Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association Celebrated at National Conference

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association (PKHBA) announces that past president Garnet Northey has been named to the executive board of the Canadian Home Builders Association, and PKHBA member Trademark Homes has won a nationally renowned award at this years Home Building Week in Canada Conference.

photo courtesy of Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association.

During the conference, members from across the nation submitted their best work of 2022 for judging. Winners in over 50 categories were announced at the conference in Banff, AB last month.

One of PKHBA members, Trademark Homes, won the National Award of Housing Excellence for best custom home over 5,000 square feet for their project on Balsam Lake in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Trademark Homes has been a member of PKHBA since 2022 and continues to provide residents of the Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes with outstanding service in their field.

Past president of PKHBA and owner of Spotlight Home & Lifestyle Inc. Garnet Northey was named as the new treasure for CHBA at this same conference.

“This association is really a grassroots association. I’m from Peterborough, a little town in Ontario, very involved provincially and now nationally,” said Northey. “It’s a learning experience but it really allows me to get a good cross sectional matrix of all of our members at all levels so that I can represent our members properly at the province and now at nationals. So, I'm really looking forward to it and continuing to serve in this capacity.”

For more information on what PKHBA learned and presented at the national conference, contact Rebecca via email.

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Canadian Canoe Museum Provides Progress Update On New Museum; Delays Grand Opening

Progress updates outline that industry-wide construction challenges have delayed the Ashburnham Drive Canadian Canoe Museum’s (CCM) opening to late summer or early fall announced Thursday.

photo courtesy of the canadian canoe museum.

The CCM is creating a cultural destination to learn about Canada’s collective history, and reinforce connections to land, water and to one another through the lens of the canoe. The new museum will be located on a five-acre site with views of Little Lake and connection to the Trans Canada Trail and various public parks.

“It is an exciting time for the Canadian Canoe Museum. A little more than a year ago, we had just begun construction. Since then, we’ve achieved many milestones,” said executive director Carolyn Hyslop. “The building structure has come to life before our eyes, the mass timber façade is taking shape and the building is nearly closed in. Exhibits have been developed and are being sent to fabrication, the fundraising campaign is in its final stretch and the collection is nearly ready for its move across town.”

A national fundraising campaign has raised 95 percent of the project’s $40-million cost to date. The project is also made possible in part by the generous support of various local and national donors.

While they report steady progress has been made, the new museum’s opening will occur later than initially anticipated. The museum had originally hoped to welcome visitors in early summer 2023, but due to these delays the anticipated opening is now late summer or early fall.

CCM says the project is experiencing delays due to the pandemic and its ongoing impacts on the construction industry, affecting supply chains and material availability resulting in material shortages.

“As designers, we have seen unprecedented upheaval in the construction sector over the last two years. While there have been similar delays and supply chain issues on the CCM, through our integrated approach to project delivery, these have been minimized compared to other projects. We are pleased with the progress made and look forward to seeing the museum open to the public in 2023,” said managing principal at Lett Architects Inc. Bill Lett.

The CCM remains hopeful that the new museum will be able to celebrate its grand opening during paddling season.

“We are working very closely with the project team to recover the schedule delays, as we would be overjoyed to open earlier. With so much excitement and interest in the new museum, locally and nationally, we want to be transparent with our community about the timeline as we know many are planning trips to visit us this summer,” continued Hyslop.

To learn more about the new museum or to donate, visit the website.

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Construction Underway In Groundbreaking Ceremony For Peterborough's Twin-Pad Arena And Public Library Branch

The shovels dug deep for the twin-pad arena and Peterborough Public Library branch’s groundbreaking ceremony at Morrow Park on Thursday.

The building features an indoor walking track and multi-use space along with the twin-pad arena. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The new community centre is being built on the west side of Morrow Park with construction projected to be completed in fall 2024.

The arena serves as the replacement for the single-pad Northcrest Arena closing in April 2020 and replaces the DelaFosse Library Branch closing in March 2020.

“Our community is working to build our tomorrow together, including investing in community infrastructure and fostering Peterborough as the place to invest, work, live and play,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “Infrastructure such as this new hub for recreational activities along with a new Peterborough Public Library branch will become part of the life of the residents of our community while also supporting economic activity by attracting regional and provincial events that use our sports facilities.”

