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‘Intensification has been directed by the city’ developer says as backlash to proposed 17-storey East City development grows

A rendering of TVM Group's proposed 17-storey residential-commercial building at 90 Hunter Street East beside Mark Street United Church in Peterborough's East City, which includes a four-storey parking garage. If approved by the city, the building would be the tallest in Peterborough, although a 30-storey apartment building is being proposed by another developer on the other side of the Hunter Street bridge behind the Peterborough County building. (Graphic: RAW Design Inc.)

When Desmond and Maria Vandenberg bought their East City century home in 2020, the Mark Street property checked a lot of boxes for the couple.

Not only was “the home we’re going to retire to” within “walking distance of every kind of shop we’d want to go to,” but unimpeded backyard garden sunshine was abundant. As a bonus, beyond their rear property line, an urban rarity in the form of greenspace offered a pretty backdrop.

So it was when the couple got wind of a 10-storey residential-commercial development proposed for 90 Hunter Street East, a site adjacent to the nearby Mark Street United Church, they attended a June 2024 information session hosted by the developer, Toronto-based TVM Group, to learn more and gauge the impacts, if any, the development would have on their property.

“We went with open minds,” recalls Desmond, admitting to being “surprised” when he saw the development plans and renderings.

Asked at that time for comment by kawarthaNOW, Desmond held back, now recalling “We wanted to stop, reflect, and make sure that we were being reasonable in any sort of response we had to it.”

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Close to a year later, with the 10-storey 156-unit building now proposed as a 17-storey 205-unit one, he has plenty to say — and is saying it to anyone that will listen.

He’s not alone. A growing number of residents, most of them living in East City, are crying foul and making their voices heard on social media.

A website at 90hunter.com, co-created and maintained by East City resident Courtney Claessens, provides a comprehensive overview of the new proposal while an online petition, signed at last count by close to 250 people, is demanding the following of Peterborough planning staff and, by extension, city councillors.

  • Rejection of the 17-storey proposal as incongruous with Peterborough’s Official Plan and Urban Design Guidelines.
  • Reduction of the overall height to a maximum of 10 storeys, or include community benefits such as affordable housing units and public green space for any height granted over 10 storeys.
  • A return to the original 45-degree angular plane recommendation from adjacent residential properties, or include adequate setbacks, landscape buffering and transitions to neighbouring properties.
  • Provision of an updated comprehensive traffic study now that Armour Road is no longer under construction.
  • Holding of a transparent public consultation before approval of any revised proposal.

“We’re not against development,” stresses Desmond, speaking for himself and his wife. “East City should be available to other people as well, and high density is probably the way to go for Peterborough to meet its housing goals.”

“However, we maintain there’s an appropriate level of height. The tallest building in East City is about six stories, so a six-storey building fronting Hunter Street would be among the highest buildings. I think I could support that, where it tiers down (in storeys) as it goes into residential areas.”

As proposed now, the TVM development would be the tallest building in Peterborough, its 57-metre (187-foot) height eclipsing Charlotte Towers on the southwest corner of Charlotte and Aylmer streets in downtown Peterborough which, at 14 storeys, has long held that distinction.

There is, however, an application still before the city for a 30-storey apartment building, proposed by Clear Global Capital Limited in 2022, for a site behind the county courthouse.

Desmond Vandenberg, whose Mark Street home is located just north of Mark Street United Church, is one of the East City residents who are concerned with a proposed 17-storey residential-commercial building that would be located adjacent to the church. Desmond says that the proposed parking garage for the development will overlook his property and dominate the skyline almost to the height of the tree. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Desmond Vandenberg, whose Mark Street home is located just north of Mark Street United Church, is one of the East City residents who are concerned with a proposed 17-storey residential-commercial building that would be located adjacent to the church. Desmond says that the proposed parking garage for the development will overlook his property and dominate the skyline almost to the height of the tree. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)

While Desmond has concerns over the height of the proposed TVM building, as well as with related issues such as blocked sunlight and increased side street traffic, his main bone of contention is the development’s four-storey parking garage planned for the greenspace behind his property and just two metres from his property line.

“We would be surrounded on two sides by a four-storey parking wall; a concrete wall that is only feet from our property line, and actually less than a metre from one of our neighbour’s property line. That doesn’t leave any space to plant trees to kind of mitigate that look of concrete.”

After speaking with kawarthaNOW on Wednesday (May 28), Desmond met with TVM CEO Amit Sofer the following day to discuss the development. According to Desmond, Sofer provided some updates on revisions to the plan that have not yet been made public, including that the parking garage is now five metres, instead of two, from his property line.

“I appreciate that Amit took the time to meet with some of the residents bordering the development and the concessions being made,” Desmond says. “That said, as I communicated to Amit, I am still not comfortable with the overall scale of the building at 17 stories.”

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For his part, Sofer says all residents’ concerns, whether expressed now or at last year’s open house for the 10-storey proposal, are “legitimate.”

“One of things being overlooked is the tower component of the building replaces a significant reduction in the podium component,” he says.

“The tower is more slender. It’s taller, yes, but there is a smaller shadow. I don’t know if the shadowing is really that much of an issue. I appreciate that people don’t want to see a change in East City, but I am in the business of apartments. We’re well aware of the desperate need for apartments throughout the city.”

“We built a beautiful condominium building (East City Condos at Armour Road and Hunter Street East). A number of units in that building have been rented, and rented fairly quickly, including four we intend to transfer (to Mark Street United Church as part of the agreement for the property acquired for the new development). The demand for rental accommodation is insatiable right now. We’re simply trying to follow the guidance, direction and comments put forward by the federal, provincial and municipal governments. Our proposal is in keeping with all of those.”

Asked what the rental cost of the units will be, Sofer cites a range of $1,650 to $2,700 monthly.

A rendering of TVM Group's proposed 17-storey residential-commercial building at 90 Hunter Street East beside Mark Street United Church in Peterborough's East City, which includes a four-storey parking garage. (Graphic: RAW Design Inc.)
A rendering of TVM Group’s proposed 17-storey residential-commercial building at 90 Hunter Street East beside Mark Street United Church in Peterborough’s East City, which includes a four-storey parking garage. (Graphic: RAW Design Inc.)

Sofer adds he’s well aware of the concerns being expressed. To his credit, he has made himself accessible to answer questions, including visiting the Vandenbergs at their home to hear them out and obtain a firsthand look at their concerns. The couple has earlier hosted visits by a number of city councillors.

“Everybody wants it (housing), but no one wants it near,” says Sofer, noting “That’s the paradox of my job.”

“Anytime we’ve done a rezoning application, we get that pushback. No one likes any change. We had a load of resistance when we rezoned a school (property) on Reid Street into 48 fully accessible affordable apartments. It’s a resounding success. There are beautiful stories that have come out of that building. None of the concerns (expressed) have been realized.”

“When we re-did the hospital (formerly St. Joseph’s), there was immense pushback against putting residential in that area. It has contributed greatly to East City. I believe this building will also contribute in a very significant way. It will be the nicest building in the City of Peterborough.”

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Sofer’s assurance, however, promises to do little to win over detractors.

East City resident Susan Dunkley, in a letter sent to the media, has as much of a problem with the process as she does with its footprint.

“Last year’s town hall felt like a check-boxing exercise,” she writes.

“Residents showed up in good faith with serious, well-reasoned concerns — about traffic, school overcrowding, infrastructure strain, and the real risk of losing the character of our tight-knit neighbourhood. Yet none of those concerns have been meaningfully addressed. No follow-up. No solutions. Just a new, even taller tower. It’s hard not to feel like our voices don’t matter.”

Noting East City “has already taken on its fair share of growth” resulting in, among other things, “streets already congested,” she adds, “We all understand the need for housing. But it has to be done right — with intention, with respect for the existing community, and in places that can actually support it. This proposal fails on every front.”

