What was very good the first time around promises an even better encore.

Business, economic development, and political leaders gathered Tuesday (January 14) at the Art Gallery of Peterborough to hear word that $100,000 in Community Advancement Program (CAP) funding will be awarded this year to successful applicants by Community Futures Peterborough (CFP).

That announcement comes almost one year to the day that CAP funding, provided by the federal government via the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) was first made available to not-for-profits, charities, municipalities, and First Nations for projects supporting economic growth.

The past year saw $50,000 distributed equally to 10 successful applicants, but now, with $100,000 being made available, 10 applicants will be provided $10,000 each in non-repayable funding.

CAP funding applications and program guidelines are available online at communityfuturespeterborough.ca/programs/caprogram/. The deadline to apply is March 7, with successful applicants notified by April 7.

Meanwhile, those with questions about the program are directed to email CFP financial administrator and program officer Abby Keenan directly at abigail@cfpeterborough.ca.

The program is seeking applicants located in Peterborough city or county whose bids speak, in whole or part, to the following:

• Create jobs, spark innovation and foster inclusiveness for specific client groups, such as women, youth, or Indigenous people, as the business starts, grows, or diversifies.
  Help small businesses adapt to changing economies and technologies.
• Create partnerships with local governments, Indigenous groups, educational institutions, and/or community organizations.
• Boost economic impact by strengthening and expanding tourism markets.
• Support organizations by promoting regional economic development.

The announcement was made at the Art Gallery of Peterborough for good reason. It was one of the 10 successful applicants last year, receiving $5,000 in support of its annual Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour, which marked 40 years last September.

“The support through the CAP program made all the difference last year,” said gallery director Celeste Scopelites, noting more than 8,000 people went on the studio tour — an increase of 49 per cent over 2023 — with an estimated $750,000 infused into the local economy as a result.

“The support helped us improve our signage, with larger signs placed in rural areas,” explained Scopelites of how AGP used the CAP funding. “We were also able to expand our offering for emerging artists — those that might not have a studio that they can welcome the public into. We created a space in the Peterborough Public Library where those artists could host and show their work. That was a great new addition that we’re going to carry on with.”

Other successful 2024 applicants were the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Foundation, the Kawartha Manufacturers’ Association, PWD Visuals Limited, the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, Junior Achievement Northern and Eastern Ontario, the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, the Peterborough Folk Festival, and Peterborough GreenUP.

In her remarks, CFP executive director Devon Girard said CAP funding helps boost business attraction, investment, retention, and employment in the city and county of Peterborough. She added the aim is “to move the dial to support economic development in the region.”

“These projects create jobs, spark innovation, create partnerships and help expand tourism markets,” Girard said. “We can’t wait to see the projects our community brings to us this year.”

CFP board chair Wayne Harding echoed that sentiment, noting each CAP funding application will be reviewed by a committee comprised of board members and CFP staff.

“I’ve been on the board to 10 years now. Every time we’ve launched a program, I’ve been amazed by the ideas the community comes up with. They’re always innovative, there’s always something unique, and something you don’t expect to see.”

Also taking to the podium were Peterborough-Kawartha MP Michelle Ferreri, Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal, and Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark.

“It is the great ideas of entrepreneurs that change the world,” said MP Ferreri. “When organizations thrive, everybody thrives. This opportunity to have $10,000 to advance your program or organization will be very beneficial for the entire community. That’s what it’s all about. When our community grows, our country grows.”

Mayor Leal, meanwhile, took time to praise CFP, which is marking its 40th anniversary this year.

“In 1985, the Government of Canada, under the leadership of the late Brian Mulroney, instituted Community Futures from sea to sea to sea,” he related.

“When you think about this organization, you think about Judy Heffernan, who was the executive director for 16 years and laid the foundation for its success today. I’m pleased to hear CFP is building on the success of the first year (of CAP funding) by increasing the grants to $10,000. CFP continues to show that, by supporting our local businesses and non-profits, they can make a tremendous impact on our entire community.”

For her part, Warden Clark, the newly minted chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, noted that “economic development is ripe for opportunity in eastern Ontario.”

“I appreciate the focus of this program on creating jobs, sparking innovation, fostering inclusivity, building resilience, encouraging partnerships, maximizing economic impact and supporting our regional development. I’ll be sure to encourage groups across Peterborough County to apply. I’m looking forward to seeing what our community can create with the support of the Community Advancement Program.”

Afterwards, Girard says the CAP program funding increase stems from “a strategic investment recommendation made by staff to our board.”

“Aside from working hard to reduce our operational dollars, any dollars we’ve been able to save we believe strongly should be invested back into the community. Our board felt strongly that this is a program it could and should support under our internally restricted fund. That was the proceeds from the sale of our building on Charlotte Street. We decided to invest additional dollars into the Community Advancement Program this year from that fund.”

Girard says a major factor in moving forward with CAP funding was the response to last year’s call for applications, which brought forward more than 70 submissions.

“One of the things that’s really exciting about the program is to not set strong guidelines. That has allowed organizations to come to us with really creative and exciting examples of how they can spark innovation, create more jobs or boost the business or tourism profile in the region.”

