Five Counties Children's Centre, including staff members Tricia and Mandy, are encouraging families to take part in a survey to share their experiences at the Peterborough children's treatment centre and offer input about how services can be improved in future. (Photo: Five Counties Children's Centre)
Five Counties Children’s Centre is calling on families in the communities it serves to share their thoughts around ways to improve the supports and services offered by the regional organization serving children with special needs.
Five Counties has launched a survey geared to current and former Five Counties clients, parents, caregivers, and families in the City of Kawartha Lakes and counties of Peterborough, Northumberland, and Haliburton. The centre encourages families to have their say by completing the Client and Family Experience Survey before March 31.
Bill Eekhof, spokesperson for Five Counties, said the survey has an important role. Information about families’ experiences at Five Counties, along with detailed suggestions about an area or areas of improvement, are two areas of input that are particularly useful to the children’s centre.
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“These types of insights are very important to Five Counties,” Eekhof told kawarthaNOW.
“While we try to assist families and children as best we can, if we’re not listening to and equipping parents and families with what they need to help their children be the best, then we need to hear that to improve what we’re doing.”
The survey is confidential and takes less than five minutes to complete. Participants are asked about which programs they’ve used at Five Counties, their satisfaction with those services, and their suggestions for improvement. Anyone completing the survey can choose to provide his or her name to be entered in a draw to win one of three $25 grocery store gift cards.
Full details about the survey are available at fivecounties.on.ca/yoursay/. The survey is available until Sunday, March 31.
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“Families are at the core of what we do,” said Darlene Callan, director of clinical services at Five Counties, in a media release. “Regularly engaging with and encouraging the input of parents and caregivers can help us better support kids while improving our overall services for families.”
While Five Counties typically does a client satisfaction survey every other year, seeking parent input is part of an ongoing conversation.
“We pride ourselves on having the very best of pediatric therapists, but it really is a partnership with the family to see a child succeed,” Callan added.
Five Counties staff works with kids and youth to support their communication, physical, and developmental needs, but treatment sessions are typically less than an hour each week for defined periods of time.
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As parents spend the most time with their child, their role in following through with treatment tips is important to help their child reach their full potential, Five Counties noted.
“Our role as clinicians is to educate, demonstrate and collaborate with the parent or caregiver so they feel confident and well-equipped to go home and support their child,” Callan said.
Getting family input through the client experience survey provides “a snapshot in time” that tells Five Counties how well it is doing right now, she added.
“We encourage parents to take part, as their input will help us to improve and better support families to work with their child at home.”
Trent Radio's Charlie Glasspool, curator and host of the "Radio from the Stage" live radio broadcast series, introduces the audience at Jethro's Bar + Stage in downtown Peterborough to local punk rock band Intimidators during the third episode of the series on December 31, 2023. Launched on October 29 with five episodes already in the can, the series continues on the last Sunday of every month until July 28, 2024. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
A live radio broadcast series by Trent Radio in Peterborough that hearkens back to the golden age of the medium is now at its halfway point, connecting local audio artists with a wide audience, both in person and on the airwaves.
Backed by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC), “Radio From The Stage” debuted last October 29 at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough with an episode called “Three Pillars,” featuring multidisciplinary artist Kate Story, Peterborough poet laureate Ziysah von Bieberstein, and singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Benj Rowland.
That episode was staged before a live audience and broadcast live on Trent Radio 92.7 FM, as has been the case with the four episodes presented since, with each episode taking place on the last Sunday of the month, including the most recent episode entitled “Aleatory/Alchemy” at Sadleir House on February 25, which featured the talents of musicians Victoria Yeh, Caylie Staples, Neal Retke, and Bennett Bedoukian.
Trent Radio’s Charlie Glasspool, curator and host of the “Radio from the Stage” live radio broadcast series, speaks with Peterborough poet laureate Ziysah von Bieberstein during the debut episode at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough on October 29, 2023. The series features local audio artists performing music, theatre, and poetry and spoken word. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
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Curating and hosting the series is Charlie Glasspool, a longtime Peterborough musician and co-founder of well-known local band The Silver Hearts. He credits both Jill Staveley and Rob Hailman of Trent Radio for applying to the CRFC for the funding, which was subsequently awarded.
“We got to work — we had a month to get the first show up and running,” recalls Glasspool. “It’s a year-long series of live-to-air and live-to-audience performances. We are broadcasting performances of audio artists, whether music, poetry, theatre, or spoken word. We’ve had all kinds of different audio arts.”
