At its meeting on Monday night (April 8), Peterborough city council voted to approve an amendment to the city’s parks and facilities by-law with the intention of allowing Foods Not Bombs to continue serving free meals to those in need at Confederation Square without requiring a permit.

The volunteer group, which has been serving free meals for almost 19 years, began receiving trespass notices and compliance orders from the city in March because they were not in compliance with two sections of the by-law that require permits, including offering food or drink and erecting or being within a structure, hut, or tent.

The previous city council passed the parks and facilities by-law in August 2019 to help prevent homeless tent encampments in city parks.

The amendment to the by-law would allow a manager with delegated authority to grant an exemption to any part of the by-law for activities within Confederation Square. The intention would be to provide Foods Not Bombs with an exemption to allow them to continue to serve food in the park.

However, the amended by-law would also allow the city to apply administrative penalties of up to $275 per day for contravening the by-law and up to $750 per day for undertaking activities that require a permit. If an administrative penalty is applied to a by-law violation, this would replace a fine of between $200 and $10,000 per day upon conviction for an offence.

There was no discussion during the council meeting on why the administrative penalty change to the by-law was being included.

Ben Rempel, representing Foods Not Bombs (FNB), made a delegation to council at Monday night’s meeting to present the following statement on behalf of the collective.

“As you are likely aware, Food Not Bombs has continued to serve a nutritious community meal every Monday year-round since 2005,” Rempel said, reading the statement from his phone. “Our sharing of food is an act of protest against unjust civic priorities and, as we have been assured by the city, protests in Peterborough do not require permits.”

“Recently, the City of Peterborough has informed us we are in contravention of the 2019 parks and facilities by-law, a by-law regarding which — council may remember directly promising us — was to be explicitly complaint-driven, meaning that unless somebody makes a complaint, there will be no policy to enforce the by-law.”

“During the ongoing dialogue between FNB and the City of Peterborough, it has been established that neither party is aware of any complaints against the protest operations of Food Not Bombs in Confederation Square. The city’s use of the contracted security patrols by Garda, with city orders to take direct action against Food Not Bombs, would show the current city government has recently chosen to take a different stance on the enforcement of parks and facilities by-law.”

“The City of Peterborough has framed their concerns as an issue of insurance and liability,” Rempel continued. “However, the Ontario Donation of Food Act prevents anyone from holding FNB, or the Corporation of the City of Peterborough, liable for spoiled food.”

“Food Not Bombs has graciously been granted access to a commercial kitchen, where we prepare our community feast. We abide by commercial food safety rules, including erecting a tent to cover food served outdoors, and we maintain a strong and transparent relationship with the Peterborough health unit. We invite anyone from city administration to visit our kitchen and inspect our tent if they have any concerns. In all our years of protest operation, we have never caused a known detriment to public health or safety — and we all eat the food we cook, too.”

“With all these protections in place, we ask where is the real danger? In a city where residents are overwhelmingly at higher risk of losing their job, becoming food insecure, losing their housing, and becoming isolated from their supports than they are of being injured by our tent, the danger is in groups like FNB not existing. The danger comes when the Corporation of the City of Peterborough is cutting and attacking food programs despite the increased risk this (poses) to the public, because risk does not equal liability.”

“If this (proposed by-law amendment) intends to switch infractions from being provincial offences to administrative penalties, it is an outright attack on democracy,” Rempel said. “When a ticket is received it can be challenged in a court at no cost, but an administrative penalty cannot be challenged without a judicial review, which costs time and money which those most likely affected could never hope to raise.”

“This does nothing to protect Food Not Bombs, and we will not be used as a smokescreen for a motion which limits citizens’ ability to stand up for their rights and challenge unfair laws. It is within the power and jurisdiction of city hall to amend the parks and facilities by-law in a way which returns public space to the public and which protects the constitutional rights of the citizens of Peterborough. We all want our shared spaces to be safe, inviting, and communal.”

“The best way to achieve this is by facilitating active use of public space, not by necessitating permits. We believe the will exists within city administration to enact this, and we look forward to watching our city’s representation and staff working on the public’s behalf to make this happen.”

Responding to the statement, councillor Joy Lachica asked Rempel to confirm that Foods Not Bombs would prefer to have the parts of the proposed by-law amendment that refer to administrative fines removed., which Rempel confirmed.

Given the late hour in which the proposed amendment came before council, councillor Bierk put forward a motion to defer the item until the next cycle of meetings, which lost, with only Bierk and Mayor Leal voting in favour of the deferral.

Councillor Lachica spoke against proceeding with the proposed amendment, suggesting that problematic sections of the entire by-law be reviewed and that further consultation be held with Food Not Bombs to understand their concerns with the amendment.

“We’re actually disabling an organization from the ability to appeal at ticket if there was something put forward,” she said. “We’re not giving them that flexibility when we are charging them a fee. It doesn’t sit right with me the way it is, so I’m not going to be able to support this motion.”

Councillors Matt Crowley, Kevin Duguay, and Dave Haacke spoke in support of the proposed by-law amendment.

“If we need to tweak the by-law, let’s work with Commissioner Potts and Legislative Services and councillor Lachica and I and tweak it, but in the meantime, pass this stupid thing so that we can get going with the real business of the city and help out Food Not Bombs in the meantime, because they’re doing good work and they need to continue to do it,” he said. “But this is just wasting time, is all this is doing — us discussing this right now — because this helps them and it needs to happen.”

The proposed by-law amendment was approved by a vote of 9 to 2, with only councillors Lachica and Bierk voting against it.