Massing views of TVM Group's proposed 17-storey residential-commercial building at 90 Hunter Street East beside Mark Street United Church in Peterborough's East City, which includes a four-storey parking garage. (Graphic: RAW Design Inc.)
Massing views of TVM Group’s proposed 17-storey residential-commercial building at 90 Hunter Street East beside Mark Street United Church in Peterborough’s East City, which includes a four-storey parking garage. (Graphic: RAW Design Inc.)

As for Courtney Claessens, whose Cricket Place property will also face the development’s rear four-storey parking garage to the east, she echoes those concerns.

She says while she was aware of the original 10-story building proposal before buying her home last November, the desire to live in a “walkable neighbourhood” overrode any heightened concerns with that proposal.

That said, the revised 17-storey building plan now has her paying very close attention.

She too has concerns over the lack of community consultation on the new plan, local traffic impacts, and higher carbon emissions resulting from a taller building, adding “the 17-storey proposal is dominating, not enhancing.”

However, there’s also her opinion — shared by others — that TVM is rushing to gain city approval for its revised project before planned new guidelines around developers’ provision of services and amenities are adopted, potentially as early as spring 2026.

“If the community permit planning by-law is adopted, council can request the provision of services — stuff like affordable units, greenspace, daycare — for any building over 10 storeys,” she says.

“This is one of the largest developments being proposed right now in Peterborough, so it’s kind of precedent-setting. It’s a good thing to pay attention to how new developments are respecting policies in the official plan, and the urban design guidelines … really wanting to grow Peterborough in a way that serves its current and future residents.”

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Sofer, however, wholly refutes the rush-to-approval accusation to avoid any possible new rules around what’s required of developers. He says that supposition is one example of many false assumptions being aired via social media.

“Anything we say, we get a comment back on,” he says, adding “We’ll never make certain individuals happy — we will never made everyone happy. I know and regret that, but it’s the reality of life. It happens at my dinner table too.”

“We’ve been in Peterborough for 25 years. We’re not a merchant builder. We don’t build and sell. We build and own. Other than our condominiums, we own everything we’ve built.”

“I’m very confident that we’ve put together a proposal that meets the needs of the community at large, not five or 10 people. I believe we have something that’s going to benefit the city as a whole immensely.”

Renderings of TVM Group's proposed 17-storey residential-commercial building at 90 Hunter Street East beside Mark Street United Church in Peterborough's East City, looking east along Hunter Street (top two photos) and west along Hunter Street (bottom left photo), with a rendering looking southwest from Mark Street of the proposed addition to Mark Street United Church, which is part of the deal between the church's board and TVM Group for the sale of the church property where the development would be built. (Graphics: RAW Design Inc.)
Renderings of TVM Group’s proposed 17-storey residential-commercial building at 90 Hunter Street East beside Mark Street United Church in Peterborough’s East City, looking east along Hunter Street (top two photos) and west along Hunter Street (bottom left photo), with a rendering looking southwest from Mark Street of the proposed addition to Mark Street United Church, which is part of the deal between the church’s board and TVM Group for the sale of the church property where the development would be built. (Graphics: RAW Design Inc.)

Noting that the City of Peterborough is putting great effort into having more housing built, from that of the affordable variety through to single families, Sofer says TVM is responding to an expressed need.

As an example of that direction, he points to the city’s recent removal of exclusionary zoning. Now, he says, any R1-zoned property is entitled to have four residential units.

With the change, Sofer says TVM will be bringing the first four-unit application for the redevelopment of a single-family home, which has been taken down. The plan, he says, is to build four modular homes

“There’s an effort everywhere to intensify, and it’s not just in East City,” he says. “To the west (of TVM’s proposed Hunter Street East building), there’s even larger (development) proposals coming. Intensification has been directed by the city, and we’re simply responding to that.”

The city is currently reviewing the application from TVM Mark Street Inc. for a zoning by-law amendment for the proposed 17-storey building development.

A public meeting under the Planning Act on the proposed zoning by-law amendment will be held at an upcoming meeting of city council’s general committee, when members of the public will be able to make delegations.

Watch kawarthaNOW for more details of that meeting as they become known.

nightlifeNOW – May 29 to June 4

In support of their self-titled debut double album, "glitter folk" trio LeVolume (wife-and-husband team Jenny Whiteley and Joe Wright with Julian Brown) are performing at the Gordon Best Theatre in downtown Peterborough on Saturday night. (Photo via levolume.com)

Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, May 29 to Wednesday, June 4.

If you’re a musician or venue owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.

With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).

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100 Acre Brewing Co.

390 Ashburnham Dr., Peterborough
705-243-2444

Thursday, May 29

5-8pm - Rob Moir (no cover)

Friday, May 30

5-8pm - Irish Millie and Brennen Sloan (no cover)

Coming Soon

Thursday, June 5
5-8pm - Midlife Crisis (no cover)

Arthur's Pub

930 Burnham St., Cobourg
(905) 372-2105

Thursday, May 29

8-10:30pm - Open mic w/ Bruce Longman

Friday, May 30

8-11pm - Davey Boy

Saturday, May 31

8-11pm - Andy Earle

Monday, June 2

7:30-9:30pm - Local talent night ft local musician TBA

Black Horse Pub

452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633

Thursday, May 29

7-10pm - Jazz & Blues Night ft. Carling Stephen & Rob Phillips

Friday, May 30

5-8pm - Michael Constantini; 9pm - Night Howlers

Saturday, May 31

5-8pm - dennis O'Toole & Old Soul; 9pm - Four Lanes Wide

Sunday, June 1

4-7pm - Tex Mudslide

Monday, June 2

7-10pm - Crash & Burn w/ Rick & Gailie

Tuesday, June 3

6-10pm - Open mic w/ Johann Burkhardt

Wednesday, June 4

6-9pm - Dave Tough and The Scholars

Coming Soon

Friday, June 6
5-8pm - Ky Anto; 9pm - Vortexans

Saturday, June 7
5-8pm - Emily Burgess; 9pm - Jane Archer and Blues to the Bone

Sunday, June 8
4-7pm - Bluegrass Menagerie

Boshkung Social - Boshkung Brewing Co.

20 Water St., Minden
705-809-0512

Thursday, May 29

6pm - Tom Lambert

Sunday, June 1

2pm - Woody Woodburn

Boston Pizza Lindsay

435 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-0008

Thursday, May 29

8-11pm - Karaoke

Friday, May 30

8-11pm - Ian Clement

Burleigh Falls Inn

4791 Highway 28, Burleigh Falls
(705) 654-3441

Friday, May 30

5-8pm - Jake Dudas (no cover)

Cat & The Fiddle Cobourg

38 Covert St., Cobourg
(905) 377-9029

Friday, May 30

9pm-1am - Karaoke w/ Cait Sheppard

Saturday, May 31

8pm - Live music TBA

Wednesday, June 4

7-10pm - Open jam w/ Will Parker

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Coach & Horses Pub

16 York St. S., Lindsay
(705) 328-0006

Thursday, May 29

6-9pm - Open jam w/ Jesse Robinson; 9pm-1am - Karaoke w/ DJ Ross

Friday, May 30

7-11pm - U Jimmy

Saturday, May 31

1-5pm - Ian Clement; 10pm-2am - Karaoke w/ DJ Ross

Crook & Coffer

231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-876-0505

Thursday, May 29

7-9:30pm - Jimmy Breslin

Friday, May 30

8:30pm - Karaoke w/ Stoeten

Saturday, May 31

2:30-4:30pm - Sean Hully; 7:30-10:30pm - Homestead Elite

Dominion Hotel

113 Main St., Minden
(705) 286-6954

Sunday, June 1

3-6pm - Live music TBA (no cover)

Tuesday, June 3

5pm - Gord Kidd

Coming Soon

Friday, June 6
7:30pm - Open mic

Faculty Bar (formerly Bar 379)

