2025 Convocation Expects Largest Graduating Class In Trent University History

Trent University is celebrating its largest graduating classes in history this year, with 3,755 graduates during 16 convocation ceremonies taking place in Peterborough and Durham from June 3 to 13.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

Peterborough sees a record-breaking 2,657 graduates, while 1,098 graduates of Trent University Durham GTA – the campus’s largest ever cohort – will be celebrated during three ceremonies on June 12 and 13 at the Tribute Communities Centre. 

“Each graduate has dedicated tremendous time and effort to reach this moment. Graduation is a major milestone that marks a path of accomplishment and success. That path has led to deeper and broader knowledge, the formation of lasting networks, and the building of a toolkit of skills with purpose. It is wonderful to see our graduates striding across the stage,” said Dr. Cathy Bruce, Trent president and vice-chancellor. “In its 60th anniversary, Trent has a record number of students graduating—and our global alumni community has grown to well over 65,000. It is remarkable to see how the Trent network is expanding locally and across the globe.”

This year marks the inaugural graduating cohorts from three of Trent’s new programs: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Criminology, Master of Management (Peterborough), and Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Aging Studies.

Each year, Trent University bestows honorary degrees to those demonstrating leadership in their fields and around the world. The 2025 honorary degree recipients are Claudette McGowan, an internationally recognized cybersecurity leader; Alice Olsen Williams/Minaajimokwe ’69, a globally renowned Indigenous artist and activist and Zabeen Hirji, a celebrated workforce equity advocate.

Indigenous traditions are part of this year’s continued annual convocation ceremonies. Each ceremony is led by Trent’s Eagle Feather, gifted by Curve Lake First Nation, symbolizing the University’s relationship with the community. According to Trent, the Eagle Staff, representing the strength and honour of First Nations Peoples, is also present and carried by a member of a local First Nation. Nibi (water), drawn through ceremony from the Otonabee River, is carried in a copper pot and returned following convocation. Faculty processions are led by the Condolence Cane, a gift from the Trent Aboriginal Education Council, symbolizing the Haudenosaunee governance structure.

Each year, Trent University awards accomplished students with special medals and honours that recognize the highest academic achievements and overall standing in undergraduate and graduate studies in Peterborough and Durham. Renowned Canadian sculptors and Indigenous artists designed several of the medals.

This year’s recipients are:

• The Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal:
  Dylan Stone, Materials Science.

• The Governor General’s Academic Silver Medal:
  Caden Drover, Mathematical Physics.

• The President's Medal:
  Madison Moore, Cultural Studies; Sasha Newar, Environment & Life Sciences; Jacob Van Haaften, Canadian Studies & Indigenous Studies.

• The Symons Medal:
  Karolina Wawrzyczek, Psychology; Cassandra Haydock, Computer Science; Lora Vassiliadis, Chemical Physics; Dhan Shivekam Nagra, Business Administration.

• The Bagnani Medal:
  Maeve Benedict, Computer Science; Lexy Jindrich, Indigenous Studies.

• The Muldoon Medal:
  Michelle Hunt, Psychology (Honours) and Shahzan Tariq, Computer Science (General).

The ceremonies can be viewed live on Trent’s website.

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Water Quality Testing Underway at Local Beaches

Peterborough Public Health (PPH) has resumed beach water testing in Peterborough and the surrounding area to ensure that water quality conditions are safe for recreational use. 

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations, Peterborough County and the City are being subject to regular testing until the end of August.

PPH notes that Rogers Cove is no longer an active beach in the City of Peterborough and is no longer being sampled.

The following beach is sampled daily, Monday to Friday:

• Beavermead Park

Most public beaches in the county are sampled at least once a week, including:

• Buckhorn Beach

• Crowe’s Line Beach

• Curve Lake Henry’s Gumming

• Curve Lake Lime Kiln Park

• Douro North Park

• Ennismore Waterfront Park

• Hiawatha Park

• Jones Beach

• Lakefield Park

• Sandy Beach

• Selwyn Beach Conservation Area

• Squirrel Creek Conservation Area

• Warsaw Caves Conservation Area

The following public beaches are sampled once a month from June to August:

• Chandos Beach (2800 County Road 620, Apsley)

• Quarry Bay Beach (1986 Northey’s Bay Road, Woodview)

• Belmont Lake (376 Miles of Memories Road, Belmont)

• Kasshabog Lake (431 Peninsula Road, Havelock)

• White’s Beach (26 Clearview Drive, Trent Lakes)

PPH says the following factors may result in high levels of bacteria or other conditions that cause the beach to be unsafe for swimming between sampling periods:

• Heavy rainfall

• High winds or wave activity

• Large numbers of swimmers

• Harmful algae blooms

• Large numbers of waterfowl

Water samples are submitted to the Public Health Laboratory for bacteriological analysis. Samples are tested for E. coli bacteria, a common indicator of fecal contamination in water.

