At its second meeting of 2024, 100 Women Peterborough has chosen the Teachers For Kids Foundation to receive a donation of $10,000 that will support the charity dedicated to addressing the needs of students facing financial hardship.

The collective philanthropy group, which has now grown to 114 members, met on Tuesday (June 19) at Ashburnham Funeral Home & Reception Centre in Peterborough.

At each of its quarterly meetings, 100 Women Peterborough hears presentations from three non-profit organizations randomly drawn from a larger list of organizations nominated by the group’s members. Each member commits to donating $100, and the organization that gets the most member votes receives the collective donations.

The three organizations that presented to 100 Women Peterborough at June’s meeting were Teachers For Kids, One City Peterborough, and Public Energy Performing Arts, with Teachers For Kids chosen by majority vote to receive member donations.

“I am thrilled to share the lengths that this donation would bring about for girls in the community and would enhance their lives in the Peterborough-area KPR schools by letting these budding minds participate in life-changing STEM programs, helping them break free from the cycle of poverty and financial constraints,” said Kerrie Magnus of Teachers For Kids in a media release from 100 Women Peterborough.

Founded in 1986, the Teachers for Kids Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to addressing the needs of students facing financial hardship. The foundation provides crucial support for various necessities, including sports club registrations, sports equipment, meals to support academic progress and medical and personal needs.

According to the release, Teachers for Kids plans to use the donated funds to support dozens of female students, “enabling them to pursue their dreams and meet essential needs. This substantial contribution will make a significant impact on the lives of these students, fostering a supportive environment for their academic and personal growth.”

“The donation will surely make a significant difference, opening doors to college, university, and careers and fostering a brighter future for these young girls and women,” added Janie Kelly of Teachers for Kids. “Together we can help shape a better tomorrow and we are extremely happy to receive a gracious donation from the women of our community.”

Since its formation in 2018, 100 Women Peterborough has collectively donated over $200,000 to 24 local organizations: YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, Vinnies Peterborough, Hospice Peterborough, Peterborough Youth Unlimited, One Roof Warming Room, New Canadians Centre, Cameron House, Five Counties Children’s Centre, Casa De Angelae, Lakefield Animal Welfare Society, Community Care Peterborough, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, Community Counselling and Resource Centre, Peterborough Pregnancy Support Services, Heads Up for Inclusion, Kawartha Youth Orchestra, Peterborough GreenUP, Bridges Peterborough, YMCA Strong Communities, Homeward Bound Peterborough, Good Neighbours Care Centre and Food Bank, PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network, Camp Kawartha, and the Teachers For Kids Foundation.

“Together, our dedicated giving group is supporting a local charity uplifting students in our community, proving that collective generosity can transform futures and create lasting change,” said Wendy Hill, a founding member of 100 Women Peterborough.

100 Women Peterborough is part of a growing collective philanthropy movement that began in the United States in November 2006, when Karen Dunigan of Michigan formed the “100 Women Who Care” group. After their first meeting, those women raised over $10,000 for the purchase of 300 new baby cribs for a local organization. The movement has grown over the past 18 years to include groups of men, women, youth, and children around the world, with hundreds of chapters in Canada alone.

For more information about 100 Women Peterborough, visit www.100womenptbo.ca.

Peterborough police have arrested a man wanted in connection with a shooting incident over the weekend.

Just after midnight on Saturday (June 15), a woman went to Peterborough Regional Health Centre with two gunshot wounds, and was later transported by air ambulance to a Toronto hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

According to information released by police on Saturday, they were searching for a suspect in what they believed was a targeted incident. Police have since revealed the incident was domestic in nature.

On Wednesday (June 19), Peterborough police officers along with the emergency response team arrested a 22-year-old Peterborough man in the Bancroft area. As a result of a police investigation, he has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm, and trafficking in firearms.

The accused man is being held in police custody and will appear in court on Thursday.

The police investigation also determined a second man was involved after the shooting incident occurred, and he was located on Tuesday evening and arrested. A 20-year-old Peterborough man has been charged with accessory after the fact to commit an indictable offence, obstructing justice, unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm, trafficking in firearms, failure to comply with a probation order, and possessing a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order.

