This Friday (September 30) is the second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, intended to remember and honour the lost Indigenous children and survivors of Canada’s residential school system as well as their families and communities. The day will be recognized with events in both Indigenous and settler communities throughout the greater Kawarthas region

The Canadian government established National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in June 2021, in response to the Call to Action #80 from the 2015 final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As well as remembering and honouring those lost to residential schools and the thousands of survivors, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day for Canadians to educate themselves about the heritage, culture, stories, and experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

September 30th is also Orange Shirt Day, when Canadians are encouraged to wear orange to raise awareness of the tragic legacy of Canada’s residential school system. The date of September 30 was chosen for Orange Shirt Day because it is the time of year when Indigenous children were taken from their homes to residential schools.

In the greater Kawarthas region, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on Friday will be marked with various events in both Indigenous and settler communities. Highlights of some of the events are listed below.

Curve Lake First Nation is hosting an event at Lime Kiln Park with a sunrise ceremony at 6 a.m. and an “Every Child Matters Walk” at 10:30 a.m. beginning and ending at the Curve Lake Community Centre, followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m. Social drumming and dance will take place from 1 to 4 p.m., followed by a pizza dinner at the community centre at 4:30 p.m. Professor Jackson Pind will speak at 5 p.m., with a ceremony to honour survivors following at 6 p.m. and an open mic night at 7 p.m. Participants are encouraged to wear their Orange Shirts.

Hiawatha First Nation is hosting a plaque unveiling and a community dinner to honour their citizens who attended a residential school. The event, which takes place from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Gathering Space at 431 Hiawatha Line, includes an opening prayer and smudge, an honour song by Michi Saagiig Manomin, remarks from Chief Laurie Carr and other invited guests, a commemorative plaque unveiling, and a catered dinner with traditional foods. Those attending are encouraged to wear their Orange Shirts.

Alderville First Nation is hosting a walk beginning at noon on Friday, from Alderville’s health services building to the community centre.

Trent University is hosting a number of in-person events including a Sunrise Ceremony at 6 a.m. at Mnidoowag A’Kiing Traditional Area, a Heart Garden Reflection from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kerr House at Traill College, Settlers Taking Action and Responsibility from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bata Library Podium, Three Sisters Community Lunch at 12 p.m. at Gzowski College, a Community Sacred Fire from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Champlain College Fire Pit with a moment of silence at 2:15 p.m., “Truth Before Reconciliation: Indian Residential and Day School Histories” by Professor Jackson Pind at 3 p.m. at First Peoples Gathering Space, a Round Dance at 4:30 p.m. at the Bata Library Podium, and “One of that Witchcraft Dancing” reading and talk by residential school survivor and Elder Shirley Ida Williams and a “Returning Home” film screening at 7 p.m. at Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space.

Fleming College is holding events at all three of its campuses in Peterborough, Lindsay, and Haliburton. Events include a reading of “Phyllis’s Orange Shirt,” a reading and talk with Indigenous poet and City of Peterborough poet laureate Sarah Lewis (at the Sutherland and Frost campuses), remarks by Indigenous artist Rick Beaver (at the Frost campus), and a screening of “The Secret Path: The Chanie Wenjack Story.” The Sutherland Campus will also include a “Living Library” featuring Indigenous Fleming alumni and local Indigenous community members. Students, staff, and faculty will be encouraged to decorate rocks which will line walking paths at each campus, with decorated rocks to be placed during an Orange Shirt Walk at each campus in the afternoon. Nish Tees will be set up at each campus selling Orange Shirts.

In Peterborough, local singer-songwriters will be performing at an event to raise awareness and conversation as well as funds for an Indigenous-led culture-based private school in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough. The event takes place Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. at Crook & Coffer at 231 Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough. Admission is a $10 donation or pay what you can. Local musicians include Craig MacEachern from Acoustically Hip, Jacques Graveline from Black Knight Satellite, and Samara Johnson.

Proceeds from the event will support Sage and Sunshine, the area’s only school providing full-day Indigenous culture-based education for Indigenous students. Owned and operated by Ashley Wynne, an Anishinaabe mother of four and an early childhood educator, the school serve families with children aged four to 10. For those who are unable to attend the event, or who wish to provide additional support, the organizers encourage a donation to the Downie & Wenjack Fund at downiewenjack.ca.

Also in Peterborough, Hutchison House is hosting a special reception on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. to unveil its new Land Acknowledgement plaque with original artwork by local artist Fred Taylor of Curve Lake First Nation. Light refreshments will be served as Taylor shares his story as a residential school survivor and how he uses his art to heal from the anger and hurt he felt from the Mohawk Institute. While admission to the reception is free, reservations are required by calling the museum office at 705-743-9710 as seating is limited.

