Hydro One workers replacing a hydro pole. (Photo: Hydro One)
A planned power outage on Sunday (October 18) will affect almost 5,000 Hydro One customers in northern Peterborough County.
Hydro One is replacing hydro poles and will be switching off power in an area stretching from Upper Stony Lake in the south to the edge of Silent Lake Provincial Park in the north, and from Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park in the west to Highways 46 and 504 in the east.
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A total of 4,835 customers will be affected, including in the communities of Crowes Landing, Woodview, Nephton, and Apsley.
Hydro One will be switching off power at 8 a.m., with an estimated restoration time of 2 p.m.
The affected area of Hydro One’s planned outage from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 18, 2020. (Map: Hydro One)
One way to support a sustainable circular economy is by not buying single-use paper towels and napkins that go straight into the landfill. Instead, consider reusable alternatives like these "Unpaper Towels" and cloth napkins, handmade in Peterborough by Cheeks Ahoy and available at the GreenUP Store and Resource Centre. (Photo: Leif Einarson)
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Leif Einarson, Communications and Marketing Specialist at GreenUP.
Let’s talk trash. Next week (October 19 to 25) is Waste Reduction Week in Canada.
Last week, federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced plans to eliminate single-use plastics by 2022. By 2030, Canada has committed to zero plastic waste.
But our trash does not vanish simply because it’s trash. In 2016 alone, 29,000 tonnes of plastic garbage polluted beaches, parks, lakes, and our air — this according to the Draft Science Assessment of Plastic Pollution informing the recent federal announcement.
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Below you’ll find six tips to help you trash talk constructively. These include local resources to reduce waste in your life and support broader waste reduction initiatives in Peterborough, and across Ontario and Canada. I’ve summarized these from the Waste Reduction Week in Canada website (visit wrwcanada.com to learn more).
Before we look at that list, let’s acknowledge that not all waste is created equal.
Apart from the visible tangible waste you deal with every day, there are also the less visible greenhouse gas emissions that we’re all responsible for.
The impacts of these emissions, however, are clearly visible. Human-caused climate change is apparent in our daily lives. This past summer was one of the hottest and driest ever in Peterborough: over 30 days above 30°C. The average in the 1990s was 6.3 days above 30°C. The Otonabee Region Conservation Authority declared a low water condition on June 18 and it is still in effect.
Sparo Lindsay of Union Studio in downtown Peterborough holds a bag of metal foils that have been collected and cleaned for recycling after being used for hair colouring. Local business communities have a powerful role to play as leaders in waste reduction and in building relations with their clients that demonstrate the value of sustainable business practices. (Photo: Ben Hargreaves)
We need to take climate action to reduce our waste, both individually and also collectively through bold, informed leadership. If you aren’t sure what those programs might be locally, check out GreenUP’s Climate Action Resource at greenup.on.ca/climate-action-resource/.
Climate action requires that we disconnect our daily lives and economies from fossil fuels. That action includes, for example, creating bike-friendly infrastructure so residents walk or use bikes instead of cars for trips under 5km. Climate action also includes reducing plastic waste. Plastics are, after all, made from petroleum.
The recent single-use plastic announcement by the federal government gives provinces and municipalities the leadership they need to take aggressive action on the underlying habit of “single use.” Whether your groceries come home in plastic or paper single-use bags, you are still participating in an economy of waste.
With that in mind, here is your six-step cheat sheet for breaking those wasteful habits and supporting a shift towards a sustainable economy.
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1. Draw a circle, not a line
Consider the coffee pod: Canadians use 2.8 million of these every day, and most end up in the garbage.
This is an example of a linear economy: with those coffee pods you can draw a straight line from raw resource, through manufactured product, to the landfill. This linear economy is not sustainable.
In a circular economy, products are designed to ensure we reuse resources by reinvesting them in new products again and again. Instead of a straight line from raw resources to landfills, we draw a circle that reduces resource extraction and waste.
You may think that recycling already draws that circle. Recycling, however, is not quite the same thing as a circular economy. Instead of finding a recycling solution after a product is already designed and bought, in a circular economy we would never design and produce wasteful products like coffee pods to begin with. In a circular economy, the start of product design is planning for the recovery and reuse of materials.
