Ontario Government Providing Additional Funding for On-Call Care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre

Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha Dave Smith announced Friday that the Ontario government is investing $3,471,232 into the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) to support more on-call funding for doctors working after hours.

photo courtesy of dave smith, facebook.

This funding will help patients to continue to get the care they need in-hospital, right when and where they need it.

“This funding increase will help PRHC by increasing the number of physicians available for patients when the hospital needs that extra support.” said Dave Smith. “This is just one more step the province is taking to ensure the right level of care is available when it is needed and further help reduce wait times for the people of the greater Peterborough area.”

This funding follows through on previous agreements between the Ontario Medical Association and Ontario Ministry of Health to increase dedicated funding for physicians on-call. This funding will support on-call coverage at nearly 100 acute-care hospitals in Ontario.

This funding will support after-hours care at PRHC and allow for more stable after-hours coverage. This investment recognizes the efforts of health care workers, especially those who provide on-call services in addition to their regular working hours whenever hospitals need it.

“On behalf of PRHC, I want to thank MPP Smith, Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health for today’s exciting announcement,” said Dr. Lynn Mikula, president and CEO of Peterborough Regional Health Centre. “This funding for on-call support will have benefits for both our physicians and our patients, and help to ensure that the people of our community and region have better access to the care they need, when they need it.”

This funding includes a $12.5 million investment from the 2021 Physician Services Agreement with the Ontario Medical Association which will also commits to a fundamental re-design of the Hospital On-Call Coverage program into a burden-based funding model. This ensures equitable distribution of funding across physicians providing on-call services.

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Peterborough and The Kawarthas Entrepreneurs Awarded Grants and Mentorships to Help Spark New Tourism Ideas

Three finalists who made winning pitches for the second intake of the Peterborough and the Kawarthas ‘Spark’ program were each awarded a $3,000 seed grant and mentorship to help them get started with their new tourism ideas.

photo courtesy of peterborough and the kawarthas tourism.

The Peterborough & the Kawarthas “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program is a collaborative partnership initiative between the Tourism Innovation Lab and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism, with funding support from the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario.

The program’s goal is to find, foster and support new tourism ideas, experiences and partnerships that will enhance current offerings, address gaps or challenges, motivate travel and longer stays, and increase year-round visits in the region.

“It's a privilege to work with these local tourism innovators. Our team looks forward to supporting the development of tourism products that give visitors new and engaging ways to explore Peterborough and the Kawarthas,” said Joe Rees, Director of Tourism with Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development.

Ten applications were received, with the top five being invited to present their new tourism ideas at a virtual Pitch Session held on May 2. A panel of judges comprised of local partner representatives and a tourism innovator from outside the region selected the three winning applicants.

The 2023 Peterborough & the Kawarthas “Spark” Program winners are:

• Connor McIlveen & Glyne Pease, Shamrock Acres (Rustic farm venue/event space)

• Katie Jackson, Wanderlight Alpaca Experience (Mystery agritourism and culinary experience)

• Scott Williams, Wildflower Bakery (Sourdough bread-making workshops)

“We congratulate the second-round winners of the Peterborough & the Kawarthas ‘Spark’ program and are excited to work with them to help develop new and exciting tourism offerings in the region” said Justin Lafontaine, Program Lead for the Tourism Innovation Lab.

In addition to seed funds, mentorship and additional partner support, selected applicants gain access to a network of tourism innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders across the province.

For more information, visit the website.

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Ontario Government Funds Over $1.1 Million To Build 12 Addiction Treatment Beds

The Ontario Government has invested $1,138,800 for 12 addiction treatment beds into Four Counties Addiction Services Team (Fourcast) in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge (CMHA-HKPR) through the Addiction Recovery Fund, announced on Tuesday morning.

Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions (left) with MPP Dave Smith (right) at the CMHA building on George Street. In 2022, 539 individuals attended the emergency department resulting from an overdose, emergency medical services responded to 357 overdose calls and 59 individuals lost their lives to overdoses in Peterborough. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

This collaboration will create six residential treatment beds, six residential withdrawal management beds and six-day treatment spaces as a two-year pilot project in a new facility.

The City of Peterborough and the county of Peterborough each contributed $100,000 totalling $1,338,800.

