Community Futures Peterborough Celebrates Record-Breaking Year

During their annual general meeting, Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) celebrated a record-breaking year at the Venture North Building in downtown Peterborough on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough.

The record-breaking year was for lending and business advisory services. In fiscal year 2025-2026, the organization received more than $4.36 million in loan applications and disbursed a record 56 loans totalling over $2.06 million to local businesses across the City and County. Through these investments, Community Futures Peterborough helped create or maintain 167 local jobs.

“Forty years of Community Futures Peterborough means 40 years of believing in entrepreneurs, funding businesses, and strengthening our regional economy,” said Devon Girard, CFP executive director. “We’ve played a key role in helping thousands of local businesses start, grow, and thrive, and today, we are so proud to honour that legacy.”

The Business Advisory Centre delivered a record 541 in-depth business advisory consultations and supported more than 741 unique businesses through its in-person workshops.

“This record-breaking year is a prime example of what happens when we cut red tape and deliver smart, streamlined services for our local economy,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “By integrating the Business Advisory Centre under one roof, we have created an efficient, highly successful model that maximizes every dollar and puts entrepreneurship front and centre. Our government is committed to fueling economic growth, and by supporting Community Futures Peterborough, we are making sure local businesses have the direct capital and advisory tools they need to create jobs, drive innovation, and keep the Peterborough region open for business.”

“The integration of the Small Business Enterprise Centre program has reshaped how we deliver services as an organization,” said Wayne Harding, outgoing board chair. “The strong results from this fiscal year reinforce why bringing advisory and lending services together under one roof is an effective and efficient model for supporting entrepreneurs and our business community.”

This year’s AGM marked the departure of board chair Wayne Harding, who has served on the board of directors for 10 years, the maximum term. Sir Sandford Fleming employee and former small business owner Jenny Olauson was elected today as the new chair of the board of directors.

“It’s an honour to build on more than 40 years of impact,” said Olauson. “Our board has identified a strategic vision to build on the foundation of the Business Advisory Centre by expanding service offerings, deepening support for established businesses, and helping more businesses scale and grow across our region.”

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City of Peterborough Invites Input on Economic Development Strategic Plan

Residents, businesses, community groups and local organizations are invited to help shape the future of economic development in the City of Peterborough through its Economic Development Strategic Plan.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The plan will guide economic growth and investment priorities over the next five years. It will establish a vision, goals and actions to support local businesses, attract investment, encourage entrepreneurship, strengthen the workforce, support key sectors and create opportunities for long-term economic success according to Mayor Jeff Leal.  

“Peterborough’s economic future depends on the ideas, talent and ambition of the people who live and work here,” he said. “This is an opportunity for the community to help shape a strong, resilient economy that creates jobs, attracts investment and supports prosperity across our community. It’s all about making tomorrow better than today.” 

Community input will play an important role in ensuring the plan reflects local priorities and opportunities. 

A community survey is open until July 27 at 11:59 p.m. Paper copies of the survey are available at Service Peterborough. 

A Community Open House will be held on July 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Miskin Law Community Complex in Multi-Purpose Room A-B (located on the second floor). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The open house will begin with a brief presentation at 6 p.m. 

The Economic Development Strategic Plan follows the transition of economic development services to the City, beginning at the start of 2025. Feedback gathered through the engagement process will help inform the plan, which will guide the City’s economic development efforts from 2027 to 2032. 

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Roll, Stroll and Celebrate as Peterborough Unveils Canada Day Schedule

By Scott Arnold

From a movie under the stars to a community parade, live entertainment and fireworks over Little Lake, the City of Peterborough has released a full schedule of events for its 2026 Canada Day celebrations.

the city of peterborough have released their canada day plans, which includes, movie night, music and fireworks (photo via facebook at cityptbo)

The festivities begin on Tuesday, June 30, with a free Family Movie Night at Quaker Foods City Square.

7:30 pm: Pre-show activities featuring a s'mores station, popcorn, snacks, sidewalk chalk and live music from The Hippie Chicks.

9:30 pm (dusk): Screening of the animated film Gnomeo & Juliet, preceded by a short documentary presented by the ReFrame Film Festival.

Canada Day celebrations continue on Wednesday, July 1, beginning at Peterborough City Hall.

