The Lamothe family of Woodleigh Farms in Cavan, one of the participants in Green Economy Peterborough's Net Zero Farms pilot project that assists farmers in incorporating environmentally sustainable practices into their operations. (Photo courtesy of Woodleigh Farms)
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Natasha Sheward, Program Coordinator, Net Zero Farms.
Environmental stewardship and financial sustainability are often framed as opposing goals. However, amidst the challenges of climate change and the need to feed a growing global population, creating a positive relationship between environmental and financial sustainability has never been more critical.
Farmers feel the push and pull of this delicate balance first hand as they strive to nurture their crops, care for livestock, and sustain their livelihood.
For Carrot Top Organics and Woodleigh Farms, both participants in Green Economy Peterborough’s Net Zero Farms pilot program, finding the links between financial and environmental sustainability have been instrumental to their success.
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Joshua Blank, owner of Carrot Top Organics in Asphodel-Norwood Township, says a major win for him was finding the link between safeguarding soil health and reducing labour hours on weeding.
Carrot Top Organics is a small-scale organic vegetable farm that offers a four-season community supported agriculture (CSA) program. The farm has a booth at the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market.
Long before Carrot Top Organics was launched, Blank knew efficient weeding was going to be a major factor in profitability since labour hours add up quickly. This is a common struggle of market gardeners. Thus, with good planning and preparation including a rigorous weeding schedule, Carrot Top Organics came to life in 2020 and has been operating successfully since.
Rows of broccoli and kale are seen within a permanent bed structure at Carrot Top Organics in Asphodel-Norwood Township, one of the participants in Green Economy Peterborough’s Net Zero Farms pilot project. Permanent beds are used as a low-till alternative to a plough and harrow process, to reduce annual soil disturbance. (Photo courtesy of Carrot Top Organics)
With nearly 20 years of organic farming experience, Blank understands the impacts of climate change and takes environmental stewardship seriously. At the start of his second season, he integrated a low-till approach to prioritize soil health.
“I used tarps, a broadfork, permanent beds, and a tilther,” Blank says.
Within weeks, he saw a reduction in labour hours.
“By disturbing less soil, I was inadvertently leaving long-forgotten weed seeds buried deep within the soil, and the tarps were forcing weed seeds (at the surface) to germinate and die since they couldn’t photosynthesize.”
With more time available and a lower weed density, his vegetable beds could be flipped into cover crops at the end of the season without tilling, reducing soil disturbance and the need for future weeding even further.
“I began to realize how connected my weeding and bed preparation strategies are, and more so how both are linked to plant and soil health,” Blank says.
By taking a sustainable approach, Blank has created a beneficial cycle that builds soil health and reduces labour in tandem, ultimately increasing the profitability and longevity of his farm business while protecting the soil for future generations.
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Similar to Carrot Top Organics, Norm Lamothe of Woodleigh Farms in Cavan is all about improving and safeguarding the soil. After six generations of Woodleigh Farms working the land, Lamothe states he has a “lifelong interest in supporting soil health and biodiversity.”
Woodleigh Farms is home to a diverse 500-acre cash crop farm, alongside a 1,500-tap maple syrup operation, livestock for rotational grazing, and a year-round passive-solar greenhouse that supports a three-acre market garden.
Cash croppers can be criticized for using high levels of fertilizer or using practices that contribute to climate change like releasing methane gasses through animal farming. In light of this, Lamothe has made it his mission to demonstrate the economic benefits of taking an environmentally friendly approach to the modern cropping system.
Leaf waste is added to compost piles at Woodleigh Farms in Cavan, one of the participants in Green Economy Peterborough’s Net Zero Farms pilot project. The farm collects municipally sourced leaf and yard waste and follows a forced aeration process to produce compost for on-farm use. (Photo courtesy of Woodleigh Farms)
Lamothe has already seen a measurable increase in soil organic matter. Lamothe uses soil amendments such as biosolids, green manures, and compost processed on-farm from municipal leaf and yard waste. Other practices include the introduction of livestock, cover crops, and low-till approaches. Higher soil organic matter leads to thriving crops and a happier, healthier, and more profitable farm.
Advanced technology also plays an important role at Woodleigh Farms. Soil sample data and drone imagery are used to inform decisions. Simultaneously, GPS guidance, variable rate applications of fertilizer, and solar harnessing approaches are reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Just like Carrot Top Organics, Woodleigh Farms is working to unlock integrated strategies that provide both the environmental stewardship and financial sustainability that are necessary for their future success.
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In celebrating these triumphs, Green Economy Peterborough and Net Zero Farms recognize the journey towards sustainability is ongoing. The challenges posed by a changing climate and evolving markets demand continued innovation, resilience, and a commitment to practices that nurture both the land and financial stability.
On Thursday (February 8) from 12 to 1 p.m., Woodleigh Farms be providing input at “Solar for Small Business: Installation Options and Funding for SMEs & Farms,” a webinar in partnership between Green Economy Peterborough and Farms at Work. Interested individuals can register for this free event at eventbrite.ca/e/810756864607.