While “Let’s Make the World a Better Place” is the slogan for a new volunteer-run environmental group in Peterborough, the story of the group’s founding is proof that caring for the planet has benefits extending beyond the environment.

Aptly named, Clean Up Peterborough comprises a group of city and county residents who are passionate about environmental stewardship and want to keep the trails, parks, and streets litter-free all year round.

“I launched it with the goal to connect with other businesses and people that really care,” says Steve Paul, the founder and organizer of Clean Up Peterborough.

It’s just a lucky coincidence that the group’s first community clean-up is happening during Earth Month. On Monday (April 15) at 11 a.m., volunteers — including local businesses and organizations like Siemens, the Peterborough Humane Society, and Manitoulin Transport — will meet at the TransCanada Trail Parking Lot at 1100 Technology Drive for the public clean-up.

The ambitious goal is to clean the entire stretch of Technology Drive between Keene Road and Ashburnham Drive, the parking lot, the Lang-Hastings Trail section between Technology Drive and Lansdowne Street, and along the trail south of Technology. Those looking to get involved can email cleanuppeterborough@gmail.com to register by Friday, April 12.

“The more people we have to get involved, the quicker it will go, and we’ll be able to give back even more,” Steve says. “We want to use it as a launch point to get the word out and hopefully get some momentum and organize some other clean-ups.”

A resident of Peterborough since he was young, Steve has been a long-time active community member when it comes to environmental initiatives in the region. He has previously volunteered with Ontario Turtle Conservation, Kawartha Wildlife Centre, and Kawartha Land Trust, and is currently a board member for the Peterborough Field Naturalists.

Though Clean Up Peterborough is a new group, the roots of it began with Steve’s diagnoses of anxiety, depression, atypical anorexia, and adult combined ADHD. While learning to navigate these diagnoses, he discovered the healing powers of the outdoors and has used nature to “reground” himself.

“I’m learning how to restructure my life to better support my needs, and a lot of what I’ve been focusing on is being out in nature more and finding out ways that I can make a difference,” Steve says.

On his journey to reconnect with nature, daily walks along the Lang-Hastings Trail near his home have become a welcome relief for Steve. Since the end of last May, he has only taken five mornings off from walking at least a piece of the trail every morning.

“I’ve always felt at peace being outside and being out with my camera and my binoculars — I’m a birdwatcher, so it’s nice to get out and see what birds are in the area,” he says, noting that the daily walks allow him to meet others doing the same. “I found that I was able to connect with people out biking or jogging who maybe are not taking time to really see what’s around them.”

Steve found that sharing the story of having come within 100 feet of a female moose along the trail last July was engaging for his listeners and the participants he would lead during walks for the Peterborough Field Naturalists.

Since the story was of interest to many who showed surprise at such wildlife being so close to the city, he took it as an opportunity to express the need to take care of the land — and not just for our sake.

“The area that I walk every day is part of one of the eight provincially significant wetlands that we are blessed with in and around the city of Peterborough and I take pride in that,” says Steve. “People engage in my mental health journey, but I figured there’s a bigger purpose here and I decided to take that into the realm of having a clean environment and appreciating nature.”

While on the regular walks and becoming more and more grateful for his time spent outdoors, Steve observed something other than wildlife.

“I ended up coming to Technology Drive every day and thought there was lots of garbage around,” he says. “Every once in a while, someone from the city would come clean up, but then it would get dirty again. I wanted to do something.”

As a Lang-Hastings Trail steward, Steve now monitors the local section between Keene Road and Technology Drive. One day in December, he alone collected five bags of garbage out from alongside of the trail.

That, combined with how he felt to be immersed in nature while talking to people he met on his walks, encouraged him to go further in his stewardship of the land. Already familiar with Clean Up Barrie, he decided to bring a similar initiative to Peterborough.

“I’m trying to share a message about the benefits of getting out in nature on mental health and combine it with the whole garbage initiative as well,” he says. “It’s about respecting what we have and giving back.”

Beyond the first community clean-up, Clean Up Peterborough is already well into planning the second, the “Ashburnham Little Lake Clean-Up” to take place on Earth Day. Meeting at 10 a.m. at the Rogers Cove parking lot or the Beavermead Park parking lot on Monday, April 22nd, volunteers will be split into smaller groups the groups to tidy the area from Rogers Cove to the soccer fields at Beavermead Park.

Though the organization hasn’t even had their first clean-up yet, Steve is already looking several steps ahead. One major goal is to create “clean up kits” which would include bags, gloves, hand sanitizers, and other items for community members to pick up at library, schools, and municipal offices across the region to encourage them to host their own clean-ups.

“Giving them the some additional supplies will support them on their journey to do a clean-up in an area that’s important to them,” Steve says. “Hopefully we can even track the data and create a visual element to inspire even more people to get out and work on new areas.”

Clean Up Peterborough is already thinking about applying for grants, shoreline clean-ups, and connecting with the City to create systems for ensuring safety during clean-ups.

“I’m hoping that, together, Clean Up Peterborough and municipalities in the city and county can work together to spread education and help influence people to try to get involved to make a difference,” says Steve.

To contact about donating supplies for the clean-up kits or to register for either clean-up, email cleanuppeterborough@gmail.com. For more information on the Earth Day event as details become available, join the Clean Up Peterborough Facebook group.

Peterborough police have made an arrest in connection with the death of a cat south of Millbrook in March.

On March 24, a Cavan-Monaghan Township resident contacted police to report their cat had been shot with an arrow.

After officers arrived at the home in the Deyell Line and County Road 10 area, they learned the cat has been found injured on a driveway.

