The Peterborough Examiner
United Way wraps up with a 'massive success'
“Giving is an act we're all capable of on some level, if not monetarily than by the selfless provision of our time, talent and spirit.” No truer words can be spoken to sum up the last year for United Way Peterborough District's campaign chair Paul...
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Developer prepares to break ground on East City building
A developer hopes to break ground late this summer on a 17storey apartment building outside Mark Street United Church, over the continued objections of neighbours who have said the building will be far too tall. “To me, it's an abomination, this...
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Kawartha Lakes council opposes Alto rail plan in current form
Kawartha Lakes council supports progress but sometimes the cost is too high. “This is something that is not great for our community,” said Deputy Mayor and Ward 8 Coun. Tracy Richardson during Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting regarding a...
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`Peterborough is a better city because of people like Brian'
Brian Christoph, a longtime union leader who devoted himself in recent years to helping Peterborough's unhoused and marginalized residents, has died. He was 71. Michelle Bates, a close friend, was at Christoph's side along with another friend when he...
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Murder trial gets another delay
The jury in the murder trial of Jesse Rowe will not return until April 13, marking another delay as legal arguments continue before Justice Bhavneet K. Bhangu. Jurors were previously told to return Tuesday, but that date was pushed back ahead of the...
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Rally not enough to save Petes season
It was a heartbreaking way for the Peterborough Petes season to end Saturday night. After rallying from a 31 thirdperiod deficit to lead 43, the Petes were 5.4 seconds away from forcing Game 7 in their Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference...
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`Best version' of Petes on brink of elimination
It was by far the Peterborough Petes' best game of the series. Yet their season will be on the line in Game 6 of their Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference quarterfinal on Saturday night. North Bay Battalion goalie Jack Lisson's 44 saves stole...
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MP says Alto station is not about to be nixed
Peterborough MP Emma Harrison said she has never advocated for the federal government's Alto highspeed passenger rail project to set up a station in Kingston, rather than in Peterborough. “Peterborough's stop is earmarked for Peterborough,” Harrison...
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Conservatives want train project cancelled: Poilievre
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Tuesday on a farm east of Peterborough that Conservatives oppose the proposed Alto highspeed rail project, calling it a “$90billion boondoggle.” Poilievre was at Indian River Cattle Company on...
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Two people arrested following vandalism at safe consumption site
A man and a woman were arrested after graffiti was spraypainted on the exterior of the Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) building at Simcoe and Aylmer streets in downtown Peterborough on Friday night, said Peterborough police. The former...
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Peterborough residents show up to `Fight Ford'
A large crowd turned out to “Fight Ford” in Peterborough on the weekend. Demonstrators gathered outside MPP Dave Smith's constituency office on Chemong Road Saturday. Many held signs and chanted to voice opposition to several policies introduced by...
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ACTION HEATING UP
Peterborough Petes goalie Easton Rye watches the puck deflect off his pads and into the net during Game 1 against the North Bay Battalion on Thursday night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. After an opening game 10 loss, Peterborough was back in...
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Board chair wants to preserve trustee voice
Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board chair Kevin MacKenzie is encouraging local trustees — and those across the province — to remain focused, engaged, and prepared to advocate as the province plays fast and...
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Coffee shop pays tribute to copilot killed in crash
The favourite Peterborough coffee roastery of the late pilot Mackenzie Gunther was bustling on Wednesday as people streamed in to enjoy Gunther's favourite brew — on the house. Rapids End Coffee Roastery is in a plaza on Rye Street. Owner Daniel Biro...
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Killed pilot was grad of local flight school
The manager of Peterborough's airport — home to the Seneca College flight school that trained Air Canada pilot Mackenzie Gunther — says he feels for all the aviation students reeling from the news of Sunday's horrific crash at New York's LaGuardia...
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`A real difference in the lives of local kids'
Volunteers and local hosts took to the air on Sunday during the 54th annual Easter Seals Telethon. The telethon was broadcast live on YourTV and Global Peterborough in support of Easter Seals Ontario, to raise funds for children and youth with...
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Clinic aims to address doctor shortage
The Connect Clinic aims to address a local doctor shortage the Peterborough Family Health Team calls a crisis. New funding has allowed for expanded services at two clinics formerly called the PFHT Health Clinic — rebranded this week as the Connect...
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Golden Thurston receives hero's welcome at Petes game
Jon Thurston is basking in the glory of a Paralympic gold medal, knowing how difficult it is to win the big one. The viceskip of Canada's wheelchair curling team, a Dunsford native and Peterborough Curling Club member, got a hero's welcome Thursday...
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`Discussion needs to be open and free,' Smith says of FOI
PeterboroughKawartha MPP Dave Smith doesn't buy the argument that proposed changes to Ontario's Freedom of Information laws undermine government transparency or accountability. The changes include the exclusion of communications between Premier Doug...
