Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 574 new cases today, with the 7-day average of daily cases decreasing by 1 to 710.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, 1 is reporting a triple-digit increase — Toronto (104) — with 14 reporting double-digit increases — Peel (80), Ottawa (58), York (44), Niagara (39), Windsor-Essex (34), Halton (31), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (24), Durham (21), Middlesex-London (19), Hamilton (18), Waterloo (17), Eastern Ontario (16), Simcoe Muskoka (13), and Brant (11) — and 5 reporting no new cases at all.
Of the new cases, 67% are people who have not been fully vaccinated (61% have not received any doses and 6% have received only one dose) and 24% are people who have been fully vaccinated with two doses, with the vaccination status unknown for 9% of the cases because of a missing or invalid health card number. The 7-day average case rate is 10.73 per 100,000 for unvaccinated people, 5.60 per 100,000 for partially vaccinated people, and 1.76 per 100,000 for fully vaccinated people.
Hospitalizations have jumped by 97 to 330, but part of this increase may be due to undereporting by more than 10% of hospitals on the weekend. The number of ICU patients has increased by 2 to 179 and the number of ICU patients on ventilators has increased by 7 to 130. Ontario is reporting 8 new COVID-related deaths.
Over 21.4 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 30,072 from yesterday. Almost 10.4 million people are fully vaccinated, an increase of 17,479 from yesterday, representing just over 69.8% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from August 21 – September 20, 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 August 21 – September 20, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the blue line is the daily number of ICU patients on ventilators. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from August 21 – September 20, 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 8 new cases to report in Peterborough. However, another 8 cases have been resolved, leaving the number of active cases unchanged at 25.
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 Tuesday will be included in Wednesday’s update.
There are currently 88 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region (no change from yesterday), including 33 in Hastings Prince Edward (15 in Quinte West, 13 in Belleville, 2 in North Hastings, 1 in Prince Edward County, 1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, and 1 in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory), 25 in Peterborough, 12 in Kawartha Lakes, 12 in Northumberland, and 6 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,795 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,747 resolved with 23 deaths), 1,269 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,212 resolved with 58 deaths), 992 in Northumberland County (963 resolved with 17 deaths), 145 in Haliburton County (138 resolved with 1 death), and 1,349 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,303 resolved with 13 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on September 20.
Taso Hatzianastasiou, owner and operator of Taso's Restaurant and Pizzeria, shows off a Chicago-style deep dish mac 'n' cheese. Taso is one of 18 downtown Peterborough restaurants participating in the first-ever Mac + Cheese Festival during October. (Photo: Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area)
Paying homage to le fromage is nothing new for cheese lovers the world over but when you toss macaroni into the mix, well, that leads to all kinds of culinary possibilities.
Locally, that timeless food combination is at the heart of the inaugural Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival that, during October, will see 18 downtown Peterborough restaurants put their best comfort food foot forward in a bid to be declared mac ‘n’ cheese champion, which comes with a trophy and all the associated bragging rights.
Organized and presented by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), the festival is being staged in conjunction with Kawartha Food Share, which will receive a donation in the winning eatery’s name.
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In addition, each participating restaurant will collect non-perishable food donations for Kawartha Food Share at their respective locations.
A list of all participating restaurants, and a map of their locations, is available at www.ptbomacandcheesefest.com.
Festival participants can dine in or order takeout and then vote for their favourite mac ‘n’ cheese dish online via the website.
“We tried to create a mac ‘n’ cheese that we think would be appropriate for students.” Trent University president Dr. Leo Groarke offers up mac ‘n’ cheese during the launch event on September 21, 2021 for Peterborough’s inaugural Mac + Cheese Festival during October. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
On Tuesday (September 21) at the Silver Bean Café in downtown Peterborough, the DBIA revealed details of the festival. In addition, a mini mac ‘n’ cheese competition was held involving the Peterborough Petes (represented by team mascot Roger), Kawartha Food Share’s Kim Sanderson, and Trent University president Dr. Leo Groarke, with the latter noting he’s not quitting his day job to become a chef any time soon.