For more information about Green Economy Peterborough and the Net Zero Farms pilot program, visit greeneconomypeterborough.ca
The Rotary Club of Peterborough's curling team (front row, left to right: Ken Seim, Nick Avlonitis, Joe Kapron, and Bill Crins) with their trophy from the Rotary Can-Am Curling Championships held in Rice Lake, Wisconsin from February 1 to 3, 2023. Also pictured in the back row is the runner-up team representing Madison, Wisconsin (Paul Matzke, Rich Lepping, Jim Sirianni, Mike Pfiffner). The Peterborough team has secured a berth in the 28th Rotary World Curling Championships taking place in Scotland in 2026. (Photo: International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians)
The Rotary Club of Peterborough is celebrating as its curling team comes home from the U.S. with a gold medal.
The team — skip Ken Seim, vice Nick Avlonitis, second Joe Kapron, and lead Bill Crins — participated in the 68th Rotary Can-Am Curling Championships at the Rice Lake Curling Club in Rice Lake, Wisconsin from February 1 to 3.
The bonspeil, hosted by the Rotary Club of Rice Lake and the Barron County Sunrise Rotary Club, featured four teams from Canada and four teams from the U.S.
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The Peterborough Rotary team defeated the team from Madison, Wisconsin to win the championship trophy and secure a berth in the 28th Rotary World Curling Championships taking place in Scotland in 2026.
The win comes two months before the Rotary clubs of Peterborough host the 27th Rotary World Curling Championships from April 6 to 12.
The international curling event will see more than 180 curlers and their partners arrive in Peterborough from across Canada, the U.S., Scotland, and England for both a friendship and championship competition.
Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal, Kawartha Food Share general manager Ashlee Aitken, city councillor Alex Bierk, and Bill Wolfe of sponsor Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers on February 7, 2024 Kawartha Food Share's warehouse at 665 Neal Drive with a cheque for $12,625.88 for Kawartha Food Share, representing proceeds donated during the city's two-hour free holiday parking promotion. Not pictured: city councillor Joy Lachica. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
The City of Peterborough and Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers presented Kawartha Food Share with a cheque for $12,625.88 on Wednesday (February 7) at Kawartha Food Share’s warehouse at 665 Neal Drive.
The funds came from the city’s two-hour free holiday parking promotion that ran from November 25 to December 31 at all downtown municipal parking spaces, including on-street parking, municipal parking lots, the King Street Parking Garage, and the Simcoe Street Parking Garage.
Parking fees that were voluntarily paid at pay-and-display machines, parking meters, or via the HotSpot App during the free two-hour period were donated to Kawartha Food Share. The promotion was sponsored by Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers.
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Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal and Town Ward councillors Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica, along with Bill Wolfe of Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers, presented the cheque to Kawartha Food Share general manager Ashlee Aitken.
“The two-hour free holiday parking promotion is a true win-win scenario that collects much-needed donations for the Kawartha Food Share, while encouraging people to enjoy the shopping, dining and entertainment of downtown businesses,” Mayor Leal said in a media release. “Thanks to everyone who participated, and special thanks to Bill Wolfe for his ongoing sponsorship.”
For his part, Wolfe thanked shoppers and residents for making voluntary donations during the holiday season.
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“These funds, through the support of Kawartha Food Share, will help to put food on the tables for people,” he said.
Kawartha Food Share currently helps more than 9,000 people every month through its 36 member agencies. It supports four meal programs, seven city food banks, six housing projects, seven county food banks, and over 20 food cupboards across the city and county of Peterborough.
“We are so thankful for the continued support of the City of Peterborough and the local shoppers for donating to Kawartha Food Share each and every December,” Aitken said. “This year, more than ever before, we needed this donation to help us restock our shelves.”
Some of the cast during a rehearsal of the wedding scene for the Peterborough Theatre Guild's production of the beloved musical "Fiddler on the Roof," which runs for eight performances from February 16 to 25, 2024 at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Pat Hooper)
If you’re on the fence as to whether the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s staging of Fiddler on the Roof is worth parting with a few of your hard-earned dollars, consider this — as far as musicals go, it’s director Jerry Allen’s favourite.
Coming from someone who has both directed and acted in “most of the classics” during a decades-long local community theatre career, that’s quite an endorsement. In short, Allen knows of what he speaks, his excitement over directing this musical as palpable as it is infectious.
“I won’t sleep the night before — I won’t sleep two nights before,” says Allen, adding “I’m anxious. I want everybody to do well and be happy doing it.”
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“It (theatre) is the most exciting art form. You’re putting it right out there and you have no safety net. But it’s a joy to see people on stage having a good time and getting that applause.”
Being staged at the Showplace Performance Centre as the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s annual musical, Fiddler on the Roof is set for eight performances from Friday, February 16th to Sunday, February 25th. The show is already 70 per cent sold out.
Featuring music by Jerry Bock set to lyrics by Sheldon Harnick with book by Joseph Stein, the iconic musical debuted on September 22, 1964 at New York City’s Imperial Theatre, featuring Zero Mostel in the lead role. A commercial and critical success, it garnered nine Tony Awards on its way to becoming the first musical to surpass 3,000 performances — a Broadway run record it held for 10 years before Grease eclipsed that mark.
Director of the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” Jerry Allen has been involved with the Guild for over 50 years and has both acted and directed numerous times. The musical runs for eight performances from February 16 to 25, 2024 at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Theatre Guild)
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In 1971, millions more worldwide fell in love with the story, the characters, and the music when a film adaptation of the musical premiered. Directed by Canadian Norman Jewison, who died just last month, the screen version was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning a trio of the coveted statues, including Best Score Adaptation on the strength of songs such as “Tradition,” “Matchmaker Matchmaker,” “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Do You Love Me,” and “Sunrise, Sunset.”
