Watch Mayor Bennett Tell His Canadian Stories

Mayor Bennett talks to the Peterborough Partnership Council on Immigrant Integration about his lineage and the importance of immigration integration to the Peterborough community.

[YouTube]

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An Inspiring List Of Individuals Speaking At 2013 Peterborough Speakers Series Event

Shannon McNevan, director of the wildly popular Boots and Hearts Festival, is just one of seven dynamic individuals who will share their stories and reveal how they beat the odds to achieve success during the annual Peterborough Speakers Series event at Market Hall, April 10, 2013.

Presented by the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation, “UNSTOPPABLE” also features Olympic Silver Medalist Ashley Brzozowicz, Peterborough Lakers president Ted Higgins, mystery writer John Moss, comedic actor of television and theater Derek McGrath, Trent University professor and expert in economics Dr. Tom Phillips, and dynamic motivational speaking duo Barbara and Bill Johnston.

"The Peterborough Speakers Series shines a spotlight on some of our community's most dynamic and innovative people," says Health Services Foundation executive director Hannah Routly. "We’re excited to present their remarkable contributions of personal and professional success."

Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and speakers begin at 7:00 p.m. An intimate cocktail reception follows, offering attendees an opportunity to connect and chat with the speakers in a relaxed and casual setting.

Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 705-740-8074.

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Peterborough Man Does Everyday Challenge And Documents On Tumblr

A Peterborough man named Graeme (no last name given) has been doing everyday challenges around Peterborough—everything from going to the ReFrame Film Festival to signing up for a half marathon to getting a library card from the Peterbrough library to seeing the Stanley Cup. Neat concept, and lots of bucket list ideas he's building. He's documenting them all at his The Everyday Challenge blog on Tumblr (you can also follow along on Twitter @graeme_everyday). One of his latest posts includes this video below skating the canal in honour of Hockey Day in Canada being in Peterborough...

[YouTube; The Everyday Challenge]

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Brian Byrne Talks To PMZ About Peterborough, OCD Collective Campaign, IME & More In These Videos

PMZ talked to I Mother Earth's Brian Byrne at Natas Cafe in this two-part interview...

Part 1

Part 2

[PMZ; OCD Collective]

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Here's A Breakdown Of Domestic Incidents In Peterborough In Recent Years

We see so many domestics reported on media releases from Peterborough Lakefield Community Police that we asked police for more info on actual numbers. The graphs below supplied to us by police chart the domestic incidents here from 2006 to 2011 (2012 numbers haven't come in yet). In 2011, there were 214 criminal charges laid for domestic incidents, including everything from domestic assault to domestic criminal harassment to mischief to bail violations. The domestic incidents where criminal charges were laid represent approximately 4.35 per cent of all criminal charges laid last year in Peterborough. Here's a look at the breakdown...

 

**If you're a victim of domestic violence or know someone who is, great resources are available on the YWCA Peterborough website. Get more facts about domestic abuse here.

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Red Pashmina Announces Next Phase Of Their Campaign, Recognizing Women In Peterborough

Thanks to the Peterborough community, the Red Pashmina Campaign was able to raise $6,700 in 2012 for women in Afghanistan. The money will go toward supporting their Lantern Fund, an initiative that funds teacher training programs in Afghanistan.

The next phase of the campaign will focus on the local component—to recognize and celebrate the incredible women in Peterborough by sharing their stories. Ten women nominated by the community before January 31^st will be profiled in the Red Pashmina photo exhibit during the SPARK Photo Festival. The campaign will be working with five local photographers on photo essays to be displayed at Natas Cafe this April. Proceeds from the auctioning of the photos will go toward educating women and girls in Afghanistan. If you wish to sponsor a photo essay or for more info, email redpashminacampaign@gmail.com.

Watch these videos from the Red Pashmina team of Maryam Monsef and Jessica Melnik to learn more...

[Red Pashmina Campaign]

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Read The Letter Sent To The City Planning Committee About The Redevelopment Of Charlotte Street

Old Jim's location

[UPDATE: Jan 23rd: The Shoppers Drug Mart decision has been delayed.]

Here's a letter Trent professor Stephen Hill sent to the Mayor and city councillors—and cc'ed the media on—about the redevelopment of Charlotte Street between Aylmer and Bethune...

