List of City Services Closed or On Modified Hours For Remembrance Day
/Several City services are offering modified holiday hours or may be closed on Saturday or Monday, in observance of Remembrance Day.
File Photo.
Peterborough Blogs
Snow-Clearing Crews Ready 24/7 For Winter Weather Says The City of Peterborough
/The City of Peterborough has stated that snow-clearing crews are ready to respond 24/7 for the community when winter weather arrives.
Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.
“Snow clearing on roads, sidewalks and trails helps residents move around the City safely when the snow falls,” said Michael Papadacos, Acting Commissioner, Municipal Operations. “Our crews clear the way, so you can get to work, visit friends and family, go to the store, or get around town for the many other activities that happen in our community.”
The City clears roads, bike lanes and sidewalks based on regulated maintenance standards.
Their snow-clearing operations include:
18 plow trucks, two graders, seven loaders and backhoes and four light sanding units to cover 978 kilometres of roads
11 sidewalk plows to cover 450 kilometres of sidewalks
Maintenance of 39 kilometres of trails and 650 bus stops
Service levels
Snow-clearing operations are based on a priority route system.
Roads that see the highest traffic volume, are on transit routes or pass by the hospital are the highest priority for maintenance in winter weather. Arterial and collector roads are cleared first as required by legislated standards.
Once the arterial and collector roads are clear or safe, snow-clearing operations shift to residential or local streets.
Depending on the storm's severity, the time it takes to finish snow clearing can vary. A big storm with snowfall over a long time may mean clearing snow from neighbourhood streets takes longer.
The City follows the provincial guidelines set under the Municipal Act, 2001, O. Reg. 239/02: Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways. The regulations categorize and prioritize roads based on traffic volumes and speed limits – the greater the volume of traffic and the greater the speed limit on the roads, the greater the priority for snow and ice clearing. The guidelines also include standards for the winter maintenance of bike lanes along roads and sidewalks.
Snow clearing in the downtown
As snow accumulates during the winter, City crews regularly remove snowbanks in the downtown area. No parking signs are posted before the snowbank removal work to keep the space clear for the snow removal.
Winter parking restrictions
Parking rules change in the snowy season to assist with snow-clearing work. Keeping streets clear overnight allows for better, quicker snow clearing of City streets.
From Dec. 1 to April 1, parking is prohibited on all City streets from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. The fine for a violation is $25.
During a snowstorm, when snow-clearing operations are underway, no parking is permitted on any City street. The fine is $80 for this violation and vehicles may be towed. Snow-clearing operations typically take place between midnight and 8 a.m.
Free overnight parking is permitted at all municipal parking lots, the King Street Parkade and the Simcoe Parking Garage. Vehicles parked overnight at either parking garage can obtain a gate arm ticket upon entry to the garage to be used for a free transit trip home.
Declaring a Significant Weather Event
Municipalities can declare a Significant Weather Event under the Municipal Act, 2001, O. Reg. 239/02, relating to maintaining municipal roads, sidewalks and bike lanes. All roadways in the municipality are deemed to be in a state of repair for snow accumulation during a Significant Weather Event declaration.
During a significant weather event, residents are advised to use caution and are reminded that typical winter maintenance service levels for roads may not be met. Motorists are advised to stay home and only use the roads for necessary travel.
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City of Peterborough Beginning Decorative Streetlight Retrofitting For November
/The City of Peterborough is retrofitting decorative street lighting to more efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures starting early this month, with expected completion in late fall of next year.
File Photo.
The City’s contractor, Guild Electric Limited, will supply and install energy-efficient LED retrofit kits with smart photocell controllers and accessories for all roadway decorative streetlights.
Access for local traffic will be maintained during the work and traffic control will be provided as required for each location.
Decorative street lighting retrofit locations will be along the following streets:
Downtown Peterborough
George Street and Water Street from McDonnel Street to Rink Street
Charlotte Street from Aylmer Street to Simcoe Street
King Street from Aylmer Street to Water Street
Hunter Street from Aylmer Street to Rogers Street
West End of Peterborough
Ravenwood Drive from Parkhill Road West to Glenforest Boulevard including adjacent roads with decorative light fixtures
Glenforest Crescent, Lillico Crescent, Tamblin Way, Hancox Court and Eagle Crescent
Waddell Avenue, Waddell Crescent, College Park Drive and Forster Avenue
Bowen Drive, Peace Crescent and Logan Lane
Heritage Park Subdivision
Heritage Trail, Blacksmith Way, Farrer Crescent, Colonial Crescent, and Carriage Lane.
