From a plumber to an instrumentation and control engineering tech, Homeward Bound Peterborough is celebrating the graduation of seven of its single mothers as they pursue new careers and, ultimately, new lives.

Homeward Bound is an award-winning comprehensive four-year program that aims to help precariously housed single mothers in Peterborough city and county achieve lasting economic self-sufficiency. The program aids mothers, aged 19 and older, who are facing multiple barriers such as unstable housing, a risky financial situation, and limited or no access to education, childcare, and sustainable employment.

The initiative strives to open doors for mothers by providing childcare, training, education and housing, and creates a pathway to independence and family security.

“It has been a dream of ours for a long time to bring the program to Peterborough,” said Maisie Watson, housing support worker, who has been with Homeward Bound since 2017 when the program was in its infancy stages in Peterborough.

Today, Homeward Bound is currently celebrating the first seven graduates of its program.

“We encourage our women to study in areas that aren’t usually traditional for women and that will give them a decent, sustainable full-time job,” Watson told kawarthaNOW. “We currently have two (women) in school — one in plumbing and one in carpentry and renovation.”

There are also two participants who are currently upgrading their skills and pursuing nursing as their careers.

“The whole goal is to break the cycle of poverty,” Watson said.

Homeward Bound Peterborough is operated by the Peterborough Housing Corporation (PHC), which is the largest community housing provider in the city and county of Peterborough. PHC owns and manages 1,200-plus units of senior, single, and family units, providing homes to more than 4,000 residents.

Starting with a vision of bringing Homeward Bound to Peterborough in 2004, PHC made a corporate commitment to make the vision a reality in 2018.

The program has four phases, each of which must be completed before the women move on to the next phase.

Phase one encompasses skills training and academic upgrading. Participants receive training in life skills, computer and financial literacy, employability skills, networking opportunities and academic upgrading for college entrance.

The second phase is community college. The women enroll in a two-year diploma granting program at Peterborough’s Fleming College, in a discipline that is geared towards meeting current demand in the labour market.

The third phase of the program is employment skills. This is a 12-week program designed to enhance employability by developing hard and soft skills that will allow them to be successful in the workplace. The fourth phase involves an internship, employment, and the departure from the program.

Homeward Bound aims to connect women with opportunities for full-time employment and support them to transition into their new lives.

Women live in furnished apartments, for a maximum of four years, until they graduate and find permanent employment. Certified childcare is offered on site for young children.

Each participant receives guidance, counselling, support and develops regular action plans throughout the four phases. Homeward Bound continues to be available to provide support to its graduates and their children after the program ends.

Homeward Bound was developed by Toronto social services agency WoodGreen and launched in 2004, as a four-year education and employment program that provides intensive wrap-around services to eliminate the barriers that single mothers face in trying to move out of poverty, according to the WoodGreen website.

Watson and her chief executive officer, along with Homeward Bound’s partners, visited WoodGreen’s Homeward Bound program several times before bringing the program to Peterborough.

To be eligible for Homeward Bound in Peterborough, women must be:

• 19 years or older
• Experiencing the effects of poverty
• A resident of the city of county of Peterborough
• A Canadian citizen, landed immigrant, or convention refugee
• Have a child or children under 17 years old, with at least one child living with the mother
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent, or be a couple of credits away from having a diploma
• Be capable of reaching college-level academics within six to eight months
• Be receiving or eligible to receive OW, ODSP, or EI benefits
• Have no unresolved OSAP debt
• Have no current criminal proceedings
• Be addiction-free for at least one year
• Be able to commit to participating in a full-time program.

Homeward Bound in Peterborough currently has space for four women and their children.

For more information or to apply, visit www.ptbohousingcorp.ca/building-healthy-communities/homeward-bound/.

As Homeward Bound does not receive ongoing government funding, the program accepts charitable donations. To learn more about how to support the program or make a donation, email Maisie Watson at mwatson@ptbohousingcorp.ca.