379 Water St., Peterborough
705-742-0777

Friday, May 30

6:30-9pm - Blues & Soul Fridays ft J Boom

Coming Soon

Sunday, June 29
8:30-11:30pm - Single Mothers w/ Pkew Pkew Pkew, Heartless Romantics ($20 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1329183516679)

Ganaraska Brewing Company

33 Mill St., Port Hope
905-885-9029

Friday, May 30

7pm - Karaoke Night

Saturday, May 31

7-9pm - Colin Ronald

Sunday, June 1

2-5pm - Open mic w/ Clint Cameron

Wednesday, June 4

6:30pm - Live music TBA

Ganaraska Hotel

30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254

Saturday, May 31

2-6pm - Brave & Crazy

Gordon Best Theatre

216 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 876-8884

Saturday, May 31

7:30pm - LeVolume (Jenny Whiteley, Joey Wright, Julian Brown) ($30 in advance at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1274816754229)

VIDEO: "The Smoke, The Fire" - LeVolume

VIDEO: "Superslide" - LeVolume

Coming Soon

Saturday, June 7
8pm - Radiohead tribute band Idioteque performs "The Bends" ($20 early bird or $25 general admission in advance at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1301654807569)

Graz Restobar

38 Bolton St., Bobcaygeon
705-738-6343

Friday, May 30

7:30-9:30pm - Keith Audy

Saturday, May 31

7:30-9:30pm - Sean Jamieson

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Honkey Tonk Angel Bar (Golden Wheel)

6725 Highway 7, Peterborough
(705) 749-6838

Friday, May 30

8pm - Gunslingers ($20)

Jethro's Bar + Stage

137 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-931-0617

Thursday, May 29

8-10pm - Jeanne Truax & Friends; 10pm-12am - The Union (final show until September)

Friday, May 30

6-8pm - The Good Intentions; 8-10pm - Andrew Queen & Not Dead Yet; 10pm-12am - The Russlin' Bears

Saturday, May 31

8-10pm - Little Fire

Sunday, June 1

3-6pm - Blues jam

Wednesday, June 4

9pm - The Space Heaters

The John at Sadleir House

751 George St. N., Peterborough
705-742-3686

Friday, May 30

7:30pm - Labyrinth Ontario ft Araz Salek, Canan Sezgin-Geylan, Yahya Geylan ($20, $10 students in advance at https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/52861/)

Saturday, May 31

7:30pm - Bal Folk Dance w/ Boing Boing Zoom Zoom ($30 patron of the arts, $25 general admission, $20 arts worker, $15 student in advance at https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/52468/)

Coming Soon

Saturday, June 14
8pm - The Burning Hell w/ Charlie Glasspool & Intimidators ($20 in advance at https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/51158/)

Kawartha Country Wines

2452 County Road 36,, Buckhorn
705-657-9916

Sunday, June 1

1-4pm - Tami J. Wilde (no cover)

Kelly's Homelike Inn

205 3rd Street, Cobourg
905-372-3234

Friday, May 30

7-10pm - Rocky & Jay

Saturday, May 31

4-8pm - The Radials

The Locker at The Falls

9 Lindsay St., Fenelon Falls
705-887-6211

Sunday, June 1

1-4pm - Diane Williamson

Mainstreet Bar & Grill

1939 Lakehurst Road, Buckhorn
(705) 657-9094

Friday, May 30

7:30pm - Karaoke w/ DJ Ross

McGillicafey's Pub & Eatery

13 Bridge St.. N., Hastings
(705) 696-3600

Sunday, June 1

2-5pm - Steph Morris

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McThirsty's Pint

166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220

Friday, May 30

9pm-1am - Jordan Thomas

Saturday, May 31

9pm-1am - Ryan Scott

Sunday, June 1

8pm - Karaoke and open mic

Tuesday, June 3

8pm - Joanna & Danny Bronson

Wednesday, June 4

8pm - Kevin Foster

Muddy's Pit BBQ

3247 County Rd. 2, Keene
(705) 295-1255

Sunday, June 1

3-6pm - Ball and Chain

Olympia Restaurant

106 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-1444

Saturday, May 31

5-8:30pm - Live music TBA

Pappas Billiards

407 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 772-9010

Saturday, May 31

7-10pm - Jake Dudas

Pattie House Smokin' Barbecue

6675 Highway 35, Coboconk
(705) 454-8100

Friday, May 30

7pm - No Name

Pig's Ear Tavern

144 Brock St., Peterborough
(705) 745-7255

Friday, May 30

9pm - Tapes in Motion, Katie Mal, Night Danger (no cover)

Saturday, May 31

8pm - Father Dave and The Garage Cult ($5)

Tuesday, June 3

6-9pm - McDonnel Street Gospel Quartet (no cover)

Wednesday, June 4

9pm - Karaoinke

Puck' N Pint Sports Pub

871 Chemong Rd., Peterborough
(705) 741-1078

Friday, May 30

7-11pm - Bob Butcher

Saturday, May 31

8pm - High Waters Band

Riverside Grill & Gazebo at Holiday Inn

150 George St, Peterborough
705-740-6564

Sunday, June 1

1-5pm - Recovery Mode (no cover)

Rolling Grape Vineyard

260 County Rd 2, Bailieboro
705-991-5876

Thursday, May 29

5:30-8:30pm - Michael Haas

Sunday, June 1

2-5pm - Deanna Earle

Royal Crown Pub & Grill

4 King St. E., Colborne
905-355-1900

Saturday, May 31

8pm - Melodi Ryan (no cover)

Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro - Campbellford

18-22 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 947-2333

Thursday, May 29

7-10pm - Bobby Cameron

Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro - Marmora

16 Forsyth St., Marmora
613-666-9767

Thursday, May 29

7pm - Nighthawk

The Thirsty Goose

63 Walton St., Port Hope

Friday, May 30

8pm-12am - Cale Crowe

Saturday, May 31

8pm-12am - Jeff Biggar

The Venue

286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008

Coming Soon

Friday, June 13
8pm - Definite Leppard ($25 in advance at https://www.showpass.com/defleppard/)

Cobourg police and Northumberland Hills Hospital expand mobile mental health crisis support

Cobourg police constable Josalyn Hilts and Northumberland Hills Hospital social worker Morgan Emerson of the Mental Health Engagement and Response Team (M-HEART), which has been expanded with increased after-hours support for residents experiencing mental health issues or substance use concerns. (Photo: Cobourg Police Service)

Experiencing a mental health crisis isn’t confined to a certain time of the day, and the Cobourg Police Service (CPS) and Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) are striving to ensure no one “falls through the cracks” by increasing after-hours support for Cobourg and other Northumberland County residents in need.

On Wednesday (May 28), CPS and NHH announced the expansion of the Mental Health Engagement and Response Team (M-HEART) program into the afternoons and evenings.

The M-HEART program is an initiative that’s comprised of one officer from CPS and one mental health clinician from NHH’s community mental health services. Together, they engage directly with people experiencing mental health issues or substance use concerns.

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The expansion is possible as a result of funding the program received through the Ontario government’s Mobile Crisis Response Team Enhancement Grant, which has allocated more than $4.5 million to 40 police services and Ontario Provincial Police detachments across Ontario to strengthen their mobile crisis response teams.

With the number of mental health calls to the Cobourg Police Service continuing to climb, the provincial funding will support deployment of a second M-HEART team for afternoon and evening coverage.

“The goal of expanding the M-HEART program is to provide continuous and timely mental health support to individuals in crisis, particularly during times when services are less accessible,” Lisa Munday, manager of communications and strategic planning for CPS, shared with kawarthaNOW on behalf of the police service.

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“Police response to mental health calls continues to increase. In 2024, officers responded to 559 mental health calls for service and conducted 1,468 wellness checks,” Munday said. “This expansion aims to reduce the strain on emergency services, prevent the escalation of mental health crises, and ensure that individuals receive support promptly and proactively.”

Since its inception in 2017, the M-HEART partnership has provided urgent mobile support to individuals and families in Northumberland County who are experiencing a mental health crisis. The expansion addresses the growing community needs and ensures a M-HEART team will be available to help people when it’s needed most, a media release stated.

