Trent Lakes Faces Multiple Charges Including Luring a Teenage Girl

Twenty-nine-year-old Dustin James Hofstede of Trent Lakes is facing numerous charges after an investigation into an incident involving luring a teenage girl earlier this month. 

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

On Thursday, officers with the Peterborough Police Service Sex Crimes Unit executed a search warrant on a home in Trent Lakes. 

Hofstede was taken into custody and charged with:

• Sexual Interference

• Sexual Assault

• Indecent Exposure to a Person Under 16

• Luring a Person Under 16

• Transmit Sexually Explicit Material to a Person Under 16

• Sex Offender Registry - Provide False Information

• Fail to Comply with Prohibition Order X3

• Possession of Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order (replica firearm)

The accused was held in custody, appeared in court Thursday and was remanded into custody. He appeared in court again on Friday.

Investigators believe there may be other victims, and some incidents may not yet have been reported to police. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Constable Potts at 705-876-1122 x285 or Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555.

To encourage more potential victims to come forward, the Peterborough Police have released the accused’s name and photo in accordance with the provisions of the Community Safety and Policing Act (2019; 80(2).

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The Story Behind Peterborough's Historic Turnbull Building at the Corner of George and Simcoe Streets

By Scott Arnold

For generations of Peterborough residents, it was simply "the old downtown Zellers." But long before the familiar storefront, the corner of George and Simcoe was the site of one of the city's greatest tragedies and one of its most remarkable rebuilds.

downtown peterborough was bustling in this photo which shows the corner of george and simcoes streets, with the zellers store as the tenant in the turnbull building. the photo, which was from the zellers canada facebook page, although the vehicles appear to be from an earlier time period, the photo was labelled as being from the 1950’s .

If you've ever walked past the Turnbull Building, you've walked past more than a century of Peterborough history.

The corner has been a downtown landmark since the late 1800s, when a Victorian commercial building housed several businesses, including the J. & C. Turnbull Company department store.

On August 28th, 1913, while the building was undergoing renovations to expand the store, disaster struck. A special Thursday morning sale had filled the store with shoppers when part of the building suddenly collapsed. Six people lost their lives in what became known as the Turnbull Disaster, one of the deadliest building collapses in Peterborough's history.

photo via trent valley archives

photo via trent valley archives

photo via trent valley archives

The tragedy left a lasting mark on the city. Following an inquest into the collapse, a recommendation was made for Peterborough to establish a proper system of inspecting buildings undergoing alterations.

Less than a year later, a new steel-framed commercial building was constructed on the same corner, creating the structure that still stands today.

the timothy eaton company, known as the teco store, pictured in this 1928 photo in the turnbull building at the corner of george and simcoe in downtown peterborough (photo via facebook @oldontarioseries)

Over the decades, the building welcomed a succession of well-known retailers. Eaton's operated there from 1927 to 1932 before Zellers opened its doors in 1934. For more than 70 years, generations of Peterborough residents shopped there, making it one of downtown's most recognizable landmarks.

the zellers store at the corner of george and simcoe streets in downtown peterborough can be seen in this photo dated april 30th, 1980 (photo via PAul A. Bateson)

During the Zellers era, the storefront was modernized and the building's fourth floor was removed, giving it the appearance many locals still remember.

Following a heritage restoration, the building's historic character was brought back and it was officially recognized under the Ontario Heritage Act. Today, the Turnbull Building remains one of downtown Peterborough's most recognizable landmarks, standing as a reminder of the businesses, workers, shoppers and stories that have shaped the city for more than 100 years.

the turnbull building in downtown peterborough in 2026 (photo by Scott Arnold)

2026 photo of the corner of george and simcoe streets (photo by scott arnold)

While the names on the storefront have changed over time, the corner of George and Simcoe has remained a familiar part of Peterborough's downtown landscape.

