According to Peterborough-based psychotherapist Diane Wolf, being stressed is often considered a "badge of honour" because it means we're busy and productive and, as is often the case with women, taking care of the needs of others. However, it is critical to take the time to look after yourself as constant stress can lead to burnout and health problems. (Stock photo)
It makes sense that during the pandemic so many of us felt overwhelmed, exhausted, stressed, and — here’s that word we’ve all heard so much and yet don’t seem to say enough ourselves — burnt-out. But now that we’ve gone back to the normal routine, why are so many people still feeling this way?
If you were to ask Peterborough psychotherapist Diane Wolf, she would tell you it’s because we never did return to “normal.”
“As a society, we’ve really lost that sense of predictability, stability, and control,” she says. “We’re living in a huge time of uncertainty.”
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Rising living costs, environmental concerns, wars, viruses, isolation caused by social media — these are all just a handful of the many external factors that have put a strain on individual mental well-being.
“Perception is reality and many of us just do not feel that the world is a safe space anymore,” Wolf says. “I want to reassure people that, if you’re feeling stressed out and burned out and overwhelmed, welcome to the club. You’re not alone, and this is our reality.”
Though burnout — which is defined as a state of exhaustion caused by prolonged stress — has become extremely common in today’s landscape, why do so many people have difficulty acknowledging it?
Diane Wolf is a Peterborough-based psychotherapist, business consultant, and educator who primarily treats first responders living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She emphasizes that getting regular exercise, being outdoors in nature, and getting enough sleep are important ways to fight stress and burnout. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
“We want to be productive, we want to get things done, and we want to feel successful,” Wolf says. “We wear it as a badge of honour, saying ‘I’m so busy, I’m so tired, I only got four hours sleep’ as though this is a good thing.”
Wolf explains that when we live by this mindset, not only do we let ourselves get overworked, stressed, and exhausted, but when it all becomes too much to bear, the first thing that flies out the window and gets pushed aside is our own self-care.
“Making a commitment to someone else sadly works better than making a commitment to yourself,” she says. “You’ll likely let yourself down but won’t let others down.”
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Wolf uses this rationale to her advantage in her own life by scheduling aquafit classes in advance and meeting her grandchildren for walks. Putting both in her calendar ensures she does not cancel on her time spent outside and exercising, both of which are essential for fighting burnout.
Biologically, when the human body is under stress, it releases cortisol and adrenaline to prepare it to deal with that added stress. This gives us the energy to, for example, run from a wild animal. But when we are stressed at work, we likely aren’t physically releasing those stress hormones (unless, perhaps, you’re hitting a punching bag every day at the office).
“We shut our mouths and just pretend we’re fine,” Wolf says. “So, that cortisol and adrenaline doesn’t get released in the activity, and instead courses through our veins and causes a myriad of physical symptoms that lead to stress-related illnesses.”
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While daily exercise helps with the physical release of stress hormones, being outside has the emotional benefits.
“Serotonin, which is another good hormone to have, gets simulated when you’re outside or with other people,” Wolf says. “Studies have shown that people feel a lot better when they have been out in nature.”
For those who know they are experiencing burnout but think they can’t de-stress or rest their mind until they’ve checked off their whole to-do list, Wolf explains it’s essential to “recognize it as a return on investment.”
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She uses an image of your brain having two chambers: the sympathetic nervous system which is indicated by adrenaline and cortisol, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the “zen” or “rest” area. Both chambers must work in equilibrium with one another.
“The problem is, when you’ve been agitated and you’re stressed, your heart rate is up and you’re panicking or freaking out,” Wolf says. “So, when someone comes along and says ‘relax, calm down,’ it doesn’t work because they’re telling you to activate one system, but it can’t go anywhere while the other is at the top.”
She notes that you must reduce stress before “putting the foot on the brakes” to find that rest, and each person must figure that out for themselves. That usually involves getting the physical relief from exercise before “implementing more restful strategies so that you’re living more in equilibrium.”
If you’re still not sure how to do that, a tactic for thinking proactively that Wolf gives to her clients is one she calls the “CEO retreat” — “because we’re all the CEO of our life.”
“We often don’t make time for the important because the urgent gets in the way and the urgent is something that calls your attention,” she says. “So much of what we do is reactive.”
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She uses the analogy of putting rocks and sand in a jar. If you put the pebbles and sand in first, you won’t have room for the rocks, but if you put the rocks in the jar first, you can fit it all.
“What we have to do is figure out what are the rocks? What do I really need to accomplish?” she says. “Then whatever doesn’t get done at the end of the day, you have to figure out a way to just let it go.”
The past president of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough, Wolf notes changing this mindset is particularly difficult for women because, whether it’s the result of having to fight for proof of belonging or “mom guilt,” they are under the belief they “have to do it all somehow.”
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“We can do it all, and we can have it all, but not all at the same time,” Wolf says. “We need to shift our thinking to ‘I’m only one human being’.”
In addition to physical exercise and getting outdoors, Wolf notes that proper nutrition and having a support system in place is an essential part to battling burnout. But as the bread and butter in her own research, for Wolf, sleep is at the forefront of fighting stress.
“Sleep is the foundation of mental health,” she says. “From an evolutionary perspective, if sleep weren’t really important, we long ago would have evolved to the point where we don’t need it.”
She notes that adults need eight to nine hours of sleep per night and, while it might be seen as “impressive,” people who brag about managing on less “have no idea what restorative functions they’re missing out on.”
