City Council Approves Recommendation to Make Physician Recruitment Program Regular

The Council approved an update on the City's physician recruitment pilot program and recommended making it a regular, ongoing program starting in 2026 during their Monday meeting.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

According to City Council, the recruitment and retention of family physicians in Peterborough is a critical issue for the community, which is highlighted in the City’s Strategic Plan as high-performing healthcare systems support community wellbeing and drive economic growth.

Analysis included in the report highlights that over 13,000 additional patients risk becoming unattached if aging physicians retire without replacements.

During the current pilot project, the following have started practicing in the community as of May 2025:

• Six new Family Health Organization (FHO) physicians, keeping approximately 8,000 patients from becoming unattached

• One independent practice physician from the United Kingdom, who has rostered over 2,200 patients

• Three Community Health Centre (CHC) physicians who are looking after vulnerable sector patients, and they will add more once clinic construction is complete

Council endorsed converting the internal physician recruitment pilot program to a permanent program. This would establish a permanent in-house physician recruitment program, ensuring a sustained and coordinated municipal approach. The program will work closely with partners, including the Peterborough Ontario Health Team, Family Physician Think Tank and PRHC, to design and implement a strategic work plan.

The program includes a multi-pronged physician recruitment and retention strategy, including continued financial incentives, refinement of the Whole of Village incentive program, and enhanced participation in international recruitment efforts through partnerships such as the Eastern Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance (EOPRA).

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Wedgewood Park Getting Urban Forest Upgrades WIth Tree Planting and Ash Tree Removal

The City of Peterborough is enhancing Wedgewood Park’s urban forest and planting 515 new native tree species as part of the Trees 4 Peterborough initiative.  

Google Maps Screenshot.

This is due to significant damage from the Emerald Ash Borer. About 250 dead or dying ash trees will be removed this summer. 

Residents are encouraged to attend a community tree planting event on Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., to help reforest the park. Volunteers can sign up for the event at peterborough.ca/trees. 

As part of the City’s Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan, the City will begin removing approximately 250 dead or dying Ash trees from Wedgewood Park, which have succumbed to Emerald Ash Borer, beginning Monday. Removal work is expected to take five to six days.  

Work will also include clearing dense understory vegetation dominated by invasive Buckthorn.  

Wedgewood Park will remain open while removal work is underway. Residents are asked to keep a safe distance from working crews.

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Four Student-Athletes Graduates Receive 2025 Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame Bursary

Four graduating student-athletes were recipients of the annual Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame Bursary Award for 2025 at a presentation ceremony at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Tuesday afternoon.

(Left to right) Matthew Kathiravelu; Sydney Dobbin; Linda de Jeu, PDSHoF Second Vice Chair; Olivia McBride and Rutger Huntley. The award has been given annually to four recipients since 1996 (with 2020 having six) Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Matthew Kathiravelu, Sydney Dobbin, Olivia McBride and Rutger ‘Ru’ Huntley were this year’s winners, taking home $2,000 apiece from the bursary. Each recipient was a graduating high school student, attending University in the fall.

This year’s winners will have their headshots commemorated in the Hall of Fame and their names etched into the history of the awards’ beneficiaries.

Matthew Kathiravelu, 18. Photo by David Tuan BUi.

Kathiravelu, 18, is an honours student and a graduate of Kenner Collegiate.

He is attending the University of Pennsylvania, where he was accepted to the prestigious Wharton School of Business, studying Economics and working towards a Bachelor of Science degree.

He is a multisport athlete who played basketball, volleyball, badminton and track and field. He was named captain of his basketball, volleyball and track and field teams and named player of the year on all three of these teams.He led the Kenner Rams to an OFSAA silver medal this past year and an antique bronze two years ago. Kathiravelu is a two-time OFSAA triple jump gold medalist and an OFSAA  long jump silver medalist. He was named Kenner's senior male athlete of the year.

Academically, Kathiravelu was awarded the Governor General’s Award, given to the student who has the highest academic average with 97 per cent in his graduating class.

The 18-year-old has expanded his reach into coaching, helping the younger members of the Kenner track and field team. He has also been a representative on the student council and the athletic committee.

He has been a member of the Peterborough Power basketball program for two years and a player/captain with the Time to Hoop basketball program for two years.  He has also been a member of the United Tamil Sports Club for three years.

