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.

Peterborough city council doesn’t want a new bridge to be built across the Otonabee River linking East City to downtown Peterborough.

Councillors have rejected a proposal to protect a corridor for a possible future bridge connecting Maria Street to Sherbrooke Street, which was one of the recommendations of the city’s Eastside Transportation Study, a 30-year plan costed at $209 million for road network improvements in the east side of the city.

Council reviewed the study’s recommendations during a general committee meeting on Monday (March 14).

That proposal also included the potential widening of Sherbrooke Street to four lanes from George Street to Millennium Park, the potential widening of Maria Street to four lanes, the potential widening of the Maria Street swing bridge across the Trent Canal to four lanes, and the potential extension of Maria Street east from Walker Avenue to Television Road.

The total cost of the proposal was estimated at $81.7 million.

During its public consultation process, the project team for the Eastside Transportation Study heard concerns from residents about the proposed Sherbrooke Street to Maria Street connection, including impacts on private property and existing trails, increased vehicular traffic in the area, pedestrian safety, impediments for existing pedestrian and cyclist-friendly space, and parkland reduction.

Despite those concerns, the proposed Sherbrooke Street to Maria Street connection remained as a recommendation to council.

“The Sherbrooke Street to Maria Street connection was found to be the only option that could provide the required network capacity for the expected growth in the East City Area,” reads a staff report to general committee members.

“It would provide a new continuous Arterial Road connection across the City, would serve as an alternative route for truck access into the downtown and reliable transit service to East City, would take traffic away from Hunter Street allowing this corridor to evolve in a more pedestrian, cyclist and business friendly manner, and would reduce traffic infiltration on the north-south roads connecting Maria Street to Hunter Street.”

Although council endorsed in principle all of the study’s other recommendations, they decided to remove the recommendation for the Sherbrooke Street to Maria Street connection and extension.

The other recommendations in the study include $10.5 million of intersection improvements at Parkhill Road East and Armour Road, Parkhill Road East and Television Road, Old Norwood Road and Television Road, Paul Rexe Boulevard and Television Road, Maria Street and Armour Road, and Lansdowne Street East and Ashburnham Drive, and $177 million for 10 road projects including widening Television Road to four lanes from Lansdowne Street East to Parkhill Road, widening Parkhill Road East to four lanes from Water Street to Leahy’s Lane, widening Ashburnham Drive to five lanes from Lansdowne Street East to Maria Street, and constructing a new two-lane bridge across the Trent Canal on McFarlane Street.

Future councils would determine the pace of implementing the study’s recommendations over the next 30 years.

City council will consider items endorsed by general committee for final approval at its meeting on Monday, March 28th.

PDF: Eastside Transportation Study Executive Summary – March 2022
Eastside Transportation Study Executive Summary - March 2022

The Peterborough Singers have paid tribute to the people of Ukraine by singing the country’s national anthem.

At the choir’s rehearsal last Tuesday (March 8), artistic director Syd Birrell led the choir in learning and then performing the anthem.

The choir sang in Ukrainian, accompanied by organ and piano.

“We handed out the music, we practised the words, we rehearsed the melody, and then with the cameras rolling we rose and sang the Ukrainian national anthem,” Birrell says. “We gave it our all. And we wept.”

You can watch the performance below.

The lyrics of the Ukrainian national anthem (translated to English) have special resonance given the Russian invasion:

The glory and freedom of Ukraine has not yet perished
Luck will still smile on us brother-Ukrainians.

We’ll not spare either our souls or bodies to get freedom
and we’ll prove that we brothers are of Kozak kin.

VIDEO: Peterborough Singers sing the Ukraine National Anthem

Peterborough-area native John Freeman is continuing an epic six-year cycling trip around the world with his dog, hoping to inspire others to embrace life.

The 51-year-old resident of Canmore, Alberta and his border collie-heeler mix Mira, who’s almost five years old, are preparing to make their way through Central and South America.

After they complete that leg of the journey, they will head back home to Alberta to plan for the next leg through Antarctica, although Mira won’t be able to join Freeman in Antarctica due to travel restrictions. After that, they plan to head east to explore Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

“I’ve taken months-long trips before, but this adventure is much larger and more encompassing than anything I’ve done,” Freeman says in a media release. “It’s 80 pounds of gear, plus Mira, and camping in all kinds of weather. It will take resilience, but it will be a life-changing experience and I know Mira will keep me going.”

The pair travel around 100 kilometres daily, stopping in towns and villages along the way. Freeman posts photos and videos of his and Mira’s adventures — including meeting locals, camping, bike repairs, and more — on Instagram @mira_la_perra and YouTube @OmniTierra.

“She loves the running and meeting new people,” Freeman says of Mira. “When she’s in her crate on the bike, she takes in the world like a dog with her head out a car window.”

VIDEO: John Freeman and Mira’s Dogpacking World Tour

Freeman has recently launched a website at www.omnitierra.com, and runs a Patreon at patreon.com/omnitierra.

Through his Patreon and sponsorships, Freeman hopes to raise funds for portions of his trip, especially for the Antarctica expedition which will be especially daunting and costly.

Freeman says people tell him that the pair’s journey has been inspiring, especially during the pandemic.

“Some are feeling trapped by COVID or are having a tough time at work, and to see Mira so happy, it gives them a breath of fresh air,” Freeman says. “I feel very lucky to be able to do this and share it with others.”

A certified alpine guide who works as a rope access supervisor specializing in mountain safety and rope access training when he’s not cycling, Freeman has more than a decade of experience with road, track, and MTB bike racing. He began travelling on his bike through different countries many years ago, first with his late dog Melon and then with Mira when she was three months old.

“I enjoy seeing the world and different cultures and different people, in these remote and beautiful places you can only access on a bicycle,” Freeman says. “I want to show viewers that it’s never too late to embark on your own journey, no matter how old you are. Maybe I’ll inspire them to explore somewhere new.”

This year’s Carl Oake Rotary Swim has raised more than $50,000 so far in support of Rotary Club of Peterborough projects and Easter Seals.

Donations will continue to be collected until Friday (March 18) at carloakerotaryswim.com.

After going virtual last year due to the pandemic, the 36th annual swim was held in person on February 25 at the YMCA of Central East Ontario. The swim saw more than 50 swimmers and volunteers participating, with 12 teams swimming sponsored laps from 7 to 9 a.m.

The event was founded in 1987 by real estate broker and Rotary member Carl Oake. Now 76, he last swam in the 2017 event. His three daughters have since carried on the tradition, with Renee Oake completing 156 lengths in an hour for this year’s swim.

Since it began, the annual charity swim has raised over $1.3 million for Rotary projects and Easter Seals.

The 50th annual Easter Seals Telethon in Peterborough takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 10th at the YourTV studio. It will be broadcast on YourTV and Global Peterborough.