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For those who simply cannot fall asleep, Wolf is currently putting together a workbook, 14 Days to Better Sleep, which will help create personalized plans for getting those zzz’s. Tactics include limiting late-night meals, extending sleep in 15-minute intervals, reducing blue light intake, taking a hot bath, and, above all, making sure “consistency is key.”
“If you really want to be a good sleeper, you want to train your body to go to bed at the same time every night with a similar routine to put you to sleep, and get up at the same time every morning,” she says.
While Wolf herself used to be an insomniac, with these tactics, she now has no issues getting to sleep, rarely strays from her schedule, and, above all, prioritizes it as one of her essential rocks in the jar.
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“I get a lot done in my waking hours because I’m fresh and convinced there’s a return on investments there,” she says. “I don’t sacrifice sleep.”
For Wolf, it’s a badge of honour that she’s “a super sleeper” — not that she’s burnt out or staying busy.
For those who think they can just “manage it” and “handle it” when it comes to stress, she suggests there’s a better way.
“Why not conquer stress and burnout and feel productive and live a healthier life?” Wolf asks. “People who suffer from burnout eventually end up with a stress-related illness of some kind and then you don’t do anything. Why not live in a healthy way so that, when those things come along, we’re better equipped to manage them more quickly?”
"Wall with Four Pots, The Kasbah" by Belleville photographer Lola Reid Allin has been awarded "best in show" in the SPARK Photo Festival's 2024 juried exhibit. The theme of this year's exhibit was "texture." (Photo: Lola Reid Allin courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival)
A Belleville photographer’s shot of a wall with four pots taken in Fes, Morocco has won the top award for the SPARK Photo Festival’s 2024 juried exhibit.
Lola Reid Allin, an airline transport pilot and an internationally acclaimed photographer, author, educator, and keynote speaker, won the “best in show” award for her photo in this year’s juried exhibit, which had the theme “texture.”
“Wool” by Robert Beninger of Carrying Place won second place, and “Duchesnay Falls Roots” by Emma Taylor of Curve Lake took third, with two photographs tying for fourth place: “Onward and Upward” by Laura Berman of Castleton and “Veins” by Corin Ford Forrester of Carnarvon.
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The winning photographs were announced at the sold-out SPARK Photo Festival opening reception and juried awards event on Sunday (April 7) at the YMCA’s Balsillie Family Branch in Peterborough, with cash prizes awarded to the winning photographers.
More the 76 photographers from across Ontario submitted 216 images for the juried exhibit. Three jury members — Ash Nayler of Peterborough, Charles van den Ouden of Toronto, and Isabel Veldhuis of Port Hope — evaluated each image for technical merit, composition, and originality and for how well the image represented the theme.
A two-stage individual and collaborative judging process winnowed the 216 entries down to the top 25 photos, including the five winning photographs, which are all on display for the month of April at the YMCA Balsillie Family Branch. The YMCA is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week and from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends.
“Wool” by Robert Beninger of Carrying Place won second place in the SPARK Photo Festival’s 2024 juried exhibit. The theme of this year’s exhibit was “texture.” (Photo: Robert Beninger courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival)“Duchesnay Falls Roots” by Emma Taylor of Curve Lake won third place in the SPARK Photo Festival’s 2024 juried exhibit. The theme of this year’s exhibit was “texture.” (Photo: Emma Taylor courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival)
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In addition to the in-person exhibit of 25 photos, festival organizers have created the SPARK Selects Virtual Exhibit which features an additional 32 photos they feel deserved special recognition.
Running for the month of April, the SPARK Photo Festival includes 26 exhibits in 22 venues in the city and county of Peterborough, Northumberland, and the City of Kawartha Lakes with almost 750 print images featuring nature and wildlife, abstracts, fine art photography, black-and-white photography, digital compositions, architecture, and urban and streetscapes.
“Onward and Upward” by Laura Berman of Castleton tied for fourth place in the SPARK Photo Festival’s 2024 juried exhibit. The theme of this year’s exhibit was “texture.” (Photo: Laura Berman courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival)“Veins” by Corin Ford Forrester of Carnarvon tied for fourth place in the SPARK Photo Festival’s 2024 juried exhibit. The theme of this year’s exhibit was “texture.” (Photo: Corin Ford Forrester courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival)
Campbellford Memorial Hospital in Campbellford is planning to create a community healing garden for both patients and staff. Pictured are members of the hospital's community healing garden committee. While planning is still under way, committee members are aiming to have a few raised garden beds and benches completed by late spring or early summer, with the ultimate plan to also have fruit trees, a seating area with picnic tables, bird feeders, and wind chimes. (Photo: Campbellford Memorial Hospital)
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.
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“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.”
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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.
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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.”
Fenelon Falls Secondary School students participating in an Earth Week clean-up in 2019. The City of Kawartha Lakes is encouraging residents to celebrate Earth Week 2024 by registering for a 20-Minute Community Clean-Up from April 21 to 27, one of several events on or around Earth Day across the greater Kawarthas region. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
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)
Angella and Verne Windrem are owners of e-bike retailer and repair shop Green Street in downtown Peterborough. Along with Trent Health in Motion, Green Street will be participating in the “Creating a Bike-Friendly Business” on April 11, 2024. (Photo: Ashley Bonner)
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.
