PTBOSpotlight: The Chill Desire

Welcome to PTBOSpotlight! Every Friday, this segment showcases a business or organization in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. You will have the opportunity to learn more about the people behind the organization and the work they do for our community.

This week, we are featuring The Chill Desire. The local business is owned by brothers Sarthak Juneja and Nitish.

Located on 366 George St. N., The Chill Desire started as an ice cream parlour but has since branched out, adding savoury food to their menu including burgers, wraps, fries, spring rolls and more.

“We serve everything from ice creams and waffles to specialty drinks, peri peri loaded fries, and our famous aalu patty burger, along with a variety of popular Indian snacks like momos (dumplings) and samosas, all made fresh in an open kitchen,” said Juneja. “Whether you're craving a sweet scoop or a savoury bite, we have something for everyone.”

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Prior to opening The Chill Desire, the brothers arrived in Peterborough as international students in 2019. The idea stemmed from Nitish visiting his home country of India, where his friends introduced him to waffles with ice cream during an outing. They eventually introduced authentic South Asian flavours that they could not find locally and often travelled to Toronto for the taste they loved.

As customer demand grew, they expanded to include chicken burgers, fries, wraps, momos, samosas and their unique aalu patty burger. Their involvement in local events and support from the community fueled further growth.

“The Chill Desire is more than just an ice cream shop — it’s a place to relax and enjoy good times with friends and family,” explained Juneja. “Our space is welcoming for students looking to study or do homework and it's lively enough for the bar crowd to indulge in sweet and savoury treats until 3 a.m., 365 days a year.”

The store is celebrating its second anniversary this month in Downtown Peterborough. Since then, the menu has broadened, extended their operating hours and is giving away a free scoop of ice cream with every order until July 15 to celebrate their milestone.

To continue the festivities, on July 16, the Chill Desire is giving away 100 free scoops of ice cream (no purchase necessary, one scoop per customer).

“We are proud of our community support and the variety we offer that keeps people coming back. Our goal is to create a fun, inclusive environment where everyone can enjoy a moment of happiness with quality food and treats.”

To learn more about The Chill Desire, find it online:

Website: www.thechilldesire.ca
Instagram: @thechilldesire
Facebook: The Chill Desire

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City of Peterborough Announces Construction of Transit Garage and Maintenance Facility

Peterborough’s public transit capacity is growing as the City of Peterborough announced the construction of a new 10,500-square-metre transit garage and maintenance facility.

File Photo.

This follows a combined investment of almost $42.9 million from the federal and provincial governments. 

“Transit is key to connecting and creating complete communities,” said Emma Harrison, Peterborough-Kawartha MP. “That’s why investments like the Peterborough bus garage are vital to meeting our growing housing and infrastructure needs.”

“Access to reliable, affordable transit plays a vital role in connecting people in Peterborough to jobs, housing and essential services. Ontario’s investment in a new transit garage will help ensure safe, modern transit is available to support our growing community — today and in the years ahead,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP.

The garage and maintenance facility will house up to 110 buses, offer a range of transit maintenance services and have amenities and offices for transit employees.

“We’re incredibly grateful to both the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada for this significant investment in Peterborough’s transit future,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “The funding for a new transit garage is not only timely, it’s essential. Our current facility is aging and no longer meets the needs of a growing city. A new, modern garage will support fleet expansion, improve maintenance capabilities, and prepare us for the future of transit, including the integration of electric and low-emission vehicles. This investment will help us deliver more reliable, efficient, and sustainable transit services for the people of Peterborough.”

According to the City, after construction, the facility will support Peterborough Transit into the future and help ensure the community has access to an efficient and affordable transit service that supports economic growth and connects residents to jobs and housing.

They continue to state that the investment helps build a stronger Canadian economy. Expanding public transit infrastructure to meet growing demand supports the development of more affordable, sustainable and inclusive communities.

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Suspect Charged With Mischief After Smashing Several Business WIndows

A 47-year-old Peterborough man is facing charges after a number of business windows were smashed overnight, early Friday morning. 

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 12:50 a.m., officers were called to the area of Hunter Street between Aylmer and George Streets. They located a man matching the description given to police. Police also learned that the suspect was connected to two other incidents in that area.

The man was arrested and charged with:

• Mischief - destroys or damages property x3

• Fail to Comply with Probation Order x2

The accused is currently bound by two probation orders with the following condition: to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

The accused was held in custody and appeared in court later that day.

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Peterborough Lakers Down Season-Leading Six Nations Chiefs At Home

The Lakers got their second home win against the two-time defending Mann Cup champion Six Nations Chiefs, defeating them 10-7 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Lakers.

The Lakers scored the game’s first three goals courtesy of Carter Page, Justin Sykes and Thomas Hoggarth. The Chiefs scored one back but Peterborough led 3-1 after the first period.

