Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal announced the release of the 15-recommendation report of the Mayor's Task Force for Housing Creation at a media event on November 5, 2024 in front of of Ashburnham Realty's six-storey building currently under construction along the Rotary Greenway Trail just north of Robinson Street in Peterborough's East City. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
“Build, build, build.”
That was the often-repeated message from Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal as he announced the release of the 15-recommendation report of the Mayor’s Task Force for Housing Creation at a media event on Tuesday (November 5) in Peterborough’s East City.
The event took place near the site of Ashburnham Realty’s six-storey building currently under construction along the Rotary Greenway Trail just north of Robinson Street, part of a three-building residential-commercial development with two buildings already completed along the trail at Hunter Street East.
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Several members of the task force were at the event, including Ashburnham Realty principal Paul Bennett and Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region CEO Susan Zambonin, as well as city councillors Joy Lachica, Alex Bierk, Lesley Parnell, Keith Riel, and Kevin Duguay and city staff.
The mayor announced the creation of the task force last October, with a selection of builders and housing development professionals tasked in January with recommending specific actions the City of Peterborough can take to meet the provincial government’s housing target for Peterborough of constructing 4,700 new housing units by 2031.
Along with Bennett and Zambonin, other members of the task force are Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services policy director Chelsea Combot, Peterborough Homes principal Brian Fenton, Atria Development principal Hans Jain, Peterborough Housing Corporation former CEO Hope Lee, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Home Builders Association executive Rebecca Schillemat, and AON Inc. president and CEO Brad Smith.
Mayor Leal served as chair of the task force with councillor Duguay as vice chair, and councillors Riel and Dave Haacke providing input.
Members of the Mayor’s Task Force for Housing Creation, city councillors and staff, and media at an event on November 5, 2024 in Peterborough’s East City where Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal announced the release of the task force’s 15-recommendation report. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
The recommendations of the task force’s report fall under three themes: speeding up development, cutting building costs, and fostering partnerships.
Mayor Leal addressed the report’s first two recommendations at Tuesday’s announcement.
“For multi-residential housing that meets a minimum unit threshold, we would guarantee an approval timeline of one year, from pre-construction to full land use approval, that would include both the planning, and site plan, and so on,” he said.
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The one-year approval timeline would include both non-profit housing and commercial developments that propose at least 25 new dwellings (or at least 10 in the central area of the city).
To accomplish this “ambitious task,” the mayor said, the city would establish a dedicated group of staff, including a project manager, to make non-profit and multi-unit residential developments the priority.
The report’s second recommendation would see city staff identify, by April 2025, all studies, reports, plans, and drawings that the city currently requires for the development approval process, that are within municipal discretion to impose.
Peterborough city councillors Lesley Parnell and Alex Bierk listen as Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal is asked a question during at a media event on November 5, 2024 in front of of Ashburnham Realty’s six-storey building currently under construction along the Rotary Greenway Trail just north of Robinson Street in Peterborough’s East City. Pictured in the background are two of the completed buildings in Ashburnham Realty’s three-building residential-commercial development. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
“(The city) will ask this fundamental question: is there something we can cut, or something that we can reduce?” Mayor Leal said. “Every discretionary requirement we appropriately remove will decrease the cost, and increase the speed of development.”
Other recommendations of the task force report include directing city staff “to identity, prioritize, and pre-zone underused properties” within the city’s strategic growth areas, providing financial incentives for multi-unit residential development projects (especially those incorporating affordable housing), and seeking “sustained funding from all levels of government to support incentive programs for affordable housing and Indigenous non-market housing.”
Following the event, the mayor told kawarthaNOW that Ashburnham Realty development was the type of higher density housing that was needed, especially given the costs of servicing land.
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As for next steps, the mayor will bring the task force recommendations to city council in early December.
“I want to thank the members of the task force for sharing their time and expertise on this critical issue for our community,” Mayor Leal stated in a media release. “It was invaluable to hear about how we can improve our processes and policies from the builders who must navigate them each and every day. I believe these recommendations will make a difference for our community, and I encourage my council colleagues to support them when I bring the report forward next month.”
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) recently celebrated the completion of its Leahy's Lane development providing affordable homeownership to 53 families in the community. For the celebratory event, one unit was staged with furniture and décor entirely from the organization's ReStores in Lindsay, Peterborough, and Lakefield. The non-profit home improvement stores and donation centres sell both new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances, with proceeds supporting Habitat PKR's work to build affordable homes. (Photo courtesy of Habitat PKR)
When Habitat For Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) recently hosted an event to celebrate the completion of its largest-ever affordable housing development at Leahy’s Lane, guests were given the opportunity to tour a unit that was beautifully staged by Angela Jones of Lakeshore Designs with elegant furniture and décor.
It might surprise you to learn that all the items in that staged unit came from Habitat PKR’s three ReStores located in Lindsay, Peterborough, and Lakefield.
The non-profit home improvement stores and donation centres sell both new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances to the public, often at a fraction of the retail price.
The Lindsay ReStore now features a fresh layout where shoppers will find plenty of inspiration for their living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and more. The Lindsay location is the largest of the three ReStores operated by Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR), which other locations in Peterborough and Lakefield. (Photo courtesy of Habitat PKR)
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“When people think ReStores, they assume everything is gently used, but that’s not the case,” says Lindsay ReStore manager Colleen Attwell. “We have made many connections with businesses in Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, and Haliburton and, if they have a surplus or extra on certain items, they’re willing to donate it to ReStore.”
As for gently used items, customers can be assured that all the ReStores only accept donations that are in good condition and ready to be resold. Each item undergoes a quality control test and, if required, it gets fixed or cleaned before being made available for sale to the public.
Along with the Lindsay ReStore at 55 Angeline Street North, Habitat PKR also operates the Peterborough North ReStore at 300 Milroy Drive and the Lakefield ReStore at 3001 Lakefield Road, which opened this past summer. The inventories at all three ReStores are regularly updated with both new and gently used items.
