Peterborough Transit routes to Fleming College have returned to normal after a strike at Ontario’s colleges was averted at the last minute on Thursday night (March 17).

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) — representing 16,000 full-time and partial-load professors, instructors, librarians, and counsellors — had been poised to strike at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.

Since last July, the faculty union has been negotiating a new collective agreement with the College Employer Council (CEC), which represents Ontario’s 24 public colleges. On Monday, the union give notice that it would begin a full walk-out strike on Friday.

OPSEU and the CEC returned to the bargaining table for last-minute negotiations on Thursday and agreed to enter binding interest arbitration — a mechanism used to resolve disputes in the collective bargaining process where disputing parties agree in advance to accept the terms of a deal as decided by a neutral third party.

The agreement means there will be no strike, and all work-to-rule strike activities will also cease. A strike would have affected around 250,000 Ontario college students, including 16,000 students at Fleming College’s Peterborough, Lindsay, and Haliburton campuses.

On Thursday, Peterborough Transit had announced plans to reroute all buses away from Fleming College and take several bus stops out of service in the event of a strike. On Friday morning, Peterborough Transit announced all routes have returned to normal.

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With faculty members at Ontario’s public colleges poised to go on strike on Friday (March 18), Peterborough Transit will be rerouting buses away from Fleming College’s Sutherland Campus.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) — representing 16,000 full-time and partial-load professors, instructors, librarians, and counsellors — and the College Employer Council — representing Ontario’s 24 public colleges — have been negotiating a new collective agreement since last July. The faculty union has twice rejected the College Employer Council’s offer, and the union give notice on March 14 that it would begin a full walk-out strike at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.

OPSEU and the College Employer Council returned to the bargaining table for last-minute negotiations on Thursday, with management urging the union to call off the strike and to continue meeting on Friday and through the weekend if necessary. A strike means that all programs, classes, and placements will end, affecting around 250,000 Ontario college students — including 16,000 students at Fleming College’s Peterborough, Lindsay, and Haliburton campuses.

If no agreement is reached on Thursday, Peterborough Transit will not operate on the Fleming College Sutherland campus. At 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, all routes that normally serve Fleming College directly will be temporarily detoured to start and end at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre (775 Brealey Drive) for the duration of the strike.

Peterborough Transit says passengers travelling on The Parkway Route 5, Sherbrooke Route 6, Lansdowne Route 7, Monaghan Route 8, and Parkhill Route 9 trips may experience delays due to the impact of the required changes.

Here are the other changes Peterborough Transit has announced:

• The main Fleming College bus stop and the bus stops on Fleming College Way at Brealey Drive will be out of service.
• All Fleming College routes will drop off Fleming College riders at the northbound bus stop on Brealey Drive just north of Stenson Boulevard.
• A new temporary bus stop on southbound Brealey Drive just north of Fleming College Way will serve as the pick-up location for The Parkway Route 5 and Monaghan Route 8 trips.
• The existing northbound bus stop on Brealey Drive, just north of Stenson Boulevard will serve as the pick-up locations for Sherbrooke Route 6 and Lansdowne Route 7 trips. This is the same stop as the drop-off location.
• A new temporary bus stop on eastbound Stenson Boulevard, adjacent to the plaza will serve as the pick-up location for Parkhill Route 9 trips.
• Lansdowne Route 7 service will detour via Brealey Drive to the bus stop at Brealey Drive and Stenson Boulevard and to the Wellness Centre.

In addition, the following bus stops will be out of service during the strike:

• Westbound Lansdowne Street at Brealey Drive to Fleming College (buses will serve the southbound bus stop on Brealey Drive, south of Lansdowne Street).
• Southbound Dobbin Road at Lansdowne Street to Fleming College (buses will serve the southbound bus stop on Brealey Drive, south of Lansdowne Street).
• Northbound Dobbin Road at Lansdowne Street to Trent University or Willowcreek Plaza (riders should use eastbound bus stop on Lansdowne Street, east of Brealey Drive).

At its first virtual meeting this year, 100 Women Peterborough has chosen Bridges Peterborough as the organization that will receive what is expected to be close to $10,000 in donations.

