Fleming College Alumni Nominated For Premier’s Awards
/Six Fleming College alumni have been selected as nominees for the this year’s Premier’s Awards.
The Premier Awards were founded in 1992. Photo courtesy of Fleming College.
Peterborough Blogs
Trent University Reappoints Chancellor To One-Year Term
/Trent University has reappointed Dr. Stephen Stohn as chancellor for a one-year term extension following a six-year tenure.
Beyond his role at Trent, Dr. Stohn’s distinguished career continues to earn national acclaim, highlighted by his 2023 appointment to the Order of Canada, and induction into the Canada Walk of Fame for his visionary contributions to the iconic Degrassi franchise. Photo courtesy of TRent University.
“Stephen has been an incredibly engaged chancellor, and I am looking forward to continuing our work together,” said Dr. Cathy Bruce, Trent president and vice-chancellor. “Over his last two terms, he has been a part of nearly every aspect of Trent life — welcoming students at Orientation Week, serving as judge in mock trial competitions, supporting philanthropic efforts, and of course, conferring degrees for thousands of students at convocation. In his extended term, I know Stephen will find new ways to support our students and continue to do great things for Trent.”
Stohn’s extended appointment begins July 2025 and will extend his term as chancellor until June 2026.
The award-winning producer and esteemed entertainment lawyer was recognized with an honorary doctorate from Trent in 2015. He was first sworn-in as Trent’s twelfth chancellor in June 2019.
“When you get to this point in your life and career, after you’ve had some personal and professional success, it just feels right to give back and help the generation who are just starting out and looking at fulfilling their aspirations,” said Stohn. “I’m really enjoying the role of chancellor and having opportunities to collaborate with amazing students, faculty, and staff, supporting their success and the work Trent continues to do to make a difference for our communities.”
He has served as an ambassador for Trent’s Momentous Campaign, contributing to the award-winning gratitude video according to a press release. Stohn has been involved in alumni engagement, attending chapter events across the country, hosting reunions and fostering connections with graduates and the community at events like Head of the Trent and Trent Day.
At Traill College, Stohn involvement was notable according to Trent by attending college dinners, opening new facilities including the Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre, and serving as a judge in mock trials for the Dual Law Degree program and the Three Minute Thesis competition for graduate students.
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Fleming College Receives $360,000 to Fight "Canada's Worst Invasive Plant"
/The money will go to fighting a highly prevalent aggressive reed commonly known as invasive phragmites.
FLEMING COLLEGE PHOTO
Fleming is getting the funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF).
Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry made the announcement last week.
Fleming will partner with Nature Conservancy Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and Saiwa Inc. to innovate the fight against what’s being billed as “Canada’s worst invasive plant”.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to help Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada with their important conservation work,” said Fleming president Maureen Adamson. “Together, we will provide conservationists and resource managers with valuable tools to effectively combat the spread of invasive plants that threaten our native vegetation.”
The 3 year project is led by the researchers from Fleming’s Centre for Applied Machine Intelligence and Integration Technologies (CAMIIT) and School of Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences (SENRS).
It aims to advance automation in the detection and surveillance of the invasive plant using machine vision algorithms, remote sensing data, and innovative drone technologies.
CAMIIT’s Dr. Fereydoon Diba, in collaboration with Saiwa Inc., will develop a specialized drone with machine vision capability to recognize the invasive plant.
SENRS professor, Dr. Josh Feltham, along with Nature Conservancy Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada will collect drone surveillance data.
Fleming students will assist with the project’s data collection and hardware development.
“This collaboration highlights the capabilities that technology and innovation can bring to natural resources, and the real-world problems that can be solved through applied research,” added Adamson. “It’s promising to see CAMIIT and SENRS combining forces with such highly respected national conservation organizations.”
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Fleming College Expands Health Care Programming In Lindsay With New Mobile Laboratory This Winter
/Fleming College is bringing its Personal Support Worker program to Lindsay’s Frost Campus this winter with a state-of-the-art mobile laboratory to help expand health care in the City of Kawartha Lakes, announced on Monday.
Photo courtesy of FLeming College.
According to a press release, Fleming says there is a tremendous need for qualified personal support workers across the province. It continues to state that the province estimates that it will need up to 24,000 qualified personal support workers by 2026.