“As health care providers, it’s critical for us to continue finding innovative ways to make care accessible for everyone, not only in our community, but surrounding catchment areas,” said NHH president and CEO Susan Walsh in a statement. “The expansion of M-HEART services will help us break down barriers to care and deliver support to those in need during a crisis situation.”

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M-HEART has already been a critical service in Cobourg and surrounding communities, noted Kate Zimmerman, NHH vice-present of integrated care and chief nursing executive.

“By expanding this service, we are making mental health care more accessible and ensuring residents receive the support they need in their time of crisis,” Zimmerman said.

The M-HEART program is designed to improve police interactions by “fostering an integrated and proactive approach to mental health crises.” The approach focuses on engagement, risk reduction, and connecting people with services right when they need the support.

The partners said the mobile outreach provides immediate intervention, helping to avoid escalation or involvement with the justice system. In addition, M-HEART works closely with partner organizations to provide comprehensive assessment, intervention, and referrals.

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“M-HEART is a unique and essential service that strengthens the mental health support network in Northumberland,” said CPS Chief Paul VandeGraaf. “This expansion is a direct response to the increasing demand for mental health services, and it ensures that no one in our community falls through the cracks.”

The expansion will help better address community wellness and safety priorities, offering immediate support to individuals in crisis and mitigating barriers such as transportation and system navigation, according to the release.

In addition, the partnership “reaffirms the commitment of CPS and NHH to enhancing the mental health and safety of residents, helping reduce crisis situations, and improving overall community well-being.”

Integrity commissioner finds Peterborough mayor contravened city council’s code of conduct

Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal chairing a city council meeting in 2023. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough video)

Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal has contravened city council’s code of conduct by intimidating one city councillor and bullying another with respect to the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment, but did not contravene the code of conduct by influencing general committee’s decision on the redevelopment for private advantage.

Those are the findings in a 55-page inquiry report from the City of Peterborough’s integrity commissioner Guy Giorno. The report, dated May 26, will be considered by city council at its general committee meeting on Monday (June 2).

Giorno, who is one of the city’s two integrity commissioners and is responsible for investigating complaints, concluded that Mayor Jeff Leal contravened council’s code of conduct in his interactions with councillors Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica in connection to the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment, but that the mayor’s decision-making on the development did not involve a “private advantage” for him or for his wife.

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Giorno completed a joint inquiry in response to complaints received under section 31 of council’s code of conduct by-law 19-028, which states “A person who believes that a Member has contravened any provision of this Code of Conduct may give to the Integrity Commissioner the person’s complaint which must be in writing and must set out the particulars of the alleged contravention.”

According to Giorno’s report, 13 Peterborough residents filed separate but related complaints about Mayor Leal for making a threat against councillor Alex Bierk during council’s general committee meeting on April 2, 2024 on the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment, and/or by participating in decision-making on the Bonnerworth Park Redevelopment when he was not impartial.

The collective complaints were filed by Diane Therrien-Hale, Zachary Hatton, Laurie Breese, Jill Staveley, Sarah Byer, Martha Jansenberger, James Anderson, Allison Potts, Ryan Perks, Rob Hailman, Courtney Seddon, John Gerelus, and Robert Gibson.

Some of the complaints involved comments directed to councillor Bierk by Mayor Leal during council’s general committee meeting on April 2, 2024 on the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment, when the mayor was reported to have said “You’re going to regret you ever said that” and “I’ll carve you like a Thanksgiving turkey” after Bierk mentioned the mayor’s wife by name during the meeting.

Eight of the 13 complaints were filed in the days following the April 2 meeting, and another five complaints were filed after the mayor made a public apology for the comments at the city council meeting on April 8.

In addition to those complaints, Giorno investigated a separate complaint filed by councillor Joy Lachica, who alleged Mayor Leal bullied and intimidated her out of the public’s view following the April 2 general committee meeting.

While Giorno separately processed and investigated both the collective complaints and Lachica’s complaint, he submitted a joint report to council as the complaints share common background.

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In his report, Giorno concludes that Mayor Leal did not contravene section 29 of the council code of conduct, which states that no member of council may “use her or his office or position to influence or attempt to influence the decision of any other person, for the Member’s private advantage or that of the Member’s parent, child, spouse, staff member, friend or associate, business or otherwise.”

“Even under a broad interpretation of private advantage, one not limited to pecuniary matters, I find that the Mayor was not acting for the private advantage of himself or his wife,” Giorno states in the report.

“The Mayor’s occasional volunteer service to the PPA (Peterborough Pickleball Association) did not give rise to a financial or non-financial interest in the PPA or a financial or a non-financial benefit from the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment. Simply put, decision making on Bonnerworth did not involve his private advantage.”

“Decision making on Bonnerworth also did not involve a private advantage (for) the Mayor’s wife. She would be affected no differently than any other resident, and the PPA would be affected no differently than any other community group. The new pickleball courts would be accessible to the entire community, regardless of membership or lack of membership in the PPA. If the PPA ever booked exclusive use of a particular court, then it would do so on the same basis as anyone else, and it would pay.”

Giorno adds that the argument that the mayor should not have participated in a decision about the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment because he or his wife plays pickleball “is as flawed as an argument that swimmers cannot participate in decisions on pools and hockey players cannot vote on ice pads.”

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However, Giorno concludes that Mayor Leal’s threats against councillor Bierk were intimidation and contravene section 10 of the council code of conduct, which states that each member of council has “the duty and responsibility to treat members of the public, each other Member and staff appropriately and without abuse, bullying or intimidation.”

As the code of conduct doesn’t define intimidation, Giorno used the dictionary definition to make his ruling. While acknowledging that the mayor’s “carve you up like a turkey” comment was “a figurative expression that was not meant or reasonably interpreted as a threat of violence or physical harm,” he added that “intimidation is not confined to physical threats.”

“The ‘regret’ and ‘turkey’ comments, taken together, were reasonably understood to threaten consequences for having angered the Mayor by mentioning the Mayor’s wife,” Giorno writes. “Certainly, Councillor Bierk took the comments that way, and he was intimidated.”

According to Giorno, in Mayor Leal’s response to Giorno’s draft report, the mayor stated his belief that councillor Bierk was not intimidated by the comments.

“In a physical sense, that observation is correct, but intimidation is not necessarily physical,” Giorno writes. “I appreciate that the Mayor did not then, and does not now, feel that his conduct was intimidating, but the evidence indicates that it was.”

Giorno acknowledges the Mayor Leal “felt great stress” during the meeting that contributed to his “overreaction” to councillor Bierk’s comments, “but (Bierk) did not invite, nor was he deserving of, being (intimidated) and threatened,” noting that Bierk had already been called to order during the meeting by chair Andrew Beamer for mentioning the mayor’s wife by name as being against protocol.

“I note that the first threat was made after Councillor Bierk had already apologized three times,” Giorno adds, with reference to Bierk’s reaction after being called to order by the chair.

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As for councillor Lachica’s allegation, Giorno concludes she was bullied by Mayor Leal.

Although the code of conduct also does not provide a definition of either intimidation or bullying, Giorno states “In my view, bullying better describes what occurred,” referring to a definition approved by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2012 that has been used in subsequent court cases and refers to “behaviour that is intended to cause, or should be known to cause, fear,
intimidation, humiliation, distress or other forms of harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem, reputation or property.”

Following the April 2 general committee meeting — when Lachica had put forth a motion to defer the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment plan for discussion of alternative solutions for pickleball courts — Mayor Leal “exchanged words” with Lachica in an internal corridor leading to the parking lot, with the incident observed by witnesses including city CAO Jasbir Raina and councillors Bierk and Gary Baldwin.

According to the report, the mayor believed Lachica was responsible for the presence of people in the gallery during the general committee meeting, including a person who disrupted the meeting.