“Mac ‘n’ cheese isn’t one of my things — I shouldn’t admit that — but it is important to our students,” said Dr. Groarke, adding, “We tried to create a mac ‘n’ cheese that we think would be appropriate for students.”
“We have a vegan and we have a meat,” he said. “In the vegan one, there are two special ingredients. One is cilantro. We put three or four cheeses including Parmesan. We wanted to have some kick to it. But in the meat one, the real secret ingredient is bacon. We asked around and were told to put lobster in it. Well, students can’t afford lobster, so instead we put hot dogs in it. We’re calling that ‘student lobster’.”
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The traditional post-secondary student connection to mac ‘n’ cheese wasn’t lost on DBIA executive director Terry Guiel when organizing the festival was initially discussed.
“We really felt that if we can connect Trent University and Fleming College with our downtown, it’s a win,” said Guiel.
“What better way to do that than connecting them with the downtown than through a food that’s historically connected to students? We have so many unique restaurants downtown. A hamburger is a little too boxed in, where mac ‘n’ cheese is exciting in terms of where it can go.”
Peterborough city councillor Dean Pappas tries to convince Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area executive director Terry Guiel that mac ‘n’ cheese was invented in Greece during the launch event for Peterborough’s inaugural Mac + Cheese Festival during October. The launch event was held on September 21, 2021 at the Silver Bean Café in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
“We have a lot of dairy farms around here, and cheese manufacturers,” Guiel explained. “We’re going to integrate them more in this as we move forward. As the event grows, we’re going to look at sponsorships and partnerships that connects them to this event.”
During a lengthy stretch that has seen a number of popular annual DBIA-organized events such as Ribfest, Taste of Charlotte, and Hootenanny On Hunter cancelled due to pandemic restrictions, Guiel says the need for “a safe, passive event” became clear, adding the festival is the advent of what may well become a new direction for DBIA events.
“You take a break and you have time to evaluate. Every event has its end time. We’re evaluating what events we want to continue with and whether large events are something the DBIA should be doing, quite frankly.”
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“We’re trying to take the DBIA on a different path, concentrating more on beautification and public art,” Guiel noted. “Events take a lot of money and an exorbitant amount of time. I see a host of smaller events like this and less of the big major festival events.”
Thrilled over the staging of the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival is Tracie Bertrand, director of tourism with Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development.
“The culinary aspect really drives local visitors to the region,” she said. “Peterborough and the Kawarthas, and downtown Peterborough, really punch above their weight when it comes to culinary experiences.”
“The culinary aspect really drives local visitors to the region.” Tracie Bertrand, director of tourism with Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development, speaks with kawarthaNOW writer Paul Rellinger during the launch event for Peterborough’s inaugural Mac + Cheese Festival at the Silver Bean Café in downtown Peterborough on September 21, 2021. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
“We consider it innovative whenever you add a culinary component to an event. Everyone has to eat. Mac ‘n’ cheese — how much more innovative can we get?”
“Entrepreneurs and small business owners are constantly thinking of ways to do things different. We’ve see that here in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Yes, it’s been a really hard time for all of them but we’ve seen some really innovative things that I think are going to stick.”
Restaurants and eateries participating in the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival include:
Dreams Café and Bistro
The Food Forest
One Eighty Sports Pub
Sam’s Place
La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant
The Dirty Burger Company
The Black Horse Pub
Real Thai PTBO
Taso’s Restaurant and Pizzeria
The Boardwalk Lounge
Amandala’s Restaurant
BrickHouse Craft Burger
The Whistle Stop Café
McThirsty’s Pint
Nateure’s Plate
Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews
Champs Bar and Grill
Pizza Bodega
For more information on the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival, including photos of some of the mac ‘n’ cheese creations and a map of participating restaurants, visit www.ptbomacandcheesefest.com.
“It’s gouda be good”. A promotional sign during the launch event on September 21, 2021 for Peterborough’s inaugural Mac + Cheese Festival during October. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
This story has been updated to correct the name of the representative from Kawartha Food Share.