“Today marks the official groundbreaking for the construction of a true community centre for our citizens of all ages,” said Councillor Lesley Parnell, Council’s Arenas, Parks and Recreation Portfolio Chair. “It is a much-needed facility to support the community services that our residents deserve and expect. Peterborough deserves this beautiful facility for our essential physical, mental, and social well-being.”

“The design reimagines what an arena and library can be, as a gateway to the City and a destination for a diverse range of residents,” Christina Grimes, Project Architect, Perkins + Will, said. “The plan is composed around a series of pavilion forms for each major use. This helped us create a welcoming civic scale for the building, allowing it to function as both a recreation and learning hub for the community.”

Studies and community consultation had identified an existing need for additional ice/floor time capacity for City recreational facilities users that will continue to grow as the City’s population grows according to a press release.

Construction started in October lead by Ball Construction on the $65.5-million project. About $37 million of the cost comes from development charges levied on new community development to help pay for growth-related infrastructure.

The City will issue an Expression of Interest in the coming weeks to draw interest from all businesses and highlight some of the key sponsorship and Naming Rights available at this facility.

There is a second phase planned for an addition of an aquatics complex but has not been budgeted or approved for now. The project is being designed in order to be ready to proceed with the second phase if funding becomes available.

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The Canadian Canoe Museum Closed Due to Windstorm Damage

Extensive damage from Saturday’s windstorm has caused the Canadian Canoe Museum to close while it undergoes repairs announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum.

The museum is temporarily closed until June 4, reopening at 10 a.m.

Damage includes torn signage from high winds, blown-out windows in the Collection Centre and downed trees at both locations. The main building's roof suffered significant damage with several attachments being blown off. It resulted in rain and moisture entering the galleries, soaking several different parts of the museum.

No one or collection pieces were injured or damaged during this windstorm.

The Museum is reopening with its summer operating hours in effect (Wednesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Any pre-purchased tickets for May 22 to June 3 will be refunded.

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Demolition Has Begun At Northcrest Arena In Preparation For A New Fire Station

Demolition at Northcrest Arena began on Saturday, in preparation for the new fire station.

Photo by Pete Dalliday.

The arena, which opened in the 1960’s, was closed by the City in April 2020.

It was then used as a COVID-19 testing site during the early months of the pandemic.

The arena is being demolished to make room for the new fire station. This new build will be replacing the station located on Carnegie Avenue at Cumberland Avenue.

Demolition is expected to cost $245,661.

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Ontario Government Reduces Fan Capacity To 1,000 For Indoor Performance And Sporting Venues

The Ontario Government has reduced spectator capacity to 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 1,000 people (whichever is less) of certain indoor venues effective Friday.

The Healthy Planet Arena name was officially changed from the Evinrude Centre on Aug. 1. Photo Courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

The decision was a response to Omicron and reduce opportunities for close contact as the province gets as many vaccines into arms as possible according to the release.

The following places are under the effect of the restrictions:

• Spectator areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities (e.g., sporting events)

• Concert venues

• Theatres

The government and the Chief Medical Officer of Health say they will continue to monitor the data to determine when it is safe to lift capacity limits in these settings.

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City to Hold Public Meeting For Fire Station 2 Relocation

The City of Peterborough will hold a public meeting on Jan. 18 to provide a presentation on the design of the new Fire Station 2 facility and answer questions from the public.

Residents are invited to join the meeting on the City’s community consultation website Connect Peterborough or by phone.

The site at 100 Marina Blvd — which was previously the location of the Northcrest Arena — was approved in April 2021 by City Council following a detailed site study and public consultation process.

It will be the City’s first building that is designed, built and certified as a Zero Carbon Building for both performance and design categories.

Construction on the new facility is expected to start in the summer of 2022.

“We’re all very excited to see the Fire Hall #2 project moving ahead to support Peterborough Fire Service in serving the growing community in the City’s north end,” remarked Councillor Andrew Beamer, Chair of Fire Services. “Please join the public meeting to get a sneak peek of the facility and to take part in the question-and-answer period.”

