of the funding. The remaining installments will be paid out as the City hits key milestones in its goal to issue residential construction permits for 1,410 housing units within the next three years.
This funding follows a successful application by the City during the second round of funding announced by the CMHC.
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18 Growth-Stage Companies Accepted into Innovation Cluster's LevelUp For $10,000 Prize
/Peterborough and the Kawarthas (Innovation Cluster) has launched the first 2025 cohort of LevelUp, its business accelerator program for technology companies with a minimum viable product (MVP).
File Photo.
LevelUP’s 12-week program is designed to help innovative tech-based businesses commercialize and scale. It includes branding, revenue models, product management, go-to-market plans, customer acquisition, funding and exit strategies. On April 30, this LevelUP cohort concludes with a pitch competition in which eight participating companies will compete for a $10,000 cash prize.
The pitch competition is made possible by the following industry-leading companies that are each sponsoring both 2025 LevelUP cohorts:
Matrix Venture Studio is a boutique consulting firm dedicated to empowering immigrant entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals, and growing businesses in Canada to achieve their entrepreneurial goals and build successful ventures.
LaunchPath is a business incubator and accelerator that helps businesses launch and grow in Canada by offering various services, from coaching and mentorship to funding and resources.
Innovation Venture Farm Inc. is a forward-thinking, entrepreneurial hub that provides innovators with the resources, mentorship, and funding to turn groundbreaking ideas into successful products.
“The popularity and quality of companies applying to LevelUP demonstrate the need that entrepreneurs in the region have in scaling their businesses,” said Zahra Shafiei, Program Lead. In helping these companies navigate growth challenges and accelerate their businesses, the Innovation Cluster is honoured to be part of their success.”
Open to companies across the province, each ‘LevelUp’ cohort has been oversubscribed.
The companies accepted into the Spring 2025 LevelUp cohort are:
Assertive AI
Cherie AI
DocumentPro
FuturU Global Health, Inc.
Happy Cramps
Her Yes Club
Leapon
MainLogix Technology
MantaHQ
Morphace, Inc.
MYWALLAPP
Ninichef Education Labs, Inc.
Parham PKM
Reziland
Salleo
Sanostrategy Corporation
Storetune Fashion Retail, Inc.
Yadag Technologies, Inc.
Upon completing LevelUP, participating businesses will be prepared to market test and scale their business with a realistic go-to-market strategy and investor pitch.
The second 2025 cohort will begin on Aug. 6 and will be offered free of charge to participants. The Innovation Cluster encourages all growth-stage technology companies that have achieved MVP or are deploying it to apply by July 15.
Eligibility Requirements:
Open to entrepreneurs in sectors such as Clean Tech, Healthcare Tech, AgTech, and Digital IT.
Must be an innovation-driven business with a MVP and a team committed to growth and collaboration.
Must be a company based in Ontario.
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Peterborough Petes Sign American Goaltender to OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement
/The Peterborough Petes has signed American goaltender Dylan Lee-Stack to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement, announced Monday.
Photo courtesy of Kenneth andersen and the Peterborough Petes.
The New York, N.Y. native attended both Petes development and training camp as an undrafted free agent last year. Last season, the 2007-born goaltender played 18 games for the Yale Jr. Bulldogs 16U, with a 2.83 GAA. He also played in eight games for Brunswick School in Connecticut, picking up a 1.86 GAA and a .927 save percentage.
“Dylan had a great camp with us in August,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “He had an opportunity to go back to Brunswick School this season, where we’ve been able to monitor his development both on video and in person. He’s a composed, young goaltender and we’re looking forward to having him join the team in the future.”
Last month, Lee-Stack was ranked 30th for North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term Rankings for the 2025 NHL draft. He joins Carson Cameron (87), Caden Taylor (113), and Aiden Young (183), who were also mentioned in the rankings. This year, Lee-Stack has suited up for the Yale Jr. Bulldogs 18U and Brunswick School, where he will finish the season.
“I’d also like to acknowledge the work that Head Coach Mike Kennedy and the rest of the staff who work with Dylan at Brunswick have put in to further his development over the past two years,” said Oke. “They’ve done a great job in preparing him for this next step in his career.”
The Petes continue their road trip as they will take on the Ottawa 67’s on Wednesday. The game is the first leg of a home-and-home series being played on back-to-back days. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at TD Place.
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Peterborough Man Arrested For Mischief After Pulling Fire Alarm and Thermometer
/A 30-year-old Peterborough man is facing charges after a disturbance at a Peterborough business on Friday.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 1:30 p.m., a man was causing a disturbance in the Bethune Street and Charlotte Street area. He pulled the fire alarm and pulled a thermostat from the wall. Through investigation, a suspect was identified and officers with Community FIRST were able to locate the man a short distance away and take him into custody.
The man arrested and charged with:
Mischief Under $ 5,000
Fail to Comply with Probation Order X3
The accused is currently bound by three probation orders with the following condition: to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
The accused was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on March 18.
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Peterborough Petes Get the Split in Back-to-Back Road Games
/The Peterborough Petes split their back-to-back road games, taking a loss over the London Knights but earning a shootout win over the Sarnia Sting.