The new mobile lab will train 64 potential personal support workers with state-of-the-art equipment. The course is over two semesters with 400 hours of theory, hands-on laboratory experience and 300 hours of real-life training.
“This mobile laboratory allows us to conveniently bring health care training into the heart of Lindsay and the surrounding regions,” said Maureen Adamson, Fleming College. “These students will offer health care support to the local community during their placements and upon graduation.”
“I am thrilled to see Fleming College taking such a proactive approach in addressing the healthcare needs of our region,” said Laurie Scott, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP. The introduction of this mobile PSW lab is a game-changer for our community, providing accessible and high-quality training right here in Lindsay. This initiative will not only equip our students with valuable skills but it will ultimately enhance the overall healthcare services available locally.”
The mobile lab allows the college to deliver PSW training without renovating a physical space. The PSW program will be located at the Frost Campus in the winter of next year. Fleming says there is potential to expand to other communities within the region as stated in a press release.
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Elementary School's Breakfast Club Gets Cooking After Donation of Two Ovens From Rotary Club of Peterborough
/Prince of Wales’s Breakfast Club kicked off the school year on the right foot as they received two new ovens donated from the Rotary Club of Peterborough and unveiled on Tuesday morning.
Thea Chaput, Grade 6 (left); Camryn Chaput, Grade 5 (middle) and Sophie Bradley, Grade 7 (middle right) getting '“apple-loutely’ excited over the new overs with Colin Mackenzie, Rotary volunteer (Middle left) and Tommy Reburn of Leon’s Peterborough (right). Volunteers and Rotary Club members have been providing breakfast to the Prince of Wales students for nearly 30 years. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorated the ovens and the Rotary’s work during breakfast hours at the school.
The program feeds roughly over 500 children according to Brad Conlin, Prince of Wales principal.
“The School Nutrition Program has a major impact on the safety, well-being and belongingness of our students,” he said. “Many students use the breakfast program not only as a place to fill their tummies for the start of their day, but it is a place that students can use as a soft-start transition from home to school.”
At the end of the last school year, the ovens began to malfunction, making it difficult to prepare meals promptly and efficiently.
“Faces of trusted adults and the impact of our volunteers goes beyond the needs of just the healthy breakfasts and lunches that are provided,” said Conlin. “The staff and volunteers always have a lens of inclusivity which fosters an environment of food for some, food for all.”
Peterborough Rotarian of the Year and volunteer Catherine Hanrahan contacted her fellow Realtor colleague at Century 21 United, Tom Reburn, who also owns Leon’s. His company supplied, delivered, and installed them free of charge during the last week of August.
“Leon’s is well known as a great community supporter so I didn’t hesitate to reach out to my friend Tom to see if he could hook us up two new stoves and a microwave.” says Hanrahan.
One Prince of Wales student highlighted the club's importance and how having breakfast can positively impact a child’s learning experience.
“This year, as soon as I saw the first person go in the Breakfast Club doors, I went in as well. I was hungry and I didn’t have a chance to eat breakfast. At my old school we had plain oatmeal everyday. At POW we have a variety of foods. A couple of days ago we had eggs, hash browns, and cereal. If we have eggs three days in a row, they are always cooked differently. The program is really important to me because in the morning sometimes I can make myself a hot chocolate but most of the days I don’t have time. After I eat breakfast, it helps me to focus better at school. There are a lot of community volunteers and they are always treating us nicely and coming to our tables to ask us if we want more. I would love to volunteer because I love to cook. Today I helped a little girl make her yogurt more tasty by squeezing an orange into her yogurt like the adult volunteer showed us how to do. Another day I helped that girl’s little sister when she spilled her drink all over herself and the floor. Children from every grade can eat breakfast together, whether they can’t afford it, or they didn’t have time that day. That is why Breakfast Club is important to me and the rest of the school.”
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Trent University Announces 2024-25 Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Comparative Canada-U.S. Studies
/Trent University has appointed Dr. Holly M. Karibo from Oklahoma State University as the 2024-25 Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Comparative Canada-U.S. Studies.
Photo courtesy of Trent University.
“We are thrilled to welcome Professor Karibo to Trent University” said Dr. Heather Nicol, School for the Study of Canada director. “Her expertise in transnational urban history and research on the Great Lakes Borderlands are perfectly aligned with Trent’s commitment to interdisciplinary and cross-border academic exploration. Prof. Karibo’s work will enrich our understanding of historical dynamics and address contemporary issues that resonate across borders.”