Learn more about the circular economy at wrwcanada.com.
People who typically avoid single-use plastics may find this difficult to do during the pandemic, with disposable masks and single-use containers of hand sanitizer. Some sources suggest that plastic waste has increased by over 300 per cent because of COVID-19. Avoid wasting emotional energy on guilt and blame. Do what you can, and remember that masks and other personal protective equipment should be disposed of safely and responsibly. (Photo: Leif Einarson)
2. Reuse textiles
It takes 2,650 litres of water to produce a single cotton t-shirt. North Americans send about 40 kilograms of clothing per person to landfill each year. Of that, 95 per cent could be reused or recycled. We need to use these resources responsibly.
What can you do? Swap or share, sell, or donate. Watch for opportunities when the local Free Market starts up again (visit opirgptbo.ca/free-market/ for details).
Get creative: DIY upcycle old items into new fashion items. Instead of buying new textile products, support sustainable reuse at places like Talize and Value Village. If you have old clothes that can’t be re-worn, consider reaching out to B!KE to see if they can re-purpose these as rags for their shop.
3. Eliminate e-waste
How can you reduce waste from electronics? Repair or refurbish instead of buying new.
Recycle to avoid sending electronics to the landfill.
If you must buy new, look for sustainable, circular approaches to product design.
For e-waste solutions in Peterborough, reach out to our local rebootcanada.ca.
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4. Pause before plastic
When you see plastic, pause and think.
As discussed above, most plastics are made from petroleum. Avoid products or foods that come with single-use plastic.
For more ideas on how to reduce plastics in your life, check out GreenUP’s monthly #ZeroWaste features by subscribing to our e-newsletter. You can also chat with Kristen LaRocque (coordinator at the GreenUP Store and Resource Centre) at kristen.larocque@greenup.on.ca about reducing plastic waste.
Did you know about 47 per cent of wasted food in Canada comes from homes? Of the 42,000 tonnes of waste dumped into the Peterborough landfill each year, approximately 5,880 of thatis wasted food. That is 650 garbage truck loads of wasted food!
Avoid “bought & forgot” waste by planning meals before you buy food, eating what you buy, getting creative with leftovers, and composting.
The value of food thrown away in Peterborough City and County each year is approximately $30.6 million. Local chef Tyler Scott’s family uses this white board in their kitchen to create lists of things to purchase, items to use up, and inspiration for their weekly meals. This approach helps them to reduce the number of trips they make and also helps to avoid food waste. (Photo: Tyler Scott)
6. Share and repair
Ownership is overrated.
For example, a membership to the Peterborough Tool Library means you can borrow instead of own tools: you’ll have more money and space to build neat things. You can also afford a much nicer bike if, instead of having your own shop, you get a membership to B!KE and make use of their shop and amazing tools and expertise.
How else can you share and repair in Peterborough? Advocate for bike and car share programs, and support local swap, repair, and reuse programs like Repair Café Peterborough or Habitat for Humanity Restore.
Consider participating in or creating swap events within your neighbourhood and workplace. Find new life for unwanted or damaged products and textiles.
With a little bit of thought, sharing and repairing can still be done safely by following COVID-19 requirements from Peterborough Public Health. A wasteful linear economy is bad for our health too.
Get ready for Waste Reduction Week, Peterborough. Follow @PtboGreenUP on social media for more tips and to share your own success stories!
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, Ontario is reporting 721 new COVID-19 cases. Most of the new cases are in Toronto (270), Peel (170), and York (79), with smaller increases in Hamilton (41), Ottawa (39), Waterloo (23), Durham (22), Halton (21), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (20), Simcoe Muskoka (15), Brant County (7), and Middlesex-London (6). The remaining 22 public health units are reporting 5 or fewer cases, with 14 reporting no cases at all.
Of today’s cases, 53% are among people under the age of 40. The positivity rate has increased by 0.4% to 3% (this means that 3% of the tests that were performed on October 13 were positive for COVID-19). With 783 more cases resolved, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.3% to 85%.
