During patio season, Hunter Street West between George and Aylmer streets in downtown Peterborough will be reconfigured temporarily into a one-lane one-way westbound street to allow for expanded sidewalk space for patios in this part of the downtown's café district. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
Patios are returning to downtown Peterborough for the summer beginning Monday (May 13), with Hunter Street West between George and Aylmer streets once again temporarily reconfigured into a one-lane and one-way westbound street.
As part of the reconfiguration of this section of Hunter Street West, Chambers Street will also be temporarily closed at its south end at Hunter Street and will allow two-way traffic from its north end at Brock Street for the duration of the Hunter Street reconfiguration.
The temporary street changes during warm weather months are part of the City of Peterborough’s patio program, which allows for the installation of expanded patio areas and more pedestrian space in the Hunter Street café district between George and Aylmer streets.
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While the city first established the patio program in 1997 to allow businesses to have bistro-style tables on the sidewalks adjacent to their building facades, the temporary changes to the downtown area originally began during the pandemic summer of 2020 to support physical distancing as well as more outdoor dining spaces for restaurants.
Under the city’s patio program, businesses without widened sidewalks will be alllowed to use the on-street parking area in front of their business for their patio operations. Expanded patios are also being planned for George, Water, Simcoe, and Charlotte streets.
City staff will be installing decorative fencing and planter boxes next to businesses that have approved permits under the program.
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According to a media release, the city has received around 20 patio permit applications to date, which is five less than the same time last year. The city expects to continue to install decorative fencing and planter installations for patios throughout May and June to accommodate later rounds of patio permit applications.
“I love our downtown and look forward to the expanded patios each summer because they enhance the vibrancy and bring people together in the heart of the city,” says Town Ward councillor Alex Bierk in the release.
During patio season, reduced speed limits will be in place on streets with patios for pedestrian and customer safety. Parking spaces — including accessible spaces, loading zones, and designated waste pick-up areas — may be adjusted once patio locations have been confirmed with participating businesses.
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The city will accept patio permit applications — which are required for all patios on city-owned property — until Friday, May 31st. More information is available on the City of Peterborough website.
As in previous years, businesses operating patios under the program are required to have a minimum of $2 million in general liability insurance. A recommendation by city staff to increase the minimum to $5 million was rejected by city council in February, with city staff directed to report back to council with options for the 2025 patio season.
There is no word from the city on whether the Renaissance on Hunter public art project will return for a fourth year. Last summer, the project saw road mural and artists’ gardens projects installed on Hunter Street between George and Aylmer streets.
This story has been updated to correct the start of patio installation from May 14 to May 13 due to an error in a media release from the City of Peterborough.
The cast and crew of the Capitol Theatre's production of "A Year with Frog and Toad" including actor Ben Page (back row, second from left), director Fiona Sauder (back row, second from right), actors Haneul Yi as Toad and Joel Cumber as Frog (middle row, right), and actors Yunike Soedarmasto and Taylor Lovelace (front row). The family musical runs for 17 performances from May 17 to June 2, 2024 at the historic venue in downtown Port Hope. (Photo courtesy of Capitol Theatre)
If the end goal of theatre, at its core, is to entertain, leave a message or two with its audience, and create community amongst those presenting it and their audience, then A Year with Frog and Toad checks all the boxes and then some.
Opening May 17 at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, and continuing with 17 performances thereafter, the musical brings American author Arnold Lobel’s beloved four-book series to the stage.
Written by Willie Reale, with music penned by his brother Robert, A Year with Frog and Toad was first produced in Minneapolis in 2002. It opened on Broadway the following year, breaking new ground as the first children’s theatre production to do so, earning three Tony Award nominations in the process.
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The play’s storyline centres around two friends — the very chipper Frog and the rather grumpy Toad — and follows them through four fun-filled seasons. Joined by other animals of their forest habitat, the pair plant gardens, go swimming, rake leaves, go sledding and, more notoably, learn life lessons.
Directing the Capitol Theatre’s production of A Year with Frog and Toad is a Canadian theatre heavyweight in the form of Fiona Sauder. A multiple Dora Mavor Moore Award recipient, the George Brown Theatre School alum co-founded Toronto-based Bad Hats Theatre in 2015.
According to its website, the theatre company emphasizes programming for young people and families with a mandate to stage “new theatrical works and adaptations that empower multi-generational audiences to access the curiosity and intuition of their childhood.” The desired outcome is the creation of community amongst adults and children co-experiencing its productions.
Fiona Sauder, the Dora Mavor Moore Award winning co-founder and artistic director of Bad Hats Theatre in Toronto, is directing the Capitol Theatre’s production of the family musical “A Year with Frog and Toad”, running for 17 performances from May 17 to June 2, 2024 at the historic venue in downtown Port Hope. (Photo courtesy of Fiona Sauder)
A Year with Frog and Toad, says Sauder in an interview with kawarthaNOW, is wholly in line with that mission statement.
“At Bad Hats, we kind of thinks ourselves as the Pixar of theatre,” she says, referring to the American animation studio known for its critically and commercially successful computer-animated feature films.
“I’ve watched Toy Story many times as an adult. So have my parents and my grandparents. It’s a universally loved story because the core tenets of it surround really human things that never really stop being important no matter how old we get.”
“That’s true of A Year with Frog and Toad as well. At its core, it’s a story about soul mates and finding people in our lives who will be there for us through every season and make us feel more like ourselves. Also a little bit about how we can build community and build our families, in any way we please, with people who feel like they are our people.”
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Sauder says she was drawn to the musical for a couple of reasons.
“One, it’s screamingly funny and, two, it’s a big explosion of joy,” she assesses.
“It feels like the kind of show where the audience will want to get up and join in. That’s usually the kind of story I’m drawn to, where it feels like a game that the ensemble is playing together — a game that the audience is going to want to get involved in.”
Sauder draws a parallel with the arts community in which she is involved.
“So many folks in the arts are really only getting by because of the support, camaraderie, and kindness of their community. Without the community that you build in theatre, you wouldn’t do theatre at all. It’s a really taxing and ever-changing media. In the span of a year, you enter into hundreds of different universes.”
“The through line is your family of friends and community and the other artists that you work with. This (play) reminds me a lot of the meaning and the importance of my friends in my life, and how they get me through a year.”
Director Fiona Sauder (left) consults with actor Haneul Yi during a rehearsal of the Capitol Theatre’s production of the family musical “A Year with Frog and Toad”, running for 17 performances from May 17 to June 2, 2024 at the historic venue in downtown Port Hope. (Photo: Sam Moffat)
As for the venue, Sauder says she was sold upon meeting Capitol Theatre’s artistic director Rob Kempson, who she describes as “a phenomenal leader who has brought so many incredible artists through the doors of the Capitol.”
“I arrived early to go to the (Red Carpet) gala (on April 27). The energy was electric. The professional artistry that’s happening in this building is something I really wanted to be a part of. I was invited and it was a very easy ‘yes’ for me. There’s something growing here in a really exciting way.”
