Canadian Hockey Enterprises to Launch U18 Academy Starting In the 2026-27 Season
/Canadian Hockey Enterprises (CHE) has launched the CHE Academy, set to begin in the 2026-27 season at the U18 level, announced on Friday.
Photo courtesy of CHE.
Peterborough Blogs
Ontario Government Invests $981,888 to Peterborough Police Service to Combat Theft and Human Trafficking
/The Peterborough Police Service (PPS) is receiving a $981,888 investment from the Ontario Government to enhance local crime-fighting capabilities across two major initiatives: retail theft and human trafficking, announced at the Peterborough Police Station on Friday afternoon.
Chief Stuart Betts (left) and MPP Dave Smith explaining to the media on how the new investment will be used. The Peterborough Police Service project is one of 127 projects being funded across the province for 2025-26. Of the 127 projects, 88 projects will address local priorities and 39 projects will address provincial priorities, including gun and gang-related violence, sexual violence and harassment, human trafficking, mental health and addictions, hate-motivated crime, housing and homelessness and commercial/retail theft. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The money is delivered through the Community Safety and Policing Grant Program. This is part of a $91 million investment to help protect families and communities across the province.
Funding has been secured to strengthen the PPS's successful Community F.L.R.S.T. (Focused Investigation Response and Support Team), which targets retail and provincial theft. The F.I.R.S.T. Unit has made 466 arrests and recovered over $119,000 in stolen property for local businesses since launching in January last year.
There is $500,000 invested to strengthen the PPS's efforts against the provincial priorities of sexual violence, harassment and human trafficking.
This funding will be used to enhance survivor-informed strategies across three key pillars:
Training & Personnel: Ensuring all frontline officers receive continuous, trauma-informed training, supported by dedicated specialized roles like the Human Trafficking Investigator and Domestic Violence Coordinator.
Technological Tools: Expanding the Community Safety CCTV Network and installing high-resolution Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology. These tools are crucial for tracking suspect vehicles and disrupting exploitation through transportation networks.
Community Engagement: Improving public education and outreach, with the technology expansion guided by a transparent, community-led CCTV Steering Committee. This investment directly supports the PPS's strategic goal of strengthening community partnerships and providing both proactive enforcement and compassionate, effective support for victims of complex and often hidden crimes.
“Every resident deserves to feel safe in their community,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “This substantial funding will equip our police service with the resources to not only crack down on organized retail crime and put repeat offenders behind bars through the successful Community F.I.R.S.T. team, but also to deliver specialized, trauma-informed support for victims of the horrific crimes of human trafficking and sexual violence. Our government is committed to ensuring our police have the tools they need to protect our families and make our streets safer.”
“Because of this investment, the Peterborough Police Service will be able to continue to tackle issues that impact residents and visitors and help us achieve our strategic goals of enhancing community safety, modernizing the service through technology and supporting our people,” said. Chief Stuart Betts of the Peterborough Police Service.
This funding provides new technology to simplify the reporting process for residents. It also helps continue to train and educate officers in trauma-informed practices around human trafficking and sexual violence.
The money also allows the Peterborough Police to enhance its CCTV program to install cameras at key intersections that lead in and out of the community according to Chief Betts.
“As I have stated many times, many of the most severe crimes that have occurred in this community over the past two years have been perpetrated by people who have travelled here; having cameras equipped with automatic license plate readers at strategic locations will assist in a multitude of investigations,” he said. “These are issues that are important to our community and with this support we will continue to be able to make strides in solving crimes and ensuring the safety of all residents in our community.”
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Matthew Soto's Five-Point Night Gives Peterborough the Win Over Rival Oshawa Generals
/Matthew Soto helped the Petes prevail during OHL Rivalry Week with five points en route to a 7-3 win over the Oshawa Generals at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.
The Petes are fourth in the East Division with a 4-4-0-1 record. Photo courtesy of Kenenth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.
The Petes coughed up the opening goal as they turned over the puck in their own zone and Brooks Rogowski wristed one home for a 1-0 lead just 2:47 into the period.
It took almost 13 minutes but Peterborough got the equalizer after Brennan Falkner had a turnaround bid from the high slot and scored for a tie game. Soto had the primary assist from a rebound shot. It took 67 seconds for the Petes to strike again as Soto had a breakaway shorthanded and got it above the pad for a 2-1 lead after the first period.