There are no new deaths, and only 1 additional person hospitalized since yesterday, for a total of 231. An additional 4 patients have been admitted to ICUs, with 1 additional patient on a ventilator. A total of 32,206 tests were completed yesterday, and the backlog of tests under investigation has increased by 2,138 to 26,558.
The number of new cases in Ontario schools today is 96, an increase of 44 from Friday, with 51 student cases, 13 staff cases, and 32 cases among unidentified individuals. There are 15 new cases in licensed child care settings, a decrease of 5 from Friday, with 9 cases among children and 6 cases among staff.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there is 1 new case to report in Peterborough. There are no new cases in Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, or Hastings and Prince Edward counties. None of the new cases in Ontario schools and child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.
There are currently 6 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 2 in Peterborough, 3 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 132 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (128 resolved with 2 deaths), 183 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (164 resolved with 32 deaths), 45 in Northumberland County (44 resolved with 1 death), 19 in Haliburton County (18 resolved with no deaths), and 63 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (55 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on September 8.
Province-wide, there have been 61,413 confirmed cases, an increase of 721 from yesterday, with 52,512 (85.5% of all cases) resolved, an increase of 783. There have been 3,017 deaths, no change from yesterday, with 1,968 deaths in long-term care homes, also no change from yesterday. An additional 1 person has been hospitalized, with 4 new ICU admissions and 1 new patient on a ventilator. A total of 4,494,373 tests have been completed, an increase of 32,206 from yesterday, with 26,558 tests under investigation, an increase of 2,138 from yesterday.
This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
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: 132 (increase of 1) Active cases: 2 (increase of 1) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 128 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 32,350 (increase of 50) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 247, including 183 in Kawartha Lakes, 45 in Northumberland, 19 in Haliburton (no change) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations (total to date): 15 (no change) Deaths: 33 (no change) Resolved: 226, including 164 in Kawartha Lakes, 44 in Northumberland, 18 in Haliburton (no change) Active cases: 1 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 63 (no change) Active cases: 3 (no change) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 55 (no change) Total tests completed: 42,475 (increase of 144) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 61,413 (increase of 721) Resolved: 52,512 (increase of 783, 85.5% of all cases) Hospitalized: 231 (increase of 1) Hospitalized and in ICU: 64 (increase of 4) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 35 (increase of 1) Deaths: 3,017 (no change) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,968 (no change) Total tests completed: 4,494,373 (increase of 32,206) Tests under investigation: 26,558 (increase of 2,138)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from September 13 – October 13, 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 September 13 – October 13,2020. 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)
Tougher provincial regulations that require the wearing of masks and face coverings in all indoor settings have resulted in Peterborough Public Health rescinding the mandatory mask requirement it issued locally on August 1st.
During her weekly media briefing held Wednesday (October 14), Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra noted the new provincial rules “are equivalent or stronger” to her directive, adding “All establishments are advised to comply with the masking requirements that are outlined in the provincial legislation.”
The provincial regulations, issued October 2nd, mandate the use of masks or face coverings in all public indoor settings, such as businesses, facilities and workplaces, and apply to staff, patrons and visitors. Apartment or condominium commons spaces, places of worship, commercial establishments, offices, and public and private transit vehicles all fall under the tougher requirement.
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“A physical barrier alone, like plexiglas, may not provide an exemption to the wearing of face coverings,” said Dr. Salvaterra. “For staff to be exempted from wearing a face covering, they must also be situated in an area that is not accessible to the public — with the two-metre distancing maintained between all people at all times.”
“This means many service counter staff will now be required to wear a face covering regardless of whether a physical barrier is present,” she added. “This will also be the case in retail establishments, food premises, and grocery stores.”
Peterborough Public Health already sent out a notice to this effect to the local business community on Tuesday (October 13), which both the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism shared with their members.
Dr. Salvaterra adds the stronger requirements will be enforced by the Peterborough Police Service, the OPP, and public health inspectors — with failure to comply with the requirements of an emergency order resulting in a set fine of $750.
In addition, all workplaces are required to screen all staff and visitors for COVID-19 symptoms.
Peterborough Public Health’s adoption of the new provincial directive comes at a time when local COVID-19 numbers have shown marked improvement.