Related information is available on the Road Construction Map posted on the City’s website.
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Peterborough Remembrance Day and Service Schedule Released
/Peterborough’s Remembrance Day service — organized and hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 52, Peterborough — is being held at the Citizens' War Memorial in Confederation Square on Nov. 11 from 10:30 a.m. until approximately 11:20 a.m.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
A parade is held before the service, departing from George Street next to Confederation Square, travelling south on the street, starting at 10 a.m.
All are welcome as the community gathers to pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who served and continue to serve our country during times of war, military conflict, and peace.
Schedule
10 a.m.
Parade departs Confederation Square, travelling south on George Street, east on Hunter Street, north on Water Street and west on McDonnel Street, where it returns to Confederation Square. Parade Marshal: Joel Chandler.
10:25 a.m.
Parade arrives at the Citizens' War Memorial
10:30 a.m.
O Canada led by the Salvation Army Band and Peterborough Pop Ensemble, followed by the Prayer of Invocation
Hymn: O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Addresses by City of Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 52 Past President Joel Chandler
Placing of the Wreaths
Hymn: O Valiant Hearts, Salvation Army Band
The Peacekeeper's Prayer
11 a.m.
Last Post, Bugler Brian Lee
Two minutes of silence
Lament
The Rouse, Bugler Brian Lee
We Honour You with Peterborough Pop Ensemble
Guest Speaker: Chief Stuart Betts, Chief of Police, Peterborough Police Service
God Save the King led by the Salvation Army Band and Peterborough Pop Ensemble
Benediction
Children place poppies on wreaths
March off the colours
The parade and service is being broadcasted live by Cogeco and YourTV (cable channels 10 and 700). The service will be re-broadcast on Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and at noon on Nov. 12.
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Applications Open For 2024 Low Income Senior & Low Income Property Tax Assistance
/Applications are open for The City of Peterborbough Low-Income Senior & Low-Income Property Tax Assistance Program.
fILE pHOTO.
Qualifying applicants receive a $400 tax credit on their municipal property tax accounts to be applied to the February 2024 interim tax bill. Anyone who previously received more than a $400 credit is grandfathered in at their higher credit amount.
Property owners can apply under one of the following qualifications:
Low-income Senior aged 65 years or older
Low-income Senior aged 55-64 years of age
Low-income persons with a disability receiving benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
Applications are available on the City’s website or at the City Hall Tax Office, 500 George St. N. Anyone that received tax credits this year, automatically receives a 2023 Property Tax Assistance application in the mail.
Feb. 19 is the deadline for submitting this application.
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Temporary Downtown Patios To Be Removed Starting On Oct. 24
/The temporary downtown patio spaces will be removed to prepare sidewalks and roads for winter snow-clearing operations starting on Oct. 24.
The expanded patio spaces were installed in May. File Photo.
Any businesses with temporary patios on sidewalks and in on-street parking adjacent to them will remove their patio furniture by the end of the day on Oct. 23 to clear the way for the removal of the fencing and large planters startingthe next day.
After removing the expanded patio areas, Hunter Street between George and Aylmer Streets will return to a two-lane, two-way street. During the summer, it was temporarily made into a one-lane, westbound, one-way street to add more patio and pedestrian space.
This was the fourth summer that the City implemented temporary changes to the downtown public space to allow for more patio and pedestrian space.
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City Council to Consider Ceasing the Use of Garbage Cans For Curbside Collection Starting Oct. 31
/Garbage containers could be a thing of the past as the idea is being proposed to City Council regarding waste collection by-law changes taking effect on Oct. 31.
Todd Willis, sanitation foreman tosses a garbage bag into the garbage truck. Bags can weigh anywhere and can exceed 45 lbs. in weight. Roughly 1,200 bags of garbage are collected by each truck daily. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The proposed change was brought up in a garbage demonstration related to the Waste Collection By-law by the City of Peterborough at the Municipal Operations Centre on Thursday morning.