Prof. Karibo’s research project, ‘Ladies, Liquor, and the National Line: Gendering Prohibition in the Great Lakes Borderlands,’ is the first in-depth study of women’s roles in cross-border illegal economies during the American Prohibition Era according to a press release. Her work focuses on regions connecting New York, Michigan, Ontario, Quebec and the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne as well as the often-overlooked roles of women in these smuggling networks. The release continues to state that by reframing Prohibition through the lenses of gender, race, and labour, Prof. Karibo introduces new perspectives to a traditionally male-dominated narrative.
As a Fulbright Scholar at Trent, Prof. Karibo will spend the fall semester conducting groundbreaking research on North American cross-border history concerning gender roles within illicit economies and will engage with the academic community through teaching and collaboration.
“I’m thrilled to begin my appointment at Trent University,” said Karibo. “The opportunity to explore Canadian archives and collaborate with Trent’s academic community will be invaluable in advancing this project. I look forward to unearthing the stories of women who reshaped societal norms and legal landscapes during the Prohibition era.”
Prof. Karibo will also teach the course “Sin Cities: Vice in the North American Borderlands,” examining illicit economies in the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borderlands during the 19th and 20th centuries. This interdisciplinary course will explore the regulation of vice economies and the gendered and racial experiences of those involved.
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Peterborough DBIA Brings Back 'Explore the Boro Scavenger Hunt' to Help Connect Trent Students to the Community
/Starting this week, Trent University students will discover their campus and the Peterborough community through Explore the Boro, a scavenger hunt to help familiarize students with local shopping and leisure spots while also supporting downtown businesses, announced on Wednesday.
The annual event—originally launched in 2021 as the bingo event Discover Peterborough—highlights local shops, cafés, and restaurants, helping students feel more connected to their new home. Photo Courtesy of Trent University.
Explore the Boro, co-hosted by Trent and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), encourages students to discover and engage with Downtown Peterborough.
“The excitement in Peterborough reaches a new level each fall as Trent students return to the city, bringing with them a vibrant energy that enriches our cultural, social, and economic landscape,” said Alison Scholl, senior manager, Community & External Relations at Trent University. “Explore the Boro offers a fun and engaging way for our incoming and returning students to immerse themselves in all that Peterborough has to offer.”
From Sept. 1 to 15, Trent students can participate in the scavenger hunt by completing missions via the Goosechase app. These missions range from snapping selfies at key landmarks to answering trivia questions. They allow students to earn points and discover hidden gems around campus and the city. Prizes will be awarded to the top three participants. The student with the highest score will win a $1,250 Boro gift card, redeemable at various downtown businesses.
“Trent students invigorate our downtown, and this event strengthens the bonds between students and local businesses,” said Nour Mazloum, DBIA executive director. “We’re excited to continue this valuable partnership, providing students with opportunities to explore, engage, and contribute to the cultural and economic vibrancy that makes Peterborough & the Kawarthas such a unique and welcoming destination.”
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United Way and Cogeco Provide Over 450 'Backpacks for Success' For Back To School
/To help kids get a head start in the classroom, the United Way Peterborough & District teamed with Cogeco on Tuesday to supply over 450 bags for their ‘Backpacks for Success’ for children at the Calvary Church.
Since 2003, United Way has provided more than 13,000 backpacks containing grade-appropriate school supplies to local students attending Kindergarten through Grade 12. Photo by Pete Dalliday.
“We're proud to continue our partnership with United Way Peterborough & District for the Backpacks for Success Program. said David Feeler, Cogeco manager. “This initiative is vital for our community, helping families and the next generation by providing the essential school supplies every student needs to kick off the school year ready to succeed."
Two local school boards, Kawartha Pine Ridge and PVNCC, and local service agencies requested the backpacks. According to United Way, the cost to deliver the program for the 2024-25 academic year is almost $14,000. Cogeco Peterborough’s investment of $5,000 provides a huge boost to UWP’s fundraising initiative.
“This program fills such an important gap in service locally and we are proud to have been able to provide it for the past 21 years” said Sara Mountenay, United Way development and communications officer. “We rely solely on the generous support of our community to prepare our students for academic success as this fundraising initiative falls outside of the United Way Community Campaign that is used to support our 20 Partner Agencies.”