Peterborough kept rolling as Kaden McGregor got a juicy rebound from a Gerry DiCunzolo shot and the former buried it home for his second goal of the season. Adam Novotný got on the scoreboard just under six minutes later after pouncing on a rebound from a Thanasi Marentette point shot. He scored to make it 4-1 and Soto got the secondary assist on the play. Vadim Smirnov got one back for the Generals late in the period and it was a 4-2 game after two frames.
Soto found the back of the net just 17 seconds into the final period with a tip-in from a James Petrovski cross-crease pass. He struck again after a loose puck rebound found the back of his stick. He got it past the goaltender with a backhand shot from one knee for the hat trick and fifth point of the night. Peterborough kepts pouring it on as Novotný wristed one home from inside the faceoff circle for his second of the game. The Generals tacked one on late but the Petes easily left the Memorial Centre with a 7-3 win.
The Petes continue the OHL’s Rivalry Week on Saturday when they host the Ottawa 67’s. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Peterborough Man Charged With Impaired and Careless Driving After Causing Collision
/A 31-year-old Peterborough man is facing several charges, including impaired driving, after a collision on Thursday afternoon.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 4:10 p.m., officers were called to the intersection of Sherbrooke Street and Clonsilla Avenue about a collision. Officers learned that there was concern that the male driver of one of the vehicles was impaired and that the vehicle with that driver had been driven away from the scene by a passenger. There were no injuries in the collision.
Through investigation, officers located the vehicle that had left the scene and spoke with both the passenger and the male driver. During the conversation, officers noticed signs of impairment in the driver. Police further learned that the male driving the vehicle had given police a false name, was wanted on five warrants (failing to appear for court, breach of probation, failing to comply with release order and theft under $5,000) and had an indefinite driving disqualification as well as a driving suspension.
The man was arrested on the strength of the warrants and further charged with:
Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
Obstruct Peace Officer
Operation while prohibited under the Criminal Code
Driving while under suspension X2 (Highway Traffic Act)
Careless driving (Highway Traffic Act)
The accused is being held in custody and will appear in court on Friday.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Peterborough's Tim Jeffries Brings His Dino Extravaganza Tour Home to St. James United Church On Oct. 25.
/Entrepreneur Tim Jeffries is excited to bring his national tour back home to Peterborough as he brings his ‘The World of Dinosaurs’ tour to St. James United Church on Oct. 25.
In 2024, Jeffries held over 50 talks across Canada and this year he expanded his tour to include PEI and Newfoundland in his cross-Canada tour, with more expansion already booked for 2026. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Jeffries will be bringing an extensive collection of real dinosaur bones with him, including T. rex teeth, Triceratops horns, Diplodocus vertebrae, Saurolophus Eggs and more.
The museum’s collection so far houses over 350 dinosaur bones and counting as he is in Alberta for fossil hunting.
“It is important to me to recognize the importance of my community and a great way to do that is to let them have the first look at the dinosaur fossils I find. But also, this lecture will have the most dinosaur bones on display that any other lecture so far,” said Jeffries. “It is important to me to help spark curiosity and inspire wonder and dinosaurs defiantly do that.”
The presentation will cover how dinosaurs ruled the planet, including facts about some of its most well-known species and how some of them survived the asteroid impact. A fully interactive museum presentation that informs, involves, and inspires all attendees.
Jeffries is a recent graduate of Community Future Peterborough’s Starter Company Plus program. He is grateful for what he has learned as he expands his business across Canada.
“This program and its team have been such a game changer for me,” he said. “I am so grateful for the guidance that I am receiving that is helping my company grow to something I couldn’t have even dreamed for myself.”
Tickets are $10 per Adult, $5 per Child or $20 for a Family.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Trent Excalibur Men's Soccer Ends Their Season With a 3-1 Playoff Loss to the Carleton Ravens
/The Trent Excalibur men’s soccer team’s 2025-26 season came to an end after being downed by the Carleton Ravens, 3-1 at TAGG Park in Ottawa on Wednesday night.
Excalibur goalkeeper Owen Schultz was Trent’s player of the match, making 13 saves on 16 Ravens shots. The team finished with five shots on goal. Photo courtesy of Trent Excalibur.
The Ravens squad took control early with goals in the 15th and 20th minutes to take a 2-0 lead. Trent could have been in a bigger hole but was saved by a few posts.
