Red Dress Community Art Installation Relocated and Extended to City Hall

The City of Peterborough has relocated and extended the Red Dress community art installation to the City Hall lobby, announced on Monday. 

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Created in recognition of Red Dress Day, Canada’s National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people, the Red Dress installation invites the public to pause, reflect and bear witness to the lives lost and the voices that continue to call for justice.

Each piece of red fabric, yarn, or beading in the dress was contributed by members of the community, making it not only a symbol of loss but also of solidarity and shared responsibility. 

The collaborative art installation originated at the Peterborough Public Library in May.

“Bringing the installation to City Hall ensures it remains visible in the heart of our civic space,” said Councillors Lesley Parnell and Alex Bierk in a joint statement. “It is a reminder that remembrance and reconciliation are not passive acts. They require presence, dialogue, and continued effort from all of us.” 

“This installation holds space for grief and remembrance, but also for learning and collective action. By moving the dress to City Hall, we are continuing to centre the importance of truth-telling and inviting all residents to take part in this journey,” said Shelley Knott, Indigenous Relations Advisor with the City. “The Red Dress is a reminder of the disproportionate violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people, a crisis rooted in colonialism and systemic inequity. According to Statistics Canada, more than 63 per cent of Indigenous women in Canada have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime.” 

Visitors can view the installation at City Hall, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They are also invited to engage in learning, allyship, and advocacy.  

According to a press release, the City encourages all community members to: 

• Learn more about the National Inquiry into MMIWG2S+ and its final report.   

• Support Indigenous-led organizations doing front-line and advocacy work 

• Attend public events, smudges, and ceremonies 

• Reflect on how to foster safety and accountability in the community 

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Peterborough Lakers Cannot Find Footing In Game One Loss to Six Nations Chiefs

The Peterborough Lakers drop game one to the two-time defending Mann Cup champion Six Nations Chiefs, 11-6, at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena on Sunday night.

The Lakers and Chiefs from their game on Aug. 13 last year. It is the fifth season in a row and ninth out of 10 that the Lakers and Chiefs have faced each other in the Finals. Photo courtesy of Anna Taylor and the Peterborough Lakers.

The Lakers got off to the hot start they wanted as Braedon Saris scored twice and Joe Resetarits got a tally but Peterborough started to fall behind and trailed 5-3 at the end of the first.

The woes kept coming as Six Nations ran off a three-goal run in the second period. It was not until Taite Cattoni scored at 4:43 to keep them from being shut out in that stanza.

The Chiefs started the third with a pair of goals to to make it 10-4. Cattoni notched his second of the game to close the gap. Each team scored one more goal —Jake Withers scoring for Peterborough — but the deficit was too great for Peterborough to make up and Six Nations took game one, 11-6.

“We are climbing a mountain,” said Mike Hasen Lakers’ head coach. “We said to the guys, it’s a wakeup call here. Tuesday night we have to come prepared and get back at it and play with a little bit of a hate for these guys. They took it to us tonight. We’ll be waking up after this one and will be much better Tuesday.”

“We know they’re beatable in our building,” saidd Cattoni. “They’re a really good team and it’s playoffs so they’re holding nothing back. We have to match their intensity.”

Game two of the best-of-seven series is on Tuesday night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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Peterborough Petes Release Ticket Details For 2025 Preseason Games

The Peterborough Petes have released ticket details for their three preseason home games beginning on Aug. 30.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes start their 2025 preseason with back-to-back home games against the Erie Otters on Aug. 30 at 7:05 p.m. and Aug. 31 at 2:05 p.m. Both games will take place at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Sections 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 will be open for the games, with general admission tickets available for $10. Tickets for both games can be purchased online or by contacting the Grant Thornton Box Office.

