The Ontario government has provided a total of $88,306 in funding for three Peterborough-area organizations to keep seniors connected.

Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith announced on Wednesday (December 22) that Hospice Peterborough is receiving $24,874, Activity Haven Senior Centre is receiving $24,255, and Curve Lake First Nation is receiving $14,177.

“These investments make a big difference in the lives of Ontario’s older adults here in Peterborough-Kawartha,” Smith says in a media release. “Staying connected close to home and safely taking part in local life lets our seniors keep active with friends, family and the community.”

The funding comes from the province’s Seniors Community Grant Program, which is intended to address social isolation and help older adults stay healthy, safe, and engaged in their communities.

The program provides grants from $1,000 to $25,000 to help community organizations provide opportunities for greater social inclusion, volunteerism, and community engagement for older adults, from the safety of their homes or other safe environments.

The senior population is the province’s fastest-growing demographic. By 2023, there will be three million Ontarians over the age of 65.

The Peterborough Police Service has welcomed six new officers to the service.

The six new recruits — constables Jeremy Avey, John Bangay, Christopher Cox, Blake Harris, Daniel Hicks, and Dominic Moukarzel — recently completed basic training at Ontario Police College.

The six men were officially sworn and received their badges on Monday (December 19) at Peterborough City Hall in front of family and friends.

“Congratulation to our new recruits,” said acting police chief Tim Farquharson. “The Peterborough Police Service welcomes you. We are excited to have you and look forward to you learning and being a part of the Peterborough community.” 

The new officers come to the Peterborough Police Service from various fields including corrections, security, customer service management, and sales with post-secondary degrees in commerce, sports management, forensics, and police foundations. They also have volunteer experience with auxiliary units.

Police services board members Drew Merrett and Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal also welcomed the new constables to the community and thanked them for their commitment to community service.

The Peterborough Police Service provides policing services for the City of Peterborough, the Village of Lakefield, and the Township of Cavan-Monaghan. 

For workers or job seekers, it’s not always clear how they can move up from an entry-level position to a more rewarding one. As a result, they may miss an opportunity that could lead to a more successful and satisfying career.

That’s where a career ladder comes in. Like its namesake, a career ladder is a tool that can help workers reach the heights of their chosen profession by showing them the steps they need to take to move up the career ladder.

For workers and job seekers in the greater Kawarthas region, the Workforce Development Board (WDB) has made interactive career ladders available at wdb.ca/career-ladders/ for four sectors where local employers have jobs to fill: agriculture, construction, food service, and manufacturing.

The four career ladders show the types of progressive jobs available at each rung of the ladder, including examples of job titles, job descriptions and duties, hourly wages, and general skills needed. They also provide information about educational and training opportunities to help individuals get the skills they need to move up the ladder, as well as high-demand jobs available right now at local employers.

Jennifer Lamantia, CEO of Workforce Development Board, says “these career ladders can be utilized not only by job seekers or those seeking career advancement, but also by local employment services or career counselling, literacy and basic skills providers, and in educational institutions to help plan career pathways.”

WDB’s career ladders were born out of Pathways to Prosperity (P2P), a workforce development program announced last August that provides unemployed and underemployed people with training and work placement for high-demand jobs in food service, construction, manufacturing, and agriculture.

Administered by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) in partnership with WDB, Fleming College, City of Kawartha Lakes Economic Development, and Muskoka-Kawartha Employment Services, the program also provides support for employers in Peterborough and the Kawarthas and the City of Kawartha Lakes to train and retain skilled talent.

Eva Rees, the workforce development project manager overseeing the P2P program with PKED, explains the link between Pathways to Prosperity and career ladders.

“We were looking at how workers can be made aware of what opportunities exist once they start at an entry-level job in any one of those high-demand sectors,” Rees says. “The idea with this tool is to show how a worker can progress in a career with further experience, training, and education and how higher-level jobs can lead to more opportunities financially.”

