Jenni Johnston, executive director of the Art School of Peterborough at 174A Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough, with the first place prize in the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA)'s annual holiday window contest. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
The Art School of Peterborough at 174A Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough has won this year’s holiday window contest sponsored by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
Along with bragging rights, the school receives $1,000 courtesy of the the DBIA.
The theme of this year’s contest, which encourages downtown Peterborough businesses to decorate their storefront windows, is “Thank you essential workers”.
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“This year’s theme allowed us to create heartfelt decorations for our community to distribute to their essential workers to say thank you,” says Jennie Johnston, executive director of the Art School of Peterborough.
“We are truly grateful for their efforts to help keep our community safe. Please stop by the art school and show your essential love by picking up a special decoration and deliver it as a thank you this holiday season, free of charge.”
Sparo Lindsay, owner of Union Studio at 391 Water Street in downtown Peterborough, with the second place prize in the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA)’s annual holiday window contest. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Union Studio at 391 Water Street won second place and $500, with The Avant-Garden Shop at 165 Sherbrooke Street claiming third place and $200.
All judging for this year’s contest took place online between November 19th and December 5th.
“We have a lot of very creative businesses that put on some great window displays every year,” says DBIA executive director Terry Guiel. “It’s nice to see so many people get involved and vote online.”
Brenda Ibey, owner of The Avant-Garden Shop at 165 Sherbrooke Street in downtown Peterborough, with the third place prize in the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA)’s annual holiday window contest. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Guiel encourages people to come downtown to see all the holiday window displays.
“It’s a bit of a different year, but I hope people will get a chance to come downtown and appreciate some of these window displays in person,” Guiel says.
The Christie Bentham Wetland is a provincially significant wetland located just south of Burleigh Falls. Also known as the Clear Lake North Wetland, this property was recently purchased by the Kawartha Land Trust to be protected in perpetuity. Development has already erased more than 70 per cent of the wetlands across southern Ontario. (Photo: Jenn McCallum)
Do you love wetlands? You might be surprised how much you appreciate wetlands without even realizing it.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story was written for GreenUP by associate professor Dr. Rebecca Rooney and PhD student Courtney Robichaud, wetland researchers at the University of Waterloo.
The concept of getting gifts and giving back is top of mind this time of year. Let’s consider a few of the gifts that wetlands give us.
Scientists and politicians often refer to what wetlands can do for us as “ecosystem services” or “ecosystem functions.” These words put the diversity of ecosystem processes into terms that will resonate with people.
For example, the estimated cash value of wetlands ranges from about $14,200 per hectare per year in the Greenbelt to as much as $161,000 per hectare per year in urban and suburban Ontario.
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Thinking only about the cash value of a gift, however, can miss the point. Dr. Robin Kimmerer, an ecologist and Indigenous (Citizen Potawatomi Nation) scholar, recently gave a speech about this, asking us to think of what the land gives us as gifts rather than only thinking about the land in terms of the services or functions it provides to our economy.
“Much of the society in which we live speaks of these everyday miracles as natural resources, as if they were our property just waiting to be transformed,” Kimmerer said. “In the ecological sciences we sometimes also call these ecosystem services, as if they were these outcomes of the ecological machine.”
“But to traditional peoples, and to me and all of us as human people with a basket full of berries, they feel like gifts from other species that surround us.”
Wetlands provide essential habitat for many endangered and at-risk species such as the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), currently listed as threatened under both the provincial Endangered Species Act and the federal Species at Risk Act. (Photo: Heather Polan)
With this perspective in mind, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the gifts that wetlands give us.
Hundreds of species of birds rely on wetlands. In turn, we enjoy bird watching and listening to their beautiful songs. Maybe you associate the arrival of spring with the songs of red-winged blackbirds from nearby wetlands. They also provide homes to turtles, snakes, frogs, and fish.
Wetlands serve as frontline workers for the entire planet in the fight against climate change when they trap carbon and lock it lock away in their soils.
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Wetlands also give the gift of reduced flood damage. In the last decade, flooding has become the costliest extreme weather disaster affecting Canadians. Residents of Peterborough may remember the flood of July 15, 2004, when 150 mm of rain fell in just a few hours. That flood caused $95 million in insured losses.
Across Canada, property and casualty insurance payouts are skyrocketing — these payouts exceed $1 billion a year in 11 of the last 12 years, with most of the increase attributed to water-related losses.
Flood damage has direct financial consequences for Ontario taxpayers: higher municipal insurance rates, higher home insurance premiums, devaluation of housing, higher mortgage delinquencies, and more class-action lawsuits due to flood risks and property devaluation.
