Crawford Drive Closed Due to Main Water Break; Expected to Be Reopened Tuesday Evening
/Crawford Drive has been closed by Peterborough Utilities Group due to a water main break, announced on Tuesday.
Photo by David Tuan bui.
Peterborough Blogs
City Council Endorses Draft 2025 Budget
/City Council has endorsed a Draft 2025 Budget that outlines investments in municipal services and infrastructure.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
There is a proposed 6.72 per cent all-inclusive rate increase that equates to $10.44 per month per $100,000 of property assessment for the typical residential property.
Council is expected to consider final approval of the City’s 2025 Budget on Feb. 3
Through its budget deliberations in November, Council cut spending in several areas and added back funding that had been removed earlier in the budget to reduce the property tax requirement. Council started with a 7.8 per cent all-inclusive rate increase when the draft budget was initially presented.
To reduce the tax requirement for residents and businesses, the Council asked the Peterborough County/City Paramedics and Peterborough Police Services Board to reduce their requested increases for 2025. Peterborough Paramedics reduced its funding request to $7,299,067, an increase of $488,270, or 7.2 per cent, from 2024. Peterborough Police Services Board responded with a request for $37,802,241, an increase of $2,727,054, or 7.8 per cent, from 2024 – after initially requesting an 8.8 per cent increase.
Council made many changes to the City’s Draft 2025 Budget to reduce the property tax requirement by decreasing spending, increasing revenue and drawing from reserve funds.
Among the changes to the draft budget, Council:
Restoring $298,153 for Community Grants that had been cut from the draft budget
Adding a $500,000 interest-free loan for the replacement of the roof at Showplace Performance Centre
Increasing Transit fares by 25 cents to generate an estimated $125,000 in revenue
Reducing the proposed 2025 stormwater management funding by $620,000
Providing $250,000 from the Social Services Reserve to help fund architectural, engineering and planning services for the proposed new Brock Mission Housing Project that would create 50 transitional housing units
Drawing $904,000 from the Social Services Reserve for several housing and homelessness services enhancements, including extending the Trinity Community Centre overnight drop-in program to a full-year service, increasing funding to the Housing Stability Fund, and increasing the capacity of the Brock Mission shelter to 40 beds from 32 beds
Restoring funding for discretionary benefits, which had been proposed to be reduced, at a cost of $235,695
Reducing preventative maintenance at municipal facilities for a savings of $153,000
Ending the lifeguard service for swimming at Roger’s Cove for a savings of $39,995 (lifeguard service continues to be provided at the nearby Beavermead Park beach)
Ending the maintenance of the Trent-Severn Waterway canal south of the Lift Lock in winter for skating for a savings of $100,000
Reinstating a $150,000 annual payment to the Downtown Business Improvement Area that had been proposed to be removed
Removing a $132,500 expense for contracting streetscape maintenance services to the Downtown Business Improvement Area as the City will directly provide the service in 2025
Reducing spending on graffiti management, forestry contractual services, and street cleaning totalling $60,000
Reducing Transit expenses for cleaning supplies and contractual services by $75,000
Reducing the budget provision for insurance premiums by $115,000
Through its 2025 Budget, Council has endorsed transitioning stormwater funding from the tax base to a dedicated user fee effective April 1, using a simplified interim rate structure. The proposed user fee will replace what is being paid by property owners through the property tax base and place a charge, or a user fee, on the utility bill. Unlike many municipalities with dedicated stormwater networks and raise the necessary funding through a user fee, the City of Peterborough currently funds the program through the tax base.
The benefits to implementing a Stormwater Management Fee according to the City include:
Dedicating a funding stream allocated back to providing the service
Awareness and transparency showing owners what they pay for the service and what is required for capital and operating costs
Fairness where owners may pay based on stormwater contribution as opposed to property assessment
Introducing the opportunity for economic incentives, giving owners the opportunity to reduce their costs associated with delivering the service
The Budget details investments in municipal services and infrastructure, such as water and wastewater infrastructure and treatment, garbage collection, the Green Bin program, the landfill and composting facilities, affordable housing, homelessness services, roads, recreation and parks, arts and culture, policing, fire services, paramedics, and public health.
