Lakefield's Queen Street to Reopen Friday Morning Following Structure Fire Damage
/The Township of Selwyn expects to reopen Queen Street in Lakefield on Friday at 8 a.m., announced on Thursday evening.
Photo courtesy of Selwyn Township.
Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough Hockey Association to Continue Annual Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament In 2027
/A cherished tradition will continue after all, as the Peterborough Hockey Association (PHA) will host the Annual Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament for 2027, announced on Wednesday.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The decision came after close collaboration with the City of Peterborough.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the current and past volunteers and board members of the Liftlock Atom Tournament for their many years of dedication, which have sustained this cherished event,” according to a statement made in a press release.
The original tournament organizers announced that the 66th edition would be the last back in late July due to a lack of volunteers and the shifting landscape of minor hockey.
The past organizers stated that “finding and retaining enough individuals to manage the extensive logistics, from scheduling to arena operations, has become increasingly difficult.”
They also mentioned that “changes within the broader minor hockey landscape may have also contributed to the challenges faced by the Peterborough Liftlock Atom Tournament.”
Eighty-seven alumni participated in the tournament and went on to play in 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
“Their connection to this tournament highlights its role in developing young talent, and the legacy we build upon,” PHA stated.
The 2026 edition is being held from Jan. 9-11.
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Community Futures Peterborough Launches New Guide to Help Entrepreneurs Hire Their First Employee
/In celebration of Small Business Week 2025, Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) has released a new free resource to support local entrepreneurs and small business owners in hiring their first employee.
Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough.
“Small businesses are the economic engine of Peterborough-Kawartha, and the decision to hire a first employee is a critical milestone that fuels our community's growth,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “Every single new job created here is an investment in a stronger, more prosperous future for our entire region. I commend Community Futures Peterborough and the Business Advisory Centre for creating this practical resource to give our local entrepreneurs the confidence and tools they need to take that important next step.”
The ‘Hiring Your First Employee’ guide is designed to help small business owners navigate the complex process of becoming an employer for the first time. It was developed in collaboration with the Business Advisory Centre. The guide provides practical, step-by-step insights on topics ranging from understanding employment laws and setting up payroll to writing job descriptions, conducting interviews and onboarding new team members effectively according to Devon Girard, CFP executive director.
“Hiring your first employee is a major milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming,” she said. “This guide simplifies the process by breaking down what business owners need to know, what steps to take, and where to find trusted local resources to make confident, informed decisions.”
Girard says the guide covers key areas such as:
Understanding Ontario employment standards, human rights, and health and safety laws
Registering with the CRA and WSIB
Deciding when and how to hire
Differentiating between employees and independent contractors
Best practices for recruitment, interviewing, and onboarding
Maintaining compliance through workplace policies and documentation
“The comprehensive guide was created to empower entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to onboard their first employee responsibly and sustainably,” said Rose Terry, Business Advisory Centre and Corporate Communications manager. “By helping small business owners with a free resource to support their first hire, we are growing jobs in our community one-by-one and creating a more resilient local economy.”
The Hiring Your First Employee guide is availableon the Community Futures Peterborough website. In addition to this resource, entrepreneurs can also book a free advisory session with CFP to receive personalized support through the hiring process.
A workshop has also been added to CFP’s popular series, E101, supporting employee hiring. The Staff Smart: Hiring Your First Employee workshop will be held in person in December. Those interested in the workshop can register for free or the Community Futures Peterborough website.
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Peterborough Petes's Friday Road Game Against Soo Greyhounds Given Rescheduled Time
/The Peterborough Petes’s road game against the Soo Greyhounds this Friday has been changed to 6:07 p.m. from the previously scheduled 7:07 p.m., announced by the Ontario Hockey League on Thursday.
The Petes are fourth in the East Division with a 5-5-0-1 record. Photo courtesy of Kenenth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.
The game will take place at GFL Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie and is the second and final meeting between the two teams this season. The Soo won the previous matchup in Peterborough on Sept. 25, 3-0, after two late empty net goals.
The Petes are on the road this Thursday for their next game. They take on the North Bay Battalion with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens.
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Peterborough DBIA's Halloween In the Booro Returns This Saturday
/Downtown Peterborough is getting spooky as the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) hosts its annual Halloween in the Booro event, offering an evening of trick-or-treating and downtown fun on Saturday.
Photo courtesy of the DBIA.
The family-friendly free event runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. as over 45 local businesses in the Downtown and East City will hand out treats, have characters will roam George Street and a Family Friendly Zone. The zone includes a Halloween-themed photobooth and costume contests for kids, adults and pets.
“Halloween in the Booro is one of our favourite events. It brings local families and merchants together for a safe, welcoming night of family-friendly fun that highlights everything we love about our downtown,” said Nour Mazloum, DBIA executive director. “It makes our city feel like home and creates the kinds of memories that keep people returning to the downtown as a destination for their family to enjoy unique activities.”
By drawing hundreds of families to the core, the event creates opportunities for residents to discover local businesses, increases evening foot traffic, and supports the small business community that is central to Peterborough’s economy according to Dylan Reinhart, Boardwalk Game Lounge co-owner.
“We’ve loved seeing how Halloween in the Booro has continued to grow each year, bringing more families downtown and shining a light on local businesses,” he said. “It’s become a tradition for many, and events like this are a great reminder of how vibrant and welcoming our downtown really is.”
Families can plan their route using the official trick-or-treat map which lists all participating businesses, accessible entrances, and family-friendly stops.
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Stoney Creek Man Charged With Impaired Driving After Vehicle Hopped Curb at PRHC
/A 37-year-old Stoney Creek man is facing impaired charges after an incident on Sunday morning.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 10:45 a.m., officers received a call about a vehicle that had hopped a curb into a parking lot at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. Upon speaking to the driver, officers detected signs of impairment.