Property values are enhanced for homes backing onto suburban wetlands like these. Wetlands add natural heritage, flood prevention, and recreational value to neighbourhoods. (Photo: Rebecca Rooney)
Wetlands reduce the magnitude and speed of flooding. They store surface water, decrease over land flow, and enhance infiltration and evaporation.
In rural and urban areas, intact wetlands reduce the damage of flooding and can save 29 to 38 per cent of associated costs. Preserving wetlands in our neighbourhoods is an extremely cost-effective way to ensure we do not experience flooding that affects our livelihoods.
Another gift wetlands give us is drinking water. Wetlands help replenish aquifers, essential to the 30 per cent of Canadians who rely on groundwater for their drinking water. Paving over or draining wetlands can lead to water insecurity, especially in rural areas where reliance on wells is more common.
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Wetlands also purify water. They filter out pesticides and other harmful contaminants that run off streets, industrial parks, and farm fields. Wetlands reduce the burden on drinking water treatment plants.
According to the Ontario environment minister’s 2019 annual report on drinking water, 80 per cent of Ontarians are serviced by municipal water sources — representing one of the largest costs for municipalities. A portion of the cost of water treatment is passed on to the consumer, with the average Ontario household paying $800 a year in water and wastewater charges.
We also support these water treatment services through tax dollars. Ontario has provided over $660 million in upgrades to municipal wastewater and stormwater infrastructure in the Great Lakes Basin since 2006.
In addition to being beautiful, wetland vegetation like lillies and pickerel weed provide critical nursery habitat for fish, breeding habitat for waterfowl, and help purify the water. (Photo: Courtney Robichaud)
In 2020, another $200 million in federal and provincial funding is committed to priority water, wastewater, and stormwater projects under the Green Stream of the Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program. These costs would undoubtedly be higher without the gifts of hard-working wetlands.
Even wounded, wetlands remain generous. Wetlands strained by invasive plants and flushed with polluted waters continue to support us. Once drained or paved over, those gifts are lost and we must turn to costly restoration or rely on expensive built infrastructure to protect us and our drinking water.
Despite their value, development has already erased more than 70 per cent of the wetlands across southern Ontario.
Dragonflies like this Meadowhawk are common sights at marshes, where they help control mosquito populations. (Photo: Rebecca Rooney)
This loss is usually framed as the cost of doing business in a worldview that pits the environment against the economy.
Environmental economists warn us that this pervasive myth is false. There is no economy without the environment.
We nod — recognizing the bare truth of this in our dependence on clean air, fertile soil, and potable water — yet still we struggle to reconcile the importance of wetlands with the pressures of development.
Wetlands provide essential habitat for many endangered and at-risk species such as the Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), currently listed as threatened under both the provincial Endangered Species Act and the federal Species at Risk Act. (Photo: Leif Einarson)
So how can you give thanks for the gifts of wetlands?
Share your appreciation with friends and family. Shift discussions away from a false struggle between the economy and the environment. Instead, focus on the facts that show how much we rely on wetlands.
This is the first step in protecting wetlands. We create safe, happy, and sustainable communities when we find ways to value the land and the gifts it provides.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 1,890 new COVID-19 cases today, with the average number of daily cases over the past seven days increasing by 26 to 1,840.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 9 new cases to report and 12 more resolved cases. There are currently 96 active cases across the entire region.
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Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (517), Peel (471), and York (187).
There are double-digit increases in Hamilton (97), Halton (96), Windsor-Essex (94), Durham (75), Waterloo (64), Niagara (43), Middlesex-London (37), Simcoe Muskoka (34), Ottawa (33), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (25), Southwestern Public Health (15), Haldimand-Norfolk (14), and Thunder Bay (10), with smaller increases in Hastings Prince Edward (9), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (8), Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (8), Brant County (8), Leeds, Grenville & Lanark (7), Renfrew (7), Chatham-Kent (7), Huron Perth (7), and Grey Bruce (6).
The remaining 9 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 3 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s cases, 51% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (697) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 558 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 1,924 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.2% to 85.0%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.6% to 4.4%, meaning that 44 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on December 8.
Ontario is reporting 28 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 11 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 17 to 811, with 2 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 3 fewer patients on ventilators.
A total of 48,546 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 13,881 to 54,613.
There are 207 new cases in Ontario schools today, a decrease of 126 from yesterday, with 174 student cases and 33 staff cases. There are 42 new cases in licensed child care settings, a decrease of 9 from yesterday, with 26 cases among children and 16 cases among staff.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 9 new cases to report, including 7 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (including 6 in Quinte West), 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Kawartha Lakes. An outbreak was declared at Extendicare Kawartha Lakes in Lindsay on December 8 after a resident tested positive for COVID-19.
