David Edgerton receiving the federal Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation from Parliamentary Secretary Eve Adams in 2012. (Photo: Veteran Affairs Canada)
Peterborough’s David Edgerton is one of 16 Ontario volunteers and volunteer organizations to receive the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism.
The Ontario government presented the awards on Wednesday (January 27) during a virtual ceremony.
The award is named after the late journalist and author June Callwood, who was one of Canada’s most well-known social activists. She founded or co-founded more than 50 Canadian social action organizations.
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“A local military historian, David spent more than 12 years and countless volunteer hours spearheading the creation of Peterborough’s Veterans Wall of Honour in 2010,” reads an Ontario government media release. “He eagerly shares his knowledge and enjoys making regular visits to seniors, service clubs and schools.”
Edgerton was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his work on the Veterans Wall of Honour. He has also been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for more than 45 years and a dedicated volunteer who has received multiple awards from the legion, including the Palm Leaf, its highest honour.
In 2019, the City of Peterborough named Edgerton the Peterborough Volunteer of the Year as part of the city’s annual civic awards.
The other recipients of the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism are:
Réjeanne Bélisle – Haileybury
Charles “Charlie” Brown – Mississauga
Victor Herrington – Sparta
Eli Katan – Toronto
Adam Lake – Mississauga
Divya Massilamani – Ottawa
Sue Murray – Burlington
Aditi Sivakumar – Ottawa
Richard Zarour – Tecumseh
The May Court Club of Ottawa – Ottawa
Multicultural Heritage Association of Norfolk – Delhi
Nipissing Trackers – North Bay
The Volunteers of the 24/7 Support Line Peer Mentor Team – London
The Nile Association of Ontario – Brampton
Youth Assisting Youth – Toronto
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Since 2009, 203 individuals and groups have received the award. An independent selection committee, appointed by the Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, reviews the nominations and recommends candidates to receive the award.
The deadline for 2021 June Callwood Award nominations has been extended to April 1, 2021. Nominations can be made at the Ontario government website.
Caressant Care McLaughlin Road is a 96-bed long-term care home in Lindsay. (Photo: Google Maps)
COVID-19 cases in the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit remain in an upswing, primarily due to worsening outbreaks in area long-term care homes.
“Because of the restrictions that are in place, we are seeing quieter days sometimes, but we still have had over 150 cases in the last two weeks,” said Dr. Ian Gemmill, acting medical officer of health, during a virtual media briefing on Wednesday (January 27).
“About half of those new cases are in outbreaks,” Dr. Gemmill said.
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There are currently six institutional outbreaks in the health unit’s region, the most serious of which is at Caressant Care McLaughlin Road long-term care home in Lindsay. The outbreak was declared on January 9. As of January 27, there are 22 confirmed cases in residents and 19 cases in staff, as well as three resident deaths.
So far in 2020, there have been 13 COVID-related deaths in the health unit’s region, with five deaths in Northumberland County and eight in the City of Kawartha Lakes. At least half of those deaths have been of residents in area long-term case homes.
“(The outbreak at Caressant Care McLaughlin Road) is under control, and we are working with the people providing care there to make sure that it stays that way,” Dr. Gemmill said. “But it has had some spillover with other parts of the community. I want to assure people that what’s happening in Lindsay is not out of the ordinary. What’s happening there is something that could happen anywhere in Ontario.”
Worsening outbreaks among the most vulnerable populations living in long-term care homes reveal the urgency for vaccinations, according to Dr. Gemmill.
“Outbreaks can be stopped by vaccines,” he said.
The health unit received 700 doses of the Moderna mRNA vaccine on Monday (January 25) and is currently distributing it to residents of Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, Hope Street Terrace in Port Hope, and Maplewood Long-Term Care Home in Brighton.
“We’ve started in long-term care homes because these are the most vulnerable people,” explained Dr. Gemmill. “That’s also what the province of Ontario has directed us to do. We’ve got to stop these outbreaks — to keep these elderly people, these vulnerable people, protected.”
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About 1,600 long-term care residents are living in the health unit’s area. The current supply of 700 doses will vaccinate under half of these residents.
The health unit expects to receive a few hundred more doses of the Moderna vaccine next week. Dr. Gemmill said that, based on what the provincial government has told him, all area long-term care residents will be inoculated by February 5th.
Once long-term care residents have been vaccinated, the health unit will begin to inoculate long-term care staff, essential caregivers, and healthcare workers. Although there are currently vaccine supply issues, Dr. Gemmill said that, eventually, everyone who wants it will have access to the vaccine.
“A large portion of the population will need to receive the vaccine for community-wide protection,” he said. “That is how we get back to normal.”
Dr. Gemmill also addressed potential concerns about the safety of the vaccine, given the speed of its development.
“The clinical trials have been conducted on tens of thousands of people,” he said. “Millions, since its licensing, have already received it. We are not hearing that there are safety problems with this vaccine.”
“(Vaccine development) was fast, but they were able to piggy-back on a technology that had been developed for other purposes, and it worked.”
The health unit has already submitted its completed COVID-19 vaccination program to the provincial health ministry. The program details their plans for vaccine distribution over the next few months.
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In the meantime, Dr. Gemmill continues to urge people to respect the stay-at-home orders issued by the provincial government, to keep people uninfected until they are vaccinated.
“The virus is still present everywhere, and it can have significant complications like hospitalization,” he said. “Never forget that we are only two or three degrees of separation away from someone vulnerable.”
