📰 Kawartha & Highlands Local Roundup: Community, Sports, and Real Estate Updates 🌲✨

🏛️ Peterborough & Local Government Updates

• 🏒 New Arena Debate Divides Mayoral Candidates: Opinions are split on how to fund the proposed $170-million, 5,800-seat sports and entertainment complex planned for Townsend Street. While city council pledged a third of the budget and seeks private, provincial, and federal backing, the Peterborough Petes warn a new arena is crucial for their long-term viability. Candidates Michael Eamon, Rob Hailman, and Keith Riel urge caution and alternate options, while Neil Morton, Rebecca Schillemat, and Brian Lumsden see the project as essential for keeping the Petes and revitalizing downtown.

• 🚚 Garbage Piles Up at Parkhill Place Townhouses: Residents at the complex on Parkhill Road West faced severe health risks after private garbage collection stopped, leading to overflowing dumpsters. The owner, Burlington-based Simple Investor Real Estate Group (SIREG), cited liquidity troubles and filed under the Superintendent of Bankruptcy. Earlier this year, City Council blocked SIREG’s plan to convert the 128 rental units into condos, a decision SIREG is appealing to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

• 👩‍💼 Michelle Wilson Appointed CAO of Trent Lakes: The Municipality of Trent Lakes has named Michelle Wilson as its new Chief Administrative Officer, succeeding the retiring Donna Teggart. A Chartered Professional Accountant with over 20 years of public sector leadership, Wilson previously served as CAO for the Township of Brock.

🌈 Community Spirit & Environment

• 🏳️‍🌈 Peterborough Celebrates 24th Annual Pride Parade: The annual Pride Parade marched down George Street from City Hall to Millennium Park, ending a vibrant week under the theme "Woven Together." Mayor Jeff Leal highlighted the event's emphasis on inclusion, unity, and standing strong against discrimination.

• 🌳 Trees 4 Peterborough Plants 500 Native Trees: Around 100 community volunteers gathered at Heritage Park in north Peterborough to plant 500 native trees along Riverview Creek. Organized alongside GreenUP, business sponsors, and the Urban Forestry Division, the event expanded our green space and urban tree canopy.

🚨 Regional News & Economic Headwinds

• 🛷 Fatal Snowmobile Collision at Minden Watercross Event: Tragic news from Dysart et al., where a 29-year-old man from Bancroft lost his life during a weekend watercross racing event near Minden. Haliburton OPP and traffic incident teams are investigating the multi-snowmobile collision.

• 🏥 Health Ministers Warn of Imminent "Fiscal Cliff": Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones met with provincial counterparts to urge federal action on expiring health deals. They warned that key funding for home care, long-term care safety, mental health, and PSW wages risks running off a "fiscal cliff" as federal support sunsets between 2026 and 2028.

• 📉 U.S. Import Bans & Tariff Tensions: U.S. President Donald Trump announced new import bans on Canadian goods, including dairy byproducts, select alcoholic beverages, and motorcycles. Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc reaffirmed Ottawa’s resolve to protect Canadian industries and workers.

• 🏭 Hamilton Steel Plant Layoffs: Cleveland-Cliffs (owner of Stelco) is indefinitely idling cold mill and coating departments in Hamilton, laying off roughly 350 workers due to an influx of cheap steel imports. Union leaders condemned the decision as a breach of acquisition commitments.

🏆 Local Sports Spotlights

• 🏉 Peterborough Rugby Club Junior Championships: The club celebrated an outstanding season at its junior awards banquet, honouring provincial title runs by both the U16 boys and U16 girls teams in Ottawa. Head coach Emmett Connolly credited strong local high school programs for powering the club's growth.

• 🥍 Trent Lacrosse Trio Named to Team Canada: Trent Excalibur athletes Maddy Baxter, Kylea Dobson, and Maggie Cuddy were selected for Team Canada at the 2026 Pan American Sixes Lacrosse Championship in Oshawa—a crucial qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics!

💐 Remembering Local Community Members

• Calvin Douglas Taillefer (Age 86): Passed away peacefully on September 17, 2026, at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. A dedicated former business teacher and department head at Crestwood Secondary School, he was deeply involved in Christ Lutheran Church and the Peterborough Festival of Trees.

• Donald Murray Martin (Age 92): Passed away on September 27, 2026. Born in Coe Hill, Donald built a full career with Bell Canada, Lands and Forests, Belleville Police, and Ontario Hydro security. Visitation will take place at Highland Park Funeral Centre on Sept 30 & Oct 1.

🎭 Community Announcements

• 🎭 Buckhorn Community Centre Fall Dinner Theatre: Tickets are officially on sale for Buckhorn's favourite seasonal dinner theatre event—featuring delicious food and fantastic local theatre talent!

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