As of Wednesday morning, the local catchment area of Peterborough city and county and Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations had seen a total of 131 positive cases with just one case active — down from eight active cases just one week ago. In addition, earlier outbreaks at Fairhaven long-term care home and Adam Scott Collegiate have been declared over.
Meanwhile, across Ontario, 721 new COVID-19 cases were reported Wednesday morning with no new deaths resulting. The rolling seven-day average of new province-wide cases is now at 781, up significantly from 605 reported last week.
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In his comments during today’s briefing, Selwyn mayor and local board of health chair Andy Mitchell spoke specifically to hunt camps and the need for hunters to minimize infection opportunities.
“The safest way to hunt this year is to avoid camp and limit your hunting to day trips only,” said Mayor Mitchell, with Dr. Salvaterra adding “Any time you have people gathering to eat together or sleep together you’re setting up the perfect conditions for COVID to be transmitted. Tenting separately and preparing meals separately would also help reduce the risk.”
With the Thanksgiving long weekend now in the rear view mirror, Dr. Salvaterra noted how well the community did, in terms of following guidelines, will be clearer in a few weeks’ time.
“We expect to see some cases related to Thanksgiving celebrations, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the number will be minimal here,” she said.
As for Halloween and trick-or-treating plans for local children, Dr. Salvaterra said public health guidance has not yet been developed.
“It’s only October 14 and there’s still two weeks to go but there can be a lot of change in two weeks,” she explained. “By then we’ll see the impact of Thanksgiving. We’re going to wait to see where we are at that time and we will take that into consideration.”
No, this isn't a scene out of a 1950s sci-fi B movie: it's one of the scary tableaus you can experience this October during "Halloween Fright Nights" at Indian River Reptile & Dinosaur Park just east of Peterborough. The COVID-safe family-friendly drive-through event runs on multiple nights up to and including Halloween. (Photo: Indian River Reptile & Dinosaur Park / Facebook)
If you’re looking for a COVID-safe family outing during the Halloween season while supporting a good cause, you’ll want to check out “Halloween Fright Nights” at Indian River Reptile & Dinosaur Park beginning on Thursday (October 15) and running on selected nights until the end of the month.
Located just east of Peterborough, the not-for-profit reptile sanctuary is hosting a drive-through event at its Dinosaur Park featuring ghosts, goblins, bats, skeletons, monsters, and clowns — and, of course, some of the park’s famous animatronic dinosaurs.
“Take a spooky and creepy drive through the park at night and see what comes alive when everyone else is sleeping,” owner Bry Loyst writes on Facebook.
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This is an all-ages family-friendly event, although Loyst suggests parents use their discretion when bringing younger children.
It’s also a COVID-safe event, since you never have to leave your vehicle — just show your ticket at the gate and drive through the park.
Halloween Fright Nights run from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays to Sundays from October 15th to October 25th, and from Wednesday, October 28th through Saturday, October 31st.
“Halloween Fright Nights” at Indian River Reptile & Dinosaur Park, about 16 kilometres east of Peterborough, will feature ghosts, goblins, bats, skeletons, monsters, and clowns, along with some of the park’s animatronic dinosaurs. (Photo: Indian River Reptile & Dinosaur Park / Facebook)
The cost is $20 plus HST per vehicle, and there’s no need to book a time slot.
All proceeds from Halloween Fright Nights will go towards helping care for the hundreds of rescued reptiles at the sanctuary, including turtles, snakes, lizards, alligators, and crocodiles.
For tickets, visit eventbrite.ca/o/bry-loyst-29142317173. Indian River Reptile & Dinosaur Park is located at 2206 County Road 38 on Highway 7, 16 kilometres east of Peterborough.
If you think dinosaurs are scary during the day, try them at night. “Halloween Fright Nights” at Indian River Reptile & Dinosaur Park just east of Peterborough is a COVID-safe, family-friendly, drive-through event running on multiple nights up to and including Halloween. (Photo: Indian River Reptile & Dinosaur Park / Facebook)
The City of Kawartha Lakes' new "Shop Kawartha Lakes" campaign is encouraging consumers to spend their money at locally owned or operated businesses and aid the region's economic recovery, including in the economic hub of Lindsay (pictured) as well as in Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Coboconk-Norland, and the many other communities of the region. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
At a time when businesses are fighting to recover from the pandemic, every dollar spent locally helps — especially with the approaching holiday shopping season.