“This is another treatment option for us,” said MPP Dave Smith. “Having the ability to have people from our community go to detox and complete their rehab here, close to home, is one more tool in the toolbox for them. Working towards sobriety is what we need to be doing and this is one of the options for people to use.”

“Treatment and recovery are the key to solving the addiction crisis. This investment in a bed-based residential treatment and withdrawal management program will establish pathways to save countless lives and build up the continuum of care in Peterborough region,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

No site for the facility has been selected but covers CMHA Kawartha, Haliburton and Pine Ridge. This fall is when the facility is projected to be open.

The beds are providing medical supervision and services to patients seeking to detox from substances. Patients will flow to residential treatment beds for up to 35 days. The treatment is being provided in a structured, substance-free, in-house environment.

The program will support participants daily to examine and work on issues related to their substance use. Treatment includes counselling or therapy, as well as psychosocial education and life-skills coaching.

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Ontario Government Invests Over $470,000 For Administered Care Within Long-Term Care Homes

The Ontario Government has invested $471,728 in two projects in Peterborough-Kawartha to aid seniors with complex medical needs at their long-term care home instead of a hospital, announced on Friday afternoon.

(From left to right) MPP Dave Smith; Nancy Rooney, Fairhaven Executive Director; Tia Nguyen, Fairhaven Vice President and Laura White, Fairhave resident. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Examples of long-term care include seniors with dementia and bariatric care.

The funding is part of a $20 million investment this year in 189 projects province-wide through a new Local Priorities Fund operated by Ontario Health.

The projects funded are as follows:

• $30,000 to St. Joseph’s at Fleming for the purchase of bariatric equipment to support long-term care home transition;

• $441,728 to Fairhaven for the purchase of bariatric equipment, minor renovations, and specialized staffing and training to support complex resident care needs while reducing unnecessary hospitalization.

“This investment, tailored to the needs of our community, will provide long-term care residents right here in Peterborough-Kawartha with the specialized supports and services they need,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP.

These projects help residents get care in their long-term care home without having to go to the emergency room or be admitted to the hospital.

The Local Priorities Fund is part of an investment of over $120 million in 2022-23 for specialized services and supports that are helping long-term care residents with complex needs access connected and convenient care in the right place according to a press release.

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Peterborough Animal Care Centre Receives Grant of Over $1.5 Million From Provincial Government

The Peterborough Animal Care Centre (PACC) has received a grant of $1,560,500 from the Minister of Infrastructure of the Province of Ontario to continue its building development and expansions announced by MPP Dave Smith and the Peterborough Humane Society (PHS) on Friday morning.

A stray kitten with Sarah Graham, PACC animal care attendant. The kitten and her siblings were found in an abandoned house with their mother Ursula. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

The funding will aid in several programs and project completions such as an off-leash public access dog park, trail system, memorial patio and garden space according to Shawn Morey, PHS executive director.

"It's directly supporting our programming, we're doing a lot of kids camps, we're going to be doing some programming around responsible pet ownership and facilitation of adoption,” he said.

Kassie Graham, PACC Marketing & Communications Coordinator (left) with Moose (middle) and Sarah Graham (right). Moose is up for adoption at the PACC and is behign showcased at the future site of the centre’s off-leash public access dog park. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

The PACC had known about the funding for roughly over a year but was finalized around Christmas according to MPP Dave Smith. He says the work PACC does in conjunction with the Solicitor General’s office was obviously to lobby for the facility to receive government funding.

“The Humane Society, they are the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals locally. They do a lot of that work for us and work with the Solicitor General's office,” explained Smith. “We recognize what's happening in the greater Peterborough area and I'll even go beyond Peterborough County. The facilities they had previously weren't big enough to do a lot of things they needed to do.”

To that point, the PACC had been community-funded however Morey says that they are still seeking $3 million to finish it. There could be more requests down the road for building expansion within the next few years.

“This center has been built by the community, for the community. That's one of our big statements with making this come to fruition,” said Morey. “It's been 10 years in the making since we initially had this concept of building this state-of-the-art facility completion. Plus we have additional phases that we're going to look at over the next few years to help advance the building.”

