Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) has announced it will be dissolving at the end of the year, at which time its employees will lose their jobs and the organization will vacate its offices and the visitor centre in downtown Peterborough.

Board chair Burton Lee issued a statement on Monday (June 3) officially announcing “with profound regret” the dissolution of PKED after more than 25 years, resulting from an earlier decision by the City and County of Peterborough to not renew their tri-party funding agreement with the not-for-profit corporation, which expires December 31, 2024.

The decision by the two municipal governments not to renew the agreement, and instead deliver economic development and tourism services themselves, will eliminate PKED’s core funding along with its ability to deliver regional economic development, small business support, and tourism services and to pay employees and rent at its offices in downtown Peterborough.

PKED’s budget for 2024 — the final year of the tri-party agreement — is $2.5 million, of which almost 75 per cent is funded by the city and county. The city’s core funding share for 2024 is $1,015,112 and the county’s core funding share is $790,038.

“The organization will neither have the capacity nor resources to deliver economic and tourism services on behalf of the region,” Lee’s statement reads. “As such, the impending dissolution has set forth a series of actions, including the delivery of termination notices to staff and providing notice to vacate PKED’s offices and the regional Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism Visitor Centre located in the Venture North business hub in downtown Peterborough effective at the end of this year.”

PKED formed a dissolution committee “and made the difficult decision to cease operations by the end of the year,” meeting with city and county staff as the organization prepares to wind down its operations in the second half of the year. The dissolution decision was announced at the corporation’s final operational annual general meeting last Thursday (May 30).

“As the lead Regional Economic Development Agency and Official Destination Marketing Organization, PKED has obligations to a wide range of partners, stakeholders, and service providers that will be impacted,” the statement continues. “The Ontario Not-For-Profit Corporations Act prescribes clear steps to wind down the corporation, and PKED’s Board of Directors will be vigilant in ensuring a responsible dissolution.”

There is no public record of why, how, or when the decision against renewing PKED’s funding agreement was made, as it was never discussed at any public meeting of either city or county council. However, it appears the decision was instigated by the City of Peterborough some time last fall.

According to Lee’s statement, PKED’s board has been “seeking clarity on the municipalities’ plans” since fall 2023. In March, Lee told kawarthaNOW the City of Peterborough had sent PKED a letter providing written notice the city would not be extending the tri-party agreement, but did not specify when the letter was received or provide a copy of the letter.

A statement provided to kawarthaNOW by Peterborough County in March indicated the county made the decision to prepare to deliver economic development and tourism services in-house after receiving a “recent notice” from the City of Peterborough regarding the non-renewal of the agreement, but did not indicate the date of the notice or provide a copy of the notice. The county said it had formed a committee to “formulate a comprehensive strategy for seamlessly integrating economic development and tourism services within the county post-2024.”

Regardless of why and when the decision was made, with the end of the tri-party agreement fast approaching, both the city and the county are preparing to bring economic development and tourism promotion services in-house before PKED dissolves at the end of the year.

In March, Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal confirmed to kawarthaNOW a staff report will be presented to city councillors “in the not too distant future” that “will take a look at how a reconstituted, reconstructed economic development division under the city’s umbrella would function and operate.”

While that report has yet to come before city council, Peterborough County staff will be presenting a report to county council on Wednesday (June 5) to present a proposed transition plan for assuming the responsibilities of economic development and tourism. The plan has been developed by an economic development transition committee comprising representatives from all eight townships in Peterborough County and three members of county council (Selwyn Mayor Sherry Senis, Douro-Dummer Mayor Heather Watson, and Havelock-Belmont-Bethuen Mayor Jim Martin).

The county report identifies the Small Business Enterprise Centre (known as the Small Business Advisory Centre as PKED) as a key service that needs to be retained. Among other things, the Small Business Advisory Centre administers provincially funded services and programs such as the Starter Company Plus program and the Summer Company program.

The report states that the county’s economic development transition committee “is working on a transition plan for this vital service and will report back to council.” It is not yet known if or how both the county and city might be involved in the operation of a Small Business Enterprise Centre, as this is a decision that will be made in consultation with the Ontario government.

