On Friday, May 24th, downtown Peterborough will turn into a sea of red as dozens of people “Walk a Mile” in support of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.

Nestled within that crowd will be Team Scotia, a crew that in the past decade has walked more than a few miles — while wearing high heels — for the non-profit organization.

“We’ve seen such a great need in our community for the support they provide and jumped on it right away,” says John D’Altoe, the branch manager for Scotiabank Kawartha Centre and captain of Team Scotia. “We are in a position that we can make a difference in people’s lives, so it is important to do so.”

A popular community event, “Walk A Mile In Their Shoes” takes participants from Confederation Park on a walk around downtown Peterborough with the goal of raising $20,000 in support of women, children, and gender-diverse people experiencing gender-based violence.

With the option to sign up individually or in a team, registered participants are given T-shirts and many often strut the mile in red high heels to literally embody the event’s title.

Before taking a four-year hiatus in 2020, the walk raised almost $1 million over its 11 years. D’Altoe guesses that Team Scotia has been participating since the year it was first held.

“It’s definitely something we’ve missed as a community,” says D’Altoe. “Unfortunately, COVID-19 took a lot of those community events away from us for a period of time and organizations had to shift gears and find different ways to fundraise.”

“However I think there’s so much excitement around this event, and the number of people who participate is fantastic. It’s just nice to be out and visible for the people that we’re trying to support and whose lives we’re trying to make a difference in.”

Between the two Peterborough Scotiabank branches and the teams at ScotiaMcLeod wealth management, the goal is to raise $2,500, with the financial institution promising to match all donations up to a maximum of $15,000. Team Scotia is already one-fifth of the way to their goal, with several weeks left to fundraise before the event.

“Having many people as part of our team in the community raises that awareness because they’re trying to get more donations and they’re talking to more people about it,” says D’Altoe, noting Team Scotia might consider sending a challenge to another financial institution.

“Hopefully other businesses in the community will raise that awareness to their teams about how they can make a difference at home,” he adds. “We’re hoping to make a good impact in the community and support the YWCA with that.”

This year, the event’s name has been changed from “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” to “Walk A Mile In Their Shoes” with the intent of being more inclusive, while also hoping to encourage more men to participate in the walk.

“Through COVID-19, it’s even more prevalent the abuse that individuals are taking, whether it’s women, children, or gender-diverse individuals,” D’Altoe says. “And by standing up and showing support for these individuals, we’re showing that people care and that’s the important thing.”

As active community members, Scotiabank staff swap their heels for an exercise bike every year when participating in the SunLife Ride to Defeat Diabetes event in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) — another event they have been participating in for more than a decade.

“Allyship is a key priority for us and so is welcoming different perspectives, ideas, listening and engaging thoughtfully,” D’Altoe says. “It’s just part of our everyday lives at Scotiabank. We make a commitment to take meaningful action, so anytime we can take an active role in making a difference in other people’s lives, that’s part of it.”

While donors can sponsor individual participants or a team, all funds raised for “Walk A Mile” will go towards YWCA’s Journey of Care, a term encompassing all the signature programs and services offered by the organization for those fleeing gender-based violence, from the Crossroads Shelter to the START program and everything in between.

“The way the community has embraced this event speaks volumes to the city that we work and live in,” D’Altoe adds.

On event day, D’Altoe will take to the streets of Peterborough — hopefully with a realized goal of $2,500 — to walk alongside other members of his team and the community in support of the YWCA, while at the same time doing his best to walk in red high heels.

“The only time I wear them is during the walk,” says D’Altoe, pointing out it’s been a few years since he’s walked in high heels. “I haven’t mastered them and I’m probably out of shape when it comes to that, so my feet will hurt immensely once we’re done.”

While many participants choose to walk in red high heels as a symbol of their support for women experiencing gender-based violence, the footwear is entirely optional, although wearing red shoes is encouraged. That said, high-heeled red shoes will be available to participants on a first-come, first-served basis and can be picked up the week before the event along with T-shirts.

D’Altoe still has a few weeks to master the art of high-heel walking, and donors have a few weeks to make their donations to Team Scotia or to register their own team at walkamilepeterborough.com.

kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of Walk A Mile In Their Shoes.

