DBIA Featured Post: Lett Architects

Peterborough is home to many amazing restaurants, clothing shops, and unique boutiques of many varieties—especially in the downtown core. What most people probably don’t consider are the people behind the design of the buildings that house these great businesses!

Peterborough's Lett Architects houses some of this country’s greatest architectural minds, and is responsible for quite a few of the very buildings you see and have stepped foot in in this very city. The company, which is one of the youngest firms in the province with staff ranging from 25 to 42 years of age, provides architectural, planning and interior design services to its many satisfied customers you can find across the province.
 
Lett-Smith Architects was established in 1973 in Toronto, opening a branch in Peterborough in 1995 on Reid St. The business eventually moved to its current location of 171 King St., and in 2004 became simply known as Lett Architects. Bill Lett Sr originally started the business, and in 1998 was joined by his son Bill Jr who took over the business in 2008 and works with seven outstanding staff members on numerous projects in and around the city and throughout Ontario.
 
Working in cultural, institutional, and commercial fields, Lett Architects has a reputation that proceeds itself. Also focusing on health care, Lett has taken part in many local projects that most people will immediately recognize. They have worked on Market Hall (with Trevelyan Architect), Showplace Peterborough, the Peterborough Medical Arts building on Charlotte St which is now under construction, and are currently working with Hospice Peterborough, Peterborough Museum and Archives, and the Brandhealth façade restoration on George St.
 
Being located centrally in the city has allowed Bill and the staff at Lett Architects to be in the center of creativity that our city offers. It has been a great place to attract employees and potential customers, and provides the best amenities around for both professional and personal use. Bill loves the appeal of our great downtown and knows for a fact that it offers better opportunity that many of its larger surrounding cities.
 
Working across the city covering all aspects of the architectural trade has allowed for the staff at Lett Architecture to branch out and become involved with different groups. One staff member is currently a DBIA Board member while the firm is a member of Sustainability Peterborough.
 
To really appreciate the beauty of some of the great buildings both new and old around town, we suggest you take a look into their backgrounds. Chances are that Lett Architects has had a hand in quite a few of them!

Market Hall restoration

For more on Lett Architects (171 King St.), go to:
Website: Lett.ca
Phone: 705-743-3311

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

PTBOCanada Featured Post: Match Me Peterborough

Match Me owner Rebecca Cooper

With years of experience matching people up in the community on a casual basis, and with a great downtown business on the go—she owned Tango at the time—Rebecca Cooper knew she was at a crossroads. She was doing two things she absolutely loved, but knew that she had to make a tough choice between them. In 2009, she finally made the choice—selling Tango—and diving head first into the Match Making business. It was then Match Me Peterborough was born!

Rebecca begins the huge process of matchmaking by screening potential applicants to find out more about them than what is shown on the outside. Indeed, her goal isn't just in finding a simple physical attraction like most online dating sites do, but in helping to facilitate longterm meaningful relationships.

After the screening process, she helps out her client by working with a life coach and image consultant to help them, if that's what they desire.

After this is completed, she gets to work in looking for a desired match. She even goes so far as to arrange the first date. So there is no pressure on either party; they simply have to show up and enjoy a great date! The entire process is effortless and is completely confidential and discreet.

While Rebecca has worked with people in various age groups to provide assistance, she specifically tries to look for single career professionals who are 40-plus. (Clientele are mostly 40 to 65, but there are clients starting as young as 27 years old.)

Although she has moved back to Toronto to help establish part of her business there, Rebecca keeps coming back to Peterborough! Whether it be meeting with new clients, screening singles, or simply to enjoy what the city has to offer, she loves every excuse to come back. She loves the energy and charisma of downtown Peterborough, and always uses it as a focal point on the first dates she sets up between clients.

What Match Me Peterborough does is take the work out of finding a compatible partner for someone who is really searching. Match Me Peterborough is a service that requires a year long membership, but is money very well spent! Rebecca absolutely loves the challenging and rewarding career she has chosen in match making.

