Peterborough Man Faces 49 Charges Including Theft Over Multiple Businesses

Mitchell Mackenzie, a 31-year-old Peterborough man, is in custody on 49 separate charges, including theft related to incidents involving local businesses over the past 11 days.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police Service.

Officers were notified of a theft in progress from a local business on Friday. Officers from the Community F.I.R.S.T unit attended the area and located a man matching the description. They also recognized the man as wanted on warrants.  After initially resisting arrest, the man was taken into custody.

Mackenzie was arrested and charged with:

• Fail to comply with probation x6

• Theft under $5,000 x3

• Resist peace officer

He was also arrested on the strength of the warrants for:

• Robbery with theft

• Fail to comply with probation x26

• Theft under $5,000 x12

The thefts related to the above charges involve $7,445.77 in merchandise lost from local businesses.

The accused in these matters has 42 previous criminal convictions in the Peterborough Police Service jurisdiction, including:

• Assault x2

• Uttering threats x2

• Possession of a schedule I x2

• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

• Operation while impaired

• Assault with a weapon

• Theft of motor vehicle

• Failing to comply with probation x11

The Peterborough Police Service recognizes the impact these offences have on our local community, and has identified this individual as being in the public interest.

The accused was held in custody and appeared in court on Friday.

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A Dangerous Game of Power, Desire and Mystery Is Coming to Peterborough

By Scott Arnold

There are some theatre productions you watch, applaud and leave behind. Then there are productions that follow you out the door, into the car and home with you, refusing to let go. Lisa Dixon is counting on Venus in Fur being the latter.

Lisa Dixon is bringing her vision for David Ives’ Venus in Fur to the Peterborough Theatre Guild stage, promising audiences a production filled with mystery, tension and unexpected turns when it opens September 18th. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

On September 18th, the lights will come up at the Peterborough Theatre Guild on Rogers Street, and two actors will take the stage for a 90-minute performance that director Lisa Dixon describes as “a train wreck of a production.”

And she means that in the best possible way.

“You just don't see it coming,” Dixon says.

Based on David Ives’ acclaimed play, Venus in Fur begins simply enough. An actress arrives unexpectedly to audition for a director working on a new adaptation of a classic novel. But as the audition and rehearsal unfold, the lines between actor and character begin to blur, and the balance of power between the two shifts in increasingly unexpected ways.

It is part psychological thriller, part dark comedy and part theatrical puzzle. It is also, according to Dixon, “so hot, so sexy,” while carrying an unmistakable sense of danger.

And she is determined not to give too much away.

“I can't say about 90% of it,” she says.

That is not a complaint. It is part of the fun.

With only two performers carrying the entire production, every glance, every movement and every exchange matters. Carissa Kaye and John Austin were exactly the pair Dixon was looking for, and their chemistry was apparent almost immediately.

“When they auditioned, it was a no-brainer,” she says.

Dixon put the two together to see whether they would work as a pair.

“Bam. It was electrifying.”

That chemistry has only intensified through rehearsals.

The production involves intimacy, physical danger and moments that demand a tremendous amount of trust between the performers. A knife and a gun are part of the production, while intimacy and fight direction is being handled by Mercedes Davy of The Gentle Blade Fight/Intimacy Direction.

Rather than shying away from the vulnerability the material demands, Dixon says Kaye and Austin have embraced it.

“They come ready. They're really hungry.”

That has made the director's job considerably easier.

“I am in really good shape,” she says with a laugh.

But while there may be only two people on stage, Venus in Fur is anything but a two-person effort.

Behind those performers is a creative team bringing Dixon's vision to life, including producer Kym Hyde, stage manager Marilyn Robinson, assistant stage manager Taya McKeen, sound designer and composer Beau Dixon, set designer Erin Brownson, costume designer Jayne Martin, hair and makeup designer Shelley Moody, and lighting designer Don White.

The result is a production that Dixon says has already become electrifying, even with weeks of rehearsal still ahead.

And then there is the set.

It is not supposed to be beautiful.

It is supposed to be unsettling.

The action takes place in a dark, dingy basement, reflecting the world of the play and the psychological atmosphere Dixon wants to create.

“It's gross,” she says. “It's a basement.”

