Trent University's Continuing Education program is offering a diverse range of affordable online classes this spring for adult learners who want to expand their minds by learning something completely new or building upon existing knowledge or skills. (Photo courtesy of Trent University)
If you’re interested in expanding your mind from the comfort of your own home by learning a new skill or gaining a fresh perspective, you’ll want to check out the continuing education courses and workshops available online through Trent University this spring.
Trent University is offering a diversity of classes appealing to a broad range of interests during the spring term, which is the popular term for lifelong learners according to Dr. Michael Eamon, Director of the Trent University Continuing Education program.
“We try to hit on all the different interests that people may have,” Eamon says. “We have a little bit of literature, a little bit of history, a lot of art and painting and photography, and writing. The common thread is that we want to build community, but we also realize the community has a lot of different interests.”
Dr. Michael Eamon, Director of the Trent University Continuing Education program, is also the Principal of Catharine Parr Traill College. (Photo courtesy of Trent University)
All the courses and workshops are delivered online and most are conducted live on Zoom at a scheduled time. Most of the courses begin at the end of March, with the workshops scheduled throughout April and May.
New courses for this spring include ‘Canada – Multiculturalism & Our Society’ and ‘The Story of Rock and Roll, 1951-1966’. Workshops run the gamut from arts and humanities to technology to health and well-being, with ‘Demystifying Memoir: Write Your Story Workshop’, ‘Paint your Pet’, ‘Wildlife Photography and Ecotourism’, ‘Google Spreadsheets’, ‘Introduction to Video Projection Mapping’, ‘Design Thinking as a Tool for Problem Solving’, and ‘Your Inner Warrior: Conquering Fears and Striving for Meaning’ among the offerings.
A complete list of courses and workshops is available at trentu.ca/continuingeducation/, where you can also register online.
“Fundamentals of Game Creation”, a new introductory workshop that teaches the basics of video game development, runs over two Saturday mornings in April. (Photo courtesy of Trent University)
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“There are so many interesting new ones,” Eamon says. “Another interesting one is on video game design. We have broad categories of topics. We also tried to get all ages and interests in.”
The always-popular painting and photography workshops are also returning this year, he adds.
“We have some great local artists and photographers who offer the workshops,” Eamon explains. “People love it because they learn online and then go out and do it their own. They can be in nature and paint something or take a photo of something.”
“Let’s Paint Trees in Watercolour”, taught by local artist Valerie Kent, is a three-part workshop running over three Wednesday evenings in April. Participants will paint a different tree on each evening. (Photo courtesy of Trent University)
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The courses and workshops are an affordable option for people who want to learn something completely new or build upon their existing knowledge or skills. Workshops start at $35 and courses start at $190 (some workshops may require students to purchase additional materials).
Recognizing that adult learners often have other commitments during the day, Trent University schedules the courses and workshops around the standard nine-to-five work schedule.
“We try to make the courses happen on evenings and weekends to fit people’s busy lives,” Eamon says.
“The Story of Rock and Roll, 1951-1966” is a new six-week course on Friday mornings starting April 1st that explores the explosion of creativity in American and British popular music, starting with the birth of rock and roll through to the British Invasion. (Photo courtesy of Trent University)
Courses are taught in a seminar format. Each weekly class has a particular topic that connects and builds upon the previous classes and connects with the overarching subject of the course. Most workshop classes are offered on weekends in half-day, one-day, or two-day formats.
Trent University began delivering its Continuing Education courses and workshops online at the beginning of the pandemic, which has allowed the university to also reach adult learners from beyond Peterborough.
“We have people signing up for classes in Toronto, Eastern Ontario, and other places, which we never had before,” he says, adding “We’re hoping for a return to in-person classes for the fall.”
“Wildlife Photography and Ecotourism”, taught by Lydia Dotto, runs over two weeks in April. Designed for amateur photographers who already have a digital camera and are knowledgeable about how to use it, this course focuses on enhancing existing skills specifically to capture better wildlife and landscape images. (Photo: Lydia Dotto)
According to Eamon, Trent University’s Continuing Education program is one way the university can support those members of the community looking for opportunities for lifelong education.
“Trent University was started with a commitment to the community,” he explains. “It’s important that, through continuing education, we give back to the community and support the community that originally supported Trent.”
To explore all the Continuing Education courses and workshops offered through Trent University this spring, and to register online, visit trentu.ca/continuingeducation/.
