Peterborough Petes Sign German Defenseman Rio Kaiser; Will Debut Friday Night Against Soo Greyhounds

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The Peterborough Petes have signed German defenceman Rio Kaiser to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement, announced on Friday.

Photo courtesy of Matt Zambonin and the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes originally selected the Berlin, Germany native in the first round, 31st overall, of the 2023 CHL Import Draft. The 6’7” defenceman has played 10 games over two seasons for Eisbären Berlin of the DEL, Germany’s top league.

Since 2023, he’s featured in 18 games for Eisbären Juniors Berlin U20, scoring two goals and adding six assists for eight points. The 2006-born Kaiser has also played 24 games on loan with Lausitzer Füchse of the DEL2, scoring once and adding two assists.

“Rio is a defenceman who already has experience playing professional hockey in Germany’s top league,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. “He’s very difficult to play against and is a big, physical presence on the ice. We think he’s a good addition to our team and we’re excited to see him on the ice.”

Kaiser has represented Germany at multiple levels. Most recently, he suited up for Germany U20 at the 2025 World Junior Championships in Ottawa.

“I’m a big defenceman who likes to play physical,” said Kaiser. “I’m really excited to be here and to get started with the Peterborough Petes.”

Kaiser will wear number 17 and is expected to make his OHL debut against the Soo Greyhounds at GFL Memorial Gardens.

The Petes lost their last game 4-1 to the home North Bay Battalion on Thursday night.

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City to Take Natural Christmas Trees Via Curbside Pickup During January

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The City of Peterborough will perform curbside collection of natural Christmas trees throughout January, announced on Thursday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Residents asked to put out trees for curbside collection starting Monday.

Collection takes place weather permitting and does not follow regular collection schedules. Requests are not required for collection.

Trees will be composted, therefore all decorations and tinsel must be removed and trees must not be in plastic bags.

Residents are asked to place trees at the curb in a visible location within safe reach for collection staff. The City asks placed trees to avoid snowbanks and ensure that trees do not get buried.

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Peterborough's Porter Martone Draws Back Into Team Canada's Lineup At World Juniors

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After being scratched for two games, Peterborough’s Porter Martone is drawing back into Team Canada’s lineup ahead of their quarterfinal matchup against Czechia in the IIHF World Juniors at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Thursday night.

Photo by Jordan Cooper.

The Brampton Steelhead forward had played their first two games with Canada against Finland and Latvia but could not register a point.

“When he’s on his game, he plays a 200-foot game,” said Dave Cameron, Team Canada head coach. “He’s physical. He’s making plays. He’s going. I think he’s been overthinking it a little bit, which has slowed him down a bit, but I expect a big game.”

He was not in Canada’s 3-0 win over Germany and 4-1 loss to the United States in the following games.

While Martone is dressing for Thursday’s game, it is unknown who is being scratched in his place.

Should Canada be victorious, they will play off against the winner of Finland and Slovakia, who are playing prior to their game.

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Peterborough Petes Fall In Comeback Bid From Niagara IceDogs In 3-2 Loss

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The Peterborough Petes started strong but could not finish the job as they let the home team Niagara IceDogs ring off three-straight goals for a 3-2 win at the Meridian Centre in St. Catherine’s on Tuesday night.

Photo courtesy of Vivid Eye Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

Things started well for Peterborough as Carson Cameron squeaked the puck past Niagara goalie Owen Flores at a sharp angle to make it 1-0 just under seven minutes in. The Petes kept rolling in the opening period as they forced a turnover in their defensive zone. Peterborough counterattacked with an odd-man rush and Gavin Bryant buried it home off a pass from Caden Taylor for a 2-0 lead.

Unfortunately, Niagara immediately responded 15 seconds later as Ethan Czata was able to snipe the top corner off a rush to cut the deficit in half. Just under two minutes later, Braidy Wassilyn hit the same spot as Czata in the high slot to tie things up at two apiece to end the first.

With no scoring in the second, the game’s next goal came late in the third. Peterborough lost the puck at the offensive blue line and Niagara quickly went on the offensive. A point shot came from the IceDogs and Mathieu Paris tipped it in as he was left alone in front of Petes goaltender Easton Rye.

Peterborough could not tie things up and leave St. Catherine’s with a 3-2 loss.

The Petes return home to take on the North Bay Battalion at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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Peterborough Regional Health Centre Introduces First Baby of 2025

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Loretta Shaughnessy and Ryan Heise welcomed their baby boy Maverick Raymond Heise into the world on Wednesday at 2:04 a.m. as the first baby of 2025 delivered at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

Photo courtesy of PRHC.

Maverick weighed 6 lbs. 13 oz. Both he and his mother are doing well after the pregnancy. Maverick will have Florence, his older sister to look forward to.

