YWCA Peterborough Haliburton has announced the end of its community food initiative, the Nourish Project, effective March 31, due to inadequate funding.

The idea for the Nourish Project developed out of the Peterborough Community Food Network when its members decided there was a need to address the gaps in food access, production, consumption, and knowledge in the city and county of Peterborough.

With its decades of experience in food literacy and advocacy from supporting women and children fleeing gender-based violence, the YWCA received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2012 for a two-year research project, supported by partners Peterborough Public Health, Community Opportunity and Innovation Network, Peterborough Centre for Social Innovation, the Community Garden Network, Fleming College, the City of Peterborough, and the Social Planning Council.

The ambitious vision of the Nourish Project was to establish places for food in the City of Peterborough, in each township in Peterborough County, and in First Nations communities, with each place including space and tools for learning about food, such as a community kitchen, rooms for workshops, and a gathering space, as well as other options such as farmers’ markets, community gardens, greenhouses, or public outdoor brick ovens.

Since then, the Nourish Project has worked with volunteers and community partners including Peterborough Public Health and Peterborough GreenUP to grow access to healthy and locally produced food, food literacy, and food advocacy and civic engagement. Nourish and its partners have focused on the four pillars of eating, cooking, growing, and advocacy with programs that created spaces where people felt they belonged.

In 2017, the Nourish Project received a grant of $749,900 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and was able to expand with programs in Havelock, Lakefield, and Curve Lake First Nation. The Nourish Project has also received grants in the past from the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough and United Way Peterborough & District, and the YWCA’s annual “Empty Bowls” fundraiser has also generated funds to support the project.

However, according to the YWCA, over the past four years inadequate funding has reduced the Nourish Project to just three initiatives: supporting community gardens, operating the Curve Lake Community Market, and providing monthly JustFood boxes.

The continued lack of stable, annualized funding has led the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton to a decision to end the Nourish Project as of March 31, according to a media release from the organization.

“The success of the Nourish Project is a result of the vision, passion and expertise of the Nourish team members, the community partners, and volunteers who contributed in-kind resources and expertise, local donors and funders, and the program participants who helped us all learn and grow over the years,” says the YWCA’s executive director Kim Dolan in the release.

“We know the growing gap between income and rising costs for basic needs is creating more food insecurity in our communities. To assist other organizations in their food action initiatives, the YWCA has distributed Nourish Project resources, reports, and program information to a number of community partners to support their efforts.”

The decision to end the Nourish Project also means that proceeds from this year’s Empty Bowls fundraiser on February 21 will instead be used to support food insecurity programs at One City and Kawartha Food Share — a decision the YWCA made after consulting with the Kawartha Potters Guild, which has donated bowls every year to the fundraiser.

“We are truly grateful to donors who have supported the Nourish Project, the potters and woodturners who have crafted hundreds of bowls, and the local restaurants who have shared delicious food,” says the YWCA’s director of philanthropy Tina Thornton.

As the YWCA winds down the Nourish Project, the organization says program participants will receive information and referrals to other community food initiatives, and anyone who has Nourish Dollars can call the YWCA for information about how to redeem them.

Planning is well underway for the 2025 Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, with registration for dragon boat teams opening on Saturday, February 15th.

The 24th annual fundraising festival for breast cancer care will take place on Saturday, June 14th at Del Crary Park in Peterborough and will once again feature dragon boat races on Little Lake, artisan and food vendors, a family fun zone, a beer garden, and more.

For the second year in a row, last year’s festival raised a record-breaking amount — $312,025.18 — for breast and other cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC). The proceeds raised last year surpassed the original fundraising goal of $251,825.18 by more than $60,000.

Recognizing last year’s achievement, festival organizers are once again increasing the fundraising goal for this year. The 2025 goal of $260,018.01 is also again a symbolic number representing the incidence of breast cancer among Canadians as well as the PRHC Foundation’s current Campaign for PRHC.

“The two represents the two out of five Canadians who will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime (and) the 60 is to bring attention to the PRHC Foundation’s $60 million ReImagine Health Care campaign that we are a part of,” festival chair Michelle Thornton explains in a media release.

“In keeping with our mandate of raising awareness about breast cancer, the 18 is for the one in eight women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and the .01 is the percentage of men who will also face a breast cancer diagnosis.”

Hosted by the Survivors Abreast Dragon Boat Team, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival was first launched in June 2001 as Liberty Mutual’s “Day on the Water”, becoming Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival the following year. Over the past 23 years, it has raised more than $4.5 million for breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment in the Peterborough region.

“We’ve always focused on breast cancer awareness and raising funds for the PRHC,” says Survivors Abreast team president Ann Stabler. “We know first hand the importance of the work the PRHC Foundation does, and their continuing mission to bring the best cancer care the world has to offer, right here to our hospital.”

