In a “fantastic fusion of public service and artistic expression,” Peterborough students and the county have teamed up for the annual instalment of the “Paint a Plow” project.

Peterborough County’s public works operations division recently kicked off its 11th annual Paint a Plow initiative, which pairs the county’s public works division with five local elementary schools.

In conjunction with National Public Works Week in May, the county provided students with snowplow blades and the students put their creativity to work to transform the blades into “vibrant works of art,” a media release stated.

Bill Linnen, general manager of public works operations, told kawarthaNOW the annual initiative is both a fun and meaningful endeavour for the department, the students, and the general community.

“The program was started in an effort to engage with the community and bring attention to the public safety work the county is responsible for, (including) snow plowing,” Linnen said.

“The hope was that this could be a fun program for the county and for a few local schools,” he continued. “The result is a program that not only engages with students in schools across the county, but is a fun activity that those schools look forward to each year.”

The county shares photos of the students’ creations on its Facebook page, and their works are currently on display at the county’s Douro public works depot, located at the intersection of Highway 28 and County Road 4.

“The social media posts allow us to recognize the schools and students who participate in the plow painting program,” Linnen said. “Showcasing the creativity of the students by displaying the artwork at our Douro depot brings it all together for the community and visitors to see.”

And, of course, the decorated blades will add a splash of colour to snow-plowing operations on county roads when winter returns.

“This initiative not only promotes community art and creativity but also connects our essential services with the imagination and spirit of local students,” Linnen noted in the release.

“Timing this painting event with National Public Works Week highlights, helps to educate youth about the crucial role we play in the community while celebrating the vibrant creativity that makes our work even more rewarding.”

The participating schools this year were Chemong Public School and St. Martin Catholic Elementary School in Selwyn Township, Buckhorn Public School in the Municipality of Trent Lakes, Havelock-Belmont Public School in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township, and Millbrook/South Cavan Public School in Cavan Monaghan Township.

If you’re travelling through Peterborough’s East City, you’ll want to avoid using the tunnel under the Peterborough Lift Lock via Ashburnham Drive over the next few weeks.

That’s because the intersection of Hunter Street East and Armour Road on the west side of the tunnel is closed to through traffic effective Tuesday (July 2), and will remain closed for the next two to four weeks according to a construction notice issued by the City of Peterborough on Thursday, two days after the closure.

Armour Road was already closed north of Hunter Street to Clifton Street for a road reconstruction being completed by Green Infrastructure Partners Inc. That closure now includes the intersection of Armour Road at Hunter Street East.

The work being completed includes removal of existing infrastructure, earth excavation and grading, new storm sewers, sanitary sewers, watermain, concretes curb and gutters, road base and asphalt road structure, streetlights, sidewalk, tree plantings, pavement markings, and regulatory signage.

The Lift Lock tunnel is a common route for residents entering or leaving East City via Ashburnham Drive. The closure of the intersection also means Kaawaate East City Public School and the Peterborough Museum and Archives are not accessible by travelling west on Hunter Street; to reach them, you’ll have to drive through the Lift Lock tunnel via Ashburnham Drive.

Access for local traffic within the road closure area will be maintained, although local traffic may experience delays within the construction limits. According to the city, the work on Armour Road is scheduled to be completed by the end of the summer.

The osprey has a special perch in the Kawartha Lakes in more ways than one.

Also known as Ontario’s fishing hawk, the bird has been named the “2024 Kawartha Lakes Bird of the Year.” In an online contest, voters cast the most ballots for the osprey at 41 per cent, followed by the black-capped chickadee in second place with 22 per cent of the votes.

After receiving “Bird Friendly City” certification on March 22, the municipality — in partnership with the Bird Friendly Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes coalition — launched an online poll to determine which favourite species of bird should be declared the official 2024 Kawartha Lakes Bird of the Year.

More than 500 participants took part in two rounds of online voting, with the first round of voting narrowing 11 species down to five finalists.

“The osprey soared ahead and took the lead, winning the contest and being declared the official winner,” a media release noted.

When the online contest launched in April, Thom Luloff, professor of conservation biology at Fleming College, told kawarthaNOW he had a soft spot for the osprey, but kept his opinion under wraps so he didn’t sway voters in any way.

“We are thrilled that the osprey has been chosen as the official city bird of the City of Kawartha Lakes,” said Luloff in a statement on behalf of Bird Friendly Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes.

“The osprey is a magnificent raptor that symbolizes the natural beauty and rich biodiversity of our region,” he said. “Its presence near our lakes and rivers highlights the importance of healthy, clean waterways and thriving ecosystems. As a bird that depends on both land and water habitats, the osprey perfectly represents the interconnectedness of our environment and the vital role we all play in preserving it.”

The osprey also has an integral role in the identity of the Kawartha Lakes. While the bird is a common sight throughout the municipality, it is also featured as a central element of the City of Kawartha Lakes logo.

Residents and visitors can typically see large osprey nests perched atop many trees or hydro poles — a sign of efforts made by the community decades ago to ensure the ospreys made a comeback from dangerously low numbers, Kawartha Lakes noted.

