PVNC School Board and CUPE Local 1453 Reach Local Collective Agreement

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Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board announces that it has reached a local collective agreement with CUPE Local 1453, approved on Feb. 7.

file photo.

PVNC employs about 800 CUPE members, representing support staff such as custodians, maintenance staff, secretaries, educational assistants, early childhood educators, learning commons specialists, paraprofessionals and central IT employees among others.

A tentative agreement was reached on Jan. 24 after eight days of local bargaining, and it was ratified by local CUPE members on Jan. 28. Trustees approved the agreement during a special board meeting held on Feb. 7.

“This agreement is a reflection of a commitment to working together to negotiate in good faith and reach a deal that benefits the Board and CUPE Local 1453 members. I am pleased that a deal was reached, and I couldn't be happier for the members of CUPE Local 1453,” said Nora Shaughnessy, president of CUPE Local 1453.

CUPE and the Ontario government reached a tentative central agreement in November, which was ratified by the union in December.

The collective bargaining framework for the education sector features a two-tier bargaining process involving both central and local bargaining. Central bargaining typically includes significant monetary and policy issues (e.g. compensation, benefits and paid leaves), while local negotiations typically involve non-monetary issues or matters specific to the local board.

“We are so pleased to have reached this agreement with our dedicated support workers. It’s an indication of the strong working relationship we enjoy with our CUPE partners,” said Joan Carragher, director of education. “I thank all the hard-working members of the bargaining teams on both sides for their dedication to the process and their spirit of collaboration and cooperation.”

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Felicia Massey


Trent University Seeking Nominations For 2023 Alumni Association Awards

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Trent University is seeking nominations for their 2023 Alumni Association Awards for any graduate making a difference in their communities.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

Nomination deadlines end at 4 p.m. on March 7 by emailing alumni@trentu.ca.

The following are the categories available for nominations:

  • Distinguished Alumni Award - presented based on a person's achievement and leadership in business, industry, a profession or in public life.

  • Spirit of Trent Award - presented to an alum who has made a difference, through contribution to the university, or their community.

  • Young Leader Award - presented to young alumni who have shown outstanding leadership throughout their first 10 years of alumni status either in their professional career and/or community, public or humanitarian service and are 35 years of age or younger.

  • Paul Delaney Award for Outstanding Young Philanthropist - presented to a student or a recent alum whose work sowing seeds of friendship and a spirit of philanthropy makes them an outstanding model for Trent students to emulate.

    The David Glassco Prize - recognizes a student who has demonstrated outstanding generosity of spirit in a range of activities outside the classroom, including music, athletics, or theatre, in the Trent and Peterborough communities.

  • The Robert W.F. Stephenson Prize for Excellence in Student Governance -recognizes an outstanding student leader and underscores the Alumni Association’s high regard for student leadership contribution to the overall mission of Trent University. 

The following are the nomination forms

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Peterborough Petes Introduce Free Ball Hockey For More Than 2,000 Local Students

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The Peterborough Petes have launched the Petes Ball Hockey Program for grade 4-6 students in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, providing equipment, training, and support required for the sport for free announced on Friday.

Petes Coordinator, Marketing & Community Engagement Morgan Blaind does the faceoff for players Quinton Pagé and Sam McCue. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The program is meant to help the grassroots development of hockey in Peterborough. The Petes want to eliminate all barriers to participation in hockey according to a press release.

A launch assembly will be run by the team for each participating school including the schools’ educator ambassadors, Petes’ business staff and current players.

The students regardless of their background, level of hockey experience or physical and cognitive abilities can participate in the program. The students can also meet Petes players, get an autograph and get their first official hockey photo taken after the assembly. They will also receive an official Petes t-shirt and equipment bag, ball hockey rules guide and a letter from Peterborough-born Chase Stillman in addition to free equipment and time each week to play ball hockey in school as part of one of their school’s teams.

“The Petes Ball Hockey Program is an innovative, systematic approach to eliminating barriers to hockey participation, which will help toward our goal of ensuring everyone in Peterborough and the Kawarthas and beyond, has the chance to enjoy the sport of hockey,” said Burton Lee, Petes executive director of business operations. “Whether it be cost, time, accessibility, knowledge, culture or another factor preventing a kid from trying hockey, we believe the Petes Ball Hockey Program will be a solution.”

The first phase of the program starts with 11 schools including:

  • St. Paul Catholic Elementary School, Peterborough

  • St. Paul Catholic Elementary School, Lakefield

  • Kaawaate East City Public School

  • Terry Fox Public School

  • Burnham Public School

  • St. Anne Catholic Elementary School

  • Edmison Heights Public School

  • Bobcaygeon Public School

  • CR Gummow Public School

  • Alexandra Public School

  • Rhema Christian School

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Peterborough City and County Celebrates 30 Years of Nourishing Students Through Food for Kids Program

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St. John’s Catholic Elementary School staff and students and a number of local school boards celebrated 30 years of Student Nutrition Programs in Peterborough City and County.

photo by felicia massey.

