Peterborough's medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Public Health)
Peterborough’s medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra has been recognized for her significant contributions to public health.
The Association of Local Public Health Agencies, a not-for-profit organization that provides leadership to the boards of health and public health units in Ontario, awarded Dr. Salvaterra the
2021 Distinguished Service Award during its virtual annual general meeting on Tuesday (June 8).
“Dr. Salvaterra has been an incredible leader during the COVID-19 pandemic, whose tireless service ensured residents were protected and well-informed throughout this challenging time,” said Andy Mitchell, Selwyn Township mayor and chair of the board of health for the city and county of Peterborough, in a media release.
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“But what stands out to me is her devotion to our community over the past 13 years, and her ability to advance important public health priorities such as a provincial opioid response, reducing poverty, improving health equity, and building stronger relationships with local Indigenous communities,” Mitchell added. “I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award.”
Recipients of the award “have demonstrated exceptional qualities of leadership in his/her own milieu, achieved tangible results through lengthy service and/or distinctive acts, and displayed exemplary devotion to public health at the provincial level” according to the Association of Local Public Health Agencies.
Dr. Salvaterra is one of three recipients of the award in 2021. In 2020, Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, former medical officer of health for the neighbouring Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, also received the award.
In February, Dr. Salvaterra announced she would be retiring from her position at Peterborough Public Health later in 2021.
This is not the first award for Dr. Salvaterra. In November 2013, the Ontario College of Family Physicians bestowed an Award of Excellence to Dr. Salvaterra in recognition of her outstanding service.
Alix Stein, creater and owner of nibble + graze co., offers beautifully designed custom charcuterie and grazing boards. (Photo: Alix Stein)
This month, food writer Eva Fisher visits Peterborough’s new sweet shop Flossophy, tastes fresh pub fare from Electric City Works’ South eatery in Peterborough’s south end, discovers Jamaican food from Wah-Jamakin in Buckhorn and Curve Lake, and finds the perfect charcuterie bite from nibble + graze co.
Flossophy: a decadent new confectionary store with creativity to spare
Flossophy recently opened its doors in Peterborough’s East City, offering a variety of sweet treats including its namesake cotton candy, popcorn, handmade chocolates, and ice cream. (Photo: Danielle McIver)
There’s a sweet new destination in Peterborough’s East City. Flossophy (75 Hunter St. East, Peterborough) opened its new confectionary store on Saturday (June 5), finishing the day with empty shelves after a tremendous community response.
Owner Danielle McIver describes herself as an entrepreneur at heart.
“Ideas are constantly flooding my brain. I opened Flossophy in March 2020 and had the goal of growing it into a little sweets shop that focused on handmaking a large majority of the products. I wanted to bring something that Peterborough didn’t have yet and create a new space for sweet treats in the city.”
Flossophy makes over 30 flavours of candy floss. (Photo: Danielle McIver)
The variety of treats at Flossophy is deliciously innovative. The store offers over 30 flavours of gourmet, handspun candy floss, with flavours including Unicorn Fluff (blue raspberry and grape), S’more Please (chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker), and The Big Dill (dill pickle, of course). You can even order a cotton candy cake — completely made from candy floss.
The popcorn lineup includes flavours like Sushi Roll, Southern Hot Honey, Nanaimo, and White Cheddar Dill.
There is also a handmade chocolate line made with Belgian chocolate, and curated candy collections including Unicorn, Dessert Lovers, and Foodies.
Flossophy’s chocolate bars, including Strawberries and Cream and The Unicorn, are made in-house using Belgian chocolate. (Photo: Danielle McIver)
If it’s hot out, you’ll want to grab some soft serve. Flossophy offers Super Sundaes, a line of sundaes that are decadently topped with treats.
Flossophy is open open Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
New eatery by Electric City Works rocks Peterborough’s south end
Tara Lee and Adam Genge recently opened South – Eatery by Electric City Works in Peterborough’s south end, offering quality pub fare. Chef JP Comeau previously worked at the now-closed Olde Stone Brewing Company in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Tara Lee Genge)
South – Eatery by Electric City Works (597 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough, 705-745-8080) recently opened in Peterborough’s south end, with a menu of fresh and delicious pub food.
Owners Tara Lee and Adam Genge didn’t set out to be restaurateurs. The pair became known in Peterborough for their businesses Chalk Therapy and Electric City Works.
What began as a home furniture restoration business has evolved to become a maker’s marketplace and event space with a newly opened restaurant in the space of six years, a trajectory that proves that a do-it-yourself mindset can go a long way.
South – Eatery by Electric City Works is located at 587 Monaghan Road in Peterborough. Owners Tara Lee and Adam Genge extensively renovated the location prior to opening. (Photo: Tara Lee Genge)
The pair had been renting a commercial kitchen to make food for the market at Electric City Works, but according to Tara it was proving costly and frustrating.
“It became so overwhelming and so time consuming to do it all in one night. The prep, clean, pack everything, and head back to the restaurant was too much for us.”
That’s when the space on Monaghan Road became available. “It was the perfect small little kitchen we needed.”
The menu at South – Eatery by Electric City Works features fresh takes on pub food classics, like this Green Apple and Curry Chickpea burger topped with cucumber mint raita, pickled vegetables, tomato, and feta. (Photo: Tara Lee Genge)
Not everyone would have found the space so perfect. According to Tara, they literally had to shave grease off the walls to get it ready to open. But this was just the sort of challenge that Tara says she and and Adam were ready to handle.
“When we got in there nobody wanted to touch it because it was in such bad shape. But the funny thing is about what we do is I restore and refinish furniture. Anything that’s in such bad condition — we know how to restore.”
They gutted the kitchen and dining room and completely refinished it. Now they are in the process of building a new bar, and then they will move on to build a patio out front.
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When it comes to the menu, they largely deferred to their chef JP Comeau. JP previously worked at the now-closed Olde Stone Brewing Company in downtown Peterborough for 13 years, so he knew how to make quality pub food.
“When we were coming up with the menu we didn’t want to reinvent the wheel or anything like that,” Adam says. “We just wanted to have pub classics, but put our own spin on them and make them fresh.”
The most popular items so far have been the burger, the clubhouse sandwich, and the Italian sandwich. Each is served with a choice of sides, with options including dirty fries (topped with chili, chipotle, sour cream, and shredded green onions) and a house salad with a cumin and honey apple cider vinaigrette.
A grand opening is planned once government restrictions allow larger gathering sizes. You can watch for updates on Instagram or Facebook and check out the menu at electriccity.works/south/.
Wah-Jamakin heats up the Kawarthas
Wah-Jamakin’s menu includes their popular rotis, which will be available by boat this summer. (Photo: Dawn Nichol / Jasmine Grey)
Jerk chick, roti, dahl and curry goat: now you can get a taste of Jamaica delivered to your door in Buckhorn or Curve Lake.
Founder Deborah Matthews and her wife Dawn Nichol started Wah-Jamakin with a soft opening on the May long weekend. Deborah has long dreamed of starting a business in the food industry. Her ultimate goal is to start a bed and breakfast.
