Trent University’s board of governors announced on Friday (February 2) that they have found the university’s next president and vice-chancellor from within the Trent community.

Dr. Catherine (Cathy) Bruce has been appointed the university’s ninth president and vice-chancellor, taking over the role from Dr. Leo Groarke on July 1. She is only the second woman appointed to a full term to lead the university.

An internationally recognized researcher, award-winning educator, and administrator, Dr. Bruce has a 35-year career in education including over 20 years in higher education. Currently the university’s vice-president of research and innovation, she has previously served as a professor, director of graduate programs, founder of the Centre for Teaching and Learning, and dean of Trent’s School of Education.

Dr. Bruce was appointed following a comprehensive nationwide search that began last fall, led by a search committee including board members, faculty, staff, students, and alumni representatives.

“We sought a leader who profoundly understands the unique qualities of Trent University,” said Debra Cooper Burger, board chair and head of the search committee, in a media release. “Dr. Bruce embodies this spirit, bringing an impressive track record of excellence here at Trent and beyond. She is indeed the right person to build upon Trent’s successes and propel the university into an exciting new chapter.”

“Her appointment as only the second woman appointed to a full-term to lead the university as president signifies our ongoing commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, while her dedication to academic excellence and robust governance aligns perfectly with Trent’s ambitious vision.”

VIDEO: Introducing Trent University’s 9th President & Vice-Chancellor

In her current role as vice-president of research and innovation, Dr. Bruce spearheaded the development of new strategic research priorities for the university, establishing the Early Career Researcher Awards and creating a Trent-specific research grant incentive program.

She also worked with faculty to grow Trent’s international research collaborations. In December, the university was ranked as the number one undergraduate university in Canada for growth in international partnerships and collaborations, as part of a special five-year university spotlight in the 2023 Research Infosource rankings.

“Trent University is an extraordinary place of learning that is deeply committed to student success in a vibrant learning community,” Dr. Bruce said. “I am honoured to serve as Trent’s ninth president, ushering the university forward into our next period of strategic growth and sustainability. This is a pivotal moment for Trent as we undertake some major projects including the development of the Seniors’ Village, new colleges and residences, the Trent Research Farm, and continued expansion of the Durham campus in Oshawa.”

“There are also some significant challenges on the horizon, but Trent has grit and a highly capable community of staff, faculty, board members, and students,” Dr. Bruce added. “I look forward to the exciting developments on the horizon and to navigating challenges through engagement and creativity.”

In 2012, Dr. Bruce was named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations and was a recipient of the Eduardo Flores International Leadership Award in 2015 for her leadership in action research.

With a PhD in mathematics from the University of Toronto, she has been recognized both nationally and internationally for her most recent research examining the role of spatial reasoning in mathematics learning.

Dr. Bruce leads the Trent Math Education Research Collaborative, which hosts a federally funded research program that enables collaboration with educators and administrators from both public and Catholic school districts across Ontario. She has also co-authored multiple books as well as many peer-reviewed publications.

“I am extremely pleased with the selection of Dr. Bruce as Trent’s next president,” said Dr. Groarke, whose second term as president and vice-chancellor ends on June 30.

“Having worked closely with Cathy, I’ve witnessed firsthand her leadership and commitment to the university. Her blend of academic insight and administrative acumen positions Trent well for the future. I am happy to pass the presidency on to someone with the passion and innovation that have been the hallmark of her work since she arrived at Trent.”

Police have charged two people who attempted to use drones to deliver contraband to an inmate in Warkworth Institution early Friday morning (February 2).

At around 1:15 a.m. on Friday, the Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call from Warkworth Institution in Trent Hills about a drone flying over the medium-security prison.

Officers patrolled the area and observed a suspicious pickup truck parked south of the prison on McCann Road. As a result of an investigation, police seized items that are prohibited inside the correctional institution, including two drones, 115 grams of cannabis, and cell phones.

A 26-year-old Nepean woman was charged with mischief, delivering contraband to or receiving contraband from an inmate, driving a vehicle with cannabis readily available, speeding, and failing to surrender a driver’s licence. A 39-year-old Ottawa man was charged with mischief and delivering contraband to or receiving contraband from an inmate.

The two accused will appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at a future date.

According to the Union for Canadian Correctional Officers, drone delivery of contraband in prisons across Canada is a daily occurrence, accounting for 75 per cent of contraband that is seized from prisoners. Between March 2020 and February 2022, there were almost 700 drone-related incidents in Canadian prisons, with Quebec having the highest percentage of drone incidents.