A collective philanthropy group, 100 Women Peterborough met on Zoom on Tuesday (March 15) to raise funds for an organization in need. Prior to the pandemic, the group met in person four times a year, with each of the members committing to donate $100 at each meeting. The group has been meeting virtually during the pandemic, with attendance at meetings optional in recognition of the financial impact of the pandemic on some members.

Whether meeting in person or virtually, the group hears presentations from three organizations randomly drawn from a larger list of organizations nominated by the group’s members. The organization receiving the most votes from members receives the donations contributed by the group’s members.

The three organizations that presented to 100 Women Peterborough at Tuesday’s virtual meeting were Bridges Peterborough, Camp Kawartha, and Teachers for Kids Charity, with Bridges Peterborough chosen by majority vote to receive the funds.

Growing out of the faith-based Bedford House Community Ministry founded by Lynn and Allan Smith-Reeve, Bridges Peterborough is working to challenge the prevailing ways of addressing poverty. The organization responds to rising levels of poverty, increasing precarity in employment, rising opioid addictions, and lack in housing that is affordable.

Over the past five years, Bridges Peterborough has developed bridging teams, a small-group experience where under-resourced participants known as “catalysts” develop strategies with middle-income mentors to build a more stable life. The organization also formed The Company of Conversation Changers, a group of consultants with lived experience in poverty who provide advice and support to help facilite the bridging team process.

VIDEO: Bridges Peterborough’s Bridging Team Company of Conversation Changers Project

The donation from 100 Women Peterborough will directly fund the bridging teams program.

“Being part of a bridging team has given me a sense of community,” says Rebecca Turland, who presented during the meeting for her work in The Company of Conversation Changers. “My self-worth has improved and I’m earning a living wage which has eliminated the burden of debt I was carrying.”

100 Women Peterborough was founded in February 2018 by Rosalea Terry, Catia Skinner, Wendy Hill, and Alyssa Stewart, who were inspired by similar groups in other communities.

“As our first meeting falls just after International Women’s Day, we are reminded that the work that our group does to empower women in our community to make change is more important than ever,” Terry says.

“Women are known for being passionate about the causes that they support and the charities that come to present often walk away with much more than just the money that is donated,” she adds. “They now have an army of incredible women spreading information about their organization through their networks. It is powerful.”

The collective philanthropy movement began in the United States in November 2006, when Karen Dunigan of Michigan formed the “100 Women Who Care” group. After their first meeting, the women raised over $10,000 for the purchase of 300 new baby cribs for a local organization.

The movement has grown over the past 16 years to include groups of men, women, youth, and children around the world, with more than 210 chapters in Canada alone.

Since its formation, 100 Women Peterborough has collectively donated more than $135,000 to 16 local organizations: Hospice Peterborough, Peterborough Youth Unlimited, One Roof Warming Room, New Canadians Centre, Cameron House, Five Counties Children’s Centre, Casa De Angelae, Lakefield Animal Welfare Society, Community Care Peterborough, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, Community Counselling and Resource Centre, Peterborough Pregnancy Support Services, Heads Up for Inclusion, Kawartha Youth Orchestra, Peterborough GreenUP, and Bridges Peterborough.

Women interested in joining 100 Women Peterborough should visit www.100womenptbo.ca for more information.

If you have an unused kid’s bike in your garage or shed, B!KE: the Peterborough Community Bike Shop could use it for a worthwhile cause.

The charity is holding a “Kids’ Bike Build” event on Sunday, April 10th, when they will refurbish donated bikes and provide them free of charge to local organizations working with children and youth.

Bike donations will be accepted any time before April 10, and can be dropped off at 293 George Street North from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Donated bikes should have all major parts, such as wheels and handlebars.

“Two of our guiding values are affordability and sustainability,” says event organizer Riley Hillman in a media release. “By refurbishing used bikes and getting them into the hands of kids who need them we’re ticking off both those boxes.”

B!KE has held other Kids’ Bike Build events in the past, with B!KE volunteers and mechanics from other local bike shops donating their time to repair and check the bikes.

