At its general committee meeting on Monday (August 26), Peterborough city council will consider a temporary use zoning by-law amendment that would allow Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) to build 24 one-room sleeping cabins in the east end of the city.

Peterborough’s commissioner of infrastructure, planning and growth management is recommending in a report to council’s general committee that it pass a temporary use zoning by-law amendment — effective for up to three years — to allow for the creation of the sleeping cabin community, which will also contain wrap-around services.

“From a land use planning perspective, planning staff can support the applicant’s request for a temporary use by-law,” states the report. “However, (planning staff) acknowledge the complexities of introducing such a site into the community.”

The cabins would be constructed on the property at 385 Lansdowne Street East, the former home of the Peterborough Humane Society. Currently zoned as commercial, the property is now owned by Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region (HHPKR), which has entered into a three-year lease agreement with PATH.

Located on the south side of Lansdowne Street east of Ashburnham Drive, the property is directly adjacent to Peterborough Pet Hospital to the west, Living Hope Church to the east, Willowcreek Plaza to the north, and Toromont Industries to the south.

PATH is a non-profit organization based in the City of Peterborough whose mission is to “provide homes to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness”. PATH advocates for transitional housing availability and affordability — including the use of non-traditional housing forms to provide as much housing as possible.

PATH announced in a media release earlier this month that it had completed an application for the temporary rezoning of the property, which it had submitted to the satisfaction of Peterborough’s planning department and will be presented to council’s general committee during Monday’s meeting.

“This is the first step in providing a valuable community resource to address homelessness in the City of Peterborough and will enable us to offer secure, heated sleeping cabins and supporting amenities for 24 unhoused individuals,” said Keith Dalton, PATH board member, in the release.

PATH noted “Peterborough is facing a humanitarian crisis that demands a community response. PATH is building on experiences from existing projects in Peterborough and across Ontario which includes both partnering with Elizabeth Fry Society and working with Better Street from Kitchener and Waterloo.”

“We are proud to be part of a community that is prepared to supplement the efforts of local government to meet an urgent need,” PATH noted. “Based on the potential of PATH to offer housing, our community has already provided the land (HHHPKR) and sufficient private funding to be operational for the first year of a three-year program.”

“We genuinely hope that council sees our efforts as critical to support their 10-year housing and homelessness plan, and aligned with the recently approved Community Safety and Well Being Plan.”

PATH noted a site development agreement consultation has been completed with city staff, Peterborough’s planning and building departments, and fire services “to establish the parameters for development and operation of the site.”

PDF: Excerpts from Report IPGPL24-026
Excerpts from Report IPGPL24-026

PATH said it has raised enough private funding to operate the first year of a three-year program, and will seek additional funding from the community and the provincial and federal governments to extend the service for three years.

While HHPKR has leased the property to PATH for three years, the city report notes HHPKR intends to engage with the city in consideration of a permanent housing proposal for the site, “but they are several years away from bringing a proposal forward.”

“In the interim, PATH is seeking the proposed temporary use through this application.”

Under Ontario’s Planning Act, a municipality can pass temporary use by-laws to permit the temporary use of land, buildings, or structures for any purpose that is otherwise prohibited by the zoning by-law. A temporary use by-law can be in effect to a maximum of three years, although it can be extended subject to processes outlined in the Planning Act, including holding another public meeting.

Items endorsed by general committee on August 26 will be considered for final approval during council’s regular meeting the following Tuesday (September 3), when public delegations will be heard.

If council votes to approve the temporary use by-law, the development would be subject to “site plan control,” which includes approval of an amended site plan application.

Lindsay native Stephen Hosier has been recognized with a national award by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Health and Mental Illness (CAMIMH) for his debut feature documentary that explores mental health and social issues.

The Toronto-based filmmaker and photographer is one of seven recipients of CAMIMH’s 2024 Champions of Mental Health Awards announced on Thursday (August 21). Hosier was recognized in the media category for his 2024 film Atilla, which is now streaming on Crave.

In the film, Hosier follows his childhood friend Richard Csanyi as Richard investigates the life and tragic death of his 28-year-old twin brother Attila. Hosier and the Csanyi brothers all grew up in Lindsay and made videos together during high school.