There are no new cases in Peterborough or Haliburton.
An additional 4 cases have been resolved in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 4 in Northumberland, 2 in Peterborough, and 2 in Kawartha Lakes.
None of the reported cases in Ontario schools or licensed child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.
There are currently 96 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 41 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (most in Belleville and Quinte West), 29 in Northumberland, 20 in Peterborough, and 6 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no active cases in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 234 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (209 resolved with 5 deaths), 207 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (182 resolved with 32 deaths), 125 in Northumberland County (95 resolved with 1 death), 26 in Haliburton County (26 resolved with no deaths), and 190 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (144 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 23.
Province-wide, there have been 132,800 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,890 from yesterday, with 112,875 resolved cases (85.0% of all cases), an increase of 1,924 from yesterday. There have been 3,836 deaths, an increase of 28 from yesterday, with 2,407 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 11 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 17 to 811, with 2 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 3 fewer patients on ventilators. A total of 6,714,333 tests have been completed, an increase of 48,546 from yesterday, with 54,613 tests under investigation, an increase of 13,881 from yesterday.
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.
Confirmed positive: 234 (no change) Active cases: 20 (decrease of 2) Close contacts: 37 (decrease of 13) Deaths: 5 (no change) Resolved: 209 (increase of 2) Hospitalizations (total to date): 12 (no change)* Total tests completed: Over 37,450 (increase of 100) Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)
*Peterborough Regional Health Centre reports that, as of December 8, there is 1 patient with COVID-19 on an inpatient unit and 1 patient with COVID-19 in ICU (transferred from a partner hospital).
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: 358, including 207 in Kawartha Lakes, 125 in Northumberland, 26 in Haliburton (increase of 2, including 1 in Northumberland and 1 in Kawartha Lakes)* Active cases: 35, including 6 in Kawartha Lakes and 29 in Northumberland (decrease of 4, including 3 in Northumberland and 1 in Kawartha Lakes) Probable cases: 0 (no change) High-risk contacts: 195, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 174 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (net increase of 10) Hospitalizations (total to date): 17, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 5 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change) Deaths: 33 (no change) Resolved: 303, including 182 in Kawartha Lakes, 95 in Northumberland, 26 in Haliburton (increase of 6, including 4 in Northumberland and 2 in Kawartha Lakes)* Institutional outbreaks: Extendicare Kawartha Lakes in Lindsay (increase of 1)**
*One previously reported case has been transferred to another health unit, decreasing the number of cases and resolved cases in Haliburton.
**An outbreak was declared at Extendicare Kawartha Lakes in Lindsay on December 8 after a resident tested positive for 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: 190 (increase of 7) Active cases: 41 (increase of 3) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 144 (increase of 4) Swabs completed: 10,715 Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 132,800 (increase of 1,890) Resolved: 112,875 (increase of 1,924, 85.0% of all cases) Hospitalized: 811 (increase of 17) Hospitalized and in ICU: 221 (increase of 2) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 129 (decrease of 3) Deaths: 3,836 (increase of 28) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,407 (increase of 11) Total tests completed: 6,714,333 (increase of 48,546) Tests under investigation: 54,613 (increase of 13,881)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 8 – December 8, 2020. 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 November 8 – December 8, 2020. 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)
Peterborough police have charged an 18-year-old Peterborough woman with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a 24-year-old Peterborough man earlier this year.
On March 7, 2020, Peterborough police attended a Bethune Street home in response to a man who was found with vital signs absent.
Police initially believed the sudden death to be an drug overdose death, but continued investigation revealed the man had been intentionally administered drugs in a quantity resulting in his death.
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Police have identified the victim as 24-year-old Tyler Nolan, but are not releasing the name of the accused woman as she was under the age of 18 when the alleged crime occurred.
This is the second homicide of the year for Peterborough.
The accused woman is being held in custody and will appear in court on Thursday, December 10th.
The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.
This story has been updated after police provided a correction to the age of the victim, and to include the court date of the accused.
Shopper Deanna Henry displays a Downtown Dollars Gift Card now available for shopping in-store and on-line at participating businesses in downtown Peterborough. The card is available in $25, $50, $100, and $200 denominations. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has just launched a new gift card that can be used at more than 65 shops, restaurants, and services in downtown Peterborough.
The Downtown Dollars Gift Card is available in $25, $50, $100, and $200 denominations. It works like a prepaid credit card and, unlike the original paper Downtown Dollars, can be used for shopping online as well as in-store.
