Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive imaging technology that produces detailed three-dimensional scans of the body's organs and tissues and is often used for disease detection, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring. (Photo: Philips)
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) now has its second magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, the hospital announced on Friday (February 4).
MRI is a non-invasive imaging technology that produces detailed three-dimensional scans of the body’s organs and tissues and is often used for disease detection, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring.
“Today marks a very important milestone for PRHC and for the people we serve across our community and region,” says Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC’s executive vice president and chief of staff, in a media release.
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According to Dr. Mikula, the second MRI machine will allow the hospital to perform up to 5,000 additional MRI procedures annually.
“Over the last four years, the demand for MRI scanning has increased by 53 per cent at PRHC,” Dr. Mikula says. “Not only will having a second MRI improve access to care closer to home for our patients, it will decrease wait times and offer modern, leading-edge MRI technology for our patients.”
Both the existing and new MRI machines are Philips Ambition 1.5T MRI systems. The second MRI is expected to be fully operational in March.
In November 2021, the provincial government announced it was providing PRHC with an unspecified amount of funding for the second MRI machine. The PRHC Foundation has also supported bringing a second MRI machine to the hospital.
Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning for the greater Kawarthas region for Friday night (February 4) into Saturday morning.
The extreme cold warning is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings County.
Extreme cold conditions are expected Friday overnight, with wind chill values near -30°C for Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County, and wind chill values near -35°C for Haliburton and Hastings counties.
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Extreme cold puts everyone at risk, but infants and young children, older adults, people with circulatory problems or chronic illnesses, people working outdoors, and people who are marginally housed are especially vulnerable.
If going outside, dress in layers (including a wind-resistant outer layer). Cover up exposed skin, as frostbite can develop within 10 to 30 minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill.
Consider re-scheduling outdoor recreational activities, especially during the evening. There is a serious risk of hypothermia and frostbite if outdoors for long periods.
Remember: if it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your pet to stay outside.
Pfizer's Paxlovid is a combination of two antiviral drugs, nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, for the treatment of adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. Health Canada authorized use of the at-home treatment on January 17, 2022. (Photo: Pfizer)
If we’re to have any hope of advancing to the next stage of lessened COVID-19 restrictions, we must continue to make “smart choices” in terms of our personal safety measures.
That’s the word from medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott who, during a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Thursday (February 3), said what’s ahead “is contingent on what we do — the actions that each and every one us take.”
“As we emerge into this next stage of learning to live with COVID, I want to highlight that there are measures that each and every one of us can take that don’t have the same degree of negative impact that the more heavy measures, like lockdowns, do.”
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“Continuing to wear a tightly fitted mask any time you’re around someone outside of your household bubble,” he said. “Getting vaccinated if you haven’t, and getting your third dose if you haven’t done that and are eligible. Staying home when you’re sick. Getting tested if you’re able to. It is on us to continue this process on the journey to learning to live with COVID-19.”
To those who are looking for a tangible sign that the COVID picture is brightening, Dr. Piggott said anything deemed positive has to be taken with a generous grain of salt.
“There continues to be waste-water surveillance that’s detecting transmission of omicron, though it is down. There continues to be a significant number of deaths in this community. There continues to be a burden on the hospital. We’ve passed the worst of this (omicron wave) and are in a better position. What we don’t know is what will come.”
“As the modelling is indicating, we could be in a position where we will continue to see a decline in cases over the coming weeks. We could see a rebound. We could see something in between. If we all do our part to decrease unnecessary risks, we will start to emerge and see the other side of this very soon.”
While not wanting to raise people’s hopes that COVID-19 will be in our rear-view mirror any time soon, Dr. Piggott expressed “a lot of faith that the vast majority of people in this community and in our region will continue to do their part.”
“I think we’re on the right track and we will continue to see this decline (in cases) progress,” he added. “But my crystal ball broke a while ago. We need to be nimble and adapt to the evidence as it comes out.”
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As of late Wednesday afternoon (February 2), there were 249 PRC-confirmed active COVID cases in the Peterborough region — a drop of 87 since the last health unit media briefing on January 27. To date this week since Monday, 74 new COVID cases have been confirmed locally. According to the health unit, the number of active cases is “the tip of the iceberg” due to changes in PCR testing availability.
As encouraging as those numbers are, a grim milestone has been realized with the number of local COVID-related deaths having surpassed 50, now at 51 — an increase of five over the past week. There have now been 25 COVID-related deaths since just before Christmas.
