A Bancroft man is facing two counts of attempted murder and other charges after an alleged assault in the Town of Bancroft in Hastings County on Tuesday night (August 10).
Shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, officers from the Bancroft OPP responded to a report of an assault at Woodview Lane in Bancroft.
When officers arrived at the scene, they located three injured adults. Two of the injured persons were transported by ambulance to hospital, where one was released and one remains for further medical treatment.
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After an investigation, officers arrested 36-year-old Maurice Martin of Bancroft, who has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, assault with a weapon, assault, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and failure to comply with probation.
Martin was held in custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville on August 19.
Anyone with information with regarding this incident is asked to contact the Bancroft OPP at 1-888-210-1122. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 510 new cases today, with the seven-day average of daily cases rising by 24 to 399.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, 1 is reporting a triple-digit increase (Toronto at 129 cases) and 13 are reporting double-digit increases — Peel (61), Hamilton (51), Windsor-Essex (41), York (33), Halton (26), Waterloo (24), Ottawa (22), Simcoe Muskoka (21), Durham (17), Middlesex-London (15), Brant County (13), Niagara (13), and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (13) — with 7 reporting no new cases at all.
Of the new cases, 72% are among unvaccinated people, 17% of among fully vaccinated people, and 11% are among partially vaccinated people.
The number of hospitalizations has increased by 7 to 123, with the number of ICU patients decreasing by 2 to 111 and the number of patients on ventilators decreasing by 4 to 72. Ontario is reporting 4 COVID-related deaths, but 2 occurred more than 2 months ago and are being reported now as part of a data clean-up, so there are 2 new COVID-related deaths.
More than 20 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 48,682 from yesterday, with almost 9.5 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 48,682 from yesterday, representing just over 64% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 13 – August 12, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from July 13 – August 12, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, and the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com) COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from July 13 – August 12, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 17 new cases to report over the past 2 days, including 7 in Hastings Prince Edward, 4 in Northumberland, 3 in Peterborough, and 3 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no new cases in Haliburton.
An additional 11 cases have been resolved in the region over the past 2 days, including 5 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Peterborough, and 3 in Hastings Prince Edward.
The number of active cases has increased by 4 in Hastings Prince Edward, by 4 in Northumberland, and by 3 in Peterborough, and has decreased by 2 in Kawartha Lakes.
There are currently 48 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 9 since August 11, including 28 in Hastings Prince Edward (13 in Quinte West, 10 in Belleville, 3 in Prince Edward County, and 2 in Central Hastings), 9 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Northumberland, and 5 in Peterborough. There are no active cases in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,649 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,622 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,201 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,147 resolved with 58 deaths), 960 in Northumberland County (937 resolved with 17 deaths), 126 in Haliburton County (125 resolved with 1 death), and 1,194 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,154 resolved with 12 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on July 28.
Fleming College will require proof of vaccination for all students, employees, and visitors this fall.
The college made the announcement of its vaccination policy on Friday (August 13).
To access programs and activities on any of its campuses (Peterborough, Lindsay, Haliburton, and Cobourg), everyone will be required to have received the first dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine by September 7 and a second dose by October 20. A paper or digital receipt showing proof of vaccination will be required to access campus facilities.
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“We believe this policy will provide the best possible protection and freedom to everyone at Fleming to pursue their academic, athletic, and personal goals in a safe environment,” states Fleming College president Maureen Adamson in a media release.
“Vaccination is an effective safeguard against future lockdowns and interruptions in learning, as the scientific evidence shows,” she adds. ‘Given the current spread of the virus and its negative impact on all healthcare services, including the availability of non-COVID-19 related health services, we believe this policy is an important contribution to the communities we serve.”
Fleming College will assist students in gaining access to vaccines through on-campus and local clinics. Anyone who cannot be vaccinated on medical or other grounds recognized by the Ontario Human Rights Code may request an accommodation. For those without proof of vaccination, regular testing will be required.
Fleming College had previously announced a vaccination mandate for students living in on-campus residence.
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At the same time Fleming College announced its vaccination policy, the Trent University Faculty Association (TUFA) also issued a media release calling on Trent University to adopt a similar vaccination policy.
According to the association, 93 per cent of its members agree that all eligible students, staff, faculty, librarians, and archivists should be fully vaccinated fully before coming to campus, acknowledging exemptions and requests for accommodation based on medical or other grounds recognized by the Ontario Human Rights Code.