For example, the food service career ladder at wdb.ca/career-ladders/food-service-career-ladder/ has seven rungs, beginning from apprenticeship and then progressing from entry-level positions such as food counter attendants and kitchen helpers, to cooks, to chefs, to restaurant and food service managers, to supervisors and, at the very top of the ladder, entrepreneur and business owner.

At each rung, the median hourly wage is highlighted. The number of current job postings for each rung is also listed, which can be browsed on WDB’s online Local Jobs Hub with a simple click.

“It’s an interactive tool that provides not just the rungs on the ladder, but information about job seekers can move along to advance throughout their career, one step at a time,” Rees adds.

In addition, the career ladders describe the education and training resources available in our local area for each rung.

The career ladders offer workers an easy-to-understand guide for making decisions about the next step in their profession.

“If you’re at the second step and you want to go to the third, by looking at that step and the details, you can see exactly what’s available currently within our region, what the jobs look like, what they’re called, what the requirements are, and the minimum qualifications needed,” Rees explains.

“You can really get a good visual of what you’re striving for. It shows in black and white what the opportunities are and what you need to do to progress.”

Rees adds career counsellors and coaches working with PKED through local employment service providers have access to the career ladders, and use them as “a very positive motivator” to encourage workers looking to get a foothold in any one of the four sectors.

She says there’s a benefit for employers as well.

“As part of our conversations when we’re meeting with employers to discuss the Pathways to Prosperity program, we share the career ladder that’s applicable to their sector,” Rees says. “Not only does that confirm that the ladder is accurate and expresses the right way of climbing through a career in that sector, but it also shows the employer how other employers in their sector are advertising the positions that are available. It’s helpful for them to have that understanding.”

Along with the interactive career ladders, a series of videos are being produced that profile employers in the agriculture, construction, food service, and manufacturing sectors.

“In those videos, we’re interviewing employees that have worked their way up through the career ladders,” says Rees. “It’s a conversational side of the communication that goes hand-in-hand with the ladders.”

VIDEO: Publican House Brewery – Local Business Profile

On a personal level, Rees says she has seen the success of career ladders for workers in the Pathways to Prosperity program.

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet with participants who have gone through the program and have found themselves in a new career, trying to really move themselves up to a potential that they only dreamed about just a year ago,” she says.

Rees says the career ladders provide workers with a “clear picture” of how they can progress to a higher-level position, even if they aren’t in an entry-level position.

“It really is aspirational. It encourages people that — if they have previous experience, some education, and some training — using this tool can identify what rung on the ladder they should start at. It isn’t necessarily about starting right at the bottom. It’s about starting at the right place for them and what they have in their background and experience. This can help everybody at any career point.”

For more information about WDB’s career ladders, visit wdb.ca/career-ladders/. For more information about Pathways to Prosperity, visit investptbo.ca/jobmatch/.

This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

This branded editorial was created in partnership with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development and the Workforce Development Board. If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.

The Bobcaygeon Legion has donated $5,000 to the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation to support the hospital’s new clinical information system.

Members of the Royal Canadian Legion Bobcaygeon Branch 239 have supported the hospital for the past 30 years, according to a media release from the foundation.

Their donations have helped fund modernization projects in the Dr. Gargi Bhatia Family Birthing Centre, the construction of the dialysis unit, and critical acquisitions in the operating suites, laboratory, intensive care unit and diagnostic Imaging.

The latest donation will support the hospital’s clinical information system, part of a digital transformation that connects bedside medical equipment and life-saving technology to patients’ medical records and makes them accessible to care providers and patients wherever they are.

“This exceptional gift from the Bobcaygeon Legion Branch 239 to the Our Best To You holiday appeal is just the latest gesture of generosity in their long history of community support,” says Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation CEO Erin Coons.

“Service organizations including the Royal Canadian Legion continue to have a profound impact on the Ross. We’re grateful for their interest in ongoing efforts to modernize and enhance patient care in their community.”

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for all of southern Ontario, including the greater Kawarthas region, for a “significant” winter storm expected later this week and into the holiday weekend.