"Dear Mr. Mayor and City Councillors, 

I write regarding a report coming before Planning Committee Tuesday evening about the redevelopment of Charlotte Street between Aylmer and Bethune. 

I am opposed to the proposed site plan for the following reasons:

1. It is not consistent with a street scape that encourages pedestrian and active transportation. 
2. The building design has no second or third story and thus does not support the intensification of our downtown required by provincial legislation. 
3. It promotes a single purpose form of development. That is, the building will have little adaptive potential in 15 or 20 years, should Shoppers Drug Mart decide to vacate it in the future. The building design articulates the corporate brand rather than fitting into the existing and aspiring nature of downtown Peterborough. The development should hold enduring value for taxpayers. 
4. The site plan is inconsistent with the urban design expectations that were met by local developer Seven Hills in their new Collins Barrow building. The expectations for developers should be transparent and fair.

I am also concerned that last week's staff report to you (PLPD13-007) suggests that Council has already approved a preliminary "concept plan" for this site. I note to you the following passage on page 4 of the staff report:

"Staff have proceeded to process the Site Plan Application as though the concept site plan, already approved by Council, is a decided matter.  The location of the building, the massing of the building, and the placement of the parking lot has been based on the approved concept site plan."  

In my opinion, this is a mistaken presumption by city staff. Council minutes from December of 2011 make clear that the land conveyance is contingent upon a site plan agreement in keeping with "the general intent" of the concept plan that was presented at that time, not the concept plan itself. 

"That the conveyances of City property and the improvements to municipal property be detailed in a site plan agreement and further, that the conveyances not occur until a Site Plan agreement has been executed for a redevelopment of 242-248 Charlotte Street and 321 Aylmer Street in keeping with the general intent of Appendix B, attached to Report PLPD11-081." (recommendation d)

This was confirmed in an email exchange between your Director of Planning and myself from last year (to which you were all copied). In that email, I was assured that "Council has only agreed in principle to the sale and exchange of certain municipal property in order to establish a parcel of land that is large enough to support a development of the scale proposed. The sale will only take place once Council has approved a site plan that captures the intent of the development concept presented" (emphasis added). 

In my opinion, the general intent of the concept plan is for Shoppers Drug Mart to be on this parcel of land. The general intent implies nothing about the massing of the building or the placement of the parking lot, as suggested by the staff report. 

While only Councillors can know with certainty your understanding of recommendation (d), I am concerned that the 18 January 2013 staff report infers decisions about the site plan that were not, in fact, made by Council. Indeed, because recommendation (g) of the December 2011 minutes - an amendment made during the meeting - requires the site plan return to Planning Committee for final approval, it seems fair to assume that the initial concept plan was not "a decided matter."

I would be pleased to discuss any of these matters with you further. I note also that I have copied this email to members of the local media who have written about this issue in the past - I expect your decision on this will be followed closely by many people in Peterborough. 

I thank you all for your ongoing hard work and dedication to the city's governance and continued prosperity.  

With kind regards, 

Stephen Hill"

[Read the email here that Hill sent out last year about the development.]

Photo of the corner lot Shoppers Drug Mart in Newcastle, Ontario. Photo: Evan Holt

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2nd Annual Mayor Bennett Giving Gala Raises Over $70,000

On Saturday night, more than 200 members of the Peterborough community gathered for the second annual Mayor Bennett Giving Gala.

This special night raised over $70,000 this year in support of the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, the amazing organization working with and supporting charities throughout the City and County of Peterborough.

"I am delighted with the tremendous support for the Giving Gala," said Mayor Bennett. "Our community members have once again demonstrated their generous and caring spirit, which serves as an important reminder of who we are and what we believe in."

This sold-out event provided guests with an opportunity to connect with many like-minded individuals, companies and organizations who are interested in helping to a build a vibrant and strong Peterborough.

The proceeds from the evening will support the Community Foundation in its mission to improve the lives of people in the City and County through local giving, grant making and community development initiatives.

Find out more about the Foundation and its work in the community here.

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Watch This Great Fleming Video On Sustainable Agriculture

The Sustainable Agriculture program at Fleming College is designed for new and beginner farmers seeking an intensive, applied learning experience in sustainable, ecological or natural farming methods. More info here on the program and check out the video below.

[YouTube]

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