There are 14 active outbreaks. Five outbreaks are ongoing at congregate living facilities while others continue at 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, and Centennial Place (Millbrook). Meanwhile, the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is also dealing with a unit outbreak as it cares for 20 COVID-ill in-patients.
Meanwhile, the local vaccination picture shows that, as of late Wednesday afternoon, 87.1 per cent of those 18 and older eligible for a vaccine had received two doses with 59.4 per cent in that same group having received three doses. Meanwhile, 52.8 per cent of children aged five to 11 have received one dose and 17.1 per cent have received two shots. As for booster shot uptake, 51.8 per cent of all residents eligible aged five and up have rolled up their sleeves.
All Healthy Planet Arena clinics are now open for walk-in appointment for all ages and doses. Visit peterboroughpublichealth.ca/vaccineclinics for more information regarding clinic locations and hours.
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Dr. Piggott spoke at length about Paxlovid, a newly approved oral treatment for COVID-19. Individuals who qualify for the five-dose regimen are those who are immune-compromised, those 60 years or older with a medical risk factor and are unvaccinated, and Indigenous residents who are 50 years or older and are unvaccinated.
Those hoping to benefit from the drug must start on their regimen within five days of their confirmed COVID diagnosis, and can only do so once assessed and referred by PRHC.
“At this stage, there’s an extremely limited supply of this medicine,” Dr. Piggott said. “The closest clinical assessment centre to Peterborough is Lakeridge Health in Durham Region. People in our community will start to become eligible for this medicine, which may save many lives.”
Asked if he has any concerns over Paxlovid’s emergence in terms of the effect it will have on those opting to not get vaccinated, Dr. Piggott said he’s not overly concerned there will be a resulting adverse effect on vaccination uptake.
“Just because you can get a blood transfusion after a car accident, that doesn’t mean you’re not going to wear your seatbelt and drive safe. Right now, the access to this medicine is extremely limited. People should not be thinking of it as a panacea. Beyond that, there’s a fairly limited group of individuals who can qualify for this treatment.”
Also on the media briefing call were Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith and Selwyn mayor and Board of Health chair Andy Mitchell. Peterborough-Kawartha MP Michelle Fererri was not in attendance.
4th Line Theatre in Millbrook is Canada's premier outdoor theatre company. (Photo: 4th Line Theatre / Facebook)
The show must go on, even if it takes two years because of a pandemic. 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2022 with the world premieres of Alex Poch-Goldin’s The Great Shadow and Maja Ardal’s Wishful Seeing this summer.
Tickets go on sale on Monday (February 7) for both plays, which were originally scheduled to premiere in summer 2020. Pandemic restrictions forced the outdoor theatre company to cancel its summer 2020 season for the first time in its history, and again in summer 2021.
All gift certificates and tickets previously purchased for the postponed plays can also be redeemed starting Monday.
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The Great Shadow will run from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 6 p.m. from June 28 to July 23 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook. Preview nights take place on June 28 and 29 with opening night on July 2.
Written by Alex Poch-Goldin (The Right Road to Pontypool, The Bad Luck Bank Robbers) and directed by Cynthia Ashperger,The Great Shadow is set in the roaring ’20s, when the stars of the silver screen are heading to Canada as Trenton, Ontario embarks on a quest to become Hollywood North. Sparks fly when small-town Ontario residents collide with the Hollywood elites.
4th Line Theatre describes the play as “a raucous comedy, packed with romance and intrigue in the golden age of film.”
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Wishful Seeing will run from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 6 p.m. from August 2 to 27 at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook. Preview nights take place on August 2 and 3 with opening night on August 4.
Written by Maja Ardal (The Hero of Hunter Street) and directed by Kim Blackwell, Wishful Seeing is based on the novel of the same name by Janet Kellough. It tells the story of saddlebag preacher Thaddeus Lewis, who stumbles upon a murder mystery on the shores of Rice Lake in Ontario in 1853.
4th Line Theatre describes the play as “reminiscent” of the popular CBC television series Murdoch Mysteries.
Charcuterie snack boxes made by Elegant Edged Catering will be available for 4th Line Theatre audiences. (Photo courtesy of 4th Line Theatre)
This summer, 4th Line Theatre is also making charcuterie snack boxes available at a cost of $21 each. Made by Elegant Edged Catering, each snack box includes smoked cheddar and creamy brie, prosciutto and genoa salami, honey and flax seed crisps, sourdough pretzels, fresh strawberries, blueberries, and green grapes, mixed crudités and beet hummus, mixed olives, pickled pearl onions and herbs and dried cranberry spiced granola.
