Sage & Soul Collective Set to Celebrate Grand Opening in Millbrook

By Scott Arnold

A new wellness and lifestyle space in Millbrook is inviting the community to stop by, explore, and connect during a day-long grand opening celebration this week.

Missy gurley and amanda willett are invited the public to the Grand opening of sage & Soul collective on thursday

Sage & Soul Collective will officially mark its opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony and community open house on Thursday, June 18 at its location at 4 Union Street in Millbrook.

The wellness and lifestyle collective opened in May and was founded by Missy Gurley and Amanda Willett. The space brings together yoga and movement classes, wellness experiences, a curated retail collection, and a micro café featuring local food and beverage offerings.

sage & soul collective will be officially open in millbrook on june 18th

The day begins with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 am. Guests are welcome to arrive starting at 9:30 am for refreshments, networking, and photos ahead of the ceremony.

The opening program will include remarks from community leaders, a land acknowledgement, an opening meditation led by Laura Kennedy, and comments from Mayor Matthew Graham, Peterborough County Community Development Manager Sarah Budd, Peterborough Chamber of Commerce President Brenda Whitehead, and Community Futures Peterborough Loan Manager Braden Clark. Gurley and Willett will also share remarks before the official ribbon cutting, group photos, and media opportunities.

Following the ceremony, a complimentary Morning Nourishment Experience will run from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, featuring wellness shots, smoothie tastings, bakery samples, and other light refreshments.

a full day has been planned for the public during the grand opening of sage and soul collective

Visitors can also take part in a variety of activities throughout the day, including studio tours, a sauna preview, the Sage Path Passport Challenge, the Sage Tree of Blessings, a hidden treasure hunt, and opportunities to meet the Sage & Soul team. A curated retail collection will also be available to browse, while the first 30 guests who make a purchase of $10 or more will receive a swag bag.

the ribbon cutting ceremony for the sage & soul collective grand opening will take place at 10am on thursday, june 18th

A complimentary Midday Gathering is scheduled from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm and will feature a selection of savoury tastings and local offerings.

The celebration continues with Golden Hour Grazing from 4 pm to 6:30 pm. The experience will include tastings from The Millbrook, sweet and savoury pairings, a "What's Your Soul Drink?" beverage experience, and treats for children.

the public is being invited to check out millbrook’s newest business, sage & soul collective

The day wraps up with a complimentary Healing Arts Experience at 7 pm, focused on movement, mindfulness, and connection. Advance registration is required.

Parking will be available behind the building and in the Foodland overflow lot adjacent to Sage & Soul Collective.

thursday will be a special day in millbrook with the grand opening of sage & soul collective

For Missy Gurley and Amanda Willett, the grand opening marks the beginning of what they hope will become a gathering place where people can slow down, connect, and feel at home in the community.

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

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Ontario Government Invests Over $260,000 to Support Rural Economic Development In Peterborough-Kawartha

To help protect rural Ontario, the provincial government has invested $260,305.50 to support economic growth and long-term prosperity in Peterborough-Kawartha, announced at the Innovation Cluster on Monday.

Through the first intake of the ROD program, the province is investing over $5.5 million in 116 projects across rural Ontario. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The funding is through the Rural Ontario Development (ROD) program, a $20 million investment by the province to strengthen local economies, support rural workers, and assist communities in planning for long-term growth according to Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP.

“Our rural communities are the backbone of Ontario’s economy, and this investment ensures that Peterborough-Kawartha has the resources to thrive for generations to come,” he said. “By backing localized initiatives like transportation studies, business plans, and innovation hubs, we are breaking down barriers to growth and equipping our fantastic local entrepreneurs with the tools they need to compete on a wider scale.”

Through the first intake of the ROD program, the province is supporting the following projects in Peterborough-Kawartha:

• $145,000 for the Innovation Cluster for their Rural Innovation Centre Project

• $50,000 to the City of Peterborough for the Future Ready Peterborough: Economic Development Strategy

• $30,000 for Community Care Peterborough for the Rural Peterborough County Transportation Feasibility Study

• $20,000 for the County of Peterborough for the Trade-Ready: Equipping Rural Entrepreneurs to compete Beyond the Region project

• $15,308.50 for Farms at Work for the Peterborough Community Farm Business Plan

“The Rural Ontario Development program demonstrates our government’s commitment to supporting small, rural and northern communities across Ontario,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs. “Through investments that support local priorities and economic development opportunities, we are helping rural communities build strong foundations for long-term success.”