Allen, who’s directing Fiddler on the Roof for a second time — he directed a St. Peter’s staging some 30 years ago — says if the term “timeless” can ever be applied to a production, this is that time.
“It’s just such a compelling story and it’s so topical now,” assesses Allen. “Antisemitism, the persecution of the Jews, seems to be rebounding. When the hell is this stuff ever going to away? So that’s a concern — that’s a kind of underlying theme.”
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Fiddler on the Roof relates the story of a Jewish family living in the small village of Anatevka in pre-revolutionary Russia whose patriarch Tevye, a poor milkman, struggles mightily to maintaining cultural traditions in the face of modern values amidst a backdrop of antisemitism.
Tevye and his wife Golde have five daughters, the eldest three — Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava — of marrying age.
After Tevye agrees to an arranged marriage between Tzeitel and Lazar Wolf, a widowed but rich butcher, she falls in love with Motel Kamzoil, a poor tailor, and convinces her father to allow her to marry Motel instead.
After Hodel decides to marry a revolutionary student named Perchik, Tevye again reluctantly gives his blessing. However, when Chava chooses Fyedka, a Russian Christian, to be her husband, he disowns her.
The story concludes with the Jewish families in the village, including Tevye’s, forced to leave by Russian soldiers.
The musical’s name comes from the fiddler who intermittently appears, perched on a rooftop while playing the fiddle, symbolizing the precarious balance on maintain tradition in the face of change. Zero Mostel (middle) performs as Tevye in the original production of “Fiddler on the Roof” which opened on Broadway in September 1964. Almost 60 years later, the Peterborough Theatre Guild will stage a production of the beloved musical at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough from February 16 to 25, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Photofest, Inc.)
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“Everything about it is appealing,” says Allen. “There are times when I’m watching it and nearly weeping. It’s so powerful, and the cast is so good, bringing their own emotions to it.”
Besides the directorial challenge of working with a large cast (“It’s moving bodies around for two hours and making it look like it’s not staged”), Allen says the choreography “is so demanding.”
“When Laura (Lawson) came on the scene, I was thrilled,” he says.
Lawson is pulling double duty for this production, not only serving as choreographer but also appearing onstage as Chava, Tevye’s third-oldest daughter.
Laura Lawson studied ballet and theatre before becoming a family physician. She is choreographer for the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” and also performs in the role of Chava. The musical runs for eight performances from February 16 to 25, 2024 at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Theatre Guild)
“I started mostly in the ballet world,” relates Lawson, who attended the National Ballet School “as a little girl.”
“I came back home for a couple of years of high school at Lakefield College. I was torn as to what to do for university. I decided to study theatre, which I loved. It was a wonderful time. I spent five or six years working in theatre, mostly in Toronto. Then I had a fortunate turn of events that put medical school as an option in front of me and I went for it.”
Now a family doctor with a practice on Stewart Street, Lawson is thankful “to have the time and space” to pursue her passions of medicine and theatre.
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“Chava is a great role,” she says. “In the whole play, there’s this dynamic of the Jewish townspeople and the Russian forces and the clash between them. Chava falls in love with a Russian. She takes it one step further and that’s the breaking point for Tevye.”
“She’s a fascinating character. Chava always has a book in her hand — she’s always reading. For me, that symbolizes a constant pursuit of knowledge and evolution of thinking and paradigms. She really puts that into play when she falls in love with a Russian. So there’s a really interesting dynamic of that push and pull between evolution and holding onto the glue, the traditions, that also hold value for her identity, her family, and her community.”
Wearing her choreographer hat, Lawson points out “a lot of the big musical numbers happen in the first act.”
“It opens with (the song) Tradition, which is where we meet the community. Then it moves into a pub scene which is a hoot — it’s a riot. Choreographically, that’s a real highlight. Then it moves into a dream sequence, which is always interesting because you get a lot of freedom there. Then there’s the wedding scene. Those are sort of the big dance numbers. In the second act, Chava has a lovely little piece as well — a memory of Tevye.”
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Working “with a big cast with a wide variety of experience,” says Lawson, is “an interesting project, for sure.”
“All in all, this cast has done amazing. They’ve put up with me pushing them. Everyone has been challenged and really risen to the occasion. One of the neat pieces is that, when they did the original auditions, they were looking specifically for actors who could move but didn’t look like dancers. They want them to look like townspeople — people who happen to be so filled with music that it erupts in the movement.”
As for what she’s taking away from the experience, Lawson says this is her “heart song.”
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“I love the theatre, I love music, I love dance, I love the community that it builds. It’s really about exploring the experience of being alive and connecting with other people.”
On top of that, Lawson says theatre has made her a better doctor.
“It allows me to fertilize that creative side, which invigorates me to go back and work with my patients as the best person I can be.”
“And there’s interesting overlap. I feel like every time I see a new patient, it’s a new scene. To be a good doctor, you really have to be present with that person. You have to be able to adapt from this scene to that scene. The other thing theatre teaches is to really listen. In order to help someone (as a doctor), you have to truly listen.”
Some of the cast during a rehearsal of the wedding scene for the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of the beloved musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” which runs for eight performances from February 16 to 25, 2024 at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Pat Hooper)
As for working with Allen, well, that’s simply a huge bonus, says Lawson.