The county’s transition plan proposes the county hire a new general manager of economic development who would report to the existing director of planning, with the division renamed as planning and economic development. The plan also proposes the county’s communications division be renamed communications and tourism, with that division’s manager title renamed as general manager of communications and tourism, and that a new communications coordinator be hired for the renamed division.

In its report, the county emphasizes the importance of “extensive collaboration” with the city and the county’s eight townships (some of which already have their own economic development departments), as well as surrounding counties including Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Hastings.

According to the report going before county council, county staff have “met frequently” with PKED’s dissolution committee, and the PKED board has “committed to a reduction in county monthly financial contributions to PKED” to support the county’s need to hire its own staff before PKED dissolves.

As for PKED, “the organization remains committed to regional economic development” according to Lee’s statement. “Staff will continue to deliver tourism, visitor services, destination marketing, economic development, business retention, investment attraction, and small business support services” while the city and county work on their plans to deliver economic development and tourism services.

“As reports on new economic development and tourism models are being considered (by) councils in June, we eagerly await the opportunity to review them and to identify opportunities for service continuity for the businesses and clients that rely on PKED,” Lee says in the statement. “As a high-performing economic development agency, the health and vitality of the local economy are at the core of our mission, and our team has a vested interest in supporting a mutually beneficial transition.”

“There will be a significant disruptive impact if these plans do not factor in the vast number of existing projects, programs, and initiatives that PKED has developed,” adds Lee. “The award-winning campaigns and highly recognized Peterborough & the Kawarthas brand are an outcome of our staff’s collaborative and strategic expertise.”

In the statement, PKED CEO Rhonda Keenan says she hopes the city and county will consider hiring some of the PKED staff who will be losing their jobs as a result of the organization’s dissolution. PKED currently employs 12 full-time employees.

“The critical value of our team’s knowledge, expertise, and relationships with local, regional, national, and international partners, businesses, investors, and media cannot be understated,” Keenan says. “It is our hope that the new models will include positions for our existing team of passionate and dedicated economic development professionals to continue serving the business community and attracting investment to the region.”

PKED has posted a copy of the June 3rd statement along with FAQs about the dissolution at its website at investptbo.ca/status/.

PKED was originally founded in 1998 as the Greater Peterborough Area Development Corporation, arising from the recommendations of the 1997 GPA 2020 A Vision For Our Future Report, which in part proposed a new regional approach to economic development in the City and County of Peterborough, creating a more efficient approach by consolidating the fragmented services being provided by different organizations.

Governed as a private-public non-profit partnership corporation by a board of directors that included elected officials, municipal appointees and private sector business leaders, the organization amalgamated the services and budgets of six separate organizations: the Greater Peterborough Economic Council, the City of Peterborough Economic Development, the County of Peterborough Economic Development, the Peterborough-Kawartha Tourism and Convention Bureau, the Peterborough Industrial Development Corporation, and the Provincial Business Self-Help Office.

The organization used funds previously invested by the City and County of Peterborough in the above organizations and augmented its capabilities by sourcing additional community investment from the provincial and federal governments and the private sector.

In 2005, the Greater Peterborough Area Development Corporation was officially renamed as the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation. In 2017, it rebranded as PKED when the organization relocated both its corporate office (including the Business Advisory Centre previously located at 210 Wolfe Street) and the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism Visitor Centre (previously located at 1400 Crawford Drive) to the then-new Venture North building at 270 George Street North.

Conceived as a business hub, that building also houses all other local economic development organizations, including Community Futures Peterborough, the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas, and — as of May 1 — the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area.

The original version of this story has been updated with the following corrections and clarications provided by PKED. PKED staff are not being laid off, but will have their employment terminated when the organization dissolves as of December 31, 2024. PKED currently employs 12 full-time staff. Peterborough County is not proposing that it will assume operational responsibility for the Small Business Enterprise Centre, but supports the continuation of the services that the centre provides. The section of the story speculating that the city’s decision to not renew the tri-party agreement with PKED may have been related to PKED’s involvement with physician recruitment services has been removed, as PKED has clarified that its only involvement in physician recruitment was to act as a conduit to flow funding according to city and county directives, and that the Peterborough Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee (PPRRC) was responsible for governing and directing recruitment activities.