Earth Day “Beeswax Wrap Make & Take” workshop at Dancing Bee in Port Hope (April 19)
Learn how to make colourful and reusable beeswax wrap during a workshop at Dancing Bee Equipment in Port Hope on April 19, 2024. (Photo: Dancing Bee Equipment)
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.
“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.
“Fascinating Fungi” workshop at the Douro-Dummer Library (April 20)
Learn about the world of fungi during a workshop at the Douro-Dummer Library on April 20, 2024. (Graphic: Douro-Dummer Library)
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)
Help clean up the Lakefield Trail on April 20, 2024 and then enjoy an Earth Day hike on the trail the following day. (Photo: Selwyn Township)
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 hosting a successful Earth Week clean-up day in 2023. During Earth Week from April 20 to 27, 2024, the organization will be holding clean-up activities as well as a nature tour, an open house, and environment-related educational presentations. (Photo: Sustainable Cobourg)
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.
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.
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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)
Ian Shanahan, a naturalist, writer, educator, and visual and performing artist, will be the guest speaker at a free Earth Day celebration in Brighton’s Memorial Park on April 22, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Ian Shanahan)
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.
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)
Instead of giving away tree seedlings for Earth Day on April 22, 2024, Country Cupboard Health Food Store in Fenelon Falls is planting 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. (Photo: Country Cupboard Health Food Store)
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.
Peterborough and the Kawarthas Cycling Summit: Safe Streets for Everyone (April 24 & 25)
Guest speakers at the 2024 Peterborough and the Kawarthas Cycling Summit include keynote speaker at Ian Lockwood at Showplace Performance Centre on April 24 and Dr. Sara Whitehead and Valerie Smith at McDonnel Street Activity Centre on April 25. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied pho
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.
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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)
Volunteers with the Friends of Jackson Park regularly conduct clean-ups of the popular Peterborough park through the year. On April 27, 2024, they will be hosting a celebration of Earth Day with an afternoon of free family-friendly activities. (Photo: Friends of Jackson Park)
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.).
Sarah Joore of The Gardens of Peterborough Retirement Residence (second from right) presented a $3,000 sponsorship cheque to Trent Valley Archives board of directors president Steve Guthrie (right) on March 28, 2024 in support of Trent Valley Archives Theatre's inaugural history play "Tide of Hope" to be performed in May. Also pictured from left to right are Trent Valley Archives Theatre co-producers Mary and Greg Conchelos and Trent Valley Archives board vice-president Madison More. (Photo: Edward Schroeter)
With just weeks to go before the premiere of its inaugural play Tide of Hope, Trent Valley Archives Theatre has already seen generous community support for its mission to bring local history to life on stage while raising funds for Trent Valley Archives — with additional sponsorship opportunities still available.
According to co-producers Mary and Greg Conchelos, within just the first 10 days of the beginning of the fundraising campaign on February 20, local businesses and individuals had contributed $6,740 in sponsorships and donations.
That includes The Gardens of Peterborough Retirement Residence, which has sponsored the inaugural play to the tune of $3,000 and is one of two platinum-level sponsors, with the other being kawarthaNOW.
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“We are pleased to sponsor the upcoming Tide of Hope performance and bring attention to the great work of Trent Valley Archives for their preservation and care of the history in our region,” said Sarah Joore, sales and marketing project coordinator of The Gardens of Peterborough, adding that residents have enjoyed guest speakers and presentations from Trent Valley Archives over the years.
Residents of the retirement home will be among the first people to see Tide of Hope, since Trent Valley Archives Theatre will be staging a private performance for them on May 9, prior to a school group performance at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in the afternoon of May 15 which will be followed by a public performance that evening and another public performance the following evening.
There are three other sponsorship levels available for Tide of Hope: bronze for a contribution of $300, silver for a contribution of $500, and gold for a contribution of $1,000. The Peterborough Canadian Irish Club recently came on board as a bronze sponsor — an appropriate sponsorship given the Irish theme of the play.
Sarah Joore of The Gardens of Peterborough Retirement Residence and “Tide of Hope” director Gerry McBride discuss staging a private performance of Trent Valley Archives Theatre’s inaugural history play for residents of The Gardens. The Gardens of Peterborough is a platinum-level sponsor of the play, along with kawarthaNOW. (Photo: Edward Schroeter)
Written by Peterborough playwright Ed Schroeter and directed by Gerry McBride, Tide of Hope is the first of two plays that will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Peter Robinson Irish emigration to the Peterborough region. Peter Robinson was a 19th-century politician in Upper Canada who administered the passage and settlement of over 2,500 poor Catholic families from Ireland to what is now eastern Ontario.
The play follows the fortunes and misfortunes of David Nagle, an Irish land agent and rent collector forced to flee to Upper Canada in 1825 when Irish rebels fighting against English tyranny brand him a traitor.
“There is no one better than Ed Schroeter to tell their story to today’s youth,” said Jim Abel, a member of Trent Valley Archives who has also donated to the production.
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The Conchelos explained financial support and donated goods and services are very important to both Trent Valley Archives Theatre and Trent Valley Archives,
“Our volunteers on this project — a cast of nine, crew, director, playwright, theatre committee, and board of directors — are donating countless hours of free labour,” Greg said. “But that only goes so far.”
The same can be said of Trent Valley Archives itself, a non-profit organization that has promoted the preservation, identification, and care of historical archives in the Trent Valley region since 1989. Unlike many archival organizations that receive government funding, Trent Valley Archives relies on membership, donations, and user fees to make its unique and extensive collection of local historical resources available to the public five days a week, year-round.
