Environment Canada has issued a yellow watch for snow squalls for most of the Kawarthas region for Saturday night (December 20) into Sunday.

The snow squall watch is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.

A strong cold front will pass through the region overnight Saturday night, bringing strong wind gusts and a possible frontal snow squall briefly reducing visibility to near zero in heavy snow and blowing snow. Once the front passes, lake effect snow squalls off of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay are expected to develop for Sunday, with strong northwest winds and blowing snow continuing until the afternoon.

Total local snowfall amounts of 10 to 15 cm are possible in southern Peterborough County and southern Kawartha Lakes, with 5 to 10 cm in northern Peterborough County, northern Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.

The lake effect snow will be accompanied by 50 km/h westerly winds gusting to 70 km/h overnight, with a wind chill of minus 18. Winds will diminish to 30 km/h in the morning, gusting to 50 km/h.

Travel may be hazardous. Prepare for the possibility of quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions.

Environment Canada recently launched new colour-coded alerts for weather advisories, watches, and warnings.

Yellow alerts, which are the most common, indicate hazardous weather that may cause damage, disruption, or health impacts. Impacts are moderate, localized, and/or short-term.

Orange alerts, which are uncommon, indicate severe weather that is likely to cause significant damage, disruption, or health impacts. Impacts are major, widespread. and/or may last a few days.

Red alerts, which are rare, indicate very dangerous and possibly life-threatening weather will cause extreme damage and disruption. Impacts are extensive, widespread, and prolonged.

This story has been updated to including Hastings Highlands.

Peterborough police have arrested two of three suspects wanted in a connection with the homicide of a 33-year-old man in downtown Peterborough earlier in December, and are continuing to search for the third suspect.

At around 6 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, officers were called to an apartment building near Brock and Aylmer streets where they found a severely injured man in an apartment. Despite life-saving efforts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Through investigation, police have identified three suspects — all Peterborough residents — and obtained warrants for their arrest.

On Thursday (December 18), officers with the Peterborough police’s investigative services unit and Belleville police’s tactical team executed a warrant at a residence in Belleville, where they arrested 28-year-old Peter Pople and charged him with second-degree murder.

On Thursday night at 8 p.m., police located 29-year-old Kaya Coughlin at Trinity Community Centre in Peterborough, where she was arrested and charged with manslaughter.

Both Pople and Coughlin are being held in custody for court appearances on December 19.

“I would like to recognize the tenacity and exceptional work of our officers in locating these two suspects,” said Peterborough police chief Stuart Betts in a media release. “It has required hundreds of hours of investigation to ensure these individuals were located and taken into custody. I also extend my appreciation and thanks to the Belleville Police Service for their support in helping our Investigators locate and arrest a suspect in their city.”

Police are continuing to search for a third suspect, 44-year-old Michael Waterman, who is wanted for second-degree murder.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 ext 555, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at stopcrimehere.ca.

A Peterborough neighbourhood group has launched an online fundraising campaign to cover a $22,500 settlement it must pay to formally end its legal challenge of the City of Peterborough’s use of strong mayor powers, with the group’s lawyer forgiving his legal fees in recognition of the financial impact of the settlement.

On Friday (December 19), Northcrest Neighbours for Fair Process (NNFP) announced it has launched a GoFundMe campaign after accepting a court-ordered settlement requiring the group — and its chair, Sarah McNeilly, personally — to pay $22,500 to the City of Peterborough and Brock Mission.

The payment is a condition of NNFP withdrawing its legal challenge of Mayor Jeff Leal’s use of his strong mayor powers to exempt Brock Mission’s proposed six-storey transitional housing project at 738 Chemong Road from the site plan control requirements that normally apply to projects of this kind.

As previously reported by kawarthaNOW, the settlement agreement followed NNFP’s decision to drop its case after the Ontario Superior Court ordered the group to post $30,000 in security for costs in order for the matter to proceed. NNFP has said it was unable to afford that upfront payment, preventing the case from being heard on its merits.

The court also ruled the City of Peterborough and Brock Mission were entitled to both the $30,000 security for costs and the costs of their motion, subject to any offer to settle with NNFP.

Justice Susan Woodley’s ruling was issued on November 20, seven weeks after she heard the City and Brock Mission’s motion that NNFP pay $30,000 security for costs in order for the case to proceed.

After that October 1 hearing, when the judge made it clear she would rule against NNFP and encouraged the parties to settle, the group made an offer to the City and Brock Mission to withdraw the case at no cost.

According to NNFP, the City and Brock Mission did not respond to that initial offer. Instead, after Judge Woodley issued her ruling on November 20, they demanded that NNFP and McNeilly pay $30,000 within 60 days to settle the case, and threatened to pursue another $100,000 in legal costs if a settlement was not reached by December 10.

After back-and-forth negotiations, all three parties agreed to a final settlement amount of $22,500 to end the case before it was ever heard.