In counties including Northumberland, Peterborough, and Haliburton, more housing, better access to health care, and the need for a bigger government investment in infrastructure are common themes.

The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC), which represents small urban and rural municipalities across eastern Ontario, has identified those areas among its highest priorities as it shapes its 2024-2027 strategic plan.

The EOWC expects those three strategic priorities will guide its decision-making and advocacy focus for the next three years.

“Reliable infrastructure systems and facilities to foster growth, a range of housing options that are affordable and meet the needs of all people, and access to health care services are critically important to people living, raising families, and building businesses in eastern Ontario,” said Peter Emon, EOWC chair, in a media release.

“This strategic plan is a blueprint for ensuring that we all work together to ensure those needs are met for residents of rural eastern Ontario, now and into the future.”

The EOWC said it’s committed to working with all tiers of government, business operators, and community leaders to ensure people across eastern Ontario’s small urban and rural communities are equipped “to thrive.”

The strategic plan outlines the EOWC’s approach to each priority.

1. Infrastructure

• Advocate for continued and necessary investment in provincially and federally owned and controlled infrastructure.
• Create flexible and adaptive policies to enable its municipalities and the Ontario government to unlock capacity and build innovative infrastructure solutions.
• Invest in municipal infrastructure that provides predictable, fair, evidence-based funding to allow municipalities to plan and create economic environments that foster growth.
• Invest in infrastructure that supports an environmentally sustainable economy.

2. Housing

• Continue to advocate for alternative funding to assist Eastern Ontario municipalities to plan and develop housing and related infrastructure.
• Make programming more equitable by advocating for the expansion of the parameters for funding eligibility and allocation across all municipalities.
• Develop and recommend flexible and adaptive housing policies to enable eastern Ontario municipalities and the provincial government to build innovative housing solutions.

3. Health care

• Undertake an environmental scan to measure what municipalities are spending directly on health care and to access related trend data and forecasting.
• Provide evidence-based feedback and data to inform government decisions around long-term care, paramedic services, public health, and the evolution of Ontario health teams. The EOWC will incorporate social determinants of health to map out impact.
• Educate the public and continue to advocate for adequate and sustainable funding to support the delivery of health care services and to ensure the long-term viability of the health care system.

According to the EOWC, a fourth strategic priority is strengthening the organization’s impact by ensuring its work is informed by research and an evidence-based approach. It will also continue to develop its collaborations and partnerships “that move the needle” on issues impacting eastern Ontario.

Communicating strategically and effectively on multiple levels with the government and key partners and members and providing effective and strategic leadership are also critical in the coming years, the EOWC said.

The EOWC is a non-profit organization advocating for 103 small urban and rural municipalities across eastern Ontario. The caucus covers an area of 50,000 square kilometres, serving 800,000 residents.

“For more than 20 years, the EOWC has gained support and momentum by speaking with a united voice to champion regional municipal priorities and work with the government, businesses, non-profit organizations, Indigenous leaders, the media, and the public.”

Peterborough County’s warden, Bonnie Clark, is the vice-chair of the EOWC. She told kawarthaNOW earlier this year the key issues in Peterborough County are — similar to the EOWC — health care and housing.

Providing more housing and increasing access to primary care physicians and health-care professionals are two top priorities for 2024, Clark said.

“We have 4,000 housing starts in the next couple years just in the county, so we are doing our share here in the county with severances and different subdivisions going,” Clark said.

Across the EOWC’s region, there are approximately 12,000 to 14,000 units on municipal community rental housing wait lists, EOWC figures noted.

“People are waiting an average of almost five years and up to 10 years in some cases to access these community rental housing units,” according to the EOWC.