This story was created in partnership with Trent University.
To book rides on the new 'Pink Community Bus' in owntown, eaat, and southeast areas of the city, riders can download the new PTBOnDemand app or call 705-745-5801. (kawarthaNOW screenshots)
Peterborough Transit is launching a new on-demand transit service on Wednesday (March 30) called PTBOnDemand as part of a pilot program in the downtown, east, and southeast areas of the city.
On-demand transit is a ride-share service that allows transit vehicles to adjust routes and times depending on the requests received from customers each day. On-demand trips will carry customers from the nearest bus stops available to service their pick-up and drop-off requests, regardless of the route taken.
This new on-demand service will start with the new ‘Pink Community Bus’ — operating from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays and holidays — in the following areas of the city:
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Downtown
East of Aylmer Street between Simcoe Street and Lansdowne Street.
North of Lansdowne Street between Aylmer Street and River Road.
East City
South of Hunter Street between Burnham Street and Ashburnham Drive.
Beavermead/Ashburnham
Ashburnham Drive between Hunter Street and Otonabee Drive, including the Walker Avenue community to the east.
Willowcreek Plaza community along Lansdowne Street.
Southeast – Otonabee
Otonabee community including Collison Avenue and Middlefield Road areas.
The ‘Pink Community Bus’ zone. (Map: City of Peterborough)
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To book trips, riders can call 705-745-5801 from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily or download the new PTBOnDemand app (developed by Via Transportation Inc.), available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Riders using the PTBOnDemand app will be able to track the real-time location of their vehicle and receive updates on when they will be picked up and dropped off.
Trips on the Pink Community Bus will be free from March 30 until April 30. No transfers will be offered on this service during this time, and regular fares still apply to ride on all other transit routes. Starting May 1, regular fares will apply to rides on the Pink Community Bus, and transfers to other routes will be available and accepted.
The Starter Company Plus program, administered by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre with funding from the Ontario government, provides five weeks of business training to 12 entrepreneurs starting or running a business in the City or County of Peterborough. The program will see half of the participants each receive a $5,000 microgrant based on the strength of their business plans and business pitches to a panel of community judges. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Another 12 entrepreneurs in Peterborough & the Kawarthas will soon be equipped with the knowledge and skills for small business success when the Starter Company Plus program returns for 2022.
Applications for the spring intake of the popular program, offered by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre (BAC) with funding from the Ontario government, are now open until Sunday, April 17th. For entrepreneurs not yet ready to apply, another intake will take place in early September.
Not only will all the successful applicants to the program receive business training at no cost to them, but half of them will also each receive a $5,000 microgrant based on the strength of their business plans and business pitches to a panel of community judges.
Anyone aged 18 and older not in school who is interested in either starting a new business or expanding an existing one that’s been operating for five years or less within the City of Peterborough or Peterborough County is eligible to apply. The full eligibility criteria can been found at investptbo.ca/starter.
VIDEO: Starter Company Plus with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development
Since Starter Company Plus was first offered in Peterborough & the Kawarthas in spring 2017, 194 entrepreneurs have benefited from the program, resulting in the launch of 104 new businesses and the expansion of 52 existing ones. Even more impressive is the more than $1.2 million in funding and financing subsequently secured by entrepreneurs who have participated in the program.
During the five-week Starter Company Plus program, the 12 successful applicants will participate in virtual sessions each Tuesday in May covering a wide variety of topics including market research, digital marketing, small business financials, and hiring practices.
“On the very first day we go around the virtual room and everyone introduces themselves,” explains Hillary Manion, the BAC Entrepreneurship Officer who leads the program. “We learn about what their businesses are, what they do, and most importantly what their business goals are. We do this exercise at the beginning of every workshop.”
“At the beginning many struggle to fill 30 seconds with information about themselves and their businesses but, by the end of the five weeks, most of them can’t stop talking,” she adds. “The confidence that comes with practice is just one of the hidden benefits of Starter Company Plus.”
Hillary Manion of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre hosts a virtual session of the aspiring to experienced entrepreneurs participating in the summer 2021 intake of the Starter Company Plus program. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
A big takeaway for each participating entrepreneur is the development of a comprehensive business plan based on the Lean Model Canvas, a proven strategic management template used for developing new business models and documenting existing ones.
“A business plan is a road map,” Manion says. “It helps you set out all of the steps you need to take. It helps you set your goals, and it also helps identify the resources you need to reach those goals.”