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

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Lakers Close Regular Season With Dominant Win Over North Stars

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers head into the Major Series Lacrosse playoffs riding plenty of momentum after cruising to a 14-2 victory over the Owen Sound North Stars in Thursday night's regular season finale at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

peterborough lakers ryan lanchbury had a big game in the team’s regular season finale, picking up four goals and three assists in a 14-2 win at the memorial centre (photo courtesy of the peterborough lakers, via david pickering)

The win caps off the regular season with four straight victories, as the Lakers finish 11-7 and will face the second-place Oakville Rock in the opening round of the playoffs.

Peterborough wasted little time taking control, erupting for seven goals in the opening 10 minutes before pulling away for its most lopsided win of the season.

The North Stars' first goal came from a familiar face. Peterborough native and former Peterborough Jr. C Laker Adam Churchill, a two-time Meredith Cup champion with the club in 2015 and 2018, scored against his hometown team after getting the call around 5:30 p.m. that he would suit up for the game just a few hours later.

Ryan Lanchbury led the Lakers' offence with four goals and three assists, while Brad McCulley recorded a hat trick and three assists. Mike Robinson added a pair of goals, while Frank Coyle, Matt Gilray, Nate Sage, DJ Clark and Thomas Hoggarth also found the back of the net.

Hoggarth finished with a team-high five assists, while Sage collected four points with a goal and three helpers. Clark added three points, Gilray had two, and Justin Sykes and goaltender Deacan Knott each recorded two assists.

Knott, playing his first game back after serving a four-game suspension for his July 9th fight with Owen Sound goaltender Andrew Kidd, stopped 38 shots to earn the win and was named the game's third star.

The Lakers now turn their attention to the playoffs, opening their best-of-five first-round series against Oakville on Tuesday before hosting Game 2 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday.

The Major Series Lacrosse regular season wraps up Saturday when the Owen Sound North Stars host the Cobourg Kodiaks. If Cobourg wins, the Kodiaks will finish fourth and face the first-place Six Nations Chiefs in the semifinals. If Owen Sound pulls off the upset, the Brooklin Lacrosse Club will claim fourth place and earn the semifinal matchup with the Chiefs.

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

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TSN Host Sends Special 85th Birthday Wishes to Peterborough Humane Society

By Scott Arnold

A familiar face from TSN helped deliver a special birthday message to the Peterborough Humane Society as the organization continues celebrating 85 years of caring for animals in the community.

Bryan Hayes, host of TSN’s OverDrive, sent a special 85th birthday message to the Peterborough Humane Society (screenshot of video posted by peterborough humane society)

The Peterborough Humane Society received a special shoutout this week from TSN personality Bryan Hayes, who helped mark the organization’s milestone anniversary with a message of support.

Hayes is best known as the host of OverDrive, Canada’s #1 sports talk show on TSN, alongside Jamie “Noodles” McLennan and Jeff O’Neill.

The Peterborough Humane Society shared the video on social media, saying having Hayes take part in its birthday celebration was “an honour” and a moment the organization was excited to share.

The organization was established in 1941 and is celebrating 85 years of supporting animals across Peterborough and the surrounding area. Today, the Humane Society operates out of the Peterborough Animal Care Centre on Technology Drive, where it provides care, adoption services, humane education and community support programs.

As an open admission, For Life organization, the Peterborough Humane Society cares for approximately 1,500 pets each year and relies on community support to continue its work.

Hayes’ birthday message adds to a year of celebrations for an organization that has been part of the Peterborough community for more than eight decades.

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A post shared by Peterborough Humane Society (@ptbo_humane_society)

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

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Inaugural International Indoor Junior Lacrosse North America Cup Has Been Cancelled

The International Indoor Junior Lacrosse (IIJL) North America Cup Series taking place from Aug. 7 to 9 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre has been cancelled.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The IIJL released the following statement:

“The IIJL has made the difficult decision to cancel the North America Cup Series. While we were looking forward to bringing teams together for this event, unforeseen circumstances have impacted participation levels.