PPH says it takes approximately 24 hours for them to receive and analyze the water quality results from the lab. If levels of bacteria exceed recommended thresholds for recreational water use, the beach will be posted as unsafe and to avoid becoming ill, people should not use the beach for swimming. If a significant risk to human health is identified, such as a toxic spill or the identification of a harmful algae bloom, a beach may be closed to the public.

PPH is offering tips to help ensure the water quality stays safe:

• Do not feed waterfowl

• Do not let children swim in soiled diapers

• Pick up your garbage

• Clean up after your pet

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Peterborough Police Arrest Suspect From Monday Night Stabbing Incident

Ethan Moxham, a 33-year-old Peterborough man, faces several charges in connection with a stabbing Monday evening.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The incident has caused an increased police presence at the train tracks between George Street and Aylmer Street. Police believe the incident occurred around 7 p.m.

One person was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. A second person has been taken into custody.

Moxham has been arrested and charged with:

• Aggravated Assault

• Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose

• Fail to Comply with Probation Order

He is currently bound by a probation order stemming from a break and enter and fail to comply with probation conviction in August 2023.  The probation order has the following condition: to not possess any weapon(s) as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada.

The accused is being held in custody and will appear in court on Tuesday.

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Kawartha Craft Beer Festival Receives $20,000 Investment From Ontario Government to Bolster Tourism

The eighth-annual Kawartha Craft Beer Festival is receiving a $20,000 investment from the Ontario Government through the 2025 Experience Ontario program that will be held this Friday and Saturday at Del Crary Park.

Photo courtesy of Kawartha Craft Beer.

This is part of a nearly $ 20 million investment in festivals and events across Ontario to help organizers expand their programming and draw visitors to stay longer in local accommodations, eat at restaurants, shop at local retailers, and support main street businesses according to Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP.

“This $20,000 investment in the Kawartha Craft Beer Festival is fantastic news for Peterborough-Kawartha,” he said. “Our government understands that these events are more than just entertainment; they are vital economic drivers that bring visitors, support our local businesses and create jobs right here in our community. I'm proud to see this funding directly benefiting a festival that showcases local craft and brings our residents together.”

“We’re incredibly grateful to the Government of Ontario for their generous support of the Kawartha Craft Beer Festival,” said Richard Wood, Bobcaygeon Brewing Company president and co-founder. “This funding helps us celebrate local craft, boost tourism, and bring our community together in the heart of Peterborough.”

The Kawartha Craft Beer Festival is expected to attract a substantial number of attendees, offering a welcome boost to local accommodations, restaurants and retailers.

The Experience Ontario program's strategic funding aims to ensure that such events remain cornerstones of local economies and community engagement across the province according to a press release.

The Festival runs from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday. The event features alcohol, food vendors, lawn games, a marketplace and live music. All are welcome to attend but guests must be 19+ to get alcohol. Event organizers urge the public not to drink and drive and to plan a ride home if attending.

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One Person Injured From Stabbing Incident At Train Tracks; Peterborough Police Increasing Prescence at Scene For Investigation

A stabbing incident has caused an increased police presence as officers investigate the train tracks between George Street and Aylmer Street which happened at roughly 7 p.m. on Monday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

One person was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. A second person has been taken into custody.

The investigation is ongoing.

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U13 Lakers Get Walk-Off Championship Goal To Complete Undefeated Tournament Run

The U13 Peterborough Lakers got a walk-off championship goal in overtime that capped off an undefeated run at the 33rd-Annual John ‘Gus’ McCauley Memorial Tournament at the Century Gardens Recreation Centre in Brampton on Sunday.

Photo courtesy of U13-2 Lakers.

The three-day tournament had the Lakers play two out of three round-robin games on Friday.

