Two City of Peterborough Lifeguards Receive Rescue Awards of Merit
/Two lifeguards with the City of Peterborough were honoured with Rescue Awards of Merit from Lifesaving Society Ontario during a ceremony Tuesday.
file photo.
Peterborough Blogs
Charges Laid Against Off-Duty Peterborough Police Officer Following Firearm Incident New Year's Eve
/The Peterborough Police Service have arrested and charged an off-duty Peterborough Police officer in connection with a firearm incident on New Year’s Eve.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 7 p.m. Dec. 31 officers were called to a residence in the Ireland Drive and Ravenwood Drive area regarding a discharged firearm inside a house.
During the initial investigation it was learned that a single round from the firearm had been discharged inside the home of a off-duty officer, which resulted in the bullet exiting the home and travelling into a neighbouring home. No one was home at the second house at the time of the incident, and no one was injured in either home. Forensic Investigators attended both homes to retrieve the bullet, match it to the seized firearm and confirm the trajectory the bullet took.
Police say the firearm was legally owned but not service-issued. It was seized at the time of the incident. Other firearms in the home were lawfully transferred to possession of another individual not residing in the residence, in accordance with the Firearms Act.
On Wednesday, the officer was arrested and charged with:
Careless Discharge of a Firearm s. 86(1) CC
As per available provisions of the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA), the officer has been removed from their regular duties and has been reassigned to administrative duties pending the conclusion of the criminal matter. Once the criminal matter has been resolved, a professional standards misconduct investigation will take place.
The officer has been released on an Undertaking with conditions and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 10.
Fatal Fire At A McDonnel Street and Park Street North Residence Claims The Life of One
/The Peterborough Police Service and Ontario Fire Marshal are investigating a fatal fire in a Peterborough residence early Wednesday morning.
file photo.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 7, officers were made aware of a residential fire in the area of McDonnel Street and Park Street North.
A 27-year-old Peterborough man was found inside the residence and taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) where despite lifesaving measures, he was pronounced dead. Two other people in the home were also taken to PRHC for treatment.
There will be police vehicles in the area as the Peterborough Police Service and Ontario Fire Marshal continue their investigation.
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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New Stages Theatre Presents Women of the Fur Trade
/New Stages Theatre presents a staged reading of Frances Koncan’s Women of the Fur Trade, coming to Market Hall Jan. 24.
photo courtesy of new stages.
Set in “18 hundred and something-something,” the story revolves around the lives of three women, Ojibwe, Métis and British, all of whom speak in a 21st-century slang.
The playwright, Frances Koncan, found that historical accounts of the fur trade were written by men and decides to feature the perspective of “unheard voices”; three women during the time of the fur trade and the Red River Resistance.
Directed by Patti Shaughnessy, Women of the Fur Trade’s cast includes Michelle Bardach (seen recently in Rez Gas in Port Hope), Sera-Lys McArthur and Megan Murphy, featuring Mac Fyfe as Thomas Scott and Chris Mejaki as Louis Riel. The play is stage managed by Sarah Lazzarino.
The 7 p.m. show runs for approximately two hours and is suitable for ages 14 plus.
Tickets can be purchased online, or by calling the Market Hall box office. If preferred seats are not available, call the box office and join the waiting list, as some new seats may become available in the days leading up to the show.
Tickets are $30 plus a $4 venue fee, available on a sliding-scale of ticketing options.
Peterborough Regional Health Centre Welcomes First Baby of 2026
/Parents Tahirih and Noah welcomed their baby girl into the world Thursday at 1:01 a.m. as the first baby delivered at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) in 2026.
file photo.
Baby Rowshan-Vandelinde, who is currently awaiting her first name, was born weighing 6 pounds 11 ounces and is the first child for Tahirih and Noah.
“We laboured while the snow fell softly over a sleeping Peterborough and our family began a new year, a new day and a new chapter together in the quiet of the very early morning,” said Tahirih.
PRHC reports that the hospital saw nine births on New Year’s Day.
Peterborough Petes Announce 17th Annual Pink in the Rink Campaign In Support of Survivors Abreast
/The Peterborough Petes have announced details for the 17th Annual Pink in the Rink Campaign, with this year’s game against the Sudbury Wolves taking place Feb. 7 in support of Survivors Abreast.
Photo by Felicia MAssey.
Over the past 16 years, the Petes Pink in the Rink Campaign has raised over $1 million in support of cancer research. Now entering its 17th consecutive year, the campaign continues to be the OHL’s biggest ongoing fundraiser.
This season, funds raised from the Pink in the Rink Campaign will support Survivors Abreast, a group of breast cancer survivors from the Peterborough area in various stages of treatment and recovery. Known for hosting Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, their mission is to improve fitness and develop paddling skills required for dragon boating while raising funds and awareness for breast cancer care in the community.
“Survivors Abreast Peterborough Dragon Boat Team is honoured that the Petes chose to support our organization through Pink in the Rink this year,” said Janice James, President of the Survivors Abreast Board of Directors. “We try to inspire hope, resilience and living life to the fullest, and we are thrilled that the Petes are helping us do that.”
