Peterborough police have announced a “no-tolerance approach” to the open-air use of illicit drugs in public spaces, effective immediately.

Chief Stuart Betts announced what police are calling the “Safer Public Spaces” approach on Thursday (October 5) at the Peterborough police station on Water Street in downtown Peterborough.

“We have seen a proliferation of open-air drug use in our community,” Betts said. “Cannabis Act aside, we see people who are consuming drugs, ingesting drugs, (and) smoking drugs in our parks, our playgrounds, our bus shelters, (and) in front of our businesses. It’s creating an environment where community members have expressed concern and fear.”

Under the new approach, if police see open-air illicit drug use in a public space, or receive a call from a concerned resident about it, officers will approach the substance user and request they stop using drugs in that location and move to a different one, offering them information on where to find community services including the Consumption and Treatment Services on Simcoe Street, which is a legal location for the use of illicit injectable drugs.

If the substance user does not comply with the request, as a last resort police will arrest the person and seize their illegal drugs for destruction. Police will then unconditionally release the person, unless they have committed another criminal offence or if there is an outstanding warrant for their arrest.

“We do not want to criminalize anybody who has an addiction — that is not our intent,” Betts said. “Our intent is to ensure that they are provided with the resources they need and the direction they need to where they can go to safely use these substances. To that end we will be providing our officers with information and documentation that they can hand out.”

VIDEO: Safer Public Spaces – Peterborough Police Service (October 5, 2023)

According to information posted on the police website, the new approach will initially focus on open-air illicit drug use in public spaces such as parks, playgrounds, bus shelters, and store fronts.

The homeless encampment on Wolfe Street “has not been factored into” the approach, Betts said, adding that “we’re in constant communication with the city as they continue to work on their plans and we will work with the city to support their plans.”

Police say residents, business owners, and members of city council have all expressed concerns about people openly using their drugs in public places in the community, and cite the results of a survey of city residents in which 48 per cent of respondents say they feel safe or very safe in the community, 67 per cent believe crime has increased in the community, and 71 per cent say their feelings about safety influence where they go and what they do in the community.

“The overall severity of crime has increased in our city over the past five years, while our clearance rates have continued to decrease,” Betts states in a media release, referring to the rate of known crime that results in an arrest. “We also know that much of the violent crime in our community, in the past few years, has been connected to the proliferation of illicit drugs. The drugs in our community are not only dangerous and unsafe, but they bring with them a level of violence to the people using them and by extension, to others in community. By using the safer public spaces approach we hope to give the community back a sense of safety.”

Police will be monitoring the Safer Public Spaces approach by recording the number of interactions between officers and substance users, whether the interactions resulted from reports by residents or from officers observing open-air drug use, the end result of the interactions (including whether the substance user left the location or were arrested), and where the interactions took place and the origin of calls for service from residents.

A Safer Public Spaces approach was announced by the Edmonton Police Service in September, although that initiative also includes “aggressive enforcement of those who are supplying and carrying out the drug trade.”

The Port Hope Drive In — the longest continually operating drive-in theatre in Canada and one of the last two drive-ins in the greater Kawarthas region — has closed.

That’s the word from Justin Ashley, owner and operator of Oshawa collectibles business Fly By Nite, who posted on the drive-in’s Facebook page on Tuesday (October 3). Ashley says he is a friend of the owner, a former manager of the drive-in for almost 10 years, and responsible for creating the theatre’s website and Facebook page.

“Unfortunately the Port Hope Drive In has been forced to close due to several years of poor business,” Ashley writes.

The Port Hope Drive In was open over the summer, but stopped updating its website and Facebook page in late August. In September, Pete Fisher of Today’s Northumberland reported the drive-in had closed early for renovations.

In his Facebook post, Ashley attributes the downturn in business at the Port Hope Drive In to the impact of the pandemic, with lockdowns preventing drive-in theatres from operating and new movies being unavailable for entire seasons, combined with the increasing popularity of streaming platforms for in-home entertainment. He also blames the high cost of living and increased gas prices for reduced attendance each season.

“There was hope the business would recover, however it’s clear now that won’t be the case,” he writes. “Sales and attendance continued to worsen over the last few years to the point where there is no longer enough revenue to cover the basic costs of operation.”