Northumberland Hills Hospital’s youngest patients are expected to benefit from the addition of new neonatal monitors to the west Northumberland hospital’s maternal child care unit.

The Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) Auxiliary recently announced its donation of $207,000 would support the purchase of four new neonatal warmers for the Cobourg hospital.

“The NHH Auxiliary board made the selection from our priority capital equipment list,” noted Jennifer Gillard, vice-president of patient experience, public affairs, and strategic partnerships for NHH.

“They were drawn to the opportunity to support a specific need in a particular department, and we are very grateful,” Gillard told kawarthaNOW.

During post-delivery, neonatal warmers can play an important role to help care providers monitor a newborn baby’s body heat, vital signs, oxygen saturation levels, and weight. The warmers can also support resuscitation efforts in critical cases, NHH noted in a media release.

These new neonatal warmers are equipped with state-of-the-art advanced technology that aligns with the latest neonatal resuscitation program guidelines.

“By ensuring that our equipment is up to date, we can continue to make positive strides and advancements in the type of care provided for everyone, at any age in their care journey,” said Dr. Erin Pepper, maternal child care department chief, in a media release.

“It’s an incredible contribution to our growing maternal child care program. Our teams are excited about the many enhanced features available through the new (neonatal) warmers, which will greatly benefit our maternal child care patients.”

The auxiliary’s donation, reflecting dollars raised from the fiscal year just concluded, marks its largest contribution since 2017 and the third largest donation in its 100-year history.

“We are grateful for the tremendous fundraising efforts of the NHH Auxiliary, whose support in purchasing four new (neonatal) warmers has been instrumental in fulfilling one of our main strategic priorities, accountable care, which focuses on harnessing the power of technology, information, and innovation to improve experiences, efficiency, and outcomes, including quality and safety,” said Susan Walsh, NHH president and CEO.

The vast majority of the auxiliary’s fundraising efforts this past year have come from sales through their two retail operations, the Little Treasure Shop in NHH’s main foyer, and Petticoat Lane, an offsite thrift store operated by the auxiliary at 25 Munroe St. in Cobourg.

“The opportunity to raise funds for four new (neonatal) warmers has been a milestone achievement for the NHH Auxiliary,” said NHH Auxiliary president Selena Forsyth.

“This donation is reflective of the auxiliary’s continued efforts to raise funds for NHH and the exceptional commitment of our volunteers, who always rise to meet every new fundraising goal.”

Forsyth offered a special shout-out to Dale Hodge, volunteer co-ordinator of The Little Treasure Shop, and Marilyn Routly, volunteer coordinator of Petticoat Lane.

“Without their leadership and the dedication of the retail operations teams, volunteers, and all who support, this goal would not have been achievable,” she noted.

A 22-year-old Niagara region man and two male teenagers from the GTA are facing charges in connection with a housing unit takeover in Peterborough on Tuesday evening (April 30).

A housing unit takeover is a situation where people have moved into a home and are manipulating and endangering the legitimate tenant or homeowner.

At around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, police officers were conducting a well-being check at a residence at 850 Fairbairn Street, a 36-unit townhouse located between Parkview Drive and Highland Road that is operated by the Peterborough Housing Corporation.

After officers knocked on the door, a 24-year-old Oshawa man with a gunshot wound to his leg came out of the residence. Emergency medical services treated the victim at the scene and he was then taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for surgery and treatment.

Police learned there were more people in the home, and deployed the emergency response team, canine unit, and the remotely piloted aircraft system unit.

Officers then cleared the residence, arresting three people and seizing 28.5 grams of fentanyl and an unspecified amount of Canadian currency.

A 22-year-old St. Catharines man has been charged with unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking (suspected fentanyl), and possession of proceeds obtained by crime under $5,000 (money believed to be a result of drug trafficking).

A 16-year-old Whitby youth faces the same charges, as well as a charge of failure to comply with an undertaking. A 15-year-old Ajax youth has been charged with unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm.

All three of the accused are being held in custody and will appear in court on Wednesday (May 1). Police will remain at the scene until the investigation is completed, although they say there are no other suspects and no concern for public safety.

Peterborough police chief Stuart Betts and detective sergeant Josh McGrath held a media conference at the scene on Wednesday afternoon (May 1).