The venue, adds Sauder, is a perfect fit in an aesthetic sense.
“When our set designer (Brian Dudkiewicz) and I met at the Capitol — neither of us had ever worked there (before) — we noticed these great historic houses (on the walls) and there’s star lights in the ceiling. It’s a preserved nod to a different era. Brian didn’t want to ignore that. He’s incorporated the theatre into his design. The historic parts of the theatre bleed into the world of Frog and Toad. It feels like we were meant to be here. It sort of belongs.”
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Sauder also lauds the actors bringing A Year with Frog and Toad to life — Joel Cumber as Frog and Haneul Yi as Toad, with support from fellow actors Yunike Soedarmasto, Taylor Lovelace, and Ben Page.
“There’s only five of them, but they play a score of characters. They never really stop moving. I’ve been calling it a team sport. It’s quite athletic, quite busy. In the book, in this chapter, they go swimming. In this chapter, they make cookies. In this chapter, something else happens. The show works similarly, with vignettes of days throughout a year, so there’s always a new chapter.”
“Theatre is often a love letter to making theatre. That’s how this feels. I can’t tell you how much we’ve been getting along. I think that the show, if nothing else, will be a sort of Rolodex of all the fun we’ve had making it. People will notice that, I think. They can tell when it has been a joyful process.”
Sauder also raves about the “incredible” music of Robert and Willie Reale’s Tony award-nominated score, with Jeff Newberry providing musical direction for the Capitol Theatre production.
“It spans a bunch of different genres. It’s very upbeat. It’s very jazzy. There are two people sort of creating the sound of a whole band together. The music is basically the sixth cast member. When you listen to the Broadway recording it sounds simple, but as we started learning it we realized it’s incredibly complex. It’s been really fun for the ensemble to dig into.”
AUDIO: “Opening” from “A Year With Frog and Toad” (original Broadway cast recording)
Not lost on Sauder is the number of young people that will be part of each performance audience, and how the influence of their being enthralled by what they see and hear may set them on their own theatrical trajectory.
“I’ve had the experience, many times over, of someone who’s young approaching me and saying ‘I saw a show of yours four or five years ago and it made me made me want to work in the arts. It made me want to make theatre. It made me want to become a storyteller. It made me want to become a writer. It made me want to go to the theatre more.’ That’s a massive point of pride.”
Now, as opening night draws nearer, Sauder says her work is nearly done.
“There comes a moment where you’ve done all you can as a director,” she says.
“The cast stays with the show and performs in it. I’m leaving the thing and trusting that it will work. Trusting that audiences will love it. Trusting that the cast will continue to bring their all to it. This is a cast I couldn’t possibly trust more to deliver every time throughout the whole run.”
“This is a huge musical that we’re putting on with only five actors. Hopefully people will come thinking ‘Oh, this is the sweetest little thing’ and then be blown away.”
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And how will Sauder know that the ensemble’s hard work has paid off?
“I’ll see people of many generations smiling and laughing in the audience,” she says. “We really sorely need bursts of joy.”
“One of the great gifts of theatre is it’s an hour, an hour and a half, during which you’re not looking at your phone. You aren’t worried about the outside world. The lights go down and we’re engaged in storytelling together. The entire audience becomes one living organism.”
“A Year with Frog and Toad is about true kinship between two people. I think we all have those people in our lives. I’d love it if people left the show wanting to call their person and tell him or her how much they mean to them.”
Joel Cumber will perform as Frog and Haneul Yi will perform as Toad in the Capitol Theatre’s production of the family musical “A Year with Frog and Toad”, sponsored by Furby House Books and running for 17 performances from May 17 to June 2, 2024 at the historic venue in downtown Port Hope. (Photo courtesy of Capitol Theatre)
Suitable for all ages and most loved by children under the age of 10, A Year with Frog and Toad will be performed in the evening at 7:30 p.m. on May 17 and 18, May 23 to 25, and May 30 to June 1, with 2 p.m. matinee performances on May 19, May 25 and 26, and June 1 and 2.
Tickets are priced on a sliding pay-what-you-can scale from $5 to $50 plus fees, and are available at the Capitol Theatre’s box office in person at 20 Queen Street (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday), by phone at 905-885-1071, or online at capitoltheatre.com.
Matinee performances on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are also available for school groups, with student tickets priced at $16. For inquires, email groupsales@capitoltheatre.com.
The presenting sponsor of A Year with Frog and Toad is Furby House Books in Port Hope.
Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini (left) at the Ontario government's announcement on May 2, 2024 in Port Hope of a new Youth Wellness Hub for Northumberland County. Also pictured are Port Hope mayor Olena Hankivsky and Ontario health minister Sylvia Jones (second and third from left), associate minister of mental health and addictions Michael Tibollo (second from right), and Vladimir Khaimovich (right). (Photo: David Piccini)
With the May 2 announcement that a new youth wellness centre is coming to Port Hope, Olena Hankivsky ultimately hopes “we don’t have any young person left behind” in Northumberland County when it comes to getting help with mental health and/or addiction challenges.
The mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope shared with kawarthaNOW her thoughts around the province’s launch of a Youth Wellness Hub (YWH) to serve Port Hope and surrounding areas. The Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) network aims to make it faster and easier for young people across the province to connect to mental health and substance use services.
“The most exciting part is that youth are going to have a place to go in our community, and not only have access to a number of different activities — whether that be skills-building or recreational activities or a safe space to be after school or on weekends — but to basically be with other youth,” Hankivsky said.
“Also, it will be a space to allow them entry into getting help if they have a difficult moment they’re confronting, a problem they’re experiencing, a place to go (where) they’ll feel like they can walk through the door and they can get the help that they need, when they need it, without any kind of stigma.”
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The Port Hope hub is one of 10 new additions to the network of 22 YWHs already opened since 2020, bringing the total to 32 across the province.
“This innovative initiative stands as a beacon of hope and support for our young people, offering a comprehensive range of services from mental health and substance use supports to primary health care and social integration,” the mayor said in a statement.
“By investing in the well-being of our youth, we are investing in the future of our community. Let’s continue to empower our young people to thrive, not just survive, in these challenging times.”
The provincial government is striving to improve mental health and addictions services throughout Ontario and support people and their families living with mental health and substance use challenges, according to Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s deputy premier and health minister, in a media release.
“As we expand the number of (YWHs) across the province, young people in Port Hope can connect to the mental health and addictions care they need, in one convenient location, closer to home,” Jones said.
Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario is a network of 27 locations across Ontario (with five more coming soon) that provide integrated services for youth aged 12 to 25 years old. A Youth Wellness Hub is a specific location with services delivered by existing local service providers working together in a new way and co-designed with youth and families. (Graphic: Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario)
Beginning in 2025, the new hub will be permanently located at 15 Cavan Street in Port Hope. The goal is to connect youth aged 12 to 25 and their families in Northumberland County and Alderville First Nation, to convenient and free mental health, substance use and primary care services in a safe, youth-friendly space.
