September 28, 2014

The PTBOCanada Bucket List

September 28, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

We're developing a Peterborough bucket list here of stuff to try in the city—many are realistic and do-able but some might be a little hard to achieve... but it's good to dream and spread your imagination! Help us build it further: Email us, tweet us and Facebook us with your ideas, and we'll update the list! Here are a bunch to get things started... —Aaron Elliott & Neil Morton

OK, here we go...

• Go over the Lift Lock in some type of watercraft
• Play a game of Capture the Flag in Jackson's Park
• Drive the Zamboni during intermission at a Petes game
• Be a guest morning announcer on one of the city's awesome radio stations for a local charity
• Give a gift to a crossing guard/lifeguard
• Ride Jackson's Creek from start to finish in a kayak or canoe

• Catch a monster sized Muskie in Little Lake (they exist!)
• Pay it forward: Buy someone a coffee in line at a local cafe
• Bring back the light boat show at Music Fest and drive one of the boats
• Dress up as the flower store's dancing clown
• Coach a youth sports team
• Volunteer for a local organization or event

• Dress up as Slapshot for a Petes game
• Sink a hole-in-one on the ant hill hole at Milltown
• Perform with a local band at Musicfest
• Play at an Open Mic at a local bar
• Finish the Family of 4 Special at Jeff Purveys all by yourself
• Taste every beer produced by Peterborough's awesome microbreweries (but not all in one sitting!)

Citiots at Gordon Best Theatre (photo j. Lee Photography)

• Try improv—and definitely go see local troupe the Citiots play at the Gordon Best
• Try out for a part in a local theatre production—or go watch one
• Complete the YMCA half marathon—or at least the 5k
• Check out Gallery in the Attic
• Have a float or march in the Santa Claus Parade—or any local parade
• Try an art class at the Art School of Peterborough

• Take a flight over the Kawarthas after flying out of Peterborough Airport
• Try out for Snowfest Idol
• Win a Town Ward seat
• Play tennis under the lights at Bonnerworth
• Become a member at the Peterborough lawn bowling club
• Hit one over the green monster at Riverside
• Scuba dive in Jackson's pond
• Ride every city bus route from start to finish
• Walk the underground tunnels from PCVS (they exist!)
• Paddleboard from Little Lake to Rice Lake
• Read a book to the preschoolers at Public Library group

• Try every poutine on the menu at the Whistle Stop Cafe
• Take a Peterborough ghost walk
• Suit up for the Peterborough Lakers
• Tour Jackson Creek Press studio, letter press and printmaking
• Adopt a rescue dog
• Taste test the latest creations at Quaker
• Drive an old crane at GE

• Ring the Market Hall Clock tower bells
• Enter a team in the Dragonboat festival
• Go down the Superslide at the zoo as an adult
• Walk in the Trent Wildlife sanctuary. Complete solace
• Go the Pig's Ear for old time sake, and be a jukebox hero
• Take out of town visitors to the Canoe Museum
• Stop when you're walking the Hunter St. bridge and admire the view

• Visit the Trent Valley Archives to learn about Peterborough history. Listen to a story (or two) from preeminent local historian Elwood Jones
• Camp in your backyard and stare up at the stars

• Take a bike ride with your family through Jackson's Park
• Sponsor a team or player on the Peterborough Huskies
• Go to Armour Hill and admire the panaromic view of your beautiful city
• High Five someone and give them a big smile

---->>>> Add to our list! Email us ideas, tweet us or Facebook us.

New ones being submitted by readers...

• Be customer of the day at Silver Bean
• Play Bingo on a Saturday night at Delta Bingo
• Ride the zoo train and scream in the tunnel
• Try Hogmanay at Hutchison House
• Scream while driving under the Lift Lock
• Skate on the canal in January
• Eat perogies from Taste of Russia, volunteer on the Salvation Army kettle at Christmas, enter a craft/photo/something in the Peterborough Exhibition, toboggan down Armour Hill, take a course at Trent or Fleming, ask a question or make a presentation at a city council meeting, eat breakfast at the East City Coffee Shop, be able to call people at the Farmers' Market by their first names, and skate alone on the Canal on a starlit night.
• Do the Wolf Howl on Wolf FM
• Enjoy the Lift Lock Dinner Cruise
• See a show at Market Hall
• Go to a Repair Café event and bring a broken something
• Order a sandwich at The Planet
• Enjoy the view on the patio of the Silver Bean Cafe
• Rent a kayak, a canoe or a standing paddle board and enjoy Little Lake
• Take your bike up to Trent University. While you’re at it, go to Lakefield by the bicycle path
• Spend half a day at Green-Up Ecology Park
• Look up all the cool stuff and free brochures at Green-Up store
• Take a walk at Little Lake Cemetary, read the tombstones and find the angel