We are optimistic about identifying an opportunity to pursue this event in Peterborough in the future and thank the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Memorial Centre and Peterborough Tourism for their support as a key collaborator and strong supporter of lacrosse events.”

Three games were to be played between Canada, the United States and the Haudenosaunee.

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Local Pro Wrestler Sean Morley, Better Known as Val Venis, Returns to the Ring at Age 55

By Scott Arnold

A familiar WWE character returned to the spotlight last week as Peterborough-connected wrestler Sean Morley brought back Val Venis for a viral in-ring comeback.

former wwe superstar sean moley, who has ties to peterborough and ennismore, came out of retirement at age 55 last week, reprising his val venis character, for a match in new jersey (photo via x @wrestlingnewsco

The 55-year-old former WWE star stepped back inside the ring for Independent Stars of Pro Wrestling’s Legends of Wrestling Night in Wildwood, New Jersey, reprising the character that made him famous.

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A post shared by PRWrestling (@prwrestling)

Complete with the trademark white towel around his waist and the familiar Val Venis entrance, Morley’s return quickly gained attention online, with photos and videos spreading among wrestling fans who had not seen the character in years.

Morley faced Rico Gold in his return match, which ended in a loss, but the result was secondary to the nostalgia surrounding the return of one of WWE’s recognizable personalities from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

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A post shared by RememberWhenWWE (@rememberwhenwwe)

While Morley now lives in Mesa, Arizona, he has strong ties to the Peterborough area. Born in Oakville, Ontario, he spent years living in Ennismore and is considered by many as a local wrestling product.

After his WWE career came to an end, Morley returned to Peterborough for several years, where he ran a wrestling camp focused on training aspiring professional wrestlers.

His influence on the wrestling world also includes helping a young Peterborough athlete named Bobby Roode get started in the business. Before becoming a multi-time world champion and a prominent WWE producer, Roode credited Morley with teaching him some of the fundamentals of professional wrestling early in his career.

Morley joined WWE in 1998 and became known around the world as Val Venis. During his time with the company, he won the Intercontinental Championship, European Championship and World Tag Team Championship before departing WWE in 2009.

Although he stepped away from full-time wrestling, Morley continued making occasional independent appearances over the years, with his most recent appearance before last week coming in 2023.

For wrestling fans, seeing Val Venis return was a nostalgic reminder of one of WWE’s most recognizable characters. For people in Peterborough, it was another chance to see a local connection return to the spotlight on the world of professional wrestling.

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

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Peterborough + Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce Unveil Nominees For 2026 Business Excellence Awards

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce has released its nominees for the 2026 Business Excellence Awards which recognize outstanding achievement, innovation, leadership, resilience and community impact across the region's business community.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

This year's awards feature 137 unique nominees receiving 235 nominations across 18 award categories.

The 2026 Business Excellence Awards Gala is on Oct. 22 at Kawartha Downs, where award winners will be announced.

“This year we eliminated the self-nomination process, and we have been truly inspired by the way our community embraced the opportunity to recognize local businesses,” said Brenda Whitehead, Chamber President and CEO. “The response speaks volumes about the incredible work being done throughout our region. We now look forward to receiving the nominees' submissions, which will allow our volunteer judges to learn more about each organization's story, accomplishments, and impact. It is inspiring to see this level of engagement, and we can't wait to celebrate these outstanding businesses and individuals in October.”

“The Business Excellence Awards are about more than recognizing success—they celebrate the entrepreneurs, businesses, non-profit organizations, and leaders whose passion, innovation, and dedication strengthen our communities every day,” said Susan Dunkley, Chamber Board Chair. “The number of nominations received this year demonstrates just how proud our region is of its business community. On behalf of the Board of Directors, congratulations to every nominee. We look forward to celebrating your achievements and the positive impact you continue to make across Peterborough City and County.”

The following are this year’s nominees:

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Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemoration Lantern Ceremony At Little Lake Being Held On Aug. 6

The Peterborough Quakers invite the public to a Floating Lantern Commemoration of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6, at 7:45 p.m. at the T-Wharf on Little Lake.