Photo courtesy of Tyler Bennett and the Peterborough Petes.
The Petes took a 3-1 loss to the Knights at Canada Life Place on Friday night.
Petes goaltender Easton Rye stopped 35/38 shots in the loss. Colin Fitzgerald had the team’s lone goal while Braydon McCallum picked up an assist, extending his point streak to five games. The game was a milestone for second-year forward Brody Partridge, who skated in his 100th OHL contest.
Peterborough bounced back with a 3-2 shootout win over Sarnia at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena on Saturday night.
Francis Parish scored his fourth and fifth goals of the season, both in the second period. Fitzgerald had two assists, while Aiden Young and Carson Cameron had one assist each. Rye stopped 25/27 shots and two in the shootout to pick up his ninth win.
The Petes continue their road trip as they will take on the Ottawa 67’s on Wednesday. The game is the first leg of a home-and-home series being played on back-to-back days. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at TD Place.
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Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Trent Valley Honda, Escape Maze, Chocolate Creations Festival and Provincial Debate
/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…
Trent Valley Honda is celebrating 50 years in business here in the community.
This family-founded business has grown and become a pillar in the local business community since getting its start in 1975. To mark the occasion, Monika Carmichael and the team at Trent Valley Honda are pledging to give back to 50 local charities as a thank you to the community that has supported them over the decades. This includes a $10,000 donation to Junior Achievement for their 10 for 10 initiative, empowering youth through financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurial education.
Escape Maze has a busy winter planned.
There’s a brand-new escape room called The Candy Factory, which opens for booking starting Feb. 15. Old-timey photos are back for a limited one-week run starting Family Day. After that there’s a March Break camp for kids, a paint and escape special event, and jigsaw puzzle competition and much more. Escape Maze is also putting in a disc golf course and is looking for hole sponsors. Find out more at escapemaze.ca or drop by 156 Cedar Bank Road just south of Peterborough.
There are still a few days left to check out the Chocolate Creations Festival in Lakefield.
Hosted by the Lakefield Village Lions Club, you can discover some delicious and creative chocolate-themed treats around town and help crown the ultimate Chocolate Champions. Taste, enjoy, and cast your vote for your favorites in Food, Drink, and Creativity. You have until Feb. 18 to sample some sweet goods from local shops, restaurants, cafes, and bakeries.
There’s a provincial election underway and the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce is putting business issues to the forefront with two events.
There’s a Coffee with the Candidates event on Thursday at the Lakefield Community Centre at the arena from 9 to 10 a.m. There will also be an all candidates debate on Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Market Hall. The focus will be on local business issues and all are welcome at these free events.
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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Peterborough Petes Raise $45,153 For 16th Annual Pink in the Rink Campaign
/The Peterborough Petes have officially announced their fundraising total for the 16th Annual Pink in the Rink Campaign, raising $45,153 in support of Pedal for Hope, a part of Cops for Cancer at the Canadian Cancer Society, announced on Friday.
Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.
This year’s campaign featured a month-long fundraising effort, including an online donation page, t-shirts, window stickers, and replica jersey sales. The Petes hosted their Pink in the Rink Game against the Oshawa Generals on Saturday. More fundraising took place during the game, with a silent auction, Chuck-A-Pep, and on-ice game jersey auction all adding to the total.
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 much-needed 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.
The Petes hit the road as they travel to London to take on the defending-champion London Knights. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Canada Life Place.
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Trent University Appoints Interim Vice President
/Dr. Mark Skinner has been announced as Trent University’s interim provost and vice-president, effective June 1, as Dr. Michael Khan takes on a new role as president of Saint Mary’s University in July.
Dr. Mark Skinner, new interim VP, Academic. Photo courtesy of Trent University.
Since 2018, Skinner has served as dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, overseeing Trent’s most prominent academic division and playing a pivotal role in faculty renewal, program development, and interdisciplinary growth according to Dr. Cathy Bruce, Trent president and vice-chancellor.
“Dr. Skinner’s extensive experience and commitment to advancing Trent’s academic excellence make him ideal to lead as Provost and VP Academic,” she said. “As a leader, researcher, and educator, he has long been a champion for student success, faculty scholarship, innovative programming and community engagement. We look forward to his leadership in this interim role as we continue to build on Trent’s strong academic foundation.”
Since joining Trent as a geography professor in 2006, Dr. Skinner has held various leadership positions, including founding director of the Trent Centre for Aging & Society and Canada Research Chair in Rural Aging. As dean, he has worked with Dr. Khan to strengthen Trent’s academic offerings in the humanities, social sciences and business. His contributions to University initiatives include Trent’s sector-leading Indigenous course requirement and the research and teaching agreement that is pivotal to the University’s future Seniors Village.
“I love the Trent community and believe strongly in the values that nurture and sustain our exceptional student learning experience,” said Dr. Skinner. “I look forward to leading and supporting our inspiring faculty as we continue to create opportunities for students to explore their interests, expand their horizons and succeed in building meaningful and impactful careers.”
Dr. Michael Khan, new president, Saint Mary's University. Photo courtesy of Trent University.