For his part, Glasspool says he’s grateful for the opportunity to curate and host each episode in the series.
“As a musician, but also more and more as a presenter and promoter, it just seemed like the perfect job for me,” he says. “I was lucky to land it.”
The sixth episode of Trent Radio’s “Radio from the Stage” live radio broadcast series takes place on March 31, 2024 at Dreams of Beans in downtown Peterborough and features local musicians Taylor Abrahamse, Joselynn Burford, and David Newland. Audiences can attend the free show in person or listen live at Trent Radio 92.7 FM or online. (Graphic: Trent Radio)
Glasspool is now preparing to bring episode six of the series to the stage at Dreams of Beans (138 Hunter St. W.) from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on March 31. Appropriately entitled “Dreams,” that episode will feature local musicians Taylor Abrahamse, Joslynn Burford, and David Newland.
As with all Radio From The Stage episodes, the show is free to attend and can also be heard live on Trent Radio 92.7 FM or online at trentradio.ca.
Subsequent episodes will be presented as follows:
Episode 7 – “Story/Soundtrack” at 8 p.m. on April 28 at Take Cover Books (59 Hunter St. E.) featuring Christopher Wilton, Michael Duguay, Justin Million, and Bryar Gray
Episode 8 – “L’heure verte” at 5 p.m. on May 26 at Bijoux (399 Water St.) featuring Jon Hedderwick, Kim Blackwell, and David Batemen with musical guest Shahrazi
Episode 9 – “The Message” at 8 p.m. on June 30 at Jethro’s Bar + Stage (137 Hunter St. W.) featuring Social Activist Beats, garbageface, and another act yet to be announced.
Multidisciplinary artist Kate Story performs her one-person play “Anxiety” during the debut episode of Trent Radio’s “Radio from the Stage” live radio broadcast series at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough on October 29, 2023. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
The series will conclude with the tenth episode on July 28, with details still in the works.
Along with the October 29 debut episode and the most recent episode on February 25, previous episodes included “A Song for Nogojiwanong” on November 26 at Sadleir House featuring
Lucy Ferrill, Dan Hick, Wesha, Mike MacCurdy, Jay Coombes, and Astarte, “New Year’s Early” on December 31 at Jethro’s Bar + Stage featuring the bands Intimidators and Pays d’en Haut, and “Hunter Street Hysteria” on January 28 at Take Cover Books featuring poets Charlotte Kennedy, Esther Vincent, Kristal Jones, Saima Sarfraz, and Thamer Linklater with musical guest Sarah-Jayne Riley.
While each episode is diverse from the one before and the one after, Glasspool says there is a common thread running through all of them.
“Something that’s sort of tying all of these very disparate acts together, whether they’re music or poetry or what have you, is a very broad theme of ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’,” he says — a reference to the famous opening line of Charles Dickens’ 1859 novel A Tale of Two Cities about London and Paris before and during the French Revolution.
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Benj Rowland performs during the debut episode of Trent Radio’s “Radio from the Stage” live radio broadcast series at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough on October 29, 2023. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
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“We’re asking local artists, through their art or through their music or through their words, to reflect or comment on the state of Peterborough right now,” Glasspool explains. “I lived in Peterborough in the early 2000s. I moved away and, at the tail end of COVID, moved back. I definitely noticed how Peterborough isn’t the same Peterborough I remember from 2001. We all know that. It’s visible.”
“I’m hoping that through this series maybe we can do a little bit of healing. We can kind of investigate all the good things, but all the bad things too. Discuss it, work on it, and maybe get some answers. It’s a big ask but I’m optimistic. Art and music can maybe help us heal.”
Meanwhile, maintaining the artistic quality of each episode is far from being a problem, says Glasspool.
“Yes, we led off with some real heavy hitters, but one of the delights for me is having more than 50 applications come in to be a part of it,” he says, referring to the application process that took place last fall. “It’s really wonderful to hear young folks coming up and playing. One of the many beautiful things about this project has been discovering some new talents.”
Peterborough roots band Pays d’en Haut performs at Jethro’s Bar + Stage in downtown Peterborough during the third episode of Trent Radio’s “Radio from the Stage” live radio broadcast series on December 31, 2023. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
Of note, because of the grant received, each artist is being paid a “generous artist fee” — something that Glasspool says isn’t always the case.