Rural communities in the area will also be supported by a mobile hub model, making it easier for youth to drop in for in-person counselling or peer support close to where they live, the media release noted.
The hub will provide other services that include family support, education, employment, housing and access to community programs such as financial assistance for recreational programs and legal support. These services will focus on delivering culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care, according to the province.
“Our government realizes that there are youth across the province who need mental health supports closer to home, so they can continue to thrive in our rural communities,” said Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini.
“This new (YWH) in Port Hope will serve the youth across Northumberland County and ensure they have sufficient wrap-around supports and receive better quality care when they need it most.”
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Between 2020 and 2023, Ontario established a provincial network of 22 YWHs that have connected 43,000 youth and their families to mental health, substance use, and wellness services, accounting for over 168,000 visits.
“Port Hope’s new (YWH) will be a place for young people to feel safe and connected to a community that supports them and helps equip them with the tools they need to face life’s challenges,” added Michael Tibollo, associate minister of mental health and addictions, in the media release.
In addition to the Port Hope site, the province announced four other hubs will open in Thunder Bay, Oxford County, Vaughan, and Brampton. The other five hubs that are part of the YWH Ontario program, with locations to be announced, will be funded through the 2024 budget to the tune of $8.3 million over three years.
Today, the current 22 Youth Wellness Hubs operating across the province serve more than 31 communities: Algoma, Central Toronto, Chatham Kent, Eastern Champlain, Haliburton County, Kenora, KFLA Region, London-Middlesex, Malton, Niagara Region, North Simcoe, Renfrew County, Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, Sarnia-Lambton, Scarborough, Sudbury, Thorncliffe Park, Timmins, east Toronto, Wellington-Guelph, west Toronto, and Windsor-Essex.
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Overall, Ontario says it’s spending $3.8 billion over 10 years to fill gaps in mental health and addictions care, create new services, and expand programs through its Roadmap to Wellness. Roadmap to Wellness is a plan to build Ontario’s mental health and addictions system.
“The government is building on its work through the Roadmap by investing an additional $396 million over three years to improve access and expand existing mental health and addictions services and programs,” the release noted.
In Northumberland, Rebound Child and Youth Services will be taking the lead for the new hub.
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“I am thrilled to welcome Rebound Child and Youth Services Northumberland and their network partners into the (YWHO) network,” said Dr. Jo Henderson, executive director of YWHO.
“This critical investment provides young people in Northumberland County with an inclusive, welcoming space where they can walk in and access a full range of integrated mental health, substance use health, primary care, housing, employment, recreation, and other support services that meet their individual level of need. Together we continue to work towards positive outcomes with and for all youth in Ontario.”
In a May 3 media release, Cameco announced it was supporting Northumberland County’s new YWH with a $500,000 donation. Cameco is one of the largest global providers of uranium fuel. Its donation will help with expenses associated with renovating the building to establish a safe and inviting space for individuals seeking mental health support, the release noted.
Canadian Canoe Museum executive director Carolyn Hyslop and Silver Bean Café owner Dan Brandsma celebrated their new partnership in 2022 by donning each other's T-shirts and raising a cup of coffee to their future together. The Silver Bean Café at the new Canadian Canoe Museum at 2077 Ashburnham Drive on the shores of Little Lake opens along with the new museum on May 13, 2024. (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
While the Silver Bean Café in Millennium Park has been a landmark for great food and drink on Peterborough’s waterfront for more than 20 years, with the help of Community Futures Peterborough, its expansion is sure to put the café on the map on a national scale.
The Silver Bean will open its second location at the new Canadian Canoe Museum on Monday (May 13), when the museum officially opens to the public following a weekend grand opening community celebration.
Located at 2077 Ashburnham Drive just steps away from Little Lake, the new Canadian Canoe Museum houses the world’s largest collection of paddled watercraft and will give locals and visitors alike access to workshops, canoe and kayak rentals, and educational opportunities.
The Silver Bean Café is located in the atrium at the new Canadian Canoe Museum at 2077 Ashburnham Drive, with 30 seats inside and additional seating for 32 people outside on the terrace surrounding an outdoor fireplace overlooking Little Lake. (Rendering courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum)
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“The Canadian Canoe Museum was one of those organic opportunities,” says Silver Bean Café owner Dan Brandsma. “It checks a lot of boxes in terms of who we are as a café. It’s on the water and serves our local customer base, and there’s some symbiotic connections with the Canoe Museum and the culture where I think we will benefit each other.”
Born and raised in Abbotsford, B.C., Brandsma was living in Toronto in 2018 when he received a text message from his wife after her first interview for a job in Peterborough. It was a photo of her drinking coffee from a patio that overlooked the Otonabee River. A year later, he would come to Peterborough to own that very café, alongside Michael VanDerHerberg, after buying out founder Andrea VanDerHerberg.
“That’s just the way connections and the Peterborough community works — it doesn’t take long to feel a part of something cool,” Brandsma says. “Silver Bean was above and beyond what I thought the café could be, in terms of tapping into the cycling community, the dog-friendly community, the arts community, and the music community. The foundation is the espresso machine, but there’s so many cool pieces on top of that.”
Silver Bean Café owner Dan Brandsma bought into the business in 2019 after being the manager for a year. He was drawn to the Millennium Park café after first moving to Peterborough in 2018, after his wife sent him a photo of her drinking coffee from a patio that overlooked the water. Since then, he has been passionate about supporting and connecting the community and has expanded the business into its second location at the new Canadian Canoe Museum. (Photo courtesy of Dan Brandsma)
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All of that and more will be at the core of the Silver Bean’s new location in the museum’s atrium, where 30 seats will be spread among tables and leather couches, with additional seating for 32 people available outside on the terrace surrounding an outdoor fireplace overlooking Little Lake.
The location will serve up the same menu available at Millennium Park — breakfasts, light lunches, smoothies, locally roasted coffee, and fresh-baked desserts — as well as some exclusive canoe-themed items, like the “charcuterie paddle” and the “canookie”.
“Being on the water is a natural connection, and we have customers who just have an affinity to the outdoors like those who visit the museum,” Brandsma points out. “This bolsters tourism in Peterborough, giving more reasons for people to enjoy a nice visit and enjoy the waterfront and these facilities that we have.”
“I think it’s great that it’s more than just a museum — it’s more like a community hub, with that front atrium requiring no admission so we can invite locals and tourists to enjoy the space.”
The Silver Bean Café location at the new Canadian Canoe Museum will have some exclusive canoe-inspired menu items, including the “Canookie”, pictured here with Kawartha Dairy’s new Nanaimo bar ice cream sandwiched between the café’s Planet chocolate chip peanut butter cookie. (Photo courtesy of Dan Brandsma)
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The Silver Bean’s expansion into the new Canadian Canoe Museum was made possible with support from Community Futures Peterborough, a not-for-profit organization that helps develop local businesses with funding from the federal government through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
One of the more than 1,300 businesses in Peterborough City and County who have been supported by the organization, the Silver Bean had previously worked with Community Futures Peterborough even before Brandsma became an owner, so it was only natural he would seek them out when planning the expansion into the Canadian Canoe Museum.
