Welcome to Peterborough on the Otonabee River 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. With just over 75000 people living here, Peterborough is known as the gateway to the "cottage country" of the Kawarthas, a large recreational region of the province. It presently ranks as the 33rd and smallest CMA in Canada. The current mayor of Peterborough is Paul Ayotte.

Peterborough is named in honour of Peter Robinson, an early Canadian politician who oversaw the first major immigration to the area.

Peterborough is situated in South Eastern Ontario, on the northeastern edge of the Greater Golden Horseshoe and heart of the Kawartha Lakes region in Ontario. Peterborough lies in the St. Lawrence Lowlands ecoregion in Canada, just south of the Canadian Shield and about 35 kilometres north of Lake Ontario. The city is centred around a series of rapids in the Otonabee River, approximately halfway between where it begins at Lake Katchewanooka and where it empties into Rice Lake.

There are over 75000 inhabitants and 30,000 dwellings in the city. This is up from 71 446 people in 2001 for a growth rate of 4.8%, well below both Ontario's overall growth rate (6.8%) and Canada's growth rate (5.4%). It is anticipated that the city's population will grow to approximately 98,900 by 2017.

Manufacturing is still one of the key sectors along with food processing, automotive supplies, electronics, aerospace and life sciences/biotechnology. General Electric and Quaker Oats maintain large operations in Peterborough, as well, the city is also a 'bedroom' community for workers commuting to Oshawa and East Toronto. The Peterborough Regional Health Centre is the largest employer, planning to hire 800 more over the next three years , adding to its current employment total of over 2000.

Artspace is one of Canada's oldest artist-run art centres, founded in 1974. Its mandate is to support the growth and development of contemporary artists. Artspace maintains a public gallery. Noted artist David Bierk was one of the founding members.

The Peterborough Arts Umbrella is a membership-based arts facility. The PAU is mandated to serve practitioners of all artistic disciplines in Peterborough and surrounding area, and maintains a public gallery.