“Our Downtown Dollars have long been a popular gift route,” says DBIA executive director Terry Guiel. “Being able to load them onto a card really takes this program to the next level and will make for a better customer experience, which will work out to more local spending.”
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The gift card program is expected to help increase spending at local downtown businesses, with consumers spending an average of 65 per cent more than the value of a gift card when making a purchase.
The Downtown Dollars Gift Card is available for purchase at theboro.ca/product/downtown-dollars-gift-card/, where you can also find a list of all the participating businesses where you can use the card.
You can also get Downtown Dollars at the DBIA office at 313 Water Street. For inquiries, call 705-748-4774 or email theboro@downtownptbo.ca.
The card used for the Downtown Dollars program is made of 50 per cent recycled material. When your card is depleted, drop it off at a participating retailer or at the DBIA office at 313 Water Street to be sent away for recycling.
The Crepes of Wrath is a take-out restaurant in the former location of Hunter Street Books in downtown Peterborough that offers both sweet and savoury crepes. (Photo: Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area)
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 Crepes of Wrath, a new crepe restaurant now open in downtown Peterborough.
There’s also the seven Peterborough-area businesses that are receiving Starter Company Plus grants, the Publican House in downtown Peterborough creating an open-air heated patio for the winter, and Peterborough illustrator Jason Wilkins’s social media campaign to get Tim Hortons to adopt his coffee cup design.
Local artist Nick Leniuk has opened a new studio in Peterborough, Peterborough native Robert Brunsch is opening two new cannabis stores in Peterborough, and Fleetwood Hills Farm in Kawartha Lakes scored four wins at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. We also provide some highlights of other business and organization news from across the Kawarthas.
New business events added this week include the Innovation Cluster’s virtual breakfast webinar on clean technology on December 10th, the Innovation Cluster’s virtual “Women Breaking Barriers” panel discussion featuring kawarthaNOW’s Jeannine Taylor on December 15th, Camp Kawartha’s virtual annual general meeting on December 15th, the Bobcaygeon Chamber’s virtual networking event on December 16th, and the Peterborough Chamber’s student work placement webinar for employers on December 18th.
The Crepes of Wrath crepe restaurant now open in downtown Peterborough
The Crepes of Wrath is located at 170 Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area)
The Crepes of Wrath is now open in downtown Peterborough.
Located at 170 Hunter Street West (the former location of Hunter Street Books), the take-out restaurant offers crepes — very thin pancakes — with both sweet and savoury fillings.
Owner Brian Goeckel was inspired to name the restaurant after the eleventh episode of the animated series The Simpsons, which has been called its greatest episode and which is itself a take on the name of the famous John Steinbeck novel.
The Crepes of Wrath owner Brian Goeckel (middle) with staff at The Crepes of Wrath in the Hunter Street cafe district in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area)
The menu includes sweet crepes such as “The Classic”(banansas and nutella) and “The Burning Man” (marshmallows, nutella, graham crackers, caramel and cinnamon) and savoury crepes such as “Full Metal Jackfruit” (shredded jackfruit, green apples, red onion, greens, and bourbon BBQ sauce) and “Roast Beast” (roast beef, feta, white cheese mix, avocado, tomato, red onion, greens, chimmi churri sauce, and garlic aioli).
The Crepes of Wrath is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, inclduing the full menu, visit facebook.com/crepesofwrathptbo/.
Seven Peterborough-area businesses receive Starter Company Plus grants
The seven entrepreneurs receiving micro-grants from the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre’s Starter Company Plus program. Top row: Debra Ragbar, Lyle Saunders, Christopher Nayler, and Dean and Amy Howley. Bottom row: Jocelynn Vieira, Susan Dunkley, and Alicia Doris.
Seven local entrepreneurs will receive $36,000 in micro-grants from the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre as part of the fall intake of the Starter Company Plus program.
Offered through the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre with funding from the Government of Ontario, the business development program provides training for aspiring to experienced entrepreneurs 18 years and over in the City and County of Peterborough who are launching a business or expanding an existing one that’s been operating for five years or less).
