“A future free from abuse doesn’t belong on anyone’s wish list.” – YWCA Peterborough Haliburton

Your donations this holiday season to help local woman and children fleeing domestic violence will go twice as far, thanks to the generosity of local supporters of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.

During YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s “The Gift of Safety” holiday campaign, all donations made until the end of December will be matched dollar for dollar up to $88,500 — a matching donation record for the non-profit organization providing support and crisis services for women and children.

The matching donors from Peterborough and Haliburton County are Jennifer Fraser, Olivia and Gord James, Linz Hunt of Electric City Real Estate, the Ontario Insurance Network, Herod Financial, and local Desjardins Insurance agents Tammy Lee Hanlon, Kirk Norris, Kyle Harrington, Mike Harrington, Todd Spalding, and Brian Mulligan, along with five anonymous donors.

On any given night, more than 6,000 Canadian women and children sleep in shelters because they aren’t safe at home. Like most women’s shelters in Ontario, YWCA’s Crossroads Shelter and Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace (HERS) and support programs only receive partial government funding and rely on community donations to cover basic operating costs.

With gender-based violence intensifying during the pandemic and the demand for supports continuing to grow, the need for funding has reached critical proportions.

You can donate to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton online or by phone at 705-743-3526. All donations made until midnight on December 31 will be matched dollar for dollar, up to a total of $88,500. If you wish, you can designate your donation to go to either Peterborough or Haliburton County.

You can also sponsor a woman and child in Peterborough or Haliburton County, including gifts and a special meal or grocery cards to offer a little extra care and support throughout the holidays.

Another option is to purchase gift cards and mail or hand deliver them to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton. Gift cards offer women the freedom and autonomy to select needed supplies and gifts for their own children — something that may not have been possible when they were trapped in an abusive relationship.

The gift cards most requested by women using the organization’s services are $25 denomination gift cards from Walmart, Sobeys, President’s Choice (Loblaw’s and No Frills), Glecoff’s Family Store in Haliburton County, and Canadian Tire, as well as prepaid gas cards, prepaid credit cards, and pizza gift cards.

For more information about YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, visit ywcapeterborough.org.

kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s “The Gift of Safety” holiday campaign.

Missing 89-year-old Joseph McGee of Minden Hills Township was found dead on Wednesday (December 7), according to the Haliburton Highlands Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

Police had asked for the public’s help in locating McGee after he went missing on Saturday, when he was last seen driving his vehicle.

“Family members wish to express their heartfelt thanks to the community for their tireless efforts in the search for Joseph McGee,” states an OPP media release. “The OPP also wish to thank both the community and our media partners for their assistance in this matter.”

No further details were released by police.

Original story

The Haliburton Highlands Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 89-year-old man from Minden Hills Township.

Joseph McGee was last seen driving a dark green Subaru Outback with Ontario plate BTSY 146 on Saturday (December 3) in the Minden area.

Police describe McGee as as a white male, 5′ 10″ and approximately 180 lbs. He is balding with short grey hair and beard, and has blue eyes.

He is possibly wearing black boots with no laces, blue jeans, a white sweatshirt with the word “cutty” on the chest with a blue-collared shirt underneath, a blue fleece jacket with a gold band across the chest, and an Ottawa Senators ball cap.

Police are concerned for his well-being, and are asking people to check their properties, especially rural and seasonal ones, for any sign of McGee or his vehicle.

Anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of McGee or his vehicle is asked to contact the Haliburton Highlands OPP detachment at 1-888-310-1122.

Sadleir House, the independent student-run community centre in downtown Peterborough, is raising funds to pay off the remaining $175,000 in its mortgage.

Located at 751 George Street North north of Parkhill Road, Sadleir House is owned and operated by P.R. Community & Student Association, a not-for-profit charitable organization.

As well as providing office space for local organizations including the Kawartha World Issues Centre, the Community Race Relations Committee of Peterborough, and Arthur Newspaper, Sadleir House regularly hosts concerts, films, poetry readings, and other events both for Trent University students and the general community.

“At Sadleir House we’re really trying to do something different,” says Sadleir House general manager Matt Jarvis in a video. “We’re trying to prove that, as a community, we can lift up a space. This is a giant Victorian mansion. We have three large event spaces, including a black box theatre and a 100-person concert venue with industry-standard sound.”

“Paying off the mortgage will free up $30,000 in annual funds for us to spend on renovations and heritage upgrades and programming — stuff that we can use to make our space more beautiful for everyone.”