Lighting and sound will add another layer to that atmosphere, with thunder, lightning, darkness and sudden changes in light helping create what Dixon describes as a psychological-thriller feeling.

Much of that work is being done by people Dixon knows extremely well.

Her brother, Beau Dixon, is the production's sound designer and composer, continuing a creative partnership that goes back much further than this particular production.

In fact, theatre has been part of the Dixon family for as long as Lisa can remember.

She recalls being children and putting makeup on her brothers, dressing them in hats and dresses and reenacting musicals and plays.

“We were doing theatre since we could walk, since we could sing and talk.”

Working with Beau professionally now is a continuation of that lifelong collaboration.

“He is a professional,” Dixon says. “He gets it.”

What she particularly appreciates is the balance between his expertise and her vision. He brings his professional experience to the process while respecting what she wants the audience to see, hear and feel.

That collaborative spirit extends throughout the production.

Dixon says directing means having a vision and ultimately having the final say, but it also means being willing to listen, experiment and give people an opportunity.

One example is set designer Erin Brownson, who is just 23 years old and lives in Toronto. Dixon has known her since she was born and knew she had experience designing sets through theatre school.

So Dixon gave her a chance.

The result, she says, is an amazing set.

Brownson's father is also the head builder, bringing his own expertise to turning the design into reality.

That combination of experience, new ideas and trust is something Dixon believes is essential to community theatre.

“You have to be very careful and you have to be very open to new ideas,” she says.

Sometimes there are disagreements. Sometimes people have to pivot. But ultimately, she says, the goal is the same.

“It is always the creative process and the drive to make it right despite anything else.”

That spirit is one of the reasons Dixon believes Peterborough's arts community punches so far above its weight.

She points to organizations and venues including Fourth Line Theatre, Public Energy, Peterborough New Dance, the Peterborough Theatre Guild, Black Box Theatre and Theatre on King.

There is a richness of storytelling here, she says, and perhaps something in the water that makes people want to create.

Dixon knows that firsthand.

A chef by trade, she moved to Peterborough to open Black Honey and says she was immediately impressed by the city's food scene and the number of independent restaurant owners creating something of their own.

She sees that same spirit in the arts.

“Everyone's so rich with concept of storytelling and then making it come to life, which is the hard part.”

Having an idea is one thing.

Making it happen is another.

Making it good enough that people will pay to experience it is something else entirely.

And for Dixon, that final step is what makes live theatre so special.

“You can do that if you live in another city, but while you're in Peterborough, go see the arts.”

For her, Venus in Fur is another chance to do exactly that.

Dixon first encountered the play when Bea Quarrie presented it as a stage read at the Theatre Guild last year. The Guild stages five reads a year, giving actors, directors and audiences a chance to experience material that may be different from the organization's usual productions and see how it works.

The reading stayed with Dixon.

She had directed 291 at the Theatre Guild the previous year and wanted to take on something different.

But she wondered whether Venus in Fur might be too provocative for a Peterborough audience.

She was wrong.

“I thought the Theatre Guild would say, it's a little too spicy for the Peterborough crowd,” she says.

Instead, they gave her the opportunity.

“This is going to blow you away,” Dixon says.

And she is clearly thrilled to be the one bringing it to the stage.

There is still work to do before opening night. Rehearsals have been underway for about three months, generally twice a week, with everyone involved balancing the production with their other jobs and commitments.

But Dixon has resisted adding a third rehearsal each week.

Her actors are simply that prepared.

Now she is looking ahead to September 18th and the moment when months of work become something shared with an audience.

She compares it to preparing a meal for a large group. As a chef, she knows that the final product may have one person's name attached to it, but it takes many people to make it happen.

The same is true here.

“It’s so many other people involved.”

And she is looking forward to the feeling that comes just before the curtain rises, when everyone involved knows there is no turning back.

“That gut feeling,” she says. “You kind of feel scared and it's fluttery.”

Then comes the audience.

Dixon does not simply want people to enjoy the show. She wants it to get inside their heads.

She wants the laughter.

She wants the horror.

She wants the shock.

And, most importantly, she wants the questions that come afterward.

