Peterborough Police Services Partners With Crime Stoppers To Release Colouring Book To Help Child Victims

The Peterborough Police Service and the Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers have partnered on a new colouring book to assist in the Peterborough Police Victims Services Unit.

PC Dillon Wentworth and PSD Gryphon; Crime Stoppers Coordinator DC Keith Calderwood (Peterborough Police); Training Sergeant Ted Branch and PSD Mag; Victim Services Coordinator Alice Czitrom and PSD Pixie; Crime Stoppers Coordinator PC Greg Stokes (OPP); PC Bob Cowie and PSD Isaac. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police Services.

“The colouring book is not just a way to help the community get to know the PPS working dogs, but a tool that officers can use to help with rapport building and communication with young people coming into contact with police. What we know is that colouring, drawing, reading and writing help with emotional expression and can be a great coping tool for children, teens and adults,” said Alice Czitrom, Victim Services Coordinator, Peterborough Police Service. “We are grateful to our partners at Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers for their generous support for this project.”

The colouring book features the Peterborough Police Service Working Dogs Police Service Dogs (PSD) Isaac, Gryphon, and Mag and Facility Dog Pixie. It will be handed out to children who come into contact with police or find themselves at the police station.

“The Crime Stoppers Board of Directors and the Crime Stoppers coordinators were excited to partner with Peterborough Police Victim Services Unit on this project,” says Keith Calderwood, Peterborough Police Coordinator, Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers. “Helping children through the colouring book and learning about the working dogs of Peterborough Police is a win-win.”

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Community Foundation Of Greater Peterborough Vital Signs Report Highlights Need To Advance Gender Equality

The Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough’s newly released Vital Signs report highlights the need to advance gender equality in our community.

CFGP board of directors. Photo courtesy of CFGP.

“The Kawartha World Issue Centre received a grant from the Foundation last year to conduct research into how our region is fairing on the issue of gender equality,” said Jennifer DeBues, executive director of CFGP.

Vital Focus: Gender Equality highlights some of the ways local women and gender diverse individuals have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and how many are being left behind when it comes to accessing services and supports.

“The work of organizations and institutions locally needs to be informed by the voices of those left behind,” said Shaelyn Wabegijig, KWIC project coordinator. “There needs to be more accessible and flexible ways for those most impacted by inequalities to be heard and supported.”

KWIC executive director Sam Rockbrune says everyone has a role in advancing intersectional gender equality, and in order to address it we must address racial, social and economic inequalities.

The Vital Signs report ad grants to organizations like KWIC are ways CFGP spotlights these voices.

To get involved visit www.cfgp.ca or email info@cfgp.ca.

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Home Energy Efficiency Program Survey Now Open

The City of Peterborough is developing a new Home Energy Efficiency Program (HEEP) with a vision to support homeowners to finance home energy renovations.

Stock photo.

The retrofits will target improving the energy efficiency of low-rise homes, with the goal to lower greenhouse gas emissions linked to Peterborough’s residential housing sector.

The public engagement phase of the HEEP kicks off with a virtual public meeting and the launch of two public surveys.

The kick-off virtual session will be held on March 3, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The meeting will be hosted on Zoom and accessed at www.connectptbo.ca/homeenergy.

Residents who are unable to participate online can access the session by phone at 1-647-558-0588 using meeting ID 894 1615 9559.

“The HEEP is an important climate action project that can significantly lower community emissions from Peterborough’s housing stock and is aligned with the Climate Emergency Declaration goal of accelerating community mitigation.” said Councillor Kim Zippel, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change portfolio. “Once established, the HEEP will also support economic recovery with the likely increased activity in our skilled trades and auxiliary renovation services.”

A page on the City’s public engagement website Connect Peterborough www.connectptbo.ca/homeenergy provides background information on HEEP, details for the virtual engagement sessions and surveys for homeowners and rental property owners to capture additional information.

The surveys ask participants about experiences related to home renovations, perceived barriers preventing home energy retrofits, financing preferences, and identifying appealing program features for HEEP consideration.