The Draft 2025 Budget, as presented on Nov. 4, includes $411 million in operating expenses, with $185.9 million from property taxes and the remainder funded by other revenues such as grants from other governments, user fees and service charges.
On the capital side, the Draft 2025 Budget as presented on Nov. 4, includes $147.4 million for 174 projects such as the Transit Garage Replacement, police station renovations, major infrastructure work on Brealey Drive between Lansdowne and Sherbrooke streets, updating and replacing equipment at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and various road projects.
The City started the 2025 Budget process in March 2024 with community consultation, including a survey and public meetings held through March and April. Council held General Committee meetings in June to review information and consider input from the community. Council considered detailed breakdowns of budget implications for services and capital projects before recommending guidelines for preparing the Draft 2025 Budget.
Council heard from public delegations on the Draft 2025 Budget at a meeting on Nov. 12.
The City held informal public meetings on Nov. 7 and Nov. 12 to present information, respond to questions and get feedback on the Draft 2025 Budget ahead of Council’s deliberations.
On Dec. 9, 2024, Council gave final approval to specific projects and programs in the 2025 Budget to allow that work to proceed while Council considers the remainder of the Draft 2025 Budget. Council also approved the 2025 User Fees and Charges.
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City to Continue Taking Natural Christmas Trees For Curbside Pickup
/The City of Peterborough continues curbside collection of natural Christmas trees throughout January.
File Photo.
The first City-wide collection round was completed last week and a second round began on Monday.
Collection takes place weather permitting and does not follow regular curbside collection schedules. Residents do not need to call to request collection.
Trees will be composted, therefore all decorations and tinsel must be removed and trees must not be in plastic bags.
Residents are asked to place trees at the curb in a visible location within safe reach for collection staff. Please avoid snowbanks and ensure that trees do not get buried in snowbanks.
Third-Annual I ❤︎ Beer and Taco Festival Hits Peterborough Memorial Centre
/The fun food combination is coming back to town as the the third-annual I ❤︎ Beer & Taco Festival has returned to the Peterborough Memorial Centre on April 12.
photo courtesy of the peterborough memorial centre.
The festival will contain beer, cider and spirit sampling, games, dancing and tacos. New this year for the night sessions is a 90's Dance Party.
Tokens are $2.50 and can be purchased on-site or online. They are used for food and drinks. The event is cash-only, with three ATMs on site.
All general admission tickets include an official 10-ounce I ❤︎ BEER sampling cup. Session one will take place from noon to 5 p.m. and session two will take place from 5 to 10 p.m.
Tickets start at just $9.99 for Session one and $14.99 for Session two (plus HST and Ticket Fees) and slowly make their way up to our regular ticket price of $14.99/$19.99 (plus HST and Ticket Fees)
The Peterborough Memorial Centre notes that this is a 19+ event and to drink responsibly.
Canadian Council of the Blind Receives Cheque From AON Inc. For Increased Accessibility For Visual Aids
/To help the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB Peterborough) increase accessibility, AON Inc. has donated $1,000 at the former’s office on Saturday afternoon.
(From left to right) Vikci Coppins, Centennial Place director of dietary services; Sarah Joore, Aon Inc Sales and marketing project coordinator; Andra Hughes, Aon Inc wellnesss coordinator, Jim Haryett, CCB volunteer and Debby Whittern, Empress Gardens. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The money was used to purchase items to help in visual aids for the CCB.
It purchased two portable digital video magnifiers, two large-font keyboards and 100 signature cards.
“Donations like this are instrumental in supporting our ‘From the Blind, For the Blind’ lending library,” said Debby Harriet CCB librarian. “We are always in need of new devices, and each device makes a real difference to a community member.”
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Belmont Lake's Cameron Spalding Shreds For Gold In Snowboard Slopestyle at World Cup Event In Switzerland
/Belmont Lake’s Cameron Spalding is at the top of the podium as he finished with a gold medal at the snowboard slopestyle World Cup event in Laax, Switzerland on Saturday.
Spalding’s top score of 86.63 points eeked out American Red Gerard (86.22) and German Noah Viktor (83.72).
“I'm just always trying to have as much fun as possible,” said Spalding. “That's when I snowboard my best, that's when everything clicks for me.”
The win makes Spalding the fifth Canadian to win the event.
