Peterborough Petes Sign Second-Round Pick to OHL Standard Player Agreement

The Peterborough Petes have signed their 2025 second-round pick, Matthew Perreault, to an OHL Standard Player Agreement, announced on Friday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

“Matthew is a smooth-skating defenceman who can move the puck,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. “He was a big part of a very strong Toronto Titans team last year. We’re excited to be able to add him to our group as we get ready for next season.”

The right-handed defenceman from Ottawa was initially selected by the Petes in the second round, 31st overall, in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection. He played in 25 games for the Toronto Titans U16’s in the GTHL last season, scoring once and picking up nine assists for 10 points. Perreault also featured in five games in the 2025 OHL Cup, picking up four assists.

“I’m incredibly honoured to sign with Peterborough,” said Perreault. “The Petes are an organization with such a rich and storied history and I’m excited to contribute to the team’s future success. I’ll give everything I have to make the fans and the city proud.”

Perreault is the second player from the Petes' 2025 draft class to sign an OHL Standard Player Agreement after third-round pick Gerry DiCunzolo signed on May 27.

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Peterborough Lakers Complete the Comeback With Overtime Hat-Trick Goal Over Brampton Excelsiors

The Peterborough Lakers, thanks to Joe Resetarits’s hat-trick goal, got a walk-off score in overtime for the comeback win against the Brampton Excelsiors, 10-9, at the Brampton Memorial Arena on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of Anna Taylor and the Peterborough Lakers.

The Lakers were in a 3-0 deficit, allowing three powerplay goals to open the period. Carter Page was the only goal-scorer for the Lakers, late in the period for a 3-1 game after the first.

After allowing the first goal of the second, the Lakers went on a three-goal run with Brad McCulley, Matt Gilray and Dustyn Birkhof scoring for Peterborough to tie the game at four. Brampton had a three-goal run to restore their three-goal lead. Austin Hasen scored a last-minute goal to make it 7-5 going into the final frame.

For the third-straight time, the Excelsiors opened the period’s scoring. The Lakers had another three-goal run with Taite Cattoni and Resetarits getting their first and Hasen tacking on his second of the game to tie things up. Brampton pulled away again, scoring halfway through the period but Resetarits responded with his second goal on the powerplay for a tie game as it went into overtime.

The Lakers were on the overtime’s only powerplay thanks to a holding call and Resetarits capitalized. The Lakers cycled the ball before Resetarits rifled the ball through, far side, while in the high slot, right of the goaltender, for the hat trick and walk-off win. “We’ve all been in these games before; we just had to gut it out. They played a great game again,” Resetarits said, referencing the Lakers’ slim 6-5 win over Brampton two weeks ago in Peterborough.

“(Riley) Hutchcraft played another great game,” said Resetarits. “They’re fast, they put the pressure on us and they capitalized on their power (play). We kept our composure as much as we could for those first two periods, lot of veteran players been in these situations in NLL, summer, so the experience took over.”

The Lakers return to action for a rematch with the Oakville Rock on the road this Monday.      

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Peterborough Police Seeking Suspects Attempting to Lure Boy Into Their Van

The Peterborough Police Service has been made aware of a luring incident in a west-end neighbourhood on Wednesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 8:20 p.m., a family walking in the area of Glenforest Boulevard and Keppler Crescent reported that two people had approached their son in a white van who asked him to get into the vehicle.

The boy refused and returned to his parents, who were walking behind.  The van then took off at a high rate of speed. 

The vehicle was described to police as a white van with tinted windows. 

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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Registration For City's Aquatics Programs Opens Next Week

Registration for the City of Peterborough’s summer Aquatic programs opens next week.

File Photo.

Swimming programs are available for all ages and abilities, including learn-to-swim classes for children and adults and advanced lifeguard and swim instructor classes for experienced swimmers.

Registration opens for Peterborough Sport and Wellness members on Tuesday at 7 a.m. Registration opens to the public on Wednesday at 7 a.m.

Registration is online or by calling 705-742-0050 ext. 2.

Recreation subsidies are available for those qualifying low-income residents and families.

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Vehicle Theft Suspect Jumps Curb to Avoid Spike Belt

To add another piece of attempted thefts of Toyota-brand vehicles that have occurred over the past few weeks, Peterborough Police are seeking a driver who jumped a curb to avoid a spike belt early Wednesday morning.

At roughly 2:50 a.m., officers were called about a suspicious vehicle in the subdivision at Parkhill Road West and Chandler Crescent where a Toyota Highlander was being targeted.

As officers approached the house, a person was spotted jumping into the passenger seat of a black BMW SUV that fled at a high rate of speed. Officers had set up a spike belt at the subdivision entrance; however, the suspect vehicle jumped the curb, crossed a front lawn and then sped off westbound on Parkhill Road. 

