City of Peterborough Hosting 2025 Civic Awards Ceremony On May 21
/The City of Peerborough is hosting its 2025 Civic Awards ceremony on May 21 at 6 p.m. at the McDonnel Street Community Centre.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
Peterborough Blogs
City of Peterborough Life-Saving Programs Receive Water Smart Award
/The City of Peterborough’s drowning prevention and education programs received the Water Smart award from Lifesaving Society Ontario.
File Photo.
The Water Smart award recognizes outstanding community service and leadership in drowning prevention education.
A range of City-led initiatives contributed to the recognition, including free Swim to Survive lessons, the Fleming College Swim to Survive program, the Be Safe at the Beach social media campaign, week-long programming for National Drowning Prevention Week, and community pop-ups at local events.
“This award is a reflection of the dedication and leadership of our aquatics staff, who are helping to keep residents safe while fostering a culture of water awareness,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “On behalf of City Council, I congratulate everyone involved in these important programs.”
“Drowning prevention education is a critical part of building a safe and healthy community,” said Councillor Lesley Parnell. “This recognition speaks to the meaningful impact of these programs and the staff and partners behind them. Initiatives like Swim to Survive and public education campaigns help ensure residents of all ages have the knowledge and skills they need to enjoy spending time in the water with confidence.”
Summer Ley, coordinator, aquatic programming and Jennifer Bell, Operations Support Manager, Programs and Partnerships, accepted the award on behalf of the City.
“Sharing water smart messages with our community through events and initiatives helps prevent drownings and water-related injuries,” said Ley. “Each year, we’ve added new partnerships and activities to get people of all ages involved in learning how to be safe on, in or around the water, especially during the warmer months.”
Lifesaving Society Ontario is a charitable organization that supports drowning prevention through programs such as Grade 3 Swim to Survive, leadership development funding, and Water Smart initiatives.
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Trent Excalibur Rowing Captures Women’s National Sculling Championship at U.S. Regatta
/The Trent University Excalibur rowing team returned home with three gold medals, one silver medal and the National Women’s Overall Sculling Championship title at the 2026 Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta over the weekend.
Photo courtesy of Trent Athletics.
The team consisted of 21 varsity and novice student-athletes under the guidance of varsity rowing head coach Ugette Vanderpost and novice women’s rowing coach Kate Mackenzie. The Excalibur earned the championship title by accumulating the highest point total across the women’s sculling events.
“After five long months of rigorous winter training and only a short window on the water before racing, this team showed extraordinary resilience and unity at the prestigious Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta,” said Vanderpost. “We came away with incredible results, but what impressed me most was how these student-athletes responded to every challenge - near wins, unexpected losses, difficult weather, injuries, fatigue, and fierce competition.”
Hosted by Thomas Jefferson University on the Cooper River in Pennsauken, N.J., the annual Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta is the largest collegiate regatta in North America, with over 100 universities from Canada and the U.S competing. This year was the 50th anniversary of women being able to compete at the event.
Tess Friar in the Women’s Single, placed first in her time trial, semifinal and final while leading from start to finish. She finished more than 26 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher in the final.
Caitlin Cox earned silver in the Women’s Double, finishing just four seconds behind Queen's University. Nina Sadlik and Avery Nelder added points with a sixth-place finish in the same event.
The championship was sealed in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls, where Ellie Hutt, Lillian Terpstra, Mia Switzer and Nelder captured gold in 7:24, defeating the crew from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by six seconds.
One of the weekend’s most memorable moments came from the Frosh/Novice Women’s Eight. Just 10 minutes before launching for the Grand Final, the crew discovered a damaged part that made their boat unusable. According to Trent Athletics, after the team scrambled to find a replacement, Queen's University offered its varsity eight boat. The Trent student-athletes raced in an unfamiliar shell with different oars and a completely reversed seating order.
Trent rowed to a gold-medal finish, defeating La Salle University and the University of Pittsburgh by 20 seconds.
“Despite these challenges, we trusted each other, executed our race plan, and came out with a dominant gold,” said student-athlete Sam Moss. “To represent Trent at the largest collegiate American regatta and to do so well brings me so much pride. To do it alongside the best crew makes it that much better.”
Trent Excalibur rowing full team results are as follows:
Gold Medals:
Varsity Women’s Single (1x): Tess Friar - 8:24.350 finish, 26.25 seconds ahead of second place finisher Drexel University.
Varsity Women’s Quadruple Sculls (4x): Ellie Hutt, Lillian Terpstra, Mia Switzer and Avery Nelder - 7:24 finish, beating Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Oklahoma City University.
Frosh/Novice Women’s Eight (8+): Isabelle Plourde, J. VandenAkker, A. Ferguson, L. Lajoie, E. Batchelor, S. LeMoine, Sam Moss, E. Narraway, and H. Scullion - 07:36.380 finish. Defeated LaSalle University by 20 seconds at the finish.