Social gatherings banned by the stay-at-home order do not have to be organized or large gatherings, Dr. Gemmill pointed out.
“Gatherings can be as simple as a pickup game of some sport. The province of Ontario is asking you to stay home.”
He encouraged anyone who wants to socialize to do it virtually.
“Please don’t get together for coffee or beer unless it’s by Zoom,” Dr. Gemmill said. “Even birthday parties should be done remotely now. It’s up to us all to take action so that others do not become ill.”
As of January 27, there are 89 active cases of COVID-19 in the health unit’s region, including 65 in Kawartha Lakes, 19 in Northumberland, and 5 in Haliburton.
The nocturnal northern flying squirrel, which uses excess skin between its limbs to glide up to 45 metres between trees, is active during winter and has a unique partnership with other flying squirrels to keep warm during the freezing-cold winter nights. This still of footage of a flying squirrel, used in a CBC Nature of Things documentary, was captured in Peterborough by Trent University researchers. (CBC screenshot)
Winter can be a difficult season; the days are short, the skies can be overcast and grey, and the weather can keep us housebound.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s column is by GreenUP Communications and Marketing Specialist Leif Einarson.
This year, winter seems even more difficult as we continue our efforts to flatten the curve of COVID-19.
Sometimes we can feel stuck in winter. It can seem harsh, lifeless — like the full stop of all things green and good. It is no wonder this season is often associated with feelings of melancholy.
The truth is, winter is a beautiful, temporary pause that is full of life. Even now, the Kawarthas are full of activity, hope, and marvel.
Here are four wonders that winter has to offer. I hope they remind you that the difficulties we face now are momentary hardships we can bear together.
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1. The flying squirrel cuddle puddle
A “cuddle puddle”, where northern flying squirrels without any family connection cuddle together to keep each other warm during cold winters in the Kawarthas. (Photo: Sasha Newar)
You may recently have watched a new Nature of Things documentary on CBC called Wild Canadian Weather – Cold (you can watch it free on CBC Gem).
All about the wonders of winter in Canada, the documentary features a particularly adorable sequence about the amazing northern flying squirrel (glaucomys sabrinus).
As you watch Cold, you should know that the northern flying squirrel footage was all captured in Peterborough thanks to the amazing Kawartha Flying Squirrel Project based at Trent University. (Yes, the place we live really is that amazing and teeming with wildlife, and let’s keep it that way!)
“Flying squirrels are nocturnal, non-hibernating mammals,” explains Sasha Newar, a doctoral candidate at Trent University who is working on the Kawartha Flying Squirrel Project. “This means that flying squirrels have to wake up every cold, winter night to find food.”
VIDEO: “Cuddle puddle” to survive the cold
“Flying squirrels leave their winter nests to seek out food stores that they made during the summer months,” Newar adds. “Using excess skin between their arms and legs, flying squirrels can glide from tree to tree to find the places they’ve hidden food. By gliding, they save energy that they can use to keep warm while they travel around the snowy canopies.”
Even with their efficient gliding, being out on cold winter nights can really chill a tiny squirrel to the bone. Newar explains that flying squirrels have an adorable way to warm up:
“By the time they make it back to their nest with a full belly, they are joined by several other flying squirrels to form a warm cuddle puddle. Together — sometimes in groups as big as 50 — they generate enough body heat to comfortably sleep through another chilly, winter day.”
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2. Sweetheart frog-cicles
Valentine’s Day is coming up, and there’s nothing sweeter than a heart full of sugar — literally.
You may be thinking of those cheesy candy hearts, but I’m talking about the real hearts and other vital organs of the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens).
Northern leopard frogs survive the winter thanks to concentrations of glucose in their heart and other vital organs. This prevents their organs from freezing. (Photo: Leif Einarson)
Right now, under the ice of rivers, creeks, and ponds, the organs of northern leopard frogs are concentrated with glucose (aka sugar) to prevent them from freezing.
How sweet is that?
Technically, northern leopard frogs are “brumating”, not hibernating. Hibernating animals go through the winter without waking, even if disturbed. Brumating animals, however, typically wake up at regular intervals to drink a bit of water, shift positions, and then go back to sleep.
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3. Turtle bum-breathing
Currently, under the mud in wetlands all around Peterborough, turtles are hibernating.
To stay alive under all the ice and snow, turtles need some oxygen. They are buried, so they cannot use their lungs to exchange the gases in their blood vessels.
Turtles, like this adult female snapping turtle, breathe during hibernation by exchanging gases across the vascularized skin around their bum. (Photo: Leif Einarson)
Instead, they have a neat trick that allows them to exchange gases through areas of their body where blood vessels are close to their skin. There is one area on a turtle’s body that is particularly good at this kind of “breathing” because it is quite rich in blood vessels — their bum.
In other words, turtles breathe through their bums to survive their frosty hibernation. (Technically, this is called “cloacal respiration.”)
Next time you are lucky enough to go for a winter walk near one of the amazing wetlands in the Kawarthas, just look down and imagine all the turtles bum-breathing underneath the ice and snow.
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4. The sugar maple’s slumber
In winter, the sugar maples have withdrawn their sweet sap deep down into their roots, under the snow.
In a few months, when the weather is just right, these trees will begin pumping their sweet sap back up towards their branches.
