Escape Maze Live Interactive Game On Peterborough Farm Is Historical Thriller

Once you enter into the dimly lit room, you will hear the lock on the old wooden door click shut behind you. You and your friends now only have 45 minutes to figure out how to escape! Scattered around the room are a loosely connected set of clues that you will have to decipher to get you one step closer to freedom. Some take math skills, others are physical puzzles and brainteasers. Communication skills are key as you help each other try and make some sense as to where to start or make use of the evidence. Various lockboxes may contain the next step, but how do you get into them to begin with?

Escape Maze Creators Jake Walling with Fred Preddy

Escape Maze Creators Jake Walling with Fred Preddy

Welcome to Escape Maze, a great new cerebral challenge located here in Peterborough created by Fred Preddy and his sister Jake Walling. There are two escape rooms: The Gold Rush Room (for 2 to 6 players) and the Old Saloon (for 2 to 8 players) are themed upon the 1866 gold rush that came to Eldorado, Ontario. Not only will you get a brief local history lesson but will also have the opportunity to dress the part.

Not sure if you'll feel comfortable being confined in the room? Don't worry, you can always use the "Emergency Key" attached to the door knob to let you out (and there is video surveillance to ensure no one gets hurt). The suggested age range is 13 years old and up, and no electronic devices will be allowed into the rooms.

Escape Maze is located on a farm at 156 Cedar Bank Road. If you have any questions, give them at call at 705-740-3657. You can also follow Escape Maze on Facebook, Twitter and book your visit online.

 

People are loving Escape Maze...

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Improv All-Stars Colin Mochrie & Linda Kash Perform At Dinner Theatre Event In Peterborough

On Thursday, August 21st, The Venue is hosting an Improv and Dinner Theatre with such improv A-listers as Linda Kash, Colin Mochrie, Adam Cawley, Deb McGrath and more performing. See the poster below for details, and get your tickets at The Venue.

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31 Fun Facts About Peterborough

1. On May 24th, 1884, Peterborough became the first city in Canada with electric street lighting.

2. The Peterborough Lift Lock, constructed in 1904, is the highest hydraulic lock in the world with a rise of 65 feet (19.8 m).

Historical pic via Trent Valley Archives

Historical pic via Trent Valley Archives

3. Trent University celebrated its 50th anniversary in Peterborough in 2014, and Fleming College celebrated its 50th in 2017.

4. The Hunter Street Bridge across the Otonabee River was, at the time of its completion, the longest span of un-reinforced concrete in Canada.

5. The Centennial Fountain at Little Lake is the highest jet fountain in Canada. Installed in 1967, the water shoots up 76m (250 feet). (That's really high.)

picture by Evan Holt

picture by Evan Holt

6. Canada’s first nuclear power generator was designed and built by Canadian General Electric in Peterborough.

7. Peterborough is named after Peter Robinson, an early Canadian politician who oversaw the first major immigration to the area.

8. Lester B. Pearson spent his childhood here when his father was the minister of George St. United Church. He attended the iconic PCVS.

postcard via Trent Valley Archives

postcard via Trent Valley Archives

9. Quaker Oats invented rolled oats at its Peterborough headquarters.

10. Peterborough has the oldest public cemetery in Canada.

11. The Peterborough Petes have sent more players to the NHL than any other minor league franchise in Canada.

12. The "Electric City” moniker comes from the long association of Canadian General Electric Corporation with the city.   

Stompin' Tom

Stompin' Tom

13. Stompin’ Tom Connors got his nickname in Peterborough for the way he pounded out the beat on the old wood floors of King George Hotel.

14. The floor of the City Hall foyer is an accurately scaled map of the region rendered in polished terrazzo concrete with brass inlays. It is believed to be the only floor like it in Canada.  

15. For many years, Fisher Gauge Limited supplied the playing pieces to Milton-Bradley’s game Monopoly.

16. Wayne Gretzky played three games for the Peterborough Petes. He never scored a goal for us. Ohwella.

17. The Petes have participated in the Memorial Cup tournament nine times in their history and won it once.

Sir Sandford Fleming

Sir Sandford Fleming

18. Sir Sandford Fleming lived in Peterborough as a young engineer, moving here in 1845. Fleming is the inventor of standard time, was the chief surveyor for the Trans-Canada Railway and oversaw the laying of the first trans-Atlantic telephone cable.

19. David Fife invented Red Fife Wheat in the 19th century here, a variety of wheat that was highly resistant to the harsh Canadian climate. Red Fife Wheat is credited with making Canada the “bread basket of the world”.

20. Robertson Davies was the Editor of the Peterborough Examiner from 1942 until 1965. He wrote several of his famous novels while living here and used many of his experiences in the city for the creation of characters and plot lines.

