On the heels of Food Banks Canada reporting the highest-ever number of monthly food bank visits and signs the food bank system is buckling under the strain, Kawartha Lakes Food Source (KLFS) says it has found itself in situations this year of having “alarmingly low inventory” on hand.

As the provider to member food banks in the City of Kawartha Lakes, in the summer KLFS issued a state of emergency plea to the community for assistance stocking its shelves.

Local food bank usage is up and donations are down, said KLFS donor stewardship coordinator Erika Henry, reflecting the findings of Food Banks Canada’s “HungerCount 2024” report released on Monday (October 28).

Some of the national report’s overall findings include the fact that in March 2024, there were more than two million visits to food banks in Canada — the highest number in history. The number of visits represent a six per cent increase compared to 2023, and a 90 per cent increase compared to 2019. At the same time, “there are signs that the food-banking system is reaching its absolute limit,” the report states.

Henry told kawarthaNOW “the report definitely reflects our situation locally.”

“While our inventory has begun to see the typical holiday season boost, we are still concerned about what happens after the giving boom,” said Henry. “Late winter can be particularly challenging as the inventory starts to wane again while demand increases due to lack of seasonal employment, increased heating costs, and lack of locally available fresh food.”

“Regarding the report’s claim that 30 per cent of food banks are running out of food, we have had moments this year of alarmingly low inventory and at times have had to reduce what was being sent out to our member food banks, with some getting as little as half of what we would typically supply,” she added.

Following KLFS’s social media post in late July declaring the state of emergency, the community responded by donating more than 2,000 pounds of food in the weeks that followed.

“We love this community and are so appreciative of the generous support we receive, but it is unfortunately a band-aid solution that doesn’t address the issues of poverty and a broken social safety net that Food Banks Canada highlights in the report,” Henry said.

The HungerReport notes the two million visits in March “is consistent with record high rates of food insecurity and reflects findings from other recent studies showing greater numbers of people experiencing economic hardship.”

“This year’s increase is happening against the backdrop of the ongoing affordability crisis and an uptick in unemployment rates, including a significant increase in unemployment rates among recent newcomers than in previous years,” the report states.

According to the HungerCount report, 18 per cent of food bank clients now report employment as their main source of income, compared to 16.7 per cent in 2023 and 12 per cent in 2019.

“The fact that having a job no longer protects people from facing food insecurity means that more members of the community are needing our services while fewer are able to support us,” Henry said.

The report adds the number of food bank clients who report employment as their main source of income has historically been between 10 and 12 per cent, but began to climb in 2022 along with the rapid increase in inflation.

“This year, the cumulative impact of inflation has further eroded the purchasing power of people in employment, including many whose incomes are above the official poverty line,” the report states.

Meanwhile, the majority of food bank clients continue to report “grossly inadequate provincial social assistance” as their source of income.

Like Food Banks Canada, KLFS says food banks are not a solution for ending hunger in Canada.

“We are aligned with Food Banks Canada’s position that food insecurity is an income issue, and food banks are not the answer,” Henry said. “We provide emergency food and supplies to those in need, but with demand increasing this dramatically after over 22 years in operation, it’s safe to say that we are well beyond an emergency.”

In 2023, KLFS recorded 13,670 visits to its member food banks and is averaging 1,127 monthly visits this year.

KLFS operates from a centralized distribution centre, where it collects food from reclamation sources, buys food in bulk, sorts, and stores food, promotes awareness of hunger and its impact, and co-ordinates fundraising. It provides food and personal care items to its member organizations on a monthly, fair share basis. The organization supports eight food banks, six social service agencies, and 21 student breakfast programs.

“A food bank is not meant to be a permanent fixture in anyone’s life,” Henry pointed out. “We fully support Food Banks Canada’s recommendations for long-term government action needed to address affordability issues and fix Canada’s broken social safety net.”

To read Food Banks Canada’s 2024 HunterCount report, visit foodbankscanada.ca/hungercount.

As our communities grow, new and custom-built homes of all shapes and sizes are increasingly in demand. Energy needs, however, are costly.

