Peterborough Petes Select Kaden McGregor As Franchise's First Number One Overall Pick

It is official for the Peterborough Petes as Kaden McGregor becomes the club’s first number one overall pick in franchise history at the 2025 OHL Priority Selection, announced on Friday night.

Screenshot.

“I’m speechless,” said McGregor. “This has been a dream of mine, ever since I was a little kid. To hear it finally get called, it’s a surreal moment for me and my family.”

The Braeside native captained the Ottawa Valley Titans U16 AAA club this past season with a 29-2-1 record. McGregor led his team to a league title with 38 goals and 44 assists for 82 points in 29 regular-season games. He also tacked on 24 points in nine playoff contests en route to a championship.

He was named the Hockey Eastern Ontario AAA League U16 Player of the Year, joining former Petes first-round pick and Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish, who won the award in 2019.

“We’re very excited to select Kaden with the first overall pick in the 2025 Priority Selection,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. “Kaden is a right-handed centre who plays a solid two-way game. He had an excellent season with the Ottawa Valley Titans, captaining them to an HEO Championship and being named HEO player of the year. He followed that up with a solid showing in the OHL Cup, finishing third in points and being named to the tournament all-star team.”

The right-handed shot says Petes fans can expect a lot out of him as a number one priority selection.

“They can expect a tenacious forward, someone who can play both ends of the game,” explained McGregor. I prioritize compete level. Every shift, I go out there, I compete as hard as I can. I have high IQ and I like to use my size and speed to set up plays in the offensive zone and make my teammates around me better.”

With McGregor as the first overall pick, he is named the recipient of the Jack Ferguson Award. The award is named after Jack Ferguson, a long-time OHL’s central scouting director. McGregor joins NHL stars such as Eric Lindros, John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Connor McDavid and Quinton Byfield to receive the honour.

In the OHL Cup, McGregor was the third-highest scorer with three goals and eight assists for 11 points in five games. His performance led the Titans to a quarter-final finish, losing in overtime to the eventual champion Toronto Jr. Canadiens. He was named to the tournament All-Star team, becoming the only player on this year’s All-Star team to not make the finals. This year, McGregor also played in OFSAA for St. Joseph’s High School in Renfrew. McGregor dominated the tournament, scoring 21 goals in six games.

The Petes will introduce McGregor in a press conference on Saturday at 8:45 a.m., which will be live-streamed on their Facebook Page.

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Fraudulent Website Rostering Patients Says Peterborough Family Health Team

The Peterborough Family Health Team (FHT) warns the public of a scamming website (healthdoc.ca) that misleads residents by suggesting it can connect them with local Peterborough family doctors for a fee.

Photo courtesy of FHT.

The website targets individuals seeking a family doctor in Peterborough while the site displays legitimate information about local physicians, it misleads users by requesting financial information during the rostering process.

FHT has released a few tips in order to spot a scamming healthcare website:

• Family doctors will not charge people to become a rostered patient;

• Family doctors rarely charge for services – if they do, patients are told in advance; and

• In Ontario, to get a family doctor you need to register with Health Care Connect.

FHT says that to find a family doctor in Ontario, individuals should register through the official Health Care Connect waitlist provided by the province.

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Community Futures Peterborough Launches New Toolkit to Support Local Businesses With Advice on Managing Tariff Risks

In response to the ongoing trade challenges posed by United States tariffs, Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) has launched the Tariff Toolkit as a strategic resource to support businesses for the community.

Photo courtesy of CFP.

This is a collaboration with the Business Advisory Centre, the City of Peterborough, the County of Peterborough, the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), and Peterborough + the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

CFP says the evolving trade landscape between Canada and the United States has created uncertainty for local businesses. All aforementioned organizations came together at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre to connect businesses with industry experts who provided initial guidance on minimizing the impact of tariffs on March 4. While the specifics of the tariffs may change, the need for businesses to rethink their approach to trade remains constant according to Devon Girard, CFP executive director.