“TUFA believes that Trent must continue to exhibit leadership in regard to community health and join with this group of peer institutions,” reads the media release. “TUFA is prepared to work closely with the university to expedite development of such a vaccination policy.”
Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™ — our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the greater Kawarthas region — and update it throughout the week as conditions change.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials recommend staying home if you feel sick, visiting a beach close to your home to avoid unnecessary travel, bringing hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, and maintaining at least two metres of physical distance from other beachgoers.
As of Thursday, August 19, the following beaches have been posted as unsafe for swimming:
Beavermead (2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough)
Ennismore (1053 Ennis Road, Ennismore)
Jones Beach (908 Jones Beach Road, Bridgenorth)
Selwyn (2251 Birch Island Road, Selwyn)
West Beach – Port Hope (Northumberland County)
Harwood Waterfront & Dock – Hamilton (Northumberland County)
Kingsford Conservation Area – Salmon River (Hastings County)
Tweed Park – Stoco Lake (Hastings County)
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Below are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in the City and County Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, and Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White?s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health provides weekly testing results for beaches in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Important note
The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.
You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 513 new cases today, the highest single-day increase since June 13 when 530 cases were reported. The seven-day average of daily cases has risen by 43 to 375.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, 1 is reporting a triple-digit increase (Toronto at 105 cases) and 11 are reporting double-digit increases — York (70), Peel (64), Durham (44), Hamilton (29), Windsor-Essex (27), Simcoe Muskoka (25), Ottawa (20), Halton (20), Waterloo (17), Middlesex-London (15), and Eastern Ontario (14) — with 6 reporting no new cases at all.
Of the new cases, 71% are among unvaccinated people, 17% of among fully vaccinated people, and 11% are among partially vaccinated people.
The number of hospitalizations has increased by 8 to 108, with the number of ICU patients increasing by 5 to 113 and the number of patients on ventilators increasing by 6 to 77. Of the hospitalizations and ICU patients, around 80% are people who are unvaccinated.
Ontario is reporting no new COVID-related deaths.
More than 20 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 49,167 from yesterday, with more than 9.4 million people fully vaccinated, an increase of 38,031 from yesterday, representing almost 64% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from July 12 – August 11, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from July 12 – August 11, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, and the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from July 12 – August 11, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered and the green line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
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There are no new cases in Peterborough today, with the number of active cases remaining at 2. Numbers are unavailable for Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland, and Hastings Prince Edward as the respective health units only issue reports on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Numbers for Thursday will be included in Friday’s update.
As of August 11, there are 39 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 24 in Hastings Prince Edward (12 in Quinte West, 7 in Belleville, 3 in Central Hastings, and 2 in Prince Edward County), 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 2 in Northumberland, and 2 in Peterborough. There are no active cases in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,646 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,622 resolved with 22 deaths), 1,198 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,142 resolved with 58 deaths), 956 in Northumberland County (937 resolved with 17 deaths), 126 in Haliburton County (125 resolved with 1 death), and 1,187 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,151 resolved with 12 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on July 28.
Singer-songwriter Kate Suhr belts out a tune as musician Saskia Tomkins provides accompaniment and storyteller Megan Murphy looks on during a media day at 4th Line Theatre on Millbrook on August 12, 2021, promoting The Verandah Society In Residence. Created and performed Murphy and Suhr, the show is a hybrid of storytelling and music and runs for two weeks in August at the Winslow Farm. (Photo: Hannah Abrahamse / kawarthaNOW)
All the world may be a stage but, as Megan Murphy and Kate Suhr discovered over the course of 2020, a porch will do just fine in a pandemic pinch.
Murphy and Suhr are now taking that up a huge notch, including with musician Saskia Tomkins, by presenting the world premiere of The Verandah Society In Residence for two weeks in August at 4th Line Theatre’s Winslow Farm near Millbrook.
Created and performed by the duo, and featuring a hybrid of storytelling and music, the production is an extension of The Veranda Café show that the pair initially brought to people’s porches and backyards throughout the summer of 2020, as pandemic restrictions continued to darken local live performance venues.
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Dramaturged by veteran actress Linda Kash and directed by 4th Line Theatre managing artistic director Kim Blackwell, this version of their uplifting and thought-provoking piece will also feature the talents of multi-instrumentalist Saskia Tomkins, whose mastery of the violin, viola, cello, and nyckelharpa has seen her perform as part of numerous theatre and music ensembles on both sides of the Atlantic.