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OLG Issues Fourth Quarter Gaming Revenue Payment to Peterborough and Cavan Monaghan

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has made a fourth quarter (Jan. 1 to Mar. 31) payment totalling $716,378 to the City of Peterborough and $78,447 to the Township of Cavan Monaghan for hosting Shorelines Casino/Slots.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

During OLG’s fiscal year (April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023), Peterborough has received $2,934,300, while Cavan Monaghan has received $385,974. Since the gaming site opened in October 2018 Peterborough has received $9,404,365 and Cavan Monaghan has received $61,373,837 since they opened in November 1999.

These payments to host communities are based on a formula consistently applied across all gaming sites in Ontario using a graduated scale of gaming revenue at the hosted site. 

“OLG’s Municipal Contribution Agreement payments are building strong communities where people and families can enjoy a high quality of life,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “These revenues help support local program and critical infrastructure, making a real difference for gaming host municipalities.”

Since 1994, host communities have received nearly $2 billion in non-tax gaming revenue.

OLG says they are proud to share proceeds of casino gaming with local communities, contributing to economic recovery, infrastructure development and job creation. Payments to host communities are part of OLG’s commitment to Ontario, and 100 per cent of OLG’s profits are reinvested in the Province.

Over the past seven years, service providers have invested approximately $2 billion in private sector capital investment across the province.  Since 2017, these investments have led to the development and opening of seven new casinos, one planned development and additional gaming expansions and non-gaming amenities.

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Ontario Government Provides One-Time Funding Increase of $2.5 Million For Homeless Prevention in Peterborough and the County

Peterborough and the County just got an extra $2,492,700 for homelessness prevention now totalling $7,657,000 for the city’s budget, announced by MPP Dave Smith at City Hall on Wednesday morning.

In 2022, the government introduced the More Homes Built Faster Act to address the housing crisis by building 1.5 million homes by 2031. Photo by David Tuan bui.

The money is part of the Ontario government’s investment of an additional $202 million for the province’s annually in the province’s Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supporting Housing Program, bringing Ontario’s total yearly investment in these programs to close to $700 million.

The funding is meant to support the most vulnerable by providing supportive housing and homelessness prevention services.

“Peterborough, like so many cities across Ontario, is experiencing a homelessness crisis,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “This funding from the Province of Ontario will help support our most vulnerable with critical homelessness prevention and supportive housing services.”

The additional funding has come as a surprise to some City staff and Council members as the budget was finalized in January according to Smith. The money will be added to the original budget the City had intended for homelessness.

“This gives them an opportunity then to make some plans on what they're going to do with it,” he said.

City Council has until April 1 next year to spend the money as they see fit in a ‘use it or lose it’ situation and cannot be banked for next year’s funding.

Smith also added that partially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were more people who were unhoused and this increase in funding is in recognition of that increasing number.

“When we were developing the budget this year, we were able to find some additional funding that flowed into it,” he explained.

When asked about how many people it will aid, Smith says it’s hard to gauge as it could be premature to issue a number. He continued saying it could be as low as the high 90s but can reach the 300s.

“I think the most important thing we should be looking at is taking that snapshot in time, where are we sitting right now, how many individuals do we have that need that additional support and what plans can we put in place to address that,’ he explained.

Smith recognized during provincial budget talks that Peterborough was a city in significant need of reducing homelessness issues.

“We need to make sure we’re proactive so we don’t find ourselves in a position in July or August of this year that a number of individuals see themselves where their only recourse is to set up a tent at Victoria Park,” said Smith.

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Ontario Government Provides $250,000 to YMCA in Peterborough and Quinte to Offset COVID-19 Expenses

The Ontario Government and Ontario Trillium Foundation have provided the YMCA of Central East Ontario a $250,000 Community Building Fund grant to help offset any costs incurred from the COVID-19 pandemic, announced on Friday afternoon.

(from left to right) MaryAnne Wooldridge, General Manager Balsillie Family Branch; MPP Dave Smith and David Allen, President and CEO of YMCA of Central East Ontario. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

The money was split between the Balsillie Family Branch location in Peterborough and the Belleville branch and the John Williams branch in Quinte West. The former got the lion’s share with around $200,000 of the grant according to MPP Dave Smith.

“Today’s funding announcement has been a tremendous help to the Peterborough YMCA in continuing to provide services within our community,” said Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha. “This allows them to continue focusing on the important work they do best, which is helping to support the health and wellness of children, families and individuals right here in our region.”

In addition to paying off the upkeep of operation expenses, the grant helped it purchase software with web and virtual costs.

