A 48-year-old Havelock woman is facing charges in connection to a weapons incident at Campbellford District High School on February 25 that resulted in a 15-year-old Havelock boy being arrested and charged.
Just after noon on February 25, Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a student at the school making threatening comments and having weapons in his backpack.
After arriving at the school, officers took the accused student into custody without incident and seized a handgun, ammunition, and a number of edged weapons. Police charged him with six weapons-related offences as well as uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.
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As part of their investigation, police executed a search warrant at a home in Havelock the following day, where they seized multiple firearms, ammunition, and other weapons.
On Monday (March 3), police arrested a 48-year-old Havelock woman and charged her with 32 counts of careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device, or ammunition.
The accused woman is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg at a later date. Police are not releasing her name to protect the identity of the 15-year-old boy under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The Peterborough Symphony Orchestra's principal clarinetist Scott Wight will join principal violinist Jennifer Burford along with three of the orchestra's other principal string players to perform Mozart's clarinet quintet during "Mozart to the Moon" at All Saints' Anglican Church in Peterborough on March 7, 2025. The string quartet will begin the concert, which will be emceed by Maestro Michael Newnham, by performing a combination of popular and classic music for string quartet, all with a lunar theme. (kawarthaNOW collage of Huw Morgan photos)
The Peterborough Symphony Orchestra (PSO) will be sending audiences to the moon at 7 p.m. this Friday (March 7) with an intimate chamber concert at All Saints’ Anglican Church at 235 Rubidge Street in Peterborough in celebration of the church’s 150th anniversary.
For “Mozart to the Moon,” the PSO’s music director Michael Newnham will take a rest from the conductor’s podium to emcee the concert, where the orchestra’s principal string players Jennifer Burford (violin), Nora Pellerin (violin), Adriana Arcila Tascón (viola), and Zuzanna Chomicka-Newnham (cello) will delight audiences with a combination of popular and classic music for string quartet, all with a lunar theme.
The orchestra’s principal clarinetist Scott Wight will then join the string players for a performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s groundbreaking quintet for clarinet and strings which, to this day, remains one of the most admired of the composer’s works.
VIDEO: “Larghetto” from Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet – Norwegian Chamber Orchestra
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“Composers tended to use the vehicle of chamber music as a way of expressing more intimate feelings or a more intimate expression,” says Newnham. “It also provides context because, when we play a Mozart symphony, it’s the public Mozart — the big Mozart. But the clarinet quintet really shows us this inward side of the person. You feel you get to know the rest of Mozart’s music better when you hear that music.”
Given that the clarinet was only invented around 1700, it was a relative newcomer to the orchestra when Mozart wrote his clarinet quintet in 1789 — just two years before his death. Composed for Austrian clarinetist Anton Stadler, the piece is Mozart’s only completed clarinet quintet and Mozart is believed to be the first composer to use the instrument as part of an extended string quartet.
“It was a completely new instrument and was seen as not being perfected yet,” says Newnham. “He was so taken by this sound of this instrument that he started to write some music, but by that point he only had years left of his life.”
The Peterborough Symphony Orchestra’s principal second violinist Nora Pellerin and prinicipal cellist Zuzanna Chomicka-Newnham will join principal violinist Jennifer Burford and prinicipal violist Adriana Arcila Tascón to perform a combination of popular and classic music for string quartet, all with a lunar theme, during “Mozart to the Moon’ at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Peterborough on March 7, 2025. The orchestra’s principal clarinetist Scott Wight will then join the string quartet to perform Mozart’s clarinet quintet. (kawarthaNOW collage of photos by Wayne Eardley and Huw Morgan)
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Newnham notes that it’s “really special” when audiences have the opportunity to hear a clarinet complementing a string quartet, because it does not happen often.
“Putting a wind instrument with a string instrument is always interesting because it’s a different way of approaching music,” he says.
“String players usually work with each other on different projects outside of the orchestra, and wind players often work with other wind players, but there aren’t many opportunities where you have a string quartet and a wind player and a great, iconic piece of music.”
“Mozart to the Moon” will be performed at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Peterborough on March 7, 2025 in celebration of the church’s 150th anniversary. The concert features the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra’s principal string players and principal clarinetist, and will be emceed by the orchestra’s music director Michael Newnham. (Photo: All Saints’ Anglican Church)
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To build up to the performance of Mozart’s clarinet quintet, the concert will open with several songs that were inspired by or about the moon in one way or another, such as a piece by Giacomo Puccini featured in the 1987 film Moonstruck and “Song to the Moon” from Antonín Dvorák’s opera Rusalka.