Previous events have seen between 40 and 50 bikes refurbished and donated to organizations including the New Canadians Centre, the Salvation Army, Youth Unlimited, and the YES Shelter for Youth and Families.

Otonabee Conservation has issued a flood watch for for all waterbodies and watercourses in the Otonabee watershed, except for the Trent-Severn Waterway (Kawartha Lakes, Otonabee River, and Rice Lake) where a water safety statement is in effect.

A flood watch is issued to alert municipalities, residents, and businesses that floods are possible. A watershed conditions statement for water safety is issued when high flows, ice, or other factors could be dangerous, but flooding is not expected.

The flood watch is in effect for the Indian River watershed, the Ouse River watershed, and the watersheds of the tributary creeks that flow into the Otonabee River.

Beginning Wednesday (March 16), a warm weather trend accompanied by precipitation will affect Otonabee Conservation’s geographical jurisdiction and the more northern Haliburton Lakes and Reservoir Lakes region, albeit to a lesser extent and duration in the north.

Over the next week, the region will experience continuous snowmelt and 20 to 50 mm of rainfall, with most of the rain arriving on Friday and Saturday (March 18 and 19).

Rain on snow on frozen or saturated ground will cause water levels and flows to rise in area rivers, streams, creeks, and wetlands. If waters rise enough as to exceed channel capacity, it is expected to only do so in low-lying areas and to cause only nuisance-level flooding.

The Kawartha Lakes area is not expected to experience flooding during the next week, given inflows from the north are expected to hold steady. However, ice conditions will become increasingly unsafe. The Otonabee River and Rice Lake have sufficient capacity to handle local inflows without exceeding their normal confines.

However, area residents can expect ponding of water in low-lying areas because frozen or saturated ground conditions will prevent absorption. Also, ponding and possibly flooding of adjacent roadways and pathways will occur around culverts and drainage basins that are blocked due to snow, ice, or debris accumulations.

Residents and businesses along the shores of area waterbodies and watercourses, especially those located in low-lying areas, are strongly encouraged to keep a close watch for possible flooding and to take action to limit or prevent damages due to potential flooding.

Weather conditions are not expected to induce ice-cover break-up on the Kawartha Lakes or Rice Lake. Along the Otonabee River ice cover has already disappeared, exposing dangerously fast-flowing and extremely cold waters.

Adults, parents, and caregivers are advised to keep themselves, children, and pets away from all waterways and conveyance structures (i.e., dams, culverts, and bridges).

The flood watch and watershed conditions statement for water safety are in effect until Friday, April 1st unless updated.

The Cobourg Police Service has recognized four members of the community — Hilary Caird, Laura Blake, Shawn Torrison, and Tyler Woods — for their selfless actions.

“Our strength as a community is our resilience and our willingness to help others,” said police chief Paul VandeGraaf.

“We know our community is full of people doing good and selfless deeds every day. We are happy to have the opportunity to recognize these actions when we have a chance.”

Police recognized Caird, Blake, and Torrison for assisting a woman in distress.

They were out on a walk at the Cobourg harbourfront on Boxing Day when they heard the distress calls of a woman coming from the frigid waters of Lake Ontario. The trio worked together to pull the woman from the lake, allowing paramedics to provide further medical support to the woman when emergency services arrived and avoiding a potentially life-threatening situation.

Caird, Blake, and Torrison were presented with certificates of appreciation and Chief’s Challenge Coins at the Cobourg Police Services Board meeting on February 15.

Police recognized Woods for his actions assisting police in apprehending a suspect.

On January 21, Woods used his snowplow to block the exit to a laneway at a residential complex in Cobourg, limiting a suspect’s opportunity to escape and allowing police to safely make an arrest and bring a dangerous interaction to an end.

Woods was presented with a certificate of appreciation and a Chief’s Challenge Coin at the Cobourg Police Services Board meeting on March 15.

Fourteen long-term care homes in the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County will receive over $10.2 million in provincial funding to increase staffing levels this year.