In a provided comment regarding the series, CFRC executive director Alex Freedman says Radio from the Stage is a project that “could only be done by campus radio.”
Glasspool says there’s a lot of truth to that.
“It would be impossible for commercial radio — I don’t think they would even be interested,” he says, adding “There’s a lot of freedom there that other stations just don’t have.”
Peterborough musicians Caylie Staples, Victoria Yeh, Neal Retke, and Bennett Bedoukian (not pictured) perform during the fifth episode of Trent Radio’s “Radio from the Stage” live radio broadcast series at Sadleir House in Peterborough on February 25, 2024. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
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While each episode stands on its own as a memorable performance for both the in-person audience and Trent Radio listeners hearing it live, each is being archived, meaning they can be rebroadcast for years to come.
“One of the big thrusts of this project is to create what I’ve been calling a sonic time capsule,” says Glasspool. “We’re going to put them all together somehow. We’re still thinking about how to do that, for someone to discover 50 years from now.”
“We also have a physical time capsule. We’re asking artists who are participating to put a little treasure or note or trinket or something in to be a part of this recorded time capsule as well.”
Peterborough musicians Neal Retke and Bennett Bedoukian speak with Trent Radio’s Charlie Glasspool, curator and host of the “Radio from the Stage” live radio broadcast series, during the fifth episode of the series at Sadleir House in Peterborough on February 25, 2024. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
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Meanwhile, the series has injected new life into Trent Radio, says Glasspool.
“This project is really getting Trent Radio’s name and brand back out there after COVID,” he says. “Trent Radio has been around for a long, long time. That’s a testament to the people who have run the place — people like Jill Staveley and (the late) John Muir before her. It’s really important to have that little radio station at Parkhill and George.”
On a personal level, Glasspool says there are “a thousand joys” in being connected with the series.
“The magic of radio has always enchanted me,” he notes. “Since I was a kid to now, I sometimes can’t wrap my head around someone singing on a stage and someone far away listening in real time. That really is the magic. It’s so great to be a part of that.”
This story was created in partnership with Trent Radio. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Lesley Lavender will assume the role of chief executive officer of the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations on April 1, 2024. The Peterborough-based organization represents 525 lake and road associations in rural communities across Ontario and speaks for the interests of 250,000 seasonal and year-round waterfront property owners. (Photo: Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce)
Lesley Lavender is the new chief executive officer of the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA).
Lavender replaces Terry Rees, who announced last November he would be leaving the Peterborough-based organization in March after 20 years at CEO to pursue other interests.
Established in 1963 and incorporated in 1974, today FOCA represents 525 lake and road associations in rural communities across Ontario and speaks for the interests of 250,000 seasonal and year-round waterfront property owners, including issues related to sustainable communities, public safety, and environmental protection.
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For the past five years, Lavender has been CEO of the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit association that represents more than 275 businesses of all sizes and industries, primarily in the Municipality of Prince Edward and throughout the Bay of Quinte region.
“Hiring someone with Lesley’s experienced leadership is a clear example of FOCA’s determination to generate momentum and positive impact for our member associations,” says Ian Crawford, FOCA past president and chair of the CEO hiring committee, in a media release.
“We held an extensive search that yielded candidates from across Canada. We were very impressed with the high quality of the people we met, but Lesley stood out for her experience and proven ability to create and expand relationships with members, media, and partners.”
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According to the media release, in her role at the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce, Lavender “represents a small community with a vast geographical spread that mirrored the unique composition of waterfront communities throughout Ontario” and understands the challenges and expectations in a community that accommodates both visitors and seasonal residents alongside long-term inhabitants.
“This understanding fuels my passion to delve deeper into similar dynamics across our province, with an unwavering commitment to expanding my knowledge and sharing my skill set,” Lavender says. “My aim is to foster a collective appreciation for water and the environment, catalyzing a shared commitment to their preservation.”
Lavender will assume the role of FOCA’s CEO on April 1.
“The board thanks outgoing CEO Terry Rees for his leadership over the past 20 years with FOCA,” reads the media release. “Terry was responsible for significant growth in membership and building the profile of the organization over his tenure.”
Sasha Harrison is an Omemee-based content creator and social media influencer who shares her journey of building her dream home with DIY builds and designs. Having taken the risk to turn her passion into her career while working towards her family's dream of buying a dairy farm, she has faced a few bumps in the road that have taught her some valuable life lessons. (Photo: Photography with Care)
Just a few years ago, Omemee content creator Sasha Harrison was living a very different life than the one she’s living now.