“It’s a real mixed bag of different classical and popular music to start things,” says Newnham, who adds that he’s looking forward to sharing more about the music as the emcee for the concert. “I’ve done it before many times and it’s always fun for me to step out of being the person who is leading the music. I love talking about music.”
“Mozart to the Moon” is one of the PSO’s outreach efforts to bring more music out to the community outside of the orchestra concerts throughout the season.
Among other classic string quartet compositions, “Mozart to the Moon” at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Peterborough on March 7, 2025 will include a performance Mozart’s groundbreaking clarinet quintet. Composed in 1789 not long after the clarinet was invented, the piece is believed to be the first to use the instrument as part of an extended string quartet. (Graphic: Amy E. LeClair, Registered Graphic Designer)
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“It’s important because it allows the small groups of musicians, in this case the PSO string quartet and clarinetist Scott Wight, to really be focused and to take complete control over a concert,” he says.
“It develops the orchestra that way because it makes their own connection stronger, but it’s also really important for us to get out into smaller places and play in different settings.”
General admission tickets are priced at $40, with an additional $1 service fee. Tickets can be purchased at www.allsaintspeterborough.org/event-details/ptbo-symphony. The concert is a fundraiser for the church’s 150th anniversary.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Four experts in the areas of trade, finance, and supply chain management discussed strategies to help local businesses navigate the challenges posed by shifting trade policies and U.S. tariffs at a panel discussion at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on March 4, 2025. Pictured are Andrew Pyle, Armstrong Trade and Logistics Advisory Services president Bob Armstrong, Trent University economics professor Dr. Saud Choudry, and Peterboro Matboards CFO and Kawartha Manufacturers Association secretary Sherry Hill as Joel Wiebe, vice president of government relations and operations for Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, looks on. (Photo: Community Futures Peterborough)
For local business and economic development leaders who believe timing is everything, and most all do, Market Hall in Peterborough’s downtown core was the place to be early Tuesday morning (March 4).
Just hours after the Trump administration imposed long-threatened tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States, a free panel event titled “Bridging The Divide: Future-Proofing Your Business Against U.S. Tariffs” went ahead as scheduled against the backdrop of much economic uncertainty and more questions than answers.
Co-hosted by Community Futures Peterborough, the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Association (DBIA), the event featured a panel of experts in the areas of trade, finance, and supply chain management.
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Keynote speaker Bob Armstrong, the president of Lindsay-based Armstrong Trade and Logistics Advisory Services, was joined on the panel by CIBC Wood Gundy advisor and portfolio manager Andrew Pyle, Trent University economics professor Dr. Saud Choudry, and Sherry Hill, chief financial officer of Peterboro Matboards and secretary of the Kawartha Manufacturers Association.
While each didn’t downplay the very serious threat to Canadian, provincial, and local economies posed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, they collectively left their audience of about 100 people with a clear message: now is the time to come together.
With more than 50 years’ experience in global supply chain, international trade, cross-border logistics, and customs regulations matters, and having led numerous Canadian trade missions, Armstrong knows of what he speaks and, on this morning, his words clearly resonated during an event-opening one-on-one conversation with Pyle.
CIBC Wood Gundy advisor and portfolio manager Andrew Pyle, Armstrong Trade and Logistics Advisory Services president Bob Armstrong, Trent University economics professor Dr. Saud Choudry, and Peterboro Matboards CFO and Kawartha Manufacturers Association secretary Sherry Hill on stage at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on March 4, 2025 for a panel discussion on trade and U.S. tariffs co-hosted by Community Futures Peterborough, the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Association. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Noting that “a lot of businesses in Canada sat back, thinking he (Trump) is all talk and no action,” Armstrong lamented a lack of preparation for this very eventuality, such as the removal of interprovincial trade barriers.
“Trade across Canada between provinces is about $450 billion, compared to during COVID when our trade with the U.S. was $750 billion, so we don’t have significant trade (between provinces),” said Armstrong.
“But we need to remove (interprovincial trade) barriers as quickly as we can (for) those who are exporting to the United States and are worried that their customers are going to cut them off,” he said. “You’ve got to have somewhere to sell your products. But, again, that doesn’t happen overnight. This should have been solved long ago.”
“Right now, a truck can’t run from Halifax to Saskatchewan without unloading for weight scales … silly little things like the number of wheels you’ve got to have on your truck or the number of hours you can drive. All these silly things should get rectified so it’s simple.”