Through the PRHC Foundation’s Campaign for PRHC, proceeds from the 2025 festival will support the regional hospital’s continued investment in new state-of-the-art equipment and technology to serve more cancer patients close to home by providing earlier cancer diagnosis and safer and more effective treatments.

“We’re excited to get back out on the water this June, paddling for a cause that has touched so many lives,” says PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway.

“As cancer volumes continue to rise in Peterborough and the surrounding area, it’s more important than ever to invest in state-of-the-art technology and equipment our regional hospital needs to care for our family, friends and neighbours. The support from Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival is absolutely vital to ensuring PRHC has the tools to provide world-class cancer care, close to home. We’re so grateful for the festival’s commitment to cancer care and the Campaign for PRHC.”

Along with community members pledging to support the dragon boat teams that will be racing on Little Lake on June 14, the festival relies on the support of local businesses and organizations to cover expenses and provide the best experience possible for participants.

Kawartha Credit Union, which has been the festival’s presenting sponsor every year since 2001, is returning to support the festival as presenting sponsor for their 24th consecutive year.

“This event is more than a celebration — it’s a powerful, collective effort to make a real difference in the lives of those battling breast or other cancer,” says Kawartha Credit Union’s president and CEO Norah McCarthy. “We invite our community partners to come together in support of this vital cause, as we work hand in hand to strengthen local healthcare and bring hope to countless families in Peterborough and beyond.”

Registration for the 24th edition of Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival opens just after midnight on Saturday, February 15th at ptbodragonboat.ca. The first three teams to register will win complimentary dragon boat practice.

The Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) has donated $5,632.35 to the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton in support of the organization’s programs and safe spaces for women and children fleeing gender-based violence.

The funds were raised in December at WBN’s annual holiday gala, which included an online auction open to the public and a silent auction available to WBN members during the gala.

For more than 30 years, WBN has supported YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, including through its annual holiday gala.

“We couldn’t be more grateful to the WBN and to all of their members who donated so generously to make this event such a success,” said Tina Thornton, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s philanthropy director, in a media release. “Their support is making a difference in the lives of those experiencing gender-based violence.”

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton operates the Crossroads Shelter in Peterborough, the Support Team for Abuse Response Today (START) program, the Transitional Housing and Outreach program, the Family Court Support program, the Women’s Well-Being counselling and peer support program, and provides basic necessities and food for women and children staying in safe spaces.

WBN is a networking organization for women in the Peterborough area who want to enhance and expand their business contacts and grow their businesses, including through monthly member meetings from September to June. For more information, visit wbnptbo.ca.

While the weather outside is frightful, members of a student fraternity in Peterborough will camp outdoors for 48 hours with the goal of drawing attention to the pressing need for affordable housing in the community.

Volunteers from the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) student fraternity will once again be camping out in the parking lot of the Venture North building in downtown Peterborough from February 7 to 9, when they will be collecting donations for Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat for Humanity PKR).

Proceeds from the 14th annual “TKE in a Box” fundraiser will specifically support Habitat for Humanity PKR’s efforts to provide individuals and families with opportunities for affordable homeownership. Donations will also be accepted online at give-can.keela.co/tke-in-a-box.

“For the past 13 years, TKE in a Box has been a tradition for our fraternity, bringing us together with the community to raise both awareness and funds for local charities in Peterborough,” said TKE chapter president Benjamin Hofmann in a media release.

“As the housing crisis continues to impact so many in Peterborough, it’s vital to support organizations like Habitat for Humanity PKR that provide affordable housing for families and individuals in need of stability. We’re hoping to raise over $5,000 to highlight the importance of addressing the lack of affordable housing in our community.”

Over the years, TKE in a Box has supported various local organizations, including One City Peterborough and One Roof. This year marks the fourth consecutive year it has partnered with Habitat for Humanity PKR.

Holly O’Connor, Habitat for Humanity PKR’s communications and marketing manager, said the organization is grateful to once again be the recipient of the fundraiser.

“We’re thrilled to partner with TKE again for this impactful event that takes place right in our downtown core,” O’Connor said.

“The last two years we’ve received over 400 calls from families in our community seeking affordable housing — a clear reminder of the urgent need for safe, decent and affordable homes in Peterborough.”

O’Connor told kawarthaNOW it would be “amazing” if the group hit its $5,000 target.

“But, even more than that, I hope the community comes out to visit, cheer them on, and really take the opportunity to connect with why affordable housing matters. At Habitat for Humanity PKR, we rely so much on community support, whether it’s advocacy, financial donations, volunteering, or gifts-in-kind from local businesses. That support is what keeps us building,” O’Connor said.