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“But it’s not something you write once at the beginning of the program and forget about. It’s something you need to review regularly, especially if you are a start-up. A business plan is a living, breathing thing — it’s something that is going to evolve and change as your business does.”
For the participants, the strength of their business plan is also key for a potential financial reward at the end of the program that will help them launch or grow their business. After successfully completing the program, each entrepreneur will submit their final business plan and pitch their business to a panel of community judges for a chance to receive one of six $5,000 microgrants.
Katelin Turcotte is a graduate of Starter Company Plus who received one of those microgrants. When she was opening Wilde Beauty in 2019, a home-based preventative foot care and education business that sees her monitor high-risk clients via regular foot care maintenance, she applied to Starter Company Plus and was accepted.
“I really didn’t know what I was getting into,” Turcotte admits. “I knew I was going to be with other people starting businesses and there was going to be lots of support but, as I dove deeper into it, I found it to be very useful. It made me feel a little more normal, like I wasn’t just having my own mini-panic attack about starting a new business.”
Katelin Turcotte, owner of home-based preventative foot care and education business Wilde Beauty, received a $5,000 mircogrant in December 2019 after participating in the Starter Company Plus program. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
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The business plan and pitch components of the program, adds Turcotte, were invaluable.
“The pitch part pushes your knowledge and reveals if you put the time in to figure everything out. Are you really passionate about it? Are you doing it because you really want to, or just because you want to make money?”
Like all businesses, Wilde Beauty was adversely affected when the pandemic hit in early 2020, forcing Turcotte to adjust her original business plan — something she knew how to do thanks to Starter Company Plus.
“During the first lockdown, I shifted everything to an online store and started doing virtual consultations,” says Turcotte, adding “There are a lot of feet out there that still need helping.”
To those who are considering applying for the upcoming Starter Company Plus intake, Turcotte’s advice is to “go for it.”
“It’s easy to say ‘I’ll wait until things get better’ but really this is the perfect time to do it,” she says.
Six businesses operated by Caitlin Smith, Patrick and Deanna Leahy, Brad Carson, Bruno Merz and Dreda Blow, Angela McDonald, and Lynda Todd each received a $5,000 microgrant after participating in the fall 2021 intake of the Starter Company Plus program offered by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre. (Photos courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
In-class training is delivered virtually, providing more flexibility for the participants and allowing the participation of guest speakers and experts in their field. Along with the virtual training, participants also have opportunities during the five-week program for in-person one-on-one consultations with the program facilitator.
A recent change to the training has been the addition of a stress management and wellness aspect.
“Entrepreneurs often don’t take care of themselves as well as they probably could, especially in the early start-up stage because they’re trying to handle everything on their own,” Manion notes.
Another recent change has been an increased focus on the resiliency and flexibility of the business plans of participants — something especially important for entrepreneurs launching or expanding a business during the pandemic.
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“Many of our Starter Company Plus graduates have referred to their business plans more than they expected over the last two years,” Manion says. “As restrictions and expectations changed, businesses with a solid foundation already set with their business plan have been able to quickly adapt and continue to thrive.”
Noting that between 30 and 50 applications are reviewed for each intake, Manion says those not accepted into Starter Company Plus are invited and encouraged to benefit from the other support services offered by the BAC.
“Our team reaches out to every applicant,” Manion explains. “We are more than happy to work one-on-one with anyone who applies for the program.”
Hillary Manion, the Entrepreneurship Officer at the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre who leads the Starter Company Plus program. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
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“Whether you are accepted into Starter Company Plus or not, you can still become a client of the Business Advisory Centre. Our services are free and confidential. A lot of the topics we cover in Starter Company Plus are also available in our live online workshops or through e-learning.”
On a personal level, Manion admits to becoming “very emotional” when she reflects on how Starter Company Plus has been a springboard to small business success for participants.
“I’m like a proud mama bear at the end of the program, especially when I see those participants who struggled with their 30-second elevator pitch on the first day become so confident and well spoken when delivering their business pitch at the end of the program,” she says.
“I grew up in a small business. My parents were entrepreneurs. I know there are so many people out there who would be strong entrepreneurs but just need that help to get going. If I can be part of the team who gives them that start, that’s very satisfying.”
For more information on Starter Company Plus and to apply, visit investptbo.ca/starter.
This story was created in partnership with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development.
Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival will return to race on Little Lake at Del Crary Park on June 11, 2022 after two years without an in-person event due to the pandemic. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW)
After two years without an in-person event, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival will return to race on Little Lake at Del Crary Park on Saturday, June 11th, organizers announced on Tuesday (March 29).
The annual fundraiser for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation was cancelled during the first year of the pandemic and held a virtual event in 2021.
Registration for the 21st edition, which raises funds for breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment at PRHC, will open at 12:01 a.m. on Friday (April 1). The first three teams to register will win a free extra practice in a dragon boat on Little Lake.
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“We are committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for all attendees and we have been working hard to update our safety protocols to incorporate provincial and local public health guidelines and recommendations,” says festival chair Michelle Thornton in a media release.
“Many of our participants and supporters have loved ones who are undergoing active cancer treatments which make them immunocompromised,” she adds. “Although not mandated, enhanced protocols such as masking in crowded areas may still apply in order to help keep our most vulnerable citizens safe.”
Since its inception in 2001, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival has raised over $3.7 million — including over $95,000 at last year’s virtual event.
Since its inception in 2001, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival has raised over $3.7 million for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation to support for breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment at the regional hospital. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW)
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“The last few years have been quite challenging for our team but we are resilient and have managed to keep the team active and the festival alive,” says Marg Walsh, president of the festival host Survivors Abreast Team. “We are inspired by the enthusiasm the community has already shown and can’t wait to once again welcome everyone to such a worthy and important fundraising event as we continue to work hard to ensure everyone from across our region has access to world-class breast cancer care.”
Lesley Heighway, president and CEO of PRHC Foundation, says the number of patients from Peterborough and the surrounding area who rely on PRHC for cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment continues to climb.
“Proceeds of the 2022 festival will allow PRHC to invest in new state-of-the-art equipment and technology to serve more cancer patients, support earlier cancer diagnosis, and provide safer, more effective treatments,” she explains.
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For the 21st year, Kawartha Credit Union will return as the festival’s presenting sponsor in 2022.
“Being the platinum sponsor of Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival allows us to provide financial support while also participating in a fun event that unites Peterborough and our surrounding areas in a common goal to improve local health care resources,” says Kawartha Credit Union president and CEO Norah McCarthy.
Many of the features at the festival from prior to the pandemic are returning in 2022, organizers say.
Many of the features at the festival from prior to the pandemic are returning in 2022, including the flower ceremony to honour loved ones. (Photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW)
The Dragon’s Lair, Loft, and Nest — a luxurious tent experience and added perks for the top three fundraising teams — is back, as is the flower ceremony that will be open to the community at large to honour their loved ones.
The One Stop Dragon Boat Shop will be available online leading up to race day and in person on race day, the Family Fun Zone will offer activities and crafts to keep the whole family entertained, and The Thirsty Dragon beer garden will be open The Vendor Village Market will feature more than 40 vendors, including food vendors, from Modern Makers Market.
New this year is a “FundRacing” division for teams or individuals who are not able to participate in person but still want to support the festival and make use of the fundraising tools available to those who register, with prizes also available for the top fundraisers in this division.
For more information and to register for the 2022 Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, visit www.ptbodragonboat.ca.
During "As the Sun Rises" at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on April 2, 2022 at Showplace Performance Centre, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra will perform Wagner's "Siegfried Idyll", Raum's "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", and Copland's "Appalachian Spring". (Photo: Amy E. LeClair Graphic Design and Brand Studio)
The Peterborough Symphony Orchestra (PSO) returns to Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough on Saturday (April 2) for the second in-person concert of its 2021-2022 season.
The orchestra will be welcoming the arrival of spring with “As the Sun Rises”, featuring a musical program of renewal, hope, and growth.
Michael Newnham will conduct the PSO as it performs German composer Richard Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, Canadian composer Elizabeth Raum’s Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and American composer Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring.
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Wagner composed the Siegfried Idyll, a symphonic poem for chamber orchestra, as a personal birthday present for his second wife Cosima after the birth of their son Siegfried in 1869.
Peterborough Symphony Orchestra presents As the Sun Rises
When: Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Where: Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: $45 adults, $10 students
Featuring conductor Michael Newnham. A Maestro Chat is included in each performance. Tickets available at 705-742-7469 or tickets.showplace.org
On the morning they were to celebrate her birthday, a small group of musicians directed by Wagner played the new composition to awaken her. Struggling under debt, Wagner later sold the piece re-scored for a larger orchestra.