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Armstrong said who he feels particularly bad is for small retailers who, having purchased products from wholesalers and distributors, already have items from the U.S. on their shelves.
“Their margins are slim. Are we going to ask them to take those products off their shelves and (still be able to) eat? They paid for it. How do we help them? They’re the ones who are going to suffer.”
“The big retailers can pull it (U.S. product) off the shelves. The LCBO … it’ll just put the (American) booze in the cupboard until this all blows over and then put It back on the shelves. It’s the small retailers that can’t do that that I worry about.”
Community Futures Peterborough executive director Devon Girard smiles at the camera as Joel Wiebe, vice president of government relations and operations for Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, speaks at a panel discussion on trade and tariffs at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on March 4, 2025. The free event was co-hosted by Community Futures Peterborough, the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Association. (Photo: Community Futures Peterborough)
Asked what steps government should be taking to help small and medium-sized businesses, Armstrong suggested “some kind of financing or a huge tax break” would be in order. Whatever form any assistance takes, he adds it needs to happen “now, not a year from now.”
Pressed by Pyle on whether he thinks government, at both the provincial and federal levels, acted too late on the tariff threat, Armstrong said measures to alleviate the impact “should have started back in the early fall when Trump was again running for president.”
In addition to the removal of interprovincial trade barriers, Armstrong said it’s imperative that Canada again embark on a series of trade missions to secure new markets for its products. He recounted his own experience on numerous trade missions that saw Canadian businesses secure new contracts with regularity.
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For his part, Dr. Choudry prefaced his remarks with a paraphrase of a famous utterance by former Canadian prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau in a 1969 speech at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.: “Living next to you is, in some ways, like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered the beast, one is affected by every twitch and grunt.”
That added some welcome levity to an atmosphere brimming with serious concerns.
Turning to the matter at hand, Dr. Choudry opined “It’s not all doom and gloom yet,” adding “There are certain areas where Canada has an enormous advantage. Those happen to be areas where we can hurt the Americans the most.”
“The one that comes to mind is potash. Canada produces one third of all potash in the world. Potash is an essential ingredient in the production of chemical fertilizers, which we are so dependent on these days. The price of fertilizers is going to up by 35 per cent because of the tariff on potash.”
That, said Dr. Choudry, is a hugely increased cost that American farmers can’t absorb at the best of the times, further suggesting the Trump administration can expect major push back from the U.S. agricultural sector.
Armstrong Trade and Logistics Advisory Services president Bob Armstrong speaks with Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark following a panel discussion at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on March 4, 2025. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Following the panel, Hill told kawarthaNOW that local manufacturers have “to look at their own situation” but noted “There’s a lot of help too.”
“We (the Kawartha Manufacturers Association) just had a round table and what we found is when people started connecting and saying ‘I’m having this problem because I need this and I can’t get it’, all of a sudden a partnership was made where they can have revenues with that person — but they just didn’t know they could, because they didn’t know what other people do.”
“Finding new sources of revenue in 30 days is just not possible. When you sell into multiple countries, there’s no more sales to obtain, so where do you go for more sales? You have to figure out a way of ‘How can I still sell to the U.S., keep my pricing in place, and not take the hit of having to lay off employees?'”
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Armstrong, meanwhile, echoed what he said during his presentation.
“We’ve got to get all the provinces to agree to drop whatever rules and regulations they have that impact trade from another province,” he said. “They need to get moving. We’ve been fighting this battle for years. Now’s the time to resolve it.”
Armstrong, however, retains his optimism that the Trump tariffs will run their course before being lifted.
“It will all come crashing down,” he predicted. “Sooner or later, in the United States, the consumer wakes up. When the stock market crashes, those big rich guys — his (Trump’s) buddies — are going to say ‘What are you doing here?'”
“I don’t think this will last longer than five months. It could be less. If the auto industry shuts down, and he’s got a million workers unemployed, something’s going to happen.”
Four experts in the areas of trade, finance, and supply chain management discussed strategies to help local businesses navigate the challenges posed by shifting trade policies and U.S. tariffs at a panel discussion at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on March 4, 2025. Pictured are CIBC Wood Gundy advisor and portfolio manager Andrew Pyle, Peterboro Matboards CFO and Kawartha Manufacturers Association secretary Sherry Hill, Armstrong Trade and Logistics Advisory Services president Bob Armstrong, and Trent University economics professor Dr. Saud Choudry. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
The original version of this story has been updated with two photos of the event from Community Futures Peterborough.