“We can’t say enough about the incredible care we received from the nurses and doctors here,” said Loretta about delivering Maverick at PRHC. 

Her sister — a Labour and Delivery nurse at PRHC — was off-duty and able to attend during the birth as a support person.

Maverick’s middle name is from Loretta’s grandfather, Ray Lowery, who passed away shortly after the couple found out they were expecting. 

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David Tuan Bui


Peterborough Police Seeking Missing Person From New Year's Eve

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UPDATE: The missing person has been found.

The Peterborough Police is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 25-year-old Mason Edwards, who was reported missing on Thursday.

Edwards was last seen in the area of the Charlotte Mews at roughly 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

Edwards is described as:

  • Caucasian

  • Male

  • 5’8”

  • 140lbs

  • Brown hair

  • Brown moustache

  • May also be driving a 2006 Black Chevrolet Silverado with Ontario Licence #BV82000.

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

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David Tuan Bui's Top 10 Photos of 2024

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Every time I do this yearly article, I always say I’m not the best photographer in town but I always grow with every year.

But what can I say differently about this year?

It’s not a hobby that I pursue but I have started to take it a little more seriously as the years go on and I even have that approach when I take personal photos.

Again, this craft can take years to master and with my lived experiences as my only teacher for now, I have to make do with my ability and let it flourish over time.

It is nice to see that more professional organizations are using my photos for commercial, professional or social media use like Kawartha Food Share and Rotary Club of Peterborough, to name a few.

There could have been plenty of other photos that could have made the list; I took a ton, so I’m bound to have missed what would have been a great one for the list.

Here are my top ten photos that I have taken for PTBOCanada in no particular order:

Vanessa Oake Hogan (left) with her sister Renée Oake shortly after the latter did 146 laps in the swimming lane. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Somehow, the Carl Oake Rotary Swim always seems to crack the top 10.

The 38th edition held by the Rotary Club continues to be at the YMCA of Central East Ontario, raising money for Easter Seals and various Rotary projects.

Typically, like any professional photographer, you take multiple shots and then take the best one. Somehow, for this shot, I was preoccupied with something else at the event and rushed to sneak in one quick picture. Thankfully, that one shot was all I needed.

director Celeste Scopelites marvels at the piece, “Comfort, Eyes That Speak” by Don Kwan. pHOTO BY dAVID tUAN bUI.

To celebrate the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s 50th anniversary, they have launched their event lineup to commemorate the gallery’s founding in 1974.

Celeste Scopelites, AGP director had this really intriguing expression as she was looking at Don Kwan’s piece, ‘Comfort, Eyes That Speak.”

Art always some underlying tones, meanings or messages and I thought this picture kind of captures the mystery and marvel behind the piece.

(From left to right) The Growdens Tara, Teddy, Dan and Ambassador Sawyer sharing a moment as the 52nd Easter Seals Telethon Kicks Off. Sawyer is returning as a regional ambassador after being announced as a new one last year. She was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome, a genetic disorder which affects the 15th chromosome. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Growden family have always been ambassadors for the Easter Seals Telethon. Sawyer Grace Growden has Angelman syndrome, a genetic disorder which affects the 15th chromosome. She uses a wheelchair and a walker to help with her mobility.

With the launch of the 52nd year, it’s no secret that the program has helped benefit families like the Growdens and the event is a reminder of how much of an impact the Telethon makes every year.

(From left to right) Easton Howard, 12; Savannah Amos, 12; Mona Abokhashref, 12 and Zoey Tremblay, 12 were one of 180 Kenner students crunching into apples at Kenner’s auditorium. As one trivia question asked at the assembly, Macintosh is Canada’s national apple. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Grade 7 and 8 students from Kenner Intermediate School students and staff crunched into apples in sync at the ‘Great Big Crunch’ to highlight the need for sustainably funded school food programs across Canada.

I could hear the snap and crunch of every apple as I took this shot of these Kenner students. The students had fun with the event (or were happy to be out of class), and the smiling faces of the crunch were there.

Down With Webster guitarist Patrick Gillett (left) with vocalist Cameron Hunter (right) pumping up the Peterborough Musicfest crowd with "One In a Million." All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Toronto-based band Down With Webster brought their rap-rock musical stylings to a packed Del Crary Park for Peterborough Musicfest, keeping the crowd riled up throughout the concert.

This concert was definitely more high-energy than your typical Peterborough Musicfest event. There was a long of jumping, loud sing-alongs and Down With Webster knew how to keep the audience flowing with energy.

I credit the lighting on the stage to make this shot look way cooler than it should have been.

Samantha Hernandez with her children Micah (left) and Isaiah (right) enjoying the facilities of Peterborough child and family centre. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The Peterborough Child and Family Centres got a technological infrastructure upgrade after an Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Fund of $23,800.