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September 12, 2014

A Bunch Of VW Bus Campers Came To Peterborough From Around North America & It Was Awesome

September 12, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

The 7th Annual Bus Volk Festival took place at Beavermead Campground last weekend, as a fine group of VW Bus Campers came to Peterborough from as far away as the United States for a weekend of food, friendship, and the love of old Volkswagen Campers. With so much to to do and so many great restaurants near Beavermead, the park is the perfect venue for out of town guests. The event started with a pub crawl on Friday night, then a huge pot luck on Saturday evening followed by a campfire jam that can't be beat. It was an awesome time and a great way to keep the park being utilized as a much needed campground close to the city. Check out the pictures below...
—words & pictures by Phil Stephenson

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September 01, 2014

Here Are PGA Tour Canada Golfers Teeing Off On The Runway At Peterborough Airport

September 01, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

PGA TOUR Canada players were at the Wildfire Invitational near Peterborough this weekend.

Beforehand, a few took the time to tee it up down a runway at Peterborough Airport for a long drive contest like no other.

Watch as golf balls take flight there...

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August 24, 2014

PTBOCanada Spotlight: The Couples Resort Is A Beautiful Getaway In Algonquin Park

August 24, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

The Couples Resort is a stunning 5-star luxury couples lakefront resort located in Algonquin Park on Galeairy Lake, just over a couple of hours away from Peterborough. It is the perfect place for couples who crave romance and intimacy in a relaxed, beautiful setting. Couples are pampered with incredible accomodations, customer service, spa, gourmet meals and wine, and can participate in endless activities and adventures from canoeing to mountain biking—with idyliic Algonquin Park serving as your backdrop. The resort has breathtaking wilderness, pure fresh air, secluded forests and pristine waters. It is the ideal getaway for couples, and gets rave reviews and many repeat customers. Here are pictures to give you a flavour of what to expect...

The view from the other side of the lake of Couples Resort

Art gallery & studio located right on the Couples Resort property

For more on Couples Resort, go to their website, Facebook page and Twitter page. If you're considering a Fall getaway that's close to Peterborough and the Kawarthas, keep the Couples Resort top of mind! You can book online here.

August 20, 2014

13 Historical Facts About Indigenous People In Peterborough Area

August 20, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

Peterborough and the Kawarthas has an amazing native history and culture. Thanks to Rosanna Haroutounian for compiling this listicle for us...

1. Peterborough is the native territory of the Anishinaabeg, a group of indigenous people comprised of the Ojibwa, Odawa, Potawatami, Chippewa, Mississauga, Algonquin, and Delaware communities who controlled the Great Lakes Basin since the late 1600s.

2. Before it became known as Peterborough, the area was called Nogojiwanong, Ojibwa for “place at the end of rapids.”

3. The shores of the Odenabe River were a gathering place for indigenous people. Odenabe, or Otonabee, means “river that beats like a heart.”

4. Anishinaabemowin was widely spoken by the indigenous people in the area before indigenous languages and cultural practices were replaced by English and Christianity through the residential school system.

5. Through the treaties and land claims processes, Hiawatha First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Alderville First Nation, and the Mississaugas of Scugog First Nation have been established in the Peterborough area. These nations refer to themselves officially as Mississaugas.

6. By some accounts, the Mississaugas moved to southern Ontario, including the Peterborough area, from their homeland north of Lake Huron at the start of the 1700s. According to Curve Lake First Nation, however, the Mississaugas were originally from the Peterborough area. They migrated to the Mississauga River at the North shore of Lake Huron in the mid 1600s. They lived there temporarily to avoid disease and conflict resulting from British and French competition over the fur trade.

7. When Elsie Knott became chief of Curve Lake First Nation in 1954, she became the first Anishnaabe Kwe O’gimaa, or Native Female Chief, in Canada.

8. The first Mission House in Peterborough County was built at Rice Lake, present-day Hiawatha First Nation, in 1823. The Mission house, or church, was Methodist. It became Hiawatha United between 1925 and 1929.