In Port Hope, the Dibaajimowin Cultural Centre is presenting an event at 3 p.m. at Port Hope Memorial Park that includes the sharing of Indigenous culture through stories, dance, and ceremony and a sacred fire. Please note that Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services has granted special permission to allow for a fire to take place in Memorial Park. Out of respect for the residential school survivors and the children who never made it home, participants are encouraged to wear an Orange Shirt.

In Cobourg, Dr. David MacDonald, author of The Sleeping Giant Awakens, will present on the topic “The TRC Seven Years Later: Settlers and Conciliation with Indigenous Peoples” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (September 29) at the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall. On Friday, a Sharing Circle will be located at Rotary Habourfront Park from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, featuring prompts located around the fountain to promote critical thinking about past and current issues and foster healthy conversations to have with friends, family, and other people you meet at the circle. The event takes place near the Indigenous ‘Seven Feathers’ Crosswalk on Albert Street at Second Street, which features seven feathers representing the seven grandfather teachings of the Anishinaabe people: love, respect, courage, honesty, humility, truth, and wisdom.

Also on Friday in Cobourg, Northumberland Christian School, Church on the Hill, Northumberland Youth Unlimited, and Grace Christian Reformed Church will host an all-ages gathering at 1 p.m. at the Victoria Park Bandshell featuring Jonathan Maracle, Mohawk/Scot musician and founder of Broken Walls.

In Bobcaygeon, the settler group Truth and Reconciliation Community Bobcaygeon is celebrating First Peoples on Friday from 5 to 6 p.m. at the grounds of the Boyd Museum Gallery and the Bobcaygeon Library featuring artist David Beaucage Johnson and Peterborough’s poet laureate Sarah Lewis from Curve Lake First Nation.

Fourcast and the community partners involved in Peterborough’s Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) site at 220 Simcoe Street have released a “community impact report” providing an update on the site’s first three months of operation.

The CTS site provides a safe and clean space for people to consume pre-obtained drugs — the CTS site does not provide drugs — under the supervision of health professionals, with staff always on hand to respond to medical emergencies. Along with host agency Fourcast, the other community partners for the CTS are PARN, Peterborough County-City Paramedics, and the Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, with on-site services provided by PARN Harm Reduction Works and the Mobile Support Overdose Response Team (MSORT).

Service users are also provided with sterile consumption supplies, education on safer consumption practices, basic medical services, and referrals to drug treatment, housing, and other social services.

Since opening on June 13, Peterborough’s CTS site has had 149 unique registered users. In July, there were 31 average daily visits, with 91 per cent of users between the ages of 20 and 49, with 48 per cent using the synthetic opioid fentanyl.

The number of visits to the CTS site has increased significantly since its opening, with 151 visits in June, 489 in July, and 944 in August, for a total of 1,584 visits.

During July, there were nine overdose incidents at the CTS, with no deaths.

The community impact report also includes comments from nearby organizations and a business on the positive effect of the CTS site to date.

“I’ve certainly noticed a decline in public use and discarded needles in and around the downtown,” says Terry Guiel, executive director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. “I’ve noticed nothing that could be tied to the site in any negative way. I haven’t received one call or email in association with the CTS site and I’ve noticed a great improvement in the downtown in the last several weeks.”

“I have to admit that there is something that has changed and I believe I can attribute a good portion of that to the CTS site,” he adds. “It certainly has not had any of the overdramatic issues that some people thought would occur. It’s good to see these early signs that it is having a positive impact.”

“From Wild Rock’s perspective, the biggest tangible change that our staff have seen is that our back parking lot is cleaner,” says Tori Silvera, general manager of Wild Rock Outfitters. “We’ve found less than ten needles since the end of June. This is a huge reduction as compared to pre-CTS. It means our staff don’t have to put themselves at risk and pick them up … It’s gratifying to know that
the CTS is working.

“Since the CTS opened, we’ve noticed a big drop in drug-related emergencies in and around the library,” says Mark Stewart, library services manager with the Peterborough Public Library. “Prior to the opening of the CTS, drug poisonings were a common occurrence at the library, now they happen rarely. The library staff is in strong support of the CTS and is grateful to have this community resource close by.”

“Some transit staff have noticed a quicker response time to suspected overdoses in the terminal/parking garage areas that may be the result of the clinic having a paramedic on site,” says Laurie Stratton, transit manager with the City of Peterborough.

“When someone is outside our office and non-responsive, our staff have been able to visit the CTS and ask for help with the situation,” says Tegan Moss, executive director of Peterborough GreenUP. “This has happened three times and there’s always been a prompt and helpful response. While the CTS staff made it clear that when they are busy they may not be able to help, so far they have been able to resolve our issues effectively and provide support to people who are struggling. Since the CTS opened, our staff now know where to go for help and we have not had to call the police, which is new.”