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Golf Tournament Fundraiser Gets Two New E-Bikes For Peterborough Police Service

The Peterborough Police Service has two new e-bikes on the road thanks to a donation from the organizers of the second-annual Mimosas and Mulligans Golf Tournament.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

Hosted by Shelby Leonard-Watt, S.O.S. Save Our Soles owner, the tournament took place in August of last year. For the second year in a row, the Peterborough Police Service Community F.I.R.S.T Unit was one of the designated donation recipients.  

“Community First plays an important role in our downtown, and we’re proud that our tournament helped fund two new e-bikes that will allow officers to be more visible, mobile, and engaged throughout the community,” said Leonard-Watt. “We’re incredibly grateful to our sponsors, players, and everyone who came out to support the event and help make this contribution possible.”

The donated funds were accepted by the Police Service Board, which allowed the Peterborough Police Service to purchase two e-bikes from 171 E-bike Co. in Huntsville.  The e-bikes arrived in May, when officers received training on the maintenance and instructional use. They have decals identifying them as police property, as well as blue and red lights that can be activated. 

They will be used by Community F.I.R.S.T throughout the City to support public safety and community engagement initiatives.

“We are very thankful for this donation and applaud the community spirit all of our local businesses and residents who supported the golf tournament,” said Stuart Betts, Peterborough Police Chief. “It was important to us to consider equipment that would have an immediate impact on officer visibility in the downtown core, the ability to respond in areas of the city more easily accessible by two wheels and have the option to access electric speed was very appealing.”

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Paralympic Gold Medalist Jon Thurston to Headline Five Counties’ 50th Anniversary Meeting

By Scott Arnold

A golden anniversary milestone will be marked in fitting style as Five Counties Children’s Centre welcomes a Paralympic champion as its keynote speaker.

jon thurston will headline five counties 50th anniversary meeting. also pictured, pete dalliday (left) and Scott arnold (right).

Five Counties Children’s Centre will host its 50th Annual Meeting on June 22 at 3 pm in Peterborough, with Paralympic wheelchair curler Jon Thurston set to deliver the keynote address.

Thurston, a Dunsford resident who recently captured gold at the Paralympic Games in Italy, will speak as the organization closes out its 50th anniversary year. His remarks will focus on lived experience, resilience and perseverance, continuing a tradition of inspirational keynote speakers at the annual gathering.

The meeting also serves as a capstone to the Centre’s milestone year, which began in 1975 when Five Counties first opened its doors as a children’s treatment centre in Peterborough.

Alongside Thurston’s address, the event will include an update from CEO Scott Pepin on the Centre’s activities and achievements over the past year, as well as the release of the 2025/26 annual report.

Several recognitions will also be presented, including the 2026 High-Five Community Awards, which honour individuals, groups and partners supporting inclusion across the region. Long-serving staff members will also be recognized.

The event will also feature the presentation of the second annual Dave Adams Legacy Award. Named in honour of a former Executive Director of the Centre’s Foundation, the award recognizes individuals who reflect the leadership and commitment demonstrated during Dave Adams’ 27-year career with the organization.

Five Counties says the Annual Meeting brings together staff, community partners and supporters to reflect on the past year while marking a significant milestone in the Centre’s history.

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

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Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre Appoints New Executive Director

The Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC) Board of Directors has appointed Melinda Wall as the organization’s new Executive Director.

Melinda Wall, during her tenure as the Peterborough Regional Centre PRHC director of mental health services in 2021. LinkedIn.

Wall is a registered nurse and senior health-care leader with over 20 years of experience across clinical practice, health-care administration and executive leadership. Her career has spanned acute care, mental health and addictions, community health, and population-based initiatives focused on social determinants of health and health equity.

Wall has held progressive leadership roles in hospitals and community organizations, including 10 years as a senior leader at Peterborough Regional Health Centre and most recently, as Vice President at Durham Community Health Centre, where she oversaw integrated care, strategic operations and interdisciplinary teams supporting equity-based populations.

