A family crosses Mark Street at Hunter Street in Peterborough's East City, a neighbourhood whose residents have access to almost everything they need within a 15-minute walk, including elementary schools, a grocery store, a drug store, restaurants, playgrounds and parks, public transit, and more. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
With schools online, and many people working from home, it may seem odd to imagine what life was like when you commuted to and from work, perhaps with a stop at the school to drop off the kids.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Jaime Akiyama, Coordinator of Transportation and Urban Design Programs at GreenUP.
Imagine being able to walk your kids to school or daycare, commute to work, enjoy recreational opportunities, and be able to pick up what you need from the store. Imagine being able to do all that while always being within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from your residence.
This might seem like a fantasy, but there is a growing interest in the 15-minute city urban planning concept. This concept offers many ideas that can be extrapolated to various situations, supporting active transportation and the livability of our own community.
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The 15-minute city concept, popularized by Carlos Moreno, designs cities with a neighbourhood approach, where residents are in close proximity to essentials — for living, working, commerce, health care, education, and entertainment. Interest in this concept is growing in response to the climate crisis and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Planners throughout the world have suggested various travel times, but the basic concept is the same. More sustainable and convenient cities, where there is less reliance on vehicles and more emphasis on residents’ well-being.
Before the pandemic, it was common for large numbers of people to commute, often long distances, to an urban core for work or to access essentials like health care or commerce. This commuting culture was disrupted due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, with a result of global CO2 emissions decreasing by 17 per cent compared to the previous year’s levels.
VIDEO: The 15-minute city
Carlos Moreno wants to change the idea that living in a city means long commutes, noisy streets, and underutilized spaces. In this TED Talk video, Moreno makes the case for the “15-minute city,” where inhabitants have access to all the services they need to live, learn and thrive within their immediate vicinity.
There is clearly an environmental benefit to reducing commutes and strengthening active transportation opportunities.
COVID-19 restrictions have forced many people to spend most of their time at or near home. Working, resting, and playing within their own neighbourhoods has allowed some people to take a deeper look at how their neighbourhood works for them. These people are recognizing the lifestyle potential of having everything you need within reach: less time spent commuting in a vehicle and more time to enjoy everyday routines.
During COVID-19, cities around the world have seen an increase in the use of bikes. The World Resources Institute suggests “this trend is a unique opportunity to embrace cycling as an integral part of urban transport systems — not just as an accessory. Cities need more resilient, more equitable mobility — not only to weather the current storm, but to prepare for future crises.”
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Proximity to schools and work alone does not guarantee that a parent’s workday will start by walking or wheeling their kids to school and continuing on their way to work, etc. When Active School Travel Peterborough asks people why they do not walk or wheel their children to school a common response is to point out that the experience is not safe or possible in their busy schedule.
Active transportation choices are influenced by proximity and safety infrastructure. People need to be able to travel safely and comfortably.
Cities must also be designed in ways that are accessible for people living with disabilities or mobility restrictions. In 2021, the Centre For Active Transportation released a report suggesting the 15-minute city concept needs to be partnered with the ‘complete streets’ policy and design tools.
Accessibility and safety must be top priorities when designing neighbourhoods and cities that encourage more active forms of transportation. This temporary pop-up infrastructure project in the Talwood neighbourhood in October 2020 demonstrates how a crosswalk could provide safe access to this convenience store, if an accessible ramp were also included at the curb. (Photo: Leif Einarson)
Complete streets are designed to be safe and inviting for all road users, incorporating design and infrastructure that supports walking, cycling, and vehicle users of all ages, abilities, and needs. When the built environment supports safe walking and wheeling in ways that are inclusive and accessible for all individuals, there is also a positive influence on the rates of active school travel.
In addition to prioritizing accessibility, concepts like the 15-minute city also need to reduce inequalities for marginalized and racialized communities. For example, Jay Pitter, an award-winning placemaker, has critiqued the 15-minute city concept for potentially contributing to urban inequality that could further alienate marginalized communities.
An equity lens needs to be applied to future development concentrating investments in the areas of our city where essential services and supportive infrastructure are most needed, and helping to ensure that all residents can experience the benefit of a safe, complete, and walkable neighbourhood.
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Success in these approaches must include a hyper-local planning process that addresses concerns about accessibility, social justice, and environmental justice. Empowered communities and individuals to engaging in ground-up planning can drive solutions and growth that meet the needs and supports the existing community..
Here in Peterborough, GreenUP recognizes the power of engaging communities in the planning process. Programs like NeighbourPLAN and Student Travel Planning facilitate participatory planning activities to empower, educate, and engage communities in the planning of their own neighbourhoods.
Now imagine the proximity convenience of a 15-minute city concept with the safety and comfort of a complete street design. Imagine living in a community that was shaped by ground-up planning that addresses local issues and needs. Imagine living in a community that allows people to enjoy the benefits of active transportation for their health, the environment, and the community.
VIDEO: How do we respond to anti-Black racism in urbanist practices and conversations?
In June 2020, Jay Pitter and the Canadian Urban Institute hosted this online panel about anti-Black racism, how urban design perpetuates social inequality, and how cities can be designed in a more inclusive way.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, Ontario is reporting 3,480 new cases, with 9 health units reporting triple-digit increases. Toronto is reporting fewer than 1,000 cases for the first time since April 10, and the province says case counts in the central west region may be inflated due to a catch-up in processing laboratory data.
The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 105 to 3,783. There are 2,932 more cases of the B.1.1.7 UK variant, 21 more cases of the B.1.351 South Africa, and 34 more cases of the P.1 Brazilian variant.