A copy of the Community Impact Report is provided below.

PDF: Community Impact Report CTS – Sept 2022
Community Impact Report CTS Sept 2022

Police have arrested two suspects and have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a third suspect in connection with the July 2022 homicide of Shawn Singh of Peterborough.

On July 2, police were called to the Park Street North and Sherbrooke Street area in Peterborough following reports that a person had been shot. After arriving, officers located a 37-year-old male victim and administered CPR. The victim was transported to Peterborough Regional Health Centre where he succumbed to his injuries. Police later identified the victim as Shawn Singh of Peterborough.

On Monday (September 26), police announced two suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with Singh’s death.

During the execution of a search warrant on September 8, 35-year-old Rebecca Silva of Toronto was arrested and charged with manslaughter with a firearm and accessory after the fact to murder. The accused was held in custody and appeared in court on September 8.

During the execution of a search warrant on September 9, 27-year-old Jack Monine of Peterborough was arrested and charged with second degree murder, accessory after the fact to murder, and failure to comply with probation. The accused was held in custody and appeared in court on September 10.

Police continue to search for 34-year-old Eduardo Tito Silva of Barrie on a Canada-wide warrant in connection with Singh’s homicide.

“The safety of the residents in our community is the number one priority of the Peterborough Police Service and we understand that safety is also a concern in our community,” Peterborough police state in a media release. “This has been a very active investigation for Peterborough Police over the past number of months and we thank the public for their patience over the course of the investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police Service’s crime line at 705-876-1122 x555. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at stopcrimehere.ca.

FLATO Developments Inc. has donated $3 million to the Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, the largest donation in the hospital’s history.

The Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation and FLATO Developments made the announcement at the hospital on Monday (September 26). The donation will support the digital transformation of patient care and enhancement of services at Ross Memorial Hospital.

“A hospital is fundamental to any community, and we want to ensure that the people who live in this community have access to the right equipment and facilities to deliver the best care,” said Shakir Rehmatullah, FLATO Developments Inc. owner and CEO, in a media release from the hospital foundation. “We are proud to be supporting Ross Memorial Hospital in that mission.”

“Supporting healthcare is close to my heart,” Rehmatullah added. “I lost my father to cancer and it’s his legacy and example that I keep in mind when it comes to giving back to the community. I am deeply committed to supporting a healthy and thriving community in the Kawartha Lakes.”

According to the media release, Ross Memorial Hospital is modernizing the delivery of care through new technologies and advances in medicine resulting in faster and safer diagnosis and treatment. Digital transformation includes all new patient care equipment, including a new CT scanner and MRI, which will be digitally connected to provide world-class imaging and up-to-the-minute clinical information where and when the patient needs it.

“This historic investment will greatly benefit our community hospital by supporting advancements in connectivity and services that will help ensure we deliver the highest quality of care to all of our patients,” said Ross Memorial Hospital and CEO Kelly Isfan. “Ross Memorial is thrilled to celebrate this record donation for our hospital with our newly named FLATO Developments Ambulatory Care Centre.”

Launched in 2005 and based in Markham, FLATO Developments Inc. develops housing projects across southern Ontario, including in Lindsay and Cameron within Kawartha Lakes.

In April, FLATO Developments Inc. donated $1.2 million to Fleming College in Lindsay and, last December, entered into a 15-year $1.375 million sponsorship agreement with the Academy Theatre in Lindsay, which is now called FLATO Academy Theatre Lindsay. The company has also previously made donations to Ross Memorial Hospital.

“Although we’re still in the early stages of our campaign, we were thrilled to learn of Shakir Rehmattulah’s interest in our hospital’s priority needs,” said Tim Shauf, Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation board campaign chair. “Having met with Shakir several times over the last few months, I’ve witnessed how committed he is to growing strong communities and how much he values the availability of high-quality health care.”

A drunk driver knocked out power to around 4,000 residents in the Lakefield area after colliding with a hydro pole early Sunday morning (September 25)

At around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, Peterborough County OPP responded to a complaint that a pickup truck on Lakefield Road had left the roadway and struck a hydro pole. The complainant also reported they observed the driver fleeing the scene on foot.

Police located the driver at a nearby grocery store and determined he was under the influence of alcohol. Daniel Kay, 26, of Wilberforce was arrested and charged with operation while impaired (blood alcohol concentration 80 plus), operation while impaired (alcohol), and fail to remain.

The accused man had his driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and his vehicle impounded for seven days. He is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough on November 2.

No injuries were reported at the time of the collision. However, the area was without power for around eight hours while Hydro One crews repaired the damaged pole.

Police are reminding motorists to plan ahead when consuming alcohol. Use a designated driver, cab, public transit, or stay overnight. Any amount of alcohol or drugs can impact your ability to make sound judgments.

