Peterborough city council has endorsed a 12-month pilot program that would offer on-street parking permits in three areas of the city.

At its general committee meeting on Monday night (March 2), council spent almost an hour discussing a report from Blair Nelson, the city’s commissioner of infrastructure, planning and growth management describing the pilot program, which would be used to inform and help design a permanent on-street parking permit program for the city.

Nelson’s report states that, while the need for an on-street parking permit program like that available in other cities has been identified for many years, the city’s application for the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) identified the program as a solution to facilitate new development where there is a lack of space for on-site parking. The HAF requires the city to begin selling permits under the pilot program by the end of March.

To establish the pilot program, the city hired engineering and urban planning consultant CIMA+, which reviewed the city’s available on-street parking infrastructure and recommended three pilot study areas.

“The three pilot study areas capture all five of the current parking zones established within the city’s official plan,” the report states. “The pilot study areas are intended to capture a mix of operational conditions expected to be encountered throughout the city.”

Currently, the city only offers a single $53 monthly pass for the city’s surface parking lots. The pilot program would provide each address in the three pilot study areas with up to 10 free 24-hour permits per year, with each subsequent 24-hour permit costing $20.

The cost for a 48-hour permit would be $35 and the cost for a seven-day permit would be $120. The first monthly permit would cost $50, and $150 for subsequent monthly permits, with six-month permits costing $200 and annual permits costing $250.

Although with providing proof of residency within a pilot study area, permit applicants would also have to provide proof of ownership of the vehicle, and the city would verify that there are no unpaid parking infractions for the vehicle owner.

CIMA+ is recommending the city use its current parking supplier Hot Spot as an online seller of on-street parking permits.

On-street parking permit pilot study areas

During Monday night’s meeting, Town Ward councillor Alex Bierk put forward a motion to extend the northern boundary of pilot program area #1 — which is located in Town Ward and consists of three zones — from Weller Street to McDonnel Street between Monaghan Road and Park Street North, to evaluate parking concerns in the area.

Acting commissioner of infrastructure, planning and growth management Ian Boland noted that the intention of the pilot program areas was to provide additional information for a future program and that the consultant chose the proposed areas based on the evaluation of criteria including available parking.

Councillor Bierk also expressed concern that he didn’t have the opportunity to provide feedback on the pilot program area in Town Ward.

Bierk’s fellow Town Ward councillor Joy Lachica proposed an additional amendment that council have the opportunity to review the initial data of the pilot program before zones are finalized for all three pilot study areas, which was deferred until Bierk’s motion was dealt with.

Councillor Kevin Duguay said a report will come back to council on the results of the pilot program and, in the interests of the city’s HAF application, the pilot program should proceed as presented. He noted that Otonabee Ward does not have a pilot study area.

Councillor Gary Baldwin said extending the pilot study area in Town Ward “I don’t believe is fair” when other wards like Ashburnham Ward do not even have a pilot study area and constituents have expressed an interest.

“I’ve simply told the constituents with whom I have spoken, ‘It’s a pilot. When we get the information back, Ashburnham will be considered at that time,'” he said.

Mayor Jeff Leal noted that the federal government is auditing the HAF program in other municipalities, which have lost funding as a result.

“I’m not sure we can risk losing one dollar of our Housing Accelerator Fund,” the mayor said, before suggesting that the city could address concerns raised by councillor Bierk when evaluating the results of the pilot program.

Bierk’s amendment lost 3-6, with councillors Bierk, Matt Crowley, and Don Vassiliadis voting in favour, and Mayor Leal and councillors Lachica, Andrew Beamer, Kevin Duguay, Gary Baldwin, and Keith Riel voting against. Councillors Dave Haacke and Lesley Parnell were absent from the meeting.

With respect to her motion, councillor Lachica asked Boland whether initial data from the pilot program would come back to council prior to a final report on the program, which he said could be done.

Councillor Duguay questioned the need for Lachica’s amendment as the report already indicated city staff will report back to council with results of the program. She clarified that the amendment was intended to provide feedback to city staff from councillors about parking “hot spots” in their wards.

Councillor Bierk said there would be value in councillors seeing the results of the pilot project and providing feedback before a final report is presented to council.

As chair of the meeting, councillor Beamer asked Boland whether city staff could accept councillor feedback as proposed in Lachica’s amendment.

“Absolutely, and I don’t even know if it needs a motion, but we can certainly organize, perhaps, ward meetings with the ward councillors,” Boland said. “We are looking for that feedback. If you have that feedback, you hear from your constituents, it would be very helpful for us and for the study, so we’d be happy to organize that.”

Councillor Baldwin noted that, since Ashburnham Ward is not included in the pilot program, he would not be able to provide any specific feedback on the program.

Lachica’s amendment passed unanimously with a 9-0 vote.