Hospitalizations have decreased, with a slight increase in the number of ICU admissions and a larger increase in the number of patients on ventilators. Ontario is reporting 24 deaths today, including 2 deaths in long-term care homes.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 37 new cases to report (including 13 in Hastings Prince Edward, 11 in Peterborough, 8 in Kawartha Lakes, and 5 in Northumberland) and an additional 34 cases resolved, with the number of active cases decreasing by 5 to 249. There has been 1 new COVID-related death in Peterborough — the 14th death in Peterborough and the third death in the greater Kawarthas region in the past two days.
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Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (961), Peel (589), Niagara (341), York (290), Hamilton (225), Durham (221), Ottawa (180), Middlesex-London (133), and Halton (116).
There are double-digit increases reported today in Waterloo (66), Simcoe Muskoka (65), Windsor-Essex (38), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (34), Brant (30), Haldimand-Norfolk (23), Eastern Ontario (19), Southwestern (17), Hastings Prince Edward (12), Leeds, Grenville & Lanark (12), Sudbury (11), and Peterborough (10), with smaller increases in Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (8), Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (8), Huron Perth (8), Lambton (7), and Thunder Bay (6).
The remaining 8 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 1 health unit (Porcupine) reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s new cases, 58% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (1,383) among people ages 20-39 followed by 982 cases among people ages 40-59 and 648 cases among people 19 and under.
With 4,517 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.3% to at 89.7% — the ninth straight day the percentage of resolved cases has increased. The average positivity rate across Ontario has dropped by 3.0% to 7.2%, meaning that 72 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on April 27.
Ontario is reporting 24 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 2 new deaths in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 28 new daily deaths over the past week, a decrease of 2 from yesterday.
The number of hospitalizations has decreased by 55 to 2,281, but the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs has increased by 2 to 877 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators has increased by 16 to 605.
A total of 50,194 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation increasing by 5,482 to 34,746.
A total of 4,907,203 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 116,173 from yesterday, with 365,166 people fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 2,603 from yesterday.
The number of fully vaccinated people represents 2.48% of Ontario’s population, an increase of 0.02% from yesterday, with fully and partially vaccinated people representing 33.31% of the 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 37 new cases to report, including 13 in Hastings Prince Edward, 11 in Peterborough, 8 in Kawartha Lakes, and 5 in Northumberland. There are no new cases in Haliburton.
There has been 1 new COVID-related death in Peterborough.
An outbreak at an unidentified workplace in Belleville, involving 2 cases, was declared on April 28. An outbreak was declared at an unidentified workplace in Peterborough on April 28. There are 4 new hospitalizations in Hastings Prince Edward, 3 new hospitalizations in Peterborough, and 2 new hospitalizations in Northumberland.
There are 18 new regional cases of variants of concern, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Peterborough, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton.
An additional 34 cases have been resolved, including 17 in Peterborough, 6 in Hastings Prince Edward, 6 in Northumberland, 4 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton.
There are currently 249 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 5 from yesterday, including 84 in Hastings Prince Edward (15 in Quinte West, 46 in Belleville, 2 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, 7 in Prince Edward County, 12 in Central Hastings, and 2 in North Hastings), 81 in Peterborough, 44 in Northumberland, 36 in Kawartha Lakes, and 4 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,207 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,112 resolved with 14 deaths), 714 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (635 resolved with 56 deaths), 810 in Northumberland County (752 resolved with 14 deaths), 98 in Haliburton County (92 resolved with 1 death), and 907 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (813 resolved with 9 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on April 28.
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: 1,207 (increase of 9)* Total variants of concern cases: 422 (increase of 6) Active cases: 81 (decrease of 9) Close contacts: 233 (increase of 6) Deaths: 14 (increase of 1) Resolved: 1,112 (increase of 17) Hospitalizations (total to date): 52 (increase of 3)** ICU admissions (total to date): 8 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 49,750 (increase of 150) Outbreaks: Empress Gardens retirement home in Peterborough, Unidentified congregate living facility #3 in Peterborough, Unidentified workplace #5 in Peterborough, Trent Champlain Residence: West Towers in Peterborough, Unidentified workplace #7 in Peterborough, Unidentified workplace #8 in Peterborough (increase of 1)*** Vaccine doses administered: 43,602 (increase of 2,454 as of April 22) Number of people fully vaccinated: 2,481 (increase of 54 as of April 22)
*The health unit is reporting 11 new cases in the last 24 hours. The total case count has increased by 9 because 2 cases has been removed from previous days.
**As of April 28, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 18 patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 (increase of 1) and a total of 62 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive (increase of 2).
***An outbreak was declared at an unidentified workplace in Peterborough on April 28.
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.
Confirmed positive: 1,622, including 714 in Kawartha Lakes, 810 in Northumberland, and 98 in Haliburton (increase of 13, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes and 5 in Northumberland)* Total variants of concern cases: 357, including 113 in Kawartha Lakes, 225 in Northumberland, and 19 in Haliburton (increase of 12, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton) Active cases: 85, including 36 in Kawartha Lakes, 44 in Northumberland, and 4 in Haliburton (no net change) Probable cases: 4 in Northumberland (decrease of 1) Hospitalizations (total to date): 59, including 33 in Kawartha Lakes, 23 in Northumberland, and 3 in Haliburton (increase of 2 in Northumberland)** Deaths (including among probable cases): 71, including 56 in Kawartha Lakes, 14 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change) Resolved: 1,479, including 635 in Kawartha Lakes, 752 in Northumberland, and 92 in Haliburton (increase of 11, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton) Tests completed: 179,298 (increase of 638) Vaccine doses administered: 64,953 (increase of 13,242 as of April 26) Number of people fully vaccinated: 3,548 (increase of 140 as of April 26) Outbreaks: Fenelon Court long-term care home in Fenelon Falls, Grafton Post Office in Grafton, Summersweet Custom Design & Build Inc. in Haliburton (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 April 28, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 10 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (no change).
