Peterborough Blogs
Canoe & Paddle's New Patio Is Built On AstroTurf The Toronto Blue Jays Won World Series On
/It’s not often—or ever—that you get the chance to eat delicious pub food on a patio in the Kawarthas that sits on AstroTurf that the Toronto Blue Jays won the 1993 World Series on. But that opportunity is now on deck at Lakefield’s Canoe & Paddle, whose new patio sits atop some of the old turf that is such a huge piece of Canadian sports history.
Indeed, the Canoe & Paddle were lucky enough to secure some of the old AstroTurf that the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series on at SkyDome (now Roger’s Centre) on Joe Carter’s dramatic walk-off home run in Game 6 in ‘93, giving the Jays back-to-back World Series titles.
Jake Exton from Canoe & Paddle is at bat, and tells PTBOCanada the backstory behind it:
“It was a chance conversation about three years ago with Ian Knott from Indian Rubber Tire Shop in Buckhorn. He built an indoor baseball and lacrosse training centre at his business. He was a pitcher in the U.S., and had contacts within the business. He bought four rolls of AstroTurf when the SkyDome switched the surface in 1994. I remembered him talking about it about three years ago, and on the announcement that we would be able to expand our patios, I made a call and found he still had two rolls—which he was happy to sell to us!”
They built the patio within a day, not quite as long as it took to build SkyDome, and the response has been fantastic to eating on the turf—a field of dreams, if you will.
”People love the history behind it and love telling us their stories of watching the game on TV or being there live to watch it happen,” Exton tells PTBOCanada.
Yep, to say they knocked this one out of the park would be an understatement.
And for those that forget…
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Trent U Rising: Peterborough University Continues Its Climb Up Global University Rankings
/Trent U’s exceptional learning environment and academic performance has earned the University a ranking among the world’s best.
In the 2020/21 Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR), Trent is holding steady at No. 32 out of 96 Canadian universities, while placing 1237 out of over 20,000 global institutions—up nine places from last year’s 1248 place ranking and earning Trent a spot in the top 6.2% of universities worldwide.
“We are proud to see Trent recognized as a notable institution for both world-class research and exceptional learning experiences,” says Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “These rankings continue to highlight how Trent is making an impact globally as a leading Canadian institution.”
The newly announced CWUR ranking caps off a year that has seen Trent University rank highly in many prestigious independent rankings and surveys, including Maclean’s University Report. Indeed, with the release of the 2019 Maclean’s University Report last fall, Trent continued to hold on to the top spot as Ontario’s No. 1 undergraduate university for the ninth year in a row, and No. 3 in all of Canada.
Each year, the CWUR publishes the largest academic rankings of over 20,000 universities around the world. These rankings focus on four key pillars—quality of education, alumni employment, quality of faculty and research performance—with no reliance on surveys or university data submissions. In this year’s list of the top 2,000 universities globally, only 44 of Canada’s 96 universities made the list—including Trent.
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The Peterborough Naval Association Announces It Is Dissolving Organization
/The Peterborough Naval Association has announced it is dissolving its organization and will create a trust fund with the proceeds from the sale of its property to support veterans, veterans’ families, veterans’ organizations, educational bursaries and other causes.
“Faced with declining revenues and increasing costs, our members voted to dissolve the association and sell the property at this time to create a legacy fund that will continue to support veterans and their families into the future,” says Dan Ayotte, interim president of the Association.
The Peterborough Naval Association has been an active, involved veterans’ association for more than 70 years, fulfilling the mandate of its Charter. It was launched in November 1947, and incorporated in 1953. The association was involved in the formation of the national Royal Canadian Naval Association.
The Naval Association fostered a spirit of fellowship and assistance among those who have served and supporters of those who have served in the naval services of Canada, the British Commonwealth and its Allies. It preserved the memory of service members who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country. And it supported charitable organizations in the community.
One of the main factors behind the increased costs for the association was the age of the facilities with rising maintenance and operating costs for the property at 24 Whitlaw St.
In addition to creating a trust fund to support veterans and their families, the Naval Association is leaving a legacy in another way. The Naval Association is transferring its property to the City of Peterborough to become public land that’s next to Beavermead Park and a future extension of the trail network around Little Lake
Mayor Diane Therrien says the Naval Association leaves a legacy in the lives of veterans and their families who created friendships and enjoyed activities through the association’s facilities and programs. “Even as the association plans for its dissolution, the members are focused on helping veterans and contributing to the broader community,” Therrien says.
