This holiday season, community members donating to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton can double their impact through the “Shine a Light in the Darkness” holiday fundraising campaign. Local sponsors have banded together to match up to $48,500 in donations made to the charitable organization until December 31.

A member of YWCA Canada, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton provides safe shelter, resources, and support to women escaping gender-based violence and abuse in Peterborough and Haliburton County. The organization has been holding the holiday giving campaign annually for more than 10 years.

“It’s an incredible initiative and it really encourages folks in our community to donate generously and we’re so grateful,” says the YWCA’s new director of philanthropy Tina Thornton.

The list of sponsors making the donation match possible include Linz Hunt of Royal LePage Frank Real Estate Electric City, Ontario Insurance Network, HTM Insurance in Cobourg, Herod Financial Services, Olivia and Gord James, Alena Heitlinger and David Morrison, Baker Tilly, and GM Financial. Several other individuals and businesses who are sponsoring the campaign have chosen to remain anonymous.

“It’s amazing that so many of them are donating so generously and don’t request any acknowledgement for that gift,” Thornton points out.

For a more personalized gift, donors can choose to sponsor a woman and a child together, or a woman or a child individually depending on need, in either Peterborough or Haliburton County. There are also smaller donation options to provide a meal or a gift to a woman or child, again depending on their need.

“The sponsorship program has been part of our holiday giving campaign for a few years now,” says Meghan Moloney, communications manager for YWCA Peterborough Haliburton. “It allows us to immediately provide some support, in the form of either gift cards or gift certificates to specific local businesses, to a woman staying in the shelter over the holiday season.”

Moloney adds the YWCA also encourages gift card donations as they allow the women and families to have the freedom to customize the gifts to suit their needs and preferences. The organization recommends donations of $25 gift cards from President’s Choice, Sobeys, Walmart, Canadian Tire, Glecoff’s Family Store in Haliburton, and local pizza places — locations requested by the women accessing the YWCA’s services — as well as pre-paid gas cards and pre-paid credit cards.

Thornton explains that donations to the holiday campaign are extra important this year, as the shelter has seen a large influx of women accessing their services over the past few years.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been increased rates of gender-based violence across the country and across the world, referred to as the “shadow pandemic” by the United Nations. Rates of calls to help lines had a drastic increase immediately at the start of lockdowns.

Locally, the demand for services at YWCA Peterborough Haliburton reached new record-breaking highs in 2021. According to the organization’s 2023 annual report, there was a 70 per cent increase in the number of women who accessed the YWCA Crossroads Shelter from the previous year.

“Financially, our need is quite great this year, as over one-third of the cost for our wrap-around programming comes through donations from our community,” Thornton says. “The demand has unfortunately never been greater. We are also seeing a shift in the level of severity and complexity for the clients coming to us.”

The matched donations for the “Shine a Light in the Darkness” Campaign will support many of YWCA’s lifesaving programs and safe spaces, including shelter operation, the START program, the transitional housing and outreach program, well-being counselling, peer support programming, family court support, and basic necessities and food for the women and children staying in safe places.

“We like to refer to it as a journey of care,” explains Thornton. “It’s an umbrella of supportive programming that starts from the moment that woman makes the choice with that first crisis call — with counsellors there to support her 24 hours per day — right up to the point where we’re providing second-stage housing for her and she’s standing on her own two feet and regaining her independence.”

“By supporting our holiday giving campaign, community members can truly help shine a light in the darkness for those who need it the most,” adds Moloney.

Despite the increased demand for services at the YWCA, Thornton and Moloney remain encouraged by the amount of support they have seen from the community and will continue to see throughout the holiday season.

“We have a very philanthropic community,” Thornton says. “We’re incredibly optimistic and we really believe that our community will answer the call for support and, of course, we’re so grateful to those who have already made the choice to donate so generously.”

For a donation to be matched dollar for dollar up to $48,500, donations must be made by midnight on Sunday, December 31st.

To make an online donation, visit ywcapeterborough.org. Donations can also be mailed to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, 216 Simcoe Street, Peterborough ON K9H 2H7 or over the phone by calling 705-743-3526.

Peterborough police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 50-year-old Peterborough man.

Philip Tate was last seen on Wednesday night (November 22) at around 8:45 p.m. leaving his home in the Gilchrist Street and Parkhill Road West area of Peterborough.

He is described as white, 5’11” tall, bald with facial hair, and has green eyes.

He was last seen wearing a black or blue puffy coat, a black or grey toque, sweatpants, and Keen sandals.

Police and family are concerned for his safety.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 x225 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Peterborough city council is now proposing a 7.38 per cent residential property tax hike instead of the nearly 10 per cent proposed in the original draft 2024 budget.

After three days of meetings as finance committee this week, city council concluded it budget deliberations on Wednesday night (November 21) recommending a series of changes to decrease the proposed property tax rate increase by more than two per cent.