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One City's outreach program to end in May
One City Peterborough announced Wednesday it will be ending its outreach program in midMay and cited shifts in funding for the reason behind the decision. “As the needs at the Trinity hub continue to grow, we have made the difficult decision to focus...
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Health leaders decry Ford's defunding of CTS sites
The Ford government's decision to defund seven consumption and treatment services (CTS) sites within 90 days is raising concerns among provincial healthcare advocates, while being defended locally by PeterboroughKawartha MPP Dave Smith. “Our focus...
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Stabbing victim begins testimony at Peterborough murder trial
Jurors in the murder trial of Jesse Rowe heard testimony Monday from the man who survived the stabbing that killed Cynara Lewis inside a downtown Peterborough apartment. Daycota Csiszar, 33, testified in the Superior Court of Justice before Justice...
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`Crazy Canucks' big hit on Austrian ski hill
A nod to the “Crazy Canucks” turned Peterborough's Bill Lett and three friends into celebrities and media darlings for three days in Austria. Lett, owner of Unity Design Studio, and three friends from Blue Mountain Ski Resort in Collingwood fulfilled...
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City paid more than $280K to group for four hires
The City of Peterborough paid $282,676 to Torontobased executive recruitment firm Phelps Group between March 2023 and January 2025, documents show. The records were obtained by The Examiner through a freedom of information request and relate to...
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Rellinger back on the roof to help United Way hit goal
Hearkening back to days gone by, Paul Rellinger headed to the roof in a lastditch effort to raise money for the local United Way. Rellinger, the current United Way Peterborough and District campaign chair, decided to relive his “Relly on the Roof”...
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Students walk out of class to protest cuts to OSAP
Peterborough high school students joined those across the province Wednesday in walking out of class to protest the Doug Ford government’s changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). At the corner of Parkhill and Armour roads at Nichols...
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City moves forward with onstreet parking pilot
A pilot program allowing onstreet parking in specific areas of Peterborough will go ahead, but will not include a neighbourhood located in the city's northwest end as originally proposed by city staff. Coun. Andrew Beamer, who represents Northcrest...
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Students alarmed by shooting on George Street
Students living near the corner of George Street North and Parkhill Road say they are shaken after a person was shot inside a nearby apartment Sunday afternoon and airlifted to a Toronto hospital. Peterborough police say officers were called to a...
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Palestinian student hoping to attend Trent still in Gaza
While the Canadian government and the department of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) are promising faster timelines and processing for graduate students, a Palestinian student accepted to a graduate program at Trent University...
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Police board paid $73,000 to recruit Chief Stu Betts
The Peterborough Police Services Board paid $73,030 to Torontobased executive search firm Phelps Group to recruit and hire police Chief Stu Betts, according to documents obtained by The Examiner through freedom of information. The Examiner originally...
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Trent University students rally against OSAP changes
Trent University students voiced their concerns with Premier Doug Ford's changes to Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) funding as they rallied outside of PeterboroughKawartha MPP Dave Smith's office Wednesday. OSAP's current structure consists...
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`Visibility is so important' for Easter Seals campaign
Zoe Gibbons was a guest of honour at a news conference at Lansdowne Place on Wednesday — and she arrived with a big smile. The sevenyearold lives in Ajax with her family. She is the Easter Seals ambassador for PeterboroughDurham this year. On...
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Mayor Leal refutes suggestion Alto should bypass city
Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal is taking exception to the opinion of one Torontobased transportation expert, Stephen Wickens, after Wickens expressed his doubts about whether Peterborough is a suitable stop along the proposed Alto highspeed rail...
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SGS expands workforce to meet growing mining needs
A Lakefield company celebrating its 85th anniversary is expanding its workforce to meet the demand of what it calls Canada's 21st century gold rush. Founded in 1941, the SGS Metallurgical Centre of Excellence (formerly Lakefield Research) has long...
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Province grants $1.3M for water upgrades in Lakefield
The province of Ontario is investing more than $1.3 million in the Township of Selwyn, which will support water infrastructure rehabilitation in the Village of Lakefield. The funding will be put toward the George Street water main and trunk sewer and...
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Onstreet parking program pondered
Peterborough will roll out an onstreet parking pilot program as early as the end of March if councillors approve recommendations in a staff report on Monday's general committee agenda. “The need for an onstreet parking permit program has been...
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Council set to approve more than $225k in community grants
Peterborough city council will be asked to approve more than $225,000 in grants to community groups and organizations during an upcoming general committee meeting Monday. A staff report recommends council approve $20,965 in Community Project Grants to...
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Board calls for consultation over possible trustee cuts
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board trustees have joined thousands of other voices calling for provincewide consultations in relation to the potential elimination of English public school board trustees. A motion brought forward by trustee Cathy...
