Aimeé Le Lagadec is the new executive director of YES Shelter for Youth and Families, a non-profit organization that helps youth and families experiencing homelessness in Peterborough by providing shelter, education, and transitional supports.

Le Lagadec has been acting in the position since September 2021, when former executive director Meagan Hennekam left the position after five years.

“Stepping into this role in the midst of COVID-19 has been extremely challenging,” Le Lagadec states in a media release. “That being said, I am proud to be the one who will lead the YES Shelter for Youth and Families through the remainder of the pandemic.”

Originally from South Africa, Le Lagadec has a bachelor’s degree in social work and more than 10 years of experience in the social services field, specializing in youth homelessness. She previously worked at Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth in Toronto.

Since 2018, Le Lagadec was YES’s outreach program manger, overseeing a team of staff directly supporting youth and families to avoid, recover from, and exit homelessness.

“We know that Aimeé will continue to inspire the vision for the organization that is aligned with the overall strategic direction, mission and values, and provide executive leadership for the development and delivery of long-term strategies and programs to support vulnerable youth and families in our community,” states YES board chair Kerri Boyd.

A 25-year-old man from northern Hastings County has been charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident last Wednesday night (January 19).

At around 11:30 p.m. last Wednesday, officers from the Bancroft OPP responded to a disturbance on New Carlow Road, east of Maynooth, in Carlow Mayo Township.

A police investigation revealed the accused man had discharged a firearm at two people at the location, neither of whom were struck or injured. The accused man fled the scene after the incident.

On Sunday (January 23), the Bancroft OPP and the OPP Emergency Response Team arrested the accused man in the Bancroft area.

Konner Brewitt, 25, of Carlow Mayo Township has been charged with two counts of attempting to commit murder using a firearm, two counts of discharging a firearm with intent, two counts of assault, pointing a firearm, and careless use of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition

Brewitt is in police custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville on Monday (January 24) in relation to the criminal charges.

A groundswell of support for Peterborough medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott has evolved into a public Facebook group where local residents can express their appreciation for his dedication to their health and well-being.

Conceived and organized by a small group of Peterborough-area residents, Nogojiwanong Peterborough Stands with Dr Piggott — which has gained over 400 members in the first few hours since it was created — comes in the aftermath of recent protests by anti-vaxxers at the Peterborough Public Health office on King Street as well as outside Dr. Piggott’s residence in East City on January 15 and again on January 19.

The latter occurrence, which led to two people being arrested and charged with criminal harassment and intimidation of a health official, saw a woman knock on his door, pretend to be a neighbour welcoming him to the community and then attempt to “serve” him papers headed ‘Notice: Trespass, Liability’ and ‘Cease and Desist’ — purporting COVID-19 to be a hoax — while a companion videotaped the encounter. After Dr. Piggott caught on and slammed the door shut, she put the papers in his mailbox. Shortly after, city police arrived on scene.

A newcomer to Peterborough, Dr. Piggott was previously the medical officer of health in northern Labrador and a practising family physician who has worked as a field doctor with Médicins Sans Frontières in the Congo in central Africa. Dr. Piggott’s wife is also a family physician, and the couple has two young daughters.

“They (anti-vaxxers) crossed the line, causing a lot of stress and unnecessary grief for him and his family,” says kawarthaNOW publisher Jeannine Taylor who — along with kawarthaNOW managing editor Bruce Head and kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger, graphic designer Amy E. LeClair, and communications professional Justin Sutton — is behind the online show of support.

“People have repeatedly been asking ‘What can we do?’,” Taylor says. “They’re showing concern for Dr. Piggott and for his family. We want to show him that these groups (of anti-vaxxers) represent a very small number of people.”

Noting Dr. Piggott has been on the job less than two months — he started in his new role December 1 following the departure of his predecessor Dr. Rosana Salvaterra — Taylor says the idea is to show him, in a big way, that the residents of Peterborough city and county and Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations have his back.

To that end, residents are invited to post messages of support for Dr. Piggott (and by extension all public health staff and frontline health care workers) in the Facebook group, as well as post any images and videos that do likewise. Taylor notes there will “zero tolerance” for any hateful vitriol, which will be removed as quickly as possible.

