Ashburnham Memorial Stewardship Group Seeking Volunteers To Help Clean Up Armour Hill

The Ashburnham Memorial Stewardship Group is looking for volunteers to help clean up a winter of garbage buildup at Ashburnham Memorial Park (Armour Hill) on April 15.

photo courtesy of the Ashburnham Memorial Stewardship Group.

“Your efforts at the last clean-ups have made a big difference to the health, safety and beauty of the park and we really cherish your kindness in doing so,” said the Ashburnham Memorial Stewardship Group in a press release. “Your contribution to these events is very helpful in moving towards positive changes for Ashburnham Memorial Park, and these efforts demonstrate that the community cares about this Heritage Park.”

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, participants will meet at Rube Brady Park at the basketball court at the bottom of the toboggan hill (corner of Armour Road and Munroe Ave) rain or shine.

The group advises participants to dress for the weather, and to expect mud throughout the park (rain boots are strongly recommended.) Bring a reusable coffee mug, water bottle, work gloves (optional) and garbage grabbers (optional). and appropriate attire for the weather. Supplies are provided.

For more information visit the website.

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Five Counties Children’s Centre’s Winterfest Raises Thousands of Dollars for Children’s Treatment Services

Local residents, donors and corporate sponsors stepped up to support Winterfest 2023, helping to raise over $30,000 to cover treatment services for kids at Five Counties Children’s Centre.

Catching the Spirit of Winterfest – Chloe (right) was one of the kids who attended Winterfest activities at Lansdowne Place mall on Feb. 18. photo courtesy of five counties.

Winterfest is an annual ‘fun’draising event for Five Counties that, this year, was held over the recent Family Day long weekend with a series of virtual and in-person festivities. The $30,125 raised this year surpasses the nearly $20,000 raised at Winterfest in 2022.

“We want to thank the support of the community, especially our staff, volunteers, families, donors and businesses who contributed to this year’s success,” says Scott Pepin, CEO of Five Counties. “We know our community is very generous, and once again, that has shone through!”

Canadian Tire stores in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg, Campbellford and Fenelon Falls again stepped up as the lead sponsor of Winterfest.

photo courtesy of five counties.

There were a number of highlights from Winterfest 2023, including:

• Hundreds of children and families attended fun, family-friendly events at Lansdowne Place in Peterborough (on Feb. 18) and at Lindsay Square Mall (on Feb. 19).

• A sold-out Peterborough Petes game on Family Day Monday (Feb. 20) saw many Five Counties kids and families attend and play different roles at the game. For instance, some of Five Counties kids and their siblings took on roles as GM, coach and PA Announcer, shadowing the real people who do these jobs during Petes games. Five Counties client Scott, and his entire family, also were featured in the pre-game ceremonial puck drop.

• Approximately 125 children entered the Thank You card contest, in which they drew, coloured or created artwork that depicted thanks and appreciation.

• Various virtual activities attracted online users to take part in a workout with the Peterborough Petes, winter scavenger hunt, story times, baking demo, snow creature contest, magic show and more.

• An online auction saw more than 90 people sign up for and make bids on a variety of hand-made quilts, artisanal wood items, gift cards, kids’ toys, and more.

Proceeds from Winterfest go to support Five Counties’ Building Abilities for Life Campaign, which helps ensure kids can get essential therapies so they can be their best.

“The Building Abilities For Life Campaign is important because it helps address current wait lists for services like occupational therapy and speech-language therapy,” Pepin says. “We know the earlier a child can receive treatment, the more likely it is they can reach their full potential.”

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The City of Peterborough 2022-2023 Winter Fun Guide Is Now Available

The City of Peterborough Recreation Services is offering a variety of recreational programs and services for people of all ages and abilities through there 2022-2023 Winter Fun Guide.

File photo.

This is the online guide to City-run recreational and leisure programs that take place in City facilities, such as the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, community arenas, the Peterborough Public Library, the Peterborough Museum and Archives and the Art Gallery of Peterborough. 

Copies of the Winter 2023 Fun Guide are available at the following locations starting on Dec. 7:

• City Hall – 500 George St. N.

• Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre – 775 Brealey Dr.

• Healthy Planet Arena – 911 Monaghan Rd.

• Kinsmen Civic Centre – 1 Kinsmen Way

• Peterborough Public Library – 345 Aylmer St. N.

• Peterborough Museum and Archives – 300 Hunter St. E.

• Art Gallery of Peterborough – 250 Crescent St.

Registration for winter instructional swimming or skating lessons, martial arts, dance, adult fitness and sports takes place on Dec. 14 starting at 7 a.m., or one day earlier for Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre members starting on Dec. 13 at 7 a.m. 