“Jerry is an exceptional director and an exceptional human being. He has such a great way of encouraging people to bring their best to the table. Nurturing their confidence, fine tuning things … he’ll push us to get us to where we need to be. He’s a sculptor in the way that he does that.”
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Produced by Pat Hooper with musical direction by Janina Krauss, Fiddler on the Roof also stars, besides Lawson, Donnell MacKenzie as Tevye, Lyndele Gauci as Golde, Hilary Evans as Tzeitel, Christine Helferty as Hodel, Bruno Merz as Motel, Eddy Sweeney as Perchik, Simon Banderob as Feydka, Alex Hodson as Sprintze, Poppy Alderson as Bielke, Nicole Grady as Yente, and Matt Kraft as Lazar Wolf.
Other members of the cast include Karl Lawson as Yussel, Alex Hodson as Shprintze, Mike Edwards as Avram, Doug Hooper as The Rabbi, Ty Frajkor as Mendel the Rabbi’s son, Travis Edge as Villager/Bottle Dancer/Russian, Matt Kraft as Lazar Wolf, Cathy Brand as Villager, Chloe Brock as Villager, Jason Brock as Nahum The Beggar, Tilda Armstrong as Grandma Tzeitel, Andrianna Malloy as Villager/Russian, and Juliet Martin as Villager.
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Fiddler on the Roof opens on Friday, February 16th at 7:30 p.m., with other evening performances on Saturday, February 17th and from Wednesday, February 21st through Saturday, February 24th. There will also be 2 p.m. matinee performances on Sunday, February 18th and Sunday, February 25th.
Tickets cost $37 for adults, $33 for seniors, and $25 for students. Although the show is being staged at Showplace Performance Centre, tickets are only available from the Peterborough Theatre Guild.
You can get them online at peterboroughtheatreguild.com or by calling the box office at any time at 705-745-4211 (if the box office is not open when you call, leave a message and they will call you back).
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s 2023-24 season.
Beyond the Blue Box, a community-based waste reduction and reuse organization, has been busy behind the scenes since a "devastating" fire in September 2023 wreaked havoc on its main building at 14 Covert Street in Cobourg. The organization is still able to accept donations at its adjacent building at 12 Covert Street, which was undamaged by the fire. (Photo: Beyond the Blue Box / Facebook)
Following a “devastating” fire in the fall of 2023, Northumberland County’s Beyond the Blue Box operation is looking to raise $3 million to rebuild or construct a new facility.
The September 2023 fire at 14 Covert Street in Cobourg was obviously a blow to the not-for-profit community-based waste reduction and reuse centre.
However, community support and new partnerships have arisen from the aftermath for Beyond the Blue Box, as it moves along its new path forward, according to board chair Robb Howells.
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“Our intention is to replace/rebuild our old store, and we’re currently waiting on engineering reports before we can proceed,” Howells told kawarthaNOW.
“Since our devastating fire overnight September 19/20, 2023, we’ve had many challenges. We initially had to close our doors and not accept donations for over a month while we figured ourselves out, but things were certainly busy in the background,” he said.
“We were very fortunate that no one was hurt in the fire, and that while our main store burned, our two other buildings, which are our warehousing spaces, were undamaged.”
Because those buildings were spared, Beyond the Blue Box is still able to accept donations at 12 Covert St. in Cobourg.
“This is the only place to physically donate items to us,” Howells noted.
Beyond the Blue Box’s main location at 14 Covert Street in Cobourg was destroyed by fire on September 20, 2024. The organization also has a location at 12 Covert Street where it accepts donations as well as a thrift boutique store at 41 King Street East and a store across the street at 66 King Street East that sells books, media, toys, housewares, and some clothes. (Photo courtesy of John Stevenson)
The centre has been active behind the scenes since the fire.
On October 15 last year, Beyond the Blue Box participated in an antique/vintage sale at the Cobourg memorial arena, which was hosted as a fundraiser for the Canadian Fire Fighters Museum.
On November 12, the centre opened its first temporary store at 66 King St. E. in Cobourg, which served as the Christmas store.
On November 18, Beyond the Blue Box participated in, and was the beneficiary of, a fundraising concert called Beyond the Blues, which featured many local Northumberland County bands and musical talent.
On December 2, the centre opened its second temporary store at 41 King St. E. in Cobourg, a thrift boutique that sells clothing, footwear, jewellery, and some housewares. The store at 66 King St. E. sells books, media, toys, housewares, and some clothes.
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Those who wish to contribute financially can either make a donation via the Beyond The Blue Box website at beyondthebluebox.com, or by dropping money in the collection boxes located in the Beyond the Blue Box stores.
“The community response and outpouring of support has been tremendous,” Howells said. “We are lucky indeed.”
“That being said, we have heard from other organizations and other communities offering support too. Some of these new connections might not have been made without the fire, and it’s always good to make new friends. We look forward to having a more efficient building, and continued operation providing a safe space for all community members.”
Beyond the Blue Box is one of Canada’s longest standing and most successful community-based waste reduction and reuse centres, its website states. For 30 years, it has been accepting donations of reusable items from the community and diverting them from Northumberland County landfill sites.
