Alex Brunton Is A Free Man: Is The System Broken?

Brunton leaving Old City Courthouse in Toronto (pic via CTV)

Child pornographer Alex Brunton is a free man.

The 66-year-old former Peterborough hockey volunteer has been given a suspended sentence with time already served for a slew of child porn charges—including videos police found that Brunton had secretly filmed of naked teenage hockey boys in a Peterborough arena dressing room and shower.

Brunton, who had been in custody since last May for making, possessing and distributing child pornography, was released upon sentencing Tuesday (March 11th)—leaving court in Toronto a smiling man, and returning to his Peterborough home with his wife, who has chosen to stick by his side. He received three years probation.

"Hopefully Mr. Brunton can gradually start regaining the trust of his family—they're going to support him—and hopefully the trust of his community," defence lawyer Alison Mackay said outside the Old City Hall courthouse. (The trust of his community, huh?)

In addition to his three years probation, Brunton is ordered to stay away from places where children under 16 can reasonably be expected to be, unless accompanied by his wife or another adult designated by his wife. He is also prohibited from "knowingly placing himself in a position of trust" with children under 16 and prohibited from using the internet to contact or communicate with children.

Also, Brunton's name will be added to the Sex Offender Registry for life.

But the punishment doesn't seem to fit the crime here. What are your thoughts? Is the system broken? Is this enough? Weigh in below, on our Facebook page or tweet us.

[CTV News]

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TVCogeco Debuts New Show "Answering The Call With Chief Murray Rodd"

What a great idea this is. TV Cogeco in Peterborough is introducing a brand new show, Answering The Call With Chief Murray Rodd. It airs Mondays from 7 pm to 8 pm (starting March 10th). You can call in with your questions, concerns and suggestions to Chief Rodd on all local police and crime-related matters. No word if Chief Rodd will sing the COPS theme song on air.

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Carrie Underwood Makes Surprise Appearance Onstage At Peterborough Rocker's Concert In Tulsa

As Peterborough celebrity Twitter account PMZ first reported, Carrie Underwood made a surprise appearance at a Thousand Foot Krutch concert during their Winter Jam Tour stop at the BOK Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma last night (March 9th), completely shocking the sold-out crowd. Thousand Foot Krutch's lead singer Trevor McNevan (pictured in the pics below via Twitter with Underwood) was born and raised in Peterborough and the band was formed in town in 1997.

—Scott Arnold

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DBIA Featured Post: McThirsty's

Pub culture is one that is well ingrained in today’s society. Whether you’re out for a pint, meeting up with friends to watch the game, or simply out for the pub fair, there is always a great selection of taverns to choose from. Peterborough’s resident Irish style pub, McThirsty’s, located at 166 Charlotte Street in the heart of the downtown, is always one that is at the top of the list.

A mainstay for years and always successful, the pub came under new ownership in late July of 2012 and has gone through an extensive overhaul to create an even better, energized atmosphere. Cam Green and Reg Maranda (who also own Kettle Drums on Hunter Street) along with Tony Best have set out to bring back the oldschool pub feel in both the environment and behind the bar/kitchen.

As any great pub should, McThirsty’s has a wide range of drink options, and is known locally as having one of the best varieties around. With 25 taps available, the pub has a roster that includes 7 regular beers, thus rotating the other 18 on a regular basis. Known as beer trend setters in the area, you’ll find everything from old domestic favourites and Canadian micro-breweries to exotic importants from as far away as Russia and South American to name just a few. On top of this, the liquor selection is second to none.

With new owners who have a background in the local restaurant scene came a new updated menu with incredible choices. As a good pub should have, options such as burgers, chip truck French fries, poutine and what some consider the best wings in town are available. With the kitchen being open until midnight, you’ll now find some other choices to tempt the taste buds such as an incredible blackened catfish and traditional Irish stew which is beyond unique!

Ask anyone and they’ll tell you McThirsty’s has the friendliest staff around. Cam, Reg and Tony are almost always on site working and you can tell that they care about everyone’s experience. One of their goals is to become the Cheers of Peterborough.

Featuring various musical acts from Tuesday through Saturday, trivia nights with Cam on Mondays, and Open Mic on Wednesdays with well known local rocker James Higgins, you’ll always find the pub hopping. With weekly specials and sports always on the numerous TVs, you’re bound to find something to peak your interest.

If you’re looking for a night out and a laid back pub experience, McThirsty’s is the place to be. With their epic St. Patrick’s Day celebration just around the corner, Cam, Reg and Tony invite you to come down and experience what a true pub should be.

For more on McThirsty's (166 Charlotte St.), go to:
Phone: 705.743.2220
Facebook: McThirsty's Pint
Twitter: @McThirstys

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

—By Aaron Elliott

Watch: "I Am A Girl, I Am A Woman"

Peterborough's Strutt Central posted this inspiring video on International Women's Day featuring local girls from The Strutt Program along with their mothers reciting lines from a powerful poem, "I Am A Girl, I Am A Woman", written by Carolyn Abbott. Check it out below...

[YouTube]

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Happy International Women's Day

Women, you rock. You are the everything.

Image via InternationalWomensDay.com

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Watch This Great Video On YMCA Peterborough Half Marathon

The 36th annual YMCA Peterborough Half Marathon took runners on a scenic route through the heart of Peterborough recently. Check out this great video made by Get Out There magazine.

[Get Out There Magazine YouTube channel]

—Sports Guy Scott Arnold

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Old Postcards Of Lift Lock

Through a unique partnership we have with Trent Valley Archives to bring local history to life, we bring you these gems...

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Here's A Timelapse Video Of A Guy Driving From Peterborough To Ottawa In 37 Seconds

If only it were this quick...

[video by Todd Steenburgh]

—Scott Arnold

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Enter A Team In Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival!

As one of the community’s most important fundraising events, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival—which PTBOCanada.com is a proud sponsor of this year—has announced their 2014 goal to raise $200,000 to support the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC)’s mammography program, with new reporting workstations for radiologists and new breast viewing software. This year's Festival will be held on Saturday, June 14th.
 
To help reach this year’s fundraising target, the Festival wants to attract 80 community teams to compete in a number of divisions and categories. There are several new features for the 2014 Festival, including an expanded Junior Division for high school paddlers between the ages of 14-18; and a new bonus 250m Sprint Race for the first eight teams to raise $2,000 in pledges.

Registration for the 2014 Festival is now open. Community team captains can register their team online. An early bird registration rate is available until March 11, 2014, and the registration deadline is April 14th. All materials and packages, including registration details, are available at the Festival’s new website.

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