He has also volunteered as a coach for Peterborough Youth basketball, completed a co-op at Community Futures Peterborough, and coached youth at the Ferndale summer sports camp.

Sydney Dobbins, 18. Photo by David Tuan BUi.

Dobbins, 18, is an honours student and is a graduate of St. Peter Secondary School.

She will be attending the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, studying to become a doctor.

Dobbins played basketball, volleyball, soccer, ran cross country and track and field and competed in alpine ski racing and badminton. She captained her basketball and soccer teams. She was named Senior Female Athlete of the Year this past spring and has earned 10 MVP awards and two Most Dedicated awards throughout her high school career. Through her four-year education at St. Peter’s, she qualified for nine OFSAA championships in cross country running, soccer, basketball and Alpine ski racing.

She developed her leadership skills as a member of the Saints Athletic Council, where she organized sports events for elementary students, hosted athletic banquets, and advocated for the needs of student-athletes. The 18-year-old aspiring doctor has been a social media manager for athletics at St. Peter’s, where she also assisted with scorekeeping for boys and girls basketball games.

Dobbins was a member of the Peterborough Youth Soccer Association for 11 years and the Youth Basketball Association for nine. She was usually selected as captain.

Dobbins volunteered at the Peterborough City Soccer Summer Camp, Time to Hoop Basketball Academy and at the Special Olympics.

Outside of sports, Dobbins was a volunteer at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre with the Hospital Elder Life Program. It supports seniors with companionship and support in their recovery.

Olivia McBride, 18. Photo by David Tuan BUi.

McBride, 18, is an honours student and is a graduate of Adam Scott Collegiate.

She will attend Hamilton’s McMaster University in the fall, studying health sciences as she works towards an Honours Bachelor of Health Science Degree.

The 18-year-old competed in cross country running, basketball, volleyball, badminton, soccer, track and field and tennis. She was also a member of the school’s Special Olympics Unified basketball team this past year.

In her final year, Olivia was captain of the senior basketball and senior soccer teams.

During her four years at Adam Scott, she has earned nine different team awards, received her junior and senior athletic letter, was named Junior athlete of the year in grade 10 and senior athlete of the year in grade 12.

In her final year, she was one of the recipients of the Paul Burke Honour Athlete award, which recognizes commitment and dedication to athletics over a student's entire high school career, as well as receiving the Marilyn Tudhope OFSAA Award of Excellence.

McBride completed her Specialist High Skills Major program which allowed her to run a Grade 9 Olympics day, earn certifications in fair play and coaching and take part in career exploration and leadership positions. She has run volleyball intramurals for fellow students, assisted with junior girls basketball tryouts and officiated elementary basketball tournaments.

In the community, McBride has been a member of the Peterborough City Soccer Club and the Peterborough Power Basketball Club for four years.

She has volunteered at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre as a wayfinder, tutored Adam Scott Intermediate students, served as a basketball scorekeeper, and volunteered at Edmison Heights public school, where she assisted in a grade 6 classroom, organized pizza lunches, and coached dance and gymnastics.

Rutger ‘ru’Huntley, 18. Photo by David Tuan BUi.

Huntley, 18, is an honours student and graduate of Crestwood Secondary School.

He will be attending Queen’s University in Kingston, pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree.

Huntley played volleyball, badminton, tennis, ultimate frisbee, alpine skiing and a track and field athlete. He was captain of the volleyball team for each year of his career as a Mustang. He was named MVP of the volleyball team four times, the badminton team three times and earned two sportsmanship awards. He is a nine-time COSSA medalist and a five-time OFSAA participant.  

He received two of Crestwood’s most prestigious Dysart Awards of Athletic Excellence.

The 18-year-old has been a coach for the senior girls and junior boys volleyball teams at Crestwood, an official for four years for intermediate volleyball tournaments, a Soul beach volleyball coach for four years, a Durham attack U15 assistant coach and a private beach volleyball player coach.

Huntley has been captain and played volleyball for Durham Attack for three years, Peterborough Thunder for one year, Team Ontario Beach for one year, Soul Beach for four years, OVA beach tour for four years and has recently played badminton with the Peterborough Badminton Club for a year. He has received a Durham Attack leadership award three times, the Achievement of Excellence Award and the Lisa Ford Memorial Award.

