Peterborough Petes Are Blanked In Nation's Capital By Ottawa 67's
/The Peterborough Petes could not find the back of the net and were shut out 3-0 to the Ottawa 67’s at TD Place on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of Tim Austen and the Peterborough Petes.
Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough Man Arrested In Niagara Falls After Possessing a Stolen Car and Three Handguns; Firearms Still Missing
/A 20-year-old Peterborough man was arrested in Niagara Falls following the theft of a vehicle and three handguns on Tuesday afternoon.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 7:30 p.m. on Monday, a car and three handguns had been stolen from a Peterborough residence. Investigation revealed that the vehicle and suspect were in Niagara Falls. Niagara Regional Police Service officers were able to locate the suspect and took him into custody.
Investigators with the Peterborough Police Service brought him back to Peterborough and he was charged with:
Theft of Motor Vehicle
Theft Under $5000
Fail to Comply with Release Order X2
Fail to Comply with Probation Order X2
The accused is being held in custody and will appear in court on Thursday.
The firearms have not yet been recovered. 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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Downtown Holiday Parking Program Raises Over $12,000 For Kawartha Food Share
/The City of Peterborough’s free holiday downtown parking program raised $12,001.77 for Kawartha Food Share that was collected as voluntary parking payments, announced on Wednesday.
The Kawartha Food Share currently assists 14,000 people each month through its 36 member agencies, along with supporting 17,000 schoolchildren at 51 area schools through breakfast and nutrition programs. The free two-hour program first began in 2003. Since then, downtown patrons have helped donate $251,627.65 to Kawartha Food Share. Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
The program offered free, two-hour parking in all municipal spaces in the downtown core from Nov. 29 to Dec. 31 and was sponsored by Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers.
“By voluntarily paying for parking, downtown visitors not only supported local businesses but also raised more than $12,000 for Kawartha Food Share. This one simple gesture turned into a powerful act of giving that will make a real difference for those in need,” said Mayor Jeff Leal.
“Thanks to the incredible generosity and community spirit of downtown visitors we’ve seen an overwhelming response to our free holiday parking program. This truly reflects the heart and soul of our city—compassionate, giving, and always ready to support one another,” said Town Ward Councillors Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica in a joint statement.
“Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers was proud to once again partner with the City of Peterborough for this important cause,” said Bill Wolfe, with Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers. “We appreciate the support and generosity of shoppers and residents who made voluntary donations during the holiday season. These funds, through the support of Kawartha Food Share, will help reduce food insecurity throughout the region.”
“We are very thankful for the continued support of the City of Peterborough and the wonderful citizens who visited and shopped downtown this holiday season. This donation will allow us to purchase much-needed nutritious food items for community members in need,” said Ashlee Aitken, KFS general manager.
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All PVNC Buildings Closed Due to Forecasted Weather For Thursday
/Due to extreme snowfall and weather forecasted to develop across regions of the Board throughout Wednesday evening and tomorrow, all PVNC Catholic schools, buildings, and worksites, including the Catholic Education Centre, will be closed on Thursday to students and staff.
File Photo.
Before and after-school programs will be cancelled.
Full-day childcare programs that operate within our schools will message families independently.
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Nominations Are Open For 2024 Civic Awards Nominations
/Nominations for the City of Peterborough 2024 Civic Awards will be open until April 11 at 4:30 p.m., announced on Wednesday.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF PETERBOROUGH.
The Civic Awards recognize those who had a positive impact in the City of Peterborough through sports, arts, culture or volunteer work.
“The Civic Awards are an opportunity to celebrate those who give their time, energy and passion to make Peterborough a better place. I encourage all residents to recognize and celebrate those efforts by nominating deserving individuals and groups,” said Mayor Jeff Leal.
Nominations are being accepted for the following categories:
Adult Athlete of the Year
Athletic Award of Merit
Community Betterment
Cultural Betterment
Environmental Stewardship
Holnbeck Award
Junior Athlete of the Year
Lifetime Achievement Award
Mayor’s Youth Award
Senior Athlete of the Year
Volunteer of the Year
Youth Volunteer of the Year
Nominees must be a resident and/or a property owner in the City. Those living outside the city can be recognized if they are part of a city group or team and receive an award. Holnbeck Award nominees can be residents of either the City or County of Peterborough. All nominees must be volunteers.