Peterborough started the period with another run, scoring the first four goals. Page scored shorthanded, Hoggarth (powerplay) gets his second, Braedon Saris (powerplay) and Matt Gilray scored their first of the game. Six Nations went on a three-goal run and closed the gap but Peterborough still led 7-4 after the second period.

Peterborough started the period with another run, this time, scoring two thanks to Page’s hat trick and Sykes’s second. The Chiefs battled for another three-goal run to cut the deficit to 9-7 but Mike Robinson sealed it with a powerplay goal with 66 seconds left to give Peterborough the 10-7 win.

The win keeps the Lakers in second place, four points behind the first-place Chiefs but four points ahead of the third-place Brooklin L.C.

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Peterborough Petes Seeking Billet Families For 2025-26 Season

The Peterborough Petes are looking for billets for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Billet families are responsible for providing the following:

• A clean, smoke-free, welcoming home that a player will feel comfortable in

• A private room with a bed and good mattress

• A private desk/workspace for homework

• Nutritious meals and snacks

• Support of team rule enforcement including curfew, community engagement, academic standards, etc.

Families receive the following as compensation:

• Two lower bowl season tickets

• A weekly stipend

• Invitations to exclusive team events

• Flex tickets for use throughout the season

• Other team perks and benefits

All potential billet families will undergo a home visit by Petes security, Risk Management and Billet Liaison Walter Di Clemente and each adult in the family will be required to complete a police check.

Those interested in learning more about the Billet Family Program or applying can fill out a form online or email eebenbauer@gopetesgo.com.

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Peterborough Kia Makes Pledge Towards Ennismore Inclusive Playground Fundraiser

Peterborough KIA is lending a hand to Accessible Playgrounds Ontario’s (APO) $250,000 fundraising effort for an inclusive playground at the Ennismore Waterfront Park in Ennismore.

Grant (left) pushing her son Jude (right) on a swing. According to Grant, 38 per cent of Canadian children with a disability almost never get physical exercise outside of school. Photo courtesy of APO.

Spearheaded by Paul Seminara, Kia is donating $100 from every vehicle sold in July towards the project known as ‘Jude's Joy,’ named after APO’s Julie Grant’s son Jude, days before turning four years old, who was born with cerebral palsy.

As of May, the project was a year into its fundraising efforts and had raised over $170,000 towards its $250,000 goal.

On June 2, ‘Jude’s Joy’ applied for the McDougall Insurance contest with the top prize of $5,000, while second and third place got $3,000 and $2,000, respectively. However, the Ennisemore-based project failed to reach the top three in a vote-based contest.

According to Grant, there are no accessible playgrounds in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

“The closest fully accessible/inclusive playground to Selwyn is 64 km away in Port Hope and the second closest is Port Perry,” she explained.

Jude cannot walk independently and requires a walker to travel. Grant says several playground features are not as accessibility-friendly as they seem.

Most accessible playgrounds have rubber surfacing and intentionally designed play elements such as ramps. Roughly half of the money raised goes towards that surfacing, and Grant attributes the wood chips as a cheaper alternative.

“The most common barrier at playgrounds is the surfacing choice, which is often wood chips, which limits Jude's ability at two to three years old to use his walker independently,” she explained. “Secondly, the absence of ground-level play elements does not permit the learning opportunities that fully abled people can experience. Therefore, potential learning is lost.”

The other half of the funds raised has already been deliberated on, as Grant explained how the money will be spent.

“Considerations include a ramp onto the main play structure, a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round, an accessible swing with a harness, various music elements at ground level, and a play-tot structure for younger children from 18-plus months,” said Grant.

Donations can be made through the Township of Selwyn in person or by mail via debit, cheque, or cash, Canada Helps or by cheque to the Optimist Club of Ennismore.

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ECCO Art Gallery Studios to Showcase Work of Lakefield Artist David Goyette

ECCO Art Gallery Studios is showcasing the work of Lakefield-based artist David Goyette and his solo exhibition, ‘Force of Nature’ from July 9 to Aug. 9.

Photo courtesy of Gallery Goyette.

Last year, Goyette was named the Peterborough Examiner Readers’ Choice Gold Winner for Favourite Local Artist. He also has a spot at the Peterborough and District Pathway of Fame as one of the few artists to have received this distinction.

Goyette is the author of five published books, recognized by Canadian Scholars Press and a musician whose three original CDs that have been recognized by Sir George Martin, producer of The Beatles. A former Director of the Royal Conservatory of Music, he has also served as Chair of the Showplace Performance Centre, where both the David Goyette Green Room and the David Goyette Stage are named in his honour. He is a Paul Harris Fellow through Rotary International and a past recipient and finalist of the Peterborough Arts Award in the Arts Champion category.