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Extended Hours for One Roof Community Centre On Wednesday and Thursday

One Roof Community Centre will be open for extended hours of service on Wednesday and Thursday due to temperatures anticipated to drop below -15C for the Peterborough area.

One Roof Community Centre began extended hours on select days this year on Jan. 2. Photo courtesy of One Roof Community Centre.

They are open from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with the to-go meal provided between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The following day will be open from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The Centre is closed to drop-in service from noon to 3:00 p.m. for the meal preparation and pickup period to protect the health and safety of the public, volunteers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emergency shelters are open and available to people experiencing homelessness who require emergency overnight shelter:

• YES Shelter for Youth and Families, 705-748-3851, 196 Brock St.

• Brock Mission men’s shelter, 705-748-4766, 120 Murray St.

• Cameron House women’s shelter, 705-748-4766, 739 Chemong Rd.

• Overflow Shelter at 210 Wolfe St., overnight phone 705-761-1875

Emergency After Hours Services related to the emergency shelter is available through Social Services by calling 705-926-0096. Please visit the Social Services website for information regarding the After Hours program.

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Peterborough County Council Approves 2022 Budget

Peterborough County Council approved the 2022 Budget, they announced on Wednesday.

File Photo.

The approved budget will see a levy increase of 2.6% and includes a dedicated infrastructure amount of 2.5%. The levy increase equates to approximately $9.11 per each $100,000 of residential assessment.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) data has not changed as re-assessments were not completed due to COVID, therefore the average residential home (not on water) in the County has an assessed value for tax purposes of $262,000

“Peterborough County staff were asked to bring forward a responsible and all encompassing budget and they did just that. This budget is affordable and gives us the ability to address our operational and capital infrastructure improvement needs”, said J. Murray Jones, Peterborough County Warden. “The challenges of Covid-19 are still causing operational and financial challenges to the County as well as to our service provider partners. Council has demonstrated that we will continue to tackle our Infrastructure needs and deficit. Our roads and bridges are pivotal to us all.”

Click here to view the full Draft 2022 Budget.

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Ontario To Ease COVID Restrictions Starting Thursday Eliminate Vaccine Passport As Of March

During Monday mornings announcement Doug Ford stated that the Ontario Government plans to lift capacity limits in indoor settings beginning this week and will scrap the province’s proof-of-vaccination system on March 1.

File Photo.

Starting Feb. 17, capacity limits will be lifted in all settings where proof of vaccination is required, including restaurants, gyms, and cinemas.

Seating capacity at sports arenas, concert venues, and theatres will be increased to 50 per cent on Thursday and the province will also begin allowing larger social gatherings of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.

Capacity limits in other indoor public settings, including grocery stores, pharmacies, retail stores, and malls, will be maintained or increased to the number of people who can stay two metres apart.

On March 1, the province said remaining capacity limits will be removed in all indoor settings and the government will no longer require people to show proof of vaccination to enter non-essential businesses. Businesses may still choose to require proof of vaccination.

Masking rules will remain in effect but the province said a specific timeline for lifting masking mandates will be released at a later date.

The province also confirmed that it will be expanding booster dose eligibility to you aged 12 to 17 starting at 8 a.m. on Friday.

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Trent University Students Hold Walk Out And Online Petition In Reaction To Return To In-Person Learning

Trent students gathered on the Faryon Bridge Monday morning at 10 a.m. in an act of protest against the University’s decision to return to in-person learning.

Small group of students begin to gather on The Faryon Bridge at Trent University on Monday morning. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

On Dec. 17, Trent University announced that effective Dec. 20, exams would be moved online and the first week of classes would be online. The date of return to in-person was scheduled for Jan. 17, then got pushed to Jan. 31.

Students were informed Jan. 24 that they will be required to return to class on the following Monday (Jan. 31), at which point seminars and lectures will not be recorded or posted online.

“Some professors are offering online, but that’s just out of the kindness of their own heart,” said Ellie Wilson, a second year Trent student participating in Monday’s walk-out.

Wilson raised the issue that any student that comes into contact with COVID-19 and then has to isolate will potentially have no option to ‘attend’ class if an online option is not offered.