With the themes of family, traditions, and letting go at its centre, The Verandah Society In Residence will see Murphy and Suhr share their personal pandemic experiences while examining loss and hope and how one rebounds. With the show billed as “poignant and funny and fun”, they ask what have we learned during the pandemic and how do we move forward while leaving unnecessary things from our pre-pandemic lives behind.
In Murphy and Suhr, audiences will be treated to the considerable talents of two of the most expressive and accomplished performance artists in the region.
VIDEO: A taste of The Verandah Society In Residence (video by Hannah Abrahamse)
“Last year when everything shut down, as artists we were out of work instantly,” recalls Murphy, a graduate of York University’s Fine Arts program, the Second City Conservatory, and Seneca College’s Documentary Filmmaking Institute. “We both got depressed and watched a lot of Netflix and ate a lot of Miss Vickie’s.”
“We thought, ‘What are we going to do?’ Well, I write stories and Kate writes songs. What if we create something? My Uncle Clare (Galvin) had written a story called The Verandah Society. It was about growing up in the 1930s and how people would sit on their verandahs on summer evenings and share stories. Now this is what was happening in our communities. We were locked down and suddenly we’re meeting on our verandahs and in our driveways. We sat and we talked and we listened to each other.”
With Suhr’s musical contribution, Murphy scripted the initial Verandah Café that was first presented on the porch of a Gilmour Street home in Peterborough. They would go on to perform on more than 120 porches, most in the city and county of Peterborough but a few in Toronto as well.
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“It was so emotional — people cried, we cried, and we thought, ‘This is what we were all missing’,” says Murphy, admitting there was a threat that performing the show so many times would take away from any hoped-for spontaneity.
“There’s enough fluidity and movement in it to prevent that,” she says. “We take a lot from the audience. There’s a lot of improv. We get to all the story points, but we talk to you and integrate that, so it’s new every time for us.”
Suhr adds there was “a feeling” they were onto something special right from the get-go.
Storyteller Megan Murphy laughs during an interview with kawarthaNOW’s Paul Rellinger during a media day at 4th Line Theatre on Millbrook on August 12, 2021, promoting The Verandah Society In Residence, a show created by Murphy and singer-songwriter Kate Suhr during the pandemic and performed with musician Saskia Tomkins. (Photo: Hannah Abrahamse / kawarthaNOW)
“There was a shared experience … a moment in time that felt like we were exactly where we were supposed to be and this — being together — is what’s really important,” Suhr says, noting that feeling was cathartic.
“We’re not supposed to be isolated. Being alone is so very, very difficult. It felt like the only thing we could do was to do this, and the only way it could be what it is was by being with each other.”
“I have done shows where there are countless performances of the same thing over and over,” Suhr continues. “You have to find new discoveries. There are new people in that audience that have invited you into their lives and vice versa, and as a performer you feel a different feeling each show. So it has never felt repetitious.”
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Key to those 2020 porch presentations, as well as to the broader-scale production at 4th Line Theatre, is the abundant respect and appreciation they have of each other.
“Working with Meg is a dream because we are so like-minded … spiritually and mentally we’re very connected,” says Suhr, who is no stranger to 4th Line Theatre audiences, with her last appearance being in the summer 2019 production of Beau Dixon’s Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable.
“Meg is such a beautiful soul. I feel so very lucky to be able to do this with her. We are in the right place at the right time.”
Singer-songwriter Kate Suhr speaks with kawarthaNOW’s Paul Rellinger during a media day at 4th Line Theatre on Millbrook on August 12, 2021, promoting The Verandah Society In Residence, a show created by Murphy and Suhr during the pandemic and performed with musician Saskia Tomkins. (Photo: Hannah Abrahamse / kawarthaNOW)
For her part, Murphy says their relationship “is not unlike like a sister-best friend” dynamic, adding “We are aligned with what we want for The Verandah Society, which is really an extension of who we are.”
Despite being in their happy place, the biggest smile at the Winslow Farm belongs to Blackwell, who is thrilled to welcome audiences back to the theatre she has called home for 27 seasons, having directed 25 productions in the process.
“Quite often the large-scale (productions) we do here might not have the detailed work, because we’re looking at the big picture of having 30 people on stage at one time,” says Blackwell, adding “To be able to really dig into the script and into Meg’s stories and into Kate’s songs has been a real gift.”