Beyond the Blue Box relies on a community of supporters including volunteer Paul, who brings his knowledge of art and antiques to sorting to the organization, including this 1930 print that is available at Beyond the Blue Box’s thrift boutique at 41 King St East. The organization will be holding an art and antiques fundraiser sale in spring 2024 as it continues to recover from a fire that destroyed its main building in fall 2003. (Photo: Beyond the Blue Box / Facebook)
With the help of community volunteers, Beyond the Blue Box collects, sorts, and resells donated items for prices “that are just enough” to cover operating costs.
The organization also prides itself on providing employee opportunities for people who have developmental needs.
Beyond the Blue Box said its team is ready to receive donations seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 12 Covert St. The centre suggests the following reasons for community members to consider donating:
Winter is a great time to purge unused items
Donating diverts items from the landfill and gives them new life
Donating to Beyond the Blue Box supports its work with community organizations, including, and not limited to, women’s shelters, the homeless, victims of fire, as well as people with developmental disabilities
Donations are more important than ever while Beyond the Blue Box rebuilds for its future after the fire.
Patricia Bromfield (right) is the new chief of Peterborough County-City Paramedics, taking over from Randy Mellow (left) who will be retiring at the end of 2024. Mellow will provide mentorship and guidance to Bromfield throughout the year as she takes on her new role and responsibilities. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough County)
Patricia Bromfield is the new chief of Peterborough County-City Paramedics, Peterborough County announced on Wednesday (February 7).
Bromfield will be taking over from Randy Mellow, the county’s senior director of emergency and shared services and deputy CAO, who announced in December he would be retiring as chief at the end of 2024 after almost four decades in emergency medical services.
Bromfield joined Peterborough County in the fall of 2022 as deputy chief of operations, having previously served as deputy chief of operations in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Prior to those roles, she served with Toronto Paramedic Services for almost 15 years, beginning as a paramedic and rising to acting deputy commander.
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“I would like to congratulate Patricia Bromfield and welcome her to the role of paramedic chief,” Mellow says in a media release. “Patricia possesses a wealth of experience and knowledge having progressed through various frontline and leadership roles throughout her career. Her experience and passion for supportive leadership and innovation will be an asset to our team and community.”
According to the release, Mellow will provide mentorship and guidance to Bromfield throughout 2024 as she takes on her new role and responsibilities.
“I am honoured to be following in the footsteps of our decorated chief of paramedics Randy Mellow as he embarks on his retirement at the close of 2024,” Bromfield says. “I am forever grateful to have the opportunity to learn from an industry leader who has played a key role in advancing the paramedic profession.”
“I look forward to collaborating with Peterborough County’s robust leadership team and our partners in the coming years. It is a privilege for me to have the opportunity to work alongside some of Canada’s finest paramedics, leaders, and support staff.”
On February 6, 2023, the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas announced the 13 companies making up the inaugural cohort of LevelUP, a new startup accelerator program tailored for mature entrepreneurs and regional innovators. Running three times a year, the fully funded 12-week program will provide startup companies with mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, and access to funding, and culminates in a competition where the participants of each cohort will pitch for investment and vie for prizes up to $10,000. (Photo courtesy of Innovation Cluster)
On Tuesday (February 6), the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas revealed the 13 local companies making up the inaugural cohort of LevelUP, a new startup accelerator program tailored for mature entrepreneurs and regional innovators.
Announced in January, LevelUP focuses on the Innovation Cluster’s core sectors of agricultural technology (“agtech”), health care, clean technology (“cleantech”), social innovation, and digital technology.
“This program is not just about nurturing startups — it’s about creating a sustainable regional ecosystem where innovation, collaboration, and economic growth flourish together,” said Innovation Cluster executive director Camila Duarte when announcing the program.
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“We’re committed to transforming Peterborough and the Kawarthas into a vibrant hub where entrepreneurs can thrive and make a lasting impact,” Duarte said. “This program has been missing in the organization for the last three years, and now we are finally ready to streamline many of the services that support startups.”
Running three times a year, the fully funded 12-week program will provide startup companies with mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, and access to funding, and culminates in a competition where the participants of each cohort will pitch for investment and vie for prizes up to $10,000.
Participants will also have access to PitchBob, an AI-based idea management platform that helps entrepreneurs formulate their business ideas and create compelling startup pitch decks for funding.
VIDEO: “LevelUP – Take your startup to the next level”
The 13 companies (including their entrepreneurs and sectors) selected for LevelUP’s inaugural cohort are:
Metaboly – Daniel Palberg, William Kim, and Emma Kaszecki (agtech)
Community Pin – Ashley Bonner (social innovation, digital technology)
Maman Biomedical – Latchmi Raghunanan (health care, digital technology)
NX-Cast Innovations – Joe Nicholson and team (cleantech)
FarmersCart – John Samuel and Joseph Premana (agtech)
Derimed – Eduardo Serna Barragan (health care, cleantech)
EasyFit Technology Inc. – Safiya Khaki (digital technology)
Netmechanics Inc. – Graeme Barrie (digital technology)
SmarTeeth – Zahra Sadreddini and team (health care, digital technology)
AppSport Inc. – Hanieh Ebrahimi (digital technology)
Turtle Riot Studios – Maria Coates (cleantech, digital technlogy)
Course Sync – Nick Landon (digital technlogy)
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According to Duarte, LevelUP is expected to drive substantial economic development in the region, including contributing to job creation, and will position the region as a “beacon” of entrepreneurial growth and innovation.