“With the high cost of appliances and all the wares just to get things rolling, Community Futures Peterborough helps with finding different funding,” says Brandsma. “Having a loan through them that is spread out in bite-size amounts makes it manageable for businesses, and it was helpful to get things going while also being given accounting support, and just sitting down to look at the numbers together.”
Self-described as “your waterfront cottage in the city,” the Silver Bean Café’s location in Millennium Park overlooks the Otonabee River. The second location in the new Canadian Canoe Museum includes an outdoor terrace that overlooks Little Lake. (Photo: Silver Bean Café / Facebook)
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“A good portion of our loans end up supporting start-ups, but we are also available for established businesses within the community who are looking to expand and grow their business,” says Braden Clark, Loan Manager with Community Futures Peterborough.
Along with providing financing for business growth, the organization also offers advisory programs for business owners, including the ScaleUP program which is designed to help businesses grow sustainably through expert consultation and classroom sessions. The advisory program, delivered in partnership with Scotiabank, helps select business owners with expansion planning, people management, operations, and the development of a concrete and actionable business plan.
“Entrepreneurs don’t always need the money; what they need is the advisory support,” says Clark. “We’re taking existing businesses from the community and providing them with the expertise and tools to expand and take their businesses to the next level.”
Some of the Silver Bean Café’s 25 staff pictured at the café’s seasonal location in Millennium Park in 2022. At its second location at the new Canadian Canoe Museum, the café will be able to offer year-round employment opportunities, contributing to Community Future Peterborough’s mandate of creating more employment opportunity within the City and County of Peterborough. (Photo: Silver Bean Café / Facebook)
By providing financing to support the Silver Bean’s expansion into the new Canadian Canoe Museum, Community Futures Peterborough is also furthering the development of other small businesses in the region.
At the Canadian Canoe Museum location, Brandsma intends to showcase local musicians, serve locally roasted coffee, and purchase microgreens and ingredients from regional suppliers — including Kawartha Dairy, whose ice cream will be part of the Silver Bean’s exclusive “canookie” available only at the new location.
“Our catchment area is Peterborough City and County and it’s great when we can invest these dollars locally, and in turn those business owners stay hyper-focused by using existing businesses in the area,” says Clark. “It’s great to see businesses like Silver Bean and Kawartha Dairy supporting each other.”
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Another aspect of the Silver Bean’s expansion that will contribute to local economic growth is increased employment. Not only has Brandsma hired new employees to staff the second location but, unlike the Millennium Park location which is only open from May through to the fall, the Canadian Canoe Museum will be open year-round.
“Our mandate is to grow the economy and create jobs within the community and those two prime factors are considered desirable in successful applications,” says Clark, noting that the tourism industry can often be profitable within a short period and “susceptible to abnormal seasonal patterns such as weather.”
“Being a local small business that operates only in the summer, the Silver Bean is now going to get a more steady revenue stream to offset seasonality challenges, and drive visibility on the national stage by attracting people to Peterborough from across Canada and internationally,” adds Clark. “So many other businesses will also be able to take advantage of that.”
For more than 20 years, the Silver Bean Café in Millennium Park has been serving up locally roasted coffee and other beverages, breakfast, light lunch, fresh baked goods, and locally made desserts. At its location at the new Canadian Canoe Museum, the Silver Bean Café will offer the same menu along with some exclusive canoe-inspired menu items. (Photo: Silver Bean Café / Facebook)
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Brandsma notes the support from Community Futures Peterborough, unlike other lenders, goes far beyond financing.
“Community Futures has that Peterborough touch,” says Brandsma. “They not only understand the business, but they would come and buy coffee here too. They want us to succeed and they’re trying to help something grow, with a degree of mentorship and a degree of accountability which are important. They have the business in mind, but also the growth of the community.”
As for staff at the Canadian Canoe Museum, Brandsma says they have been equally welcoming and encouraging for the growth of the café — reminding him of why he fell in love with the community of Peterborough and the Silver Bean years ago when he first moved to the city.
“The relationships have always been at the forefront,” says Brandsma. “It’s important that the project didn’t swallow up the relational side. We’re doing this together, and I appreciate the partnership with Community Futures and what working with the community at the Canoe Museum will look like.”
Following a community celebration on the weekend of May 11, 2024, the new Canadian Canoe Museum at 2077 Ashburnham Drive on the shores of Little Lake will officially open to the public on Monday, May 13, as will the Silver Bean Café’s new museum location. (Photo courtesy of Dan Brandsma)
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Beginning May 13, the Silver Bean Café at the Canadian Canoe Museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Sunday, except for Thursday when it will be open until 8 p.m. An admission ticket for the museum is not required to visit the café.
To view the Silver Bean Café’s menu at the Canadian Canoe Museum, visit canoemuseum.ca/cafe.
For more information on Community Futures Peterborough’s financing options and advisory programs, visit communityfuturespeterborough.ca.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Community Futures Peterborough. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Residents, politicians, and business owners officially kicked off the Walton Street reconstruction project in downtown Port Hope on May 8, 2024. (Photo: Municipality of Port Hope)
While shovels are already in the ground, Port Hope officially kicked off the Walton Street reconstruction work — a project that’s crucial for the future of the historic downtown in west Northumberland County, says the municipality’s top politician.
The Municipality of Port Hope held a groundbreaking ceremony downtown on Wednesday (May 8), which brought together residents, business owners, and municipal officials to mark the formal start of the major infrastructure improvements.
“We are building more than just a road — we are building a better future for all who live and work here,” Port Hope mayor Olena Hankivsky said in a media release.
“Let us come together to support one another, continue to shop local, and navigate these changes with kindness and understanding. We are all part of this journey, and the results will benefit us all.”
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Port Hope CAO Candice White and Jeanette Davidson, director of works and engineering, also shared a few words at the event, highlighting the significant role the project has in enhancing the accessibility, safety, and visual appeal of the area. They also emphasized the importance of community unity and resilience during the construction phase.
With the work underway, the Municipality of Port Hope recently announced two bus routes would be free for riders. There are no transit fees on transit routes A and B within the Port Hope boundary through the duration of the Walton Street reconstruction project.
That initiative is part of the municipality’s “ongoing commitment to support local businesses and to promote environmental benefits through increased use of public transit,” Port Hope noted.
They dug up the Main Street, but she’s still beautiful.
“This initiative underscores our deep commitment to community support and the enhancement of everyone’s quality of life,” the mayor stated in an earlier media release. “It presents an excellent chance for us to unite, bolster our local businesses, and make choices that benefit the environment.”
Downtown businesses will remain open throughout the project.