“They basically sent an email that said ‘if you have COVID, that kind of sucks because we’re not going to give you the option to learn online, if you are sick and can’t come to class - that sucks.”

Wilson noted that there are other Ontario Universities are offering a hybrid option, and she thinks that would be the best option.

“We’re not saying keep school fully online, because in-person classes work best for a lot of people. We’re just saying that the chance to learn online or in-person would be great,” she said.

The online petition, which had over 3,300 signatures as of Monday morning, raises a multitude of issues that may come with a return to fully in-person learning.

“Many students have expressed concerns over the return to in-person such as the lack of distancing in many classrooms, difficulty finding housing for 3 months, rising cases, long commutes to campus due to going back home and safety concerns among others,” the organizer stated online.

Students that attended Monday’s walk-out, and signed the online petition hope that Trent University will offer a hybris option to students. So those wanting to learn in-person have the option to do so, but those that prefer to learn online can continue to do so.

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Public Input Sought In Cedargrove Stormwater Facility Sediment Removal And Retrofit Project

The City of Peterborough is making improvements to the existing Cedargrove Stormwater Management Facility at Sherbrooke Street and Glenforest Boulevard.

Photo courtesy of The City Of Peterborough.

The purpose of this project is to improve water quality and increase flood control in accordance with the requirements set out by the Ministry of Environment Climate Change and Parks (MECP) as well as the City of Peterborough’s Stormwater Quality Master Plan. The project will :

• decrease flood risk in the area by increasing the pond's ability to store water;

• improve existing upstream infrastructure that controls and conveys water into the pond.

• enhance water quality in the Byersville Creek Subwatershed.

The project plans, additional project information and resources are available on the City’s consultation website Connect Peterborough at www.connectptbo.ca/cedargroveswm.

Residents can provide feedback and ask questions through the online engagement tool. Residents who do not have computer access, may contact the City’s Stormwater Systems Coordinator by phone at 705-742-7777 ext. 1507.

This is the second public outreach for this project because there have been significant revisions to the original design. Comments and questions will be received until February 18, 2022.

The project team will review and evaluate the feasibility of all feedback as it develops the project plan.

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URide Peterborough To Donate Portion Of Thursday Proceeds To Peterborough Shares And Announces 50 Per Cent Off Rides For January

URide Peterborough announced that for the remainder of January all rides will be 50 per cent off, and portions from each ride on Thursday will be donated to Peterborough Shares.

Photo courtesy of URide PTBO.

Peterborough Shares is a Facebook group that aims to help anyone in need. To date URide Peterborough has donated over $500 to the group.

The group provides those in need the opportunity to ask for things like groceries or household items.

On Thursday a portion of each ride will be automatically donated to the group.

To receive 50 per cent off any ride up to $20 enter the code 50PTBO on their app.

This promotion will be available until Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m.

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Extended Hours for One Roof Community Centre On Tuesday and Wednesday

One Roof Community Centre will be open for extended hours of service on Sunday and Monday due to temperatures anticipated to drop below -15C for the Peterborough area.

One Roof Community Centre began extended hours on select days this year on Jan. 2. Photo courtesy of One Roof Community Centre.

They are open from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 pm on Tuesday and from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with the to-go meal provided between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Wednesday, due to temperatures anticipated to drop below -15C for the Peterborough area.

The Centre is closed to drop-in service from noon to 3:00 p.m. for the meal preparation and pickup period to protect the health and safety of the public, volunteers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emergency shelters are open and available to people experiencing homelessness who require emergency overnight shelter:

• YES Shelter for Youth and Families, 705-748-3851, 196 Brock St.

• Brock Mission men’s shelter, 705-748-4766, 120 Murray St.

• Cameron House women’s shelter, 705-748-4766, 739 Chemong Rd.

• Overflow Shelter at 210 Wolfe St., overnight phone 705-761-1875

Emergency After Hours Services related to the emergency shelter is available through Social Services by calling 705-926-0096. Please visit the Social Services website for information regarding the After Hours program.

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