Proceeds from the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation's new online 50/50 lottery will support world-class patient care, such as helping to fund the replacement of the hospital's Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. Pictured is Dr. Warren Ball, PRHC Interventional Cardiologist and director of the Cardiac Cath Lab, which provides lifesaving cardiac care to patients close to home. (Photo: PRHC Foundation)
If you want a chance to win cash while supporting world-class health care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), there’s a new lottery in town.
The PRHC Foundation has officially launched its first-ever online 50/50 lottery.
“We all want the best possible patient care for our loved ones, but government funding doesn’t cover all the hospital’s needs,” says Lesley Heighway, president and CEO of the PRHC Foundation, in a media release. “The proceeds from the new 50/50 lottery will help fund the equipment and technology that form the foundation of patient care.”
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In a 50/50 lottery, half of the money raised from the purchase of tickets goes towards prizes with the other half going towards the non-profit organization holding the lottery.
Tickets for the PRHC Foundation 50/50 lottery, which are available online only, can be purchased now at prhcfoundation5050.com. Ticket options include 10 tickets for $10, 40 tickets for $20, 160 tickets for $40, or 400 tickets for $75.
There’s a guaranteed jackpot of $9,895, along with a bonus prize of a Resorts of Ontario gift certificate valued at $2,500 (or a $2,000 cash bonus).
The grand prize winner of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation’s new online 50/50 lottery will be announced on October 28, 2021, with two early bird draws earlier in the month. (Photo: PRHC Foundation)
The grand prize winner will be announced on Thursday, October 28th. Two early bird draws will provide additional chances to win, with cash prizes awarded every hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, October 8th and Friday, October 22nd.
Heighway says the 50/50 lottery is a new way for people to support their hospital, with proceeds to help to fill the government funding gap at PRHC.
“They’ll help bring new lifesaving services to our region, and enable PRHC to attract the best doctors, nurses and staff to our hospital,” Heighway says. “When people buy their tickets, they’ll have the added comfort of knowing they’re supporting outstanding patient care, close to home, for patients from across our region.”
Peterborough County OPP are looking for a suspect or suspects in a mischief incident over the weekend at Warsaw Public School in Douro-Dummer Township.
Police say a Pride flag was removed from the flag pole at the school and set on fire.
The incident occurred between the hours of 4:30 p.m. last Friday (September 17) and 8:30 a.m. yesterday.
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Anyone with tips on this case can contact the Peterborough County OPP at 705-742-0401 or the non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122.
If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at stopcrimehere.ca.
Zachary Comeau, 18, of no fixed address, is wanted in connection to a shooting incident at a Trent Hills home on September 16, 2021. The victim of the shooting has since died, and police are now investigating the incident as a homicide. (Police-supplied photo)
Northumberland OPP have released the name of the victim of a shooting incident at a Trent Hills home last Thursday (September 16), which has now become a homicide investigation.
Andrew Brenton Brown, 38, of Warkworth, succumbed to his injuries. A post-mortem was conducted in Kingston.
Police are continuing to search for the suspected shooter, 18-year-old Zachary Comeau of no fixed address.
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Comeau is described as a white male, approximately 5’11” and 150lbs, with blue eyes and brown wavy/curly hair. Police have also revealed new details about his appearance, stating that Comeau also has facial tattoos that depict images of a dollar sign and a crown.
Comeau is considered armed and dangerous. If you see him, do not approach him but call 9-1-1 immediately.
The investigation is now being considered a homicide and continues to be investigated by members of the Northumberland Crime Unit and Central Region Forensic Identification Services, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the suspect in this case is asked to call the Northumberland OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at stopcrimehere.ca.
Environment Canada has now issued a rainfall warning for much of the greater Kawarthas region for Tuesday night (September 21) through Wednesday night.
The rainfall warning is in effect for northern Peterborough County, northern Hastings County, all of the City of Kawartha Lakes, and all of Haliburton County.
Showers and thunderstorms are forecast to begin later Tuesday evening and will continue through at least Wednesday night.