Raum composed Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in 1989 on commission to the Regina Symphony Chamber Players. Later re-scored for a full orchestra, the five-movement suite is based on the epic 14th-century poem of the same name that tells the story of one of King Arthur’s famous Knights of the Round Table.
VIDEO: “Siegfried Idyll” performed by BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Michael Newnham conducted Orchestra Toronto in a performance of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in February 2020.
After being commissioned in 1942 to write a ballet “with an American theme,” Copland’s Appalachian Spring was first performed in 1944 and won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Music. In 1945, he was commissioned to rearrange the ballet as an orchestral suite, preserving most of the music, which is the version now performed by most orchestras.
Single tickets are still available for the concert, which has performances at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets for either performance are $45 ($10 for students) and can be purchased online at tickets.showplace.org.
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Each performance, which includes a Maestro Chat, will last around one hour with no intermission.
“Mindful of the vulnerable amongst our patrons, the PSO will also be requiring audience members to wear masks during the approximately one hour concert,” says PSO general manager Lee Bolton. “We appreciate the ongoing patience and kindness of the Peterborough community.”
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra’s 2022 season.
Gary and Karry Stata of Lindsay with their $21,593,703.80 Lotto 6/49 grand prize. (Photo: OLG)
Gary and Karry Stata of Lindsay are multi-millionaires after winning more than $21 million in Lotto 6/49.
The Statas won $21,593,703.80 in the February 26th draw.
The couple, who have been married for 45 years, have been playing the lottery for decades.
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“We only play Lotto 6/49,” Gary said while the couple was at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up their winnings. “This is our first big win.”
Gary said he noticed an advertisement for the jackpot which prompted him to purchase their ticket.
“I was watching the news and saw that someone in our community had a winning ticket,” he recalled. “I was at home when I compared our numbers to the winning numbers on OLG.ca and noticed they matched. I can’t even tell you how many times we looked at this ticket and thought something must be wrong.”
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“We called our daughter right away,” Karry added. “She could tell by my voice something was up. She was just as shocked as we were.”
“It’s still hard to imagine this is where we are,” Gary said.
Karry said she was so overwhelmed her head ached.
“We’re just regular Kraft dinner and fried bologna people,” Karry said, laughing.
Peterborough police believe this vehicle was involved in a series of thefts of catalytic converters between February 22 and March 2, 2022. (Police-supplied photo)
Peterborough police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a vehicle believed to be involved in a series of thefts in late February and early March.
The incidents happened at three separate businesses in Peterborough between Tuesday, February 22nd and Wednesday, March 2nd.
In each case, catalytic converters were removed from vehicles at the businesses.
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In an earlier media release, police identified one of the businesses as being located in the Rye Street and Lansdowne Street area and another in the Jameson Drive and Fisher Drive area.
Police believe the suspects in the thefts were operating a silver Dodge Caravan, with six-spoke rims and a small dent on the passenger side above the tire.
Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.
A Ukrainian family in Przemysl, Poland on February 27, 2022 after fleeing Russian aggression in Ukraine. (Photo: Mirek Pruchnicki)
The New Canadians Centre has launched an urgent appeal for funds to support Ukrainians who come to Peterborough and Northumberland through a special federal program.
The federal government recently created the Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program to help Ukrainians and their family members come to Canada as quickly as possible and to provide them with the ability to work and study while in Canada. Through the program, displaced Ukrainians will be able to stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to three years.
“This is a special pathway not typically applied to refugee resettlement,” reads a media release from the New Canadians Centre. “NCC is deeply concerned because there is no resettlement funding offered by the federal government for people arriving through this program and displaced Ukrainians will have very limited access to income supports.”
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According to NCC executive director Andy Cragg, who addressed Peterborough City Council at its meeting on Monday (March 28), at least 70 Ukrainians have arrived or are expected to arrive in Peterborough or Northumberland through the federal program.
That’s why the non-profit organization is seeking to raise $20,000 for its client emergency fund, which provides support for basic needs including food, shelter, and medical treatment.
“In the last two years, NCC staff have been working with an unparalleled number of individuals and families in crisis,” reads the media release. “The funds raised will support those fleeing Ukraine and other newcomers in times of need.”
