Victoria Park Closed To Public Until Further Notice As Fallen Trees And Branches Are Removed

Due to the severe storm from Saturday Victoria Park will be closed to the general public until further notice, Peterborough County announced on Wednesday.

File Photo.

“Safety of visitors to the park is our priority”, said J. Murray Jones. “Once Victoria Park is cleaned up and staff feel it is safe to re-open, we will advise. Thanks in advance for your patience while this work happens.”

Many trees and large branches fell during the storm on Saturday and staff are busy cleaning them up.

While clearing the fallen limbs and trees, staff will also be looking for compromised trees that may have been weakened by the storm, and identifying broken branches, that are caught within the trees and removing them.

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Local Food Banks Provide Update As Power Outages Continue In Peterborough

After a storm on Saturday left much of the city without power, food banks in Peterborough have been busy providing non perishables to those that need them.

Residents drop off food to Kawartha Food Share. Photo courtesy of Kawartha Food Share.

According to Kawartha Food Share, many local food banks had to throw out fresh and frozen foods when power shut off and foods began to thaw.

Below is a list of resources for residents in need of food.

Salvation Army, 219 Simcoe St.: Without power as of Wednesday morning. They have no phone or internet service, therefore making appointments is not possible. Those in need of food can still access the non-perishable food they have available, without an appointment Mon-Fri 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

One Roof Community Centre, 99 Brock St.: Power has been restored. Service as usual.

St. Vincent De Paul: Without power, but will continue to operate usual hours.

Sacred Heart Food Bank: Without power, will not operate on Wednesday.

YES Shelter: Without power. No fresh or frozen foods, butt the food bank will be open Thursday and Saturday for non perishable distribution.

County food banks are operating as usual.

For a full list of food banks and their hours click here.

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Peterborough Public Health Urges Resident Without Power To Use Caution As Power Outages Continue

Peterborough Public Health strongly advises residents to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves and others as the community recovers from the severe storm that hit the area on Saturday.

Photo by Luke Best.

Household Food safety

Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much and for as long as possible. A household fridge that is left closed will typically keep food cold for only 12 to 24 hours. After this period, some food will begin to spoil and other food will be unsafe to eat. Food that is unsafe may not show any signs of spoilage. Hazardous foods such as milk, deli meats, and other dairy and meat products should be discarded to prevent food borne illness. Throw out any food items that appear to be discoloured or do not smell normal.

A freezer (chest or fridge-freezer combo) will keep food frozen for one to two days if it remains closed. Throw out any thawed food that has been at room temperature for more than two hours. If food has been partially thawed, it can be safely refrozen. The quality of the food item may be affected, but the food will still be safe to consume if it has only been partially thawed.

Consider transferring hazardous food items from the refrigerator to a cooler with ice, replace the ice frequently to keep food cold (ideally at 4°C or 40°F).

Household Recreational Water Safety

If you have a pool or hot tub, there could be increased challenges with pool/hot tub operation and safety if recirculation systems are not working. Contact a recreational water professional for more information about after-care once the power comes back on. During the power outage, avoid swimming in the pool to prevent waterborne illnesses due to insufficient pool water treatment. If the water is cloudy, do not swim as this can cause an increased risk for accidental drowning.

Residents on Wells and Septic Systems

Many rural residents and some in urban areas obtain their water from a well and their property may be serviced by an onsite sewage system. Power outages can affect treatment units for both water and sewage systems as well as any pumps associated with those systems. Use bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth and any other activities that involve the direct consumption of water. When the power is restored, verify that any filters and treatment devices have resumed normal operation and flush your plumbing system to remove any untreated water by running the water for several minutes through all plumbing fixtures. As a precaution, collect a water sample as soon as possible once the power has been restored.

If you do not have water due to a pump failure, find an alternate source of water, and continue to use an alternate source until you can sample your water once the power comes back on. Use bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth and any other activities that involve the direct consumption of water.

If you are on a septic system, limit the amount of wastewater that you are generating. If your sewage cannot be pumped to the leaching bed, your tank may fill up and backup into the house or discharge to the ground. In the event you have a sewage backup into your home or you observe breakout of sewage onto your property, call a sewage hauler and immediately pump your septic tank.

If you live in a rural area, you may obtain your water from a well and your property may be serviced by an onsite sewage system.

