Peterborough is going to lose another long-time major employer.

kawarthaNOW has learned that Lufthansa InTouch will be closing its customer service centre in Peterborough by spring of next year, affecting around 400 employees.

Located at 1900 Fisher Drive, the customer service centre is operated by the Lufthansa Group in Germany, which owns and operates Lufthansa Airlines and several other airlines in Europe, as well as other aviation-related companies.

The Peterborough location employs customer service agents, quality assurance specialists, and team managers who provide 24/7 multilingual customer support for flight bookings, reservations, rebooking assistance, and loyalty program services.

After initially reaching out to Orlando Casas, human resources coordinator at Lufthansa InTouch in Peterborough, kawarthaNOW later received a statement from Tal Muscal, Lufthansa Group’s director of group communications for The Americas, confirming the closure.

“Lufthansa InTouch (LIT) has made the difficult decision to gradually close its location in Peterborough, Ontario (Canada) by 31 May 2026 as part of ongoing business transformation efforts,” the statement reads.

“The customer service industry operates in a volatile, highly competitive environment, and the decline in customer service volume at Lufthansa InTouch requires decisive action. Increasing automation, advanced self-service technologies, and improved operational performance at Lufthansa Group airlines are the reasons for ensuring long-term profitability and sustainably adapting operations within LIT’s global network.”

Traditional centralized call centres are in decline worldwide, particularly for phone-based customer service roles that are being supplanted by increased automation, including AI-powered chatbots and digital self-service options, and by decentralized human labour that can work virtually.

Muscal’s statement notes that Lufthansa InTouch will be providing support to the employees at the Peterborough location.

“LIT greatly appreciates the commitment and professionalism of the team in Peterborough, whose service has contributed significantly to customer satisfaction among Lufthansa Group airlines and is committed to supporting the affected employees during this transition phase, including through fair severance payments, an employee assistance program, and professional support in finding new jobs.”

Through its eight customer service centres around the world, Lufthansa InTouch employs 3,000 people from more than 38 nationalities, speaking 30 languages and servicing 118 markets.

The Peterborough location is the only Lufthansa InTouch customer service centre in North America, with other centres located in Germany, Czech Republic, Serbia, South Africa, Namibia, Philippines, and Turkey.

Lufthansa InTouch opened its customer service centre in Peterborough in 2003.

The news of Lufthansa InTouch’s closure of its Peterborough location comes less than a month after Siemens Canada announced it is moving its Peterborough manufacturing operations to Concord, affecting around 160 jobs, over the next two years.

With files from Bruce Head.

July is often associated with rest and relaxation as summer vacation arrives, but it’s notable for another reason.

July is Disability Pride Month, which celebrates persons who experience disability, their identities and culture, and their positive contributions to society. It’s different than Pride Month festivities in June, which celebrate the LGBTQIA2S+ community. While they fall one after the other, Disability Pride Month is separate and unique in its own right.

The event seeks to change the way people see and perceive disability, promoting all types of disability as a natural part of human diversity. First celebrated in the U.S. in 1990, Disability Pride Month is now marked worldwide — including in Canada where an estimated 27 per cent of people ages 15 years and older (or eight million Canadians) live with a disability.

As one of the millions living with a disability, Disability Pride Month has tremendous value for me to inform and change perceptions about disability.

Growing up with cerebral palsy and related challenges, I was fortunate to come to Five Counties Children’s Centre for treatment as a child. I received physiotherapy and occupational therapy, while also benefiting from recreational therapy and social work support.

Five Counties inspired and supported me to become the person I am today — and I’m blessed to now be able to bring this perspective in my work at the centre.

It wasn’t always like that. Growing up in the community, I often felt stigmatized about my disability, believing I had to prove my worth and value, while showing I was capable and competent.

Subtle forms of this still exist today, especially with “ableism” — the assumption that persons with disabilities require “fixing” and that their disability defines them.

We may fall into this trap on occasion, telling someone they “don’t look disabled” as a compliment, or finding ourselves talking louder to someone with a visual impairment (hello … it’s their eyes, not ears, that are affected).

Local author and accessibility advocate Adele Purdham shares a story of having to address ableism when it came to her daughter, Elyse, who has Down Syndrome.

In this case, it was correcting a teacher’s belief that Elyse was only capable of learning basics like the alphabet and counting in school, even thought she had almost mastered these skills at home.

There are many silly assumptions that persist about persons with disabilities, and Disability Pride Month in July is an opportunity to shatter them.

VIDEO: “What does disability pride mean for you”

We can start by challenging ableism — our own and that of others. Evaluate whether you are consciously or subconsciously ableist, and mindfully combat or correct this perception.

Becoming informed about disability history, rights and the lived experience of persons with disabilities can help. After all, knowledge is power and allows us to be more empathetic and understanding.

It also allows us to speak out against ableism and advocate for accessible spaces, events and resources for people of all abilities.

Putting people first — literally — in our words and language is also beneficial. Saying “person with disability” rather than “disabled person” may seem inconsequential, but in fact allows us to acknowledge the person, not the disability, first and foremost.

Each one of us, with or without disabilities, deserves to feel a sense of pride. For persons with disabilities, July is the month to do that.

But it’s also the time to seek allies to work alongside us so we can achieve true respect, equity, and inclusion — an objective that matters every day of the year!

