Peterborough Transit Service Getting Temporary Changes For Holiday Season

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Peterborough Transit is advising customers of upcoming seasonal and holiday service changes, effective Dec. 21 to Jan. 3.  

File Photo.

Transit services will operate on the following seasonal schedule starting on Dec. 21: 

  • Monday to Friday: 5:15 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. (next day) 

  • Saturday: 5:45 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. (next day) 

  • Sunday: 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

Regular service hours will resume on Jan. 4.

From Dec. 21 to Jan. 3, the following routes will be temporarily suspended: 

  • Late-night service to Trent University and Fleming College. Service will resume on Jan. 4 

  • Water - Route 11/11A. Service will resume on Jan. 5 

The following transit service hours will be in effect over the holidays: 

  • Dec. 24 - Service ends at 8:30 p.m. 

  • Dec. 25 - No service. 

  • Dec. 26 - Service will operate on regular Sunday hours. 

  • Dec. 31 - Service ends at 8:30 p.m. 

  • Jan. 1 - No service.

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Quaker Foods City Square Skating Rink to Open This Week

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The City of Peterborough has announced that the public ice skating rink at Quaker Foods City Square is scheduled to open later this week. 

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

This week’s snowfall may affect ice-making at the Square, potentially delaying the opening of the outdoor rink according to the City.

Skating at Quaker Foods City Square is free. Hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

A portable washroom is located on site, and heated washrooms are located nearby at the Peterborough Public Library during its regular operating hours.

Rink users are asked to follow all posted skating rink rules. Skates must be worn at all times. Speed and figure skating, organized hockey and the use of sticks and pucks are not permitted. CSA-approved helmets are required for children six years and under and children under 10 must be actively supervised by a person 16 years or older. No food or drink is permitted on the ice.  

Mobility Aids, sledge devices and approved skating aids are permitted. The City urges those in need of assistance to contact on-site staff. 

Parking is available at the King Street Parking Garage, 202 King St., and along King and Charlotte streets. Free two-hour holiday parking is available at all municipal parking spaces, including municipal parking lots and garages, until Dec. 31. Free two-hour parking is sponsored by Wolfe Lawyers. Any parking fees paid during the holidays will be donated to Kawartha Food Share.  

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Peterborough Regional Health Centre Announces the Opening of New Donor-Funded Interventional Radiology Suites

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The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) announced the completion of a $6 million investment campaign in interventional radiology on Tuesday afternoon.

(From left to right) Dr. Fady Abdelsayed, Interventional Radiologist; Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation president and CEO and Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC president and CEO. Photo by Felicia Massey.

The event marked another milestone in the $70 million campaign to bring cutting-edge technology and minimally invasive care closer to home for Peterborough City and County patients.

The PRHC Foundation members and PRHC's leadership team thanked donors for making this advancement possible through their continued generosity.

“This is a transformative moment for patient care at PRHC,” said Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation president and CEO. “These world-class suites are already changing lives. Because of donor generosity, PRHC's interventional radiology experts have the advanced tools and space they need to perform even more complex, minimally invasive procedures right here, while innovating for the future.”

PRHC said there are five interventional radiologists at the hospital on a 24/7 rotation, performing more than 6,000 procedures annually. They continue to state that they are equipped to care for 20 to 25 patients suffering from critical conditions such as cancer, stroke, organ failure, bleeding and trauma with this expansion of its two existing IR suites. This included replacing out-of-date equipment and creating a third suite for rapid, high-demand procedures. The preparation and recovery area was also expanded to accommodate four additional patients, bringing capacity from 10 to 14.

“Interventional radiology is the future of medicine. Using real-time imaging technologies such as CT, X-ray and ultrasound, we perform procedures through a tiny incision, using only needles, wires and catheters,” said Dr. Fady Abdelsayed, Interventional Radiologist at PRHC. “This means less pain, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays compared to conventional surgery.”

@ptbo_canada The Peterborough Regional Health Centre has announced the opening of new donor-funded interventional radiology suites 🧑‍⚕️ #PTBOCanada #PRHC #peterboroughontario ♬ Meridian - ODESZA

“The three interventional radiology suites, the step-down unit and the prep and recovery area were entirely funded by the donors here today,” said Heighway. “Bringing this to fruition is a really big celebratory moment for the foundation and for the physicians who work here everyday.”