Located on Theatre Road south of Highway 401 about halfway between Port Hope and Cobourg, the single-screen drive-in theatre opened in 1947, one year later after the Skyway Theatre in Stoney Creek, Canada’s very first drive-in theatre. The Skyway Theatre closed in 1975, making the Port Hope Drive In Canada’s oldest continually operating drive-in theatre — until now.

“I know this is not the news you wanted to read,” write Ashley, who says he is repurposing the drive-in’s Facebook page for his own company’s new events business. “It’s sad news for all. These are the unfortunate casualties from a nationwide recession.”

kawarthaNOW was unable to contact the current owner of the Port Hope Drive In to confirm the theatre’s closure or any future plans for the business or property.

With the Thanksgiving long weekend upon us, a new campaign in Peterborough County is encouraging motorists to be patient and share the road with slow-moving farm vehicles during the fall harvest season.

The “Share the Road” campaign was launched at Squirrel Creek Farm west of Bailieboro on Thursday (October 5) by Peterborough County, in partnership with the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, the Peterborough Federation of Agriculture, and the Peterborough County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

Harvest season begins in October and can last into December, which means drivers can expect to encounter slow-moving farm vehicles and farm equipment on rural highways and roads.

“As you drive throughout Otonabee South Monaghan, you are in a township with a rich history of agriculture,” says Otonabee-South Monaghan Township mayor Joe Taylor in a media release. “Please respect the farmers and share the road, especially during the fall harvest season as they engage in a way of life which benefits everyone.”

As part of the campaign, which runs until the end of October, new “Share the Road” signs have been installed on County Road 2. Motorists are also being asked to be aware of the following:

• Don’t expect a slow-moving farm vehicle to pull over on the shoulder to let traffic pass, as this could be dangerous for a large piece of equipment.
• Do not drive in the blind spots of the slow-moving farm vehicle and keep far enough back for the driver to see you.
• Before you pass a slow-moving farm vehicle, make sure the path is clear and the driver can see you.

“As we approach the fall harvest season, sharing the road with tractors becomes paramount for our safety,” says inspector Chris Galeazza, detachment commander of the Peterborough County OPP. “These vital farming vehicles are essential to our food supply, but they often move at slower speeds and require extra caution from all road users. Prioritizing safety and patience when encountering tractors on the road is not just a courtesy — it’s a responsibility that helps safeguard lives and keeps our communities thriving.”

The OPP is reminding the public that impatient drivers who attempt to pass a slow-moving vehicle in an unsafe manner risk causing serious accidents and can face hefty penalties. The fine for careless driving is $490 and six demerit points on your licence.

A new feature-length documentary film by Lindsay native Stephen Hosier that shines a spotlight on the inadequacies of Canada’s social safety net — including child welfare, youth homelessness, the opioid crisis, and mental health — is premiering in Toronto on World Mental Health Day (October 10).

Attila isn’t your traditional documentary. The film has an adjacent connection to more experimental cinema vérité projects that offer a casual onlooker’s perspective, but the narrative feels more tangential than those arthouse endeavours.

Toronto-based filmmaker Stephen and his best friend Richard Csanyi, the film’s co-subject, use the medium to investigate the death of Richard’s twin brother, 28-year-old Attila. Homeless and missing for weeks after being expelled from a long-term care residence as he grappled with addiction and schizophrenia, Attila was found dead on a rooftop in Hamilton, Ontario in May 2020.

The bond between Stephen, Richard, and Attila — who all grew up in Lindasy — reaches as far back as elementary school,

“Since I was a kid, I always knew I wanted to make films,” Stephen recalls. “I was often messing around with our family’s home movie camera. In high school, Richard, Attila, and I started making videos together. Some were for school projects, others were just for fun.”

“In fact, one video Richard and I made together was a homelessness and addiction awareness video for a grade 10 communications class. We watched it together recently. It felt surreal seeing it after all these years, considering Attila experienced those exact struggles later in his life.”

VIDEO: “Attila” teaser

It is that close relationship with Richard that allowed the filmmaker to explore both Attila’s life and the systemic failures that affected both Richard and Attila since their childhood.

“I believe it was our lifelong friendship and the fact that we had been making videos together throughout our youth that made Richard comfortable enough to open up to me about his and Attila’s more troubled past. I also believe that making this film allowed Richard (and me) an opportunity to channel our grief through a creative outlet.”