Residential, commercial, and industrial buildings account for close to 30 per cent of Canada’s carbon emissions, when including materials, construction, and use.

It comes as no surprise that the residential building sector is seeking ways to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, build more sustainably, and lower emissions.

The Peterborough & the Kawarthas Home Builders’ Association (PKHBA) is working to support its members — professionals in residential construction — with strategies that both build vibrant communities and long-term sustainability in the residential construction sector in the Kawarthas region.

Recently, PKHBA and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association hosted a full-day workshop for local construction professionals on an innovative and comprehensive strategy called the integrated design process (IDP).

With the guidance of educator Troy Tilbury of Building Knowledge Canada Inc., builders from the City of Peterborough, Peterborough County, and the City of Kawartha Lakes learned how to build homes with improved performance that reduce owner energy costs and lower construction waste.

The IDP gathers professionals involved in various stages of the building process to collaborate on the construction of a building from the beginning of the design development. Meeting regularly, these experts — which could include the owner, architect or designer, electrical and structural engineers, energy advisors, mechanical/HVAC specialists, and others — work together on overlapping areas of expertise to uncover opportunities to improve building performance.

In the IDP process, practitioners are encouraged to explore certain strategies. These strategies, listed below, can be considered by anyone building or retrofitting a building.

Optimizing the building envelope

Materials that enclose a home (insulation, roofs, and doors, for example) should be chosen for thermal performance that reduces the need for heating and cooling.

Windows and doors can be placed to take advantage of the sun’s warmth to reduce heating needs by up to five per cent.

Designing home systems to integrate effectively

Insulation can be installed, and airtightness can be adjusted so that they complement the heating system to minimize energy waste.

The right-sized heat pump can be an excellent way to reduce energy consumption, while a dual-core hot water heater with a backup tank has the potential to create enough heat to power a home’s radiant in-floor heating and heat a hot tub.

Ensuring good air quality and ventilation

A key takeaway for PKHBA members at the IDP workshop was that houses can never be too airtight, only under-ventilated.

A coordinated ventilation system ensures that fresh air is introduced efficiently to a building without losing too much heat or cooled air. Understanding how to use a home’s Heat Recovery Ventilator (ERV/HRV) is a part of this, and essential for maintaining comfort and maximizing the efficiency of an HVAC system.

Choosing and using materials efficiently

Through the IDP process, participants are encouraged to collaborate on material selection that meets both energy-efficiency and sustainability needs. This can include using advanced framing techniques, insulation with high thermal resistance, and reflective roofing. The carbon impact of manufacturing a building material can also be considered during selection.

Local not-for-profit organization Builders for Climate Action hosts an online tool called the Building Emissions Accounting for Materials (BEAM) Estimator that provides the carbon footprint of various construction materials, while Natural Resources Canada offers an online Material Carbon Emissions Estimator.

Embedding sustainability strategies identified through consultation and collaboration into the design and construction of a building reaps long-lasting rewards for both builder and owner.

Working with professionals early in the planning process keeps project goals achievable and attainable during construction.

Ultimately, a home is much more than the biggest financial investment one can make — it’s a place where families grow, memories are made, and futures are built.

Rebecca Schillemat is the executive officer for the Peterborough & The Kawarthas Home Builders Association (PKHBA). PKHBA would like to thank and give credit to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, Troy Tilbury of Building Knowledge, and Natural Resources Canada for data and information in this article. For more information about PKHBA, visit www.pkhba.com.

Northumberland County council has authorized county staff to spend up to $40,000 on hotel rooms to house people in Northumberland County who are unsheltered.

As a result of a February 2024 bylaw in Cobourg regulating emergency care establishments (ECE), Northumberland County council heard Tuesday (October 29) that Transition House on Chapel Street in Cobourg would either have to close its doors to additional clients, or significantly reduce the number of people it accommodates pending the outcome of a meeting with the town’s fire department around occupancy and fire codes.

While Transition House and the county are working together to move shelter services to a new and larger space at 310 Division St., council heard that, due to licensing and construction, the new space would not be fully ready until November or December.

The county is currently not meeting four of the requirements of Cobourg’s ECE bylaw. County staff told council it has worked through and resolved about 20 requirements.