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: 907 (increase of 13) Confirmed variants of concern cases: 280 (no change) Active cases: 84 (increase of 5) Deaths: 9 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 20 (increase of 4) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 7 (decrease of 1) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 4 (no change) Resolved: 813 (increase of 6) Tests completed: 128,285 (increase of 8) Vaccine doses administered: 65,804 (increase of 1,872) Number of people fully vaccinated: 3,977 (increase of 5) Outbreaks: Unidentified community outbreak in Belleville, Unidentified workplace in Prince Edward County, Unidentified workplace in Belleville, QHC Belleville General Hospital, Unidentified workplace in Belleville (increase of 1)*
*An outbreak at an unidentified workplace in Belleville, involving 2 cases, was declared on April 28.
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 455,606 (increase of 3,480)* COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) cases: 60,355 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 2,932); 220 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (increase of 21); 405 of P.1 Brazilian variant (increase of 34)** VOC R(t): 0.94 (as of April 23)*** 7-day average of daily new cases: 3,783 (decrease of 105) Positivity rate: 7.2% (decrease of 3.0%) Resolved: 408,765 (increase of 4,517), 89.7% of all cases (increase of 0.3%) Hospitalizations: 2,281 (decrease of 55) Hospitalizations in ICU: 877 (increase of 2) Hospitalizations in ICU on ventilator: 605 (increase of 16) Deaths: 7,988 (increase of 24) 7-day average of daily new deaths: 28 (decrease of 2) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,919 (increase of 2) Total tests completed: 13,995,825 (increase of 50,194) Tests under investigation: 34,746 (increase of 5,482) Vaccination doses administered: 4,907,203 (increase of 116,173), 33.31% of Ontario’s population (increase of 0.79%)**** People fully vaccinated (two doses): 365,166 (increase of 2,603), 2.48% of Ontario’s population (increase of 0.02%)****
*Counts for some health units in the central west region may be higher in today’s report in part due to a catch-up in processing laboratory data into the provincial case and contact management system.
**While Ontario’s daily update is not yet reporting this information, Public Health Ontario confirmed on April 23 that 36 cases of the B.1.617 variant, a so-called “double mutation” variant first identified in India, have been detected in Ontario.
***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.
****An estimated 70-90% of the population must be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from March 28 – April 27, 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 March 28 – April 27, 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 March 28 – April 27, 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 March 28 – April 27, 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 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from March 28 – April 27, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day rolling average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Cambium's new materials testing laboratory at Sophia Street in Peterborough's East City. The company, which is currently renovating the location to consolidate its multiple Peterborough operations, also has offices in Barrie, Oshawa, Kingston, and Calgary. (Photo: Cambium Inc.)
Local business success story Cambium Inc. is marking its 15th anniversary this week.
The consulting and engineering firm was founded in Peterborough in 2006 by John Desbiens, Jim Bailey, and Dave Bucholtz, former employees of SGS Lakefield Research’s environmental consulting services unit.
The company initially operated with nine employees offering environmental engineering services from an office in the Fleming Industrial Park. Today, Cambium has more than 130 employees — including around 75 in Peterborough — with additional offices in Barrie, Oshawa, Kingston, and Calgary.
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“When we started Cambium 15 years ago, we had no idea that it would become what it is today,” says Cambium CEO and president John Desbiens in a media release. “We aimed to craft a workplace we would enjoy and seek people that shared our beliefs to join us. As it turns out, we keep finding those people.”
In 2019, the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business ranked Cambium among Canada’s top 400 growing businesses and, in 2020, Canadian Business ranked Cambium as one of 500 of Canada’s fastest-growing businesses, with five-year revenue growth at 135 per cent.
Locally, Cambium received the Employer of the Year Peterborough Business Excellence Award from the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce in 2018, and the Professional Services award in 2020.
Cambium was founded in Peterborough in 2006 by John Desbiens, Jim Bailey, and Dave Bucholtz. (Photos: Cambium Inc.)
Cambium is currently renovating a 25,000-square-foot facility at 194 Sophia Street to consolidate its multiple Peterborough operations. The former home of Fisher Gauge Limited’s Ashburnham Plant, the location has also been home to software companies Operitel and OpenText.
“Sustainability is foundational to the values of Cambium,” reads a media release. “Remodelling an existing building and reusing materials has been a rewarding experience that also consumes far less energy and resources than new construction. The design concept of the new future offices makes full use of the best features of the original building — open spaces and natural light.”
The renovations and relocation are scheduled to be completed by June 2021.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 3,265 new cases today, with Toronto reporting 1,044 cases and 6 other health units reporting triple-digit increases. The seven-day average of daily cases has decreased by 29 to 3,888. There are 2,987 more cases of the B.1.1.7 UK variant, 37 more cases of the B.1.351 South Africa, and 20 more cases of the P.1 Brazilian variant.
While hospitalizations have increased, there has been a slight decrease in the number of ICU admissions and a larger decrease in the number of patients on ventilators. Ontario is reporting 29 deaths today, including 3 deaths in long-term care homes — the highest number since April 17, when 3 deaths were also reported.