“It’s something that I’ve had a dream of doing since I can remember,” Deborah says.
When she met Dawn, she found a partner who fully supported her dreams.
Dawn Nichol and Deborah Matthews recently started Wah-Jamakin, offering authentic Jamaican cuisine for takeout or delivery in Curve Lake and Buckhorn. (Photo: Jasmine Grey)
“She did nothing but encourage me to move forward with the dream of starting up a food business. With her pushing me, we started Wah-Jamakin.”
Dawn says that Deborah’s cooking was something that clearly needed to be shared with the community.
“I kept saying to her that I’m the only one enjoying her amazing cooking. You can’t just keep this to yourself.”
Wah-Jamakin offers new takes on Jamaican favourites, like these jerk chicken nachos. (Photo: Wah-Jamakin)
Deborah is Jamaican, and learned to cook from her parents.
“All my life I have been cooking and loving it.”
Later, cooking became a social thing when she would “run a boat” after a night out.
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“I remember times in Jamaica we would go out and after coming back from a club we would go into the back, into the outdoors, into the gully, and we would do what’s called ‘run a boat’,” Deborah recalls.
“I would go into the house and grab a tin of bully beef, an onion, some garlic, oil, flour, water and salt, and the guys would light the fire and I would sit and create this meal, and we would sit out there and we would eat dumplings and bully beef with tomato and onion.”
Wah-Jamakin offers delivery within 15 kilometers of their kitchen, located just outside of Curve Lake. You can also place an order for pickup. For more information and to place an order, visit wah-jamakin.ca.
nibble + graze co. elevates charcuterie to art
nibble + graze co. combines aesthetic appeal with delicious ingredients to make custom charcuterie and grazing boards. (Photo: Alix Stein)
If you’re looking for a custom charcuterie or grazing board, nibble + graze co. has you covered. Creator and owner Alix Stein designs thoughtfully curated and custom grazing boards using high-quality artisanal goods, cheese, charcuterie, and fresh produce.
Alix started nibble + graze co. in early 2020 as a hobby project.
“I have always loved creating boards for family and friends, and how everyone would gather to graze, chatting endlessly, sharing laughs, creating memories.”
Originally from Toronto and now living in Peterborough, Alix Stein started nibble + graze co. in early 2020 as a hobby project. (Photo: nibble + graze co. / Facebook)
Alix notes that taste is just as important as aesthetics when it comes to creating the perfect board.
“Once you’ve got them drooling over how good it looks, you want the tastes to match the looks. Using a wide variety of quality ingredients will heighten the grazer’s experience.”
Ingredients are sourced through One Fine Foods and from a variety of local farmers.
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Boards from nibble + graze co. allow you to experiment with different ingredients and try new flavour combinations.
“I love having a variety of ingredients so that grazers can explore flavour profiles and create their ‘perfect bite’.”
Alix has made a few discoveries on this front.
Two of the creative offerings from nibble + graze co.: a handheld charcuterie bouquet, perfect for distanced gatherings, and a bagel and lox board complemented with fresh fruit, vegetables, and bacon. (Photos: Alix Stein)
“My perfect bite has been Chateau de Bourgogne, Rose Petal Jelly from Provisions Food Co., fresh raspberry on a sea salt cracker. But with summer here, it will be anything with burrata — especially peaches and prosciutto!”
Order requests require a minimum of five days’ notice and are subject to availability. They can be made via email at nibbleandgrazeco@gmail.com.
For more information and updates, follow nibble + graze co. on Facebook or Instagram.
From Thursday, June 10 to Saturday, June 12, The Theatre On King in Peterborough is presenting 'Testing', a free 10-minute monologue written and performed live on Zoom by Dan Smith and directed by Kate Story. Pictured are Story and Smith at The Theatre on King during a May 2016 production of Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot'. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
From June 10th to 12th, audiences near and far will be able to watch the first foray into digital theatre by Peterborough’s The Theatre On King (TTOK).
The free performance, called Testing, will be broadcast over Zoom as part of Electric City Culture Council’s Artsweek SHIFT2 ‘pocket festival’ — a series of free COVID-compliant arts projects and events taking place until the end of July.
The 10-minute Zoom monologue, written and performed live by artist Dan Smith with direction by Kate Story, offers audiences an intimate glimpse into the home and mind of an isolated, pandemic-beaten man. The tragi-comic show blends Smith’s absurdist humour with existential, pandemic dread.
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“When we first started doing this project, when I was writing the piece, I really intended it to be a distraction,” Smith explains. “I didn’t really want to allude to the pandemic at first. I think I was trying to write something very silly — within a couple of keystrokes when I finally got my fingers on the board, I couldn’t do it.”
“Maybe we don’t need a distraction from everything; we just need something that people can empathize with. There’s some humour. There’s some darkness. There’s some sadness. There is so much loneliness. It really is tragi-comic.”
“This show can provide both a brief respite from and a reminder of all your problems,” Smith laughs.
The Theatre On King’s free production of ‘Testing’, written and performed by Dan Smith and directed by Kate Story, runs every half-hour on Zoom from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 10th and Friday, June 11th, with matinee shows every half-hour from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 12th. (Graphics: The Theatre On King)
Since the pandemic began, many live performance artists have been expected to ‘pivot’ their artistic practices to offer digital presentations of their work.
“In the early stages of the pandemic — well, actually, all the way through — many people have asked me why I haven’t done online theatre,” says director Story, a practising theatre artist and director of communications for TTOK. “But you can’t just point a camera at some theatre and call it digital theatre.”
Long before the pandemic hit, digital theatre was an established artistic medium. Primarily a hybridized art form, it’s characterized by the co-existence of live performers and digital media in the same space with a co-present audience.
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Liveness is a necessary condition for the creation of digital theatre. As such, a pre-recorded performance broadcasted digitally is not considered digital theatre.
“There’s a general misunderstanding about just how great the resources need to be to do online theatre,” Story explains. “A lot of the stuff that we’re seeing online, the performance stuff, it’s really well funded. Companies like the Royal Shakespeare, where they are able to produce a beautiful document, even on the fly — they have several cameras. They have a lot of money, and they have people who know what to do with it.”
“A lot of live venues — musicians, theatre, dance — we’ve been told we should go online. At the same time, when you really probe what that means, it’s not really possible to do it well. Also, unless you have a huge amount of money, which most of us don’t, people don’t really want to watch it.”
The Theatre On King’s production of ‘Testing’ is as part of Electric City Culture Council’s Artsweek SHIFT2 ‘pocket festival’, a series of free COVID-compliant arts projects and events taking place until the end of July. (Graphic: Artsweek Peterborough)
However, with Electric City Culture Council support removing some barriers, TTOK artists are able to experiment with digital theatre for the first time.
“I’m really proud to be part of the Theatre on King’s first foray into digital performance,” Story says. “There may be more even after the pandemic is over. We might do hybrid live-digital stuff. I’m now a believer. I’ve been turned — I think we can do this.”
“In the beginning, I didn’t engage as much or watch as much digital theatre as I thought I should have,” adds Smith, referring to the pandemic. “Ultimately, I think I was really hoping that the doors would open up and we’d be back to live theatre sooner.”