Peterborough’s third and final home preseason game will take place in Norwood at the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre on Sept. 7 at 2:05 p.m. when the Petes host the Kingston Frontenacs. Tickets for the game are general admission and can be purchased in person for $20 (cash only) at JJ Stewart Motors or online for $30. The game will include raffles and chuck-a-puck with proceeds in support of Norwood Minor Hockey. The Petes players will also be signing autographs after the game.

The doors for all three Petes preseason home games will be open one hour before puck drop.

The Petes will play their fourth and final preseason game on the road on Sept. 12, when they travel to Sarnia to take on the Sarnia Sting. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Progressive Auto Sales Arena. Tickets can be purchased online.

The Petes’ full preseason schedule can be seen below:

• Saturday, Aug. 30 at 7:05 p.m. vs Erie Otters (Peterborough Memorial Centre)

• Sunday, Aug. 31 at 2:05 p.m. vs Erie Otters (Peterborough Memorial Centre)

• Sunday, Sept. 7 at 2:05 p.m. vs Kingston Frontenacs (Norwood at the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre)

• Friday, Sept. 12 at 7:05 p.m. @ Sarnia Sting (Progressive Auto Sales Arena)

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Peterborough Man On Warrant Arrested Allegedly Assaulting a Woman With a Knife

A 49-year-old Peterborough man wanted on an Ontario-wide warrant for another policing jurisdiction is facing new charges after an incident Saturday evening.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 6:50 p.m., officers were called to a residence in the Southlawn Drive and Otonabee Drive area. Officers found a 42-year-old woman with a knife injury being treated by bystanders and learned that the suspect was still inside the home.  The victim was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for treatment.

The Emergency Response Team (ERT) was called to help contain the residence and facilitate his arrest. Just before 9 p.m., ERT entered the home, took the suspect into custody and then to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for treatment of injuries that happened during the initial incident.

The man was arrested on the warrant and further charged with:

• Aggravated Assault

• Assault Cause Bodily Harm - Choke, suffocate or strangle

• Uttering Threats - Cause death or Bodily Harm-Spousal

• Failure to comply with release order - other than to attend court

The accused was bound by a release order not to possess a weapon as defined by the Criminal Code.

The accused was held in custody and appeared in Weekend and Statutory Holiday (WASH) court on Sunday.

The name of the accused is not being released to protect the identity of the victim in this incident.

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Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Community Futures Peterborough, Canopy Support Services, Hello Blush and Classy Chassis

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…

Community Futures Peterborough is celebrating this year’s Summer Company cohort of our next generation of local entrepreneurs.

The Summer Company Program is an opportunity for eligible youth to receive up to $3,000 in grants to start a business locally. The program provides youth with grant dollars, business skills development, training, advice, and mentoring. This year’s cohort are:

• Lauren Connolly – Connolly Swim Academy

• Haydon Meade – Scrub Window Cleaning

• Neha Mervin – Sparks of Bollywood

• Bisma Razaque – Shirt Spark

• Spencer Toth – Farm Hands

• Teaghan Hartnett – West End Property Care

Congratulations to all of you and we look forward to watching your entrepreneurial journey.

Canopy Support Services are hosting their third annual Canopy Cares Inclusivity Carnival at Dixon Park in Peterborough on Sept.13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This is an opportunity to celebrate community, connection, and inclusion. There will be performances from Betty Baker, Sarah Cee, dancers and circus performers, a Lions barbecue, face painting, raffles and more. New this year are a dunk tank, touch a race car, tie dye, henna, and a glitter glam bar. Canopy Support Services are celebrating 50 years this year, helping people build skills, navigate challenges, and overcome barrier to achieve their best quality of life.

Nicole Lemke has launched a new business, Hello Blush, where her goal is to help women get their colour back when they just don't feel like themselves anymore.

She is a Nurse Psychotherapist who understands issues women face through her own journeys with mental health, fertility, pregnancy loss, body image, and burnout. Aside from being a nurse, she’s a mom, entrepreneur, content creator, and social media manager. Her work with Hello Blush is all about helping you be yourself again, fill your own cup, and get your colour back. Find out more at helloblush.ca.