In the health care realm, Peterborough County recently welcomed aboard a health care advancement coordinator with the aim to drive physician recruitment efforts and advocate for a community health centre in the county.

Northumberland-area politicians and staff gathered with other stakeholders on Friday (May 31) to officially open a new accessible trail in Northumberland County Forest.

The county unveiled the “Porcupine Universal Trail,” a new addition to the popular wooded area in Northumberland, which is situated on the Oak Ridges Moraine and attracts visitors from near and far in all seasons. The accessible trail is expected to enhance recreational opportunities for all community members.

Northumberland County was able to open the trail because it received funding from the federal and provincial governments through the “Investing in Canada’s Infrastructure Program COVID-19 Resilience Stream.”

“Ontario remains steadfast in ensuring rural communities like ours are truly accessible and we are proud to work with Northumberland County to make it happen,” said Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini in a media release. “This trail will allow so many more people the chance to enjoy the natural beauty of the Northumberland County Forest, learn about our environment, and understand the natural heritage of the region.”

Located at the Woodland Trailhead at 7363 County Road 45 in Roseneath, the Porcupine Universal Trail provides people of all abilities with the opportunity to explore and enjoy the forest, the county said. It joins two other accessible trails in the forest: the 3.2-kilometre Carstairs Trail at 1178 Bowmanton Road in Roseneath and the one-kilometre Beagle Club Heritage Trail at 180 Beagle Club Road in Harwood.

The official opening of the Porcupine Universal Trail coincided with National Accessibility Week, which is an opportunity to promote accessibility and inclusion across communities and celebrate the many social, economic, and cultural achievements of persons with disabilities. The Northumberland accessibility advisory committee helped collaborate on the aspects of a universal trail design to ensure a more inclusive space for the community, the county noted.

“This new trail is an example of our commitment to creating inclusive spaces where all members of our community can come together to enjoy the beauty of our natural surroundings,” said Brian Ostrander, warden of Northumberland County. “This trail not only enhances accessibility but also provides a platform for environmental education and appreciation.”

The trail was constructed with attention to environmental stewardship, and in consultation with the Williams Treaties First Nations to ensure the trail location avoided sensitive areas and minimized damage to vegetation and native habitat. Northumberland County is located on the traditional territory of the Mississauga.

At the official opening event, Jennifer Niles and Aiden Gorveatt from Alderville First Nation shared their Indigenous knowledge and voices to ensure the opening was inclusive and the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg territory was respected.

The trail covers a one-kilometre distance with a wide, smooth granular surface. It provides a full circular loop with smooth, low-sloping grades and a trail width of 335 centimetres. There are areas to rest along the trail, and the county has posted educational signs along the route, aimed at offering insights into the history and biodiversity of the Northumberland County Forest.

The trail traverses through a 100-year-old plantation that has been converted into a natural, mixed coniferous and deciduous forest.

“The Porcupine Universal Trail provides a way to stay active and enjoy the outdoors,” said Sean Fraser, the federal government’s housing, infrastructure and communities minister, in the release. “This accessible trail allows users to revel in the beauty of Northumberland Forest and learn about its history thanks to signage along the route.”

According to Northumberland County, the forest is considered to be “an ecological oasis for flora and fauna” that offers unique opportunities to connect with nature. The forest is an attractive destination for residents and visitors alike.

The county’s forest services team is responsible for managing the approximately 2,225 hectares (5,500 acres) of mainly forested land in the Northumberland County Forest. The forest appeals to hikers, along with those using ATVs and snowmobiles, among others. More than 100,000 users each year take advantage of the forest’s 118-kilometre trail network.

Large forests, like the county forest, are extremely valuable for conservation, the county noted on its website. They provide habitat for species that depend on large forests, and they are often the remaining refuges for rare and at-risk habitats, vegetation, and wildlife.

Over the past year, the New Canadians Centre opened its arms to more than 2,000 people from more than 100 countries who immigrated to the Peterborough and Northumberland areas — the highest number in its 45-year history.