Registration is now open for the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha’s annual “Adventure in Understanding” 100-kilometre canoe journey for First Nations and non-native youth this August.

The six-day and five-night co-ed program provides a shared cultural canoe experience along the Trent Severn Waterway for 20 First Nations and non-native youth who are 16 to 18 years of age. It will depart on Sunday, August 25th from the new Canadian Canoe Museum on the shores of Little Lake and arrive at Curve Lake First Nation on Friday, August 30th.

During the journey, participants (including four leaders) will travel in three 26-foot Voyageur canoes over the Peterborough Lift Lock, experience the ‘teaching rocks’ at Petroglyphs Provincial Park, and visit with Curve Lake First Nation Elders.

The group will camp overnight at Trent University’s Champlain College, Lakefield College School, Camp Kawartha, Wolf Island Provincial Park, and Curve Lake First Nation.

The program was launched in 2014 by the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha and is now offered with the assistance of the Curve Lake First Nation Youth Committee and the co-operation of Camp Kawartha and the Canadian Canoe Museum. Due to the pandemic, it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 but returned in 2022.

Last year’s journey saw youth from 12 Ontario communities participate — five from the Peterborough area — alongside a Rotary exchange student from Kanzawa, Japan as well as a former student of Dorianna Chessa, a land-based educator who came from British Columbia to participate in the trip, bringing two paddles with her that were carved by someone from Curve Lake. Five of the participants had Indigenous heritage as part of their background.

“This trip taught me a lot about Indigenous cultures and the Trent Severn Waterway, finding common ground with people I had never met before, perseverance, and tackling a challenge head-on,” said one of the 2023 youth participants.

The registration fee to participate in this year’s Adventure in Understanding journey is $400, which covers all food, all paddling and safety equipment, and all camping equipment except for a sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

To apply, and to view videos and photos from past trips, visit pkaiu.com. Applications are due by June 1, 2024.

The newly established Peterborough Community Health Centre will receive more than $3 million as part of over $110 million in funding for primary care teams announced by the Ontario government.

Ontario’s health minister Sylvia Jones made the funding announcement during a media conference at the Peterborough Family Health Team offices on Thursday (February 1), joined by Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, Peterborough Family Health Team CEO Duff Sprague, Queen’s University Health Sciences dean Dr. Jane Philpott, Ontario Medical Association president Dr. Andrew Park, Ontario Hospital Association president and CEO Anthony Dale, and other health care representatives.

“It’s no secret that family medicine and primary care are in crisis — it is felt very deeply here in Peterborough,” Sprague said. “The Peterborough Ontario Health Team partners looked to address this crisis and put together a barriers to primary care working group, which I had the honour to chair.”

“Agencies from mental health, addictions, the nurse practitioner clinic, the city, the hospital, a family physician, and our family health team were tasked to bring back to the OHT steering committee a recommendation to address this crisis. In very short order, we put our individual organization needs aside and agreed that a community health centre for Peterborough was the number one priority.”

“The Peterborough OHT funded us to develop a comprehensive proposal (for a community health centre) which we submitted to the ministry (of health), with the very active support of our MPP Dave Smith. Our combined efforts make me hopeful that today is going to be a very good day for Peterborough.”

According to a media release, the province’s $3 million investment will allow the Peterborough Community Health Centre to connect up to 11,375 people to primary care. Programs and services will include comprehensive primary care, mental health services, and chronic disease management, as well as “culturally appropriate care provided by traditional wellness practitioners.” The centre will also serve as a hub for coordinating social services, home care, and working with health care and Indigenous partners in the community.

In response to a question, Sprague said the proposal that went forward to the Ontario government for the Peterborough Community Health Centre requested $8.6 million in funding, and the $3 million was for a “transition” period to acquire space for the centre and to bring on physicians and nurse practitioners.

“It will be a very staged approach,” Sprague added. “That’s really the only way it can be done.”

Minister Jones earlier confirmed that, although Thursday’s announcement was for $3 million, the entire request for funding for the Peterborough Community Health Centre would come from the $110 million investment.

Sprague also said a “small board” of directors for the Peterborough Community Health Centre has already been formed and they are “poised to take action.”

According to the release, the $110 million investment will connect up to 328,000 people across Ontario to primary care teams, including $90 million to add over 400 new primary care providers as part of 78 new and expanded interprofessional primary care teams.

“These teams — consisting of family doctors, nurse practitioners, registered and practical nurses, and more clinicians — will help people currently without a family doctor connect to primary care,” Minister Jones said.