On May 2, 2020, police and paramedics responded to a call about a man found without vital signs on the roof of Jackson Square Mall in Hamilton, Ontario. He was pronounced dead at the scene after unsuccessful resuscitation efforts. More than a month later, he was identified as Attila Csanyi. It was later determined he died from an accidental drug overdose.

Prior to his death, Attila has been homeless and missing for weeks after being expelled from a long-term care residence as he grappled with addiction and schizophrenia. In the documentary, Richard opens up to Hosier about the abuse he and his brother suffered as foster children.

Soon after the documentary was released, a coroner’s inquest was called into Attila’s death. Held over two weeks in April, the inquest concluded with the coroner’s jury issuing 21 recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths, including that the Ontario government and City of Hamilton conduct a “comprehensive review” of residential care facilities in the city.

VIDEO: “Attila” teaser

“Recognizing the outstanding efforts of those who passionately advocate for comprehensive mental health and substance use care is crucial,” said CAMIMH co-chair Anthony Esposti in a media release.

“Mental health is fundamental to the well-being of Canadians, which is why each year we honour those making a tangible impact in this vital area. Now more than ever, it’s essential to spotlight the advocacy work happening at all levels, from local communities to the national stage.”

The six other Champions of Mental Health Award recipients are Serena Habib, who received the Sharon Johnston Champion of Mental Health Award for Youth, Jason Arneson for workplace mental health, Brighter Futures (Roxanne Pottle) for community organization, Elder Noel Milliea for community individual, MP Matt Jeneroux for parliamentarian, and La Fondation CERVO (Maryse Beaulieu) for innovation, researcher or clinician. More information about the award recipients is available at camimh.ca/2024-champions-of-mental-health.

The award recipients were nominated by their peers, colleagues, friends, and community members in honour of their mental and substance use health advocacy. Applications were evaluated by the CAMIMH selection committee, which includes individuals from member organizations including health care professionals and individuals with lived or living experience, their families, and caregivers.

The 2024 Champions of Mental Health Award recipients will be celebrated at an event held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on October 10, coinciding with the observance of Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Established in 1998, CAMIMH is an alliance of national mental health organizations comprised of health care providers and organizations representing persons with mental illness and their families and caregivers. Each year, the alliance recognizes seven Canadians whose work has helped to advance the mental health agenda across the country.

Pinnguaq is getting all “steamed” up about an upcoming summer street festival it is hosting in downtown Lindsay.

The not-for-profit educational organization is holding a celebration on August 29 to mark the opening of its new community hub, located at 12 Peel St. in Lindsay. The festival encompasses elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM).

“We are very hopeful and excited to show off a new capital project in downtown Lindsay,” Ryan Oliver, CEO and founder of Pinnguaq, told kawarthaNOW. “We are excited to share in the good vibes and showcase what this building can be not only for our organization but for the community as a whole.”

The public can expect to see food vendors, bouncy castles, and a variety of STEAM-based activities running throughout the afternoon.

“We will have live bands and lots to eat,” Oliver added. “The public will see a celebration and we’re hopeful they will join in.”

The event precedes “STEAM School,” a new program which Pinnguaq is offering in September to children in grades 4 through 6 who are specifically interested in STEAM subjects. Offered two days a week beginning September 10, the school encourages students to explore real-world challenges and apply critical thinking, as they delve into STEAM subjects.

The Level-Up Summer Street Festival runs from 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 29, and offers family-friendly fun, Pinnguaq said.

“Embracing a playful approach to learning, Pinnguaq is thrilled to invite the public to the festival, a celebration of (STEAM) education in the Kawartha Lakes and the opening of their new community hub in downtown Lindsay,” a media release noted.

Members of the public can tour the 3,500-square-foot makerspace, enjoy hands-on STEAM-powered programming for learners of all ages, and visit a tech exploration station. Attendees can also embrace play in a video game lounge or express their creativity in the chalk art zone.

“This street festival has something for people of all ages.”