She is the only business in Peterborough who provides these services and has been extremely successful. Her success has lead to expanding to Toronto, London, Kingston, and many other Ontario cities while linking up with 7 other agencies to assist and draw from. If you are single and a career professional who has been meaning to put themselves out there but haven't been able to find the time or any luck in finding your mate, we suggest you contact Rebecca! She will do all of the hard work for you!

For more on Match Me Peterborough, go to:
Web: MatchMePeterborough.com
Twitter: @MatchMePtbo

For more info on PTBOCanada Featured Posts, email here. 

Hoop Dreams: The Evans Lacrosse Brothers Play Each Other In B-Ball At The YMCA

The Evans brothers were at the YMCA of Peterborough today (September 6th) for an epic one-on-one basketball game. Scott Evans (pictured in black) was the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) goals leader while his younger brother Shawn Evans (pictured in grey)—who was recently behind the TSN SportsCentre Desk—was the MSL points and assists leader. The brothers played a best of 3 series, with Shawny (nickname "The Baby" because he's the youngest of four in his family) beating Scott 2 games to 1. "Little man won 2 games to one but I'll get him next time," Scott said afterwards.

—PTBOCanada's sports guy Scott Arnold

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Peterborough's Kate LeDeuce Covers Freddie Mercury

It was Freddie Mercury's birthday Thursday (September 5th), so as a tribute Kate LeDeuce from Peterborough band roboteyes did this cover of Queen's "Somebody to Love". It's terrific.

[YouTube] 

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Peterborough Woman's New Jewellery Shop Inspired By Trip To Haiti

Stephanie Guyatt is the creator of Under One Sun, a new jewellery shop in Peterborough located out of her home at 236 Cowling Heights. Under One Sun came to be after Stephanie travelled to Haiti last Fall on a mission trip. She fell in love with a artisan co-op there that crafts the jewellery and which offers fair wages to feed, educate and house their employees' families. Although the jewellery is sold by some in the United States, Stephanie is the only one that offers it in Canada. The jewellery offered is made from sustainable items and is environmentally friendly. Much of the jewellery is made from recycled paper, Haitian clay, and recycled oil drums. Here's some pics...

Under One Sun will be hosting an Open House from September 6th to 8th and will be at the Creative Bean event on Saturday, September 14th.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Could Peterborough Be Getting A Red Nek Fries?

We spoke to the owner recently at her popular chip wagon in Orono off the 115, and she mentioned she is looking at expanding her business—perhaps to Peterborough and the Kawarthas.  

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Peterborough Gets Its Own Batman On Twitter @Ptbo_Batman

Every city needs its heroes—real and imagined. Well, Peterborough has a new superhero on Twitter: Batman. He says in his Twitter bio he is "Watching over the great city of Peterborough... the Dark Knight of Peterpatch" He has tweeted from various destinations in Peterborough (see pics below). Follow Batman Peterborough on Twitter @Ptbo_Batman. Fun stuff.

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PTBOCanada Pics: Trent Unveils New Sculpture To Symbolize Past, Present & Future Of Trent Athletics

Trent University unveiled a new sculpture today: "The Excalibur". It symbolizes the past, present and future of Trent Athletics coming together as one. Sara Rettie (business graduate) is the brains behind this new permanent fixture that rests between the Trent athletic complex and Justin Chiu Stadium. She started it as a legacy project while studying at Trent, with the intention of creating something to show how far Trent Athletics has come as well as all the great things that are yet to come. Sara had help from fellow business student Cole Maricotti and it took them a year to complete the project. Sara drew a rough sketch of her vision and then Cole got them in touch with local contractor Todd Riddolls of California Iron (2629 Lakefield Rd, North of Trent) to make the concept a reality. The sculpture was unveiled this evening (September 4th) just before the Trent Excalibur Men's Field lacrosse game versus the Nipissing Lakers—Trent's last exhibition game before their season starts September 7th against the defending National Champions, the McGill Redmen (on the new Thomas A. Stewart turf). Here's pics...