Betts noted that none of the accused have criminal records, although the 16-year-old Whitby youth is currently on bail with conditions for a charge of robbery with a firearm. He said the victim of the shooting is also not from Peterborough and, while that Oshawa man has no criminal record, he is also on bail for a charge of robbery with a firearm and drug trafficking offences.

“Last night’s shooting was a case of violence brought to our city, not violence originating in our city,” Betts said, reiterating that this incident was a housing unit takeover and that anyone who feels victimized or vulnerable should report it to the police, either directly or through Crime Stoppers.

VIDEO: Media conference – May 1, 2024

According to Peterborough-based organization A Question of Care, housing unit takeovers appear to be increasingly gang related and can involve drugs, guns, and human trafficking. They often target vulnerable people. In January, Peterborough police arrested three people in two separate housing unit takeovers.

This is the second shooting incident in the past week at a housing complex operated by the Peterborough Housing Corporation.

Last Friday (April 26), a 32-year-old Peterborough man died of a gunshot wound at the Sunshine Homes housing complex at 572 Crystal Drive. After that incident, police arrested 37-year-old Geoff Riley of Peterborough and charged him with second-degree murder and attempted murder.

“I’d just like to stress again that these shootings are targeted events,” Betts said, pointing out that the victims and perpetrators in both shootings were known to one another. ”

“They were not random acts of violence in our community, and I think that’s important for our citizens to hear and our citizens to know.”

Betts also stressed this incident was not a home invasion, but a housing unit takeover where the people involved in the incident had some kind of relationship with a person or persons living in the residence.

This story has been updated to include updated charges against the accused, and information from the media conference held by Peterborough police chief Stuart Betts.

This year’s Peterborough Butterfly Run, held on Sunday morning (April 28) at Millennium Park, has raised over $92,000.

Organized by GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation in partnership with the Partners in Pregnancy Clinic with support from sponsors, the annual run raises awareness and funds to support families and individuals who have experienced loss during pregnancy, the loss of a child, or infertility.

Over 1,000 people participated in the event, which included a one-kilometre run fun for kids, a one-kilometre memorial walk, and a five-kilometre chip-timed run/walk. The event also featured a photo booth, ‘butterfly boutique’, a DJ, and a stilt walker in a butterfly costume.

“It was great to feel the fellowship, support, and comradery of the crowd, which is what the event has always been about,” says Vince Bierworth, executive director of GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation, in a media release. “No matter what format the event has taken, there are so many that support its mission. For that we are very grateful.”

The top three fundraising teams were Macks Pack, The White Family, and Team Bene’s Buddies. The top three individual fundraisers were Stephanie Sutton, Rebecca Mcevoy and Cally White.

Funds raised at the annual event have been used across the city and county of Peterborough to provide ongoing specialized education in perinatal bereavement care to health care providers and to establish more than 10 lending libraries for individuals and their families

Funds from the Peterborough Butterfly Run are also used to develop bereavement kits for individuals and families who experience early and later pregnancy loss and infant loss.

Since 2018, more than 800 bereavement kits have been created for health care providers with the Peterborough Family Health Team, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, local physicians, and mental health clinicians. Assembled and distributed by volunteers, the kits contain comfort items, memorabilia, and grief support.

Proceeds from the event also support future Peterborough Butterly Runs.

While it appears that Goliath has the upper hand, David is still fighting the good fight.

In the aftermath of Peterborough city council’s April 8 vote reaffirming the planned $4.4 million redevelopment of Bonnerworth Park to accommodate 16 pickleball courts, an expanded skate park, a bike pump track and an 80-vehicle parking lot, neighbouring residents vehemently opposed to the plan have organized in a bid to draw wider support.

The Save Bonnerworth Park website at savebonnerworthpark.ptbo.org went live on April 25. A related online petition, which urges ‘city council to consider the impact on our community before proceeding with this redevelopment plan,’ had garnered almost 1,300 signatures and messages of support as of Tuesday (April 30).

Visitors to the Save Bonnerworth Park website can order lawn signs and watch a video that outlines residents’ concerns with the noise impact that the pickleball complex will have on their quality of life, the loss of their neighbourhood greenspace, and what they claim was a flawed process in terms of notification that the park was being considered for redevelopment, and what the scope of the plan was.