The gExcalibur cut the lead in half in the 35th minute with their first playoff marker since 2016 as Oliver Parratt capitalized on a Ravens turnover and put a low strike into the back of the net. The half ended with Carleton holding a 2-1 advantage.
Trent was more offensive in the second half with several narrow misses but Carleton was able to hold off the attack. Eventually, the Ravens found a hole in the 78th minute to extend their lead to 3-1 and hold on for the victory.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Peterborough Man Arrested For Assault After Spitting on An Employee
/A 28-year-old Peterborough man on probation is facing charges including assault after an incident on Wednesday morning.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 6:50 a.m., officers were called to a business in the Lansdowne Street and The Parkway area. They learned that a man was asked to leave the store and spat at an employee before exiting. Officers located a man matching the description given to police a short distance away and took him into custody.
The man was arrested and charged with:
Assault
Fail to comply with probation X3
The accused is currently bound by three probation orders with the following condition: to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Trent and PCHC Partner For New Community Health Outreach Vehicle to Increase Access to Primary Care
/A new donor-funded Community Health Outreach vehicle, coordinated between Trent University and the Peterborough Community Health Centre (PCHC), has been unveiled to the public to deliver primary care services to rural and Indigenous communities in Peterborough County, as announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Following a successful first-year pilot, Trent and PCHC aim to increase funding for the initiative, expanding the range of services, increasing the number of communities reached, and involving students from additional disciplines such as social work. Photo courtesy of Trent University.
The vehicle also provides experiential learning opportunities for Trent/Fleming School of Nursing students according to Dr. Hugo Lehmann, dean of the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing.
“The Trent/Fleming School of Nursing is dedicated to educating nurses who can adapt to changing environments and deliver care where it is needed. The Community Health Outreach vehicle embodies that vision,” he said. “By partnering with PCHC and through the generosity of our donors to Trent’s Momentous Campaign, we are advancing access to healthcare for Indigenous, rural, and underserved populations while ensuring our students gain the experience to become leaders in equitable healthcare.”
Operating two days per week, the vehicle will serve Havelock, Ennismore and Hiawatha First Nation as a first-year pilot. It is staffed by a nurse practitioner and eight second-year Trent/Fleming Nursing students per academic term. The vehicle will provide drop-in services for acute and chronic conditions and offer well-child visits, harm reduction supplies, safer sex supplies and education.
The project launches at a critical time, as Ontario faces an ongoing shortage of family doctors and primary care providers, an issue felt acutely in rural regions according to Ashley Safar, PCHC executive director.
“The demand for health care in Peterborough is greater than ever. Our mission is to meet people where they are, addressing not just medical needs but the broader social factors that impact health. The Community Health Outreach vehicle is exactly the kind of low-barrier, community-based care our centre is committed to providing,” she said. “We’re able to expand access to primary care and ensure more people receive the timely, equitable care they deserve.”
“Students gain so much by serving directly in communities and by being immersed in the realities of frontline health care,” explained Erinne Stevens, Trent/Fleming School of Nursing nurse practitioner. “The Community Health Outreach vehicle will allow students to build clinical expertise while also learning what it means to provide care that is accessible, responsive, and rooted in community.”
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Peterborough Petes Sign Defenceman to OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement From 2023 Priority Selection
/The Peterborough Petes have signed defenceman Calum Hartnell to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement, announced on Wednesday evening.
Photo courtesy of Kenenth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.
“We’re excited to announce that we’ve signed Calum Hartnell to a Scholarship and Development Agreement,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “Calum had a strong season last year with Carleton Place, making his debut with the Petes later in the year. He has shown throughout his time in Peterborough that he has the qualities that we’re looking for, both on and off the ice.”
The 2007-born defenceman was originally selected by the Petes in the 10th round, 193rd overall, in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. Last season, he played in 52 games for the Carleton Place Canadians of the CCHL, scoring three goals and adding 17 assists for 20 points.
Over the past two seasons, Hartnell has played in five games for the Petes, making his OHL debut in Brantford on March 1 of this year.
The Petes are back in action for the OHL’s Rivalry Week on Thursday when they host the Oshawa Generals. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.
Picketing at Fleming College Ends; Support Staff Return to Work Thursday
/After a five-week strike, Ontario colleges and full-time support staff have reached a tentative agreement as strikes and picketing are ending immediately with employees returning to work on Thursday.
The strike encompassed full-time support workers at 24 colleges across the province. File Photo.
