Ontario Raising Minimum Wage On Oct. 1
/In an effort to support workers and businesses, the Ontario government is increasing the minimum wage from $17.20 to $17.60 an hour effective Oct. 1.
Screenshot.
Peterborough Blogs
Women’s Adventures in Golf Opens Registration For 2025 Season
/Women’s Adventures in Golf (WAG) has officially opened registration for its 2025 season with six events scheduled, announced Wednesday evening.
Photo courtesy of WAG.
The six-event series is designed for women of all skill levels. It also has a charitable aspect, as in 2024, WAG raised over $5,000 for five local charities and welcomed more than 200 women.
“WAG was created to open the doors of golf for women by creating a relaxed and fun atmosphere that is inviting, warm and accepting,” said Susan Williamson, WAG founder. “Supporting each other as we learn the nuances of the game is the goal of WAG. The themed focus allows women to laugh and recognize that we all start at the same place in the sport.”
Women can design their own experience by choosing their rounds, adding cart or lunch options and can select their playing format. Each 18-hole shotgun scramble event includes a light-hearted themed game with prizes and optional donations to a local charity to grant an advantage in the game.
2025 Event Lineup:
May 18 – Pre-Season Social @ Rolling Grape Vineyard
May 24 – Jailbreak Round @ Warkworth GC
June 22 – She CAN Round @ LiftLock GC
July 13 – Wheel of Life Round @ Katchiwano GC
August 24 – Jetsetter Round @ Heron Landing GC
September 14 – Mystery at the Club @ Katchiwano GC
Participants can register as individuals or in groups of up to four. Registration can be done online or by emailing info@golfwithwag.ca.
Photo courtesy of WAG.
City Conducting Wellness Checks For Vulnerable Residents
/The City of Peterborough Social Services division and Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association (OSARVA) members are checking in on the City’s most vulnerable residents after last weekend’s ice storm that hit the area.
Photo by Aaron Elliott.
The City is actively tracking the power outage status of community housing providers. Prioritizing seniors, residents with disabilities and vulnerable residents, OSARVA members conduct door-to-door wellness checks and deliver food hampers.
“In times like these, the strength of our community shines through. Volunteers from the Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association, City staff, and organizations like Kawartha Food Share have stepped up to ensure that our most vulnerable residents are safe, fed, and supported,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “Thank you to everyone who has given their time and energy to help those in need. Let’s all take a moment to check in on our neighbors, lend a hand where we can, and continue to care for one another as we recover from this storm.”
Food hampers are coordinated through Kawartha Food Share and Feed Ontario. Around 500 hamper boxes will be distributed within the next few days according to the City.
OSARVA members have also been providing support on warming buses and at the City’s warming centres, volunteering throughout the day and night alongside City social services staff.
Social Services staff have been operating out of the Healthy Planet Arena, providing referrals to residents looking for warmth, food and a space to charge their devices. The team has also been helping young children stay occupied and entertained while they are at warming centres.
With power outages continuing, the City encourages residents to check in on neighbours and loved ones.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Team Rubicon Canada Deploys Volunteers To Aid Peterborough In Ice Storm Recovery
/Team Rubicon Canada is sending volunteers to Peterborough to assist residents with downed trees and storm debris on their properties that started on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of Team Rubicon Canada.
This is not the first time the group has aided Peterborough. Its members came during the City’s derecho storm in May 2022.
“Our community extends a heartfelt thank you to the volunteers with Team Rubicon Canada for helping residents recover from the damage following the severe ice storm,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “Many residents may not be physically able to remove downed trees and storm debris on their property, and it could be a financial hardship. It’s a distressing situation. I’m grateful to the volunteers with Team Rubicon for providing a helping hand through this difficult time.”
Team Rubicon Canada issued the following statement:
“We understand this is a stressful time for many in our community. In the wake of the recent weather event, Team Rubicon Canada is on the ground and ready to assist.
We are a non-profit organization that unites the skills and experience of military veterans and first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. Our services are provided free of charge to those in need.