Huntley has been a volunteer with the Millbrook BIA festival for 4 years, acting as an organizer and assisting with setup and he has volunteered with Mitchel’s Cakes and Desserts.

@ptbo_canada Matthew Kathiravelu, Sydney Dobbin, Olivia McBride and Rutger Huntley are this year’s recipients of the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame and Museum Bursary Award winners for 2025. It is given annually to exemplary student-athletes who have graduated high school and headed to post-secondary education this fall. #ptbocanada #ptbo #peterborough #journalism #journalist #news #fyp ♬ bounce i just wanna dance - фрози & joyful

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Peterborough Police Investigating Suspicious Death On Charlotte Street

The Peterborough Police Service are assisting the Coroner’s Office with a suspicious death investigation at a Peterborough residence on Charlotte Street, reported Tuesday afternoon. 

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

There is expected to be an ongoing police presence in the area of Charlotte Street and Rubidge Street.

Police have one person in custody and are not looking for any other suspects. 

No further details are being released at this time.

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Fleming College Hosting Skills Ontario Summer Camp This Week

Until Friday, Fleming College will host 18 elementary school students from across the Peterborough region for the Skills Ontario Summer Camp.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Hosted in the Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, the week-long camp gives students entering Grades 7-9 a hands-on opportunity to explore careers in the industrial, construction, motive power and technology sectors according to Fleming.

Included is the Skills Ontario Trades & Tech Truck, a mobile learning unit equipped with interactive displays that introduce students to a wide range of skilled trades and technology careers. 

Campers will participate in activities related to carpentry, electrical, plumbing, computing technology, and welding, working with tools and materials in Fleming’s college-level lab spaces.

Midweek, students will visit Fleming’s Frost Campus in Lindsay for an introduction to arboriculture and heavy equipment operation, including time in the heavy equipment simulators.

The camp has team-building challenges and ends with a celebration where families are invited to see what campers have created and learned.

By the end of the week, Fleming says campers will have built wooden camp chairs and copper coat hooks, taken part in collaborative challenges and explored new skills in a supportive, engaging environment. 

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Quaker Foods City Square Has Mobile Water Station Available During Extreme Heat

The City of Peterborough’s PTBO H2O mobile drinking water station is available at Quaker Foods City Square for people to access water during the current heat event, announced on Tuesday.

File photo.

It is available from 8 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m. this week, Tuesday through Thursday and next week, Monday through Thursday.

It is equipped with eight drinking fountains and eight water bottle refill stations. The unit is filled daily with 1,400 litres of municipal tap water. 

The Water Services Division of the City of Peterborough operates the mobile drinking water station. It is regularly rented out for community events and can be deployed for public access to drinking water. 

Water Refill Stations

Outdoor water bottle filling stations are available at City facilities in the following locations:

• Quaker Foods City Square, 215 Charlotte St.  

• Eastgate Park, 2150 Ashburnham Dr.  

• Peterborough Marina, 92 George St. N.  

• Beavermead Park washroom facilities, 2011 Ashburnham Dr.  

• Rogers Cove washroom facilities, 131 Maria St.   

Water bottles can also be refilled inside the following City facilities during hours of operation:  

• Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St.  

• Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr.  

• Miskin Law Community Complex, 271 Lansdowne St. W.  

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Total Burn Ban In Effect For Selwyn Township

The Selwyn Fire Department has issued a Total Burn Ban, effective immediately and until further notice, due to increased fire risk in the region.

photo courtesy of selwyn township.

The ban also voids all burn permits.

This ban applies to all open-air burning, including:

• Yard waste and brush burning

• Campfires and bonfires

• Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, and chimineas

• Agricultural burns

• Fireworks

The Township will closely monitor weather and fire risk conditions and lift the ban once it is safe to do so.

The decision follows a period of dry weather and elevated temperatures, which have created hazardous fire conditions according to Selwyn Township. Violations of the ban may result in fines or other enforcement measures. Residents are asked to report any violations by calling 9-1-1.