“Melinda’s work is grounded in a commitment to equitable, person-centred care and strengthening the conditions in which individuals and communities can thrive,” said Kerianne Sidler, KSAC Board Chair. “She brings extensive experience in governance, organizational performance, workforce planning, and cross-sector collaboration, and is known for fostering transparent, respectful, and values-driven work environments.”

The Peterborough native has completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Trent University, following two years of study in Women’s Studies and Indigenous Studies—a foundation that has deeply influenced her approach to health care and community engagement.

“I entered the nursing profession with a goal of working in women’s counselling, specifically with women who have been subjected to sexual assault or abuse,” said Wall. “When the KSAC Executive Director position became available, it felt like the right time to fully realize that vision.”

Wall assumes the role with the departure of Brittany McMillan, former executive director and Lindsay Haacke, who held the title in an interim capacity.

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Peterborough Man Arrested and Charged With Assault For Punching Older Man In the Face

A 39-year-old Peterborough man is facing an assault charge after punching an older man on Monday morning.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

At roughly 8:30 a.m., a general patrol officer in the Reid Street and Simcoe Street area spotted a group of people gathered around an older man. The officer further learned that the man had been punched in the face by another man known to him. The victim was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre. Officers located a man matching the description given to police, who was located a short distance away, and took him into custody.

The man was arrested and charged with:

• Assault

The accused was held in custody and appeared in court on June 15.

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It’s Official: Bobby Allan’s Name Set to Become Part of Peterborough History

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough City Council has approved a motion to rename the newly renovated bowl at Knights of Columbus Park in honour of lacrosse legend Bobby Allan.

lacrosse legend bobby allan will have his name etched in peterborough history with the bobby allan bowl at knight of columbus park (image courtesy of the lake show podcast, via cogeco yourtv ptbo)

The decision comes as major renovations continue at the Park Street facility, including upgrades to the bowl's floor and boards.

Allan grew up just a few blocks from Knights of Columbus Park and spent countless hours playing lacrosse there before building one of the most accomplished careers in the sport's history.

He won four Mann Cup championships as a player in 1954, 1956, 1962 and 1966, and was later inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame, and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, becoming the first lacrosse player to receive that honour.

Allan also found success behind the bench, coaching teams in Peterborough and Philadelphia, leading Canada's national field lacrosse team to a world championship in 1970, and guiding the Peterborough Lakers to a Mann Cup title in 1973.

Council's approval directs that the newly renovated facility be renamed the Bobby Allan Bowl, recognizing his lasting impact on lacrosse in Peterborough and across Canada.

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

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New Book Explores Legacy of Peter Robinson Bicentennial

By Scott Arnold

A year of commemoration, reflection and renewed understanding of local history is being captured in a new book set to launch next month in Peterborough.

peter robinson boat landing was reenacted on little lake in 1975 (photo courtesy of nine ships 1825)

Nine Ships 1825 will officially launch Bicentennial Reflections on July 6 at 10 am at the Trent Valley Archives on Carnegie Avenue.

The book was inspired by the Peter Robinson Bicentennial Commemoration in 2025 and documents not only the many events held throughout the year, but also the conversations and learning that emerged as community members explored their shared history.

Editor Elwood Jones said a key feature of the publication is the inclusion of reflections from community partners involved in the bicentennial. Their personal accounts detail how their understanding of local history evolved during the commemorative year.

The book examines the Peter Robinson emigration of 1825, a British-backed settlement initiative that brought 2,024 Irish immigrants from 307 families to what is now the Peterborough area. The project was designed to test whether the British government could successfully finance and support large-scale emigration from Ireland to Upper Canada.

Along with historical content, Bicentennial Reflections includes 80 photographs from bicentennial events held in both Canada and Ireland, as well as remarks from dignitaries who participated in the commemorations.

Nine Ships 1825 Chair Brendan Moher described the publication as a team effort and said it will serve as part of the organization's lasting legacy to the community and future generations.

Following the launch, the book will be available through the Trent Valley Archives and online.