9. Nathan Baggs, the first Methodist Missionary in Western Ontario, baptized Chief Paudash and most of his band at present-day Hiawatha First Nation in about 1820.

10. When Trent University established the Indian-Eskimo Studies Program in 1969, it became the first university in North America to have a department dedicated to the study of Aboriginal people. The program became the Department of Native Studies in 1972, leading the way for other native studies programs in Canada.

11. In 1978, Trent became the first Canadian university to establish a four-year Indigenous Studies Bachelor of Arts honours program, and in 1986, the Department of Native Studies at Trent worked with the Trent Frost Centre for Native Studies and Canadian Studies to develop the first Master of Arts program in Native Studies.

12. The first Native Studies PhD program in Canada was launched at Trent University in 1997. Its first graduates were awarded PhDs in 2005. In 2006, the Department of Native Studies changed its name to Indigenous Studies.

13. As part of the new four-year indigenous studies program, courses in the Anishnaabe and Mohawk languages were offered for the first time at a Canadian university. Trent University hired elders as course instructors to teach language and indigenous culture courses.

—guest post by Rosanna Haroutounian

[photos via hiawathafirstnation.com]

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August 19, 2014

47 Tall Tales About Peterborough, Canada

August 19, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

These facts are all totally pretty much not true...

1. The Peterborough Lift Lock was originally constructed to be a giant boat teeter-totter.

2. Someone once went over Peterborough Falls at Millennium Park in a barrel.

3. Peterborough is the LARPing capital of Central Ontario

4. Little Lake was once called Big Lake.

Del Crary Park (photo courtesy David Feeley)

5. Del Crary Park was man-made and constructed in the shape of a pizza slice.

6. Northcrest Arena is built over a lost treasure of Peterborough sports trophies from the the early 20th century.

7. There are a vast array of tunnels connecting Trent University and Fleming College. There is also possibly a small community of people who live in them, a secret society.

8. The superslide at Riverview Park & Zoo was originally going to be constructed to extend right into the Otonabee.

9. Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch and Jason Dunn (formerly of Hawk Nelson) grew up playing ball hockey against each other.

10. Peterborough was originally thought to be named after Peter Pan. (The thought of our city being nicknamed “Never Never Land” was a bit of a turn off.)

11. Brad Pitt once hung out at Spanky's.

12. Jackson's Park was Canada’s first ever open-concept zoo, with free roaming large animals walking around.

Peterborough streetcars in olden days on George St.

13. A Peterborough streetcar once went all the way to downtown Toronto.

14. The pavement on Charlotte St. is Canada’s oldest serving road surface.

15. Before becoming a World Championship wrestler, Bobby Roode had dreams of being a professional shuffleboard player.

16. The Centennial Fountain at Little Lake continuously sprays Fresca, not water.

17. The City Court House served as the inspiration for the Hall of Justice in Super Friends.

18. Peterborough-raised Sebastian Bach got his break in the music business as the 6th member of New Kids on the Block.

19. Wild Water and Wheels was built with the idea of it eventually becoming Canada’s largest amusement park.

20. There is a secret vault at City Hall full of Quaker granola bars and Minute Maid in case a city wide food shortage ever arises.

21. The iconic Hi Tops sign went on a National Tour across Canada.

22. The term “Canadian Tuxedo” referring to a denim outfit from head to toe was created in Peterborough in the mid-1980s.

23. Peterborough is the Plaid Capital of Canada.

24. Dick Todd still plans on returning to coach the Petes on two more different occasions.

25. Quaker Oats invented the concept of people being happy about what they ate for breakfast.

26. There is a giant rainbow protecting downtown Peterborough

27. 95 percent of all people in Peterborough have had at least one make-out session on Armour Hill.

28. Much like London Bridges, the Hunter St Bridge was originally built up with wood and clay, wood and clay, wood and clay.