However, the photo shows the happiness of Samantha Hernandez and her two children. I used this facility several times when my daughter was just a newborn so I understand how vital this facility is to Peterborough.

Daxton Whitmore, 8, Havelock Hawks left winger gets a signature from Petes forward Quinn Binnie during the team’s last practice before their last home game. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

What was an up-and-down season for the Peterborough Petes, they had their final practice before their final home game of the season in Havelock.

The kids certainly had fun as the Petes skated with the Havelock Hawks after the practice. Hawks left winger Daxton Whitmore looked like he was having a surreal moment when then-Pete Quinn Binnie signed a stick for him. That expression says it all!

(From left to right) Carrie Truman, Kawartha Haliburton Children's Foundation executive director; Tammy Thompson, Case Worker at Peterborough Bigs; Ava McQuade, 9, Little Sister and Robert Gauvreau of Gauvreau CPA. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Gauvreau CPA, for three straight years, has provided backpacks for children as they head back to school.

The children receiving the backpacks are affiliated with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough (Peterborough Bigs) and Kawartha Haliburton Children's Foundation.

This picture always makes me smile; seeing kids get a head start, the community rallying for a good cause, and just being caught in a sea of backpacks looks cool for the camera. Every time I cover this story, it seems to be my angle of choice.

Nick Pellerin tosses a netful of trout into the Lift Lock to prepare for the fishing derby. Photo by David Tuan bui.

One event we are always invited to witness is the fish being thrown into the Canal to kick off the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Under the Lock Fishing Derby.

Just seeing a ton of fish fly through the air before they hit the water is always a cool sight to see and capturing a shot of them mid-air is quite the spectacle.

We have been assured that the fish are not harmed when thrown into the water in this matter.

Ivana Braithwaite, 4, gets a Merry Christmas and holiday cheer from Santa as Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation launches its Santa’s Sleigh program for 2025. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

I always have a soft spot for children. I became a father a year and a half ago so whatever I can to benefit my daughter and to make her smile, I’m all for it.

With that said, the joy of four-year-old Ivana Braithwaite hugging Santa during the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation 2024 Santa’s Sleigh Program really tugged a few heartstrings for me.

The program has the community take a child’s Christmas gift wish from a tree, purchase the gift and then drop it off in Santa’s Sleigh.

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'Olivia' and 'Noah' #1 Baby Names For 2023 In Ontario In Top 10 List

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Once again, the top baby names were Olivia and Noah in Ontario for 2023, according to the provincial government.

Serenity Bui (pictured) is the daughter of PTBOCanada Editor’s David Bui. Photo by Sarah Hiltz Photography.

Olivia has clinched the number-one spot as Ontario's top baby girl name for 15 consecutive years. Charlotte also continued as a favourable choice, becoming the second-most popular name for girls.

Noah took the top spot as the most popular name for boys for the fifth-straight year, with Liam following closely behind.

Mila and Henry were new baby names that cracked 2023.

The top 10 names for girls and boys in 2023 were:

Girls

  1. Olivia

  2. Charlotte

  3. Amelia

  4. Emma

  5. Sophia

  6. Mia

  7. Sofia

  8. Ava

  9. Mila

  10. Isla

Boys

  1. Noah

  2. Liam

  3. Theodore

  4. Oliver

  5. Jack

  6. Lucas

  7. Benjamin

  8. William

  9. Leo

  10. Henry

“Welcoming a new baby and choosing a name is one of life’s most meaningful milestones, and our government is dedicated to helping new parents focus on these special moments rather than paperwork,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement. “With ServiceOntario’s 5-in-1 Newborn Bundle, we’ve made it easier for Ontario parents to register their newborns and apply for essential documents like birth certificates and Social Insurance Numbers—all from the comfort of their home.”

The Ontario government says that parents should register their child's birth within 30 days of welcoming their newborn.

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David Tuan Bui


Community Care Peterborough Exceeds Meals On Wheels Donation Goal On 60th Anniversary

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Community Care Peterborough has exceeded its goal of 600 donated meals for Meals on Wheels clients in December during the program’s 60th anniversary, announced on Monday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Community Care says there were 634 meals donated.

“Our community’s generosity never ceases to amaze us,” said Chris LeBlanc, Community Care director of donors and public relations. “These meals ensure that our clients feel cared for and supported during the holiday season, a time that can be challenging for so many.”

The Meals on Wheels program provides nutritious meals and vital connections to seniors and adults living with physical challenges throughout Peterborough and surrounding areas.

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PTBOCanada Featured Post: Give Recognition With Miskin Law Community Complex Arena "Have a Seat" Nameplate Donation

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PTBOCanada Featured Post: Give Recognition With Miskin Law Community Complex Arena "Have a Seat" Nameplate Donation

Sponsored post by The City of Peterborough

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