Officers were told the cat was then taken to a vet, where it had to be euthanized due to its injuries.

After an investigation, police arrested a 53-year-old Cavan-Monaghan Township man and charged him with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal under the criminal code and causing distress to an animal under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act.

The accused man was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on April 23.

Northumberland County is encouraging residents to roll up their sleeves and pitch in for the sake of the planet by participating in county-wide clean up efforts leading up to Earth Day.

In recognition of Earth Day on Monday, April 22, Northumberland County invites residents to participate in local Earth Day activities, taking place across Northumberland from Sunday, April 21 to Saturday, April 27. The week-long effort targets building awareness around the importance of preserving and safeguarding the county’s natural resources for future generations.

The annual Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge is the county’s main event, which has municipalities square off against each other to see which community can clean up the most garbage.

“This friendly competition between our fellow Northumberland communities has the net benefit of working together to beautify Northumberland,” Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander told kawarthaNOW.

“We invite the community to come together in friendly competition and also civic pride, making a positive difference to the environment by cleaning up our local parks, streets and neighbourhoods.”

As the mayor of the Municipality of Brighton, Ostrander hopes Brightonians take on the challenge.

“It is always my hope that Brighton residents come out in droves to sign up to help tidy up their neighbourhoods, trails, and parks. We have been awarded top marks in the past for our volunteerism and I hope that we see that happen again this year,” Ostrander said.

The Keep the County Clean Challenge grows in terms of impact with each annual instalment, the county noted in a media release. Last year, 2,434 volunteers removed 19,000 kilograms of litter from across Northumberland during the week-long collection.

“Earth Day serves as an annual reminder of the crucial responsibility we hold to preserve and protect our environment,” the warden said in the release.

“On behalf of county council, I invite community members to participate in the county’s Earth Day initiatives to learn more about environmental issues, raise awareness of the importance of our natural resources, and take positive action to contribute to a healthier community.”

Last year, the Township of Alnwick Haldimand took home the prize for “highest proportional volunteers,” while the Township of Cramahe took home the prize for “hardest working volunteers,” based on the volume of waste collected. The county hopes to exceed 2023 numbers with this year’s challenge.

Northumberland County invites community members to mark their calendars and take part in the following activities planned to celebrate Earth Day:

Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge

The week-long litter clean-up event, delivered in partnership with local municipalities, is a friendly competition that encourages residents to register with their local municipality to participate in cleaning up litter and waste from their community’s roadsides, parks and trails.

The municipalities with the highest proportional representation of volunteers, and most litter collected per volunteer, will take home trophies to celebrate their contributions.

The 20-minute Makeover

On Friday, April 26, community members are encouraged to spend a few minutes beautifying an area in their neighbourhood, such as a local park, trail, their place of work, or a school yard.

No registration is required. Residents can grab a bag and some gloves and head outdoors.

EarlyON Earth Day Family Story Time

On Monday, April 22, families with young children, aged six or under, are invited to join EarlyON Northumberland for a free interactive story time program, as well as other activities, songs and rhymes.

Each child that attends any EarlyON Child and Family Centre location across the county will be given a pack of wildflower seeds to take home and grow. Seeds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.

For information about EarlyON locations and programming, visit northumberland.ca/earlyon.

Earth Day is celebrated annually around the world on April 22. This day of recognition aims to bring attention to environmental challenges and the impacts of climate change on both a global and local scale.

For more information about Earth Day, including registration details to participate in the Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge, visit northumberland.ca/earthday.

After a gruelling five-hour meeting on Monday night (April 8), Peterborough City Council approved a $4.4 million redevelopment plan for Bonnerworth Park that includes an expanded skate park, a bike pump track, and — most controversially — 16 pickleball courts.

Town Ward councillor Joy Lachica, whose ward includes Bonnerworth Park, had tabled a motion last Tuesday night at council’s general committee meeting to revisit the redevelopment plan in response to concerns of neighbouring residents primarily about the potential noise and traffic that would result from the large number of pickleball courts.

That motion, supported by Lachica’s fellow Town Ward councillor Alex Bierk as well as Ashburnham Ward councillor Keith Riel, lost in an 8 to 3 vote last Tuesday and — as is the case for all items voted on by general committee — was then brought forward to the regular city council meeting for a confirmation vote, where it again lost in the same 8 to 3 vote, with only councillors Lachica, Bierk, and Riel voting in favour of delaying the project.

While Monday night’s meeting was a marathon, it was absent the heated discussion in the debate of Lachica’s motion the previous week — which had included Mayor Jeff Leal reportedly telling councillor Bierk he “would carve him like a Thanksgiving turkey” after Bierk had referred to borrowing a pickleball racquet from the mayor’s wife, who he mentioned by name, contrary to council protocols.

On Monday night, Leal apologized for the “intemperate language” he directed at Bierk, saying he “overreacted.”

“My words were ill-chosen,” Leal said. “I don’t regret responding; however, I do regret the way in which I chose to respond.”

Much of Monday night’s meeting was spent hearing from 10 delegations from the community that were either in favour of and against the redevelopment plan, in particular the installation of 16 pickleball courts.

Professional pickleball player and coach Jennie Davis told council that pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in North America and is increasingly popular with people under 24 years old, and existing facilities cannot keep up with the demand even though they have been expanding their programming.

“You could build 40 courts in the city tomorrow, and I promise you they would be filled by 9 a.m.,” Davis said in her presentation. “The reason pickleball has become so popular is because it’s easy to play, it’s inexpensive, and it’s incredibly social due to the court size.”

In response to a question from councillor Bierk about 16 pickleball courts being located in a residential area, Davis said there is a “host of ways” to prevent noise from being an issue.