Along with gently used items, the three ReStores operated by Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) in Lindsay, Peterborough, and Lakefield also sell brand-new items donated by businesses in Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, and Haliburton. (Photo courtesy of Habitat PKR)
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“We have a revolving stock with lots of one-of-a-kind items, so you can come into a ReStore any day of the week and there’s always going to be something different,” says Habitat PKR communications and marketing manager Holly O’Connor. “Not only can you find aesthetic hidden treasures, but they are often of better quality than the mass-produced items at regular stores.”
The largest of the three locations, the Lindsay ReStore now features a fresh layout where shoppers will find plenty of inspiration for their living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and more.
“It gives shoppers an idea of what the item would look like at home, and it also gives them that warm, cozy feeling when they walk in the front door,” Attwell explains. “It gives them a great shopping experience.”
Along with the Lindsay ReStore at 55 Angeline Street North (pictured), Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) also operates the Peterborough North ReStore at 300 Milroy Drive and the Lakefield ReStore at 3001 Lakefield Road. (Photo courtesy of Habitat PKR)
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Attwell is a familiar face at the Lindsay ReStore as she worked in Lindsay for nine years before temporarily relocating to the Peterborough North ReStore. After opening that ReStore store and getting it running for the past three years, Attwell is happy to have returned to her hometown store earlier this year.
Providing additional incentives for shoppers, the Lindsay ReStore often hosts flash sales and additional discounts or bargains.
“People want great items at a great price,” says Attwell. “We get tons of donations, so it’s very important to us to put sales on as we see the need on a day-to-day basis.”
Whether it’s a product-wide sale on all chairs or homeware, or upwards of 75 per cent off a sofa, or even a whole kitchen set at a more accessible price compared to regular home improvement stores, there are always ways to save a buck or two — or even hundreds — at a ReStore. And, since all purchases are tax-free, the price you see is the price you pay.
The Lindsay ReStore at 55 Angeline Street North often hosts flash sales and additional discounts or bargains. The inventories at all three ReStores operated by Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) are regularly updated with both new and gently used items. (Photo courtesy of Habitat PKR)
Those looking for the best deals and discounts can sign up for Habitat PKR’s bi-weekly ReStore newsletter. As a ReStore insider, you’ll be the first to know about the latest news and sales at all three ReStore locations, and also have access to exclusive offers.
Alongside being good for the wallet, shopping at a ReStore is good for the environment. Because the ReStores accept donated items from the community, this means they don’t get discarded. In 2023 alone, Habitat ReStores diverted 331,730 items from the landfill.
Free pick-ups of donated items from both homes and businesses can be arranged for anywhere within the Peterborough and Kawarthas region. In October, Habitat PKR unveiled a new ReStore truck — funded by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation — that will reduce wait times for people donating items, streamline scheduling, and allow more frequent service to the rural communities the organization serves.
Alternatively, people can drop off their donated items at a ReStore and, in exchange, will receive a coupon for 25 per cent off their next ReStore purchase.
VIDEO: Habitat PKR’s Kitchen and Home Deconstruction Program
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Habitat PKR also runs kitchen and home deconstruction program, which offers homeowners a free removal service of kitchens and large built-in items that are then sold in ReStores.
Volunteers — who are often retired skilled trades workers looking to give back to their community — will remove items like kitchen cabinets, countertops, appliances, windows, bathroom fixtures, and more. As well as donating items for a good cause, homeowners may also qualify for a charitable tax receipt for their donation.
“It’s a great way for us to keep those items out of landfills,” says O’Connor. “It’s also fantastic for people who are renovating, whether refurnishing their cottages or looking to stay within budget. Renovating a home can be expensive, but this approach allows people to remove an entire kitchen for free, while someone else can acquire it for significantly less than retail value. Plus, everyone involved supports affordable homeownership in their local community.”
In April 2024, Brittany and Jason and their two young daughters moved into a four-bedroom family home in Lindsay built by Habitat For Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR), whose affordable homeownership program offers eligible families the opportunity to buy a home with no downpayment and an affordable mortgage geared to their income. (Photo: Habitat PKR)
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“People love to go thrift shopping, but a lot of thrift stores are not charities,” O’Connor adds. “When you shop at a Restore or when you donate items, you know that the funds are going right back into your local community to help your neighbours.”
That includes families like Brittany and Jason who, along with their two young daughters, moved into a four-bedroom family home in Lindsay built by Habitat PKR, whose affordable homeownership program offers eligible families the opportunity to buy a home with no downpayment and an affordable mortgage geared to their income.
“It really does show what the ReStore can do,” O’Connor says. “It’s a win for shoppers, a win for donors, a win for homeowners, and a win for the Earth.”
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Habitat For Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
The six recipients of the inaugural Peterborough Arts Awards (Robert Winslow, Melody Thomas, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Krista English, Beth McMaster, and Brad Brackenridge) on May 25, 2018. After a five-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the awards are returning for 2024 with nominations open until January 14, 2025. The awards will be presented on February 13, 2025 at The Mayor's Luncheon for the Arts at The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
After a five-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) has announced the return of the Peterborough Arts Awards, as well as The Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts where the awards will be presented, with nominations for the awards open until December 16.
An independent not-for-profit service organization supporting the arts in Peterborough and the surrounding region, EC3 established the awards to honour and recognize excellence and outstanding achievement of professional artists, arts organizations, and arts supporters living and working the city and county of Peterborough.
Funded entirely by private-sector sponsors, corporations, and businesses, the 2024 Peterborough Arts Awards provide cash awards of $2,000 in the following six categories.
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Outstanding Emerging Artist, recognizing outstanding achievement by an artist, working professionally in any discipline, who has been practising in their field for at least two years.
Outstanding Mid-Career Artist, recognizing outstanding achievement by an artist, working professionally in any discipline, who has been practising in their field for at least five years.