Pinnguaq partnered with O’Neil and Carroll, a Downeyville/Lindsay-based contractor, and Home by Tim + Chris, a Fenelon Falls-based design firm, to make the hub a reality.

The makerspace will be home to after-school programming, drop-in programming on weekends and, of course, STEAM School next month.

In addition to the Lindsay makerspace, Pinnguaq operates a makerspace in Iqaluit, and supports a makerspace network from Curve Lake First Nation to a growing number across Nunavut, including Cambridge Bay, Pond Inlet, and Saniarjak.

“We’re so excited to be moving to downtown Lindsay and look forward to celebrating the launch of the new hub with this family-friendly, STEAM-powered festival, along with our friends, learner community, partners and local businesses,” Oliver noted.

Originally from Lindsay, Oliver worked for almost nine years for the territorial government in Nunavut, where he founded the not-for-profit Pinnguaq Association in Pangnirtung in 2012 to provide Nunavummiut youth access to technology through games.

Pinnguaq now works alongside rural, remote, Indigenous, and other communities, and strives to deliver programs for people of all ages to cultivate STEAM skills through innovative technology, art, and play. It offers “world-class” makerspaces, maker kits and activities, and works with educators to introduce children to a STEAM-based curriculum that brings learning to life.

For more information about Pinnguaq and its programming in Kawartha Lakes, visit www.pinnguaq.com or follow along on social media at @pinnguaq.

Peterborough city council will be meeting as general committee on Monday (August 26).

Following a closed session at 4:30 p.m., council will meet in chambers at 6 p.m. for an open session.

Below is a summary of what’s on the agenda for Monday’s meeting.

Report of Closed Session

Prior to the open session, councillors will meet behind closed doors.

While the topic of the closed session is not public, the agenda refers to legal advice related to the strong mayor powers that the Ontario government provided to municipalities beginning in 2022. The strong mayor powers give heads of council the power to set budgets, veto by-laws, and pass by-laws with just one-third of their council’s support if the by-laws deal with provincial priorities such as housing.

The agenda for the closed session also refers to negotiations related to a leasing opportunity.

Public Meetings under the Planning Act

Council will consider two zoning by-law amendments and a temporary use zoning by-law amendment.

The first zoning by-law involves amending the zoning of 427 and 431 Raymond Street to permit a single-detached residential dwelling to be built on each property. The two properties are adjacent to a residential property 435 Raymond Street, which has the same owner as the two properties, and are currently used for a private lawn and basketball court.

The second zoning by-law involves amending the zoning of 78 and 82 Lansdowne Street West to allow Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region, which owns the properties, to develop a 41-unit five-storey apartment building. Located on the south side of Lansdowne east of Lock Street, the properties currently have a one-story single detached dwelling with a garage and a two-and-a-half story single detached dwelling, both of which would be demolished.

The temporary use zoning by-law amendment involves a temporary use permit to allow Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) to build 24 one-room sleeping cabins for up to three years at 385 Lansdowne Street East, the former location of the Peterborough Humane Society located on the south side of Lansdowne Street east of Ashburnham Drive and directly across from Willowcreek Plaza. The property is owned by Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region, which has leased the property to PATH and intends to develop permanent housing on the site in the future.

Presentations

Council will receive a presentation from Dr. Thomas Piggott, Peterborough’s medical officer of health, about the results of a climate change and health vulnerability assessment completed by Peterborough Public Health in 2023 as mandated by the Ontario government. The presentation follows one the health unit gave to the Peterborough environmental advisory committee in April.

Council will also receive a presentation from John Wynsma, president and CEO of City of Peterborough Holdings Inc., on the corporation’s 2023 annual report. The Corporation of the City of Peterborough is the sole shareholder of City of Peterborough Holdings Inc., which is part of the Peterborough Utilities Group.

Reports

Council will consider a report with recommendations to establish a traffic technical working group to streamline various requests related to traffic and parking services. Mayor Jeff Leal requested city staff to consider re-establishing the working group that was in place from the 1990s until 2007 when it was dissolved.

Since the dissolution of the working group, traffic and parking requests have been managed individually on a first come, first served basis as staff resources permit.