The proposal will be considered at City Council’s General Committee meeting on Tuesday before going to the regular Council meeting to be considered for approval on Oct. 23.
The move was proposed to improve workplace health and safety for all sanitation workers. An average route for one truck results in 1,100 to 1,200 stops a day. Omitting garbage cans makes it easier for sanitation workers to get the garbage bags out of the cans according to the City.
Garbage collected outside containers allows collectors to see their contents while switching to clear bags.
“We’ve had workers get cut across the leg from glass or anything else sharp from garbage bags,” said Sean Adey, the City’s manager of parks, forestry and sanitation. “Some of our staff can get pricked by a needle and could contract HIV. We’ve had workers out for a few days to a few months because of it and it slows down our garbage collection.”
By-law changes already approved are switching to clear garbage bags, roughly 8,000 households having their waste collection day changed, introducing Green Waste Bins and garbage collection running every other week.
Households eligible for the Green Bin program are permitted four bags for garbage collection every other week on their respective collection day. The current limit is two lifts per week for collection for each household.
Bag weight limits are 30 pounds with up to three opaque privacy bags (up to 25 litres or 20 x 20 in. for each bag) can be put in each large clear garbage bag.
Businesses that use the garbage collection service are permitted 12 bags every other week.
Any downtown Business Improvement Area addresses will not shift to a bi-weekly schedule.
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City Services During Thanksgiving Monday
/Several City services will offer modified holiday hours and some City facilities will be closed on Thanksgiving Monday.
Photo by Keegan Beekers.
City Hall
City Hall, including Building Services, the Clerk’s Office and the Tax Office, will be closed. Online services are available at www.peterborough.ca.
Public Works
Public Works can be reached at 705-745-1386. This line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Arenas Division
Healthy Planet Arena will be open on October 9 from noon to 10 p.m. for ice rentals booked in advance. The Customer Service counter will be open from noon to 3 p.m. for the Public Skate scheduled from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The Peterborough Memorial Centre and Kinsmen Arena will be closed on October 9.
The Recreation Facility booking office is closed from Friday, October 6 at 3:30 p.m. and will re-open on Tuesday, October 10 at 8:30 a.m.
Sport and Wellness Centre
The Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre will be open on October 9 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Visit www.peterborough.ca/recreation for information about programs and schedules.
Art Gallery of Peterborough
The Art Gallery of Peterborough will be closed on Monday, October 9.
For information about gallery exhibitions and programs, please visit www.agp.on.ca.
Garbage, recycling and yard waste
There will be no change to curbside collection of garbage, recycling and yard waste.
The Peterborough County and City Waste Management Facility (landfill) and the Household Hazardous Waste Depot will be closed on Monday, October 9.
The Pido Road Recycling Depot remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For more details, please visit www.peterborough.ca/waste or call the Waste Management Division at 705-742-7777 ext. 1657.
Marina
The Marina will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 9. This is the final day of Marina operations for the 2023 season. To contact the Marina, please phone 705-742-0005 or email marina@peterborough.ca.
Peterborough Museum and Archives
The Peterborough Museum and Archives and gift shop are open from noon to 5 p.m. on Oct. 9.
Information about current exhibitions is available online at www.peterborough.ca/museum.
Peterborough Public Library
The Peterborough Public Library will be closed on Thanksgiving Monday. Information and digital resources are online at www.ptbolibrary.ca/.
Provincial Offences office
The Provincial Offences office at 99 Simcoe St. will be closed on Oct. 9. Fine payments can be made online at www.peterborough.ca/POA.
Social Services office
The Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. will be closed.
Emergency shelter services remain open: call 705-926-0096 after hours, during weekends and on holidays.
Child care centres
City-operated childcare centres will be closed on Oct. 9.
Transit
Peterborough Transit will operate on a Holiday Service Schedule on Oct. 9.
Please visit the website www.peterborough.ca/transit or call 705-745-0525 for detailed schedules.
Peterborough Airport
The Airport hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 9.
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Green Bin Distribution Begins For New Organic Waste Collection Service
/The City of Peterborough’s Green Bin distribution has begun deliveries to roughly 28,000 eligible households with weekly collection service beginning the week of Oct. 31 announced on Wednesday.