Snack boxes can be ordered in advance or purchased at the concessions stand at the Winslow farm on the night of the show, subject to availability.
As of February 7, tickets, gift certificates, and charcuterie snack boxes can be purchased by phone at 705-932-4445, online at 4thlinetheatre.on.ca, and at 4th Line Theatre’s Box Office located at 4 Tupper Street in Millbrook.
Michael Kaeshammer, Suzie Undgerleider, Joel Plaskett, William Prince, Julian Taylor, and Natalie MacMaster are among more than 70 artists performing during an open-air summer festival at Westben near Campbellford in July 2022. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
Michael Kaeshammer, Suzie Undgerleider, Joel Plaskett, William Prince, Julian Taylor, and Natalie MacMaster are among more than 70 artists performing during an open-air summer festival at Westben, located on a 50-acre farm near Campbellford in Northumberland County.
Tickets are now on sale for Westben’s 23rd season, which features a full month of in-person classical, broadway, jazz, folk, pop, fiddle, rock, opera, and comedy performances. The festival opens with a Canada Day concert featuring local musicians and runs until the end of July.
In 2021, Westben reconfigured its main performance venue The Barn and created two new outdoor venues, Willow Hill and The Campfire, to accommodate public health restrictions during the pandemic.
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For The Barn, which seats 400 and has doors that roll open onto a meadow, Westben removed the first section of seats and put in movable ones, to allow flexibility and physical distancing, and installed new circulation fans. Willow Hill, where audiences bring their own chairs, is a natural grassy amphitheatre located north of The Barn. The Campfire is an intimate space where audiences and enjoy music, stories, and campfire treats such as smores and baked brie.
“Watching the sunset while listening to music around the campfire is unforgettable,” says Westben co-founder Donna Bennett. “Westben is where music comes to life amidst breathtaking nature.”
Here’s the full line-up for Westben’s open-air summer festival in July:
Friends on the Hill – Friday, July 1 at 7 p.m. – Concert on Willow Hill – Tickets $35 adult, $33 senior, $20 for those under 20
Ofra Harnoy – Saturday, July 2 at 2 p.m. – Concert at the Barn – Tickets $65 adult, $63 senior, $20 for those under 20
Michael Kaeshammer – Sunday, July 3 at 2 p.m. – Concert at the Barn – Tickets $55 adult, $53 senior, $20 for those under 20
Suzie Undgerleider – Sunday, July 3 at 8 p.m. – Concert around the Campfire – Tickets $50 adult, $48 senior, $20 for those under 20
Mary Walsh – Friday, July 8 at 7 p.m. – Concert at the Barn – Tickets $65 adult, $63 senior, $20 for those under 20
Joel Plaskett – Saturday, July 9 at 7 p.m. – Concert on Willow Hill – Tickets $55 adult, $53 senior, $20 for those under 20
Late Night Intimacies with Brian Finley – Saturday, July 9 at 10 p.m. – Concert at the Barn – Tickets $50 adult, $48 senior, $20 for those under 20
Queer Songbook Orchestra – Sunday, July 10 at 2 p.m. – Concert at the Barn – Tickets $55 adult, $53 senior, $20 for those under 20
Sarah Lewis – Sunday, July 10 at 8 p.m. – Spokenword around the Campfire – Tickets $50 adult, $48 senior, $20 for those under 20
ABBA MIA! – July 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21 at 2 p.m. (Concert at the Barn) and July 22 at 7 p.m. (Concert on Willow Hill) – Tickets $55 adult, $53 senior, $20 for those under 20
William Prince – Friday, July 15 at 7 p.m. – Concert on Willow Hill – Tickets $55 adult, $53 senior, $20 for those under 20
Eve Parker Finley – Saturday, July 16 at 7 p.m. – Concert on Willow Hill – Tickets $35 adult, $33 senior, $20 for those under 20
Canadian Brass – Sunday, July 17 at 2 p.m. – Concert at the Barn – Tickets $65 adult, $63 senior, $20 for those under 20
Julian Taylor – Sunday, July 17 at 8 p.m. – Concert around the Campfire – Tickets $50 adult, $48 senior, $20 for those under 20
Natalie MacMaster – Saturday, July 23 at 7 p.m. – Concert on Willow Hill – Tickets $75 adult, $73 senior, $20 for those under 20
Karina Gauvin & Brian Finley – Sunday, July 24 at 2 p.m. – Concert at the Barn – Tickets $65 adult, $63 senior, $20 for those under 20
David Maracle – Saturday, July 24 at 8 p.m. – Concert around the Campfire – Tickets $50 adult, $48 senior, $20 for those under 20
Okan – Friday, July 29 at 8 p.m. – Concert at the Barn – Tickets $50 adult, $48 senior, $20 for those under 20
Carol Welsman – Saturday, July 30 at 2 p.m. – Concert at the Barn – Tickets $60 adult, $58 senior, $20 for those under 20
Barbra Lica & the Toronto Chamber-Pop Orchestra – Sunday, July 31 at 2 p.m. – Concert at the Barn – Tickets $65 adult, $63 senior, $20 for those under 20
Single tickets (prices do not include HST) are now available online at www.westben.ca or by calling the Westben box office at 1-877-883-5777. Pick 3 and Pick 5 subscriptions and season passes are available by calling the Westben box office.