They routed the eventual winless Strathroy Screaming Eagles, 9-1, in Peterborough’s first victory. They allowed only one goal with eight minutes left in the first period and clamped down defensively since then.

The Lakers earned their second victory over the Midland Titans in another blowout, 8-1. Peterborough went on an eight-goal run, only to see their shutout get snapped from a power play goal later in the third.

Peterborough’s only game on Saturday was against the Brampton Excelsiors and it was their closest game of the tournament. In a low-scoring affair, the Lakers had a 4-1 lead but allowed two late third-period goals to make it a one-score affair with 1:34 in regulation. Peterborough held on and won 4-3 to remain perfect through the round robin and advanced to the semifinals.

They met the Midland Titans again and while the score was tighter, Peterborough dominated play with a 6-1 win. The Lakers allowed the first goal of the game, then went on a 6-0 run to cap off the victory and advance to the finals.

Peterborough was paired with the Excelsiors again in the championship match. The Lakers stumbled out of the gate, failing to score during the first 21 minutes of regulation while allowing Brampton to score twice. Peterborough finally got on the board nearly halfway through the second period to make it 2-1.

The Lakers tied things up with a power-play goal early in the third to force overtime.

Brampton had an opportunity to spoil Peterborough’s undefeated run and win on their home turf but failed to get it past the goaltender. The Lakers capitalized and scored the walk-off overtime goal to capture the championship and secure an undefeated tournament run.

The following are the Lakers’s players and staff:

• Nicolas Aguilar

• Korban Andrew

• Emerson Birkhof-Talbot

• Bryson Croswell

• Colten Crough

• Bennett Ducie

• Easton Garlough (Ruthowsky)

• Reed Graham

• Bentley Heffernan

• Oliver Hodgins

• Keegan Jennings

• Keegan McCormick

• Hayden McIntyre

• Jonathan McNamara

• Zachary Reid

• Easton Wilson

• Grayson Wolff

• Head Coach - Chad Birkhof

• Asst. Coach - Broedie Birkhof

• Asst. Coach/Goalie Coach - Callan Baker

• Asst. Coach - Dan Crough

• Asst. Coach - Shawn McNamara

• Trainer - Dan Aguilar

• Manager - Jo Dunbar

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City Finishes Removal of Ice Storm Brush

The City of Peterborough has finished its removal of brush and debris from the March ice storm.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

According to the City, crews removed more than 6,500 tonnes of brush, debris and tree branches from City boulevards. That took approximately eight weeks.  

Storm debris that was not placed at the curb for removal or placed on the curb after city crews had completed the street will not be picked up, unless it meets the guidelines for curbside yard waste collection.  

Debris can be disposed of through the City’s curbside yard waste collection program or at the Peterborough Waste Management Facility, 1260 Bensfort Rd. 

Yard waste set out requirements are as follows: 

• Yard waste must be placed in brown paper bags, marked bins or a bushel basket. No other type of bin will be collected (including blue boxes). Plastic bags will not be accepted. 

• Marked bins must contain a maximum volume of 80 litres, with two fixed handles. Lids must be removable and not secured by any means (bungee cords, etc.). Yard waste material must empty freely when emptied/dumped by the collector.  

• Bins must have two clearly identifiable yellow labels attached defining the contents as yard waste.  The yellow labels are available for no charge at City Hall, 500 George St. N. 

• Weight limit must be less than 13 kilograms (30 lbs.).  

• Brush can be tied in bundles with light rope or twine, weighing not more than 13 kilograms (30 lbs.), with a length of up to one meter (three feet) and a diameter of up to 30 centimeters (12 inches). 

The Peterborough Waste Management Facility accepts yard waste and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Saturdays. Tipping fees apply.

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Several Taken to Hospital Including 14-Year-Old Following a Two-Vehicle Collision

Officers with the Peterborough Police Service are investigating a two-vehicle collision with several people going to hospitals for injury treatment, including a 14-year-old, on Saturday evening.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 9:30 p.m., officers recieved reports of the two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Woodglade Boulevard and Sherbrooke Street.

A 14-year-old passenger in one of the vehicles was taken to the hospital before being transported to a Toronto hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Several other people were taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre with minor injuries.

Officers with the Traffic Unit conducted a reconstruction as part of the ongoing investigation. The road was closed for approximately three hours.  

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Peterborough Lakers Remain Undefeated After Pair of Weekend Road Games

The Peterborough Lakers’s lucky number was 13 as they scored that many in both weekend games to defeat the Owen Sound North Stars and Cobourg Kodiaks, respectively.