Silver Medals:
Women’s Double (2x): Tess Friar and Caitlin Cox - 7:46 finish, four seconds behind Queen’s University.
Additional Standout Performances
4th Place – Men’s Single (1x): Gus Suddard
6th Place – Women’s Double (2x): Nina Sadlik and Avery Nelder
7th Overall – Men’s Double (2x): Sam Ferrer and Brayden Walsh
8th Overall – Men’s Single (1x): Luke Sullivan
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City of Peterborough Celebrating Bonnerworth Expanded Skatepark This Saturday
/The City of Peterborough is celebrating the summer launch of the expanded skatepark at Bonnerworth Park and invites the public to come this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
The day features skateboarding demonstrations, lessons and music.
The celebration kicks off with an open skate session. Residents can learn about the skatepark’s new features and the vision and design behind the park, including elements inspired by the Peterborough Lift Lock.
Coy’s School of Skate will be on site offering tips and instruction for anyone looking to sharpen their skills from noon to 1 p.m. This session is free and open to everyone.
The Lions Club is hosting a fundraising barbecue beginning at noon. All funds raised will go toward new equipment for the enhanced playground at Kawartha Heights Park.
At 1 p.m., the 66 Thieves Skate Team will take over the park for a high-energy demonstration, showing off the possibilities of the newly expanded space.
From 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., a free skate and jam sessions are open to everyone. Skaters of all skill levels are welcome to participate, with chances to win prizes for best tricks on select obstacles.
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Peterborough Musicfest Launches Its 2026 Lineup For Its 39th Season
/With the 39th season underway this summer, Peterborough Musicfest has released its 2026 lineup, announced at the Quaker Foods City Square on Wednesday morning.
Tracey Randall, Peterborough Musicfest executive director; Sue Passmore of Good Lovelies and Vince Bierworth, Musicfest emcee, launch this year's lineup of 2026. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Peterborough Musicfest concerts run every Wednesday and Saturday with free admission from June 27 to Aug. 19.
The following is this year’s lineup:
June 27: Gowan
July 1: Neon Nostalgic
July 4: Good Lovelies
July 8: Sass Jordan
July 11: Lighthouse
July 15: Tyler Joe Miller
July 18: Julian Taylor
July 22: TBA
July 25: TBA
July 29: Dwyane Gretzky
Aug. 1: Garth Brooks & Shania Twain Tribute
Aug. 5: Crash Test Dummies
Aug. 8: TBA
Aug. 12 Trans-Canada Highwaymen
Aug. 15: Crystal Faith
Aug. 19: The Dreamboats
“We're happy to just let everybody know who's playing,” said Tracey Randall, Peterborough Musicfest executive director. “People love to plan their vacations around us and they schedule it based on who's coming so we're just pumped to get the lineup out.”
@ptbo_canada @Peterborough Musicfest 🇨🇦🎤 has released its 2026 lineup for their 39th season! #ptbocanada #journalism #fyp #news #peterboroughmusicfest ♬ indie rock (60) - DJ BAI
Despite three acts to be announced, Randall says two have already been solidified but cannot be mentioned yet. This allows for-profit venues that have booked the same artists to generate ticket sales before making the free concert with Musicfest public.
Returning this season is the 50/50 Raffle Draw, which gave away over $33,000 last year. Musicfest brought back the ‘Future Sound Series,’ for a second-straight year. The second stage showcases emerging local artists, running from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on select nights. Last season was the series’s inaugural year, with nine artists but 2026 expanded to 15 acts.
“Where is our next Serena Ryder? We want somebody on our stage from Peterborough and the region so we're trying to bring in our locals,” explained Randall. “With a lot of our venues closing and a lot of festivals that have stopped, we need somewhere for these locals to play.”
With rising costs, this year is no exception for the 39th season of the non-profit organization. Randall says that despite these challenges, her crew and her prior relationships with acts have helped keep their free concert series going.
“Insurance has doubled, our production went up by 38 per cent and then of course, artists' fees have doubled,” she explained. “Because of our connection with a lot of the artists — they love Peterborough, they love what we do — we have a reputation. We're so lucky.”
Randall also credited the community and its local funds for helping keep the Peterborough tradition alive for nearly four decades.
“We're very proud with Peterborough and how far we've come with this festival,” she said. “There are so many people involved with Peterborough Musicfest for another forty years so cheers to that.”
Musicfest has a fundraising 2026 Diners’ Book which launched in late November. The $30 book features 85 dining offers deals from restaurants, cafés, pubs and other food establishments across Peterborough, the Kawarthas and the surrounding region.