“The proposal is there’s going to be berms, there’s going to be trees that are planted to create more green space, and there’s also going to be the option of using noise walls as well,’ she said. “Because pickleball is gaining so much steam, there are so many companies now that are creating solutions to the noise issue.”

Also in response to a question from councillor Bierk, Davis said that having eight courts in two different locations would not meet the demand for the sport, and would also not allow for tournaments to be easily held.

The next delegation was Shelley Moloney, president of the Peterborough Pickleball Association, who told council she supports having 16 courts in one location because it would allow Peterborough to host large tournaments, pointing out that hosting tournaments would also benefit the local economy.

“With a facility such as this, we would certainly be on the radar to hold a provincial or national pickleball event,” Moloney said, adding that a national tournament held in Kingston in 2022 brought in close to $1 million to that city.

“Why shouldn’t Peterborough be the trailblazer?” she asked, referring to an earlier question about whether other municipalities offer 16 outdoor pickleball courts in a single location. “It would certainly put us on the map, and it’s wonderful to see that the city is even thinking about this — being progressive and filling a huge recreational need.”

In response to a question from councillor Riel, Moloney said the Peterborough Pickleball Association has access to 10 outdoor pickleball courts in the city, including four dedicated ones at Knights of Columbus Park and six “makeshift” ones — tennis courts that have been converted for pickleball, such as those at Bonnerworth Park.

While there are also a number of indoor courts available at facilities including the YMCA and the Wellness Centre, Moloney said there are no indoor courts designed specifically for pickleball.

“We don’t have a proper indoor facility, like a set pickleball facility here in the city,” she said.

In response to a question from councillor Bierk, Moloney said the Peterborough Pickleball Association would be willing to financially contribute to the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment.

In response to a question from councillor Dave Haacke, Moloney estimated the Peterborough Pickleball Association would be reserving use of the 16 pickleball courts at Bonnerworth around 32 per cent of the time, with the remaining time being available for open public use, based on their current permitting of courts for around 27 hours of the 84 hours per week they are available.

After hearing from pickleball player Ruby Byrne, who expressed her support for the 16 pickleball courts, Geoff Rix and Dan Post of the Peterborough Skateboard Coalition spoke to council in support of approving the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment so the skate park expansion could proceed as soon as possible.

Comparing skateboarders to pickleball players, Rix said that skateboarders were also once “the unwelcome additions.”

In a response to a question from councillor Kevin Duguay, Post said users of the skate park had no issue with being adjacent to the pickleball courts.

“We share that vision of a co-mingling of different generations,” Post explained. “As you know, skateboarding attracts younger people certainly, but also people who don’t necessarily have a lot of contact with the mainstream of other members of the community, so we have always thought that Bonnerworth was a tremendous location to create an interconnected style of park.”

“It would be our vision to see it cohesively built, with pathways and ways for skateboarders to leave the (skate) park and head to the pickleball and potentially interact with both. We (could) pitch to the pickleball group a ‘learn how to’ event maybe, or they come to learn to skate (and) we learn to pickleball.”

After Dylan Scott spoke against the 16 pickleball courts, saying “Would 16 courts make it a pickleball park?,” council heard from Bill O’Byrne, a director with the Peterborough Pickleball Association and a former tennis player who took up pickleball when he was 70 years old.

On the issue of noise from pickleball courts, O’Byrne said that a U.S. study done by acoustic engineers found that berms, sound-deadening windscreens, and vegetation can reduce the sound level at 115 feet to the low 60 decibels (about as loud as an air conditioner or vacuum cleaner).

“We can manage the sound issue,” O’Byrne said.

The next delegation to present to council was Richard Scott, a Middleton Drive resident and retired park and environmental planner who worked for Parks Canada and the National Capital Commission.

Scott was critical of the process followed in the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment plan, referring to the “missing middle.”

“The city’s current planning process jumped from A, defining broad city-wide facility needs, to C, recommending specific facilities for Bonnerworth Park — these facilities are now undergoing detailed design,” Scott explained. “Missing was step B, an intermediate step in the planning process to assess whether, what, and to what extent recreational facilities were appropriate for this park.”

That intermediate step, according to Scott, “would reduce the level of the risk to the city,” including later delays in the planning process, inappropriate solutions, solutions that cannot be mitigated or only at great expense, and “legal challenges that in some cities have actually closed municipal (pickleball) courts.”

“We have to get this right,” Scott said, adding that the city should step back to improve the “missing middle” by consulting with recreational users and surrounding neighbourhoods.

City council then heard a remote delegation by retired engineer and project manager Paul Sobanski, who explained the three constraints of project management — time, cost, and scope — affecting the quality of a project (commonly expressed as “Good, fast, cheap. Choose two.”).

Sobanski said that the existing redevelopment plan has three major risks — sound mitigation, traffic management, and stormwater management — with sound mitigation being the highest risk.

“This project as it structured is very, very risky, because it is taking chances on budget, time, and scope, and there’s a better way to do it,” Sobanski said, recommending that work on the skate park expansion and bike pump track proceed first, with work on the pickleball courts delayed until a noise mitigation study can be completed.

The final delegation was Middleton Drive resident John Gerelus, who said he was part of a group of residents from the broader area that “support the inclusive and equitable development of Bonnerworth Park.”

Gerelus said the group he represents supports the skate park expansion and the bike pump track, but is concerned with the increase of noise and loss of green space from the installation of 16 pickleball courts, and especially the loss of existing use of the park.