Lindsay residents who have noticed their tap water is cloudy or grey or smells like chlorine should not be concerned, according to the City of Kawartha Lakes.

“Water in municipal systems is prone to becoming cloudy or greyish-coloured due to unseasonably warm temperatures during the day and colder temperatures at night,” reads a media release issued by the municipality on Tuesday (February 13).

“Fluctuating temperatures can cause more air to be trapped in the water, resulting in the cloudiness. This has no effect on the quality of the water — it remains safe to drink.”

The city says the cloudiness should disperse when the cold water tap is run for a few minutes, or after the water is put into a jug or container in the fridge. Hot water that is cloudy can usually be resolved by lowering the setting on your hot water heater, according to the city.

The city is also reassuring residents who notice their tap water smells like chlorine. The chemical is added to the water to kill any harmful germs and make it safe for drinking.

“Chlorine levels are kept well within the regulated limits and are monitored 24 hours a day,” the city states.

According to the city, a chlorine smell in water is often caused by the dissipation of the gas from the water, changes in water temperature, high demand for water, or a change in operational demands.

To reduce the smell or taste of chlorine, residents are advised to keep a jug of water in the fridge as chlorine disperses over time.

“We’d like to thank the residents that have reached out about their drinking water in Lindsay,” says Amber Hayter, the city’s manager of waste and wastwater. “We completely understand it can be concerning; however, I want to reiterate that the drinking water in Kawartha Lakes is continuously monitored and remains safe to drink.”

Trent University has unveiled the crest for Gidigaa Migizi College, the university’s sixth college named in honour of the late Curve Lake First Nation Elder and former chief Douglas Williams (Gidigaa Migizi).

Designed by First Nations artist Jared Tait using a traditional Anishinaabeg woodland art style, the crest was unveiled at the Elders Gathering Feast Saturday evening (February 10) at Trent Athletic Centre during the 48th annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering. At the unveiling, a special scarf featuring the new crest was presented to the Elders and members of Williams’ family, honouring them as the first members of the new college.

The much-beloved Williams, who passed away in July 2022, was an associate professor at Trent University and director of studies for the PhD program in Indigenous Studies, teaching the land-based course for the program. In Anishinaabemowin (the Ojibwe language), Gidigaa Migizi means spotted eagle.

The crest includes elements deeply symbolic to Gidigaa Migizi, incorporating his colours — deep blue, green, and turquoise — and featuring a spotted eagle representing his name as well as a pike representing his clan (Maashginoozhe). Human profiles within the spotted eagle symbolizes ancestral connections, while a portal — an element in First Nations art — represents the link to culture and tradition.

“This new emblem is rich in symbolism and deeply connected to the legacy of Gidigaa Migizi, the namesake for our sixth college,” says Marilyn Burns, Trent University’s vice president of communications and enrolment, in a media release.

“It reinforces the university’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and dynamic learning environment that especially recognizes the First Nations of this territory and the complexities of our shared history.”

According to the release, artist Jared Tait drew inspiration from his own heritage and the profound impact of Williams on the local Indigenous community.

“An important aspect of selecting Jared Tait for this crest was solidifying that his creative vision aligned with the college’s foundational values and embodied the Anishinaabeg’s rich traditions,” says Jack Hoggarth, chair of Anishinaabe knowledge and assistant professor from the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies at Trent University.

“This choice reflects a thoughtful consideration of how art can perpetuate language and culture, ensuring the crest of Gidigaa Migizi College will be a meaningful tribute, honouring its namesake and the broader mission of Trent University.”

To ensure the crest appropriately honoured Gidigaa Migizi’s impact and the treaty and traditional land Trent University sits on, the university consulted with the Elders & Traditional Knowledge Keepers Council, which had originally recommended the college be named Gidigaa Migizi last year.

To be built on the east bank of Trent University’s Symons Campus in Peterborough, Gidigaa Migizi College will be the university’s sixth college, joining Champlain, Lady Eaton, Peter Gzowski, Otonabee, and Catharine Parr Traill. The colleges are scholarly communities comprising student residences, dining halls, and academic and administrative space.

