PTBOCanada Featured Post: Taste the Sweet Farm Freshness With Cold Duck Creamery

PTBOCanada Featured Post: Taste the Sweet Farm Freshness With Cold Duck Creamery

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Keene Lions Club Make $30,000 Donation Towards PRHC Paediatric Cancer Care

The Keene Lions Club pledged $30,000 toward PRHC Pediatric Cancer Care and fulfilled their promise by donating the cheque at a presentation ceremony.

Photo courtesy of Keene Lions Club.

“Our members were eager to support this project to give children in our community the lifesaving treatment they deserve while sparing families the emotional and financial burden of seeking care far from home,” said Robin Creeden, Keene Lions Club Member. “We were proud to support the building of PRHC twenty years ago with a donation of $30,000 and we are equally proud to support the $60 million campaign of the PRHC Foundation with a pledge of $30,000 as we choose to design our own healthcare future.”

“The Keene Lions is a small club from a small rural community,” said Marion Burton, Keene Lions Club president. “People from this area support our fund raising events throughout the year such as the May long weekend Toll Road, weekly community bingo, Delta Bingo and our food trailer fish and chicken frys. The Lions’ motto is “We Serve” so to support families in our community by supporting our local regional hospital is a perfect fit.”

Lions for Pediatric Cancer Care is a campaign for Lions clubs in Districts A3 and A16 and reaches out to Clubs in Northumberland, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes regions.

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Peterborough Public Library Hosting Interactive Community Art Installation For Red Dress Day

The public is invited to a community art installation of ‘The Red Dress’ hosted and occuring at the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Legacy Space in the Peterborough Public Library at noon on Monday.

According to Statistics Canada, more than 63 per cent of Indigenous women in Canada have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Public Library.

The event is in recognition of Red Dress Day, which is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people (MMIWG2S+) according to the Library.

The dress is on display from April 28 to May 5. The installation invites the community to contribute pieces of red fabric, yarn, beading or other textiles to help create a large, collective red dress. All are welcome to participate and materials will also be provided on site for those who wish to contribute in the moment.

There will be an opening ceremony and smudging with Drumming in the Legacy Space at noon.

Daily smudges will take place each morning from April 29 through May 5 as the installation continues to grow with community contributions.

This project has been developed in partnership with Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle and the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre.

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Three Minors Arrested and Charged With Breaking and Entering a Construction Site and Arson

Officers with the Peterborough Police Service have identified three individuals in connection with a series of break-ins at a construction site first reported Tuesday. 

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 9:50 p.m. on Wednesday, officers were dispatched to the site on Deline Street regarding reports of young people attempting to set a fire on the property. Officers located and arrested two males.  Through investigation, a third male was identified and arrested and Police determined that these youths were also involved in two other incidents (April 11 and April 20) at the same construction site.

As a result of the investigation,

A 12-year-old Peterborough male was arrested and charged with:

  • Break, Enter a place - commit indictable offence – mischief X3

  • Arson – Damage to Property

A 14-year-old Peterborough male was arrested and charged with:

  • Break, Enter a place - commit indictable offence - mischief X3

  • Arson – Damage to Property

  • Obstruct Peace Officer (providing a false name)

A 16-year-old Peterborough male was arrested and charged with:

  • Break, Enter a place - commit indictable offence – mischief X3

  • Arson – Damage to Property

All the accused were released on a youth undertaking and are scheduled to appear in court on June 9.

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Three Organizations Chosen For Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign

The cookie crumbles in a good way for three local organizations as they have been chosen to be the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign recipients in Peterborough and the surrounding areas.

Representatives from BGC Kawarthas, Canadian Mental Health Association HKPR, and Five Counties Children’s Centre join with owners of local Tim Hortons in Peterborough, Bridgenorth, Lakefield, Curve Lake and Havelock to mark the launch of the Smile Cookie campaign. Tim Hortons has been raising funds for local charities for over 25 years. Photo courtesy of FCCC.

The BGC Kawarthas Foundation, the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) and Five Counties Children’s Centre (FCCC) were the selected organizations for this year’s campaign.

It runs from April 28 to May 4 at 19 Tim Horton locations in Peterborough, Bridgenorth, Lakefield, Curve Lake and Havelock.

“We are very grateful to Tim Hortons locations in Peterborough and the surrounding area for selecting BGC Kawarthas Foundation, CMHA HKPR, and Five Counties to be the beneficiaries of the annual Smile Cookie Campaign,” said Scott Pepin, FCCC CEO. “Fundraising efforts like this will support all aspects of the health and wellness for children and youth in our communities.”

Proceeds are collected at 19 Tim Hortons locations in Peterborough and surrounding areas buy purchasing a Smile Cookie. Bulk orders are also available and can be ordered by completing a form and dropping it off at one of the locations.

