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Ontario reports 847 new COVID-19 cases, including 12 in greater Kawarthas region

By kawarthaNOW -

Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.

Today, Ontario is reporting 847 new cases, including 29 more cases of the B.1.1.7 UK variant, with the seven-day average of daily new cases decreasing by 35 to 1,002.

In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 12 new cases to report and 12 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region remaining unchanged at 91.

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Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (257), Peel (170), and York (131).

There are double-digit increases in Ottawa (53), Windsor-Essex (44), Durham (30), Hamilton (29), Simcoe Muskoka (26), Waterloo (18), Halton (12), Brant (11), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (11), Thunder Bay (10), and Niagara (10), with smaller increases in Peterborough (6).

The remaining 19 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 7 health units reporting no new cases at all.

Of today’s new cases, 53% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (314) among people ages 20-39, followed by 255 cases among people ages 40-59.

With 1,456 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.3% to 93.9%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has increased by 0.6% from yesterday to 3.0%, meaning that 30 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on February 16.

Ontario is reporting 10 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 4 in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 19 new daily deaths over the past week.

Hospitalizations have decreased by 23 from yesterday to 719, with the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs increasing by 6 to 298 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators increasing by 10 to 211.

A total of 33,977 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation increasing by 18,706 to 33,730.

A total of 489,484 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 9,107 from yesterday, with 195,366 people fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, an increase of 8,432 from yesterday, representing 1.33% of Ontario’s population.

There are 75 new cases in Ontario schools, an increase of 52 from yesterday, including 71 student cases and 4 staff cases. There are 53 new cases in licensed child care settings in Ontario, an increase of 31 from yesterday, with 34 cases among children and 19 cases among staff.

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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 12 new cases to report, including 6 in Peterborough, 3 in Northumberland, 2 in Hastings Prince Edward, and 1 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no new cases in Haliburton.

An outbreak at Warkworth Place in Warkworth was declared on February 16. An outbreak at Buckhorn Day Care and Nursery School was declared on February 16, based on one child case and one staff case

An additional 12 cases have been resolved, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Northumberland, 2 in Peterborough, and 2 in Hastings Prince Edward.

There are currently 91 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region (no net change from yesterday), including 35 in Peterborough, 25 in Kawartha Lakes, 19 in Northumberland, 11 in Hastings Prince Edward (1 in Quinte West, 3 in Belleville, 2 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, 2 in Prince Edward County, 2 in Tyendinga Mohawk Territory, 1 in Central Hastings), and 1 in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 594 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (550 resolved with 9 deaths), 516 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (453 resolved with 51 deaths), 415 in Northumberland County (385 resolved with 11 deaths), 51 in Haliburton County (50 resolved with no deaths), and 389 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (373 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent two deaths were reported in Northumberland on February 16.

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).

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Peterborough Public Health

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: 594 (increase of 6)
Active cases: 35 (increase of 4)
Close contacts: 225 (increase of 20)
Deaths: 9 (no change)
Resolved: 550 (increase of 2)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 24 (no change)*
Total tests completed: Over 42,550 (increase of 50)
Outbreaks: Peterborough Retirement Residence, Buckhorn Day Care and Nursery School (no change)**
Vaccine doses administered: 976 (as of February 12)

*As of February 17, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 4 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (an increase of 1) and 17 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive (no change).

**An outbreak at Buckhorn Day Care and Nursery School was declared on February 16, based on one child case and one staff case.

 

Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.

The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays and statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 982, including 516 in Kawartha Lakes, 415 in Northumberland, and 51 in Haliburton (increase of 4, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 3 in Northumberland)*
Active cases: 45, including 25 in Kawartha Lakes, 19 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (decrease of 4, including 3 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland)
Probable cases: 4, including 3 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland (net decrease of 1)
High-risk contacts: 286, including 139 in Kawartha Lakes, 119 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (net increase of 2)**
Hospitalizations (total to date): 39, including 26 in Kawartha Lakes, 11 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (no change)***
Deaths (including among probable cases): 62, including 51 in Kawartha Lakes and 11 in Northumberland (no change)
Resolved: 888, including 453 in Kawartha Lakes, 385 in Northumberland, 50 in Haliburton (increase of 8, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 4 in Northumberland)
Tests completed: 136,252 (increase of 1,106)
Institutional outbreaks: Caressant Care McLaughlin Road long-term care home in Lindsay, Regency long-term care home in Port Hope, Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Extendicare Cobourg long-term care home, Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, Cobourg Police, Warkworth Place in Warkworth (increase 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 26 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.

***As of February 17, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 2 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19 (no change).

****An outbreak at Warkworth Place in Warkworth was declared on February 16.

 

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.

The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 389 (increase of 2)
Active cases: 11 (no net change)
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: 373 (increase of 2)
Tests completed: 57,142 (increase of 1,787)
Vaccines administered: 1,483 (no change)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

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Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 288,583 (increase of 847)*
7-day average of daily new cases: 1,002 (decrease of 35)
Resolved: 270,869 (increase of 1,456, 93.9% of all cases)
Positivity rate: 3.0% (increase of 0.6%)
Hospitalizations: 719 (decrease of 23)
Hospitalizations in ICU: 298 (increase of 6)
Hospitalizations in ICU on ventilator: 211 (increase of 10)
Deaths: 6,729 (increase of 10)
7-day average of daily new deaths: 19 (decrease of 5)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,807 (increase of 4)
Total tests completed: 10,467,249 (increase of 33,977)
Tests under investigation: 33,730 (increase of 18,706)
Vaccination doses administered: 489,484 (increase of 9,107)
People fully vaccinated (two doses): 195,366 (increase of 8,432), 1.33% of Ontario’s population
Total COVID-19 variant cases: 338 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 29); 6 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (decrease of 3); 1 of P.1 Brazilian variant (no change)

*As part of continued data quality checks and remediation activities following Toronto Public Health’s migration to to the province’s Case and Contact Management System, case counts may fluctuate.

COVID-19 cases in Ontario from January 17 - February 16, 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 cases in Ontario from January 17 – February 16, 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 January 17 - February 16, 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 tests completed in Ontario from January 17 – February 16, 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 January 17 - February 16, 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 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from January 17 – February 16, 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 January 17 - February 16, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from January 17 – February 16, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from January 17 - February 16, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from January 17 – February 16, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)

 

For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.

