MPP Dave Smith Announces Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act To Be Introduced

MPP Dave Smith and other dignitaries have announced the introduction of the Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act in a teleconference held on Thursday afternoon.

(from left to right) MPP Dave Smith; Chief Emily Whetung; Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism and Chief Mel Hardy, Anishinabek Nation Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief and former Chief of Curve Lake First Nation. Photo courtesy of MPP Dave Smith.

Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Chief Mel Hardy, Anishinabek Nation Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief and Chief Emily Whetung, former Chief of Curve Lake First Nation were also in attendance to make the announcement.

The bill, if passed, creates an award for Cadet Corps and Squadrons at the Annual Ceremonial Reviews. Ontario’s 288 active Canadian Cadet Corps and Squadrons can select a member who has displayed exceptional volunteerism and citizenship over the past year to be eligible for the Murray Whetung Community Service Award.

“Murray Whetung was a pillar in our community. He volunteered to fight in the Second World War and dedicated his life to family and service. I was honoured to receive his endorsement for this legislation before his passing,” said MPP Dave Smith. “This bill does more than recognize the life of one man, it seeks to teach others of the injustices First Nations veterans faced for risking their lives in service to Canada.”

In the First and Second World Wars, roughly 7,000 First Nations residents voluntarily served. For those who served continuously, their rights were stripped for time away from the reserve. Indigenous veterans able to retain their status were often ineligible for benefits available to non-Indigenous veterans following the wars.

“My Shomis (grandfather) was humbled when MPP Smith approached him about the idea of an award named after him,” said Whetung. “My Shomis did what he thought needed to be done and didn’t expect special recognition. He was a shining example of choosing happiness in the face of adversity and an inspiration to so many of us.”

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Unofficial Results of the 2022 Municipal Election for Peterborough County

The unofficial election results from the 2022 Municipal Election for Peterborough and the Kawarthas from Monday night.

Jeff Leal won the mayoral candidacy with over 50 per cent of the votes. Photo by Felicia Massey.

The City of Peterborough had 65,703 eligible voters and 26,377 votes were cast.

“Let me tell you how excited I am to accept my new role as mayor of Peterborough,” said Leal. “I realize that the road ahead is bound to have some challenges, but I am very optimistic about Peterborough’s future. I have a detailed plan moving forward, and the voters have approved this plan this evening.”

City of Peterborough

Mayor

• Jeff Leal (12,911, 49.33 per cent)

• Henry Clarke (8,280, 31.63 per cent)

• Stephen Wright (3,924, 14.99 per cent)

• Brian Lumsden (728, 2.78 per cent)

• Victor Kreuz (331, 1.26 per cent)

Ward 1 - Otonabee

• Lesley Parnell (3,132, 40.82 per cent)

• Kevin Duguay (1,943, 25.33 per cent)

• Eleanor Underwood (1,169, 15.24 per cent)

• Chanté White (1,032, 13.45 per cent)

• Nathan Russell-Meharry (396, 5.16 per cent)

Ward 2 - Monaghan

• Matt Crowley (2,871, 28.00 per cent)

• Don Vassiliadis (2,469, 24.08 per cent)

• Jeff Westlake (1,968, 19.19 per cent)

• Charmaine Magumbe (1,620, 15.80 per cent)

• Tom Wigglesworth (806, 7.86 per cent)

• Lyle Saunders (520, 5.07 per cent)

Ward 3 - Town

• Alex Bierk (2,600, 30.79 per cent)

• Joy Lachica (2,308, 27.33 per cent)

• Dean Pappas (2,143, 25.38 per cent)

• Vickie Karikas (966, 11.44 per cent)

• Brian Christoph (428, 5.07 per cent)

Ward 4 - Ashburnham

• Gary Baldwin (3,326, 40.07 per cent)

• Keith Riel (2,964, 35.71 per cent)

• Andrew Macgregor (2,011, 24.23 per cent)

Ward 5 - Northcrest

• Andrew Beamer (4,003, 38.28 per cent)

• Dave Haacke (2,334, 22.32 per cent)

• Carlotta James (1,874, 17.92 per cent)

• Shauna Kingston (1,105, 10.57 per cent)

• Aldo Andreoli (722, 6.90 per cent)

• Karen Grant (420, 4.02 per cent)

‍

County of Peterborough‍

‍Township of Asphodel-Norwood

‍Office of the Mayor

• Patrick Wilford (813, 51.4 per cent)

• Rodger Bonneau (699, 44.2 per cent)

• Gregory Bloom (71, 4.5 per cent)