“On a course like this, everything is so flowy and the course work so well together,” he explained. “I'm just trying to go out there and have as much fun as possible, then the rest is out of my hands.
Screenshot.
In 2023, Spalding placed 44th in Switzerland and 16th in Mammoth Mountain just north of Los Angeles in World Cup events. He got his first medal in February of that year with a bronze medal at the Calgary Snow Rodeo FIS Snowboard World Cup.
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Peterborough Transit Raising Fares By 25 Cents Beginning Jan. 27
/Peterborough Transit is increasing its fares, which will be implemented on Jan. 27, announced by the City of Peterborough on Friday.
File Photo.
Peterborough City Council approved the increase of 25 cents per single ride as part of the 2025 budget deliberations.
The following are the fare changes:
Children ages 12 and under ride for free.
Transit passes can be purchased at the Transit Terminal, 190 Simcoe St. or at Lansdowne Place, 645 Lansdowne St. W.
Transit fares can also be paid by using the HotSpot App which is available for Apple and Android mobile devices.
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OLG Issues Third-Quarter Gaming Revenue Payment to Peterborough of $664,043
/Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has made their third quarter payment totalling $664,043 to the City of Peterborough for hosting Shorelines Casino Peterborough announced on Friday morning.
Since 1994, host communities have received more than $2.2 billion in non-tax gaming revenue. File Photo.
The quarter was from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.
During OLG’s fiscal year (April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025), Peterborough has received $2,130,706. Since the gaming site opened in October 2018, Peterborough has amassed $14,508,090 according to a press release.
These payments to host communities are based on a formula consistently applied across all gaming sites in Ontario using a graduated scale of gaming revenue at the hosted site as stated in a press release.
“OLG’s Municipality Contribution Agreement payments help pave the way for Peterborough to build critical infrastructure and fund important programs that make a real difference for residents,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “Shorelines Casino Peterborough supports numerous jobs and generates a great deal of economic activity that, in turn, improves the well-being of our local community.”
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Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring IG Wealth, Community Futures Peterborough, Habitat For Humanity and MNP
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running the Business Beat columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
IG Wealth just officially opened their newly renovated office at 1743 Lansdowne St. W. in Peterborough.
The company says this investment in the local office underscores their unwavering commitment to Peterborough. It offers a modernized, professional environment with state-of-the-art technology. The office includes enhanced sustainability measures and dynamic collaboration spaces. It’s all designed to meet the diverse financial planning needs of clients. Drop by to see the new space and see what IG Wealth has to offer.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Community Futures Peterborough is doubling the funding available through its Community Advancement Program.
That means there will be $100,000 available for local not-for-profits, charities, municipalities, and First Nations communities. Funded by the Government of Canada, the Community Advancement Program aims to create economic stability, growth, and job creation. It is designed to develop and diversify competitive local rural economies and foster economically sustainable communities. Find out more at communityfuturespeterborough.ca.
It’s a new year and that means it’s a good time to declutter your home and office.
Habitat for Humanity offers free donation pick-up for individuals and local businesses. It’s a win-win. You get rid of those things that are still in good condition but have been sitting around taking up space and Habitat is able to sell them to help pay for building affordable housing in our community. You can drop off donations and do some shopping at the ReStore locations at 300 Milroy Drive in Peterborough, 3001 Lakefield Rd. in Selwyn, or 55 Angeline St. N. in Lindsay.
Peterborough’s BDO office is under new ownership.
MNP, one of Canada’ s leading professional services firms, has acquired 21 BDO offices, including Peterborough. MNP is committed to being national in scope and local in focus, offering access to national resources for whatever professional service clients may need. MNP is a Canadian company that started in 1958. The acquisition means they are up to 150 offices across the country in communities of all sizes.
If you want to have your business featured on the Business Beat or know of a business doing something new and interested, shoot an email to joel@pkchamber.ca.
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Public Invited to 'Curl With Cathy Funspeil' to Support Trent Student-Athletes On Feb. 15
/To support student-athletes, Trent University’s Athletics & Recreation invites the public to join their president, Cathy Bruce, for the inaugural ‘Curl with Cathy Funspeil’ held at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club on Feb. 15.
Photo courtesy of Trent University and the Peterborough Golf and Country Club.