“The $22,500 is what we are now required to pay simply to be allowed to walk away,” stated Deborah Berrill, member of NNFP’s executive committee, in a media release. “We are no longer fundraising to fight City Hall. Now, we are fundraising to finish this and to protect our chair, Sarah McNeilly, from facing financial harm.”

As a result of an earlier fundraising campaign, NNFP has around $8,000 available to put towards the settlement and must come up with an additional $15,000. If NNFP cannot raise the required funds, McNeilly becomes personally responsible for paying the settlement cost.

Recognizing the dire financial straits NNFP and McNeilly are facing, the group’s lawyer — Mark Pedersen, a partner with Belleville-based law firm O’Flynn Weese LLP — has forgiven NNFP’s outstanding legal fees so the group can redirect its remaining funds toward the settlement agreement.

In an email to NNFP, Pedersen described what the group encountered during the legal proceedings as “a series of misfortunes,” including “a municipal litigant that regards procedural leverage and obfuscation as appropriate means of litigating issues of societal importance” and “the unfortunate reality that access to justice is tremendously expensive.”

“As a general rule, I rarely cut my accounts,” Pedersen wrote. “This is an exception. Your pursuit truly does resonate with me, and I am happy to make this the exception to my usual rule.”

He added that, as a citizen, he was disappointed “that exposure to costs in the face of a question like that posed in your lawsuit is even a consideration.”

For her part, McNeilly called Pedersen’s decision to forgo his legal fees “a Christmas miracle.”

“But it’s not enough on its own,” McNeilly added. “We’re going to need another Christmas miracle, and that’s where our community comes in.”

NNFP says any funds raised will solely be used to cover the settlement costs so that no individual member of NNFP, including McNeilly, “bears the financial burden of having challenged a municipal decision.”

“The City is sending a message,” said McNeilly. “They’re making an example of me and my neighbours in order to tell the rest of Peterborough, ‘Challenge us, and we’ll make you pay.’ This fundraiser is asking the people of Peterborough to send a message back. It’s asking you, the people, to say, ‘We will not obey in advance.'”

For more information and to donate to the fundraiser, visit gofund.me/5b75d546b.

After NNFP announced the settlement agreement on December 17, kawarthaNOW reached out to the City of Peterborough for comment, but did not receive a response.

When it comes to putting food on the table or kibble in the dog’s bowl, some Peterborough residents are having to make tough choices when it comes to feeding themselves or their pets in challenging economic times.

That’s a situation the Peterborough Humane Society (PHS) is aiming to help families avoid by offering a pet pantry for community members.

Alongside partners Can-Pet Inc., The Kibble Project, the City of Peterborough, and Humane Canada, PHS recently hosted an event to distribute pet food, supplies, and essential items to residents in need just ahead of the holidays.

Held last Friday (December 12) at the Peterborough Public Library, the community pet pantry distribution event supported more than 350 pets and 155 residents, saving each household more than $100 so individuals and families could use those funds for other essential needs.

According to PHS social services worker Sara McKenzie, having access to a community pet pantry means people in need can keep both themselves and their pets fed, and also helps prevent people from having to give their pets up for adoption.

“When households are struggling to afford basic necessities, pet care can quickly become an overwhelming burden,” McKenzie told kawarthaNOW. “Many families have shared that they’ve gone without meals themselves to ensure their companion animals are fed.”

“The pet pantry is especially vital during today’s challenging economic times, providing critical support to families facing one of the most common factors driving rising rehoming requests — financial hardship,” McKenzie added.

She said that PHS has hosted five local distribution events as part of the community pet pantry program, teamed up with six community partners for redistribution, and dished out more than 20,000 pounds of pet food, helping support more than 2,000 local families to care for their beloved animals during tough times.

“By offering access to essential resources, the pantry helps families stay together while preserving the human-animal bond,” McKenzie said. “Through strong community partnerships and compassionate care, we are committed to keeping companion animals healthy and with the people who love them, because community care includes supporting both ends of the leash.”

During the December 12 event, people also enjoyed pizza and had the opportunity to have their photo taken with Santa Claus.

PHS said the community pet pantry is part of the continued growth of its prevention-focused outreach programs, and reinforces the organization’s dedication to strengthening the human-animal bond. Plans are already underway for future pet pantry programming to ensure continued support for local pet families.

“Pet pantries are a critical part of our commitment to keeping people and pets together,” said PHS CEO Shawn Morey in a statement. “Financial hardship remains one of the leading reasons families are forced to consider surrendering a beloved pet. By offering proactive support, we can reduce that pressure and prevent unnecessary heartbreak.”

PHS is a registered charity that advocates for animals by rescuing lost, stray, and homeless pets throughout Peterborough County. It is an Open Admission for Life Centre and the largest animal shelter in Peterborough County.

All animals in its care receive veterinary care, vaccinations, and are microchipped, and spayed/neutered prior to being adopted.

PHS does not receive any government or institutional funding for their operations and relies on generous donations from the community. For more information about the Peterborough Humane Society and to donate, visit peterboroughhumanesociety.ca.