Whether it’s rushed mornings, long bus rides or not having access to food at home, some students arrive at school hungry. It is through non-profit organizations and community partnerships that students at 51 local elementary and high schools are able to start the school day with a nutritious meal.

Thirty years ago in 1992-93, a local service club approached two local schools in downtown Peterborough with the hopes of starting a breakfast program under the guidance of Peterborough Public Health’s nutrition and community development expertise.

The name ‘Food for Kids’ was chosen for the program after the number of participating schools grew to 12 in 1997. While continuing to advocate for and support a healthy, vital student nutrition program, the Food for Kids steering committee grew to include community members from various organizations/sectors outside the local school boards. Now, 96 per cent of local, publicly funded schools offer nutrition programs.

“The morning meal at our school is so much more than nourishing food. It’s a valuable part of school life,” says St. John’s principal Jennifer Wright. “It’s a warm, inviting, social part of the school day, where positive relationships and a sense of belonging are nurtured.”

Volunteers through the Food for Kids programs provide meals which include fresh produce, protein foods and whole grains in a welcoming and safe environment for all students. Locally, these program models vary between a grab and go system (food is set out in a central location on a table/cart for students to grab on their way to class), sit and serve (food is prepared and served in a room where students can sit and eat together) and a bin in the classroom (food is packed ahead of time and delivered to each classroom).

According to a Peterborough and County Student Nutrition Program annual report from 2021-22, these programs include 603 staff and volunteers who contribute 890 volunteer hours a week to ensuring approximately 19,000 students get a proper meal before school. These volunteers prepare and serve the meals, as well as wash dishes and shop for groceries.

Those interested in volunteering or donating can contact a local school or visit the Food for Kids website.

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Fleming College Students Tree Create Urban Forest Management Plan For Lindsay Golf and Country Club

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The fairways are looking a little greener at the Lindsay Golf and Country Club as Urban Forestry Technician students from Fleming College are completing a tree inventory and creating an urban forest management plan for the golf club on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of FLeming College.

The plan helps the golf club decide which trees to plant and where they will go on the course.

The club’s tree population is predominantly Ash-most of which are infested by the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive species that has significantly impacted urban and forested canopies across Ontario according to Fleming College. The insect is the cause of the trees becoming dead or dying and needing to be removed and replaced.  

The club anticipates planting 20 to 25 trees per year over the next several years.

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James Strath Students Raise Over $4,500 for Habitat for Humanity

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James Strath Public School’s student-run character council raised $4,520.65 for Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region through their basket raffle fundraiser.

Photo courtesy of Krista McNamara.

James Strath’s character council is made up of 46 students Grades 6 to 8 whose goal is to better their school community with fundraising and goal-setting initiatives.

These students chose Habitat for Humanity as a charity partner, then planned and executed fundraiser.

“I actually didn’t know about the fundraiser until about a week before they announced it,” says Habitat for Humanity communications and donor services manager Jenn MacDonald. “We’re appreciative of any support, but I was blown away by how much they were able to raise.”

The students more than doubled their $2,000 fundraising goal, raising just over $4,500 through themed basket raffles.

James Strath teacher Mr. Wade gets his head shaved by henry’s barber shop in front of the school to celebrate surpassing the fundraising goal. Photo courtesy of Krista McNamara.

MacDonald says the funds raised will go towards Habitat build projects, such as the 12-unit affordable condo building at Leahy’s Lane.

“We’re really happy to say that any financial donations that come to (Habitat) go 100 per cent to the construction of our affordable housing. I’m excited to follow up with the kids and show them through the build process what their support has done for the community,” MacDonald says.

Character council has organized a number of different fundraising efforts throughout the school year, including a food drive for Kawartha Food Share and making blankets through Cuddles For Cancer for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

“We thought since we raised money for food, which is a need in our community, and made blankets which provided community members with warmth, that the next need would be shelter,” said James Strath teacher Krista McNamara. “Habitat is one of those organizations that always puts the community first and as schools are the hub of our community, we really need to blend together and support each other.”

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Trent University Launching Master of Management Degree Beginning This Fall

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Trent University’s six-month professional Master of Management degree is being expanded and accepting applications for this September 2023 at the Peterborough campus, announced on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

“It’s exciting to see how quickly the program has grown, and now by expanding to include the Peterborough campus we’re offering students even more options for study,” said Dr. Bruce Cater, program director. “Our graduates have found that the intensive coursework, followed by a four-month professional placement, provides them with the skills and knowledge they need to enter the business world at a highly competitive level.” 