If your property has been impacted by downed trees or storm debris, we’re here to help. Our trained volunteers will conduct a damage assessment and evaluate the debris caused by the storm. Based on your individual situation, our teams will respond accordingly—getting to work on debris management and removal at no cost to you.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d be honoured to serve you.”
To contact Team Rubicon for assistance, please email request_assistance@teamrubicon.ca clearly indicating the location—whether the address is in the City of Peterborough or Peterborough County—or call 647-473-8655.
As part of the storm response, the city has waived tipping fees for residential yard waste and tree debris at the City-County Landfill, 1260 Bensfort Rd., until April 14.
Regular curbside yard waste collection services began this week.
The City will provide curbside tree debris chipping services for debris that is too large for the regular curbside yard waste collection service once resources are available to divert to that activity. Currently, resources are being directed to the storm response efforts to address hazardous and critical conditions. An update will be provided when the curbside chipping service activity is scheduled.
The City does not maintain trees on private property.
As a result of the ice storm, the City is temporarily waiving the permit requirement until April 14 for residents to remove trees on private property that have been destroyed, destabilized or structurally compromised as a direct result of the ice storm, with the following condition:
Residents must send email notification to treebylaw@peterborough.ca providing photos, property address, tree species information including diameter, and provide the physiological and structural condition of the tree preferably prior to removing the tree or as soon as possible after removing a tree.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Peterborough Woman Arrested For Stealing From Downtown Business and Punching An Employee
/A 29-year-old Peterborough woman is facing charges including theft and assault after an incident at a downtown business on Wednesday.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 3:30 p.m., a disturbance occurred at a George Street and Murray Street area business. A woman had entered the business, taken items from the store including from a customer and punched an employee when asked to leave. The suspect left the scene after the hit.
Officers located a woman matching the description given to police across the street and took her into custody.
She was arrested and charged with:
Assault
Theft Under $5,000
Fail to Comply with Probation Order
The accused is currently bound by a probation order with the following condition: to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
She is being held in custody and will appear in court on Thursday.
Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Fleming College to Host Two Football Championships This Weekend
/The 2025 Intercollegiate Flag Provincial Championship and Adult Flag Circuit Championship will take place at Fleming College this weekend and Sunday.
Photo courtesy of Fleming College.
The event is in partnership with Football Ontario, Fleming College, the City of Peterborough and the NFL’s Detroit Lions.
“Hosting the Intercollegiate Provincial 5v5 Non-Contact Flag Football Championship, and Adult Flag Football Circuit is an exciting opportunity for Peterborough to showcase our great sports facilities and reputation for postsecondary athletics,” said Councillors Lesley Parnell and Alex Bierk in a joint statement. “We’re happy to work in collaboration with Fleming College, and look forward to welcoming athletes, coaches, and fans to our community for an unforgettable weekend.”
Despite previous weather conditions from the past weekend’s ice storm, the City has confirmed the event will run as planned on Wednesday morning.
The event brings top collegiate teams across Ontario to compete for the provincial championship. The top teams will earn a coveted spot at the Football Canada Collegiate Championship in May.
“The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is proud to support the Intercollegiate Provincial Flag Football Championship, highlighting the growth of Women’s Flag Football as an emerging sport. The OCAA is committed to fostering opportunities for female student-athletes and recognizes the potential that Women’s Flag Football offers.” says Kyle Pelly, Executive Director of the OCAA.
As part of the event, Football Ontario and the Detroit Lions will host a Networking Breakfast with women leaders in football and sport on Sunday morning at Fleming College. This exclusive breakfast event will allow student leaders from attending schools to connect with industry professionals and gain valuable insights into the world of football.
Football Ontario will also host a Learn to Play Session on Saturday in partnership with Fleming College.
The Football Ontario ‘Learn to Play’ Session will be a free event put on by Football Ontario and Sir Sandford Fleming College to encourage high school and college students to get active and learn some of the fundamentals of flag football. The event will take place on Saturday, April 5th, from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. at the Fleming College Sports Complex.
Click here to register for free.
