List of City Services On Civic Holiday (Aug. 4)
/For the Civic Holiday on Monday, many City services and facilities will be operating under holiday hours or will be closed.
File Photo.
Peterborough Blogs
Local Government Leaders Meet With Economy Professionals to Address Industry Challenges
/Local government leaders met with key industry stakeholders and economic development professionals to address recent economic shifts and their impact on employment in the Peterborough community at the Peterborough + Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce on Thursday morning.
(from left to right) Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP; Mayor Jeff Leal and Bonnie Clarke, Peterborough County Warden. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The leaders included Mayor Jeff Leal; Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP and Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden. Emma Harrison, Peterborough-Kawartha MP, was not in attendance physically but endorsed the actions taken to address the issue. According to her communications assistant, Jessica Nyznik, Harrison had attended the meeting virtually via Zoom.
On Monday, Smith had called leaders to meet with economic professionals at the Chamber of Commerce for Thursday.
The meeting’s purpose was to determine how to reverse current trends, fortify Peterborough's business environment and understand local economic growth challenges.
“A real emphasis today, Peterborough County and City have a lot of top-notch homegrown industries,” said Leal. “Those homegrown industries are the ones that make the decisions every day, right here in our local community so we need to continue to look at ways that we can expand that base in order to create those new job opportunities.”
The call for the meeting followed three days after Peterborough’s Minute Maid facility announced it would discontinue frozen products and production would cease in the first quarter of next year. This results in job losses but the number is undisclosed.
Last week, Lufthansa InTouch announced they were shutting down its Peterborough facility in May next year. One month prior, Siemens had announced its consolidation operations in Concord on June 25, relocating approximately 160 manufacturing positions over the next two years.
The local politicians meet bi-weekly to address any issues and concerns. The economic challenges were on their radar but the changes in the three companies, as mentioned above, were a tipping point that led to calling the meeting, according to Smith.
“These companies are making decisions based on their global footprint, not necessarily the local footprint,” he explained. “We will do what we can do then, to ensure that the local environment here is as conducive as possible to keep those companies, to expand those companies.”
Thursday’s discussions aimed to uncover the reasons behind the most recent downsizing and company relocations from Peterborough to other jurisdictions.
“This is the start,” explained Clark. “We will be supportive, we will put plans in place that Peterborough grows — the City of Peterborough and the County. We want to make sure that our businesses are supported and that we retain businesses and we grow businesses.”
Smith added that US President Donald Trump and his tariffs are not a direct factor in the economic shift in Peterborough but they do play a role in companies’ decisions.
“There have been other things that have given them the decision to do that,” explained Smith. “Everything that happens in the market affects other parts of the world. Because there is uncertainty in the US market, that trickles into other areas of the world economy and there is uncertainty in all of them.”
All four politicians released a joint statement regarding Peterborough’s business challenges:
“Mayor Jeff Leal, Warden Bonnie Clark, MPP Dave Smith and MP Emma Harrison conducted the first of a series of consultations with industry and economic development experts to understand the challenges faced by industry operating in the Peterborough area. Recognizing that all levels of government play a role in ensuring job creators in the region can be successful, a task force will be formed to facilitate the cooperative approach that all four elected officials will use to work together to address the concerns of businesses and improve the conditions for their operations. Working together to find ways to leverage each level of governments tools and programs in a collaborative approach to help businesses in the region succeed will be the main goal of the task force.
Mayor Leal, Warden Clark, MPP Smith and MP Harrison commit to work together to enhance the prospects of the local job creators in the Peterborough region to be successful and continuing to contribute to the fabric of the region.”
Meetings are ongoing to continue addressing this issue.
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The Rotary Club of Peterborough's Fore the Kids Golf Tournament Scheduled For Sept. 25
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough has released the date of its Fore the Kids Golf Tournament fundraiser at the Katchiwano Golf Club on Sept. 25.
Photo courtesy of teh Rotary Club of Peterborough.
Tournament proceeds will help fund Rotary projects and the kids who use the services of the Five Counties Children’s Centre.
Tickets are $150 per person, which includes a round of golf, a cart for convenience, lunch to recharge and compete in hole prizes.
One child supported by the cause is four-year-old Jude, who has cerebral palsy and a global developmental delay. He has been accessing Five Counties programs like physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy since he was four months old.