“A group of determined residents in a matter of a few days after the meeting on March 21st were able to find copious evidence of shuttered pickleball courts, noise studies, and lawsuits related to pickleball noise in residential areas in countless cities across North America,” Gerelus said, adding that the proposed noise, lighting, and traffic studies “after ground has been broken doesn’t make any sense.”

Gerelus said that, once redevelopment happens, existing amenities in the park will be “gone forever” and noise mitigation has already been proven not to work. He suggested that the pickleball courts should instead be inside a building and not near a residential area, and criticized the loss of use of green space, including by students.

Gerelus also said the only notice of the redevelopment that residents received was a postcard from the city for the March 21st drop-in session, and urged councillors to pause the project.

Councillor Riel put forward a motion to suspend the rules limiting the number of public delegations on an item before council to 10, to allow for two additional delegations from the Peterborough Baseball Association and the Peterborough Housing Corporation, which was defeated.

After additional delegations on another topic and voting on consent items, councillors debated the motion from councillor Lachica, who spoke in favour of it along with councillors Bierk and Riel, while councillors Kevin Duguay and Lesley Parnell spoke against it.

Prior to the vote on Lachica’s motion, Mayor Leal responded to “a question of my personal integrity” regarding a conflict of interest on the subject of the pickleball courts.

“Let me be clear: I am not a pickleball player, I am not a member of the Peterborough Pickleball Association, and I’ve never received any amount of money from the Peterborough Pickleball Association,” he said. “My wife is a pickleball player and she is one of 300-plus members of PPA. She has never received money from the PPA. She is not an elected representative, and she can choose whatever hobbies or interests she chooses. This is 2024.”

“To suggest that I have a conflict because she plays pickleball is absurd,” Leal added, before asking councillors whether they or their family members use any municipally funded facilities.

On a point of order, councillor Lachica asked the mayor to clarify whether the accusation of a conflict of interest came from a member of council. Leal said the accusation was received in an email — “That’s why I’m addressing it in a public forum.”

“Conflict of interest involves pecuniary (financial) interest only and I have nothing to declare,” Leal continued, before displaying a piece of paper he said he received “under my desk today” that referred to the Peterborough Pickleball Association thanking the mayor’s wife for donating to a barbeque, where the mayor also cooked hamburgers.

“It’s one of a thousand barbeques I’ve done in my public life, and I also wanted to make sure I paid for my hamburger at that particular event,” Leal said, before tossing the piece of paper over his shoulder onto the floor.

A vote was then held on councillors Lachica’s motion, which was defeated 8 to 3 with only councillors Lachica, Bierk, and Riel voting in favour.

With an outdoor space for conversation, raised garden beds, fruit trees and even Pilates, a committee has established roots to bring a healing garden to Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH).

Located in the Municipality of Trent Hills, CMH recently received a grant to help kick-start the project and has established a community healing garden committee to get the initiative off the ground.

Jessica Clarke, manager of community programs for Campbellford Memorial Multicare Lodge and Trent Hills GAIN & Community Mental Health, recently shared with kawarthaNOW how the healing garden concept was planted.

“Originally the idea came about from the community mental health program at CMH as an area for additional resources to address food insecurities with healthy, organic options through raised garden beds,” Clarke said.

“It is designed as a way to further support food security, healthy habits, and education through the growing of herbs, fruits, and vegetables.”

The vision also includes creating an outdoor space to “promote mindful commune with nature and small group interactions,” and peer support by providing meeting space and activities related to the care of the garden that encourage social interactions and exercise, Clarke noted.

“We are at the beginning of the planning process,” she added.

The community healing garden committee’s members are passionate about creating a space where service users, visitors, staff, and caregivers can connect to nature to promote restorative stress management.

“The committee has been identifying partners to ensure we are meeting the healing and spiritual needs of the community,” Clarke said. “We are in the process of requesting donations, applying for grants and requesting support from community horticultural partners and our Indigenous partners.”

The project recently received a $4,000 boost from the Cameco Fund for Mental Health, which will be used for the purchase of benches.

Meanwhile, Jeannie Gane Photography donated her time to create the committee’s logo it will display on future funding request materials. A community member has also offered to provide Pilates in the outdoor space this summer.

The area is on a hill with two already-defined levels. The goal is to have the lower area filled with raised gardens and fruit trees with seating areas for conversation and games, Clarke said. The committee envisions the upper level encompassing a seating area with picnic tables, bird feeders, and wind chimes.

“The higher level would be where we would like to add an accessible walkway in the future for patients to gain access from the hospital side of the garden property,” Clarke noted. “There is a natural area separating the lower level from the higher level we would like to cultivate with perennial flowers.”

While it’s early days, the committee members are aiming to have a few raised garden beds and benches completed by late spring or early in the summer.

“With the need for additional funding for this project, we will be reaching out to local businesses and community clubs to help fund specific items like picnic tables, soil, mulch, seating, et cetera,” Clarke said.

Clarke said research indicates communal gardening and healing gardens are associated with positive mental health and physical health indicators, such as increased objective and subjective well-being markers, increase in intake of fruits and vegetables, and higher levels of resiliency and optimism.

“We are most excited to provide a welcoming, inclusive and stigma-free green space to all patients, staff and visitors of CMH,” she said.

“Although it is a big fundraising effort, I would say we are most excited about providing an area which is accessible to all patients of the hospital, particularly our (alternate level of care) patients to access the outdoors for health, programming, and general wellness.”

The very first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, and since then, the date has evolved into the largest participatory environmental movement across the globe. Needless to say, it’s a day dedicated to educating about, advocating for, and participating in environmental initiatives.

