Rotary Club of Peterborough Funds Local Green Startups and Environmental Innovators

The Rotary Club of Peterborough has funded several local green startups and environmental innovators for the fourth straight year through its Rotary Environmental Innovators Fund (REIF) at its meeting at the McDonnel Activity Centre on Monday afternoon.

(From left to right) Dr. Balaji Subramanian, Dr. Sarah Jameson, Jeremy Favro, Manan Ravat, Meghan Ward, Al Lu and Kirsten Tucker-upshall. REIF has already awarded more than $40,000 in project funding. Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

The funded projects advance local environmental innovators working in biodiversity, water and wastewater technologies, climate change, sustainable living, pollution, waste disposal, wildlife protection and more who may have been overlooked, according to the Rotary Club.

The following are this year’s recipients of funding up to $3,000:

• Manan Ravat, Trent University – Photocatalytic Degradation of Water Contamination

• Leora Berman, Turtle Guardians – A Community-Powered Turtle Conservation Initiative

• Megan Ward, Trent University - Across the Wetland with Finn – a Children’s book introducing young readers to the importance of wetlands, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship.

• Shannon Learoyd, Trent University - Just Keep Skimming: Exploring strategies to lower wildlife mortality associated with inground pools

This year’s REIF committee has received eight applications for local projects.

The applications are judged based on how they might impact the local climate and environment, how innovative the project is compared to existing solutions, the project's practicality, expected benefits and how the funds would be used.

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Peterborough Man Wanted On Warrants Arrested With Several Drug Charges

A 51-year-old Peterborough man wanted on a warrant is facing several drug charges after he was spotted in Peterborough on Friday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

At roughly 3:15 pm, officers with the Peterborough Police Service Drug Unit spotted the man and took him into custody in the Hunter Street and Bethune Street area.

During a search after arrest, officers seized and located:

• 6.8 grams of Methamphetamine 

• 68.1 grams of Cocaine 

• 29.8 grams of Fentanyl 

• Canadian currency

• Drug paraphernalia

The man was arrested on the strength of the warrants for failing to comply with probation and further charged with:

• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking - Methamphetamine

• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking- Other Drugs

• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine

• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000 - in Canada

• Fail to Comply with Probation Order

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

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New Vice-President and Head of Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area Appointed

Trent University has appointed Glenn Craney as vice-president and head of Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area, effective July 1. 

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

“Glenn brings deep experience across Ontario’s postsecondary system, paired with a strong understanding of government, planning, and community engagement,” said Dr. Cathy Bruce, president and vice-chancellor. “As Trent Durham continues to grow and evolve, Glenn’s leadership will support our commitment to students, our relationships in the region, and Trent’s vision as a dual-campus university.” 

“I am honoured to be joining Trent University at an important moment for Trent Durham,” said Craney. “Trent has built something truly distinctive in Durham, rooted in community and an exemplary experience for a diverse range of students. I look forward to working with faculty, staff, students, and partners to support the campus’s continued growth and development.” 

With over 25 years in leadership roles, Craney most recently served as vice-president, Planning & Strategy at Humber Polytechnic, where he led institutional planning, enrolment management, facilities development and operations across multiple campuses. 

Prior to Humber, Craney served as deputy provost and chief strategy officer at Toronto Metropolitan University. In this role, he led the development of TMU’s Brampton strategy, which resulted in the creation of the first new medical school in the Greater Toronto Area in more than a century and included negotiating a landmark multimillion-dollar municipal contribution. He also played a key role in implementing TMU’s inaugural international strategy, which led to a significant increase in international enrolment and the development of transnational campuses across three continents. 

Earlier in his career, Craney served as assistant deputy minister with Ontario’s Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, contributing to postsecondary policy and system-level planning across the province. Prior to this, he served as the founding executive director of the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT), where he established and led the new provincial agency, facilitating student mobility across Ontario’s 45 publicly-funded universities, colleges and Indigenous Institutes. Craney completed undergraduate and graduate studies in economics at Western University and the University of Toronto, respectively. 

This appointment follows the completion of Dr. Scott Henderson’s interim role as vice-president and head of Trent University Durham since 2024, after having served as dean and head of Trent Durham for five years. Henderson continues as a faculty member at Trent University.

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City of Peterborough Celebrates Provincial Day of Action on Litter 2026

The City of Peterborough is celebrating the Provincial Day of Action on Litter, which takes place every second Tuesday of May each year.

To date in 2026, the City has supported 20 community cleanup events across Peterborough.  Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The initiative aims to reduce the amount of waste going into landfills or becoming litter by raising awareness of its environmental impact.   

According to the City, litter can harm local ecosystems, wildlife and waterways. It creates cleanup costs for municipalities and communities. The City encourages everyone to reduce litter by reducing waste, properly disposing of items and participating in local cleanup efforts.

