Peterborough Petes to Wear Themed Jerseys for Annual Christmas Game; Jerseys to be Auctioned For Scholarship Fund

The Peterborough Petes will show their holiday spirit with special-themed jerseys for their annual Christmas game on Thursday against the Ottawa 67’s at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, with an online jersey auction to follow.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Proceeds are for the Hockey Ministries International’s Camper Fund, a scholarship fund designed to help their summer campers with financial costs. The auction runs from Thursday at 9 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. EST.

The event will have Christmas-themed games and a visit from Santa Claus. He will be available throughout the game for photo opportunities in the North Lobby.

The puck drop for Thursday’s game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Tickets are sold out.

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Peterborough Woman Arrested On Theft Charges After Allegedly Stealing From Downtown Business In Back-to-Back Days

A 37-year-old Peterborough woman is facing charges after an incident Tuesday evening.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 7:30 p.m., received a call about a theme. They learned that a female had already left the Charlotte Street and Aylmer Street store.

Officers searched the area and shortly after, located a woman who matched the description given to the police. During a search after the arrest, officers located a package not in the suspect’s name. Police learned that about $1,500 in items had been taken from the store on Monday and Tuesday.

The woman was arrested and charged with:

• Theft under $5000 X2

• Failure to comply with probation X2

• Possession Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 - in Canada

The accused is being held in custody and will appear in court on Wednesday.

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City of Peterborough Give January Update For Social Services Mail Delivery During Canada Post Strike

The City of Peterborough has provided an update on details released on how Social Services clients and vendors typically receive cheques, statements, or letters by mail for January.

File Photo.

Due to an anticipated backlog at Canada Post, clients and vendors who typically receive Social Assistance payments mailed can pick up their December cheques from the Social Services Office, 178 Charlotte St starting Jan. 2.

Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

People must show identification when picking up cheques, statements, or letters at Social Services.

For clients who can receive direct deposit, Social Services is encouraging them to arrange for direct deposit or reloadable payment cards as an alternative and to ensure they are signed up for the MyBenefits program to track payments and support communication.

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CANCAST Fishing and Tackle Show Returns to Peterborough Memorial Centre On March 30

The biggest party in fishing is coming back to town as the CANCAST Fishing and Tackle Show is hitting the Peterborough Memorial Centre and Morrow Building on March 30.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre

The event will be vending gear from top brands, participating in the famous tackle swap, expert seminars and meet-and-greets with celebrity anglers.

Early Bird tickets are $13.60 plus applicable fees until Jan. 1. Afterwards, they are $16.60 plus applicable fees.

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Volunteer Peterborough Receives $12,000 Grant From The Commonwell’s L.E.A.F. Program

To help bolster local volunteering efforts, Volunteer Peterborough has received a $12,000 grant from the Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group’s Learning Engagement & Accelerator Fund (L.E.A.F.), announced on Monday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“Volunteerism faces a number of barriers, including general awareness. This program will help to match interested volunteers to opportunities in our community,” says Lois Tuffin, Volunteer Peterborough founder. “By matching the right people and skills to roles we can help build confidence and independence for prospective volunteers while creating lasting benefits for organizations who rely on volunteer support.”

Administered by The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group, the L.E.A.F. program invested $400,000 in grants this year, scaling from previous years.

“We received more than $3.7 million in funding requests this year, highlighting its crucial role in supporting communities,” said Tim Shauf, The Commonwell president. “Our L.E.A.F grants are about caring beyond us and beyond now.”

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Ontario Hockey Federation Updates Player Movement Regulations; Residency Regulations Removed

The Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) has updated its Player Movement Regulations to enhance participant experience and accessibility, removing several residency restrictions for players within the organization, announced on Tuesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The decision was voted on by OHF members in Toronto, where a vote was carried out to remove residency regulations in Minor Hockey for the U10 age group and above in all categories from AAA to House League inclusive.

This applies to the four Minor Hockey Members, including the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario (ALLIANCE), the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) and the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA).

“This is a transformational and historic moment for hockey in the OHF,” said Phillip McKee, OHF executive director. “These changes are designed to create a more inclusive and player-focused system, ensuring every participant has fun and the opportunity to thrive. Through collaboration and listening to our hockey community, we are shaping a stronger future for the game.”

“These changes are the result of extensive feedback and unprecedented collaboration with our Members, Minor Hockey Associations and participants and we are confident they will positively impact hockey families across the OHF,” said John Kastner, Chair of the Board.

OHF says these changes align boys' and co-ed hockey with the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) structure and the standards followed by most sports organizations across Ontario and Canada.

Conversations regarding the changes began in 2022, leading to the formation of a dedicated committee in March. Chaired by former OHF Chair of the Board, Tony Foresi, the committee included representatives from all four Minor Member Partners and OHF Board Members.

The process involved gathering input through parent surveys and town hall meetings with Associations. On Nov. 30, over 200 Minor Hockey Representatives joined the conversation in Toronto as the final details were discussed.