“Mayor Leal began yelling at her about the individual who had earlier been removed from the meeting, claiming that Councillor Lachica should have stopped the individual and that she was responsible because the person was a Town Ward constituent,” Giorno writes. “Councillor Lachica says the Mayor kept yelling at her, even after she explained that maintaining decorum was the responsibility of the Chair.”

“Councillor Lachica says that Mayor’s conduct continued during a closed session on April 8. She told Councillors what had occurred in the corridor on April 2, that she had had ‘enough’ of the Mayor’s condescension and shouting, and that she should not have been directed to take responsibility for decorum in the gallery.”

“I find that Mayor Leal’s angry, raised-voice confrontation with Councillor Lachica following the General Committee (meeting) constituted bullying according to this definition. What happened should have been known to cause fear, humiliation and distress to Councillor Lachica. The confrontation should have been expected to leave the Councillor shaken and upset. In fact, the Mayor’s confrontation had these effects.”

“The incident in the corridor occurred in the context of a power imbalance that is a hallmark of bullying. The Mayor is more powerful than a Councillor. In a strictly legal sense, this has been the case since October 31, 2023, when Ontario Regulation 331/23 added Peterborough to the list of municipalities subject to ‘strong mayor powers.’ The Mayor’s powers include the direct appointment of the chairs and vice-chairs of committees.”

“Compounding the corridor incident was the Mayor’s upholding of the same position six days later. If the Mayor was unaware of the impact of the April 2 incident on Councillor Lachica, then she made him aware on April 8. By doubling down on his earlier comments, he reinforced the bullying.”

According to the report, Lachica waited 25 days before filing a complaint “because she feared reprisal,” and that she has told the commissioner “the anger and bullying continue.”

“She cites recent examples that she says constitute disrespect, sidelining, and withholding information necessary to her job,” Giorno notes.

kawarthaNOW reached out to councillor Lachica for comment on the integrity commissioner’s report, and she provided a brief email statement.

“There was not a satisfactory resolve to complaint 24-02-CC, this it has come forward,” she writes. “I am appreciative of IC Gioro’s Joint Report. The content and outcome speaks for itself.”

PDF: Joint Inquiry Report – May 26, 2025
Joint Inquiry Report - May 26, 2025

As for recommendations to city council in response to his report, the integrity commission notes it is the role of council to determine a penalty, if any, for a member of council who contravenes the code of conduct.

“In the event of a contravention, the Council may choose to do nothing, or it may impose one of two penalties (but not both): reprimand, or pay suspension (up to 90 days),” Giorno writes. “In addition to imposing a penalty, the Council may also adopt one or more remedial measures.”

Non-punitive and remedial action can include requesting an apology.

Giorno suggests one remedial measure might be to ask John Ewart, his fellow integrity commission assigned to advice-giving and educational functions, “to provide focused training related to harassment, abuse, bullying and intimidation and other issues arising from this report.”

He also suggests that council could consider amending the code of conduct to add a definition of bullying and to reconcile the code of conduct with the procedure by-law “by formally distinguishing what meeting conduct is the responsibility of a Chair and what meeting conduct is the responsibility of the Integrity Commissioner.”

Giorno notes that the code of conduct uses at least seven different terms related to conflict of interest, including “private advantage,” “private interest,” “private gain or benefit,” “future advantage,” “personal benefit,” “personal or private gain or benefit,” and “personal financial gain.”

“The adjectives private and personal appear to be used sometimes interchangeably and sometimes to mean different concepts. Inconsistent use of different terms with similar meanings can result in ambiguity and potential gaps. I suggest that the Code use fewer terms consistently and more precisely.”

After the integrity commissioner’s report was released to the public on Thursday (May 29), Mayor Leal issued a public statement.

“I acknowledge that the Integrity Commissioner has completed his report, and I will accept Council’s decision on this matter,” the mayor said. “I appreciate that his report fully exonerates me of the most egregious and false conflict-of-interest allegations that my family and I have been subjected to over the last year.”

“I acknowledge his findings related to my interactions with Councillors Bierk and Lachica on the nights of April 2 and April 8, 2024. My comments were made in the heat of the moment, during the most hostile meeting environments I have experienced in all my years of public service. I regret my comments, and I apologized to both Councillors last year.”

Mayor Leal added that he will recuse himself during the general committee meeting when councillors discuss the integrity commissioner’s report, “and will accept their recommendations.”

“I have been working in partnership with all members of Peterborough City Council, and will continue to do so for the benefit of our community.”

 

This story has been updated with a statement from Mayor Jeff Leal in response to the release of the integrity commissioner’s report, along with revised comment from councillor Joy Lachica.

Visually impaired people in Peterborough can enjoy cycling thanks to TandemEyes

Between the lone line of tandem bicycles and the bright colours, a TandemEyes group ride is hard to miss on a summer evening. Here, the group passes through Jackson Park in Peterborough on the way to the Orange Corners trestle bridge. (Photo courtesy of TandemEyes)

Editor’s note: GreenUP delivers a variety of active transportation programming and is proud to work alongside many community groups and organizations who also encourage inclusive and sustainable transportation. In this week’s column, GreenUP is excited to have Peter Laurie from TandemEyes share information about this unique community group that helps to foster a healthy lifestyle.

 

A common sight to see on a summer evening in Peterborough is a long line of neon-clad riders on tandem bicycles winding their way along local trails or city streets.

If you’ve seen this, you’ve probably also been struck by the happy sounds that accompany the train of bicycles: multiple conversations, the occasional peal of laughter, the cheerful ‘ding’ of bike bells.

And that, in a nutshell, sums up the beauty of TandemEyes, a non-profit cycling club that makes it possible for visually impaired and blind cyclists to stay active and enjoy the company of fellow riders.

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What few sighted people realize is that losing one’s vision often comes with a double burden: lower levels of physical activity coupled with social isolation. The genius of TandemEyes is to tackle both issues simultaneously.

None of this would have come about without the determination and community-building smarts of Anne Wood, a lifetime cyclist who lost most of her vision as an adult due to medical complications from cancer. Seeking a way to stay active, Anne and her husband bought a tandem bike in 2011.

But something else happened in the process of researching tandem bikes and learning how to ride one together.

For people with vision loss, combining physical activity with social time on a group ride is integral to the mission of TandemEyes. Here a group relaxes post-ride at Millennium Park in Peterborough. (Photo: Darcy Wefers)
For people with vision loss, combining physical activity with social time on a group ride is integral to the mission of TandemEyes. Here a group relaxes post-ride at Millennium Park in Peterborough. (Photo: Darcy Wefers)

As Wood puts it, “I was really inspired by the potential of tandem bikes to bring activity and love of the outdoors to people with vision loss.”

Wood reached out to others with the idea of a tandem cycling club, partially inspired by the example of the Toronto-based Trailblazers, who have been taking out blind and visually impaired riders since 1986. The response from the local cycling community was enthusiastic, and TandemEyes had its inaugural season in 2012.

Currently, the TandemEyes cycling season runs from May to August. Typically, there are two evening rides every week, all of which begin and end in Millenium Park. Cycling routes range in distance from 13 to 25 kilometres and involve a combination of roads and multi-use trails. Rides are shorter early in the season and gradually increase in length as riders are feeling more fit.

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TandemEyes operates under the umbrella of the Peterborough Cycling Club, which has been a strong supporter of the initiative from the outset. The group is completely volunteer-run and maintains a fleet of 12 tandem bicycles that are stored in a central location and maintained by TandemEyes.

The basic unit of a tandem ride is the ‘captain’, who sits in the front position, controlling the steering, brakes and gearing, and the visually impaired ‘stoker’, who helps provide the muscle and is also in charge of turn signals.

The other critical piece in tandem riding is the constant communication between captain and stoker. Whether that be advance warning of a bump in the road, a decrease in speed, or the need to put some extra ‘oomph’ into climbing a hill, it’s the responsibility of the captain to orient their stoker to any change in conditions.