Social enterprise founded by Peterborough native wins global environmental innovation challenge

By Bruce Head -
Guelph-based Fill it Forward is one of nine winners of the global "Beyond The Bag" environmental innovation challenge. Founded by Peterborough native Matt Wittek, the company produces stickers and tags that can be affixed to reusable bottles, cups, and bags. When people refill their bottle or reuse their bag, they can scan the sticker using the free Fill it Forward app, and the company contributes to charitable projects around the world. (Photo: Fill it Forward)

A social enterprise founded by Peterborough native Matt Wittek is the only Canadian winner of the global “Beyond The Bag” environmental innovation challenge.

Fill it Forward is one of nine winners — selected from more than 450 submissions from 60 countries — of the open competition led by the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag, a collaboration convened by the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners in partnership with leading retailers in the United States focused on innovations to reduce or eliminate the single-use plastic retail bag.

“We at Fill it Forward are incredibly proud and excited to be chosen as a winner of the Beyond the Bag Challenge,” says Wittek, who is also the company’s CEO. “This acknowledgement and collaborative opportunity with all involved provides a unique platform to drive positive and innovation-driven sustainable practices. We’re honoured to be involved and have the opportunity to bring our solutions to this widespread effort.”

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Based in Guelph, Fill it Forward is a Certified B Corporation — meaning it meets the highest standards of social and environmental impact — that inspires people to make environmentally and socially responsible choices through reuse.

The company produces stickers that can be affixed to reusable bottles, cups, or bags. When people refill their bottle or reuse their bag, they can scan the sticker using the free Fill it Forward app, and the company contributes to charitable projects around the world. The company’s charitable partners include WaterAid, charity: water, DigDeep, Water First, Wine To Water, and Second Harvest.

People can also use the Fill it Forward app to track their environmental impact, set hydration goals and reminders, and earn badges.

Peterborough native Matt Wittek is the founder and CEO of Fill it Forward. He founded the company in Guelph, where he attended university. (Photo: Matt Wittek / LinkedIn)
Peterborough native Matt Wittek is the founder and CEO of Fill it Forward. He founded the company in Guelph, where he attended university. (Photo: Matt Wittek / LinkedIn)

Wittek, whose parents Dieter and Darcy were the former owners of No Frills on George Street in downtown Peterborough, studied at the University of Guelph, which is where he started his company in 2015 with Cupanion, an unbreakable reusable bottle. The bottle came with a free tag that people could attach to the bottle and scan with the Cupanion app (now the Fill it Forward app).

The original focus was to encourage reuse across university and college campuses. Since then, Fill it Forward has expanded its offerings, and now more than 300 companies, schools, and events are using Fill it Forward.

The company still makes the original Cupanion bottle, but now also produces standalone stickers and tags that can be attached to your own reusable bottle, cup, or bag. The company is now also producing a reusable tote bag made from recycled plastic bottles, which comes with a tag connecting to the Fill it Forward app. Custom bottles and stickers are also available for organizations and brands.

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"Beyond The Bag" was an open competition led by the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag, a collaboration convened by the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners in partnership with leading retailers in the United States focused on innovations to reduce or eliminate the single-use plastic retail bag. Fill it Forward's innovation is a scannable tag that can be attached to a reusable bag, linked to the Fill it Forward app to encourage people to reuse the bag. (Photo: Fill it Forward)
“Beyond The Bag” was an open competition led by the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag, a collaboration convened by the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners in partnership with leading retailers in the United States focused on innovations to reduce or eliminate the single-use plastic retail bag. Fill it Forward’s innovation is a scannable tag that can be attached to a reusable bag, linked to the Fill it Forward app to encourage people to reuse the bag. (Photo: Fill it Forward)

According to its website, Fill it Forward has funded more than 270 projects around the world, diverted more than 5.1 million single-use items and more than 176,000 pounds of waste from landfills and almost 20,000 pounds of plastic from oceans.

As one of the nine winners of the “Beyond The Bag” challenge, Fill it Forward will receive a portion of $1 million in prize money and is eligible for additional financial support from the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag to support testing, piloting, and scaling efforts.

For more information about Fill it Forward and to order products, visit www.fillitforward.com.

The free Fill it Forward app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, allows people to track their environmental impact through reuse, monitor the progress of charitable projects supported by Fill it Forward, and set hydration goals and reminders. (Photo: Fill it Forward)
The free Fill it Forward app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, allows people to track their environmental impact through reuse, monitor the progress of charitable projects supported by Fill it Forward, and set hydration goals and reminders. (Photo: Fill it Forward)

Junior Achievement announces eight new inductees into Peterborough Business Hall of Fame

By kawarthaNOW -
The 2021 inductees into Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario's Peterborough Business Hall of Fame (clockwise from top left): Tony Ambler, Simone Dobson, John Gillespie, Allan Hill, Joe Sabatino, Allan Gillis, Amy Simpson, and Franz Roessl. (Supplied photos)

The local Junior Achievement chapter has announced eight new inductees into the Peterborough Business Hall of Fame.

Every year, Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA-NEO) recognizes past and present exceptional business leaders in Peterborough.

The announcement of the 2021 inductees was made virtually on Wednesday morning (February 17) by returning Business Hall of Fame chancellor Monika Carmichael of Trent Valley Honda.

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“These inductees strengthen our economy and community through their exemplary accomplishments of vision, leadership and commitment to excellence in business over a lifetime,” reads a media release.

“Each inductee is widely regarded as an inspiring role model and mentor to the students JA-NEO serves.”

The eight new inductees include six current business leaders and two heritage (posthumous) inductees:

Tony Ambler – Swish Maintenance Group of Companies & Yorkshire Valley Farms

Tony Ambler

Simone Dobson – Euphoria Wellness Spa

Simone Dobson

John Gillespie – Flying Colours Corp.

John Gillespie

Allan Hill – Domino’s Pizza

Allan Hill

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Franz Roessl – Franz’s Butcher Shop & Catering

Franz Roessl

Amy Simpson – MicroAge Peterborough – Whitby

Amy Simpson

Allan Gillis – Milltronics (posthumously)

Allan Gillis

Joe Sabatino – Villa Auto Wash (posthumously)

Joe Sabatino

The eight inductees will be formally inducted at the 6th annual Business Hall of Fame ceremony, scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 27th at The Venue in downtown Peterborough.