The 12 entrepreneurs who participated in the eight-week program submitted their final business plans and a video pitch to the judges for review during the week of November 16th. The following seven of the 12 participants were selected to receive micro-grants to support the growth of their businesses:
Debra Ragbar of the Kawartha Spice Company in Peterborough
Lyle Saunders of the Saunders Tax Service (c/o Peterborough Disability Tax Services) in Peterborough
Jocelynn Vieira of The Kawartha Craft Company in Trent Lakes
Alicia Doris of Living Local Box in Selwyn Township
Susan Dunkley of Suzi Home Maker in Peterborough
Dean and Amy Howley of King & Tupper in Cavan-Monaghan Township
Christopher Nayler of Douglas Works in Peterborough
Publican House in downtown Peterborough creates an open-air heated patio for the winter
The Publican House Brew Pub at 300 Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough recently completed a “secret winter project” — creating an open air patio to serve customers throughout the year.
The heated patio is surrounded by high walls to block the wind, and is decorated for the season.
Open Air and Heated Patio! Check out our Downtown Peterborough patio with heaters, walls to protect you from the wind and a festive feel! Book your spot today!
“Make sure you dress appropriately,” owner Brad Watt says in a Facebook video. “This is Canada.”
Publican House Brew Pub, which continues to offer indoor seating as well, is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Peterborough illustrator Jason Wilkins wants Tim Hortons to adopt his coffee cup design
Jason Wilkins with his design concept for a Tim Hortons coffee cup. (Photo: Jason Wilkins)
Peterborough illustrator Jason Wilkins has designed an inspiring Tim Hortons coffee cup and has launched a social media campaign to get the company’s attention.
“I’m looking to get as many people as possible to share and tag Tim Hortons,” he says.
Illustrated in Wilkins’ unique style, the cup features the Toronto cityscape along with positive messages such as “Donut give up”, “Strength in Community”, and “We’ve got this”.
He has got Tim Hortons’ attention, having recently received a delivery of free Tim Hortons products, along with a note “We love your artistic take on our new cups! Enjoy! – Your friends at Tim Hortons”, but no word on whether they’ll use his design.
Local artist Nick Leniuk opens a new studio in Peterborough
Sculptor Nick Leniuk with some of his artwork in Riverbend Studio. (Supplied photo)
Local sculptor Nick Leniuk recently opened Riverbend Studio in Peterborough.
The name of his studio pays homage to Kapuskasing — the northern Ontario town where Leniuk grew up — which is the Cree word for ‘bend in the river’.
Leniuk carves both tree silhouettes and imagined creations from stone. As an avid paddler and hiker, his designs are inspired by the lakes and forests of Ontario.
He also creates unique designs from images he sees in random patterns, which he calls his ‘pareidolia’ pieces — pareidolia being the tendency to perceive a specific and often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern.
Riverbend Studio is located at 831 Crowley Crescent in Peterborough. The studio will be open on Saturdays prior to Christmas from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment.
Peterborough native Robert Brunsch opening two new cannabis stores in Peterborough
Robert Brunsch is scheduled to open his first Sparq Retail cannabis store t 340 Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough in January 2021. (Photo: Sparq Retail)
Peterborough native Robert Brunsch is opening two new retail cannabis stores in Peterborough under the brand Sparq Retail.
The first location at 340 Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough is scheduled to open in January 2021, with a second location at 861 Lansdowne Street (Unit 4) to follow.
Born in Peterborough, Brunsch grew up in the city with his parents and sister. He and his wife, who both attended St. Peter’s Secondary School and are graduates of Trent University, recently purchased their first home in Peterborough’s north end.
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“It was an exciting opportunity for me to continue to work in the community that has given so much to me over the years, and provide employment in an economic time that is filled with so much uncertainty,” Brunsch says of Sparq Retail. “We are proud to boast that we live in Peterborough, work in Peterborough, and most importantly, want to support our community any way that we are able.”
Brunsch says Sparq Retail will offer an educational experience geared toward consumers who may have never consumed any cannabis products, while also being able assist those customer who may have extensive previous knowledge.
“We want to ensure our clients leave our stores feeling empowered, educated, and are comfortable with any purchases they do decide to make,” he says.
For more information about Sparq Retail, visit sparqretail.ca.
Fleetwood Hills Farm in Kawartha Lakes scores four wins at Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Award-winning honey from Fleetwood Hills Farm in Janetville. (Supplied photo)
Fleetwood Hills Farm, located south of Lindsay in Janetville, recently scored four wins at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
Stephen Moore decided to enter his liquid white honey in the competition for the first time, along with some of the farm’s maple products.
The farm’s honey won the Lorna Robinson Trophy and was crowned Champion-White Liquid Honey and Grand Champion Liquid Honey-Reserve.
The family-owned farm — well known as the home of Moore’s Maple Syrup — was also recognized as having the best maple butter in the maple competition.