Goyette’s visual art is rooted in the tradition of the New York School of abstract expressionism of the 1950s and '60s, as well as lyrical abstraction. His large-scale acrylic paintings draw inspiration from architecture and graphic design, celebrating the drama of colour and the expressive possibilities of the momentary and the imagined. With a keen focus on the tension between order and disorder, his work invites viewers to reflect on the contradictions of daily experience.

Opening reception on July 19, 1-4 pm.

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Voice of Business: Fostering Inclusion: A Business Roadmap to Economic Reconciliation

This week in Voice of Business, we’re highlighting the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s new two-part report on Advancing Economic Reconciliation Through Equity, Economic Inclusion, and Growth.

Part 1, “Establishing Equity in Education & Employment for Indigenous Peoples” focuses on how the business community can help create real opportunities for Indigenous Peoples. Part 2, “Finance & Capital” looks at how the financial sector can help guide reconciliation through inclusive programming design and Indigenous perspectives. Indigenous populations are growing at twice the rate of non-Indigenous Canadians, and studies show they are nine times more likely to start a business. This presents an opportunity to support a community that has long faced systemic barriers.

The reports offer practical guidance for businesses, educational institutions, and financial organizations on how to advance economic reconciliation. They emphasize the importance of creating opportunities for Indigenous Peoples through inclusive education, employment, and access to capital. Both reports share resources for employers and institutions that can help to foster inclusive employment through various Indigenous organizations such as the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendships Centres. Attending Indigenous community events can also help to build and develop relationships with potential Indigenous job seekers, here are some notable organizations with events: CCIB Conference & Events, First Nations Major Projects Coalition, Indigenomics, Ontario First Nations Economic Development Conference, and Indigenous Prosperity Forum. Leveraging these organizations can help your business or institution support your Indigenous employees.

A key focus is ensuring that programs and services reflect the realities facing Indigenous workers, entrepreneurs, and business owners. This includes rethinking job requirements, fostering inclusive workplaces, and reshaping financial programs to improve access to capital. These lived realities are evident— for example, as of 2015, 15 per cent of Indigenous individuals were unbanked, compared to just 2% of the general population. Educational gaps also remain. The proportion of First Nations (10.4 per cent), Inuit (7.6 per cent), and Métis (18.8 per cent) individuals with a university degree is significantly lower than that of non-Indigenous Canadians, with approximately 37% holding a university degree. Rethinking job requirements that prioritize degrees and reshaping financial programs to support Indigenous entrepreneurs and job seekers is crucial to bridging these gaps. These efforts will help unlock the potential of a growing population eager to contribute to Ontario’s economy through both employment and entrepreneurship. Part 1, “Establishing Equity in Education & Employment for Indigenous Peoples”, highlights the importance of:

• Adapting job requirements to use a skills-based assessment approach as potential employees from diverse backgrounds who have all the necessary skills but may not have the typical education requirements.

• Creating inclusive workplaces to tackle discrimination by fostering learning and education on the legacy of residential schools and the legacy of colonialism within Canada. · Offering remote work to overcome geographic challenges as more than 60 per cent of First Nations reserves are located in remote or very remote areas in Ontario.

• Incorporating Indigenous perspectives into business practices such as including Indigenous leadership in roles that require recognizing and changing policies, procedures or governance that may impact Indigenous employees. In fact, research from the McKinsey Institute demonstrated that diverse companies are 27 per cent more likely to outperform other companies. Further highlighting how incorporating diverse perspectives can propel your businesses competitiveness as well.

In addition to creating inclusive workplaces and modernizing job requirements, Part II “Finance and Capital”, highlights three main themes to advance economic reconciliation through the financial sector:

1. Building Trust and Relationships Creating meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities is key to restoring trust in financial institutions. This can include:

• Training staff to build cultural awareness and understanding of Canada’s colonial history.

• Hiring Indigenous employees to bring lived experience into the workplace.

• Supporting long-term prosperity through Indigenous Trusts, equity investments, and community-led decision-making.

By taking these steps, businesses and financial institutions can ensure their programs and services meet the needs of Indigenous clients.

2. Tailoring Financial Programs Financial programs for Indigenous Peoples should be designed in consultation with Indigenous Peoples and communities to ensure access to the capital needed to start or grow businesses. This includes reshaping lending and risk criteria to reflect the realities of

Indigenous entrepreneurs, who may not have the same credit history or cash flow patterns as others.

3. Building Partnerships Partnering with Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs) is essential. IFIs were created to provide capital for Indigenous entrepreneurs often overlooked by mainstream lenders. Financial institutions can work with IFIs and use Indigenous loan guarantee models to help make financing more accessible, especially in rural and remote communities. These Indigenous loan guarantee models are critical to leverage as they are financed through the federal or the provincial government which can eliminate the risk for lending institutions.