Sara Rettie with the sculpture  

Ceremonial faceoff: Trent president Dr. Steven E. Franklin with Rettie and lacrosse players Brock McGillis (left) from Trent and Brodie Birkhoff (right) from Nipissing (Brodie is a Peterborough native)

Big crowd tonight. Wow.  

—PTBOCanada's sports reporter Scott Arnold

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Enticing Cakes Celebrates Their New Location

Enticing Cakes has opened their doors at their brand new location. They didn't have far to go, as they moved across the road in East City to a bigger spot that better suited their growing bakery. You'll now find them at 57 Hunter Street East. Every little detail was taken into consideration as they renovated their new space, including using wood from the family farm as they worked towards their new look. They've also added a wedding consultation room to plan and book your wedding treats. Owner Sabrina Rowles and the rest of the Enticing Cakes team will be celebrating their two year anniversary in East City next month. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter or give them a call at 705.775.2253. 

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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The City Of Peterborough Embraces Social Media By Joining Twitter @CityPtbo

The City of Peterborough has taken a big step—they are on Twitter and tweeting  @CityPtbo. We wanted to find out why they took this step now, and the back story on how it came together. Heather Watson, Councillor Services Assistant with the City of Peterborough, explains in this interview.

PTBOCANADA: This is a big step for the city. How much planning and logistics went into deciding to activate this account? Has it been in the works for a while? Many internal conversations? What were your main concerns in joining Twitter?

WATSON: There has been a group working on a social media policy since the Mayor was elected in 2010. After much collaboration, a social media policy was adopted by Council in the Spring of this year. The policy and accompanying procedure explored the use of various social channels by each of the departments within the City. Concerns discussed and addressed were the timely responses to postings, regular monitoring and security (password management, who has access etc.).
 
The Mayor's Office was not involved in the working group, however we did have input once a draft policy was presented. Our concern was to ensure that members of Council would be free to maintain social media profiles and respond to their constituents in a way that they saw fit. We also wanted to know that staff who managed the accounts were able to respond to requests made through social channels in a timely way to provide good customer service.

 
PTBOCANADA: Who will be looking after the account and will it be monitored during weekdays only? Will there be interaction with Tweeters (aka "tweeps") who have  questions/concerns?
 
WATSON: Any City department or program can start a social profile. As in the case of the City of Peterborough Twitter account, staff are assigned to be responsible for the management, monitoring and responding to queries. The @CityPtbo is managed through Corporate Services staff member Sharron Hayton. The account will be monitored Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. The purpose of the account is to relay messages as it relates to media releases and information that is already public. Interaction with tweeps will be responsive to questions and to refer them to the right channel.

PTBOCANADA: What is the main "mission" of the account?
 
WATSON: To get messages out to City residents in a timely way and to respond to customer service inquiries.

 
PTBOCANADA: Do you see this as another step in the city embracing the age of social media? Mayor Bennett, of course, has been on Twitter for a while.
 
WATSON: Yes. This is something that Mayor Bennett has been encouraging since being elected. Now that a policy has been adopted by Council, citizens can expect to see more engagement through social channels. He was the first Mayor to tweet in the City of Peterborough, has held two Twitter Town Halls to engage citizens and he proclaimed June 30, 2013 as Social Media Day in the City to recognize the important role that social media plays in our community.

PTBOCANADA: Will it be used in times of emergency for the city?

WATSON: This account will be used to get timely information out to citizens during times of emergency.

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Note: Watson notes there are a number number of City departments/programs that currently maintain Twitter sites. Here they are:
Peterborough Airport: @PtboAirport
GPA EDC: @PtboEcDev
Peterborough Fire Services: @PtboFireRescue
Peterborough Museum & Archives: @OntheHill3
Peterborough Lakefield Police: @PLCPS
Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre: @PSWC1
Peterborough Transit: @PeterboroughTr1
Peterborough Utilities: @ptbo_utilities
Riverview Park & Zoo: @RiverviewZoo

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