Stephen’s parents, Jim and Carolyn Moore, moved to the farm in 1983 and started producing maple syrup soon afterwards. Stephen has been beekeeping for over 10 years and helping with the maple syrup production in recent years. He moved back to the farm with his family in the fall of 2019 when his parents moved into Peterborough. This year’s maple syrup season was a bit of a role reversal, with Stephen’s parents now helping him with the maple syrup production.
For more information about Fleetwood Hills Farm, including where to purchase the farm’s products, visit mooresmaplesyrup.com.
Highlights of other business and organization news from across the Kawarthas
The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha presents a cheque for $1,600 to Community Care Peterborough. (Supplied photo)
The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha has donated $1,600 to Community Care Peterborough to assist with the non-profit organization’s Meals on Wheels and Grocery Delivery programs.
Community Futures Peterborough has launched the Advanced Services & Advisory Project to connect struggling entrepreneurs with local professionals for advice, training, and counselling critical to navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information and to apply, visit subscribepage.com/community-futures-advanced-services-project.
The Ontario government is investing more than $2 million to support province’s 47 Small Business Enterprise Centres to create a new Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Network. This includes the Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (180 Kent St. W., Lindsay), Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland (700-600 William St., Cobourg) and the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre (102-270 George St. N., Peterborough). For more information, visit ontariobusinesscentre.ca.
Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation has launched the Storefront to Online (S2O) Program, a new training program to assist traditional brick-and-mortar,home-based business owners and not-for-profit agencies in extending their businesses online as an additional revenue stream. The free program will provide educational webinars, business tools, and digital resources directly to the business owner. The program also includes one-on-one coaching to help business owners keep on track to reach their online goals with results in 90 days. Registration closes on December 31st. For more information, visit storefrontto.online/kawarthalakes.
The Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre recently presented Starter Company Plus grants to six businesses in the Kawartha Lakes: Hobbies and Beyond in Lindsay, Maverick Kennels Dog Training in Woodville, Ping’s Homemade Chinese Food in Lindsay, Lindsay Axe Club, Bobcaygeon Bakery, and Kawartha 411 News.
The federal government recently provided $1.1 million in additional funding through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund to Community Futures Peterborough and $560,000 to Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) To date, Community Futures Peterborough has provided almost $987,000 in liquidity support to help 42 local businesses impacted by the pandemic to cover fixed operating costs and maintain 85 jobs, and Kawartha Lakes CFDC has provided over $880,000 in liquidity support to help 24 local businesses impacted by the pandemic to cover fixed operating costs and maintain 131 jobs.
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Innovation Cluster hosts virtual breakfast discussion on clean technology on December 10
Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas is hosting “Power Breakfast: Advancing Canada’s Clean Technology Landscape” from 8 to 9 a.m. on Thursday, December 10th.
The virtual session is intended to provide business leaders, thought leaders, and startups with a perspective on the evolving situation and its implications. This discussion on the future of clean technology in Canada, with a focus on the advancements taking place in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, features Martin Yuill, executive director of the Cleantech Commons, and Innovation Cluster client Brandon Robinson of Horizon Aircraft.
The first 50 registrants will receive a complimentary gift of two fruitful smoothies from Chimp Treats to enjoy the morning of the breakfast. This free event takes place on the Zoom video-conferencing platform.
Innovation Cluster hosts virtual “Women Breaking Barriers” panel discussion featuring kawarthaNOW’s Jeannine Taylor on December 15
Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas is hosting “Women Breaking Barriers: A Panel Discussion” from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 15th.
The discussion features four female founders who have successfully pursued and highlighted a path for women in the Peterborough business community: Jeannine Taylor (founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of kawarthaNOW.com), Rhonda Barnet (president and chief operating officer of AVIT Manufacturing), Shelby Leonard-Watt (owner of Save our Soles), and Sofie Andreou (founder of 123DigitalPower digital marketing services and training).
This panel discussion is not just for a female audience; all are encouraged to attend. This free event takes place on the Zoom video-conferencing platform.
Bobcaygeon Chamber hosts virtual networking event on December 16
The Bobcaygeon and Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a virtual “Cocktail Connection” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16th.
Everyone from the community is invited to join in this networking event and discuss how their year has been shaping up so far. This free event takes place on the Zoom video-conferencing platform.
Peterborough Chamber hosts student work placement webinar for employers on December 18
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Speaker Series: Incentive to Hire a Student” from 12 to 1 p.m. on Friday, December 18th.
The Magnet team will be explaining to employers their student work placement program, how businesses can earn a $7,500 wage subsidy, and the benefits of program. The Magnet team will also cover the eligibility sections and give some examples of businesses that could benefit from the funding.