Outstanding Senior Artist, recognizing outstanding achievement by an artist, working professionally in any discipline, who has been practising in their field for at least 15 years.
Outstanding Achievement by an Indigenous Artist, recognizing outstanding achievement by an Indigenous artist, working professionally in any discipline, contemporary or traditional form.
Arts Champion, recognizing a person who has consistently provided outstanding support and encouragement for the development of the arts in Peterborough through philanthropy, volunteerism, or the development of partnerships and collaborations (this prize is given to an individual who, in turn, gives it to a local not-for-profit professional arts organization).
Arts Catalyst, recognizing outstanding achievement by a professional arts administrator or manager, fundraiser, art critic, curator, educator, programmer, or producer who has worked behind the scenes to build excellence in the arts.
The recipients of the second annual Peterborough Arts Awards: Charlie Werger (Beth McMaster accepting on his behalf), Nimkii Osawamick, Beau Dixon and Patti Shaughnessy (Lisa Dixon accepting on Beau’s behalf), Alice Williams, Hilary Wear, and Ryan Kerr. The awards were presented at The Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts in Peterborough on May 24, 2019. (Photo: Bianca Nucaro-Viteri / kawarthaNOW)
Winners, who are selected by a peer jury drawn from a multi-disciplinary pool of nominated candidates, will be recognized at the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts on February 13, 2025 at The Canadian Canoe Museum, with more details to be announced closer to the event.
On December 18, EC3 announced the nomination deadline for the Peterborough Arts Awards has been extended to Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
Nominations will be accepted until the end of the day on Monday, December 16. While self-nominations will not be accepted, a nominee can work together with a nominator on a nomination application.
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The Peterborough Arts Awards were established in 2018 through the efforts of Bill Lockington of LLF Lawyers, who led the sponsorship campaign to successfully raise $60,000 to support each of the awards over five years.
The winners of the inaugural awards in 2018 were Melody Thomas (Outstanding Emerging Artist), Brad Brackenridge (Outstanding Mid-Career Artist), Robert Winslow (Outstanding Senior Artist), Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (Outstanding Achievement by an Indigenous Artist), Krista English (Arts Catalyst), and Beth McMaster (Arts Champion).
The winners of the 2019 awards were Nimkii Osawamick (Outstanding Emerging Artist), Patti Shaughnessy and Beau Dixon (Outstanding Mid-Career Artist), Alice Williams (Outstanding Senior Artist), Hilary Wear (Outstanding Achievement by an Indigenous Artist), Ryan Kerr (Arts Catalyst), and Charlie Werger (Arts Champion).
Community Care Northumberland (CCN) has launched its eighth annual "Adopt a Grandparent" program, which is aimed at brightening the holiday season for Northumberland County seniors in need. Donations will be accepted until December 6, 2024. (Photo: CCN)
With the challenging times facing many Canadians, helping Northumberland County seniors have a hopeful and memorable holiday season are the goals of a program being launched by Community Care Northumberland (CCN).
For the eighth consecutive year, CCN is inviting residents to “Adopt a Grandparent” this Christmas. On Friday (November 1), the organization kicked off its 2024 instalment of the initiative that pairs a resident with an area senior in need.
The program aims to spread joy by surprising seniors who may be experiencing isolation or loneliness with meaningful gifts during the holiday season.
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“Each year, our Adopt a Grandparent program sees a growing need for connection and support among seniors,” CCN communications specialist Chelsea Rankin told kawarthaNOW. “This year, with rising costs and inflation making things tough for many, that need is even greater.”
Last year, CCN reached more than 130 “grandparents” across Northumberland County.
One of those adopted grandparents was a man named Jim, who shared his appreciation in a media release from CCN.
“Thank you for the Christmas gift,” Jim said. “I was feeling down, and it made my spirits brighter. This gift meant so much to me. It brought happy tears to my eyes.”
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CCN CEO Trish Baird said that, in addition to bringing smiles to area seniors, the program also offers joy to the people who join together to purchase a gift.
“CCN’s Adopt a Grandparent program demonstrates the true spirit of the season and the generosity of our community,” Baird said in a statement.
People who haven’t participated in the past can expect a “heartwarming experience” by taking part in the program, Rankin added.
“Knowing that someone in the community is thinking of our grandparents and has chosen a gift just for them makes a meaningful impact. Your involvement can truly brighten their holiday season.”
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Community members who are interested in adopting a grandparent can reach out to CCN by calling 1-866-514-5774 or by emailing wellness@commcare.ca to be matched with a senior.
All unwrapped gifts — gift bags or baskets are acceptable — must be dropped off at a local CCN office on or before Friday, December 6. Volunteers will deliver the packages to seniors the week before Christmas.
Gift suggestions include gift cards for local stores or gift certificates for CCN programs, such as Meals on Wheels or transportation.
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CCN asks participants to refrain from including homemade baked goods. If donating handmade items, such as scarves or mittens, organizers ask community members to include washing instructions.
Additionally, residents can “adopt a grandparent” by donating to the program, and CCN staff will take care of the shopping for the recipients.
CCN is a multi-service community support organization in Northumberland County. Through the creation, co-ordination and delivery of nutrition, transportation, wellness, in-home and hospice services, CCN strives to improve the health and well-being of its clients. Programs and services target enhancing the quality of life for seniors, adults with disabilities, those recovering from illness or injury, along with hospice clients and their loved ones and caregivers.
Sunshine Therapy Dogs was founded in 2020 to support those in the community facing mental and emotional illness and loneliness. Backed by research on the benefits of human-animal interaction, the charity enlists volunteers to bring their dogs to organizations, institutions, and individual homes to provide companionship, and to reduce symptoms of depression and stress. The Toronto-based charity has recently expanded its coverage regions and is seeking volunteers based in the Peterborough area. (Photo courtesy of Sunshine Therapy Dogs)
If you live in the Peterborough area and have a well-mannered and friendly dog who loves back scratches and meeting new people, a charity is providing a way for you to give them all the attention they could want while making a “pawsitive” impact on people in the community facing mental health and other challenges.