“With those values, I know the Naval Association will continue to be a presence in our community, regardless of whether it’s an incorporated organization or an informal, close knit association of veterans and community minded individuals.”
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For The First Time In Their 33 Year History Peterborough Musicfest Has Been Postponed
/For the first time in its history, Peterborough Musicfest has had to cancel a season.
“After much deliberation, and in consultation with public health officials, and local authorities, we must announce, with very heavy hearts, that Peterborough Musicfest (PMF) will not proceed in 2020,” Musicfest announced in a media release.
“To postpone an entire season—a first in our thirty-three year history—is disheartening to say the least,” says Brenda O’Brien, Peterborough Musicfest board chair.
“That said, these are unprecedented times that require concrete action to save lives,” O’Brien adds. “Our community, performers, staff members, contractors and volunteers deserve no less. Thank you to all—our friends, fans, and family—who have waited so patiently while we considered this difficult decision.”
PMF contributes more than $5 million to our region in direct investment and ancillary benefits (full hotels, bars and restaurants etc.). Organizers know the festival’s postponement will be very difficult for many workers, businesses, attractions and performers to shoulder.
“Our promise to the community that has nurtured this festival at every step on its journey toward becoming the biggest festival of its kind in Canada is to firmly fix our sights on recovery,” Musicfest says in the release.
They look forward to coming back stronger at Del Crary Park in 2021.
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UPDATED: The First Positive Case Of COVID-19 In The Peterborough Area Confirmed
/This is a developing story… Check back for updates.
[UPDATE (March 16): The confirmed case of COVID-19 has been associated with Trent University's Peterborough campus. Read the message sent to all students, faculty and staff by Trent President & Vice-Chancellor Leo Groarke here.]
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On Sunday (March 15th), Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health for Peterborough Public Health, confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in the Peterborough area.
Peterborough Public Health reports that on March 12th, a male in his 30s presented himself at Peterborough Regional Health Centre's emergency department with a travel history to Spain and Portugal. As per established infection prevention and control protocols, the patient was cared for at the hospital using all appropriate precautions, including being isolated as he was tested for COVID-19. The man was discharged home the same day and, per protocols, went into self-isolation where he remains with follow-up from Peterborough Public Health. The patient experienced fever, dry cough, and headache.
Peterborough Public Health is actively engaging in contact tracing and case management, including following up with the individual and his close contacts.
“Having a confirmed case in our area is not unexpected given the transmission of this virus around the world,” says Dr. Salvaterra. “As a community and as a health system, we have been preparing for COVID-19. Hopefully this news about the first local case helps reinforce the importance of public health measures in place such as school closures and event cancellations, as well as personal precautions like social distancing and regular handwashing.”
HOW PRHC RESPONDED
"The team at PRHC responded quickly and professionally with the appropriate precautions and protocols to ensure the safety of those in the Emergency Department and the hospital," adds Dr. Lynn Mikula, Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer of PRHC.
"Beginning Monday, March 16th, patients and visitors will see additional active screening measures, limited hospital entry points and restrictions for visitors and volunteers, and we continue to ask people to delay coming to the hospital for any non-urgent appointments, procedures or visits. Thank you in advance to the people of our community and region for their cooperation and diligence, including practicing excellent hand cleaning and social distancing, as we work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep our patients, visitors, healthcare professionals, staff and volunteers safe."
IMPORTANT: If you suspect you have symptoms of COVID-19 and have recently travelled, contact Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000, ext. 401 or covid19@peterboroughpublichealth.ca Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., or Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For medical advice after these hours, contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 (TTY 1-866-797-0007).
Be sure to mention your symptoms and your travel history, including the countries you visited. If you are ill and must visit a health care professional, call ahead and tell them that you have a respiratory illness. If you need immediate medical attention, call 911 and mention your travel history and symptoms.
Visit peterboroughpublichealth.ca to learn more about COVID-19 and how you can prepare. Future positive cases of COVID-19 will be reported on www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca as well.
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It's A Sure Sign Of Spring As Daylight Saving Time Begins March 8th
/This will hopefully take that chill out of your bones: It's Spring Forward time on Sunday, March 8th—a sure sign of spring!