You may already know that a typical sugar maple can produce about 40 litres of sap per season. But did you know that these sugar maples are capable of far heftier feats than transporting spring’s first sweet sap?
Local filmmaker Cara Mumford’s short film “The Oldest Tree in the World”, which screened at the 2018 ReFrame Film Festival, is a tribute to the oldest sugar maple in the region, located in Mark S. Burnham Provincial Park in Peterborough. (Photo: Cara Mumford)
On a hot summer day, a mature sugar maple can lift as much as 200 litres of water from its roots up to the surface of its leaves. That’s a daily lift of 200 kilograms of water.
As you read this, maples and other deciduous trees are taking a well-deserved pause from this heavy lifting and their crucial role as the lungs of this planet.
I hope you too will take a pause and allow yourself to be inspired by the hope, activity, and joy all around us this winter.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 1,670 new cases today — the lowest single-day increase since November 25, when 1,478 cases were reported. The seven-day average of daily cases across the province has fallen by 141 to 2,205.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 12 new cases to report and 24 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region decreasing by 7 to 148. There has been 1 new death in Kawartha Lakes and 1 new death in Northumberland.
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Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (450), Peel (342), York (171), and Niagara (128).
There are double-digit increases in Hamilton (84), Ottawa (82), Waterloo (75), Durham (63), Halton (48), Windsor-Essex (37), Middlesex-London (36), Eastern Ontario (28), Simcoe Muskoka (21), Chatham-Kent (15), Brant (15), Thunder Bay (14), Sudbury (13), Porcupine (10), and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (10), with smaller increases in Peterborough (6) and Huron Perth (6).
The remaining 13 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 6 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s new cases, 51% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (618) among people ages 20-39, followed by 481 cases among people ages 40-59. With 2,725 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.5% to 89.3%.
The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased since yesterday by 1.9% to 4.0%, meaning that 40 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on January 26.
Ontario is reporting 49 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 25 in long-term care homes. Hospitalizations have decreased by 84 from yesterday to 1,382, with the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs decreasing by 6 to 377, and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators decreasing by 7 to 291.
A total of 55,191 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation increasing by 10,495 to 46,900. A total of 305,330 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 9,513 from yesterday, with 96,459 vaccinations completed (i.e., both doses administered), an increase of 13,174 from yesterday.
There are 6 new cases in Ontario schools, a decrease of 6 from yesterday, including 4 student cases and 2 cases among people not identified. There are 44 new cases in licensed child care settings in Ontario, an increase of 7 from yesterday, with 18 cases among children and 26 cases among staff.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 12 new cases to report, including 10 in Peterborough, 1 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Haliburton. There are no new cases in Hastings Prince Edward or Northumberland.
There has been 1 new death in Kawartha Lakes and 1 new death in Northumberland. There is 1 new hospitalization in Kawartha Lakes.
An additional 24 cases have been resolved, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Northumberland, 5 in Peterborough, 2 in Hastings Prince Edward, and 1 in Haliburton.
There are currently 148 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 7 from yesterday, including 65 in Kawartha Lakes, 48 in Peterborough, 19 in Northumberland, 11 in Hastings Prince Edward (7 in Quinte West and 4 in Belleville), and 5 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 531 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (476 resolved with 7 deaths), 414 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (322 resolved with 40 deaths), 365 in Northumberland County (339 resolved with 7 deaths), 48 in Haliburton County (43 resolved with no deaths), and 365 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (349 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent 2 deaths were reported in Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland on January 27.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 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: 531 (increase of 10) Active cases: 48 (increase of 5) Close contacts: 72 (increase of 8) Deaths: 7 (no change) Resolved: 476 (increase of 5) Hospitalizations (total to date): 23 (no change)* Total tests completed: Over 41,300 (increase of 100) Outbreaks: The Regency retirement home in Lakefield, Centennial Place long-term care home in Millbrook, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough Retirement Residence (no change)
*As of January 27, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 14 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (a decrease of 3 from yesterday) and 11 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive.
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 statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 827, including 414 in Kawartha Lakes, 365 in Northumberland, and 48 in Haliburton (increase of 2, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Haliburton)* Active cases: 89, including 65 in Kawartha Lakes, 19 in Northumberland, and 5 in Haliburton (decrease of 10, including 3 in Kawartha Lakes and 7 in Northumberland) Probable cases: 4, including 2 in Kawartha Lakes, 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (increase of 2, including 1 in Northumberland and 1 in Haliburton) High-risk contacts: 150, including 80 in Kawartha Lakes, 43 in Northumberland, and 16 in Haliburton (net decrease of 2)** Hospitalizations (total to date): 32, including 22 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Kawartha Lakes)*** Deaths (including among probable cases): 47, including 40 in Kawartha Lakes and 7 in Northumberland (increase of 2, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland) Resolved: 704, including 322 in Kawartha Lakes, 339 in Northumberland, 43 in Haliburton (increase of 17, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton) Institutional outbreaks: Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope, Caressant Care McLaughlin Road long-term care home in Lindsay, Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg, Warkworth Place long-term care home in Warkworth, Caressant Care retirement home in Lindsay, Caressant Care nursing home in Lindsay (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.