The second accused man is being held in police custody and will appear in court on Wednesday.

A moose on the loose in Peterborough has been safely captured for relocation.

Multiple sightings of the moose in the city’s west end began early Tuesday (June 18) and were reported to Peterborough police, who contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).

By Wednesday, the moose had travelled to Kawartha Chrysler at 1515 Lansdowne Street West where, in the business’s back lot with the assistance of police, MNRF conservation officers tranquilized the moose.

The moose, which was also tagged, will be relocated.

While it is rare for a moose to be seen as far south as Peterborough, it is around this time of year that yearlings are rejected by their mothers and begin a solitary existence.

Yearlings begin foraging on their own, which can lead them to unusual places.

This was the experience of kawarthaNOW publisher Jeannine Taylor, who in early June discovered a young female moose on the property of her family cottage on Eels Lake north of Apsley. While her cottage is surrounded by woods, moose are rarely seen so close to humans in that area.

According to Taylor, the moose was docile and unperturbed by her presence. For four days, the moose roamed around the property, spending its time munching on leaves, lounging, and sleeping.

Concerned that the moose was exhibiting unusual behaviour, Taylor contacted the MNRF who — after viewing photos and videos of the moose — stated “The moose looks to be very healthy at this time, and the behaviour is not abnormal for this yearling. It appears to have found a good natural food source.”

The MNRF added the moose would eventually leave of its own accord, which it did. Taylor shared her moose experience with host Molly Thomas on CBC Ontario Morning.

While moose are not usually aggressive, they can charge if threatened, especially if a moose is protecting its calves.

Wildlife experts advise keeping a safe distance from a moose. If you have a dog, keep it leashed and away from the moose. If a moose approaches you, back off and look for a tree, fence, or building to hide behind and as protection in case the moose charges.

If you live in the Peterborough area and encounter a moose in an unusual location such as your property, you can report your sighting to MNRF at 705-755-2001 or mnrf.pet@ontario.ca.

From feeling the beat of live drumming to learning about the history of the Michi Saagiig peoples, Northumberland County residents can partake in an upcoming Indigenous celebration in Cobourg.

To mark National Indigenous Peoples Day on Friday (June 21), the Northumberland County EarlyON Centres and the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre, in collaboration with Alderville First Nation, are hosting a free Indigenous cultural event from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Cobourg Community Centre at 750 D’Arcy Street.

The event, which is open to the public and suitable for all ages, is designed to offer community members with an opportunity “to experience the richness and diversity of Indigenous culture,” Northumberland County noted.

Themed as the “Ode’miin Giizis (Strawberry Moon) Celebration,” Indigenous leaders will take the lead for the event, which features interactive activities, singing and food, in addition to the drumming and presentations on the history of the Michi Saagiig peoples.

Called Ode’miin Giizis in Anishinaabemowin (the Anishinaabe language), the Strawberry Moon is the first full moon of summer and, this year, it falls on National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. The Anishinaabe keep track of the seasons by the moons, with Ode’min Giizis the sixth moon of the calendar. It marks the beginning of summer, the longest day of the year, and the harvest of the strawberry in June. The root word of ode’min is “ode,” which signifies the heart in Anishinaabemowin, with the strawberry resembling the shape and colour of the heart.

“Understanding and appreciating Indigenous culture is crucial for fostering reconciliation and mutual respect in our community,” said Brian Ostrander, warden of Northumberland County, in a media release.

“On National Indigenous Peoples Day, I encourage everyone to take the time to learn, reflect, and act in support of our shared responsibilities as Treaty people,” Ostrander added. “This event will be an opportunity to learn and engage with Indigenous traditions and to acknowledge our shared responsibilities to respect and uphold the treaty rights and privileges we all enjoy today. This means recognizing the importance of these agreements and working together towards reconciliation by honouring our commitments and building a more inclusive community for everyone.”

Anishinaabeg Nation Southeast Regional Chief Marsha Smoke will provide a territorial welcome. Sarah Lewis of Curve Lake First Nation, who was Nogojiwanong-Peterborough’s inaugural poet laureate, will share Indigenous poetry and its teachings.