Trent Valley Archives board of directors president Steve Guthrie and vice-president Madison More (right) raise The Gardens of Peterborough Retirement Residence mugs with Sarah Joore of The Gardens of Peterborough in appreciation of a $3,000 sponsorship donation from The Gardens to Trent Valley Archives for the inaugural history play of Trent Valley Archives Theatre. A private performance of “Tide of Hope” will be staged for residents of The Gardens on May 9, 2020 prior to two public performances of the play at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on May 15 and 16. (Photo: Edward Schroeter)
“Trent Valley Archives funds its many activities through memberships, donations, grants, user fees, and volunteer hours,” Mary added.
She said anyone interested in donating or becoming a sponsor or a member of Trent Valley Archives can contact board of directors vice-president Madison More at tvat@trentvalleyarchives.com or 705-298-2350.
“These private donations and corporate sponsorships are also important because they subsidize our low-cost school group admission at only $10 per student with free admission for their teachers and trip supervisors,” Mary said.
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Teachers can book their classes to attend the school group performance of Tide of Hope at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15th at the Market Hall by contacting Mary Conchelos at 705-872-6557. More information, including educational resources, is available at trentvalleyarchives.com/tvat/.
Tickets for the two public performances of Tide of Hope at the Market Hall — at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15th and Thursday, May 16th — are $40 for assigned cabaret table seating or $30 for regular assigned seating. Tickets are available in person at the Market Hall box office (140 Charlotte St, Peterborough), by phone at 705-775-1503, or online at tickets.markethall.org/tide24.
Suitable for audiences aged 12 and older, the play runs for around 95 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
Lindsay Wilson (left) and Paden Gilhooley in a scene from Ed Schroeter’s “Tide of Hope”, the inaugural history drama production of Trent Valley Archives Theatre. A prequel to the immigration story of Peter Robinson, the play will be performed at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough for school groups on May 15, 2024 with public performances on May 15 and 16. (Photo: Suzanne Schroeter)
More noted the Trent Valley Archives Theatre committee is also hoping the Tide of Hope production will attract new volunteers.
“We’re specifically looking for a production manager and a stage manager for our fall cemetery pageant ghost walk,” More said. “It has been very popular with young adults.”
A cycling tour group getting ready to leave at the 4th annual Peterborough and the Kawarthas Cycling Summit on October 4, 2014, which also included the first-ever Peterborough Youth Bike Summit. The 2024 cycling summit on April 24 and 25, entitled "Safe Streets for Everyone," will also feature bike and walking tours as well as three expert guest speakers and interactive design workshops. (Photo: Evan Holt)
The Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee (P-BAC) is getting the wheels in motion for an upcoming cycling summit in Peterborough later this month.
P-BAC has announced the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Cycling Summit: Safe Streets for Everyone is running on Wednesday, April 24 and Thursday, April 25. The summit includes an itinerary of speakers, interactive design workshops, and guided cycling and walking tours.
The event is open to everyone interested in inclusive design and road safety, P-BAC noted in a media release.
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Sue Sauve, P-BAC chair and retired transportation demand management planner with the City of Peterborough, shared with kawarthaNOW her aspirations for the event.
“The best thing that could happen would be that stronger connections be developed between people working to make our city and county the best that they can be, and for community leaders to see the economic and health potential we can tap into with new approaches to street design,” Sauve said.
The summit kicks off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24 at Showplace Performance Centre, located at 290 George St. N. in downtown Peterborough.
Guest speakers at the 2024 Peterborough and the Kawarthas Cycling Summit include keynote speaker at Ian Lockwood at Showplace Performance Centre on April 24 and Dr. Sara Whitehead and Valerie Smith at McDonnel Street Activity Centre on April 25. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
The evening features renowned keynote speaker Ian Lockwood, a livable transportation engineer with Toole Design Group. An Ottawa native who now lives in Florida, Lockwood will share his experience around how people-centred street design has led to renewed prosperity in the cities where he has worked.
Then, on April 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., participants will gather at the McDonnel Street Activity Centre at 577 McDonnel St. for a full day of activities, including two guest speakers.
Through the lens of public health, Dr. Sara Whitehead will share international transportation safety best practices and how they apply locally in Peterborough. A public health physician in Peterborough with over 25 years of experience at local, national, and international health institutions, she has led a team at public health organization Vital Strategies in New York that is strengthening road traffic injury surveillance systems in 30 cities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Valerie Smith, director of programs at Parachute, will talk about safe systems approaches to transportation. Founded in 2012 through the amalgamation of four charities in the injury prevention field, Parachute has become Canada’s leader in injury prevention focused on three key areas where people are unintentionally injured: in the home, at play, and on the move.
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Biking and walking tours will also take place and highlight current and developing city and county infrastructure. The tours will be followed by afternoon interactive design workshops during which people will work together on concepts for local streets.
“This year’s summit goes beyond bicycles to address opportunities in the city and county to make our streets more accessible, enjoyable and safe to use,” Sauve said in the release.
“With a keynote (speaker) who has turned communities around through his approach to city planning and street design, we are gearing this summit to a broad audience including people with disabilities, young families, seniors, pedestrians, and people impacted by a traffic crash.”