Toronto-based Sunshine Therapy Dogs is expanding operations into Peterborough and is seeking dog owners who want to volunteer their time for the benefit of both their furry friends and the community.
Volunteers with Sunshine Therapy Dogs will take their dogs to community institutions, organizations, and individual residences to bring joy, companionship, and calming to those experiencing mental or emotional illness or loneliness.
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“There are a lot of dog owners who experience the love of their dogs and want to share it,” says Alan Harman, the founder of Sunshine Therapy Dogs. “There’s a lot of research out there about the benefits of animal companionship on a person’s well-being.”
A dog lover his whole life, having been raised by a mother who bred German Shepherds, Harman has always been an active volunteer in his community and started his first charity, a dog rescue called Adopt a Dog Save a Life, at 27 years old.
“Along the way, I experienced this onslaught of mental and emotional disease,” he says. “I personally had gone through times where I struggled and one of my kids was suffering a little bit, and I found that dogs were helpful for me, for my child, and also for other people.”
A longtime dog lover, Alan Harman founded Toronto-based Sunshine Therapy Dogs in 2020 after seeing how he, his child, and others in the community have been supported in their mental health journey by their canine companions. Harman’s own rescue dog Tico was the very first Sunshine Therapy Dog and has now done more than 150 visits. (Photo courtesy of Sunshine Therapy Dogs)
It was his daughter’s Bernese Mountain Dog Hershey, as well as similar stories from friends and families, which showed Harman how impactful dogs can be on mental health and inspired him to begin the charity. Unfortunately, Hershey passed away before the charity was launched and instead it was Harman’s own dog Tico (a rescue from his charity) who became the first Sunshine Therapy Dog.
“He turned out to be the perfect therapy dog because he loves to be petted, loves to be touched, and he is very patient with kids with erratic behaviours,” Harman says, noting Tico has done more than 150 visits over the past four years. “He’s been really wonderful company to me, but he’s also now spread his love to so many people through his visits.”
While it doesn’t take in-depth research to understand the value of pets in a family, the benefits of human-dog interaction have been proven time and time again. In fact, fossil evidence suggests that humans began domesticating dogs at least 14,000 years ago, and possibly tens of thousands of years earlier.
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Today, interactions between dogs and children and young people have been linked to aiding in the development of empathy, in reducing stress, and in reducing symptoms of PTSD and depression. In elderly people, dog interactions enhance quality of life, promote mobility, and reduce loneliness and isolation. The human-canine bond has even been linked to increasing motivation in workplaces.
“For anybody that is suffering, or any school that’s having a wellness-related event or a high-stress situation like an exam, having a dog around might be helpful to bring some peace and calm,” says Harman.
There is also research showing that dogs receive just as much from the companionship and interactions of these interactions as people do.
“In dogs, it’s the same neurons firing that fire in the human brains, so they are receiving the same pleasure,” Harman says. “I liken it to a human experience: when someone simply touches you or strokes you, you do have this response right in your central nervous system, and it’s the same with dogs.”
Recent studies have shown that human-animal interactions have significant impacts on children and young people including supporting the development of empathetic traits, reducing stress, and reducing symptoms of PTSD and depression. (Photo courtesy of Sunshine Therapy Dogs)
Sunshine Therapy Dogs regularly attends schools during exam season or after traumatic events, as well as penitentiaries, seniors’ homes, and workplaces, and even does individual home visits.
“We get parents calling us and saying they have a child with special needs and they think it would be helpful,” Harman explains. “Then we’re getting middle-aged people calling and saying they have a parent who would love to get to interact with a dog. When we first started going into schools, every single visit with a student would say this was the highlight of their week, or they’ve been waiting all semester for this.”
Since being founded in 2020, Sunshine Therapy Dogs has grown exponentially, mostly through word-of-mouth, and now has more than 250 volunteer dogs spanning York, Hamilton, Niagara, and Durham Regions. The charity is now seeking volunteers within Peterborough — a place Harman himself has connections to as a Trent University graduate with family still living in the area.
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Dogs of any breed can become a Sunshine Therapy Dog, so long as they are more than a year old and do not have physical ailments. All volunteers and their dogs will be seen by a third-party Toronto-based dog training and behaviour specialist, Maggi Burtt at Tailspin Petworx, to ensure the dogs will react appropriately in various situations.
“Seniors, in particular, love small dogs, and love the tricks,” says Harman. “I’ve been really surprised by the breadth of breeds that have come through.”
Volunteers themselves will have a criminal background checks, get interviewed by the charity’s board of directors, and will be observed on two visits before being able to attend events on their own.
VIDEO: Paws ‘N’ Hearts – Sunshine Therapy Dogs
Although there is a process to become a volunteer with Sunshine Therapy Dogs, the actual role itself is not at all onerous.
“You’re not actually doing anything,” Harman explains. “The dogs are doing the heavy lifting and being petted. The person interacting with the dog is benefiting, the dogs are enjoying it, and you’re apart from the transaction and just witnessing and recognizing the love.”
Along with the benefits for their dogs, volunteers will also have the satisfaction of knowing people in their community are getting mental health or emotional support.
“It’s absolutely beautiful and it’s undeniable there’s something going on that’s meaningful and deep,” he says. “It’s therapy that wouldn’t be available otherwise.”
For more information about Sunshine Therapy Dogs, to apply to become a volunteer with your dog, or to book a visit from a Sunshine Therapy Dog, visit www.sunshinetherapydogs.ca.
Carried Away and the Convivio Chorus perform at the 2015 In From The Cold concert at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. The 2024 benefit concert for YES Shelter for Youth and Families takes place on Friday, December 6th and Saturday, December 7th. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW)
For an event that features “cold” in its title, it sure emits a lot of warmth.