The municipality asks residents and visitors who do drive to consider parking at designated lots outside of the immediate downtown area and to utilize the free transit services to navigate around the downtown area. Port Hope hopes that approach will help alleviate the challenge of finding parking during the reconstruction and peak tourism times.
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The CAO said the municipality is committed to ensuring minimal disruptions during construction.
“We are working diligently to keep the project on track and maintain open lines of communication with all stakeholders,” White noted.
The Walton Street reconstruction project targets enhancing pedestrian accessibility, improving road safety, and modernizing the downtown area’s infrastructure. More project information is available at porthope.ca/walton or @PortHopeDigsWalton on Facebook and Instagram.
The project involves making improvements to old water mains and sanitary sewers, and expanding capacity for storm sewers that have become inadequate over time.
The first phase of the reconstruction, completed in 2023, involved the section of Walton Street stretching from Pine Street to Church Street. The second phase of the Walton Street reconstruction encompasses the portion of Walton Street from Cavan Street to Queen Street.
The construction began in April and continues through to November.
For more information on transit schedules and updates during the reconstruction project, visit the Port Hope website at porthope.ca/transit or call transit services at 905-885-9891.
As part of his "My Mind Is Like a Radio" album tour, Toronto singer-songwriter, folk rocker, and indie recording artist Kaleb Hikele (aka The Sun Harmonic) will perform at Jethro's Bar + Stage on Wednesday night with The Murphy Browns. (Photo: Kaleb Hikele website)
Every Thursday, we publish live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, May 9 to Wednesday, May 15.
If you’re a pub or restaurant owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).
Saturday, May 18 1-4pm - PMBA Deluxe Live presents Blue Hazel w/ Dan Hick and Lucy Ferril ($20 donation suggested)
Erben Eatery & Bar
189 Hunter St W,, Peterborough
705-304-1995
Saturday, May 11
8pm - Big Motor Gasoline and Nitetime Drive ($10 at door)
Sunday, May 12
8pm - Live Animals w/ Veinduze, Burning Bridges ($10 at door)
Tuesday, May 14
8pm - Karaoke w/ Ian Clement
Wednesday, May 15
8-11pm - Open mic
Export Grill
31 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-6634
Sunday, May 12
6-9pm - Bruce Longman & Friends
Fenelon Falls Brewing Co.
4 May St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 215-9898
Friday, May 10
7-10pm - Open mic hosted by Boots of Hazard
Saturday, May 11
6-9pm - Vince
Sunday, May 12
12-4pm - Derek Macrae
Ganaraska Hotel
30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254
Friday, May 10
8pm - Alt Ganny 5 ft Disugsteen (Teenage Head tribute) w/ Hallaphant, Nothing Serious ($20 in advance at https://altganny5.eventbrite.com or at door)
Saturday, May 11
2-6pm - Boneyard
Coming Soon
Friday, June 14 8pm - Rockin' Relief benefit for Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre ft Wayward Saints w/ Joan Smith and the Jane Does and Queens & Kings ($20 in advance at https://www.revelree.ca/event/rockinrelief, $25 at door)
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The Granite
45 Bridge St. W., Bancroft
613-332-1500
Friday, May 10
5-8pm - Andrew Irving
Saturday, May 11
5-8pm - Melodi Ryan
Honkey Tonk Angel Bar (Golden Wheel Restaurant)
6725 Highway 7, Peterborough
(705) 749-6838
Coming Soon
Friday, May 24 8pm - Gunslingers ($20)
Saturday, June 1 8pm - 2/3 Ain't Bad ($20)
Jethro's Bar + Stage
137 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-931-0617
Thursday, May 9
8-10pm - James Lecalire; 10pm-12am - The Union
Friday, May 10
6-8pm - Bonus Numbers; 8-10pm - Thunderclap; 10pm-1am - Ryan Naismith Band
3-6pm - Open jam hosted by The Tonemasters; 8pm - The Silver Hearts ($5)
Tuesday, May 14
9pm - Open mic
Porch & Pint
172 Lansdowne St. E., Peterborough
(705) 750-0598
Sunday, May 12
2-5:30pm - Joslynn Burford
The Publican House
300 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5743
Thursday, May 9
7-9pm - Doug Horner
Friday, May 10
7-9pm - Chris McLeod
Puck' N Pint Sports Pub
871 Chemong Rd., Peterborough
(705) 741-1078
Friday, May 10
7pm - Andy & The Boys
Saturday, May 11
8-11pm - Brisk Recharge Duo
Riverside Grill & Gazebo at Holiday Inn
150 George St, Peterborough
705-740-6564
Coming Soon
Monday, May 13 7-10:30pm - Open Mic
Tuesday, May 14 7-10:30pm - Karaoke
Saturday, May 18 6-10pm - Chad Driscoll
Rolling Grape Vineyard
260 County Rd 2, Keene
705-991-5876
Thursday, May 9
5:30-8:30pm - Deanna Earle
Sunday, May 12
2-5pm - Cale Crowe
Royal Crown Pub & Grill
4 King St. E., Colborne
905-355-1900
Saturday, May 11
8pm - Wicklow
Scenery Drive Restaurant
6193 County Road 45, Baltimore
905-349-2217
Saturday, May 11
5-7:30pm - Rachel Albright
Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro
18-22 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 947-2333
Thursday, May 9
7-10pm - Matt Eugene
The Thirsty Goose
63 Walton St., Port Hope
Friday, May 10
8pm-12am - Tyler Cochrane
Saturday, May 11
8pm-12am - Chris Collins
The Venue
286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008
Coming Soon
Wednesday, May 29 8pm - Chris Webby - Last Wednesday Tour Part 2 w/ Sean Ski, Robbie G., Zack Weston, Bru Casteliano ($40 - $340 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/845119574397)
Removal of Calendar Parking Restriction on Humber Road
City staff will present a report recommending the removal of the calendar parking restriction between the south side of Saugeen Crescent and 536 Humber Road, reverting to the default maximum three-hour on-street parking restriction.
Humber Road is a popular location for parents to drop off and pick up their children at Otonabee Valley Public School. The restriction was originally approved by council in 2021 because of parking and safety concerns raised by neighbourhood residents.
Since then, city staff have received numerous complaints from area residents that parents continue to park on both sides of the street during pick-up and drop-off times and that there is not enough municipal enforcement. In addition, some residents have complained that the calendar parking restriction limits the amount of on-street parking for visitors outside of school hours.
In response to these concerns, city staff surveyed local residents for their preference on the parking restriction. According to the report, many residents indicated more enforcement was needed to make the calendar parking restriction more effective. The report also says that, while the city’s single mobile parking enforcement officer has been regularly sent to Humber Road, that officer has to cover 30 schools with similar issues during admission and dismissal time.
Of the 18 residents who responded to a parking restriction question on the city’s survey, 11 preferred returning to the maximum three-hour on-street parking restriction.
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Maria Street Pedestrian Crossover
City staff will present a report recommending the implementation of a pedestrian crossover on Maria Street at Mark Street near Rogers Cove in East City.