In those years, Harrison learned how to use tools to transform spaces on a budget, created her own DIY furniture blueprints, and has made steady progress towards her dream home.
On top of that, she has crafted meaningful relationships with local businesses, garnered more than 51,000 Instagram followers and over 34,000 on TikTok, raised thousands of dollars for local organizations, and has inspired a community of people to take a chance on themselves — and all while raising her two young children.
Though social media has a way of making life look glamorous, Harrison hasn’t always had it easy along the way. But just as her social media platform inspires thousands of people, so too can the life lessons she’s learned while pursuing her dreams.
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One step at a time
Social media influencer Sasha Harrison with her husband Scott and their two children. In 2020, the family moved to their Omemee property to give Scott the space to grow his diesel repair business, which would fund their ultimate dream of buying out his family’s three-generation dairy farm. With everything going into the business and the farm, there was nothing left in their budget to fix up their own home, so Harrison took the project on herself. (Photo: Photography with Care)
In 2020, Harrison and her young family moved to their Omemee property to give her husband, Scott, the space to grow his diesel repair business, which would fund their ultimate dream of buying out his family’s three-generation dairy farm.
But, with everything going into the business and the farm, there was nothing left in their budget to fix up their own home.
“I realized just because we’re investing so much into the farm, that there was no way I was going to get the house of my dreams unless I made it happen myself,” says Harrison, who, until making that decision, had never used power tools before.
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With an “outdated” house and a shop which needed an “absolute overhaul,” that dream house was not any easy project to begin — and continues to be a work in progress.
“We were optimistic, but it was and still is overwhelming,” she says. “There were a lot of elements to this property that needed a lot of work.”
Despite that, she took on one project at a time, first cleaning out and designing the repair shop and re-doing the entryway in the house, before it “snowballed” into her first build with a patio area outside the shop.
“Then, I did the kids’ room, our room, and then the laundry room — which was a bigger project,” she says. “It’s been a lot of work and it’s a constant grind but as soon as we get done one thing, we ask what we are working on next.”
It’s okay to do something you’re passionate about and get paid for it
Without the budget to hire someone to fix up the family’s outdated new home, Sasha Harrison focused her time and energy on learning to do it herself. Having always harboured a passion for design, she learned to use tools and machinery for the first time, and now uses her social media platform to share her budget-friendly approach to re-doing her home, including the new laundry room. (Photos: Sasha Harrison)
Before changing careers and choosing to stay at home to focus on getting their new house to feel like a home, Harrison was working on call as a nurse and program coordinator at VON Assisted Living in Peterborough.
As she worked on a few projects around the home, and as her social media presence grew from spotlighting local businesses during the early days of the pandemic, there came a point when Harrison felt “lost in the thick of it” and was unsure what would come next.
“I remember sitting down at the table with my husband asking, ‘What am I supposed to do?’ and ‘Who am I?'” she recalls. “I felt like I had lost everything I was, and everything I had built with my nursing career.”
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She recalls her husband telling her find whatever it is that she’s passionate about and make that her career. Between that encouragement and seeing his “zest for life” in farming, she was inspired.
“I realized it’s okay to do something that you’re passionate about and get paid for it,” she says. “I think a lot of people, like I did, think they can do the things they like on the weekend and have a separate nine-to-five job. But life doesn’t have to be like that. You can make it whatever you want it to be.”
With that realization, she monetized the love she had for design by registering her content creation businesses and sought sponsorships from local businesses so she could continue sharing her budget-friendly builds and designs.
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Failure is an incredible opportunity for learning and building
Unlike a lot of influencers, Harrison’s feed is not perfectly curated with posts that show off nothing but her successes. She also shows off her vulnerabilities and her failures — like when she dented the shop the first time she used a skid steer, or when she gets in over her head with a project.
Though Harrison’s not afraid of her failures now, she didn’t always feel so comfortable embracing them, especially when beginning as a new business.
“I remember feeling so nervous and so scared about doing something on my own and just failing,” she says. “I think that’s the biggest fear you have as a business owner. You fail so many times, but those failures are incredible opportunities for learning and building and then, after a while, that fear of failure just sits in the background.”
When people project negativity, that’s something that’s going on in their life
And as with anyone who makes their career online, Harrison faces her share of negativity from strangers on the internet and outside the community, whether it’s gendered assumptions that her husband is the brains and brawn behind her builds, backlash about letting her children assist in the projects, or even just generally about her appearance.