The suspect is described as:

• Black male, 

• Approximately 6'

• Wearing black top 

The suspect vehicle is described as:

• Black

• BMW

• SUV

• No license plate

Between midnight and 8 a.m. on May 29, three incidents, including one attempted theft and two stolen vehicles, were reported to police. One vehicle was taken from the University Heights Boulevard and Water Street area. It was located the next day in Toronto.

There was an attempt to steal a vehicle in the Parkhill Road West and Chandler Crescent area and a third vehicle was stolen from that subdivision. The investigation revealed that the stolen vehicle was taken to the Lily Lake Road subdivision, where the GPS was disabled before both the stolen vehicle and the suspect left the area.

In each of the incidents, the vehicles were Toyota-brand vehicles.

The focus remains on Toyota vehicles, primarily trucks and larger SUVs. The Peterborough Police Service is working with other police jurisdictions and is asking residents with these vehicles to be extra vigilant.

Police say to consider taking the following precautions:

• parking another vehicle in front of the vehicle or in your garage, if possible, to make it difficult for thieves to drive off

• if your vehicle comes with a tracking system, please make sure it is installed and activated

• using a theft deterrent device

If you spot any suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, please report it to Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or 9-1-1 if it is an emergency or crime in progress. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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Peterborough Police Charge Low-Speed Vehicle Driver

A low-speed vehicle (LSV) driver in Peterborough has been charged for operating it on a city street on Monday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

Around 11:30 a.m., officers stopped the vehicle in the Barnardo Avenue and O’Carroll Avenue area.

The driver was charged under the Highway Traffic Act Regulation with:

• Drive LSV not in accordance with the regulation

• Owner operate a LSV on a highway with no insurance

Peterborough Police Service Traffic Management Unit Officers remind the public about the rules around low-speed vehicles.

Low-speed vehicles are defined as:

• designed for use primarily on streets and roads where access and the use of other prescribed classes of vehicles are controlled by law or agreement,

• travels on four wheels,

• powered by an electric power train (an electric motor and, if present, a transmission) that is designed to allow the vehicle to attain a speed of 32 km/h but not more than 40 km/h in a distance of 1.6 km on a paved level surface,

• not using fuel as an on-board source of energy, and

• having a GVWR of less than 1 361 kg; 

“The Traffic Management Unit has learned in some cases these vehicles are being called ‘enclosed mobility devices’ which is not correct,” according to a statement in a press release. “As they are considered low-speed vehicles they can only be operated on municipal roadways if the municipality has a by-law allowing for such activity.  In Peterborough, such a by-law does not exist, therefore anyone using them on roadways will be stopped and could face charges under the Highway Traffic Act Regulations.”

Anyone who operates an LSV on a highway may be subject to an automatic court appearance in the form of a summons, with fines ranging from $250 to $ 2,500.

Traffic complaints or concerns can be filed with the Traffic Management Unit and fill out the Driving Complaint Report. Dial 9-1-1 if the situation is an emergency.

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Peterborough Petes Acquire Overage Forward From Kingston For Three Draft Picks

The Peterborough Petes have traded for overage forward Matthew Soto from the Kingston Frontenacs in exchange for Sarnia’s third-round pick in 2027, Oshawa’s fifth-round pick in 2027 and a fifth-round pick in 2029, announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Robert Lefebvre and the OHL.

The St. Paul, Minn. native was originally selected by the Frontenacs in the first round, fifth overall, in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. Over four seasons with Kingston, Soto has played in 231 games, scoring 64 goals and adding 93 assists for 157 points. During his career, Soto has also appeared in 27 playoff games for the Frontenacs, scoring five goals and adding five assists for 10 points.

“We’re very excited to add Matthew Soto to our group as we prepare for the new season,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. “Matthew is a player who will bring a lot of experience to our team, having played in over 230 games during his career in Kingston. We’re looking forward to seeing him take the ice at training camp later this year.”

In 2023, Soto attended Pittsburgh Penguins training camp after leading the Frontenacs in scoring with 42 points in 54 games. During the 2023-24 season, Soto hit a career high in three offensive categories, scoring 25 goals and adding 31 assists for 56 points.

“I’m excited and grateful to get an opportunity to play for the Peterborough Petes,” said Soto. “I look forward to connecting with my teammates and getting to play in front of the amazing fans at the PMC next season.”

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Open House For Television Road Bridge Replacement Project

The community is invited to share ideas and provide feedback on the design of the Television Road Bridge Replacement Project during a public open house on June 26, held in the City Hall lobby from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

FIle Photo.

Displays of the latest designs will be set up and the project team will be on site to answer any questions.

The Television Road Bridge Replacement Project aims to provide a replacement for the aging bridge over Meade Creek while accommodating roadworks and possible future upgrades. This project is consultant-led, with the design work being completed by Jewell Engineering. The project is in the design stage and construction is expected to begin in 2026.

This project builds on the recommendations of the Television Road Bridge Replacement Environmental Study Report, completed in late 2023, incorporating new guidance from updated national and provincial transportation standards and recently approved City of Peterborough planning documents.  