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City of Peterborough Adopts 2026 Budget

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The City of Peterborough’s 2026 Budget was adopted during a City Council meeting Monday, setting a financial plan to maintain current service levels and continue investments in municipal infrastructure.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

To help reduce the property tax increase next year, Council supported using an additional $3 million from the Legacy Fund Income Retention reserve account, a reserve fund that holds revenue or interest earned on investments made using the proceeds of the sale of assets of Peterborough Distribution Inc. Council has identified the Legacy Fund Income reserve as a way to reduce the tax increase and recommended several other changes during its budget deliberation meetings in November. The $3 million injection reduced the tax requirement in the 2026 Budget by 1.32 per cent.

The City’s 2026 Budget reflects an operating budget increase of 2.11 per cent, a 2.16 per cent increase for infrastructure and capital needs, a 0.53 per cent increase in the sanitary sewer fee and a 1.76 per cent increase related to external agencies that the City funds.

The 6.56 per cent all-inclusive rate increase, including the municipal, education, and sanitary sewer surcharge rates, amounts to about $28.31 per month for the median residential property.

“Thanks to all residents who called, emailed and spoke to City Council to provide their perspectives on the budget,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “Everyone’s input is incredibly helpful to meet our service requirements and ensure that our capital investment is sufficient to repair, rebuild and renew Peterborough’s capital infrastructure.”

The 2026 Budget includes $453.9 million in municipal services spending and $139.2 million in capital investments. The $453.9 million is funded by $255.5 million in revenue from non-municipal property tax sources, including user fees, grants from other governments, recoveries, interest on investments and service charges, resulting in a tax requirement of $198.4 million.

Capital projects include the police station renovation and expansion, the Lansdowne Street West between Spillsbury Drive and Clonsilla Avenue, the Wastewater Treatment Plant revitalization, the extension of a taxiway at the Peterborough Regional Airport, road paving, the purchase of transit buses and water service distribution infrastructure.

A breakdown of the municipal tax dollars:

  • 25.9 per cent - outside/external organizations, such as police, paramedics, and public health

  • 23.9 per cent - Community Services, such as social services, housing, fire services, parks, cultural services, the library, the museum and the art gallery

  • 18.2 per cent - Municipal Operations, such as public works, winter control, transit and the airport

  • 16.5 per cent - financial services, which includes financing costs for major infrastructure projects

  • 6.1 per cent - Finance and Corporate Support Services, which includes the City’s finance administration, emergency management, communications and facilities management

  • 5.4 per cent - Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management, which includes services such as engineering, managing major infrastructure projects, processing planning and building permit applications, physician recruitment and economic development

  • 2.2 per cent - Legislative Services, such as the Clerk’s Office, legal services, real estate transactions, the Provincial Offences Act office and by-law enforcement

  • 1.4 per cent - Chief Administrative Officer’s office, which includes the City’s People and Culture Division

  • 0.4 per cent - City Council

Council made various changes or directions related to the Draft 2026 Budget, such as:

  • Reducing the proposed employee benefits cost requirement by $665,000 from what was included in the draft budget documents

  • On Nov. 3, Council awarded RFP48-25 for shelter services and daytime drop-in program to One City, which added $1.12 million to the Draft 2026 Budget

  • Increasing the net tax levy by $90,137 in 2026 for the Community Development Program to offset a reduced funding from Peterborough County

  • Reducing the net tax levy requirement by $204,477 to reflect the increased final current value assessments from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation

  • Deferring until 2027 consideration of a $900,000 project for a public washroom at Jackson Park

  • Deferring $25,000 that had been requested to convert a washroom space into a kitchenette at City Hall

  • Deferring until 2027 consideration of a $375,000 budget for the Coldsprings Growth Area – Planning Studies

  • Extending the Community Service Agreement with Electric City Culture Council (EC3) for Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 2026, including $100,000 for EC3 operations plus $50,000 for EC3 to provide Artsweek and the Individual Artists program, as well as increasing the funding by an additional $25,000 toward the Individual Artists program

  • Increasing funding for the Peterborough Public Library collections acquisition by an additional $32,000 funded from the Library Materials Acquisition Reserve

Information on the 2026 Budget is available online. Residents can use the interactive OpenBook tool that is available on the website to view budget information in visual, accessible and easy-to-understand formats with charts, tables and graphs.