There will be songs and drumming by Rod Nettagog of Henvey Inlet First Nation, and presentations on the history of the Michi Saagiig peoples by Brian Beaver from Alderville First Nation. The event also includes many interactive activities for young children and displays for people of all ages, the release noted.

“Building strong partnerships and engaging in cultural education is key to honouring Indigenous traditions and creating a more inclusive community,” said Cynthia Gray, program manager at the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre.

“This celebration is a testament to the power of collaboration and the richness of Indigenous heritage. We look forward to celebrating at the Ode’miin Giizis (Strawberry Moon) Celebration, deepening everyone’s understanding and appreciation of Indigenous culture and history, and supporting the path of reconciliation.”

A few highlights of the event include:

• Welcome to the territory at 3:05 p.m.
• Strawberry (Ode’miin) welcome and teaching at 3:15 p.m.
• History of Alderville First Nation and the Michi Saagiig peoples at 3:50 p.m.
• Indigenous poetry and teachings at 4:40 p.m.
• Words, drumming and singing (Supported by Loyalist College) at 5:15 p.m.
• Ode’miin Giizis Indigenous event activities
• Indigenous history
• Interactive Indigenous activities for children
• Singing and drumming
• Listen and learn about Ojibwe Language
• Experience Indigenous food
• Create a Ode’miin Giizis coloured button
• Review Ode’miin Giizis information displays
• Peruse Alderville First Nation history books for sale
• See other displays ranging from Indigenous medicine to Indigenous education and more.

The Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre strives to enhance the quality of life for Indigenous people in the City of Peterborough and the surrounding area. It strives to provide a place of acceptance and well-being for urban Indigenous people through a wide range of community-based programs and services.

Alderville First Nation, a thriving community that is rich in heritage and native culture, is located on the south side of Rice Lake, approximately 30 kilometres north of Cobourg. The First Nation has approximately 300 members who live in Alderville, and another 650-plus members who reside elsewhere.

Other events to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day are also taking place across the region on June 21, including a celebration from 1 to 5 p.m. at Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre at 580 Cameron Street in Peterborough. The celebration will feature a sacred fire, craft and activities, vendors, strawberry teachings, and a community meal at 4 p.m.

When discussing the greatest climate change risks facing the city of Peterborough, many people in Peterborough will think back to the floods and storms that our community has experienced over the past few years, but one more sinister risk for many of our city’s most vulnerable might simply be extreme heat.

Recently, there’s been dialogue among local public health experts and municipal staff about the impact that the urban heat island might have on our city, and the implications I believe are worth discussing.

In 2021, I created a map (below) that explores the deviation from the average temperature across all of Peterborough during a typical hot day in August. In that map, we can see the urban heat island at work. A review of the map reveals the downtown core, Lansdowne Street, the Townsend neighbourhood, and several newer subdivisions all clearly have much higher surface temperatures than nearby neighbourhoods.

In the simplest terms, the lack of tree cover exposes hard surfaces such as concrete and asphalt to the sun, which then radiates the absorbed heat back out into the local environment. Neighbourhoods with more trees and less asphalt generally fare better than those without.

Tree cover is one major factor contributing to urban heat, but there are other trends revealed by this map that are worth exploring.

Worth noting is the income disparity that is highlighted by the urban heat island effect. Neighbourhoods with lower incomes, such as Townsend Street or the Tallwood Towers neighbourhood, experience much higher average temperature deviation from the average across the city. The temperature difference can be as much as 15°C in some neighbourhoods.

An average temperature increase of 15°C could place some neighbourhoods in what is known as a dangerous “wet bulb event.” This could all be happening at the same time as other neighbourhoods in the city are experiencing hot, but not life-threatening, temperatures.

If you’ve never heard of a wet bulb event, it is when there is sustained increase in temperature and humidity to the point that the human body loses the ability to effectively regulate its temperature. Exposure to these conditions can lead to death in as little as six hours for those who are unable to move to a colder climate-controlled space or find other means of cooling off. Wet bulb events can actually occur as low as 31°C if humidity is above 95 per cent.

