Kirkfield Lift Lock Repairs Contracted; Projected Completion For This Year's Navigation Season

Parks Canada has awarded a contract for the Kirkfield Lift Lock to undergo repairs since suffering a mechanical failure on Sept. 2 that resulted in its closure for the rest of 2022.

The Kirkfield Lift Lock is located a few kilometres north of the Village of Kirkfield. Photo courtesy of Parks Canada.

The Lift Lock is scheduled to be fully operational by the beginning of this year’s navigation season according to Parks Canada.

The scope of work will include: 

• Repairs to the structural, mechanical and electrical components.

• System improvements to increase safety controls and access improvements to critical system components.

• Backup system improvements to minimize impacts on future maintenance activities.

The Kirkfield Lift Lock is the second-highest hydraulic lift lock in the world with a lift of 15 metres (49 ft). The Kirkfield lock is at the highest point along the waterway at 256.20 m (840.5 ft.) above sea level.

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Local Service Clubs Launch ‘We Can’t Wait’ Campaign for Campbellford Memorial Hospital Redevelopment

Various local service clubs have launched the ‘We Can’t Wait’ campaign, supporting the redevelopment of the Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) as part of a larger Campus of Care.

In Oct. 2021, Campbellford Memorial Hospital announced that local farmer Jim Curle had donated nearly 50 acres of land for the proposed redevelopment of the hospital. Photo courtesy of Campbellford memorial hospital.

In addition to a new hospital, the proposed development will also contain a new Long-Term Care home, a Community Mental Health Clinic, the Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network and future plans for supportive senior housing.

With various plans to build a new hospital talked about for decades and formal negotiations with the Province nearing the ten-year mark, executive director of the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation John Russell has seen his share of starts and stops when it comes to redevelopment in his ten years with CMH.

“It really feels different this time. We have the land secured, we have partnerships in place, a local Long-Term Care home ready to redevelop alongside us, and even leadership donors who are beginning to indicate their financial support,” said Russell. “Local governments across the region have expressed their support, we’ve really never been this prepared to move to the next step.”

That next step, CMH says, involves securing a planning grant and the Provincial Government’s approval to move the project forward. Although the approval will not only provide the funds required to plan and design the new facility, it will provide the needed regulatory authorization.

“Simply put, we’ve gone as far as we can without that planning grant,” Russell continued.

photo courtesy of CMH.

Lawn signs in support of CMH can be seen throughout Trent Hills and the Kawarthas, directing residents to visit the CMH website to learn how they can help support the redevelopment process and join the We Can’t Wait campaign.

“We’ve always been huge supporters of the hospital,” said president of the Rotary Club of Campbellford Dave Sharp. “We wanted to find a way to help and right now what we need most is to show the Provincial Government that our community is behind this project one hundred percent.”

Sharp and the Campbellford Rotary Club are one of the local service clubs behind the We Can’t Wait campaign.

This sentiment was echoed by president of the Campbellford Lions Club Don May. The Lions have also shown their support behind the campaign.

“We wanted to do what we could to support this project. The proposed redevelopment will be a huge benefit to our community and everyone who lives here,” said May. “Our population continues to grow, continues to age, and we need this project approved now.”

Neighbouring Rotary Clubs in Stirling-Rawdon and Brighton are also supporting the campaign, and CMH says We Can’t Wait signs will soon start popping up in those communities.

photo courtesy of CMH.

A recent analysis of CMH showed that over the next ten years the hospital will need between $25 and $30 million in renovations and repairs to keep the facility up to current standards, and even if approval of a planning grant comes, it will still take up to seven years until a new facility is ready to open.

Over the past year Public Health has closed admission at the hospital twice during COVID-19 outbreaks as the hospital lacks the infrastructure to maintain private rooms and meet modern outbreak control standards. CMH says certain parts of the facility are 70 years old and as a result lack the accessibility, technology and patient flow designs that would typically be found at newer hospitals.

“It really comes down to one of two things; do you continue to spend money maintaining a limited facility, or do you invest that money to build a modern, state of the art hospital that will be able to recruit top talent and continue to provide the exemplary care our community needs,” explained Russell.

Residents who wish to learn more or get involved with the We Can’t Wait campaign can visit the website.

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City of Peterborough Makes Waves With New Splash Pad in Turner Park

The perfect summer day occurred for the City of Peterborough to debut its sixth splash pad located in Turner Park on the corner of Chamberlain Street and High Street on Thursday morning.

Three-year-old Moana Lewin enjoys Turner Park’s new splash pad, totalling six water pads in Peterborough. The pad replaces the former wading pool that was over 50 years old. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The pad features several arcs with sprays, suspended buckets, several geysers, water guns and a pole that emits water like an umbrella. The water is considered to be safe and drinkable according to Councillor Lesley Parnell.

The new water facility replaced the wading pool that occupied the park for over 50 years.

The City had a ten-year plan to replace all wading pools with splash pads which saves money said Parnell.

“It is much more water-efficient this way, you're not filling up a great big pool and emptying it every single day and waiting for it to warm up,” she said. “We do not have to have a lifeguard for a splash pad so that does save us on the operations expenses, they're just incredibly popular and safe clean fun.”