What started in 1979 as a modest group of community members sponsoring Vietnamese refugees has clearly grown substantially over the decades.

To mark its 45th anniversary this year, the non-profit organization has launched the #45for45 donation campaign — with the goal of raising $45,000 in donations towards programs and services that welcome and support newcomers to Canada.

The #45for45 donation campaign runs during the month of June.

“An anonymous donor has stepped up to match each dollar raised up to a total of $45,000,” the New Canadians Centre noted in a media release. “This means that every dollar raised will have double the impact.”

The New Canadians Centre offers services to immigrants and refugees and multicultural programming open to the community. The newest of these services is its life skills program, which aims to empower recent newcomers who need extra support.

Dr. Armand La Barge and his wife Denise are monthly donors and long-time supporters of the New Canadians Centre.

“We have witnessed firsthand the incredible work its dedicated team of staff and volunteers do to help immigrants, refugees and other newcomers feel included, valued and empowered,” La Barge said. “As proud Canadians, we can’t think of anything more Canadian than helping newcomers to our city feel welcome and at home.”

The 2,000 newcomers that the New Canadians Centre welcomed in 2022-23 arrived from 104 source countries and spoke 76 languages.

“This was the highest number of clients in our 45-year history — and a 50 per cent increase over the previous year,” the release noted. “Newcomers were represented across a broad stream of immigration pathways, underlying the complexity of their settlement journeys.”

Donations to the #45for45 can be made online at bit.ly/45for45NCC, by cheque made out to “New Canadians Centre,” or by e-transfer to give@nccpeterborough.ca.

The New Canadians Centre anticipates announcing in early July a tally of the money raised through the campaign.

With its mission to empower people who are new to Canada, so they can be recognized as equal and valued members of Canadian society, the New Canadians Centre provides leadership to cultivate their meaningful economic, social, and cultural inclusion in local communities.

Its goals are to invest in core programs and services that connect newcomers to services, each other, and the community, to create an environment where people who are new to Canada are valued by raising awareness of their positive contributions, and to break down barriers to their equitable access and participation.

“At the New Canadians Centre, we commit to making the pursuit of equity and inclusion our way of life,” its website states.

The organization strives to empower newcomers and refugees by convening a newcomer and refugee-led advisory group to advise on programs and services, engaging newcomers and refugees in training to respond to racism and discrimination, and helping newcomers and refugees navigate opportunities to be leaders in the community.

In early June, the New Canadians Centre will be launching its annual Multicultural Food Crawl — the first in a series of events through the month of June to celebrate the Canadian Multicultural Festival.

For more information about the New Canadians Centre, visit nccpeterborough.ca.

June 1 marks the beginning of Pride Month, a month dedicated to 2SLGBTQI+ community members and allies coming together in recognition of the resilience and in celebration of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.

Though not uncommon to be celebrated at other times of the year, Pride Month is typically held in June in memory of the 1969 Stonewall Riots in Manhattan, New York. When public solicitation of same-sex relationships were illegal in the 1960s, LGBT individuals flocked to gay bars and clubs, including the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village.

In the early hours of June 28, 1969, the police raided the bar, violently handling and arresting people and employees suspected of cross-dressing. Angry patrons and neighbourhood residents watched in agitation before a full-blown riot began and the mob attempted to set fire to the building. The riot led to thousands of people joining a days-long uprising which would fuel the gay civil rights movement in the U.S. and around the world.

On the one-year anniversary, thousands of people marched from the Stonewall Inn to Central Park for the first Pride March. Today, Pride months, weeks, and days are a celebration of pride, but also an honour to members of the 2SLGBTQI+ communities and those who faced and continue to face ongoing rights violations, discrimination, and violence.

Here are some events happening across the Kawarthas this Pride Month.

Haliburton County

VIDEO: “500 Days in the Wild” trailer

On Friday, June 7, Haliburton Highlands Secondary School is inviting the public to cheer on students as they run the track in support of 2SLGBTQ+ communities for the annual Colour Run. Ending a week of inclusive and celebratory pride events, the run will be held from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and will include an explosion of Pride powder.