“We have always been mindful of not only the direct impacts tariffs themselves have on businesses but also tariff speculation and lasting change in consumer buying patterns. Those are the effects our area businesses are feeling right now,” she said.

According to CFP, the Tariff Toolkit is a practical resource that helps businesses assess their current trade strategies and explore new opportunities. It will also offer insights and actionable steps that businesses can work on with their advisors to develop a resilient approach to international trade. It is available to all businesses in the City and County of Peterborough.

“Downtown businesses are navigating an increasingly complex trade environment, and the Tariff Toolkit arrives at a critical time,” said Nour Mazloum, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area executive director. “It equips our businesses with the practical strategies and expert insights they need to adapt, stay competitive, and build long-term resilience. We're proud to support this initiative and ensure our local business community has every opportunity to thrive—no matter the global challenges.”

The Tariff Toolkit offers businesses guidance in key areas, including understanding the financial impact of tariffs, identifying alternative sourcing strategies, expanding customer bases beyond tariff-affected regions, mitigating financial exposure through hedging and risk management, repositioning brand messaging in response to trade shifts, and leveraging local and international partnerships to drive growth.

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Parks Canada to Complete Annual Maintenance On Maria Street and Parkhill Road Bridges In April

Parks Canada will complete annual spring maintenance on two bridges in Peterborough on Sunday and April 20, announced on Friday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

These bridges include:

• Maria Street bridge: Sunday from 6 a.m. to noon

• Parkhill Road swing bridge: April 20 from 6 a.m. to noon

The bridges will be temporarily closed to all traffic while maintenance is underway. Detour routes will be posted.

Peterborough Transit Route 7 Lansdowne will detour around the Maria Street bridge during the closure, using the Lift Lock tunnel on Sunday. Drivers are asked to use the stop at Hunter and Rogers streets.

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City Seeking Public Input Sought for Transit Terminal Upgrades

The City of Peterborough invites the public to an information session on Wednesday at City Hall from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to learn about planned updates to the Simcoe Street Transit Terminal, provide feedback and share ideas on what improvements they would like considered for the space.

File Photo.

The Transit Terminal is located at 190 Simcoe St. The update will reconfigure the bus bay area so that buses no longer have to reverse out of the pickup and drop off locations.

The City is seeking input to ensure that the planned upgrades will meet the community's needs. Residents can learn more about this project and share feedback in an online survey at connectptbo.ca/TransitTerminal. Paper copies of the survey are available at the Customer Service desk at the Transit Terminal.

The current terminal bus bay design, part of the Simcoe Street parking garage built in 1974, has not changed and is still in use. Both the Transportation Master Plan and Transit Route Review and Long-term Growth Strategy identified an ongoing safety concern with the buses backing out of these bays several times each hour.

The current Transit system operates with staggered arrival and departure times for the seven buses that service the terminal, no longer requiring individual bays for each route.

The new design will create a wider platform area from the terminal walls to the platform's edge. These new stop locations will have a “saw-tooth” alignment.

The key features of a sawtooth design are:

• Angled Bays: each bay has a designated stopping area at an angle to the curb.

• Easier Departure: Buses can leave independently without having to wait for those ahead to move.

• Efficient Use of Space: Reduces the required curb length compared to a straight line stop alignment.

• Improved Traffic Flow: Minimizes disruptions to traffic lanes.

• Improved Safety and Visibility: Drivers have a forward view as they depart. Many transit systems remove conditions that require a bus to reverse. Looking and moving forward reduces the safety risks.

Other improvements and upgrades will include new lighting fixtures and route signage, fresh painting of the walls and under the canopy, new benches and accessibility features. Three new bus shelters will be added along Simcoe Street.

This project is presently in the planning stage, with construction scheduled for the beginning of August 2025 and lasting approximately four weeks.

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Kawartha Dows Releases 2025 Event Schedule; Harness Racing Moved to Back to Saturday Nights

It's close to post time for Kawartha Downs (KD) as they released their lineup of events for 2025, including their harness racing schedule announced at the track on Thursday morning.