Registering is fast and easy online at peterborough.ca/register, by phone at 705-742-0050, or in person at the Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr.

For more information, contact Recreation Services customer service at 705-742-0050.

Peterborough Public Health Activates Extreme Cold Response Plan

With an early start to the winter and colder weather ahead, Peterborough Public Health has activated its Extreme Cold Response Plan (ECRP) to advise residents on the best way to protect their health when temperatures plummet.

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough

“We all need to take precautions during cold weather to prevent illness and injuries such as frostbite and hypothermia,” said Julie Ingram, Manager of Environmental Health. “Most healthy people can tolerate a short period of cold weather if they are dry and properly dressed. Our alert system is designed to advise the public when there is an increased risk and what actions they can take to prevent cold weather-related injuries.”

Ingram noted that trend data indicates a doubling in the rate of local emergency department visits related to cold exposure between 2009 and 2018. In addition, between September 2020 and October 2021, there were 26 emergency department visits in the Peterborough area related to cold exposure.

People who are more vulnerable to the risks of cold temperatures include the elderly, infants less than one year old, people with a history of cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks and strokes, and people who are homeless or marginally housed. People who are homeless in particular spend long periods of time outside and can suffer increased health effects from the cold even at warmer temperatures.

Peterborough Public Health’s ECRP has three levels of notification:

• Frostbite Alert

• Frostbite Warning

• Cold Weather Emergency

The most common form of extreme cold notification is a Frostbite Alert. Last season, there were four Frostbite Alerts issued, and none from the other two categories. Frostbite alerts are issued when temperatures are forecasted to be from -27° to -38° Celsius or a wind chill of -27° to -38° Celsius. In these conditions, exposed skin can freeze in as little as 10 to 30 minutes. Residents are advised to take the following precautions:

• cover unprotected skin

• avoid prolonged outdoor exposure

• drink warm fluids

• check on neighbours

• maintain a warm indoor environment (ideally 20° Celsius or warmer)

Notifications of frostbite alerts and warnings will be posted on www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and Peterborough Public Health’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts, as well as issued to the media and stakeholder groups when the forecasted temperature or wind chill may result in an increased risk of frostbite. Most townships and Curve Lake First Nation post extreme weather alerts on their websites and social media channels.

City of Peterborough Social Services also has a Cold Weather Protocol that takes effect in cold weather, which may trigger extended hours of operation for the Drop-In program.

When Social Services activates their Cold Weather Protocol they will share information regarding the locations and times of emergency shelters and any relevant outreach programs, as well as reminders to get out of the cold during periods of extreme cold.

A cold alert will be issued by Social Services when the temperature drops below -15° Celsius with a wind chill.

One Roof Community Centre drop-in at 99 Brock St. will extend their hours of operation during a cold alert from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Normal hours of operation for drop-ins is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a take away meal available between 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

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Downtown Patio Fences to be Taken Down in Anticipation of Snow Removal

After the summer patio season in the downtown, the City of Peterborough will remove the fencing and patio delineators on Hunter and Charlotte streets between Aylmer and George streets the week of October 18 in preparation for snow clearing operations this winter.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The changes will also include the removal of the fencing and planters for expanded patio areas in public on-street parking areas on George and Water streets in the downtown.

The temporary downtown public space changes were put in place in collaboration with Peterborough Public Health and the Downtown Business Improvement Area to provide additional pedestrian space and outdoor patio opportunities for businesses as a way to support physical distancing during the pandemic this summer.

“It was wonderful to see the activity on the streets and sidewalks this summer. By reconfiguring the space for cars, we were able to create more space for people and businesses while still allowing for smooth traffic flow through the downtown,” said Mayor Diane Therrien. “The wellbeing of individuals and our community as a whole has been our focus during this pandemic.”

City Council approved the temporary downtown public space changes in April as a COVID-19 pandemic response measure.

With the winter approaching, the sidewalk and streets need to be returned to their normal configuration for the City’s snow clearing operations.

“The temporary downtown public space changes were extremely well received this year. It was a great example of how to support restaurants while also providing for the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle traffic,” said Terry Guiel, Downtown Business Improvement Area executive director. “The DBIA was pleased to support this year’s efforts, especially the wonderful planters that added to the vibrancy of the space.”

Hunter and Charlotte streets between Aylmer and George streets will return to two-way traffic following the removal of the delineators and planters.

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This Beauty Before & After Pic Sums Up Winter Wonderland Peterborough

[via @JustEmmaTaylor]

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Peterborough & The Kawarthas Tourism Video On Winter Fun

[YouTube; TheKawarthas.ca]

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