Photo courtesy Anna Taylor and the Peterborough Lakers.

Peterborough defeated Owen Sound 13-10 at the Meaford-St. Vincent Community Centre on Saturday and got their second weekend win, 13-6, against the Kodiaks at the Cobourg Community Centre on Sunday

The Lakers had played three games in six days but managed to stay undefeated with a 5-0 record to remain atop the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) standings.

“Three games in three days; my body will be sore tomorrow, but it was a lot of fun,” said Frank Coyle, Lakers rookie defenceman.

He was not dressed on Thursday but played Friday night for the Sr. B Ennismore James Gang. He made his MSL debut and he scored his first career goal.

“I got sent out for one offensive shift,” explained Coyle. “I set an off-ball pick for (Austin) Hasen and turned around and Taite (Cattoni) had thrown me the ball. I closed my eyes, threw it at the net and it went in.”

The Lakers were missing several of veterans to prior commitments and had several call-ups in Owen Sound (Curtis Ward, Seven Gillingham, Carter Frost, Dylan Lee and Grant Ramsey). Several regulars returned for Sunday’s game, making Nate Sage the only Jr. A call-up in the lineup. Sage scored his first two MSL goals with one assist. 

The Lakers had a 7-5 lead after the second period before Owen Sound roared back to start the third with a five-goal run. The Lakers rallied and ended the game with a six-goal run of their own. Hasen, Mike Robinson, Brad McCulley, Carter Page and Curtis Ward each had two goals.

It was a low-scoring affair until the Lakers, leading 6-4, broke the dam open in the third period, once again scoring six goals in the final frame on Sunday. McCulley, Page, Koleton Marquis and Sage each scored twice.

Drew Hutchison played both games on the weekend, with Nick Rose backing up Saturday and Deacan Knott Sunday. Hutchison made 45 saves on Sunday. 

“He’s a great goalie, he makes a D guy’s job easy,” said Coyle. “You can mess up and rely on him to steal some. It’s pretty easy playing in front of him.”

The Lakers return to the Peterborough Memorial Centre to take on a familiar face in Landon Kells and the Oakville Rock on Thursday. Kells was a former Laker and was traded along with a 2026 first-round pick for veteran goaltender Nick Rose on March 17.

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Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Rayco, Have a Blast, Ja-Neo and Shelby's

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…

After 55 years of keeping Peterborough comfortable, John Andela has sold his business, Rayco, to Laverne Coulter of Coulter Heating and Air Conditioning.

Andela expresses his gratitude for the support and loyalty of his customers over the last 55 years and is ensuring a smooth transition to the new owners. Rayco specializes in heating and cooling, expanding its offering to keep up with the latest technology. Andela started the business in 1970, working out of his 1966 Pontiac that ran double duty as the family car. Their success can be attributed to their customer-first approach, ensuring the team provides prompt and efficient service when it’s needed. Well done John and the team at Rayco, you’ve left quite a legacy!

Looking for an epic nerf battle party?

Have a Blast is a new business offering a fully customized battlefield of inflatable bunkers to convert any backyard, local park, or indoor space into an inflatable arena. Rentals come with blasters, darts, protective eyewear, tactical team vests, and bunkers. Their battlefield is great for birthdays, team building, fundraising, festivals, and weddings. All ages are encouraged. Game setups include capture the flag, team elimination, zombie and mayhem. You can find them online at haveablast.ca.

Junior Achievement is helping young women explore careers in aviation.

Their recent FemSTEAM event saw 70 young women from grades 7 and 8 from St. Patrick’s Catholic Elementary School and Kenner Intermediate head to Peterborough Airport for a flight through aviation at Flying Colours. The event included hands-on learning and mentorship, exploring careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math within the aviation industry.

Shelby’s Peterborough is still fairly new, but they’re already winning awards, getting the platinum award in six categories in the CommunityVotes Peterborough 2025.

The categories are all restaurants, chicken restaurants, fast food, fries, international food, and poutine. Shelby's Peterborough is your go-to destination for mouthwatering Middle Eastern cuisine and exceptional service. They offer dining in or take out with a warm and inviting atmosphere. If you haven’t yet tried Shelby’s legendary shawarma, drop by 1154 Chemong Rd. in Peterborough.

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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