Favourite routes for TandemEyes rides include sections of the Trans Canada Trail. A large group of captains, stokers, and sweeps take a rest break on a summer evening ride. (Photo: Darcy Wefers)
Favourite routes for TandemEyes rides include sections of the Trans Canada Trail. A large group of captains, stokers, and sweeps take a rest break on a summer evening ride. (Photo: Darcy Wefers)

But that doesn’t mean that riding a tandem is all work and no play. Partners get to know one another over the course of a season, and carrying on a conversation while pedalling together comes naturally to the experience. Tandem rides organically serve as opportunities for people with vision loss to overcome social isolation while also staying fit.

Riding a tandem bicycle safely requires some specialized skills owing to its weight and length, and TandemEyes provides training sessions for volunteer captains, ride leaders and ‘sweeps’ — the cyclists who accompany each ride and assist the tandem team in avoiding obstacles and manoeuvring through traffic.

At the heart of the TandemEyes mission are the experiences it brings to the people it serves.

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TandemEyes founder Anne Wood sums it up like this:

“For a person with vision loss, the freedom of getting on the back of a tandem is incredible. The feeling of being physically active and contributing and going out on adventures is amazing. The other thing I love is just to hear people talking, laughing, and sharing things that are happening in their lives other than vision loss.”

If you know someone who is blind or visually impaired who would like to join TandemEyes, or if you are interested in volunteering as a captain, leader or sweep, you can email the organization at tandemeyes@gmail.com. Learn more about TandemEyes at www.tandemeyes.com.

Jude’s Joy calls on community to help support endeavour for new accessible playground in Selwyn Township

Inclusive playground project champion Julie Grant with her son Jude at Ennismore Waterfront Park, where a community-driven initiative is raising $250,000 to build "Jude's Joy," the first barrier-free playground in Selwyn Township. (Photo courtesy of Ennismore Inclusive Playground Project)

Community members can extend their support for the creation of an accessible barrier-free playground in Selwyn Township by casting an online ballot until Saturday (May 31) in favour of the Ennismore inclusive playground project.

“The Ennismore Inclusive Playground Project – Jude’s Joy” has entered a video submission in the McDougall Community Contest. The contest is an annual offering of McDougall Insurance & Financial, which gives non-profit organizations and community groups across Ontario the opportunity to secure one of three grants worth a total of $10,000 for local projects.

The playground project is competing with 119 other initiatives for the grant money, which includes $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $2,000 for third place. Prizes are awarded to the videos with the most votes.

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Julie Grant, champion of the Ennismore inclusive playground project, is obviously hoping to win a grant but is also thankful for the chance the contest provides to highlight the endeavour.

“In addition to winning the $5,000 grant — if we are successful, we will know on June 2nd — my biggest hope from our video submission to the McDougall contest would be to raise broader community awareness and support,” Grant told kawarthaNOW.

“We hope for the broader community to become more aware of the barriers that exist for those with disabilities and how it can hinder them from participating in things as simple as playing at a playground. By showcasing the project through the contest, we hope to inspire more individuals and organizations to get involved — ultimately accelerating funding, to give those of all abilities a place to play.”

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Named after Grant’s son Jude, who has cerebral palsy and developmental delays, Jude’s Joy is a community-driven initiative that will bring the first barrier-free playground to Selwyn Township. The recreational space, which will be built in the Ennismore Waterfront Park in Ennismore, will encompass rubber surfacing and accessible play equipment.

Currently, all playgrounds in Selwyn Township have either a sand or wood chip surface, which poses a significant barrier for those with mobility devices.

“For many children, it is impossible to propel the wheels of a walker or wheelchair through wood chips or sand, which means they are relegated to the sidelines, unable to engage in play with their peers,” according to a media release.

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“The Ennismore Optimist Club decided to lead this initiative, alongside community volunteers, after identifying a large need in the area for a barrier-free play experience,” the release stated. “Through inclusive design and accessibility improvements, this project will enhance our community by creating a space that all can enjoy, not just children, as disability can affect us at any age.”

Over the past year, the playground committee has raised $170,000 towards its $250,000 goal. If the project is chosen as a McDougall Community Contest winner, 100 per cent of the funds will go towards the play equipment and rubber surface capital costs, the committee noted.

Online voting began last Friday and ends on Saturday. People can choose to vote daily and use different devices as well if they wish to maximize their voting impact, the release noted.

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To check out the Jude’s Joy entry, learn more about the playground project, and cast a vote, visit platform.votigo.com/fbcontests/showentry/McDougallCommunityContest2025/3778183/.

The McDougall contest, now in its 12th year, is a community contest, which means people don’t have to be a client of McDougall Insurance for a chance to win a grant.

“We welcome all types of community projects,” McDougall Insurance & Financial states on its website.

Tickets now available for Peterborough Arts Awards reception on June 12 at the Canadian Canoe Museum

The winners of the second annual Peterborough Arts Awards in 2019 were Charlie Werger (Beth McMaster accepting on his behalf), Nimkii Osawamick, Beau Dixon and Patti Shaughnessy (Lisa Dixon accepting on Beau's behalf), Alice Williams, Hilary Wear, and Ryan Kerr. After a five-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) announced the return of the awards in November 2024, with the winners celebrated at a reception on June 12, 2025 at the Canadian Canoe Museum. (Photo: Bianca Nucaro-Viteri for kawarthaNOW)

Tickets are now available for the Peterborough Arts Awards reception in June at the Canadian Canoe Museum, where six winners and 12 runners-up in six categories will be announced.

After a five-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) announced the return of the awards last November, with nominations accepted until January.

An independent not-for-profit service organization supporting the arts in Peterborough and the surrounding region, EC3 established the awards to honour and recognize excellence and outstanding achievement of professional artists, arts organizations, and arts supporters living and working the city and county of Peterborough.

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“Peterborough’s arts community is the shining gem in our stunning natural and built heritage landscape,” says EC3 executive director Su Ditta in a media release. “Celebrating some of our very best artists and arts supporters at this festive event builds our extraordinary cultural profile.”

Funded entirely by private-sector sponsors, corporations, and businesses, the Peterborough Arts Awards provide cash awards of $2,000 to winners in each of the six categories listed below and — for the first time — cash awards of $250 for each of the two runners-up in each category, for a total of $15,000 in awards.

  • Outstanding Emerging Artist, recognizing outstanding achievement by an artist, working professionally in any discipline, who has been practising in their field for at least two years.
  • Outstanding Mid-Career Artist, recognizing outstanding achievement by an artist, working professionally in any discipline, who has been practising in their field for at least five years.
  • Outstanding Senior Artist, recognizing outstanding achievement by an artist, working professionally in any discipline, who has been practising in their field for at least 15 years.
  • Outstanding Achievement by an Indigenous Artist, recognizing outstanding achievement by an Indigenous artist, working professionally in any discipline, contemporary or traditional form.
  • Arts Champion, recognizing a person who has consistently provided outstanding support and encouragement for the development of the arts in Peterborough through philanthropy, volunteerism, or the development of partnerships and collaborations (this prize is given to an individual who, in turn, gives it to a local not-for-profit professional arts organization).
  • Arts Catalyst, recognizing outstanding achievement by a professional arts administrator or manager, fundraiser, art critic, curator, educator, programmer, or producer who has worked behind the scenes to build excellence in the arts.
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The winners of the awards are selected by a peer jury from a multi-disciplinary pool of nominated candidates.

The sponsors for this year’s awards are Tim Barrie of Merit II Realty, Bill Lockington of LLF Lawyers, Paul and Kristine Hickey, Kate and Alex Ramsay, Paul Bennett of Ashburnham Realty, and one “deeply appreciated” anonymous donor.

While the awards have previously been presented during an event known as the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts, this year’s awards event will take the form of a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 12 at the Canadian Canoe Museum (2077 Ashburnham Dr., Peterborough).