Councillor

• Paula Warr (1,262, 31.4 per cent)

• Barry Walsh (1,244, 31.0 per cent)

• Stephanie Hodge-Greaves (957, 23.8 per cent)

• Michael Bult (554, 13.8%)

Township of Cavan Monaghan‍

Mayor

• Matthew Graham (2,120, 60.2 per cent)

• Daryl Bennett (1,399, 39.8 per cent)

Deputy Mayor

• Ryan Huntley (2,001, 57.4 per cent)

• Dean Del Mastro (1,484, 42.6 per cent)

Ward 1 Councillor

• Nelson Edgerton (470, 60.5 per cent)

• Bob Walsh (307, 39.5 per cent)

Ward 2 Councillor

• Gerry Byrne (464, 38.2 per cent)

• Janet Heeringa (397, 32.6 per cent)

• Bill Shaw (193, 15.9 per cent)

• Valerie Kent (149, 12.3 per cent)

• Craig Shields (13, 1.1 per cent)

Ward 3 Councillor

• Lance Nachoff (469, 32.8 per cent)

• David Lundrigan (354, 24.8 per cent)

• Louise Bedford (334, 23.4 per cent)

• Kathie Lycett (272, 19.0 per cent)

Township of Douro-Dummer

‍Mayor

• Heather Watson (1,501, 57.2 per cent)

• Jim Coyle (1,124, 42.8 per cent)

Deputy Mayor

• Harold Nelson (1,499, 59.7 per cent)

• Marc Trudeau (1,010, 40.3 per cent)

Councillor, Ward 1 (Douro Ward)

• Ray Johnston (530, 41.8 per cent)

• Marie Howran (383, 30.2 per cent)

• Mark Porter (356, 28.1 per cent)

Councillor, Ward 2 (Dummer Ward)

• Adam Vervoort (703, 55.6 per cent)

• Shelagh Landsmann (561, 44.4 per cent)

Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen

‍Mayor

• Jim Martin (1,640)

• Rolf Joss (494)

Deputy Mayor

• Hart Webb (Acclaimed)

Councillor at Large

• Kathy Clement (743)

• Pascal Hill (454)

• Ralph Horton (360)

• Shelley Miles (512)

Township Ward

• Jerry Doherty (858)

• Gregory Clements (830)

Village Ward

• Beverly Flagler (140)

• Paul Wood (128)

• Jonathan Prosser (76)

Township of North Kawartha

‍Mayor

• Carolyn Amyotte (acclaimed)

Deputy Mayor

• Jim Whelan (acclaimed)

Councillor Ward 1

• Jim O'Shea (642, 66.5 per cent)

• John Lovatsis (324, 33.5 per cent)

Councillor Ward 2

• Colin McLellan (467, 45.8 per cent)

• Mike Del Mastro (429, 42.1 per cent)

• Joe McCauley (123, 12.1 per cent)

Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan

‍Mayor

• Joe Taylor (acclaimed)

Deputy Mayor

• Bonnie Clark (acclaimed)

Councillor-at-Large

• Mark Allen (acclaimed)

Councillor Otonabee Ward

• Nick Powers (acclaimed)

Councillor South Monaghan Ward

• Terry Holmes (222, 37.5 per cent)

• Ken Howie (193, 32.6 per cent)

• Dennis Hannah (177, 29.9 per cent)

Township of Selwyn

‍Mayor

• Sherry Senis (acclaimed)

Deputy Mayor

• Ron Black (acclaimed)

Councillor - Ennismore - Ward 10

• Mary Coulas (1,121)

• Gail Moorhouse (348)

Councillor - Smith - Ward 20

• Brian Henry (1,059)

• Samuel Alexander (423)

Councillor - Lakefield - Ward 30

• John Boyko (897)

• Anita Locke (202)

Across Selwyn Township, there were 16,903 eligible voters and 4,149 votes were casted.

Municipality of Trent Lakes

‍Mayor

• Terry Lambshead (1,940)

• Bev Matthews (1,123)

Deputy Mayor

• Carol A. Armstrong (1,772)

• Gerry Forestell (740)

• Ed Dewhurst (488)

Councillor-at-large

• Peter Franzen (1,766)

• Anne Dixon (1,113)

Harvey Ward

• John Braybrook (848)

• Peter Raymond (565)

• Adri Eastman (556)

Galway-Cavendish Ward

• Joe Cadian (374)

• Ira Peters (321)

• Ed Leerdam (284)

• Josh Fawcett (106)

‍

City of Kawartha Lakes

‍Mayor

• Doug Elmslie (7,982)