“In From The Cold,” an annual benefit Christmas concert for Peterborough’s YES Shelter for Youth and Families, returns at 8 p.m. on Friday, December 6th and Saturday, December 7th, with the venue again being the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.
Tickets to either 8 p.m. performance cost $29 for assigned seating ($34 for assigned cabaret table seating) and are available online at tickets.markethall.org.
Featuring an enchanting mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas and winter-themed songs, most of which are rarely heard in these parts, the benefit has raised more than $200,000 for YES since debuting in 2000. That makes this year’s two-concert benefit the 25th — a milestone that co-founder John Hoffman finds “amazing.”
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In From The Cold 2024
When: Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 8 p.m. Where: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-775-1503) How much: $34 reserved cabaret seating, $29 reserved regular seating (service fee included)
Note: If you can’t make it (or you can’t get tickets before they sell out), you can listen to Trent Radio’s broadcast of the recorded concert throughout Christmas Day on 92.7 FM and at www.trentradio.ca/stream.htm.
“There are two things that mean a lot to me,” says Hoffman, a longtime Peterborough musician. “One, there’s a lot of people that have been involved for 20-plus years and still want to do it, and two, people still come.”
“When we started, outside of the Peterborough Singers and school and church concerts, there weren’t that many Christmas shows. There are lots now. I thought, eventually, we might get shoved off, but we still have our constituency that comes. That’s the real gratification — not that we’ve hung on for 25 years, but that people are still enthused.”
Come people have, as In From The Cold remains a perennial sellout, with last year’s event raising just more than $23,000 for YES — the highest single-year return to date.
VIDEO: “In From the Cold” – A Film By Rodney Fuentes (2017)
Front-and-centre since day one has been Hoffman and co-founders and Carried Away bandmates Rob Fortin and Susan Newman, along with Curtis Driedger.
Each is returning this year, along with regular performers harpist Tanah Haney and guitarist Michael Ketemer, the Convivio Chorus, and a few of Driedger’s students who will join him when he performs as his stage persona Enriqué “Roy” Claveer.
“In the beginning, when I heard that John, Rob, and Sue were planning this, I wanted in on it,” recalls Driedger.
“I’ve always just loved Christmas in terms of what it means in the year — the cycle of the earth and all that kind of stuff. I would get frustrated (when) I’d go to shows and it was too religious or too commercial. This offered the possibility of something I had a feeling would suit my view. And I knew these people and trusted them, so it started off on a very good footing. That, I think, is what has sustained it over these years.”
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Both Hoffman and Driedger agree the bond between the performers has been, and remains, key to In From The Cold’s success, both musically and emotionally.
“These are all people I like, and that I like being with,” says Hoffman, adding “We’re compatible musically. These are people I can make good music with.”
Driedger says the In From The Cold experience harkens back “to the old days when you’d meet in a church or the community hall. You know everybody. It’s kind of a community thing.”
Speaking to the choosing of the musical selections for this year’s concert, Hoffman hasn’t strayed from a process that has worked out quite well for a number of years.
“Every year, I Google Christmas songs,” he says. “I’m looking for something different. I’ve Googled Christmas songs from Greece, Dutch Christmas songs, Polish Christmas songs, Czech Christmas songs … stuff like that. There’s great music out there. It does amaze me that every year, for 25 years, we’ve found new stuff that is really cool, that is really interesting, and that we wanted to do.”
Musicians Rob Fortin, Susan Newman, and John Hoffman (performing as Carried Away in 2015) founded In From The Cold in 2000 along with Curtis Driedger (not pictured). The group decided to donate the proceeds from that first concert to a charity and selected Peterborough’s YES Shelter for Youth and Families, which has remained the beneficiary ever since. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW)
As Hoffman points out, In From The Cold is known for showcasing holiday music you are unlikely to hear in the grocery store or anywhere else.
“For example, we’ve got this song that I stumbled upon on YouTube about 15 years ago. We do it every year. It’s called Winter Grace by Jean Ritchie, an Appalachian folklorist and dulcimer player.”
“One song we’re doing this year you can hear elsewhere, but probably not at too many concerts, is Fairytale of New York by The Pogues. In some survey, it was the most popular Christmas song in Ireland. Maybe England too. We’ve never done it before. It’s kind of a tricky song.”
For those fond of more common seasonal music, In From The Cold will not disappoint.
“We’re also doing In The Bleak Midwinter,” Hoffman notes. “It’s a traditional carol, but we do it folky with guitars, mandolins, and fiddles instead of a church organ or piano.”
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As for Driedger, he says the varied song selections emanate from a group of performers who are “musically curious.”
“John and Sue have developed the knack of adapting these songs to our situation, be it the choir or their group. These songs are not only discovered, but they come to life in this sort of unique way.”
While the music performed is the main event, the feeling it creates — for both the performers and audience — is what makes In From The Cold a perennial favourite.
“There’s a relaxed atmosphere — not that prim and proper concert feel,” says Hoffman. “We got a review years ago that used the term kitchen party. I think we create that feel. I’m sure there are all kinds of concerts that have a great feeling in the room. We have ours and I think it’s part of the reason that people come.”
Michael Ketemer and Carried Away (Rob Fortin, Susan Newman, and John Hoffman) performing 20 years ago at the 2004 In From The Cold concert at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor)
As recalled by Newman and Fortin in a previous kawarthaNOW story, what became In From The Cold sprang from a pre-Christmas dinner gathering at the home Hoffman shares with his wife Holly, during which Hoffman, Newman, and Fortin played and sang Christmas carols.
“It was like ‘Boy, this sounds nice’,” Fortin said. “That was it. We thought we had better try this out on the public.”