“That being said, the more I’ve experimented online the more engaging it becomes,” he says. “I know you can move when you’re on Zoom — you can have some fun with it. You can do some performance. You can still find some character. So it’s remarkable that we’ve had this opportunity in this pandemic to still connect and to perform like this.”
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Just as site-specific art must respond to space, the creative team at TTOK wanted to ensure Testing responds to the context in which it is presented. As such, the artists have tried to make this performance accessible and easy for audiences to attend during a pandemic that has forced much of their lives online.
“I work in front of a computer all day long,” explains Story. “It’s very hard for me to go to a computer for leisure at this point. But that’s why the length of this show is genius — I can definitely show up for an 11-minute piece. I do think that building a little bit of the spontaneity into our ability to watch this piece is a big key to why I think it’s going to work so well for people.”
Like many Zoom performances, audiences can register for showings in advance. However, for Testing, audiences also have the option to join up to five minutes before a performance begins. Additionally, if audiences miss their registered performance time, they are welcome to wait for the next showing.
“We wanted to make it as easy as possible for people to enjoy this show,” Smith says.
‘Testing’ writer and performer Dan Smith and director Kate Story (right) during a January 2019 production of ‘The Mute Canary’ by Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes at The Theatre On King. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
“I feel like there’s a pandemic thing around cutting ourselves slack and working with what we have — working with the body and brain we brought today rather than some better body and brain that we feel we should have,” Story muses. “And I feel like there’s some way in which this project does just that, both in its design and also the way Dan has interpreted and delivered it.”
“Every aspect of it — from the form of it to the humour and poignancy in the piece — is very compassionate.”
Testing — which contains strong language and mature themes — runs every half-hour from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 10th and Friday, June 11th, with matinee shows every half-hour from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 12th.
For more information about Electric City Culture Council’s Artsweek SHIFT2, visit artsweekpeterborough.ca/artsweek-shift/, where you’ll also find a complete schedule of upcoming events.
Jessie Iriwanto (right), originally from Indonesia, with her husband Dmitry, originally from Russia, who she met at Trent University when they were both international students. The couple, who married in 2014, turned to cooking as a hobby during the pandemic, with the goal of cooking a new dish from a different country once a month. Jessie is sharing her recipe for beef rendang, a signature dish from Indonesia, which she has adapted to accommodate ingredients commonly found in Canada. (Photo: Linda Cardona)
Cooking and baking is a passion for newcomer Jessie Iriwanto, who first came to Canada from Indonesia as a student 14 years ago. So it’s no surprise she has a recipe for rendang, a signature dish in Indonesian culture, that she’s adapted for her new home country.
This #CookWithNCC story is one of a series commissioned by the New Canadians Centre in Peterborough, in which newcomers share their experiences in Canada along with a recipe from their home culture.
The rich beef dish-slow-cooked and braised in coconut milk seasoned with a herb and spice mixture-has a significant meaning in Indonesian culture, being traditionally served at ceremonious occasions and in honour of important guests.
It was even voted the best food in the world according to CNN’s World’s Best Foods.
“It is the most popular dish in Indonesia,” Jessie says, explaining the history of the dish. “The combination of the spices and the coconut has a preservative effect. It would have a long shelf life without any refrigeration required. People were able to bring the dish when they had to travel a long distance.”
Jessie first came from Indonesia to Canada in 2007 as a high school international student. After completing both her undergraduate and masters degrees in Canada, she now works at Trent University as an administrative and recruitment assistant for the school of graduate studies department. (Photo courtesy of Jessie Iriwanto)
Jessie originally arrived in Canada in 2007 as an international student attending high school in Hamilton. She then attended Trent University for her undergraduate degree, where she met her future husband Dmitry, a fellow international student from Russia.
After completing her MBA at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Jessie decided to return to Peterborough, where she now has a job working for Trent University’s graduate studies department.
She says she truly began to regard Canada as her new home about seven years ago, when she and Dmitry got married and resolved to stay in Peterborough.
Jessie and her husband Dmitry during a pre-pandemic trip to Indonesia. The couple, who decided to settle in Peterborough after they got married, now both work for Trent University. (Photo courtesy of Jessie Iriwanto)
“Before that, we were just not sure really where to call home,” Jessie recalls. “Should we go back to Indonesia? Or should I follow him back to Russia? Or should we explore a new country?”
“Once we made up our mind to stay in Canada, we slowly settled down and made ourselves comfortable with the culture and lifestyle here,” she explains. “With time, we now have our own social network which grows bigger and bigger, and we just blend into Canadian culture more and more.”
The friendly community of Peterborough played a significant part in Jessie’s decision to regard the city as her home. She recalls a story of her neighbour’s friendliness as an example of the gestures that assisted her in feeling a sense of belonging in Peterborough.
“It was a couple of years ago and we had just had a big storm,” Jessie says. “We couldn’t get out of our driveway for a few days. Our lovely neighbour came and knocked on our door and checked on us. It was really nice of him and very comforting. It made us feel safe and like we belong in this community. I can say now that both of us will agree that Canada is our home.”
When Jessie first arrived in Peterborough to study at Trent University, she also became involved with New Canadians Centre (NCC). The organization, where she ended up volunteering and even working for a year, played a big part in helping her adjust to life in Canada.
“Many of their events help newcomers to get familiar with Canadian culture and to ease the transition,” Jessie explains. “From those events, I got to know a lot of people, and we became friends. The staff are really helpful and friendly as well. I feel like I’m not alone and, if I have any issues, I know that NCC staff are there and able to help.”
Jessie and her husband Dmitry during a very Canadian canoe trip. They consider Canada their home and feel a sense of belonging in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Jessie Iriwanto)
Although she says she still sometimes experiences loneliness as the rest of her family remains overseas, Jessie is grateful to have newcomer friends here to gather with, especially on holidays. However, with restrictions on social gatherings due to COVID-19, the past year has been a little more difficult.
“We have a group of friends that I hang out with in Peterborough that consist of Malaysians, Singaporeans, and Indonesians, and now we are no longer able to do that,” she explains. “They are basically like our second family, and now we are unable to meet. We still get in touch via phone or text message to give updates, but it just feels different.”
To help deal with the isolation, Jessie and her husband Dmitry have turned to cooking as a hobby, with the goal of cooking a new dish from a different country once a month.
“Last month we cooked chicken chow mein, and this month we had beef gyros,” Jessie recalls. “My husband is thinking of cooking a dish from Russia for next month.”
Jessie loves to explore different foods from around the world-something she has done a lot in Canada.
“I had a lot of my first attempts of food in Canada,” she explains. “Not only Canadian food like poutine or Nanaimo bars, but other nationalities’ food like souvlaki or pierogis.”
Jessie and her husband Dmitry are truly an international Canadian couple, as shown in this pre-pandemic photo of their families. Jessie’s family live in Indonesia and Dmitry’s family lives in Russia. (Photo courtesy of Jessie Iriwanto)
The ability to try so many different foods from so many different cultures represents what Canada means to Jessie: diversity and openness.
