Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre's Annual 'Take Back the Night' Awareness Event Runs On Sept. 17

Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC) and partnering community organizations will host their annual Take Back the Night (TBTN) advocacy and awareness event at the Peterborough Square Courtyard on Sept. 17 from 5 to 9 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

This year’s event theme is ‘Our Voices, Our Strength, Our Community.’ According to KSAC, it serves as a reminder to uplift survivors' voices and to remind survivors of the strength and control they have in their lives.

The event is free and open to everyone, with light refreshments available for participants.

The event will run from 5 pm to 6:30 p.m. with a variety of community agencies tabling to share information about their resources and how folks can connect for support. Art supplies are also available for attendees to make posters for the march later in the evening.

From 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. KSAC is hosting its evening of poems, speakers and performers, followed by our candle-lit solidarity march.

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Peterborough Man Wanted On Two Warrants Arrested

A 27-year-old Peterborough man wanted on two warrants was arrested Thursday after calls about suspicious activity on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough POlice Service.

At roughly 11:40 p.m., officers were called to the area of Erskine Avenue and The Queensway about suspicious activity. They located two men in the area matching the description given to police. During the investigation, officers learned that one of the men was wanted on warrants for failing to appear in court.

As a result, officers took the man into custody on the strength of the warrants.

He was held in custody and appeared in court on Friday.

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Free Summer Soiree Brings Local Artists Together at Traill College

By Scott Arnold

A lineup of local artists will take over Traill College’s Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre next Thursday for the first-ever Summer Soiree, a free outdoor evening celebrating local talent.

The Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre at Trent University’s Traill College will host the first-ever Summer Soiree on August 20th (photo via instagram @newstagestheatre)

The Summer Soiree takes place Thursday, August 20th at 7pm as the closing event of the William and Nona Heaslip Summer Festival.

The evening will feature short new works for the stage, with a mix of theatre, dance, musical theatre, sketch comedy and spoken word.

The lineup includes Kate Story, Dreda Blow, Beau Dixon, Susan Newman, Rob Fortin, Bill Coleman, Marc Rico Ludwig, Kerry Griffin, Marty Adams, Kate Suhr, Andrew Fitzpatrick and Ziy Sah von Bieberstein.

Admission is free, and the runtime is approximately 80 to 90 minutes.

The Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre is located at Traill College in downtown Peterborough, east of Reid Street between London and Dublin streets.

If rain forces the event indoors, it will move to Scott House 105, next to the amphitheatre.

The Summer Soiree is sponsored by Mather and Bell IDA Pharmacy.

For more information, visit Trent University’s Summer Festival website or contact traill@trentu.ca.

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

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Two Local Pickleball Athletes to Represent Team Ontario At National Championships On Aug. 27

Two local pickleball athletes, Marie Aubie and Cole Lester, have been chosen to represent Team Ontario at the Canadian National Pickleball Championships at Pickleplex Downsview in Toronto on Aug. 27.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Pickleball Association.

Both athletes are affiliated with the Peterborough Pickleball Association. Lester is competing in Men’s Singles while Aubie is partnering with Whitby’s Steve Robinson for Mixed Doubles.

“I am honoured to have been selected for the Team Ontario Masters Team, competing at Canadian Nationals in August,” says Marie Aubie. “Both Cole Lester and I have worked hard this past year to improve our respective games despite injuries. The competition at Nationals will be fierce but I know that collectively as a team, we are in the running for a podium finish.”

“The competition level across the province is strong which pushes Marie and I to elevate our games every day,” says Cole Lester. “We are both excited to be members of the provincial team heading to the national stage to represent our province, compete at the highest level, and help bring home gold for Ontario.”

“To have not one, but two Smash Courts coaches selected again to represent Team Ontario at the Pro level is an incredible achievement for them, Peterborough, and our club, states Jodi Allen, Owner, Smash Courts, Peterborough. “Cole and Marie were selected among the top athletes in the province, to compete against some of the best players in Canada, an accomplishment we couldn’t be more proud of. They are an inspiration to players of all ages, especially our young summer campers who get to watch them train, up close and personal, day after day. Our youth witness firsthand that success isn’t handed to you; it’s earned through commitment, perseverance, and hard work.”

