Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
The Electric City.
A small city in central Ontario, about 125 km northeast of Toronto, on the Otonabee River. Home to the world's tallest hydraulic lift lock, Trent University, Fleming College, and a downtown packed with independent shops, restaurants and trades.
1825
Founded
125 km
from Toronto
K9
Postal prefix
Otonabee
Major river
Quick facts
- Province
- Ontario, Canada
- Region
- Central Ontario
- Distance from Toronto
- ~125 km northeast
- Postal code prefix
- K9
- Nickname
- The Electric City
- Founded
- 1825
- Major river
- Otonabee River
- Waterway
- Trent–Severn Waterway
Why “Electric City”?
The year
1884
Peterborough became one of the first municipalities in Canada to install electric street lights, powered by a hydroelectric generator on the Otonabee River.
The “Electric City” nickname stuck, and a century later you'll see it on everything from breweries to roasters to the local hockey team.
Landmarks
Peterborough Lift Lock
Hydraulic lift lock on the Trent–Severn — at 19.8 m, the tallest of its kind in the world when it opened in 1904.
Trent–Severn Waterway
386 km navigable canal route running through the city, connecting Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay.
Canadian Canoe Museum
The largest collection of canoes, kayaks, and paddled watercraft in the world.
Hutchison House Museum
1837 stone cottage in the downtown core, preserved as a working-class heritage site.
Otonabee River
The river that gave the city its name (Odoonabii-ziibi — "the river that beats like a heart").
Education
Trent University (founded 1964) and Fleming College's Sutherland campus give the city a younger, year-round student population that keeps the downtown lively.
Economy
Major sectors: education, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. Independent retail, food, and trades are unusually well represented for a city this size.
Indigenous land
Peterborough sits on the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg, within the Williams Treaties lands. The name “Otonabee” comes from the Anishinaabe Odoonabii-ziibi — “the river that beats like a heart.”
About ptbo.ca
ptbo.ca is a free, local-first directory for every business in Peterborough. Every business gets its own page at ptbo.ca/<your-name> — hours, photos, links, map, and a QR code, with no setup fee and no ads.
Explore Peterborough.
Browse the businesses that make this city what it is.
City & landmark facts: Wikipedia — Peterborough, Ontario, City of Peterborough, Parks Canada — Peterborough Lift Lock NHS.