That they did, initially as part of the now-defunct Peterborough Festival of Trees entertainment lineup. That led to a one-night performance at Market Hall and the inclusion of the Convivio Chorus, a small choir of eight singers that had formed for the 4th Line Theatre production of The Devil and Joseph Scriven. From those humble beginnings, In From The Cold was born.
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While Hoffman’s main objective for In From The Cold was to present a stellar musical performance and to do so with musicians he likes and respects, the emergence of YES Shelter for Youth and Families as the beneficiary has been the icing on the cake.
“David Haw wanted to put together a shelter for homeless youths,” Hoffman recalls, referring to the executive director of YES back when it was a not-for-profit organization without a home.
“I thought ‘OK, I can get behind this.’ You never know whose kids are going to need shelter. If there are kids out there, you want them to have a place to go, so what a great thing to support.”
Later, Haw told Hoffman that the proceeds raised at an early In From The Cold concert covered the shelter’s food budget.
“YES wasn’t on the radar the way it is now,” Hoffman points out. “They really needed something. I like to think that we were a bit of a lightweight champion for them.”
Twenty-five years and more than $200,000 later, heavyweight champion would now be a more apt label.
Rob Fortin performing on the bodhrán (Irish drum) at the 2015 In From The Cold at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. The annual benefit concert for YES Shelter for Youth and Families features Christmas carols and seasonal folk songs from around the world, all presented in a signature Celtic style. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW)
Funds raised aside, In From The Cold’s annual shining of the spotlight on YES Shelter for Youth and Families has resulted in another benefit for the not-for-profit organization, which helps youth and families experiencing homelessness in Peterborough with shelter, education, and transitional supports.
“The awareness that In From The Cold raised about YES was as valuable as the money that was raised,” Hoffman reflects. “I like the feeling that we were part of that and still are. We’ve grown together.”
For In From The Cold tickets, visit tickets.markethall.org. For more information about the services of YES Shelter for Youth and Families, visit yesshelter.ca.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a longtime media sponsor of In From The Cold.
Transition House Coalition of Northumberland is continuing to offer shelter services at its 22-bed Chapel Street facility in Cobourg at a reduced capacity of 10 beds, following the Cobourg fire department's recent approval of the shelter's updated fire safety plan. The organization has secured eight additional motel rooms for people in the area who are unsheltered. (Photo: Transition House / Facebook)
Transition House Coalition of Northumberland has received a green light from the Cobourg fire department to continue operating its Chapel Street facility, but with only 10 beds for the area’s unsheltered residents instead of 22.
Northumberland County’s only provider of emergency shelter and related services was poised earlier this week to close its doors or drastically cut its number of beds to comply with fire department requirements.
While Transition House is slated to move its shelter operations and services to a new location on Division Street in Cobourg, the transition has been delayed due to compliance issues with a 2024 bylaw around the regulation of emergency care establishments (ECE) introduced by the Town of Cobourg.
During a special meeting of Northumberland County council last Tuesday (October 29), council authorized county staff to spend up to $40,000 on hotel/motel rooms and advised staff to meet with Town of Cobourg staff within five business days to resolve the remaining issues related to the ECE bylaw.
Some of the unmet requirements include compliance in areas of security, garbage, and liability.
In the meantime, Ike Nwibe, Transition House’s executive director, told kawarthaNOW that Transition House has gone ahead and booked additional motel rooms to support people living unsheltered in the area.
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“I can confirm that within 48 hours of county council’s direction to expand shelter system capacity through the use of additional motel rooms, county and Transition House staff secured eight additional motel rooms and are now finalizing a staffing model to ensure professional emergency shelter and outreach staff are in place to rotate to these locations providing check-ins and supports,” Nwibe said.
With those measures in place, he added, staff will be “assessing client need through the formal intake process and placing people in either the shelter or motel rooms based on the most appropriate allocation.”
“We anticipate the majority, if not all, of available shelter system space will be occupied within (24 hours), based on Transition House’s updated capacity, and the interest expressed from people seeking to move from encampment to shelter services.”
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For the Chapel Street location, the approved plan has now been submitted to Town of Cobourg bylaw staff in accordance with the requirements of Transition House’s ECE licence, according to a media release from Transition House.
“While we regret the necessity of having to decrease our capacity from 22 beds to 10, particularly as the cold weather approaches, we are hopeful that this approval will ensure that we can continue to provide essential services for those in need from this location, and we are optimistic that town staff will confirm the approved plan is compliant with town bylaws,” the organization noted.
“We continue to engage with the town on possibilities to temporarily expand shelter capacity, and our work is ongoing with Northumberland County to secure alternate accommodations for those who have been displaced.
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Nwibe said motel accommodations are not the preferred model for emergency shelter.
“Our hope is that this will be a temporary solution and we will be able to welcome all clients to our new shelter location at 310 Division Street in the near future,” he said.
“Transition House will continue to work collaboratively with the town to respond to any requests they may have, while serving our most vulnerable population to ensure their safety to every extent of our ability as the weather gets colder.”
Peterborough Regional Health Centre is located at 1 Hospital Drive in Peterborough and Ross Memorial Hospital is located at 10 Angeline Street North in Lindsay. (Photos: PRHC and Ross Memorial Hospital)
With the arrival of respiratory illness season, hospitals in the Kawarthas region are taking a closer peek at their masking policies, with two reintroducing the requirement of wearing masks in all patient areas.
In late October, Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) announced masks will again be required in all direct patient care areas and in spaces where patients gather.
The hospital says its goal is to protect patients from developing hospital-acquired COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and other respiratory virus infections during respiratory illness season. Masking will be mandatory for patients, visitors, staff, and volunteers, the hospital noted.
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“Masks slow the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses,” said Dr. Justin Tilak, physician lead for the infection prevention and control group at PRHC, in a statement. “During respiratory season, where COVID-19, RSV, flu and more are circulating more frequently, we want to do everything we can to protect our most vulnerable patients.”