Northumberland County CAO Jennifer Moore said staff has requested a meeting with Cobourg staff, but that meeting has not happened to date.

With meeting the bylaw issues outstanding, council ultimately asked county staff to request a meeting with Town of Cobourg staff aimed at resolving the remaining four issues.

Some of the unmet requirements of the Cobourg bylaw include compliance around issues of security, garbage, and liability.

During the council meeting, which resulted in five-plus hours of discussion and several delegations, council asked staff to request that the meeting with Cobourg occur within the next five business days.

It also approved making money available, up to $40,000, for the purpose of purchasing hotel rooms for those in need of shelter while staff from both levels of government determine the next steps.

Council’s direction to staff is to look at ways to comply with the Town of Cobourg’s bylaw, with the aim of being able to get 310 Division St. open and people out of the cold and accessing services as quickly as possible. The motion was moved by county councillor Bob Crate, seconded by warden Brian Ostrander, and passed by council.

This is a developing story.

Sports commentator and former Peterborough radio host Pete Dalliday has a new job with the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers.

The Major Series Lacrosse team announced on Wednesday (October 30) that Dalliday will be joining the organization as director of community engagement and partnerships.

In July, Dalliday announced he was stepping away from his position as morning man at Fresh Radio, a role he held for the last 12 years of his 28-year career with Corus Entertainment. While he said he made the decision for personal reasons, his announcement coincided with layoffs announced by Corus Entertainment across Canada, including in Peterborough.

Dalliday is no stranger to lacrosse or the Lakers, having played for the team in the early 1990s. He is also the play-by-play announcer for both Lakers and Peterborough Petes games on Cogeco YourTV, as well as the play-by-play announcer for the Halifax Thunderbirds in the National Lacrosse League.

As director of community engagement and partnerships, Dalliday “will help expand the Lakers’ footprint, not only in the local sports landscape but also in Major Series Lacrosse and across Ontario,” according to a media release from the Lakers.

The organization says he will work on the team’s marketing strategies, find new sponsorship opportunities, and increases awareness of lacrosse across the region.

“We are excited to have Pete join our team in this capacity,” said board chair Len Powers. “His connection to the community and understanding of the Lakers’ values make him a perfect fit as we strategically grow our presence and engage more deeply with our fans. Pete’s enthusiasm will be key as we build the future of lacrosse here in Peterborough.”

As for Dalliday, he thanked the board for the opportunity “to help lead such an iconic franchise.”

“As someone who has always felt a deep connection to the Lakers — whether as a fan, former player, or from the booth — this role feels like a natural fit,” Dalliday said. “I’m excited to build relationships and strengthen community ties here in Peterborough to support our team, players, fans, and families, continuing to make the Lakers a true part of our community.”

After being missing for over two weeks, an autistic Havelock teen has been found and is safe.

According to a media release from the Peterborough County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), officers found 18-year-old Logan in an abandoned building in Havelock at around 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday morning (October 30).

Police say the building where Logan was found had been identified as one his regular “hideouts” and had previously been searched regularly.

According to a Facebook post by Logan’s mother after her son went missing, Logan has high-functioning autism and some other mental health issues and is known to hide from people. Given that police had previously searched the building, it seems likely that Logan was hiding from searchers.

While Logan was found safe, police say he has been transported to the hospital as a precaution. It’s unclear how Logan kept himself fed and hydrated over the 17 days he was missing.

The OPP Central Region Crime Unit is continuing the investigation with assistance from members of the Peterborough County OPP, OPP Canine Unit, OPP Emergency Response Team, and OPP Aviation Services.

“Residents in the area will continue to see police presence until the afternoon,” the OPP state in a media release. “The OPP would like to thank everyone who shared information and assisted in locating the missing person safe.”

After Logan went missing from his family home on October 13, his mother created a Facebook group called “Help Find Logan”. The group, which has grown to include over 11,000 members, was used to post possible sightings, organize searches, and more.

According to Logan’s mother, this is not the first time her son has run away, but previously he was missing for only one or two days. However, on previous occasions he always stayed closed by, which apparently turned out to be the case again.