This year, Earth Day Canada’s media campaign is “Earth Day is Leg Day,” encouraging activists to “skip the car, save the planet” by biking, walking, or busing. Cars, after all, are one of the biggest contributors to gas emissions in Canada. Participating in the Leg Day Challenge hosted by Earth Day Canada could result in winning an e-bike, transit passes, and more. Visit earthday.ca/april-22/campaign/leg-day/ for more information.

Locally, municipalities, volunteer groups, businesses, and organizations are teaming up to get residents thinking about the planet on Earth Day. From educational summits and game nights, to getting immersed in nature with clean-ups, hikes and bio blitz, to contests and art shows, there are so many ways to get involved this year — and, hey, why not do a bit more and walk to the events instead of driving? Every bit counts, after all.

The Big Flip Contest from Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & the Kawarthas (April 1 – 30)

In honour of Earth Day, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region are hosting The Big Flip, a Kawartha-wide furniture flipping contest. The contest promotes sustainability by encouraging people to turn trash into treasure by reviving used furniture, giving it a second life, and keeping it out of landfills.

To enter the contest, participants must take one “before” photo of the piece of furniture, one photo of them working on it, and one “after” photo. Winners of the People’s Choice (chosen by peers) and the Designer’s Choice (chosen by a panel of experts from Birchview Designs) will receive a prize pack from Fusion Mineral Paint, a year-long membership to Peterborough Tool Library with access to over 600 tools, and a $500 gift card to Chemong Home Hardware Building Centre.

The Big Flip is on now until April 30. Visit www.thebigflip.ca for more details and to enter.

Minden Hills Earth Day Contests (April 1 – 30)

The Township of Minden Hills is encouraging residents to engage in eco-friendly initiatives by hosting two Earth Day contests.

For the first Earth Day contest, participants can submit a photo of themselves engaging in an initiative such as doing a roadside clean-up, walking instead of taking the car, growing plants that attract pollinators, planting trees, or reducing waste. Location details must be included with the submission. Submissions will be entered into a draw, where one lucky winner will receive a FoodCycler Unit.

The fun doesn’t end there as the township is also hosting an Earth Day Colouring Contest. Stop by the township office, S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena, or any waste disposal site to pick up a colouring page. On the back of your page, write what Earth Day means to you. One winner will be selected at random to receive a gift basket.

Submissions for both contests can be emailed to ccosh@mindenhills.ca. The deadline for entries is April 30.

“Creating a Bike-Friendly Business” webinar (April 11)

No matter your business, there are always ways to support employee health, increase your customer base, and attract top talent, all while reducing your carbon footprint through easy-to-implement supports, policy, and local incentives.

Hosted by GreenUP and Green Economy Peterborough, Shifting Gears, and local business leaders Trent Health in Motion and Green Street, the “Creating a Bike-Friendly Business: Business Case, Best Practices & Supports” free lunch-and-learn event will educate on the benefits and strategies to make businesses more bike-friendly.

The event runs from 12 to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 11th on Zoom. Register at eventbrite.ca/e/875683983367.

Earth Day “Beeswax Wrap Make & Take” workshop at Dancing Bee in Port Hope (April 19)

Port Hope’s Dancing Bee Equipment (5029 County Road 2, Port Hope, 905-753-2623) is helping you kick your single-use disposable habit with a beeswax wrap-making activity from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 19th.

A great alternative to plastic wrap, these fun-to-make beeswax wraps will keep food fresh and can easily be refreshed if the wax starts to wear.

The workshop costs $50 per person and includes 10 per cent off in the Bee Works Gift Shop on workshop day.

Advance registration is required at dancingbeeequipment.com.

“NatureNurture: An Evening of Art for the Earth” in Camborne (April 20)

Immerse yourself in a creative exploration of the environment at an art show and live music event with proceeds going towards local environmental organizations. Beginning at 7 p.m. at the Old Camborne School (3441 Albert’s Alley, Camborne) north of Cobourg, the evening will include nature-themed indie and folk music from local musicians Shannon Linton, Jakeb Daniel, and Whitney O’Hearn.

There will also be visual artwork for sale and a short film presentation from multi-media artist MERKAT/Katie Hoogendam.

Proceeds from ticket sales, merchandise, and art prints will go towards the Northumberland Land Trust and other non-profit organizations around the Great Lakes focused on environmental advocacy.

Tickets are $20 or pay what you can. For more information and advance tickets, visit eventbrite.ca/e/860093190887. A small number of tickets will also be available at the door.

Peterborough Butt Blitz (April 20)

Cigarette butts account for one of five pieces of litter found in shoreline clean-ups. That’s why this Earth Day, non-profit organizations A Greener Future and Butt 1 Community are hosting their annual Butt Blitz from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20th in Peterborough (meet at the Silver Bean Café at Millennium Park in downtown Peterborough).

Community members will remove butts from the streets while learning about the negative impacts of cigarette butt litter has on ecosystems and health.

The event will contribute to A Greener Future’s goal of removing one million butts from the environment across Canada throughout April. Last year’s event picked up over 285,000 butts across the country for recycling at TerraCycle Canada, and this year’s aim is to collect 350,000 butts.

A limited amount of equipment will be available, but participants are encouraged to bring an upcycled container (yogurt tub or coffee tin, for example) and gloves or a litter picker. A limited number of Pocket Ashtrays will be supplied by Butt 1 Community.

Visit the Butt 1 Community Facebook page at facebook.com/butt1community for more information.