“Many requests, such as all-way stop or no parking requests, require extensive data collection and investigation to provide a comprehensive response,” the report states. “Once the review is complete, each individual request and recommendation are presented to council for consideration which has led to extended response times given other work program priorities.”

The report adds that the implementation of the traffic technical working group “will streamline the existing process and provide a consistent approach to the various traffic and parking concerns that the city receives.” The group would meet monthly, and Peterborough residents would be able to submit requests or concerns through an application form that would be posted on the city’s website.

To support the working group as well as day-to-day traffic services supervision, a senior traffic services supervisor — a position approved in the city’s 2024 budget — would be hired and the working group would be fully established by the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.

Items endorsed by general committee on August 26 will be considered by council for final approval the following Tuesday (September 3), when public delegations will be heard.

Council meetings are streamed live at www.peterborough.ca.

In what has been called an “unprecedented humanitarian crisis,” municipal leaders across Ontario are rallying the provincial and federal governments for more funding to better address homelessness and mental health issues.

Representing 230 municipalities and more than 2.6 million people across Ontario, the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC), Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC), and Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus (EOMC) have announced they are lending their support to “Solve the Crisis” — a new campaign led by Ontario’s Big City Mayors, a caucus representing mayors of Ontario cities with populations of 100,000.

During a meeting at the start of the 125th annual conference of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) in Ottawa this week (Aug. 18 to 21), the three caucuses stated their collective support around the need for the Ontario and federal governments “to take immediate and targeted action” to help solve the crisis around homelessness and mental health, a media release noted.

“This is something we (the EOMC) have been pursuing, over the last year — the need for substantial investment by both the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada, to deal with this unprecedented humanitarian crisis that all municipalities are now facing,” said Jeff Leal, EOMC chair and mayor of the City of Peterborough, in the release.

During the AMO conference, Leal accepted an award from AMO recognizing the City of Peterborough’s innovative modular bridge housing community project that helped end a controversial tent encampment of people experiencing homelessness in downtown Peterborough.

The partners in the Solve the Crisis campaign say the homelessness and mental health crisis is occurring on streets throughout communities whether they are small or big, rural and urban.

VIDEO: “We need your help” – Ontario’s Big City Mayors

“Municipalities continue to step up, but do not have the tools, expertise or capacity to fully address the intersectional and complex issues around housing, homelessness, health care, and social services,” the release states.

They said they appreciate the actions that both governments have taken to date, including “Ontario’s Roadmap to Wellness,” the creation of the “Homelessness Prevention Program,” and investing in youth wellness hubs. But it’s not enough, according to the municipalities.

“We need to do more to ‘Solve the Crisis’ together as government partners, and we need to act swiftly.”

Brian Ostrander, warden of Northumberland County, recently told kawarthaNOW the theme of underfunding in areas of social services and housing was a common thread throughout Northumberland County’s recently released 2023 annual report.

In recent years, regional governments like Northumberland have been asked to spend more money in areas traditionally funded by the province.

“We simply cannot keep providing services like social services and housing services using property taxes,” Ostrander said. “Property taxes only make sense for linear projects like roads and bridges — but even then, in small and rural communities we don’t have the base to adequately keep up with the networks that we have.”

The rising number of homeless encampments and the human toll of the opioid crisis are a symptom of “deeper system failures that hurt Ontario’s overall social and economic prosperity,” the release stated.

The WOWC, EOMC, and EOWC said they intend to send a letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford “to further underscore the need” for a social and economic prosperity review.

“We need a municipal fiscal relationship that supports the foundations of a strong economy, sustainable communities and quality of life that reflects modern day and front-line realities.”

EOWC chair and Renfrew County warden Peter Emon said, “in communities of all sizes, not just big cities, people are unhoused, suffering and dying.”

“We need to help them and municipalities do not have the financial tools and resources to do it alone. It is time to take action to Solve the Crisis together with municipalities, the Ontario government, the federal government, and community partners at the table.”

The caucuses invite organizations and Ontario residents to join the call and support the Solve the Crisis campaign by visiting solvethecrisis.ca.

It’s in the bag.

The Township of Alnwick-Haldimand and the Municipality of Port Hope are both winners in Northumberland County’s 2024 “Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge.”