“Thank you to everyone who supports this event. It shows the families at Five Counties that they have an entire community behind them, cheering them on.” said Julie Grant, Jude’s mom.
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United Way Peterborough & District Unveils 2025 Community Campaign Cabinet
/The United Way Peterborough & District has announced the members of its 2025 Community Campaign Cabinet on Thursday morning.
Photo courtesy of the United Way/
On May 21, United Way named journalist Paul Rellinger as its 2025 Campaign Chair.
The Cabinet had its first meeting of the campaign season this week. Rellinger says the gathering set the tone for a year of meaningful engagement, collaboration and impact.
“I wish there was a way that all Peterborough city and county residents could have been at the first Cabinet meeting to see, hear and feel the energy and spark I saw, heard and felt,” he explained. “A fierce commitment to building stronger and more equitable communities, where no one is left behind and all are provided the opportunity to thrive, was evident from the get-go. It reminded me that whatever we accomplish, be it with this campaign or with any like endeavour, success is inevitably rooted in the character, compassion and commitment of those driving things forward. We are indeed in the best of hands, fueling my unbridled optimism for a very good campaign result.”
The following are this year’s cabinet members:
Darcy Bonner, Community Ambassador
Dr. Michael Eamon, Trent University
Ann Farquharson, Farquharson Law
Coby Fewings, Scotiabank
Dr. Bruce Gibson, Community Ambassador
Marg Glenn, Glenn Isle Farms
Sheridan Graham, County of PTBO
Greg Kidd, KPRDSB
Richard Lambert, BMO
Evan Lyons, PRHC
Laken MacFarlane, City of PTBO
Vipesh Patel, Community Ambassador
Dr. Thomas Piggot, HKNP Health Unit
Amanda Pinder, RBC
Dr. Stephan Ragaz, Community Ambassador
Paul Rellinger, 2025 Campaign Chair
Balkaran Singh Sathi, Sathi Law
Jeannine Taylor, KawarthaNOW
Sebastien Tinor-Roy, TD Bank
Staff Sargeant John Townsend, PTBO Police
Shirley Turner, EXIT Realty Liftlock
Danielle Turpin, Community Ambassador
“The people around the table are difference-makers,” Jim Russell, United Way CEO. “They bring vision, compassion and energy to this campaign and we’re incredibly grateful for their leadership.”
The Cabinet will reconvene in September to continue planning for this year’s Campaign Launch, scheduled for the Healthy Planet Arena on Sept. 25.
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Shoplifter Arrested By Off-Duty Officer
/An off-duty officer, who was grocery shopping, helped the store arrest a 63-year-old Peterborough man in a shoplifting incident Wednesday evening.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 6 p.m., the officer was in the store located at the intersection of Towerhill Road and Chemong Road and became aware that store staff had stopped a man attempting to leave the store without paying for over $350 worth of items. The officer took the man into custody.
During the investigation, it was learned that the man was wanted on warrants for assault, assault with a weapon, failure to comply with an undertaking and failure to attend court.
The man was arrested on the strength of the warrants and further charged with:
Theft under $5,000
The accused is being held in custody and will appear in court on Thursday.
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The 66th Annual Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament To Be the Finale
/A continued Peterborough hockey tradition hits the end of the road as the 66th edition of the Annual Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament will be the last, announced on Tuesday evening.
Last year’s U11A Petes competed in the “Chris Fee Cup”, defeating the U11A Toronto Wolverines. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Formerly known as the Peterborough Liftlock Atom Hockey Tournament, the decision came down to two contributing factors: a lack of volunteers and the shifting landscape of minor hockey.
The tournament has relied heavily on local volunteers, but organizers say, “finding and retaining enough individuals to manage the extensive logistics, from scheduling to arena operations, has become increasingly difficult.”
Organizers also state that “changes within the broader minor hockey landscape may have also contributed to the challenges faced by the Peterborough Liftlock Atom Tournament.”
The tournament began during the 1958-59 season as a one-day, eight-team affair for Pee Wee players. Over the years, it adapted to age-grouping changes by the OMHA, eventually settling on the ‘Atom’ (now U11) designation in 1974.
In 1969, a group including Jack Guerin, Lloyd Hardy, Don Dorsett and Howie Eastman proposed an expansion to a two-day, 16-team event, laying the groundwork for its significant growth.