Together, “Establishing Equity in Education & Employment for Indigenous Peoples” and “Finance & Capital” offer a roadmap for businesses, educational institutions, and financial organizations to take meaningful steps toward reconciliation. These reports highlight both sides of the opportunity: helping businesses and educational institutions create inclusive environments, while also supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs and business owners. This is about providing a leg up where it’s needed, unlocking the talent, innovation, and leadership Indigenous Peoples bring to the table.

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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Registration Open For 23rd Annual Hike For Hospice

Registration is open for Hospice Peterborough’s 23rd annual Hike for Hospice fundraiser, occurring at Millennium Park on Sept. 28.

Last year’s Hike Raised a record-breaking $138,000 and Hospice Peterborough wants to break that record this year. Photo courtesy of Hike for Hospice.

The walk’s registration launches alongside a story of last year’s top fundraiser, Kyle McConnell. According to the Hike for Hospice EasyPledge site, Kyle was part of an approximately 40-person team who hiked in memory of his late wife, Tash McConnell.

According to Hospice, Tash was known as ‘the life of the party.’ She loved summer, being outdoors, and had a penchant for pizza. She was a nurse who worked at Hospice Peterborough and PRHC until a Stage 3 melanoma began a four-year cancer journey. Despite her illness, Tash continued volunteering as a front desk volunteer at Hospice Peterborough. When her illness progressed in the late Summer of 2024, Tash’s final moments were spent in the care of hospice, passing away at 39.

Kyle (left) and Tash McConnell (right). Photo courtesy of Hike for Hospice.

A few weeks following her death, Kyle’s friends approached him about organizing a Hike for Hospice team in her memory called ‘Notorious T.A.S.H.’

“She would have thought that was funny,” said Kyle.

Notorious T.A.S.H. raised over $25,000. Attending Hospice staff wore light pink ribbons in her memory.

“It seemed like the best way to honour her memory,” said Kyle.

“It’s one thing to volunteer for Hospice, but when someone you love is admitted and you get to experience the love and compassion of that special place, then you want to give it as much support as you possibly can,” said John Muise, Hike committee co-chair.

“We’re really excited to see everyone come together again to raise funds for crucial hospice services for our community,” said Tom LaBranche, Hike committee co-chair. “If hospice has made an impact on you or your loved ones, then participating in this event is a wonderful way to celebrate and help continue that work.”

Funds raised from the event enable Hospice Peterborough to offer over 26 free programs and services to support individuals facing life-threatening illnesses and those grieving according to a press release.

Event participants can expect a brief opening ceremony, light snacks and refreshments, and a sweet treat at the end of the hike.

The route consists of a walk from Millennium Park — near the Silver Bean Café — to Beavermead Beach, with a halfway point for those seeking a shorter option. Participants are also welcome to participate virtually if they prefer.

Those interested in learning more about Hike for Hospice and registering for the event, which takes place on Sept. 28, can go online.

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Hatch Coffee Shop Has Grand Opening at Riverview Park & Zoo

Riverview Park and Zoo and Bird Friendly Peterborough have celebrating the grand opening of Hatch Coffee Shop, a newly created, bird-friendly cafe located within the Zoo's playground area on Wednesday morning.

The Hatcg is located near the playground area of the zoo. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

It serves Bird Friendly, fair-trade, and organic coffee beans from Birds and Beans, using compostable cups, through a walk-through window located in the playground. Hatch also offers baked treats, gluten-free options, cold drinks, ice cream bars, candy and fruit.

“The new Bird Friendly Café at the Riverview Park and Zoo brings Bird Friendly Peterborough’s mission to life - showing how small changes in the human environment, like bird-safe windows, bird friendly-products and habitat-friendly spaces, can reduce collisions and support migratory birds. Protecting birds helps protect entire ecosystems, and this café sets an example of how people and wildlife can share space in a healthier, more sustainable city,” says Thomas Luloff, Bird Friendly Peterborough vice chair, .

“We are proud to be one of the founding members of Bird Friendly Peterborough and excited to take this next bird friendly adventure into eco-friendly food service as a fund generating endeavour to support the Riverview Park and Zoo,” said Cathy Mitchell, Riverview CEO and curator manager. “Our role, as part of Canadian Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) accredited facility, is to educate and inspire people about wildlife conservation across the globe. Coffee is a great topic to discuss conservation, it’s international, so we must consider not just the impact we are having on the environment locally by running a café, but the effect we are having on the farming landscape on a whole different continent, by buying coffee beans grown 1000’s miles away.”

Regular Hours of Operation:

• Wednesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (through Labour Day)

• Weekends only (Saturday and Sunday) throughout the fall and into the winter season

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