Environment Canada has issued a winter weather travel advisory for the northern Kawarthas region beginning Tuesday afternoon (November 21).

The winter weather travel advisory is in effect for northern Peterborough County, northern Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.

Total snowfall amounts of 4 to 8 cm are expected beginning Tuesday afternoon, with peak snowfall rates of 2 cm per hour. Snowfall accumulations could be limited due to warm surface temperatures.

Snow will begin to switch to rain later Tuesday evening and into the overnight hours, although in areas over higher terrain the precipitation will likely remain as snow.

Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery.

Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions. Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas. If visibility is reduced while driving, slow down, watch for tail lights ahead and be prepared to stop.

Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in two gas thefts from a business on Highway 401 in Port Hope.

Thefts of gas on September 25 and November 6 were reported to Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

The suspect in the thefts was driving a white Honda Pilot.

Police are continuing to investigate the thefts.

Anyone who has information about the suspect’s identity or has any further information about the incidents is asked to call the Northumberland OPP at 905-372-5421 or the non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122.

If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your information online at stopcrimehere.ca. You will not testify in court and your information may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000.

After 20 years at the helm, Peterborough’s Terry Rees is stepping down as executive director of the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) in March 2024 to pursue other interests.

Established in 1963 and incorporated in 1974, today FOCA represents 525 lake and road associations in rural communities across Ontario and speaks for the interests of 250,000 seasonal and year-round waterfront property owners. Rees, who owns a family cottage on Lake Kasshabog north of Havelock in Peterborough County and was previously president of the Lake Kasshabog Residents Association, joined FOCA as executive director in 2004.

“This role has allowed me to see and appreciate so many parts of our wonderful province, and to work alongside and in support of the great volunteers that make Ontario’s rural and northern communities thrive, and who work tirelessly to keep our lakes great,” Rees says in a media release. “I’ve always wanted my kids to have the same great opportunities to enjoy and appreciate our lakes they way I have, and I hope I have managed to do my little part to make this a reality, for their sake, and for all our future generations.”

Under Rees’s leadership, FOCA has fostered working relationships with provincial politicians and staff — including at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks — on issues such as onsite wastewater management, protecting biodiversity, preventing the spread of invasive species, and promoting private land stewardship.

Rees has also led FOCA’s work showing the significant economic impact of Ontario’s waterfront property owners, pushing for more transparent and fair property taxes, and representing the 147,000 remote Hydro One customers on rate proposals at the Ontario Energy Board.

One of Rees’s passions has been adapting and preparing for emergencies in waterfront Ontario, and FOCA developed a risk management program for lake associations, backed with a tailored liability insurance program to keep local community groups and their volunteers safe.

Other topics Rees worked on included individual environmental stewardship, the short-term rental market, private roads, safer boating, land use planning reforms, and mining oversight. He also worked with the environmental visual communications program at Fleming College and the Royal Ontario Museum to develop videos about the important role of citizen science, local volunteerism, and more.

“These are big shoes to fill,” says FOCA board president Ian Crawford. “We wish Terry all the best for his next endeavours, and thank him sincerely for his dedication to FOCA over these past decades.”

The organization is currently seeking a chief executive officer to replace Rees. For more information on FOCA, visit foca.on.ca.

Bennett’s Furniture and Mattresses, one of the longest-operating businesses in the Kawarthas region, is hosting its first-ever designer Christmas tree benefit to raise funds for three local hospitals.

The family-owned business will be hosting the benefit in each of its three stores in Campbellford, Kingston, and Peterborough on three consecutive evenings, with proceeds donated to the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation, the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, and the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation.

The benefit takes place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29th at the Campbellford store (13 Front Street South), on Thursday, November 30th at the Kingston store (2376 Princess Street), and on Friday, December 1st at the Peterborough store (105 Park Street South).

Each store will showcase eight professionally designed Christmas trees, each with a specific theme, that are available to be won. The benefit evening at each store will also feature local food and beverages, a silent auction, festive music, professional photos in a Christmas display, and an exclusive one-night-only shopping surprise.