Classy Chassis are hosting their 12th annual Ride with the Roc to Classy Chassis event on Saturday.

Riders will meet at Sir Monty’s Brewing Company in Durham at 11 a.m. and take a scenic ride to Classy Chassis near Lakefield. The event will feature a 50/50 raffle for SickKids, delicious food from Two Fat Greeks, cold beer, a Harley stunt show, and lots of prizes. Find out more at usedhd.ca.

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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PTBOSpotlight: Berc's Steakhouse

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 Berc’s Steakhouse. It is owned by Cathy Zhang and Bob Xia.

Established in 2007, Berc’s is a fine dining steak house with a multi-level, multi-sectioned restaurant that will seat up to 150 guests. It is open six days a week for dinner and five days for lunch.

Berc’s came to fruition after Zhang and Xia wanted to open a restaurant from repeated trips to Peterborough. They loved the city so much that they decided it was the perfect spot to raise their two sons. Berc's is named as an acronym for the names of the family: Bob, Eric, Richard and Cathy.

Located at 186 Lansdowne St. E., the restaurant employs 20 long-term, local employees who helped get it voted the number one steakhouse in town for over a decade.

“We are very proud of our staff and the many awards we have won year after year, including best steakhouse for over 15 years, best restaurant atmosphere, best fine dining, best chef and best server multiple times,” said Mary MacCallum of Berc’s Steakhouse.

Berc's offers an array of entrées including steaks, seafood, lamb, chicken and pasta. They provide a separate lunch menu with a house-made soup and a chef's feature daily.

“We have a large number of repeat or regular guests,” explained MacCallum Our employees are on a first-name basis with many of our diners and know what day and time they come in, what table they like, what they like to drink, their favourite entrees and desserts.”

Berc’s also features a private dining room, holding up to 30 guests, which is equipped with an 85" smart board. It is ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, celebrations of life, weddings, or corporate functions—customized special menus are also available for any event.

“Our close-knit staff are a culmination of knowledge and capability. Many have worked in the industry for 20 plus years and bring with them a wealth of experience from many different types of restaurants.”

To learn more about Berc’s Steakhouse, find them online:

Website: www.bercs.ca
Instagram: @bercssteakhouse
Facebook: Berc’s Steakhouse

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Peterborough Lakers Make Another Dramatic Comeback Finish In Overtime For 8-7 to Advance to MSL Finals

The Peterborough Lakers avoid elimination in another dramatic fashion after earning a second-straight comeback overtime victory in game seven, 8-7, over the Brooklin L.C. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

Mike Robinson, Lakers Forward (middle) after scoring the walk-off game-winning goal in overtime to send the Lakers to the MSL Finals against the Six Nations Chiefs. Robinson also socred in the third period to help the Lakers rally for the comeback. Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Lakers.

The win punches Peterborough’s ticket to the Major Series Lacrosse finals against the two-time defending Mann Cup champion Six Nations Chiefs. Prior to game six, the Lakers were down 3-2 in the series after being defeated in three consecutive games. Peterborough had a come-from-behind overtime victory, 6-5, on Thursday night.

Both teams were evenly matched in the first period with two goals apiece. Braedon Saris and Justin Sykes scored for the Lakers.

Brooklin had a perfect period in the second. They scored three times, including two shorthanded goals, while preventing Peterborough from finding the back of the net to take a 5-2 lead headed into the third.

Peterborough opened the scoring less than a minute into the power play as game six-hero Taite Cattoni scored to bring the Lakers to within two. The visitors scored two straight goals to seemingly put the game out of reach with 11:41 left in regulation for a 7-3 lead.

The Lakers refused to go quietly as Mike Robinson scored just under four minutes later. Holden Cattoni joined the scoresheet 53 seconds later to get to a two-goal deficit. Peterborough applied a double team in the neutral zone to force a turnover. Colton Armstrong made the most of his chance and scored to bring the Lakers to within one.