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Rainfall amounts of 50 to 60 mm are expected by early Thursday morning, with a few areas possibly reaching up to 75 mm.
This widespread rainfall event, which also affects all of southwestern Ontario, is due to a cold front and a moisture-laden low pressure system that will arrive from the American Midwest.
Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. If visibility is reduced while driving, turn on your lights and maintain a safe following distance. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.
This story has been udpated to replace an earlier special weather statement with a rainfall warning.
Michelle Ferreri, MP for Peterborough-Kawartha. (Campaign photo)
Although the Liberals have again formed a minority government, political neophyte Michelle Ferreri has unseated former Liberal Cabinet minister Maryam Monsef in Peterborough-Kawartha.
This is only the second time in almost 60 years that Peterborough-Kawartha, known as a bellwether riding, has elected a candidate who is not a member of the party that has formed the federal government. The only other time was in 1980, when Progressive Conservative Bill Domm defeated Liberal Sylvia Sutherland in the federal election when the Liberal Party, led by Pierre Trudeau, won a majority.
Ferreri, a social media marketer and former broadcaster running for political office for the first time, defeated Monsef — who has been a Cabinet minister in the past two Liberal governments led by Justin Trudeau — by 2,738 votes.
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Although Ferreri’s campaign was not without controversy, when it was revealed she was campaigning at long-term care homes without being fully vaccinated, Monsef likely lost support as a result of a comment she made in August when she referred to the Taliban as “our brothers”.
The comment infuriated many Canadians despite a later clarification from Monsef, whose family fled the Taliban in the 1990s, that it was a cultural reference.
In the rest of the greater Kawarthas region, Conservatives were re-elected in all three ridings.
In Northumberland—Peterborough South and Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, Conservative incumbents Philip Lawrence and Jamie Schmale easily held on to their ridings, beating the Liberal candidates by almost 8,000 and 20,000 votes respectively.
In Hastings—Lennox and Addington, Conservative Shelby Kramp-Neuman defeated Liberal candidate Mike Bossio by almost 6,000 votes. Derek Sloan, who was the Conservative incumbent until he was expelled from caucus in January 2021 for controversial comments, ran in Banff-Airdrie with no party affiliation (where he came in fifth).
Here are the official final results from Elections Canada from all four ridings in the greater Kawarthas region, as of September 27.
The fall 2021 intake of the Starter Company Plus program, administered by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre with funding from the Ontario government, will provide five weeks of business training to 12 entrepreneurs starting or running a business in the City or County of Peterborough. The program, delivered completely online this fall, 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 this fall.
Applications for the fall 2021 intake of the popular program, offered by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre (BAC) with funding from the Ontario government, opened September 1 and close September 26.
As of August 2021, Starter Company Plus has supported 176 entrepreneurs since it was first offered in Peterborough & the Kawarthas in 2017, many of whom have launched a new business or expanded an existing one. (Infographic: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Not only will the successful applicants to the program receive business training at no cost to them, but half of them will 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 with the City or County of Peterborough, or expanding an existing one that’s been operating for five years or less, is eligible to apply. The full eligibility criteria can been found at peterboroughed.ca/starter.
Since Starter Company Plus was first offered in Peterborough & the Kawarthas in spring 2017, 176 entrepreneurs have benefited from the program, resulting in the launch of 95 new businesses and the expansion of 49 existing ones.
Even more impressive is the $1.2 million in funding and financing subsequently secured by entrepreneurs who have participated in the program.
During the fall intake of Starter Company Plus, which runs for five weeks, 12 successful applicants will participate in virtual sessions covering a wide variety of topics including market research, digital marketing, small business financing, and hiring practices.
VIDEO – Starter Company Plus 2021: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development
“On the very first day we go around the room — the Zoom room — and everyone introduces themselves and tells everyone why they’re here and what their business idea is or, if the business is already open, what their business is,” explains Hillary Manion, the BAC Entrepreneurship Officer who leads the program.