• Pat Dunn (5,295)

• Kathleen Seymour-Fagan (3,949)

• Faye McGee (2,800)

• Jim Riches (1,371)

• Bill Denby (1,232)

Councillor Ward 1

• Emmett Yeo (1,004)

• Don Logan (597)

• Jim Harris (453)

• Raymonde Blais Couture (216)

Councillor Ward 2

• Pat Warren (1,823)

• Jamie Brown (579)

• John Snider (424)

Councillor Ward 3

• Mike Perry (2,207)

• Doug Dickerson (1,364)

Councillor Ward 4

• Dan Joyce (548)

• David Skrabek (538)

• Ian Nicolson (466)

• Jamie Campbell (297)

• Trevor Johnston (187)

• Tyler Richards (182)

• Angel Godsoe (49)

Councillor Ward 5

• Eric Smeaton (2,182)

• Duncan Gallacher (699)

• Janet Di Bello (569)

• Wesley Letsholo (190)

• Gloria Graham-Weir (125)

Councillor Ward 6

• Ron Ashmore (1,632)

• Gerard Jilesen (1,134)

Councillor Ward 7

• Charles McDonald (2,035)

• Danielle Willette (696)

• Diane Holder (447)

Councillor Ward 8

• Tracy Richardson (1,700)

• Greg Ward (340)

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Mayoral Candidate Interview: Victor Kreuz

David Tuan Bui speaks with mayoral candidate Victor Kreuz for the upcoming municipal election. Bui and Kreuz discuss Kreuz's background, identifying the problems that needed to be addressed in the city and the environment being a foundation for developing Peterborough.

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Mayoral Candidate Interview: Coun. Henry Clarke

Felicia Massey speaks with mayoral candidate Coun. Henry Clarke for the upcoming municipal election this Monday. Massey and Clarke discuss the struggles citizens have in Peterborough, the environment, homelessness and the housing crisis.

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Mayoral Candidate Interview: Jeff Leal

Felicia Massey speaks with mayoral candidate and former MPP Jeff Leal for the upcoming municipal election this Monday. Massey and Leal discuss what Leal has been doing since four years after his MPP term ended, his return to politics and what he plans to tackle if elected.

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Mayoral Candidate Interview: Coun. Stephen Wright

David Tuan Bui speaks with mayoral candidate Coun. Stephen Wright for the upcoming municipal election occurring on Monday. Bui and Wright discuss the third economic wave, the drug addiction and homelessness issue and address community facilities.

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Mayor Diane Therrien Declares State of Emergency On Homelessness

Mayor Diane Therrien has declared a state of emergency on homelessness after calling a special city council meeting on Thursday.

Mayor Diane Therrien was first elected back in 2018, defeating incumbent Daryl Bennett. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Therrien is acting alone on the matter as city council made no motion to make the declaration.

“I’ve called a Special Meeting of Council for this Thursday to receive an update from (and provide direction to, if needed) staff about the plans for ensuring unhoused folks have access to indoor space this fall/winter,” said Therrien in a Tweet.

She is following suit with cities such as St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Ottawa which have also declared states of emergency.

Sandra Clancy, chief administrative officer says that due to the timing of when this emergency has been declared, rules within Municipal Act curb the ability of city council and senior staff to spend money during the lame duck period.

The declaration is in name only for the time being as additional funds from federal or provincial governments cannot be received nor is the city able to spend its own money.

The city must wait during the lame duck period before the new city council is elected on Oct. 24 and officially sworn in on Nov. 28.

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City of Peterborough Release Rules Regarding Election Sign Placement

With the municipal election underway, rules for election signs and their placement have been released by the City of Peterborough on Tuesday.

File photo.

The city’s sign by-law states that they cannot be placed on any property owned by the City of Peterborough before Labour Day for a municipal election and they need to be removed no later than three days after voting day.

Since Sept. 5, election signs are allowed on certain City-owned properties, specifically on boulevards next to roads as long as rules on size and placement are followed.

Election signs are not allowed to be placed in public parks or outside of City facilities.

Election signs are allowed on City property next to roads if the following rules are respected to protect sightlines for safety. Signs cannot be placed within the travelled portion of a road or a sidewalk. Signs that are taller than 0.9 metres cannot be placed:

• within a “sight triangle” at the intersection of two roads that extends six metres from the intersection in each direction, which is illustrated in Figure 1 below; or

• within three metres of the road as illustrated in Figure 2 below.

Election signs are also prohibited on properties when used as voting locations. This includes advance voting locations and on Election Day.

The City encourages candidates and supporters to put their election signs on private property.