“The selection of these 13 companies for LevelUP is a milestone for our region,” Duarte says. “We are fostering a sustainable ecosystem where innovation and economic growth thrive together. This program symbolizes our commitment to transforming our region into a vibrant hub for entrepreneurs.”
The Innovation Cluster is a non-profit organization that supports entrepreneurs to launch, grow, and scale their businesses. Along with LevelUP, it offers a full-service startup incubator program, the STARTup Visa Program Canada for immigrant entrepreneurs, a student entrepreneurship program, and Launch Kawartha, a dedicated space in Lindsay for incubation programming.
On February 5, 2024, Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) unveiled the Anne Keenleyside & Family Atrium, in honour of the late Trent University bioarcheology professor of bioarcheology who passed away in October 2022 and left a $2 million legacy gift to the hospital foundation. Pictured (left to right) are Keenleyside's close friend Lynda Wood, PRHC president and CEO Dr. Lynn Mikula, Keenleyside's stepdaughter Cassandra Butler, PRHC Radiologist Dr. Peter Gianakopoulos (in the back), PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway, Keenleyside's partner Pat Butler, and Keenleyside's stepdaughter Melissa Butler. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
Ensuring the best possible care for future cancer patients, Anne Keenleyside’s legacy gift of $2 million to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is helping the hospital achieve her vision.
PRHC was able to purchase a second Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine and equip an operating room with the latest technology to allow for less-invasive procedures for patients.
Both of these investments funded by the late Keenleyside will assist in the hospital’s capacity to accommodate tremendous growth in cancer volumes, Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation president and CEO, told kawarthaNOW.
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“She was a cancer patient herself and this special gift was made through her estate plans to ensure those who came after her had access to the best possible care,” Heighway said.
Keenleyside was a highly respected Trent University professor of bioarcheology who passed away in October 2022.
Heighway said the money is being invested in equipment and technology that support cancer care innovation, in accordance with her request.
Dr. Margaret (Anne) Keenleyside, a highly respected Trent University professor of bioarcheology, passed away on October 27, 2022 at the age of 60 after a 10-year struggle with breast cancer. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
“Anne was clear she wanted her gift to connect her passion for scientific innovation with her desire to help the patients who would come after her,” said Heighway in a media release.
“Her generosity has allowed the PRHC Foundation to fund a second MRI for PRHC’s diagnostic imaging department, as well as fully upgrading a general operating suite with state-of-the-art minimally invasive surgical tools — one of four undertaken by the foundation.”
“By directing her bequest to the MRI and our minimally invasive surgical suites, her gift is already helping our hospital increase capacity and image quality for diagnostic scans and giving our general surgeons access to brand new, leading-edge tools to perform cancer surgeries,” Heighway added.
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On Monday (February 5), PRHC unveiled its atrium as the Anne Keenleyside & Family Atrium in honour of her “transformational” gift to the foundation.
Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC president and CEO, said the impact of Keenleyside’s legacy gift is already being felt.
“Thanks to Anne’s investment we’ve been able to increase our capacity, performing an additional 6,000 scans since the new unit became operational,” Mikula said in a media release.
“Not only is this helping us address diagnostic wait times, we’re also able to produce much higher quality images in less time, while providing a significantly improved patient experience.”
Mikula added that the investment in PRHC’s general operating suites is empowering the introduction of fluorescence-guided imaging, a process that involves the injection of contrast dyes or agents into a patient’s bloodstream prior to surgery, making their blood vessels, bile ducts and lymph nodes light up when combined with fluoroscopy.
“The impact of this new technology is significant,” said Mikula. “It’s already allowing our surgeons to operate with increased precision — an advancement that has tremendous implications for the treatment of bowel and other cancers.”
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Heighway said the decision to name the atrium in recognition of Keenleyside’s generosity was made in consultation with the hospital and her family. It’s a decision that her partner, Pat Butler, said has pleased Keenleyside’s family and friends.
“Anne’s gift to the hospital reflects her generous and thoughtful nature,” Butler said.
“She was incredibly grateful for the expert and compassionate care she received at (PRHC) and wanted to do something after she was gone to help make things better for others like her. This bequest is a gift to both her community and the health care professionals who cared for her after her diagnosis over 10 years ago.”
PRHC is a regional hospital and serves patients from Peterborough, Northumberland, and Haliburton counties, along with those in the Kawartha Lakes in need of specialized care beyond what’s available at their community hospitals.
Nancy Wiskel (left), owner of Dan Joyce Clothing in downtown Peterborough, is partnering with other local businesses to host drop-in educational events at her store every month. Wild Rock Outfitters co-owner and general manager Tori Silvera (right) will discuss the benefits of sunshine and the great outdoors on mental well-being at the first drop-in event on February 22, 2024 called "Beat the Blues," which will also feature nutritionist Jodi-Lee Forestell and Flow Spa Float Centre and Sports Recovery founder RJ Kayser. (Photo courtesy of Dan Joyce Clothing)
At a time when online shopping has become the new norm, Peterborough’s Dan Joyce Clothing is giving customers a reason to return to the store.
Each month, the women’s clothing retailer will be partnering with other local businesses to host drop-in educational events at their 87 Hunter Street West location where customers can learn about various topics.