This decision comes as many hospitals across Ontario, including Toronto’s University Health Network, are implementing similar measures, PRHC noted. At the Peterborough hospital, medical masks will continue to be available at the main entrance, in the emergency department, and in patient care areas across the hospital.
Additional personal protective equipment and visiting restrictions may apply based on the patient’s location and status, the hospital stated. Meanwhile, active screening of all patients and visitors entering the hospital will continue.
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Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Lindsay is taking a similar approach. In October, the hospital announced masking is required for entry into all patient care units. RMH has also “strongly recommended” masks be worn while in ambulatory waiting rooms, including the emergency department.
Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Campbellford currently requires masks to be worn in all clinical areas of the hospital, which includes departments such as diagnostic imaging, lab, clinic space, inpatient units, and the emergency room.
“Masking remains optional outside of clinical areas such as meeting rooms, office spaces, the gift shop, or the cafeteria,” Peter Mitchell, CMH’s executive assistant and communications and community relations manager, told kawarthaNOW. “We do review our masking policy regularly and will make changes if the situation warrants it.”
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To the west at Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) in Cobourg, the infection prevention and control and occupational health and safety teams continue to monitor prevalence of respiratory illness in and around the community and in the hospital, said Jennifer Gillard, vice-president of patient experience, public affairs, and strategic partnerships.
“Masks continue to be available free of charge for patients, visitors and staff who wish to don one,” Gillard told kawarthaNOW. “But unless requested for specific purposes — patients with symptoms of communicable respiratory illness, for example — there is no blanket requirement to mask at NHH at this time.”
Gillard said the hospital does encourage masking, including in areas of clinical and patient care, based on personal preference.
“Our infection prevention and control and occupational health and safety teams continue to monitor prevalence and will revisit as required,” Gillard reiterated.
At Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS), the Haliburton hospital requires staff, physicians, volunteers, visitors, and patients to wear a procedure mask in specific areas of the hospital.
Since the creation of the Peterborough Airport Master Plan in 2009, Peterborough and the Kawarthas has continued to grow as a global leader in the aerospace and aviation sector with the airport's ideal location, cutting-edge training and research programs, the presence of international and expanding businesses, and specialized services. (Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Airport)
Over the past 15 years, the aerospace sector in Peterborough and the Kawarthas has climbed to new heights and is continuing to soar.
With the Peterborough Airport at its centre, the region has become a leader in aerospace innovation with an ideal location, cutting-edge training and research programs, the presence of international and expanding businesses, and specialized services.
“The Peterborough Airport has experienced tremendous growth, solidifying its position as a hub for aerospace innovation and employment in Ontario,” says Kyle Bruce, Manager of Airport Administration. “The airport’s success has attracted a diverse range of businesses and training facilities, making it a key driver in the region’s economic development.”
Since launching the airport development program in 2010, the Peterborough Airport has seen full-time jobs double from 251 to more than 500, with 22 businesses currently residing on site and more to come. The sector’s regional GDP has more than doubled, from $40 million to $90 million. (Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Airport)
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That success is the continued result of the Peterborough Airport Master Plan, which was created in 2009 and updated in 2022 to guide the positioning of the airport as an economic leader in meeting future aviation demand and creating local employment.
Since launching the airport development program in 2010, the Peterborough Airport has seen full-time jobs double from 251 to more than 500, with 22 businesses currently residing on site and more to come. The sector’s regional GDP has more than doubled, from $40 million to $90 million.
Bruce points to the airport’s strategic location as a gateway to the eastern GTA as a contributor to encouraging growing aviation businesses to make a home in the airport.
“The supportive business environment is another key factor, with local governments offering incentives and streamlined processes to foster growth,” he says, adding the region has even more to offer. “The region’s quality of life, including natural beauty and affordable living, makes it attractive to both businesses and employees. All these factors create a dynamic, thriving ecosystem for aerospace companies.”
Seneca Polytechnic’s Peterborough campus is located at the Peterborough Airport, with the college’s four-year Bachelor of Aviation Technology program offering a pathway to a range of positions in the aviation sector. The program is one of many world-class training opportunities found in Peterborough and the Kawartha’s thriving aerospace sector. (Photo: Justen Soule)
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For workers, a wide range of employment opportunities are available at the Peterborough Airport, especially in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) businesses. Whether they are new graduates entering the sector for the first time or seasoned professionals looking for a change, employees always have opportunities to ascend the career ladder of their chosen profession.
“The close collaboration between companies, training facilities, and educational institutions enables continuous skill development, helping employees advance within their organizations,” says Bruce. “The airport’s focus on growth also means businesses are expanding, creating new roles and leadership opportunities, and allowing employees to build long-term careers within the region.”
To meet the growing demand for skilled employees, the Peterborough Airport offers top-notch training facilities for educational institutions. In 2014, Seneca Polytechnic relocated its four-year Bachelor of Aviation Technology program — the only program of its kind in Canada — to the Peterborough campus at the airport. Combining in-class learning and on-the-job placements, the program sets students up for success in careers in aviation and aerospace.
“When it comes to future growth and development, nothing would be possible without skilled labour,” says Bruce.
Through the Build & Soar Program delivered by Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development and its partners, high school students enrolled in the Specialist High Skills Major Program had the opportunity to engage in eight-week paid work placements at businesses in the aerospace industry. The placements helped students visualize a career in the industry, while supporting the training of skilled labourers in the region. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
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With the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program led by the Peterborough Northumberland Victoria and Clarington Catholic School Board, even teenagers can explore future career opportunities available at the Peterborough Airport.
This past summer, students in the SHSM program were given the opportunity to work an eight-week summer placement with aviation and aerospace businesses at the airport through the Build & Soar program delivered by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) and its partners. Participating businesses were given a 50 per cent wage subsidy, while students received on-the-job training and paid workplace opportunities, many of which have led to part-time employment beyond the summer.
