Peterborough Blogs
The property contains acres of forests, wetlands, fields and natural shoreline along Pigeon Lake. The preservation of this property ensures the protection of its important ecological values, maintains vital natural connectivity in the region, and provides future opportunities for public access and nature connection according to John Kintare, KLT executive director.
Funding for this project was also received from the Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund (NSCSF) and private donors. The fund helps conserve, restore and enhance the management of ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, and grasslands to help tackle the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss according to a press release.
Government of Ontario Partnering with Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre to Protect at Risk Species in Peterborough
/The Ontario government is providing nearly $500,000 in funding through the Species at Risk Stewardship program to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre as they undertake on-the-ground work to protect turtles at risk in the community.
Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha was joined by David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, as well as donors and other community members on Wednesday at the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for the groundbreaking of their new hospital for Ontario’s native turtle species.
“This forever home has been a dream that is finally coming to reality. I cannot express how much great work the centre does, from rehabilitating injured turtles to the recovery and fertilization of turtle eggs from those turtles who sadly do not make it,” said Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough–Kawartha. “We are extremely fortunate to have such a world leader in conservation right here in our own backyard.”
Led by the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, the Hospital and Hatchling Program, and supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, this project helps reduce some of the effects of road mortality on turtle populations. Seven out of eight of Ontario's turtles are at-risk. The funding will help mitigate threats to at-risk turtles through rehabilitation, education, field studies, research and data-sharing.
“Everyday, dedicated local and community organizations across Ontario demonstrate their commitment to protecting and recovering plants, insects, animals and their habitats,” said Minister Piccini. “Our government is proud to partner with grassroots organizations across the province to make a real impact. The 2023-24 projects continue Ontario’s track record of strong environmental stewardship and preserving the rich biodiversity of our province for future generations.”
As part of the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, Ontario has provided $914,703 to support the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre since 2018 in their work to rehabilitate, conduct field studies and research and mitigate threats for at-risk turtles. The new funding builds on this longstanding support and investment with the conservation centre.
“The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre gratefully acknowledges the tremendous support that the MECP's Species at Risk Stewardship Program has given, to enable us to continue our vital conservation work,” said Mandy St. Germaine, Chair of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. “As we enter our new growth phase, we shall be able to increase our national impact in turtle conservation even more, and very much look forward to our continued partnership with MECP.”
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Curve Lake First Nation Educational Department and Otonabee Conservation Celebrate World Turtle Day with Mikinaak Trail Signs
/The Curve Lake First Nation Cultural Centre and Otonabee Conservation are raising awareness about local turtles with the installation of Mikinaak trail crossing signs along the Jackson Creek Trail and at Curve Lake First Nation.
May 23rd is World Turtle Day, a day to increase respect for and knowledge about one of the world’s oldest creatures – turtles or in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibway), Mikinaak.
According to experts, turtles are the most threatened of the major groups of vertebrates, more so than birds, mammals, and fish with about 75 per cent of turtles worldwide being threatened or already extinct. All of Ontario’s eight species of turtles are at risk of disappearing.
Mikinaak crossing signs will be mounted on kilometre marker posts along the Jackson Creek Trail, providing trail visitors with a QR code that connects to the Turtle Guardians Sighting Report Form; when turtles are spotted along the trail, visitors can report their sighting to help advance turtle conservation efforts.
Turtle education signs will also be installed at Curve Lake First Nation and along the Jackson Creek Trail. Text and species names of Ontario Turtles have been translated into Anishinaabemowin, the local dialect of the Ojibway language.
“As a result of colonization, Anishinaabemowin has lost many words, sounds, and phrases that will never be regained,” explained Anne Taylor from the Curve Lake First Nation Education Department. “That includes some of the turtle species included on these educational signs. Where possible, the traditional turtle species names have been used but new names have been created for some species, based on what makes these turtles special to the Curve Lake First Nation community.”
Anishinaabemowin is predominantly a spoken language. Efforts are underway to include QR codes that link to audio clips of Curve Lake First Nation Elders speaking Anishinaabemowin species names so that visitors can hear the pronunciation of the local dialect.
For more information or to report a turtle sighting visit turtleguardians.com/report-sightings which will help advance turtle conservation efforts.
Otonabee Conservation Offering Spring Water Awareness Program Resources to Help Keep Children Safe During Spring Melt
/Otonabee Conservation partners with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to offer Spring Water Awareness children’s program (SWAP) resources for parents to help keep children safe during the spring melt.
Each year, Otonabee Conservation partners with OPG to offer SWAP to local schools, helping children understand and recognize the dangers around creeks, streams and rivers during the spring.
The spring melt, also called the spring freshet, occurs this time of year when temperatures increase, melting snow and ice, causing water volume and flows to increase in local watercourses. At this time of year, it is important to remind children to stay clear and stay safe around dams, hydroelectric stations and waterways.
Otonabee Conservation staff will be delivering the SWAP program to many local schools over the next several weeks, and digital SWAP Activity Booklets are available for parents to download from the website to share with their children. The 11-page booklet includes colouring sheets, activities and worksheets that help children to understand the rules for being safe around watercourses. The OPG Kid’s Guide to Staying Clear and Staying Safe is also available for download.