Sadleir House was built in 1892 for local businessman and politician James Kendry, who sold it in 1902 to James R. Stratton, publisher of the Peterborough Examiner and a local politician, who built a coach house for his horses three years later.

VIDEO: Matt Jarvis talks about the Sadleir House mortgage

In 1963, the newly founded Trent University purchased the original house along with the coach house to serve as the main building for its Peter Robinson College, with architect Ron Thom designing a connection between the two buildings two years later.

Initially named Peter Robinson House, it was later renamed after the late Richard Sadleir, a friend of Trent University’s founding president Thomas H.B. Symons who helped found the university and was the first master of Peter Robinson College from 1963 until 1969.

In 1999, Trent University announced plans to close both Peter Robinson and Catharine Parr Traill Colleges, resulting in widespread student protest. Three years later, the colleges’ buildings — including Sadleir House — were sold to a property developer.

In 2003, the demand for increased space for students combined with outrage at the loss of Peter Robinson College prompted a group of students to form the Downtown Student Facility Trust, which put forward a referendum question to full-time undergraduate students at Trent University for establishing a $22 per student levy to purchase an existing building in downtown Peterborough for non-profit educational and cultural student facility to be shared with the community as a whole.

After a majority of students voted in favour of the referendum, the P.R. Community & Student Association was incorporated in 2004 and purchased Sadleir House for $650,000. In 2005, the City of Peterborough designated Sadleir House as a heritage building.

The not-for-profit organization primarily relies on the student levy along with donations to cover its operational expenses. It also rents out space in Sadleir House, with discounted rates for not-for-profit groups and for community use and no charge for Trent University student groups.

“Giant Victorian mansions are extremely expensive,” Jarvis says. “However, over the last 20 years we’ve been slowly and surely paying off the mortgage to the point that we only owe $175,000 — which is a lot of money.”

Jarvis is appealing for donations of any size from members of the community, alumni of Peter Robinson College, people involved in the alternative arts community in Peterborough, and more. You can donate to Sadleir House at www.sadleirhouse.ca/donate. All donations over $20 will receive a charitable tax receipt.

For more information about Sadleir House’s plans or to tour the premises, you can contact Jarvis at 705-742-3686 or at matt@sadleirhouse.ca.

Environment Canada has now issued a wind warning for southern Peterborough County, southern Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County for Saturday.

A north-to-south-oriented cold front will track east across southern Ontario, expected to reach the Kawarthas region by mid-to-late morning.

Westerly winds gusting to 90 km/h will continue throughout the afternoon in the wake of the cold front.

A special weather statement for strong winds also remains in effect for northern Peterborough County, northern Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Hastings County. South or southwest winds with gusts up to 60 km/h are expected ahead of the cold front, followed by west or northwest winds with gusts up to 80 km/h along and behind the front.

The strongest winds will only last an hour or so as the cold front passes. Winds are expected to ease from west to east in the evening.

The strong winds may damage roof shingles and windows and cause tree branches to break. The winds may also toss loose objects and damage soft shelters, tents, and awnings at outdoor events. Hydro One crews are prepared to respond to power outages that may be caused by damaging winds.

People may want to exercise caution while attending Santa Claus parades in the Kawarthas on Saturday. Parades take place in Bancroft at 2:30 p.m., Peterborough at 4:45 p.m., Cobourg at 6 p.m., and Pontypool at 6:30 p.m.

Santa will need to hold onto his hat while he’s parading in the greater Kawarthas region on Saturday (December 3), as Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for strong winds for all of southern Ontario.

A north-to-south-oriented cold front is expected to track east across southern Ontario on Saturday, reaching the Kawarthas region by late Saturday morning.

South or southwest winds with gusts up to 70 km/h are expected ahead of the cold front, followed by west or northwest winds with gusts up to 80 km/h along and behind the front. The strong winds will continue through Saturday afternoon.

Rain showers changing to snow flurries and rain showers are expected across the region until early afternoon, with a chance of flurries throughout the afternoon.

High winds may toss loose objects or cause tree branches to break. Damage to buildings, such as roof shingles and windows, as well as power outages may occur.

Santa Claus parades take place on Saturday in Bancroft at 2:30 p.m., Peterborough at 4:45 p.m., Cobourg at 6 p.m., and Pontypool at 6:30 p.m.