With an anticipated opening of 2028, Gidigaa Migizi College will include as many as 700 new beds for first-year students along with classrooms, faculty offices, and student spaces.

VIDEO: Interview with crest designer Jared Tait

Kawartha Land Trust has announced the largest protected property purchase in the land conservation organization’s 22-year history: the new 1,411-acre Hammer Family Nature Preserve on the east shore of Pigeon Lake west of Lakehurst in Trent Lakes.

The charitable organization was able to purchase the property with the support of a $2.9-million investment from the Ontario government’s Greenlands Conservation Partnership, a $38-million program conserving ecologically important natural areas and protecting wetlands, grasslands, and forests that help mitigate the effects of climate change.

Kawartha Land Trust made the announcement on Monday (February 12) at an event on Sandy Point, located in the Hammer Family Nature Preserve, that was attended by the organization’s representatives along with Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Andrea Khanjin, Curve Lake First Nation Chief Keith Knott, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott, and Trent Lakes Mayor Terry Lambshead.

“Kawartha Land Trust is extremely grateful for the government funding partners and private donors who made this ambitious project possible,” said Kawartha Land Trust executive director John Kintare in a media release. “The protection of this natural gem of the Kawarthas is an important investment in nature in the Kawarthas, and Ontario at large. It was only through our strong partnerships that we were able to achieve such a positive conservation outcome.”

Seven times larger than Emily Provincial Park at the south end of Pigeon Lake, the Hammer Family Nature Preserve is located less than a kilometre south of Kawartha Land Trust’s second-largest protected property, the Big Boyd (Chiminis) Island — the largest-known undeveloped island in the Kawarthas at 1,142 acres.

The Hammer Family Nature Preserve comprises 1,411 acres of forests, wetlands, fields, and natural shoreline along Pigeon Lake. It features more than 200 acres of wetlands, 183 of which include sections of the Bear Creek provincially significant wetland and the Fulton’s Bay – Oak Orchard wetland.

The Hammer Family Nature Preserve also features 700 acres of deep upland forest that provides habitat for species sensitive to disturbance and require large tracts of woodlands, like the at-risk wood thrush. Other species at risk that can be found on the property include Blanding’s turtle, monarch butterfly, golden-winged warbler, evening grosbeak, barn swallow, eastern meadowlark, butternut tree, and black ash tree.

“Today’s announcement marks one of the largest non-profit conservation projects in the Kawarthas and I am very proud of Ontario’s contribution through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program,” said Minister Khanjin. “By working alongside strong conservation leaders, we have been able to leverage public and private funds to protect ecologically important natural areas for generations to come.”

Along with the $2.9 million in funding from the Ontario government and gifts from private donors, Kawartha Land Trust received funding from the federal government’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, a $1.4 billion 10-year fund administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada that helps conserve, restore, and enhance the management of ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, and grasslands.

“The support and financial investments from the Province of Ontario, Government of Canada, and private donors, has resulted in the creation of a regional and provincial community asset,” Kintare said. “This conservation outcome would also not have been possible without the countless contributions of (Kawartha Land Trust’s) dedicated community of volunteers, donors, partners, and supporters throughout our 22-year history. For that, I thank each and every one of you.”

“I want to thank Kawartha Land Trust for stepping forward and all the advocacy work and experience that they have in ensuring that our natural heritage and ecosystems are preserved for future generations,” said MPP Smith. “Kudos to Kawartha Land Trust for all they do and thank you for continuing to advocate for our environment this way.”

Unlike Big Boyd (Chiminis) Island, the Hammer Family Nature Preserve is not currently open to the public, although Kawartha Land Trust says the property will feature public access at a future date.

Kawartha Land Trust is currently developing a plan to consult with local stakeholders, Williams Treaties First Nations, and community partners to inform future stewardship plans, partnerships, and public access to the property.

