Peterborough Blogs
Hiltz Picks Up Points as Team Canada Opens Pan-Am Championship With Big Win
/By Scott Arnold
Peterborough’s Owen Hiltz found the scoresheet as Team Canada opened the Pan-American Men’s Lacrosse Championship with a 19-2 win over Mexico in Jamaica on Monday.
Peterborough native owen hiltz takes the ball down field during canada’s opening game of the pan-am championship in jamaica (photo via instagram @beyondscoreco)
Hiltz scored once and added an assist as Canada jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the opening quarter and never looked back.
The Peterborough native’s goal came early in the game, with Hiltz finding the net 2:44 into the opening quarter on a setup from Finn Thomson.
Hiltz added an assist later in the second half, setting up Ty English for Canada’s 14th goal of the afternoon.
Meanwhile, fellow Peterborough native Wyatt Wiggins was part of Canada’s defensive group as the team held Mexico to just two goals.
The win gave Canada an impressive start to the tournament, which runs through August 23rd in Kingston, Jamaica, and serves as a qualifier for the 2027 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship in Japan.
Canada’s next test comes Tuesday, August 18th, when they face the Haudenosaunee team at 6pm ET.
Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc
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Camp Kerry's Where Light Grows Fundraiser Rescheduled for February
/By Scott Arnold
Camp Kerry’s Where Light Grows fundraiser has a new date, with the full lineup of artists still set to perform in support of the organization’s grief programs for children and families.
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 fundraiser, originally scheduled for September 13th, has been moved to Thursday, February 4th, 2027, at 7pm at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in Peterborough.
Camp Kerry said the decision to reschedule was made because of a serious family health matter. The organization expressed its appreciation to the artists, sponsors, volunteers, ticket holders and community members for their understanding.
The good news for those who were looking forward to the event is that the lineup has not changed. The same artists originally announced for September will come together in February for an evening of music, storytelling and community in support of Camp Kerry and the children and families it serves.
Anyone who already purchased a ticket for the September 13th event does not need to purchase a new ticket. All tickets will be honoured for the February 4th performance.
Event Details
Where Light Grows: A Camp Kerry Fundraiser
Date: Thursday, February 4th, 2027
Time: 7pm
Location: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, Peterborough
Camp Kerry provides grief support and bereavement programming for children, youth, adults and families navigating the loss of a loved one.
The fundraiser will now bring the community together on February 4th for the same purpose and the same artists, just on a new date.
Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc
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Peterborough Special Olympics Athletes Bring Home 24 Medals At Canada Summer Games In Medicine Hat
/Peterborough Special Olympics athletes were covered in hardware, bringing home 24 medals while representing Team Ontario at the Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat, Alb., from Aug. 11 to 15.
Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Ontario.
The Peterborough Special Olympians at the event were: Tessa Scates, Breanne MacKenzie, Steve Caban, Michael Brioux, Kristen Lackey, Miriam McHugh, Candace Bushie, Gillian McHugh, Hayley Fowler, Gaerrisen Freeland, Blair Bastien, Dalton Davis and Dylan Armstrong.
They competed in events such as bocce ball, 10-pin bowling, soccer, swimming and track and field. Peterborough combined for 14 gold, five silver and five bronze medals.
“The athletes represented Peterborough, their families, their coaches and Team Ontario with tremendous pride,” said Debbie Quinlan, swimming head coach. “Their accomplishments on and off the field, pool and court are something our entire community can celebrate.”
The following are the results of Peterborough’s Special Olympics Athletes:
Athletics (Track and Field)
Gaerrisen Freeland: Two Gold and two Bronze Medals
Basketball
Blair Bastien: Finalist playing for Guelph Mixed
Bocce ball (Coach Al Brioux)
Dalton Davis: One Gold Medal
Bowling (10 pin)
Mike Brioux: Three Gold, one Silver Medal
Men's Soccer
Dylan Armstrong: One Silver Medal (Playing for Brampton team)
Women's soccer (Coach Bill Chapman)
Candace Bushie, Haley Fowler, Gillian McHugh, Miriam McHugh Kristin Lackey, (combined Ontario/Quebec team): Gold Medal
Swimming (Coach Debbie Quinlan)
Tessa Scates: Two Gold Medals, one Silver Medal and one Bronze Medal
Breanne McKenzie: One Gold Medal, one Silver Medal and two Bronze Medals
Steve Caban: One Silver Medal
“I had so much fun and it was nice to play with six Québec players and five from Peterborough,” said Jillian McHugh.