Along with the performances, Westben offers gourmet picnics on the meadows, curated wine and beer selections from the Milk Shed, pre-concert chats, guided nature walks on a neighbouring Nature Reserve, and a chance to relax by the pond..
Vegetarian/vegan restaurant and bakery The Planet has closed its locations at 374 Water Street in downtown Peterborough and at Trent University. (Photo: The Planet / Instagram)
One of Peterborough’s oldest vegetarian and vegan restaurants and bakeries has closed.
On Monday (January 31), The Planet announced on Instagram that it would not be reopening either of its two locations at 374 Water Street in downtown Peterborough or at Trent University.
As part of the lifting of public health restrictions due to the omicron wave of COVID-19, the provincial government allowed restaurants to reopen for indoor dining at 50 per cent capacity on Monday.
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“We would like to thank all those who supported us over the last 25 years, especially those who gave their constant support throughout the uncertainty of the pandemic,” writes The Planet on Instagram. “We would also like to thank all of the staff, past and present that helped make The Planet the incredible space that it was.”
Ted Pearson and Mim Andrews first opened The Planet Bakery at its Water Street location in August 1996. In 2012, they opened The Planet North in the lobby of the Trent Athletics Centre at Trent University.
“It has been a pleasuring serving the Peterborough community and working with such creative and talented individuals,” reads The Planet’s Instagram post. “You will all truly be missed.”
To help raise funds for the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre, the Publican House Brewery and the Peterborough Humane Society have partnered on 'Our Pet Pilsner', a German-style pilsner featuring artwork by Peterborough illustrator Jason Wilkins. (Photo: Publican House Brewery)
The Publican House Brewery and the Peterborough Humane Society have teamed up on a new beer in support of the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre.
‘Our Pet Pilsner’, a German-style pilsner, is available as of 11 a.m. on Thursday (February 3) at the brewery’s retail store and brew pub at 294 Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough.
The can’s design features artwork by Peterborough illustrator Jason Wilkins, including a rendering of the animal care centre and Lakefield’s Instagram star Owen The Griff.
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“Brewed with traditional Czech hops, this clean golden pilsner offers a sweet flora aroma, that is perfectly balanced with a spicy earthiness,” writes Publican House on social media. “With a crisp and clean mouthfeel, Our Pet Pilsner is sure to please any beer drinker. For optimum enjoyment, serve cold and pair with belly rubs and ear scratches.”
Our Pet Pilsner is also available online at shop.publicanhouse.com for local pick-up and delivery. The cost is $3.45 for a single can, $20.30 for a six-pack, $39.40 for a 12-pack, and $76 for a 24.
A portion of the sale of each can of Our Pet Pilsner will go towards the Peterborough Humane Society’s ‘Our Pet Project’ campaign, supporting the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre currently under construction at 1999 Technology Drive in southeast Peterborough.
Our Pet Pilsner, featuring artwork by Peterborough illustrator Jason Wilkins, is available at Publican House Brewery’s retail store and brew pub and online. (Photo: Publican House Brewery)
The 24,000-square-foot facility will house the Peterborough Humane Society’s adoption and education centre and regional high-volume spay and neuter clinic, as well as the Ontario SPCA’s provincial dog rehabilitation centre — the first of its kind in Canada.
The 18th annual YWCA Empty Bowls fundraiser takes place at The Venue in Peterborough on February 26, 2022. (Photo courtesy of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton)
Tickets are now on sale for the YWCA Empty Bowls fundraiser, which takes place at The Venue in downtown Peterborough on Saturday, February 26th.