The Business Hall of Fame ceremony allows JA-NEO to recruit volunteers, investors, and partners to help deliver their programs at no cost to students or schools.

Proceeds from the event help JA-NEO meet the growing demand for financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship programs, providing essential support to facilitate the future success of every JA student.

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Past Business Hall of Fame Inductees

2020

Morris Cox; Lisa Dixon; Bill and Cora Edgar; Jim Glenn; Haig Kelly; Bill and Marion Morrison; and Sanjeev Sukumaran.

2019

John Gillis; Michael Konopaski; Dr. Ramesh Makhija; Janet McLeod; Dave Smith; Scott Stewart and Dana Empey; Glenn Stuart; Mike and Shelby Watt; Robert Winslow; and Scott Wood.

2018

Alf and June Curtis; Paul Bennett; John A. McColl and James H. Turner; John James (Jack) Stewart; Sally Harding; Monika Carmichael; Robert Gauvreau; Paschal McCloskey; and Carl Oake.

2017

Jack McGee; Robert Young; Joseph James (JJ) Duffus; Isadore Black; Darrell Drain; Rhonda Barnet; John Bowes; and Michael Skinner.

2016

Erica, Harry and Meyer Cherney; Cameron Taylor; Charlotte and Robert Nicholls; Bill, Chester and Frank Fisher; Keith Brown; David Fife; James Stevenson; and Ross Smith.

 

kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario Business Hall of Fame.

Ontario reports 904 new COVID-19 cases, including 25 in greater Kawarthas region

By kawarthaNOW -

Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.

Over the past two days, Ontario has reported 1,868 new cases, an average of 934 per day, with 904 cases reported today. The seven-day average of daily new cases has decreased by 16 to 1,035.

Today’s total includes 6 more cases of the B.1.1.7 UK variant and 2 more cases of the B.1.351 South Africa variant.

In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 25 new cases to report and 30 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region decreasing by 9 to 91. There are 2 new COVID-related deaths in Northumberland.

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Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (320), Peel (154), and York (118).

There are double-digit increases in Halton (44), Durham (37), Hamilton (37), Waterloo (31), Ottawa (30), Niagara (27), Simcoe Muskoka (24), Northwestern (15), Brant (13), and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (12), with smaller increases in Thunder Bay (9), Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (6), and Southwestern (6).

The remaining 18 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 8 health units reporting no new cases at all.

Of today’s new cases, 57% are among people 39 and younger, with the highest number of cases (354) among people ages 20-39, followed by 243 cases among people ages 40-59.

With 1,012 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased to 93.6%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has increased by 0.3% from yesterday to 3.6%, meaning that 36 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on February 15.

Ontario is reporting 13 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 5 in long-term care homes. Ontario has averaged 24 new daily deaths over the past week.

Hospitalizations have increased by 3 from yesterday to 742, but more than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for today’s report, so the actual number of hospitalizations may be higher. The number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs has decreased by 1 to 292 and the number of patients with COVID-19 on ventilators has increased by 2 to 201.

A total of 27,005 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation increasing by 4,222 to 15,024.

A total of 480,377 doses of vaccine have now been administered, an increase of 5,053 from yesterday, with 186,934 people fully vaccinated with both doses of vaccine, representing 1.27% of Ontario’s population.

There are 23 new cases in Ontario schools, a decrease of 8 from February 12, including 22 student cases and 1 staff case. There are 24 new cases in licensed child care settings in Ontario, an increase of 8 from February 12, with 9 cases among children and 15 cases among staff.

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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 25 new cases to report, including 9 in Peterborough, 8 in Kawartha Lakes, 7 in Northumberland, and 1 in Hastings Prince Edward.

An outbreak at an unidentified child care centre in Peterborough County was declared on February 16.

There are 2 new COVID-related deaths in Northumberland, with 1 new hospitalization in Northumberland and 1 new hospitalization in Kawartha Lakes.

An additional 30 cases have been resolved, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes, 10 in Northumberland, and 2 in Hastings Prince Edward. Outbreaks at Hyland Crest long-term care home in Minden and Extendicare Cobourg Landmark retirement home have been declared resolved.

There are currently 91 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 9 from February 14, including 31 in Peterborough, 28 in Kawartha Lakes, 20 in Northumberland, 11 in Hastings Prince Edward (1 in Quinte West, 3 in Belleville, 2 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, 2 in Prince Edward County, 2 in Tyendinga Mohawk Territory, 1 in Central Hastings), and 1 in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 588 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (548 resolved with 9 deaths), 515 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (449 resolved with 51 deaths), 412 in Northumberland County (381 resolved with 11 deaths), 51 in Haliburton County (50 resolved with no deaths), and 387 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (371 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent two deaths were reported in Northumberland on February 16.

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).

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Peterborough Public Health

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: 588 (increase of 9)
Active cases: 31 (increase of 9)
Close contacts: 205 (increase of 23)
Deaths: 9 (no change)
Resolved: 548 (no change)
Hospitalizations (total to date): 24 (no change)*
Total tests completed: Over 42,500 (no change)
Outbreaks: Peterborough Retirement Residence, unidentified child care centre in Peterborough County (increase of 1)**
Vaccine doses administered: 976 (as of February 12)

*As of February 16, Peterborough Regional Health Centre is reporting 3 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (no change) and 17 patients transferred from other areas as a result of a provincial directive (no change).

**An outbreak at an unidentified child care centre in Peterborough County was declared on February 16.

 

Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.

The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays and statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 978, including 515 in Kawartha Lakes, 412 in Northumberland, and 51 in Haliburton (increase of 15, including 8 in Kawartha Lakes and 7 in Northumberland)*
Active cases: 49, including 28 in Kawartha Lakes, 20 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (net decrease of 16)
Probable cases: 5, including 2 in Kawartha Lakes and 3 in Northumberland (increase of 2, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland)
High-risk contacts: 284, including 138 in Kawartha Lakes, 114 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (net increase of 30)**
Hospitalizations (total to date): 39, including 26 in Kawartha Lakes, 11 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton (increase of 2, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland)***
Deaths (including among probable cases): 62, including 51 in Kawartha Lakes and 11 in Northumberland (increase of 2 in Northumberland)
Resolved: 880, including 449 in Kawartha Lakes, 381 in Northumberland, 50 in Haliburton (increase of 29, including 19 in Kawartha Lakes and 10 in Northumberland)
Tests completed: 135,146 (increase of 1,647)
Institutional outbreaks: Caressant Care McLaughlin Road long-term care home in Lindsay, Regency long-term care home in Port Hope, Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Extendicare Cobourg long-term care home, Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, Cobourg Police (decrease of 2)****

*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 30 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.