**This total includes an additional 11 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
***As of January 27, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 2 patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
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, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 365 (no change) Active cases: 11 (decrease of 2) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 1 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 349 (increase of 2) Tests completed: 42,688 (increase of 40) Vaccines administered: 483 (increase of 90) Institutional outbreaks: Crown Ridge long-term care home in Quinte West (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 260,370 (increase of 1,670) Resolved: 232,480 (increase of 2,725, 89.3% of all cases) Positivity rate: 4.0% (decrease of 1.9%) Hospitalized: 1,382 (decrease of 84) Hospitalized and in ICU: 377 (decrease of 6) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 291 (decrease of 7) Deaths: 5,958 (increase of 49) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,487 (increase of 25) Total tests completed: 9,430,867 (increase of 55,191) Tests under investigation: 46,900 (increase of 10,495) Vaccination doses administered: 305,330 (increase of 9,513) Vaccination completed (both doses): 96,459 (increase of 13,174)
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from December 27, 2020 – January 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 December 27, 2020 – January 26, 2021. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, 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 December 27, 2020 – January 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 is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from December 27, 2020 – January 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)
Carlotta James of Peterborough Pollinators with her 7-year-old son Salvador Haines, who painted this canoe paddle for the Painted Paddle art exhibit, which features 20 canoe paddles painted by volunteer artists on display at various locations in downtown Peterborough throughout February. Salvador says his paddle art, called The Elements, "represents the balance in nature with flowers blooming during the day and its roots growing by night, surrounded by the four elements: light blue for air, dark blue for water, red for fire and green for earth. Also, there’s a secret word painted in the roots, can you find it?". (Photo: Peterborough Pollinators / Facebook)
A new outdoor public art exhibit featuring 20 canoe paddles painted by volunteer artists in the community is coming to downtown Peterborough in February.
Presented by the Downtown Vibrancy Project, the Painted Paddle art exhibit will be installed in street-front windows at various locations through the downtown area, including the Peterborough & the Kawartha Tourism Visitor Centre, Le Petit Bar, St. Veronus, Boardwalk Game Lounge, Sam’s Deli, Black Honey Bakery, Cork and Bean, B!KE, Watson and Lou, Cottage Toys, By The Bridge, GreenUp Store, Night Kitchen, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area office, Meta4 Gallery, The Avant-Garden Shop, Sustain, Bluestreak Records, and Peterborough Social Services.
For those interested in taking a self-guided tour of the Painted Paddle exhibit, a Google map of all locations is available at linktr.ee/LoveForTheBoro, where you can also find a link to vote for your favourite paddles.
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“Art brightens the spirit and has a way of making people feel good,” says Tracie Bertrand, director of tourism at Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. “The Painted Paddle art project will put a smile on people’s faces as they fondly reflect on their memories of being outdoors here in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.”
Some of the people and organizations who have contributed paddle art for the project include Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien, Hiawatha First Nation, Wiigwaas Hiawatha Store, Peterborough Police Service, Peterborough DBIA, GreenUP, Trent Gzowski College, Trent Veg Garden, Peterborough Pollinators, Princess Gardens Retirement Residence, Empress Gardens Retirement Residence, St. Anne’s School, VegFest, B!KE, the Art School of Peterborough, city councillors Kim Zippel and Kemi Akapo, mother-and-daughter team Eileen and Kendron Kimmett, local Anishinaabe artist Kyler Kay, and local artist Tiphaine Lenaik.
“The paddle creates a unique way to honour and acknowledge the original families in Treaty 20,” says Tim Cowie, lands and resource consultant with Hiawatha First Nation, one of many creative community members who lent their artistic skills to the Painted Paddle project. Cowie painted his paddle to look like a piece of birch bark (wiigwaas) and painted the clans (dodems) on his paddle to showcase the family ties of the Michi Saagiig.
Retired police officer Kelleigh Traynor-Hartnett paints a paddle on behalf of the Peterborough Police Service for the Painted Paddle art exhibit, which features 20 canoe paddles painted by volunteer artists. The self-guided exhibit will be on display at various locations throughout downtown Peterborough during February. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Jill Stevens, economic development officer of Hiawatha First Nation, incorporated Michii Saagiig culture as part of their painted paddle installation.
“Having a paddle as the canvas was the perfect backdrop for the Hiawatha logo, which depicts someone paddling through manomin (wild rice) stands,” Stevens says.
The Painted Paddle exhibit will be on display in downtown Peterborough from Monday, February 1st until Friday, March 5th.
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Painted paddles from the exhibition will be available in a virtual auction beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, February 19th and continuing until 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 4th, just before the March First Friday Peterborough art crawl.
Proceeds from the auction at www.32auctions.com/paintedpaddles will go towards the One City Employment Program, which provides meaningful work to those with barriers to traditional employment.
Salvador Haines at work on his paddle for the Painted Paddle art exhibit. The paddles will be auctioned off to raise funds for the One City Employment Program, which provides meaningful work to those with barriers to ?traditional employment. (Photo: Peterborough Pollinators / Facebook)
A performance at the 2018 Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival. Organizers have cancelled the 2021 event, originally scheduled for July 3, due to the ongoing uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival / Facebook)
For the second year in a row, the Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival has been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is likely the first of many summer festivals and large-crowd events to be cancelled. While COVID-19 vaccines are now being distributed to higher-risk populations, most of the general population won’t begin receiving vaccinations until August 2021 according to the Ontario government’s vaccine distribution plan.
“With the uncertainty of hosting events, the Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival Committee, in consultation with Selwyn Township staff, have decided to cancel the 2021 Lakefield Jazz, Art & Craft Festival,” reads a media release from the Township of Selwyn.