“We can’t wait to see the applications that come in this year,” added Girard.

Following the gathering, kawarthaNOW pulled Mayor Leal aside for an update on another pressing matter pertaining to economic development in the city of Peterborough: the status of the hiring of a permanent economic development director. That position has been filled on a temporary basis since November by Blair Nelson, Peterborough’s current infrastructure commissioner.

“We have concluded all of our final interviews,” confirmed Mayor Leal. “We have one candidate and we’re in process of making a final offer from a compensation perspective, and respecting that this individual has to talk to their current employer and give sufficient notice that he or she may be leaving their position.”

“I was in the last interview of two prospective candidates. The individual selected has the ability and skill set to make a real contribution to the economic development of the city, and work cooperatively with our colleagues in the county on a regional basis.”

Asked if a hiring announcement is imminent, Mayor Leal said “Soon.”

The City of Peterborough issued a statement on Monday (January 13) about skating on the Trent Canal below the Peterborough Lift Lock.

Although the city provided no specific reason for issuing the statement, it may be related to the fact that members of the community have been clearing areas of the ice for skating this winter, after the city announced in December it would no longer be doing so.

“The City of Peterborough is currently not maintaining a skating rink at the Peterborough Lift Lock,” reads the city’s statement. “As part of its 2025 Budget deliberations, City Council is considering removing that service as a cost cutting measure.”

Community members have been regularly clearing the ice of snow, and at least one person on Facebook has proposed flooding a section of the canal to improve the ice surface — activities that were previously done by city staff at an annual cost of around $100,000.

“Maintaining the skating rink at the Lift Lock has an estimated annual cost of $100,000, which includes activities such as regularly flooding the ice surface to create a smooth rink, snow clearing with snow clearing machines, and testing ice thickness,” the city states.

According to another Facebook post, Parks Canada has recently installed steps for access to the canal.

“The canal is a Parks Canada property,” reads the city’s statement. “While the City of Peterborough does not decide on public access to the property, Parks Canada has in the past installed steps for public access to the ice surface of the canal at the City’s request.”

One of the reasons for removing canal ice maintenance activities from the city’s draft budget, as cited by city staff in a report to city council during budget deliberations in November, is because operation of the canal rink has been limited in recent seasons because of mild weather.

As part of its past activities to test ice thickness at the canal, the city would post a green flag if the ice was safe for skating and a red flag if it was not. The city states the green flag was posted for 12 days in the 2021-22 season, for four days in the 2022-23 season, and for a single day in the 2023-24 season.

Another cited reason is that the city now operates an alternative outdoor skating rink at Quaker Foods City Square in downtown Peterborough, which the city mentions in its statement, along with the fact that the city “administers a neighbourhood park rink program that is provided by volunteers who maintain rinks at neighbourhood parks.”

As for a final decision on whether the city will no longer maintain the skating rink at the Peterborough Lift Lock in 2025, city council will continue its 2025 draft budget deliberations on Monday (January 20).

City council was originally set to approve the 2025 draft budget in early December, but requested that city staff provide additional cost-savings measures to council to reduce the currently proposed property tax increase of eight per cent to seven per cent.

City council will consider those recommendations on January 20, with final approval of the draft 2025 budget scheduled for Monday, February 3.

A commemoration 200 years in the making will see a series of events held throughout 2025 to mark the bicentennial of the Peter Robinson Irish Emigration to what was then known as Nogojiwanong — “the place at the end of the rapids.”

In the early 1820s, with Ireland in the midst of severe economic and social challenges, many families faced extreme poverty, poor housing, and food insecurity. Rapid population growth assured little hope of any improvement.

Enter Peter Robinson.

A prominent Canadian politician, he met, in 1822, with British politician Sir Robert John Wilmot-Horton, who proposed an experiment that would see poor Irish families relocated to what was then Upper Canada.

Robinson was provided with 9,678 British pounds (just more than $2.5 million today) in parliamentary grants to underwrite the ambitious emigration plan.

On May 20, 1823, Robinson arrived in Fermoy, County Cork and a call was issued for families to make the trip across the Atlantic Ocean for a fresh start in a strange land. A staggering 50,000 applications were received, from which 2,024 — 385 men, 325 women, and 1,314 children — were chosen.

Fast forward almost two years later to May 6, 1825. From Queenstown harbour in County Cork, the first of nine ships, Regulus, headed out onto the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, transporting 157 souls to a new land. Over the following weeks, eight more vessels — Fortitude, Brunswick, Resolution, Star, Elizabeth, Albion, Amity, and John Barry — followed in due course.

In late June of 1825, the first ships arrived in Quebec City. By way of Kingston and Cobourg, a subsequent river and overland journey brought the families to the designated settlement area of what is now Peterborough County where, provided land, tools, and 18 months’ provisions, the hard work of clearing and preparing the land for farming began as the settlement formed.

A review of each ship’s passenger roster reveals family surnames well known and established in the Peterborough region to this day: Leahy, Collins, Donoghue, Driscoll, O’Brien, Sullivan, Heffernan, and Crowley to name but a few. Countless families in this area trace their ancestral roots to those who made the perilous journey, leaving their homeland and family behind forever.