***As of February 16, Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay reports 2 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19 (an increase of 1).

****Outbreaks at Hyland Crest long-term care home in Minden and Extendicare Cobourg Landmark retirement home have 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, including on weekends, excluding statutory holidays.

Confirmed positive: 387 (increase of 1)
Active cases: 11 (decrease of 1)
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: 371 (increase of 2)
Tests completed: 55,355 (increase of 259)
Vaccines administered: 1,483 (increase of 104)
Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)

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Province of Ontario

February 15

Confirmed positive: 287,736 (increase of 904)*
7-day average of daily new cases: 1,035 (decrease of 16)
Resolved: 269,413 (increase of 1,012, 93.6% of all cases)
Positivity rate: 3.6% (increase of 0.3%)
Hospitalizations: 742 (increase of 3)**
Hospitalizations in ICU: 292 (decrease of 1)
Hospitalizations in ICU on ventilator: 201 (increase of 2)
Deaths: 6,719 (increase of 13)
7-day average of daily new deaths: 24 (decrease of 3)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,803 (increase of 5)
Total tests completed: 10,433,272 (increase of 27,005)
Tests under investigation: 15,024 (increase of 4,222)
Vaccination doses administered: 480,377 (increase of 5,053)
People fully vaccinated (two doses): 186,934 (1.27% of Ontario’s population)
Total COVID-19 variant cases: 309 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (increase of 7); 9 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (increase of 2); 1 of P.1 Brazilian variant (no change)

*As part of continued data quality checks and remediation activities following Toronto Public Health’s migration to to the province’s Case and Contact Management System, case counts may fluctuate.

**More than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for today’s report, so the actual number of hospitalizations may be higher.

February 14

Confirmed positive: 286,832 (increase of 964)*
7-day average of daily new cases: 1,051 (decrease of 43)
Resolved: 268,401 (increase of 1,273, 93.6% of all cases)
Positivity rate: 3.3% (increase of 0.7%)
Hospitalizations: 739 (increase of 24)**
Hospitalizations in ICU: 293 (increase of 1)
Hospitalizations in ICU on ventilator: 199 (decrease of 4)
Deaths: 6,706 (increase of 13)
7-day average of daily new deaths: 24 (decrease of 3)
Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 3,798 (increase of 1)
Total tests completed: 10,406,267 (increase of 30,355)
Tests under investigation: 10,802 (decrease of 5,145)
Vaccination doses administered: 475,324 (increase of 7,698)
People fully vaccinated (two doses): Not available
Total COVID-19 variant cases: 302 of B.1.1.7 UK variant (decrease of 1); 7 of B.1.351 South Africa variant (increase of 1); 1 of P.1 Brazilian variant (no change)

*As part of continued data quality checks and remediation activities following Toronto Public Health’s migration to to the province’s Case and Contact Management System, case counts may fluctuate.

**More than 10% of hospitals did not submit data for today’s report, so the actual number of hospitalizations may be higher.

COVID-19 cases in Ontario from January 16 - February 15, 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 cases in Ontario from January 16 – February 15, 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 January 16 - February 15, 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 tests completed in Ontario from January 16 – February 15, 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 January 16 - February 15, 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 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from January 16 – February 15, 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 January 16 - February 15, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from January 16 – February 15, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from January 16 - February 15, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Ontario from January 16 – February 15, 2021. The red line is the cumulative number of daily doses administered, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily doses. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)

 

For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.

Peterborough to stay at ‘Yellow-Protect’ COVID-19 level for at least two weeks

By Paul Rellinger -

With the Peterborough region now placed in the “Yellow-Protect” level of Ontario’s COVID-19 response framework, it’s more important than ever that residents adhere to the public health measures that have been in place since the pandemic began.

That was the central message from medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra during a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Tuesday (February 16).

“We can expect to stay at yellow for a period of at least two weeks before we might able to move down (to the Green-Prevent level),” said Dr. Salvaterra, noting that’s how long the province will wait before it re-evaluates local case counts and other factors used as a measuring stick.

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“Moving up (to a level with more restrictions) can be quicker, especially now that the chief medical officer of health has been given an emergency brake to be applied,” Dr. Salvaterra added. “We can quickly move up, but we won’t be moving down very quickly.”

“I’m reminding all residents not to travel out of our area or have family or friends (come from other areas to) visit, as that will help to hasten the arrival of the variants. I am recommending to all municipalities that facility bookings be limited to area residents only. We must still wear our masks and keep at least two metres distant from anyone outside of our household group.”

As for restaurant or retail business owners refusing to serve people from outside the Peterborough region, Dr. Salvaterra says that is their right, adding “We are in conversations now with our legal counsel to see whether or not we can introduce some measures to assist businesses so they’re not doing that on their own.”

A full list of what’s allowed and not allowed at the “Yellow-Protect” level is available at ontario.ca/page/covid-19-response-framework-keeping-ontario-safe-and-open.

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Along with the 22 current active COVID cases in the Peterborough region — that’s a jump of six active cases since last Friday (February 12) — the health unit is also following closely the progress of 205 identified high-risk contacts of positive cases — a huge increase of 145 from last week.

Explaining the increase, Dr. Salvaterra said “a lower threshold” is now being used locally for classifying contacts as high risk. Also adding greatly to that number is the large number of students at Havelock-Belmont Public School who were sent home after two students recently tested positive.

As the two student cases are not linked and because the students were infected outside the school setting, Dr. Salvaterra said an outbreak has not been declared. However, every student sent home will be tested twice before being allowed to return to school.

While Peterborough Public Health identifies the number of high-risk contacts being monitored at any given time, unlike the neighbouring Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, it does not report on how many of those contacts go on to develop a positive case of COVID-19.