After further discussion on the main motion, including by Northcrest Ward councillor Beamer who expressed the concerns of his constituents in the Parkland subdivision located in pilot program area #1 because of very narrow streets and on-street parking issues, council voted 7-2 to endorse the report, with councillors Vassiliadis and Beamer voting against it.

Items endorsed by general committee will be considered by city council for final approval on Monday (March 9) when registered delegations will be allowed to speak.

“Peterborough Performs VI: Musicians United To End Homelessness” has raised $36,236 for the United Way Peterborough & District to support homelessness relief programs and services, bringing the grand total raised by the annual event since 2020 to $185,694.

Held over four hours last Thursday night (February 26) at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough, the benefit concert featuring 14 musical acts on two stages sold more tickets and raised more funds than any of the five previous concerts Paul Rellinger has organized since he co-founded the annual event with David Goyette.

Rellinger has continued to organize the event in support of the United Way every year, with the exception of 2021 when the event was not held because of the pandemic. Over the past six years, he has brought together a total of 44 local music acts — almost 100 individual musicians in total — to donate their time and talents in support of the most vulnerable people in the community.

Rellinger’s commitment to Peterborough Performs and the United Way is one of the reasons he volunteered to serve as chair of the United Way’s 2025-26 community campaign.

“Paul for six years has been the magic behind this event, moving with impish joy, a full heart, and a profound love of music and musicians,” United Way CEO Jim Russell said on Thursday night. “He is the dream weaver of Peterborough Performs and its inspiration. You would think that would be enough, but he is serving double duty by being this year’s United Way Campaign Chair working closely with a cabinet of community volunteers and driving to success.”

Even since the inaugural event on March 5, 2020 raised $23,669, the annual benefit concert has taken place as the United Way’s annual community campaign wraps up. This year’s campaign has now reached 96 per cent of its $1.6 million goal.

“The timing of Peterborough Performs, with it being staged in the waning days of the annual United Way campaign, is key,” Rellinger said. “It provides a vital boost to the campaign as it enters its final month, not only raising essential dollars for the important work of the United Way’s partner agencies but keeping the campaign front of mind for those haven’t yet made their donation.”

With Peterborough Performs now in the rear-view mirror, the United Way is encouraging the community to help the organization raise the final four per cent of this year’s goal before the campaign concludes on March 31.

“We are leaving no stone unturned as we move with vigour toward a successful campaign,” Russell said.

Donations can be made online at give.unitedway.ca/donate/wpeter, by calling 705-742-8839, or in person at the United Way office at 277 Stewart Street in downtown Peterborough.

For more information on the United Way community campaign and upcoming 50/50 draws, visit www.uwpeterborough.ca.

kawarthaNOW is proud to have been the exclusive digital media sponsor for Peterborough Performs VI.

The original version of this story was updated to correct the date of the event in the subhead.

In recognition of International Women’s Day, community service groups in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough are encouraging allies to gather as a community, have conversations, and develop the tools and resources essential to working towards justice in gender equality.

This Saturday (March 7), Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC), Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC), and YWCA Peterborough Haliburton are teaming up with community partners to host a free rally and march at Peterborough City Hall followed by a free community event at the Peterborough Public Library.

“We’ve heard from a lot of people that they’re over a lot of the messaging about International Women’s Day being such a big celebration,” says Jocelyn Enright, prevention education and community engagement coordinator at KSAC. “It is in some ways, but for so many people it’s not a day of celebration. It’s a day of remembering women of the past and all of their fights for justice.”

“We know that there are so many women, trans, and non-binary folks who face so many forms of oppression still to this day,” Enright points out. “We want our event to be something where everybody can come together and get a sense of community, but then also leave feeling empowered and feeling like they can make a difference in their community.”

When planning the event, the committee considered the United Nation’s International Women’s Day 2026 theme of “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.” The theme calls for action to “dismantle the structural barriers to equal justice” including discriminatory laws, weak legal protections, and harmful practices and social norms.

“We’re really focusing on that (theme), talking about what does justice mean, especially for women, trans folks, non-binary folks, and then looking at intersectionality,” says Enright. “What does justice really look like and how can we make sure that we are working towards equity in so many different ways?”

The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. outside Peterborough City Hall on George Street North with an opening drumming from local group Naandewegaan (Healing With Drums). City councillor Joy Lachica will read the International Women’s Day Declaration and Peterborough’s 2023-24 poet laureate Ziysah von Bieberstein will recite a poem ahead of the one-kilometre march from city hall to the Peterborough Public Library on Aylmer Street.

“It always amazes me how many people continue to show up to these events, and people of all ages,” Enright says. “We wanted to make this an event that anybody can come to, so we see folks who have been in gender justice their entire lives and then we see people bringing their kids. It’s just such a beautiful way for everyone to come together.”