“Investing in affordable homes is investing in a stronger, more stable Peterborough and Kawartha Region. And the more people who are invested in our mission, the more we can actually build, and that means more families gaining the stability and opportunity that comes with affordable homeownership,” she explained.

Money raised from TKE in a Box will directly support Habitat for Humanity PKR’s efforts to build more affordable housing across the Peterborough and Kawartha Region. One upcoming initiative includes a multi-unit condo project that could provide up to 41 affordable homeownership opportunities for local families and individuals, including seniors and single parents.

Habitat for Humanity PKR provides local families and individuals with a “hand-up” into affordable homeownership, with no down payment and geared-to-income mortgage payments.

With Habitat’s assistance, the organization said homeowners “can achieve the stability, strength, and self-reliance they need to build better lives and are empowered to overcome the barriers that so often stand between their families and healthier, more financially stable futures.”

As for Tau Kappa Epsilon, the Peterborough chapter strives to help male-identifying students from Fleming College and Trent University improve and become better men for a better world.

The City of Peterborough has confirmed that Canadian Flight Academy will be a tenant at the Peterborough Airport, but not everyone is happy about it.

According to a media release from the city, the flight school will begin construction of a new facility at the airport this year. When the facility is operational, it will generate 50 jobs and an estimated $20 million in gross domestic product.

“Attracting this tenant, which is a significant established employer, is another major milestone for the airport,” Peterborough Mayor Leal says in the release.

“The Peterborough Regional Airport is much more than transportation infrastructure — it’s a significant employment centre for the broader Peterborough region. I’m excited to welcome Canadian Flight Academy to our community and I look forward to celebrating when they complete their new facility.”

However, at a January 22 meeting of Peterborough County council, some councillors expressed concerns about the addition of a new flight school at the airport, which is owned and operated by the City of Peterborough but located in Cavan Monaghan Township and adjacent to Otonabee-South Monaghan Township.

The concerns were expressed following a presentation on airport activities to county council by airport manager Kyle Bruce, who was accompanied by the city’s municipal operations commissioner Ilmar Simanovskis.

Deputy warden and Selwyn Township mayor Sherry Senis said she had received complaints about “students who continually buzz over certain areas,” referring to current flight training activities at the airport.

Bruce said that there are already defined flight training areas around the airport and that the new flight school would be using these areas. He added that, while the airport received more than 800 noise complaints in 2024, these complaints came from 20 area households, with 90 per cent of the complaints coming from around five households.

Otonabee-South Monaghan Township mayor Joe Taylor said that activities at the airport affect township residents “more than anyone else” and that the city shouldn’t operate the airport “as if it is on an island,” criticizing the lack of consultation with surrounding townships prior to communicating the decision about the flight school coming to the airport.

“It’s simply not right to ignore its impact on the surrounding area,” Taylor said, later telling Bruce, “This flight school, sir, this is not good news.”

According to reporting in the Peterborough Examiner, six tenants of the airport have also expressed concerns about the impact of the new flight school on airport operations, increased air traffic, and noise complaints.

“The addition of an additional large flight school will directly affect the residences [sic] of the Township of Cavan Monaghan and Otonabee Township with additional aircraft movements,” the letter states.

According to the city’s media release, the city’s municipal operations department that oversees the operation of the airport “is committed to ensuring a smooth transition while integrating this new tenant at the airport.”

“Peterborough Regional Airport will safely integrate operations of Canadian Flight Academy into airport activities,” the release states.

Originally operating at the Oshawa Executive Airport, Canadian Flight School was purchased in 1998 by Toronto Airways, which began offering flight training services in 1963 from the Buttonville Municipal Airport. After Buttonville Municipal Airport was closed, Toronto Airways amalgamated its operation with Canadian Flight Academy and moved to the Oshawa Executive Airport in 2016.

After years of a dispute between the City of Oshawa and Canadian Flight Academy over a lease renewal and after years of noise complaints from neighbouring residents, the municipality announced a mutual agreement with the flight school in June 2024 to resolve the ongoing litigation.

As part of the agreement, Canadian Flight Academy would cease all in-air flight training activities at the Oshawa Executive Airport by December 31 and would depart the airport by March 31, 2026. In the interim, the flight school also agreed to restrict its in-air flight training departures at the airport to after 8 a.m. on all days and before 9 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

An August 2023 settlement offer proposed the city would pay Canadian Flight Academy $5.2 million to take over its leasehold improvement along with $200,000 in relocation costs to find another location for its operations. According to the City of Oshawa, these were not the financial terms of the final settlement, which the city declined to release, citing that they were “confidential and privileged, and neither party is at liberty to comment any further on the resolution.”