“Like so many other organizations, the past few years have been a really challenging time for our YMCA,” explained David Allen, YMCA of Central East Ontario president and CEO. “This grant allowed our YMCA to cover software and operational expenses at a time when membership revenue was limited.”

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Canadian Canoe Museum Announces $1.775 Million Transformative Gift for New Waterfront Campus

The Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM) announced Thursday a transformative gift of $1,775,000 to create a vibrant, community-oriented waterfront campus along the shores of the Museum’s future home at 2077 Ashburnham Drive.

Jeremy Ward (Curator), Rodger Wright (Fundraising Cabinet volunteer), Carolyn Hyslop (Executive Director), Stu Lang (donor), Helen Batten (Landscape Architect, Basterfield & Associates Ltd.) and David Hadden (Fundraising Cabinet volunteer) during a visit to the CCM’s future home. photo courtesy of the canadian canoe museum.

The Lakefront Campus and Gathering Circle, made possible by the philanthropic efforts of former CFL player and businessman Stuart (Stu) Lang and his wife, Kim, will offer visitors the chance to learn and build connections with the land, water, and community through immersive, authentic outdoor experiences that will create a new generation of paddlers.

The CCM's future home features a 5.3-acre Lakefront Campus that will extend and enhance the museum experience, offering visitors a variety of outdoor activities both on and off the water. The 1,200 feet of shoreline, docks, boardwalk, restored and naturalized spaces, and wetland will act as a multi-purpose outdoor classroom for learners of all ages and be an active community space.

"We are incredibly grateful and fortunate for the passion, vision, and generosity of the Langs. Stu has taken great pride in helping craft an active waterfront that can complement the Museum, with many of the ideas for the Lakefront Campus coming from Stu himself. This gift, confirmed in the fall of 2022, has grown to the transformative gift it is today because of the Langs’ commitment to excellence and elevating the CCM to a national level," said Carolyn Hyslop, executive director.

The future home of The Canadian Canoe Museum, set to open later this summer or early fall, will invite visitors to walk in the front door of the Museum and paddle out the back with an array of outdoor programming on its new Lakefront Campus. Render by Lett Architects Inc. Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum.

A conceptual illustration of the Lakefront Campus and Gathering Circle. The new 65,000 square-foot museum and 5.3-acre Lakefront Campus on the Trent-Severn Waterway will not only care for the watercraft and chronicle their history, but it will also enable visitors to experience the magic of the canoe and the outdoors firsthand. The Lakefront Campus will feature a Gathering Circle, an accessible boardwalk to the Trans Canada Trail and waterfront, a Canoe House, a dock for voyageur canoe tours, a large dock for teaching and canoe and kayak rentals, an accessible canoe and kayak launch, and a walk-in canoe launch. Illustration by Basterfield & Associates Ltd. Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum.

A conceptual illustration of the Lakefront Campus and Gathering Circle. The new 65,000 square-foot museum and 5.3-acre Lakefront Campus on the Trent-Severn Waterway will not only care for the watercraft and chronicle their history, but it will also enable visitors to experience the magic of the canoe and the outdoors firsthand. The Lakefront Campus will feature a Gathering Circle, an accessible boardwalk to the Trans Canada Trail and waterfront, a Canoe House, a dock for voyageur canoe tours, a large dock for teaching and canoe and kayak rentals, an accessible canoe and kayak launch, and a walk-in canoe launch. Illustration by Basterfield & Associates Ltd. Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum.

An aerial view of the Lakefront Campus, taken on February 13, depicting construction on the boardwalk and Canoe House. Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum.

A Gathering Circle outside the Museum’s main entrance will greet visitors arriving by car, bus, bicycle, or on foot. Inspired by Canadian canoe routes and water's impact on the landscape, the Gathering Circle will feature natural elements, emphasizing the relationship between land and water. A water infiltration garden, wood slat benches, and a small amphitheatre surrounded by large granite boulders and white pine trees will offer visitors a space for reflection and education before or after their adventures.

The redevelopment of the waterfront will also include an accessible, year-round boardwalk connecting the CCM to the Trans Canada Trail and the shoreline. There will be many opportunities to get out on the water with a walk-in canoe launch, two expansive seasonal canoe docks, and an adaptive canoe and kayak launch station. The docks and Canoe House will allow the CCM to host voyageur canoe tours, adult and youth paddling programs, certification courses, regattas and canoe and kayak rentals for the public.