The public is invited to attend the free launch event at the Trent Valley Archives, located at 567 Carnegie Ave., on Monday, July 6 at 10 am.

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

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Hundreds of Paddlers Set to Take Over Peterborough Lift Lock

By Scott Arnold

One of the region’s most unique summer events returns July 18 as decorated canoes and kayaks fill the historic Peterborough Lift Lock for an afternoon on the water.

the 2025 lock & paddle attracted more than 1400 paddlers to the historic lift lock (photo courtesy of parks canada)

Parks Canada's annual Lock & Paddle event is back on Saturday, July 18, inviting paddlers of all ages and skill levels to experience the Peterborough Lift Lock in a way few ever do.

The free event runs from noon to 4 pm and sees hundreds of canoeists and kayakers gather at the base of the world's highest hydraulic lift lock, riding the giant tubs up and down together while enjoying live music and a festive atmosphere.

Participants are encouraged to decorate their boats and join fellow paddlers from across the region for what has become one of the Trent-Severn Waterway's signature events.

New this year, the celebration will extend beyond the lock, with the City of Peterborough hosting water-themed activities during the afternoon at Beavermead Beach Party.

Lock & Paddle has grown significantly since it began in 2016. Last year's event attracted more than 1,400 paddlers in 978 watercraft, setting a new attendance record.

the 2026 lock & paddle is set to return on july 18th (photo courtesy of parks canada)

Paddling and lockage are free, but participants must bring a canoe or kayak, wear a personal flotation device, and enter the event from the lower reach of the Peterborough Lift Lock. Stand-up paddleboards and inflatable vessels are not permitted.

There is no public parking available at the Lift Lock itself, although several nearby parking areas and launch points are available, including Beavermead Campground, Rogers Cove and Eastgate Memorial Park.

The event takes place rain or shine. For more information, visit Parks Canada's Lock & Paddle event page.

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

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Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Birch + Bloom, Agilec, Opus Tribute Group and Peterborough DBIA

PTBOCanada is delighted to be running the Business Beat columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

A new business has joined the downtown retail landscape.

Birch + Bloom Consignment Boutique, located at 188 Hunter St. Unit 7, celebrated its grand opening on June 4 alongside representatives from Community Futures Peterborough and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. Founded by Brittany Zarobiak, Birch + Bloom is a thoughtfully curated women's consignment boutique focused on sustainable fashion and elevated style. For more information, you can follow the Instagram: @birchandbloomboutique.

Agilec Employment Services – who helps support job seekers and employers alike – are having an open house at their Lakefield office.

Today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their Lakefield office – 25 Bridge Street, meet their team and join them for free coffee, doughnuts, and giveaways while you learn about the services they offer. For more information, you can call their office (705) 652-1935 or visit their website www.agilec.ca

Opus Tribute Group has announced the acquisition of Hendren Funeral Homes.

Opus Tribute Group is a community governed, not-for-profit organization that has been in existence for over 175 years and started out as Little Lake Cemetery Company in Peterborough. Hendren Funeral Homes serves families in the communities of Lakefield, Bobcaygeon and Norwood and is known for its personalized care, professional staff, and strong community roots. The transition is expected to be seamless for families and the communities served by Hendren. Existing services, locations, and commitments will continue uninterrupted. The acquisition aligns with Opus Tribute Group's “North Star” of existing to make our communities stronger, healthier, and more resilient in the face of grief and loss.

The Second Saturday Sidewalk Sales are back in downtown Peterborough!

From June to September, on the second Saturday of each month, George Street between Hunter and Simcoe become a fully walkable, pedestrian friendly market where visitors can enjoy patios, live entertainment, pop-up vendors, special promotions from local businesses, and more! The event expands across downtown including the Neighbourhood Market at the Bankers Commons Courtyard on Waterstreet with over 20 local artisans and makers, as well as additional artisan pop-ups at Avant Garden Shop on Sherbrooke Street. The program is designed to support local businesses, increase downtown foot traffic, and encourage residents and visitors to shop and explore locally throughout the summer. For more information, visit TheBoro.ca

If you want to have your business featured on the Business Beat or know of a business doing something new and interested, shoot an email to brenda@pkchamber.ca.

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