File Photo.

The commemoration includes brief reflections on war and on the need to constantly work for peace, interspersed with music and peaceful reflection, followed by the floating of the lanterns on the waters of Little Lake according to a press release.

On August 6th and 9th, 1945, during the final stage of the Second World War, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The two bombings, which killed at least 200,000 people, remain the only use of nuclear weapons to this day.

Participants are invited to bring their own reflections to share or honour those who have died and continue to die in war. 

“The Floating Lanterns commemoration is a gentle and beautiful grassroots way of helping us remember the many things we can do to bring about a more peaceful world,” said Pat Gere, organizing committee member.

Lanterns are being assembled by teen volunteers from St. Peter’s High School. Participants can bring their own chair or blanket.

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Two Teen Boys Face Charges After Altercation Involving Possession of Knives

Two Peterborough teens are facing charges involving possessing knives during an altercation on Wednesday evening.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

At roughly 9:15 p.m., officers were called to the area of Rink Street and George Street about a report of a young person brandishing a knife during a verbal altercation. Officers located a youth known to police a short distance away and took him into custody. Through investigation, it was determined that the youth was not involved in the original incident but was found to be breaching a sentence order and failing to comply with probation. Officers seized a lighter from the teen.

Shortly after, Community F.I.R.S.T officers were approached by bystanders indicating a young person near the footbridge had a knife. Officers located a teen matching the description previously given to police on the other side of the bridge, took him into custody and located and seized a knife.

As a result of the investigation:

A 13-year-old Peterborough male was arrested and charged with:

• Failure to comply with release order - other than to attend court (not with surety or at designated residence)

• Allegation of Breach of Conditional Sentence Order X2 (possession of a lighter, not obeying curfew)

The accused is being held in custody and will appear in court on Thursday.

A 15-year-old Peterborough male was arrested and charged with:

• Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose

The accused was released on an undertaking with conditions and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 14.

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Peterborough to Take Centre Stage on The Amazing Race Canada August 11th

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough and the Kawarthas will be in the national spotlight next month as The Amazing Race Canada brings local landmarks and destinations to screens across the country.

the amazing race canada host jon montgomery pictured at the canadian canoe museum in peterborough. an upcoming episode of the amazing race canada, airing august 11th, will feature contestants racing and competing at locations in the city (photo via instagram @cndncanoemuseum)

The secret is officially out.

After production crews and racers were spotted filming in Peterborough earlier this year, the Canadian Canoe Museum and Peterborough Tourism & The Kawarthas Tourism have confirmed that the city will be featured in an upcoming episode of The Amazing Race Canada.

The Peterborough episode will air Tuesday, August 11th at 9 p.m. EDT on CTV as part of Season 12 of the popular competition series.

Canadian canoe museum executive director carolyn hyslop holds up a clue card for the amazing race canada at beavermead beach in peterborough beside host jon montgomery (photo via instagram @cndncanoemuseum)

The episode, titled Episode 1205, will showcase Peterborough and the Kawarthas, highlighting local destinations and recognizable spots throughout the region as teams continue their race across Canada.

The Canadian Canoe Museum also confirmed it will be featured during the episode, giving viewers a chance to see one of Peterborough’s most unique attractions featured on national television.

the amazing race canada host jon montgomery on little lake in peterborough with a canoe provided by the canadian canoe museum ( (photo via instagram @ptbotourism)

The episode will be available to stream the following day on Crave.

Back in May, production sightings around the city sparked plenty of excitement among residents, with reported filming locations including Peterborough City Hall, Rogers Cove, Crary Park, Beavermead Park and the Canadian Canoe Museum.

canadian canoe museum curator jeremy ward showing a clue card alongside the amazing race canada host jon montgomery (photo via instagram @ptbotourism)

Now, viewers will finally get to see what challenges racers took on during their stop in Peterborough.

Tune in August 11th to see which local places you recognize and maybe discover a few new ones along the way.

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

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