Writer Paul Rellinger, who regularly covers Peterborough Public Health media briefings for kawarthaNOW, says the small group of anti-vaxxers who have targeted Dr. Piggott for simply doing his job in no way represents the broader community.

“Peterborough is better than this … much better,” Rellinger says.

“That’s the message I’d like to see sent to Dr. Piggott. He has to know, if he doesn’t already, that his 24-7 efforts to see us through the pandemic are greatly appreciated by the vast majority, and that there’s wide and extreme disgust for anyone who trespasses on his personal property, creating fear in him and in his family. In a word, that’s cowardly.”

Peterborough’s medical community is also standing behind Dr. Piggott. On Friday, a group of Peterborough-area physicians issued a joint statement in support of Dr. Piggott and public health staff, praising their “compassionate leadership and hard work.”

“These are professionals who dedicate themselves to keeping our community protected against a deadly virus,” the statement reads in part. “We find it disheartening and astounding that not only do these events disrupt the public health workplace but they have escalated to the front door of a private home, with no consideration to the children inside.”

Also on Friday, during the weekly Peterborough Public Health media briefing, local leaders spoke out strongly against anti-vaxxers taking their beef to Dr. Piggott’s home.

Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien condemned “this nonsense behaviour in the strongest terms possible” while Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith said “It is never appropriate to protest at anyone’s home. That is where their family should feel safe. It is 100 per cent wrong.”

Taylor notes she expects kawarthaNOW will hear, in some form, from anti-vaxxers concerning this online initiative.

“We’ve been dealing with that for two years,” she says, noting the media often faces animosity from anti-vaxxers for simply reporting pandemic news. “We’ve had threatening calls. I know other media have been threatened too. It’s a problem. I have a sense of how Dr. Piggott must feel, but I can’t imagine what it’s like to be accosted at your own front door.”

“Because of the shameful behaviour of a handful of people, Dr. Piggott’s neighbours won’t be able to knock on his front door to welcome him,” adds kawarthaNOW managing editor Bruce Head. “The Facebook group is a virtual way to let Dr. Piggott and his family know they are welcome and that we appreciate his leadership in keeping us safe during the pandemic.”

Amy LeClair, who owns and operates a graphic design and brand studio in Cavan Monaghan Township, volunteered to donate her skills and time to create the graphics for the new Facebook group.

“I feel very strongly that Dr. Piggott deserves to hear how important he is to this community,” LeClair says. “If I can be a part of that through my work and community spirit, count me in.”

For Justin Sutton, seeing what was happening to Dr. Piggott was all the motivation he needed to help organize the group.

“I felt compelled to join this initiative because I think what happened to Dr. Piggott is wrong and dangerous and I wanted him to know the vast majority of his neighbours disapprove of such tactics and won’t stand for it anymore,” Sutton says. “We want him to know he’s valued and we support him.”

Meanwhile, Peterborough’s police chief Scott Gilbert has served notice his officers are watching and will lay charges as required.

“Ignorance of the law is no excuse,” said Chief Gilbert at Friday’s Peterborough Public Health media briefing. “If you attend at a health care worker’s home and engage in the activities engaged in over the last week, that is causing fear. You should be on notice you will be subject to what the legislation (Bill C-3) states. If you’re going to protest, go to City Hall, go to Queen’s Park. Don’t go to someone’s house. That’s just unacceptable.”

Bill C-3, which received Royal Assent on December 17 and came into force on January 16, amends the Criminal Code to make it an indictable offence to “provoke a state of fear” in a health professional or a person who assists a health professional in the performance of their duties. A person convicted of the offence is liable to imprisonment for up to 10 years.

To join the ‘Nogojiwanong Peterborough Stands With Dr Piggott’ Facebook group, visit www.facebook.com/groups/nogoptbostandswithdrpiggott.

All photos of children/youth and their artwork have been used with the permission of their parents. Last names have been withheld in the interests of privacy.

A group of Peterborough-area physicians have issued a statement in support of Peterborough medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott and Peterborough Public Health.

The statement follows recent protests at the health unit and two incidents where anti-vaxxers showed up at Dr. Piggott’s private residence in East City — including an incident when an anti-vaxxer knocked on his front door pretending to be a friendly neighbour.