Safe streets mean more than just bike lanes for cyclists. The 2024 Peterborough and the Kawarthas Cycling Summit on April 24 and 25 will share knowledge, tools, and tactics for improving safety of all road users, with three expert guest speakers, interactive design workshops, bike and walking tours, and more. (Graphic: Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee)
P-BAC is a multi-stakeholder group working to foster a culture of cycling in Peterborough city and county. P-BAC’s goal is to inspire actionable change in Peterborough and beyond, that can lead towards a future where the safety of all road users is paramount.
The event presents a unique opportunity to broaden the discourse on safe, comfortable multimodal transportation, organizers noted.
Registration for the summit is now open. While participants are encouraged to attend both days, registration is flexible. The $15 fee is optional and is only intended for those who can afford to contribute.
Peterborough artist and illustrator Brooklin Stormie Holbrough designed the poster for the 35th Peterborough Folk Festival, which was unveiled at a kick-off event on April 4, 2024 at the Market Hall to promote the festival's return to Nicholls Oval Park on August 18 and 19. (Poster: Brooklin Stormie Holbrough)
When you’re closing in on 35 years, well, there’s no harm in drumming up a little excitement about that fact well ahead of time.
So it was that both representatives and supporters of the Peterborough Folk Festival gathered Thursday (April 4) at Market Hall to herald the annual event’s much anticipated 2024 staging on August 17 and 18 at its longtime home of Nicholls Oval Park.
While details of who’s playing when and on what stage — as well as information about a traditional pre-weekend festival-related concert — remain a work in progress, what is known is nominations are open for the festival’s prestigious Emerging Artist Award.
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Awarded since 2001 (Serena Ryder was the recipient that year), the distinction recognizes an emerging local talent who the festival deems deserving of the wider community’s attention and support.
Other recipients since have included James McKenty, Beau Dixon, Melissa Payne, Dylan Ireland, Evangeline Gentle, and Lauryn Macfarlane. Last year, Amelia ‘Irish Millie’ Shadgett and Nicholas Campbell were named co-winners.
Musician Missy Knott, who was the 2009 recipient of the Peterborough Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist Award, and artist and illustrator Brooklin Stormie Holbrough, who designed the poster for the 35th festival, at a kick-off event on April 4, 2024 at the Market Hall to promote the festival’s return to Nicholls Oval Park on August 18 and 19. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
To bring attention to the call for nominations, 2009 recipient Missy Knott performed at the event, singing an original song.
Peterborough-born but with extended family in Curve Lake First Nation, Knott released her debut album For No Reason All in 2009.
Nominated in 2017 for an Indigenous Music Award for her EP My Sister’s Heart, Knott returned fulltime to Curve Lake First Nation and subsequently launched her non-for-profit record label, Wild Rice Records, in support of Indigenous youth outreach, mentorship, recording, and community connections. The label’s moniker is a nod to her spirit name of Singing Wild Rice Girl.
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Also keeping her busy these days is her representation of Curve Lake First Nation as a member of the Ontario Arts Council. Knott was appointed to the three-year term last October — the first representative of Peterborough-Kawartha on the council in more than 50 years.
“My oldest sister Erica is the incredible woman that always made sure that I was at the folk festival which, when I was 10, was better than Wonderland — there was beautiful jewellery and art and music everywhere,” said Knott of her initial festival experience.
After performing at the Market Hall kick-off event, she told kawarthaNOW that her 2009 Emerging Artist Award was “definitely a springboard” early in her music career, adding she was especially grateful to receive the honour just one year after singer-songwriter Sean Conway did likewise, also doing Curve Lake proud.
“As part of the prize, they sent me to the Ontario Folk Festival Conference,” she recalled. “Being in a hotel with so many talented musicians in every room was a fascinating experience that provided more opportunities in terms of my community work and collaboration with other artists.”
Missy Knott, the 2009 recipient of the Peterborough Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist Award, performed a kick-off event on April 4, 2024 at the Market Hall the festival’s return to Nicholls Oval Park on August 18 and 19. She said the award, included a trip to the Ontario Folk Festival Conference, was a “springboard” early in her music career. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
To those who are on the fence about sending in a nomination, whether for themselves or someone else, Knott is quick to say “Absolutely do it. Don’t hesitate. It’s an incredible experience.”
Also introduced at the gathering was artwork by artist Brooklin Stormie Holbrough specifically designed to commemorate the festival’s 35th anniversary. Her goal was to “convey a legacy of joy, community, and connection … as well as to pay homage to the river and natural space” that are focal points of the Nicholls Oval festival setting.
Also speaking from the podium was festival volunteer Olena Shtepa, highlighting a Ukrainian tradition that will be prominent in the festival’s Children’s Village this year.
The vinok, a head flower wreath, has traditionally been a national symbol of pride. With war still being waged in the country, it’s become something else: a symbol of regeneration and continuity.
Shtepa noted the head wreaths will be made in the Children’s Village on festival weekend. At the Market Hall event, both Knott and Holbrough were wearing vinoks.
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After formally thanking the festival’s sponsors — longtime supporters such as kawarthaNOW and new supporters such Miskin Law — festival board chair Rob Davis spoke to the event’s enduring popularity.
“It’s not August, but, boy, it sure feels like the folk festival here, doesn’t it?” he said.
“Mostly the first half of the year leading up to the festival is about funding. The second half of the year is still about funding, but also about organizing the festival and spending the money we’re able to raise to put on the best festival we can. It’s a year-round thing, but this is a really nice event to kind of kick it off formally and get people excited about it.”