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Along with the announcement of the award winners, the event will feature canapes and cocktails and pop-up performances by some of the city’s best artists.

Missy Knott, an acclaimed musician from Curve Lake First Nation and a member of the Ontario Arts Council Board, will be the guest speaker.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at eventbrite.ca/e/1363584972359.

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The Peterborough Arts Awards were established in 2018 through the efforts of Bill Lockington of LLF Lawyers, who led the sponsorship campaign to successfully raise $60,000 to support each of the awards over five years.

The winners of the inaugural awards in 2018 were Melody Thomas (Outstanding Emerging Artist), Brad Brackenridge (Outstanding Mid-Career Artist), Robert Winslow (Outstanding Senior Artist), Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (Outstanding Achievement by an Indigenous Artist), Krista English (Arts Catalyst), and Beth McMaster (Arts Champion).

The winners of the 2019 awards were Nimkii Osawamick (Outstanding Emerging Artist), Patti Shaughnessy and Beau Dixon (Outstanding Mid-Career Artist), Alice Williams (Outstanding Senior Artist), Hilary Wear (Outstanding Achievement by an Indigenous Artist), Ryan Kerr (Arts Catalyst), and Charlie Werger (Arts Champion).

Concerned parents in Peterborough launch grassroots advocacy group to ‘protect public services’

Our Future Peterborough has been raising awareness and spreading a petition to fight against the staffing cuts being made at the Peterborough Public Library. The new grassroots organization was founded by three local parents in the interest of protecting public services in the city, especially for families with children. (Photo courtesy of Our Future Peterborough)

Three local parents have launched Our Future Peterborough, a grassroots advocacy group to “protect the public services and community infrastructure of Peterborough.”

“We’re seeing a climate where things, particularly things around kids and families, are getting underfunded and cut,” says co-founder Laurel Harris. “We realized that as we build up this infrastructure, we build up these connections, and we bring it all together, this could be a really useful response to not only one issue, but any future threats to public service and to resources for family and kids that we might see happening in our community.”

Harris, along with Hilary Evans and Sheetal Rawal, formed Our Future Peterborough after learning about the staffing reorganization at the Peterborough Public Library that was approved by Peterborough city council as part of the city’s 2025 budget.

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During budget deliberations, councillors approved the elimination of two positions at the library and the reclassification of some positions to lower-rated positions, saving the city $120,000.

Library management subsequently determined it would lay off three of the library’s four full-time unionized librarians, including the children’s librarian. Two new positions (an outreach coordinator and a programming assistant position) would be created, resulting in a net reduction of one position.

Harris explains that while the parents have been “paying attention” to various concerns and threats to public service, the restructuring of the library — and in particular, the elimination of the children’s librarian — was the “spark” that led to the founding of Our Future Peterborough.

“Of course they’re going to have reduced programming,” Harris says. “You can’t expect to cut the number of people who are offering and designing these programs, particularly with these levels of expertise, without that.”

In its first initiative as a grassroots organization, Our Future Peterborough joined the May 15, 2025 rally outside the Peterborough Public Library to protest the facility's recently publicized restructuring and staffing cuts. The cuts will see three librarians, including the children's librarian, laid off to save $120,000 from the city's annual budget. (Photo courtesy of Our Future Peterborough)
In its first initiative as a grassroots organization, Our Future Peterborough joined the May 15, 2025 rally outside the Peterborough Public Library to protest the facility’s recently publicized restructuring and staffing cuts. The cuts will see three librarians, including the children’s librarian, laid off to save $120,000 from the city’s annual budget. (Photo courtesy of Our Future Peterborough)

For Harris, the potential cuts to the programs are personal as that’s where she and her home-schooled six-year-old son connect with other families. The Homeschool Hangout monthly program connects children through games, arts and crafts, activities, and special guest speakers, and, according to Harris, the last one she attended had about 35 participants.

“It’s such a vital social space — it’s a space where we’ve been able to connect with other kids, and with other families,” she says. “I certainly have so many deeply valued memories of being in the library as a kid and being in this magical creative space where I discovered all these new ideas and these new things in my mind felt expanded. The idea of closing in on that or taking that away from kids feels outrageous. It feels too far.”

Before officially establishing Our Future Peterborough, the founders launched an online petition calling to stop the cuts, which, at the time of this writing, has just over 2,200 signatures.

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Launched on April 16, the petition demands “that City Council, the Peterborough Public Library CEO, and the Peterborough Public Library Board reverse the planned layoffs and stop the elimination of the Children’s Librarian role.”

“We really strongly believe that a city that is invested in and cares about its future and thinks about its future is one that is going to be cognizant of investing in and prioritizing programs for children,” says Harris.

“More and more, we just see that’s not happening and that these things are getting cut — and they’re getting cut quietly and without public consultation, which is certainly the case here. We also see that in the context of a broader political moment where we have to ask, especially as parents, how collectively do we care about our future?”

A sidewalk message about the importance of public libraries during a May 15, 2025 rally outside the Peterborough Public Library to protest the facility's recently publicized restructuring and staffing cuts. (Photo courtesy of Our Future Peterborough)
A sidewalk message about the importance of public libraries during a May 15, 2025 rally outside the Peterborough Public Library to protest the facility’s recently publicized restructuring and staffing cuts. (Photo courtesy of Our Future Peterborough)

Expanding on the “broader political moment,” Harris points south of the border where the Trump administration is cutting funding to libraries and museums, which she says symbolizes the “intentional dumbing down of the public.”

“Putting books into the hands of kids is such an important thing, especially in this moment where the digital stuff takes over so much,” she says. “Not that that’s a bad thing, but we need to have it balanced with books where they can see their identity reflected back at them, where they can have access to these stories, or they can learn things like critical thinking.”

“It sounds maybe a bit overstated, but it feels like a revolutionary act sometimes to put books in the hand of kids. It feels like pushing back. It feels like we’re resisting.”

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Our Future Peterborough was at the May 15 rally outside of the library and, Harris says, will support more protests and events with rally organizer Marjorie McDonald and with CUPE 1833, which represents the librarians.

Harris says the aim is to collect a group of children’s authors and people who support open libraries to “see if that can put a little extra pressure on council.”

“There’s such a real, immediate effect, and this is not a nebulous political issue,” she says. “This is going to affect so many people day-to-day in a very real way. I get the sense sometimes that people who don’t really access the library or use these programs don’t understand how important they are to a lot of people, and so we’re sending that message home — particularly to the decision makers.”

One of Our Future Peterborough's flyers taped to a light pole in front of Peterborough City Hall. Fighting against the restructuring and job elimination at the Peterborough Public Library is the "spark" that encouraged three Peterborough parents to form the grassroots organization committed to protecting the city's public services for children and families. (Photo courtesy of Our Future Peterborough)
One of Our Future Peterborough’s flyers taped to a light pole in front of Peterborough City Hall. Fighting against the restructuring and job elimination at the Peterborough Public Library is the “spark” that encouraged three Peterborough parents to form the grassroots organization committed to protecting the city’s public services for children and families. (Photo courtesy of Our Future Peterborough)

During the city’s draft 2025 budget process, all city departments were asked to provide options to reduce operating expenses to lower a potential property tax increase. Management at the Peterborough Public Library provided the options of reducing operating hours by four hours per week for $70,000 in savings (noting that this option would likely result in layoffs of unionized staff and fewer shifts for part-time staff) or eliminating two positions for $120,000 in savings.

Though council’s public deliberations on reducing library staffing were made from November to February, when council approved the 2025 budget, other proposed reductions — including a proposed 25 per cent cut to all city-funded arts and community organizations — received all the attention.

Harris notes there was no public outreach or consultation about the proposed cuts to the library and their impact before city council made its decision.

“The public are stakeholders in this,” she says. “We’re the ones going to feel the effects of it, so that’s really what we’re demanding now: a formal public consultation on this, some kind of public meeting so the public’s stake in this can be expressed and heard by council.”