In the city of Peterborough, this could practically mean that individuals who live in lower income neighbourhoods, who are less likely to have access to air conditioning and more likely to have mobility challenges, could have a highly increased risk of extreme heat exposure. With a 15°C surface temperature difference across the city, this could conceivably be happening while citizens in other neighbourhoods are perfectly fine.

Comparing average income versus mean surface temperature across our city demonstrates a slight trend towards lower-income neighbourhoods experiencing an increased chance of facing increased temperature.

The trend demonstrated by this relationship is strong, but not absolute, so there must be other factors to consider when discussing urban heat island effects, and indeed there are.

As we explore those factors, we will discover potential strategies to mitigate the impact that the urban heat island will have on our community into the next century.

The answers are blowing in the wind

If you’ve lived in the city of Peterborough long enough, you’ll be aware that the wind often blows from the west. These prevailing winds can help us understand some of the heat distribution in our city.

Remember that parks and greenspaces often experience lower-than-average temperatures than areas of concrete and asphalt. Let us consider what happens as the wind passes over these greenspaces. If the temperature of the air is warmer than the surface temperature of a tree that it is passing through, the wind will transfer some of the heat out of the air and into the leaves of the tree.

Each individual tree has an absolutely enormous surface area made up of leaves. This large surface area translates into a huge capacity to exchange heat out of the atmosphere. Neighbourhoods downwind of trees are well positioned to reap the benefits of these massive “heat exchangers,” as the cooler air now has increased capacity to absorb heat from the neighbourhood and convey it away.

This “heat exchanger” effect makes parks and greenspaces are some of our best tools for fighting the effects of urban heat and climate change. It is definitely worthwhile to consider park and greenspace planning strategies in our community that prioritize planting and protecting trees that are upwind of high-risk neighbourhoods.

As far as I am aware, little consideration has been given to this strategic factor when considering our urban forestry plan, and I would like to encourage leaders across our city to keep in mind.

Southern exposure

South-facing slopes can also increase the risk related to heat exposure. Heat that radiates from the sun is more directly absorbed into the concrete faces of buildings and parking lots, especially those that face south.

Large parts of Peterborough are located on a southeast-facing slope. Ten thousand years ago, this large slope was the shoreline of glacial Lake Peterborough, and today offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. These stunning views carry some risk exposure as well.

The most pronounced exposure to the south is arguably the slopes north of the Parkway Trail on the north side of town. We can clearly see on the urban heat island map a line of census areas that experience higher than average temperatures, possibly due to this southern exposure.

Considering this, it may be worthwhile to prioritize south-facing slopes for naturalization and tree-planting measures across our city. I can already think of several possible locations that may be worthwhile to consider putting some effort into reforestation.

A (cool) river flows through

Many people each summer make the trip down to the Silver Bean in Millennium Park along the shores of the mighty Odoonabii (Otonabee) River. It’s been unofficially dubbed “the little cottage in the city” and for a good reason. The natural surroundings create a welcome retreat from the urban heat radiated from the nearby downtown.

We should consider that the rivers and waters flowing through our city may be one of the greatest tools we have when fighting urban heat. As you take a moment to review the heat map, notice that much of East City is cooler than the west bank. I would argue that, in part, that is due to the downwind impacts of the river.

As wind blows across the river, it deposits warmth from the air into the water to be conveyed away from the city, therefore cooling the city’s east bank — just like a giant natural air conditioner.

This principle combined with several of the other watercourses in our city could provide huge benefits to neighbourhoods badly in need of heat interventions.

Jackson Creek in the Townsend neighbourhood and downtown has been almost entirely covered by buildings and parking lots. A long-term strategy of opening up the creek and naturalizing its shoreline could help keep these neighbourhoods cool, while providing recreational and flood-reduction opportunities.

Other creeks in our community are worth highlighting due to many of the same reasons, including Bears Creek in the north end of our city, or the hidden Brookdale creek roughly following Downie Street.

Urban heat is worth taking seriously. I hope some of you readers can take the time to incorporate some of these ideas into your work or encourage others to do so. Perhaps with your help, we can start to incorporate some of the above ideas into our urban planning strategies and help build a cooler, healthy, and vibrant community for everyone, no matter who they are or where they live.