That information may soon be reported, according to Dr. Salvaterra. “We’ve raised it with our team of epidemiologists supporting our case and contact team and they’re looking into it.”

Regarding the local vaccination program, Dr. Salvaterra confirmed a shipment of some 6,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine is expected next week and will be administered to staff and essential caregivers at the region’s eight long-term care home, and possibly at some retirement home and congregate setting residents.

However, there’s been no word on the arrival of more Moderna vaccine to provide a second dose to long-term care residents who have already received their first dose. So far, 976 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered in the Peterborough region.

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“We need to do that (give second doses) starting next week,” Dr. Salvaterra said. “We’re hoping this week to learn more about whether we’ll be getting Moderna and how many doses.”

As for the volunteers stepping forward to administer vaccines, Dr. Salvaterra says that number now exceeds 600. An application to volunteer with Peterborough Public Health is available online at s-ca.chkmkt.com/?e=221388&h=69FEB45916AAA78. For an overview of the local vaccine rollout plan, visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.

On the outbreak front, there is currently just one ongoing at Peterborough Retirement Residence.

Since the pandemic began, there have been a total of 579 local positive cases, of which 548 have been resolved. The number of COVID-related deaths remains unchanged at nine.

Also commenting during Tuesday’s briefing were Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones, and Peterborough Board of Health chair and Selwyn Mayor Andy Mitchell.

Bancroft man wins $1 million in Lotto 6/49

By kawarthaNOW -
Brian Woodcox of Bancroft gives a thumbs up as he collects his $1 million cheque in Toronto. (Photo courtesy of OLG)

A Bancroft man won $1 million in the November 18th Lotto 6/49 draw.

Brian Woodcox, a 57-year-old grandfather and retiree, said he chooses his numbers based on birthdays and anniversaries.

He discovered he won after he scanned his ticket using the OLG Lottery App.

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“My mom was wondering what was going on, so I scanned the ticket again and showed her,” he said. “We were all very surprised.”

Woodcox said he plans to save most of his winnings for his future.

“I’ll treat myself to a big TV and new furniture,” he said. “And I’d also like to share some with my family to share the joy. They deserve it!”

Woodcox purchased his winning ticket at Esso On The Run on Hastings Street in Bancroft.

Man dies after stabbing incident in Peterborough on Tuesday morning

By kawarthaNOW -

A man is dead after a stabbing incident in Peterborough on Tuesday morning (February 16).

At around 10:20 a.m. on Tuesday, Peterborough police responded to a report of a stabbing at an Aylmer Street home betwen McDonnel Street and London Street.

When officers arrived, they found a male victim. He was transported to Peterborough Regional Health Centre but succumbed to his injuries.

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Police arrested a 29-year-old Quebec man at Lansdowne Place Mall shortly after the incident.

Markuss Thoby has since been charged with second degree murder. He is being held in custody and will appear in court on Wednesday (February 17).

Police have not yet identified the victim.

Police currently have the residence secured as part of the investigation. The road has been reopened to traffic.

There is no threat to public safety. Further information will be provided once available.

Anyone with information about this incident can contact Detective Constable Mike Penney at 705-876-1122 ext. 232 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) and online at stopcrimehere.ca.

 

This story has been updated to include information about the Quebec man charged in connection with the stabbing death.

COVID-safe YWCA Empty Bowls fundraiser returns in March

By kawarthaNOW -
During the YWCA Empty Bowls fundraiser, running from March 12 to 14, 2021, you can book a 30-minute time slot to choose a handcrafted bowl at the Kawartha Potters Guild's Pottery Shop. For the $40 ticket price, you will also receive a coupon card with generous discounts from 18 participating restaurants. (Photo courtesy of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton)

The annual YWCA Empty Bowls fundraising event is returning for its 17th year in March, but with some adjustments to accommodate the pandemic.

In previous years, the fundraiser took place on a single day, when crowds of people would visit The Venue in downtown Peterborough to select a handcrafted bowl and then enjoy a lunch donated by local restaurants.

This year, the bowls and food will still be available, but in a different format because of the pandemic.

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Over three days starting Friday, March 12th, you can book a 30-minute time slot to visit the Kawartha Potters Guild’s Pottery Shop and choose from hundreds of unique bowls, created and donated by talented local artisans.

To keep people safe, only six participants will be allowed at a time, and all visitors and volunteers will wear masks and maintain physical distancing. Hand sanitizing stations will be available on entry and exit.

Although there will be no meal this year, participants will receive a coupon card with generous discounts from 18 participating restaurants.

“Our local restaurants have done so much over the years to help make YWCA Empty Bowls truly special,” says Ria Nicholson of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton. “This is our way of encouraging participants to try new or favourite meals and show their local love in support of our amazing local restaurants.”

Tickets are $40 each and include one handmade bowl donated by artisans of the Kawartha Potters Guild as well as one coupon card that includes discounts at 18 local restaurants, valid until March 12, 2022.

Participating restaurants include Amandala’s, Baked 4U, Black Honey, By The Bridge, Central Smith, Fresh Dreams, La Hacienda, Naked Chocolate, Pastry Peddler, Ptbo Cooks, Rare, Sam’s Place, Silk Roots, Taso’s, That’s a Wrap!, The Cheese Shop, Old Smoke House Catering, and The Pin.

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Tickets are available now at ywcapeterborough.org or by calling 705-743-3526.

All proceeds from the event will directly support the YWCA Nourish Food Program to prevent and relieve hunger in the community.

Participants are invited to share photos of their bowl and restaurant orders on social media using the hashtag #YWCAEmptyBowls.

YWCA Empty Bowls is sponsored by Kawartha Cardiology Clinic, Cornerstone Family Dentistry, Pure Country 105, and Move 99.7.

businessNOW: 12 new Starter Company Plus applicants announced

By Bruce Head -
Dave Ross, whose company Branded Heron Leatherworks creates handcrafted leather goods, is one of 12 entrepreneurs participating in the winter intake of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre's Starter Company Plus. At the end of the eight-week program, six of the entrepreneurs will each be awarded a grant of $5,000. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)

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 12 entrepreneurs participating in the winter intake of the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre’s Starter Company Plus program, Kawartha Controls in Omemee receiving $1.13 million in repayable FedDev funding, Best Buy Canada supplying a tech grant to a Peterborough school, New Canadians Centre seeking new board members, and Nexicom matching donations to 4th Line Theatre’s youth apprenticeship program during February.