The 2026 Diner’s Book is be available for purchase at:
Lansdowne Place (Customer Service Desk)
Cogeco Customer Centre -1111 Goodfellow Rd.
Online
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Peterborough Woman Charged With Several Violations While Operating Low-Speed Vehicle
/A 27-year-old Peterborough woman is facing several charges under the Highway Traffic Act for operating a low-speed vehicle on Wednesday.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 10:05 a.m., an officer on general patrol conducted a traffic stop of a low-speed vehicle in the area of Hunter Street and Rubidge Street.
The woman was charged with:
Drive low-speed vehicle on Highway of Municipality not in accordance with regulation
Drive low-speed vehicle no slow-moving vehicle sign
Owner operate low-speed vehicle on Highway no insurance
Drive low-speed vehicle on Highway without warning label that states maximum speed
Drive low-speed vehicle no license
The driver was given a court date of July 13.
Peterborough Police remind the public that these vehicles are not permitted on any highway, roadway, or sidewalk in the City of Peterborough, Village of Lakefield or Cavan Monaghan Township.
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Peterborough Police Chief Stuart Betts Extended Through 2032
/The Peterborough Police Service Board has extended Chief Stuart Betts’s employment contract to Dec. 31, 2032, at their meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
According to the Board, this extension reaffirms their confidence in Betts’s leadership and dedication to both Members of the Service and the communities it serves, as well as the Board’s commitment to advancing key initiatives identified in the Strategic Plan for community safety and Member wellness.
“The Board appreciates the professionalism and dedication demonstrated daily by all Members of the Service and recognizes the importance of strong leadership and support supporting both operational excellence and positive community relationships,” said Mary ten Doeschate, Board Chair.
“I’m appreciative of the Board’s continued support and recognize that this contract extension is a public declaration of that support,” said Betts. “Collectively, the Board, Administration and Associations are aligned in our shared goal of improving public safety in our communities, and I am continually impressed with the talented and dedicated men and women of this Police Service who work hard every day to make this a reality.”
Betts was sworn in as the new Peterborough Police Chief on Jan 9, 2023. He took over from the then-acting Chief Tim Farquharson, who currently serves as Chief of the Port Hope Police Service and his term was extended through March 2030.
During Betts’s career, he has served in Frontline Patrol, Executive Services, Support Services and Administrative departments.
Betts has completed the Senior Management Institute for Police with the Police Executive Research Forum at the University of Boston and the Police Leadership Program at the Rotman School of Executive Management at the University of Toronto. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from York University, a Masters of Business Administration Degree from the University of Fredericton and is pursuing a second Masters degree in Law in Alternative Dispute Resolution at Osgoode Hall Law School.
Betts is also a certified Canadian Risk Manager and certified Change Management Practitioner. He has served as the co-chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Information and Statistics Committee.
Prior to being named Peterborough Police Chief, Betts served as Deputy Chief of Operations and Deputy Chief of Administration at the London Police Service.
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Head Coach Returns to Lead Trent Excalibur Men’s Curling
/Joe Muldoon is returning as head coach of the Trent Excalibur men’s curling program for the 2026–27 season, announced on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of Trent Athletics.
Muldoon previously led the men’s team from 2016 to 2022 before transitioning to the women’s program following the retirement of longtime coach Dave Farnell. During his time with the women’s team, Muldoon led the Excalibur to top-eight finishes and Ontario University Athletics quarterfinal appearances in each of his seasons as head coach.
He was named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Women’s Curling Coach of the Year for the 2022–23 season.
In 2024–25, Muldoon moved into a lead assistant coach role as Dillon Muldoon took over as head coach of the women’s program. Under Dillon’s leadership, the Excalibur women achieved their highest finish since 2008, placing fourth in the province during the 2025–26 season.
“We’re fortunate at Trent to have a tremendous curling coaching staff and Joe has been an integral part of that,” said Nathan McFadden, director of Athletics and Recreation. “We’re thrilled to have him move into this leadership position with our men’s curling program, which took a major step forward last season. Having both of our men’s and women’s curling teams led by a former OUA Coach of the Year is unique and positions Trent curling at the forefront of coaching excellence as part of our overall student-athlete experience.”
Joe returns to the men’s program after his 2025–26 campaign under head coach Brad Robinson. The Excalibur earned their first OUA playoff berth since 2013 and finished among the top eight teams in the province.
“I am excited to take on the coaching duties of the men’s varsity curling team again,” said Joe. “I look forward to working with our talented student-athletes and continuing the development and success of the program at the OUA and USPORTS levels.”
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Riverview Park and Zoo Miniature Train Ride Opening Delayed Due to Track Repairs
/The seasonal opening of the miniature train ride at the Riverview Park and Zoo has been delayed due to required repairs to the train tracks.
File Photo.
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