This free event takes place on the Zoom video-conferencing platform.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 1,676 new COVID-19 cases today, around 250 fewer cases than have been reported over each of the past two days. The average number of daily cases over the past seven days has decreased by 4 to 1,816.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 22 new cases to report, with 12 resolved cases and 1 new hospitalization. There are currently 99 active cases across the entire region.
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Most of the new cases reported today are in Toronto (588), Peel (349), and York (141).
There are double-digit increases in Windsor-Essex (84), Durham (76), Halton (66), Simcoe Muskoka (62), Waterloo (61), Middlesex-London (55), Hamilton (51), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (28), Ottawa (21), Niagara (15), and Renfrew (10), with smaller increases in Huron Perth (9), Southwestern Public Health (9), Lambton (6), Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (6), and Leeds, Grenville & Lanark (6).
The remaining 15 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 3 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s cases, 52% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (599) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 499 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 1,549 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.1% to 84.8%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has increased by 1.0% to 5.0%, meaning that 50 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on December 7.
Ontario is reporting 10 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 5 in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 69 to 794, with 6 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 11 more patients on ventilators.
A total of 39,198 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 9,494 to 40,732.
There are 333 new cases in Ontario schools today, an increase of 195 from yesterday, with 278 student cases and 55 staff cases (this total includes cases reported on December 4 and December 7). There are 51 new cases in licensed child care settings, an increase of 28 from yesterday, with 21 cases among children and 30 cases among staff (this total includes cases reported on December 4 and December 7).
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 22 new cases to report, including 9 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (mainly from workplace outbreaks in Belleville and Trenton), 6 in Peterborough, 6 in Northumberland, and 1 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no new cases in Haliburton.
There has been 1 additional hospitalization in Northumberland. An additional 6 cases have been resolved in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 3 in Northumberland, 1 in Peterborough, and 1 in Kawartha Lakes.
Of today’s reported new cases in Ontario schools, 1 case is in St. Peter Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough. None of the reported cases in licensed child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.
There are currently 99 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 38 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, 32 in Northumberland, 22 in Peterborough, and 7 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no active cases in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 234 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (207 resolved with 5 deaths), 206 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (180 resolved with 32 deaths), 124 in Northumberland County (91 resolved with 1 death), 27 in Haliburton County (27 resolved with no deaths), and 183 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (140 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 23.
Province-wide, there have been 130,910 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,676 from yesterday, with 110,951 resolved cases (84.8% of all cases), an increase of 1,549 from yesterday. There have been 3,808 deaths, an increase of 10 from yesterday, with 2,396 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 5 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 69 to 794, with 6 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 11 more patients on ventilators. A total of 6,665,787 tests have been completed, an increase of 39,198 from yesterday, with 40,732 tests under investigation, an increase of 9,494 from yesterday.
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.
Confirmed positive: 234 (increase of 6) Active cases: 22 (decrease of 5) Close contacts: 50 (decrease of 1) Deaths: 5 (no change) Resolved: 207 (increase of 1) Hospitalizations (total to date): 12* Total tests completed: Over 37,350 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven (no change)
*Peterborough Regional Health Centre reports that, as of December 8, there is 1 patient with COVID-19 on an inpatient unit and 1 patient with COVID-19 in ICU (transferred from a partner hospital).
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: 357, including 206 in Kawartha Lakes, 124 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 7, including 6 in Northumberland and 1 in Kawartha Lakes)* Active cases: 39, including 7 in Kawartha Lakes and 32 in Northumberland (increase of 4 in Northumberland) Probable cases: 0 (no change) High-risk contacts: 195, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 174 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (net increase of 10) Hospitalizations (total to date): 17, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 5 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Northumberland) Deaths: 33 (no change) Resolved: 298, including 180 in Kawartha Lakes, 91 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 4, including 3 in Northumberland and 1 in Kawartha Lakes) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
*The new cases in Northumberland exclude one previously reported case that has been transferred from another health unit. The transferred case is not considered a new case but is reflected in the total case count for Northumberland.
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: 183 (increase of 9) Active cases: 38 (decrease of 3) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 140 (increase of 6) Swabs completed: 10,607 Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 130,910 (increase of 1,676) Resolved: 110,951 (increase of 1,549, 84.8% of all cases) Hospitalized: 794 (increase of 69) Hospitalized and in ICU: 219 (increase of 6) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 132 (increase of 11) Deaths: 3,808 (increase of 10) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,396 (increase of 5) Total tests completed: 6,665,787 (increase of 39,198) Tests under investigation: 40,732 (increase of 9,494)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 7 – December 7, 2020. 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 November 7 – December 7, 2020. 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)
Two of the four members of the new Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TACMEDS) unit, who have been specially trained to provide on-the-spot care to police, victims, or others affected by a high-risk event. The unit will not be armed, but will be equipped with all the same protective equipment that tactical law enforcement officers have. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police Service)
The Peterborough Police Service and the Peterborough County/City Paramedics have created a new unit that will enable paramedics to better care for those involved in high-risk emergency situations.