“(It’s) Not just a hockey tournament...It's a community affair,” said organizers. The Liftlock Tournament was one of the largest Atom-level tournaments in North America. Attracting more than 100 teams from across Ontario, Quebec and even the United States, the tournament proceeds went to lower hockey costs for local minor players and assisting numerous local and national charities, as well as capital projects like the Evinrude Centre and the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.
There are 87 alumni who participated in the tournament and went on to make the National Hockey League.
They include:
Wayne Gretzky - The Great One and was one of hockey’s greatest goal scorers
Eric Lindros - NHL MVP
Bob Gainey - Multiple Stanley Cup winner and successful coach
Corey Perry - Hometown Stanley Cup champion with the Anaheim Ducks
Steve Larmer - An ‘iron man’ forward who played 884 consecutive games for the Chicago Blackhawks
John Vanbiesbrouck - Stanley Cup goaltender and finalist
Tie Domi - Renowned Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer
Mickey Redmond - Montréal Canadiens forward and Detroit Red Wings colour commentator
Cory Stillman - A two-time Stanley Cup champion
Mike Fisher - An 18-season NHL veteran
Organizers made a final statement regarding the last edition of the tournament, “While the 2026 edition promises to be a celebratory send-off, it will undoubtedly mark the end of an era for a tournament that has been a cherished tradition and a vital part of Peterborough's identity for over six decades. Its legacy, however, will continue to resonate in the memories of those who played, volunteered, and cheered on the young hockey hopefuls at the Peterborough Liftlock Atom Hockey Tournament.”
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Peterborough and Surrounding Area Under Special Air Quality Statement; Risks Expected to Rise Overnight
/The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health (PPH) have reported a Special Air Quality Statement as issued by Environment Canada on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Current Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) levels in Haliburton are within the moderate (4-6) range but are expected to increase overnight. Despite being low risk, the AQHI in Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough and Northumberland are expected to rise to moderate throughout the evening and into tomorrow according to PPH.
Reports of smoke from wildfires in the Prairies are moving through the region, resulting in poor air quality. PPH says your health can be impacted even at low or moderate levels and sometimes without a noticeable smell.
If an extreme heat event coincides with poor air quality, residents are advised to prioritize keeping cool.
Common symptoms of smoke exposure include:
Sore and watery eyes
Runny nose and sinus irritation
Scratchy throat and mild coughing
Headaches
Some populations face greater health risks when exposed to poor air quality. This includes, but is not limited to, seniors, pregnant individuals, infants and young children, people who work outdoors, people with pre-existing medical conditions (particularly lung disease like asthma, COPD, or cardiovascular disease), and those in strenuous outdoor activity.
The following is the Air Quality Health Index:
Low Risk (1–3): Ideal conditions for outdoor activities for everyone.
Moderate Risk (4–6): Most people can continue outdoor activities, but those with heart or breathing problems should monitor for symptoms.
High Risk (7–10): Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous outdoor activities, especially if you experience symptoms like coughing or throat irritation.
Very High Risk (10+): Everyone should avoid strenuous outdoor activity. Those at higher risk should stay indoors and limit exposure.
PPH suggests doing the following in case of air quality statements:
Check the AQHI forecast daily
Receive smog and air quality alerts directly to your email
Create a clean air space at home by keeping windows and doors closed
Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter in your home, if possible
Monitor your symptoms and adjust your activities as needed
Check in on others, especially those in the at-risk population
Tools to help you check in during extreme heat
If you are included in the at-risk population, consult your primary health care provider about additional ways to protect your health when air quality is poor.
By taking these precautions, PPH says you can help protect your health and minimize the risks associated with poor air quality conditions.
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City of Peterborough Recognizes World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
/With Wednesday as International Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Mayor Jeff Leal has issued the following statement regarding the day.
It is a United Nations initiative that raises awareness about the global issue of human trafficking and stands in solidarity with survivors.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The following is Leal’s statement:
“Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights that causes deep and lasting harm to individuals, families, and entire communities, it takes away people’s safety and freedom."
On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, it is a vital moment for us to reflect on the harsh reality faced by millions worldwide who are exploited and denied their basic human rights.
As a community, we must remain committed to raising awareness, protecting the rights of victims, and supporting efforts to bring traffickers to justice. Today is a solemn reminder of the suffering endured by millions who are exploited and denied their fundamental human rights.”