“From there we start working on what we call their elevator pitch — what you tell people in 30 seconds when they ask what you do. From that first day of introducing themselves, they work up to a 10-minute video at the end of the five weeks. At the beginning a lot of people struggle to talk for 30 seconds but, by the end of the five weeks, most of them have a hard time keeping their video to 10 minutes.”
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)
As valuable as that business pitch is, the big takeaway 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.”
“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. Your business is a living, breathing thing — it’s something that’s going to change.”
For the participants in each intake of Starter Company Plus, 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, 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)
Katelin Turcotte is a graduate of Starter Company Plus who received one of those microgrants. In the late summer of 2019, she was opening Wilde Beauty, 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.”
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 has been adversely affected by the pandemic, 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” — pandemic or not.
“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 participants of the summer 2021 intake of Starter Company Plus each received a $5,000 microgrant to help launch or expand their businesses. Clockwise from top left: Kelsey Watts of Worthy Truth Wellness, Suzanne Schmidt of Suzanne’s Hot Stuff, Emily Nigro of Dead End Lures, Tuncay Alkan & Laura Wilson of MEZE, Lucas Graham of Countdown Creative, and Chris Carvalho of East City Knife Sharpening. (Photos courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Like the entrepreneurs it helps, the BAC has also changed the way it offers its services because of the pandemic — pivoting the Starter Company Plus program from an in-person model to a completely online one. According to Manion, the shift to a virtual model has resulted in some clear benefits.
“It has given us an opportunity to expand the offering and expand the training,” she says, noting the upcoming intake will be the third one held virtually.
“We’re able to bring in guest speakers and experts in their field. Having Zoom calls is a little bit more flexible for everyone. In terms of the information we’re able to share, we’re able to cover a lot more topics. We talk a lot more about digital marketing now than we did a year-and-a-half ago.”
Manion adds that the program now also includes a stress management and wellness aspect, “because entrepreneurs often don’t take care of themselves as well as they probably could, especially in the beginning stages because they’re trying to handle everything on their own.’
The pandemic has also led to a new focus for Starter Company Plus participants: resiliency and flexibility in their business models.
“When our last intake graduated in November, we thought everyone was going to run out and start their businesses — and then we ran into another lockdown,” Manion recalls. “A lot of those businesses have had to fall back on their business plans and find ways to continue going forward.”
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.
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)
“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.”
“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 for the fall intake by Sunday, September 26th, visit peterboroughed.ca/starter.
This story was created in partnership with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 610 new cases today, with the 7-day average of daily cases increasing by 2 to 711.
Of Ontario’s 34 health units, 2 are reporting triple-digit increases — Toronto (126) and Peel (100) — with 11 reporting double-digit increases — York (71), Ottawa (54), Waterloo (31), Windsor-Essex (29), Durham (24), Hamilton (23), Niagara (22), Simcoe Muskoka (19), Halton (19), Middlesex-London (18), and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (17) — and 5 reporting no new cases at all.
Of the new cases, 66% are people who have not been fully vaccinated (59% have not received any doses and 7% have received only one dose) and 25% are people who have been fully vaccinated with two doses, with the vaccination status unknown for 9% of the cases because of a missing or invalid health card number. The 7-day average case rate is 10.69 per 100,000 for unvaccinated people, 5.93 per 100,000 for partially vaccinated people, and 1.74 per 100,000 for fully vaccinated people.
Hospitalizations have fallen by 12 from yesterday to 233, but more than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for the daily bed census yesterday so the actual number of hospitalizations is likely higher. The number of ICU patients has decreased by 5 to 177 and the number of ICU patients on ventilators has decreased by 6 to 123. Ontario is reporting 2 new COVID-related deaths.
Over 21.4 million vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 16,712 from yesterday. Over 10.3 million people are fully vaccinated, an increase of 10,268 from yesterday, representing just over 69.7% of Ontario’s total population.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from August 20 – September 19, 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 August 20 – September 19, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the blue line is the daily number of ICU patients on ventilators. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from August 20 – September 19, 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 40 new cases to report over the weekend, including 19 in Hastings Prince Edward, 10 in Peterborough, 5 in Kawartha Lakes, 5 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton.