The program was originally offered at Trent’s Durham GTA campus since 2018 and has expanded to Peterborough for this fall. The program is designed to train the next generation of business leaders, equipping them with knowledge and hands-on learning through a unique summer work-integrated learning placement according to a press release.

Applications are due by March 1 to start in September.

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28 TASSS Students Became Budding Entrepreneurs, Hosting a Shareholders Meeting As Part of Business Class Curriculum

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There were 28 students of Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School (TASSS) who turned a profit as they created and sold a business, hosting a shareholders meeting as part of their curriculum that was held on Friday afternoon.

Several roles were bid on by the students to claim during the entrepreneurship such as production, human resources, health and safety, marketing and more. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

The students were tasked to become entrepreneurs by creating and running a business, assigned by TASSS business teacher Blaine White throughout the semester. Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA-NEO) partnered with the program by providing weekly advice with guest speakers.

“At the beginning of the semester, we have students learn about planning a business and then they start their own business,” explained White. “They're responsible for all of the production, all of the marketing, all of the sales and all of the finances.”

“Youth will have the opportunity to learn and experience skilled trades and entrepreneurship by creating, managing and liquidating a business,” said John McNutt, JA-NEO president and CEO. “All with the guidance and support of experts from across our community.”

TASSS students had to arrange their own shareholder meeting with speeches, a presentation and report to the media and public. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

The students founded the company ‘Encompase Eco’ which created eco-friendly firestarters that were available to purchase at the Kawartha Buttertart Factory & Bakery.

The students held a final shareholder meeting to disclose all of the earnings and share prices. They had over a 381 per cent return in selling the business according to White.

“It's amazing to me to set the bar and watch students rise to the occasion,” he explained. “I couldn't be happier that they've learned all these really awesome skills that they are going to go and carry out into their own lives and perhaps starts their own businesses in our community but I'm also proud of them as people who have developed over the last five months.”

The students were excited to receive hands-on education instead of learning solely through a textbook according to grade 10 student Aiden Budd, who served as the company’s vice president of production.

“I've never experienced anything like this, the textbooks get so boring but now that I got the opportunity to do something like this, it really feels great,” he exclaimed.

During the semester, students had to bid and campaign for roles within the company before starting the business. The students had to arrange their own shareholder meeting with speeches, a presentation and a report before the media and public. The whole process had its bumps but became an instant unforgettable experience for the students.

“I know a lot of people were nervous to get up here but I actually did enjoy it a lot, I'm proud of myself and my team for doing a great job. Mr. White, I thanked him so much for having the opportunity to be able to run this business because there are not a lot of kids that get the opportunity to do stuff like this.”

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Fleming Orientation Welcomes New Students with Winter Skate

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Fleming College Sutherland Campus welcomed students for the new January semester, offering on-campus events and information for new and returning students on Thursday.

photo by Samantha Bianco.

On campus, students had the opportunity to attend program orientation sessions, meet faculty and connect with Fleming’s Student Experience team, along with some fun on-campus events.

The day started with a pancake breakfast at the Steele Centre, and a skating rink from Fleming Student Administrative Services was open to all students at the Sutherland Residence Village. Magician and comedian Wes Barker performed for students at the Steele Centre Pub, and free beaver tails were handed out later in the afternoon to the first 150 students.

As of January 2023, Fleming has just over 5,300 students across their three campuses. 

  • 1,434 students at the Frost Campus (Lindsay)

  • 3,1812 students at the Sutherland Campus (Peterborough)

  • 58 students at the Haliburton School of Art + Design (Haliburton)

These numbers also include 1,100 new International students from around the world who came to Fleming this January.

photo by Samantha bianco.

Some of which, Steele Centre manager Whitney Piper mentions, have never seen snow or a skating rink in-person. 

“It’s great to see (students) on the ice, and putting on skates for the first time,” Piper said. “It’s the real Canadian experience for these students who’ve never experienced it.”

For more information on Fleming College campus orientations, visit the website.

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The Rotary Club of Peterborough Spelling Bee Returns

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The Rotary Club of Peterborough’s Rotary Spelling Bee returns for local elementary students at the Whetung Theatre at Fleming College on May 13.

Photo courtesy of the rotary club of peterborough.

This spelling bee, streamed on YourTV, is set to be an exciting opportunity for students grades 4 through 8 to hone their spelling skills and win prizes.

With two divisions, a junior division for grades 4, 5, and 6 and a senior division for grades 7 and 8, the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s Literacy Committee aims to foster a love of reading and writing in young people in the community.

There is no participation fee, and the funds raised through corporate sponsorships will help the Rotary Club provide young people with materials and opportunities to develop their reading, writing and communication skills.

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities or having your child participate in this year’s spelling bee, reach out to Rotarian Catherine Legault via email.

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