(From left to right) Richard Waldon, Kawartha president; Alpacas Charm, Bijoux, Deidra and Frances Stewart Alpaca Ontario President. One event is the Alpaca Ontario Spring Show this Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Harness racing has 18 dates, with the opening day on May 14. The grand opening will feature Ontario Sires Stakes Racing to kick off the racing season. A significant change this year is that harness racing nights are reverted to Saturdays with an earlier post time of 6 p.m. The move was to accommodate cottage-goers, account for highway traffic and be more accessible to everyone.

The track's major change is broadcasting KD races outside of in-house for the first time according to Lindsay Bax, Kawartha Downs harness racing manager.

“We will have our live racing signal on the live Simulcast that will be featured both in Canada and in the United States,” she explained.

The second floor and lounge have received upgrades, which include renovated spaces and increased television sets for viewing other racetracks for betting or entertainment. Bax says more upgrades will follow but they have been delayed due to several factors.

“We will be adding several more things as we come along,” she explained. “With the ice storm in the local area and obviously with all the political climate, a few things were delayed but I think you're going to see two or three more things roll out that will help.”

This year's new events include the Alpaca Ontario Spring Show, the Kawartha Hobby Toy and Collectible Show, and more.

KD wanted to make a concerted effort to ensure that harness racing is for all ages rather than the perceived notion of it just being an adult affair due to its gambling nature.

“100 per cent it is a stigma but harness racing specifically is one of the most approachable sports that you can go to as a family,” explained Bax. “There is no cost to come to the racetrack. If you don't want to wager, you don't have to wager. You can get food and beverage and watch the horses. Everybody's looking to save pennies when you do this as a family and this provides and checks all those boxes.”

A full event list can be found online.

The following are all harness racing dates on Saturdays with post time scheduled for 6 p.m.:

• May 17 (Grand Opening with Ontario Sires Stakes Racing)

• May 24

• May 31

• June 7

• June 14

• June 28

• July 5 (Weiner Dog Racing)

• July 12

• July 19

• July 26

• Aug. 2

• Aug. 9 (Kids Night, Powerwheel Racing)

• Aug. 16

• Aug. 23

• Aug. 30

• Sept. 6

• Sept. 13

• Sept. 20 (Customer and Caretaker Appreciation Night)

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Peterborough Woman Wanted On Several Warrants Arrested After Trying to Flee From Police and Resisting Them

A 24-year-old Peterborough woman wanted on several warrants was arrested after an incident Wednesday evening.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 8:10 p.m., the Peterborough Police Service received information of a female shoplifter in the area of Charlotte St and Aylmer St. Officers attended the area, located the woman and detained her while investigating the complaint.

Officers learned from the investigation that the suspect had several outstanding warrants. When the female learned of them, she tried to run from the officers but was quickly caught and arrested. During the arrest, the female fought with officers.

The woman faces the following charges:

• Robbery with theft

• Fail to comply with probation x2

• Fail to attend court after having appeared x2

• Fail to comply with release order

• Escape lawful custody

• Resist peace officer

The accused was held in custody and appeared in court on Thursday.

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Celebration of Life For Peterborough Petes Alumnus Greg Millen Held Next Week Thursday

A celebration of life for Peterborough Petes alumnus, sports broadcaster and longtime local resident Gregory (Greg) Hearst Millen will be held at the Peterborough Memorial Centre next Thursday, starting at 1 p.m. for family, friends and colleagues.

Photo courtesy of Reynolds Funeral Home.

Millen passed away at 67 unexpectedly from a cardiovascular event on Monday.

He played for the Petes from 1974-1977, playing 144 games as a goaltender for three seasons. The Pittsburgh Penguins selected him in the sixth round of the 1977 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play over 600 games in the NHL. Over his 14-year NHL career, Millen played for the Penguins, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings.

After retiring from playing, Millen went into broadcasting. He started by covering the Ottawa Senators during their inaugural season in 1992-93. His broadcasting career includes roles as a colour commentator for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and the NHL on Sportsnet. Millen had covered three Olympic Games, two World Cups of Hockey, 12 Stanley Cup Finals, and 12 NHL All-Star Games.