John Grant picture via PeterboroughLakers.ca

29. The Peterborough Lakers eat Cap'n Crunch as a team in the dressing room before every game.

30. Canoeists often break out in random gunwale bobbing on the Otonabee.

Telephone construction crew on Brock St. circa 1905

31. Brock Street has actually had high speed internet access since the early 20th century (see picture below).

32. From the air, Peterborough’s boundary is actually shaped like a baby T-Rex holding an ice cream cone.

33. The term "hipster" was actually invented by Mike Watt during one of his talking out loud dreams in 1996.

34. David Koski and Zach Galifianakis are the same person.

35. Gerti Sina is Mike Judson's shorter, older brother.

36. Canada’s first mini portable pickleball court was designed and built by Canadian General Electric in Peterborough.

37. Ping Pong is the unofficial official underground indie sport of Peterborough.

38. Ketchup is outlawed at Hot Belly Mamas. If you want a condiment, it has to at least be tabasco sauce.

39. The Peterborough Skateboard park is one of the largest continuously grafittied skating surfaces in Ontario.

40. The Lift Lock tunnel is haunted, and Casper has been seen on multiple occasions.

41. The White House Hotel on Charlotte St. has been mistaken for The White House on occasion.

42. The "Love Tunnel" at the Peterborough Zoo has lead to thousands of marriages.

43. Peterborough Chamber CEO Stu Harrison once served as a body double for Bruce Willis.

44. There is a person living in the Market Hall clock, and they play around with the time sometimes depending on their mood.

45. The Peterborough Economic Development's Jamie Coughlin has longer sideburns than Jason Priestley and Luke Perry did on 90210.

46. Quaker Oats has a giant scent machine and controls which aromas we get to smell on any given day.

47. Poutine, Euchre, The Caesar and The Mullet were all invented here.

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August 12, 2014

The Peterborough Patchbus Is Just About The Coolest Camper Van Ever

August 12, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

The Wolf's Ken Elrick II—aka "Dr Patchbeard"—has the hippest set of wheels anywhere. Here, in his own words, he tells us about "The Patchbus"...

The Patchbus is a 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Camper that I purchased in the fall of 2012 from a nice hippie couple in Cobourg. I've been interested in cars my whole life and had been looking for a while for a project car to play around with. The idea of buying a VW bus didn't really cross my mind until my dad got one of his own about a year prior. Since buying it, I've learned a lot about working on it, having swapped the engine out myself. I've used it as a daily driver around Peterborough as well as gone on road trips and camping trips with it. The pop-top and bunk beds allow for four to sleep comfortably—as long as they don't mind cuddling a little bit—so it's perfect for long trips. One day, it will take me across the country. One day. —Ken Elrick II

Here's a bunch of pictures of The Patchbus...

Ken Elrick going up the country in The Patchbus

At The Wolf/Kruz, VIP Parking for The Patchbus

Someone told The Patchbus it's all happening at the zoo

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August 02, 2014

Go Get Your "I'd Rather Be In Peterborough" T-Shirt Along The Otonabee

August 02, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

These beauty tees are available at Pedal 'N' Paddle below Silver Bean Café at Millennium Park. Buy one, and tweet us pictures of you rocking one. Community pride.

Twitter is talking them up...

Friday Fun Fact: The I'd Rather Be in Peterborough logo was designed by the one and only George Elliott in the 1970s pic.twitter.com/7SEWAIl3AO
— Pete Dalliday (@petedalliday) August 1, 2014

Come and get one! #PedalNPaddle below @silverbeancafe @clairewrites @petedalliday @downtownPtbo @ptbochamber pic.twitter.com/ASvEucVGQL
— Lloyd Graham (@LEGnCAS) August 1, 2014

Who wouldn't? @EileenKimmett #PedalNPaddle @silverbeancafe @pktourism @clairewrites @downtownPtbo @Ptbo_Canada pic.twitter.com/ObyeBh14Qc
— Lloyd Graham (@LEGnCAS) August 1, 2014

After work I'm going to the #PedalAndPaddle to grab one of these sweet retro @Ptbo_Canada T's @LEGnCAS @petedalliday pic.twitter.com/Qydrg4rPpK
— Matty Buller (@TheMainEventMB) August 2, 2014

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July 25, 2014

We Take You For A Paddle Boat Ride Around Peterborough

July 25, 2014/ PTBOCANADA

Our lifestyle reporter Julie Morris, along with her friend Tracey Johnston, set out on a paddle boat ride on the Otonabee River and Little Lake on Friday (July 25th)...

. @CupcakeJu and I have started our paddling adventure @Ptbo_Canada #pedalandpaddle #paddleboat pic.twitter.com/PIKJf6tjfK
— Tracey Johnston (@TraceyMJohnston) July 25, 2014

There is nothing better than being a tourist in your own city! Here are some pictures they snapped along the way...