“My overall experience went well. The volunteers were awesome and I also made new friends,” said Michael Brioux. “The sportsmanship from all the athletes was amazing, (with) everyone helping out. Plus, all the volunteers that they had helping out at the games were great and without them, I don’t think it could have happened. All of our coaches were great and helped us through the experience of playing in a National Games experience.”
The games in Medicine Hat were the first time the event was held in Canada since 2018, in Antigonish, N.S.
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Peterborough Musicfest Gets Ready to Put a Bow on Another Big Summer
/By Scott Arnold
After a summer filled with big crowds, memorable performances and plenty of moments to talk about, Peterborough Musicfest is getting ready for its final night of 2026.
Local singer-songwriter Jeanne Truax will open Peterborough Musicfest’s season finale on Wednesday at 6:30pm, bringing her blend of retro-inspired pop, rockabilly and original music to the Future Sound Series stage at Del Crary Park (Photo by Scott Arnold)
It feels like the summer just got started, but after 16 concerts, countless hours of preparation and some of the biggest crowds the festival has seen, Peterborough Musicfest is down to its final show.
The Dreamboats will headline the final Peterborough Musicfest show of the summer, bringing their high-energy take on 1950s and 1960s rock and roll to the Fred Anderson Stage at 8pm, with local artist Jeanne Truax getting the night started from the Future Sound Series stage at 6:30pm.
Peterborough Musicfest Marketing and Communications Manager Raff Melito says The Dreamboats are a band where the performance is every bit as important as the music, with the group dressing the part, dancing and bringing the classic rock and roll era to life on stage. It promises to be a lively finish to a summer that has already featured plenty of big performances and memorable nights at Del Crary Park.
“They are this incredible band that is as much a performance as it is about the music,” Melito said. “So they put on a great show. It’s 50s and 60s rock’n’roll. They totally dress up. They’re like dancing. It’s going to be an excellent way to close out the season.”
Before the season comes to a close Wednesday night, there is still plenty to look back on.
A Show People Are Still Talking About
Last Wednesday’s Trans-Canada Highwaymen performance was one of those Musicfest nights that seemed to follow people home.
Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies, Chris Murphy of Sloan, Moe Berg of The Pursuit of Happiness and Craig Northey of Odds brought their combined catalogues of Canadian rock hits to the Fred Anderson Stage, but the performance was more than simply four musicians taking turns playing songs from their respective bands.
“They all rotated positions in the band and it just made for such an incredible evening,” said Melito. “They were comedic, they were joking with the audience, they were just incredible.”
The four musicians also made the most of their time in Peterborough before taking the stage.
As it turned out, the Trans-Canada Highwaymen did not even know Peterborough’s Trans Canada Trail was there. After Chris Murphy wanted to find a good cup of coffee and the group was pointed toward the Silverbean Cafe, they walked from Del Crary Park along the trail toward downtown.
When they came across a Trans Canada Trail sign, they stopped for a photo, creating a particularly fitting Peterborough moment for a band whose name was inspired in part by the trail.
“They all stopped to pose for the photo because that’s actually one of the pieces that inspired their name,” Melito said. “So it was a real moment for the band.”
And then they returned to Del Crary Park and put on a show that many Musicfest fans have already described as one of the best they have seen at the festival.
The Trans-Canada Highwaymen stopped for a photo along Peterborough’s Trans-Canada Trail before their August 12th performance at Peterborough Musicfest (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest)
A Final Saturday Night to Rock Out
Saturday brought another packed night to the park, this time with Crystal Faith delivering the music of Styx and Bon Jovi.