The Lakefront Campus is an entirely new offering for the CCM, one where visitors can take their newly acquired skills and understandings outside and put them into practice immediately, creating a fully integrated visitor experience.

“Participants in a paddle carving or canoe restoration workshop will experience the excitement of testing their freshly honed skills on the water. Schoolchildren and campers will get their hands dirty while exploring the biodiversity of the wetland or learning to build a campfire. Seating and signage throughout the site will encourage visitors and trail users to take in the expansive views of Little Lake before or after visiting the galleries. And the docks, canoe racks and a connection to the Trans Canada Trail will encourage community connectivity and active, accessible transportation,” continued Hyslop.

The Lang’s are highly respected members of the Guelph community, contributing to the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), the Guelph Humane Society and Guelph General Hospital. They are well-known champions of Queen's University, their alma mater, and the University of Guelph, where the Lang School of Business and Economics is named after Stu’s father.

Stu had a successful eight-year professional football career with the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League (CFL), winning five Grey Cups. He later joined the family business, CCL Industries, and worked there for 25 years before becoming a director of the company.

Stu and Kim also have a passion for camping and canoe tripping, having attended The Taylor Statten Camps in Algonquin Park. At these camps, they both developed a life-long passion and interest in canoeing, the outdoors, and educating youth about Canadian history.

"The Canadian Canoe Museum's world-class collection deserves an outstanding home. A fully realized Lakefront Campus and Gathering Circle are essential. They will showcase the canoe's incredible history and cultural significance and connect people to the land and water in a way that only hands-on experiences can. The new museum will be a place where people can come together, learn by doing, and be inspired by the stories and traditions of the canoe. It's an investment in our past, present, and future, and we are proud to be a part of it," says Stu Lang.

The Langs join a generous group of donors and funders across the country contributing to the Inspiring Canada by Canoe campaign, which has raised 95% of the $40 million cost for the project.

The new museum is made possible, in part, by the CCM’s lead donor and government partners, including the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), the Weston Family Foundation, the City of Peterborough, Peterborough County, and the Province of Ontario.

The new museum and waterfront campus are under construction, with an anticipated grand opening in late summer or early fall. For more information or to sign-up for updates, visit CCM's website.

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Ontario Investing Over $200,000 Into Campbellford and Norwood Curling Clubs

MPP David Piccini announced a combined $200,900 of funding for the Norwood and Campbellford Curling Clubs on Saturday at Norwood Curling Club’s annual Maplefest event.

photo courtesy of the office of mpp piccini.

The grants, funded through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), will replace the roof of the Norwood club and improve accessibility at the Campbellford club.

“This funding is big news for the Trent Hills and Norwood area and will ensure that members of our community have plenty of options to stay active and engaged,” said MPP David Piccini. “Our government will continue to support important projects like these in rural areas as we build a stronger Ontario.”

The Norwood Curling Club received a $86,200 Capital grant from OTF to replace the roof on its century-old facility. The building hosts the annual Norwood Fair and is available to the public for community events. The Norwood Curling Club is run by volunteers and is open to everyone, offering multiple recreational, educational and competitive curling leagues. Additional information is available online.

"This Ontario Trillium Foundation grant will allow the Club to replace the roof and thereby significantly extend the life of this vital community building and ensure that it remains available for years to come,” said Denton Curry, President of Norwood Curling Club.   

At the same time as the Norwood Club learned of its grant, the Campbellford Curling and Racquet Club received the good news that it was receiving a $114,700 Capital grant. The Club is making a series of accessibility upgrades to its building, including the addition of new automated, touchless doors, installing a wheelchair lift, widening doors to the locker room areas and squash courts, adding ramps where needed and more, ensuring that the building is even more accessible in the years to come. The Club provides recreational activities for people of all ages living in the Trent Hills community and surrounding areas. It provides a welcoming and accessible space to keep active and stay connected with the community. For more information, visit the website. 

“The Campbellford and District Curling and Racquet Club is truly the hub of our community,” said Carol Currelly-Burnham of the Campbellford Curling and Racquet Club. “We foster a sense of belonging which is a vital component of our community’s overall health. Thanks to the generosity of the Ontario Government and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, we are able to make our site truly accessible to all.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grantmaking in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

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