Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the entire Kawarthas region for Wednesday (July 10).

The rainfall warning is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, southern Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.

The remnants of Hurricane Beryl will bring periods of heavy rainfall, with embedded torrential downpours, to the region beginning Wednesday morning.

Although confidence in the exact track of the weather system remains somewhat uncertain, these type of systems in the past have given very high rainfall rates in torrential downpours.

Torrential downpours could bring 20 to 40 mm of rain per hour at times, with rainfall amounts of 40 to 60 mm expected.

Rainfall amounts will likely be highly variable across the region, and some areas may receive in excess of 60 mm.

Conditions should improve on Thursday.

Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.

A 51-year-old American man has been arrested and is facing a child luring charge after online incidents involving a 10-year-old Port Hope girl earlier this year.

On January 13, a Port Hope woman contacted Port Hope police to report her 10-year-old daughter had been in communication with a man on the internet and that images of a sexual nature were exchanged.

The woman discovered the situation when she received a $6,000 bill for her child’s phone. She spoke with her daughter and learned she had met a man on the Fortnite online gaming platform. The man subsequently asked for the child’s phone number and, after she provided it, began texting and calling her.

The man told the child he wanted her to be his girlfriend and pushed to develop the relationship, according to police, and said that if she did not do what he requested, he would expose the relationship to her parents.

After it was determined the man appeared to be located in the area of Richmond, Kentucky, Port Hope police contacted Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security that investigates a wide range of global crime including child exploitation.

Following a joint investigation involving Homeland Security Investigations and the Ontario Provincial Police, a 51-year-old man from Richmond, Kentucky was arrested and charged with child luring.

The accused man, who had also breached his parole conditions, is also facing additional charges. He remains in police custody in the U.S.

The Pride flag is again waving in the Kawartha Lakes, kicking off a series of events to mark Pride Week.

Kawartha Lakes Pride (KLP) is hosting a range of celebratory activities, which kick off Monday (July 8) and run through to Sunday (July 14). While KLP is hoping for successful events, the group’s executive director said there’s a second goal for Pride Week in the Kawartha Lakes.

“Pride is more than just a week of events but showcases the incredible love that comes from our diverse community, and promotes a kindness that the whole world needs, at the moment and always,” Rylee Hynes told kawarthaNOW.

“Reminding marginalized communities that they are not alone is paramount in their safety, as well as their happiness. We are here, we are queer, and we have a love for all,” Hynes added.

Below are the KLP events on the roster for Pride Week in Kawartha Lakes.

Monday, July 8

“Queer Trivia Night” from 7 to 9 p.m. at Lotus Indian Bistro (69 Colborne St., Fenelon Falls)

Tuesday, July 9

“Drag Queen Story Time” featuring Peterborough drag performer Betty Baker from 10 a.m. to noon at Kindred Coffee Bar (148 Kent St. W., Lindsay)

Thursday, July 11

“Pooch Pride” walk at 5:30 p.m. at Adelaide Clinic (1 Adelaide St., Lindsay). For the sixth annual event, people and dogs are encouraged to dress in their best Pride wear. Prizes will be awarded for the best-dressed human and best-dressed pooch.

Friday, July 12

“Pride in the Park” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Maryboro Lodge Museum (50 Oak St., Fenelon Falls). The free family-friendly event features a drag queen story time, a DJ, glitz station, face painting, balloon artist, flower crown bar, games, caricature artist, temporary tattoos, snacks, vendors, drag show, and arts and crafts.

“Pride After Dark” from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Maryboro Lodge Museum (50 Oak St., Fenelon Falls). This is an age-of-majority event featuring eight drag performers (Sahira, Banshii Waylon, Lexy Moore, Betty Baker, Magnolia Knox, Jenny Tall, Tommi, and Seth WD Davenport) hosted by a surprise guest DJ. Food and drink will be provided by Feast and Fusion. Tickets are $25, available in advance at PrideAfterDark24.eventbrite.com.