“We’re looking forward to working with the local restaurant owners and engaging with local businesses and community members to create a fun, and successful Smile Cookie Campaign,” said Amy Terrill, BGC Kawarthas executive director. “As our organization continues to grow its services in the Peterborough area, this is an exciting way to work with our amazing partners at CMHA HKPR and Five Counties to share as many ‘smiles’ as possible.”

“Our team is thrilled to partner with Five Counties and BGC Kawarthas to support the Peterborough Smile Cookie campaign,” said Ellen Watkins, CMHA HKPR CEO. “This is a wonderful way to demonstrate the collaboration necessary to support children in families across the community.”

The BGC Kawarthas Foundation raises funds to support the work of BGC Kawarthas, which provides essential programs and services for children and youth, including mental health and wellness programs, nutrition, after-school programs, summer camps, and leadership development activities.

CMHA HKPR provides mental health services and support to individuals in the community. Its programs promote mental wellness, offer crisis intervention, and provide counselling and therapy services.

FCCC has been dedicated to supporting children and youth with physical, developmental, and communication needs for 50 years. Last year, Five Counties provided treatment services for over 2,950 children and youth in Peterborough and Peterborough County.

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City of Peterborough Launches Home Retrofit Loan Program

The City of Peterborough has launched a new financing program for its residents, aimed at helping homeowners lower their energy bills, improve home comfort and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Better Homes Peterborough is a four-year retrofit program offering low-interest financing, targeted incentives and personalized support to help homeowners navigate complex retrofits according to the City.

“Residential buildings contribute almost 40 per cent of local greenhouse gas emissions. Retrofitting your home is not just an investment in your house, but an investment in the collective future of our residents and our city,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “By taking individual steps to reduce our emissions we can help the city hit its target of net-zero by 2050. Better Homes Peterborough is a key part of that effort.”

“Programs like Better Homes Peterborough demonstrate how municipalities, financial institutions, and delivery partners can work together to remove barriers to deep energy retrofits,” said Melanie Johnston, EnviroCentre director of energy programs.

Upgrades can include insulation, windows, doors, heat pumps, air sealing, solar panels and battery storage, high-efficiency water heaters, lighting, EV chargers, and electrical upgrades. Homeowners can use up to 30 per cent of their retrofit loan for cosmetic or non-energy-related upgrades.

We know from experience that navigating energy rebate programs is challenging and the coaching that this new program will provide is critical to helping homeowners make their homes more comfortable and efficient,” Tegan Moss, GreenUP executive director, “We look forward to working with partners and participants to ensure that Better Homes Peterborough helps reduce emissions in our region.”

The City says improving a home’s energy efficiency can also help boost resiliency to extreme weather events.

The program is available to city residents who own detached or semi-detached houses, townhouses or small multi-unit buildings up to three storeys high.

Two financing options are available for residents - a Local Improvement Charge (LIC) Loan through the City of Peterborough or a personal loan through Kawartha Credit Union.

“We are proud to partner with the City of Peterborough on Better Homes Peterborough, which reflects our dedication to sustainability and to helping community members achieve their home improvement goals,” Norah McCarthy, Kawartha Credit Union  President and CEO.” We’re actively reducing our carbon footprint by choosing 100 per cent renewable energy, and we believe in empowering homeowners in our communities to embrace a greener future for all.”

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The Back40 Smoke House Restaurant Set to Open Its Doors In Downtown Peterborough On May 1

The flavour of slow-cooked meats is coming to Downtown Peterborough, as restaurant The Back40 Smoke House opens its doors to the public on May 1.

Mitch Lowes, owner of Flame Spitters Hot Sauce and co-owner of The Back40 Smoke House has his hot sauce available in over 160 locations. His brand has also won seven first-place awards. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

It is co-owned by Jamie and Darby Mousseau, Chris Duplantis and Mitch Lowes. It is located at 287 George St. N. at the former Taso’s Restaurant & Pizzeria and the short-lived The Locker Room location.

The restaurant will feature traditional smokehouse cuisine including pulled pork, brisket, ribs and more. The restaurant is an extension of the Mousseaus as they own the restaurant ‘The Back40 Smoke Box’ in Fenelon Falls and Whitby and have a catering business of the same affiliation.

“At first it was going to be a Cajun Creole restaurant, that's what my plan was,” explained Lowes. “He owns three restaurants so he suggested bringing it here and it just made sense.”

Both the Mousseaus and Lowes have their own lines of hot sauces, The Back40 Hot Sauce and the locally owned Flame Spitters Hot Sauce, respectively, which are also being incorporated into the menu. Their respective products will also be available for purchase at the establishment.

They met at a hot sauce expo and frequently attended the same events over time. Their partnership helped spark the dream of the local entrepreneur to open a restaurant.

