Citing “a surge in demand” in the region, Northumberland County has announced the addition of 181 new spaces this year at licensed child care centres in the county.

The expansion will include 119 new spaces in the Municipality of Port Hope, 47 new spots in the Municipality of Trent Hills, and 15 new spaces in the Town of Cobourg.

“In 2023, we experienced a 60 per cent increase in the waitlist for licensed child care spaces, with approximately 3,000 families currently on the waitlist,” said Lesley Patterson, Northumberland County early years manager, in a media release.

“To help address this critical need in our community, Northumberland County is aiming to introduce 404 new high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care spaces in our community by 2026, in alignment with provincial targets identified through the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system,” Patterson added.

Patterson’s comments follow an update from the social services committee to Northumberland County council during its June 19 regular council meeting. Council heard about the plans to open 181 new spaces at licensed child care centres here in 2024.

The expansion of the number of child care spaces is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the province.

This move will aim to address the shortage of licensed child care spaces in three “high priority areas” in Northumberland, the county said about the communities that were chosen to receive the additional spots.

In partnership with the Municipality of Port Hope, Northumberland County aims to renovate the Ruth Clarke Activity Centre and Canton Hub to introduce two new child care locations in Port Hope.

The Ruth Clarke Activity Centre location, planned in partnership with the Ganaraska Child Care Centre and located at 81 Mill St. S., will provide 70 new child care spaces by the fall, the county said.

The Canton Hub, located at 5325 County Rd. 10, will be renovated to accommodate 49 new spaces. This location is planned in partnership with YMCA Northumberland and is expected to open in winter 2024, according to the release.

Renovation plans are also underway to introduce 47 new spaces in Warkworth in collaboration with YMCA Northumberland. These spaces, located at 161 Old Hastings Rd., are expected to open in fall 2024.

Northumberland plans to introduce 15 “family age grouping” spaces at the Northumberland Centre for Individual Studies, located at 700 D’Arcy St. in Cobourg, this year. The family age group centre will provide children of different ages the chance to learn together, and will support families with kids of different ages to receive care at the same facility.

“While the county recognizes that all communities in Northumberland have unique needs and demands relating to child care, these three locations were identified in the County’s Directed Growth Plan and Early Learning and Child Care Service Plan as high priority areas based on existing capacity, demand, community demographics, projected growth and socioeconomic factors,” the release noted.

“These initiatives grow upon efforts that began last year, with the introduction of 10 new infant child care spaces at the Brighton Children’s Centre in 2023, in partnership with Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. These expansion efforts, which will continue into 2026, underscore the commitment from all levels of government and local child care operators to support families and foster vital early childhood development opportunities in the community.”

Ontario’s Early Years and Child Care Annual Report 2023 stated “a strong and accessible child care and early years system is a critical support for Ontario families. It plays a key role in children’s learning, development and well-being while parents and caregivers go to school or work to support their families and contribute to economic growth.”

In 2022. Ontario and Canada signed the CWELCC agreement aimed at helping Ontario achieve average fees of $10 per day for children under the age of six. The agreement focuses on five priority areas, including lowering fees, increasing access, enhancing quality, supporting inclusion, and strengthening data/reporting, the province noted.

Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the northern Kawarthas region for Saturday (June 22) into Sunday morning.

The rainfall warning is in effect for Haliburton County and Hastings Highlands.

Rain, at times heavy, is expected as a low pressure system brings significant rainfall to the region on the weekend.

Rainfall amounts of 50 to 80 mm are being forecast.

Areas that receive multiple thunderstorms may have the potential to exceed 80 mm locally.

Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Watch for possible washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.

With Pollinator Week running from June 17 to 23, it’s time to remind residents in the City of Kawartha Lakes they can create a buzz by taking part in a contest to benefit the local bee population.

Bee City Kawartha Lakes is hosting its fifth annual “Bee a Hero Garden Challenge.” The initiative recognizes residents who create pollinator-friendly gardens.

The challenge for the 2024 instalment of Bee a Hero is now on, and runs through to Sunday, September 15th.