After a two-year absence because of the pandemic, Santa is returning to downtown Peterborough on Saturday (December 3) to take part in the 47th annual Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade.

The City of Peterborough has released information about road closures along the parade route, parking, transit detours, and more related to the parade, which begins at 4:45 p.m.

With increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic expected in the late afternoon, the city is also reminding everyone to leave extra time and use caution while travelling in the downtown area on Saturday.

Road closures

To allow for both staging and the parade procession, the following road closures will be in place starting at 4 p.m.:

• Antrim Street — Aylmer Street to Water Street
• Edinburgh Street — Aylmer Street to Water Street
• Dublin Street — Aylmer Street to Water Street
• London Street — Aylmer Street to Water Street
• McDonnel Street — Aylmer Street to Water Street
• Murray Street — Aylmer Street to Water Street
• George Street — Parkhill Road to Brock Street
• Prince Street — George Street to Park Street
• Aylmer Street — Lansdowne Street to Romaine Street

The parade will travel south on George Street starting at McDonnel Street and passing in front of City Hall at 4:45 p.m., ending and dispersing at Prince Street. A rolling road closure, supervised by Peterborough Police Services, will be in place along George Street during the parade.

Event volunteers will be available to remove barricades to allow for local access for residents and emergency vehicles along side streets. All road closures are expected to be over by 7:30 p.m.

Parking during the parade

No on-street parking is permitted on George Street between Brock Street and Prince Street starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 3. Parking staff will be on-site to help ensure cars are relocated. Any cars still parked on George Street at 3 p.m. will be towed to a nearby lot. 

People are encouraged to park in the King Street Parkade at 202 King St., the Simcoe Street parking garage at 190 Simcoe St. or municipal surface lots at the following locations: 

• Chambers Lot at 184 Hunter St.
• Reid Lot at 350 Reid St.
• Surface lot at 365 Aylmer St.
• Rehill Lot at 210 Wolfe St.
• Del Crary Lot at 100 George St. N.
• Downie Lot at 336 Downie St.

Parking in municipal lots and parking garages is free on weekends. Any parking fees that are voluntarily paid during the month of December will be donated to Kawartha Food Share.

Residents are reminded to follow all on-street parking regulations that may be in place in the downtown area, including calendar parking where applicable. Please ensure fire hydrants and driveways are not blocked.

Transit detours

Starting at 4 p.m., Peterborough Transit will have the following route detours in place for Route 2 Chemong, Route 4 Weller, Route 6 Sherbrooke, Community Bus 22 – Blue and Community Bus 23 – Red. For more details, or call Transit Customer Service at 705-745-0525.

• Route 2 Chemong – Southbound from Terminal: Simcoe to Aylmer Street to Romaine Street to Park Street to Lansdowne Street to Lock Street. Northbound from Lansdowne at Borden: Regular route to Lansdowne Street to Park Street to Romaine Street to Aylmer Street to Simcoe Street
• Route 4 Weller – During the rolling road closure #4 westbound will follow regular route to terminal only. The eastbound bus will travel to the bus stop at Simcoe at Water streets. Customers will be directed to catch the bus at the Simcoe and Water bus stop.
• Route 6 Sherbrooke – Southbound from Trent (4 to 7:30 p.m.): regular route to Parkhill Road, right on Parkhill to Reid Street, left on Reid Street, left on Simcoe Street. Northbound from Terminal (during rolling road closure): Simcoe to Aylmer Street, Aylmer to McDonnel Street, left on McDonnel to Reid Street, right onto Parkhill Road where regular route resumes.
• Community Bus 22 – Blue – Southbound on George Street to Parkhill Road, right on Parkhill to Reid Street, left from Reid to McDonnel Street, travels right on Aylmer Street and continues on Aylmer Street to Charlotte Street where regular route resumes.
• Community Bus 23 – Red – Until the rolling road closure begins: Eastbound on McDonnel Street to Aylmer Street, right on Aylmer to Simcoe Street and continues on regular route. During the rolling road closure Eastbound on McDonnel Street to Aylmer Street, right on Aylmer to Romaine Street to Park Street, where regular route resumes.

Peterborough Petes game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre

There is a Peterborough Petes game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Saturday evening starting at 7:05 p.m.

With the Santa Claus parade affecting traffic in the area, people attending the game are encouraged to plan for extra travel time when getting to the game. Paid parking at the Memorial Centre opens at 4 p.m. and the arena doors open at 6 p.m.