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“The specificity of Meg’s writing is what really attracted me. I can see my family and my life reflected in it. Everybody can. That’s why they’ve been so wildly successful. With all the original music Kate has written for the show, she gets to a deep and emotional place that’s really affecting. We’re moving to the other side of the pandemic and they’re reflecting on that for all of us.”
Blackwell adds “the beautiful strings” contributed by Tomkins “elevates the piece.” Tomkins, not unlike all associated with the production, is grateful to be involved.
“It’s beautiful — it’s so funny and so tender and heartwarming,” says Tomkins, who has gifted her talents to a number of past 4th Line Theatre productions.
4th Line Theatre’s managing artistic director Kim Blackwell (middle) joins musician Saskia Tomkins (bottom), singer-songwriter Kate Suhr (left), and storyteller Megan Murphy during a media day at 4th Line Theatre on Millbrook on August 12, 2021, promoting The Verandah Society In Residence, a show created by Murphy and Suhr during the pandemic and performed with Tomkins. (Photo: Hannah Abrahamse / kawarthaNOW)
“They have a rapport, a connection, that is completely magical,” Tomkins adds, referring to Murphy and Suhr. “It’s still totally fresh every time I see it. My job as a strings player is to find my way through Kate’s songs and support her. We tucked away in a field, and she sang me the songs and I improvised and then gradually formulated my piece.”
Performance dates of The Verandah Society In Residence, sponsored by The Pyle Group Scotia Wealth Management, are Tuesdays to Saturdays from August 17 to 21 and August 24 to 28, with performances beginning at 6 p.m.
Tickets, which are already close to sold out, cost $40 and can be purchased online at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca, by phone at 705-932-4445, or in person at the 4th Line Theatre’s box office in Millbrook at 4 Tupper Street.
Two generations of journalists: kawarthaNOW’s Paul Rellinger and Hannah Abrahamse during a media day at 4th Line Theatre on Millbrook on August 12, 2021, promoting The Verandah Society In Residence, a show created by storyteller Megan Murphy and singer-songwriter Kate Suhr during the pandemic and performed with musician Saskia Tomkins. (Photo: Hannah Abrahamse / kawarthaNOW)
This summer marks the 29th season of 4th Line Theatre, founded in 1992 by creative director Robert Winslow with goal of preserving Canadian cultural heritage through the development and presentation of regionally based and environmentally staged historical drama.
Two productions that were originally scheduled for the 2020 summer season at the 170-year-old Winslow Farm — Alex Poch-Goldin’s The Great Shadow and Maja Ardal’s Wishful Seeing — were postponed due to the pandemic.
The hope was both could be staged this summer, but continuing COVID-19 restrictions made that impossible. Both productions are now scheduled to premiere during 4th Line Theatre’s 2022 summer season.
Dr. Thomas Piggott. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Public Health)
Dr. Thomas Piggott will be the Peterborough region’s new medical officer of health and CEO of Peterborough Public Health as of December 1.
The board of health for Peterborough Public Health made the announcement on Thursday (August 12).
“The board of health was very impressed with Dr. Piggott’s extensive track record in public health,” says board chair Andy Mitchell in a media release.
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“We are confident he’ll serve our community with the care, passion, and scientific expertise our residents have come to expect from their medical officer of health,” adds Mitchell, referring to the retiring Dr. Rosana Salvaterra. “We look forward to his leadership at this dynamic time in public health, both locally and provincially.”
A newcomer to the Peterborough area, Dr. Piggott is currently the medical officer of health of Labrador-Grenfell Health in the northern regions of Labrador, where he also serves as the executive lead for population health and rural and remote health in the region.
He has experience collaborating on public health with Indigenous communities in Canada and internationally, and led a pandemic response along with Indigenous governments in Labrador for outbreak prevention and a vaccination rollout with priority on Indigenous communities.
Prior to his role at Labrador-Grenfell Health, Dr. Piggott worked as a field doctor with Médicins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is a public health and preventive medicine specialist as well as a practising family physician, who who completed his Masters in Public Health at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine with residency training at McMaster University. He is also actively involved in research and teaching in public health at McMaster University and Memorial University.
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Dr. Piggott’s wife is also a family physician and they have two young daughters. They all enjoy outdoor activities including hiking, running, bicycling, swimming, gardening, and camping.
As current medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra will be retiring at the end of September, the board of health also announced that Dr. Ian Gemmill will provide medical direction to the health unit until Dr. Piggott begins in the position on December 1.