Keep the County Clean is an annual week-long litter clean-up initiative, which was hosted as part of Northumberland’s Earth Week celebrations in April. The county invited residents to join their local municipal representatives to clean up litter and illegal dumping in their communities.

The Township of Alnwick-Haldimand came out on top for the “highest proportional representation of volunteers,” with 6.2 per cent of its population participating in this year’s challenge. Alnwick-Haldimand was followed closely by the Town of Cobourg as the first runner-up in this category.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Port Hope earned the title of “hardest-working volunteers” by collecting an average of 9.4 kilograms of waste per volunteer. The Township of Cramahe was the first runner-up in this category.

“Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Keep the County Clean Challenge and thank you to the many volunteers from across Northumberland who supported their municipality in the challenge and helped to keep our community clean,” said Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander in a media release.

“Your hard work and dedication reflect the strong community spirit we have here in Northumberland and exemplifies how we can work together to make a significant positive impact on the environment and our community’s well-being.”

From April 22 to 27, more than 3,124 residents from Northumberland County collected 11,427 kilograms of litter from shared spaces like roadsides, parks, and nature trails throughout the community — marking the highest volunteer turnout for this annual challenge within its 14-year history, the county noted. The Mayors’ Keep the County Clean Challenge grows in terms of impact with each annual instalment.

In recognition of Earth Day, which was on April 22, Northumberland County held a variety of activities throughout the week, in addition to the mayors’ challenge, which was the main event.

All the efforts targeted building awareness around the importance of preserving and safeguarding the county’s natural resources for future generations.

“This friendly competition between our fellow Northumberland communities has the net benefit of working together to beautify Northumberland,” Ostrander earlier told kawarthaNOW.

He said the annual competition promotes both civic pride and making a positive difference for the environment.

For information about Northumberland County’s environmental goals and initiatives, and to track the county’s progress in achieving related key performance metrics, visit Northumberland County’s performance dashboard at northumberland.ca/dashboard.

The City of Peterborough is one of three Ontario municipalities that have received the 2024 Peter J. Marshall Award from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), with Peterborough receiving the award for its modular bridge housing community project.

The award was presented to Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal on Tuesday (August 20) during the AMO’s annual conference in Ottawa.

In May 2023, Peterborough city council approved the modular bridge housing community project as part of a homelessness services plan to help end a controversial tent encampment near the Wolfe Street shelter.

By fall 2023, the city had constructed 50 modular homes, shared washroom facilities, and a central service hub using funding through the Ontario government’s homelessness prevention program.

According to the city, within the project’s first six months of operation, four people acquired jobs, one person moved into permanent housing, and there was a 90 per cent reduction in emergency service calls compared to when the site operated as an encampment.

Staff have also reported significant improvements in the mental and physical health of the residents.

“This award is a testament to our city’s commitment to addressing homelessness with compassion, creativity, and a focus on practical solutions,” said Mayor Leal in a media release.

“As a council, we knew we had to move beyond the natural tendency to stop when faced with an overwhelmingly complex challenge like homelessness. We knew we had to pick a lane. We learned from the experiences of others and our professional staff delivered this project with urgency and expertise.”

Along with city staff, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith was at the AMO conference to celebrate the award.

“The modular home program at Wolfe Street is a great example of a municipality thinking outside of the box to properly use the homelessness prevention program to reduce homelessness in Peterborough’s vulnerable community,” MPP Smith said.

Along with the City of Peterborough, the Regional Municipality of York also received the Peter J. Marshall Award its automated transit facility inspection program, as did the Town of Midland for its project to use artificial intelligence for enhanced risk assessments for water and wasterwater infrastructure.

Named after one of the province’s youngest and most innovative municipal finance commissioners, the Peter J. Marshall Award recognizes municipal governments demonstrating excellence in the use of innovative approaches to improve capital or operating efficiency and to generate effectiveness through alternative service delivery initiatives and partnerships.

Municipal governments submit nominations for the award, which are then reviewed by a selection committee. Awards for up to three municipal projects are selected each year, with the recipients announced during the AMO annual conference.