Precipitation may begin as rain or snow late Thursday (December 22) before possibly transitioning to rain in many areas early Friday.

Temperatures are expected to plummet on Friday, leading to a potential flash freeze for locations that received rainfall. Rapidly falling temperatures will be accompanied by strong to potentially damaging winds, along with snow that may be heavy at times.

Environment Canada says temperatures on Friday night into the weekend will likely be the coldest of the season to date.

Blizzard conditions are possible late Friday into the weekend for areas downwind of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. For locations east of the Great Lakes, a “multi-day lake effect snow event” is expected into the weekend in the wake of the system.

“While there is high confidence in a high impact winter storm, the details regarding wind speeds, precipitation types, and amounts remain highly uncertain at this time,” Environment Canada states. “Please monitor your local forecast and the latest alerts for your area.”

Environment Canada is suggesting people consider altering travel plans through the holiday weekend as conditions may become dangerous.

Extensive utility outages are also possible.

Police rescued a Peterborough man in his 70s on Sunday night (December 18) after he became lost while walking his dogs in a remote wooded area of Cavan.

After Peterborough police were made aware of the situation at around 6:15 p.m. on Sunday, several officers — including police constable Bob Cowie and police service dog Isaac — began searching for the man.

Around two hours later, the officers found the man and his dogs. The man was uninjured.

Police then used a remotely piloted aircraft system to help the group navigate safely out of the bush.

“With policing a rural area such as Cavan-Monaghan, tools such as our K9 unit and remotely piloted aircraft system are invaluable to help find people who have become lost or are missing,” says acting police chief Tim Farquharson.

“We are pleased this situation turned out positively.”

VIDEO: Missing man rescue (December 18, 2022)

A group of community organizations has announced a partnership to provide an emergency winter response to the homelessness crisis in Peterborough, with plans to launch an overnight drop-in program to offset the shortfall in shelter beds beginning in mid-January and continuing until the end of April.

The partnership comprises frontline service providers, researchers, and funders, including the United Way Peterborough and District, whose CEO Jim Russell led the announcement during an event at the former Trinity United Church at 360 Reid Street — the intended site of the drop-in program — on Monday morning (December 19). Along with the United Way, funders include the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, the Canadian Mental Health Association of Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge, and Fourcast.

“City council’s recent decision to deny funding to a much-needed winter-drop in came as both a disappointment and a shock,” said Mark Graham, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association of Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge. “We are proud to be among the partners rising to the occasion to respond to this serious need in the community.”

Last Monday (December 12), Peterborough city council voted for a second time against Town Ward councillor Alex Bierk’s call for $100,000 to support the operation of the overnight drop-in centre by a coalition of community agencies. Before the vote, Peterborough Police Service community engagement and development coordinator Emily Jones addressed council and said the drop-in centre would be going ahead regardless of whether the city provided funding or not.

Jones told kawarthaNOW last Wednesday that all involved were “working very diligently” to get the drop-in program set up and open as soon as possible. At the time, both Russell and One City Peterborough co-executive director Christian Harvey declined to share further details with kawarthaNOW, indicating a formal announcement was forthcoming.

Monday’s announcement named the community organizations that have contributed to developing the drop-in program, including Fourcast, Canadian Mental Health Association of Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge, Mobile Support Overdose Resource Team (MSORT), United Way Peterborough and District, John Howard Society of Peterborough, Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough, Research for Social Change Lab (Trent University), Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, and One City Peterborough.

“The concern among us as partners was the lack of action and urgency to response to those unhoused and living outside as we are coming into winter,” said Fourcast executive director Donna Rogers.

The most recent data available on the City of Peterborough’s website indicates 314 people in the community are experiencing homelessness and there are around 106 shelter beds available for families, youth, and adults. According to the United Way Peterborough and District’s most recent Point-in-Time Count, conducted in December 2021, just over half of the 176 people without housing who were interviewed said they either didn’t know where they were planning to sleep that night or were planning on sleeping in cars or outside.