Then, on June 13, the not-for-profit volunteer organization Those Other Movies presents “Queer Film Night” at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavillion for a screening of 500 Days in the Wild, the award-winning documentary by queer filmmaker Dianne Whelan, at 4:15 and 7:15 p.m. The film documents six years of Whelan travelling across Canada, weaving in intimate moments of reflection and stories of people in the communities she met along the way.

For more information about these and other Pride events in Haliburton County, visit www.mindenpride.ca.

Peterborough

While Peterborough Pride is annually celebrated in the fall (running September 20 to 29 this year), City of Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal has officially proclaimed Pride Month in Peterborough during the month of June and there are a couple of events kicking off Pride Month on Saturday (June 1).

The El (P) restaurant is hosting a drag brunch featuring Betty Baker, Van Goth, and Magnolia Knox, with tunes spun by Sahira Q. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. with the show at 11 a.m. Advance tickets are $20 and are available at eventbrite.com/e/882954630067.

Later at 6 p.m., Delta Bingo and Gaming (1019 Clonsilla Ave, Peterborough) is hosting “Drag Bingo: Show Your Pride” with entertaining performances by Madge Enthat and Divalicious, with cash prizes available to be won. Tickets are $40 general admission, with a VIP experience for eight guests costing $1,000. Tickets are available at eventbrite.ca/e/896458891677.

Northumberland County

Northumberland Pride is bringing no shortage of colour to the county with a lineup of events running throughout June.

Pride Month events include the Cobourg Pride festival and parade (June 1), PRIDE at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope — where the country’s top drag will come to the mainstage led by Juice Boxx from Canada’s Drag Race (June 6), a “Back to the 80’s Pride Prom” (June 7), and the Cirque De Slay, a circus-themed youth pride event (June 8).

On Friday, June 28 at 6 p.m., All Creatures Great and Small Cobourg is holding a dog-friendly (and dog-encouraged!) Pride walk, inviting the community to join together to raise awareness and spread love.

Further north, Trent Hills Pride is also hosting a week-long celebration including: an official rising of the flag at several locations across the region (May 31), storytime with Peterborough drag performer Betty Baker at the Warkworth Library (June 1), a Party in the Park at Mill Creek Park (June 1), a viewing of the cult-classic Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Aron Theatre in Campbellford (June 6), drag takeovers at local restaurants McGillicafey’s and Dockside Bistro (June 7), the Trent Hills Pride Festival (June 8), and Drag Queen Bingo at the Warkworth Legion (June 21).

Hastings County

Tweed & Company Theatre is celebrating Pride with a fun-filled night headlined by Juno award-winning singer and rapper Stacy Kay on the Bancroft Village Playhouse stage at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 21st.

Stacey Kay got the Golden Buzzer on Canada’s Got Talent and became a songwriter, producer, and singer with Canada’s Drag Race. A comedic podcast host and motivational speaker who spreads messages about body positivity, Stacey Kay will be performing alongside drag performers.

Tickets are $30 and aree available at villageplayhouse.ca/bancroft-pride-stacey-kay-and-friends.

City of Kawartha Lakes

Pride Month is only the start of the Pride celebrations that are happening throughout the season, with Kawartha Lakes celebrating Pride Week in July.

Kawartha Lakes Pride is well on their way to setting the schedule for their annual event running from July 8 to 14. Already announced events include Pride in the Park (July 12) at Maryboro Lodge Museum in Fenelon Falls, a family-friendly event featuring drag queen storytime, live DJs, a drag show and more, and the Proud Sounds concert and community picnic (July 13) at the Victoria Park Gazebo in Lindsay, bringing to the stage local 2SLGBTQ+ musical artists and allies.

More events will be announced soon. For updates, follow Kawartha Lakes Pride on Facebook at facebook.com/KawarthaLakesPride/.

Residents in Peterborough and the Kawarthas can help build more local affordable housing options by participating in a new investment program offered by Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR).