“The Provincial Team Competition brings together the nation’s top provincial talent in an exciting inter-provincial team competition,’ says Danielle French, Peterborough Pickleball Association president. “Our local exceptional athletes, Cole and Marie, earned their place through dedication, sportsmanship, and outstanding performance. We are confident they will represent our city and province with pride and excellence on the national stage.”

Selected provincial team members will compete head-to-head against other provinces in a team format, which also doubles as an evaluation for the National Development Program Pool.

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Fan Support Needed Tonight as Jr. C Lakers Look to Keep Meredith Cup Hopes Alive

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Jr. C Lakers return to Healthy Planet Arena tonight with their season on the line and their pursuit of a third straight Meredith Cup championship hanging in the balance.

the Peterborough Jr. C Lakers return to Healthy Planet Arena on Friday night needing a win over the Six Nations Stealth to force a deciding Game 5 in the Meredith Cup Final. (Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Jr. C Lakers)

The Lakers trail the Six Nations Stealth 2-1 in the best-of-five Meredith Cup Final after Six Nations took Game 3 by a 9-7 score Wednesday night.

That leaves Peterborough needing a win tonight at 8pm to keep the championship series alive.

And regardless of the outcome, it will be the Lakers' final home game of the season.

A win would send the series back to Six Nations for a deciding Game 5 on Sunday at 6pm. A loss would give the Stealth the Meredith Cup and bring the Lakers' championship run to an end.

One More Game at Home

For a team that has received plenty of support throughout its playoff run, tonight offers one final opportunity for Peterborough fans to see the Lakers at Healthy Planet Arena this season.

The Lakers have already played nine playoff games, going through Huntsville, Whitby and Cornwall before reaching the Meredith Cup Final for the third straight year. They then split the first two games of the final with Six Nations before Wednesday's Game 3 loss.

The series has been close throughout. Peterborough won Game 2 at home 9-6 after dropping Game 1 in Six Nations, and Wednesday's game was a seven-goal night for the Lakers, who held leads during the contest before Six Nations pulled away late.

A Chance to Keep the Chase Alive

The Lakers came into the season looking to defend their Meredith Cup championship and become just the second team in the Meredith Cup era to win three championships in a row.

They have already secured another trip to the final. Now, they need to find a way to extend it.

Head coach Ryley Martinell has used that phrase throughout the season: find a way.

It has become the theme of a playoff run that has included tight games, comebacks and one-goal decisions. Tonight, that message takes on even more importance.

The Lakers need one more win in Peterborough to force the series back to Six Nations for Sunday night's deciding game.

For the players, coaches and fans, tonight is the final chance to keep the championship run going on home floor.

Game time is 8pm at Healthy Planet Arena.

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

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From George Street to The Queensway: Brant Basics Celebrates a New Chapter in Peterborough

By Scott Arnold

More than six decades after first opening its doors in Peterborough, Brant Basics marked a major milestone on Thursday as community members, elected officials, staff and customers gathered to celebrate the company's grand reopening at its new home on The Queensway.

Clive Katz and Trevor Katz, joined by Brant Basics staff, Mayor Jeff Leal and councillors Kevin Duguay and Leslie Parnell, take part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the company's grand reopening celebration on Thursday (Photo by Scott Arnold)

The event brought together a steady stream of visitors who toured the newly renovated space at 701 The Queensway, took part in activities throughout the store and joined in a ribbon-cutting ceremony that officially marked the next chapter for a business that has been serving Peterborough since 1964.

For Trevor and Clive Katz, whose family assumed ownership of Brant Basics in 2023, the day was about much more than opening a new location. It was an opportunity to celebrate a long-standing local business while reaffirming its future in Peterborough.

"Brant Basics is a local company and will always remain a local company," said Trevor Katz. "We never changed the name when we took it over three years ago because Brant Basics is a local company and will always remain a local company."

The move follows decades of operation at the company's downtown George Street location. While the business built countless relationships there over the years, the new space offers opportunities that simply weren't possible before.

Trevor Katz speaking to crowd on Thursday as Staff, customers and community supporters gathered throughout the afternoon to celebrate the grand reopening of Brant Basics at its new home on The Queensway. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

During remarks at the ceremony, Trevor Katz noted that the move has allowed the company's sales team to work together on a single floor, creating a more collaborative environment while expanding the range of products available to customers.