“I don’t love social media,” she points out. “I love when it can be used for inspiring people, but sometimes it can be a really negative space. I think I’m just sensitive and I care so much about other people that it really hurt me to think that somebody would want to hurt me like that.”
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While in the past, Harrison has gone through “peaks and valleys” of being affected by hurtful commentary, having occasionally distanced herself from TikTok, her years in the industry have shown her that the cruelties are not really about her.
“I see it in a different way now and I think that’s what makes it a little bit easier,” she says. “When people project negativity, I think that’s something that’s going on in their life, where maybe they feel they’re not in a great space, and I feel bad for them.”
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The most beautiful thing we have in life is the connection to other people
Everything Sasha Harrison has purchased for her home and DIY projects was sourced locally, with all money she has gained through sponsorship going back into other local businesses. One such business is Monaghan Lumber, which she has partnered with since her first build of creating a patio area outside her husband’s shop. (Photo: Sasha Harrison)
Everything that Harrison has used on her DIY journey has been purchased locally, and all sponsorship money she receives goes right back into investing in other local businesses.
After getting her first sponsorship from Monaghan Lumber Specialties, Harrison continues to work with them. While other businesses often assume that, as a woman, she doesn’t know what she is talking about or is shopping for her husband, she notes Monaghan Lumber has been “100 per cent supportive” in her visions.
“I’m so grateful for that relationship,” she says. “I think that our community trust in me because of the people that I work with — they all have wonderful customer service and they’re good human beings.”
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Other companies she has worked with include Lindsay Buick GMC, Kitchen Depot, Kennedy’s Appliances and Electronic Store, Horlings Garden Centre, Johnston’s Greenhouse and Landscaping, and many others.
Her platform has also been instrumental in campaigns for businesses supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough, community food drives, and YES Shelter for Youth and Families.
“I’m very fortunate to have a platform,” she says. “We definitely do not take that for granted. I think that’s pretty special that we can see our community come together in this way.”
Harrison has recently been working behind the scenes on social media management for other businesses. Though at first she didn’t think she’d enjoy it, she’s finds now that it opens up a different kind of creativity within her.
“People are often so critical of themselves, but I find that I can see from the outside how many beautiful souls are working with each other to make that entire entity work,” she says. “It’s super inspiring and it fills my heart right up to be able to show that side of their business.”
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Between connecting with local businesses and now working behind the scenes with them, to her love of sharing inspiration and tips on her platforms, it all comes back to one of her greatest passions.
“I love connecting with other humans and learning about their story and being a part of other people’s lives,” she says. “I think the most beautiful thing we have in life is those connections with other people.”
Furniture flipping involves upcycling used/old furniture to give it a new life, with some people flipping furniture to create unique home decor items while saving money and others doing it to increase the furniture's value for resale. While furniture flipping is not new, its popularity greatly increased during the pandemic. (Photos: Clinton Avery Tharp via New York Times)
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (PKR) is “flipping” for Earth Day and inviting community members to take on a project that breathes new life into an old piece of furniture.
Furniture flipping involves upcycling used/old furniture to give it a new life. Some people flip furniture to create unique home decor items while saving money and others do it to increase the furniture’s value for resale.
The organization, in partnership with Chemong Home Hardware Building Centre in Peterborough, has announced “The Big Flip,” a furniture restoration contest in honour of Earth Day on April 22. The Kawarthas-wide event aims to promote sustainability by inspiring residents to reimagine and revive used furniture to keep it out of the landfills.
“We would be thrilled to get as many entries as possible — my personal goal is over 30,” says Natalie Raponi, sponsorship and events co-ordinator for Habitat for Humanity PKR.
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“The best thing that could happen from this event is that more people would start to consider giving new life to existing furniture pieces instead of throwing them away,” Raponi told kawarthaNOW. “There are so many incredible ways to restore, refinish, and reimagine used pieces in order to keep them out of landfills and contribute to a circular economy.”
Each year, close to one million tons of furniture waste ends up in Canadian landfills, according to Habitat for Humanity PKR. Biodegradable parts of furniture, such as textiles and wood, will degrade but they release methane gas into the atmosphere. Non-biodegradable parts of furniture, such as plastic and metals, will last in the landfill and can leach harmful chemicals.
The Big Flip contest involves choosing a used piece of furniture and taking a “before” photo with the piece, and documenting with one picture the process of “flipping” the furniture. Flipping can involve, but is not limited to, painting, restoring, and reupholstering the piece. Once finished, participants then snap a photo of themselves with the final products.