The proposed 7.38 per cent rate hike it is still more than twice as much as the 3.15 per cent rate increase last year. It would add $10.72 per month, or $128.65 for the year, to residential taxes for each $100,000 of property assessment. For a home assessed at $600,000, this would be an increase of $771.90 for the year.

City staff say a substantial property tax hike is needed to maintain existing levels of service affected by inflationary increases as well as to support investments in infrastructure, policing, city employee compensation, transit service improvements, municipal law enforcement services, snow removal operations, and customer service improvements.

Finance committee recommended several changes to decrease the originally proposed property tax hike, primarily by shifting around $3 million in taxes from residential properties to commercial and industrial properties by increasing the tax ratio for both commercial and industrial property classes from 1.5 to 1.65 — reversing a trend of decreasing the ratios in previous years.

Other recommendations include using $800,000 in investment interest generated from the sale of Peterborough Distribution Inc. to Hydro One, using $200,000 in gaming revenue from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) that the City of Peterborough receives for hosting Shorelines Casino Peterborough, and creating a new service fee for unplugging sanitary sewer lines on private property to generate an estimated $85,000 in annual revenue.

Finance committee also decided to reverse course on proposed reductions of around 3.6 per cent in funding for community organizations including Artspace, Community Care Peterborough, Peterborough Musicfest, Peterborough GreenUP, New Canadians Centre, and more. Instead, grants to certain organizations would increase by 1.5 per cent compared to 2023 as a cost of $43,800 with additional monies coming from the city’s general contingency fund.

The three days of finance committee meetings followed a series of public meetings in the last two weeks on the proposed budget. City council is scheduled to consider approving the 2024 budget at its meeting on Monday, December 11th, when registered delegations can present to council.

For more information about the draft 2024 budget, visit peterborough.ca/budget.

The East Peterborough Lions Club is seeking donations of turkeys and hams this holiday season to distribute to families who might otherwise go without a traditional Christmas dinner.

The Great Turkey Exchange was first organized in 2009 by Lois Tuffin through Peterborough This Week when she was the editor-in-chief. The program ran for 12 years and distributed 2,700 turkeys and hams until it went on hiatus in 2021, after pandemic-related supply chain shortages made it difficult to get donations.

At Tuffin’s request, the East Peterborough Lions Club agreed to take over the program in 2022 and is continuing it this year.

“Our club has helped out by delivering turkeys to groups and we saw how grateful people are to have strangers help feed their families,” says Frank Hewitt, district governor of District A-3 of Lions Cubs International, which covers central Ontario. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to resuscitate the program and fill such a great need in our community.”

Over its history, the Great Turkey Exchange has delivered the main course for 17,500 Christmas dinners in the Peterborough area, with most of the donated turkeys and hams coming from individuals and businesses.

The East Peterborough Lions Club is encouraging the community to participate again this year, either by purchasing and donating turkeys and hams or by donating cash so they can be purchased.

Donations can be dropped off at the Kawartha Food Share warehouse at 665 Neal Drive in Peterborough.

If you would like your donation to be picked up, email greatturkeyexchange@gmail.com with your address.

The turkeys and hams will be distributed to families who cannot afford a turkey or ham for Christmas. Families in this situation can email greatturkeyexchange@gmail.com and ask to be placed on the donation list.

One spoke of moving Peterborough forward, the other spoke of moving Ontarians more efficiently, and both spoke of the their vision and determination to make both of those things happen.

Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal and Martin Imbleau, the newly minted CEO of VIA HFR (High Frequency Rail), shared the podium at the annual Mayor’s Breakfast held early Tuesday (November 21) at the Peterborough Golf Country and Club.

Hosted by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, the breakfast event saw a packed room of local business leaders and politicians, Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark among the latter, listen as both speakers updated the current status of their respective portfolios while providing a peek of what’s ahead.

While the gathering was held to mark Mayor Leal’s first year in office, Imbleau’s address created an initial, and palpable, sense of excitement.

Relatively new to his post — he most recently served as president and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority — Imbleau laid out where the development of a high frequency rail corridor between Toronto and Quebec City is currently at and what’s now ahead.

“I came here today for one reason, to start a relationship between you and I, but more fundamentally between us all in a vision that has been too long discussed — a Toronto-Quebec City fast and efficient electric railway corridor,” said Imbleau.

“While unfulfilled promises of the past might have led to skepticism, I stand here with a renewed sense of momentum. Why? Because we have reached two significant milestones.”

“A new corporation that I lead was just created to realize the vision. We’ve also selected three qualified international teams (Cadence, Intercity Rail Developers, and Partenaires Ferroviaires QCONNECTION Rail Partners) that will engage in a competitive request for proposals. By the end of 2024, one of those teams will be our partner to co-develop this monumental project.”

Before revealing what he could about the planned high frequency rail corridor, Imbleau paid homage to the late Tony Smith, who served as chair of the chamber’s board of directors and, as such, was a passionate advocate for passenger service linking Peterborough with points east and west.