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The 2021 festival was originally scheduled for Saturday, July 3rd. Although the festival takes place outdoors at Isabel Morris Park beside the Otonabee River, it draws crowds to enjoy the musical acts, artisans, and food vendors.
The festival will return in the summer of 2022, organizers say.
Despite the festival’s cancellation, organizers add they hope to host an outdoor concert later in the summer.
Manjit Minhas, founder of the 10th largest brewery in the world and one of the “dragons” on CBC’s popular Dragons’ Den TV series, is one of the keynote speakers at the StrikeUP virtual conference for female entrepreneurs, hosted by Northumberland CFDC on March 4, 2021. (Photo via StrikeUP website)
businessNOW™ is our round-up of business and organizational news from Peterborough and across the greater Kawarthas region.
In businessNOW, our managing editor collects news and events related to businesses and organizations from across the Kawarthas. If you’d like us to promote your news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
This week, we’re featuring the Northumberland CFDC’s StrikeUP 2021 virtual conference for women entrepreneurs on Thursday, March 4th, featuring keynote speakers Manjit Minhas and Amber Mac along with a range of workshops and mentoring sessions. Also featured is The Avant-Garden Shop in Peterborough winning the Wild Bird Store of the Year award, Peterborough Microgreens launching an online store, and Movingmedia Canada partnering with the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge to spread messages of hope.
There’s also the opening of applications for the second cohort of the Innovation Cluster’s Women Breaking Barriers program, the Workforce Development Board’s EmployerOne survey of local businesses to better understand labour market demand, the Kawartha Lakes Starter Company Plus Small Business Recovery Grant Program, and free cybersecurity services for businesses in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County.
StrikeUP 2021 virtual conference for female entrepreneurs on March 4
The free StrikeUP 2021 virtual conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 4, 2021. (Photo: StrikeUP / Facebook)
Whether you’re an aspiring or experienced female entrepreneur, you won’t want to miss the free StrikeUP 2021 virtual conference happening from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 4th.
Hosted by the Northumberland CFDC with support from FedDev Ontario and the federal government’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, the conference is dedicated to help women entrepreneurs and provide a forum for growth, mentorship, and financing.
The conference features keynotes by two accomplished female entrepreneurs: Manjit Minhas, the self-described “beer baroness” who is the founder of the 10th largest brewery in the world and one of the “dragons” on CBC’s popular Dragons’ Den TV series, and Amber Mac, a world-renowned expert on all things marketing, technology, innovation, and transformation who co-hosts the award-winning podcast The AI Effect and, most recently, the Marketing Disrupted podcast.
Amber Mac is one of the keynote speakers at the StrikeUP virtual conference for female entrepreneurs, hosted by Northumberland CFDC on March 4, 2021. She’s a world-renowned expert on all things marketing, technology, innovation, and transformation who co-hosts the award-winning podcast The AI Effect and, most recently, the Marketing Disrupted podcast. (Photo via StrikeUP website)
Other workshop speakers and panellists include Sarah Stockdale (founder of Growclass), Dr. Shimi Kang (Harvard-trained physician and bestselling author), Linda P. Cousineau (founder and CEO of Empower-Growth Inc.), Rachel Bartholomew (founder and CEO of Hyivy Health), Dr. Shelley Morgan (founder and CEO of Rx Billing Genie), Julie Ellis (co-founder of Mabel’s Labels and chair of the board of Angel One Investment Network), Brenda Ahenkorah (founder and CEO of My Well Self), Melissa Davis (founder and CEO of Ugly Dukling), Ilana Ben-Ari (founder, CEO, and product design lead of Twenty One Toys), Alesia Blackwood (co-founder and owner of Unlock Math), Natalie Dusome (owner of Poppy And Peonies), Mallory Graham (owner of Tribal Trade Co.), Lesley Smith (owner of Imprinted Apparel Store), and Claudette Commanda (Algonquin Elder/Knowledge Keeper).
There will also be eight “Mentor Meetups”, one-hour interactive sessions where you can network and learn about topics including intellectual property, employee retention, strategic sales, mental well-being, exporting to the Asia-Pacific region, writing successful funding proposals, and more.
By registering for the conference, you could also win one of eight seats for a 90-minute virtual roundtable session with Amber Mac on Thursday, March 8th.
For more information, including the agenda, and to register for the free conference, visit www.strikeup.ca.
The Avant-Garden Shop in Peterborough wins Wild Bird Store of the Year award
Brenda Ibey, owner of The Avant-Garden Shop in downtown Peterborough, with her 2021 Wild Bird Store of the Year from Newmarket-based Wild Bird Trading, the leading supplier to the wild bird industry across Canada. (Supplied photo)
Brenda Ibey, owner of The Avant-Garden Shop in downtown Peterborough, had announced her business has been awarded the 2021 Wild Bird Store of the Year by Newmarket-based Wild Bird Trading, the leading supplier to the wild bird industry across Canada for the past 28 years.
Ibey, who is celebrating 18 years in business, says she has seen a surge in the sale of bird feeders, bird food, and accessories this past year.
“People find bird watching very relaxing,” Ibey explains. “And that’s a good thing right now given the state of the world. We’re so pleased to be able to offer customers not only top quality products supplied to us by Wild Bird Trading, but also expert advice to help them get the most out of their bird-watching experience.”