While it would seem the park’s redevelopment is a done deal, group member and Middleton Drive resident Richard Scott says that’s not the case.

“The final approval of the detailed plans rests with (city) staff,” he says. “Council does have the ability to put that approval authority at the council level again. So that’s one thing we’re working on with our councillors (Joy Lachica and Alex Bierk) to have happen so we have another chance to express the community’s views before any final approval.”

VIDEO: Save Bonnerworth Park Peterborough April 2024

“Council has delegated final approval to staff,” Scott adds. “The city keeps saying the plan that was presented on March 21 (at a public consultation meeting) was an initial cut at it. The communications we’ve had suggest there’s room for some sort of rearrangement of the plan.”

“They’re now undertaking the technical studies — a noise study, a parking and traffic study, a storm water study, and a geotechnical study. Typically these studies would have been done at the front end of the planning process, not at the back end. That’s one of the issues we have.”

Scott says he has been told by a city official that study results will be posted on the city’s public consultation website at www.connectptbo.ca/bonnerworth-park, offering the public the chance to provide input on their findings.

In the meantime, Save Bonnerworth Park will continue to petition for support.

Elaine Gerelus, who with her husband John also lives on Middleton Drive, says support received so far has come from across the city, not just those living in the vicinity of Bonnerworth Park who will be most directly affected by the redevelopment.

“What we’ve found out through this process is once people learned about it, they’re appalled that this greenspace is being completely taken away … it makes no sense to them,” she says

“It’s great to see the outreach of people. If I mention it, people say ‘We had no idea that this is going on. Can you give us the link to the website?’ It’s become a grassroots movement that’s growing organically.”

Among the many who have signed the online petition and commented is former Peterborough mayor Sylvia Sutherland, who wrote “It is a travesty to locate 16 pickleball courts and a parking lot in this greenspace in a residential area.”

Many of the signers take aim at the expenditure itself, noting there are too many pressing priorities in the city to justify the outlay of $4.4 million.

One respondent, who identifies herself as a pickleball player, wrote she doesn’t agree with “paving greenspace or putting it (the pickleball court complex) in the middle of a neighbourhood.”

Another signer argues simply “Parks are not for cars” while another asks more bluntly “Who died and left pickleball players in charge?”

To the last point, Gerelus makes it clear that she and her neighbours “have nothing against pickleball.”

“It’s a great sport — I’ve played it,” she says. “I understand that there’s a place for it, but plowing over a beautiful greenspace at the expense of a larger community that uses that park is not acceptable.”

“I agree with a lot of the comments (posted with the petition). I have wondered why this is such a priority when we have far more serious issues in the city right now. I understand the frustrations.”

Moving forward, Scott says Save Bonnerworth Park will “communicate with city staff to make sure we get advance notice of when the study results are posted.”

“Given the fact that councillors were blindsided by the plan at the March 21 open house, they’ll also be on this. They don’t want to be blindsided again. So we’re going to be in constant communication with staff to make sure the studies are timely and don’t move ahead before they’re confirmed as complete and thorough. We believe they should come to the right conclusions.”

Meanwhile, Gerelus et al — who have paid for lawn signs available from the Save Bonnerworth Park website out of their own pocket and are distributing them — remain buoyed by the city-wide support.

“When you have this many people saying the process is flawed, there’s something there,” she says. “Nothing about this seems right. The opposition is growing day by day. Why are they (councillors) not listening to their constituents?”

Scott says members of the group have faith in their power-in-numbers approach.

“You have to be an optimist,” he says. “You have to think about everyone who’s not being represented, or hasn’t been represented, in this process, and who will suffer because of that.”

“The city has a chance now to actually engage in a good faith process. An example is these background studies. They say they will have another public meeting to display the final draft plan. We want to make sure they’re not in the background putting a contract out to tender while they’re still consulting. We want to make sure there’s fair due process.”

“We want to hold their feet to the fire. Show us that your strategic plan says transparency, openness, and collaboration. Our experience has been the exact opposite of what the city says it aspires to.”

Northumberland County’s warden says the idea of having one county-wide police service for Northumberland is worth a second look.

Brian Ostrander endorses county council’s decision to hire a consultant to study the pros and cons of having a single police service, or a single policing contract for the county, instead of the three services that currently operate in Northumberland.