The crowd was treated to a night of classic rock favourites, with people dancing and singing along to songs they knew from the opening notes.
Now, Musicfest gets one final chance to do it all again.
The Dreamboats will close out Season 39 on Wednesday night, bringing their high-energy take on 1950s and 1960s rock ’n’ roll to the Fred Anderson Stage.
“They are this incredible band that is as much a performance as it is about the music,” Melito said. “They totally dress up, they’re dancing. It’s going to be an excellent way to close out the season.”
But before The Dreamboats take the stage, the final Musicfest night will begin with a familiar local face.
Jeannie Truax Ready to Start the Final Night
Singer-songwriter Jeannie Truax of Kawartha Lakes will take the Future Sound Series presented by Cogeco side stage at 6:30pm, bringing her own mix of 1950s and 1960s pop, rockabilly and indie retro-inspired pop to the park.
And she could hardly be more excited about the opportunity.
“I’m so excited,” Truax said. “It’s going to be so cool.”
She is also particularly well matched with The Dreamboats.
“They’re right in the vein of what we love, that like 50s, 60s pop stuff,” she said. “It’s going to be so fun. Their show is amazing. I can’t wait.”
Music has been part of Truax’s life for as long as she can remember. She grew up in a family of musicians and started playing piano at eight years old.
“I was like forced right into it, sleeping in the piano case while I was growing up,” she joked.
It did not take long for the music to become something she genuinely loved.
She eventually picked up guitar, partly for a very practical reason.
“The reason I picked it up was because it’s really hard to bring a piano to a campfire,” Truax said. “It’s really difficult.”
Her brother later taught her how to play bass, adding another instrument to her growing musical repertoire.
But performing live was a different experience altogether.
Truax had been involved in theatre before becoming a musician, so she was accustomed to being on stage. Even so, her first musical performance brought a different kind of nerves.
“I was terrified, even though I was on the stage pretty much constantly,” she said. “But it was, as soon as I finished, it was like this euphoric feeling. I was like, this is the best day of my life. I’m going to do this forever.”
She may never have taken that first step without a little encouragement.
A friend who had heard her play for years decided she was ready, booked her a show and essentially told her she was doing it.
“He played with me and it was amazing,” Truax said.
From there, things moved quickly.
“I did one show and then I felt like I already had 10 more booked,” she said. “It was crazy how it happens like that.”
A Little Help From Home
For Truax, being part of Musicfest’s final night is about more than simply getting to perform on a big local stage.
It is another chance to play in front of a Peterborough audience that she says has embraced her music.
“The amount of people who take a chance and hire people or go for it in Peterborough just to see what happens is genuinely incredible,” she said. “And the amount of music listeners, like, oh my gosh, there’s so many people who want to listen to music and come out and support.”
That support has helped make Peterborough feel like home as her career has developed.
“It’s really cool to have a place you can come home to,” she said. “And it’s fabulous.”
On Wednesday, she will have plenty of friends and family in the park to cheer her on.
Her set will feature her band, with Truax on acoustic guitar, and will blend 1950s and 1960s pop, rockabilly and her own indie retro-inspired material.
The goal is straightforward.
“Our goal always is just to entertain and have fun,” she said. “The boys that I’m travelling with in my band, we’re all best friends. So we just hope that every time we’re on stage, you can tell how much fun we’re having up there with each other.”
One Last Night at Del Crary Park
There will be plenty happening before the music starts.
Food vendors will be open, with happy hour deals available early in the evening, while the Peterborough Musicfest merchandise booth will offer end-of-season deals on select items.
The 50-50 draw will also return for its final night. Musicfest has already sold more than $110,000 worth of tickets this summer, resulting in more than $55,000 in prize money.
Tickets can be purchased online from anywhere in Ontario through Musicfest’s 50-50 website, with the final jackpot set to be drawn Wednesday night.
For Melito and the Musicfest team, reaching the final show is a little hard to believe after spending an entire year preparing for the season.