Stephanie Hendren runs Peterborough Microgreens with her partner Daniel Etmanski. They’ve launched an online store supplying microgreens products from her family-owned, sustainable urban farm in the west end of Peterborough. Hendren was one of the 10 women who took part in the first cohort of the Innovation Cluster’s Women Breaking Barriers program. (Photo courtesy of the Innovation Cluster)
Stephanie Hendren, creator of Peterborough Microgreens, has officially launched an online store supplying microgreens products from her family-owned, sustainable urban farm in the west end of Peterborough.
Not to be confused with sprouts, microgreens are edible vegetable, herb, or grain seedlings. They are usually harvested when the first pair of fully expanded leaves appear, which is within one to three weeks from when they are planted. Microgreens are used in a wide variety of healthy, homemade foods. In addition to their nutritional benefits, microgreens are diverse in flavours, textures, and colours.
Hendren was one of the 10 women who took part in the first cohort of the Innovation Cluster’s Women Breaking Barriers program. Her business, which uses vertical farming to achieve mass plant growth within a small space, is working towards becoming a carbon-negative farm by using green power and implementing sustainable business practices, and is one of the only microgreens providers in Ontario to use compostable packaging.
“Microgreens can sit on your window sill and are easy to harvest at home,” Hendren says. “As the pandemic continues on, more people are looking for healthy lifestyle habits. I hope our customers can adopt these habits now and continue on following the pandemic.”
Hendren has been growing microgreens on her kitchen window sill for years after being introduced to them by her professional chef sister. She runs Peterborough Microgreens with her partner Daniel Etmanski, who specializes in building climate-controlled grow rooms for indoor farming.
Five varieties of live microgreens are now available for order, including pea shoots, broccoli, mustard, clover, and a radish mix, with free delivery offered within Peterborough. For more information and to order, visit www.peterboroughmicrogreens.com
Movingmedia Canada partners with Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge to spread messages of hope
Peterborough-based Movingmedia Canada Inc. has partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge to share positive messages on digital billboards throughout Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes. (Supplied photo)
Peterborough-based Movingmedia Canada Inc. has partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) to share messages of knowledge, hope, and belonging via digital billboard advertisements throughout Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes.
Given the impact of the pandemic on mental health, the advertisements are meant to spread messages of hope and resiliency as well as direct anyone who may be struggling towards care.
“We are extremely grateful for the support of Movingmedia who approached our organization hoping to donate the advertising space for this project,” says Jake Veitch, CMHA HKPR’s manager of community engagement and education. “Without them, this initiative would not have been possible. Our goal is to share messages that instill hope and encourage individuals to be open about their mental health.”
CMHA HKPR continues to provide essential mental health supports to individuals in the city and county of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton. Call 705-748-6711 for information on programs and services or, for immediate support, contact Four County Crisis at 705-745-6484 or toll-free at 1-866-995-9933.
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Apply for second cohort of Women Breaking Barriers program by February 12
The Women Breaking Barriers program is designed to fast track the development of businesses founded by women in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and social innovation fields. (Graphic: Innovation Cluster)
Applications are open for the second cohort of the Innovation Cluster’s Women Breaking Barriers program.
You have until noon on Friday, February 12th to become one of the 10 female entrepreneurs who will participate in the six-month program, which is designed to fast track the development of businesses founded by women in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and social innovation fields.
The program provides specific and advanced training sessions geared towards female founders, as well as weekly mentorship with advisors, peer-to-peer learning, and community networking. At the end of the six months, participants have the opportunity to pitch their businesses to angel investors. There is no cost to participate in the program.
The next six-month cohort of Women Breaking Barriers begins on Monday, March 1st. To learn more about the program, including eligibility requirements, visit innovationcluster.ca/breakbarriers/.
The Innovation Cluster is also holding a free virtual information session on Zoom for interested applicants from 12 to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, February 2nd. The session will provide an overview of the program, the application process, tips for your application, and more. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com/e/135880946569.
Workforce Development Board’s EmployerOne survey of local businesses to better understand labour market demand
Workforce development boards across Ontario are running the EmployerOne survey, a survey of local businesses to better understand labour market demand.
designed to collect information from employers on a range of issues including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on your workforce, projected vacancies, hiring intentions, recruitment strategies and challenges, as well as employers’ perspectives on candidate skills, education, and training.
After analysis, responses from local businesses will be compiled and released to local schools, community partners, government agencies, and the public so that they may see the characteristics of the local labour market.
The survey runs until Friday, February 26th. All survey responses are confidential, and will only be used for statistical purposes and published in aggregate form.
Apply for Kawartha Lakes Starter Company Plus Small Business Recovery Grant Program by January 29
There’s still time to apply for the Starter Company Plus Small Business Recovery Grant Program, offered by the Kawartha Lakes Small Business Entrepreneurship Centre (KLSBEC).
KLSBEC has shifted the focus of its Starter Company Plus program to support businesses negatively affected by COVID-19 and suffering a loss in revenue.
You have until Friday, January 29th to apply for the program, which supports newer small businesses that have been in operation full-time for one to five years and find themselves with unexpected challenges. These challenges could be expenses related to physical changes or operational changes.
The program’s goal is to help businesses adopt new tools, increase their online presence, and implement new business strategies. Grants of up to $4,000 will be awarded to seven eligible applicants to help offset costs associated with this transition.
Free cybersecurity services for businesses in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County
In partnership with information technology consulting firm E-Tech, the Kawartha Lakes CFDC and the Haliburton CFDC have launched a new initiative designed to provide critical cybersecurity and support services to small- and medium-size enterprises in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County.