Maria Street is a collector roadway that, west of the Maria Street swing bridge at Ashburnham Drive, intersects with Armour Road, Rogers Street, and Burnham Street. The only controlled crossing location for pedestrians is east of the swing bridge at Ashburnham Drive. Almost 2,700 vehicles have been counted using the street in an eight-hour period.
Many pedestrians and cyclists cross Maria Street between Rogers Street and Mark Street to reach Rogers Cove, which includes a splash pad as well as a section of the Trans Canada Trail, which continues south to Beavermead Park and beyond. In a 14-hour study, city staff observed 52 children and 104 adults crossing Maria Street, with most crossing at Mark Street and the rest between Mark Street and Rogers Street to the east.
The report states that the intersection of Maria Street and Mark Street meets the threshold for installing a pedestrian crossover, which would include rectangular rapid flashing beacons and enhanced ladder crosswalk pavement markings.
The cost of installing the crossover would be $80,000, which includes $35,000 for the electrical work required. If approved, construction would begin immediately with an expected completion date of this fall.
Other presentations and reports
Other presentations and reports to come before council include:
A presentation to approve the first phase of the Community Housing Strategic Plan
A report to recommend citizen appointments to the Transit Liaison Committee, Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, Airport Strategic Initiatives Committee, and Community
Investment Grants Advisory Committee
A report to recommend an increase of $53,795 in municipal incentives to support the development of affordable homes being constructed by Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and
Kawartha Region for Phase 2 of the Leahy’s Lane Development.
A report recommending approval of the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care Growth Plan 2023-2026.
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Notice of Motion – Extension of Deadline Under The Ontario Heritage Act
Councillor Alex Bierk will put forward a motion that the City of Peterborough request the Province of Ontario extend the deadline to process listed properties under the Ontario Heritage Act from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2030.
In 2022, the Ford government made changes to the Ontario Heritage Act requiring each municipality to remove every listed property from its heritage register within two years — by January 1, 2025 — unless that municipality has begun the process to designate a listed property prior to the deadline. According to the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, this change affects around 36,000 listed heritage properties in municipalities across the province.
According to Bierk’s motion, there are 795 listed properties in Peterborough that would have to be reviewed by the January deadline, “a volume that presents substantial logistical challenges to process within the prescribed timeframe, with the limited municipal resources available.”
Bierk’s motion notes the Architectural Conservancy Ontario (ACO) has also requested an extension of the deadline. In an April 15th media release, the ACO said the enforced removal from registers will put listed but not designated heritage properties at increased risk of demolition. Properties that lose their listing status cannot be re-listed for another five years.
“With the expiry date now months away, municipalities have been scrambling to review their registers and prioritize properties for designation or other protection,” said ACO chair Diane Chin in the release. “But this is nearly impossible on such a tight timeline.”
Chin has written to Premier Ford urging the province to extend the deadline for five years, until January 1, 2030.
“This would give municipalities time to better plan, resource and implement a complex undertaking,” Chin said, with the release noting an extended deadline would help municipalities ensure that properties are not thrown off the register prematurely and without input from property owners, many of whom are not aware of what’s happening.
As well as asking the city to formally request that the province extended the deadline, Bierk’s motion would see a copy of his motion sent to Premier Ford, the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, and relevant provincial officials.
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Notice of Motion – Bonnerworth Site Plan
Councillor Joy Lachica will put forward a motion that council be granted final approval authority for the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment plan.
The controversial $4.4 million redevelopment plan includes the installation of 16 pickleball courts, an expanded skate park, a bike pump track, and an 80-vehicle parking lot. A group of neighbourhood residents are concerned about the noise impact that the pickleball complex will have on their quality of life, the loss of their neighbourhood greenspace, and what they claim was a flawed process in terms of notification that the park was being considered for redevelopment and what the scope of the plan was.
“The redevelopment project for Bonnerworth Park has generated significant concern over the loss of greenspace, its impacts on current park users, and its compatibility with surrounding residential neighbourhoods,” Lachica’s motion states, adding “the city has acknowledged that the public engagement process for the redevelopment of Bonnerworth Park could have been improved and been more inclusive of park neighbours.”
Lachica’s motion also requests that city staff provide a report to council for approval that includes the recommended site plan, final technical studies (for traffic and parking, noise, stormwater management, and geotechnical items), a record of the input of stakeholder and community consultation on these studies as well as the final draft plan, a list of revisions made to the technical studies and the changes to the draft site plan as reflected in the site plan, and the assigned budget apportioned for each aspect of the work to be contracted for construction.
An earlier motion by Lachica to revisit the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment plan lost in an 8-3 vote at city council’s April 8th meeting. Only councillors Lachica, Alex Bierk, and Keith Riel voted in favour of delaying the project.
Items endorsed by general committee on May 13 will be considered by council for final approval the following Monday, when public delegations will be heard.
Trent-Severn Trail Town, Canada's first waterway "trail town" program, was launched on August 22, 2019 at Ranney Falls (Locks 11-12) in Campbellford. Pictured from left to right: Cycle Forward founder and trail town consultant Amy Camp, former Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd, Kawarthas Northumberland/Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) Executive Director Brenda Wood, Parks Canada Associate Director for Ontario Waterways Dwight Blythe, and Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini. (Photo courtesy of RTO8)
With a top international canal boat rental company about to launch a new base of operations in Peterborough on the Trent-Severn Waterway, the city has officially joined the Trent-Severn Trail Town program five years after it was created.
Launched in 2019 by Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) — a non-profit organization funded by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport to promote regional tourism activity in Kawarthas Northumberland, which encompasses Kawartha Lakes, the city and county of Peterborough, and Northumberland County — Trent-Severn Trail Town is a regional program designed to encourage tourism in the communities along the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site.
As 80 per cent of the Trent-Severn Waterway lies within Kawarthas Northumberland, and half of the region’s tourism assets are located within three kilometres of the waterway, the Trent-Severn Trail Town program is designed to raise awareness and attract visitors to the region’s restaurants, accommodations, arts, and cultural attractions.
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The communities of Bobcaygeon, Buckhorn, Campbellford, Coboconk, Fenelon Falls, Hastings, Lakefield, Lindsay, and Rosedale have been part of the program since its launch. With the addition of Peterborough, the Trent-Severn Trail Town program now represents the full range of communities along the Trent-Severn Waterway in the region.
“Having this vibrant community as part of Canada’s first waterway trail town program will ensure that this region becomes synonymous with the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada, one of the finest interconnected systems of navigation in the world,” says RTO8 Executive Director Brenda Wood in a media release.
According to RTO8, the addition of Peterborough to the Trent-Severn Trail Town program was spearheaded by Hillary Flood, vibrancy manager for the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Association (DBIA).
“We’re thrilled to have downtown Peterborough join the Trent-Severn Trail Town community,” Flood says. “Our businesses are ready to welcome travellers by motor vehicle, boat, paddle, foot, and bicycle with warm hospitality and pride of place. We’re primed and ready to elevate every moment of their journey.”