Sofie Andreou of 123 Digital Power will be leading two of the four monthly business workshops in Port Hope this spring being presented by the Business & Entrepreneurship Centre of Northumberland, the Municipality of Port Hope, and the Port Hope Chamber of Commerce. The workshops are aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs and business owners to upskill or reskill and assist them in a competitive economy. (Photo courtesy of Sofie Andreou)
Port Hope business owners and entrepreneurs can take advantage of a free series of business workshops this spring.
The Municipality of Port Hope is collaborating with the Business Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland (BECN) and the Port Hope & District Chamber of Commerce to deliver the four-part workshop series.
From March to June, local business owners, operators, and entrepreneurs can attend the monthly workshops to upskill or reskill and assist them in a competitive economy, a media release from the municipality stated.
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Kailyn Coupland, BECN business development coordinator, said the intent of the workshops series was “to empower local entrepreneurs and business owners with the knowledge, tools, and connections they need to successfully grow, adapt, and thrive in today’s evolving business landscape.”
“Through this collaborative effort between BECN, the Municipality of Port Hope, and the Port Hope Chamber of Commerce, we aim to achieve maximum capacity of attendees at each session, assisting to elevate businesses through educational support,” Coupland told kawarthaNOW. “Through these efforts, we aim to see increased community engagement and networking, assisting with business growth opportunities while providing practical and immediate tools entrepreneurs can implement right away.”
“Ultimately, our goal is to equip entrepreneurs with the skills, confidence, and support network they need to navigate challenges, embrace opportunities, and contribute to the vibrant business community of Northumberland County.”
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The workshop series kicks off on Thursday, March 20 with a 90-minute virtual session on business planning essentials led by BECN business consultant Julie Savard.
The series continues on Thursday, April 10 with the interactive “Market Adaptation vs. Market Standardization” workshop at the Town Park Recreation Centre in Port Hope, which will explore marketing strategies and how to choose the right approach for their business. The workshop will be led by Karen McDonald-Hurley of Opportunity Group.
On Wednesday, May 14, the “Future-Proofing: A.I. for Small Business” workshop at the Port Hope Community Hub in Canton will see Sofie Andreou of 123 Digital Power show participants how to future-proof their small business with artificial intelligence.
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The final session on Wednesday, June 11 at the Port Hope Community Hub in Canton will focus on video marketing basics for small business owners. The workshop will also be led by Sofie Andreou of 123 Digital Power.
“This partnership with our regional and local friends at the BECN and the chamber is just one of many ways that the municipality is working hard to support our business community,” said Desta McAdam, director of development services at the Municipality of Port Hope, in the release.
Musicians Kate Brioux, Paul Crough, Kate Suhr, Melissa Payne, and emcee Megan Murphy sport matching shirts reading "Be the Erin," as in "Be the Erin you want to see in the world," at a kitchen party fundraiser in honour of the late Erin Sullivan in March 2024. The second annual event, from which all proceeds go towards the mortgage of a home in Sullivan's name that houses people coming out of homelessness, will be held on March 14, 2025, at the Ennismore Community Centre. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Carroll)
Friends and family of late Ennismore resident Erin Sullivan are coming together again to honour her memory by way of a kitchen party concert that supports people coming out of homelessness.
Update – “Erin’s House II” raised $19,000 to help pay down the mortgage of The Erin Sullivan House.
Called “Erin’s House II,” the second annual fundraising event will take place at the Ennismore Community Centre at 553 Ennis Road from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 14 — the day after what would have been Sullivan’s 46th birthday.
“Erin was a great dancer,” says co-organizer Joanne Rowland. “She always danced — anywhere we went, she just danced — so the kitchen party made sense.”
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Hosted by Megan Murphy, the kitchen party will offer music performed by Kate Suhr, Kate Brioux, Paul Crough, and Melissa Payne, and will also feature a silent auction and a cash bar. Tickets are priced at $25, with proceeds going towards paying off the mortgage of The Erin Sullivan House — a house named in Sullivan’s honour that is owned and managed by One City Peterborough.
On October 23, 2022, Sullivan passed away of cystic fibrosis at 43 years old. A recipient of a double lung transplant, Sullivan spent a lot of time in the hospital, though that didn’t stop her from spending much of the last decade of her life volunteering her time to the community.