Visitors walking through the store on Thursday could see that evolution firsthand. Alongside the furniture showroom and office supply offerings Brant Basics has long been known for, the new location features expanded educational, arts and crafts, and children's product sections.

"We still have a large furniture component in the store, a large office supply component, but we've now created a new area that's more arts, crafts and education for the general community as well," Trevor Katz explained.

The new Brant Basics showroom features expanded product offerings, including furniture, office supplies, educational materials and arts and crafts products. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

The location itself was another important factor in the move.

"We liked the environment of The Queensway, the busyness of the street, close to Lansdowne Place, close to a few of the shops here," said Trevor Katz. "We thought it was a growing area as well, free parking obviously, which is always a good thing."

The new Brant Basics showroom features expanded product offerings, including furniture, office supplies, educational materials and arts and crafts products. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal was among those who spoke during the celebration, congratulating the Katz family and highlighting the significance of seeing local businesses continue to invest in the community.

"When you get the opportunity to be at a ribbon cutting, to see a small business expanding, providing service to a community, it certainly goes to show you beyond the news cycle, there's a lot of great things happening," said Leal.

Leal also reflected on the company's long history in Peterborough, noting that the business continues to build on the foundation established by founder Mo (Morris) Cox and his family.

"One of the great lessons that I got in politics when I entered a few decades ago is that you truly stand on the shoulders of others," he said. "So Clive and Trevor, they're standing on the shoulders of Mo Cox and his family to continue to build this business."

The mayor also pointed to customer service as one of the key reasons Brant Basics has remained a fixture in the community for more than 60 years.

"One thing we know about the history of Brant Basics is providing customer service second to none," said Leal. "That's what separates retailers from good ones and other ones that don't provide that high degree of customer service."

Representatives from the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce and MPP Dave Smith's office also attended the event, offering congratulations and recognizing the company's continued growth.

Clive and Trevor Katz were presented a framed certificate from Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brenda Whitehead during the Brant Basics grand reopening celebration. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

While Thursday's grand reopening celebrated a new building, both Trevor and Clive Katz repeatedly brought the focus back to the people who helped make it happen.

The brothers credited staff for organizing the event and helping guide the business through the transition.

"The staff have been unbelievable," said Clive Katz. "They've been unbelievable from the day we moved to helping us with this event. They're happy, they're engaged, they love the new environment."

He added that the enthusiasm employees have shown for new product categories and the updated store layout has helped create an atmosphere that customers notice as soon as they walk through the doors.

"We're a family and to have a happy family is everything," he said.

That sense of teamwork was evident throughout the afternoon as employees greeted visitors, answered questions and helped showcase the new space.

Brant Basics staff members greet visitors and help showcase the company's newly reopened location during Thursday's grand reopening celebration on The Queensway. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

Clive Katz admitted he was unsure what to expect when planning the grand reopening.

"I was a nervous wreck," he said with a laugh. "I was going, 'How many people are going to come? Is anyone going to show up?' And the staff just took control."

For a company that has spent more than six decades serving Peterborough, Thursday's celebration was both a look back and a look ahead. While the address has changed, the message from the owners remained consistent: Brant Basics is committed to staying rooted in the community it has called home since 1964.

"This opening is important for us to stay in the Peterborough location," said Trevor Katz. "We just feel the way the store is set up is really based on community and what the community needs."

As the ribbon was cut and visitors continued exploring the new showroom, the event served as a reminder that while businesses evolve, some of the strongest community connections are built over generations. For Brant Basics, Thursday's grand reopening was the latest chapter in a story that continues to be written in Peterborough.

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

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Ottawa Woman Arrested In Peterborough For Operating Stolen Vehicle

A 40-year-old Ottawa woman is facing a charge after officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle on Wednesday evening.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 7:20 p.m., officers were alerted by the Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) to a stolen vehicle from the Ottawa area. Officers located the vehicle in a parking lot near Chemong Drive and Milroy Drive, activated their emergency lights, and conducted a high-risk vehicle stop with firearms drawn. Two women exited the vehicle and were taken into custody without incident. One woman was released unconditionally after the investigation.

One woman was arrested and charged with:

• Possession Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 - in Canada

• Drive Motor Vehicle No License (Highway Traffic Act)

The accused was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 3, on the Peterborough matter.