To participate, visit www.thebigflip.ca and make a submission between April 1 and 30. The contest is open to residents of the city and county of Peterborough, the City or Kawartha Lakes, and the Haliburton Highlands area.
Furniture flipping has become a craze on social media, with many before-and-after pictures and videos posted on Instagram and TikTok. (Photos: Victoria Dobbie @the_furniture_rescuer / Instagram)
Raponi said community members can consider checking out Habitat for Humanity’s Restores for suitable pieces to refinish.
“Our Habitat for Humanity ReStores are like hidden treasure troves waiting to be discovered. Often, you just need a little imagination and some good old elbow grease to transform these gems into something extraordinary.”
“If more people get interested in flipping furniture instead of buying new, the better it is for the environment. Plus, every purchase from our ReStores and membership to the (Peterborough) Tool Library helps build safe, decent, and affordable homes right here in Peterborough and the Kawartha region. So that’s a win-win-win.”
The Big Flip contest has two categories that will each have a winner. The “Designer’s Choice” winner will be chosen by Sonja Sanderson, owner of Birchview Design, and her team of interior designers. They will score entries using the following criteria: 40 per cent creativity and originality, 30 per cent usability, and 30 per cent transformation.
The “People’s Choice” category will be chosen after the contest ends by online votes cast between May 1 and May 8 on The Big Flip website.
Each winner will receive a Fusion Mineral Paint prize pack, a one-year membership to the Peterborough Tool Library, and a $500 gift card to Chemong Home Hardware Building Centre.
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“We are excited to host The Big Flip furniture flipping contest in honour of Earth Day,” said Susan Zambonin, Habitat for Humanity PKR executive director, in a media release.
“This event aligns with our mission of building a sustainable future and empowers our community to positively impact the environment. We can’t wait to see the creativity and innovation that participants bring to the contest.”
Habitat for Humanity PKR is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting affordable homeownership. Habitat gives a “hand-up” not a “hand-out” to lower income families by offering no down payment and geared to income monthly payments.
The organization operates three home improvement retail stores — the ReStores — selling donated new and used appliances, furniture, kitchens, building materials and home supplies. Habitat for Humanity ReStores play an integral part in Habitat’s mission by providing financial support for its work.
In 2023, Habitat for Humanity PKR diverted 331,730 items from landfills from purchases and donations made through its Peterborough North, Peterborough South, and Lindsay ReStores.
Fleming College paramedic, pre-service firefighter, and pre-health sciences students participating in a past mass-casualty event simulation at the college's Sutherland Campus in Peterborough. (Photo: Fleming College)
If you see emergency vehicles and people who appear to be injured at Fleming College’s Sutherland Campus in Peterborough on Tuesday morning (March 12), don’t be concerned.
Students in multiple programs at the college will be participating in a mass-casualty event simulation at the campus off Brealey Drive.
“The exercise is designed to mimic the chaos and urgency of a real-world disaster,” reads a media release from Fleming College. “Students will be challenged to apply their skills in triage, emergency management, and communication.”
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Up to 80 students will be involved in the exercise, including students in Fleming’s pre-service fighter education and training and paramedic and pre-health sciences programs. Some students will be wearing makeup to appear injured or distressed, and Fleming’s emergency vehicles will also be on site.
The exercise is expected to run all morning long, with the Oak parking lot, parts of the B and D wings, and other areas around the Sutherland Campus closed to the rest of the campus while the exercise takes place.
Staff, students, and visitors are asked to follow the posted signage and follow any detours or parking lot closures that may be in place.
The ServiceOntario mobile service centre, which includes an accessibility ramp, will offer provincial government services in both English and French. (Photo: Government of Ontario)
It will soon be easier for residents of North Kawartha Township to get in-person access to provincial government services, including driver’s licences and health cards.
On Monday (March 11), the Ontario government announced the village of Apsley is one of six rural northern communities that will be getting a ServiceOntario mobile service centre.
“Previously residents in North Kawartha would have to travel an average of 90 kilometres round trip to visit a ServiceOntario location,” says Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith in a media release. “The provincial government is committed to ensuring all of Ontario has access to government services they need, and this is one more step towards that promise.”
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The mobile centre will deliver in-person access to services to the communities of MacTier, Burk’s Falls, Apsley, Denbigh, Whitney, and Moose Deer Point First Nation. The service is now available in MacTier and Burk’s Falls, with the expansion into the remaining four communities including Apsley taking place by April.