The Publican House Bar & Grill in downtown Peterborough is closed for renovations.

kawarthaNOW learned on Sunday (July 20) that employees at the restaurant had been notified they were on temporary layoff as of the end of the day.

Publican House was acquired in May by One Eyed Jack, a Canadian-owned group of restaurant and pub locations in Ontario.

kawarthaNOW reached out on Sunday to Sajanthan “TK” Selvarajah, manager of One Eyed Jack’s Peterborough location on Lansdowne Street, about the company’s plans for the restaurant.

Selvarajah said “a lot of work” is needed on the building, and that it would remain closed for a month or “maybe more.” He noted that employees were made aware that One Eyed Jack was planning renovations when the company took over ownership of the restaurant.

He added that employees are being laid off for “the time being,” although when asked he said he wasn’t sure if all employees would be recalled when the restaurant reopens.

As for what changes One Eyed Jack is planning for the restaurant, Selvarajah said the menu might change “a bit.” An announcement posted Monday on Publican House’s social media states “We’re crafting something new for you to experience.”

Both the Publican House brewery and retail store, located beside the restaurant, will remain open during the renovations.

Marty Laskaris, Mike Laskaris, Matt Philips, and Rick Coit opened the Publican House premium craft micro-brewery at the corner of Charlotte and Rubidge streets in 2009, launching a retail store right beside the brewery in January 2015.

After opening the retail store, Publican House purchased the former Peterborough Arms on the other side of the brewery, with the intention of renovating the building. Two years later, in August 2017, Publican House Restaurant and Taphouse opened. The restaurant was later renamed Publican House Brew Pub and then Publican House Bar & Grill.

Along with Marty and Mike Laskaris and Brooke Dickey, Katie Watt was a partner in the venture as well as being the front-of-house manager, with her husband Brad Watt as executive chef.

The Watts eventually left the restaurant, with Katie becoming planning manager at Central Smith Creamery and Brad teaming up with chef Becca Kemp and butcher Jacob Hunter to open the Bridgenorth Butcher Block in March 2025.

Five Counties Children’s Centre hopes an upcoming event will net both fun and funds when the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers take on the Brampton Excelsiors in their final home game of the regular Major Series Lacrosse season.

Slated for Thursday (July 24) at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, Little Lakers Night is a collaboration between Five Counties and the Lakers. Now in its third year, it’s a fan-favourite event for Five Counties.

“Little Lakers Night has become a highlight of the summer season for us,” Bill Eekhof, spokesperson for Five Counties Children’s Centre, told kawarthaNOW. “It is a fundraiser that supports important children’s treatment services at Five Counties, but it’s also become something bigger.”

“Little Lakers Night is an opportunity for many of our children/clients and their families to come out and enjoy lacrosse action with the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers,” Eekhoff said. “It may be their first encounter or experience at the game and represents something new and a break from their normal routine.”

“We really hope Little Lakers Night provides our Five Counties families, and the entire community, with a bit of fun and excitement watching the game or taking part in some of the other activities going on with it.”

Little Lakers Night kicks off with pre-game activities starting at 7 p.m., one hour before the Lakers face off against the Brampton Excelsiors. Families can enjoy face painting by donation, freezie sales, a “pass the bucket” fundraiser, and the chance to buy commemorative Little Lakers Night T-shirts in support of Five Counties.

In addition, a silent auction will take place, featuring two tickets to Canada’s Wonderland, a Crayola prize pack, and VIP passes to the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2025 – Canada in Toronto this October.

This year’s event will feature the debut of a special warm-up jersey with a design by Kennedy Meredith, a local Grade 4 student. Lakers players will wear the jerseys during their pre-game warmup, and the jerseys will later be available for purchase through an online auction with proceeds supporting Five Counties.

The overall event is a celebration of community, inclusion, and the joy of sport, and it’s getting better every year, Five Counties noted in a media release.

“Each year, Little Lakers Night has grown in impact and excitement,” said Five Counties CEO Scott Pepin. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Lakers for their continued generosity and for giving our kids the chance to be part of something so special.”

Meanwhile, Len Powers, board chair of the Peterborough Lakers, said it’s “an honour” to again team up with Five Counties to host Little Lakers Night and support children’s treatment services.

“We encourage everyone to come out to Little Lakers Night and show their support for the home side, cheering on the Lakers to victory as they prepare for the playoffs and supporting the incredible work done by Five Counties,” Powers said.

Tickets for Little Lakers Night are available now through the Memorial Centre box office, including online at tickets.memorialcentre.ca. Fans are encouraged to use the promo code FIVECOUNTIES at checkout to ensure that $3 from every ticket sold is donated to support kids’ treatment services.

All proceeds from Little Lakers Night will support Five Counties’ “Building Abilities for Life” campaign, which allows more kids and youth in the region to access life-changing treatment services in a timely manner. Last year’s Little Lakers Night raised $15,295 to support children’s treatment services at the centre.

Thursday night’s game is the final home game before the Lakers close out the regular season on Sunday, July 27 in Cobourg. The Lakers are currently second in the regular season, behind the Six Nations Chiefs and one win ahead of the third-place Brooklin L.C., who could even it up if they win against the Chiefs on Wednesday.