Repeating a pattern seen over the past three weeks, the number of daily vaccines administered on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday has been below 100,000 — the minimum number Ontario’s COVID-19 science advisory table says is necessary to bring the virus under control. However, the virus’s effective reproduction number for variants of concern has now dropped below 1 since it was last reported on April 2; an effective reproduction number under 1 is required to eliminate a disease from the population.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 45 new cases to report (including 19 in Peterborough, 14 in Hastings Prince Edward, 9 in Northumberland, and 3 in Kawartha Lakes) and an additional 34 cases resolved, with the number of active cases increasing by 8 to 254. There has been 1 new COVID-related death in Hastings Prince Edward and 1 in Northumberland.
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Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (1,044), Peel (673), York (452), Durham (171), Ottawa (150), Halton (138), and Hamilton (119).
There are double-digit increases reported today in Middlesex-London (79), Niagara (73), Simcoe Muskoka (61), Waterloo (56), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (49), Windsor-Essex (48), Brant (23), Porcupine (21), Southwestern (17), and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (15), with smaller increases in Hastings Prince Edward (9), Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (9), Lambton (8), Haldimand-Norfolk (8), Northwestern (6), and Sudbury (6).
The remaining 11 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 1 health unit (Huron Perth) reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s new cases, 56% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (1,184) among people ages 20-39 followed by 987 cases among people ages 40-59 and 660 cases among people 19 and under.
With 3,908 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.2% to at 89.4% — the eighth straight day the percentage of resolved cases has increased. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.7% to 10.2%, meaning that 102 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on April 26.
Ontario is reporting 29 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 3 new deaths in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 30 new daily deaths over the past week, an increase of 1 from yesterday.
The number of hospitalizations has increased by 65 to 2,336, but the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs has decreased by 2 to 875 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators has decreased by 16 to 589.
A total of 34,000 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation increasing by 11,895 to 29,264.
A total of 4,791,030 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 94,819 from yesterday, with 362,563 people fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 1,397 from yesterday. Over the past three weeks, the number of daily vaccine doses has fallen below 100,000 on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
The number of fully vaccinated people represents 2.46% of Ontario’s population, an increase of 0.01% from yesterday, with fully and partially vaccinated people representing 32.52% of the population, an increase of 0.64% 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 45 new cases to report, including 19 in Peterborough, 14 in Hastings Prince Edward, 9 in Northumberland, and 3 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no new cases in Haliburton.
An outbreak was declared at an unidentified workplace in Peterborough on April 26. An outbreak at QHC Belleville General Hospital, involving 3 cases, was declared on April 27.
There have been 2 new COVID-related deaths in the region: 1 in Northumberland and 1 in Hastings Prince Edward. There are 2 new hospitalizations in Peterborough.
There are 17 new regional cases of variants of concern, including 7 in Peterborough, 4 in Hastings Prince Edward, 3 in Northumberland, 2 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton.
An additional 34 cases have been resolved, including 9 in Kawartha Lakes, 9 in Northumberland, 8 in Hastings Prince Edward, 5 in Peterborough, and 3 in Haliburton. An outbreak at an unidentified congregate living facility in Belleville was declared resolved on April 27.
There are currently 254 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, an increase of 8 from yesterday, including 90 in Peterborough, 79 in Hastings Prince Edward (14 in Quinte West, 43 in Belleville, 2 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, 5 in Prince Edward County, 12 in Central Hastings, and 3 in North Hastings), 46 in Northumberland, 33 in Kawartha Lakes, and 6 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,198 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,095 resolved with 13 deaths), 707 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (631 resolved with 56 deaths), 806 in Northumberland County (746 resolved with 14 deaths), 98 in Haliburton County (91 resolved with 1 death), and 895 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (806 resolved with 9 deaths). The two most recent deaths were reported in Hastings Prince Edward and Northumberland on April 27.
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: 1,198 (increase of 19)* Total variants of concern cases: 416 (increase of 7) Active cases: 90 (increase of 14) Close contacts: 227 (decrease of 20) Deaths: 13 (no change) Resolved: 1,095 (increase of 5) Hospitalizations (total to date): 49 (increase of 2)** ICU admissions (total to date): 8 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 49,600 (increase of 50) Outbreaks: Empress Gardens retirement home in Peterborough, Unidentified congregate living facility #3 in Peterborough, Unidentified workplace #5 in Peterborough, Trent Champlain Residence: West Towers in Peterborough, Unidentified workplace #7 in Peterborough (increase of 1)** Vaccine doses administered: 43,602 (increase of 2,454 as of April 22) Number of people fully vaccinated: 2,481 (increase of 54 as of April 22)
*The health unit is reporting 18 new cases in the last 24 hours. The total case count has increased by 19 because 1 case has been added to a previous day.
**As of April 27, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 17 patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 (increase of 4) and a total of 60 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive (no change).
**An outbreak was declared at an unidentified workplace in Peterborough on April 26.
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.