The crowd at Nicholls Oval Park in Peterborough in August 2023 watching Juno award winner Dan Mangan perform at the 35th annual Peterborough Folk Festival. The free-admission festival returns to the park on August 17 and 18, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Folk Festival)
Davis said “dedication and commitment to this community” has kept the free-admission festival going since it began in 1989 as a half-day event at Del Crary Park, moving to Nicholls Oval in 1993 where it became a full-day festival. It has since continued to evolve, growing to a weekend festival with a second stage, a children’s village, ticketed concerts prior to the free festival weekend, and more.
“There are a million moving parts behind a festival like this,” Davis pointed out. “Having everybody and everything arrive on time in Nicholls Oval doesn’t happen by accident. There’s a ton of organization and hard work.”
As for the very real threat that, with time, the festival will grow too large too quickly, Davis said that hasn’t happened yet, and won’t, adding the festival’s community feel remains entrenched.
“It’s happened pretty organically with our very diverse and inclusive lineups,” he said, referring to the musicians invited to perform at the festival.
Last year’s festival included headliners Loreena McKennitt and Broken Social Scene, children’s music duo Splash’N Boots, Juno award winners Dan Mangan, The Sadies, Dizzy, and more. Local performers included Evangeline Gentle, Matthew Holtby, Brooklyn Doran, Sarah McInnis, Charlie Glasspool, Doses (Dylan Ireland), VanCamp (Calvin Bakelaar), Victoria Yeh, Nicholas Campbell, Little Fire Collective, and more.
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“We attract a different audience, with a big emphasis on families,” Davis added. “I think with it being a free-admission festival, people are just so chill and happy to be there. If we put up fences and gates and charge 200 bucks like most of the other festivals, then people would come with expectations, right?”
“It’s also a reunion for a lot of people. There are people who come who used to live in Peterborough. It’s a homecoming, meeting up with friends. It’s nice to be part of the fabric of people’s lives that way. It’s just a nice chill, happy atmosphere. We hope to keep it that way.”
Retiring Kawartha Lakes Police Service chief Mark Mitchell (left) congratulates Inspector Kirk Robertson, who will become the new police chief effective May 18, 2024. (Photo: Kawartha Lakes Police Service)
The Kawartha Lakes Police Service has found their new chief from within the ranks.
On Friday (April 5), the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Services Board announced that Inspector Kirk Robertson has been selected as the next chief of police after a nationwide search. Robertson will be taking over the reins from retiring chief Mark Mitchell.
Born and raised in Lindsay where he continues to reside with his wife and two children, Robertson has been a member of the Kawartha Lakes Police Service for 22 years and has a total of 27 years of policing service.
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Robertson has served in uniform patrol, criminal investigations, and the institutional investigation unit, and was promoted to the rank of inspector in 2019.
He is also involved in the community in minor hockey and several other community organizations.
Robertson will start in his new role on May 18, with a formal change of command ceremony to be held in August.
The osprey, a fish-eating hawk, is one of 11 birds vying to become Kawartha Lakes' Bird of the Year in an online contest launched by Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes, as the municipality moves closer to becoming certified as a Bird Friendly City by Nature Canada. An initial round of voting will narrow the list to five birds on May 11, 2024, with a second round of voting resulting in the selection of Bird of the Year on June 30. (Photo: Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes)
Amidst a quest to become a “Bird Friendly City” in the wings in the City of Kawartha Lakes, residents are invited to vote for their favourite feathered friend in a contest to kick off awareness.
The Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes (BFKL) team has launched the Kawartha Lakes Bird of the Year contest, where community members can cast their ballot for their choice bird from a selection of 11.
“As we celebrate the City of Kawartha Lakes becoming Canada’s most recent bird-friendly certified city, we are looking forward to promoting local bird-friendly initiatives starting with a competition to choose our inaugural annual bird,” Thom Luloff, BFKL group member, told kawarthaNOW.
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Luloff is the academic quality assurance lead and a professor in the school of environmental and natural resources sciences at Fleming College’s Frost campus in Lindsay. He also serves as board chair of the Kawartha Wildlife Centre.
“This competition will be a wonderful opportunity for bird enthusiasts of all ages to come together, celebrate our avian neighbours, and showcase the incredible diversity of bird species that call Kawartha Lakes home while inspiring action to protect and conserve birds in the City of Kawartha Lakes,” he said.
A Bird Friendly City is a community where threats to birds are reduced, and nature is restored so native bird populations can thrive. Residents are actively engaged in admiring and monitoring local bird populations, and organizations host events to protect birds. When a city gets certified as bird friendly by Nature Canada, it means it has met important standards to keep birds safe, the group noted in a media release.
Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes team member Thom Luloff with a great horned owl. Luloff is a professor in the school of environmental and natural resources sciences at Fleming College’s Frost campus in Lindsay and also serves as board chair of the Kawartha Wildlife Centre. (Photo: Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes)
In the last 50 years, North American bird populations have dropped by more than 25 per cent. Luloff, who teaches in the conservation biology and fish and wildlife programs, said he knows firsthand “the multitude of pressures that birds are facing in our local area.
“Rapid urbanization and land development have resulted in habitat loss and fragmentation, diminishing the availability of suitable nesting and foraging sites for many bird species,” he said. “Predation from domestic cats (and) collisions with buildings and vehicles have also emerged as significant threats, leading to injuries and fatalities, particularly during migration seasons.”
Additionally, the effects of climate change — such as altered precipitation patterns and habitat shifts — have added pressure on bird populations, challenging their ability to adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions, Luloff added.