The mobile service centre is accessible and offers the following services in both English and French: driver’s licences; vehicle permits and plates; stickers for commercial vehicles; accessible parking permits; driver and vehicle records; health card and insurance (OHIP); organ and tissue donation; birth, marriage, and death; photo card; apostille/authentication of documents; fishing, hunting, and camping; housing and property; and taxes.
The schedule and location of the ServiceOntario mobile service centre in Apsley has not yet been announced, but the information will be available at ontario.ca/page/serviceontario-mobile-service-centres when the service launches in Apsley by early April.
Service counters within the ServiceOntario mobile service centre. (Photo: Government of Ontario)
Matt Anderson, owner of microgreens business Chemong City Greens, was one of the nine graduates of the 2023 ScaleUP program designed to help Peterborough-area businesses grow. Community Futures Peterborough and Scotiabank are partnering once again to bring the program back for spring 2024, with applications open until Tuesday, April 2. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
Community Futures Peterborough and Scotiabank have announced applications are now open at communityfuturespeterborough.ca/scaleup/ for the 2024 ScaleUP program designed to help Peterborough-area businesses grow.
Community Futures first piloted the program in 2022 to address a gap in available training for local entrepreneurs, since most training was only focused on the startup growth stage. Six local women-led businesses participated in the pilot program, which delved into the topics of financial management, supply chain optimization and best practices, people management, crisis management, organizational design, and good governance policies.
In 2023, Community Futures joined forces with Scotiabank to present a redesigned ScaleUP program, which saw nine Peterborough-area entrepreneurs graduate from the eight-week program in October: Robyn Jenkins of Charlea’s Riverside Gardens, Tracy Logan of Logan Tree Experts, Angela Jones of Lakeshore Designs, RJ Kayser of Flow Spa, Robyn Ivory of Indigenously Infused, Brett Pritchard of The 3D Shoppe, Kollene Drummond of Well Grounded, Matt Anderson of Chemong City Greens, and Jena Trimble of Zen Home and Cottage Cleaning Service.
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“Business owners in the city and county continue to tell us they want access to tools and programs to support the growth of their operations,” says Community Futures executive director Devon Girard in a media release. “We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome back Scotiabank as a partner to bring this program to entrepreneurs in our community.”
“We’re proud to be partnering with Community Futures Peterborough to continue supporting ScaleUP,” adds Chris Skinner, Scotiabank’s vice president for central east Ontario. “It’s a program that closely connects with our own values, supporting our community by empowering entrepreneurs to grow their business and reach their goals.”
The 2024 ScaleUP program will welcome another cohort of entrepreneurs this spring for a revamped program, once again led by industry consultant Diane Richard and a team of regional experts, that focuses on building a business plan for sustainable growth.
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In a mix of classroom sessions and one-on-one strategic consultations, participants will focus on expansion planning, setting key performance indicators and strategic goals, personal leadership, people management, and financial management. The program will finish with a growth plan for sustainable expansion customized for each participant.
Applications for the 2024 ScaleUP program are open until Tuesday, April 2nd for entrepreneurs located within the city or county of Peterborough.
Providing small businesses in the city and county of Peterborough with flexible financing, Community Futures Peterborough is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), as part of the Community Futures Program.
The Community Futures Program supports 60 Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in Ontario — 36 in southern Ontario and 24 in northern Ontario — that offer free business counselling, loans for start-up and expansion of small business, strategic planning on local projects, and community economic development in rural areas.
“Investing in programs like ScaleUP will provide the support and resources to entrepreneurs in rural communities that will support them as they scale-up, grow, and thrive,” says Filomena Tassi, the minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “Our government’s commitment to the Community Futures Program has helped pave the way for economic growth in southern Ontario’s rural communities.”
On October 11, 2023, representatives of the Governments of Canada, Ontario, and the City of Peterborough attended an official ground-breaking event at 681 Monaghan Road in Peterborough, on the site of a new six-storey building that will include 53 units of affordable housing. It is one of three projects to build and repair affordable homes in Peterborough with over $64 million in funding from all three levels of government. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
The Ontario government is providing the City of Peterborough with $1,880,000 in funding as a “reward” for the city exceeding its 2023 housing target.