“It’s imperative that we dispel and dismiss the narrative that there are enough beds for people,” said Russell. “There is a chronic shortfall. If there wasn’t, why were we approached to problem solve the coming winter’s challenge? At the very least, let’s tell the truth about the number of unhoused people and their needs.”

In July, the United Way released a report summarizing the results of its one-time 2021 emergency winter response funding, citing the need for a plan for the coming winter. Among the results, the outcomes of One City Peterborough’s StopGap program were highlighted, showing that 371 individuals accessed One City’s overnight drop-in program in the winter of 2021, which provided people living outside with an indoor space to warm up and access basic necessities including snacks and washrooms.

The demand for the One City program often exceeded its 16-person capacity, confirming that overnight services in addition to the current shelter system were needed. Beginning in August, the City of Peterborough convened facilitated discussions with many community partners to seek advice and counsel for the upcoming winter. At that time, there was consensus an overnight drop-in program would be required to offset the shortfall in shelter beds.

Last fall, Peterborough’s previous city council had considered a $200,000 grant for a drop-in program at the former Trinity United Church. At that time, city staff advised the “lame duck” provision of the Municipal Act prevented city council or staff from making any expenditure over $50,000 during a municipal election campaign.

“Barriers faced by the city such as the lame-duck period during the municipal election prevented decisions from being made well into the fall, delaying community agencies’ ability to act sooner,” reads a media release from the United Way on behalf of the community partnership. “As a result, this winter’s overnight drop-in program has an expected start date of mid-January, with the start date being dependent on hiring staff and finalizing programmatic details.”

One City Peterborough will provide staffing and oversight of the drop-in program, which would operate at the former Trinity United Church between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. The one-time emergency response program will operate until April 30, 2023

“People who are unhoused deserve the dignity of being sheltered and included in our community,” said Christian Harvey, co-executive director of One City Peterborough. “Until that is possible, we want to ensure no one dies in the cold.”

Actor Ryan Reynolds has sent a video of encouragement to Rowghan Hart, the 14-year-old girl who remains in hospital after surviving a horrific head-on collision near Peterborough in November that killed her parents and brother.

Rowghan’s cousin Tanya Hart posted an update on Friday (December 16) on a GoFundMe campaign, in which she described that Rowghan has endured five major surgeries in just over three weeks.

“Rowghan is so strong and hasn’t complained once,” Tanya wrote. “She has smiled and made jokes, continuing to amaze the doctors, nurses and everyone that surrounds her. Thank you also to Ryan Reynolds, who sent Rowghan a video of encouragement yesterday. It brought a smile to her face.”

In an update last week, Tanya explained the hospital’s orthopaedic surgeon had told Rowghan “the most unimaginable news regarding her future.”

“We sat by her side as she processed her new reality that she may never walk again,” Tanya wrote. “I can honestly say that is was the hardest thing I have ever experienced in my life.”

On the afternoon of Tuesday, November 22nd, Rowghan was travelling in an SUV with her father 46-year-old Jonathan MacDonnell, mother 52-year-old Stephanie Hart, and brother 18-year-old Riddick Hart — who called themselves the “MacHart” family — on Highway 7 just east of Peterborough when their vehicle collided head-on with a pickup truck driven by 42-year-old Jason Schmidt of Hastings. Rowghan, the sole survivor, was airlifted to SickKids Hospital in Toronto in critical condition.

A funeral service for Rowghan’s parents and brother has not yet been arranged, according to Tanya, so the family can focus entirely on Rowghan’s recovery as well as her grandparents.

“We are sorry that we have to delay the services for Stefphanie, Jon and Riddick into the new year,” Tanya wrote. “However, it is so important that Rowghan be healthy and stable enough to be in attendance, in order to continue to process and grieve her beloved family.”

The GoFundme campaign organized by Tanya has so far raised more than $87,000 to support the MacHart family. A second GoFundMe campaign created by relative Kathryn Wilson has raised almost $9,000.