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For the Kawartha Lakes Bird of the Year contest, there will be two rounds of voting, with the first round closing on Migratory Bird Day, which is on May 11. The top five birds will move on to the second round of voting, which will close on June 28.
There are 11 birds on the docket: the northern cardinal, the black-capped chickadee, the American goldfinch, the barred owl, the red-winged blackbird, the tree swallow, the eastern loggerhead shrike, the osprey, the downy woodpecker, the blue jay, and the barn swallow.
During the second round of voting, the Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes social media accounts will feature fun facts about each of the five birds and why they’re important to the community.
There will be two rounds of voting during Kawartha Lakes Bird of the Year contest. The first round, where people vote for their favourite bird from a list of 11, will close on May 11, 2024. The top five birds will move on to the second round of voting, which will close on June 28, with the official Bird of the Year revealed on June 30. (Graphic: Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes)
The official Kawartha Lakes’ Bird of the Year, as voted by participants, will be revealed on June 30. To find out more about the competition and to vote, visit the Jump In Kawartha Lakes website jumpinkawarthalakes.ca/bird2024. You will need to register for a free account to cast a vote.
Since 2023, BFKL has been working with Nature Canada and the City of Kawartha Lakes towards achieving the bird-friendly city designation. The group submitted an application on behalf of the municipality in February 2024. The City of Peterborough and Selwyn Township have already previously received the certification.
BFKL consists of representatives from the Kawartha Lakes Environmental Advisory Committee, Kawartha Conservation, Kawartha Land Trust, Fleming College, Kawartha Field Naturalists, Kawartha Wildlife Centre, and Kawartha Bird Control.
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Meanwhile, to confront some of the challenges impacting area birds, Luloff’s students have responded with concrete action by forming the Fleming Bird Conservation Committee.
“The students have installed professional window collision decals on the Frost Student Association Building — the Auk’s Lodge — making this the first bird-safe certified building in the entire region,” he noted.
“With the actions of our current students in mind and being inspired by this collective action, I represent this group on the BFKL team, and proudly showcase the efforts that can be achieved with collaborative effort. It is my hope to encourage more residents in our community to follow their example.”
A visual representation of what 16 pickleball courts could look like from a "preliminary facility fit" document for the Bonnerworth Park Redevelopment that City of Peterborough staff presented during a community meeting on March 21, 2024. One reason some residents in the Bonnerworth Park neighbourhood object to the proposal to have that many pickleball courts at the park is because of the amount of additional noise and traffic that will result. (Image: City of Peterborough)
If you thought the preview was something, just wait for the main event.
That’s the sentiment expressed by a group of city residents vehemently opposed to the City of Peterborough’s planned redevelopment of Bonnerworth Park — a $4.4 million dollar facelift that, should it move forward, will see 16 pickleball courts, a bike ‘pump’ track, and a parking lot replace the park’s existing two ball diamonds and much of its greenspace.
On Tuesday night (April 2), city councillors meeting as general committee were greeted by a very full and very vocal gallery of residents who live in close proximity to the park.
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Their objection to the plan centres around the heightened noise and traffic they say will result from the pickleball courts, the loss of cherished and well-used urban greenspace, and what they say was a complete lack of consultation with them before the project report and its attached recommendations were written for councillors’ consideration.
While residents weren’t allowed to appeal to councillors directly at Tuesday’s meeting, deputations will be allowed this coming Monday night (April 8) when councillors meet again to ratify business conducted at the committee level. All indications are the neighbours of the park will be out in full force to make their case.
“We are digging in our heels on this matter,” says Elaine Gerelus who, with her husband John, has lived on nearby Middleton Drive for 23 years. “This is about our lifestyle, our ability to enjoy our yard and have friends over. We (residents) have invested a lot in our homes. This will have a huge impact on us.”
John says that, at one point during Tuesday’s meeting, he was optimistic that councillors would vote to take a step back and reconsider approving the park redevelopment plan.
That hope was quickly dashed when two motions put forward by Town Ward councillor Joy Lachica — the first calling for council discussion of alternative locations for pickleball courts and the second calling for additional consultation with neighbouring residents — were defeated.
“We’re not saying stop the project — we’re saying pause the project,” John says. “Let’s start the process again. This (plan) is really short sighted. It’s a knee jerk reaction to find a location to meet a need. Somebody, somewhere, said ‘Let’s do this.'”
The “preliminary facility fit” document for the Bonnerworth Park Redevelopment that City of Peterborough staff presented during a community meeting on March 21, 2024. The illustration is not a site plan for the redevelopment, but it intended to show where amenities could be located within the available space. (Image: City of Peterborough)
Also planning to speak this Monday night is Richard Scott, a Middleton Drive resident and retired park and environmental planner who worked for Parks Canada and the National Capital Commission.
“We don’t understand why the city hasn’t done the research (into other possible locations) or, if it has done that, why it’s being ignored,” he says.
“This is the monopolization of a lot of space that is now available for all members of the community to use. Now they’re going to turn it into a park that serves specific user groups only. And in the winter, it will be unusable by anybody.”
Councillor Lachica plans to reintroduce her original motion on Monday night.
“There were two (council) votes around the motion,” she explains. “The first vote was to have an urgent public consultation meeting and also have reports on tennis and baseball (needs) come back. That lost 7 to 4.”
Lachica along with fellow Town Ward councillor Alex Bierk and councillors Keith Riel and Dave Haacke supported that motion.