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MPP Smith talks funding with city councillors
PeterboroughKawartha MPP Dave Smith appeared before Peterborough city council at a meeting Monday night to talk about funding. But Smith — who is the parliamentary assistant to finance minister Peter Bethlenfalvy — said details about the forthcoming...
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Performers step into spotlight at Peterborough's Got Talent
Rayelle Ellis and Rory O'Neil have been crowned the winners of this year's Peterborough's Got Talent contest. Ellis and O'Neill won the coveted titles in the over 18 and under 18 categories respectively. They competed with 12 other contestants, seven...
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Sport system under strain showed in Milan Cortina
Canada losing ground to other countries in the 2026 Olympic Games is a symptom of a sport system under strain, said a Canadian Olympic Committee leader Sunday. Canada finished outside the top five countries in the medal table at the Milan Cortina...
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Ontario pouring in $8.7M for water infrastructure
Ontario is investing nearly $8.7 million in water infrastructure in the City of Peterborough. The funding announcement was made Friday by PeterboroughKawartha MPP Dave Smith, who was joined by Mayor Jeff Leal, who noted that the funding will support...
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Chief Betts welcomes provincial inspection of police services
Peterborough police Chief Stu Betts urged the police services board this week “to feel confident, as a board” that Peterborough police can stand up to scrutiny from a forthcoming Ontariowide inspection of police services. “Audit processes are...
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Riel still asking for apology from chief
City Coun. Keith Riel is still holding out for an apology from Peterborough police Chief Stu Betts for alleging, in a January letter sent to all city councillors and some staff, that Riel holds an “antipolice bias.” Riel told The Examiner in an...
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Remembering the missing and murdered
Residents were invited to remember missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, trans and twospirited people at the Strawberry Ceremony on Saturday. The Feb. 14 ceremony was held outside the Peterborough Police Station on the west side of the...
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Highly Likely festival makes its return to Peterborough
After a successful first year, the Highly Likely Festival of Music and Literature is returning to Peterborough's Take Cover Books (59 Hunter St. E.). From Feb. 26 to March 1, the East City bookstore will host the fourday allages festival featuring...
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`If we don't save everyone, we haven't gotten there yet'
When musician Mark Beatty sat down to write his song “Where Do You Lay Down,” he never thought how perfectly fitting the lyrics would become to a cause to help end homelessness in Peterborough. On Thursday, he opened a news conference singing the song...
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Store clerk calls home to India after jury acquittal
The first thing Tejeshwar Kalia did after hearing the words “not guilty” was call home. Standing inside a private room in the courthouse, the 24yearold pulled out his phone and opened FaceTime. On the screen were his mother and sister in...
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Luminary awards will `shine a light' on women in business
Peterborough & Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce announced nominees for its second annual Luminary Awards for Women in Business, on Wednesday at the Chamber of Commerce. “Being nominated is no small thing: it means someone saw your impact,” said Susan...
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CHEERING ON CANADA
Trent University Prof. Liana Brown, front, Champlain College principal James Onusko, left, Melanie Buddle, principal, Gzowski College, back, and students Gemma Iezza, and Aly Saydam were cheering on Team Canada as they battled the United States in...
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EYES ON THE PRIZE
Kawartha Gymnastic Club gymnast Mya Joseph competes on the uneven bars during the second annual Kawartha Cottage Country Classic held in Peterborough on Saturday. More than 500 athletes competed in the provincial qualifying tournament over the weekend.
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Special night for Petes team and fans at Pink in the Rink
Pink in the Rink hit close to home for Peterborough Petes head coach Rob Wilson on Saturday night. A day earlier Wilson said goodbye to a childhood friend, he grew up with in Etobicoke, who lost her battle with cancer. Kirsty Duncan, former Liberal...
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Conquering racism by celebrating `Black joy'
Black History Month recognizes significant historical events and accomplishments, but for Charmaine Magumbe and Cheryl Edwards, it's also about celebrating “Black joy.” That's what the duo fosters with their nonprofit group — the Afrocentric...
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Sahira, a multidisciplinary artist and prominent drag performer, entertains during the Black History Month Showcase and Proclamation event at Showplace in Peterborough on Wednesday. The event was hosted by the Community Race Relations Committee of...
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Ticked off: Peterborough's famous clock has stalled
Never mind glancing up at the Market Hall clock tower to check the time: the clock stopped, weeks ago. Although it strikes the hour, the hands (on all faces) are stuck at a few minutes to 7 o'clock. “The clock is an everlooming reminder of error —...
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Council approves cellphone ban during meetings
Peterborough council adopted a new procedure bylaw Monday following a series of delegations from the public outlining concerns over its impact on public trust. Council voted 83 in favour of adopting the new bylaw, with councillors Alex Bierk, Joy...