While in custody, it was learned that the woman was wanted in another jurisdiction for:

• Break Enter and Commit/Dwelling House

She was arrested on the strength of the warrant and given a court date of Sept. 18, on that matter.

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Ontario Government Ends Social Assistance For People Living In Canada Illegally

The Ontario Government is strengthening the rules for Ontario’s social assistance programs to ensure that only people living legally in Canada can receive financial assistance from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, announced on Thursday.

Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawrtha MPP. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Effective immediately, the Provincial government says these regulations will protect taxpayer dollars and ensure that Ontario’s social assistance programs focus on supporting only families and individuals facing financial hardship who are legally authorized to live in Canada.

“Our government will always be there for those that need it most, but taxpayer-funded social assistance should not go to people living in Canada illegally,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “These changes will protect taxpayer dollars and ensure these programs are there for the people who they were intended to support.”

The province has amended regulations under the Ontario Works Act, 1997, and the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997, to clarify who is eligible for social assistance.

Under the updated rules, the following individuals are not eligible for social assistance:

• Individuals who are in Canada illegally; and

• Individuals authorized to remain in Canada on a temporary basis, for example, those here with student visas, work permits or as visitors and tourists.

These changes take effect immediately to prevent unauthorized individuals from receiving these financial supports, ensuring Ontario’s government-funded social assistance programs are reserved for people who meet the province’s eligibility requirements.

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The Neighbourhood Vintage and Watson & Lou Collaborate to Operate Under the Same Roof Starting Sept. 1

Two beloved downtown businesses are joining forces: The Neighbourhood Vintage is making its home inside Watson & Lou, bringing the two businesses together under one roof, starting Sept. 1.

Photo courtesy of Watson & Lou.

According to owners Jacquelyn Craft of The Neighbourhood Vintage and Katie Küntz of Watson & Lou, customers can expect an inspiring shopping experience where trendy vintage fashion meets contemporary local craftsmanship.

“We're incredibly excited to bring our businesses together,” they said. “This partnership allows us to offer something truly special—a destination where people can discover local makers alongside carefully curated vintage pieces. We can't wait to welcome both familiar faces and new visitors into the space.”

Shoppers can find items such as vintage denim, leather jackets, handcrafted ceramics, original artwork, stationery, jewelry, or unique gifts under one roof.

Both owners invite the community to celebrate the occasion during First Friday on Sept. 4 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

The evening will officially kick off the collaboration to explore the newly expanded shop, meet the owners and browse the latest collections.

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Peterborough Museum and Archives Receives Federal Grant For National Travelling Exhibition

The Peterborough Museum and Archives (PMA) has been awarded a $6,400 grant by the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Museums Assistance Program Exhibition Circulation Fund.

File photo.

The Museums Assistance Program Exhibition Circulation Fund helps museums and heritage organizations increase access to Canadian heritage by supporting travelling exhibitions. 

The grant supports bringing the upcoming temporary exhibition ‘Lost Liberties – The War Measures Act,’ which runs until Sept. 13 at the PMA.

The exhibit examines the impact of Canada's use of emergency powers on civil liberties and the lives of Canadians. Through historical research, artifacts, personal stories, and educational programming, the exhibition encourages visitors to explore the balance between national security and individual rights during periods of crisis.  

The exhibition aims to reach diverse audiences and provide opportunities for reflection on the historical consequences of emergency legislation, including the human experiences behind these significant national events.  

“I am pleased to see the Peterborough Museum and Archives receive this support through the federal government's Museums Assistance Program," said Emma Harrison, Member of Parliament for the riding of Peterborough. "Investments like this help bring important exhibitions such as “Lost Liberties – The War Measures Act” to our community, giving residents the opportunity to reflect on pivotal moments in Canada’s history. I am grateful that residents of Peterborough will have access to this important experience, and I encourage everyone to take the time to visit!”  

“We are grateful to the Department of Canadian Heritage for its support in bringing important exhibitions like “Lost Liberties – The War Measures Act” to Peterborough,” said Community Services Co-Chairs Alex Bierk and Lesley Parnell. “Museums play a vital role in preserving and sharing our collective history, and this exhibit explores an important and complex part of Canada's past. By encouraging reflection and dialogue about civil liberties, democratic values and the impact of government decisions during times of crisis, this exhibition will offer meaningful learning opportunities for visitors of all ages.” 

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