“Fascinating Fungi” workshop at the Douro-Dummer Library (April 20)

Learn all about stinkhorns, velvet shanks, and conks at the Douro-Dummer Library with a beginner fungi workshop led by Susan Chow, a Trent University lab demonstrator specializing in ecology, botany, fungi, herpetology, and limnology.

Held from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 20th, the workshop will begin with an overview of how fungi groups are organized, before participants learn to recognize major fungi groups using an ID chart and the “Mushrooms of Ontario and Eastern Canada” field guide.

Examining collected specimens and a fun mushroom identification Jeopardy game will help fine-tune identification skills. Before the workshop, participants are encouraged to look at the identification chart at shorturl.at/jCNY2.

Admission to the workshop is by donation. For more information, contact the library at 705-652-8599 or email library@dourodummer.on.ca.

Lakefield Trail Work Day and Earth Day Hike (April 20 and 21)

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to get outside and enjoy and appreciate everything nature has to offer on a local trail?

Join the Lakefield Trail enthusiasts and the Township of Selwyn at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 20th at the Lakefield Marina (1 Water St., Lakefield) to help spread limestone screenings and pick up garbage along the Lakefield Trail, and spread mulch around the native plant garden. If you plan to mulch and weed trees, bring garden gloves, a weeding tool, and a kneeling pad.

If you prefer to spend a day to appreciate spring and immerse yourself in nature, meet at the Marshland Centre (64 Hague Blvd, Lakefield) at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 21st for an Earth Day Hike.

Visit selwyntownship.ca for more information about the Lakefield Trail and other upcoming events.

Earth Week with Sustainable Cobourg (April 20 – 27)

Sustainable Cobourg promotes environmentalism all year long, but they are rolling out even more during Earth Week (April 20 to 27).

This year’s events include a live tour of Ecology Garden (116 Hibernia St.) from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 20th, the Cobourg Butt Blitz and Peace Park clean-up on Sunday, April 21st, and an open house at Cycle Transitions – Community Bike Shop (740 Division St., Building 17) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23rd.

Educational presentations at Venture13 (739 Darcy St.) include a talk on sustainability in the kitchen from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24th, building sustainability with Aerecura Rammed Earth Builders founder and CEO from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 26th, and a family event for green leaders to learn about biodiversity and applying citizen science digital skills starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 27th, when the Northumberland Mall parking lot will host an electric vehicles show and tell from 2 to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit sustainablecobourg.ca/earth-week-schedule/.

Cobourg Butt Blitz (April 21)

The Town of Cobourg is inviting all community members to get involved in a litter clean-up and Butt Blitz as a kick-off to the Mayors’ “Keep the County Clean” Challenge, which encourages community members to choose an area of Northumberland County in which to clean up litter between April 22 and 28.

In Cobourg, Mayor Lucas Cleveland will be kicking off the challenge on Sunday, April 21st in partnership with A Greener Future and Sustainable Cobourg.

A Greener Future will host the Butt Blitz from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, with participants asked to meet at the Cobourg Marina (103 Third St.) for a clean-up of the waterfront. All necessary supplies and equipment will be supplied. Sustainable Cobourg will be focusing their community clean-up efforts at Peace Park (175 Forth St.), also from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To register for a clean-up, visit cobourg.ca/cleanup to sign up. Supplies, including gloves, pickers, and garbage bags will be available to pick up from the Public Works Building 7 (740 Division St.) between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m from April 22 to 25.

Kawartha Lakes 20-Minute Community Clean-Up (April 21 – 27)

All it takes is 20 minutes to better the planet. Last year, over 1,600 people participated in community clean-ups across the Kawartha Lakes with nearly 700 bags of litter collected.

This year, the City Kawartha Lakes is encouraging residents to surpass the record by getting together with neighbours, community groups, teams, friends, and family to do a clean-up during Earth Week from Sunday, April 21st to Saturday, April 27th.

Register your community clean-up at kawarthalakes.formbuilder.ca/20-Minute-Community-Clean-Up or at a municipality service location. The municipality will supply clear garbage bags and gloves to participating groups and will contact each group to to set up waste disposal arrangements.

Earth Day in Brighton (April 22)

The Environmental Club at East Northumberland Secondary School is hosting a free celebration in Brighton’s Memorial Park from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Earth Day (Monday, April 22nd).

The afternoon begins with guest speaker, local naturalist and educator Ian Shanahan, followed by music by local band Downbeat. Bring a lawn chair. There will also be displays from local groups to educate visitors on how they can help the community and environment around them.

Staff from the Municipality of Brighton will be in attendance to help register and give out clean-up supplies to those looking to participate in the community clean-up around part of the downtown running from 12 to 2 p.m.

Nature Nuts Super Trivia Quiz Night in Haliburton (April 22)

Put your nature knowledge to the test with the Nature Nuts Super Trivia Quiz Night held at the Haliburton Highlands Museum (66 Museum Rd., Haliburton) beginning at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 22nd.

Participants can come in their own teams of four (don’t forget to come up with a creative team name!) or join a team for all-ages fun. Questions will cover everything from reptiles and amphibians to fish, birds, and other wildlife. Prizes to be won include a water barrel, binoculars, swag, gift baskets, and more.

Participation cost $15 at the door for a team of four, or $5 per person. Register online in advance for the chance to win a door prize valued at $100. Visit www.thelandbetween.ca/event/earth-day-nature-nuts-super-trivia-quiz-night/ to learn more and to register.

Earth Day Seedling Exchange – Peterborough Public Library (April 22)

From 4 to 5 p.m. on Monday, April 22nd, the Peterborough Public Library (45 Aylmer St.) is hosting a free Earth Day Seedling Exchange in the Multipurpose Room.