Habitat PKR says it’s “at a pivotal moment” in its mission to transform the local landscape of affordable housing and is calling on the community to support the endeavour. The organization is launching a “High-Impact Investment Program” that gives community members the chance to contribute by providing sizeable loans to Habitat PKR at agreed interest rates.

In return, lenders receive annual payments for the accrued interest, with the flexibility to request their money back at any time. At the end of the loan period, Habitat PKR will repay the loan in full, with the opportunity to provide the accrued interest in the form of a charitable tax receipt, providing additional benefits to lenders, Habitat PKR noted in a media release.

“We are looking for community-minded individuals who have capacity to give a sizeable loan, whatever that is to the individual,” Jenn MacDonald, Habitat PKR’s communication and donor services manager, told kawarthaNOW.

She said investments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 “would have a significant impact, but we are open to working with investors on a lower scale as well.”

“We have just launched the program and are in communication with a few interested parties,” MacDonald noted.

The investment program would allow Habitat PKR to build on the success of its two-phase Leahy’s Lane development in Peterborough — the first multi-unit development of the organization that has traditionally built single-family homes. The first phase, a 41-unit affordable condo development at 33 Leahy’s Lane, was completed in April 2022, and the second phase, a 12-unit affordable condo development at 21 Leahy’s Lane, is approaching completion.

“Habitat PKR is positioned to embark on additional projects that will provide much-needed affordable homes to families and individuals across the Peterborough, Kawartha, and Haliburton regions,” Habitat PKR noted. “To realize this vision, however, the organization is reaching out to the community for support through its new High-Impact Investment Program.”

As a non-profit organization, the approach enables Habitat PKR to fund the construction of affordable housing projects without relying on high-interest loans from financial institutions, thereby maximizing the impact of every dollar invested. By lowering costs, it can also increase the organization’s ability to serve families on the lower end of the financial spectrum.

“This unique program not only fosters community support but also offers a tangible charitable benefit, furthering Habitat PKR’s mission to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing for all.”

“With the support of our community, we can use invested capital to purchase available land and construct more affordable homes across our region, ultimately helping more families and individuals achieve stability through affordable homeownership,” said Susan Zambonin, CEO of Habitat PKR, in the release.

Habitat PKR said the program contributes to the creation of thriving communities and also offers a unique charitable opportunity to the investor.

“It’s a win-win scenario — investors make a meaningful impact in the local community that will support generations to come, while also benefiting through a financial tax incentive.”

For more information on how to participate in the High-Impact Investment Program, visit www.habitatpkr.ca/donations/hiip.

Twenty local women who are driving positive change received their due Thursday night (May 30), each feted at the inaugural Women of Impact Awards ceremony and celebration.

Hosted by the United Way of Peterborough & District in conjunction with Women United Peterborough and held at Farmhill Weddings east of Peterborough, the sold-out event saw award recipients hailed for their roles in building strong, healthy, and safe communities within their respective spheres of influence.

A total of 37 women were nominated, from which the following were chosen by a Women United committee which reviewed each nomination:

• Cassandra Babcock
• Dr. Debbie Boyce
• Cheyenne Buck
• Patti Clancy
• Wendy Couper
• Susan Dunkley
• Hillary Flood
• Jennifer Garland
• Dr. Jennifer Ingram
• Carlotta James
• Kristal Jones
• Ann MacLeod
• Laura Montague
• Rosemary Powers
• Denise Sayles-Morton
• Peggy Shaughnessy
• Lisa Trefzger
• Lois Tuffin
• Carmela Valles
• Jill Wickins

To say each award recipient was thrilled would be an understatement.

“It’s an incredibly humbling honour,” beamed Kristal Jones, a recent graduate of Fleming College’s social service worker graduate whose vision and advocacy has furthered the work of the One Roof Community Centre (now the Trinity Community Centre) and the Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough.

“My imposter syndrome is in overdrive listening to all these incredible accomplishments. I can’t believe I’m counted among this group of people. To receive the award from (former Peterborough-Kawartha MP) Maryam Monsef was just a beautiful full circle moment for me. I’ll cry if I talk about it too much.”