A newcomer to the Peterborough area, Dr. Piggott began working at Peterborough Public Health on December 1. He was previously the medical officer of health of Labrador-Grenfell Health in the northern regions of Labrador, where he also served as the executive lead for population health and rural and remote health in the region. Dr. Piggott’s wife is also a family physician and they have two young daughters.

The statement is printed in its entirety below.

The Peterborough family physician leadership group and the Peterborough Family Health Team are disturbed and appalled by the recent personal attacks on the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Thomas Piggott, and the staff of Peterborough Public Health.

We have had the benefit of working closely with Dr. Piggott and have witnessed his compassionate leadership and hard work. He and his team show up daily to help keep our community safe throughout the pandemic, undeterred by the harassment they receive at the front doors of Public Health, or sadly, as Dr. Piggott has experienced, at his home.

These are professionals who dedicate themselves to keeping our community protected against a deadly virus. We find it disheartening and astounding that not only do these events disrupt the Public Health workplace but they have escalated to the front door of a private home, with no consideration to the children inside.

When freedom of opinion turns vicious and vindictive, it becomes personal, and we stand together. We stand with Dr. Piggott. We stand with Peterborough Public Health. We stand with all healthcare workers who have faced threatening, abusive and violent behaviour throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Signed
Tom Richard, MD Co-Chair Peterborough Ontario Health Team
Sandra Khan, MD Physician Lead, Primary Care Vaccination Clinic
Wendy Thomas, MD Physician Lead, Community FHO
Bill Shannon, MD Physician Lead, Chemong FHO
Marta Wesolowski, MD Physician Lead, Peterborough Clinic FHO
Dave Carr, MD Physician Lead, Medical Centre FHO
Kim Curtin, MD Physician, Medical Centre FHO
Michelle Fraser, MD Physician Lead, Partners in Pregnancy Clinic
Jim Webster, MD Physician Lead, Greater Peterborough FHO
Duff Sprague, CEO Peterborough Family Health Team

As the Peterborough region experiences “some blunting” of the fourth wave of COVID-19 due to the omicron variant, Peterborough’s medical officer of health pledges to stay the course despite protests by anti-vaxxers that turned decidedly personal this past week.

“I think I’d be lying if I said I was okay, but I’m here and I’m doing my job,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott during a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Friday (January 21). “Online and in person, the worst that people are levelling at me is making fun of my last name.”

“If they think that’s novel or is going to stick, they obviously haven’t spent any time in a schoolyard,” he added. “But if I wasn’t a white male, I hate to think of the further vitriol and hatred I’d be experiencing. I have huge empathy for my colleagues and people that may be experiencing this with even more difficultly.”

This week’s protests at Dr. Piggott’s East City home, which ultimately led to the arrests of two people, took centre stage during a time put aside weekly to update the community on the current status of the pandemic.

On Saturday afternoon (January 15), a small group of anti-vaxxers showed up to protest at Dr. Piggott’s home carrying signs. They dispersed after police arrived. Then, on Wednesday night (January 19), a woman knocked on Dr. Piggott’s door in an attempt to serve him a notice headed Trespass, Liability and Cease and Desist.

Upon investigation, city police charged a 30-year-old Peterborough man with criminal harassment and intimidation of a health official under the provisions of the newly minted Bill C-3 that makes it an offence to “provoke a state of fear” in a health professional or a person who assists a health professional in the performance of their duties. Also arrested was a 54-year-old Peterborough woman, charged with the same offences.

The weekly media briefing, which is normally held on Thursday, was moved to Friday to accommodate Dr. Piggott’s “need to be with his family” in the aftermath of Wednesday night’s front-door encounter.

Local leaders on the briefing call took turns condemning the actions of anti-vaxxers at Dr. Piggott’s home.

“Difference of opinion is not a licence to intimidate or bully or harass,” said Board of Health chair and Selwyn Mayor Andy Mitchell. “Protesting at someone’s residence is simply wrong.”

“It is never appropriate to protest at anyone’s home,” said Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, adding “That is their property. That is where their family should feel safe. It is 100 per cent wrong and should never be accepted by anyone on our community.”

Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, who earlier this week called those involved “mosquitoes,” said she condemns “this nonsense behaviour in the strongest terms possible.”

For his part, Peterborough Police Chief Scott Gilbert served notice his officers are watching and will lay charges as required.

“Ignorance of the law is no excuse,” said Chief Gilbert. “If you attend at a health care worker’s home and engage in the activities engaged in over the last week, that is causing fear. You should be on notice you will be subject to what the legislation states. If you’re going to protest go to City Hall, go to Queen’s Park. You don’t go to someone’s house. That’s just unacceptable.”

Returning to the state of the pandemic locally, as of late Thursday afternoon (January 20), 548 confirmed active COVID cases in the Peterborough region were reported. That’s down significantly from 1,072 active cases reported at the last health unit media briefing on January 13. However, the number of local COVID-related deaths has risen during the same period, now at 41 — an increase of six over the past week.

To date this week since Monday, 161 new COVID cases have been confirmed locally. That’s well down from a pandemic-high weekly new case count of 770 recorded for the week of December 27 although, as Dr. Piggott noted, the decline is due to less testing rather than less transmission.

Meanwhile, outbreaks continue to be a growing concern with 19 currently on the go, accounting for a total of 327 active cases, Eight outbreaks are ongoing at congregate living facilities. In addition, Extendicare Lakefield, Riverview Manor, Fairhaven Long-term Care, St. Joseph’s at Fleming, Rubidge Retirement Residence, Sherbrooke Heights Retirement Residence, Kawartha Heights Retirement Living, Peterborough Retirement Residence, Centennial Place (Millbrook), Pleasant Meadow Manor (Norwood), and the Peterborough Regional Health Centre are also in outbreak.

“We know it (the active case count) has decreased by half but that decline is due to less testing and narrower testing criteria, not due to a decrease in transmission,” said Dr. Piggott, noting the strain on the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) remains considerable, with 34 COVID-related hospitalizations, five COVID patients in ICU and 75 “suspected” hospitalized cases.

On top of that, PRHC continues to deal with serious staffing pressures as COVID takes a toll on employees, forcing their absence from work.

Meanwhile, of the 41 local COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began, 12 have happened since January 1. Dr. Piggott says that hike is a result of the highest infection rates the pandemic has presented to date.

“What we’re seeing reflected is an older population in our region that is more vulnerable to severe illness and death,” said Dr. Piggott.

“In this fourth wave, our rates of infection have been around the same as the provincial average, but our underlying vulnerability because of age, the number of long-term care and retirement residences, and other risk factors has meant our vulnerability to death is higher in this community.”

Of the eight deaths reported since January 12, the ages range from 57 to 97 among five females and three males. Six people died in hospital and two in long-term care homes. Seven involved confirmed cases of omicron, with three not vaccinated, four with two doses, and one with three doses.

As of late Wednesday afternoon (January 12), 86.8 per cent of those 18 and older eligible for a vaccine had received two doses and 56.2 per cent had received three doses. Meanwhile, 49.3 per cent of children aged five to 11 have received one dose. As for booster shots, 49 per cent of all residents eligible aged five and up have rolled up their sleeve for a third time.

Otonabee Conservation announced the recipients of the annual Environmental Excellence Awards at the organization’s virtual annual general meeting on Thursday night (January 20).

Each year, the conservation authority honours four “watershed champions” with the awards, recognizing people and groups who have demonstrated the advancement of watershed health through projects on the landscape and actions that contribute to a healthier environment for everyone.

The Conservation Partnership Award was presented to Peterborough Public Health by City of Peterborough councillor Gary Baldwin, in recognition of the health unit’s leadership during the pandemic as well as the health unit’s programs and services related to drinking water source protection, water quality monitoring at public beaches, and more. Julie Ingram, manager of environmental health programs at Peterborough Public Health, accepted the award on behalf of the health unit.

The Individual Conservationist Award was presented to Brianna Salmon by Mayor Diane Therrien, in recognition of Salmon’s leadership as the former executive director of Peterborough GreenUP for five years, and her current role as executive director of Green Communities Canada. At GreenUP, Salmon championed and led a successful five-year capital campaign to increase accessibility and infrastructure at GreenUP’s Ecology Park, a community hub for environmental education, native plants, and sustainable gardening practices.