Election signs that violate the by-law or election procedures will be removed by the City.

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Peterborough Residents Can Now Register Ahead Of October Municipal Election

Residents, owners, and tenants of property in the City of Peterborough who are a minimum of 18 years of age can now confirm that they are registered to vote in the Oct. 24 municipal and school board elections online and in person at City Hall.

Photo by Luke Best.

Registering in advance helps ensure a seamless voting experience and is necessary for those who plan to vote online.

Residents can visit peterboroughvotes.ca to check that they are on the voters list. If they are not registered, residents can upload a form of identification that confirms their name and qualifying City of Peterborough address online. City staff will review submissions and email voter notification cards to verified voters.

Residents who prefer to register in person are welcome to stop into the City Clerk's office at City Hall. There is free, 30-minute parking on George Street between McDonnel Street and Murray Street. City Hall business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Staff will verify their identification and eligibility to vote, register them on the voters list, and print out their card, all in one trip.

Students living in Peterborough while attending school can vote in the Peterborough municipal election as well as in their home municipality.

People who are experiencing homelessness, or do not have a permanent home or a fixed address can vote based on the location they have slept in the most during the 5 weeks leading up to the election.

Both online and in-person voting will be available for the 2022 municipal election. Online voting starts Oct. 1 and ends Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. In-person voting will be available at advance voting locations on Saturday, Oct. 8, Saturday, Oct. 15, and Saturday, October 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on election day on Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. An advance voting location that provides enhanced accessibility features will be available at City Hall, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily from Oct. 17 to Oct. 21.

Voter Notification Cards will be sent to registered voters by mail in late September or early October. The notification card will specify the assigned voting location for the registered voter. Voters who choose to vote in person must vote in their designated ward. All voting locations are barrier-free for people with disabilities. Online voting is a convenient option that will allow registered voters to vote from anywhere using a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet access.

Details on voting options are posted on the municipal election website at peterboroughvotes.ca. Inquiries can be made by calling 705-742-7777 and selecting option 7 for the election hotline.

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Douro-Dummer Mayor and County Warden J. Murray Jones Retiring From Politics, Reflects on 24-Year Career

After 24 years of public service as a municipal politician, Peterborough County Warden and Douro-Dummer mayor Jim Murray Jones is not seeking re-election and is retiring from politics.

Jones organizes dinner theatre for his local church, cruise nights and cites the Remembrance Day service as one of his favourite events as mayor. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Jones began his political career in 1998 as a Douro-Dummer Councillor, the first year both townships became amalgamated. He was elected as mayor in 2003 and elected as Chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus in 2011.

“I've been at it locally in municipal government for 24 years. I can't believe it has gone by that fast,” said Jones. “It seems like five years ago since I started, it's unbelievable.”

Jones cited his reasoning for retirement as that ‘it’s time.’

“It's really hard to explain,” said Jones. “I know it's time and I've come to peace with it. I'm just looking forward to taking it a little easier with a little less stress in my life.”

Since Jones is retiring as mayor of Douro-Dummer, he also must step down as the county warden. A role he has served for over 11 years. He says you have to be a mayor/deputy of your local township in order to work with the county.

Jones says honesty was a major reason why he has had a long tenure in local politics.

“I don't think I've promised things that can't be delivered,” he explained. “I think I've treated everyone in a respectful way and given everyone an opportunity to say what they want. I've just tried to be human, tried to be honest and tried to be fair with everyone.”

He credits his sense of humour and good-hearted nature to helping himself and others service his community best.

"There’s always time for humour. That's kind of my mainstay. The world does not have to be that serious,” he said. “We're lucky to live where we are, we're lucky to have what we've got and we're lucky that we have the ability to help those who are less fortunate so mesh all those together and stop being so damn serious and let's just do what needs to be done with a smile on your face."

The soon-retired mayor says one of his proudest works during his time was commemorating the Remembrance Day Cenotaph annually in November. Jones narrated a war memorial video for last year’s ceremony as the centennial anniversary.

“That's something that's very, very, very important to me and I never want to see that fade away,” he explained. “It's something that gives me chills up and down my back as it did years ago and it still does today.”

Prior to his political career, Jones worked in radio. He was employed by CKBT-FM and Country 105 for many years. He founded a one-man monthly news outlet called “Dummer News” for 20 years. He has covered meetings for Dummer and Douro-Dummer after the amalgamation during that stretch.

Jones is his off-time sings in a rock band called “Mike and the Mustangs,” works on audio and video projects and enjoys driving his 1957 Morris Minor.

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