Whether you’re an experienced green thumb or just beginning, the seedling exchange gives you the chance to add some new life to this year’s garden. Bring seedlings you’ve started at home of, if you participated in the library’s makerspace event earlier in the month and planted vegetable seeds, you’re welcome to bring some of those seedlings.

Advance registration is not required.

Earth Day Tree Planting in Fenelon Falls (April 22)

Country Cupboard Health Food Store in Fenelon Falls, which usually gives away trees on Earth Day, is instead planting them this year starting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22nd.

They are inviting members of the community to help plant a mini fruit tree forest at the end of Queen Street, where nine homeowners have agreed to have fruit trees planted in their front yards and have committed to sharing the eventual fruit with the community to fight food insecurity. Rocks will also be painted with messages of sharing and community, to be placed at the base of the trees to commemorate the reason the trees were planted well into the future.

Bring a shovel and your reusable water bottle.

Selwyn Township Earth Day Clean Up (April 22 – 27)

The Township of Selwyn is not limiting their community clean ups to just Earth Day, as residents are encouraged to pick up litter from the roadside and public spaces throughout the week from Monday, April 22nd to Saturday, April 27th.

The municipality will supply participants with clear bags for garbage and recycling and nitrite gloves, courtesy of Swish Maintenance, along with a landfill pass, all of which are available for pick up at the Township office (1310 Centre Line). Filled garbage and recycling bags can then be brought to the Smith Landfill (1480 County Rd. 18) for disposal on Saturday, April 27th or from Tuesday, April 30th to Friday, May 5th (garbage and recycling must be sorted in separate bags).

Participants are encouraged to share their pictures of participation by tagging @SelwynTownship on social media or by submitting them by email to sustainable@selwyntownship.ca.

Visit selwyntownship.ca/en/news/earth-day-clean-up.aspx for more information.

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Cycling Summit: Safe Streets for Everyone (April 24 & 25)

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Cycling Summit will present the opportunity to share knowledge, tools, and tactics leading to a future where the safety of all road users is of utmost importance. Presented by the Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee, the two-day event will include guest speakers, interactive design workshops, and informative cycling and walking tours.

On Wednesday, April 24th from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Showplace Performance Centre, the event will kick off with keynote speaker Ian Lockwood, a livable transportation engineer with Toole Design Group, who will speak about cities transformed through complete streets initiatives. The night will include a grazing table, cash bar, door prize draw, and networking opportunities.

On Thursday, April 25th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the McDonnel Street Activity Centre, Dr. Sara Whitehead and Valerie Smith will share proven approaches to transportation safety, including tools, tactics and lessons learned from around the world. Participants will also have to opportunity to re-imagine roads and intersections in collaborative design workshops. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. There will also be guided bike and walking tours, with bicycle rentals available.

Registration for the summit costs $15 or pay what you can. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com/e/856258832217.

Peterborough’s City Nature Challenge Event at Ecology Park (April 26 & 27)

In partnership with the Peterborough Field Naturalists, the City of Peterborough is participating in City Nature Challenge, the global bio blitz competition. From April 26 to 29, citizen scientists are encouraged to explore their backyards and local parks to record the range of biodiversity found.

All observations within the city boundaries that are uploaded to the City Nature Challenge on iNaturalist will count towards the project challenge which will calculate the total participants, observations, and species recorded throughout the four days. The challenge provides key information to help researchers understand and assists in identifying population changes and environmental effects on biodiversity.

To kick off the City Nature Challenge, a community bio blitz will be held at Ecology Park, Beavermead Park, and Farmcrest Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th. Local experts from Peterborough Field Naturalists will lead tours of the parks to identify plants and animals and provide background to the area’s natural history. The meeting location for all walks is the GreenUP Ecology Park Pavilion just off the Trans Canada Trail.

For more information on the City Nature Challenge, the community bio blitz, and using iNaturalist, visit peterborough.ca/nature.

Jackson Park Peterborough Earth Day Celebration (April 27)

On Saturday, April 27th from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Friends of Jackson Park will be hosting a celebration of Earth Day with an afternoon of free family-friendly activities at Jackson Park.

Activities for the afternoon include guided nature walks, an introduction to disc golf, a Bonnerworth Park tour, guided meditation, medicinal plant presentation, invasive species identification, and more.

As part of the afternoon, B!KE: The Peterborough Community Cycling Hub will also be providing free ABC bike checks and cycling and route information from 2 to 2:25 p.m., before leading a group ride along the trail in Jackson’s Park at 2:40 p.m.

The event starts at Hamilton Park (575 Bonaccord St.). In the case of dangerous weather, the celebration will be moved to Saturday, May 4th. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

City of Peterborough Great Community Litter Clean-up (April 27 & 28)

Every year, especially around Earth Day, Peterborough-area community organizations and neighbourhood groups organize litter clean-ups as part of their efforts to protect the environment. This year, the City of Peterborough is encouraging everyone to participate in the Great Community Litter Clean-up on Saturday, April 27th and Sunday, April 28th.

Groups can register their Great Community Litter Clean-up location at peterborough.ca/en/city-services/litter.aspx to receive a free litter clean-up kit and arrange a designated time and location for public works staff to collect their garbage.

Kits will be available for pick-up by registered groups at the public works office (791 Webber Ave.) from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Groups are encouraged to share their photos on social media using the hashtag #PtboLitterAction and tagging @CityPtbo.

On Earth Day (Monday, April 22), Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal and city councillors will be promoting the Great Community Litter Clean-up with an announcement at 1 p.m. at the Beavermead Park Pavilion (2011 Ashburnham Dr.).