Applications are available online or paper copies can be obtained at the Clerk's Office at City Hall, 500 George St. N.
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Voice of Business: Reconsidering Interprovincial Trade Barriers
/
The temporary implementation of U.S. tariffs by President Donald Trump, followed by a pause until March 4, has reignited discussions about improving domestic trade.
In response, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, along with many other provincial chambers, has renewed its call to remove interprovincial trade barriers.
With the U.S. being Canada’s largest trading partner and thousands of Canadian jobs relying on the American economy, it is crucial to look inward and mitigate potential risks associated with a trade war. The pause in tariffs has forced Canada to rethink its trade strategy, leading to efforts to strengthen relationships with European and other global partners. Amidst these shifts, calls to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers have gained momentum, as doing so could add an estimated $200 billion to annual GDP.
The debate over interprovincial trade barriers has persisted for decades, but recent U.S. trade policies have intensified the urgency. While removing these barriers may not replace Canada’s trade relationship with the U.S., experts argue that it is a crucial step toward economic resilience. This edition of Voice of Business will examine the impact of interprovincial trade barriers, current restrictions between provinces, and the future of interprovincial trade and its benefits for businesses.
Interprovincial trade barriers create inefficiencies in multiple industries, including product sales, trucking regulations, and labour mobility (licensing and certification requirements). One of the most well-known examples is alcohol sales. Each province has its own regulations for selling alcohol, making it difficult for businesses to operate across borders. These barriers increase compliance costs and reduce business opportunities.
For instance, in Quebec, only the provincial alcohol corporation, Société des Alcools du Québec (SAQ), has the legal authority to import alcohol. Even individuals bringing alcohol into Quebec must file an online declaration form, regardless of whether the alcohol is a gift or personal purchase. This creates significant hurdles for Ontario businesses trying to expand into Quebec.
Another major barrier is trucking regulations. Different provinces impose varying restrictions on truck weights and loads, limiting the ability of businesses to transport goods efficiently. For example, Nova Scotia enforces strict weight limits, restricting certain types of cargo from entering the province. Additionally, direct-to-consumer shipping alcohol is restricted in several provinces, further complicating interprovincial commerce. While these regulations are often intended to protect local businesses, they ultimately hinder economic growth and business expansion.
The federal government has acknowledged these challenges and has expressed its commitment to addressing them. However, because trade regulations fall under provincial jurisdiction, the responsibility lies with the provinces to harmonize rules and ease restrictions. Some progress has been made. In 2017, the federal, provincial, and territorial governments signed the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), committing to reducing trade barriers. In early 2024, agreements were approved for 17 of the 30 restricted sectors, but key barriers remain. Provinces have taken independent steps, such as Alberta and British Columbia reducing alcohol trade restrictions and the Atlantic Growth Strategy (launched in 2016) harmonizing licensing requirements for skilled trades.
With new U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum already in place and more expected in early March, Canada must act quickly to support businesses. By removing interprovincial trade barriers, businesses can offset some of the negative effects of external trade restrictions and strengthen the domestic economy. Minister of Transport, Anita Anand has suggested that trade barriers could be eliminated within a month if provinces collaborate. However, achieving meaningful progress requires a coordinated effort to streamline trade regulations, standardize trucking policies, and improve labour mobility.
By fostering a truly open domestic market, Canada can better support its businesses and ensure long-term economic growth—regardless of external pressures.
Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.
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City of Peterborough Declares Significant Weather Event For Wednesday
/The City of Peterborough is declaring a Significant Weather Event to alert the community about the major winter storm expected to begin Wednesday evening through to Thursday.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
The potential for blizzard conditions and snowfall overnight could pose a danger to users of City roads, sidewalks, and bike lanes. Due to the anticipated accumulation volume, the City says snow-clearing operations will take longer than usual to complete.
“Declaring a Significant Weather Event is a way to advise residents, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists that clearing snow and treating surfaces on roads, sidewalks and bike lanes can be expected to be delayed compared to typical levels of service, due to the potential severity of the approaching storm,” said John Czerniawski, Manager, Public Works Operations.