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ReFrame Film Festival 2026 edition now underway
The ReFrame Film Festival is back in Peterborough. This year's festival kicked off with the inperson portion from Friday to Sunday, featuring showings at Market Hall and Showplace. Saturday's schedule also featured a panel discussion of the...
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Spalding primed for Olympic debut
Cameron Spalding may have had options in life other than becoming an Olympic and professional snowboarder, but you'll never convince him of that. From the time he won his first contest at age six and did his first backflip at seven, it's been all he's...
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`Our work is not yet done,' peace medal winner says
Linda Slavin and Lesley Kirton each received a YMCA Peace Medal at a ceremony Friday morning at the McDonnel Street Community Centre in Peterborough. Mayor Jeff Leal thanked each recipient “for their leadership, generosity, courage, kindness and their...
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Investor appealing decision to deny Parkhill condo conversion
Peterborough city council's decision to deny a condo conversion application for the 128 rental townhouses at 700 Parkhill Rd. W. has been officially appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). The appeal, which has now been posted to the OLT's...
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`There's nothing you can do': Milliondollar home destroyed
A fire recently ripped through a milliondollar, custombuilt log home in Trent Lakes, leaving homeowners Dave and Gayle Roberts homeless and with little more than the clothes they were wearing. The married couple of 54 years were on the road to...
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`One last trip in the truck and trailer and with the last laugh'
If you live around Lakehurst — or really, anywhere between Gannon's Narrows and Buckhorn — you probably knew Roger Jackson for his sweet corn. He and his wife Sylvia were wellknown for it. But Roger wore a lot of hats. He drove a truck in his younger...
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Susan Fisher takes top honours at Rotary adult spelling bee
In what has become one of the Rotary Club of Peterborough's favourite annual traditions, local media personalities faced off against club members during an adult spelling bee on Monday. The event was held to promote the Rotary Club's upcoming 12th...
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New rules could limit councillors phone use
A proposed update of the rules governing Peterborough city council meetings would restrict elected officials from using cellphones — or any other electronic device, either personal or cityissued — for communication during meetings. “Members (of...
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Cold snap heats up shelter concerns
With temperatures expected to dip as low as 37 C with wind chill Saturday, Peterborough's cochairs of housing and homelessness are again raising concerns about shelter spaces for the city's homeless population. “Our own city numbers show that...
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Demolition of historic farmhouse closer to reality
A derelict farmhouse on Carnegie Drive in the city's north end — the old house that overlooks the Heritage Park subdivision — is a step closer to demolition. The Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) met Wednesday evening...
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AURORAS OVER CHEMONG
Deb Aben basks in the glow of a brilliant northern lights display over Chemong Lake in Ennismore on Tuesday night. The aurora borealis were vibrant as they danced across the sky, a phenomenon caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with...
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Leal walks out on debate over his use of racial slur
Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal walked out of council chambers Monday, refusing to hear from residents addressing an integrity report regarding his use of a racial slur. Two residents had signed up to speak on an integrity commissioner report that found...
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Rotary swim marks 40th anniversary
The 40th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim is taking place at the YMCA in Peterborough on Feb. 27 at 7 a.m. “Forty years later, this event is still bringing people together and still changing lives,” said Tony Grady, president of the Rotary Club of...
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Early Petes goal proves to be winner over Niagara IceDogs
A quick start for the Peterborough Petes proved to be everything Saturday night. Kieron Walton's goal 46 seconds into the game stood as the winner as Easton Rye stopped 25 shots for his second shutout of the season in a 10 win over the Niagara...
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Pappas Billiards marks 120 years
Pappas Billiards on George Street in Peterborough celebrates its 120th anniversary this year, with the business being handed down from father, Dean Pappas, to son Basil Pappas. “I'm 60 years old — I'm half the age of the business,” said Dean — former...
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New Peterborough business hall of fame class announced
The COVID pandemic took its toll on a number of small businesses, but the Avant Garden Shop found a way through it, and Brenda Ibey says the Peterborough community deserves a lot of the credit. “During the pandemic, there were customers that were...
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Habitat for Humanity hands keys to newest homeowners
A milestone was celebrated on Sunday when the keys to Habitat for Humanity's 100th home were handed over to a Fraserville family. Kayla, Jimmy and their three children achieved their dream of affordable home ownership thanks to Habitat for Humanity...
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Gaza man's Trent hope remains in limbo
A Palestinian student accepted to a doctoral program at Trent University in 2024 has had to defer his studies for a second time as he remains stuck in Gaza without word from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Waseem, whose last name...
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Leal's use of slur did not break council code of conduct
Peterborough's integrity commissioner has found that Mayor Jeff Leal did not contravene the council code of conduct when he used a racial slur against Black people during a guest lecture at Trent University in March 2025. In the report, released...
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