The osprey is also always near water, such as the shorelines of large lakes, rivers, and ponds. Ospreys migrate to warmer climates of the south during the winter months.

In addition to the osprey and the black-capped chickadee, the northern cardinal secured the third spot in the bird of the year poll. The barred owl flew into fourth place and the eastern loggerhead shrike landed in fifth place.

To view the final results of the poll, visit the Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes Bird of the Year 2024 project page at jumpinkawarthalakes.ca/bird2024.

A bird-friendly city is described as a community where threats to birds are reduced, and nature is restored so native bird populations can thrive. Residents are actively engaged in admiring and monitoring local bird populations, and organizations host events to protect birds. Certification entails meeting standards to keep birds safe.

“Becoming a certified bird-friendly city is not just a title; it’s a significant milestone for our community,” Luloff earlier told kawarthaNOW. “It underscores our commitment to environmental stewardship and highlights our dedication to preserving the natural beauty and biodiversity that makes Kawartha Lakes so unique.”

To learn more about bird-friendly initiatives in Kawartha Lakes, visit the Bird Friendly City page at the City of Kawartha Lakes website.

After 12 successful years, Peterborough’s SPARK Photo Festival is no more.

The festival’s board announced on Thursday (July 4) that the volunteer-run festival will not be continuing for financial reasons.

“Like many arts and cultural efforts today, SPARK has encountered financial pressures that do not appear to be resolvable over the next few years,” reads a media release. “Instead of potentially entering negative cash flow territory, the SPARK board decided it would be preferable to exit following a strong run.”

Held every April for the entire month, the festival highlighted the best in local photography, celebrating both photography and the artists and enthusiasts behind the camera lens. Exhibits were mounted in traditional galleries and studios, and also in unexpected places such as shops, cafes, libraries, community centres, and even the outdoors.

“The SPARK Photo Festival was made possible, first and foremost, by the dedication, enthusiasm and talent of participating photographers,” reads the release. “SPARK is also grateful for the essential contributions of the SPARK founders, board members and volunteers, sponsors, funders, donors and patrons, supporting partners, suppliers, local media, other arts organizations and all who opened their doors (and walls) as host venues to SPARK exhibits.”

The SPARK Photo Festival website at sparkphotofestival.org will be available until July 20 for those who wish to view archive exhibit pages, virtual exhibits, and past festival catalogues.

Northumberland County council has hit the brakes on a transit service that offered residents a ride from Cobourg into Durham Region.

The county announced on Wednesday (July 3) that the Commuter Connect pilot service will end as of Friday, August 2.

The decision follows a “comprehensive evaluation of the pilot service” that connected Northumberland residents to the Oshawa GO station. Commuter Connect riders could then connect from Oshawa to Toronto via GO Transit.

“The simple reality is that the cost per ride subsidy is simply not sustainable,” Brian Ostrander, warden of Northumberland County, told kawarthaNOW. “We would need a significant increase in ridership in order to make a commuter connection both within Northumberland and beyond our borders viable.”

County council discussed in 2023 the merits and costs of the Cobourg-to-Oshawa service and agreed to extend the pilot project until 2026, pending the review of the program in June 2024.

The pilot project originally also connected residents between Campbellford, Brighton, Colborne, and Cobourg through its Northumberland line. In December 2023, the Northumberland line was discontinued due to low ridership interest and costs associated with operation.

At that time, county council extended the timeline for evaluation of the better-used Durham line to determine if a reduced service would be more financially sustainable.

Based on the June review, which noted continued low ridership and a high cost to subsidize the service, it was determined that operation of the Durham Line was also no longer sustainable. Discontinuation of the Durham line represents the conclusion of all Commuter Connect pilot transportation services, the county noted.

“I know for the loyal riders who depend on this shuttle bus service this will be disappointing news,” Ostrander said in a media release. “The decision to discontinue the Commuter Connect service was not made lightly.”

“Northumberland County launched this program as a pilot to assess the interest and demand for a regional transit service, and to evaluate the costs involved in delivering it. Unfortunately, due to low ridership numbers and the cost to subsidize the rider service, we have determined that the operation will not be sustainable beyond the pilot phase.”

The 18-month pilot, in partnership with Metrolinx, generated insights that will help inform future potential transportation programs in Northumberland County, the county noted.

“We appreciate the support and feedback from all our riders during this pilot project,” said Dan Borowec, the county’s director of strategic initiatives. “Ridership participation has been invaluable in understanding local transportation needs, and we will continue to investigate alternative transportation options in Northumberland County for residents, workers, and employers.”

The county noted developing transportation infrastructure to strengthen connections between local communities — along with neighbouring regional transit systems — is a key priority identified in Northumberland County’s transportation master plan.