“Those chosen (for emigration) were very special but they had to leave their brothers and sisters and other family members behind, which was very traumatic because they knew they would never make the trip back home,” says Brendan Moher, whose ancestors later came to this area in 1832.

“It was a well-run operation by the British government. There was a doctor on each of the ships. But it was 1825 and it wasn’t like hopping on a ship in 1910. This was the Atlantic. There were storms and everything else. Some died on the way over, but almost exactly the same number arrived because of the 17 births that occurred on the ships.”

Last Monday (January 6), Moher, in his role as chair of Nine Ships 1825 Inc., made a presentation to Peterborough city councillors. Watching on were other members of the group: longtime local historians Elwood Jones and Dennis Carter-Edwards, Peterborough Canadian Irish Club board member Maureen Crowley, and former Selwyn mayor Mary Smith.

During his presentation, Moher asked the city to officially proclaim this year as the 200th anniversary of the Peter Robinson Irish emigration, as well as provide some relief in terms of fees owing for the rental of city facilities as needed for any related commemoration events.

On Tuesday, January 21st at the Peterborough Lions’ Community Centre on Burnham Street in East City, the first of what will be many public events commemorating the bicentennial will be hosted by the Peterborough Historical Society. Set for 7 p.m., the gathering will provide an overview of the history of the emigration.

Much of the same detail is laid out at nineships1825.com, including a full listing of each ship’s passenger roster, a timeline of events related to the emigration, and details of commemorations that were held in 1925 and 1975, to mark 100 and 150 years respectively.

According to Crowley, while details are still a work in progress, local events planned for this year will have a decidedly Irish connection. That includes, but isn’t limited to, the 25th annual Peterborough St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16 and 4th Line Theatre’s July 29 to August 30 world premiere staging of Wild Irish Geese, Megan Murphy’s take on the Peter Robinson Irish emigration from the perspective of those who made the arduous trek.

“We have community partners — Downeyville, Ennismore, Young’s Point, Keene, Otonabee, Douro — all having different (commemoration-related) events throughout the year,” says Crowley, a descendant of 1825 Irish emigrants with the surnames Crowley, Condon, Leahy, Allen, Fitzgerald, and Clancy.

“There are research weekends, a commemoration of the ships in Asphodel Norwood, Trent Valley Archives’ presentation of the play Crossing Over in May, a garden planting in Downeyville in June, a picnic and family reunion for Douro’s 200th anniversary July 4 to 6,” he says. “Ennismore has Heritage Days July 12 and 13, Downeyville has its Heritage Day July 19, and Young’s Point will have a 200th anniversary commemoration as well.”

August 1 to 10, notes Crowley, will be the bicentennial’s “focus week” during which time the Civic Holiday — long recognized as Peter Robinson Day in Peterborough — falls.

“We’re expecting people from all over the world,” says Crowley. “We’ve had interest already from the United States and from Ireland. There’ll be a walking tour on August 1 hosted by Elwood Jones of Trent Valley Archives, and a week-long Bicentennial Heritage Fair at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 317 Hunter Street West.”

On August 2, adds Crowley, will be the gala event, in the form of the Grand Irish Gathering at the Canadian Canoe Museum. That reception will feature music by Lakefield’s Hunt the Hare and other local musicians. More details of this event, and all the others, will be posted on the Nine Ships 1825 Inc. website as they’re finalized.

Moher says the committee, since it was formed, has viewed the year-long remembrance of the 1825 Irish emigrants as a more of a commemoration than a celebration.

“It wasn’t really a perfect situation for the First Nations when 2,000 people arrived,” he says of Irish emigrants’ arrival and settlement.

“They (First Nations people) aren’t celebrating, but they respect that we’re having a commemoration. They came out to our launch (in July 2024). It’s a celebration in some respects, but really a commemoration.”

Moher acknowledges that for himself and his fellow committee members, planning for the commemoration is “a labour of love” but well worth the effort. Now, both he and Crowley are excited the year has arrived.

“We want to make sure this event doesn’t go by unrecognized,” says Moher, noting initial planning began in 2015 and involved members of the Peterborough Canadian Irish Club, local heritage groups, and city and county stakeholders.

“This is a big deal. Forty per cent of people in this area trace their roots back to Ireland, so it’s very important to the history of the region that this be commemorated and acknowledged — how important it is that the Irish came here and established themselves.”

“And they did a good job of it,” Moher adds. “They created a foundation we can all be proud of and build upon, not just now but into the future. The Irish are a bit clan-ish, so they tend to stick around home. I’m sure, for generations to come, there’ll be lots of Irish living in this area. For the 300th anniversary, I’m sure they’ll look back and see what we did and do something at that time.”

For her part, Crowley says “I am who I am because of the combination of all my ancestors. I’ve always been proud of my Irish history and those connections. If it wasn’t for those people (the 1825 Irish emigrants), I wouldn’t be here.”

For more information, including upcoming events, and to sign up for the bicentennial newsletter, visit nineships1825.com.