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Suspect Arrested From Series of Thefts Including Construction Equipment
/The Peterborough Police Service Street Crime Unit have investigated a series of thefts across the province of Ontario, resulting in charges against a 34-year-old Peterborough man.
Last Wednesday, after an eight-month investigation, the Peterborough Police Service Street Crime Unit conducted a search warrant at a property east of Peterborough.
Officers seized:
Skid Steer, confirmed stolen out of North York on Aug. 17, 2024
Side-by-side, confirmed stolen off Highway 65 in Cane Township on May 25
Commercial generator stolen from the GTA
Cube truck, confirmed stolen from Toronto in October of 2022
Stolen flatbed trailer
.22 calibre rifle
Black powder firearm
Crossbow x3 (Seized due to prohibition order)
Pellet guns x2 (Seized due to prohibition order)
2.8 grams of Crystal Methamphetamine
A quantity of pills (suspected codeine and acetaminophen)
The total value of the stolen property recovered is approximately $255,000.
The man was charged with:
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 x4
Operation While Prohibited
Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
Careless Storage of a Firearm
Possession of Firearm or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order X2
Fail to Comply with Release Order
Breach of Recognizance
The accused is currently wanted on a warrant in another jurisdiction and at the time of his arrest was bound by a weapons prohibition order to not possess any firearm, crossbow, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon and prohibited device.
The accused is currently bound by several driving prohibitions as well as a recognizance order with the following conditions: to keep the peace and be of good behaviour and to not possess any weapons as defined by the Criminal Code.
They are also bound by a release order with the condition to reside with their surety.
The accused is currently being held in custody as a result of the theft of a skid steer in Toronto on July 22.
“I am very proud of the work by our Street Crime Unit. This has been a lengthy investigation that has resulted in recovery of stolen property and an arrest of an individual who has a history of criminal activity,” said Chief Stuart Betts. “With weapons and drugs recovered along with the stolen equipment, these are crimes and situations that could pose a significant danger in our community. We hope the public recognizes, as we do, that these types of projects are important in helping keep our community safe.”
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Seven Organizations Funded a Total of $250,000 For Senior Healthy and Independent Living
/As part of Seniors Month, the Ontario government has invested $250,000 in seven organizations throughout Peterborough-Kawartha to help seniors increase independence, reduce social isolation and create positive connections, announced at the Activity Haven Senior Centre on Monday afternoon.
(From left to right) Councillor Dave Haacke; Bonnie Clarke, Peterborough County Warden; Raymond Cho; Minister for Seniors and Accessibility; Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP and Mark Tinkler, Activity Haven board president. The government is investing $7 million in the SCGP this year to protect seniors and older adults by supporting over 330 community projects that help them to stay fit, active, healthy and socially connected. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
“Seniors are the backbone of our community, and ensuring they have the resources to live healthy, independent, and connected lives is a top priority," said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “This $250,000 investment through the Seniors Community Grant Program will directly support vital local initiatives, from social drop-in programs to fitness classes and intergenerational mentorship, allowing our seniors to thrive right here in Peterborough-Kawartha.”
These projects are part of the Seniors Community Grant Program (SCGP). Their recipients can receive up to $25,000 to support local programs, services and events to provide seniors with opportunities for greater social inclusion, volunteerism and community engagement. This year’s investment includes an additional $1 million, specifically for programs dedicated to improving the quality of life for senior veterans.
One of the projects is going towards the Activity Haven Senior Centre and its newly-initiated ‘Lift for Life” program.
“Our members will have the opportunity to work with the experts at Trent Health In Motion to improve their life and well-being following a very valuable program to address osteoporosis,” said Mark Tinkler, Activity Haven board president.
The following are the supported organizations:
The Township of Selwyn Public Library has been awarded $21,570 for its ‘Building Connections: Senior Social Drop-In Program.’
Activity Haven Senior Centre (Peterborough) Inc. will receive $23,755 for its ‘Lift For Life’
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough is being granted $24,900 for its ‘Big G Mentor Together Project.’
The Alzheimer Society of Peterborough Kawartha Lakes Northumberland and Haliburton will receive $23,351 for ‘The Social and Night Out Program.’
Havelock Belmont Methuen Seniors is being awarded $25,000 for ‘Seniors Tech Connect.’
Peterborough New Horizons Bands will receive $4,730 to ‘Support for Members.’
VON Peterborough Victoria Haliburton is being granted $12,815 for their Wellness in Aging Program