All proceeds from the 18th annual event will directly support YWCA Nourish Food programs to prevent and relieve hunger in the city and county of Peterborough.
“In Peterborough, one in seven households are experiencing food-insecurity,” explains Nourish manager Joëlle Favreau in a media release. “Every ticket for YWCA Empty Bowls helps individuals and families most at risk of experiencing food insecurity put fresh, local, affordable food on their tables, while also supporting the systemic changes required to end food insecurity and poverty.”
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From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on February 26, ticket holders can visit The Venue at 286 George Street North where they’ll have 30 minutes to browse and select a hand-crafted bowl donated by local artisans of the Kawartha Potters Guild and Kawartha Woodturners Guild.
Each $50 ticket also includes a local restaurant coupon card featuring discounts from participating restaurants, redeemable for six months. Participating restaurants include Amandala’s, Baked 4U, Black Honey, Central Smith, Fresh Dreams, Gerti’s, Naked Chocolate, Pastry Peddler, Stickling’s, That’s A Wrap!, and The Cheese Shop.
“We’re extremely grateful for the continued support of our community and our sponsors, including Kawartha Cardiology Clinic, Cornerstone Family Dentistry, and The Venue, who truly understand that food insecurity is a critical health issue and a core barrier for women experiencing gender-based violence,” says YWCA executive director Kim Dolan.
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Tickets are available online at www.ywcapeterborough.org or by calling YWCA Peterborough Haliburton at 705-743-3526.
COVID-19 public health protocols will be in place at The Venue for the event, including proof of vaccination, face coverings, and limited capacity.
Police have arrested and charged a 32-year-old Toronto resident in connection with a head-on collision on Highway 28 in North Kawartha Township last August that killed a couple in their 60s.
Claudio Benetti, 64, and Janice Benetti, 65, both of Stoney Creek, were pronounced dead at the scene after a collision involving two vehicles on August 21, 2021.
The collision happened at Big Cedar, south of Woodview, on a stretch of Highway 28 known for its high volume of traffic, especially during the summer months, along with a high number of accidents.
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The driver of the second vehicle was transported to a Toronto-area hospital with life-threatening injuries.
On Tuesday (February 1), police arrested and charged Nicola Pirillo, 32, of Toronto, with two counts of operation causing death, two counts of dangerous operation causing death, and possession of a Schedule I substance (other drugs).
The accused is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough on March 3, 2022.
This Valentine's Day, material expressions of love can have the desired impact without adversely impacting the environment. The GreenUP Store carries locally made soaps and bath bombs by Simply Natural Canada, cards by Jackson Creek Press, and folk art coffee-lover hearts by Brianna Gosselin. (Photo courtesy of the GreenUP Store)
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s column is by Leif Einarson, Communications Manager at GreenUP, and Jenn McCallum, previously of GreenUP and now Environmental Education Technician at Lower Trent Conservation.
Did you know that the idea of Valentine’s Day as a celebration of romantic love originates with a poem written in 1382?
Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Parliament of Fowls” describes a gathering of birds on Valentine’s Day. Three male birds make passionate speeches — including appeals to cosmic and political order, and insults — in order to win the affections of one female bird. None succeed.
That does not seem like a promising start to us. We think everyone would be better off if we all celebrated Valentine’s Day without such a narrow focus on romantic love.
With that in mind, we gathered some fun facts, unfortunate realities, and alternatives that would make Valentine’s Day more sustainable and loving.
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Love and Money
Valentine’s Day is big business. According to the 2016 Census, roughly 57 per cent of Canadians over the age of 15 identified as living as a couple in a private household.
Not everyone in a romantic relationship is included in that figure, but it is clear that the majority of our population is likely to participate in Valentine’s Day. Canadians spend approximately $37 million on Valentine’s Day each year. The most common Valentine’s Day gifts include cards, chocolates, and flowers.
Let’s take a look at how each of these items has grown in popularity, and what alternatives could reduce negative environmental and social impacts.
Cards
In addition to their negative environmental impacts, Valentine’s Day cards also have a history of misogyny. In the Victorian era, hateful and anonymous Valentine’s cards became popular in several countries, sometimes rivalling the profitability and popularity of cards that conveyed messages of love. Sometimes called “vinegar valentines,” these cards were often sent from men whose advances went unreciprocated with the intention of delivering emotional damage to women. The Chicago post office once declared some 25,000 cards so vulgar that they were unfit to be carried by the U.S. postal service. (Public domain images)
Valentine’s cards first became popular in 19th century England. In 1841, only a year after the invention of the postage stamp, the number of Valentine’s cards exploded from approximately 60,000 to some 400,000.