There has been 1 new COVID-related death in Hastings Prince Edward, the area’s 13th death since the pandemic began.
An additional 36 cases have been resolved in the region over the weekend, including 16 in Peterborough, 9 in Hastings Prince Edward, 6 in Haliburton, 4 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Northumberland. An outbreak at Caressant Care Retirement Residence in Central Hastings was declared resolved on September 17.
Active cases have increased by 9 in Hastings Prince Edward, by 4 in Northumberland, and by 1 in Kawartha Lakes, and have decreased by 6 in Peterborough and by 5 in Haliburton.
There are currently 88 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 3 since September 17, including 33 in Hastings Prince Edward (15 in Quinte West, 13 in Belleville, 2 in North Hastings, 1 in Prince Edward County, 1 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, and 1 in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory), 25 in Peterborough, 12 in Kawartha Lakes, 12 in Northumberland, and 6 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,787 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,739 resolved with 23 deaths), 1,269 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,212 resolved with 58 deaths), 992 in Northumberland County (963 resolved with 17 deaths), 145 in Haliburton County (138 resolved with 1 death), and 1,349 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,303 resolved with 13 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Hastings Prince Edward on September 20.
Indigenous artist Jimson Bowler with some of his jewellry artwork. Peterborough artist Alex Bierk has organized a fundraiser for Bowler, who is currently living on the street. (Photo: Jimson Bowler via jimsonbowler.com)
Peterborough artist Alex Bierk has organized a fundraiser in support of Indigenous artist Jimson Bowler, who is currently living on the street in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough.
Bierk’s GoFundMe campaign is seeking to raise $6,000 to secure a live-and-work space for Bowler and to save his body of current and archived work, which is at risk of bring thrown out.
For almost 20 years, Bowler has been creating jewellery, painting, photography, and sculpture, with his work featured at the Art Gallery of Peterborough, the SPARK Photo Festival and, most recently, in an exhibit called “Electric Avenue” along with Bierk at the First Friday Art Crawl in downtown Peterborough in August.
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In 2013, Peterborough’s Rob Wilkes, owner of Big Sky Design, worked with Bowler on the Big Loon Portage bus wrap, a work commissioned by Artspace and the City of Peterborough.
“I was thrilled to be awarded the design contract to execute this interesting project,” Wilkes writes on his website.
“Local indigenous artist Jimson Bowler was awarded the commission, based on a series of anti-colonial paintings he did where he painted First Nations symbolism and icons directly over thrift store found landscapes, frames and all. Translating this intriguing approach to a full bus wrap was a special challenge and Big Sky worked closely with the artist, the stakeholders and suppliers to ensure a successful and artistically sensitive finished product.”
In 2013, Indigenous artist Jimson Bowler was commissioned to create this artwork on a City of Peterborough transit bus. The bus wrap was designed by Peterborough’s Big Sky Design, which also designed and maintains Bowler’s website pro bono. (Photo: Big Sky Design website)
Wilkes went on to produce Bowler’s website at www.jimsonbowler.com, which Big Sky Design continues to host and maintain pro bono.
On his website, Bowler explains his art is inspired by the rock carvings at Petroglyphs Provincial Park — the largest known concentration of Indigenous petroglyphs in Canada and a sacred site known as “The Teaching Rocks” — and uses the Anishinaabe story of Nanaboozhoo (trickster) as “teacher lessons and stories.”
“I create one of a kind jewellery using recycled silver in the form of forks, spoons, knives; and cut stones from my own unique collection acquired over the years,” Bowler writes. “My sculptural work combines traditional mediums such as bone and turquoise with discarded modern materials. I take inspiration from the traditional ways that respectfully use all materials from mother earth and I seek to create objects that keep the stories alive, motivate us to learn the culture and realize that Aboriginal people are not relics of an ancient past.”
Indigenous artist Jimson Bowler in 2014. (Publicity photo)
So far, the fundraiser for Jimson Bowler has raised over $4,300.
“If you want to support the arts, this is how you can make a difference,” Bierk writes.
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