“I'm so looking forward to people getting up when the show is done and thinking what's going on in their heads,” she says.

Because Venus in Fur is designed to linger.

“Two or three days later, you'll get people saying, ‘Wow, I can't stop thinking about it.’”

That, to Dixon, is theatre at its most powerful.

The play may be built around two people locked in a struggle for power, but she believes its themes reach far beyond the stage.

“It's a classical story about two people in a power struggle and we're always facing that.”

She hopes audiences will recognize something of themselves in it, perhaps finding a situation in their own lives that makes them think, question or confront something they have yet to come to terms with.

And then, somehow, come away from it with a sense of joy.

That is a lot to ask from 90 minutes of theatre.

But Dixon clearly believes Venus in Fur can deliver.

She has the actors. She has the creative team. She has the vision. And she has a play that she is deliberately keeping just mysterious enough to make audiences wonder what, exactly, they are walking into.

One thing is certain: whatever happens when Carissa Kaye and John Austin step onto that stage, Dixon does not want to tell you everything beforehand.

She wants you to experience it.

She wants you to be surprised.

And she wants you to still be talking about it after the lights come up.

If Dixon gets her wish, however, the real payoff will come long after the tickets are scanned, the applause fades and audiences head for home.

They will still be thinking about what they just saw.

And perhaps wondering what, exactly, happened in that basement.

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

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Ontario Government Invests $8.1 Million to Support Peterborough Hospital Operations

The Ontario Government has invested $8,193,000 to improve operations and reduce wait times at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), announced on Friday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

This funding is part of a $1.1 billion investment in Ontario's hospital sector in Budget 2026, A Plan to Protect Ontario, representing a four per cent increase in annual support for the fourth consecutive year according to Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP.

“This investment is a major win for families in Peterborough—Kawartha,” he said. “By strengthening core clinical services at PRHC, we are ensuring our local hospital has the reliable funding needed to shorten wait times, expand diagnostic imaging, and deliver high-quality care closer to home.”

Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC president and CEO, said that this investment will support the operations of PRHC’s core clinical services to better meet growing patient needs. She added that the funding will help maintain 24/7 emergency department operations, cushion inflationary and wage pressures and shorten wait times for surgical and diagnostic procedures—including MRI, CT, cardiac, stroke, neuroservices, orthopedics and cataract surgeries.

“Over the last several years, Peterborough Regional Health Centre has been strategically investing into the care we provide and how we provide it,” she said. “Provincial investments like this one are critical to furthering ongoing work in priority areas at PRHC, including the continued growth and expansion of our leading-edge data and analytics program and establishing a command centre to support real-time decision-making and improve access to care across the hospital.”

Over the next 10 years, the provincial government plans to invest approximately $64 billion in major health infrastructure as part of its plan to build more than 50 major hospital projects across the province, adding approximately 3,000 new hospital beds.

“We remain deeply committed to achieving the ambitious goals we have set out for ourselves, and to ensuring we continue to provide the best possible care and service to the 600,000 people we serve across this region,” said Mikula.

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Peterborough Police Seeking Missing Local 40-Year-Old Woman

The Peterborough Police Service is asking the public for help locating Sara, a 40-year-old Peterborough woman reported missing on Saturday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

Family members reported her missing after becoming concerned for her well-being and being unable to contact her. She was last believed to be travelling toward the Orillia area and may also have connections to Barrie.  

Sara does not have access to a vehicle and may be travelling on foot or relying on others for transportation. Her current whereabouts are unknown.

Sara is described as:

• White

• 40 years old

• 5’4”

• Thin build

• Long, straight brown hair

• Hazel eyes

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x274.

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Reconstruction Project to Cause Lane Closure On Kawartha Heights Boulevard Extended to Sept. 14

The northbound lane of Kawartha Heights Boulevard, between Lansdowne Street West and Applewood Crescent, is closed until Sept. 14, delaying the reopening by a week as part of the Lansdowne Street West Reconstruction project. 

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Construction was originally expected to continue until Sept. 7.

Turn restrictions will be in place at Lansdowne Street West, Spillsbury Drive and Kawartha Heights Boulevard. Northbound traffic on Kawartha Heights Boulevard should follow posted detour routes and allow extra time when travelling through the area. 