It was that love of trying new foods that grew into a passion for cooking, Jessie explains, since if she wanted to try certain dishes she would have to make them. Now she cooks and often bakes as well, posting pictures on her social media pages in recognition of how food can connect people especially during a pandemic.
“Sharing recipes allows me to connect with people,” Jessie notes. “It’s a conversation starter. When I share on my Instagram or Facebook, friends who have not been in touch with me for quite some time will sometimes comment on my picture and ask a question about it. It feels great.”
In that spirit of connection and of sharing a taste of Indonesian culture, Jessie is excited to share her rendang recipe with kawarthaNOW readers.
She has adapted the traditional rendang recipe for Canada, since fresh coconut milk, galangal, and turmeric are more challenging to find in local grocery stores. However, Jessie says her Canadian version is very close to the original, with the switch to packaged coconut milk and powdered herbs and spices not changing the taste too much.
“It makes me happy and proud that I am able to share it,” Jessie says. “It is like introducing part of my culture to people here in Canada.”
Aromas, flavours, ingredients, who we cook for and how we share our recipes — they all tell stories that shape us as a community. On this journey through pantries and kitchens, we hope that you will fill both your plate and your heart.
Share your experience trying out these recipes, or your own story and recipe, on social media using the hashtag #CookWithNCC.
To join the New Canadians Centre on their 40-year journey of welcoming immigrants and refugees, visit nccpeterborough.ca.
Results from the 2021 EmployerOne Survey, released by the Workforce Development Board in May, are now available. The survey allowed businesses, organizations, non-profits and charities in Peterborough, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton to share information about their specific workforce needs. A total of 268 local employers responded to the survey. (Graphic: Workforce Development Board)
The impact of the pandemic, high employee turnover, and a lack of qualified applicants are three of the findings from the results of the 2021 EmployerOne Survey, released by the Workforce Development Board (WDB) on May 19.
The survey, which ran from January 4 to February 26, allowed businesses, organizations, non-profits and charities in Peterborough, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton to share information about their specific workforce needs. A total of 268 local employers responded to the survey.
Jennifer Lamantia, WDB’s chief executive officer, said the goal of the survey is to help build a successful local economy by understanding what employers have at their disposal and, even more importantly, discovering their challenges and what they need to overcome them.
“Our mission is to deliver responsive workforce development solutions to meet local labour market needs through knowledge, resources, and partnerships,” Lamantia explained. “The EmployerOne Survey is one of those resources that we provide. It allows us to gain a better understanding about the local labour market conditions.”
While labour market information is available from sources such as Statistics Canada, it may not be specific to Peterborough, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton and may not be current — which is why surveying employers directly is so important.
WDB shared the EmployerOne Survey results during a webinar on May 19, where WDB’s labour market information analyst Sean Dooley provided a summary of the results.
Respondents, by sector, to the Workforce Development Board’s 2021 EmployerOne Survey. A total of 268 employers in Peterborough, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton responded to the survey. (Graphic: Workforce Development Board)
Dooley said the 268 respondents to the survey were from a wide variety of sectors, including retail trade, accommodation and food services, manufacturing, construction, and healthcare and social assistance.
Few industries have gotten off easy since the pandemic, Dooley noted. Not surprisingly, the 40 per cent of respondents most impacted by the pandemic were those most affected by public health restrictions, including retail trade, food and accommodation services, and education.
In contrast, six per cent of employers said the pandemic actually had a positive impact on their operations, largely through an increase in sales and new business opportunities. These employers were in real estate, rental and leasing, and professional, scientific, and technical services.
Reasons why respondents to the Workforce Development Board’s 2021 EmployerOne Survey found it difficult to fill positions; respondents were able to select more than one reason. (Graphic: Workforce Development Board)
However, high employee turnover remains a large concern among employers, especially from employees quitting their jobs in sales and service occupations. Exacerbating the turnover issue is the difficulty employers are having finding qualified applications to fill vacant positions.
“This could be the result of qualified workers being already employed, lack of promotion of the vacant job, or concern that there are no enhanced employee protection protocols in place in the work environment during COVID-19,” Dooley said.
The most difficult positions to fill have been home support workers and housekeepers, followed closely by construction trades, sales and account representatives for wholesale trade, administration staff, and cooks.
Dooley said employers who recruited new workers last year focused on advertising positions mainly through word of mouth. As well as more traditional methods such as posting on online job boards and company websites, social media is becoming a more common recruitment channel.
“Social media has increased as a method of promoting job postings, which I think is a positive outcome,” Dooley said.
Despite the pandemic, the survey results reveal the labour market is on the upswing. Of the respondents, 54 per cent indicated they plan on hiring over the next 12 months, with the primary reason being an increase in sales.
The hiring intentions and reasons of respondents to the Workforce Development Board’s 2021 EmployerOne Survey. (Graphic: Workforce Development Board)
The survey also reveals increased diversity in the labour market is proving beneficial for local employers, with 18 per cent of employers having hired a person who moved to Canada in the last five years.
Having labour market information like this is helpful for organizations like the New Canadians Centre in Peterborough, according to executive director Andy Cragg.
“As an employer, it’s useful for the New Canadians Centre to see the current trends that may impact our ability to attract and retain employees for certain positions,” Cragg said. “We have an employment program — supporting newcomers to obtain work that is in line with their goals — and being able to have local-specific information enables our team to better support our clients.”
“Given the trends in demographics and immigration, including an older population and increased immigration, supporting local employers to connect with newcomers and international talent will be key to maintaining our local labour force and economic prosperity,” Cragg added.
One of the most concerning results of the EmployerOne Survey, according to Dooley, is an identified shortage of qualified workers. A third of the respondents indicated poor availability of qualified workers, with another third indicating only fair availability.
“The majority of positions that employers are recruiting for require only work experience or a secondary school diploma,” Dooley explained. “Obviously, there are certain jobs where an apprenticeship, a college diploma or a university degree is needed to meet the requirements of that position, but many employers indicated there are relatively low requirements to enter these positions.”
“I think this is a concern when the survey also showed that a lack of applicants was the number one reason positions were hard to fill,” he added.
The availability of qualified workers, and employer requirements for new skills, according to respondents to the Workforce Development Board’s 2021 EmployerOne Survey. (Graphic: Workforce Development Board)
Matthew Savino, managing partner and senior consultant at Savino Human Resources Partners, echoed Dooley’s concern, saying these results are an eye opener.
“What stood out the most for me as an HR professional is that the number one reason for jobs not being filled is not due to a lack of opportunity, but rather a shortage of applicants,” Savino said.
He said he believes this reflects a tight labour market in the region, which is a situation that may become more challenging as workplaces recover from lockdown conditions and look to hire staff.
“It confirms our view that employers need to continue to focus on HR and organizational strategies for attracting and retaining staff now, more than ever,” Savino said. “The EmployerOne Survey report is a useful guide for employers in this endeavour and is worth reviewing.”
While employers are considering training as a way to address the skills shortage, the top priority for employee training has been on health and safety during the pandemic.