Valentine’s cards are second only to Christmas cards in their popularity and, like early mass-produced Christmas cards, these Valentine’s cards were assembled in factories that employed women or girls.
Studies of the environmental impact of the greeting card industry in Canada are not readily available, but a recent study by Exeter University in the UK showed that sending one card produces about 140 grams of carbon dioxide. With nearly two billion cards sold annually in the UK, that carbon footprint is roughly equivalent to manufacturing 10,000 cars per year.
The good news is most cards and envelopes are recyclable if they are made exclusively from paper, and some cards are made from entirely post-consumer recycled paper. One thing to keep in mind is that adornments like shiny or glossy materials, music players, glitter, metallic ink, or metal charms must be removed before the card can go in the recycling bin. Unfortunately, glitter and music players contribute to plastic pollution globally.
Lower-impact alternatives to mass-produced cards include buying cards from local makers, making your own cards out of recyclable or biodegradable materials, or trying e-cards.
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Chocolate
A cocoa tree with fruit pods at various stages of ripeness. Originally used by Mesoamerican peoples thousands of years ago to create a ceremonial drink, cocoa has long been considered potent with symbolic associations to the heart. (Public domain photo)
Chocolate is another popular gift at Valentine’s Day. Chocolate is created by processing the beans found within large fruit pods that grow on cocoa trees. The cocoa tree is native to the tropical regions of south and central America. However, approximately two-thirds of the world’s cocoa is now produced in West Africa, often using child labour.
Conscious consumerism is important if you plan to gift chocolate this Valentine’s Day. Look for fair trade chocolate products that respect basic human rights and care for the growers and workers on cocoa farms. Learn more and consult the list of registered brands and companies at fairtrade.ca/cocoa.
Also consider asking our talented local chocolatiers here in Peterborough if their chocolate and sugar are sourced from fair trade sources. Buying local can reduce the environmental impacts of shipping, especially if you find a chocolatier who uses recyclable or biodegradable packaging.
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Flowers
A worker cuts roses to be shipped to the U.S. and Europe at a flower farm in Madrid, Colombia, in August 2020. Ecuador and Colombia are world leaders in the cut-flower industry. (Photo: Fernando Vergara / AP)
Cut flowers are an iconic Valentine’s Day gift. A dozen long-stemmed red roses will cost you 30 per cent more for Valentine’s Day than at any other time of year. Increased demand and limited supply drive prices up for Valentine’s Day.
Cut flowers have a particularly negative impact on vulnerable groups and the environment. In 2017, Stats Canada reported that 12.4 million cut roses and rose buds were imported into Canada with a total value of $76.1 million. Most of these flowers are produced in Colombia and Ecuador, and many contribute to unethical working conditions and unsustainable water use.
Data from a 2009 study from the International Labor Rights Forum shows that about 60 per cent of flower farm workers in Colombia and Ecuador are female. Of these workers, 55 per cent have been victims of sexual harassment, with the aggressors rarely punished.
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Heavy use of pesticides results in approximately two-thirds of these flower workers suffering from health problems, ranging from impaired vision to congenital malformations and neurological ailments. In some cases, it has been reported that workers must take pregnancy tests, and those who are found to be pregnant are either fired or not hired in the first place.
You can use fairtrade.ca/flowers as a resource to find sources for flowers that support more equitable working conditions.
You can also consider potted plants that have been grown sustainably in Canada or, even better, relatively close to Peterborough. Planning ahead and harvesting a dried bouquet of native flowers from your garden in the early fall can make for a low-impact, thoughtfully arranged gift that lasts longer than cut roses.
Jewellery is another popular Valentine’s Day gift that can have significant environmental impacts, including erosion of land, leakage of harmful chemicals into local watersheds, and the alteration of entire ecosystems. A unique low-impact alternative comes from local maker Keetarella, who crafts gorgeous earrings out of beer cans. (Photo courtesy of the GreenUP Store)
The pressure to give gifts on Valentine’s Day can have detrimental impacts on the environment and on social conditions around the world. When considering your loved ones and your expressions of love for them, also think about where various products come from, how they were produced, and how workers are treated.
Here at GreenUP, we also encourage you to support locally made products. Even better, consider expressing your love through your own creativity: perhaps write a poem or letter, make a handmade card, or bake some treats.
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