The man was arrested and charged with:
Operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs
Operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
The accused was issued an automatic 90-day license suspension and a seven-day vehicle impoundment.
The accused was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 2.
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4th Line Theatre Bringing Forgotten Canadian History to Life With Ontario Farmerettes On Nov. 26
/4th Line Theatre is shedding light on a largely forgotten chapter of Canadian history with the documentary film ‘We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes,’ screening on Nov. 26. at Lakefield College School.
Colin Field, Albeiro Films, Producer/Director --’We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes’ documentary film. Photo courtsy of 4th Line Theatre.
Created by director/producer Colin Field and Bonnie Sitter, historical producer, the documentary tells the extraordinary story of 40,000 teenage girls who volunteered on Canadian farms during and after World War II and helped sustain the nation's food supply, when young men left to fight overseas.
Bonnie Sitter, author, was searching through old family photographs when she found a captivating image of a group of young women taken on her late husband's family farm near Thedford, with a caption on the reverse that read ‘Farmerettes 1946.’
This led her to research the Farmerette story and publish an article in The Rural Voice asking for women who served as Farmerettes to get in touch with her.
Shirleyan English, a retired London Free Press journalist, read the article and wrote a letter to the editor, explaining her own experience as a Farmerette and how it remained the best summer of her life. Sitter and English went on to co-author the book Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes in 2019.
“We wanted to capture the story of how the Farmerettes helped win the Second World War by volunteering to aid farmers with food production,” said Sitter.
Filmmaker Colin Field first met Sitter in 2019 and wanted to bring this forgotten Canadian story to life.
“I was privileged to collaborate with Bonnie on this extraordinary story of dedication and perseverance explained Field. “I got to interview 20 Farmerettes - now in their late 90s - for the documentary, and after two years of work, and with the help of sponsors and generous donors the documentary is finally complete.”
After the screening, there will be a Q&A with the filmmakers and 4th Line Theatre Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell. There will also be a chance to acquire autographed copies of the book Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes.
A portion of ticket sales will go to 4th Line Theatre’s 30 to the Future Endowment Fund and Lakefield College’s Northcote Farm Endowment. A portion of the proceeds go towards victims of the Home Hardware fire in downtown Lakefield.
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Peterborough Police Urge Public to Exercise Caution of Scams When Purchasing Second-Hand Baseball Tickets
/With the Toronto Blue Jays playing in the World Series starting Friday, the Peterborough Police Service reminds residents to be cautious if purchasing tickets through a secondary source, announced on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.
The Police are providing the following tips on purchasing second-hand tickets:
Be aware that there may be people trying to scam other with deals on tickets that may not exist or be fraudulent.
Have the tickets in hand before making payment
Verify who you are purchasing the tickets from
If meeting in person to exchange tickets, consider doing so in a public place
Check the date and time and game number on the ticket/email ticket to ensure the validity of the ticket
If you are the victim of a scam or become aware of one circulating, you can call the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
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Ontario Government Invests Over $12 Million For Infrastructure In Peterborough City and County
/The Ontario Government is investing $12,011,899 in the City and County of Peterborough to help renew and rehabilitate critical infrastructure.
In 2026, Ontario will allocate $400 million in OCIF funding to help 423 small, rural and northern communities address critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water and wastewater systems. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The funding will be delivered through the 2026 Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) as part of the government’s more than $200 billion capital plan to protect Ontario by building key public infrastructure that will strengthen the economy and keep workers on the job in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty according to MPP Dave Smith.
“This provincial commitment ensures our communities receive the reliable, predictable funding necessary to maintain and rehabilitate critical infrastructure assets such as local roads, bridges, and essential water and wastewater systems,” he said. “By empowering our local councils with this resource, we are stabilizing costs, strengthening the foundational services that residents depend upon, and facilitating continued economic growth throughout the county.”
The OCIF provides funding for local infrastructure projects in municipalities with populations under 100,000, rural and northern municipalities, as well as for Local Services Boards that own water or wastewater systems.
“Peterborough County thanks the Government of Ontario for its continued investment in local infrastructure through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund,” said Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden. “This funding supports essential projects that help maintain the services our residents rely on every day. We remain committed to working collaboratively to ensure all communities in Peterborough County can thrive."
“This funding will help us maintain and improve our roads for the benefit of all residents,” said Mayor Jeff Leal.
The amount of funding for 2026 is as follows:
North Kawartha: $125,000
Peterborough County: $1,260,030
Selwyn: $232,869
Trent Lakes: $125,000
Havelock-Belmont Methuen: $144,000
Douro-Dummer: $125,000
City of Peterborough: $10,000,000
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Kawartha Food Share to Pillage Peterborough In 'Porch Pirates For Good' Food Drive This Saturday
/Kawartha Food Share (KFS) is pillaging Peterborough for 2025 as part of its ‘Porch Pirates For Good’ food drive to restock its empty shelves, occurring this Saturday.
In the last five years, the campaign brought in over 185,000 pounds of food and over $20,000 in monetary donations. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Households are asked to leave a bag of non-perishable food items on their front porch with a flyer sent in mailboxes (or anything that makes the donation easy to identify) for the Porch Pirates to collect starting at 9 a.m.
The number of clients using food banks has reached an all-time high throughout the nation, according to KFS. They continue to state that the rising cost of food and supply chain shortages have affected their clients, donors and purchasing power.
The following are the most needed items requested for donation from KFS:
Peanut Butter
Canned tuna
Canned vegetables and canned fruit
Individually wrapped school snacks
Pasta and pasta sauce
Breakfast cereal
Gluten-free items – like pasta, cookies, oats etc.
Canned soup/stew
Feminine hygiene products
Monetary Donations (can be made online or during item collection)