The Lakers got an opportunity as the Brooklin goaltender incurred a major penalty for illegal equipment to put Peterborough on the power play. It took 18 seconds for the home team to find the back of the net as Holden sniped it from the point to tie the game and eventually go into overtime with seven goals apiece.

With just under three minutes left in the first overtime, Robinson was in the same spot Holden was when he scored and shot a laser through traffic for the game-winning score.

“It was kind of a scramble play, it feels like that’s normally how it ends in these types of games,” said Robinson. “I think Rezzy was looking inside to maybe (Carter Page) and the ball just squirted out to me up top and I just kinda let it go as quick as I could. Didn’t really pick a spot or anything and lucky enough it went in.”

“It was kinda reminiscent of our Mann Cup runs a few years ago and even when I was a kid,” said Jake Withers. “It helps a lot. We have the best home floor advantage in the league by far so to have them behind us to help fuel that comeback, it paid dividends in overtime when Mikey scored that one.”

The finals start this Sunday in Six Nations with game two in Peterborough on Tuesday. A full schedule is being released at a later time.

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Peterborough Man Given Second-Degree Murder Charge From Suspicious Death On Charlotte Street

A 40-year-old Peterborough man is facing another charge in connection with a suspicious death that occurred on Charlotte Street, reported on Friday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The accused has been charged with:

• Second-Degree Murder

The accused has also been charged with Indignity to a Dead Body.

They are being held in custody and appeared in court on Friday.

The victim, a 33-year-old Peterborough woman, was found deceased in an apartment on Charlotte Street on Tuesday. 

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GPHSF 2025 Senior Care Microgrant Now Open

The Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation’s (GPHSF) Senior Care Microgrant program to support senior care projects and healthy aging initiatives in the Peterborough area is open for applicants.

These grants have been made possible due to funding provided by the June Towle Trust. She passed away in 2023. Photo courtesy of GPHSF.

This is the second year that GPHSF is offering the microgrant.

“2024 was the first year we offered the Senior Care Micro Grants program, and it was a great success” said Vince Bierworth, GPHSF executive director. “We had a number of really great projects submitted for funding and we truly wish we had more grants available to offer. We are excited to see who applies for the grants and what project they are working on in 2025.”

Two grants are available with the application deadline on Sept. 30.

The new Senior Care Microgrant program is meant to be a low-barrier applicant process according to GPHSF. The grants can be used as seed money to address a new need or as financial support to an existing program in Peterborough, County, Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation. 

Two grants are available, with up to $5,000 in funding available with each grant.

Applications are open to community and not-for-profit organizations, including medical organizations, that run programming and services or propose to run programming and services within the boundaries of Peterborough City and/or Peterborough County, Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation.

Proposed projects must be general in scope (including and impactful on as many people as possible). Project completion must occur within one year of approval unless GPHSF grants an extension. Grant funding can be applied to existing projects or used as seed money for new projects.

A maximum of $5,000 is available for each gran, and a maximum of $10,000 is available across all grants (two total).

The project timeline and budget must be provided.

Senior Care Microgrant projects may include.

• Research

• Equipment

• Nutrition

• Physical Activity

• Mental Health

Priority will be given to projects that:

• Have a lasting impact on our community.

• Support emerging needs in our community.

• Improve the quality of life for seniors in the community.

Applications can be submitted online.

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Fall Recreation Program Registration Has Opened

Registration for fall recreation programs with the City of Peterborough is currently open.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Classes include fitness, judo, Taekwondo or partaking in one of the City’s skating or tennis programs. Children’s dance classes and registered pickleball, birthday party packages and personal training programs are also available.

Information on aquatic programs can be found at peterborough.ca/swim.  

Registration for all programming can be done online, in person at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre or by calling 705-742-0050 ext. 2201. 

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