“Protecting the health and safety of workers is the top focus for businesses in 2021, followed by job-specific technical skills and new employee orientation,” he said.
The reasons why respondents to the Workforce Development Board’s 2021 EmployerOne Survey have been unable to access training for employees. (Graphic: Workforce Development Board)
There are barriers to job-related training that employers also have to navigate, particularly in sales, marketing, and customer service. Such training is either not available locally, is too costly, or is too difficult to schedule. Some employers also lack the internet capacity to support online training.
In terms of in-demand job skills, Dooley said the survey results show a consistent demand among local employers for “soft skills” – often learned through experience rather than training. These include the ability to work independently, time management, problem solving, teamwork, and conflict resolution.
As for how employers developed their workforces during the pandemic, almost 40 per cent took advantage of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program. Some used training subsidies, while others used free or paid co-operative education programs, internships or work placements, or apprenticeships. However, a full third didn’t use any workforce development programs at all.
“Maybe those are small employers, or people who don’t have the knowledge or awareness that these programs exist, or how to access them,” Dooley noted.
Along with the Workforce Development Board’s EmployerOne Survey results for for Peterborough, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton, a report of the combined surveys conducted by five other workforce planning boards in Eastern Ontario is also available for download from www.wdb.ca/employerone-survey-report.
For the 2021 EmployerOne survey, Peterborough’s WDB joined with five other local workforce planning boards in Eastern Ontario (located in Belleville, Gananoque, Cornwall, Pembroke, and Ottawa) to conduct a common survey.
Each board worked diligently to connect with its local businesses and organizations across all industries to generate a response rate that provides meaningful results locally, and provides a perspective on workforce development across the 14 census divisions in Eastern Ontario.
Across all of Eastern Ontario, surveys were completed by 1,344 businesses from all sectors of the economy.
Both the 2021 EmployeOne Survey Results for Peterborough, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton as well as the 2021 Eastern Ontario EmployerOne Survey Results are available for download (in English and French) at www.wdb.ca/employerone-survey-report.
With the support of the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, the EmployerOne Survey results are being shared with educators, employment support agencies, businesses, economic developers, and industry associations to provide a better understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, occupational shortages, projected hiring, and professional development requirements.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
With the provincial government announcing step one of its reopening plan will now begin on June 11 instead of June 14, Ontario is reporting 525 new cases today — the eighth straight day of increases under 1,000 and the lowest daily increase since September 26 when 491 cases were reported.
For the first time since the third wave began, only Toronto is reporting a triple-digit increase, with more than half of Ontario’s 34 health units reporting 5 or fewer cases and more than a third reporting no new cases at all. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased to 735 and the proportion of active cases has declined for the 49th straight day.
There has been slight increase in hospitalizations, although this number excludes more than 10% of hospitals so actual hospitalizations may be higher. The number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs has dropped below 500 for the first time since early April, and there has been a small decrease in the number of ventilated patients. Ontario is reporting 15 new deaths, including 2 new deaths in long-term care homes.
With more than 10 million vaccine doses administered, almost 69% of Ontario’s total population has received at least a single dose, with more than 7% of the population fully vaccinated.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 12 new cases (including 6 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, 2 in Haliburton, and 1 in Peterborough) and an additional 34 cases resolved, with the net number of active cases across the region decreasing by 21 to 75. Active cases have decreased significantly in Kawartha Lakes, by a smaller amount in Peterborough, and remain unchanged in Northumberland. Active cases in Haliburton have increased by 1, and there are no active cases at all in Hastings Prince Edward.
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Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (114), with cases in Peel (95) falling under 100 for the first time since the third wave began.
There are also double-digit increases reported today in Waterloo (51), Durham (40), York (34), Halton (26), Porcupine (25), Simcoe Muskoka (25), Hamilton (25), Windsor-Essex (19), Ottawa (17), and Niagara (15), with smaller increases in Middlesex-London (8), Brant (7), and Lambton (6).
The remaining 19 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 12 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s new cases, 62% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (210) among people ages 20-39, followed by 136 cases among people ages 40-59 and 114 cases among people 19 and under.
With 941 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.1% to at 96.9% — the 49th straight day the percentage of resolved cases has increased. The average positivity rate across Ontario has increased by 0.8% to 3.6%, meaning that 36 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on June 6.
Ontario is reporting 15 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 2 new deaths in long-term care homes. The seven-day average of daily deaths remains unchanged at 16.
Hospitalizations have increased by 2 from yesterday to 547, although more than 10% of hospitals did not submit data to the daily bed census so the actual number of hospitalizations may be higher. The number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs has decreased by 13 to 497 — the first time since early April the number had dropped below 500 — and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators has decreased by 5 to 339.
A total of 15,177 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation decreasing by 1,325 to 5,724.
A total of 10,109,404 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 116,829 from yesterday, and 1,086,805 people have been fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 55,285 from yesterday.
The number of fully vaccinated people represents 7.38% of Ontario’s population, an increase of 0.38% from yesterday, with fully and partially vaccinated people representing 68.62% of the total population, an increase of 0.79% from yesterday. An estimated 70-90% of the population must be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 12 new cases to report, including 6 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, 2 in Haliburton, and 1 in Peterborough. There are no new cases in Hastings Prince Edward for the eighth day in a row. Numbers for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton are for June 6 and 7 as the health unit did not issue an update on Sunday.
There are 8 new regional cases of variants of concern, including 4 in Peterborough, 2 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton.
There has been 1 new COVID-related hospitalization in Kawartha Lakes.
An additional 34 cases have been resolved, including 26 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, 3 in Peterborough, and 1 in Haliburton. An outbreak at Fairhaven long-term care home in Peterborough was declared resolved on June 7.
There are currently 75 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 21 since yesterday, including 36 in Kawartha Lakes, 27 in Peterborough, 10 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton. There are no active cases in Hastings Prince Edward.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,526 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,478 resolved with 21 deaths), 1,055 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (975 resolved with 57 deaths), 930 in Northumberland County (903 resolved with 17 deaths), 121 in Haliburton County (118 resolved with 1 death), and 1,121 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,110 resolved with 11 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Kawartha Lakes on June 5.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 4 p.m. the previous day, as well as from systems in Toronto, Ottawa, and Middlesex-London at 2 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 1,526 (increase of 1) Total variants of concern cases: 707 (increase of 4) Active cases: 27 (decrease of 2) Close contacts: 76 (decrease of 4) Deaths: 21 (no change) Resolved: 1,478 (increase of 3) Hospitalizations (total to date): 70 (no change)* ICU admissions (total to date): 15 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 53,000 (increase of 50) Total vaccine doses administered (residents and non-residents): 90,716 (increase of 11,566 as of June 3) Number of residents who have received first dose: 81,390 (increase of 9,270 as of June 3) Number of residents fully vaccinated: 9,388 (increase of 2,729 as of June 3) Outbreaks: Unidentified workplace #11 in Peterborough, Riverview Manor long-term care home in Peterborough (decrease of 1)**
*As of June 7, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 4 patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 (increase of 1) and a total of 76 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive (no change).