The City’s plan is to replace all the town’s wading pools with splash pads with one remaining at John Taylor Memorial Park between Hamilton Street and McKellar Street. There are plans to install more splash pads according to Parnell.

“We're going to replace the water spray in Hamilton Park so that's going to be a smaller splash pad than what we have here,” she said. “Then we're looking for a location in the west end for a splash pad and then were are looking after the McKellar Park’s wading pool and switching that into a splash pad.”

Splash pads are open from noon to 7 p.m. every day. They are located at:

• King Edward Park, 455 George St. S.

• Nicholls Oval, 725 Armour Rd.

• Rogers Cove, 131 Maria St.

• Kinsmen Park, 1 Kinsmen Way

• Barnardo Park, Barnardo Avenue

• Turner Park, 673 Chamberlain St.

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Ontario Government Invests Over $5 Million In Rural Townships For Infrastructure

The Ontario Government has given over $5 million to five townships in the Peterborough-Kawartha area for infrastructure announced at the Millennium Gardens in Douro-Dummer on Wednesday.

(left to right) MPP Dave Smith; Andy Mitchell, Selwyn mayor; Janet Clarkson, Trent Lakes mayor; Jim Martin, Havelock Belmont Methuen mayor and Warden J. Murray Jones under the gazebo at Millennium Gardens. Smith says it takes $1.2 million to pave one kilometre of a road. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The mons is part of the 2022 funding allocations under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), the province’s main general assistance grant to municipalities.

“Our local municipalities provide the on-the-ground services we rely on; roads, bridges, wastewater infrastructure, maintenance and affordable housing,” said MPP Dave Smith. “This stable source of funding, increased again this year, provides our local rural communities the opportunity to finance critical infrastructure and keep property taxes under control.”

“This OMPF funding is nothing but good news for the townships in Peterborough County. It is very much appreciated and is critical for the everyday things we need to accomplish. It is truly a partnership,” said Warden J. Murray Jones, Douro-Dummer mayor.

"We are pleased that the Province is continuing with this important program to assist Municipalities. The funding for Selwyn of $1,068,400 will assist our community to move forward on our capital programs and to assist with targeted operational budgets,” said Andy Mitchell, Selwyn mayor.

Each township has yet to fully discuss where the money will be going except for Trent Lakes where the funds will be used to redo their public works buildings said Janet Clarkson, Trent Lakes mayor.

“This is going to be a long way toward taking the pressure off that and any of this money helps the municipalities move forward without borrowing money,” she said.

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Warsaw Road Swing Bridge Opened For Vehicles

Parks Canada reports that the Warsaw Road Swing Bridge has reopened to vehicle and pedestrian traffic according to a press release on Saturday.

File Photo.

The bridge has been closed for a full replacement of the steel swing bridge structure, repairs to concrete abutments and replacement of mechanical and electrical operating systems. The project has brought the bridge up to full highway loading.

Short intermittent delays are expected for operational testing.

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Centennial Fountain Begins Operation For the Season

Little Lake’s Centennial Fountain has turned on for the 2021 season following a decision by City Council at its Tuesday meeting.

Commonly considered the highest jet fountain in Canada, the Centennial Fountain shoots water up to 76 metres in the air. Photo Courtesy of City of Peterborough

The fountain will run from May 26 until Thanksgiving Monday, October 11.

Its nightly LED light show will pay tribute to frontline workers, running every evening beginning at 8:00 p.m.

“Frontline workers have kept our community safe, healthy and functioning throughout the pandemic. The Centennial Fountain light show is a fitting tribute to express our gratitude for their hard work and dedication,” said Mayor Diane Therrien. “The fountain is a symbol of hope as we begin to emerge from the pandemic this summer. We hope it will encourage people to get outdoors which is good for mental and physical well-being.”

The city urges residents to restrict outdoor gatherings to five people or less when observing the fountain. They ask everyone to avoid crowded areas and follow all public health guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19.

​The Centennial Fountain was installed through a donation by General Electric Canada in 1967 to mark the Canadian Centennial celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation.

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City Counsellors Unanimously Votes to Turn On Centennial Fountain

The Centennial Fountain in Little Lake will come back on for this year starting on May 26 after city counsellors voted in a virtual meeting on Monday.

File Photo.

Coun. Keith Riel originally suggested turning the fountain on and it was unanimously voted in favour of the proposition.

The fountain was turned off back in April 2020 during the pandemic to save costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Coun. Henry Clarke originally proposed the fountain’s closure last but agreed to have it on “to celebrate and be happy about.“

"It signals hope we're rounding the corner on this pandemic," said Coun. Stephen Wright.

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Engineers Say Damage To James A. Gifford Causeway Is Significant

Damage to County causeways from the wind storm of May 4th has been assessed by engineers, and County Council have approved repairs to both the James A. Gifford Causeway and the Gannon’s Narrows Causeway.

According to a county press release, staff are in the process of working with local approval authorities to coordinate the exact timing of the work so as not to disturb fish spawning habitat.

While the damage is significant from the storm, the public is advised that both causeways are safe to travel.

“County Council has made the decision to approve the recommended work on both causeways to ensure continued use of these important vehicular routes in the County,” says Warden Joe Taylor. “We will continue to ensure the public is made aware of the timing and status of the work in the coming weeks.”

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