As more and more businesses switch to online sales and services due to the pandemic, they are at risk of being vulnerable to security breaches or hackers. The new program includes a network security assessment for participating businesses, which can identify and detect a wide range of internal cybersecurity threats, as well as a one-hour cybersecurity awareness training webinar covering topics including phishing, ransomware, social engineering, safe web browsing and more.
Funded through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund delivered in partnership with FedDev Ontario. This new program is open to small- and medium-size enterprises in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County at no cost. Businesses can register at www.etechcomputing.com/managed-services/cyber-security-services/.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 1,740 new cases today — the lowest single-day increase since December 13, when 1,677 cases were reported. The seven-day average of daily cases across the province has fallen by 25 to 2,346.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 11 new cases to report and 10 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region decreasing by 4 to 155.
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Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (677), Peel (320), and York (144).
There are double-digit increases in Waterloo (77), Windsor-Essex (59), Hamilton (59), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (55), Durham (51), Halton (49), Niagara (49), Simcoe Muskoka (36), Middlesex-London (34), Ottawa (32), Eastern Ontario (18), Southwestern (13), Sudbury (12), and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (12), with smaller increases in Brant (9), Chatham-Kent (7), Thunder Bay (6), and Lambton (6).
The remaining 13 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 7 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s new cases, 51% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (636) among people ages 20-39, followed by 497 cases among people ages 40-59. With 2,261 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.3% to 88.8%.
The average positivity rate across Ontario has increased since yesterday by 0.4% to 5.9%, meaning that 59 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on January 25.
Ontario is reporting 63 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 35 in long-term care homes. Hospitalizations have increased by 68 from yesterday to 1,466, with the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs decreasing by 14 to 383, and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators increasing by 15 to 298.
A total of 30,717 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation increasing by 21,414 to 36,405. A total of 295,817 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 9,707 from yesterday, with 83,28 5vaccinations completed (i.e., both doses administered), an increase of 12,029 from yesterday.
There are 12 new cases in Ontario schools, including 6 student cases and 6 cases among people not identified. There are 37 new cases in licensed child care settings in Ontario, an increase of 7 from yesterday, with 8 cases among children and 29 cases among staff.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 11 new cases to report, including 6 in Peterborough, 3 in Kawartha Lakes, and 2 in Northumberland. There are no new cases in Hastings Prince Edward or Haliburton.
Of the new cases in Ontario schools, there are 4 student cases at Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute and 1 student case at Rolling Hills Public School, both in Kawartha Lakes.
An outbreak at Peterborough Retirement Residence was declared on January 26. There is 1 new COVID-related hospitalization in Peterborough.
An additional 10 cases have been resolved, including 5 in Peterborough and 5 in Hastings Prince Edward. An outbreak at Tower of Port Hope has been declared resolved.
There are currently 155 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 4 from yesterday, including 68 in Kawartha Lakes, 43 in Peterborough, 26 in Northumberland, 13 in Hastings Prince Edward (7 in Quinte West, 5 in Belleville, and 1 in Prince Edward County), and 5 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 521 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (471 resolved with 7 deaths), 413 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (314 resolved with 39 deaths), 365 in Northumberland County (331 resolved with 6 deaths), 47 in Haliburton County (42 resolved with no deaths), and 365 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (347 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent three deaths were reported in Kawartha Lakes on January 25.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 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: 521 (increase of 6) Active cases: 43 (increase of 1) Close contacts: 64 (decrease of 8) Deaths: 7 (no change) Resolved: 471 (increase of 5) Hospitalizations (total to date): 23 (increase of 1)* Total tests completed: Over 41,200 (increase of 50) Outbreaks: The Regency retirement home in Lakefield, Centennial Place long-term care home in Millbrook, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough Retirement Residence (increase of 1)**
*As of January 25, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 17 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (an increase of 1 from yesterday) and fewer than 10 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive.
**An outbreak at Peterborough Retirement Residence was declared on January 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 statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 825, including 413 in Kawartha Lakes, 365 in Northumberland, and 47 in Haliburton (increase of 5, including 3 in Kawartha Lakes and 2 in Northumberland)* Active cases: 99, including 68 in Kawartha Lakes, 26 in Northumberland, and 5 in Haliburton (no change) Probable cases: 2 in Kawartha Lakes (no change) High-risk contacts: 152, including 74 in Kawartha Lakes, 52 in Northumberland, and 13 in Haliburton (no change)** Hospitalizations (total to date): 31, including 21 in Kawartha Lakes, 8 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (no change)*** Deaths (including among probable cases): 45, including 39 in Kawartha Lakes and 6 in Northumberland (no change) Resolved: 687, including 314 in Kawartha Lakes, 331 in Northumberland, 42 in Haliburton (no change) Institutional outbreaks: Hope St. Terrace long-term care home in Port Hope, Caressant Care McLaughlin Road long-term care home in Lindsay, Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg, Warkworth Place long-term care home in Warkworth, Caressant Care retirement home in Lindsay, Caressant Care nursing home in Lindsay (decrease of 1)****
*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.
**This total includes an additional 13 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
***As of January 26, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 2 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, an increase of 1 from yesterday.