File Photo.
The new service is intended to reduce the amount of garbage going to the landfill, extending its life and promoting sustainability by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions according to a press release.
By diverting organic waste from the landfill and converting it into valuable compost, we are taking a vital step toward a cleaner and healthier environment, said Mayor Jeff Leal.
“Residents have been asking the City for this service,” he said. “I’m excited for this initiative that reduces the environmental impact of waste disposal and also contributes to the creation of nutrient-rich compost.”
Peterborough residents currently divert about 53 per cent of waste through programs such as the Blue Box for recyclables, the household hazardous waste collection depot and yard waste collection according to the City. The Green Bin service is anticipated to divert an additional 15 to 20 per cent of garbage.
Delivery of the Green Bins to households will be completed over the next several weeks leading up to the program's launch. There is no additional fee to households to get the Green Bins and a smaller container for use in the kitchen which are included in the implementation of the new service.
The bins are designed to conveniently collect organic waste including food scraps and other compostable materials. They include a pest-proof locking mechanism to keep the organic materials securely contained.
Residents are asked to look inside the Green Bin when it is delivered to find an information kit that includes:
A guide on Green Bin, recycling, yard waste and garbage services
A calendar that shows collection schedules
An information sheet on the Green Bin service, including a list of what can and cannot go in the Green Bin
An information sheet on the new requirement to use clear bags for curbside garbage collection
Samples of clear garbage bags and a coupon to assist with transitioning to the requirement to use clear garbage bags and compostable liners for the Green Bin that GLAD Canada provides as part of its sponsorship of the rollout kits.
“Battery Cube” sponsored by Call2Recyle. The battery cube is a small cardboard storage unit for used batteries that can be dropped off at collection sites for proper disposal. The City of Peterborough and Call2Recycle want to ensure hazardous waste products like batteries are diverted from our landfills.
Residents are advised not to start putting food waste and other organic materials into the Green Bins until Oct. 23 – the week before the weekly Green Bin collection service starts on Oct. 31.
The new Green Bin service is one of several changes to waste services that start the week of Oct.31:
Weekly Green Bin collection
Bi-weekly garbage collection (except for the Downtown Business Improvement Area, which maintains its current collection schedule)
Clear bag requirement for curbside garbage collection for all homes and businesses that receive City waste collection
The Green Bin service is being rolled out to residential properties of six units or less, plus specific selected condominium properties that will be notified that they are part of a pilot project.
Councillor Gary Baldwin, chair of Council’s Waste Management Portfolio, encouraged residents to actively participate in the Green Bin program to support the community’s sustainability goals.
“The success of our organic waste collection program relies on the active engagement of our community members,” he said. “We are confident that our residents will embrace this opportunity to reduce waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to a more environmentally friendly Peterborough.”
Residents can use the online tool to see their collection day and whether they receive Green Bin service.
About 8,000 households will have their waste collection day changed starting the week of Oct.31 as collection routes are redistributed to evenly spread out the number of stops between collection days which will help improve the reliability of the service and safety for waste collection workers as stated in a press release.
Program details, including collection schedules and guidelines, are available online and in the printed handouts placed in the Green Bins being delivered to households.
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Glad Canada Becomes City Sponsor For New Green Bin Service Rollout
/Waste and food protection solutions company Glad is sponsoring the City of Peterborough’s rollout of its Green Bin service.
Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.
“Glad is committed to doing its part to help reduce waste through our partnership with the City of Peterborough on its new Green Bin program that will help divert food waste from landfill, a critical step toward to reducing methane gas,” said Chris Budinszky, Glad marketing director. “One of the biggest barriers to program success is early adoption and resident participation so our hope is that by providing free Glad samples and coupons all residents can participate from day 1.”
The Green Bins are receiving a package that contains the 2023/24 Waste Management Calendar and Guide plus detailed information on the City’s waste collection changes that start the week of Oct. 31:
New weekly Green Bin collection service
Every-other-week garbage collection
Requirement to use clear bags for curbside garbage collection
Recycling collection remains on a weekly schedule.
As a result of the Glad sponsorship of the program rollout, the Green Bin kits will include:
Samples of biodegradable bags that can be used as a liner in the Green Bin
Samples of clear garbage bags