The organization is also working on a public fundraising campaign to allow for the ongoing stewardship of the property, including habitat enhancement and restoration, species at risk surveys, property maintenance and monitoring, future trail maintenance, and other stewardship activities that may arise from the community consultation process.

Founded in 2001, Kawartha Land Trust currently protects 34 properties that include more than 6,700 acres of ecologically diverse lands in the Kawarthas every year.

Students are back in class at St. John II Paul Catholic Elementary School in Lindsay after police temporarily evacuated the school on Monday morning (February 12) following the discovery of a suspicious object on school grounds.

The school, located at 130 Orchard Park Rd., contacted Kawartha Lakes police after a staff member found the suspicious object at around 8:30 a.m.

As a safety precaution, police evacuated staff and students to the library and gymnasium at nearby Parkview Public School.

Police then conducted a thorough search of the school and grounds and investigated the suspicious object, which they determined was not a threat.

“There is absolutely no threat to public safety,” reads a media release from Kawartha Lakes Police. “Therefore the scene has been released and the school has been reopened.”

Students and staff began returning to the school after 10 a.m.

According to an update to families from school principal Michael DeMaeyer, the suspicious object was cylindrical and appeared to have attached wires.

Update: KL Police have cleared the scene following an investigation. Police have determined there is no threat to the school community. Students and staff will make their way back from Parkview Public School to proceed with the school day. https://t.co/idTFw9elS2

— PVNCCDSB (@PVNCCDSB) February 12, 2024

Peterborough police are investigating a break and enter at Millbrook Foodland early Saturday morning (February 10).

At around 5:40 a.m., Peterborough police received a call from an employee who had arrived at work at the grocery store at 6 Centre Street in Millbrook.

There was extensive damage to the store, with cigarettes reported stolen.

Police believed the incident happened sometime between 2:30 a.m. and 5:40 a.m. on Saturday morning.

After remaining closed for the initial police investigation and for clean-up, the grocery store reopened later Saturday morning.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca

Police are warning the public of a potential threat to public safety after issuing an arrest warrant for a 28-year-old man wanted in connection with a robbery and aggravated assault in Minden that took place early Friday morning (February 9).

Shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Friday, officers with the Haliburton Highlands Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to an assault and robbery with a weapon at a home on Parkside Street in Minden. The victim was transported to Haliburton hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

On Saturday afternoon, police released a description of the suspect and advised the public he was considered a potential threat to public safety. On Sunday afternoon, police issued a warrant for the arrest of 28-year-old Michael Gunn of Minden on charges of robbery using firearm, aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Gunn is described as 6’1″ (185 cm) with a thin build, short brown hair, light-brown partial beard, and blue eyes. He has a tattoo of the Canadian flag with a cross on his right forearm, and a tattoo of a female on his left forearm.

Police have released a photo of Gunn, who they believe has a weapon and is considered a potential threat to public safety. If seen, call 9-1-1 and do not approach.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident or the whereabouts of Gunn is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.khcrimestoppers.com, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

Bringing a new family physician on board at the newcomer clinic in Peterborough, could be a win for the entire community, a Peterborough family doctor says.

As the Peterborough Newcomer Health Clinic (PNHC) continues its efforts to recruit a second physician, Dr. Madura Sundareswaran said she envisions a situation that will benefit other residents too, in addition to the clinic’s newcomer clients.

“My hope is that another doctor at the PNHC is another doctor for our community,” Dr. Sundareswaran told kawarthaNOW.

“The reality is, I am hoping that recruiting for the PNHC will actually supplement recruitment efforts for the city at large,” Dr. Sundareswaran said. “Current trends suggest that by 2026, Peterborough will need a total of 29 full-time family physicians to meet the need for the growing number of unattached patients.”

Currently, there are about 20,000 people without a family physician, she noted.