“We went to Silver Bean one day and I remember Erin saying ‘If I had lots of money, I’d just buy houses for people’,” says Jane Wilson, another friend of the Sullivan family and co-organizer of the event. “That’s the kind of person she was.”
VIDEO: “Shelf Life” – A profile of Erin Sullivan by Megan Murphy
Rowland, too, recalls fondly Sullivan’s dedication to the community while they volunteered together at One Roof, a now-defunct daily meal program in Peterborough.
“She was a tireless supporter of the downtown people,” Rowland says. “She always knew everybody by name, made everybody feel very welcome, and made them feel important. She just had an amazing knack for seeing people — really seeing people.”
“We knew she had some tough times with her cystic fibrosis, but she’d be ill and then come back from that brink and continue her work. It was just always astounding the energy she found for others, when you knew part of the time she wasn’t feeling that well herself.”
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Given Sullivan’s drive to support the community, it makes sense that her friends and family would approach One City Peterborough when she passed away. Alongside offering other programs, the organization owns homes and works with private landlords and other agencies to create affordable housing options for those experiencing homelessness in Peterborough.
Thanks to Sullivan’s friends and family, one of the four-bedroom houses that has been managed by One City since 2020 is now called The Erin Sullivan House (or “Erin’s House”). There are currently four long-term residents living in the home, and Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) recently partnered with One City to build a 400-foot-square additional rental unit in the backyard.
“We really just wanted her name to be continued and have something to honour her,” says Rowland.
Erin Sullivan (left) at the CarStar Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History in May 2016. The late Ennismore resident was an active community member who regularly supported people experiencing homelessness by volunteering at One Roof’s daily meal program. She was also an active advocate for organ donor registration and held fundraisers for the Cystic Fibrosis Canada. She died in October 2022 after living for 43 years with cystic fibrosis. (Facebook photo)
With the assistance of a $225,000 anonymous donation, the home was purchased in November 2023 through engagement in a vendor take-back mortgage with the previous owner. A further $78,731 has already been donated by friends and family, and the goal is to raise the remaining mortgage balance of $146,268.
Last year’s inaugural kitchen party raised $12,000 towards the cause and, with this year’s event being held in a larger venue, the hope is to raise even more. The event organizers are still looking for sponsors so they can lighten the operational costs and donate as much as possible towards Erin’s House.
Among the items that will be up for bid during this year’s silent auction include gift certificates to local eateries including Silver Bean Café and Copper Spoon, handcrafted jewellery from Valerie Davidson Jewellery, tickets to 4th Line Theatre, goods from Millbrook Valley Chocolates, and pottery from Wilson herself.
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“We made a lot on the silent auction,” says Rowland of last year’s event. “People were very generous with that, so we’ll have a lot of items there.”
Beyond raising money, Rowland says the hope is for community members to come together for a cause that Sullivan herself would have supported, while also remembering her by having some fun.
“There were lots of stories about Erin (last year),” says Rowland. “It just felt it like a love-in for Erin … when someone passes away, this is what we want — to keep mentioning the person’s name, keep talking about them, keep their memory alive in the community. It sure felt like that last year, and I’m sure it will be the same this year. It was just a really fun event with lots of stories and lots of laughter.”
During “Erin’s House II” in honour of late Ennismore resident Erin Sullivan, on display will be a plaque that will soon be posted in the four-bedroom One City Peterborough house which has been named in her honour and supports people in Peterborough coming out of homelessness. (kawarthaNOW collage)
During the March 14 event, which is sponsored in part by Sherbrooke Animal Hospital, there will be an opportunity to see a plaque in Sullivan’s name that will soon be installed inside of Erin’s House. It reads: “Light to you always.”
“That’s really what she stood for,” says Rowland. “Light and love.”
Rowland and Wilson are both sure this is an event that Sullivan herself would have enjoyed.
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“She was such a delight and she was such a positive person,” says Wilson. “This event reminds everybody of her wonderful life, and she would just love the project. She would just be gassed. She wouldn’t believe it.”
Tickets for the Erin’s House II kitchen party fundraiser can be purchased at the door for $25 or in advance by sending an e-transfer to Rowland at joannerowland@gmail.com. Those interested in sponsoring the March 14 event can also email Rowland.