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Warning Issued to Public of Man Released From Custody With Indecent Act Charges At Jackson Park

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The Peterborough Police Service is issuing a warning after 41-year-old Steven Watson was released from custody on Saturday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

He has been arrested for numerous incidents where he was exposing himself and masturbating in Jackson Park between March 2024 and July 2025.

He is also on a prohibition order to stay away from areas (public parks or swimming areas) where children could be.

The Peterborough Police is releasing his name and photo, in accordance with the provisions of the Community Safety and Policing Act (2019) and out of an abundance of concern for public safety, given the nature of the incidents.

The High Risk Unit of the Peterborough Police Service is aware of the release from custody and that Watson will be on several conditions.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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ReFrame Film Festival Announces Dates and Pass Sales for 2026 Documentaries

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Peterborough’s ReFrame Film Festival has announced its 2026 show dates, running from Jan. 30 to Feb. 8, with passes now available for purchase.

Dave Mackison’s “The Engine Inside” was one of the festival’s feature films from the 2024. Photo courtersy of the Reframe Festival.

ReFrame’s 2026 In-Person Program will have a lineup of over 40 new documentary films at the Showplace Performance Centre and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. The Virtual Program will run with more than half of the films from the in-person lineup from Feb. 3 to Feb. 8, available on-demand Canada-wide.

The programming is enriched by filmmaker question-and-answer sessions, workshops, panels, performances and exhibits across the community throughout the ten days of the festival.

Festival passes can be purchased online or in person at Watson & Lou, located at 383 Water St., downtown Peterborough.

Hybrid Pass - $145

Provides full access to all in-person screenings and events (Jan. 30 to Feb. 1) plus complete access to the Virtual Program (Feb. 3 to 8).

In-Person Pass - $120

Provides access to all screenings, performances, workshops, panels, and Q&As in the In-Person Program from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.

Watch-With-A-Friend Virtual Pass - $75

Provides access to the Virtual Program for those enjoying online films together from Feb. 3 to 8.

Single Virtual Pass - $60

Provides access for one viewer to the Virtual Program, available on-demand across Canada from Feb. 3 to 8.

For more information, visit the ReFrame Film Festival website.

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Trent University Ranked Top Undergraduate University In Canada For International Grants

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Trent University has been recognized as one of Canada’s top 50 research universities in the Research Infosource 2025 rankings.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

Trent earned three distinctions among undergraduate universities for growth in research funding from international government funders and for strengths in publishing research on natural sciences and climate change.

“Trent’s research community continues to distinguish itself by building meaningful international collaborations that deepen interdisciplinary understanding and expand multinational perspectives on global issues,” said Dr. Holger Hintelmann, interim vice-president, Research & Innovation. “These collaborations strengthen Canada’s role as an innovative, forward-looking nation—attracting talent, investment, and new opportunities. Research is about discovery. The progression from ideation to innovation fuels economic and social development in ways that benefit communities here at home and around the world.”

In the past year, faculty in Trent’s School for the Study of Canada and the Trent School of the Environment, including Canada research chairs, received several research grants from Norwegian agencies in support of collaborative projects focused on the Arctic. These funding achievements earned Trent Research Infosource’s Winner’s Circle distinctions among undergraduate universities in all three categories related to international government research income.

Trent has also expanded global research collaborations in the past year with support from programs such as the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships.

This grant supports connections between faculty and students at Trent with international partners through the International Institute of Environmental Studies to study and address shared natural resource and climate challenges.

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Avant-Garden Shop Raises Over $2,000 For New Canadians Centre From Chocolate Bar Campaign; Anonymous Matching Donor Doubles Amount

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After selling Peace By Chocolate products, Avant-Garden Shop has raised $2,133 for the New Canadians Centre (NCC), announced on Tuesday.

In addition to the original donation, the NCC had announced that an anonymous donor had matched the total, doubling the amount to $4,166.