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GreenUP Replants Native Trees at Ecology Park to Restore Urban Canopy

GreenUP and several volunteers are sprucing up their Ecology Park as they restored their tree canopy along the Trans Canada Trail on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.

Mayve Macfarlane (left), Kary MacMillan (middle) and Simon Dadds (right) toss compost on one of 12 full-size specimen trees. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Twelve large specimen trees and two large shrubs were planted. The previous trees had to be replaced due to severe weather in recent years and the presence of invasive pests.

The trees planted include Black Walnut, American Mountain Ash, Cucumber Magnolia, Eastern Redbud, and Pawpaw trees. Educational signage accompanies the trees to highlight their significance and 140 trees are being planted this fall, according to Tegan Moss, GreenUP executive director.

“Restoring the canopy is about more than trees, it’s about strengthening our connection to the land and investing in our community’s future,” she said.

@ptbo_canada GreenUP and several volunteers are sprucing up their Ecology Park as they restored their tree canopy along the Trans Canada Trail. #ptbocanada #ptbo #peterborough #journalism #journalist #news #fyp #environment #treeplanting #treeplantingtok ♬ Plant a tree - Andre Marteen

The work was funded by an $8,000 Planting for Tomorrow grant which an anonymous donor also matched.

“We are grateful to the Trans Canada Trail and to all of our donors, for their support in protecting native biodiversity,” said Moss.

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Recipients For Community Futures Peterborough's CAP Funding Announced

Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) has announced the recipients of the 2025 Community Advancement Program (CAP), a non-repayable funding program that supports projects fostering economic stability, investment, and employment across the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County. 

Photo courtesy of CFP.

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, CPF marked the milestone by committing a record-breaking investment of $100,000 to 10 local organizations.

To honour four decades of supporting local businesses, CFP distributed $10,000 in non-repayable funds to each successful applicant through the 2025 Community Advancement Program, resulting in a total investment of $100,000.

This special anniversary initiative highlights CFP’s longstanding commitment to promoting resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities throughout the region according to the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of AI and Digital Innovation and Minister.

“The projects supported through the Community Advancement Program are a testament to the innovation, ambition, and local leadership driving economic growth in Peterborough and the surrounding region,”he said. “Through FedDev Ontario, our government is proud to support the Community Futures Program and invest in the people and organizations creating real momentum. We are empowering local entrepreneurs, generating good jobs, and building a stronger, more resilient economy right here at home during these times of global economic uncertainty.” 

Photo courtesy of CFP.

Funded by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), CAP supports strategic projects that align with CFP's vision for sustainable economic development and regional resilience. The program is designed to create community economic stability, growth, and job creation, develop and diversify competitive rural economies, and foster economically sustainable communities. 

The 2025 CAP recipients are:

• Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation

• Kawartha Manufacturers Association (KMA)

• Junior Achievement

• Hiawatha First Nation

• Peterborough County

• 4th Line Theatre

• Curve Lake First Nation

• Farms at Work

• New Canadians Centre

• ReFrame Film Festival

“These projects reflect the spirit and mission we had in mind for the Community Advancement Program - to empower local organizations that are creating tangible, positive impacts on the economic landscape of our communities,” said Devon Girard, CFP executive director. “From arts and culture to agriculture, education, and equity, these initiatives are helping shape a vibrant future for both the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County.” 

Photo courtesy of CFP.

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation will use the funds to support a bursary initiative designed to help children who have been involved with Children’s Aid achieve their post-secondary education goals.

“We are so grateful for the funds Community Futures Peterborough is providing to the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation through the 2025 Community Advancement Program,” said Carrie Truman, executive director. “Together, we are having a positive impact on the lives of youth who are connected to the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society and pursuing their post-secondary education goals. It is amazing the hurdles these youth have overcome, and so exciting that they are focused on their future by working towards achieving their education goals.” 

Farms at Work will be using funding from the Community Advancement Program to hire a project manager to launch and support their Community Farm. This initiative will provide hands-on, experiential education to aspiring entrepreneurs in agriculture through workshops and guided tours of established farms.

“Farms at Work is grateful to receive this Community Advancement Program funding to support planning of our long-envisioned Community Learning Farm. These funds, along with in-kind support from the Peterborough County Economic Development team and farm owner Jason McIntosh, bring the dream of a place to farm closer for aspiring farmers and will benefit the community for many years to come,” said Heather Thoma, Farms at Work operations manager. "We welcome community participation - whether as volunteers, food growers looking for land and educational support or benefactors.”

The New Canadians Centre will use the funding to advance the goals of the Workplace Inclusion Charter, which include fostering a welcoming and inclusive community, supporting employee attraction and retention, boosting productivity and innovation, and enhancing overall employee well-being.

“Immigration is a key component of the future of our labour force and working age population,” said Andy Cragg, NCC executive director. “The Workplace Inclusion Charter project will help participating local businesses attract and retain immigrant talent while fostering positive workplace experiences for newcomers.”

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