Draws for the winners of the eight trees at each location will be made the night of the in-store benefit, with Bennett’s offering to deliver the trees to the winners’ homes within its regular delivery area (up to 100 kilometres away from each store’s location).

Ticket are $50 for an in-store benefit ticket or, for those unable to attend, $25 for a door prize ticket. Tickets can be purchased at any Bennett’s location. Many local businesses and organizations in each community are sponsoring a tree or sponsoring or supporting the benefit.

There will be no transit strike in Peterborough on Monday after workers ratified a new three-year agreement with the City of Peterborough on the weekend.

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1320 held a general membership meeting on Saturday (November 18) where members voted 87 per cent in favour of the agreement, which had already been unanimously endorsed by the union local’s executive board.

“The membership stuck together and were clear about what they were willing to accept, and ultimately accepted this latest offer for a three-year deal,” said ATU Local 1320 president Cory MacLeod in a media release.

ATU Local 1320, which represents 103 full-time and about 20 part-time transit workers, and the city had been negotiating a new contract since May.

Contract talks broke down mid-September, with union members voting 99 per cent in favour of a strike mandate. With the union and city in a legal strike and lockout position as of Saturday, the two sides held further negotiations earlier in the week and, after the union issued a 72-hour advance strike notice, reached a tentative deal on Friday.

Saturday’s ratification of the contract means transit service will continue to operate normally on Monday. Peterborough city council will hold a ratification vote as soon as possible to seal the new deal.

“My sincere appreciation and congratulations to the ATU Local 1320 executive committee and members, as well as the city’s bargaining team, for their hard work, commitment, and true sense of belonging for our community to make it possible,” said Jasbir Raina, the City of Peterborough’s chief administrative officer, in a media release. “Our frontline service delivery workers are the true value-creating leaders and brand ambassadors for the city.”

Neither the city nor the union local have yet publicly released details of the three-year agreement.

A week after the Peterborough Rotary Club announced its 2023 Paul Harris Fellows, the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha has announced the seven people this year who have received the club’s highest recognition.

Peterborough grocer and community leader Dave Morello, international volunteer Chloë Black, entrepreneurs Scott Murison and Kieran Andrews, youth leader Michelle Patton Horner, environmentalist Rob Steinman, and founding Rotarian Robert Smith were all recognized as Paul Harris Fellows on Thursday evening (November 16).

Named for Rotary International founder Paul Percy Harris, the recognition is given to both Rotarians and non-Rotarians who exemplify Rotary’s motto of “Service above Self” in the categories of community, international, vocational, youth, environment, and club. Each recipient receives a Paul Harris Fellow certificate and a Paul Harris pin.

Franchise owner and operator of Morello’s Your Independent Grocer in Peterborough, Dave Morello (community service) was recognized for his community leadership including as chair of the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign for over nine years and his involvement with the Peterborough Humane Society, Ted on the Roof for the United Way, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Festival of Trees, and more.

Former professional road and track cyclist and coach Chloë Black (international service) was recognized for her volunteer work in Ukraine. Shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Black travelled to Romania to help rescue and house animals from war-ravaged Ukraine and later travelled to Ukraine where, as a volunteer with Ukrainian Patriot, she helped deliver humanitarian aid packages to frontline soldiers and civilians living with the constant threat of shelling. Currently in Ukraine, Black has spent a total of 31 weeks over four different tours in the country helping both animals and people who’ve been most affected by the war.

Founders of Wild Rock Outfitters in downtown Peterborough, Scott Murison and Kieran Andrews (vocational services) were recognized both for their business and their support of the community. Longtime advocates for physical activity in the outdoors, particularly cycling, hiking, running, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing who have operated a successful business since 1992, Murison and Andrews have also supported the local community both financially and through volunteer efforts including involvement with numerous organizations and, most recently, a new initiative called The Wild Rock ComPassion Project that educates people about community agencies and volunteer opportunities and raises funds for community agencies.