Iva Fallis

Iva Fallis

21. Senator Iva Fallis (1883-1956) was the second woman ever appointed to the Senate. She championed women's issues, human rights, and equality for men and women.

22. Jim Balsillie, raised in Peterborough, was co-founder and former co-CEO of the Canadian company Research in Motion ("BlackBerry") which reshaped the global telecommunications market as we know it.

23. In 1615, Samuel de Champlain traveled through the area, coming down from Lake Chemong and portaging down a trail—approximated by present day Chemong Road—to the Otonabee River.

24. In 1818, Adam Scott settled on the west shore of the Otonabee River and soon began construction of a sawmill and gristmill, establishing the area as Scott's Plains. The mill was located at the foot of present-day King Street and was powered by water from Jackson Creek.

25. The Peterborough Canoe Company was founded here in 1893, with the factory being built on the site of the original Adam Scott mill.

26. By 1930, 25% of all employees in the boat building industry in Canada worked in the Peterborough area.

27. Peterborough was one of the first places in the country to begin generating hydro electrical power (even before the plants at Niagara Falls). Companies like GE and Quaker Oats opened to take advantage of this new cheap resource.

28. In the 1970s, the Ontario Government helped sponsor the building of Peterborough Square with the aid of the Ontario Downtown Renewal Programme (ODRP). The mall was anchored by an Eaton's store until the collapse of the Eaton's chain of stores in the late 1990s.

pic via Ashley Dolan

pic via Ashley Dolan

29. Peterborough's topography is largely defined by land formations created by the receding Wisconsian glaciers 10,000-15,000 years ago.

30. The Peterborough Skateboard park is one of the largest skateboard parks in Ontario. It includes several half-pipes as well as multiple ramps and rails.

31. Peterborough, known as "the gateway to the Kawarthas", totally rocks and is an awesome city. But you knew that.

 

Email us more fun facts/sources here for future Peterborough lists.

[Sources: City of Peterborough; Wikipedia]

 

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The 169th Peterborough Ex Is On!

The Peterborough Ex opens August 7th and runs until Sunday, August 10th. This year's theme is "Celebrate & Educate", and you can see the entire schedule of the festivities. New this year is the "Road to the Royal Butter Tart Competition".

Stay up to date by following them on Twitter and Facebook.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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5th Annual Caribbean Street Festival Is On Today!

Head Downtown today (August 7th) from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. for the 5th Annual Caribbean Street Festival. Taste Caribbean food, and see live entertainment on Hunter Street between George and Water.

"Organized in early August to loosely coincide with Independence Day in Jamaica and Bermuda, the Festival has grown each year with more entertainers, food vendors, businesses and non-profits exhibiting their wares! Children’s activities will be available in the Kids Zone and community members can enjoy live entertainment; both local and regional, sample delicious Caribbean-inspired food from local restaurants, browse various merchandise outlets, and experience the unique carnival culture that the Caribbean has to offer!"

Stay up to date by following the event on Facebook and Twitter.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Take A Ride On The Pipeline Express Roller Coaster At Wild Water & Wheels

Well, a virtual ride that is...

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PTBOCanada Pictures: 2014 Art Battle Peterborough Finals

Art Battle is a live competitive painting contest where each painter has 20 minutes to come up with a painting. The audience votes on the winners for each round, and the overall winner of the evening is headed to Toronto for the 2014 Art Battle National Championship. Here are some photos of the finals Friday night (July 4th).

Round 1

Round 2

Final Round

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Paul Nabuurs, who will be representing Peterborough at the 2014 Art Battle National Championship! Get your tickets now.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Grand Opening of Harold Town Conservation Is Saturday

The Harold Town Conservation (see Peterborough Now Has a Mountain Bike Destination) at 2611 Old Norwood Road is celebrating their Grand Opening on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wild Rock Outfitters will be on hand with Specialized and Trek bikes during the bicycle demo day (bring your helmet and cycling shoes).

The Otonabee Conservation will also be there to celebrate International Trails Week and the Grand Opening at 12:30.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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The New Surface On Riverview Park & Zoo Splash Pad Is Complete

Happy tweet!

ORIGINAL POST:

The new spash pad rubber surface has been installed and now it just needs to pass its spring inspection, and should be open this week.

[Photos via Riverview Park & Zoo Facebook page]

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Here's Brian Ellis & His Wife On Regis & Kathie Lee In 1994

[UPDATED] The Wolf morning man Brian Ellis and his wife Crystal were audience guests on Live! With Regis & Kathie Lee show 20 years ago today (May 21st) while honeymooning in New York City. They scored front row seats, and here's the awesome conversation they had with Regis and Kathie live on the show...

[via The Wolf]

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