During its first year of operation on the Trent-Severn Waterway, Le Boat will have a fleet of eight luxury Horizon Cruisers. The boats range in size from two to four bedrooms and will offer several suggested cruising routes departing from Horseshoe Bay Marina. (Photo: Le Boat)
In advance of the opening of the Trent-Severn Waterway’s navigation season on the Friday before the Victoria Day long weekend (May 17), Le Boat — the top provider of houseboat vacations in Europe — is expanding its Canadian operation to the Trent-Severn Waterway. The company already operates in Canada on the Rideau Canal.
On Saturday (May 11), Le Boat will officially launch its new base at the newly renovated Horseshoe Bay Marina on the Otonabee River in Peterborough. The launch event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a tour of Le Boat’s luxury Horizon Cruiser, and the inaugural voyage on the waterway.
“We are so excited for the grand opening of our second Canadian base on the Trent-Severn Waterway,” says Lisa McLean, Le Boat’s North American marketing manager and head of Canada. “Our customers have been asking when we will be offering luxury boat rental vacations on this national historic site. We are excited to give them what they have been waiting for.”
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Le Boat is predicting their latest expansion will attract new customers from the Greater Toronto area, Quebec, and the United States, as well as their current base of international travellers from Germany, France, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and South Africa.
During its first year of operation on the Trent-Severn Waterway, Le Boat will have a fleet of eight luxury Horizon Cruisers. The boats range in size from two to four bedrooms and will offer several suggested cruising routes departing from Horseshoe Bay Marina.
For more information about the Trent-Severn Trail Town program, visit tswtrailtowns.ca. For more information about Le Boat, visit www.leboat.com.
Young red oak saplings in their first year of growth at GreenUP's Ecology Park Native Plant & Tree Nursery. Red oak leaves, stems, and acorns are a food source for various mammals such as deer and squirrels and bird species such as woodpeckers. You can give young trees a forever home by visiting the Ecology Park Native Plant & Tree Nursery when it opens for the season on May 18, 2024. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)
Trees don’t grow on trees, you know.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Vern Bastable, Director of GreenUP Ecology Park and Landscape Programs.
Most people have become very accustomed to instant shopping. Find what you want online, push a couple of buttons, and your package is on the porch the next day. No muss, no fuss, and definitely no waiting. Need it quicker? Maybe same day delivery is available.
Trees are a different story. They take time, effort, and resources to be available for purchase at your local garden centre.
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Most trees you see for sale have been growing for many years and it has taken many helping hands to help them flourish.
The first step in the process is deciding to grow trees at all. Developing a business plan and acquiring the space, knowledge, and equipment required to start a nursery takes time.
Next, growers have to predict the future, which in itself is no small feat. What tree species will you, the consumer, want to buy in three to 10 years time? Are serviceberries going to be the next hot item? What about hawthorns? (You heard it here first!) Should a nursery operator invest in slow-to-establish majestic oaks or fast-growing birch?
The Ecology Park Tree & Plant Nursery carries more than 200 species of native trees, shrubs, and perennial plants. The nursery staff led by director Vern Bastable (back right) are there to help you select the right plants for your space and help ensure they grow to be healthy and strong. (Photo: Jessica Todd / GreenUP).
What trends are happening with pests and disease? Imagine that many years ago, as an ambitious grower, you bet on beautiful ash trees only to be confronted by the emerald ash borer which has decimated the ash population, and your sales dropped to zero.
Beyond the business planning and market research, then there is the actual growing part.
Locating and obtaining high-quality seed is always a challenge for tree growers. That problem is closely followed by sorting, storing, documenting, and stratifying your seeds. Chronic seed shortages mean some species are hard to source.
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For example, GreenUP will not have eastern hemlock at Ecology Park this season due to seed shortages. Thankfully, there are many wonderful species we will have. Stay tuned for our updated inventory list as opening weekend draws near.
Once a tree germinates, a grower has many more things to consider, like how much food, light, and water the species needs, when to prune, when to fertilize, and what to do about pests and disease.
Climate change adds another layer of complexity. Drought and extreme heat cause great stress to trees. Seedlings are extra vulnerable to these stressors. A single weather event can cause cosmetic damage that results in consumers — who want only the best looking plants for their gardens — shopping elsewhere.
Happy customers with their new native plants during the annual spring opening event at GreenUP’s Ecology Park Native Plant & Tree Nursery in May 2022. In 2024, the event takes place from from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 18th. (Photo: Jessica Todd / GreenUP). Todd/GreenUP)
Once a tree is of marketable size, it needs to make its way to your local garden centre. Trees grown in the ground must be dug out before they can be sold. Trees are on a timeline and cannot live indefinitely in a pot. The weight of moving heavy potted trees contributes to their overall cost.
Trees can easily be damaged by temperature changes and wind damage during transportation, and a potted tree still requires special care after getting to its retail destination.
Whew! That’s a lot, isn’t it? The good news is that trees are also resilient. They are happy to grow and provide our cities with beauty, shade, and habitat as long as long as we treat them right.
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A tree is an investment in your community that has been made possible by a whole set of processes and decisions.
GreenUP’s team at Ecology Park are just a few helping hands on the journey from seed to flourishing tree. We see our job as to help young trees find their permanent homes, and help you care for your tree with confidence so it grows for many generations.
If you have questions about trees or tree care, stop by Ecology Park this spring and let’s chat and look over the many trees of our lovely park.
The Ecology Park Tree & Plant Nursery at 1899 Ashburnham Drive opens for the season on May 18, 2024. After opening day, the nursery will be open for plant sales and self-serve compost sales Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Photo: Jessica Todd/GreenUP).
This year, the Ecology Park Native Plant & Tree Nursery will host its annual spring opening event on Saturday, May 18th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note no compost or wood chips will be available for sale on opening day.
After opening day, the nursery will be open for plant sales and self-serve compost sales Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ecology Park is located at 1899 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough. Parking is only available in the Beavermead Park parking lot off Marsdale Drive (the entrance to Ecology Park is at the south end of the parking lot).
Suzanne Mooser (left) and Emily Wakeham, two students at Fleming College's Frost campus in Lindsay, appeared before Kawartha Lakes city council on May 7, 2024 asking that council consider and pass a resolution calling for the college's reversal of the suspension of the programs. Wakeham made the presentation and both she and Mooser answered questions posed by councillors. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Kawartha Lakes video)
For all the uncertainty around what the recent suspension of 29 Fleming College programs means for the future of the post-secondary institution, one thing remains crystal clear — those students affected by the cuts aren’t going quietly into the night.
On Tuesday (May 7), Fleming Frost campus students Emily Wakeham and Suzanne Mooser appeared before City of Kawartha Lakes councillors meeting at the committee level, asking that they consider and pass a resolution calling for the college’s reversal of the suspension of the programs.