Erin Sullivan (middle) with (from left to right) Melissa Payne, Kate Suhr, Kate Brioux, and Paul Crough. The four musicians will be coming together for a kitchen party in honour of Sullivan on March 14, 2025, just the day after what would have been her 46th birthday. Hosted by Megan Murphy, the second annual event will include live music, stories, a silent auction, and a cash bar. All proceeds will be donated to the purchase of a One City Peterborough house in Sullivan’s name that provides permanent housing to individuals coming out of homelessness. (Photo: Melissa Payne / Facebook)
Members of the Kinsmen Club of Peterborough were at No Frills on George Street and at FreshCo on Brock Street in downtown Peterborough on Feburary 22, 2025 to hand out 160 gift certificates worth a total of $4,000 in recognition of the annual Kin Kindness Day. (Photo: Kinsmen Club of Peterborough / Facebook)
Celebrating its 95th anniversary in 2025, the Kinsmen Club of Peterborough recently brought smiles to the faces of shoppers in two downtown grocery stores by handing out 160 gift certificates worth a total of $4,000.
The initiative part of Kin Kindness Day, an annual event dedicated to promoting kindness and compassion with the goal of fostering a culture of empathy and goodwill.
“Kin Kindness Day is a reflection of our mission to make a difference and give back to the community,” says Kinsmen Club of Peterborough president Barry Craft in a media release. “We were grateful for the opportunity to support local families and show our appreciation to the people of Peterborough through the simple gesture of helping with this week’s grocery bill,” Craft said.
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On Saturday, February 22, Kinsmen Club members handed out $25 gift certificates to unsuspecting shoppers at No Frills on George Street and at FreshCo on Brock Street.
According to the Kinsmen Club, when the recipients found out the intent of the gift certificates was a simple act of kindness, “more than a few” paid it forward and asked that the gift certificate be given instead to someone who was more in need.
A community service organization founded in 1930, the Kinsmen Club of Peterborough supports a variety of local charities and non-profit organizations each year, such as Kawartha Food Share, Cystic Fibrosis, and Five Counties Children’s Centre.
Brock Mission board member Alan Wilson, who is leading the project to develop a 52-unit, six-storey co-ed transitional housing apartment building to be constructed at 738 Chemong Road, speaks to city council during a general committee meeting on February 24, 2025. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough video)
Saying his office has been “inundated” with phone calls and emails, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP-elect Dave Smith issued a statement on Monday (March 3) to correct what he terms are “erroneous comments” recently made by the project lead for the Brock Mission transitional housing building planned for 738 Chemong Road.
Speaking before Peterborough city councillors last Monday, Brock Mission board member Alan Wilson said “operational costing” for the 52-unit building that will rise next to the organization’s Cameron House emergency shelter for women “has been costed at $2 million,” adding “MPP (Smith) has said he will make sure we get that money.”
But in his statement, Smith made it very clear that “that’s not the case.”
“There has been no (provincial) funding offered to Brock Mission for this (project), whether it’s capital or operating,” he later clarified for kawarthaNOW.
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“We (the Province) don’t have any (funding) programs at the moment because, obviously with the election, the budget has not been released yet,” Smith said. “Until the budget comes out, I don’t know what’s in it.”
“My office was inundated this morning (Monday) with phone calls and emails asking for clarification on this … based upon the statement Mr. Wilson said at city council.”
In his written statement, Smith acknowledges he participated in an “introductory meeting” last fall regarding the project.
“Representatives for Brock Mission were directed to work with the lead partners on the HART (Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment) Hub project during the development of Peterborough’s HART Hub application,” Smith writes in his statement. “Representatives of Brock Mission chose not to participate in the collaboration for the operational funding opportunity for the HART Hub.”
A rendering of Brock Mission’s proposed 52-unit, six-storey co-ed transitional housing apartment building to be constructed at 738 Chemong Road in Peterborough, adjacent to the existing Cameron House women’s shelter. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough video)
“I’ve been very heavily involved with the HART Hub application since its inception,” Smith told kawarthaNOW. “I don’t believe that what he (Wilson) is proposing is actually going to be a solution for our problem at the moment. Brock (Mission) has been operating in isolation, without working with any of the other partners on this (HART Hub).”
As for provincial dollars to help fund the Brock Mission build, Smith makes it clear in his statement that this is not an option. He notes the $6.3 million in funding that the Ontario government has committed for Peterborough’s HART Hub “can only be allocated toward operational expenses.”
“None of the funding can be used for capital build expenses. No funding from the successful HART Hub application for Peterborough can be used to assist in the Brock Mission build.”
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Furthermore, Smith notes there are no provincial capital funding programs available for which Brock Mission could apply.
“No provincial capital funding is available nor has any been committed to Brock Mission for this project,” he states.