“The changes to Player Movement Regulations represent a significant step forward in creating a system that prioritizes fun, player development, accessibility, and fairness,” said Foresi.

The following are the organization’s key points and regulation changes:

Enhanced Player Movement

Beginning in the 2025–2026 season, OHF Minor Hockey Players in the U10 age group and above will have the opportunity to participate with the Association of their choice regardless of Category (AAA, AA, A, BB, B etc.).

House League for U9 and Below Participants

House League players in the age group of U9 and below can continue to play anywhere within OHF.

Local Programming for Younger Participants in MD and Select

Players in the U9 age group and below will participate within their Member (ALLIANCE, GTHL, NOHA, and OMHA) under Member Regulations for Select and Minor Development hockey.

Pause on addition of Representative Teams for U10 age group and above

The OHF is implementing a temporary hold on the addition of Rep teams at U10 age group and above by Associations and OHF Members. This hold will allow for a thorough review and adjustment of the number of teams at each age group and Category.

Development of Geographically Structured Leagues

To improve accessibility and participation, the OHF, in conjunction with our Minor Members, will work to establish geographically structured leagues. This new framework will reduce travel burdens and promote a more inclusive hockey environment across all regions.

Increased Penalties for Tampering

The OHF and its Minor Members will introduce timelines and increased penalties for recruiting players, during the current season, on other teams for the next season. Such penalties will apply to anyone involved with a team.

The Work is Not Done

The Player Movement Committee will remain active, adjusting the Rules and Regulations for the 2026-2027 season and addressing any unintended consequences that may arise.

Immediate Application of Adopted Regulations

The adopted Regulations will be effective immediately, with the exception that rostering and affiliation for the 2024-2025 season will remain in effect for the remainder of the 2024-2025 season.

The changes are effective for the 2025–26 hockey season.

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Local Restaurant Owner Continues Holiday Spirit of Giving Free Meals To Anyone In Need On Christmas Day

The Original Spaghetti House Pizzeria owner, Ilir Sino, keeps his holiday-giving spirit going as he plans to give our free hot meals for Christmas Day to anyone in need.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ILIR SINO.

He typically offers free hot meals during Easter and Christmas and has given away meals during this year’s Thanksgiving.

Meals will be distributed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Spaghetti House, 512 George St. S.

Sino announced on his Facebook that he is inviting Peterborough and the surrounding area to grab a meal on Saturday.

Sino has a history of philanthropy. In November 2022, he donated $1,500 to Alternatives Community Program Services Peterborough. He has also donated to local sports teams and other charities.

He opened his production facility, Sino’s Fine Foods, located at 597 Monaghan Rd. in the summer of 2022. The business produces his sauces, dressings, soups, oven-ready dinners and more.

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City's Dance the Boro Project Selected For My Main Street Community Activator Initiative

The City of Peterborough’s Dance the Boro project was selected for the My Main Street Community Activator initiative and received support to make enhancements to Quaker Foods City Square and offer free community dance classes in downtown Peterborough.

File Photo.

Dance the Boro, held Friday evenings and Saturday mornings from Sept. 27 to Oct. 19 at Quaker Foods City Square, encouraged the community to come downtown for an hour of fun, dance and connection.

“Bringing people downtown for fun, interactive events like Dance the Boro transforms public spaces into shared spaces where residents of all ages can connect, move and celebrate community,” said Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica, Town Ward Councillors in a joint statement. “These experiences are what make our city thrive and our downtown shine.”

Support from My Main Street was used to make permanent enhancements at Quaker Foods City Square. Improvements included a portable stage, benches, planters, removable bollards, bike racks, and outdoor speakers, all designed to enrich the visitor experience while driving traffic to main streets and contributing to the community's economic vitality.

My Main Street is built on the principle of supporting community economic development and creating vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods that will enhance the overall quality of life for residents while promoting sustainable and inclusive community development.

"Dance the Boro demonstrates the power of community-driven initiatives that breathe new life into our downtown spaces,” said Nour Mazloum, Peterborough DBIA executive director. “We're proud to support free events like these that provide opportunities for people of all ages to experience what makes our downtown a unique and inviting gathering place for all.”

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Trent University Instructor Arrested and Charged With Sexual Assault On Student

47-year-old Kingston man Abdalla Mansur has been charged with sexual assault after an incident in Peterborough last Tuesday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 7:50 p.m. last Tuesday, officers learned that the incident that had happened earlier in the afternoon involving a part-time course instructor at Trent University in the Mathematics Department and a student. 

The incident happened when the student asked for extra help for exam perperation. The actions occurred during a meeting off campus at a local business at the request of the part-time course instructor. The incident involved non-consensual touching.

An investigation followed on Friday where Mansur was arrested in Kingston and brought back to Peterborough.

He appeared in Weekend and Statutory Holiday (WASH) court on Saturday.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

Trent University has been made aware of the situation and is cooperating with the police.

As this matter is now before the courts, the Police have stated that no more information will be released.

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