“There’s something so powerful and important for people to be able to march through the streets and feel a sense of togetherness and know that we’re fighting for the same cause. I think that’s still something that is so powerful.”

The afternoon event will take place at the Friends of the Library Community Room in the library with doors opening at 12:30 p.m. before the event kicks off at 1:30 p.m. There will be musical performances by Missy Knott and the Peterborough Raging Grannies, as well as an opening prayer and opening drumming by Naandewegaan (Healing With Drums).

“We wanted to make sure that everyone who’s speaking or performing at this event is someone who identifies as a woman or gender diverse, just because those are the voices who are most impacted by this event,” Enright says. “People learn in different ways, people respond to different things, and it’s a great way to make sure that we’re amplifying voices that so often aren’t amplified while we’re also educating people.”

There will then be a keynote from Kat Owens, legal director of the Women’s Legal Education & Action Fund (LEAF), an advocate for gender equality who focuses on litigation, law reform, and public education. Owens will speak to how listeners can reflect on law reform in their communities and make a difference, with an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

“We have asked her to speak on what LEAF does, what some of their current projects are, some of their case studies that they use, and how they use those to fight for gender equality,” Enright says. “They do that through education and law reform and doing lots of research so that they can support policy changes. A lot of their key focuses are who gets access to justice, gender-based violence, and consent laws, Indigenous rights laws, and identity-based oppression.”

The event will also have a resource table providing information on the partners organizations supporting the event, including Peterborough Aids Resource Network (PARN), Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabe-Kwewag Services Circle, and Soroptimist International of Peterborough. Participants can also purchase International Women’s Day T-shirts and other artwork by Nuin-Tara Wilson ?????, Star Daughter Woman, who created the artwork for the event posters.

Visitors are invited to bring menstrual hygiene products to donate to the United Way Peterborough & District’s Period Promise campaign in support of vulnerable persons living in poverty. According to a 2023 survey, one in four people in Canada who menstruate have had to choose between purchasing menstrual products and purchasing other essential items like food or paying rent.

“I hope people leave the event with a renewed sense of activism. Maybe they have a new perspective about International Women’s Day that they didn’t have before,” says Enright.

“We are really trying to make it so that we recognize this day is so important for fighting for women’s rights, here and globally. We hope that people leave with a sense of community and a renewed sense of how they can support women’s rights going forward.”

While the event at the Peterborough Public Library is free to attend, people are encouraged to register in advance at ptbolibrary-ca.libcal.com/event/3996698.

kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the Kawartha World Issues Centre, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, and YWCA Peterborough Haliburton International Women’s Day event.

This year’s Empty Bowls fundraiser has raised over $15,000 to support One City Peterborough’s daily meal program at Trinity Community Centre.

The 22nd annual fundraiser was held on Friday (February 27) at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough.

According to a statement from One City Peterborough, which held the fundraiser in partnership with the Kawartha Potters Guild, all 180 tickets were sold out “in just a few short weeks — it was an incredible turnout!”

Attendees were able to select a handmade artisanal bowl of their choice from a wide selection made by members of the Kawartha Potters Guild, while also sampling a wide range of food donated by local restaurants. Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in a silent auction featuring a selection of special bowls.

With Cornerstone Family Dentistry returning once again as presenting sponsor, this year’s participating restaurants were Hanoi House, St. Veronus, The Vine, La Mesita Restaurante, Hard Winter Bakery, By the Bridge, The Food Shop, Sam’s Place, Love You Mean It, Ashburnham Ale House, and Silver Bean Cafe.

“To everyone who participated, including guests, vendors, potters and sponsors, your support is deeply appreciated,” stated One City Peterborough. “Thank you for helping us strengthen food security in our community.”

Empty Bowls, a grassroots movement by artists and crafts people in cities around the world to care for and feed the hungry in their communities, first came to Peterborough in 2003 when Karen Hjort-Jensen, then director of housing of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, brought forward the concept and began the partnership with the Kawartha Potters Guild.

Over two decades, the event helped raise more than $210,000 for YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s Nourish Project, developed out of the Peterborough Community Food Network when its members decided there was a need to address the gaps in food access, production, consumption, and knowledge in the city and county of Peterborough.

However, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton was forced to end the community food initiative on March 31, 2025 due to inadequate funding.

As a result, proceeds from last year’s Empty Bowls fundraiser were used to support food insecurity programs at One City Peterborough and Kawartha Food Share — a decision the YWCA made after consulting with the Kawartha Potters Guild, which has donated bowls every year to the fundraiser.

This year’s fundraiser supported One City Peterborough’s daily meal program at Trinity Community Centre, which serves over 250 meals each day to people in need in the community and provided over 93,000 meals in 2025.

For more information about One City Peterborough and to donate, visit www.onecityptbo.ca.