Dr. Gemmill is the former medical officer of health for Kingston-Frontenac-Lennox-Addington Public Health and was most recently acting medical officer of health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit before Dr. Natalie Bocking assumed the role.
During the transition period, Larry Stinson will serve as interim CEO of Peterborough Public Health and Donna Churipuy will serve as incident commander for the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure continuity in the health unit’s emergency response.
A resident receives a COVID-19 vaccination at the Fenelon Falls immunization clinic. (Screenshot from HKPRKHU video by kawarthaNOW)
Less than a week after Ross Memorial Hospital announced it would be closing its drive-through clinic at the Lindsay Exhibition as of August 27, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit has announced it will be closing its COVID-19 mass immunization clinics in Cobourg, Minden, Fenelon Falls, and Campbellford effective September 3.
“Instead of people coming to us for a vaccine at fixed clinic sites, we want to increase vaccine uptake and access by taking the vaccine into the community through mobile and pop-up clinics,” says medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking in a media release issued on Wednesday afternoon (August 11).
The mobile and pop-up clinics will be offered in areas of the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County where vaccination rates are lower and where residents may have difficulty getting to a mass immunization clinic.
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In recent weeks, as vaccination rates have increased, the health unit says the number of people attending the mass immunization clinics has fallen noticeably. This has led to the decision to redeploy health unit staff and resources so they can be used more effectively.
“The clinics have done wonderfully well, and we are extremely grateful to the many volunteers, service groups, organizations, and municipal partners with whom we worked in partnership,” Dr. Bocking says. “Without their support, the mass immunization clinics would not have been possible.”
Walk-ins and appointments will continue to be offered at the clinics in Cobourg, Minden, Fenelon Falls, and Campbellford until September 3, with both mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) available at these clinics. Dates, times, and locations for clinics are available on the health unit’s website at hkpr.on.ca/2021/07/30/vaccination-clinics/.
Many pharmacies as well as health care providers in the region also continue to offer COVID-19 vaccines.
As of August 9, almost 80 per cent of residents 12 years of age and older in Haliburton County, Northumberland County and the City of Kawartha Lakes have received at least one vaccine dose, with just over 71 per cent full vaccinated.
After being sworn in on August 9, 2021, Lindsay native Nolan Dunn is the newest officer of the Kawartha Lakes Police Service. (Photos: Kawartha Lakes Police Service / Facebook)
The Kawartha Lakes Police Service has welcomed its newest officer — who also happens to be a Lindsay native.
Nolan Dunn was sworn in on Monday (August 9) as a uniformed patrol constable, after graduating from the Ontario Police College and serving as a court officer.
“Please join us in welcoming our newest officer here at the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service,” reads a Facebook post.
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Before pursuing his police career, the 25-year-old played hockey for various minor and junior teams in Ontario between 2010 to 2017.
Both policing and hockey run in the Dunn family. Nolan’s father is John Dunn, also a police officer, and his stepbrother is NHL player Vince Dunn.
Vince played for the Central Ontario Wolves and Peterborough Petes before being drafted to the NHL. After four years with the St. Louis Blues, including that team’s Stanley Cup winning season in 2019, the defenceman now plays with the new NHL expansion team the Seattle Kraken, having just signed a two-year $8-million deal with the team last week.
With some planning and effort, you can send your kids back to school with eco-friendly packed lunches. Reusable stainless-steel and silicone lunch containers, like the ones made by PlanetBox, are an excellent way to keep food fresh and plastic-free. While more expensive that their disposable alternatives, they will last a long time and you and your kids will feel good about helping the environment. (Photo: Geneviève Ramage)
Last week, we heard the news that kids will be going back to school in person this fall. As was the case last year, kids may have additional anxieties after being away from in-school learning environments since April.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s column is Kristen LaRocque, GreenUP Store Coordinator.
As I ready myself for this next transition, I’m grateful that the packed lunch not only gives my kid nutritious food, but also delivers a bit of comfort from home during the school day. Packed lunches are also an opportunity for me and my family to make thoughtful choices about what waste we may be creating and sending to landfill.
Here are my top 10 tips to help make our lunches litterless.
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1. Don’t buy pre-packaged food and beverages
Reducing waste inside the home requires us to change our habits outside of the home.
When we are grocery shopping, instead of reaching for a package of cheese strings, consider buying a brick of cheese and cutting it creatively. Rather than buying pre-packaged produce, opt for the unpackaged options and bring your own produce bags.