“As is the case for all funding opportunities, should a program be made available, Brock Mission may choose to apply for funding, at which time, the project would be evaluated through a competitive application process, and the merits of the proposal combined with the needs of all of the communities that apply would determine whether their application is successful or not.”
Dave Smith was re-elected as Peterborough-Kawartha MPP for a third time on February 27, 2025 after Premier Doug Ford called a snap winter election asking Ontario voters for a strong mandate to take on the threat of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump. (Photo: Dave Smith / Facebook)
Asked if he thinks Wilson was misleading when he told councillors that he had been assured funding for operational costs would be forthcoming, Smith took a long pause before answering.
“Suggesting that someone is lying is not something I’m comfortable with,” Smith said. “What I will say is I have no idea where he came up with a commitment or dollar amount.”
To clarify that exact point, kawarthaNOW shared Smith’s statement with Wilson via email, to which Wilson only replied “I understand what Dave has said.” Meanwhile, kawarthaNOW’s request to Wilson for an interview went unanswered.
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Wilson’s appearance before city council — the outcome of which saw Mayor Jeff Leal exercise his strong mayor powers to fast-track the project, and subsequently gain enough support from council to expedite it by amending the city’s zoning by-law and exempting the project from the city’s site plan requirements — followed an earlier appearance before Peterborough County councillors where Wilson sought financial support from the county.
Wilson afterwards told the Peterborough Examiner that he expects the project to include $2 million in operating expenses which, he’s quoted as saying, “will be covered by the Province in recognition of the desperate need for transitional housing in the city.”
While county council voiced its support of the project, it voted to defer Wilson’s funding request until 2026 budget deliberations.
Brock Mission’s transitional housing project was earlier granted $250,000 by the city to pay for site test testing work which has already begun.
Wilson has said that federal funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is actively being sought.
Should funding be forthcoming, the building’s foundation could be dug as soon as late April, with construction of the building itself starting this summer.
Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) has announced Joe Rees and Hillary Flood will lead key initiatives for the not-for-profit organization that promotes regional tourism activity in the area branded as Kawarthas Northumberland. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) has hired two Peterborough residents well known in the local economic development community to lead key initiatives for the not-for-profit organization.
Joe Rees is joining RTO8 as the program manager for the Acceler8 program and Hillary Flood is RTO8’s sustainable tourism certification coordinator.
Based in Hastings, RTO8 is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport to promote regional tourism activity in the area branded as Kawarthas Northumberland, which includes the City and County of Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County.
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Rees, who was previously director of tourism at the now-defunct Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED), will be heading up Acceler8, a mentorship program for tourism businesses.
Acceler8 is designed to help business owners identify specific challenges to their growth and facilitate a structured coaching process with a skilled mentor with relevant business experience.
Flood, who was previously vibrancy manager with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, will facilitate GreenStep Destination Certification for the Kawarthas Northumberland region.
GreenStep Certification is a process that will help RTO8 assess its environmental impact, set meaningful sustainability goals, and enhance its role as a leader in responsible tourism. By earning the certification, RTO8 will demonstrate its dedication to sustainable practices and the long-term well-being of tourism in Kawarthas Northumberland.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the entire Kawarthas region for significant rainfall and mild temperatures on Wednesday (March 5).
The special weather statement is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
Rain, heavy at times, along with isolated thunderstorms will impact southern Ontario beginning Tuesday night and ending Wednesday night.
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Rainfall amounts of 15 to 25 mm are expected in the Kawarthas region, with the daytime temperature on Wednesday expected to reach 8°C.
The rainfall, combined with melting snow from the mild temperatures and the limited ability of the frozen ground to absorb the water, may lead to localized flooding in low-lying areas and water pooling on roads.
To help reduce the risk of localized flooding and pooling water, the City of Peterborough is encouraging residents who live near a storm drain to clear the drain of snow and ice if they can safely do so. While city crews are working to clear storm drains, there are more than 6,000 storm drains located across the city.
Northumberland County CAO Jennifer Moore and other municipal leaders in the county are advancing a "Team Canada" approach as a coordinated response to the challenges posed by recent trade developments, particularly the U.S. threat of 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods to take effect on March 4, 2025. (Photo: Northumberland County
Northumberland County’s seven member municipalities are embracing a “Team Canada” approach in light of recent trade developments and the proposed U.S. tariffs.