General Safety

Avoid cooking indoors with equipment that expels carbon monoxide such as camp stoves and charcoal grills. These items should only be used outdoors and away from windows.

Do not use gas stoves unless there is proper electric ventilation working as these stoves also emit carbon monoxide.

Ensure smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and other safety devices in your home have batteries to make sure they are working in the event of an emergency.

Portable generators should only be used outdoors, in a well-ventilated area away from windows and fresh air intakes. Do not connect a generator to your electrical panel directly unless this has been previously set up by a qualified electrician.

Use caution when driving. Many street lights and traffic signals are out. Intersections need to be treated as four-way stops and pedestrians have the right of way. Drive slowly, as with no street lights it will be difficult to see pedestrians, cyclists and other obstacles or hazards in the road. Many roads are closed due to fallen trees and wires, so be prepared to take alternate routes to your destination.

It is safest to walk during daylight hours. If you have to walk after dark, bring a flash light and wear bright coloured clothing so that you can be seen.

For further public health and safety updates, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and www.peterborough.ca.

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City Of Peterborough Declares State Of Emergency After Devastating Storm

The City of Peterborough officially declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday morning.

File Photo.

Mayor Diane Therrien made the announcement on social media, and said the Emergency Management team submitted the declaration to the province some time on Tuesday.

There are still parts of the City and County without power, as crews work to restore downed hydro lines.

Updates will come as they are provided.

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Locations Open To Charge Devices Around The City As Power Outages Continue

Multiple locations in The City of Peterborough will be open on Tuesday to allow residents to charge devices and mobility aids.

Stock Photo.

The following locations will be available for charging devices (regular services at the locations will not be available):

• Peterborough Public Library, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Healthy Planet Arena, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Peterborough Museum and Archives, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Anyone charging devices at the facilities needs to bring their own charging cables. Public washrooms are also available at each of the locations.

While power has started to be restored in some parts of the City, many areas are still without power.

Many traffic signals at intersections remain without power, creating four-way stops that can cause traffic congestion and delays for emergency services when responding to calls.

Emergency services are urging residents to avoid non-essential travel at this time.

Emergency services remind residents to only use 9-1-1 for emergencies – please do not call 9-1-1 for updates on the outage or to report a downed power line.

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Generator Used To Alert Volunteer Firefighters Of Emergencies Stolen In Douro-Dummer

Some time between 8 p.m. on Sunday and Monday, the generator that powers the Douro-Dummer paging tower was stolen, according to the Township of Douro-Dummer.

Stock photo of stolen generator. Photo courtesy of the Township of Douro-Dummer.

Located just south of Warsaw on County Road 38, the paging tower is used by the fire department to boost the paging signal so that volunteer firefighters can be alerted to emergencies in the community.

According to the Township, the perpetrator would have had to cut the chains to the paging tower compound to gain access to the generator.

The generator that was stolen is a HONDA EU2200i, serial number EAMT1336663. At the time it was stolen it had labels affixed to it that read "PUMP 4".

Tips that might lead to the return of the generator can be reported to:

• Crime Stoppers at 705-745-9000 (your call can be anonymous)

• OPP Reporting Centre at 888-910-1122

• Douro-Dummer Fire Services personnel Jessyka McArthur or Fire Chief Pedersen

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Peterborough Police Warn Public Of Credit Card Fraud Scam

Peterborough Police are warning the community after receiving a number of calls to 9-1-1 that were scam calls.

Photo by Luke Best.

According to reports, male phones the victim identifying themselves as PC Robert Lawrence badge 555140 from 51 Division Major Fraud department with Toronto Police and that the person’s credit card has been cloned and police have someone under arrest.  The scammer then instructs the person to call 911 to verify their identity and get a record check.

It's been confirmed that there is no officer with Toronto Police Service by that name or badge number and it is a scam.

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Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Receives Almost $800,000 For Expansion Of Safer Supply Program

The Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (360NPLC) has received $799,671 for expansion of Safer Supply Program from Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP).

Photo by Luke Best.

The Safer Supply Program (SSP) is part of a broader response to the drug poisoning crisis happening in Peterborough.

This amendment will fund a 50-person SSP located at the 360NPLC.