Everyone is welcome to join the Public Meeting: Peterborough Fire Services Station #2 on Jan 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.:

• Online at www.connectptbo.ca/fire

• By phone: 1-833-651-1158 (toll-free) Conference#: 958 893 9393#

Residents are encouraged to review the facility plan, background information and frequently asked questions about the project on the Connect Peterborough site at www.connectptbo.ca/fire. Hard copies of the project information will also be available for pick up at City Hall, 500 George St. N., during regular business hours.

Residents are encouraged to submit questions to the project team in advance of the Jan. 18 meeting by leaving a voicemail at 705-745-3284 ext. 6215, sending an email to firestation2relocation@peterborough.ca or posting online at www.connectptbo.ca/fire. Answers will be provided during the meeting and posted after the meeting, with hard copies available at City Hall.

The public meeting will be recorded and posted on the Connect Peterborough site and the City of Peterborough’s YouTube channel.

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Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association Announces New Board Members

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association (PKHBA) has announced Garnet Northey will be the new President, on Thursday.

Garnet Northey(left) and Rick Coker. Photo courtesy of PKHBA.

After navigating PKHBA through the pandemic, as the 2020 and 2021, president Rick Coker is stepping down as president.

Coker provided PKHBA with steady leadership throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and worked tirelessly with Executive Officer Danica Logan to provide information, support and leadership to PKHBA members.

Northey brings experience to the office of PKHBA president, having served from 2014-2018. Garnet will be focusing on member and community engagement for his 2022 term with support from PKHBA’s new Executive Officer Rebecca Schillemat.

PKHBA is a non-profit association for Home Builders, Renovators and Associates interested in the Residential Construction and Renovating Industry. PKHBA’s mission is to provide the following for its members:

• Facilitate the development of sustainable businesses

• Advocate for effective government policy

• Maintain positive consumer experiences

• Exchange experiences, information and best practices

PKHBA 2022 Board of Directors

Garnet Northery, Spotlight Home and Lifestyle

Rick Coker, LG Home Comfort

Paul Dietrich, Parkview Home and Dietrich Homes

Don Armitage, Enbridge

Sandy Sillaots, Hickory Lane Kitchens

Mike Kingdon, Chemong Home Hardware

Susan Zambonin, Habitat for Humanity

Mitch Cleary, Century 21 United, Tamer Kamar/Mitch Cleary Team

Jennifer Hurd, Reliance Home Comfort

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Canadian Canoe Museum to Unveil Plans For New Building

The Canadian Canoe Museum will host a virtual meeting to reveal details of its new building on Wednesday.

Photo Courtesy of Canadian Canoe Museum.

The meeting is through Zoom on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. It will reveal the architectural renderings of the proposed new building to be built at the Johnson property located at 2077 Ashburnham Drive near Beavermead Park in Peterborough.

The meeting is part of the necessary rezoning process for the new location. It will feature a short presentation followed by a question and answer session.

Participants are asked to register their attendance at their official website.

“We are thrilled to have advanced our project to this key milestone so early in the year,” said Carolyn Hyslop, Canoe Museum executive director in the press release. “Our new museum design and stewardship approach takes full advantage of its on-water location and nestles seamlessly into the natural surrounding area of the Johnson Property.”

A progress update and design was something the project team was eager to share added Hyslop.

City Council approved the direction to proceed with the sale of the land in January subject to a number of conditions including rezoning as stated in the press release.

Project validation and confirmation of site appropriateness are among the additional conditions that must be met to close the deal.

CCM will pay over $1.5 million for the five acres of land expected to be done this summer.

The project is moving forward at advanced speed to achieve its goal of being shovel-ready come fall of this year confirmed Hyslop.

She reinforced CCM’s gratitude for new donors, in addition to the strong continued support of its existing donors, funders and the local community. Their fundraising campaign seeks to raise up to $10 million to fund the full project.

“CCM is motivated by our expedited project plan and our achievements to date,” said Hyslop.

A replay of the public meeting will be available starting May 3.

Written commentaries can be submitted to the CCM by email.

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