Also featured this week is Sheridan Graham’s appointment as CAO of Peterborough County, Michael Gallant’s appointment as the new board chair of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, and the Fenelon Falls Chamber partnering with Toronto-based company Driftscape on an augmented reality tourism app.

Upcoming events include a virtual workshop on business registration and trademarks on February 17th, a webinar on mental health for farm families in Peterborough and the Kawarthas on February 17th, an online screening of the “SILO” documentary followed by a panel discussion on February 19th, an intellectual property webinar on February 23rd, a virtual breakfast session on research and innovation in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes on February 26th, and the StrikeUP 2021 virtual conference for female entrepreneurs on March 4th.

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Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre announces 12 new Starter Company Plus applicants

Participants in the winter intake of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre's Starter Company Plus program participating in a Zoom session. The eight-week program is designed to provide business training to aspiring or experienced entrepreneurs in the city and county of Peterborough who are launching a new business or expanding an existing one that's been operating for five years or less. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
Participants in the winter intake of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre’s Starter Company Plus program participating in a Zoom session. The eight-week program is designed to provide business training to aspiring or experienced entrepreneurs in the city and county of Peterborough who are launching a new business or expanding an existing one that’s been operating for five years or less. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development’s Business Advisory Centre has announced the 12 entrepreneurs who will take part in the winter intake of the Starter Company Plus entrepreneurial program.

Funded by the Ontario government, Starter Company Plus is designed to provide business training to aspiring or experienced entrepreneurs in the city and county of Peterborough who are launching a new business or expanding an existing one that’s been operating for five years or less.

The eight-week program, which is delivered completely online, culminates with six of the entrepreneurs each being awarded a grant of $5,000, with the selection based on creativity and viability of their business and the strength of their business plan.

Here are the 12 entrepreneurs and their businesses:

  • Christine Jaros of VerminiX Pest Control Company
  • Daniel Etmanski of Daniel Etmanski’s Cannabis Consulting
  • Dave Ross of Branded Heron Leatherworks
  • Fenna Renee Green of Daily Development
  • Hamayuwa Mwanangonze of Spores No More
  • Kelly Ward of FoodFabulous
  • Lia Gomez Lowe of Full Bloom Health
  • Mike Frampton of Tragically Dipped Donuts
  • Scott D. Bain and Sandy Spremo of The K9 Clipper
  • Ryan Vieira of Our Little Worm Farm
  • E. Tristan Pulham and Tyler O’Conner of Elemental Tree Care
  • Tyson Newell of Creative Landscaping and Post Holes

For more information about Starter Company Plus in the Peterborough area, visit peterboroughed.ca/starter.

 

Kawartha Controls in Omemee receives $1.13 million in repayable FedDev funding

Omemee manufacturing company Bélair Mechatronics, which operates as Kawartha Controls, designs and manufactures hydraulic manifolds used in construction, farm equipment, and power generation. (Photo: Kawartha Controls / Facebook)
Omemee manufacturing company Bélair Mechatronics, which operates as Kawartha Controls, designs and manufactures hydraulic manifolds used in construction, farm equipment, and power generation. (Photo: Kawartha Controls / Facebook)

Omemee manufacturing company Bélair Mechatronics — which operates as Kawartha Controls — has received $1.13 million in repayable funding from the federal government through FedDev Ontario.

Kawartha Controls designs and manufactures hydraulic manifolds used in construction, farm equipment, and power generation.

The company will be using the funding to set up a new machining cell and refine its AI-driven “smart factory” processes, which significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions created by their operations compared to industry standards.

The funding will increase the company’s production capacity by 300 per cent and create six jobs in Omemee.

 

Best Buy Canada supplies tech grant to Peterborough school

Roger Neilson Public School in Peterborough is one of 13 elementary and secondary schools across Canada that have been awarded grants of up to $10,000 each from Best Buy Canada.

The 13 schools, selected from more than 730 applications, will receive a combined $128,000 in funding for tech-based curricula through the Best Buy School Tech Grant program. Through these grants, students will be able to access the latest technology to help keep them motivated and focused as they move towards post-secondary education.

Best Buy will offer the opportunity again in September for elementary and secondary schools to apply for the program. Educators interested in being notified when grants are next available can email schoolgrants@bestbuycanada.ca.

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New Canadians Centre seeking new board members

The New Canadians Centre in Peterborough is looking for volunteer board directors to join the governance team that shapes and advises on the strategic priorities of the organization, which supports local newcomers and refugees.

Community members with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply as a board member, which requires six to eight hours per month.

The New Canadians Centre is specifically looking for volunteers with experience relating to settlement, community development, or housing. Board members would have the opportunity to participate in fund development activities that are meaningful to them.

Applications to join the board will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Monday, March 1st. For more information visit nccpeterborough.ca/new-canadians-centre-seeks-board-members-2021/.

 

Nexicom matching donations to 4th Line Theatre’s youth apprenticeship program during February

Nexicom is matching community donations to 4th Line Theatre's youth apprenticeship program during the month of February. (Graphic: 4th Line Theatre)
Nexicom is matching community donations to 4th Line Theatre’s youth apprenticeship program during the month of February. (Graphic: 4th Line Theatre)

Millbrook telecommunications company Nexicom will be matching community donations during the month of February to 4th Line Theatre’s Emerging Voices Program.

The program provides local youth with the opportunity to gain experience, skills, and training by working alongside professional artists in a theatre company.

During 4th Line Theatre’s 2019 summer season, 62 youth actors were involved in the outdoor theatre company’s productions, each contributing more than 210 hours of their time.

The Emerging Voices Program requires around $20,000 in funding every year to train youth volunteers. Donations to this program are used to pay for workshops, vocal and dialect coaching, acting and movement coaching, choreography and fight direction, technical production coaching, and for paid apprenticeship opportunities for selected young artists.

Donations can be made online at 4thlinetheatre.on.ca or by calling 4th Line Theatre at 705-932-4445. Donations made until March 1st will qualify for a matching donation by Nexicom.