“It then went back to my main motion to press pause so staff can come back with alternatives (to Bonnerworth Park), which lost 8 to 3.”
Only Lachica, Bierk, and Riel supported the original motion.
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Of particular concern to Lachica, Bierk, and Riel is that the report recommending Bonnerworth be redeveloped for pickleball and the bike track was unanimously approved by council back in October — well before the design was prepared and presented at a March 21st public meeting.
It was only at that public meeting when the scope of the park’s redevelopment became fully known for the first time, and neighbours’ antennae went up.
That flies in the face of typical procedure that sees councillors vote after having reviewed site plans and other related material.
“I believe a few of us at the table really believed that major projects like this that are facilities-based and affect the whole city need to come before council in a visual way before a finalization of the plan going forward,” Lachica says. “I can speak for Alex and Keith when I say we voted (in October) for the needs of the city. We completely agree there are pickleball needs that Peterborough needs to address.”
“If you look at that report, there’s a qualifier that reads ‘if Bonnerworth is approved’. Bonnerworth isn’t approved. There hasn’t been traffic study. There hasn’t been a noise study to verify if this (Bonnerworth) is a feasible place for 16 courts. We came into that vote with an expectation that we would see what it looks like based on studies being done before anything is feasible or approved.”
Concerned residents of the Bonnerworth Park neighbourhood wave their hands in lieu of applause in the gallery at Peterborough City Hall during city council’s general committee meeting on April 2, 2024, after Town Ward councillor Alex Bierk spoke in support of a motion from Town Ward councillor Joy Lachica to consider alternative locations for the proposed pickleball courts at the park. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough video)
Residents of the area also lament the effect that excessive noise, particularly in the evening, and increased traffic will have on residents of the nearby Marycrest At Inglewood Seniors’ Residence on Monaghan Road, as well as those living at Hunt Terrace, a Peterborough Housing Corporation building on Bonaccord Street.
Elaine makes it clear that she and her neighbours aren’t anti-pickleball.
“We’re now NIMBYS,” she says, referencing Not-In-My-Back-Yard accusations.
“The truth is, yeah, not in my backyard but not in anybody’s backyard,” clarifies John, noting a lesson should have be learned from the planned removal of four pickleball courts at Knights of Columbus due to their close proximity to houses raising concerns over excessive noise and lighting.
The potential for the same noise issues at the Bonnerworth Park site was noted in a November 2023 document called “Provision Strategy for Tennis and Pickleball Courts,” that was prepared for the city by consultants The ReThink Group and Basterfield & Associates Landscape Architects.
“Since sound travels out and up, and rebounds off hard surfaces, the amount of noise generated from 16 heavily used pickleball courts may be a problem for nearby residents,” the document states. “Sound barriers may not sufficiently mitigate noise travelling upward.”
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In his remarks this Monday, Scott says “We’re going to offer a path forward … identify where the gaps are.”
“Some things the city has done well. Studies have identified what the overall citywide need for facilities is. But we’re gong to remind them they jumped from a high level right down to a specific plan for a specific park with specific facilities without understanding any of the implications.”
“Most planning processes, if you’re doing a site selection process, is you first identify a range of sites and you develop criteria to assess them. In the case of pickleball, known to be a controversial site location issue, you do criteria such as noise, traffic, and so on. They’re doing that at the back end of the process. It’s backwards.”
The location of Bonnerworth Park and existing site photos from a “preliminary facility fit” document for the Bonnerworth Park Redevelopment that City of Peterborough staff presented during a community meeting on March 21, 2024. (Image: City of Peterborough)
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Meanwhile, representatives of the 400-member strong Peterborough Pickleball Association (PBA) are also expected at the podium this Monday night.
That’s according to PBA board member Judy Byrne, who says the association “was led to believe” the past Monday’s council meeting “was a closed meeting. That’s why we didn’t show up.”
Byrne adds the PBA has a petition with close to 600 signatures supporting the development of pickleball courts at Bonnerworth Park. That will be presented to councillors on Monday night.
“We’ve been playing at Bonnerworth for years with no noise complaints,” says Byrne, referencing the eight courts now located just east of the park.
“This (Bonnerworth) is a heavily underutilized park. There’s small clusters of people playing ball in the corners but that’s it pretty much throughout the day. It’s a park that needs development. It looks desolate.”
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Saying she believes “the city is going to look after our interests,” Byrne is confident the planned park redevelopment will go ahead.
“If it’s not going to be there, it’s going to be somewhere,” she says. “But why not there? It’s easy to get to. It (the area) already has a tremendous amount of traffic noise and it’s a park that needs some visual help.”
The PBA, says Byrne, made some alternative site suggestions — the former Peterborough Naval Club property and Fleming College were two — but “they were pretty much shot down except for that place (Bonnerworth).”
“We’re not trying to bully our way through this. If for some reason all of our efforts to deaden the sound don’t work, we will continue to try and do something else to mitigate the noise. Maybe we’ll change the balls that we use. We’re not trying to be bad neighbours.”
Established in October 2021, the Peterborough Pickleball Association is a non-profit organization, the mission of which is to provide opportunities for people of all ages, skill levels, abilities and backgrounds to participate in pickleball, while promoting physical fitness and social engagement, good sportsmanship and fun through organized recreational and competitive play.
An estimated 350,000 people currently play pickleball across Canada, making it one of the country’s fastest-growing sports.
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