The Business Award was presented to Trent University by Selwyn Township mayor Andy Mitchell, in recognition of the university’s leadership in environmental education and stewardship, including the School of the Environment, the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan, Cleantech Commons, and the university’s first-of-its-kind zero-carbon professional forensics training facility. Julie Davis, vice-president of external relations and Development, accepted the award on behalf of the university.

The Environmental Stewardship Award was presented to the Millbrook chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada by Cavan-Monaghan Township councillor Ryan Huntley, in recognition of the Millbrook chapter’s efforts to improve fish populations, fish habitat, drinking water, and the overall aesthetics of the landscape, with a focus on Baxter and Squirrel Creeks. Millbrook chapter president Scott Calder accepted the award on behalf of the group.

Along with presenting the awards, Otonabee Conservation appointed a new chair and vice-chair of the board of directors.

Cavan-Monaghan Township councillor Ryan Huntley, previously vice-chair, takes over as chair from Selwyn Township mayor Andy Mitchell, who has filled the role since 2014. Municipality of Trent Hills councillor and deputy mayor Michael Metcalf is the new vice-chair.

Malaika Collette, a youth climate activist and program coordinator with Kawartha World Issues Centre, was the keynote speaker at the annual general meeting. She spoke about her inspiration for climate action in the Peterborough area, and how her passion for climate education has taken her work and activism to the national and international stage, including attending and participating in last year’s COP26 in Scotland.

The Peterborough Tool Library will be moving from its current home at the Endeavour Centre to the Peterborough North Habitat ReStore, effective March 1.

Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region is taking over management of the tool library — which allows members to borrow from hundreds of tools for an annual fee — from the Endeavour Centre, which needed to reorganize after two years of navigating the pandemic and find a new home for the tool library so it could continue to grow and expand.

A non-profit organization that builds and renovates affordable homes for low-income working families and individuals, Habitat has long been involved in the circular economy and the reduce, reuse, and recycle movement through their Habitat ReStores.

The non-profit home improvement and building supply stores accept and resell quality new and gently used building materials, furniture, appliances, home décor items, and clothing and accessories, with proceeds from sales funding Habitat home-building projects in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

“We are really excited to see the tool library move under the Habitat umbrella,” says Jen Feigin, director of operations at the Endeavour Centre and a founding member of the tool library, in a media release. “We couldn’t think of a more suitable organization to run the library and continue the mission of growing the sharing economy while providing affordable access to tools. There could really not be a better fit.”

Currently located at the Endeavour Centre at 910 High Street in Peterborough, the tool library was founded in May 2006 by a group of volunteers and has been housed and run by the Endeavour Centre ever since. The tool library will be temporarily closing at its High Street location as of Sunday, February 6th and will reopen at its new location at the Peterborough North Habitat ReStore at 300 Milroy Drive on Tuesday, March 1st, with new expanded hours at the new location to be announced in February.

“Habitat ReStores provide an answer for those looking to donate or those looking to purchase household goods that are eco-friendly and affordable, and now they can also provide shared and affordable access to tools,” says Christina Skuce, director of operations for Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region.

“Moving the tool library to the Habitat ReStore is a great fit and will further help to support our mission to empower through local affordable homeownership,” she adds. “And we are excited to be able to offer expanded hours to access the library.”

The relocation of the Peterborough Tool Library to the Habitat ReStore will give Peterborough residents one-stop access to both affordable home-building materials and tools for their home renovation projects, while supporting the work of Habitat for Humanity.

“The community will now be able to go shop for their gently used building materials, furniture, appliances, and home décor items, and borrow the tools they need while they are at it,” says Nikki-Ann Murray, volunteer coordinator with the Peterborough Tool Library. “Both shopping second hand and participating in a community tool library is a great way to lower your carbon footprint.”

For more information about the Habitat ReStore, visit www.habitatpkr.ca/restores.

For more information on the Peteborough Tool Library, including membership options and its inventory of 600 tools and home improvement books, visit www.ptbotoollibrary.ca.