 

Sheridan Graham appointed CAO of Peterborough County

Sheridan Graham. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough County)
Sheridan Graham. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough County)

Sheridan Graham has been appointed chief administrative officer, deputy clerk, and deputy treasurer of the County of Peterborough. She has been acting in the position while Troy Speck, whohad announced he will be retiring as chief administrative officer on March 31 for family health reasons, is on leave.

Currently director of corporate projects and services, Graham began her municipal career with the county in 1997, before moving on to the City of Kawartha Lakes as manager of purchasing and accounts payable in 2003. She returned to the County of Peterborough in 2007.

Graham has a certified municipal officer designation from AMCTO and a master certificate in municipal leadership from York University. She is the procurement director for the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN), a project of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, and has been a member of the core team for the project since its inception. She also works with the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council with their municipal innovation procurement.

Graham is a member of the board of directors of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s Local Authority Services and is currently a volunteer CMO evaluator with AMCTO as well as the chair of Sustainable Peterborough.

 

Michael Gallant is new chair of Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area board

Michael Gallant. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Michael Gallant. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)

Michael Gallant of Lett Architects is the new chair of the board of management of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), which represents 400 downtown businesses through advocacy, promotion, and beautification projects and initiatives.

Gallant replaces Paul Bennett, owner of Ashburnham Realty and co-founder of VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough. Bennett, who resigned as board chair in January, has been on the DBIA board since 2015 and served as chair since 2018.

An architect and design principal at Lett Architects at 138 Simcoe Street in downtown Peterborough, Gallant has taken a lead role in the DBIA’s vibrancy projects, which emphasize urban renewal through placemaking, public art, and community engagement.

 

Fenelon Falls partners with Driftscape on augmented reality tourism app

The City of Toronto on the Driftscape augmented reality tourism app. (Photo courtesy of Driftscape)
The City of Toronto on the Driftscape augmented reality tourism app. (Photo courtesy of Driftscape)

The Fenelon Falls & District Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Toronto-based Driftscape to include Fenelon Falls in the company’s augmented reality tourism app.

The aim of the partnership is to help locals and visitors explore Fenelon Falls during the pandemic, with self-guided tours and more, in a safe and interactive way while supporting local businesses. The app will also help Fenelon Falls share real-time updates with residents and visitors.

The app can be used at home or while on location in Fenelon Falls. In early 2021, Fenelon Falls will also pilot Driftscape’s newest visitor engagement feature, a scavenger hunt called “Quests”.

The development of the Fenelon Falls tourism app is supported by the Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation (KLCFDC) through the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

Driftscape is available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. For more information, visit www.driftscape.com.

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Virtual workshop on business registration and trademarks on February 17

CryptoChicks is presenting “Fast Start to your Business: Registration, Trademarks, and Risks for the Founders” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17th.

This free workshop will cover the different options for business registration in Canada and the pros and cons of each, how to register a trademark in Canada and elsewhere, and the common risks faced by business owners.

Speakers include Alana McElhinney and Sydney Young (associates with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP), Amber Scott (CEO of Outlier Solutions), and Scott Wilson (VP of FoxQuilt).

This webinar is part of the “Hacking the Digital Curve: Empowering Women Entrepreneurship” series from Northumberland CFDC and the DELIA program, with the support of FedDev Ontario.

For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com/e/tickets-125427885181?discount=DELIA.

 

Webinar on mental health for farm families in Peterborough and the Kawarthas on February 17

The Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable is hosting "Mental Health Night" for farm families in Peterborough and the Kawarthas at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17th.

The Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable is hosting “Mental Health Night” for farm families in Peterborough and the Kawarthas at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17th.

Jack Veitch of the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge will educate farmers about good and bad stress and what it means for functioning. Strategies for managing stress are also explored.

Topics will include a discussion on cognitive behavioural therapy and positive psychology, as well as information on how to access free mental health programming throughout Ontario.
This webinar will highlight simple ways to be and stay well while living through COVID-19. There will be time allotted at the end of the presentation for questions.

This free event takes place on the Zoom video-conferencing platform.

For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.ca/e/138810069655.

 

Online screening of “SILO” documentary and panel discussion on February 19

nline screening of "SILO" documentary and panel discussion on February 19

The City of Kawartha Lakes Agriculture Department is presenting a free online screening of the documentary film “SILO”, followed by a panel discussion about the need for grain-handling safety awareness and training, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, February 19th.

Inspired by true events, “SILO” follows a harrowing day in an American farm town. Disaster strikes when teenager Cody Rose is entrapped in a 50-foot-tall grain bin. When the corn turns to quicksand, family, neighbours, and first responders must put aside their differences to rescue Cody from drowning in the crop that has sustained their community for generations.

Following the 70-minute screening, there will be a panel discussion on the Zoom video-conferencing platform about the film. The discussion will cover farm safety, grain handling, fire rescue, multi-generational farming, and other themes in the film that are relevant to the agricultural sector in Kawartha Lakes and surrounding communities.

For more information and to register, visit silothefilmkawarthalakes.eventbrite.ca.

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Intellectual property webinar on February 23

The Innovation Cluster is hosting “Hands-ON: Intellectual Property with Prima IP” from noon – 1 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23rd.

Marcelo Sarkis of Prima IP will explain what intellectual property (IP) is, strategies for securing your IP, and typical costs.

This free event takes place on the Zoom video-conferencing platform.

For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com/e/138310276761.

 

Virtual breakfast session on research and innovation in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes on February 26

The Innovation Cluster is hosting "Power Breakfast: Research and Innovation in Peterborough & Kawartha Lakes" from 8 to 9 a.m. on Friday, February 26th.

The Innovation Cluster is hosting “Power Breakfast: Research and Innovation in Peterborough & Kawartha Lakes” from 8 to 9 a.m. on Friday, February 26th.

This virtual session is intended to provide business leaders, thought leaders, and startups with a perspective on research opportunities in the region, including the Innovation and Research institutions in Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes as well as the advancements taking place at Trent University’s Office of Research and Innovation and the Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies.

Speakers include Jennifer Andersen (manager of the Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies at Fleming College), Dr. Brett Goodwin (vice president of Applied Research and Innovation at Fleming College), Dr. Cathy Bruce (acting vice-president Research and Innovation at Trent University), and Dr. Naomi Nichols (associate professor of sociology and the Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Community-Partnered Social Justice at Trent University).

This free event takes place on the Zoom video-conferencing platform.