Following a recent meeting of municipal CAOs and economic development officers, all seven municipalities are advancing the approach as a coordinated response to the current economic challenges, particularly the threat of 25 per cent U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods expected to take effect Tuesday (March 4).
“Local municipalities are working together to ensure Northumberland’s concerns are heard by all levels of government,” Northumberland County CAO Jennifer Moore told kawarthaNOW. “We are teaming up to support local businesses, bolster our economy, and strengthen pride in our community.”
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The county announced the “Team Canada” approach on the heels of Canada’s recent celebration of the 60th anniversary of the maple leaf flag, and as a way to “proudly reaffirm their commitment to Canada’s economic resilience and independence.”
According to a media release from the county, the proposed tariffs would have “a far-reaching impact” on local economies in Ontario where industries and communities are deeply interconnected with the U.S. From construction materials and essential fleet parts to agricultural products and tourism, cross-border trade “is vital” to the health and prosperity of Northumberland and surrounding communities.
When representatives from the county and the seven member municipalities gathered to discuss how best to respond to these challenges and protect the region’s economic interests, they zeroed in on the four areas of action listed below.
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1. Joint municipal purchasing
Treasurers and finance officers are exploring opportunities for joint purchasing initiatives that will allow local municipalities to leverage economies of scale, reduce the impact of any tariffs, and ensure critical materials and services remain accessible for municipal operations.
2. Data collection and direct advocacy
Economic Development staff will be collecting data from local businesses to understand the specific risks they face and to track the impacts of trade developments. This data will be used to strengthen direct advocacy efforts with upper levels of government, ensuring that the interests of Northumberland businesses and residents are represented.
Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander has also sent letters to more than 60 US border communities seeking a collaborative approach to advocacy with officials on both sides of the border, ensuring that expected economic impacts are well-understood.
3. Regional advocacy for trade and local businesses
Local municipalities are engaged with and supporting the advocacy efforts of organizations such as the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities by gathering and sharing local data “critical to a clear economic picture.”
“Adding Northumberland voices to this collective approach will elevate our message, ensuring local concerns are heard.”
4. Buy local initiative
Economic Development staff are coordinating a high-visibility “buy local” campaign, which will encourage residents to pledge an increased percentage of their monthly spending on locally produced goods and services. The goal is to support local businesses, ensure the continued growth and health of the local economy, and reinforce community pride. More about this campaign will be released in the coming weeks.
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In addition, as part of the Team Canada approach, municipal leaders in Northumberland County are standing together to advocate for fair trade practices and champion local industries and businesses.
Supporting Canadian businesses means protecting jobs, strengthening the economy, and investing in a resilient future, the release noted.
“In light of the threat of increased tariffs on both sides of the border, there is more strength in working together as a collective voice,” said Dave Dawson, CAO of the Township of Alnwick/Haldimand, in a statement. “Unified, we are better positioned to advocate for the protection and growth of our local economy.”
“Trade with the United States has been a cornerstone of Canada’s economy for decades,” said Hamilton Township CAO Arthur Anderson. “As we navigate current challenges, we remain committed to a collaborative, team-oriented approach to support local businesses, safeguard jobs, and ensure long-term prosperity for our communities and our country.”
Meanwhile, Municipality of Port Hope’s interim CAO Tonia Bennett, said, “It’s more important than ever that we come together, not just as individual municipalities but as a collective force for positive change. By aligning our advocacy efforts and sharing vital data, we are amplifying our voices and making sure our concerns are heard at all levels of government.”
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The executive order that U.S. President Donald Trump signed in early February, after he agreed to pause the tariffs for 30 days, states they will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. However, there is some confusion as to whether they will be as high as 25 per cent on Canadian goods and 10 per cent on Canadian energy as originally announced.
While the U.S. commerce secretary Howard Lutnick has confirmed U.S. President Donald Trump will impose the tariffs on Tuesday, he did not confirm their magnitude and scope.
On Monday afternoon, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the 25 per cent tariffs against Canada and Mexico would proceed as of Tuesday.
“It’s a fluid situation,” Lutnick said in an interview with Fox News on Sunday. “There are going to be tariffs on Tuesday on Mexico and Canada. Exactly what they are I’m going to leave that for the president and his team to negotiate.”
Meanwhile, newly re-elected Premier Doug Ford said at a media conference on Monday that he was prepared to cut energy to American states like New York, Michigan, and Minnesota if the U.S. moves ahead with the tariffs. He also encouraged consumers, retailers, and municipalities to source goods from Ontario or from elsewhere in Canada.
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