The sidewalk on the east side of Kawartha Heights Boulevard will also be closed within the work area. Pedestrians are asked to use the west sidewalk. 

The following Peterborough Transit detour routes will be in effect during the lane closure:

• #6 Sherbrooke East and West will not be running on Kawartha Heights Boulevard and Spillsbury Drive between Applewood Crescent and Forster Avenue.  

• #6 East Detour: Spillsbury Drive to Forster Avenue to Brealey Drive to Cherryhill Road to Kawartha Heights Boulevard

• #6 West Detour: Kawartha Heights Boulevard to Cherryhill Road to Brealey Drive to Forster Avenue to Spillsbury Drive  

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Fashion, Fun and Fundraising at Couture for Kids in Lindsay

By Scott Arnold

A night of local fashion, prizes and community spirit is coming to Lindsay in support of children and youth across the region.

Local fashion will take centre stage at the 3rd Annual Couture for Kids Fashion Show Fundraiser in Lindsay on October 1st, with proceeds supporting services for local children and youth (photo via instagram @5countieskids)

The 3rd Annual Couture for Kids Fashion Show Fundraiser takes place Thursday, October 1st at Celebrations in Lindsay, with proceeds supporting Five Counties Children’s Centre.

The evening will feature fashions from local retailers, along with raffle prizes, light snacks and a cash bar.

Participating retailers include Brittany & Bros, Bonita Clothing & Co., Cathy Allan Ladieswear, John G’s, Home Threads Boutique, Nisbetts Clothiers and The Lingerie Loft Lindsay.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or at participating stores.

Money raised will support treatment services for children and youth in Kawartha Lakes, helping reduce wait times for essential services and therapies.

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

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Sunday's Game Now a Must-Win for Lakers After Falling to Chiefs in Game 5 of MSL Final

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers dropped an 11-5 decision to the Six Nations Chiefs Thursday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, putting the Chiefs one win away from claiming the MSL championship.

The Lakers will look to even the MSL final when they return home for Game 6 on Sunday night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, with the Six Nations Chiefs holding a 3-2 series lead (photo courtesy of peterborough lakers via david pickering)

The Chiefs took control early, scoring four times in the opening period while keeping the Lakers off the scoreboard. Lyle Thompson scored twice, with Chris Cloutier and Dhane Smith also finding the net as Six Nations took a 4-0 lead into the second.

The Chiefs added four more goals in the second period before the Lakers got on the board, with Cloutier scoring his second of the night just 42 seconds in, Thompson completing his hat trick on a shorthanded goal and Andrew Kew scoring his first of the game. Dhane Smith then added his second of the night later in the period to give Six Nations an 8-0 lead.

The Lakers finally broke through with 7:43 left in the second when Ryan Lanchbury scored to get Peterborough on the board. Braedon Saris followed with a power-play goal, and Brad McCulley made it three straight for the Lakers to cut the deficit to four.

Dhane Smith stopped the Peterborough run before Rob Hellyer scored with 2:29 left in the period, sending the Chiefs into the third with an 8-4 lead.

Lanchbury scored his second of the night early in the third to pull the Lakers within three, but Chris Cloutier completed his hat trick to restore the Chiefs’ four-goal cushion. Ian MacKay then scored his first of the night before Andrew Kew added his second of the game to make it 11-5.

Lanchbury led the Lakers with two goals and an assist, while Hellyer, Saris and McCulley each scored once. Justin Sykes, Frank Coyle and Colton Armitage each recorded an assist.

Thompson finished with three goals and two assists for Six Nations, and Cloutier had three goals and an assist. Kew had two goals and three assists, Dhane Smith added two goals and an assist, and Ryan Smith had three assists. MacKay finished with a goal and an assist, while Matt Hossack, Brendan Bomberry and Cody Jamieson each had an assist.

Drew Hutchison played all 60 minutes in net for Peterborough, while Doug Jamieson earned the win for Six Nations.

The Chiefs now lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. Game 6 is 7pm Sunday night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, with the Lakers needing a win to force a seventh and deciding game. Tickets for that game went on sale Thursday morning.