For more information and to register, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/138284533763.

 

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)
The free StrikeUP 2021 virtual conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 4, 2021. (Photo: StrikeUP / Facebook)

Northumberland CFDC, with support from FedDev Ontario and the federal government’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, is presenting the free StrikeUP 2021 virtual conference from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 4th.

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.

Other workshop speakers and panelists 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).

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)
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)

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.

Peterborough musician launches Facebook group to help organize post-pandemic celebration

By Paul Rellinger -
"Peterborough Celebrates!", a new Facebook group created by local musician Ken Tuck, aims to bring together the arts and business communities to plan a post-pandemic celebration in Peterborough, such as a city-wide event with all different genres of music. Pictured are members of Celtic group Hunt the Hare, who performed in 2018 at the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area's series of outdoor "Live and Local" live music events in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Peterborough DBIA)

If you need definitive proof that it’s the journey and not the destination that matters most, a new Facebook-driven initiative that’s quickly gaining traction fits the bill nicely.

Founded and administrated by Peterborough musician Ken Tuck, the Facebook group “Peterborough Celebrates!” is closing in on 200 members, most offering a specific talent or professional service for the staging of an event, or events, heralding the yet-to-be-determined return to some sort of pre-pandemic norm for the local music and business communities.

The private group, which can be found at facebook.com/groups/peterboroughcelebrates, has the stated intent “to plan and implement a celebration when restrictions are fully raised. It is my (Tuck’s) wish to exchange ideas on how we can give our local businesses and entertainers the kick start they need. We need to get organized and prepared.”

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The journey-destination equation comes into play via Tuck’s admission that, while he’s not sure what the end result of his call to action will be — whether it’s one grand event or a series of smaller ones, the real value lies in the fact that so many are willing to collaborate to make it happen and feel good to be able to work toward something positive.

“People are looking for something to do that has meaning … something that’s going to bring something good to their lives,” says Tuck, a website developer and internet marketer by trade.

The "Peterborough Celebrates!" Facebook group was established by Peterborough musician Ken Tuck. A website developer and internet marketer by trade, Tuck is also developing a website for the initiative. (Photo courtesy of Ken Tuck)
The “Peterborough Celebrates!” Facebook group was established by Peterborough musician Ken Tuck. A website developer and internet marketer by trade, Tuck is also developing a website for the initiative. (Photo courtesy of Ken Tuck)

“The target for me is two fold. I want to channel some hope for people but also get things going with a solid plan for something in the future,” Tuck adds.

What that “something” is, says Tuck, will emerge as an organizing team is put together and starts hashing out specific ideas.

“It could change, but really my initial vision was go big or go home. How do you get people really excited about something? Usually you have to go big. I see a city-wide event catering to all different genres of music. I also realize there are a lot of small business people that would like to be a part of this. It’s a symbiotic relationship. Business has a huge role to play here.”

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The music community that he’s a part of, says Tuck, has, not unlike so many other sectors, been severely affected by pandemic restrictions as opportunities to play live have all but evaporated.

Coupled with what was going on before the pandemic — the closure of live music venues such as The Pig’s Ear, The Spill, and Dobro, and the loss in recent years of notable local music talents such as Jan Schoute, Buzz Thompson, Charlie Earle, and Jimmy Deck — it’s a community that needs to feel good about itself again.

“Peterborough has such a great breadth of talent … we need to foster that in any way, shape or form we can,” says Tuck.

“I had been thinking about this for awhile. It was like ‘What can I do?’ I want to focus on something positive. I want to work towards something. I don’t want to fight something. I’d rather work with people. I love collaborating. I really want to lean on some people.”

One of organizer Ken Tuck's ideas for a post-pandemic celebration in Peterborough is having musicians perform on the streets. From 2015 to 2018, Artsweek Peterborough hosted "Porchapoloza", where local musicians played from the porches of homes in different Peterborough neighbourhoods. Pictured are Hank and Kristine Fisher performing during the first Porchapoloza in 2015. (Photo: Artsweek Peterborough)
One of organizer Ken Tuck’s ideas for a post-pandemic celebration in Peterborough is having musicians perform on the streets. From 2015 to 2018, Artsweek Peterborough hosted “Porchapoloza”, where local musicians played from the porches of homes in different Peterborough neighbourhoods. Pictured are Hank and Kristine Fisher performing during the first Porchapoloza in 2015. (Photo: Artsweek Peterborough)

While not a fan of Facebook (“I call it the marketplace of bad ideas”), Tuck put his disdain aside and turned to the social media platform as the best and most immediate way of bringing forth willing collaborators.

“Facebook has become a toilet book — you know, those silly little books you have beside the toilet that you sit down and read for five minutes and then forget about,” Tuck says. “But give people the chance to do something good and they’ll jump all over it. I think that’s why this message has really taken off. I think there’s a much better prize ahead of us.”

The end result of any collaboration, admits Tuck, isn’t close to being known, but he has floated the idea of Peterborough musicians making the city streets their stage.

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“It was a visual I was feeling at the time,” he explains.

“I did a lot of busking when I was in Australia. There were always magical moments when somebody would come out the crowd. I was doing Twist and Shout with a friend and this guy came out and starting singing La Bamba in Spanish. The crowd went nuts. It was totally random.”

“Then this little Italian guy came out with his apron on and asked ‘Can you sing O Sole Mio for me?’ I said ‘No, but you can.’ So he did that. It was magical just because of people interacting with the music.”

Peterborough Celebrates is “a conversation starter”, says Tuck. And whatever emerges as a result, he’s convinced it will be a huge success.

If you're interested in participating in "Peterborough Celebrates!", you can join the Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/peterboroughcelebrates.
If you’re interested in participating in “Peterborough Celebrates!”, you can join the Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/peterboroughcelebrates.

“I think the reception to live music is going to be better than it was before. There’s something genuine about seeing a happy person singing in a bar or even on the street. That creates a real interaction between human beings. We’ve been missing that.”

Tuck makes no apologies for his optimism nor does he feel he has to.

“At the end of the day, I just want to see happy faces again,” he says.

In the meantime, as the membership of the Peterborough Celebrates group grows, Tuck is developing a website for the initiative.

Ahead, he says, is the formation of an organizing team that will start the discussion around a post-pandemic event or series of events.

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