**An outbreak at Fairhaven long-term care home in Peterborough was declared resolved on June 7.
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays and statutory holidays. These numbers include June 6 and June 7.
Confirmed positive: 2,106, including 1,055 in Kawartha Lakes, 930 in Northumberland, and 121 in Haliburton (increase of 11, including 6 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton)* Total variants of concern cases: 754, including 389 in Kawartha Lakes, 329 in Northumberland, and 36 in Haliburton (increase of 4, including 2 in Northumberland and 2 in Haliburton) Active cases: 48, including 36 in Kawartha Lakes, 10 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (net decrease of 19, including a decrease of 20 in Kawartha Lakes and an increase of 1 in Haliburton) Probable cases: 3, in Kawartha Lakes (increase of 2 in Kawartha Lakes) Hospitalizations (total to date): 77, including 43 in Kawartha Lakes, 31 in Northumberland, and 3 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Kawartha Lakes)** Deaths (including among probable cases): 75, including 57 in Kawartha Lakes, 17 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change) Resolved: 1,996, including 975 in Kawartha Lakes, 903 in Northumberland, and 118 in Haliburton (increase of 31, including 26 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton) Tests completed: 196,791 (increase of 307) Vaccine doses administered to residents: 112,750 (increase of 7,966 as of June 7) Number of residents fully vaccinated: 14,676 (increase of 3,568 as of June 7) Outbreaks: Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, LCBO Port Hope (no change)
*The health unit states that total counts and counts for individual counties may fluctuate from previously reported counts as cases are transferred to or from the health unit based on case investigation details and routine data cleaning.
**As of June 7, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 2 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (increase of 2).
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 1,121 (no change) Confirmed variants of concern cases: 490 (no change) Active cases: 0 (no change) Deaths: 11 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 4 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 1 (decrease of 1) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 1 (no change) Resolved: 1,110 (no change) Tests completed: 147,871 (increase of 179) Vaccine doses administered: 110,737 (increase of 1,418) Number of people fully vaccinated: 12,080 (increase of 447) Outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 536,607 (increase of 525) COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) cases: 132,696 of B.1.1.7 Alpha variant (increase of 705); 1,097 of B.1.351 Beta variant (increase of 21); 3,979 of P.1 Gamma variant (increase of 239) VOC R(t): 0.75 (increase of 0.03 as of June 3)* 7-day average of daily new cases: 735 (decrease of 56) Positivity rate: 3.6% (increase of 0.8%) Resolved: 519,801 (increase of 941), 96.9% of all cases (increase of 0.1%) Hospitalizations: 547 (increase of 2)** Hospitalizations in ICU: 497 (decrease of 13) Hospitalizations in ICU on ventilator: 339 (decrease of 5) Deaths: 8,869 (increase of 15) 7-day average of daily new deaths: 16 (no change) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,958 (increase of 2) Total tests completed: 15,406,849 (increase of 15,177) Tests under investigation: 5,724 (decrease of 1,325) Vaccination doses administered: 10,109,404 (increase of 116,829), 68.62% of Ontario’s total population (increase of 0.79%)*** People fully vaccinated (two doses): 1,086,805 (increase of 55,285), 7.38% of Ontario’s total population (increase of 0.38%)***
*R(t) is a virus’s effective reproduction number, which is the average number of new infections caused by a single infected individual at a specific time (t) in a partially immunized population. To successfully eliminate a disease from a population, R(t) needs to be less than 1.
**More than 10% of hospitals did not submit data to the daily bed census so the actual number of hospitalizations may be higher.
***An estimated 70-90% of the population must be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from May 7 – June 6, 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 tests completed in Ontario from May 7 – June 6, 2021. The red line is the daily number of tests completed, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from May 7 – June 6, 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 dotted orange line is a five-day rolling average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from May 7 – June 6, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from May 7 – June 6, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of daily doses, and the blue line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
A woman receives her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the mass vaccination clinic at the Evinrude Centre in Peterborough on May 26, 2021. As of June 7, at least 69.5 per cent of eligible residents aged 18 and over have received at least a first dose of vaccine. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Good news isn’t found exclusively in no news — sometimes it can be found in actual news.
Peterborough’s medical officer of health Dr. Rosanna Salvaterra had plenty of good news to share Monday (June 7) during her Peterborough Public Health media briefing, both on the new case count and vaccination fronts.
As of Sunday at 4:30 p.m., the number of active cases in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake, and Hiawatha was reported as 29 — a significant decrease of 18 since last Tuesday. Even more telling was last week’s new case count total of 26, the lowest one-week new case total since the week of February 8 when 21 new cases were detected.
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Meanwhile, the number of close contacts of positive cases being monitored has also dropped in a big way and now stands at 80, 67 less than what was reported last Tuesday.
“The light at the end of the tunnel is continuing to brighten,” said Dr. Salvaterra.
“The decline in cases is supported by our most recent wastewater surveillance data that shows persistent but low levels of the virus here. The cases that we are identifying are screening as the B.1.1.7. variant (first identified in the UK), now known as the Alpha variant. So far we have not see any cases due to the Delta variant (B.1.617, first identified in India) locally.”
The good news continues on the outbreak front, with Dr. Salvaterra reporting the outbreak at Fairhaven Long-Term Care Home over, with ongoing outbreaks at Riverview Manor and a workplace setting “stable.”
While delighted with the downward trend in infection numbers, Dr. Salvaterra said she would have liked to have seen the trend sooner than now.
“When you look at when the stay-at-home order was introduced, this has been awhile in coming. It’s taken us a lot longer to get to this point than we wished. Yes, it’s very welcome news to see those numbers finally drop and stay down for more than a few days, but I will be much more confident when I’ve seen 14 days of consistent low numbers.”
Dr. Salvaterra said “the more data we have, the more confident we can be we’re headed in a downward curve. In Peterborough we’ve had well more than a week of single-digit daily increases. That certainly makes me more confident that we may be ready, but I am fearful.”
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During the briefing, the Ontario government announced the first step of its reopening plan will now take place on Friday (June 11), three days earlier than scheduled.
“The incubation period for COVID-19 is 14 days,” Dr. Salvaterra pointed out, not yet aware of the province’s reopening announcement. “I would love to see 14 days of steady decline before a reopening. It’s the premier’s call. As long as we’re all clear on what public health measures need to continue, that’s really what’s going to ensure that we have a safe reopening.”
As for vaccination progress, Dr. Salvaterra confirmed at least 69.5 per cent of eligible residents aged 18 and over have received at least a first dose of vaccine — an increase of close to 10 per cent from just a week ago.
“As of the end of the day yesterday, 85,166 local residents had received their first dose. There are also now more than 12,000 residents who are fully vaccinated. As for youth 12 to 17 years old, we’re showing about 24 per cent have now received their first dose.”
“These numbers are terrific, but we estimate that we still have more than 36,000 adults over the age of 18 in the Peterborough area who still need their first dose, and we have about 6,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 who are still not vaccinated. We have some work to do, but we’re doing really well.”