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

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City Council Approves Riverview Park and Zoo's Change of Authority Animal Care

Peterborough City Council supports delegating authority to the Commissioner of Community Services and their delegates for animal care and welfare support operations at the Riverview Park and Zoo (RPZ) during its meeting on Monday.

The RPZ is a longstanding member of CAZA. CAZA is an organization founded in 1975 that is dedicated to setting and upholding the highest standards in animal welfare, veterinary care, ethical conservation, and scientific research. CAZA represents over 30 leading zoological parks, aquariums, museums, and science centres across Canada. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The approval is within the City Council-approved budget to maintain compliance with Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) governance requirements.

According to the City, operational decisions affecting animal care and welfare at the RPZ, including animal collection, veterinary care, animal transfers, enrichment, emergency response, and other daily management decisions (Animal Care Decisions), must be made by the institution's qualified animal care professionals to meet the regulatory requirements and standards under the CAZA accreditation program.

CAZA accreditation demonstrates that a zoo meets recognized Canadian standards for animal welfare, professional operations, conservation, education, safety and governance. It provides independent assurance that the facility is accountable to established professional standards and supports responsible animal stewardship, public safety, and conservation-focused operations. Accreditation also strengthens credibility with visitors, municipal partners, funders and other institutions. This is while enabling participation in collaborative conservation, research, and animal management programs.

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Real Estate Company Engel & Völkers Expands Into Peterborough and the Kawarthas

Real Estate Company Engel & Völkers opened its Kawarthas Port Credit branch in Peterborough, led by licensed partners Traci Tempany and Keith Monahan.

Photo courtesy of Engel & Völkers.

“Peterborough and the Kawarthas represent an exceptional opportunity to expand the brand’s presence in one of Canada's most distinctive lifestyle markets," said Stuart Siegel, president and CEO, Engel & Völkers Americas. “Traci and Keith have built an outstanding reputation for serving luxury clients with professionalism, market expertise, and innovative marketing. Their commitment to delivering an elevated client experience makes them an outstanding addition to the Engel & Völkers network.”

The branch is located at 445 George St. N. in Peterborough and serves clients throughout Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

Tempany and Monahan have been business partners for over 20 years with experience in fine homes, waterfront estates, acreage, investment properties and new developments.

“With today's competitive real estate landscape, combining our deep local knowledge with Engel & Völkers' global marketing platform allows us to deliver a truly differentiated experience,” said Tempany. “We're excited to connect buyers and sellers in the Kawarthas with one of the world's most recognized and respected luxury real estate brands.”

“Engel & Völkers provides the international reach and elevated marketing platform that today's luxury clients expect,” added Monahan. "This affiliation enables us to showcase the unique lifestyle and exceptional properties found throughout Peterborough and the Kawarthas to buyers both across Canada and around the world.”

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Marentette’s Mission Donates $500 to United Way's Backpacks for Success Campaign

By Scott Arnold

A $500 donation from Marentette’s Mission will help provide school supplies to local students through United Way Peterborough & District’s Backpacks for Success campaign.

Defenceman Thanasi Marentette with the gary dalliday award for community service, presented to him at last year’s peterborough petes year-end banquet and awards ceremony (photo by Scott arnold)

The donation was made possible through the OHL Overtime Heroes Program and the ongoing support of the Peterborough Petes.

Backpacks For Success provides grade-appropriate school supplies to financially vulnerable students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 in the Peterborough area. Local schools within the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board distribute the supplies to students and new Canadians.

Since the local program began in 2003, more than 12,886 backpacks filled with school supplies have been provided to local youth.

According to United Way Peterborough & District, 2,895 children and youth aged 17 and younger in the community live in poverty, while one in 10 households in the City and County of Peterborough has an annual income below $20,000.

The donation from Marentette’s Mission will help the Backpacks For Success campaign continue putting essential school supplies into the hands of local students who need them.

Marentette’s Mission was created to provide essential resources to individuals and families in the Peterborough community. Founded by Petes Defenceman Thanasi Marentette and inspired by his experiences in competitive hockey and the values he learned through sport, the donation-driven initiative focuses on supporting people who need it most.

For information on how you can get involved or help with Marentette’s Mission, email MarentettesMission@hotmail.com.

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

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