“In the ideal situation, we are finding family physicians who would also consider taking over a retiring family physician’s practice or willing to join a family practice to help the community at large. I would like to be able to offer supplemental work at the PNHC as a unique opportunity.”

The PNHC is a transitional clinic for immigrants and refugees in Peterborough city or county. The clinic provides short-term medical care for up to six months. The clinic was developed as a pilot project to evaluate and assess the need of such a service for newcomer clients and help structure future programming.

“Since we began operations in January of 2023, we quickly surpassed our target of 50 clients having completed a total of 92 intake assessments for new clients between January and December of 2023,” Dr. Sundareswaran said. “At our current capacity, even a target of 100 new intakes per year would be insufficient to meet the needs of all refugee newcomers in their first year in Canada.”

She suspects recruiting a family doctor for the PNHC mirrors the challenges other clinics and practices are currently experiencing related to physician recruitment efforts.

“I am hopeful but at times disheartened,” the doctor said.

She cites inadequate physician compensation, lack of support for team-based care, increased administrative burden for physicians, and fewer medical students choosing family medicine for their careers, as some of the reasons for the family physician shortage.

However, Dr. Sundareswaran is optimistic that “with a little thinking outside the box,” the clinic could be successful in its efforts.

“Collaborating with community partners, and with incredible support from the Peterborough Family Health Team, New Canadians Centre, Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation, and a recent grant from the Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine/College of Family Physicians of Canada, we have developed a practice model that we hope is somewhat attractive and compensates physicians fairly for the work that they will do in this clinic. But competitive compensation would not be possible without the generous support or our partner organizations.”

The PNHC recently received the Racialized Communities Leadership Grant in Family Medicine to help offset some of its costs — medical supplies and the electronic medical records system.

The grant covers expenses at $5,000 per year, therefore the success of the next two years depends on ongoing in-kind support from partners, she explained.

“First and foremost, my hope is that another doctor at the PNHC is another doctor for our community. A family physician to care for the numerous patients without one, and a family physician who may consider taking some of our PNHC clients who are often discharged without a family doctor after their six-to-nine-month transition with our program.”

The PNHC, with Dr. Sundareswaran at the helm as its sole physician, is a partnership between the New Canadians Centre, Peterborough Family Health Team, and the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation.

The PNHC operates on a referral-only basis with clients being referred directly to the clinical team from the resettlement assistance program at the New Canadians Centre. To date, clients eligible for the PNHC’s services must be within one year of settlement, have OHIP coverage, and cannot have a family physician already in Ontario.

Between March 2022-2023, Peterborough welcomed 152 government-assisted refugees to its community. Those newcomers did not include Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Canada via the Canada Ukraine authorization for emergency travel program, privately sponsored refugees, or refugee claimants in the community.

“I would love to have a new physician to increase the number of patients we are able to provide services for in a year,” Dr. Sundareswaran said. “I would aim for a total of 150 patients per year with an additional half day per week of additional physician time. If this physician is as passionate about the work, then I would love to collaborate with them to continue to develop the services we offer at the PNHC, especially around health promotion and advocacy.”

Health care overall in Peterborough received some good news recently, with a provincial government injection of $110 million in funding for primary health care teams in the province. Of that amount, the newly established Peterborough Community Health Centre (CHC) will receive more than $3 million as an initial investment.

Ontario minister of health Sylvia Jones made the funding announcement February 1 during a media conference at the Peterborough Family Health Team offices. It’s the first new community health centre funded in Ontario in more than 15 years.

“We are thrilled that the need in Peterborough has been recognized,” said Jonathan Bennett, board chair of the Peterborough CHC, in response to the announcement. “Community health centres have demonstrated success in responding to homelessness, addictions, and providing effective health care to groups that struggle to connect to services.”

According to Bennett, the non-profit organization will be working with Ontario Health East — part of Ontario Health, an agency created by the Ontario government to connect, coordinate, and modernize the province’s health care system — to determine next steps, including hiring initial staff and seeking out short-term locations from which to offer services.