“I still have my guard up — it’s not easy disclosing secrets,” Richard admits when asked about initially revisiting the past for the sake of Hosier’s documentary. “Stephen has always been close to the top of that list of people I trust the most.”

“When Stephen first started filming, his idea was to pretend that the crew and himself were flies on the wall and to let emotions flow naturally,” Richard says. “There was no process for interpreting grief for an artistic purpose. I was generally sad and grieving throughout the filmmaking process, and dealing with a lot of questions that were left unanswered — questions that needed to be investigated.”

As Hosier’s taping continues, we see just that: the documentary is as much of an examination on Attila as it is a reflective and cathartic outlet for Richard. The audience witnesses Richard release layer after layer of his emotionally hardened shell, gradually becoming more vulnerable and comfortable speaking to the camera about Attila and the disturbing past they share as former children mistreated by the province’s foster system.

“It seems like every week for years, Attila and I would talk about the abuse to a therapist in town,” Richard remembers. “It was easy to talk about things because I knew whatever I shared would stay between Attila and I. It was confidential. It was something we kept between ourselves as well. There was no pressure and it was about open communication with no judgement.”

“With Stephen, it’s similar — just a friend showing support when it was needed,” Richard adds. “It’s always been important to me to have a strong network of people around me and to be supported by my peers.”

According to Stephen, there were challenges in trying to tell a personal story while also bringing attention to timely social issues like Ontario’s broken foster system or addressing mental health.

“There was definitely an element of intimidation with making this film considering Richard is such a close friend,” Stephen explains. “You have a responsibility as the filmmaker to collect all the material you need to and then distill it down into a feature-length duration — in our case approximately 80 minutes. In terms of tying it to contemporary issues, the film spotlights systemic failures which affected Richard and Attila since they were little boys, but also far too many other Canadians, so I believe it will resonate with a lot of people.”

For his part, Richard says Stephen’s film has allowed him to speak on behalf of both himself and his late brother.

“The subject of the film has always felt like it was Attila, even though he’s not around,” Richard notes. “I had to speak for the both of us. Stephen gave me a voice and a platform with hopes that one day there will be justice in (Attila’s) name and healing in my own life, and that similar tragedies could be prevented.”

“This has never been a documentary to me. It’s been a passion project. Having a filmmaker that I’ve known as a friend from elementary school, that would be willing to cross boundaries and ask uncomfortable questions, was not detrimental — it was necessary.”

“Some days were quite difficult, emotionally, considering Richard and Attila have been such close friends of mine since childhood,” Stephen says. “To hear some of the things that they went through in their first foster home, prior to their time in Lindsay, was very troubling and disturbing. At times, I was angry (and) other times, very sad for them.”

“However, throughout the filmmaking process, I always did my best to be a good and supportive friend to Richard, while also remaining the filmmaker with the responsibility of documenting Richard’s experience and his investigation into the life and death of his twin. It was very much a collaboration between Richard and I to make this film, and I consider him a filmmaker as well, not just a main character.”

While Attila occasionally feels like it’s juggling more than it can handle, this approach is probably the most accurate way to depict the introspective turmoil Richard has been bottling up. It also captures an unflinching and affective ripple effect, beginning with sorrowful reminiscing with family and concluding with an impromptu, accidental wake featuring Attila’s street pals enlightening Richard on the impact his brother had on them.

A brilliant sequence towards the end, with overlapping audio of Richard anticipating a reunion with a former acquaintance of Attila’s and the stranger trying to muster up the courage to speak with Richard, is a direct hit to the heart. Just like that confrontation, Attila will provoke unexpected emotion and much-needed discussions.

Attila premieres during Rendezvous With Madness, a Toronto-based multidisciplinary arts and mental health festival that takes place annually in October, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10th — the 75th anniversary of World Mental Health Day. The screening takes place at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema (506 Bloor St. W., Toronto). Tickets are pay what you can, and are available online at workmanarts.com/rwm-events/attila/.

After the screening, a panel discussion moderated by filmmaker and film programmer Aisha Jamal will feature palliative care physician and health justice activist Dr. Naheed Dosani, Schizophrenia Society of Canada chief executive officer Chris Summerville (Schizophrenia Society of Canada, and community and crisis worker Diana Chan McNally, with other special guests to be announced.