The United Way Peterborough & District has announced Jim Russell will be retiring as CEO in summer 2026.

Having led the non-profit organization for the past 14 years, Russell is its longest-serving CEO.

In 2011, he moved from Toronto to Peterborough to take on the role, having previously worked as senior director of community involvement for the United Way of York Region, executive director of ThinkFirst Canada, and in various senior management positions with the Daily Bread Food Bank.

“I had been visiting Peterborough regularly in the early 2000s and decided that I wanted to complete my career in this community,” Russell said in a media release. “The vibe was just right for me.”

After his first five months as CEO in 2012, Russell told kawarthaNOW that his greatest hope was that “the people who are already vulnerable in our community receive the support they need so that they don’t get left behind.”

“I love the staff here,” he added. “They’re on fire and excited about the opportunity to build community and make lasting change.”

During Russell’s tenure, the United Way Peterborough & District secured more than $36 million for its partner agencies through multiple sources, including the annual community campaign, grants, individual gifts, and federal funding.

He led the organization during a time of increased focus on addressing poverty and homelessness, including through the production of research reports including Housing is Fundamental, multiple Point-in-Time Counts, The Gap: Income (In)Adequacy Report 2024, and The Gap: Living Wage Report 2022.

“United Ways across the country are responsible for identifying key issues in communities,” Russell said. “We are a trusted partner to be an arbiter on need and where best to invest donations to support community resilience.”

United Way board chair Karen Wilson said that she is especially proud of Russell’s leadership when it comes to poverty and homelessness, as two of the most significant issues in the Peterborough area.

“It has been my sincere pleasure to work with Jim,” she said. “He is leaving big shoes to fill.”

To that end, the United Way says its CEO hiring committee — comprising past and current board chairs, board members, and past campaign chairs — has created a plan for a “thorough selection process” starting in January 2026 that will hire Russell’s successor.

“We strive to celebrate diversity as a strength,” Wilson says of the CEO search. “We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture where every voice is heard, respected, and empowered to contribute to success.”

“As such, we are particularly keen to hear from equity-deserving individuals.”

Information about the CEO position and how to apply will be available in early January at www.uwpeterborough.ca/career-opportunities/.

The 26th annual In From The Cold benefit concert has raised $21,336.58 for YES Shelter for Youth and Families, according to organizer John Hoffman.

Two performances of the concert were held on Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough, with Saturday’s performance taking place in the afternoon for the first time.

This year’s proceeds bring the concert’s 26-year total for YES Shelter for Youth and Families to over $230,000.

As in previous years, local businesses and organizations contributed a significant amount in monetary donations, adding to proceeds raised by ticket sales and individual donations.

“I must salute our generous sponsors who, truth be told, contribute considerably more to our fundraising total than the proceeds from our modest (affordable!) ticket price,” Hoffman on Facebook.

Presenting sponsors for this year’s concert were Juniper Community Bookkeeping, kawarthaNOW, and Wild Rock Outfitters’ The ComPassion Project. The streaming sponsor was Jo Pillon of Royal LePage Frank Real Estate. Concert patrons were Ashburnham Funeral Home, Herod Financial Services, LLF Lawyers, and Richmond Global Wealth. Concert supporters were Camp Ponacka Inc., Long & McQuade, Part Time CFO Services, Dayle and Reid Finlay, and the Whitfield Family.

Hoffman first organized In From The Cold in 2000 along with fellow musicians Susan Newman, Rob Fortin, and Curtis Driedger, and the annual concert has become a Christmas tradition in Peterborough, beloved for its presentation of seldom-heard holiday music.

This year’s concert once again saw Hoffman, Newman, and Fortin performing as Carried Away along multi-instrumentalist Michael Ketemer and Celtic harpist Tanah Haney, as well as the 30-voice Convivio Chorus led by Newman, and Driedger with his youth performers The Claveer Cousins (Cora Lai, Iris Lai, Charlie Watson and Meara Watson).

Along with the Saturday matinee performance, another first for this year’s concert was the addition of a special musical guest, in the form of roots singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Benj Rowland. Another musical guest was Dan Fortin, one of Canada’s top jazz bassists and the son of Newman and Fortin.

Songs performed by Carried Away included “In Praise of Christmas,” “Candlemas Eve,” “On A Night Like This,” and “Shine Over Lake And Strand,” with songs performed by the Convivio Chorus including “The Holly And The Ivy,” “Fairytale Of New York,” and “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?”

“For us performers, In From the Cold has always been about the music,” Hoffman wrote on Facebook. “It’s the music that brings forth the joy that keeps us wanting to do this show every year.”

If you missed this year’s In From The Cold concert, you can listen to Trent Radio’s broadcast of the recorded concert throughout Christmas Day on 92.7 FM and at www.trentradio.ca/stream.htm.

kawarthaNOW is proud to be a long-time sponsor of In From The Cold.