“Fleming College is honoured to host this prestigious event, bringing together top student-athletes from across Ontario,” said Kate McIntosh, Vice President, Student Experience. “We are especially proud to support the growth of flag football at the collegiate level, particularly in creating more opportunities for women in the sport. We look forward to welcoming athletes, coaches, and fans to our campus for an exciting weekend of competition and community.”
The Adult Flag Circuit Championship, presented by the Detroit Lions, is scheduled for April 12. It will serve as the culmination of two months of competition. The top teams from the Milton Tournament and London Tournament will battle for the circuit championship in this highly anticipated event.
These events showcase top-tier flag football competitions and highlight the sport’s rapid growth, particularly in the women’s game. Football Ontario is excited to bring these championships to Peterborough and shine a spotlight on some of the province’s most talented athletes.
“Football Ontario is thrilled to bring the Intercollegiate Flag Provincial Championship and the Adult Flag Circuit Championship to Peterborough in partnership with Fleming College, the Detroit Lions, and the City of Peterborough,” said Tyler McNicholl, Director of Operations with Football Ontario. “These events highlight the incredible growth of flag football in Ontario, especially in the women’s game, and provide athletes with a platform to showcase their skills at the highest level. Working alongside the City of Peterborough, we are excited to create a memorable experience for athletes, coaches, and fans while continuing to foster the development of the sport across the province.”
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Ice Storm Updates From City of Peterborough (April 2)
/Warming centres remain open for residents of the City and County experiencing extended power outages caused by the recent severe ice storm as Hydro One crews continue to work to restore power to affected areas.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The City’s three warming centres are open at the following locations through Friday:
Healthy Planet Arena, banquet hall, 911 Monaghan Rd.: during the day and overnight, will be open until at least 9 a.m. on Friday – The City will provide an update on a location for an overnight warming centre for Friday night, if required.
Miskin Law Community Complex, 271 Lansdowne St. W.: open 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily through Friday
Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr.: open 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily through Friday
Showers are available at all three locations until 11 p.m. Food is being provided by community partners, including the Salvation Army, at the Healthy Planet Arena.
With widespread power outages continuing, the City urges those to check on neighbours and loved ones.
Peterborough Transit resumed services on most routes on Tuesday morning. The Link transit service to Curve Lake First Nation and Selwyn Township is operational. A warming bus will be stationed at 486 Donegal St. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or until power is restored.
The Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St., the Peterborough Public Library and the Peterborough Museum and Archives are open for its regular hours.
Recreation facilities, including arenas, the pool, and community centres, are returning to normal and full operations.
The Art Gallery of Peterborough at 250 Crescent St. and the Provincial Offences Office at 99 Simcoe St. are closed.
Curbside garbage, green bin, and yard waste collection will proceed regularly this week.
Public Works crews continue to respond to downed trees on streets and sidewalks, addressing hazardous situations.
All City parks are officially closed due to the risk of falling trees and tree limbs caused by ice accumulation.
Riverview Park and Zoo remains closed due to extensive tree damage. Damage is being assessed, and recovery efforts are being planned to determine when the zoo can safely reopen for visitors. The care of the animals is being maintained and the animals are safe.
As the City prepares for freezing rain and rainfall, with alerts issued by Environment Canada, residents are strongly urged to conserve water use to reduce the volume of water processed by the sewage pumping stations.
Regular yard waste curbside collection service begins this week.
Residential yard waste and tree debris can be dropped off at the City-County Landfill, 1260 Bensfort Rd., free of charge, until April 14.
Curbside chipping service for large tree debris that cannot be processed through the regular yard waste curbside collection will be provided when resources can be redeployed to provide that service. Resources are dedicated to storm response efforts, addressing hazardous and critical conditions. An update will be provided when the curbside chipping service for large tree debris will begin.
As a result of the ice storm, the City is temporarily waiving the permit requirement to remove trees on private property that have been destroyed, destabilized or structurally compromised as a direct result of the ice storm, with the following condition:
Residents must send email notification to treebylaw@peterborough.ca, providing photos, property address, tree species information including diameter, and provide the physiological and structural condition of the tree preferably prior to removing the tree or as soon as possible after removing a tree.