“At the beginning of the season, you’re like, wow, there are 16 shows to put on here at the park,” she said. “And then all of a sudden you look at the calendar and you’re like, it’s the last week. How did that happen?”
There is plenty of pride in what has been accomplished, along with the inevitable bittersweet feeling that comes with bringing another season to an end.
“It’s a lot of work, a lot of fundraising, a lot of feet on the ground,” Melito said. “And then we’re here in the last week and it’s like we have to say goodbye to everyone until next season. So bittersweet, but we’re really looking forward to a fantastic season finale.”
That finale gets underway Wednesday at 6:30pm with Jeannie Truax, followed by The Dreamboats at 8pm.
After a summer of big-name performers, packed nights and plenty of reasons to make the trip to Del Crary Park, Musicfest has one more night to bring Peterborough together on the shores of Little Lake.
Want to enjoy the final Musicfest concert of the summer from some of the best seats in the park? We're giving away a pair of VIP tickets. The winner will receive two reserved seats in the VIP section directly in front of the stage. Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for contest details and your chance to win.
Gerry DiCunzolo Leaving Petes for Upcoming Season to Join U.S. National Team Development Program
/By Scott Arnold
Gerry DiCunzolo will spend the upcoming season developing with the United States National Team Development Program, but the Peterborough Petes still have his OHL rights and expect him back.
Gerry DiCunzolo will spend the 2026-27 season with the United States National Team Development Program after recording four goals and five assists in 39 games with the Peterborough Petes last season. (Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes)
The Petes announced that the 17-year-old forward will join the NTDP for the 2026-27 season after playing 39 games with Peterborough last season.
DiCunzolo was selected by the Petes in the third round, 61st overall, in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection. He recorded four goals and five assists during his first season with the Petes and was the recipient of the team’s Ed Redmond Memorial Trophy, while also being named an OHL East Academic Player of the Month.
The Buffalo, N.Y., native will now get the opportunity to continue his development with the NTDP, while the Petes retain his OHL rights. DiCunzolo will rejoin Peterborough prior to the 2027-28 season.
DiCunzolo has already gained considerable experience with Team USA. Most recently, he represented the Americans at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, recording one goal and five assists in five games as Team USA reached the championship game for the second consecutive year.
He also represented the U.S. at the 2025 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament, where he led the team in goals with five and tied for the team lead in points with eight.
Before joining the Petes, DiCunzolo had a highly productive 2024-25 season with Shattuck St. Mary’s 15U team, recording 147 points on 57 goals and 90 assists in 62 games.
The left-handed shot is committed to Penn State University and has also attended USA Hockey’s Select 15 and 16 player development camps and competed in two USA Hockey Youth Nationals tournaments.
While DiCunzolo will be away from Peterborough for the 2026-27 season, the Petes will retain his OHL rights and hope to have him back for the 2027-28 season.
Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc
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First Flight Ever to Nassau, Bahamas For BST Vacations Headlines 2027 Lineup of Travel Destinations
/Including a first-ever flight to Nassau, Bahamas in the lineup, BST Vacations (Blowes & Stewart Travel Group Ltd.) has released its 2027 Peterborough Charter Collection of flights from Peterborough Airport.
File Photo.
“This is an exciting next step for our Peterborough program,” said Scott Stewart, BST Vacations president. “For years, our clients have embraced the convenience of starting their vacation right here at home. We listen closely to where they want to travel, and we continue to look for opportunities to broaden our charter program with spectacular international destinations. Nassau brings an entirely new Caribbean experience to the program, while destinations like St. Pierre & Miquelon allow us to offer something truly unique that travellers might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience.”
