Local Auto Industry Partners With Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School For Automotive Education

Several members of the local autobody industry have united to support the automotive classes at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School (TASSS).

Photo courtesy of Russelle Toyota.

Local businesses helping include Carlaw Collision, Pete’s Autobody, Sidey Auto/NAPA, Clements Body Shop, 3M, Caruk, Cooper Auto Glass and Peterborough Auto Recyclers. They contribute by providing essential supplies, expertise and time to the program.

Russelle Toyota donated a vehicle for students to work on, enhancing their hands-on skills in collision repair and automotive service.

“This partnership not only enriches the curriculum but also provides students with practical experience that is vital for their future careers in the automotive industry,” said Bart Packman, Russell Toyota body shop manager.

According to Russelle Toyta, the automotive sector offers a plethora of employment opportunities and this initiative provides students with the chance to gain firsthand experience in collision repair, preparing them for a successful transition into post-secondary education or the workforce.

Many local high schools offer cooperative programs that provide students in Grades 11 and 12 with experiential learning opportunities, including working in automotive jobs.

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.

Road Closures In Place Sunday For GPHSF 2025 Peterborough Butterfly Run

A temporary road closure is in effect for the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation’s (GPHSF) 2025 Peterborough Butterfly Run occurring from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Since 2018, 800 bereavement kits have been created to be provided to families and individuals by health care providers. Photo courtesy of GPHSF.

Affected streets will be:

• Engleburn Avenue from the south side of Charles Street to the north side of Maria Street

• Birdsall Street from the south side of Charles Street to the north side of Maria Street

Peterborough Butterfly Run Route. The Peterborough Butterfly Run supports families and individuals who have experienced a loss during pregnancy, the loss of a child or are unable to conceive. Photo courtesy of GPHSF.

Streets will be made available for local traffic butrunners will be coming through this area between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Additionally, a full road closure will be in place on Maria Street, between Burnham Street and Mark Street, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Detours will be in place at the intersections of Burnham Street and James Street, as well as Mark Street and James Street. Peterborough Police will be present to assist anyone affected by the Maria Street closure in leaving their homes. Delays are expected during this time.

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 Police Seeking Any Suspects Breaking Into Two Construction Sites

Officers with the Peterborough Police Service are investigating after a construction site was broken into twice in the past week and are seeking any suspects.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The first incident on Deline Street was reported on Friday and believed to have happened between Thursday evening and Friday morning. The second incident happened on Sunday at roughly 7 a.m. 

In both cases, the site was broken into and damage was caused to the construction materials.

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.

Peterborough Public Library Staffing Reorganization to Reduce Operation Expenses Says City

Peterborough Public Library is undergoing a staffing reorganization to reduce operating expenses by $120,000, as approved by City Council in the City’s 2025 Budget.

File Photo.

The Library has 60 staff, including a CEO and a manager with all other staff being unionized, non-management staff.

The reorganization will result in a net reduction of one position. Three positions will be eliminated and two new positions will be created, resulting in a net reduction of one position. A fourth affected position will be maintained but restructured to expand its role according to the City.

Services will be maintained; however, they will be delivered in a different way to achieve the $120,000 in cost savings.

Children’s Library services and programming will continue to be provided.

The Draft 2025 Budget for the Peterborough Public Library included a 10.9 per cent or $411,571 increase in the funding requirement for the Library, which would increase to $4,175,845 in 2025 from $3,764,273 in 2024.

The City says a number of factors contributed to the estimated increase in costs, including technology costs associated with software licences and product subscription fees, as well as the first year of operating the new library branch at the Miskin Law Community Complex.

All City departments were directed to provide options to reduce operating expenses in 2025 as a way to lower the required property tax increase.

There were two options for operating expense reductions put forward for the Peterborough Public Library as part of City Council’s 2025 Budget process:

• A $70,000 reduction that would reduce Library operating hours by four hours per week

• A $120,000 reduction that would be achieved through a Library staffing reorganization, that would include the elimination of two positions

Council did not choose the option to reduce Library operating hours but approved including the $120,000 reduction through a Library staffing reorganization, in the City’s 2025 Budget.

Council approved various other options to reduce the property tax increase in 2025, such as ending the lifeguard service at Rogers Cove beach with lifeguard service being maintained at the nearby Beavermead Park beach, ending the maintenance of the ice for skating on the Trent-Severn Waterway next to the Lift Lock, reducing preventative maintenance of City facilities, reducing funding for advertising, and increasing the Peterborough Transit single ride fare by 25 cents.

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.

Celebration of Life Being Held For Longtime Arena Worker Roy Bateman On Wednesday Night

Longtime arena worker and community member Roy Bateman is being honoured with a celebration of life at the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame and Museum on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. 

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Lakers.

He passed away on April 10, a few months shy of his 74th birthday.

During his youth, Bateman was a Special Olympics athlete and won several medals for swimming. He also had a passion for hockey, as he played it on Leighton Road as a goalie with neighbourhood kids. He was also a passionate fan of the Peterborough Petes and Peterborough Lakers.

Bateman worked as a recycler at the Evinrude Centre for several years before retiring in 2021. He was treated like family by arena staff and people he met through his work. Several Petes that went on to the NHL often sent him pictures or Christmas cards.

Roy is survived by his sister-in-law, Maureen Rea. He was predeceased by his mother and father, Allan and Alma Bateman and his big brother, Wayne.

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.

Megabike Hitting the Peterborough Streets This Summer to Benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough (BBBS) is bringing back its 30-seater MEGABIKE and is hitting the streets on June 5.