Morning Events

9:30 am: Opening remarks and the decorated bike contest. The event is open to all ages, with loot bags available for participants. Helmets are mandatory and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

10 am: The Canada Day parade gets underway, travelling down George Street and ending at Del Crary Park.

Festivities at Del Crary Park

Starting at 11 am, residents can enjoy free family activities, including food and beverage vendors, arts and crafts, and interactive displays from community organizations.

The main stage entertainment schedule includes:

1 pm: Naandewegaan, Healing with Drums

1:30 pm: The Colton Sisters

2 pm: Soul Nritya Dance School

2:30 pm: The Ilk

3 pm: Zumba VSL

3:30 pm: Cale Crowe

The celebration wraps up with an evening concert presented by Peterborough Musicfest beginning at 8 pm, followed by the city's annual fireworks display over Little Lake at 9:30 pm.

The City says the Roll, Stroll, and Celebrate festivities are designed to bring the community together for a fun, inclusive and accessible Canada Day celebration.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Free Earn-a-Bike Program Giving Youth a Chance to Learn, Build and Ride

By Scott Arnold

A local program is helping young people learn valuable bike repair skills while giving them the opportunity to take home a bicycle of their own.

youth will have a free opportunity this summer to learn how to build or refurbish a bike at the Youth Earn-a-Bike program

B!KE Peterborough's Community Bike Shop is once again offering its Youth Earn-a-Bike program, a free six-session initiative for youth between the ages of 14 and 19.

Participants will learn how to refurbish or build a bicycle while developing practical bicycle maintenance and repair skills. At the end of the program, each participant gets to keep the bike they worked on.

The program is aimed at making cycling more accessible and prioritizes youth experiencing financial need.

In addition to a bicycle, participants will also receive a helmet, lock, lights and a bell, all free of charge.

No previous mechanical experience is necessary, with organizers saying the only requirements are curiosity and a willingness to learn.

Organizers note that Youth Earn-a-Bike is a fast-paced program and that building a bicycle requires plenty of elbow grease and commitment. Participants are expected to attend all six sessions, which are held over two weeks in July and August. The program includes one Monday session from noon to 3 pm and two Thursday sessions from noon to 6 pm each week.

Space in the program is limited, and interested youth are encouraged to apply through the link provided by B!KE. Organizers say they will contact applicants directly and are reminding participants to keep an eye on their email and text messages for updates.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Musicfest Completes Season 39 Lineup With David Wilcox and My Son The Hurricane

By Scott Arnold

The final pieces of the Peterborough Musicfest puzzle are in place, and the result is another summer packed with free live music on the shores of Little Lake.

my son the hurricane will hit the fred anderson stage at del crary park on july 25 (photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest)

Peterborough Musicfest has unveiled the final two acts for its 39th season, announcing Canadian rock legend David Wilcox and brass-funk powerhouse My Son The Hurricane as the latest additions to this summer's lineup.

The announcement completes a 16-show season on the Fred Anderson Stage at Del Crary Park, featuring a mix of Canadian icons, fan favourites, emerging artists and first-time Musicfest performers.

David Wilcox will make his third appearance at Musicfest on Saturday, Aug. 8. The Canadian music veteran has spent more than four decades on stage and is known for hits including Riverboat Fantasy, Downtown Came Uptown, Bad Apple and That Hypnotizin' Boogie. His return is expected to be one of the highlights of the summer concert series.

david wilcox will be back at del crary this summer on august 8th (photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest)

Earlier in the season, on Saturday, July 25, My Son The Hurricane will make its Peterborough Musicfest debut. The 12-piece Niagara-based band has built a reputation for energetic live performances, blending horns, percussion, guitar, keyboards and an electrifying stage presence into what has become one of Canada's most talked-about live shows.

The group has toured extensively across Canada, the United States, Mexico and Europe and drew worldwide attention in 2025 when a viral video generated more than 30 million views in just a few weeks.

Musicfest Executive Director Tracey Randall said this year's lineup brings together an impressive mix of artists and genres, creating opportunities for fans to reconnect with favourite performers, discover new music and enjoy summer evenings by the lake.