Consistently choosing lunch snacks that have limited or no packaging is a great way to reduce waste. As with many sustainable choices, reducing the packaging that comes into your home not only benefits the planet but also your health and the health of your kids.
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a report in 2018 acknowledging the growing body of evidence that suggests chemicals added to food directly or indirectly via packaging, adhesives, etc. could have long-term developmental repercussions in children.
2. Involve your child in the lunch planning and packing process
This tip is simple, but it challenges us as parents to let our kids make choices instead of choosing for them.
Having choices is empowering, and our kids learn a lot when they are empowered in the kitchen.
Depending on their age, you can split the workload while encouraging independence and ownership. When children have a voice and can choose their own lunch options, they are more likely to eat it.
Beeswax food wraps are an easy and long-lasting way to reduce the amount of plastic in your kids’ lunches. This plastic-wrap alternative has a lifespan of over a year with regular use. (Photo: Geneviève Ramage)
3. Avoid juice boxes
Swap out sugary juice boxes with a single stainless-steel water bottle that can be filled (and refilled) with good old H2O right from the tap.
Getting into the habit of drinking water at lunch and throughout the day is good for your child’s health and your pocketbook.
Though juice boxes are recyclable, they are often not rinsed properly before being put into the bin. This leads to contamination of other recyclables and can result in the whole lot being sent to landfill. Also, we need not explain why the single-use plastic straws that come with juice boxes should be avoided.
In speaking with teachers and education assistants, I have learned that juice boxes are the number one unfinished lunch item, and more often than not they end up half-full in the garbage.
4. Use stainless-steel containers
Choose reusable stainless-steel containers, thermoses, and water bottles for packing your child’s lunch.
Stainless steel is relatively easy to clean using hot water and soap. A bottle brush can help you clean inside thermoses and water bottles.
Stainless steel is also durable, light, and free of BPA and other harmful toxins.
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5. Practice making lunches with your child
Practice your lunch routine before school starts by packing a demo lunch and going on a picnic.
This gives you the opportunity to see your child’s lunch gear in action. Check to see how easily your young ones can open and close the containers by themselves.
This way you can be sure the food you pack is accessible. This also ensures your child will not have to ask for help from school staff.
6. Use fabric snack bags
Reach for reusable fabric snack bags rather than plastic ones.
Colourful or patterned reusable bags offer the element of surprise.
They are easy to wipe out at the end of the day and can be tossed in the washing machine for a deep clean.
Instead of choosing single-use paper napkins, opt for re-usable fabric wipes, like these adorable prints made locally by Cheeks Ahoy. (Photo: Geneviève Ramage)
7. Avoid plastic wrap
Swap out that plastic cling wrap!
This single-use plastic product can easily be replaced with beeswax food wraps.
These sustainable alternatives are reusable, washable with cold water, and compostable after approximately one year of use.
8. Consider making your own granola bars
Replace pre-packed granola bars with litter-less alternatives.
Those pre-packaged granola bars may seem like a convenient snack option, but the foil wrappers are not recyclable and only end up in the landfill.
One alternative is baking your own granola bars at home in large batches, which you can freeze and thaw as needed. This offers an opportunity for your child to be involved in the baking process, not to mention you can customize your creation and add all your favourite healthy ingredients.
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9. Do some research
Consult with teachers, fellow parents, and online resources for lunch-packing inspiration.
A quick Google search will bring up hundreds of blog posts and articles with parents documenting their school lunch ideas. One of my favourite ideas is fresh fruit or vegetable skewers.
Try visiting the website of the brand of your child’s lunchbox. For example, the Planet Box website provides specific recipes that help you make the most of the compartments provided in their lunch boxes.
10. Recycle any packaging if you can
It’s not always possible to avoid packaging, but some of it can be recycled.
If you are looking to check up on the recyclability of specific items within the City of Peterborough, there is an excellent online tool on the City of Peterborough’s website called What Goes Where.
The tool allows you to search for a particular item or material and receive specific instruction about how and where it’s disposed.
Stainless-steel water bottles are durable, light, and free of harmful toxins. Your children will be able to safely enjoy their beverages while also cutting back on single-use plastic bottles. (Photo: Kristen LaRocque)
The GreenUP Store offers a variety of tools to help you create your child’s litter-less lunch kit. For more information, visit us at 378 Aylmer Street in downtown Peterborough, check out our online store at shop.greenup.on.ca, or give us a call at 705-745-3238 ext. 222, or email kristen.larocque@greenup.on.ca with your zero-waste lunch questions.
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