“I feel very fortunate that I’ve been given a small platform and a voice. In the population that I support, there are a lot of people who aren’t able to use their voice, or their voice is taken seriously, or they’re no longer with us to be able to use their voice. When somebody asks what I have to say, I want to make sure that I’m echoing the voices of the women that put me here and the women that can’t be here.”

Equally overwhelmed was Susan Dunkley, the founder and owner of Suzi Home Maker, a Peterborough-based senior move management company whose journey has inspired countless others to pursue their passions regardless of their stage in life.

“There are so many women in our community who have made such a difference, so to be one of the inaugural (award recipients) is phenomenal. I’m deeply honoured. I look forward to seeing the women that come forward over the years in the future. It’s pretty amazing.”

“I love the diversity of the (awarded) women. I love the diversity of age. I love the diversity of what people have done. I love the different things that we have stood for and represented. As an eclectic group, we are a whole. It’s not all just business people. It’s not just all volunteers. It’s not all people in the arts. It’s everybody and I love that.”

Dunkley was especially thrilled with the number of men in attendance to show their support.

“I feel there’s a really important role (for men) as an ally who recognize the power that women bring,” she said. “I hate that we have to recognize women and men separately, but I do love that we’re at a point where can be saying ‘These women have made a difference.’ I truly believe that if women were running the world, there wouldn’t be war.”

While she doesn’t view herself as a role model for younger women, Dunkley does admit to feeling like “the wise woman of the clan. That’s really cool.”

Meanwhile, Patti Clancy, the owner of Kawartha Home Care Services who has long championed women fleeing domestic violence and adversity, referenced those women who go about their work quietly with no expectation of recognition for their advocacy.

“I was raised to believe that when you do an act of kindness, you do it without anybody seeing you,” she said, adding “I think I got found out today.”

“I’m a feminist. I’ve been a longtime member of the YWCA, more than 30 years now. That’s a great support for any woman who believes in equality, and that women are as intelligent and strong as men, and sometimes even more spiritual.”

Among those formally addressing the gathering was Monsef, the inaugural chair of Women United, a network of women philanthropists and allies who each donate $1,200 or more each year to the United Way of Peterborough & District.

Formed in 2022, Women United’s goals are as follows:

• Reduce and remove economic and social barriers so the next generation of girls and women can lead to their full potential.
• Learn more about the challenges facing women and gender diverse people in their community and the resources available to those in need.
• Improve the lives of those in vulnerable situations through gifts of time, talent and treasure.

“There are so many women in our community, at the United Way, all around us, making big things happen, without the expectation of celebration,” said Monsef during a break in the presentation. “They work quietly behind the scenes, holding it all together. Tonight is one small opportunity for the rest of us to honour them and remind them that we see them.”

“They are role models for all of us. To be in this room tonight is a wonderful opportunity for those who haven’t been recognized. You’re networking with some of the most effective movers and shakers in our community. A conversation with any one of them opens so many doors and channels for young professionals who are seeking to create their own path and achieve their dreams.”

Prior to the awards’ presentation, emceed by former local radio personality and current Team vanRahan Century 21 realtor Catherine Hanrahan, the audience heard from Kellie Walden, the director of administrative services with the Peterborough Family and Child Centre, and Brittany McMillan, executive director of the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre.

Both spoke to the work their respective agencies are doing daily to support women with help from both United Way core funding and the United Women fund.

Adding to the event’s festive atmosphere was live music performed by electric violinist Victoria Yeh and, during the break, the Peterborough Pop Ensemble.

Presented by TD with kawarthNOW serving as media sponsor, additional support was provided by Fox Law, Electric City Real Estate, Trent University, the Trent University Faculty Association, 2032 Dentistry For Life, and Yeh.

More information about Women United can be found at www.uwpeterborough.ca/women-united or by calling United Way philanthropy director Anne Ondercin, 705-742-8839, ext. 30.

kawarthaNOW is proud to be the media sponsor of the inaugural Women of Impact Awards.