***An outbreak at Tower of Port Hope has been declared resolved.
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, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 365 (no change) Active cases: 13 (decrease of 7) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 1 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 347 (increase of 5) Tests completed: 42,648 (increase of 16) Vaccines administered: 393 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: Crown Ridge long-term care home in Quinte West (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 258,700 (increase of 1,740) Resolved: 229,755 (increase of 2,261, 88.8% of all cases) Positivity rate: 5.9% (increase of 0.4%) Hospitalized: 1,466 (increase of 68) Hospitalized and in ICU: 383 (decrease of 14) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 298 (increase of 15) Deaths: 5,909 (increase of 63) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,462 (increase of 35) Total tests completed: 9,375,676 (increase of 30,717) Tests under investigation: 36,405 (increase of 21,414) Vaccination doses administered: 295,817 (increase of 9,707) Vaccination completed (both doses): 83,285 (increase of 12,029)
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from December 26, 2020 – January 25, 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 December 26, 2020 – January 25, 2021. The red line is the number of tests completed daily, 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 December 26, 2020 – January 25, 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 is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from December 26, 2020 – January 25, 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)
Elizabeth Campbell, a 106-year-old resident at Fairhaven long-term care home in Peterborough, was the first person in the Peterborough area to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The Moderna vaccine was administered on January 26, 2021 by Lori Rowsell, infection prevention and control practitioner at Fairhaven. (Photo: Peterborough Public Health)
One year after the first case of COVID-19 in Canada was detected, Fairhaven Long-Term Care residents are receiving their first dose of the Moderna vaccine — with 106-year-old resident Elizabeth Campbell the very first person in the Peterborough area to receive the vaccine.
During a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Tuesday (January 26), medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra said residents of four Peterborough region long-term care homes are being vaccinated this week, while residents of the remaining four local homes will be vaccinated next week.
The deadline to have 1,102 local long-term home residents vaccinated has been adjusted to February 5 from the original deadline of February 15.
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“It gives me and my staff great hope that we are now able to protect our most vulnerable residents,” said Dr. Salvaterra, noting the first 500 doses of the Moderna vaccine were received Monday with the remainder expected early next week.
“Once the supply of vaccine has been restored, we will turn our focus to other high-risk populations that have been identified as part of phase one — the staff and essential caregivers of long-term care homes, other seniors in congregate living settings such as retirement homes, high-priority health care workers, indigenous adults, and adults with chronic conditions receiving home care.”
Phase two of the Peterborough vaccination rollout plan, added Dr. Salvaterra, “is expected to begin in early spring” with older adults, other essential workers, and other at-risk populations vaccinated.
Vials of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine ready to be administered to residents of Fairhaven long-term care home in Peterborough. Peterborough Public Health received the first 500 doses of the vaccine on January 25, 2021. (Photo: Peterborough Public Health)
Weekly updates of the number of local vaccination doses administered will soon be added to the COVID-related information already highlighted on Peterborough Public Health’s website.
Meanwhile, Dr. Salvaterra provided more “encouraging” news, noting a marked decline in the number of new local cases. The numbers tell the story. During the week of December 28th, 71 new local cases were reported — the highest week of reported new cases since the pandemic began.
That has steadily dropped to 48 cases during the week of January 4th, 42 cases during the week of January 11th, and 37 cases last week. So far this week, as Tuesday, there are three new cases confirmed.
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“We are starting to see the impact of staying at home and the elimination of socialization, which was a major risk for us,” said Dr. Salvaterra.
That said, despite the weekly drops in new cases, January is already the worst month locally for new cases with the 168 cases confirmed this month far surpassing December’s 137 new cases.
Overall local COVID-19 numbers show that, as of Tuesday morning, there were 42 active COVID-19 cases in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake and Hiawatha region with 72 close contacts of positive cases being monitored. To date, seven local people have died of COVID-related causes.
Since the pandemic’s outbreak, Peterborough Public Health has reported a total of 515 cases of which 466 have been resolved. To date, 41,150 residents — an increase of 350 since January 22nd — have been tested, for a 27.8 per cent testing rate.
On the outbreak front, the most recent one — declared Thursday (January 21) at Peterborough Regional Health Centre in units A2 and B2 designated for stroke rehabilitation and affecting 12 people — is ongoing but stable.
Two other outbreaks are also yet to be resolved: one at Regency Retirement in Lakefield where two resident cases were detected, and the other at Centennial Place Long-Term Care in Millbrook involving one resident case as well as a staff case.
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Speaking to enforcement of the stay-at-home order and Ontario’s declared state of emergency, Peterborough Public Health’s manager of environmental health Julie Ingram says her team conducted 16 inspections last week at businesses and various facilities, adding 41 complaints or enquiries were received. As a result, four formal warnings were issued.
“We did not proceed with charges … if there’s no history of violations we provide a formal warning,” explained Ingram, noting a planned compliance blitz of grocery and big-box stores is still to come soon.
Also present and commenting during Tuesday’s briefing were Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones, Hiawatha First Nations Chief Laurie Carr, and Peterborough Board of Health chair and Selwyn Mayor Andy Mitchell.
Environment Canada has issued a winter weather travel advisory for Tuesday afternoon (January 26) for Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland.
A band of very heavy snowfall is crossing the region in the early afternoon giving very poor visibility.
A quick 3 to 5 cm of snow within an hour or so is possible as this band passes through. Light snow is expected thereafter.
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Travel is expected to be hazardous due to very poor visibility and rapidly accumulating snow on roadways as the band passes.
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