Peterborough has just planted our first three Little Forests! As part of a GreenUP initiative, these densely planted ‘mini’ forests will grow into biodiverse pockets in our urban core.

If you are like me, then you will have a lot to learn about these trees and how they succeed.

I know they create oxygen, control erosion, provide shade, and purify water. I know they offer habitat, help with traffic calming, and lead to higher property values. I know that walking in a treed area can help boost mood and calm anxiety.

Beyond those facts, I find myself pondering, what actually will help trees take root and grow?

The answer may be right under our toes.

Did you know that there more microbes in one teaspoon of soil than there are people on this planet? When we spend so much time walking on pavement, it is hard to connect to the vast array of life that is taking place in the soil beneath us.

Let’s dig into the topic of soil and healthy soil communities.

For a tree, keeping the area around the trunk and under the branches of the tree undisturbed and free from other plant competitors will help it remain in good health. It will build a strong root network that does not have to compete with other plants.

We recommend using a mulch to protect the roots and create a moist environment for the tree to thrive in.

Microbial life is so important. Just as our gut flora microbiome plays an integral role in our body’s health, the microbiology of the soil around tree roots plays an essential role in the health of the tree.

Tree roots can do their job better when they are aided by mycorrhizal fungi and beneficial microbes. When these ingredients are present in the soil, they help break down organic matter, releasing essential nutrients that the tree can absorb.

Mycorrhizal fungi help trees in many ways. They help roots find water and nutrients in hard-to-access places. As they spread out, mycorrhizal fungi take up essential nutrients like phosphorus, copper, calcum, magnesium, zinc and iron — just like what we need!

Mycorrhizal fungi also protect the tree from harmful fungi, and can even act as underground ‘communication networks’ for trees — a discovery made by Dr. Suzanne Simard, a Canadian scientist at the University of British Columbia who is known for her research on the “wood wide web” or the underground network through which trees talk.

Through this network, trees share nutrients and warn each other about insect attacks, drought, or other dangers.

In exchange, the mycorrhizal absorbs some of the carbon-rich sugars made by the tree.

One way to build soil health is by gathering a sample of soil from a healthy forest environment and brewing a ‘tree tea’ with it.

This soil will be rich in beneficial microbes and mycorrhizal fungi. Bundle the soil up in a piece of material, place it in a bucket of rain water, and let that ‘tree tea’ soak like your morning cup. Sprinkle some compost or molasses to feed the microbes, then water the earth you want to enrich.

Fall is a great time to plant trees. At this time of year, trees have stopped producing leaves and fruit and are putting their energy back into their roots. It is a great time to think about how we care for our trees, by starting with the soil.

The Little Forests planted in Peterborough this fall will need to have their soil networks kick-started with care. To do this, GreenUP will enhance the fungal networks by inoculating them with our own ‘tree tea’.

GreenUP is extending an invitation to community members on Wednesday (October 11) to join Junaid Khan from Trecology for an urban forest hike to make tree tea. We will visit stands that include trees such as maple, birch, cedar, basswood, and black cherry to collect healthy microbes. To find out more information, email laura.keresztesi@greenup.on.ca or follow @ptbogreenup on social media.

The Little Forest project was made possible by generous community and volunteer support.

Police are investigating the suspicious death of a 79-year-old woman in Fenelon Falls.

On Monday (October 2) at 7:32 p.m., officers with the Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called after the woman was found dead in a residence on Kanata Trail near Cameron Lake just north of Fenelon Falls.

The Kawartha Lakes OPP Crime Unit has begun an investigation under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, with assistance from members of the OPP Central Region Crime Unit, Kawartha Lakes OPP Community Street Crime Unit, OPP Forensic Identification Services, and OPP Regional Support Team,, and in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.

A post-mortem has been scheduled to determine the woman’s cause of death.

Investigators say they believe this to be an isolated incident and there is no concern for public safety. The investigation is in its early stages and police are not releasing any further details at this time. Area residents can expect to see a large police presence over the next few days.

Anyone with information that might assist the investigation is asked to call Kawartha Lakes OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at www.khcrimestoppers.com. You may be eligible for a reward from Crime Stoppers of up to $2,000.