City-owned trees of any size, including street trees and trees in parks and natural areas, are owned and maintained by the City and are not eligible for removal or maintenance by residents. To report an issue with a City-owned tree, please call 705-742-7777 and dial 8, or 705-745-1386 after hours and weekends. Residents are urged not to touch or attempt to move tree limbs that are on or near Hydro lines. These hazards should be reported to Hydro One by calling the reporting line at 1-800-434-1235.
Peterborough Fire Services reminds residents using backup generators and equipment like a gas-powered cooking stove or charcoal grill to follow safe practices to avoid risks from carbon monoxide.
Peterborough Public Health provides information on food safety and storage, including safety guidance related to extended power outages following the ice storm. Please follow this guidance and monitor food spoilage.
Residents are asked to properly prepare food waste for green bin collection. All packaging must be removed from food waste before placing it in green bins to ensure efficient processing. The City is actively working to ensure seamless waste collection on streets affected by downed power lines.
Additionally, residents bringing food waste to the landfill must remove any packaging beforehand. Food waste brought to the landfill with packaging cannot be processed as compost and will be directed to landfill disposal instead.
The Beach Boys concert at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Friday and the Peterborough Home, Garden and Cottage Show at Healthy Planet Arena on Saturday and Sunday are expected to proceed as scheduled.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Second Automobile Recovered From Three-Vehicle Theft On March 26
/A second stolen automobile has been recovered after a theft involving three vehicles occurred on March 26.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The recovery occurred on Sunday as Peel Regional Police officers found the missing 2022 Corolla taken from a Park Street South residence. The suspect has not been located.
The Land Cruiser taken the same night has also not been located. The 2024 Tundra has already 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.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
PRHC Surgical Department Launches "Bring Your Own Bag” Program For Plastic Use Reduction
/With April as Earth Month, Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s (PRHC) Surgical Department is launching a Bring Your Own Bag program starting June 1, to reduce the use of plastic at the hospital and keep more plastic out of landfills, announced on Wednesday.
File photo.
According to PRHC, when patients arrive for planned surgeries and other procedures, they are provided with a plastic bag to store their clothing and personal belongings for a few hours while at the hospital. The surgical department distributes as many as 24,000 bags to patients annually. The initiative plans to reduce that number by at least 20 per cent in 2025/26.
The initiative is part of the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). According to Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC president and CEO, the organization is pursuing this sustainability initiative as part of its ongoing efforts to improve the care and service it provides.
“We have set out a path to strengthen our focus on environmental stewardship over the next several years, and this initiative is just one of many opportunities we are pursuing at PRHC to improve sustainability and reduce our environmental impact,” she said. “Last month, for example, we made the switch to a biodegradable nitrile glove product across the hospital. You can look forward to hearing more about these and other important improvement projects as we continue to make progress in this area.”
PRHC adopted the new PRIMED Sustain nitrile gloves last month. They offer the same protection and achieve 81% biodegradability in 490 days. As an added bonus, PRIMED is a 100% Canadian-owned and operated business.
Plastic bags will continue to be provided for patients who cannot bring their own including those who come to the hospital unexpectedly for urgent procedures but encourage those who can to do so.
The hospital recommends that patients bring two empty, grocery-sized reusable bags big enough to store everything they wear to the hospital on the day of their procedure. (The second bag is recommended to store shoes and outerwear separately.)
PRHC reminds patients to bring only essential items and to avoid bringing valuables, including jewelry, credit cards, and large amounts of money, when coming for a procedure.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Riverview Park and Zoo Remains Closed Due to Weather Damage
/The Riverview Park and Zoo remains closed to the public due to damage caused by the weekend ice storm and prolonged power outages.
IN CAPTIVITY, RIVER OTTERS HAVE A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ABOUT 25 YEARS. PHOTO COURTESY OF Riverview Park and Zoo.