“Fast flowing, cold, deep water, slippery streambanks and unsafe ice present real dangers for everyone this time of year,” says Meredith Carter, manager of Watershed Management Programs at Otonabee Conservation. “We would like parents to talk with their children about avoiding watercourses this time of year, especially if they are outdoors playing during the March Break.”
Children and youth should also be reminded to obey all cautionary signs around waterways and dams, and stay safe by playing with a friend, letting an adult know where they are going and when they will return and dressing properly for the weather.
For further resources, including and a short video by OPG, visit the website.
Otonabee Conservation Celebrates Revitalization of Jackson Creek Trail
/Otonabee Conservation celebrated the completion of the Jackson Creek Trail revitalization project with an event at the trail’s East Trailhead on Saturday.
Over 60 community members, local interest groups, project engineers, contractors and delegates from various levels of government gathered for the celebratory ribbon-cutting event, where new trailhead and educational signs were unveiled.
These signs were developed in partnership with the Curve Lake First Nation Cultural Centre, and allow more visitors to safely access the trail. Community members, supporters and donors also participated in a birdwatching hike led by the Peterborough Field Naturalists.
Revitalization of the Jackson Creek Trail also included addressing points of erosion, installing culverts, regrading slopes, enhancing bridges and railings, resurfacing the length of the trail and the addition of benches.
This project was made possible with a $523,917 investment from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF), with additional funding of $61,500 from Trans Canada Trail.
“We are grateful to our funders who have made this project possible and we are especially humbled by the response from the community, who has come together to support the revitalization of the beloved Jackson Creek Trail,” said Otonabee Conservation CAO/Secretary Treasurer Janette Loveys Smith.
The community also raised over $60,000 in donations through the Your Metres Matter and Close the Gap fundraising campaigns over the last two years.
The Close the Gap fundraising campaign remains active as Otonabee Conservation seeks to fill the remaining gap of $10,000 to complete the final aspects of the project.
For more information or to make a donation, visit the Otonabee Conservation website.
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Monarch Ultra Members Invited to International Butterfly Festival in Mexico
/Members of the conservation and ultra-marathon organization Monarch Ultra have been invited to the International Monarch Butterfly Festival in Zitácuaro, Mexico from Friday to Sunday.
Zitácuaro is known as the gateway to the butterfly sanctuaries in the Sierra Madre Mountains, where the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is located. Indigenous groups in Zitácuaro have planted over 200,000 trees in the forest sanctuaries to provide additional habitat for the migrating monarch butterflies.
The Canadian delegation will learn more about environmental action in Zitácuaro and how cities in North America can work together to protect monarch butterflies according to a press release.
Rodney Fuentes is also directing a documentary film about the Monarch Ultra Relay Run, and will visit the forest sanctuaries to film millions of monarch butterflies in their overwintering home.
“Participating in the international festival will strengthen our cause for monarch conservation and create new opportunities for collaboration between Peterborough and Zitácuaro,” said Monarch Ultra co-founder Carlotta James. “Thanks to the beloved monarch butterfly, local yet international, delicate yet resilient, monarch butterflies are bringing together two communities on a shared journey towards greater environmental awareness and action.”
James, Fuentes and Gunther Schubert organized the Monarch Ultra Relay Run in 2019. It was a 4,300 km ultra-marathon that followed the migration of monarch butterflies from Peterborough to Macheros, Mexico.
“We want to learn from the Zitácuaro community and how best we can also contribute to protecting monarch butterflies and all pollinators that are crucial to the health of our ecosystem,” said James. “We believe that environmental action at the local and international level is essential to building stronger, more connected communities. Through this festival, I hope we can continue to be a champion for the monarchs so that future generations can witness the beautiful patterned creature of the skies.”
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Public Meeting On Heritage Conservation District Study Being Held At Market Hall
/An in-person public meeting on the Heritage Conservation District Study for Downtown Peterborough will be held at Market Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 17.
The City of Peterborough is considering creating a Heritage Conservation District to preserve the heritage features of the City’s historic downtown.
As the first step in the process, the City is doing a Heritage Conservation District Study for the downtown. Following the Study, a plan with guidelines for preserving the heritage features of the downtown would be created and go to City Council for its consideration for approval.
The Study will research and document the historic commercial core’s heritage character and assess its heritage resources. The information from the Study would be used to determine the suitability of a Heritage Conservation District designation for the area and other appropriate tools to preserve its heritage.
Historic areas or neighbourhoods form part of the City's evolution and identity. Their careful management and protection contributes to the quality of life for everyone in the community.
Heritage Conservation Districts are designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and are a valuable tool for guiding change and managing growth in a way that is sensitive to an area’s heritage and history of development.
The Heritage Conservation District Study includes:
A review and analysis of existing land use, zoning, planning and heritage policies
A survey and research of the historical, architectural and landscape features of the study area
An analysis of prevailing conditions (setbacks, building materials, tree canopy, height, etc.)
An evaluation of the downtown’s overall historic character