It’s an important initiative for Bee City Kawartha Lakes, Christine Szabados, chair of Bee City Kawartha Lakes, told kawarthaNOW.

“The Bee a Hero Garden Challenge allows us to celebrate the successes of our community members in supporting diverse local and migrating pollinator populations within the City of Kawartha Lakes by creating or expanding upon their own native pollinator gardens,” Szabados said.

“By increasing community awareness on the benefits of our native pollinator populations, as well as the significance of the threats that they face, this initiative has never been of greater importance.”

All registered gardens are recorded on the City of Kawartha Lakes’ “Pollinator Pathway,” with the long-term goal of providing a continuous corridor of native pollinator habitat through the City of Kawartha Lakes, she noted.

To take part, residents must commit to providing a pesticide-free garden habitat and to using two of the tips listed within the “pollinator friendly gardens” section of the Bee City Kawartha Lakes website at www.kawarthalakes.ca/beecity.

Szabados encourages residents to consider planting native plants, providing water sources, and choosing a variety of host plants to ensure continuous blooms all season long. Participants are asked to submit before and after photos of their gardens.

Those who participate will receive a certificate of recognition from the City of Kawartha Lakes, and their gardens will be featured in a special presentation to city council. Winners will each receive a gift certificate from a local native garden nursery.

“We have truly been amazed by the diversity of creative garden styles and the natural beauty of each of our past participants’ pollinator paradises,” Szabados said. “We are very excited to see this year’s garden entries.”

Kawartha Lakes is the seventh municipality in Canada to be officially recognized as a Bee City by Bee City Canada. A “bee city” supports healthy pollinator populations and ongoing efforts to preserve and create pollinator habitat.

Bee City Canada’s mission is to recognize and support municipalities, Indigenous communities, campuses, schools, and other organizations that are taking action to protect and promote pollinators.

To learn more about the Bee City program, visit the Bee City Canada website at beecitycanada.org.

Pollinator Week is an annual event celebrated internationally in support of pollinator health. It was established in 2007 by the Pollinator Partnership, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of pollinators, the year after the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution designating the first official Pollinator Week as the last week in June. Find out more at pollinatorpartnership.ca.

A number of residents of East City in Peterborough and members of Mark Street United Church gathered Thursday night (June 20) at the church for a preview of a planned 10-storey residential-commercial development.

Proposed by TVM Group for church-owned property west of the church proper at 90 Hunter Street East, the building will feature commercial space on the ground floor and 156 apartment units above, with parking for 121 vehicles underground as well as at the rear of the ground floor and on the second floor. While additions to the church will be demolished for the new development, the original church building will remain.

At the heart of the proposed development is a unique agreement between TVM Group and the church’s board of trustees; a trade-off of sorts that will see TVM Group acquire church-owned property adjacent to the church in exchange for four units valued at $2 million at TVM-owned East City Condos nearby at Hunter Street East and Armour Road.

In addition, TVM Group will construct, at no cost to the church, a new church hall on the north side of the church, albeit smaller than the hall now on the property it’s acquiring.

“We were looking at what we could do for the broader community as well as the church,” explained former Peterborough mayor Daryl Bennett, the chair of the church’s board of trustees and its property development team.

“We elected to rather than just take the money and stick it in the bank and use it to offset costs, we’d pick up four condos at the new East City Condos building. We looked at this (the proposed development) at one time as condos and/or apartments and they (TVM Group) landed on the apartments side, which we’re thrilled by. That’s 156 new units for the City of Peterborough. It’s going to build an extension to what’s going on in East City. The church benefits from that, indirectly and directly.”

During what was billed as an open house, where development plans were displayed on placards, Bennett met and chatted with a number of area residents.

“A couple of them were very positive about the overall design, but a couple were worried that the sunlight they’re expecting in their backyard might not be as good as it should be (due to shade created),” said Bennett.

“Yes, it’s a big development. Yes, it’s a lot of new people coming into East City. Is that a good thing or is that a bad thing? From my standpoint, the city is deficient in buildings of this nature. It’s going to be a spectacular addition.”