Photo courtesy of BBBS.

The fundraister sees local businesses, community members and supporters pedalling 2.5 km through the streets of Peterborough.

All proceeds go to BBBS’s mentoring programs, allowing the organization to continue matching young people with caring adult mentors, fostering meaningful relationships and positive outcomes. 

“I am so excited to see the MEGABike roll through Peterborough and bring the community together,” said Zoe King, BBBS executive director. “Whether you're a high-energy team ready to take on half or a full bike sponsorship, or an individual looking to pedal for a purpose, there’s a seat waiting for you.”  

The event begins at 10 a.m. at the Healthy Planet Arena in one-hour timeslots. Registration can be done 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.

The Antique Store Closing Its Doors After 49 Years; Store Holding Online Auction To Sell Remaining Items

After 49 years of business, Michael Seeley is closing the doors of The Antique Store at the end of the month and an online auction has been posted to sell out his stock.

Seeley holds a clock that has been sold through the online auction. All items in the store are up for bids but cannot be made in person. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Seeley has announced the closure, as he is retiring, with the store’s lease set to expire at the end of April. He spent the last year downsizing inventory through in-person sales and is selling the remaining items through an online auction, catalogued by Curated.

The Antique Shop opened in 1977 and settled into his current location at 277 George St. N. in the 1980s. During that time, the business survived a fire, the Peterborough flood and a pandemic.

Seeley plans to travel and spend time with his grandchildren following retirement.

“I’m going to lie down. I’ve heard about this thing called a weekend,” joked Seeley. “I really want to thank the people who have supported me and given me the opportunity to do what I’ve done. A lot of people don’t get to do what they love.”

He’s holding regular preview hours at the shop, Monday through Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m. Shoppers can preview the items in the store and then place bids online. The auction closes Thursday. Winning bidders can pick up their items on Friday and Saturday.

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.

Routine Watermain Flushing Begins Tuesday

The City will be performing routine flushing of watermains in various areas of Peterborough beginning Tuesday and continuing through Friday.

File Photo.

Flushing will take place between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Routine watermain flushing is preventive maintenance that removes scale and sediment buildup, helping to maintain water quality in the water distribution system.

Water may become iron-coloured or cloudy for a brief period. If this occurs, residents should run the cold water tap closest to the source for 20 to 30 minutes until the water is clear.

If this does not resolve the issue, please call 705-748-9301 ext. 1295 to report the problem.

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.

Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Mac + Cheese Festival, New Canadians Centre, POI and Canadiana Cabinets

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…

The Mac and Cheese Festival is back in downtown Peterborough and it’s bigger, bolder and cheesier than before.

This month-long celebration of comfort food is underway now, with downtown restaurants putting their own creative spin on mac and cheese dishes for the public to try, rate, and enjoy. There are classics and some creative takes on the dish like mac and cheeseburger samosa and a mac and cheese poutine. The festivities wrap up with a Grand Finale Bash on Saturday at the Quaker Foods City Square. There will be a mac and cheese showdown with live judging for the Judge's Choice Award, a beer garden, live music, vendors and family-friendly fun. Visit theboro.ca for more details.

The New Canadian Centre has purchased its building from St. James United Church.

This historic building at 221 Romaine Street was built in 1917. The New Canadians Centre moved in back in 2012 and will continue sharing the space with St. James United Church and the St. James Players theatre group. The New Canadian Centre has been instrumental in welcoming thousands of newcomers and hosting numerous cultural celebrations, shared meals, and community events.

POI is celebrating it’s new Peterborough office at 418 George St. N. in downtown Peterborough.

POI has been led by three generations of the Scholl family for six decades, creating inspiring workspaces. Their goal is to create spaces that help businesses achieve their goals and create a place where people want to go. They offer everything from pencils and paper clips to desks and filing cabinets. They have solutions for home offices as well.

We’re profiling local business that make stuff right here in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. This week it’s Canadiana Cabinets.

Founded in 1995 by Bill Barker, they have been producing a versatile lineup of standard and custom cabinets ever since. Their high-quality cabinets are the result of merging traditional and hi-tech construction methods. Their cabinets are custom built-to-order and constructed on an efficient production line with the latest in industry technologies. Drop by and see their beautiful showroom at 2712 Brown Line and see what this local, family-owned business can do for you.

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.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Sarah McLachlan Returns to Peterborough Memorial Centre On Nov. 9

Grammy and Juno-award winning artist Sarah McLachlan is returning to Peterborough and the Memorial Centre as part of her Fumbling Towards Ecstasy 30th Anniversary 2025 Canadian tour on Nov. 9.

Photo courtesy of Live Nation Entertainment.

Joining her is the acoustic harmony trio Tiny Habits for all listed dates.

“I’m really excited to bring the tour across Canada, it was so disappointing to have to cancel the 2024 tour due to my vocal health, and I’m grateful that we were able to reschedule,” said McLachlan. “I’m fully recovered and recharged and can’t wait to share the Fumbling Towards Ecstasy 30th Anniversary tour with my home country, and maybe a few new songs as well. This tour is a real walk down memory lane as Fumbling is a very special record for me... I’m hoping that the songs will bring back a lot of good memories for everybody.”

The tour celebrates McLachlan’s third studio album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, first released Oct. 22, 1993.

One dollar per ticket sale will be donated to the non-profit Sarah McLachlan School of Music which provides music education and mentorship free to children and youth facing barriers to access.

PMC Scoop Ticket presales start Thursday at 10 a.m. with the apporpriate promo code.

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.