Peterborough Blogs
Why Peterborough Could Emerge As One Of The Tech Cities In Canada
/Peterborough has always been known as a city of innovation. It's in our DNA. The city now has the opportunity to emerge as one of the tech cities in Canada—or anywhere. Here are 15 reasons why...
1. Peterborough has always been ahead of the curve, from being the first city in Canada with electric street lighting (1884) to constructing the highest hydraulic lock in the world (1904)—see more examples here.
2. Peterborough has tremendous talent from Trent University and Fleming College to feed from—students (aka digital natives) from all over the world who were raised with mobile devices and apps as a part of their lives, and some of whom are now starting tech-based businesses.
3. Peterborough is known for being tech-savvy, an early adopter that engages with new tech, digital media and social media platforms. Ideas get incubated and shared here in the "creative economy" by global citizens (digital natives and digital immigrants) sharing on mobile in real-time. (Our media company began as a Twitter handle.)
4. The spirit of innovation, adapting and evolving has emerged from manufacturing giants in Peterborough like Quaker Oats, the old Outboard Marine, and of course GE (whose "Electric City” moniker comes from GE's long association with the city).
5. Peterborough organizations have really begun to embrace the collaborative approach to city-, community-, business-, tech-building, allowing for start-up ideas to be incubated and get off the ground sooner—and from right here in Peterborough rather than another city. Less red tape, more Let's Just Do This.
6. High schools and elementary schools are adding to their curriculum exciting new ways of exploring and using technology in the classroom setting to teach, adapting to the real tech world children are raised in and inspired by. Some school boards are creating hashtags to share their findings. These students, and their ideas, are the future of this city.
7. The city's history is rooted in creative people who experiment and push the envelope, from Sir Sandford Fleming (who lived here as a young engineer), to Erica Cherney, to Jim Balsillie (born and raised in Peterborough)—co-founder and former co-CEO of Research in Motion ("BlackBerry").
8. The likes of Peterborough Economic Development, Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster, Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Peterborough Angels, DBIA, City of Peterborough, Bears' Lair and Startup Peterborough are exploring (and rewarding) how technology, digital and innovation can develop our city in the modern era—and most importantly, retain young, bright, innovative minds.
9. Peterborough—long known as a hub for beta testing products and ideas, many of which eventually hit national and international markets—is emerging as one of the "start-up" communities in Canada, fostering and mentoring young entrepreneurs at a grassroots level, giving them autonomy to build, learn, make mistakes, grow.
10. Peterborough is realizing the value of experimentation and testing out ideas on social media platforms and elsewhere to explore possibilities and kickstart businesses that could change the city—and world. The "Why the hell not?" attitude has caught on.
11. Technology could be a game changer for Peterborough, and young entrepreneurs see that. In fact, the most powerful testimonials come from startups themselves: "This city is becoming a fast adapter of technology," startup Ribbet co-founder Sana Virji tells PTBOCanada. "With numerous startups growing in the region, we know Peterborough is the place to be."
12. If you look around you and see how people are consuming and sharing information, it's on mobile devices, iPads and laptops. It's not so much newspapers, magazines, phone and TV sets anymore. The world has changed. Gen Z, millennials, Gen Xers and, more and more, Baby Boomers, are staring at their iPhones screens because that's where they are reading, watching video, sharing info and fostering ideas. Leisure, play and work are there now. It's a new, exciting world.
13. From seasoned local digital companies like OutdoorSmart (the successful company behind BoatSmart!) to start-ups like Noble Purification, the future of Peterborough is emerging as much on technology and startups as manufacturing and other traditional industries (which they themselves are re-thinking approaches in the modern era).
14. Hubs, think tanks, digital networking, pods, incubators, clusters, re-thinking work spaces are all being re-imagined in Peterborough, as "traditional" work—and its office notion of "9 to 5" in a cubicle—undergoes a transformative era. Nowadays, you can build a company from your dining room table. Or the café. Or wherever.
15. Look at it this way, too: The more Peterborough becomes known as a tech city surrounded by beautiful water, restaurants, stores and people—with all the amenities of urban and rural—the more we'll see talented people drawn to study here, intern here, start up businesses here, be hired by tech companies here in need, and stay here. And raise families here.
Basically, all the ingredients and momentum are here to create an amazing tech ecosystem that becomes the talk of the town—and Canada. Hashtag that.
—Neil Morton
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Start-Up Noble Purification's State Of The Art Water Equipment Could Be A Game Changer
/Noble Purification, a Peterborough-based start-up company and founder client of the Innovation Cluster's "The Cube" innovative technology incubator program, unveiled its new bio-filtration plant recently.
The new bio-filtration pilot plant has state-of the-art water purification equipment with filtration processes for converting algae blooms into feedstock for biofuels, while purifying wastewater.
Inventor Adam Noble
Adam Noble, CEO of Noble Purification, invented this amazing new filtration method. Here's how it works:
The Euglena BioFiltration System is a simple concept inspired by nature. The idea derives from algae blooms and their ability to extract nearly all nutrients from their surroundings. Noble took this one step further to employ a very unique alga that can be tricked into absorbing minerals, heavy metals and other pollutants from the environment. Though algae blooms wreak havoc on our ecosystems, Noble has applied the same philosophy for positive results.
Noble and his team have the motivation, resources, knowledge and support to make a difference in the world, and their goal is to implement their biofiltration system in municipalities in Canada.
Noble wants to create sustainable and life-changing development, and they're beta testing this out of their county road plant near Trent University.
Noble Purification and The Cube collaborating on this unique venture is another example of technology innovation and ingenuity happening right here in Peterborough.