Millen married his high school sweetheart, Ann. This summer would have marked their 45th wedding anniversary. Together, the couple had four children: Allie (Mike Mason), Emily (Garrett Kean), Caroline (Mike Tobin), and Charlie (Marissa DiNardo). He and Ann also had eight grandchildren (Beau, Pippa, Beatrice, Oscar, Louie, June, Wallace, and Penelope).

Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, ALS Canada or the Roger Neilson Children's Hospice.

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City of Peterborough Remains In State of Emergency As Ice Storm Response Continues

The City of Peterborough continues ongoing efforts in response to the ice storm that hit the region on March 30 as the State of Emergency declaration remains in place.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The City continues to ask residents to reduce water use as water levels remain high along the Trent-Severn Waterway. These conditions are due to wet weather conditions and snow melting in the watershed's north region.

The City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility is currently processing extremely high volumes of water. Reducing water use will help reduce demands on the sewage treatment system and assist with capacity at the facility.

Residents are urged to stay well back from shorelines and waterways. Due to fast-flowing water, banks may be unstable. Children should be supervised at all times, and pets should be leashed.

Parks Canada's water management team continues to actively monitor water levels and flows and weather forecasts across the Trent-Severn Waterway. These factors are used to determine dam operations on a daily basis.

Brush and debris are being removed curbside. This service began in the north end of the City on Monday. It is expected to take four to six weeks to complete all areas of the City.

When placing debris at the boulevard for yard waste collection, please be mindful of sightlines for pedestrians and vehicular traffic safety. Avoid placing debris close enough to the curb that it may wash into the street during a rainstorm.

The City Landfill accepts residential brush, wood chips and damaged tree waste related to the ice storm at no charge until Monday.

The landfill will operate extended hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday to assist residents with storm cleanup.

The City is temporarily waiving the permit requirement to remove trees on private property that have been destroyed, destabilized or structurally compromised as a direct result of the ice storm, with the following condition:

• Residents must send email notification to treebylaw@peterborough.ca, providing photos, property address, tree species information including diameter, and provide the physiological and structural condition of the tree preferably prior to removing the tree or as soon as possible after removing a tree.

The bylaw waiver remains in place until April 28.

City-owned trees of any size, including street trees and trees in parks and natural areas, are owned and maintained by the City and are not eligible for removal or maintenance by residents. To report an issue with a City-owned tree, please call 705-742-7777 and dial 8, or 705-745-1386 after hours and weekends.

City parks and trails remain closed until further notice, due to ongoing hazards regarding falling trees and branches.

The City had an Emergency Benefit of up to $75 until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to cover storm-related expenses for eligible residents in areas still affected by the power outages.

This benefit is available to low-income residents, Ontario Works and ODSP recipients.

Eligible residents whose power has not been restored yet but who have not applied for the benefit by the deadline may still be eligible for this assistance but will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Those residents are asked to contact the Social Services office at 705-748-8830 or in person at 178 Charlotte St. (Charlotte Mews) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

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Public Information Session for Riverside Park and East City Bowl Upgrades Begins Thursday Night

The City of Peterborough is hosting a public information session about proposed upgrades to Riverside Park and East City Bowl on Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Peterborough Lions Centre, 347 Burnham St.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Residents unable to attend the public information session can provide feedback through a public survey, available online at connectptbo.ca/riverside. Hard copies of the survey are available at City Hall, 500 George St. N.  The survey will be open until 11:59 p.m. on April 18.

The ball diamonds located at Riverside Park and East City Bowl, 325 Burnham St., require repairs to address areas of deterioration. The wood fence, bullpen, batting cage, irrigation, score keepers tower and lighting were identified as areas in need of improvement.

City of Peterborough staff will be available to answer questions about the proposed upgrades to the park. Residents can provide feedback on what amenities they want to see in the proposed revitalization of the park.

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