City of Peterborough Public Works staff are tracking weather radar and preparing operations according to forecasts indicating snowfall between 15 and 30 cm overnight on Wednesday, with peak snowfall rates of two to four cm per hour and high wind gusts. Crews are also monitoring a second winter storm system expected on the weekend.
The City is prepared to deploy the full complement of 18 plow trucks, 11 sidewalk plows, two graders, 7 loaders and backhoes and four light sanding units, with winter abrasives and de-icers stocked and staff ready to be deployed.
Crews will focus on arterial and collector roads first, with residential streets, sidewalks and trails to be addressed as resources and conditions allow. Work will continue until the City’s 978 kilometres of roads, 450 km of sidewalks, 39 kilometres of trails and 650 bus stops are cleared. When snow clearing operations on roads, sidewalks, trails and bus stops are complete, snow removal will begin at 250 locations including cul de sacs, dead ends and wide corners. Residents are reminded that there may be delays to this work based on available resources.
Municipalities can declare a Significant Weather Event under the Municipal Act, 2001, O. Reg. 239/02, relating to maintaining municipal roads, sidewalks and bike lanes. During a significant weather event, residents are advised to use caution and are reminded that typical winter maintenance service levels for roads may not be met.
Motorists are advised to avoid unnecessary travel and to adjust their driving based on the conditions. Visibility may be reduced.
Go slow
Watch for taillights ahead
Be prepared to stop
Road users and pedestrians are asked to leave crews the space to safely and effectively clean city streets, sidewalks and trails. Peterborough Transit may adjust service, including designated snow routes, in response to weather conditions. The City thanks residents for their assistance and patience while the snow-clearing work is underway.
Winter parking restrictions are in place and parking is prohibited on all City streets from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. every night. Additionally, residents are asked not to park on City streets for the duration of the storm to allow for effective snow clearing. Free overnight parking is available in municipal parking garages and surface lots during snowstorms. Drivers can use the parking garage entrance ticket for a free ride home on Peterborough Transit.
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City Reminds Public of Weather Services While Peterborough Is Under a Winter Storm Watch
/Peterborough has a winter storm watch in effect for the area with potentially another 20 to 40 centimetres of snow in the forecast for Wednesday evening into Thursday afternoon.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
According to an Environment Canada monitoring station in the City’s north end, there was a recorded 30 centimetres of snow accumulation as of early this week, compared to three centimetres at the same time last year.
The City of Peterborough reminds residents to stay safe and follow winter parking restrictions to keep routes clear for snow plows.
The City’s Public Works division maintains 978 lane kilometres of road, 450 kilometres of sidewalks, 39 kilometres of trails, and 650 bus stops, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Snow-clearing operations are based on a priority route system.
Roads that see the highest traffic volume, are on transit routes or pass by the hospital are the highest priority for maintenance in winter weather. Arterial and collector roads are cleared first as required by legislated standards.
Once the arterial and collector roads are clear or safe, snow-clearing operations shift to residential or local streets.
Depending on the storm's severity, the time it takes to finish snow clearing can vary. A big storm with snowfall over a long period may mean it takes longer to clear snow from neighbourhood streets.
The City follows the provincial guidelines set under the Municipal Act, 2001, O. Reg. 239/02: Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways. The regulations categorize and prioritize roads based on traffic volumes and speed limits – the greater the volume of traffic and the greater the speed limit on the roads, the greater the priority for snow and ice clearing. The guidelines also include standards for the winter maintenance of bike lanes along roads and sidewalks.
From Dec. 1 to April 1, parking is prohibited on all City streets from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. to allow for quicker snow clearing at a lower cost because crews will not have to return to areas where vehicles were parked. The penalty for a violation is $35.
During a snowstorm, when snow-clearing operations are underway, parking is prohibited on all City streets between midnight and 8 a.m. The penalty for violating this By-Law is $80 and vehicles may be towed.
Free overnight parking is available at all municipal lots, the King Street Parkade and the Simcoe Parking Garage. Those parking overnight at either parking garage can use the gate arm ticket for a free transit trip home.