Any additional donations will go to the organization’s Peterborough Welcome Fund which enables it to provide programs and services to respond to urgent and emerging needs of clients arriving from anywhere in the world.
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On Wednesday (March 30) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the New Canadians Centre is also hosting a virtual information session on local and federal responses to the war in Ukraine. The organization will share information on the CUAET program, private sponsorship, and how to support Ukrainians locally and abroad. Attendees will also have a chance to hear from local families who have been affected by the crisis in Ukraine.
The session will be limited to 100 participants, but the recording will be posted on social media and on the New Canadians Centre website at nccpeterborough.ca after the event.
This story has been updated with additional information.
The wastewater treatment plant in Peterborough. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
A week after the Ontario government lifted its mask mandate, the Kawarthas region has the highest COVID-19 wastewater signal in Ontario — a leading indicator of the number of COVID-19 cases in the community.
According to the most recent data published by the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, the Central East region — which includes Peterborough Public Health, Haliburton, Kawartha, and Pine Ridge District Health Unit, and Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit — is reporting the highest wastewater concentration of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Sampling of wastewater for the virus is the most accurate method for estimating COVID-19 transmission, now that the Ontario government has restricted eligibility for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to at-risk people. People infected with COVID-19, even if they aren’t showing symptoms, can shed the virus in their stool.
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Dr. Peter Jüni, the science table’s departing scientific director, estimated last week there are between 20,000 and 25,000 daily infections in the province based on the wastewater signal.
“We are now starting to see exponential growth again and what worries me is that it looks as if it will be relatively steep,” Jüni said. “It’s really important for people to take it slow and not get ahead of themselves with increasing their contacts, with going to crowded places and with dropping their masks.”
According to the science advisory table, the COVID-19 wastewater signal is a “weighted mean of standardized, biomarker-normalized concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 gene copies” sample across 101 wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, and sewersheds in the province’s 34 public health unit regions. The science advisory table says there’s a five-to-seven day lag between the detection of the virus in wastewater and the diagnosis and reporting of COVID-19 cases.
COVID-19 Wastewater Signal by Region as of March 28, 2022. (Graphic: Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table)
As of March 16, based on complete data, the concentration of the virus in wastewater in Central East region was around 0.8, double the provincial average of around 0.4. As of March 23, based on incomplete data and provisional estimates, the concentration in Central East region was approaching 1.5 — more than double the provincial average of 0.7 for the same period.
In terms of how this breaks down for the health units in Central East Region, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is reporting increases in the wastewater signal for Midland, Barrie, and Collingwood. As of Monday (March 28), Haliburton, Kawartha, and Pine Ridge District Health Unit is reporting a large increase in the wastewater signal for the Cobourg sewershed and a smaller increase for the Lindsay sewershed.
Unlike the other two health units in Central East region, Peterborough Public Health does not currently publish wastewater surveillance information on its COVID-19 dashboard. kawarthaNOW reached out to the health unit and was told current local wastewater data will be released sometime this week.
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After Central East region, the next highest COVID-19 wastewater signals in Ontario are in Eastern region followed by the North and the GTA.
The test positivity rate in Ontario appears to be reflecting the increase in the COVID-19 wastewater signal.
On Monday, the Ontario government reported a test positivity rate of 17.9 per cent — the highest since late January — based on 6,243 PCR tests that were completed.
Province-Wide COVID-19 Wastewater Signal as of March 28, 2022. (Graphic: Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table)
Although the wastewater signal continues to climb in Central East region as well as the rest of Ontario, it remains unclear what this means aside from an increase in daily infections.
While the number of people in Ontario hospitalized with COVID-19 has been gradually increasing over the past three weeks, the number of admissions to intensive care units has continued to decline.
In Peterborough and Lindsay, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has remained relatively stable.
More than a week into spring, winter is not done with us quite yet.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for possible snow, ice pellets, and freezing rain on Wednesday afternoon and evening (March 30).
The special weather statement is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Hastings County.
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A mix of snow and ice pellets is expected to move into the area Wednesday afternoon and persist into Wednesday night. Freezing rain is possible before precipitation changes over to rain overnight on Wednesday or early Thursday morning.
A freezing rain warning may be needed as the system approaches. However, there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the timing and amount of freezing rain.
Untreated surfaces such as roads, parking lots, and walkways may become slippery.
This story has been updated with the latest forecast from Environment Canada, including removing the estimate of 5 cm of snow and ice pellet accumulation.
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