Confirmed positive: 1,611, including 707 in Kawartha Lakes, 806 in Northumberland, and 98 in Haliburton (increase of 12, including 3 in Kawartha Lakes and 9 in Northumberland)* Cases with N501Y mutation: 345, including 105 in Kawartha Lakes, 222 in Northumberland, and 18 in Haliburton (increase of 6, including 2 in Kawartha Lakes, 3 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton)** Active cases: 85, including 33 in Kawartha Lakes, 46 in Northumberland, and 6 in Haliburton (decrease of 9, including 6 in Kawartha Lakes and 3 in Haliburton) Probable cases: 5 in Northumberland (increase of 2) Hospitalizations (total to date): 57, including 33 in Kawartha Lakes, 21 in Northumberland, and 3 in Haliburton (no change)*** Deaths (including among probable cases): 71, including 56 in Kawartha Lakes, 14 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (increase of 1 in Northumberland) Resolved: 1,468, including 631 in Kawartha Lakes, 746 in Northumberland, and 91 in Haliburton (increase of 21, including 9 in Kawartha Lakes, 9 in Northumberland, and 3 in Haliburton) Tests completed: 178,660 (increase of 817) Vaccine doses administered: 64,953 (increase of 13,242 as of April 26) Number of people fully vaccinated: 3,548 (increase of 140 as of April 26) Outbreaks: Fenelon Court long-term care home in Fenelon Falls, Grafton Post Office in Grafton, Summersweet Custom Design & Build Inc. in Haliburton (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.
**The N501Y mutation has been identified in variants of concern including the B.1.1.7 UK variant, the B.1.351 South Africa variant, and the P.1 Brazilian variant.
***As of April 27, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 10 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (decrease of 1).
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: 895 (increase of 14) Confirmed variants of concern cases: 280 (increase of 4) Active cases: 79 (increase of 3) Deaths: 9 (increase of 1) Currently hospitalized: 16 (decrease of 1) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 8 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 4 (no change) Resolved: 806 (increase of 8) Tests completed: 128,277 (increase of 48) Vaccine doses administered: 63,932 (increase of 726) Number of people fully vaccinated: 3,972 (increase of 10) Outbreaks: Unidentified community outbreak in Belleville, Unidentified workplace in Prince Edward County, Unidentified workplace in Belleville, QHC Belleville General Hospital (no net change)*
*An outbreak at QHC Belleville General Hospital, involving 3 cases, was declared on April 27. An outbreak at an unidentified congregate living facility in Belleville was declared resolved on April 27.
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 452,126 (increase of 3,265) COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) cases: 57,423 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 2,987); 199 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (increase of 37); 371 of P.1 Brazilian variant (increase of 20)* VOC R(t): 0.94 (decrease of 0.29 since last update on April 2)** 7-day average of daily new cases: 3,888 (decrease of 29) Positivity rate: 10.2% (decrease of 0.7%) Resolved: 404,248 (increase of 3,908), 89.4% of all cases (increase of 0.2%) Hospitalizations: 2,336 (increase of 65) Hospitalizations in ICU: 875 (decrease of 2) Hospitalizations in ICU on ventilator: 589 (decrease of 16) Deaths: 7,964 (increase of 29) 7-day average of daily new deaths: 30 (increase of 1) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,917 (increase of 3) Total tests completed: 13,945,631 (increase of 34,000) Tests under investigation: 29,264 (increase of 11,895) Vaccination doses administered: 4,791,030 (increase of 94,819), 32.52% of Ontario’s population (increase of 0.64%)*** People fully vaccinated (two doses): 362,563 (increase of 1,397), 2.46% of Ontario’s population (increase of 0.01%)***
*While Ontario’s daily update is not yet reporting this information, Public Health Ontario confirmed on April 23 that 36 cases of the B.1.617 variant, a so-called “double mutation” variant first identified in India, have been detected in Ontario.
**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.
***An estimated 70-90% of the population must be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from March 27 – April 26, 2021. The red line is the number of new cases reported daily, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of new cases. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 tests completed in Ontario from March 27 – April 26, 2021. The red line is the daily number of tests completed, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of tests completed. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from March 27 – April 26, 2021. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day moving 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 moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from March 27 – April 26, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from March 27 – April 26, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
The first shipment of 5,850 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrive at Peterborough Regional Health Centre on February 23, 2021. (Supplied photo)
A forecasted delay in the arrival of vaccine supply in the Peterborough region is rooted in “a Team Ontario approach” that Peterborough’s medical officer of health wholly endorses.
During a Peterborough Public Health briefing held Tuesday (April 27), Dr. Rosana Salvaterra said with COVID variant cases still alarmingly high in hot spots like Toronto and Peel, it’s smart to “focus vaccinations where they are needed most.”
“That will mean that some eligible people in Peterborough will need to wait a little longer for their vaccine,” Dr. Salvaterra said. “At around the same time that the stay-at-home order is scheduled to be lifted, our vaccine supply is set to double. We will see wait times shrink and access open up.”
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Based on information that’s been shared with her to date, Dr. Salvaterra said vaccination of the local 60 years old and up group “should be complete by the end of May. That’s about four weeks behind schedule. I would have loved to have them all done by the end of this week, but I’m pretty confident we’ll have them all done by the end of May.”
In his comments at the briefing, Peterborough board of health chair Andy Mitchell noted communities across the province are experiencing a similar delay in vaccine arrival for the same reason.
“I have mixed emotions about this process,” he admitted. “On one hand, I understand the importance of directing a limited resource to where it’s needed the most. We all want the hot spots controlled and the evidence suggests this approach will achieve that.”
“On the other hand, I know how important getting our residents their vaccine is. We can endure a short-term decrease in supply but it needs to be just that — a short-term disruption. As additional supply arrives in the province in mid May, I’ll be looking to the government to be directing every increasing amounts to our community.”
As the Peterborough region awaits definitive word on its next shipment of vaccine, local infection numbers continue to show marked improvement.
As of Monday (April 26) at 4:30 p.m., active cases stood at 76 in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake, and Hiawatha — down 26 from what was reported last Friday. To date this week, just four new cases have emerged but, with most of the week still to come, that number will rise.