Dr. Salvaterra added 9,000 appointments are available in June for adults, for their first or second dose, and 2,500 appointments available for youth vaccination clinics scheduled for June 15, 16, and 17. Still, there remains more demand for vaccine than there is supply.
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“We’re still receiving just more than 8,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine each week, but may see that decline a bit,” Dr. Salvaterra said. “But we’re seeing our Moderna vaccine allocation increase as more arrives.”
As for those who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine from their primary care provider and prefer to wait for a second dose of that vaccine, as opposed to receiving either Pfizer or Moderna for their second dose, Dr. Salvaterra said they will receive an email this week with a link to book a second dose appointment at the 12-week interval. Primary care providers will be staffing special AstraZeneca clinics at the Evinrude Centre vaccination clinic for that purpose.
“Patients without an email address can phone their primary care provider the week of June 21 to schedule an appointment for their second dose,” said Dr. Salvaterra.
“If you were vaccinated with AstraZeneca but prefer to take a second dose of one of the messenger RNA vaccines (Moderna or Pfizer) instead, you can now book that second dose appointment through the provincial booking system at www.ontario.ca/bookvaccine.”
Also commenting during Monday’s briefing were Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef and Peterborough board of health chair and Selwyn mayor Andy Mitchell.
“The next three weeks are critical,” said Mayor Mitchell. “If you haven’t yet been vaccinated and you are eligible, please get vaccinated, including your second dose when the time comes. And when the reopening begins, be cautious. It’s not a wholesale return to business as usual.”
The first step in Ontario's reopening plan, now scheduled to begin on June 11, will include allowing outdoor dining with a maximum of four people per table. Outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed and non-essential retail will be able to reopen at 15 per cent capacity. (Stock photo)
The Ontario government is proceeding with the first step of its reopening plan three days earlier than planned — on Friday, June 11th instead of Monday, June 14th.
Premier Doug Ford said the decision is based on the province-wide vaccination rate and continuing improvements in key public health and health system indicators.
“The only reason we’re able to do so is because of the enormous sacrifices made by individuals, families, and communities across Ontario,” Ford states in a media release.
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The province says 72 per cent of adults 18 years or age and older have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, far above the 60 per cent benchmark set by the government for step one to begin.
During the last week of May, the COVID-19 case rate in Ontario decreased by 35.1 per cent. As of Sunday (June 6), the number of patients with COVID-19 in Ontario ICUs is 497 — which includes 31 patients from Manitoba — as compared to 687 two weeks ago.
Step one includes the following changes from existing public health restrictions
Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 10 people.
Non-essential retail permitted at 15 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold.
Essential and other select retail permitted at 25 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold.
Outdoor dining with up to four people per table, with exceptions for larger households.
Concert venues, theatres and cinemas may open outdoors for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted concert, artistic event, theatrical performance or other performance with no more than 10 performers, among other restrictions.
Outdoor fitness classes, outdoor groups in personal training and outdoor individual/team sport training to be permitted with up to 10 people, among other restrictions.
Day camps for children permitted to operate in a manner consistent with the safety guidelines for COVID-19 produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Overnight camping at campgrounds and campsites, including Ontario Parks, and short-term rentals.
Outdoor horse racing tracks and motor speedways permitted to operate without spectators; and
Outdoor attractions such as zoos, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens with capacity and other restrictions.
Outdoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, capped at the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres.
Indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted at up to 15 per cent capacity of the particular room.
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The provincial government says Ontario will remain in step one for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health and health system indicators.
If at the end of the 21 days the province has vaccinated 70 per cent of adults with one dose and 20 per cent of adults with two doses, and there are continued improvements in other key public health and health system indicators, the province will move to step two.
An architectural rendering of The Sawmill Residence, located near Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough. (Illustration: Lett Architects Inc.)
The federal government is providing an $18.4 million low-cost loan to help construct affordable rental housing near Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough.
The Sawmill Residence is a six-storey 64-unit residential building under construction at 191-203 Rink Street and 59-63 Olive Avenue in Peterborough.
The funding is being provided through the rental construction financing initiative of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Ahmed Hussen, federal minister of families, children and social development and minister responsible for CMHC, announced the funding on Monday (June 7) along with Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef and Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien.
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Developed by Ashburnham Realty and designed by Lett Architects Inc., the 60,000-square-foot building will be located near major amenities including retail, culture, parks, and public transit.
“Breaking ground on this project has been a long time coming for us and our community,” states Ashburnham Realty owner Paul Bennett in a media release. “The location around Little Lake and Del Crary Park is a true picture of all our city has to offer.”
According to Bennett, the building’s name stems from the area’s lumber industry heritage.
“Even to this day, we found sawdust in the ground during the initial site examinations,” Bennett says.
The Sawmill Residence will include a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom suites and will feature universal design, accessibility, and sustainability upgrades. The building will include fiberglass window systems and increased insulation values that will result in lower day-to-day operating costs for the tenants.
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“Affordable, accessible housing is a priority for the City of Peterborough,” Mayor Therrien says. “We are grateful to Ashburnham Realty for recognizing the importance of the private sector in providing housing to all. We thank the Government of Canada for continuing to invest in housing in our community. Housing is a human right and we will continue working to ensure that everyone has a safe place to live.”
The Sawmill Residence will include common spaces for the residents and will feature a large exterior mural by artist and Peterborough native Alex Bierk.
Construction on the project has begun, with occupancy expected in early 2022.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 663 new cases today, the seventh straight day of increases under 1,000. For the eighth day in a row, only Toronto and Peel are reporting triple-digit increases, and half of Ontario’s 34 health units are reporting 5 or fewer cases. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased to 791, and the proportion of active cases has declined for the 48th straight day.
There has been a double-digit decrease in hospitalizations, although this number excludes more than 10% of hospitals so actual hospitalizations may be higher. There’s been a small decrease of ICU patients and a larger decrease in ventilated patients. Ontario is reporting 10 new deaths, with no new deaths in long-term care homes.
With almost 10 million vaccine doses administered, around 68% of Ontario’s total population has received at least a single dose. There has also been a record increase of second doses administered for the fifth day in a row, with over 1 million people (7% of the total population) now fully vaccinated.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 2 new cases to report (in Peterborough) and an additional 8 cases resolved. Numbers for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton are not available as the health unit does not issue updates on Sundays. Active cases have decreased by 5 to 96, with Hastings Prince Edward now having no active cases. See below for details from each individual health unit in the region.
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Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (115) and Peel (112).
There are double-digit increases reported today in Niagara (59), York (47), Ottawa (40), Waterloo (34), Durham (33), Hamilton (33), Porcupine (32), Halton (31), Simcoe Muskoka (27), Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (18), Windsor-Essex (16), Middlesex-London (14), and Brant (12), with smaller increases in Thunder Bay (8) and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (6).
The remaining 17 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 7 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s new cases, 62% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (229) among people ages 20-39, followed by 185 cases among people 19 and under and 168 cases among people ages 40-59.
With 1,222 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.1% to at 96.8% — the 48th straight day the percentage of resolved cases has increased. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.3% to 2.8%, meaning that 28 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on June 5.