“Tony said a train service, like the one we’re suggesting, will be a game changer for the (Peterborough) community,” said Imbleau. “An entrepreneur and an innovator, Tony rallied troops to support our train project because he knew that this vision was about more than a train. It was an infrastructure (project) that would not only carry people but would also bring opportunities … significant opportunities. He knew very well that this train would not only enhance transportation but that it would also carry dreams of a better tomorrow for Peterborough.”

After summarizing the benefits the high frequency rail corridor will have for communities along its 1,000-kilometre-plus passenger rail-dedicated track, such as heightened job activity during the construction process, reduced commuter times, a reduced carbon footprint, and new residential development, Imbleau outlined next steps.

“By next fall, the (federal) government will select a winning team,” Imbleau said. “From then on, our team will work with the private partner that was selected to scope the project in a progressive design deal approach. This type of public-private partnership allows us to work through the complexity of this important project together, enabling us to better assess the scope, the cost, and the calendar. It will take some time, for sure, but we will do it the right way.”

As for his motivation for taking on “the new adventure” of leading VIA HFR, Imbleau said he didn’t leave his prior position “to work on an abstract concept.”

“When I close my eyes and I see myself in 2040 and 2050, I just can’t imagine seeing millions more cars on congested costly highways. We need to act now for the future generations. We need to develop a transportation service that Canadians will pick over driving that is the smarter, more eco-friendly choice.”

With the assurance that a project that has seen so many starts and stops is moving forward with renewed vigour ringing in their ears, the breakfast audience was then treated to a state-of-the-union-like address from Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal.

In his comments, the former Peterborough MPP and provincial cabinet minister touched on the progress realized since he was elected mayor in October 2023, citing in particular the adoption of Peterborough’s inaugural strategic plan, the appointment of new CAO Jasbir Raina, the initial steps toward Service Peterborough “one-stop shopping” for residents and businesses interacting with municipal government, the introduction of curbside organic waste collection, and the establishment of the modular bridge housing community for 50 people experiencing homelessness.

“These units will help some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” said Mayor Leal. “I’ve often said, and I’ll repeat it here, people experiencing homelessness is the toughest policy issue that I’ve ever faced in my time in public life. There’s no playbook to follow.”

While much has been accomplished, said Mayor Leal, there remain major challenges on the horizon — challenges, he says, that must be met and overcome.

“Peterborough has an acute shortage of housing,” acknowledged Mayor Leal, noting the city’s vacancy rate of 1.1 per cent makes it the fourth tightest housing market in Canada while average rent is the 10th most expensive in the country.

“The lack of housing is one of the things I hear most about from residents and businesses,” said Mayor Leal. “The province has given us a target of 4,700 (new) housing units by 2031. I’ve committed to that target, but the city is only one part of the solution.”

“Our municipal services corporation is exploring opportunities to develop around 700 units over the next 10 years. But for the most part, the city’s role is the granting of approvals, not to build buildings themselves. We need a cooperative, collaborative, and constructive relationship with the private sector.”

Noting that Peterborough’s tax base is comprised of 80 per cent residential and 20 per cent commercial/industrial, Mayor Leal said that “isn’t a healthy ratio.”

“We need to grow our employment land tax base to create new opportunities for residents and to ensure the financial health of our community,” he said. “We need to maintain infrastructure and services as we grow.”

“I’m eager to engage our neighbours who want to work together to create productive win-win mutually beneficial solutions. I know we’ve not been able to come together as a region over the past couple of decades for the benefit of our residents and communities. There’s a long history of disappointments on all sides. I want to move forward and I want to move forward together.”

To that end, Mayor Leal pledged that if a neighbouring township has a proposal for the city to extend services to their land in exchange for a share of tax revenue, “I’ll be happy any day to discuss that.”

Mayor Leal clarified that the city’s official plan has been amended in the past to allow for cross-border servicing, adding “We can and will amend the city’s official plan on a case-by-case basis for economic growth for all.”

Finally, speaking to the draft 2024 city budget and its proposed property tax increase of close to 10 per cent, Mayor Leal said he intends “to reduce that number” but warns “Whatever number we end up with will be a shock to residents.”

“We need to take action now. This is a course correction budget to avoid a series of double-digit increases down the road. We can’t keep kicking the can down the road. There are no more dents that can be kicked in. The tab is due. This budget will deliver results.”

“I hear from people all the time about what it’s like to drive down George and Water streets. These roads are an embarrassment to me and they should be an embarrassment to you. The budget will redevelop those roads in 2024.”

For her part, County Warden Clark was particularly interested in Mayor Leal’s comments concerning the cross-border servicing of city-neighbouring land.

“Christmas is getting close, so I’ll equate it to the turkey — we’ve got the carcass on the table but we’ve got to put some meat on the bones,” said Warden Clark.

“The city is looking for employment lands. How can we work together? He has said annexation is off the table. The municipalities that border the city were very glad to hear that. How we can make this work with a different model rather than annexation is a good start.”