The number of close contacts of positive cases being followed by public health staff has also dropped substantially since Friday, down 73 to 247.
As for active outbreaks, that number remains at five. One workplace outbreak was deemed over but, on Monday, another workplace outbreak was declared.
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Dr. Salvaterra made particular note of the large number of positive COVID-19 cases detected in those aged 29 and under. Of Peterborough region’s 1,179 total cases since the pandemic was declared, 600 have been detected in that age group. Dr. Salvaterra said some factors specific to that age group are at play.
“Many of these young people are precariously employed or are working in jobs without any benefits,” she said. “There’s a financial barrier for them to stay home when they need to stay home.”
“We have lots of examples of people who went to work while they were waiting for test results. They should have stayed home. Also those who continue to work even while sick because they just can’t afford to stay home.”
Dr. Salvaterra also pointed out people who must continue to work are often the same people who share their home with others.
“Because of the high cost of housing and because of the limited availability of housing, many of them share their accommodations with many others,” she said. “They share washrooms. They share tight spaces. It’s very difficult for them to self-isolate. Household contacts are probably the leading risk factor for the acquisition of this infection.”
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“Both (issues) need to be addressed,” Dr. Salvaterra said. “We need to make it easy for these people to stay home when they’re sick and, in some cases, we need to support them with better places to self-isolate.”
While Ontario Premier Doug Ford promised last week Ontario would develop its own paid sick leave program, “the best program anywhere in North America, bar none”, it was revealed on Tuesday the province has asked the federal government to double the federal paid sick leave program to $1,000 a week for Ontario residents, with the province picking up the extra cost.
The federal government has rejected Ontario’s request.
“When Ontario is ready to mandate sick leave in provincially regulated businesses, as we have done for federally regulated businesses, we will be there to help,” said Katherine Cuplinskas, spokesperson for federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, in a statement to CBC News.
Also commenting during Tuesday’s briefing were Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones, and Peterborough Police Service Chief Scott Gilbert, who provided an update on the police response to Saturday’s anti-lockdown rally at Confederation Park in downtown Peterborough.
Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP Randy Hillier posted this photo of the anti-lockdown rally in Confederation Park in Peterborough held on April 24, 2021. Peterborough police issued a ticket under the Reopening Ontario Act to Hillier along with Maxime Bernier, former MP and leader of the federal People’s Party of Canada, both of whom spoke at the rally. (Photo: Randy Hillier / Facebook)
Peterborough’s police chief Scott Gilbert says Saturday’s anti-lockdown rally at Confederation Park across from Peterborough City Hall was illegal in the sense no permit was issued for the gathering.
Contrary to earlier information provided, a permit is required to assemble in Confederation Park according to the city’s park and facilities by-law.
However, police did not shut down the protest despite the lack of a permit.
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“Clearing 600 people out of a park is not going to happen because it can’t be done safely,” Chief Gilbert said during a Peterborough Public Health briefing held Tuesday (April 27). “People are bringing kids and families there. There’s the potential for violence to occur.”
So far, police have issued eight tickets related to the rally.
Three tickets were issued under the Reopening Ontario Act, including one ticket issued to Ontario independent MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston Randy Hillier and one to Maxime Bernier, former MP and leader of the federal People’s Party of Canada, both of whom spoke at the rally.
Police also issued five tickets related to a vehicle from out of the region that Chief Gilbert said “caused some issues” by going the wrong direction on George Street.
Further charges may be laid under the Reopening Ontario Act as police investigate information from the protest.
“A number of other people have been identified and, from photos that were published, we’ve heard from other jurisdictions,” Chief Gilbert said, noting “there were other charges (laid) for urinating in that park.”
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After noting that people are attending the rally for reasons other than supporting small business — the purported reason for the rally — Chief Gilbert commented on Hillier’s comparison of COVID-19 restrictions to the Holocaust.
“C’mon Randy, that was over six million people that were exterminated,” Chief Gilbert said. “You’re linking this to the Holocaust?”
“You can imagine the type of people we’re concerned about that are attending these rallies,” he said. “There’s the huge potential for violence there.”
Kawartha Lakes police have issued a warrant for the arrest of 34-year-old Joshua Innes.
Innes is wanted for aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, and fail to comply with probation order, related to a stabbing incident in Lindsay.
On April 18, a 29-year-old man showed up at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay with stab wounds following an incident in the area of Mary Street West and James Street in Lindsay.
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If you have any information about the whereabouts of Innes, call 9-1-1.
If you wish to provide information anonymously, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.khcrimestoppers.com.
The Link, a new rural transportation service connecting Selwyn Township and Curve Lake First Nation to Peterborough, launches on May 3, 2021. The pilot service uses full accessible 15-passenger buses operated by Peterborough Transit. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
The Link, a new rural transportation service connecting Selwyn Township and Curve Lake First Nation to Peterborough, launches next Monday (May 3) — and rides are free for the entire month of May.
The Link is a pilot project of Selwyn Township, Curve Lake First Nation, Community Care Peterborough, and the City of Peterborough, funded with a $1.48-million grant under the Ontario government’s Community Transportation Grant program.
With 15-passenger buses operated by Peterborough Transit, The Link will provide access to and from major hubs within Selwyn Township and Curve Lake First Nation with connections to the Peterborough Transit system at Trent University.
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There are two routes: Route 31 runs between Peterborough, Lakefield, and Curve Lake First Nation, and Route 32 runs between Peterborough, Bridgenorth, and Ennismore. While all buses used by the system are full accessible, not all bus stops are fully accessible.