Ontario is reporting 10 new COVID-19 deaths today, with no new deaths in long-term care homes. The seven-day average of daily deaths has decreased by 1 to 16.
Hospitalizations have decreased by 80 from yesterday to 545, although more than 10% of hospitals did not submit data to the daily bed census so the actual number of hospitalizations may be higher. The number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs has decreased by 6 to 510 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators has decreased by 18 to 344.
A total of 22,635 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation decreasing by 5,271 to 7,049.
A total of 9,992,575 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 158,393 from yesterday, and 1,031,520 people have been fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, a record increase of 68,263 from yesterday.
The number of fully vaccinated people represents 7% of Ontario’s population, an increase of 0.46% from yesterday, with fully and partially vaccinated people representing 67.82% of the total population, an increase of 1.08% from yesterday. An estimated 70-90% of the population must be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 2 new cases to report in Peterborough. Hastings Prince Edward, which saw active cases in the triple digits in April, has reported no new cases since May 31 and has resolved its last two active cases.
Numbers for Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton are not available as the health unit does not issue updates on Sundays. Numbers for June 6 will be included in the June 7 update.
There are 6 new regional cases of variants of concern in Peterborough.
There has been 1 new COVID-related hospitalization in Peterborough.
An additional 8 cases have been resolved, including 6 in Peterborough and 2 in Hastings Prince Edward.
There are currently 96 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 5 since yesterday, including 56 in Kawartha Lakes, 29 in Peterborough, 10 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton. There are no active cases in Hastings Prince Edward.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,525 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,476 resolved with 21 deaths), 1,049 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (949 resolved with 57 deaths), 926 in Northumberland County (899 resolved with 17 deaths), 119 in Haliburton County (117 resolved with 1 death), and 1,121 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,110 resolved with 11 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Kawartha Lakes on June 5.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 4 p.m. the previous day, as well as from systems in Toronto, Ottawa, and Middlesex-London at 2 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 1,525 (increase of 3)* Total variants of concern cases: 703 (increase of 6) Active cases: 29 (decrease of 3) Close contacts: 80 (decrease of 12) Deaths: 21 (no change) Resolved: 1,475 (increase of 6) Hospitalizations (total to date): 70 (increase of 1)** ICU admissions (total to date): 15 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 52,950 (increase of 50) Total vaccine doses administered (residents and non-residents): 90,716 (increase of 11,566 as of June 3) Number of residents who have received first dose: 81,390 (increase of 9,270 as of June 3) Number of residents fully vaccinated: 9,388 (increase of 2,729 as of June 3) Outbreaks: Fairhaven long-term care home in Peterborough, Unidentified workplace #11 in Peterborough, Riverview Manor long-term care home in Peterborough (no change)
*The health unit is reporting 2 new cases in the last 24 hours. The total case count has increased by 3 because 1 case has been added to a previous day.
**As of June 4, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 3 patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 (decrease of 1) and a total of 76 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive (no change).
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays and statutory holidays. These numbers are from June 5; numbers for June 6 will be included in the June 7 report.
Confirmed positive: 2,094, including 1,049 in Kawartha Lakes, 926 in Northumberland, and 119 in Haliburton (increase of 8, including 6 in Kawartha Lakes and 2 in Northumberland)* Total variants of concern cases: 750, including 389 in Kawartha Lakes, 327 in Northumberland, and 34 in Haliburton (increase of 16, including 14 in Kawartha Lakes, 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton) Active cases: 67, including 56 in Kawartha Lakes, 10 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (net decrease of 11, including a decrease of 12 in Kawartha Lakes and an increase of 1 in Northumberland) Probable cases: 1, in Kawartha Lakes (decrease of 1 in Kawartha Lakes) Hospitalizations (total to date): 76, including 42 in Kawartha Lakes, 31 in Northumberland, and 3 in Haliburton (no change)** Deaths (including among probable cases): 75, including 57 in Kawartha Lakes, 17 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Kawartha Lakes) Resolved: 1,965, including 949 in Kawartha Lakes, 899 in Northumberland, and 117 in Haliburton (increase of 34, including 32 in Kawartha Lakes and 2 in Northumberland) Tests completed: 196,484 (increase of 972) Vaccine doses administered to residents: 104,784 (increase of 8,863 as of May 31) Number of residents fully vaccinated: 11,108 (increase of 3,773 as of May 31) Outbreaks: Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, LCBO Port Hope (no net change)***
*The health unit states that total counts and counts for individual counties may fluctuate from previously reported counts as cases are transferred to or from the health unit based on case investigation details and routine data cleaning.
**As of June 4, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports no patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (no change).
***An outbreak at Medi-Share Inc. in Lindsay has been declared resolved. An outbreak at LCBO Port Hope was declared on June 4.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 1,121 (no change) Confirmed variants of concern cases: 490 (no change) Active cases: 0 (decrease of 2) Deaths: 11 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 4 (decrease of 1) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 2 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 1 (no change) Resolved: 1,110 (increase of 2) Tests completed: 147,692 (increase of 2,202) Vaccine doses administered: 109,319 (increase of 1,997) Number of people fully vaccinated: 11,633 (increase of 922) Outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 536,082 (increase of 663) COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) cases: 131,991 of B.1.1.7 Alpha variant (increase of 868); 1,076 of B.1.351 Beta variant (increase of 41); 3,740 of P.1 Gamma variant (increase of 477) VOC R(t): 0.75 (increase of 0.03 as of June 3)* 7-day average of daily new cases: 791 (decrease of 53) Positivity rate: 2.8% (decrease of 0.3%) Resolved: 518,860 (increase of 1,222), 96.8% of all cases (increase of 0.1%) Hospitalizations: 545 (decrease of 80)** Hospitalizations in ICU: 510 (decrease of 6) Hospitalizations in ICU on ventilator: 344 (decrease of 18) Deaths: 8,854 (increase of 10) 7-day average of daily new deaths: 16 (decrease of 1) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,956 (no change) Total tests completed: 15,391,672 (increase of 22,635) Tests under investigation: 7,049 (decrease of 5,271) Vaccination doses administered: 9,992,575 (increase of 158,393), 67.82% of Ontario’s total population (increase of 1.08%)*** People fully vaccinated (two doses): 1,031,520 (increase of 68,263), 7.00% of Ontario’s total population (increase of 0.46%)***
*R(t) is a virus’s effective reproduction number, which is the average number of new infections caused by a single infected individual at a specific time (t) in a partially immunized population. To successfully eliminate a disease from a population, R(t) needs to be less than 1.
**More than 10% of hospitals did not submit data to the daily bed census so the actual number of hospitalizations may be higher.
***An estimated 70-90% of the population must be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from May 6 – June 5, 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 tests completed in Ontario from May 6 – June 5, 2021. The red line is the daily number of tests completed, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from May 6 – June 5, 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 dotted orange line is a five-day rolling average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from May 6 – June 5, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccinations in Ontario from May 6 – June 5, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of daily doses, and the blue line is the cumulative number of people fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
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