This program will increase the harm reduction options available to people who use drugs (PWUD) in the community. The SSP will provide an opportunity to engage participants in a new, innovative, and positive manner, with the participants’ individual goals at the centre of their care.

A team consisting of health, social, and harm reduction service providers will serve participants through a gradual enrollment process beginning May 2022. Participants will have access to primary healthcare and social services both internally and through partner organizations.

Throughout the year the SSP will refine their local approach, create a local community of practice, and share knowledge about how this emerging practice might be offered in other small communities across the province and country.

“Expanding access to safer supply, a key harm reduction strategy in the context of a toxic drug supply, is an incredibly important opportunity to support people who use drugs in the Peterborough region and decrease the harms of the evolving crisis,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, Peterborough Public Health. “I commend the Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic for their leadership in supporting this population.”

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Fourcast Invites Community Members To Join Committee For New Consumption And Treatment Services Site

Fourcast has announced the formation of a new Community Liaison Committee (CLC) for the Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) Site at 220 Simcoe Street.

File Photo.

Once established, the CLC will foster and maintain positive relationships between local stakeholders and Fourcast, the agency that is operating the CTS. It will also provide a formal mechanism for members to collaboratively and respectfully resolve concerns, while raising awareness about the impact of the service in the community.

The committee will give neighbours, nearby businesses, and service providers an opportunity to contribute to the success of this life-saving service, says Forecast.

The application process for the committee is open now.

Fourcast Executive Director Donna Rogers emphasized the importance of engaging community members in the work of preventing drug poisoning deaths and related harms.

“Like any harm reduction initiative, the CTS has a role to play in promoting the health and safety of individuals and the community as a whole,” said Rogers. “As we respond to the devastating impact of the drug poisoning crisis in our region, it is vitally important that we continue to keep our neighbours informed and engaged in collaborative efforts to make our community a safe and inclusive place for all.”

The CLC will meet quarterly or as needed beginning in June 2022 and will continue to meet for a one year term ending in June 2023. Membership will include up to 17 individuals from neighbouring businesses, nearby residents, and service providers in addition to an independent process facilitator and notetaker.

Individuals interested in volunteering with the newly created Community Liaison Committee are encouraged to complete an application at https://forms.office.com/r/GzUhhzkJQn. Applications will be accepted until May 20.

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Suspected Drug Poisonings Reported By Peterborough Public Health

Peterborough Public Health issued a warning today, following an increase in suspected drug poisonings over the weekend.

Photo by Luke Best.

Between Friday and Saturday, Peterborough Public Health detected increases in drug related Emergency Department Visits and Paramedic Calls for Service.

During this period, there were eight Emergency Department Visits and seven Paramedic Calls for Service, representing a total of 13 unique incidents.

In the last week (April 25-May 1), there were 10 drug-related Emergency Department visits and 10 Paramedic Calls for Service. This increase has prompted Peterborough Public Health to issue a public warning in the hopes of preventing further harms in the community.

If you use drugs, Peterborough Public Health recommends that you:

• Avoid using drugs alone

• If you use with a friend, do not use at the exact same time

• Have a plan – Ask someone to check on you or call the National Overdose Response Service 1-888- 688-6677

• Carry a naloxone kit, keep it visible and close to you o Avoid mixing drugs o Test your drug by using a small amount first

• Call 911 immediately if someone starts to show signs of an overdose and/or cannot be resuscitated after naloxone is administered

Peterborough Public Health encourages everyone to recognize the signs of opioid overdose and know what to do:

• Skin is cold and clammy

• Fingernails or lips are blue or purple

• Body is very limp

• Can’t wake the person up

• Deep snoring or gurgling sounds

• Breathing is very slow, erratic or has stopped

• Pupils are very small

If an overdose is witnessed: Call 911. Give naloxone. Stay with the person until help arrives.

Under Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, anyone who seeks medical help for themselves or for someone else who has overdosed will not be charged for possessing or using drugs for personal use.

Residents can anonymously report drug poisonings and other bad drug reactions using the ‘Drug Reporting Tool’. Any information shared through the tool supports Peterborough Public Health and community partners in responding to and preventing drug poisonings in the Peterborough area. The Drug Reporting Tool can be accessed by clicking here.

For more information, or to find out how to access naloxone, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and search for “Opioids” or click here.

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