The campaign will be supported by a number of activations this season including a pass the bucket, in-person silent auction during the game and an in-person game worn jersey auction that will take place on the ice after the game.
The Pink in the Rink game jersey design will be released to the public in the coming weeks.
“Pink in the Rink is a powerful reminder that hockey can be about more than just the game,” said Petes captain Carson Cameron. “It represents support, awareness and standing together for an important cause. As players, it means a lot to know we’re using our platform to make a positive impact, and we’re proud to be part of something that reaches far beyond the ice.”
New this season, rink boards will be put up for the game that feature the names of loved ones who have been affected by cancer. Fans have the opportunity to purchase a slot for $5 and write the name of their loved one(s) leading up to the game. Fans are also invited to submit their loved ones' names and pictures to be featured on the video board during the game. Submissions can be submitted via email.
Tickets for the Pink in the Rink game on Feb. 7 against the Sudbury Wolves are available now through the Doane Grant Thornton Box Office during business hours, online or via phone.
Lakefield Literary Festival Presents Book Launch and Bell Let’s Talk Day Mental Health Event “Inspiring Hope”
/The Lakefield Literary Festival to host a Bell Let’s Talk Day and book launch event with author and psychotherapist Kate Robson and Chief Medical Officer of Health for Peterborough Dr. Thomas Piggott Jan. 21 at the Showplace Performance Centre.
Photo courtesy of the lakefield literary festival.
Robson will launch her new book Something to Hold Onto: Simple Metaphors, Images, and Practical Tools to Transform Your Life in a conversation with Piggott, moderated by international best-selling author and Kate’s sister Jennifer Robson.
The book “offers metaphors to reframe our thinking and explore while encouraging us to be curious, attentive and intentional as we adopt new and creative ways to navigate discomfort and adversity,” said the Lakefield Literary Festival in a press release. “She asks us to consider the value in deciding that which we should hold tight and what could be let go.”
During their moderated conversation, Kate and Piggott will discuss what they have learned through their training, research, writing and interactions with the community and beyond regarding mental health. A question-and-answer period will follow the conversation.
The Lakefield Literary Festival is in its 31st year of presenting established and new Canadian authors in its events and festival each July.
Tickets for Inspiring Hope are $30, available online. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to mental health organizations in the community.
Peterborough Community Mourns the Loss of Local Sports Enthusiast and Former City Councillor Paul Wilson
/Trent University’s founding athletics director Paul S.B. Wilson has passed away Sunday at the age of 86.
Pete Dalliday and Paul wilson for a hometown ptbo segment in 2023. file photo.
Wilson, who held the position with Trent for 36 years, was also granted honorary alumnus status with the University in 1996.
His local efforts were further recognized in 2001 when he was inducted into the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame.
After his retirement in 2002, Wilson received the Symons Award for Teaching Excellence and the Eminent Service Award, being recognized as the longest serving athletics director at a Canadian university.
"From the earliest days of Trent, he imagined what athletics and recreation could mean for students and spent decades turning that vision into reality,” said Dr. Cathy Bruce, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University in a press release. “He established programs and facilities that shaped the student experience and brought people together through sport, recreation and enjoyment.”
A dedicated community builder, Wilson also served Peterborough as Town Ward councillor from 1985 to 1997.
“Paul had an important and impactful influence on the City of Peterborough. As a multi-sport athlete, Paul reached his personal potential in rugby and squash,” said Mayor Jeff Leal in a press release. “Paul was an independent thinker who inspired great conversations. He profoundly cared about our community as he served as an Alderman and later as an interviewer on Your TV.”
In an interview with PTBOCanada in 2023, Wilson reflected on his local politics career and passion for squash.
“I was lucky enough that during the war in England, my mother and I were evacuated to a school that had a squash court,” he said. “That’s where it started.”
Wilson is survived by his wife Gillian, whose passion for the performing arts sparked her involvement with the Peterborough Theatre Guild.
“She’s been hugely involved during our time in Peterborough,” Wilson reflected. “In fact, she told me the other day that she’s been involved in 250 productions. I said ‘What, and counting?!’”
Wilson’s legacy lives on through his involvement in local athletics development and time on City council.
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43-Year-Old Lindsay Woman Found Impaired, Asleep Behind the Wheel at Chemong Road and Milroy Drive
/A 43-year-old Lindsay woman is facing multiple charges after falling asleep impaired in the driver’s seat of a vehicle at the intersection of Chemong Road and Milroy Drive on Wednesday.
file photo.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. on New Years Eve, officers were called to the intersection of Chemong Road and Milroy Drive regarding an unconscious female in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. Officers attend and upon speaking to the driver, they noticed signs of impairment.
As a result of the investigation, a 43-year-old Lindsay woman was arrested and charged with:
Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
Possession of Scheduled I Substance – Cocaine
Possession of Scheduled I Substance – Methamphetamine
Driving while under suspension (HTA)
She 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 in February 2026.
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Ross Memorial Hospital Welcomes First Baby of 2026
/Parents Jessie and Mathew welcomed their baby boy Theo into the world Thursday at 8:47 p.m. as the first baby delivered at the Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) in 2026.
Photo courtesy of ross memorial hospital.