Ways to help reduce litter include:   

• Reducing waste by using items, repairing items where possible or purchasing second-hand items  

• Diverting waste from landfills by recycling or composting materials when and where possible     

• Preventing waste and litter before it is created by choosing to buy goods with less packaging or by bringing a reusable container to take-out establishments that accept them  

• Properly disposing of waste by making sure anything that does belong in the trash is securely placed in garbage bins to help keep neighbourhoods clean  

Groups can request a litter cleanup kit from the City of Peterborough’s Public Works department, for general neighbourhood cleanups or Recreation and Parks department, for park cleanups, to support community cleanup efforts. Kits include gloves and bags, and City staff can arrange a pickup location for collected waste after the event. To request a cleanup kit, visit peterborough.ca/litteraction.  

Community input is being sought to support Clean Streets Peterborough, a review of waste collection, litter management, and garbage on streets, parks, trails, and public spaces across the city. 

Residents, businesses and visitors are encouraged to complete the survey to help evaluate collection schedules, service levels, waste diversion programs, public education, enforcement, landfill operations, and the placement and maintenance of waste bins in parks, trails and rights-of-way.  

Feedback will help guide future improvements and ensure programs continue to meet the needs of a growing and changing city. The surveys are open until June 19 at 11:59 p.m. and are available at connectptbo.ca/CleanStreetsPtbo.

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Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Swish, Rubidge Retirement Residence and Heads Up For Inclusion

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…

Swish is a proudly Canadian company that brings local insight, national reach and decades of experience to every customer relationship.

They are your Canadian partner in clean and are celebrating 70 years of service to the community. Everyone is invited to two full days of prizes, clearance items, product and equipment demos. May 13th and 14th at their founding location - 2060 Fisher Dr. in Peterborough from 9 til 4 with a free lunch on both days from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rubidge Retirement Residence is hosting an open house from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Friday May 15th and Saturday May 16th.

It’s a great chance to tour and learn more about their residence and services. Perfect for anyone who may be looking to open their next chapter in a place where comfort, community and care come together. For more information, you can call 705-748-4000, extension 252.

On Friday, Alternatives and Heads Up for Inclusion are joining together to host Washboard Hank, sponsored by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, at the Hub on Braidwood Avenue.

The community is invited to participate along with the Amigos Community Program, which brings together adults with and without disabilities for fun and friendship through planned recreational activities. To reserve a spot to see WashBoard Hank, you can email Laura_Lombardi@headsupforinclusion.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 brenda@pkchamber.ca.

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Topper's Pizza Bringing Fresh Slices To Peterborough After Celebrating Its Grand Opening

Peterborough’s latest pizza chain restaurant, Topper's Pizza, has hit town as it plans to serve up delicious cheesy pies and hosted its grand opening on Monday morning.

Brothers and Franchise Partners Brijesh Patel (left) and Kishan Patel (right) putting one of their gourmet pizzas, ‘Meat Mountain’ on display. Topper’s Pizza was founded in Sudbury and has 45 locations in Ontario. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Located at 999 Lansdowne St. W. at the Byersville Creek Plaza, the Sudbury-based pizza chain held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with a representative of Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP and a grand-opening pizza special to commemorate the occasion.

Brothers Brijesh and Kishan Patel are the franchise partners of the Peterborough location. Both were Fleming College alumni and look forward to being part of the community with their newly launched business.

“We have been waiting for this moment and this day for the last eight months,” explained Brijesh. “We are planning to grow in the Peterborough community as early as possible.”

“We are eager to serve the community here in Peterborough,” said Kishan. “Hopefully we can give the best taste (of pizza) and give what the Peterborough community wants. That’s our goal.”

@ptbo_canada Topper’s Pizza had its grand opening in Peterborough on May 11, 2026. The Sudbury-based pizza chain makes its first Peterborough location with brothers Brijesh and Kishan Patel as the location’s franshise partners. #ptbocanada #journalism #fyp #news #pizza ♬ Gets Like That - Max Dean & Luke Dean

In addition to pizza, the restaurant serves panuzzos, flatbread, chicken and a modified panzerotti called a Topperoti.

The franchise was started in 1982 by the Toppazzini family. Topper’s uses an old family recipe for its pizza crust/bread that was widely utilized in the early 1900s, according to Keith Toppazzini, founding family member.

“In 1982, we decided to take that family formula, turn it into a pizza shop and 44 years later, we’re at store number 45,” he said.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

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Peterborough Petes Forward Named to Team Austria for the 2026 IIHF World Championship

Peterborough Petes import forward Leon Kolarik has officially been named to Team Austria for the upcoming IIHF World Championships starting on May 15 in Zurich, Switzerland.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

“Congratulations to Leon on being named to Austria’s final roster for the World Championships,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “Representing your country at a tournament of this caliber is an incredible accomplishment, especially as one of the youngest players in the competition. We’re excited to watch Leon compete against some of the world’s best players and see how this experience contributes to his development.”