Their appeal for councillors’ support comes as a Frost Student Action petition calling for the same continues to garner strong support, with more 3,150 signatures attained as of Wednesday afternoon (May 8).
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Meanwhile, two other petitions remain active: one titled ‘Reinstate Environmental Technician/Technologist Programs at Fleming College’ and the other, launched by Fraserville based Iron Equipment, titled ‘Reinstate Heavy Equipment and Generator Technician Programs at Fleming College’. All three petitions are online at Change.org.
The plan is to eventually present the petitions to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Fleming College’s board of governors, and the college’s administration.
On April 23, staff and faculty of the affected programs were notified of the Fleming College board of governors’ decision to cut them. The following day, college president Maureen Adamson, in a prepared statement, confirmed that action, referencing “significant external events that have had an adverse effect on our college.”
Adamson pointed to the federal government-imposed cap on the number of international students coming to Ontario and the elimination of educational partnerships with the private sector as being the primary culprits.
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In her address to City of Kawartha Lakes council, Wakeham noted that 15 of the 29 programs suspended were offered at the Frost campus in Lindsay.
“I understand that colleges are not within your jurisdiction,” she acknowledged.
“My purpose here today is to urge council for a resolution to keep these important programs at the Frost campus, and for the public to put pressure on the college for a reversal of its decision.”
Wakeham added that Adamson’s stated reasons for the “unprecedented” program cuts don’t make sense in light of which programs were actually suspended.
List of suspended programs at Fleming College
Business – Accounting (BAC)
Business – HR (BHC)
Conservation and Environmental Law Enforcement (NRL)
Ecological Restoration (ERJ)
Ecosystem Management Technology (EMX, EPX, EPD, EMD)
Emergency Management (EMP)
Environmental Technician (ETN)
Environmental Technology (ETY)
Environmental Visual Communication (EVC)
Fish & Wildlife Technology (FW)
GAS Environmental & Natural Resource Studies (GSN)
General Arts and Science – Degree Transfer (GSU)
Generator Service Technician (EPG)
GIS Applications (GIA) & GIS Applications Online (GAO)
GIS Cartographic (GC)
Global Business (GBS)
Health, Safety and Environmental Compliance (HSE)
Heavy Equipment Techniques (MPH)
International Business Management (IBM)
Law Clerk (LCK)
Marketing Management (MKT)
Mechatronics (MTY)
Project Management (PMG)
Recreation & Leisure Services (RLS)
Supply Chain (SCL)
Therapeutic Recreation (THR)
Tree Care Techniques (UF)
Urban Forestry Technician (UFT)
Waste Resource Management (SWM)
“The rationale does not fully justify the extent of these cuts. Even programs not open to international students, such as Conservation and Environmental Law Enforcement and Fish and Wildlife Technology, have been suspended. However, Advanced Water Systems, which primarily caters to international students, remains untouched.”
For the benefit of those councillors wondering if passing a resolution calling for a reversal of the college’s decision is within council’s purview, Wakeham laid out the effects the cuts will have on the City of Kawartha Lakes.
“For over five decades, Lindsay has thrived as a college town, experiencing benefits including economic spending, a more educated workforce, and accessible post-secondary education which has enriched the community and fuelled its growth,” she said.
Noting that the unions representing Fleming faculty and support staff estimate the loss of 1,200 students over the next two years as a result of the cuts, Wakeham said that will have ramifications.
“Students spend, on average, $20,000 a year in Lindsay. That’s tens of millions of dollars lost from the local economy. This will also have an impact on local businesses that rely on students to fill part-time positions, and losing such a large proportion of the Frost student population may result in small businesses closing.”
“Reduced program offerings will encourage residents to seek education elsewhere, hindering accessibility to post-secondary education. Having a wide variety of program offerings in town draws people from around Ontario. Suspending programs will push people out of Lindsay.”
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Wakeham added the loss of the program also “jeopardizes the environmental stewardship of our region.”
“Graduates from these programs play a vital role in organizations like Kawartha Conservation, contributing to the preservation of our natural resources and the economic vitality of our community.”
“Without the expertise of these graduates, the sustainability and the beauty of the Kawartha Lakes is at risk, which contradicts the Kawartha Lakes strategic plan that emphasizes a healthy and growing economy, and aims to support environmental sustainability and resilience.”
As for the personal impact of the programs’ suspension, Wakeham said she was drawn to Fleming “because of the promise of a quality education.”
“It is really devastating that my time here has ended so suddenly. My plan was to continue here (at Fleming) for another year to take the Environmental Technology program, a continuation of the (Environmental) Technician diploma. However, that program was suspended after my acceptance.”
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“I never would have come to Fleming had I known I would not be able to take a third year,” Wakeham added. “Many other students are in the same circumstance. This has completely disrupted our educational careers. We have signed year-long leases, turned down job prospects, and haven’t applied to other programs because our assumption was that our acceptances would be honoured by the college.”
Before the request for a resolution was deferred to the May 21st regular council meeting for a vote, Ward 5 Councillor Eric Smeaton said that while the programs’ suspension “is not municipal jurisdiction, it is certainly a municipal issue.”
Councillor Smeaton referenced an April 20th Fleming College open house that saw parents and prospective students tour the college, asking Wakeham and Mooser if they’re aware of any students who signed a lease for accommodation only to hear that their programs had been cut.
“I am in that situation,” replied Mooser.
“I was planning on returning to the Environmental Technology program. I actually signed a year-long lease and moved into a house already. Everyone I’m living with, and many others, are in the same boat.”
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Meanwhile, Ward 2 Councillor Pat Warren asked for clarification of the college’s contention that the elimination of educational partnerships with the private sector is a factor in their decision.
Wakeham couldn’t provide a definitive answer but Marcia Steeves, the president of OPSEU/SEPFO Local 351 that represents full-time and part-time Fleming support staff, has since shed some light on that via an email to kawarthaNOW.
“Like 14 other colleges in Ontario, Fleming College entered into an approved Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Trebas Institute in 2022 to create Fleming College Toronto,” she wrote.
“The partnership provided the private partner (Trebas) with the ability to run a facility with Fleming College branding, offering specific Fleming College programs to mainly international students in the GTA. The college benefits financially from this partnership, and like many other underfunded Ontario colleges, found this as a way to grow.”
“The IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) announcements in January regarding international student immigration caps also removed the ability of new international students studying at private colleges to obtain graduate work permits for the next two years.”
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“This along with the overall caps on international students at Fleming College will mean a large decrease in the number of international students attending Fleming College and Fleming College Toronto,” Steeves wrote. “These are the reasons the college has given for needing to make these unprecedented cuts, though, at the Frost campus, the majority of the programs being cut are believed to be mainly domestic student programs.”
As for Wakeham and Mooser, Kawartha Lakes Mayor Doug Elmslie thanked the students for their “very articulate, very thought-out, and very well-presented” deputation and invited them to return to the May 21st meeting to observe council’s discussion of the issue.
Watch kawarthaNOW for more updates to this story as they become available.
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