Hey Lakefield and area peeps with power out. Top half of hydro pole snapped across from The Maples in Lakefield at Seaforth Cres. 4K people out. Hydro on scene with new poles. Est fix 1 pm. Power on south of Ptbo Appliances. No pics (driving!) #Lakefield #Stoney @kawarthaNOW pic.twitter.com/xDo4b4Bn7u

— Mz Emma ???????? (@Hey_MzEmma) September 25, 2022

Boaters with vessels that cannot be trailered and who have been unable to return to their home port because of the closure of the Kirkfield Lift Lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway will be able to proceed through the lock beginning on Monday (September 26).

Located a few kilometres north of the Village of Kirkfield, the Kirkfield Lift Lock suffered a severe mechanical failure on September 2 that resulted in the closure of the lock. Since then, Parks Canada has been working on the site to allow for the passage of vessels to their home ports.

“After multiple inspections by qualified consultants on the superstructure and mechanical components, the Lift Lock has been approved to offer limited, single-chamber lockages to vessels returning to their home ports that cannot be trailered,” reads a media release from Parks Canada.

To proceed through the lock, boaters must email trentsevern@pc.gc.ca and provide their full name, phone number, length and beam of their vessel, their current location, their home port, and any additional special needs such as accessibility issues. Parks Canada will contact boaters via telephone to confirm and provide a lockage date and time.

Delays experienced by boaters will vary depending on the position of the Lift Lock chambers when the boater arrives. Upbound vessels will experience a lockage time of around six hours, while downbound vessels will experience a lockage time of around 30 minutes. Boaters (and pets) will be asked to disembark their vessels while the transfer is underway. Access to washroom facilities and shelter, in the case of inclement weather, will be available.

Boaters are asked to arrive at the lock only on the agreed-upon date and time for lockage and with sufficient provisions for the duration of the vessel’s lockage, as there are no amenities such as restaurants or accomodations within walking distance of the lock. While the parkland around the lock remains closed to the public, boaters can use that space while their vessels are going through the lock.

The Kirkfield Lift Lock is the second highest hydraulic lift lock in the world with a lift of 15 metres. The lock is situated at the highest point along the Trent-Severn Waterway at 256.20 metres (840.5 feet) above sea level.

The great blue heron has been selected as Peterborough’s first official ‘city bird’, following an initiative by Bird Friendly Peterborough — a community group made up of representatives from local nature-focused organizations — to have Nature Canada certify the city as being bird friendly.

The announcement was made at the City of Peterborough’s inaugural Environmental and Climate Action Expo on Friday (September 23), after a community vote held from August 2 to September 5 where residents were asked to choose their favourite bird species from a list of 16 local birds curated by Bird Friendly Peterborough.

Bird Friendly Peterborough then selected the winning bird from the five species that received the most votes, which were the northern cardinal (322), great blue heron (319), osprey (260), black-capped chickadee (232), and pileated woodpecker (198).

“Congratulations to everyone involved with Bird Friendly Peterborough for a successful campaign to raise awareness of Peterborough’s birds and the essential role they play in our ecosystem,” said Kemi Akapo, city councillor and deputy mayor in a media release.

The largest heron native to North America, the great blue heron is found near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America and Central America, as well as the Caribbean and the Galápagos Islands. They primarily feed on small fish, but also eat a wide range of larger insects, frogs and toads, and even rodents and other small mammals.

Generally solitary feeders, herons often forage while standing in shallow water, locating their food by sight then spearing it with their long and sharp bill and usually swallowing it whole.

American artist, naturalist, and ornithologist John James Audubon (after whom the Audubon Society is named) illustrated and described the great blue heron in the second edition of his early 19th-century book Birds of America.

His description of the bird will resonate with anyone who has tried to get close to a great blue heron.

“Extremely suspicious and shy, this bird is ever on the look-out,” Audubon writes. “Its sight is as acute as that of any falcon, and it can hear at a considerable distance, so that it is enabled to mark with precision the different objects it sees, and to judge with accuracy of the sounds which it hears. Unless under very favourable circumstances, it is almost hopeless to attempt to approach it.”

On June 27, Peterborough city council approved an application from Bird Friendly Peterborough that elected the city as being bird friendly through Nature Canada’s Bird Friendly City certification program. In April, Nature Canada had certified Peterborough as having met the entry-level requirements of the program through existing city policies and community programs.

“Thank you to everyone who participated in the community vote for Peterborough’s official city bird,” said Thomas Luloff of Bird Friendly Peterborough. “The majestic great blue heron, often seen along the shores of the Otonabee River and surrounding waterways, perfectly represents Peterborough’s connection between land and water.”

For tips on reducing threats to local birds, and to learn more about making homes and businesses bird friendly, visit www.birdfriendlypeterborough.ca.