Saturday, July 13

“Proud Sounds” concert and community picnic from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Victoria Park Gazebo (190 Kent St. W., Lindsay). Sponsored by the Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce, the free family-friendly event features performances by local 2SLGBTQIA+ musical artists and allies, a family-friendly drag show, sponsor tents, and a community picnic.

A Musical Tribute to Elton John at 7:30 p.m. at The Grove Theatre (27 Veterans Way, Fenelon Falls). For Saturday night’s performance, order tickets at grovetheatre.ca and use code “Pride15” to get 15 per cent off.

Sunday, July 14

“Queer Ecology Hike” from 10 a.m. to noon at Ken Reid Conservation Area (277 Kenrei Rd., Lindsay). The free family-friendly five-kilometre guided nature hike will be hosted by drag performers Jenny Tall and Sardonyx.

“Toke and Stroke Drag Show Paint Night’ at 8 p.m. at East End Electric (14 Oak St., Fenelon Falls). Sponsored by East End Electric and High Supply Fenelon Falls, this age-of-majority event is hosted by drag performers Sahira and Jenny Tall, and includes an outdoor lounge and party favours. Tickets are $50 and available in advance at KLPPaintNight24.eventbrite.com.

For more information about Kawartha Lakes Pride and for updates about Pride Week events, visit facebook.com/KawarthaLakesPride.

For the second time in less than a month, the City of Peterborough has welcomed a Consul General to the region.

On Monday (July 8), Mayor Jeff Leal welcomed Baxter Hunt, U.S. Consul General in Toronto, for a day-long visit.

While the U.S. only has one embassy and ambassador in Ottawa, it operates seven consulates in Canada, including the Toronto consulate led by Hunt, a career diplomat in the U.S. senior foreign service who began serving as U.S. Consul General in Toronto last October.

Although the primary purpose of the consulates is to explain and advance U.S. policy and to provide emergency services such as passports for visiting or resident American citizens in Canada and visas for foreign citizens, they also work to advance bilateral trade and commercial activities.

“We are focused on building strong, collaborative relationships and were delighted to be able to showcase the deep connections we share with our American neighbours,” Mayor Jeff Leal said in a media release. “The visit was a welcome opportunity to show off our beautiful, dynamic, innovative community. I look forward to more collaborative conversations and visits.”

On June 13, the city also hosted Siddhartha Nath, Consul General of India in Toronto.

According to the city, both Consul General visits are “part of the City’s efforts to position Peterborough as a destination of choice for innovative business and people as outlined in City Council’s Strategic Plan.”

The city recently assumed responsibility for economic development and tourism from Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED), a non-profit organization that both the city and county of Peterborough had funded for the past 25 years to provide these services. PKED will be dissolving on December 31 following a decision by the city and county to not renew an agreement with PKED to provide funding.

During Monday’s visit, Mayor Leal and Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark met and greeted U.S. Consul General Hunt at City Hall, where they discussed the existing relationships with American companies and people in the region.

During his visit, the U.S. Consul General joined a roundtable with Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce members to learn about the region’s business climate and build conversations with local businesses. He also toured the Coca Cola facility, the Flexjet Flying Colours facility at the Peterborough Airport, and the new Canadian Canoe Museum next to Little Lake.

The delegation also had lunch at Burleigh Falls Inn on Stoney Lake, which was closed to the public for the event.

“One of the best parts of my job is engaging with communities and regions such as Peterborough that are creating jobs and economic prosperity in both our countries,” said U.S. Consul General Hunt. “I appreciate the invitation to Peterborough where I have experienced the vibrant community first-hand this summer. The full day engagements highlighted the strong economic ties, people-to-people ties and collaborative spirit between the United States and Canada. I look forward to continuing the many conversations we started today.”

Amidst the pressing nationwide opioid epidemic, Peterborough Public Health (PPH) is receiving $125,000 in federal funding to target substance use prevention for the city’s younger citizens.

PPH said it is “excited” to be one of seven communities in the country recently selected by the Public Health Agency of Canada to begin implementing and adapting the Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM) for youth substance use prevention.