“I noticed a lot of customers saying they don’t have anywhere to go or anything to do, and it felt like the hangover from the pandemic where we lost a lot of social connection,” says Dan Joyce Clothing owner Nancy Wiskel. “I know that many women are like me, trying to educate themselves, so this is a way to combine bringing tidbits of information to people while also creating a social gathering space.”
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Note: The “Beat the Blues” event originally scheduled for February 15 has been rescheduled to February 22 due to expected inclement weather.
The first drop-in event, titled “Beat the Blues,” will be held from 2 and 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 22nd, when local experts will be available to answer questions and give advice to visitors on how they can support their own mental health.
“February is a month where traditionally people feel the blues, so this month’s event is very much about how we can tie things like nutrition, stress management, and sunshine into improving our mental health,” says Wiskel.
Although the store caters to women, the event will offer information and tips that are beneficial to all genders and age groups.
Nutritionist Jodi-Lee Forestell will talk about how blood sugar levels and gut health can have an effect on mental health at Dan Joyce Clothing’s first drop-in educational event on February 22, 2024 called “Beat the Blues,” which will also feature Flow Spa Float Centre and Sports Recovery founder RJ Kayser and Wild Rock Outfitters co-owner and general manager Tori Silvera. (Photo courtesy of Jodi-Lee Forestell)
Nutritionist Jodi-Lee Forestell will be there to talk about how blood sugar levels and gut health can have an effect on mental health. RJ Kayser, founder of Flow Spa Float Centre and Sports Recovery, will be available to talk about stress management and relaxation techniques. Tori Silvera, co-owner and general manager of Wild Rock Outfitters, will discuss the benefits of sunshine and the great outdoors on mental well-being.
“In the winter, particularly if you’re not somebody that enjoys being outdoors, you’re looking at other things that you can do just to get outside for a little bit,” says Wiskel, noting that each expert even surprised her with the information they have. “I’m just as excited as everybody else is to talk to them.”
Connecting with other local businesses is one of the key reasons Wiskel wanted to offer the event as a collaborative experience.
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“My clients have lived in Peterborough a really long time and aren’t necessarily aware of the newer businesses and what’s emerging,” says Wiskel. “We have a lot of knowledge because everybody that owns a business is an expert in that business and that topic. This is a way to get people exposed to all the knowledge that’s here for them to learn.”
The events will be a completely casual and “low stakes,” according to Wiskel. Each of the participating businesses will have handouts with additional information for visitors to take home. There will even be a draw at the end of each event day to give visitors the chance to win prizes from the participating businesses.
Wiskel is also hopeful that hosting in-person events will encourage consumers to return to in-person shopping and will help establish connections between customers and businesses.
“When you read about innovation in retail it’s all about technology, but that’s not a way to connect one-on-one,” she says. “It’s a big part that’s missing from the retail experience with shopping online — you miss out on that connection, and this is just a way to bring people into the store to meet.”
Flow Spa Float Centre and Sports Recovery founder RJ Kayser will talk about stress management and relaxation techniques at Dan Joyce Clothing’s first drop-in educational event on February 22, 2024 called “Beat the Blues,” which will also feature Wild Rock Outfitters co-owner and general manager Tori Silvera and nutritionist Jodi-Lee Forestell. (Photo courtesy of Flow Spa Float Centre and Sports Recovery)
That’s why Dan Joyce Clothing will host events each month, with future topics including how to prepare your patio for the spring (coming up in March), finding your good angles when taking photos, travel, and home office design.
“It’s about fostering a place where you can have a connection but you’re learning too,” Wiskel says. “One of the biggest values of having a brick-and-mortar is that connection and I feel it’s important to nurture that.”
For future event dates, follow Dan Joyce Clothing on Instagram and Facebook.
Originally implemented during the pandemic, the City of Peterborough's patio program allows downtown busineeses to apply to expand their patio space on city-owned property including sidewalks and parking spaces. Along with submitting a $300 patio licence fee, businesses must provide proof of at least $2 million in general liability insurance coverage. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
The City of Peterborough won’t be increasing the minimum amount of general liability insurance required for Peterborough businesses seeking a patio extension licence this year.
At the city council meeting on Monday night (February 5), councillors voted to maintain the $2 million minimum already in place for the 2024 patio season after hearing from a delegation representing the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
A city staff report on insurance and risk management that was presented to council at the January 29th general committee meeting had recommended increasing the minimum insurance coverage to $5 million for businesses participating in the downtown patio licence program. The report stated “industry standards dictate that commercial entities should carry a minimum of $5 million coverage, especially for locations serving alcohol.”
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At the January 29th meeting, councillor Alex Bierk had expressed concerns about the impact of increasing the minimum insurance coverage on businesses that operate smaller patios and those that don’t serve alcohol.
“Right now you have a big bar that’s going to be paying as much as a coffee shop would be for a picnic table,” said Bierk, referring to a 2022 survey conducted by the DBIA that found 40 per cent of respondents would not participate in the patio program if the minimum coverage increased to $5 million.
Bierk has then put forward a motion that the recommendation be deferred until city staff could report back to council with comparative information on patio insurance requirements from other municipalities. Just prior to Monday’s city council meeting, council held a special general committee meeting to review the city staff report that included a chart of patio licence insurance requirements for several Ontario municipalities.