Season 39 also features performances from Good Lovelies, Tyler Joe Miller, Matthew Good and His Band, Dwayne Gretzky and Crash Test Dummies, along with emerging local artists showcased through the Future Sound Series presented by Cogeco. Opening night is this Saturday, June 27, with Gowan headlining and Irish Millie on the side stage.

Now entering its 39th season, Peterborough Musicfest remains Canada's longest-running free-admission music festival, with concerts taking place every Wednesday and Saturday night throughout the summer, plus a special Canada Day performance on July 1.

With the full lineup now announced, all that's left is for the music to begin.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Outgoing Trent University Board Chair Honoured with Special Bench Dedication

To conclude Trent University’s Board of Governors’ final meeting of the academic year, outgoing Board chair Doug Kirk received a dedication of a new bench located outside Champlain College, announced on Tuesday.

Outgoing Board Chair Doug Kirk (far left on bench) gathers with the BoG and Trent senior admin outside Champlain College for the new bench dedication. Photo courtesy of Trent University.

The bench honours his six years of service on the Board. He was first appointed to the Board of Governors in 2020 and served as Board chair from 2024 to 2026, following leadership roles as vice-chair and chair of the Finance & Property Committee.

According to Trent, during his time on the Board, he helped advance major initiatives including Gidigaa Migizi College, the new Otonabee College residence, the Trent Farm Research Centre, the Long-Term Care Home and the successful transfer of the Staff Pension Plan to the University Pension Plan.

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Over 2,150 Large Items Registered For City's First Free Large Item Pickup

More than 2,150 large household items have been registered for collection during the first free Large Item Pickup in June under the Clean Streets Peterborough initiative.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

According to the City, the program makes it easier for residents to properly dispose of bulky household items, helping to reduce illegal dumping and keeping neighbourhoods, parks and public spaces clean. There is no fee as the program is part of the Clean Streets Peterborough initiative. 

“We're pleased to see so many residents taking advantage of the free Large Item Pickup program," said Councillor Don Vassiliadis and Councillor Keith Riel, Municipal Operations Co-Chairs, in a joint statement. "The strong participation demonstrates that providing free collection of large items makes it easier for residents to properly dispose of large household items. The response highlights the positive impact this new service is already having through the Clean Streets Peterborough initiative.”

The average number of large items scheduled for pick up in 2025 was 98 per month.  

Collection of registered items began on Monday and is expected to take at least two weeks to complete. 

Large Item Pickup is available by advance booking only. Items must be registered before they are placed at the curb for collection.  

Residents should not place large items at the curb unless they have received a confirmed booking. Advance booking helps Public Works plan collection routes, schedule crews and ensure all registered pickups are completed as efficiently as possible. 

To improve efficiency, Public Works collects large items in three separate streams: 

• Bulky household items, such as couches, chairs, tables and desks 

• Metal items, such as barbecues, appliances and stoves 

• Mattresses and box springs  

Residents are asked to leave all registered items at the curb until they have been collected. There is no need to report a missed pickup during the scheduled collection week, as crews will continue working through all registered pickups until collection is complete. 

Registration for the June collection is now closed. Residents can book a future pickup during one of the remaining collection weeks: 

• July 27 

• Aug. 24 

• Sept. 28 

To book a future pickup, view a list of accepted items or learn more about the program, visit peterborough.ca/pickup, call 705-742-7777 or visit Service Peterborough at City Hall.

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Provincial Government Raising Speed Limits On Several Highways

The Ontario Government is raising speed limits on several highways in the province, announced on Wednesday.

Doug Ford, Ontario Premier (left) and Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation (right) on Highway 401, ceremoniously increasing the speed limit to most highways from 100 to 110 kp/h. Screenshot.

“This includes 938 kilometres of additional highway on top of the 873 kilometres where speed limits have already been increased,” said Doug Ford, Ontario Premier. “By the time this increase is fully implemented at the end of September, nearly 89 per cent of the provincial highway network will be at 110 kilometres per hour. That's up from just 43 per cent today.”

“With this new speed limit in place, drivers travelling from Sarnia to Toronto can save nearly 20 minutes while those travelling from Toronto to Ottawa can save nearly half an hour,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “These increased speed limits will be fully in place by the end of September.”