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Environmental Artist and Climate Advocate Named 45th Ashley Fellow at Trent University
/Subhankar Banerjee, an award-winning photographer, author and conservationist, has been named Trent University’s 45th Ashley Fellow.
The Ashley Fellow is a visiting scholar hosted each year by one of Trent University’s Colleges. The fellowship is funded by a bequest from the late Professor C.A. Ashley, long-time friend of Trent University and an enthusiastic proponent of the role that informal contacts of college life can play in the academic pursuits of the University. Photo courtesy of Trent University.
The visual artist and environmental storyteller is the founding director of the Center for Environmental Arts & Humanities and a professor of Art & Ecology at the University of New Mexico.
Since 2002, Banerjee has been working with Indigenous elders, scientists, and conservationists in Alaska. He has released several acclaimed publications – including Seasons of Life and Land and Arctic Voices – and is working on four new books, including a collaborative work with Trent History professor Finis Dunaway.
“Drawing from his lived experiences and a distinctive perspective that blends art with humanity, Subhankar perfectly embodies the ideals of the Ashley Fellowship, those of LEC, and the spirit of interdisciplinarity foundational to Trent,” said Dr. Christine Freeman-Roth, Lady Eaton College principal. “We have no doubt that his photographs and reflections around biodiversity, Indigenous rights, global conservation, and other pressing issues of the time will resonate with students, staff, faculty, and community members.”
During his residency on campus from Sept. 26 to Oct. 10, Banerjee will visit classrooms, exchange knowledge with faculty, attend a college dinner and host a public keynote address where he’ll discuss how art and visual culture can reframe our understanding of the biodiversity crisis and help shape a more inclusive and just framework for conservation that honours the rights and needs of Indigenous and other rural peoples.
“Over the past nearly half a century, the Ashley Fellowship brought many Indigenous and other civil society leaders, artists, and scholars from so many different academic disciplines to Trent University, and I’m deeply honoured and humbled to have my name added to such a distinguished list,” said Banerjee. “I’m looking forward to connecting with students and faculty to discuss why visual culture and environmental humanities are essential in apprehending our precarious time – a time in which we are a witness to the intensifying biodiversity and climate crises.”
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OPP and Peterborough Police Service to Increase Traffic Enforcement In School Zones In Peterborough County
/The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Peterborough Police Service (PPS) will increase traffic enforcement in Peterborough County school zones this fall.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
“As the new school year begins, the Peterborough County OPP reminds drivers to stay alert,” said Chris Galeazza, OPP inspector/detachment commander. “With children returning to sidewalks, crossing guards at intersections, and school buses back on the roads, safety needs to be every driver's top priority. Please plan for potential delays and exercise patience and caution to ensure a safe journey for all.”
“Back-to-school is an exciting time. We want it to be a safe time as well whether students are walking, cycling or taking the bus,” said Stuart Betts, Peterborough Police Chief. “There are new traffic calming measures in place and the City of Peterborough has deemed school zones as Community Safety Zones, which come with slower speeds and increased fines. We ask motorists to slow down, be extra vigilant as well as patient as we see the return of students, crossing guards and school buses for the school year.”
This enforcement is in partnership with Peterborough County, The Township of Cavan Monaghan, The Township of Selwyn, and The Municipality of Trent Lakes.
“As Fall begins, school bells will ring, yellow buses will hit the roads and young students will be crossing streets to get to and from school,” said Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden. “In Peterborough County, our roads are shared by cars, trucks, farm vehicles, school buses, cyclists, pedestrians, and more. Please drive with caution; stay alert, leave early, stop for buses, give room to cyclists, and yield at pedestrian crossings. Thank you to our local police services for your support with enforcement in school zones this Fall. Let’s all do our part to ensure a successful and safe school year for all students.”
The County reminds drivers to take extra precautions as school buses return to the roads. This includes slowing down in school zones, planning to leave early, giving at least one metre of clearance to cyclists and stopping for school buses.
The OPP and Peterborough Police Service would like to remind motorists of the following:
You must stop for stopped school buses with lights flashing.
Speeding in a school zone can result in fines and demerit points.
Crossing guards have the right to stop traffic at crosswalks – abide by their direction.
Motorists must wait until the crossing guard is no longer on the roadway before proceeding.