Residents must clear their driveways and ensure snowbanks do not block sight lines. It is illegal to deposit snow from a driveway or parking lot on a roadway and can result in a ticket under the Highway Traffic Act.
For waste collection in winter when there is snow accumulation, green bins and recycling bins should be placed on cleared driveways or areas on the boulevard, not on top of a snowbank or in the roadway.
There should be two feet of space around the Green Bin to allow the mechanical arm to lift the bin.
Bins should not be placed on the road. Bins on the road can interfere with snow removal operations and block traffic.
When road conditions become slippery during heavy snowfalls, Peterborough Transit may adjust operations and specific bus routes to follow designated snow routes when necessary. If Snow Routes are activated, information will be posted on peterborough.ca, and updates will be provided on Peterborough Transit and City of Peterborough social media accounts.
The following routes have designated Snow Routes:
Route 4 Weller
Route 6 Sherbrooke
Route 8 Monaghan
Route 11A Water
Community Bus 22 - Blue
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Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival Sets 2025 Fundraising Goal; Team Registration Opens Saturday
/The 24th-annual Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival has set its 2025 fundraising goal of $260,018.01 for the PRHC Foundation and registration for the event opens this Saturday.
To date, the Festival has raised over 4.5 million dollars. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival.
Michelle Thornton, festival chair, explains the precise amount of this year’s fundraising goal.
“The two represents the two out of five Canadians who will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime. The 60 is to bring attention to the PRHC Foundation’s 60 million dollar ‘ReImagine Health Care’ campaign that we are a part of,” she explained. “In keeping with our mandate of raising awareness about breast cancer, the 18 is for the one in eight women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and the 0.01 is the percentage of men who will also face a breast cancer diagnosis.”
“But most importantly, what’s raised here, stays here,” said Thornton. “We all know someone who has been affected by cancer and if we keep paddling together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of family, friends and neighbours in our region, who are facing this rotten disease.”
The event is hosted by the Survivors Abreast Peterborough Dragon Boat Team. It has fundraised for the PRHC Foundation since 2001.
Ann Stabler, Survivors Abreast team President, said they are proud of the outstanding community work the team has done since its inception in 1999.
“We’ve always focussed on breast cancer awareness and raising funds for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre,” she explained. “We know firsthand the importance of the work the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation (PRHCF) does and their continuing mission to bring the best cancer care the world has to offer right here to our hospital.”
“We’re excited to get back out on the water this June, paddling for a cause that has touched so many lives,” said Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation President and CEO. “As cancer volumes continue to rise in Peterborough and the surrounding area, it’s more important than ever to invest in state-of-the-art technology and equipment our regional hospital needs to care for our family, friends and neighbours. The support from Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival is absolutely vital to ensuring PRHC has the tools to provide world-class cancer care, close to home. We're so grateful for the Festival's commitment to cancer care and the Campaign for PRHC.”
This year’s event is back at Del Crary Park and features Dragon Boat Races, artisan and food vendors, a Family Fun Zone, a beer garden and more.
All pledges support the cause as the Festival is funded through local businesses and organizations.
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Peterborough Police Seeking Two Theft Suspects Involved In Pickpocketing At Lansdowne Place Parking Lot
/The Peterborough Police Service are seeking two suspects involved in a pickpocketing incident at the Lansdowne Place Mall parking lot that occurred Monday.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 1 p.m., a 75-year-old resident reported that he had been running errands when a man and a woman in the north parking lot at Lansdowne Place Mall near Lansdowne Street and Monaghan Road approached him.
The woman said he had something on his coat and started trying to clean him off when the man approached and started helping her despite the victim declining their help. When they left him, he noticed his wallet was missing and about $4,000 had been taken through his cards before they could be cancelled.
The suspects were described to police as:
Suspect #1
White, female
5’6
150 lbs.
Wearing a dark hat and dark coat, medical mask on her face and what sounded like an Eastern European accent
Suspect #2
White, male
5’10
180 lbs.
Wearing a grey coat with a multi-coloured scarf, wearing a medical mask and also had what sounded like an Eastern European accent