The 2007-born forward from Vienna, Austria, was originally selected by the Petes in the second round (63rd overall) of the 2025 CHL Import Draft. In his first season with the Petes, Kolarik played in 63 games, scoring 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points. In 2024-25, Kolarik appeared in seven games for EC Salzburg in the ICEHL (Austria's top league), scoring one goal and two assists.

While this marks Kolarik’s first appearance at a major senior international tournament, he has represented Austria at several youth levels. He helped Austria capture a bronze medal at the World Junior Championship Division 1A tournament in December, contributing four assists in five games.

Kolarik is also eligible for the upcoming NHL Draft in Buffalo. He was recently ranked 182nd among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft. Fellow Petes players Adam Novotny (14th), Adam Levac (97th), and Aiden Young (223rd) were also included in the rankings.

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Residents Asked to Vote For New Public Art at the Peterborough Transit Terminal

A new public art installation is coming to the Peterborough Transit Terminal at 190 Simcoe St. and residents are invited to help select the final design.   

File Photo.

The installation includes vinyl murals that will be placed on the downtown terminal’s columns and exterior. The artwork will enhance the terminal's visual character while improving wayfinding, highlighting entrances and pathways, and enhancing accessibility and safety. 

The City of Peterborough’s Public Art Policy have narrowed their selections to three artist teams for the project:

• BAU & ĆOS Studio (Andres Ulises Bautista & Novka Ćosović)  

• Casandra Lee, Joshua Morley and Sahira Said Jiddawy  

• Jerry Rugg (birdO) 

BAU AND ĆOS Studio is a Greater Toronto Area-based art and architecture firm founded by Andres Ulises Bautista and Novka Ćosović. As a team of two with different backgrounds from distant parts of the world, they draw on their extensive travels and diverse cultural experiences to create contextual public artworks. Their work is very versatile. The team has been commissioned to design projects for the City of Mississauga, the City of Burlington, Nuit Blanche and Pride Week.

Joshua Morley, Sahira Said Jiddawy and Casandra Lee bring complementary strengths in public art, design, and community engagement. Joshua has led large-scale murals such as The Hug, a 600 ft² mural in downtown Peterborough, and Maamawi, a vinyl installation for a community centre in Sault Ste. Marie. Sahira creates cohesive visual systems across digital and print, with work for organizations such as Community Fridge Canada and Absynthe Magazine. Casandra creates both digital and traditional public artworks, including installations for Renaissance on Hunter and Erring at King George. 

Jerry Rugg, aka birdO, is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. While his surreal geometric animals can be found on canvas, in digital print, and in installation, birdO is primarily known for his large-scale mural work on walls and buildings around the world. Jerry’s longstanding passion for the arts, his storied experience in film, and the skills acquired as an award-winning graphic designer have all contributed to his approach, which focuses on an acute awareness of the surface and on studious preparation regarding local culture and surroundings. 

Each team has prepared a video presentation outlining their concept for the Transit Terminal.   

Residents can review the proposed concepts and choose the design that they feel best reflects the city’s identity, creativity and sense of place at connectptbo.ca/simcoetransitart. 

Voting is open until 5 p.m. on May 25.

This public vote will count as one vote in the overall decision. The Public Art Jury will evaluate each project alongside community input, and the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee will endorse the final selection.  

The winning design will be installed at the Peterborough Transit Terminal in early September. 

This project is funded through a combination of municipal investment and support from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), as part of the broader Simcoe Street Transit Terminal rehabilitation project.

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Two People Charged After Committing Sexual Acts On a Bench

Two people are facing charges, including performing an indecent act on a bench, on Sunday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

At roughly 5:30 p.m., officers were called to the trail near Sherbrooke Street and Water Street. Officers learned that two people had been spotted committing a sexual act on a bench while a family and other pedestrians were in the area. They located two people matching the description given to the police in the area and took them into custody.

As a result of the investigation:

A 31-year-old Peterborough man was arrested and charged with:

• Indecent act - public place

• Being intoxicated in a public place (Liquor License Control Act)

A 43-year-old Peterborough woman was arrested and charged with:

• Indecent act - public place

• Fail to comply with Probation Order X2

The accused is currently bound by two probation orders with the following condition: to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

Both accused were released on an undertaking with conditions and are scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 4.

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Trans Canada Trail Crossing at Lock 20 To Temporarily Close For Several Hours

The Trans Canada Trail crossing at Lock 20 is closed for several hours to support the removal of the temporary bridge that has been in place since November 2025.

Photo courtesy of Parks Canada.

The temporary bridge, also known as ‘Bailey’, was installed to maintain safe public access while Parks Canada completed the Lock 20 gate replacement project.

The successful completion of the work means the temporary structure is no longer required and will now be removed.

The work began at 8 a.m. on Monday.

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