Fire Safety Reminders:

• Dispose of smoking materials properly

• Use extra care when operating machinery outdoors

• Be aware of your surroundings when outdoors in open fields and wooded areas

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Peterborough Police Service Nominated For Canadian Excellence Award

The Peterborough Police Service has been shortlisted for an award at the 2025 Canadian HR Awards, announced on Tuesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Service submitted a nomination in the Most Effective Recruitment Strategy category for their approach to recruitment over the past 18 months. Peterborough Police Service was selected as one of 11 nominees and is the only police service among those in the running.

According to a press release, the Peterborough Police Service recruitment strategy focused on three key areas:

• Partnership with Fleming College – our Recruitment and Talent Acquisition Coordinator is bringing real-world experience to the classroom

• Community Engagement and Inclusivity – Officers (many recent recruits) presenting to international students at orientation sessions

• The Shuttle Run Training Group

The Shuttle Run Training Group, developed in 2023 by the Peterborough Police Service in partnership with Fleming College and the Police Foundations Program, provides a safe space for potential prospects to test themselves against the physical requirements for policing. It ran every Wednesday from September to June at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. During that time, participants can try one of two of the physical requirements for policing - the “Shuttle Run”/ beep test or the ‘Prep Test.’

In 2024, the Service also introduced a ‘Women’s Only Shuttle Run Training Group’ to encourage more women to pursue a career in policing.

The Canadian HR Awards recipients will be announced on Sept. 18, at a ceremony in Toronto. 

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Peterborough Jr. C. Lakers Sweep Playoffs to Win Back-to-Back Meredith Cups

The Peterborough Jr. C Lakers have made franchise history, winning back-to-back Meredith Cups for the first time after defeating the Burlington Warriors 10-7 in a sweep at Healthy Planet Arena on Sunday.

Photo courtesy of the ONtario Junior C Lacrosse League.

Both teams scored two apiece in the first period, similar to Game one. Jordan Dool and Jeremiah Wade were the goal-scorers for Peterborough.

The floodgates opened in the second as the Lakers scored the first three goals. Reed Chamberlain, one of the team’s leading scorers, struck first to give Peterborough a 3-2 lead. Ryder Perry tacked on a pair to extend the score to 5-2. Central Division rookie of the year Hayden Addison also scored two goals ot round out the second and Peterborough had a comfortable 7-3 lead headed into the third.

Burlington would not go away quietly, opening the frame with three goals in six minutes, including a power play goal to cut the deficit to one. Wade came up big for Peterborough, responding with two goals to cap off the hat trick. Burlington scored to bring themselves to two goals to make it a game but Dool tacked on an empty-net goal to seal it, 10-7 for the Lakers and a back-to-back Meredith Cup.

The championship gave the Lakers their first back-to-back championship in the team’s history and has now tied for most Meredith Cup wins with the Clarington Shamrox with four titles.

The Lakers played three postseason series, remaining undefeated. They swept the Huntsville Hawks, Whitby Warriors and Burlington Warriors in a best-of-five series.

Peterborough suffered one loss all season, a 9-6 defeat from Whitby on May 21.

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Peterborough Residents Urged to Reduce Water Consumption Amid Dry Conditions

The City of Peterborough is urging residents to reduce water consumption due to low water conditions throughout the area.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

This follows after Otonabee Conservation declared a Level 1 drought due to dry conditions across the region following significantly reduced rainfall and extended periods of heat through June and July.

A decline in rainfall and an increase in high-temperature days have resulted in low streamflow, putting pressure on water supplies throughout the region.

During Level 1 drought conditions, Otonabee Conservation recommends a 10 per cent voluntary reduction in water consumption to help ease pressure on local water supplies. Residents and businesses are asked to limit non-essential water use, including lawn watering, car washing, pool filling and other outdoor water activities.

During these dry conditions, residents and visitors are reminded that smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited in all City of Peterborough parks, sports fields, playgrounds, splashpads, wading pools and beaches, except in designated smoking areas.

These restrictions help reduce the risk of fire and support public health. This is enforced under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and the Peterborough Smoking Bylaw.

Open-air burning is not permitted in the City of Peterborough. This includes any outdoor fires such as bonfires, campfires and the burning of yard waste. These activities pose a risk to public safety and can have serious consequences, especially in densely populated areas.   

Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) approved fire bowls, fire-pit tables and barbeques that burn propane or natural gas are examples of approved appliances that may be used. Chimineas and other wood-burning devices are not approved appliances for open-air fires.  

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