As of Friday, the following highways have their posted speed limit increased to 110 km/hour:

• Highway 401 from Highway 15 to Highway 16

• Highway 416 from Cedar Grove Road to Highway 401

Following the implementation of 110 km/hour of the aforementioned, these highways are being permanently increased to the posted speed limit of 110 km/hour on the remaining sections of provincial highways on the dates below:

• July 31

  • Highway 402 from Highway 401 to White Oak Drive

  • Highway 402 from Waterworks to 350m east of Colborne Drive

• Aug. 21

  • Highway 7 from Appleton Side Road/County Road 17 to Highway 417

  • Highway 115 from Highway 35 to Parkway Interchange

  • Highway 400 from Highway 401 to Lake Joseph Road

  • Highway 416 from 1.5 km south of Highway 416/417 to Fallowfield Road/County Road 12

  • Highway 417 from Leitrim Road to Ottawa Regional Road 174

  • Highway 417 from Highway 416/417 Interchange to Highway 7

• Aug. 31

  • Highway 401 from Merlin Road to Highway 427

  • Highway 401 from Highway 404 to Highway 35/115

  • Highway 401 from Cobourg to Colborne

  • Highway 401 from Sidney Street to CNR Overhead Bridge in Belleville

  • Highway 401 from County Road 38 to Highway 15

  • Highway 403 from Highway 401 to Middletown Line

• Sept. 30

  • Highway 403 from Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) to Highway 401

  • Highway 404 from Highway 401 to Mulock Drive

  • Highway 406 from Westchester Avenue to Highway 58

  • Highway 407 from Brock Road to Highway 35/115

  • Highway 412 from Highway 401 to Highway 407

  • Highway 418 from Highway 401 to Highway 407

  • QEW from Freeman Interchange to Highway 403

  • QEW from Concession Road to McLeod Road

  • QEW from Mountain Road to Jordan Road

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Peterborough Police Issue 43 Tickets During Enforcement Detail On Lansdowne Street

The Peterborough Police Service Traffic Unit conducted an enforcement detail, issuing 43 tickets on Lansdowne Street on Tuesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The detail focused on three intersections on Lansdowne Street.

According to the Peterborough Police, distracted driving continues to be a major cause of collisions in Ontario. The primary focus of the detail was targeting drivers using a cell phone while operating their vehicle.

Many of the intersections along Lansdowne Street also routinely appear on the list of Top Collision intersections in the City of Peterborough.

In total, 43 charges were laid under the Highway Traffic Act, including:

• Drive - Hand-held communication device x34

• Red light - Fail to Stop x2

• Driving while under suspension x2 

• Driver - failure to properly wear a seatbelt

• Use plates not in accordance with Act

• Various document-related offences 

In addition, 12 warnings were issued for various minor infractions. 

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Defending Meredith Cup Champion Jr. C Lakers Open Playoff Quest on Saturday

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Jr. C Lakers are back in the postseason and will begin their pursuit of a third straight Meredith Cup championship this weekend.

The PEterborough Jr. c lakers will begin their 2026 playoffs at home on saturday (Photo courtesy of the jr. c lakers, via team photographer Christine liu)

After putting together a 12-4 regular season record and finishing first in the Central Division, the Lakers will take on the Huntsville Hawks in a best-of-five division semifinal series.

Game 1 is set for Saturday at 2 pm at Healthy Planet Arena before the series shifts to Huntsville for Game 2 on Sunday, June 28 at 7 pm.

The series then returns to the Peterborough Memorial Centre for Game 3 on Friday, July 3 at 8 pm.

If necessary, Game 4 will be played in Huntsville on either Sunday, July 5 or Monday, July 6, with a deciding Game 5 scheduled for Wednesday, July 8 at Healthy Planet Arena.

Peterborough enters the playoffs having won both regular season meetings against the Hawks, including a 9-5 victory in their first game back in May and a 10-6 win in the regular season finale on Sunday.

The series will also feature the Central Division's top two scorers.

Hawks forward Damon Buttus led the division with 62 points, scoring 34 goals and adding 28 assists during the regular season. Peterborough's Braxton Howard finished right behind him with 54 points on 29 goals and 25 assists, reaching that total in two fewer games than Buttus.

The Lakers will now look to carry their regular-season success into the playoffs as they chase a third consecutive league title and another Meredith Cup banner.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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