The Cobourg Police Service serves the Town of Cobourg, the Port Hope Police Service primarily serves the urban area of the Municipality of Port Hope, and the Ontario Provincial Police’s Northumberland detachment (with locations in Cobourg, Brighton, and Campbellford) serves the rural area of the Municipality of Port Hope, along with Hamilton Township, Alnwick-Haldimand Township, Cramahe Township, the Municipality of Brighton, and the Municipality of Trent Hills.

The review of police services delivered in Northumberland is intended to “ensure effective and affordable policing over the long-term as the community grows and changes,” Northumberland County noted in a news release.

County staff retained a third party, StrategyCorp, to take on the review.

Warden Ostrander said he proposed to council the motion of updating the 2007 study on the same issue for a few reasons.

“It showed there could be some fairly significant savings if there was an amalgamated service or one contract across the county,” Ostrander told kawarthaNOW. “I wondered if it was of interest to have that study updated, and it was.”

“Policing is expensive, and it should be. At the end of the day, we’re talking about a human resources-heavy service that is offered and these folks should be paid well. They’re putting themselves in danger for our safety and security on a day-to-day basis.”

Ostrander said having one police service or one policing contract across the county would require supervisory positions but could reduce the number of the current two police chiefs and one inspector down to one role.

There could also be an opportunity to reduce costs for equipment, vehicles, and civilian human resources staff in communities like Cobourg and Port Hope that have their own services, he noted.

StrategyCorp recently delivered to county council a presentation on the planned methodology, officially kicking off its work. With Northumberland expected to grow by 35 per cent over the next 25 years to a population of 122,000, the review aims to provide recommendations to structure and equip local police services to meet future needs.

“Northumberland County is undergoing transformational change and growth,” Ostrander said in the release.

“The principal direction of our newly adopted community strategic plan is to guide this growth with intention. As the mayors of Northumberland, county council recognizes the importance of assessing current policing practices and exploring all options to meet evolving community needs. Part of the strategic plan involves looking at opportunities for shared services.”

“Council holds local police services in the highest regard for their professionalism and dedication to community safety. This review seeks to ensure that policing in our community is poised for long-term success. We aim to equip Northumberland municipalities with the necessary insights to make informed decisions about ensuring the safety and security of our residents well into the future.”

The review will culminate in a comprehensive report for Northumberland County council’s consideration and next steps.

“At council’s direction, this review will encompass a thorough evaluation of current policing service levels, operational costs, and revenue streams,” said Northumberland County CAO Jennifer Moore in the release.

“The goal is to obtain recommendations for future service delivery, considering options ranging from maintaining existing service structures to exploring a combined model.”

A final report is expected to be presented to county council in the second half of 2024.

A 32-year-old Peterborough woman is facing arson charges after a series of five garbage bin fires in the downtown area overnight on Monday (April 29).

At around 11:30 p.m., Peterborough police began to receive calls to assist the Peterborough Fire Department with multiple fires in garbage bins — all within a short time frame and in proximity to one another.

Fires were set in two garbage bins in Millennium Park and in garbage bins at George Street North and King Street, Charlotte Street and Aylmer Street, and George Street North near Sherbrooke Street.

Police reviewed footage from the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras that were installed at 12 locations in downtown Peterborough last summer and obtained a description of the suspect.

Officers canvassing the area located a woman on a bike in the Reid Street and Simcoe Street area who matched the suspect’s description.

As a result of the police investigation, a 32-year-old Peterborough woman was arrested and charged with five counts of arson causing damage to property.

“The footage from the CCTV program cameras was instrumental in allowing officers to get a description and make an arrest in this case,” reads a police media release.

The accused woman is being held in policy custody for a court appearance on Tuesday.

The presidents of two union locals at Fleming College are pledging “to hold the college accountable to the language” of their collective agreements in the wake of last week’s suspension of 29 programs.

In a written statement provided to kawarthaNOW, OPSEU/SEPFO Local 352 president Liz Mathewson and Local 351 president Marcia Steeves admit to being “shocked” by last week’s program suspension announcement. Local 352 represents full-time and partial load faculty at the college and Local 351 represents full-time and part-time college support staff.

“Both union locals were advised only an hour prior to management’s (April 23) meetings with faculty and support staff where they were notified of the fate of their programs,” they write.