On Tuesday (March 15), the Ontario government announced it will provide $673 million to long-term care homes across the province this year to hire and retain up to 10,000 staff, leading to more direct care for residents.

“We know that more qualified staff means more daily care for residents,” said Ontario’s long-term care minister Paul Calandra. “Hiring more staff is part of our government’s plan to fix long-term care and to improve the quality of care residents receive and the quality of life they experience.”

The Ontario government has committed $4.9 billion to hire more than 27,000 long-term care staff over four years, increasing the average daily hours of direct care per resident by one hour and 21 minutes — compared to an increase of 22 minutes between 2009 and 2018 — for a total of four hours of direct care by 2024-25.

Direct care is hands-on care provided by registered nurses, registered practical, nurses and personal support workers that includes personal care, such as help with eating, bathing and dressing, as well as other tasks such as helping residents move and providing medication. Seniors entering long-term care today are older and have more complex medical needs than they did just a decade ago.

In Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County, 14 long-term care homes will receive the following funding amounts for additional staffing this year to increase the hours of direct care for residents.

• Victoria Manor in Lindsay – $1,447,740
• Lakeview Manor in Beaverton – $1,299,492
• Centennial Place in Millbrook – $1,116,336
• Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Home in Lindsay – $1,064,016
• Caressant Care on McLaughlin Road in Lindsay – $837,252
• Case Manor Care Community in Bobcaygeon – $837,252
• Springdale County Manor in Cavan Monaghan – $593,052
• Fenelon Court in Fenelon Falls – $584,340
• Extendicare Kawartha Lakes in Lindsay – $558,168
• Hyland Crest in Minden – $540,732
• Frost Manor in Lindsay – $418,632
• Extendicare Haliburton – $383,748
• Bon Air Long-Term Care Residence in Cannington – $340,140
• Highland Wood in Haliburton – $261,648

“This funding will help our long-term care homes ensure they have the additional supports and staff they need so those living in long-term care get the high-quality care they deserve,” said Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott.

“Today’s announcement is another milestone in our government’s plan to fix long-term care and recruit thousands of new staff over the next four years.”

During a media event on Tuesday (March 15) at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, the Peterborough Petes revealed the jerseys that will be worn at this year’s Pink in the Rink game for the Canadian Cancer Society.

The 13th annual fundraiser, originally scheduled for February 5, will take place on Saturday, April 9th when the Petes face off against the Niagara IceDogs at 7:05 p.m.

The fundraising goal for this year’s game is $50,000, with all proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society. There was no game in 2021 because of the pandemic, but the campaign still went ahead, raising almost $24,000.

Petes general manager Michael Oke also presented honorary co-chairs Doug Gibson and Meaghan Roy with their jerseys during Tuesday’s media event.

Gibson played three seasons with the Petes from 1971 to 1973, breaking Mickey Redmond’s goal-scoring mark and competing in the 1972 Memorial Cup final. Roy is Global Peterborough’s sports anchor, beginning her career at CHEX TV in 2007 as a part-time news reporter and becoming the station’s first female sports anchor in 2014.

This year’s game jersey, which features a colour combination of pink and maroon and has the breast cancer ribbon draped across the front and back of the jersey, also has the Canadian Cancer Society patch on the left shoulder and a patch honouring late Petes alumnus and Peterborough media figure Gary “Diller” Dalliday on the right shoulder.

The names of family and friends who battled cancer are also marked throughout the front and back design. These names were purchased by Peterborough community members, with 100 per cent of the proceeds donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Fans must purchase tickets to participate in the live jersey auction, which will be held immediately following the April 9th game.

A Pink in the Rink t-shirt and ticket bundle is available in the Petes store for $30. Fans who already have their tickets and would also like a t-shirt can purchase them for $15 at Petes games or online.

Fans can also use promo code ‘PINK’ when purchasing tickets online for a portion of their purchase to be donated back. There will also be a cash-only bucket pass throughout the game to collect additional funds that will be used towards women’s cancer research.

Since 2010, Pink in the Rink has raised more than $812,099 for women’s cancer research through the Canadian Cancer Society Peterborough & District, making it the top fundraising event in the Ontario Hockey League.