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While fighting the library staff restructuring is the first battle, Harris says this is only the beginning of Our Future Peterborough, as the organization will be working towards the betterment of the future for families and children in other areas like childcare.

“We also just want to have this infrastructure ready and available to just launch,” she says. “As part of our mandate, families and children are our main focus and families and children rely on lots of different public services in our city.”

For more information about Our Future Peterborough, visit ourfutureptbo.org.

Sold-out fundraising run founded by Peterborough ER doctor with rare bile duct cancer raises more than nine times its goal

Peterborough Regional Health Centre emergency physician Dr. Terry May (centre) and his wife Chris Ferguson (far left) and their children participating in a five-kilometre run in December 2024. (Photo courtesy of the May Family)

An inaugural fundraising run founded by a Peterborough hospital emergency room physician with a rare form of bile duct cancer has sold out with 400 participants and has raised well over $90,000 — more than nine times its initial fundraising goal — in support of research into cholangiocarcinoma.

Dr. Terry May, who was initially diagnosed with stage four cholangiocarcinoma in the summer of 2024, is currently receiving chemotherapy at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

In response to his diagnosis, Dr. May has founded a five-kilometre run called “Dr. May’s Vile Bile 5K” to help improve access to testing for others, in addition to raising money for research.

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With his run only days away on Sunday (June 1) at Lakefield’s Isabel Morris Park, the physician says he has been blown away by the support from the community.

“We are grateful and deeply touched by how the community has come together to support this event,” May told kawarthaNOW. “We never dreamed that so many would sign up to participate and that donations would reach the level that they have.”

May and his supporters aimed to raise $10,000 for the cause, but exceeded that goal by more than eight times, raising almost $94,000 to date. The run has sold out and now has 400 participants and more than 60 volunteers.

All money raised will be donated to the Canadian Cholangiocarcinoma Collaborative (C3) via the Canadian Cancer Society. The donations will be used to support a number of C3 research programs and help patients access molecular testing.

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“We are excited for Sunday to see friends, family, colleagues and community joined together enjoying the day,” said Dr. May. “Hopefully we can raise awareness for this rare cancer and support C3 in bringing hope to others living with cholangiocarcinoma.”

Dr. May will be running with bib 1 and his wife, Chris Ferguson, will be running with bib 2.

Dr. May’s health concerns began in early 2024, when he knew “something wasn’t quite right,” a media release noted. An avid runner who had completed marathons, an ultramarathon, and an Ironman Canada triathlon, he was experiencing a newfound fatigue during his regular runs. It was the first indicator that something was wrong.

He received the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma in August 2024. Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare but deadly form of cancer affecting the bile duct, which often goes unnoticed in patients until it is at an advanced state.

Dr. Terry May after his Ironman Canada triathlon in 2010. (Photo courtesy of the May Family)
Dr. Terry May after his Ironman Canada triathlon in 2010. (Photo courtesy of the May Family)

“Running has always been an important part of Dr. May’s life, helping maintain his physical and mental health,” reads the media release. “It only seemed fitting that he would organize a run/walk in his hometown of Lakefield to bring awareness to cholangiocarcinoma and to raise funds for research on this rare form of cancer.”

Dr. May started the run with his wife and his friend Todd Harris, who is serving as the race director.

“I know I am very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing and caring colleagues, friends, and, of course, family who have made this difficult journey as easy as it possibly could be,” shared Dr. May in a statement. “I have such gratitude for the support we have received for this race. It has been overwhelming.”

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Biliary tract cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer, affect less than 1,000 Canadians annually. They are diagnosed late, with less than 25 per cent of patients being progression-free at 12 months on first-line therapy.

“There is hope in emerging targeted therapies for second-line treatment, which have encouraging results in clinical studies,” said Dr. Leonard Angka, C3 program manager in the release. “Unfortunately, access to these therapies, and to the molecular testing to inform their use, remains limited in Canada.”

C3 is a network of more than 150 physicians/researchers and 200-plus patient members across Canada, formed “to grow hope for this rare and devastating cancer.” C3’s mission is to improve care through access to innovative therapies and research opportunities.

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While the event is at capacity, community members can still make a donation to support cholangiocarcinoma research at raceroster.com/events/2025/102892/dr-mays-vile-bile-5k.

According to race director Todd Harris, Dr. May “has never been one for the spotlight, but finding a way to turn his diagnosis into an opportunity to help the C3 mission makes sense to all that know him, and the amazing response to this new event speaks to his place in the heart of our community.”

The run is sponsored by Agile Bear, OG7GES, Rebekah LittleJohn Photography, Sisabakwat Beading, and Nish Tees.

Cause for applause: accreditation is a seal of approval for the work of Five Counties Children’s Centre

Five Counties Children's Centre clinical services director Darlene Callan and executive assistant Brandi Williamson-Meletiou display the three-year accreditation plaque from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). In 1985, Five Counties was the very first children's treatment centre in Ontario to be accredited by the independent non-profit accreditor of health and human resources, and it has maintained its accreditation ever since. (Photo: Five Counties Children's Centre)

“It’s incredible to feel the passion of everyone. You are an amazing organization.”

On its own, this remark is very flattering for Five Counties Children’s Centre. But coming as it did from one of the surveyors on the closing day of our accreditation process last November, it’s extra meaningful.

That’s because the accreditation review of Five Counties being done by three accreditors with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) was done entirely virtually over two days last fall. The accreditor who made the comment about the passion at Five Counties picked up on this, even though she was sitting at her home in Maine during the review process!

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It appears the positive vibes that flow from our Centre are evident even half a continent away.

Earlier this year, Five Counties learned that it had successfully earned another three-year accreditation through CARF. Accreditation — a sort of “seal of approval” for our families — is not given lightly and follows a rigorous review process.

CARF’s mission is to promote the quality, value and optimal outcomes of services at the organizations it accredits.

An independent, non-profit accreditor of health and human resources founded in 1966, CARF does this through a consultative review process and continuous improvement approach, ensuring an organization being reviewed is laser focused on enhancing the lives of the people it serves.

As part of its accreditation process with Five Counties, accreditors with the the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) reviewed the centre's policies and procedures, interviewed staff and volunteers, spoke to clients and parents, conversed with community partners, and posed questions for the board of directors. Five Counties had a 99.3 per cent compliance rate with CARF's 2,150 standards. (Graphic: Five Counties Children's Centre)
As part of its accreditation process with Five Counties, accreditors with the the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) reviewed the centre’s policies and procedures, interviewed staff and volunteers, spoke to clients and parents, conversed with community partners, and posed questions for the board of directors. Five Counties had a 99.3 per cent compliance rate with CARF’s 2,150 standards. (Graphic: Five Counties Children’s Centre)

As part of its accreditation process with Five Counties, CARF accreditors reviewed the centre’s policies and procedures, interviewed staff and volunteers, spoke to clients and parents, conversed with our community partners, and posed questions for our board of directors.

Along with that, CARF also has approximately 2,150 standards upon which it rates an organization going through accreditation.

Five Counties began preparing for the CARF accreditation months before. And while it’s lots of work, accreditation is valuable in seeing how Five Counties measures up. In this case, we scored a resounding 99.3 per cent compliance rate with CARF’s standards, only being cited to improve upon in about a dozen or so minor areas.

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We’re not perfect. We can always improve. And that’s why Five Counties chooses to go through the intensive accreditation process with an independent third party every three years.

Accreditation is not required, but it does show that Five Counties is committed to continually improve what we do and how we serve families. In fact, Five Counties was the very first children’s treatment centre in Ontario to be accredited! That was back in 1985, and we’ve maintained accreditation ever since.

CARF accreditation recognizes Five Counties for excellence in service delivery, client satisfaction, innovative programs, and community involvement. While the CARF accreditation plaque hanging on the wall in our centre site may not look like much, there is a lot behind it.

Accreditation is an endorsement that what Five Counties does to serve and support families continues to meet high standards. Our kids and families deserve no less!

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