Called the Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TACMED) unit, the specially trained four-member paramedic team will be able to provide on-the-spot care to police, victims, or others affected by a high-risk event.
The unit will not be armed, but will be equipped with all the same protective equipment that tactical law enforcement officers have. To avoid confusion with police, all TACMED unit members will be clearly identified with a “Paramedic” marker on their protective equipment.
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“This program builds on the tremendous relationship between the Peterborough County/City Paramedics and the Peterborough Police Service,” says police chief Scott Gilbert. “In these dangerous situations, every moment makes a difference.”
“Having a specially trained and equipped team of medics standing alongside police officers will help ensure fast and appropriate medical care for first responders and everyone else at the scene.”
Members of the new TACMED unit have been selected from within the Peterborough County/City Paramedics based on a variety of factors, including written, practical, physical, and psychological testing.
“Peterborough County/City Paramedics is committed to ensuring the best possible outcome in emergency situations,” says Chris Barry, deputy chief of Peterborough County/City Paramedics. “The TACMED unit is an excellent way to provide our paramedics with the training they need to work together with law enforcement and provide immediate care in high-risk emergencies.”
Jon Lockyer with his dog Pepper. After six years as director and curator of Artspace in Peterborough, Lockyer is leaving to pursue other interests. (Photo courtesy of Artspace Peterborough)
John Lockyer, director and curator of Artspace, is leaving after six years with the non-profit artist-run centre in downtown Peterborough.
The organization’s board of directors made the announcement on Tuesday (December 8).
“On behalf of the board of directors, I extend heartfelt thanks to Jon Lockyer for six years of service and dedication, and offer congratulations as he embarks upon a new professional adventure,” says Artspace board chair Cyd Hosker.
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“His welcoming manner, along with his expertise, knowledge, awareness, and genuine love for the arts have enabled Artspace to continue to flourish as one of the region’s vital arts organizations,” Hosker adds.
Lockyer joined the centre in September 2014 at the age of 29, replacing Fynn Leitch who was hired as curator at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. Since then, Lockyer has become a fixture in the Peterborough’s arts and cultural landscape.
Originally from Toronto, Lockyer earned his bachelor of arts in Canadian studies from Trent University in 2008. He began a masters degree at Trent University but returned to Toronto in 2010, finishing a master’s degree at the Ontario College of Art and Design in fine art criticism and curatorial practice before returning to Peterborough.
“I’ve been very grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Artspace’s ongoing history, and have cherished the relationships I have formed with the countless individuals I’ve met and worked with over the last six years,” Lockyer says. “It has always been my aim to improve the centre’s standing in our community, while putting the needs of artists and their practices at the forefront of the work we’ve done here.”
“While I may be departing from the centre, I will always hold a deep love and appreciation for the centre, and all that I’ve learned during my time there.”
Artspace will begin the process of hiring process a new director and curator in conjunction with Lockyer’s departure, with a public job posting expected in early January 2021.
This photo by Kirk Hillsley of a late fall sunset on a Millbrook pond with evergreens dusted by snow was our top post on Instagram in November 2020, with almost 40,000 impressions and more than 1,300 likes. (Photo: Kirk Hillsley @kirkhillsley / Instagram)
It’s no surprise that the month of November in a pandemic year would be full of surprises.
For three weekends in a row, November delivered warm weather — as warm as summer on some days. But we had our share of snow too.
The seasonal mix of our top photos tell the story: it was a month where the images could have been picked from any other time from high summer to deep winter.
Do you want to get on our top photographers list? All you need is an Insta account and to tag us using our hashtag #kawarthanow when posting your photo.
We share photos from across our readership area, which is the five-county area surrounding Peterborough which includes Peterborough, Northumberland, City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Hastings (we sneak in the occasional Algonquin Park picture as well, particularly if it’s by a Kawartha photographer).
To see our daily shares of photos, follow us on Instagram @kawarthanow and check out our feed’s highlight reels for recaps of every month in 2020.
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#1. Sunset on Millbrook pond by Kirk Hillsley @kirkhillsley
Posted November 28, 2020. 37.9K impressions, 1,336 likes
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