“Substance use harms, in particular the opioids crisis, is one of the most vexing issues of our time for our community of Peterborough,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, PPH medical officer of health, in a statement. “Community collaboration through this important new grant will allow us to advance a more effective response to preventing youth substance use harms and improve health.”

The IPM has received international acclaim and attention for its collaborative approach to prevent substance use harms among youth, the Government of Canada noted. Developed by the Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis (ICSRA), it applies a community-driven approach to influence risk and protective factors associated with substance use.

Studies of the IPM in Iceland show a population-level decline in youth substance use. Over a 10-year period, the studies show a 46 per cent reduction in the number of youth getting drunk in the past 30 days and a 60 per cent decline in the use of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis. Since it originated, the ICSRA has expanded its work to more than 30 countries worldwide under the organization name of “Planet Youth.”

The model encompasses an evidence-based approach, using local data and assets to drive programming. From there, the community works together to address the specific needs identified and tackle root causes of substance use, a media release noted.

“Our community has a long history of collaborating for the betterment of our residents,” Dr. Piggott said. “We look forward to engaging with new and existing partners to focus on upstream causes of substance use.”

Peterborough’s health unit will receive $125,000 over 18 months for the Peterborough Youth Substance Use Prevention Pilot (PYSUPP). PPH said it expects to share more information about the project in the fall.

The Public Health Agency of Canada noted that “no community in Canada has been left untouched by substance use-related harms and the toxic illegal drug supply and overdose crisis.”

Ya’ara Saks, federal minister of mental health and addictions and associate minister of health, recently announced funding of more than $3.1 million under the Youth Substance Use Prevention Program (YSUPP) aimed to reduce substance use-related harms among young people in communities across Canada.

The $3.1 million investment includes $868,000 in funding for seven projects across British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Nova Scotia to support the implementation and adaptation of the IPM. In addition, Renison University College — an affiliated university college of the University of Waterloo and located in Waterloo — will receive $2.25 million in funding to lead a new knowledge development and exchange hub for youth substance use prevention that will provide guidance and training on the implementation of the IPM in Canada.

“We are working to address the root causes of substance use among youth and prevent harms before they begin,” Saks said.

“We know that connection to community supports helps to decrease and even prevent substance use-related harms. We owe it to young people – and all Canadians – to ensure there is equitable access to the mental health and substance use services that people need and these organizations will make a real difference for youth in their communities.”

The seven projects will engage members of diverse communities and sectors, including Indigenous, schools, service providers, community leaders and young people with lived and living experience, and will contribute to the evaluation of the IPM in the Canadian context, the release noted.

Meanwhile, the federal government’s 2024 budget proposes to provide $150 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to Health Canada for an emergency treatment fund, open to municipalities and Indigenous communities to help provide rapid responses to emergent, critical needs related to the opioid crisis, the release noted.

Canada has seen “substantially elevated numbers of opioid-related deaths and other harms” since national surveillance began in 2016 by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the federal government noted.

“This public health crisis is having a tragic impact on people who use substances, their families, and communities across the country, and is shaped by a wide range of factors. The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated the crisis, as several jurisdictions reported higher rates of fatal overdoses and other harms following the onset of the pandemic.”

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the entire Kawarthas region for the potential heavy rainfall on Wednesday (July 10) and Thursday due to the remnants of Hurricane Beryl.

The special weather statement is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.

Hurricane Beryl is currently passing over Texas and is expected to continue on a northward trajectory inland towards the northeast U.S. and transition into a post-tropical cyclone. Heavy rainfall associated with the remnants of the storm may affect portions of southern Ontario beginning late Tuesday night or early Wednesday, and may persist into Thursday.

Although confidence in the exact track of the weather system and associated rainfall amounts is low at this point, these types of systems in the past have given very high rainfall rates in torrential downpours.

Based on past storms, torrential downpours giving rainfall rates of 20 to 40 mm per hour at times are possible, with localized rainfall totals possibly well in excess of 50 mm.

Rainfall warnings may be issued as confidence in the track of the system increases.