The $110 million in funding also includes $20 million for all existing interprofessional primary care teams to help them meet increased operational costs for their facilities and supplies.

Thursday’s announcement also included more than $4 million in funding to help up to 10,000 people connect to team-based primary care at Kingston’s Periwinkle model site. The team will be part of the Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Ontario Health Team and will integrate with hospitals, and community agencies to provide care to perinatal patients, newborns, and people who have been discharged from hospital and require timely follow-up care, including cancer patients.

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating the death on Wednesday (January 31) of a 46-year-old Peterborough man who was wanted by police for possession of child pornography.

On Wednesday morning, Peterborough police had issued a public safety alert when a repeat child sexual offender fled from his home last Thursday (January 24) shortly after police conducted a search of his home.

Evidence recovered as a result of the search warrant led police to issue a warrant for the man’s arrest for possession of child pornography. Police publicly released the man’s name and photograph, stating he had a history of sexual assault and multiple convictions of sexual offences against children, and posed a risk to the public, specifically children. Police also provided a description of the man’s vehicle and plate number.

According to the SIU, on Wednesday at around 4:30 p.m., officers went to a home in the area of County Road 35 and Regional Road 2 in Otonabee-South Monaghan Township to arrest the man. After officers found the man in medical distress in the basement, he was transported by paramedics to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The SIU, which has assigned two investigators and one forensic investigator to the case, is asking anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians.

While Black History Month provides space to reflect, it’s also a time to look ahead and “pave the way for a more equitable and compassionate Peterborough.”

These are the sentiments shared by Patricia Wilson and the Community Race Relations Committee of Peterborough (CRRC).

Wilson, CRRC’s coordinator and founder of Diverse Nature Collective, offered her insight about the importance of Black History Month, which begins February 1 and runs through to the end of the month.

“Embracing Black History Month is not just about commemorating the past, it’s also about acknowledging and celebrating diversity within Black communities and deepens our communities’ understanding of the rich culture and traditions across the Black diaspora,” Wilson told kawarthaNOW.

“When we honour Black history, we create space to acknowledge the multifaceted nature of our collective community and work to pave the way for a more equitable and compassionate Peterborough — a Peterborough that genuinely cares for those affected by injustice, discrimination and racism, and strives to foster broader connections and cross-cultural understanding.”

The CRRC is a community-based organization committed to “encouraging and promoting sound race relations in Peterborough.”

The group formed in the early 1980s in response to racist attacks on international students at Trent University and Fleming College with the objective of raising awareness, educating, and documenting issues of racism in the Peterborough community, CRRC’s website notes. The organization was incorporated in 1988.

City of Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal will proclaim February as Black History Month during a launch event hosted by the CRRC at the Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N.) from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday (February 1).

“Black History Month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Black Canadians in our city,” Leal said in a media release. “Please join our community as we mark the start of this important month.”

Registration is required to attend the launch event, which features keynote speaker Shanique Victoria Edwards, who is the lead researcher for Black Mental Health Canada and a member of Black Mental Health Canada’s circle of leaders. Edwards is a psychotherapist who specializes in racial trauma and BIPOC mental health.

Other speakers include Christine Maclin, a local activist and secretary/treasurer for Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, who will speak about her personal journey navigating through mental health, self-discovery, and healing, and Sahira Q, a local activist and artist who will share a speech and performance during the event.

For updates from the CRRC, follow the organization on Facebook at facebook.com/racerelationspeterborough.

Below are a few Black History Month activities and February programs hosted by the City of Peterborough.

The Peterborough Museum and Archives (300 Hunter St. E.) will host a children’s craft activity that recognizes Black History Month, as well as offer children’s books in the reading nook. The activities are self-guided and free of charge, available during the museum’s regular hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends). Admission is by donation.

Reem Ali, the City of Peterborough’s diversity, equity, and inclusion advisor, will be hosting an Instagram live conversation with the CRRC’s Patricia Wilson starting at 10 a.m. on Friday (February 2). All are invited to tune in at instagram.com/cityptbo (an Instagram account is not required).

The Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N.) is offering the following events during Black History Month:

• February 5-17: “Celebrate Black Voices” book displays in both the children’s and adult areas
• February 10: A screening of the children’s movies Hair Love and The Princess and the Frog
• February 13: Film & Discussion: Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
• February 15: Tween Book Club: Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
• February 24: A screening of the 2023 children’s movie Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey
• February 27: Adult Book Club: Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

For more details, visit calendar.ptbolibrary.ca.