The funding comes from the Building Faster Fund, a three-year $1.2 billion program announced in 2023 that is designed to encourage municipalities to address the housing supply crisis by providing funding to municipalities that have reached at least 80 per cent of their provincially assigned housing target for the year, with increased funding for municipalities that exceed their target.
The announcement, made by the municipal affairs and housing minister’s parliamentary assistant Matthew Rae in Peterborough on Monday (March 11), is one of a series of similar announcements from the Ontario government over the past few weeks.
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Other municipalities that have received funding to date through the Building Faster Fund include Toronto ($114 million), Brampton ($25.5 million), Milton ($8 million), Brantford ($3.1 million), Whitchurch-Stouffville ($2.6 million), St. Catharines ($2.3 million), Welland ($1.72 million), Belleville ($1.24 million), and Chatham-Kent ($440,000).
Municipalities can direct funding from the Building Faster Fund toward housing-enabling infrastructure and other related costs that support community growth.
In August 2023, the Ontario government assigned housing targets to 50 municipalities including Peterborough as part of a provincial plan to build at least 1.5 million homes by 2031.
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Once the head of councils pledged to achieve their municipalities’ housing targets, they became eligible for the Building Faster Fund and were also given strong mayor powers, which include allowing mayors to propose housing-related bylaws and pass them with the support of one-third of councillors.
For the City of Peterborough, the provincial government assigned a total housing target of 4,700 by 2031, including a target of 345 housing starts in 2023, 392 in 2024, and 470 in 2025.
On January 12, the city announced it had exceeded the 2023 housing target by issuing permits to start construction on 435 housing units last year. However, according to the media release from the provincial government announcing the $1.88 million in funding for Peterborough, the city broke ground on a total of 506 new housing units last year.
Peterborough's Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) has announced the artists chosen by lottery for the 2024 festival which runs from June 21 to 23 at Trent University, including its first family show featuring John-Paul Chalykoff performing original songs in Anishinaabemowin, along with interludes between songs with his puppet Baabii sharing some Anishinaabemowin. A member of Michipicoten First Nation, Chalykoff is an assistant professor in Anishinaabe studies at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie. (Photo courtesy of NIFF)
From music to puppetry, the talents of Indigenous artists will be on display right here in Peterborough during the upcoming Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF).
The annual event is unique to the city as it’s the only Indigenous fringe festival “in the known world,” says its general manager, Lee Bolton.
NIFF runs from June 21 to 23 at Trent University. The festival has a full roster with more than 20 performances, special events, family activities, and vendors. Festival organizers recently announced the line-up of artists for this year.
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“Of course, I am excited about all the shows, but it’s neat to have been around long enough — four years — to be welcoming back past artists like Josh Languedoc, Juicebox Theatre, and the Centre for Indigenous Theatre,” Bolton told kawarthaNOW.
“I am also really excited to have our first family show with original songs in Anishnaabemowin — Songs and Puppetry with John-Paul Chalykoff,” Bolton noted.
NIFF is being held in and around the Enwayaang building on the east bank of Trent University’s main campus, which is located at 1600 West Bank Drive.
“It’s a unique opportunity for Indigenous artists to share any work they want to,” Bolton shared, noting, there aren’t any festival “gatekeepers.”
“It’s also a special opportunity for folks in Peterborough to check out up-and-coming Indigenous artists. You’ll be able to say you knew them when.”
VIDEO: “And on the Evidence” – Mama D (2013)
This year’s line-up includes the following artists:
Theatre: Juicebox (Winnipeg), Centre for Indigenous Theatre (Toronto), and Josh Languedoc (Edmonton)
Puppetry: John-Paul Chalykoff (Sault Ste. Marie)
Drag: Indigiqueenart (Nogojiwanong)
Music: Mama D (Toronto)
Film: Wshkiigmong Dibaajmownan (Curve Lake First Nation and Saugeen First Nation)
NIFF chooses the artists through a lottery process, which is a customary element of fringe festivals, Bolton said.
The festival team “was thrilled” to pull six live performance companies and a film from this year’s hat, with both local and national artists represented, NIFF noted in a media release. Each company will have multiple performances.
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Seeing a full house would be the best possible outcome for this year’s instalment of NIFF, Bolton said.
“There’s nothing better than being sold out, so that’s what I’d wish for NIFF 2024. With 26 performances spread over three days, it would be an amazing thing to see line-ups every time.”
More information about the artists is available on the festival’s website at indigenousfringefest.ca. Organizers expect to unveil the complete schedule in April, with ticket sales beginning in May.
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