Back in 2022, Northumberland partnered with Hop In Technologies, a transportation logistics provider, to co-ordinate the Commuter Connect pilot, scheduling weekday bus service. In addition to operating the online portal for rider ticket purchases, Hop In also coordinated bus service delivery with Community Care Northumberland to provide transit services within Northumberland, and with Eastern Charters to deliver services along the Durham route, taking passengers directly to Oshawa GO and back again to Northumberland.

“The logistical support provided by Hop In technologies enabled us to deliver a schedule with multiple stops each day to meet the transportation needs of commuters,” Borowec said. “We are grateful for the exceptional customer service and rider experience delivered by Community Care Northumberland and Eastern Charters.”

Riders impacted by the conclusion of the Commuter Connect pilot program can redeem any unused rider credits for a full refund by visiting commuterconnect.ca. Any unused rider credits will be automatically refunded after August 2, the county noted. For questions about the schedule or to redeem unused credits, riders can email userhelp@hopintech.com or call 289-800-9711.

Although the Community Connect pilot project is ending, Northumberland County residents have another transportation option to get to Toronto.

In May, VIA Rail Canada announced it was reinstating its morning commuter rail service between Ottawa and Toronto. The new VIA Rail Train 641 leaves Ottawa at 4:19 a.m. and arrives in Toronto at 8:48 a.m. Monday through Thursday, with stops in Kingston, Belleville, Cobourg, and Port Hope.

“I’m not certain if the VIA service resulted in reduced the ridership or not,” Ostrander said when asked about the potential impact of Train 641 on Commuter Connect. “Having that service in place does provide commuters with a new option.”

As Canadian communities continue to urbanize, with roughly 73 per cent of Canadians now residing in cities, more people are subject to the detrimental effects of climate change. Heatwaves, floods, fires, and storms are increasingly impacting urban areas, and our own region is no exception.

Addressing these challenges at the local level is crucial, and GreenUP is at the forefront of this effort in Peterborough.

In 2024, Peterborough is among 27 communities across seven provinces participating in Green Communities Canada’s Living Cities Canada Fund projects, with GreenUP leading the local implementation of transformative green infrastructure initiatives.

The Living Cities Canada Fund initiative supports projects that make Canadian communities like Peterborough more abundant, equitable, and thriving. These projects aim to reduce the urban heat island effect, improve stormwater management, mitigate flood risks, enhance local air quality, and promote the physical and mental well-being of residents by connecting them to nature, and adding new greenspaces in areas of need.

With a long legacy of programs like DePave, NeighbourPLAN, and Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods, GreenUP brings extensive experience and expertise to projects that improve our urban landscape. Laura Keresztesi, a program coordinator at GreenUP, has a wealth of experience in participatory engagement and co-design processes. Her leadership ensures that the projects not only meet environmental goals but also foster community involvement and support.

One of GreenUP’s notable Living Cities projects this year is the School Yard Greening Project at Keith Wightman Public School. In collaboration with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, the initiative engages students and staff in the design of a planting project that will transform 150 square metres of the schoolyard. The project will plant shade trees and create green play areas that also serve to boost biodiversity.

With planting scheduled for early October, the project will feature willow tunnels, a native grass maze, a shady grove of trees, and several small-scale “little forests” full of diverse species of trees and shrubs.

Meanwhile, at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School, GreenUP is proudly working with older students to transform a 100-square-metre patch of non-native Kentucky bluegrass (a typical lawn grass) into a dense pocket of biodiversity. Over 25 students and staff participated in soil preparation on June 13, moving compost and mulch to enrich the area where a not-so-little forest will be planted in the fall.

A third significant project involves a partnership with One City to both enhance stormwater management and create edible infrastructure at Trinity Centre. Guests of One City programs have contributed ideas for rain gardens, fruit trees, pollinator gardens, and seating areas. Work is set to begin in August, with major planting activities planned for late September.

Projects like these not only enhance green infrastructure, but also work to build community.

To achieve long-term success, new plantings must be nurtured by community members through their first three years. GreenUP is currently seeking Living Cities volunteers to be involved in tasks ranging from site preparation, planting, ongoing maintenance, to photography. Volunteers are also sought specifically for the Living Cities stewardship team to help with watering, weeding, and mulching.

Additionally, projects welcome in-kind contributions such as professional landscaping services, compost, mulch, plant materials, fencing, or food and drink donations for volunteer appreciation. Anyone interested in getting involved in this work should contact Laura Keresztesi at laura.keresztesi@greenup.on.ca for more information.

GreenUP is grateful for the support of the Living Cities Canada Fund from Green Communities Canada, which supports these projects. To continue to bring community-led green initiatives to fruition, charitable donations are critical. Donations fund the purchase of necessary materials and services, ensuring the success of each project. And as a charity, a tax receipt is issued for any contributions that are made to GreenUP.

As Peterborough and 27 other Canadian communities work together through the Living Cities initiative, they pave the way for greener, more equitable, and resilient urban environments. The collaborative efforts of GreenUP, local residents, schools, organizations, and volunteers underscore the power of community to address climate challenges right here at home.

Interested in the broader impact of climate change on vulnerable communities? Further information and interactive maps are available at healthyplan.city.