Peterborough County is composed of eight lower-tier municipalities (townships), along with two First Nations reserves that lie within its geographic boundaries. While the City of Peterborough serves as the county seat, it functions as a single-tier municipality independent of county administration.
Townships (Municipalities)
Asphodel-Norwood (Includes Norwood and Westwood) Cavan Monaghan (Includes Millbrook, Bailieboro, Fraserville, and Ida) Douro-Dummer (Includes Douro, Warsaw, and Donwood) Havelock-Belmont-Methuen (Includes Havelock, Cordova Mines, and Kasshabog Lake) North Kawartha (Includes Apsley, Chandos Lake, and Woodview) Otonabee-South Monaghan (Includes Keene, Lang, and Stewart Hall) Selwyn (Includes Lakefield, Bridgenorth, Ennismore, and Young's Point) Trent Lakes (Includes Buckhorn, Nogies Creek, Catchacoma, and Mount Julian) First Nations Reserves Curve Lake First Nation (Reserve 35 & 35A) Hiawatha First Nation
The City of Peterborough is on the Otonabee River about 125 km northeast of Toronto — the gateway to the Kawarthas, with resorts, campgrounds, Provincial Parks, Conservation Areas, lakes and cottages.
Peterborough was the first town in Canada to use electric street lights ('Electric City'). The city surrounds Little Lake; the Trent–Severn Waterway and the world's largest hydraulic lift lock (1904) are here.
A well-known education centre with a quieter, safer feel and a wide choice of amenities, dining and events. Surrounded by lakes, four or five within a 15-minute drive.
Home to a large hospital and specialty medical services. Peterborough Transit runs regular/express routes plus Accessible Van and Community Bus; Rural Link Transit connects Curve Lake, Lakefield, Ennismore & Bridgenorth.
City of Peterborough Home Facts
Primarily detached single-family homes; average 3 bed / 1.5 bath. Age of homes: 12,975 are 64+ years; 9,950 (44–63); 7,525 (24–43); 5,535 (0–24). Many new homes built since 2021 with more planned.
Peterborough Amenities and Attractions
• Peterborough Public Library · Peterborough Museum & Archives • Peterborough Lift Lock · Liftlock & River Boat Cruises • The Art Gallery of Peterborough · Showplace Performance Centre • The Canadian Canoe Museum · Riverview Park & Zoo • Peterborough Memorial Centre · Peterborough Airport
Parks
• Del Crary Park – large urban greenspace on Little Lake • Jackson Park – old-growth forest • Riverview Park & Zoo · Beavermead Park & Campground · Millennium Park • Peterborough Skateboard Park – 560 McDonnel St • Beavermead Beach (supervised) Trails
• Rotary Greenway Trail – 25 km, from Little Lake past Trent University to Lakefield • Jackson Creek Kiwanis Trail – 10 km Trans-Canada Trail (Jackson Park toward Hastings & Lindsay) • The Parkway Trail – 4 km (Jackson Park ↔ Riverview Park & Zoo) • Lang-Hastings Trail – 33 km, west end, access along Technology Drive
Community Centres, Arenas and Fitness
• Peterborough Memorial Centre – home of the Petes & Lakers Lacrosse • Healthy Planet Arena – 2 ice pads • Kinsmen Arena – 2 ice pads • Miskin Law Community Complex - twin-pad arena, a Peterborough Public Library branch, an indoor track, multi-purpose space, and leasable office space. • Trent University Athletic Centre – 25 m lap pool, therapy pool, rowing tank • YMCA – 25 m lap pool, hot tub • Sports & Wellness Centre – leisure & therapy pools, waterslide, gyms, track, courts
Outdoor Sports & Splash Pads
• Basketball – Simcoe & Bethune · Beach Volleyball – Beavermead Park • Pickleball – Bonnerworth Park (6) & Knights of Columbus (4) • Tennis – Barnardo, Bonnerworth, Chelsea Gardens, Kenner, Northland, Quaker Park Tennis Club, Roper, Stacey Green, Stillman, Thomas A Stewart • Ball Hockey & Lacrosse – Legacy Bowl, Knights of Columbus Park
Splash pads/wading pools
• King Edward Park (485 George St S), • Nicholls Oval (725 Armour Rd), • Rogers Cove (131 Maria St), Kinsmen Park (1 Kinsmen Way)
GOLF
• Keystone Links · Pinecrest · Kawartha Golf Club • Heron Landing Golf Club · Peterborough Golf & Country Club • Liftlock Golf Club · Baxter Creek Golf Club
EVENTS
Just a sampling of events in Peterborough and surrounding areas!
• SnoFest – February · St Patrick's Day Parade – March • Family Sunday at the Art Gallery – first Sunday monthly, 1–4pm • All Ages Fishing Derby – Liftlock, 353 Hunter St – late April • Poutine Fest – Morrow Park – early May · Modern Spring Market – Morrow Building – May • Blooms & Brews – 100 Acre Brewing, 390 Ashburnham Dr – May • Kawartha Craft Beer Festival – Del Crary Park – late May/June • Peterborough MusicFest – Del Crary Park – 18 free summer concerts • Rotary Ribfest – Millennium Park – mid-July • Peterborough Folk Festival – Nicholls Oval Park – August • Hand of Man Craft Show – Morrow Building – late October • Santa Claus Parade – downtown
Peterborough Schools
Schools — Public Elementary
• Edmison Heights, RF Downey, Queen Elizabeth, Highland Heights, Kaawaate East City, Queen Mary, Westmount, Prince of Wales, Keith Wightman, James Strath, Kawartha Heights, Otonabee Valley, Roger Neilson
Schools — Catholic Elementary
• St John, St Patrick, St Alphonsus, Saint Catherine, St Paul, Our Lady of the Wayside, St Theresa, St Anne, Immaculate Conception, Monsignor O'Donoghue
Schools — Secondary & Post-Secondary
• Public: Thomas A Stewart, Adam Scott CVI, Crestwood, Kenner CVI, PCVS
• Catholic: Holy Cross, St Peter, Monseigneur-Jamot (7–12)
Post-secondary/other:
Fleming College, Trent University, Peter Gzowski College, Lady Eaton College, Otonabee College, Rhema Christian School, Kawartha Montessori, Globe Cambridge High School