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Peterborough Man Helps Creates Wearable Tech Device That Gives Voice To People
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An empowering new technology called TAPS
Read MoreEXCLUSIVE: Peterborough Considering Building Retractable Glass Roof Over City
/[UPDATE: There is no "Glass Roof" project. Happy April Fool's Day though, and thanks to all the glass cleaners that came forward! And thanks to Jason Wilkins for the illustrations!]
drawing of "Glass Roof" provided to us
Sources tell us that city officials are in the preliminary stages of a top secret project called "Glass Roof". They are working with engineers, architects, design teams and climatologists to investigate the feasibility of building a huge retractable roof over the city, and a source has provided us with drawings of what it could look like (which are included in this post).
With weather becoming more and more extreme every year, city officials believe constructing a retractable roof is a smart investment that will lead to ROI by protecting infrastructure, homes and property, and prevent skyrocketing insurance costs.
"Climate change is so extreme now," the source tells us, suggesting that a radical approach like this is needed to protect cities. The source adds: "No one ever thought the Lift Lock could be built back early in the 20th century, and look at what happened there. It's now considered one of the engineering feats. As is Centennial Fountain at Little Lake installed in 1967."
Peterborough is known for its creative ingenuity and as being a beta testing centre for cutting edge products and technology, and this "Glass Roof" project is another example of this. If, say, a forecaster projects a blizzard or severe rain system, the city can flip the "On" switch and the roof can start closing to protect the city.
"Because it's a glass roof they're talking about, people won't feel claustrophobic, and can still enjoy the benefits of natural light during storm systems," the source tells us.
"I think it's exciting Peterborough gets to possibly host this groundbreaking pilot project," says Mike Judson, CHEX TV Weather Analyst, adding "Climate change is real and precautions need to be taken to protect citizens. Many believe the frequency and severity of tornadoes, hurricanes and damaging rains can only get worse in the coming years. Imagine not having to worry about it by having such a roof?"
Our sources tells us the rough timelines given for construction are early 2025 for this multi-billion dollar project, with the project to be completed circa 2039. The city is hoping that the provincial and federal governments will help fund this, along with a lot of private investment.
City officials are refusing all comment on this matter. "No comment," they said in a terse email reply.
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Gord Gibb's New Online Radio Channel Captures Void In Marketplace For Baby Boomers
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There is lots of terrific local radio out there for Gen X, Y and Z but not so much for Baby Boomers anymore. So how to reach them? Why, online of course through the power of technology.
Yes, iconic local broadcaster Gord Gibb—who works at Corus's Fresh radio in town—has launched the delightfully retro YourKawarthaOldies.com as a hobby, with oldies streaming 24/7 there, as well as audio archives from the area to keep a unique "local" feel.
Gibb has even started broadcasting a live morning show there from 6 am to 9 am Monday to Friday.
He's also wonderfully self-deprecating about it all on Twitter...
Gibb has a passion for that music, and identified a major hole amongst those who want to listen to that type of music. "There was a void in the market," Gibb tells PTBOCanada. "I began building the site two years ago as something to launch and play with when I retired, but then decided the need is there now and there was no format overlap or conflict with Corus, so I ran with it."
Gibb says he first started developing the site in March 2013, began streaming it in early 2014 in beta but kept it under the radar until he was ready. He officially launched it February 15th, and the reaction has been terrific—among baby boomers and even a younger crowd that likes to hear the classics once in a while depending on their mood.
Gibb understands where the radio marketplace has gone, and isn't critical of who it caters to now at all. But he recognizes that has opened a huge market to tap into. Opportunity knocks.
"Commercial radio in Peterborough appears now to be focusing exclusively on more recent material for demographics under 50," he says. "I don't quarrel with their decision in this regard. But I also know there is a vast demo in this market 50-plus pining for this stuff."
Gibb adds: "Yes oldies are available online elsewhere and on satellite, but I wanted to create a local channel that will also include, as I can find them, audio archives from the area—radio and television."
Gibb is doing this on his own time, own dime, with his own resources—as a service to the community. He's still not able to track listeners—"I'm supposed to be able to track them, but sorting out some glitches in the tracking client," he tells us—but says the reaction amongst those who have tried it has been extremely positive.
Have a listen for yourself at YourKawarthaOldies.com.
Everything old is new. With technology and creative ingenuity.
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Bell Investing $35 million To Bring Fibe TV & Fibe Internet Services To Peterborough
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Photo Sandra Dueck
Peterborough Economic Development, with representatives from Bell Canada and Mayor Daryl Bennett, today announced that Bell is investing more than $35 million to bring its Fibe TV and Fibe Internet services to Peterborough with a state-of-the-art broadband Fibre to the Home (FTTH) network. Peterborough will join Ottawa, Montréal, Toronto, Kingston and other centres in Ontario and Québec in the fast-growing Bell Fibe footprint, which now surpasses more than 5 million households covered.
“I am delighted with the decision by Bell Canada to choose Peterborough for deployment of its high speed fibre technology directly to homes and businesses,” says Mayor Daryl Bennett. “This substantial investment in Peterborough is another strong indicator of our economic potential.”
“Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship are at the core of our 5 year strategic plan. The availability of the fastest high speed Internet is perfect timing for this region,” says Dan Taylor, President and CEO of Peterborough Economic Development. “With our focus on start ups and entrepreneurship, Bell's direct installation of fibre optic high speed Internet gives Peterborough a competitive advantage to attract and retain the kind of 21st century entrepreneurs that will increase our prosperity and well paying job opportunities.”
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