But Sheila Wood, a longtime Rogers Street resident, has concerns, mostly around increased traffic and what she says is a lack of parking provided for the number of units planned.

“Most municipalities — ours too because of changes in policy — leave it up to developers to figure out how many parking spots are needed,” she said, adding, “There are 121 (parking spaces). That doesn’t take in 156 units plus visitor parking.”

Wood added traffic on Rogers Street has increased dramatically in recent years.

“Sometimes it takes us 10 minutes to back out of our driveway,” she pointed out.

Listening to those concerns and others was TVM Group president and CEO Amit Sofer. That, he said, was exactly what he was there to do — listen.

“This is step one, where we are displaying to the community what we propose to bring to the city,” he said. “We are seeking comment from community members — maybe some suggestions of things that we have overlooked. We will go back, absorb some of those comments, make some adjustments and then, next month, we’re hoping to submit for a rezoning application from the city.”

Sofer also addressed the agreement with Mark Street United Church that has brought things to this point.

“The genesis of the transaction was discussions between myself and the church,” he said. “This building (the current church hall) is not being used. It’s costing them a lot of maintenance. The church is also concerned about the longevity of the church.”

“Our arrangement calls for the removal of this building and in place of it the new project that we’re proposing here,” Sofer said. “As part of it, we’re building a new 1,800-square-foot addition to the back of the church.”

“The church, rather than getting paid in cash, is getting units that they will then rent out and generate an indefinite stream of income that will support the church for another 100 years. One of the things that is often of concern is when churches get a whole lot of money, sometimes it doesn’t get managed well. Ten years down the road, they don’t have the land and sometimes they don’t have the money.”

“In this instance, they (Mark Street United Church) are very well invested in these (condo) units, which are likely to increase in value,” Sofer noted. “The rental income will support them indefinitely and, if they’re ever in a position that they need to, they could sell one, two, or more of the units. So it really gives the church a new lease on life, and financial stability and flexibility for the long run.”

Along with East City Condos, TVM Group’s East City footprint also includes the redevelopment of the former St. Joseph’s Hospital Building to accommodate residential units. East City, says Sofer, is where TVM Group wants to be.

“It’s quaint. It’s safe. It has a different complexion than downtown (Peterborough). Downtown is downtown but East City is East City.”

Sofer added that if all proceeds smoothly with the rezoning application, and pending city council approval, “In a perfect world, we would be constructing one year from now. We certainly hope it’s not much longer than that.”

Ashburnham Ward councillor Gary Baldwin, who along with ward colleague councillor Keith Riel attended the open house, said there will be future opportunities for residents to provide feedback on the proposed development, including at city council.

“People will have an opportunity to comment … to make a presentation or delegation to council,” Baldwin said.

“I like to think we’re dealing with a reputable developer. They’re going to listen to the people. The project may change a little bit (or) it may not, but the fact they’re having this (open house), meeting with and hearing directly from people and answer their questions, is a good process.”

Architect Roland Colthoff of Toronto-based Raw Design was also on hand chatting with attendees.

As for the next steps in the proposed development, TVM Group will be required to submit an application for a zoning bylaw amendment to the City of Peterborough and, if that application is approved, an application for site plan approval. Both applications would be discussed at city council, and an official public meeting would be held under Ontario’s Planning Act.

In the meantime, studies — required as part of development application — are already underway, examining matters such as traffic impact, servicing, and stormwater management.

A classic car is a write-off but there were no serious injuries after a collision on Highway 28 south of Young’s Point on Friday morning (June 21).

At around 10 a.m., a group of classic cars was travelling northbound on Highway 28 when a vehicle exited a private driveway onto the highway and collided with one of the cars.

Both occupants of the classic car, as well as the driver of the second vehicle, were transported to Peterborough Regional Health Centre with minor injuries.

Highway 28 was closed for around a hour between County Road 6 and Douro 4th Line and traffic was diverted while Peterborough County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and emergency crews dealt with the collision scene.