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.

Bringing an afternoon of good food, good company, and lots of learning, the Afrocentric Awareness Network of Peterborough (AANP) is hosting its third annual summer potluck on Sunday, July 14th.

The potluck picnic will take place at Ashburnham Memorial Park, under the pavilion at the top of Armour Hill, from 1 to 4 p.m. Inclusive and welcoming to all, the event is being sponsored by United Way Peterborough & District.

“We’re inviting everyone to bring the kids, hang out, network, get to know each other, eat, drink, and be merry,” says Cheryl Edwards, co-founder of AANP alongside Charmaine Magumbe.

Originally founded as the Afrocentric Awareness Network of the Kawarthas in 2007, AANP describes itself as a non-profit resource that raises awareness of the positive aspects of Black heritage and culture. The original group had a brief hiatus before relaunching three years ago with a renewed focus on Peterborough.

“We felt that people of colour and people of African descent in Peterborough were rather isolated, so we wanted to gather families together so that they would connect,” Edwards says of the network’s original purpose.

“Now it’s become more about not just gathering those people, but also educating everyone else about who we are as a people in positive ways. That’s what our focus is now — the positive aspects of Black culture and history.”

Edwards notes that it’s imperative to AANP’s mission that eliminating anti-Black racism comes from studying positive histories.

“For example, the transatlantic slave trade is a part of our history, but instead of focusing on how we suffered, our focus would be on what we achieved during that time period,” she explains.

As a resource that’s free and available to everyone, AANP provides accessible educational opportunities that require members of the public to actively seek them out for self-education.

“We feel that if you’re educating yourself on the positive aspects of Black culture and Black history, you’re becoming more aware of who we are as a people, as opposed to believing in stereotypes and negative information that is fed to the public,” says Edwards. “Instead of having to pay for a university degree to learn about us, you just educate yourself. It’s free to do and it’s enhancing to one’s level of understanding of who we are as a people.”

At the potluck picnic, AANP will be holding giveaways of Afrocentric books and jewellery and hoping to schedule some inspirational and educational speakers. There will also be free Jamaican chicken for everybody in attendance, and guests are welcome and encouraged to bring a dish of their own to share.

“Cooking and food is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture,” says Edwards. “We will be putting out some recipes for people who want to bring something that’s Afrocentric, but it’s absolutely not mandatory to do that.”

In addition to hosting events like the potluck, AANP offers the use of Edward’s Afrocentric children’s books so “people can easily educate themselves.”

AANP is also establishing Afrocentric Storytimes at the Peterborough Public Library, to be held on the last weekend of every month beginning in September.

“The stories themselves will be geared towards children four to seven years of age, but hopefully they’ll also appeal to children who are older and to adults who have children wanting to participate,” says Edwards. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and educational at the same time, and hopefully there will be a networking game for families so they can connect with each other directly.”

Looking ahead, AANP is well on the way to planning its next events, including Kwanzaa celebrations at the end of the year, which will include traditional African dance lessons, and celebrations for Black History Month next February.

While there is much to look forward to with each of the events, Edwards assures they will all be free of cost and inviting to all.

“We know that some people face food insecurity, so when we provide food or prizes at our events, it’s always free,” she says.

That commitment to accessibility also applies to AANP’s all-important goal of self-education.

“It’s no-pressure learning through fun and through personal connection,” she says. “We want adults and children to arm themselves with truth. When they hear a fallacy about Blacks, they can say ‘That’s not true’ to themselves instead of believing it.”

For more information on the Afrocentric Awareness Network of Peterborough, visit aanp.ca.

A school bus company established in Lakefield in 1969 has lost its contract with Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO), affecting around 100 school bus drivers and employees and prompting the creation of an online petition.

Hamilton Bus Lines was established in 1969 by Ellwood Hamilton, starting with a station wagon and growing to provide transportation services for more than 70 school bus routes in Peterborough and area.

In 2020, retiring owner Lisa Hamilton-Howie sold her family’s company to Burlington’s family-owned Attridge Transportation Inc., which continued to use the Hamilton name on local buses and retained all the company’s bus drivers and staff at the Lakefield location.

Last Thursday (June 27), STSCO issued a statement that it had completed a months-long request for proposal for student transportation, where school bus operators submitted competitive bids for existing bus routes.

“The results of this process have now been released and while many current operators obtained contracts, Hamilton Bus Lines was not successful as part of the procurement and bidding process,” reads the statement on STSCO’s website.

“We recognize and appreciate the significant impact this may have on drivers with Hamilton Bus Lines,” the statement continues. “As the successful operators begin to hire drivers for local routes, we encourage local drivers to apply for these positions. We value local drivers and their important role in transporting students safely to school.”

STSCO has awarded a Concord-based company named Wheelchair Accessible Transit (W.A.T.) with the contract for routes previously serviced by Hamilton Bus Lines, effective in September.

Keri Toms has started an online petition at change.org/p/help-support-hamilton-bus-lines to support Hamilton Bus Lines and the drivers who have lost their jobs.

“Our goal is to have as many people made aware of this terrible situation and for them to act now by signing this petition and by letting STSCO, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and its trustees, along with our local forms of government know that we will not just stand by while they ruin this local company and its employees,” the petition reads.

As of the date of this story, the petition has received more than 2,300 signatures, including from school bus drivers with Hamilton Bus Lines.

“I have been an employee of Hamilton Bus Lines for 18 years,” read one petition comment in part. “Our whole amazing family at Hamilton Bus Lines has been devastated and blindsided.”

“I just started driving with Hamilton Bus lines in April,” reads another comment. “Great company, I have driven for other school bus companies, their management does not compare to Hamilton, they are caring, reliable and very professional.”

“My husband is a well loved bus driver that tries to make a difference to the children that are in his care,” writes another commenter. “Hamilton Bus Lines care about their kids and their employees and it truly is a shame they have been sold out to the (lowest) bidder!”

For its part, STSCO states that W.A.T. will be hiring local school bus drivers on local routes and will be servicing their vehicles locally.

“We want to reassure families that your children’s bus routes will continue to be operated by drivers that have been hired locally and are part of our communities,” the STSCO statement reads. “Also, we would like to note that all new contracts require all operators to set up local facilities to service their buses.”

“STSCO will be working closely with all bus companies over the summer months to monitor their preparedness for September start-up and we are committed to sharing updates as we prepare for another school year.”

The Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre will now be known as the Cogeco Studio.

On Tuesday (July 2), Showplace Performance Centre announced that Cogeco is the new name sponsor for the lower-level venue for the next decade.

“As long-time partners, Cogeco’s commitment began even before the centre opened when YourTV produced a show covering the construction,” says David Feeley, Cogeco’s manager of programming and community relations, in a media release from Showplace. “This laid the foundation of a great relationship, and we’ve cherished the remarkable talent showcased on its stage.”

With a 200-person capacity, the Cogeco Studio seats 100 people comfortably and also includes bar service. Smaller than the upstairs 647-seat Erica Cherney Theatre, the venue is used for more intimate concerts, theatrical productions, receptions, private parties, meetings, and even weddings.

Originally known as the Showplace Lounge, Nexicom acquired the naming rights in 2013 as part of the non-profit performance centre’s ongoing initiative to ensure long-term sustainability.

“The board, staff, and volunteers are pleased to secure this agreement to support the centre’s future endeavours,” reads the media release of the new naming agreement with Cogeco. “Showplace Performance Centre and Cogeco are excited about the future and look forward to developing this partnership through future events and presentations to bring the community together.”