Michelle Patton Horner (youth service) was recognized for her involvement as a youth leader with the Millbrook Girl Guides for 15 years and as a volunteer with the Army Cadets for eight years. She has also been secretary of the student council in Millbrook for the past 14 years.

Friends of Jackson Park founder Rob Steinman (environmental service) was recognized for his environmental advocacy work through the local action group, with the explicit mandate of preventing the new previously proposed Parkway extension that included the construction of a road and bridge through the core of Jackson Park. Steinman successfully rallied the community to help preserve Jackson Park so that future generations of families and individuals could continue to enjoy the greenspace.

One of the founding members of the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha, Robert Smith (club service) was recognized for his ongoing contributions as a member since 1989. He has spent many years as the club’s treasurer and has supported all of the club’s fundraising initiatives, including the annual auction, Musicfest, Ribfest, and more. Smith has always been available, willing, and able to handle a multitude of tasks placed before him and has committed hundreds of hours of volunteer work each year in support of the club.

A retired Peterborough doctor and nurse have donated $227,000 to Five Counties Children’s Centre — one of the largest donations ever received by the charitable organization serving children with special needs in the greater Kawarthas region.

The donation from James and Sheila Ryan will help reduce wait times for children’s treatment services like speech and occupational therapies. According to a media release from Five Counties, the donation will benefit more than 280 children in the Peterborough region.

“We are extremely appreciative of the Ryans for their incredibly generous gift that will help us provide more life-changing treatment to more children and youth in our community,” says Five Counties CEO Scott Pepin. “The additional challenges presented by the pandemic have highlighted the critical need for our services, so these funds will help us to reduce wait times and ensure kids and their families get the treatment they need when they need it.”

Both of the Ryans worked in a hospital setting before retirement — James as a physician and Sheila as a pediatric orthopedic nurse — and understand the importance of early detection, assessment, and treatment to help children get the care they need.

“Prompt treatment can bring amazing results, and we trust that this gift will be able to assist in reducing wait times for local families who need treatment,” the couple says. “Helping children access physical, developmental, and communication support programs is integral to help them build confidence, independence, and inclusion to reach their full potential.”

In recognition of the Ryans’ donation, Five Counties will rename the waiting area at its Peterborough location after the couple.

Five Counties Children’s Centre provides speech, physio, and occupational therapies along with other treatment services for children and youth up to the age of 19 in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton. Services are provided through the organization’s locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg, Campbellford, and Minden, as well as in area schools and other venues in the community.

According to Five Counties, the organization served more than 6,200 children and youth in the greater Kawarthas region in the past year — the highest number of clients in its nearly 50-year history.

A day before a possible strike, the City of Peterborough and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1320 have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract — although a strike could still happen if transit workers vote against the deal.

“I am pleased to announce that after long negotiations and unwavering solidarity from our members, we have reached a tentative agreement that not only honours the hard work and dedication of our workforce but also sets a benchmark for fair and equitable treatment,” said ATU Local 1320 president Cory Macleod in a media release on Friday (November 17).

ATU Local 1320 represents 103 full-time and around 20 part-time transit workers. The city and the union have began bargaining since May, including meetings with a provincially appointed conciliation officer. Contract talks broke down mid-September, with union members voting 99 per cent in favour of a strike mandate.

On November 1, the city received an official notice from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, known as a no board report, that started a countdown toward a legal strike or lockout date as of 12:01 a.m. on Saturday (November 18).

The two sides scheduled two days of bargaining meetings this week, resulting in the tentative agreement.

“Thank you to city council, our city bargaining team and ATU Local 1320 leadership for their dedication to achieving a fair and reasonable agreement for Peterborough Transit workers and for our community,” said Jasbir Raina, the City of Peterborough’s chief administrative officer, in a media release.

The union membership is expected to vote on the agreement at a ratification meeting on Saturday. If members reject the agreement, a strike will happen on Monday. Otherwise, the deal will be ratified by city council as soon as possible.

Details of the agreement will be released after the union’s ratification meeting.