The Link passes and fares include a single transfer to Peterborough Transit, good for 90 minutes. At Trent University, The Link passengers can connect with four different Peterborough Transit routes (Route 2 Chemong, Route 3 Park, Route 6 Sherbrooke, and Route 8 Monaghan).
The free service during the month of May includes a one-time transfer, if required, to a Peterborough Transit trip. Beginning in June, you can ride The Link by purchasing a two-ride bus pass for $15, a 10-ride buss pass for $50, or a monthly pass for $150. Customers can also purchase a single ride cash fare for $8 (coins only, no bills accepted).
Rides on The Link rural transportation service will be free for the month of May 2021. (Graphic: Selwyn Township)
As with Peterborough Transit, face coverings are mandatory on The Link buses.
For more information about The Link, including routes, bus stops (including accessible stops), schedules, and fares, visit selwyntownship.ca/thelink.
To help promote the new service, Selwyn Township is also launching a ‘Spot the Bus’ social media contest, where you can win one of three free 10-ride bus passes for The Link. Each pass is a value of $50.
To enter, take a selfie of yourself on the bus, with the bus, or just a photo of the bus running along The Link transit routes. Post the photo on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with the hashtag #RideTheLink and tag @selwyntownship, and comment with your photo on Selwyn Township’s ‘Spot the Bus’ contest posts on social media.
After two seasons of recording live performances by Peterborough-area musicians in the Norwood-area barn studio space he owns with his wife Linda, Andy Tough will embark on a third season of Live! at the Barn for summer 2021. Musicians will include Melissa Payne and Dylan Ireland, Nicholas Campbell and the Two Metre Cheaters, SJ Riley, The Raggedy Andys, Elyse Saunders, and The Soda Jerks. Recording of performances will begin in June and streamed on YouTube starting in mid-August. (Photo courtesy of Andy and Linda Tough)
As continued pandemic restrictions threaten to see 2021 mimic its predecessor, what seemed like a good idea last year has evolved into a hope-sustaining lifeline for musicians whose sanity is dependent on live performance opportunities.
Live! at the Barn — a YouTube-featured compilation of live-off-the-floor performances produced, recorded, and edited by Andy Tough in the Norwood-area barn studio space he owns with his wife Linda — is returning for a third series with recording set to start in June.
Featured acts this time around are folk-roots duo Melissa Payne and Dylan Ireland, swing-rockabilly guitarist Nicholas Campbell and the Two Metre Cheaters, multi-music genre singer-songwriter SJ Riley, reggae-influenced rock band The Raggedy Andys, pop country singer-songwriter Elyse Saunders, and classic rock ‘n’ roll tribute band The Soda Jerks.
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Similar to the first two series, each act isn’t charged for Tough’s time and talents, and is given a recording of their performance to do with as they please.
According to Tough, the plan is to have each performance edited for their premiere starting in mid August on his YouTube channel, where performances by the 10 acts featured in the first two series can also be accessed.
“People are watching, for sure,” Tough says, noting views of his channel have increased by 11,000 since the first series debuted with close to 100 new subscribers on board. In addition, individual song selections from each performance have been regularly posted on Linda’s Facebook page, bringing even more views the way of each act.
“It’s one of those things where you throw it online and see if anybody bites,” says Tough, adding “Streaming in general is pretty much the only way to see music (performed) anymore.”
The line-up of musicians for the third season of Andy Tough’s Live! at the Barn series of recorded live performances. Recording is set to begin at the Tough family’s Norwood-area barn studio in June with a YouTube premiere in mid August. (Photos supplied by Andy Tough)
Asked if he’s fearful that streaming fatigue is setting in, both on the part of performers and those watching online, Tough acknowledges “There’s an inundation of people putting their stuff out there.”
Still, he says the finished product has improved greatly since the advent of the pandemic.
“It’s better in terms of quality. It’s more watchable. It used to be that it was just cellphone video. That doesn’t do an artist any good at all. I’m sure that most artists out there have boned up on their technical skills in terms of being able to capture themselves on camera and produce good audio. The bar has been raised. That and people are more comfortable now going on online. There’s no more flashing lights on your VCR.”
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One thing that hasn’t changed is Live! at the Barn is as therapeutic for Tough as it is for each musician who takes to his stage. His core business, RMS Events, a multimedia enterprise specializing in audio/video production and presentation, has been obliterated by the restrictions on large gatherings.
“For us it’s a fantastic opportunity to heal by music in our barn,” he says, adding “Working with the bands and getting their input and seeing their energy — that comes right back at you. Energy in. Energy out.”
“Everybody was hoping and praying this year would be different than last year. It isn’t. I can’t foresee any big live events happening any time soon and that is depressing for a lot of people, myself included. But we’ve got a model that we developed last year on the fly and now we can continue to move forward with it and get more musicians involved.”
VIDEO: Live! at the Barn: A New Season
Along with the technical aspects of each performance recording that he oversees, Tough has also had to be very mindful of pandemic restrictions — what’s allowed and what’s not in terms of bringing acts into his barn space.
“Now that we’ve all lived with COVID for more than a year, there are established protocols and rules … last summer everybody was just trying to figure it out,” he says.
“Because the barn is what the barn is, and the size of the stage, and the fact that it is essentially an outdoor location — we’re not dealing with air circulation and stuff like that — the venue is already sort of ideal for being able to continue to do stuff.”