“We have not seen this level of program cuts in decades and we view it as unprecedented. We fear other colleges will follow Fleming’s example, and inappropriately jump to cutting programs without engagement, transparency, and collaboration.”

On April 24, in a prepared statement, college president Maureen Adamson confirmed the decision made the previous day by Fleming’s board of governors to suspend 29 programs ranging from Business-Accounting and Business-HR, to Environmental Technology and Fish and Wildlife Technology, to Law Clerk and Marketing Management.

Adamson pointed to “significant external events that have had an adverse effect on our college,” pointing specifically to the federal cap on international students coming Ontario and the elimination of educational private partnerships.

“The related significant reduction to our budget has had a profound impact on college operations,” added Adamson, adding “We are moving quickly to stabilize our institution and prepare for future years.”

But both Mathewson and Steeves argue “these decisions are not simply a result of the federal cap on international students. They are a result of a significant and systematic underfunding of our public post-secondary institutions by the provincial government.”

“The federal announcement (of the international student cap) made on January 20, 2024 should not have been a surprise to any college president or board governor.”

What the programs’ suspension will mean for their respective members, says Mathewson and Steeves, is an unknown at this point.

“Until the college engages with the union locals in transparent discussions and provides the full evidence used to make these decisions, we will not know the full impact to faculty,” writes Mathewson, adding “We also need to know what additional questions the board of governors asked to ensure they were fully informed before endorsing the program cuts.”

“We cannot predict the impact to employees (but) we do know that our most precarious employees, our contract faculty, will be impacted the hardest.”

Mathewson goes further, questioning whether “the college is looking for efficiency within management.” According to her, just last week, “the college announced a new full-time management appointment.”

For her part, Steeves says “without meaningful (administration) engagement with the union, we will not know the full impact to part-time employees,” noting many of those part-time employees are students.

While wholly acknowledging “management has the right to manage,” both union local leaders agree “every decision is a choice.”

“Maureen (Adamson) could have chosen to work with the union locals, as we did at the onset of COVID, to find solutions that minimize the negative impact to potential and current students, valued employees, the communities which rely upon us, and the employers who employ our graduates.”

“Choosing to exclude the union locals in solution-focused, collaborative discussions was a missed opportunity. The college can always choose to find efficiencies within the college other than cutting academic programs and services to students. However, it appears it is only considering cuts to academic programs.”

Mathewson’s and Steeves’ promise to hold the college’s feet to the fire regarding their respective collective agreements is being augmented by an online petition initiated by the student association at the college’s Frost Campus in Lindsay.

They note, as of Sunday (April 28), more than 1,100 people had signed and commented, adding “Many signatures are from former employees, alumni, and employers of graduates from many of the programs eliminated at the Frost campus.” As of the date of this story, the online petition has over 1,500 signatures.

Combined with the August 2023 suspension of 13 programs, the number of Fleming programs cut in less than a year stands at 42.

“The college is spinning this as a painless choice for students but as employees at a community college, faculty and staff know there will be significant consequences,” write the union leaders.

“These program cuts will create new barriers for students looking to transition to post-secondary education or those looking to up-skill through the programs which have been terminated. Many of the programs cut were pathway programs to university.”

The two union leaders provide examples of how the program cuts could affect different sectors in the economy.

“Locally, many of our graduates obtain employment in the food and restaurant sector. However, Fleming cut the culinary program last year.”

“Graduates from programs now cut at the School for Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences at the Frost Campus make up a great deal of the employees at the Ministry of Natural Resources (and Forestry) and in the Ontario Public Service sector. Some of these graduates were considered essential workers in various areas across the province during COVID.”

“Business programs have been eliminated, and programs with a focus on therapeutic recreation, whose graduates work with our increasing aging population, have also been eliminated.”

While there’s still no definitive word on what the programs’ suspension will mean in terms of lost faculty and staff jobs, those affected have been told by management that Fleming College “will work closely with our union locals to meet our Employment Stability standards.” For Mathewson and Steeves, that assurance means little in the big picture.

“The program cuts made over the past year will negatively impact students and Fleming’s reputation, and will fracture established relationships with many communities and employment sectors,” they conclude.

Watch kawarthaNOW for more updates to this story as they become available.