(from left to right) Jeeniraj “JJ” Thevasagayam, NCC executive director; Brenda Ibey, Avant-Garden Shop owner and Asuka Ballantyne Ono, NCC fund development officer holding up several Peace by Chocolate products that had been sold in-store since May. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The garden and bird store started selling the chocolate in May with 711 products purchased. Each bar costs eight dollars, with three going to the NCC. Avant-Garden Shop owner Brenda Ibey could not be more pleased with the way the fundraiser went.

“It was fantastic,” she explained. “Our customers just loved these chocolate bars and as soon as I told them that three dollars for every bar was going to the New Canadians Centre, they would buy, one, two, three or more so they really supportive.”

The NCC said they were grateful for Brenda and her customers’ support throughout the campaign.

“Brenda’s generosity through Avant Garden and the Peace by Chocolate initiative is making a real difference for newcomer families in our community,” said Jeeniraj “JJ” Thevasagayam, NCC executive director. “Because of your support, NCC can continue delivering programs that create belonging, opportunity, and connection in Peterborough.”

Ibey heard of the chocolate company last Christmas and purchased a few bars for herself. She discovered that she could purchase them wholesale and Peace by Chocolate was based out of Antigonish, N.S.

The Avant-Garden owner is sponsoring a Syrian refugee, which coincidentally mirrors the backstory of Peace by Chocolate’s founder and CEO, Tareq Hadhad. The latter had his chocolate factory in his homeland bombed in 2012 which forced him and his family to flee to Lebanon before settling in Canada.

“I have a connection with a young Syrian fellow who we helped to sponsor to get to Canada and now we're working to get his family here as well and so they should be coming soon.”

Ibey thanked all of her customers who had supported the initiative throughout the months and continues to sell Peace by Chocolate products in her store. She may think of a new organization to support for the next wave of chocolate bars but says she was happy to be involved with the NCC.

“It's been a really amazing story, really amazing to get involved with to help these folks because they're in dire straits where they're living and we don't know how lucky we have it here in Canada,” she explained. “I just wanted to help in any way I could, and the New Canadians Centre is a great organization, and I thought this would be fantastic to do.”

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Several Peterborough Petes Players and Staff Named to 2026 Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game

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The rosters for the 2026 Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game, which includes several Petes players and staff, have been named and will be held at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Jan. 14, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Rosters were selected by a committee that included representatives from NHL Central Scouting, with input from NHL General Managers, along with OHL Vice President of Hockey Operations James Boyd. Each team contains 18 skaters and two goaltenders.

The Eastern Conference features three forwards from the host Peterborough Petes, including Adam Novotny,  Adam Levac and Leon Kolarik. Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs) and Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals) join Novotny as A-rated skaters suiting up for the Eastern Conference.

They are led by hockey operations staff from the Petes including General Manager Michael Oke, Head Coach Rob Wilson, Associate Coach Andrew Verner and Assistant Coaches Patrick O’Connor and Nate Oke. Support staff includes Head Trainer and Equipment Manager Brian Miller, along with Athletic Therapist Natasha Lagacé.

The Western Conference features a quarter of A-rated skaters in defenceman Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds), along with forwards Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires), Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting) and Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit). They also feature the highest-rated goaltender in the event, Zachary Jovanovski (Guelph Storm), who recently represented the Canadian Hockey League in the CHL USA Prospects Challenge.

The Western Conference is coached by reigning OHL Coach of the Year Jussi Ahokas with fellow Kitchener Rangers bench staff in Associate Coach Jeff Kyrzakos and Assistant Coach Brad Flynn. Long-time Head Trainer and Equipment Manager Dan Lebold joins Head Athletic Therapist Nick Lichti in providing support services to the Western Conference.

City of Peterborough Seeks Public Input For Peterborough Regional Airport Taxiway B Extension

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The City’s Study Design for the Peterborough Regional Airport Taxiway B Extension project next year is available for public review and comments until Jan. 8.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Residents can find information, share comments and submit questions on the project on the City of Peterborough’s community engagement hub. 

The City’s planned extension of Taxiway B was identified as a priority in the 2022 Master Plan Update for the Peterborough Regional Airport, according to a press release. The project aims to improve safety for ground traffic and address runway capacity needs to support continued growth and operational efficiency at the airport as stated by The City.

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