“There is a place for all skills to be valued in the supply chain surrounding the airport’s interconnected community of businesses, and that starts with teaching a new generation of learners where they can fit in and flourish,” says Bruce. “By ensuring we give as many local students as possible the chance to get their start in aviation, we can ensure that the future demands for careers in aviation are met.”
A wide range of employment opportunities are available at the Peterborough Airport, especially in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) businesses such as Flying Colours Corp., one of the 22 businesses operating out of the airport. (Photo courtesy of Flying Colours Corp.)
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As for future growth of the Peterborough Airport, Bruce says the airport will build upon the momentum by focusing on emerging trends and being a leader in innovative research. For example, Fleming College is involved in cutting-edge research on an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft — a more sustainable aircraft that could be the future of aviation.
“The airport’s focus on emerging trends, like sustainable aviation and workforce development, positions it as a hub for MRO, testing, and innovation,” says Bruce. “This proactive approach, combined with its strong infrastructure and expanding industry connections, will help attract new businesses and sustain economic growth in the region.”
That includes outreach efforts such as attending aerospace industry trade shows like the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom. Representatives from the Peterborough Airport and PKED travelled to Farnborough this past July, where they met with aerospace manufacturers, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) service providers, and eVTOL developers, and came away with leads for potential airport tenants. The momentum gained at Farnborough continued with the Airport’s Business Enablement Team booth at October’s DAIR to Innovate show at Centennial College.
With its centre at the Peterborough Airport, the ever-growing aerospace and aviation sector in Peterborough and the Kawarthas is a significant economic driver in the region and offers many employment and career opportunities. The airport will continue its growth by focusing on emerging trends in the aerospace sector and through a proactive approach to attract new businesses that includes outreach efforts such as attending aerospace industry trade shows. (Photo: Justen Soule)
“Peterborough Airport is committed to maintaining its growth by leveraging its strategic advantages, including its proximity to Toronto and Ottawa, and access to skilled talent from nearby colleges and universities,” Bruce notes. “Attending key industry events, like the Farnborough International Airshow and DAIR to Innovate, plays a crucial role in this strategy.”
Aside from the leads generated at Farnborough, three companies are planning investments at the Peterborough Airport over the next year, including a flight training unit, the development of a commercial aircraft hangar, and the potential development of energy infrastructure.
“The expansion of Peterborough Airport has not only transformed the region’s aerospace industry but has also reaffirmed the area’s status as an ideal place to pursue a long-term, successful career in aviation and aerospace,” says Bruce.
The growth of the aerospace sector at the Peterborough Airport has created demand for local supplies, construction companies, logistics services, and professional supports, with job creation boosting consumer spending in the retail, hospitality, and housing markets. (Photo: Justen Soule)
Bruce adds that the airport’s continued growth is a key driver for the region’s overall economic success.
“The growth has a ripple effect on the broader regional economy, driving development in multiple industries,” Bruce points out. “As aerospace businesses expand, they create demand for local supplies, construction companies, logistics services, and professional supports. Additionally, job creation within the aerospace sector boosts consumer spending, which benefits retail, hospitality, and housing markets.”
This branded editorial is one of a series created in partnership with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Members of the Mayor's Task Force for Housing Creation, a group of builders and housing development professionals that will assist the City of Peterborough as it works to meet its provincially assigned target of 4,700 new housing units by 2031, meeting with Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
UPDATE – The media event has been rescheduled to Tuesday (November 5) at 10:30 a.m. due to weather.
Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal will release the report from the Mayor’s Task Force for Housing Creation on Monday afternoon (November 4) during a media event at the site of a housing development in Peterborough’s East City.
The mayor announced the creation of the task force comprised of builders and housing development professionals last October.
“We need further input from the development community on any other opportunities for municipal support and to consider barriers to accelerating housing starts that may be outside of municipal control,” he said at the time.
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In January, the City of Peterborough announced the members of the task force: Paul Bennett of Ashburnham Realty, Chelsea Combot of Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services, Brian Fenton of Peterborough Homes, Hans Jain of Atria Development Corporation, Hope Lee of Peterborough Housing Corporation, Rebecca Schillemat of Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association, Brad Smith of AON Inc., and Susan Zambonin of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region.
“Task force members were tasked with recommending specific actions that the City of Peterborough can take to facilitate the construction of 4,700 new housing units by 2031,” states a media release from the city announcing Monday’s media event, which will take place at 367 Rogers Street at 1 p.m.
That’s the site of Ashburnham Realty’s six-storey building currently under construction along the Rotary Greenway Trail just north of Robinson Street, joining two other completed buildings along the trail at Hunter Street East as part of a residential-commercial development.
This September 2023 photo, looking north from Robinson Street to Hunter Street in Peterborough’s East City, shows two of the three buildings in Ashburnham Realty’s residential-commercial development along the Rotary Greenway Trail. A third six-storey building located along the trail just north of Robinson Street is currently under construction. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
The building was originally planned to be three storeys as part of a four-building development. However, last September, Ashburnham Realty applied to the city for a “minor variance” to increase its height to six storeys, while reducing the total number of buildings in the development from four to three, leaving the total number of units unchanged.
The city approved the height increase, much to the consternation of some nearby East City residents, who have expressed concern about the increasing number of multi-storey buildings in a neighbourhood that primarily consists of detached homes and low-rise buildings.
“Long gone are the days that any builder will build a two or three-storey building,” Ashburnham Realty owner Paul Bennett told kawarthaNOW at the time. “It’s never going to happen again. The option is we get some intensification and go up or we won’t get any buildings.”
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Just one block to the west of the Ashburnham Realty development, TVM Group is proposing a new 10-storey residential-commercial development beside Mark Street United Church on Hunter Street East.
Toronto-based TVM Group is the company behind two other nearby East City developments: East City Condos and the St. Joseph’s Hospital redevelopment.
Watch kawarthaNOW for more information about the task force’s report after it is released.
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