“The other point is this is a private studio. It’s film production. We’re not putting on a concert. The rules around that are different. As a production, you are controlling the situation. It’s not like people are wandering wherever they want and not wearing their masks. We’re toeing the line in terms of all the protocols.”
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New for this series of recording, he notes, is the addition of Mylar screens separating the singers on stage, noting “Because we don’t have an audience we don’t have to worry about front-facing screens.”
“When we first started last year there was a stipulation that you could only have five people gathering on private property, so we asked for three-piece bands. It’s the same kind of thing now. We’re able to adjust our production to fit the protocols. Even if we are in the red zone (during the summer), we still have the proper precautions which will allow us to continue to shoot.”
With the help of his former neighbour Mike Chowns, who has extensive staging experience working with 4th Line Theatre and the Gordon Best Theatre, Tough has been able to share “the heavy lifting” as well as draw on Chowns’ “creative eye” for stage appearance and background.
For the third season of his Live! at the Barn series, Andy Tough (left) has enlisted the help of his former neighbour Mike Chowns (right), who has extensive staging experience working with 4th Line Theatre and the Gordon Best Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Andy and Linda Tough)
But what viewers of the series will more dramatically notice is the heightened quality of each recorded performance, courtesy of Tough’s purchase of a high-definition system that records onto SD cards. In addition, he has also purchased extra cameras that are also high-definition as well as updated his post-production editing system.
“The quality is going to be amazing,” assures Tough. “You’ll see a lot more detail.”
Such upgrades, of course, come at a cost. Despite his vow that “We’re going to do this regardless of whether we get paid or not,” Tough says “there’s an opportunity for advertisers now that this is a thing as opposed to a concept.”
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“This isn’t a charity. It’s a business. It’s media exposure. It’s an opportunity for businesses to show their support (of local musicians). Government support has helped but it’s a trickle in the stream. More people have to step up and show their support. It’s not like you have to pay an arm and a leg. You can become a patron. Make a small donation and you’re listed in the credits.”
Those interested in advertising or sponsoring can email Tough at andy@rmsevents.ca.
As a long-time supporter of local music, kawarthaNOW.com remains on board as a media sponsor of Live! at the Barn. That tie will be strengthened this series, with this writer having been enlisted as the interviewer of each act for segments that are edited into each performance recording.
Preparing the stage for the third season of the Live! at the Barn series at Andy and Linda Tough’s Norwood-area barn studio space. As a film production, there will be no live audience and Mylar screens will separate the singers on stage. The third season will have enhanced video and audio thanks to upgraded equipment and technology. (Photo courtesy of Andy and Linda Tough)
“We get a sense for who these people are as opposed to just seeing them onstage,” says Tough of the interview segments.
Whether or not the series will continue after this summer’s instalment is streamed, that’s up to severity of the pandemic moving forward. One thing certain is Tough won’t be idle, combining his video and audio production talents with his unabashed passion for local music and those who bring it to us.
One thing he’s mulling over is producing a documentary that draws on material gathered over the course of Live! at the Barn recordings.
“They all have different perspectives,” Tough says of the performing musicians. “They all have different dreams and different fears. It’s really quite a cross-section of society. It would be interesting to pull that together.”
Dr. Sally Chivers, professor of English and Gender & Women's Studies at Trent University, pictured at the 2020 ReFrame Film Festival. Since joining Trent in 2003, Chivers has had a far-reaching impact in the interdisciplinary study of aging and society, with work spanning five disciplines: Canadian studies, film, disability, age, and women's studies. (Supplied photo)
Trent University is honouring Dr. Sally Chivers with its Distinguished Research Award, which is presented annually to a faculty member in recognition of outstanding achievements in research and scholarship.
Professor Chivers, who is being recognized for her significant contributions to the interdisciplinary study of aging and research in disability, is professor of English and Gender & Women’s Studies at Trent University and co-founded the Trent Centre for Aging & Society, of which she was also the director.
“Dr. Chivers’ outstanding contributions to knowledge creation and her innovative approach to examining pressing issues of aging and care have played a major role in shaping research in this field, and rightly earned her international recognition as a top scholar of age and disability studies,” says Dr. Cathy Bruce, Trent’s acting vice-president of research and innovation. “Professor Chivers is a prolific scholar and worthy recipient of this prestigious award.”
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Professor Chivers will be presented with the award at Trent University’s Celebration of Excellence: Teaching and Research virtual event on Monday, May 3rd.
“Trent is the ideal place to embark on research that cuts across boundaries and makes a difference, while remaining creative and engaging,” says Professor Chivers. “I am so grateful to have been able to come here to follow in impressive age studies footsteps, while also developing national and international collaborations with remarkable colleagues who want to build a better world for all of us as we age.”
“That dozens of such colleagues joined in supporting this nomination is testament to the generative spirit of critical gerontology, age studies, and health humanities,” she adds.
Since joining Trent in 2003, Dr. Chivers has had a far-reaching impact in the interdisciplinary study of aging and society, according to a media release from the university, with work spanning five disciplines: Canadian studies, film, disability, age, and women’s studies.
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“I feel like now I’m at a place where I really can talk about how the ways we imagine aging affect everyday life, and how the everyday life affects how we imagine aging,” Professor Chivers says. “I’m continually surprised by how the stories we tell about aging matter.”
Over her career, she has received various research funding awards, including several major grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the most recent of which was to study the popular depictions of nursing homes, how the media curates a fear of institutional life, and how that fear is proliferated.
Professor Chivers has also authored four books and more than 35 articles and book chapters, which have been quoted in esteemed publications including The New Yorker, The Guardian, and Maclean’s.
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