“Eventually, I was going to take Flame Spitter to the next level, take the money I've been saving for it and this opportunity arrived for me,” said Lowes.

To accommodate the bar rush, the smokehouse will have a take-out window with a condensed menu, as it is conveniently located near several nightclubs and bars. It will be open until 3 a.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It will feature sandwiches, poutine and chicken wings.

The restaurant plans to feature live music, special event nights, daily food specials, and 12 local draft beers on tap, with two of them on rotation.

“We hope to turn this into a place for the community will actually love, sit down and enjoy,” said Lowes.

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City of Peterborough LIfts State of Emergency Declaration From Late-March Ice Storm

The City of Peterborough has officially ended the State of Emergency declaration from the March 28 to 30 ice storm.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The State of Emergency was declared on March 30 after the region was hit by a severe ice storm that led to downed trees and tree limbs and widespread power outages throughout the City.

“As the City officially lifts its State of Emergency following the devastating ice storm in March, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our residents, emergency responders, utility workers, City staff, and volunteers for their incredible resilience and dedication over these past few weeks,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “The response from our community has been nothing short of extraordinary.”

Clean-up efforts are still underway across the City.

The City continues to remove brush and debris from the curbside during the ice storm. This service is for debris, branches and tree limbs that cannot be collected through the City’s regular curbside collection for yard waste. Residents are asked not to place whole trees or large tree stumps at the curb for removal.

When placing debris at the boulevard for yard waste collection, please be mindful of sightlines to ensure safety for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic. Avoid placing debris close enough to the curb that it may wash into the street during a rainstorm.

It is expected to take up to eight weeks for crews to complete curbside removal of large brush and debris in all areas of the City.

Curbside collection has been completed for the area north of Parkhill Road and west of the Otonabee River.

The partial non-enforcement of the Tree Removal bylaw, including waiving permit fees for trees on private property that were damaged or destroyed as a result of the ice storm, remains in place until Monday. Regular requirements under the Tree Removal Bylaw will resume on Tuesday.

Residents wishing to remove storm-damaged trees without paying permit fees must email treebylaw@peterborough.ca and provide a photo of the tree, the property address, location of the tree on the property, the species of tree (if known), the approximate diameter of the tree and a description of the condition of the tree.

The Tree Removal bylaw remains in place for all other trees.  More information on the Tree Removal By-law can be found at peterborough.ca/trees.

The City reports significant damage to trees in City parks and along trails from the ice storm. The City is assessing and addressing hazardous tree conditions. Due to the extent of the damage, this work is ongoing.

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Three Toronto Men Arrested and Charged With Drug Trafficking After Executed Search Warrant From Peterborough Police

Three Toronto men are facing drug trafficking charges and were arrested after an executed search warrant at a Peterborough residence Wednesday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

At roughly 3 p.m., Drug Unit and Emergency Response Team (ERT) officers searched a residence on Driscoll Terrace near Hunter Street East after a drug investigation that started earlier this year. 

One man was arrested by officers attempting to flee the residence and two others were apprehended by K9 Isaac and detained by officers after a brief foot pursuit downtown in the area of Dalhousie and George Street.  

 During the search of the residence, officers located:

  • Loaded firearm

  • 53.7 grams of Cocaine

  • 11.1 grams of Fentanyl

  • 30 Percocet Pills

  • Cellphones

  • Over $5,000 in Canadian currency

A 24-year-old Scarborough man was arrested and charged with:

  • Traffick in Schedule I substance- Cocaine

  • Traffick in Schedule I substance- Cocaine

  • Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking - Cocaine

  • Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking- Other Drugs (Fentanyl)

  • Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000 - in Canada

  • Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose

  • Possession of loaded prohibited or restricted firearm

  • Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm

A 23-year-old Scarborough man was arrested and charged with:

  • Traffick in Schedule I substance- Cocaine X3

  • Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking - Cocaine

  • Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking- Other Drugs (Fentanyl)

  • Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000 - in Canada

A 21-year-old Toronto man was arrested and charged with:

  • Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking - Cocaine

  • Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking- Other Drugs (Fentanyl)

  • Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000 - in Canada

All the accused were held in custody and appeared in court on Thursday.

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Fleming College's Respiratory Therapy Program Receives Accreditation With Condition Status

Fleming College’s Respiratory Therapy Program has officially received accreditation with condition status from Accreditation Canada’s EQual program.

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

The status allows graduates to write the Health Professionals Testing Canada (HPTC) exam which is a step to becoming a registered member of the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO).

Launched in 2023, the Respiratory Therapy program at Fleming prepares students to become skilled healthcare professionals specializing in the treatment of respiratory, cardiac, and pulmonary conditions according to a press release.

The accelerated two-year program emphasizes hands-on, practical learning, enabling students to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate safe and effective cardio-respiratory care.

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