According to that report, some municipalities — including Belleville, Toronto, Newmarket, Barrie, Milton, and Windsor — all require $2 million general liability coverage, whereas others — including Port Hope, Niagara Falls, Grimsby, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Markam, Mississauga, and Stratford — all require $5 million coverage.
Some municipalities require different amounts of general liability insurance coverage depending on the nature of a business’s patio. Kitchener and Kincardine requires unlicensed patios to have a minimum of $2 million coverage and licensed patios to have $5 million. Oshawa requires small patios to have $2 million coverage and large patios to have $5 million coverage. Ottawa requires $5 million coverage — except for café seating patios that are one-table deep with each table having one or two chairs, where $2 million is the minimum.
The staff report supported the original recommendation of a minimum of $5 million in liability coverage that was presented to general committee on January 29th.
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At Monday’s city council meeting following the special general committee meeting, councillor Bierk put forward a successful motion to suspend the rules of procedure so that an unregistered delegation representing the DBIA could speak to the insurance coverage issue.
DBIA board chair Sacha Lai-Svirk and DBIA vibrancy manager Hillary Flood, along with Laura Montague of Ashburnham Realty, addressed council.
“We have many small businesses in our downtown that would be left out of this program if coverage was raised,” Lai-Svirk said, before describing the benefits of the patio program to the economy and social fabric of downtown Peterborough. “With only six patios, possibly nine, able to meet the newly proposed $5 million liability coverage, it is the opinion of the DBIA that the present patio licensing requirement does not support a successful patio program.”
“From the DBIA’s 2022 survey results, an increase in insurance coverage will result in lower participation. I know the city was hoping the increase would encourage businesses to level up, but they financially cannot. And it’s not the businesses are being defiant, it’s because they simply cannot afford it.”
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“It’s one more cost that is added onto other factors they are contending with — the rising cost of food, labour shortages, and the drastically changing consumer behaviour of dining out,” Lai-Svirk added. “It’s just too much to ask them to increase their insurance coverage, at least not this year. Realistically, it might take a few more years before restaurants can get a solid footing beneath them.”
She also pointed out that businesses participating in the patio program are already assuming the majority of the liability risk, saying “the city’s risk management team has taken great steps to ensure the city’s exposure to claims is already limited through binding indemnity agreement waivers and waivers of subrogation.”
Lai-Svirk said the DBIA supported keeping the minimum $2 million insurance coverage but would be open to a more “tiered” or “nuanced” approach similar to Kitchener’s.
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For her part, Flood noted that increasing the minimum insurance coverage to $5 million could have a significant financial impact on a business’s premiums, depending on factors such as claim history, the age of the building, and the type of business.
She also pointed out that businesses that were unable to pay back their Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan in full “will lose $20,000.”
Implemented by the federal government during the pandemic, CEBA offered interest-free loans with a repayment deadline of January 2024. Businesses that paid the loan back in full by the deadline were forgiven up to $20,000 of the loan. Those unable to pay back the loan in full by January would not receive any loan forgiveness and would begin to pay five per cent interest on any remaining balance.
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“When we talk about what is a nominal $630 increase (in insurance premiums) means to small business, it is deeply significant,” Flood said. “Restaurants Canada is quoted as saying there is no harder time for restaurateur in Canada than 2024. One in five CEBA loan recipients are likely to close.”
In response to a question from councillor Kevin Duguay, Flood said that 14 or 15 patio licence holders in last year’s program would not be able to participate in this year’s program if the insurance threshold was increased to $5 million, adding that doesn’t include businesses in East City or new businesses that have opened since last summer.
Councillor Bierk said he was concerned about basing the amount of insurance coverage only on whether a business serves alcohol or not.
“I’m more worried about the grey area, like the La Haciendas (Mexican restaurant) that do serve alcohol but they’re not a big bar that’s open late. Those are the people that I would be worried about getting caught in the middle (by) having to get the $5 million if we did adopt the tiered approach tonight.”
Flood suggested the $5 million requirement could be based on 30 per cent or more “liquor exposure” (liquor as a proportion of total sales).
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Later in the meeting, Bierk proposed that the $5 million requirement should only apply to businesses with 30 per cent or more liquor exposure, with $2 million for all others.
In response to a question from councillor Lesley Parnell, city staff were unsure how they could verify what qualifies as 30 per cent liquor exposure, but could distinguish between licensed and non-licensed patios.
Councillor Don Vassiliadis, who previously owned a restaurant, said it would be “almost impossible” for city staff to verify the percentage of alcohol served at a business as they would have to review the sales of each business and “that’s not gonna happen.”
Bierk put forward a motion that would leave the existing $2 million requirement in place for the 2024 patio season, to allow city staff time to develop a “more nuanced” approach for the following year and to report back to council before the next patio season.
While councillor Joy Lachica supported Bierk’s motion, both councillors Duguay and Riel supported increasing the requirement to $5 million for any business that serves alcohol on a patio on city property, with Riel noting he was representing the interests of the city and its taxpayers.
In response to a question from councillor Duguay, city staff recommended revising the wording of councillor Bierk’s motion to change “downtown Peterborough” to “central area” to accommodate businesses that do not belong to the DBIA but have patios, such as those in East City.
The revised motion was carried 7-4, with councillors Riel, Dave Haacke, Duguay, and Parnell voting against it.
The original version of this story identified Hillary Flood as communications manager for the DBIA. She is the DBIA’s vibrancy manager.
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