The following is the 2027 travel schedule:
Nassau, Bahamas | April 21 to 25, 2027
St. Pierre & Miquelon | June 17 to 20, 2027
Charlottetown, P.E.I. | June 25 to 28, 2027
St. John’s, Newfoundland | July 29 to Aug. 1, 2027
The Majesty of the St. Lawrence aboard Holland America Line’s Volendam | Sept. 1–11, 2027
Nashville, Tennessee | Sept. 16 to 19, 2027
“At the same time, we want to keep introducing destinations that surprise and inspire our travellers,” said Steart. The 2027 collection gives them everything from the Caribbean to a little piece of France, all beginning at Peterborough Airport.”
Locally sourced food and drink are included on all outbound flights. A continental breakfast is prepared fresh the morning of departure. Spirits and beer are sourced from local distilleries and craft brewers.
On return flights, adult beverages are available for a $5 donation, with all proceeds supporting local causes. Over the past three years, this initiative has raised funds for Hospice Peterborough.
All trips include:
Round-trip charter flights from Peterborough Airport
Included parking at the airport
Fast, hassle-free check-in
In-flight meals and beverages
Hotel accommodations and airport transfers in destination
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Brealey Drive Closed This Wednesday to Friday For Watermain Network Work
/Brealey Drive is closed between Forster Avenue and Stenson Boulevard from Wednesday until Friday for watermain network work.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
Detour routes will be in place via Lansdowne Street, Spillsbury Drive and Sir Sanford Fleming Drive for through traffic.
Access to Stenson Boulevard and Forster Avenue from Brealey Drive will be maintained during the Brealey Drive section closure.
The full closure of Brealey Drive is necessary to install a Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) chamber on the watermain network. The PRV chamber will support upcoming watermain work at Lansdowne Street West and Spillsbury Drive/Kawartha Heights Boulevard. A crane will be used to safely place the valve, and further updates on the related watermain work along Lansdowne Street West and Spillsbury Drive/Kawartha Heights Boulevard will be provided shortly.
The City is coordinating the road closure and construction activities to minimize impacts on residents and road users.
Water service in the area will not be affected by this work.
The transit route that operates on Brealey between Lansdowne and Stenson will be on detour from Aug. 19 to 21:
#9 Parkhill East: Fleming to Dobbin to Lansdowne to Brealey
#9 Parkhill West: Brealey to Lansdowne to Dobbin to Fleming
Service notices will also be posted at the stops affected by the detour.
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Lakefield Man Arrested After Shoplifting and Attempting to Flee On a Bicycle
/A 34-year-old Lakefield man is facing a shoplifting charge after an incident on Friday morning.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
At roughly 11:45 a.m., officers with Community F.I.R.S.T. were called about a theft in progress at a store in the Park Street and Lansdowne Street area. They learned that the man had left the store on a bicycle. Officers spotted a man matching the description given to police heading northbound on Park Street. The man continued riding his bicycle on the trail and ended up in a parking lot at Monaghan Road and Lansdowne Street. At that time, the officer drew their Conducted Energy Weapon and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
The man was arrested and charged with:
Theft under $5,000
The accused was released on an undertaking with conditions and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 3.
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International Debut a Success as Peterborough's Audrey Martone Makes Her Mark With Canada
/By Scott Arnold
Peterborough’s Audrey Martone made her first experience wearing the Maple Leaf a memorable one, recording four assists in three games as Canada finished its U18 series against the United States with two wins.
Peterborough’s Audrey Martone made her international debut with Canada’s U18 team, recording four assists in three games against the United States (photo via instagram @hockeycanada)
Martone and Canada opened the 2026 National Women’s U18 Team Series with a 5-2 victory over the United States on Wednesday, August 12th, before following it up with another convincing win, 5-1, on Thursday, August 13th.
The United States answered in the series finale on Saturday, August 15th, edging Canada 5-4 to make it a 2-1 series finish in Canada’s favour.
For Martone, the results were only part of an impressive first international experience.
The Peterborough native recorded two assists in the opening game, added another assist in Canada’s second victory and picked up one more in the final game, finishing the three-game series with four points.
Peterborough’s Audrey Martone, third from the left in the back row, was part of Canada’s U18 team that won two of three games against the United States in the 2026 National Women’s U18 Team Series (photo via facebook @hockeyCanada)