That’s why the City of Kawartha Lakes has launched its new ‘Shop Kawartha Lakes’ campaign: to encourage consumers to spend their money at locally owned or operated businesses and aid the region’s economic recovery.
Donna Goodwin, economic development officer for arts and culture at the City of Kawartha Lakes, says locally owned and operated businesses across Kawartha Lakes — including in Lindsay, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, and Coboconk-Norland — have been greatly impacted by the pandemic.
She hopes the campaign will inspire both residents and visitors to shop, dine, and seek out experiences in the region.
“A large majority of businesses have faced temporary and permanent closures, layoffs and downsizing as a result of COVID-19,” Goodwin says. “They need support from the community now more than ever, especially with the holiday season getting close. The economy will depend on all of us to come together and show that we do love local.”
With the holiday season fast approaching, locally owned and operated businesses in Kawartha Lakes communities like Bobcaygeon need the support of local consumers to help make it through the pandemic. The City of Kawartha Lakes’ new “Shop Kawartha Lakes” campaign offers a free set of customizable graphic templates businesses can use in their own marketing to reinforce and leverage the shop local message across the entire region. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
There are more than 6,000 businesses across Kawartha Lakes — in sectors including agriculture, retail, recreation, hospitality, personal care, and more — that offer a diverse range of goods and services, Goodwin says.
“Many are considered hidden neighbourhood gems and offer excellent customer service,” she points out.
Among other things, the Shop Kawartha Lakes campaign encourages consumers to order takeout from their favourite restaurant or cafe, buy products made by local makers and artists (or purchase gift cards to use later), and use local services provided by accountants, chiropractors, hairstylists, and more.
Locally owned and operated businesses across Kawartha Lakes, including in Fenelon Falls, have been greatly impacted by the pandemic. The City of Kawartha Lakes’ new “Shop Kawartha Lakes” campaign encourages residents and visitors to support the region’s more than 6,000 businesses. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
“Circulating money within the region helps to foster a vibrant and sustainable community,” Goodwin says.
While locally owned independent businesses have been hardest hit by the pandemic, Goodwin notes the shop local concept doesn’t exclude national franchises and big box stores. Operated by and employing local residents, these businesses also contribute to the economic and social well-being of the region.
“Regardless of whether it’s an independent business or a larger retail chain, community businesses are the ones employing our locals and also supporting our sports teams, cultural societies, and events.”
VIDEO: City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham encourages residents to shop local
Goodwin says she’s impressed with how resilient Kawartha Lakes business owners have been during the pandemic, with many shifting to new platforms overnight to survive and sometimes even thrive.
“Along with curbside pickup and delivery options, people can shop online from stores they used to visit in-person, or shop indoors with safety precautions in place.”
The Shop Kawartha Lakes campaign is an initiative of the City of Kawartha in partnership with the Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce, Fenelon Falls and District Chamber of Commerce, Coboconk-Norland and Area Chamber of Commerce, Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce, and the Lindsay Downtown Business Improvement Association (DBIA).
The region-wide Shop Kawartha Lakes campaign also coincides with the Lindsay DBIA’s own shop local campaign to support downtown Lindsay businesses affected by the reconstruction capital project.
The municipality is concluding the second phase of its street reconstruction project to improve Kent Street and portions of surrounding streets over the next few years. Phase three will begin in January 2021.
Lindsay is the economic hub of the Kawartha Lakes region and downtown Lindsay is the economic hub of Lindsay. The street reconstruction project in downtown Lindsay will be on hold during November and December to allow better traffic flow in the downtown core and to bring more shoppers back to the area. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
A pause during November and December — the critical holiday shopping season — will allow better traffic flow in the downtown core and bring more shoppers back to the area, says Melissa McFarland, general manager for the Lindsay DBIA.
“What businesses need right now is a strong holiday season,” she says. “For consumers who are nervous to be out and about, there are a lot of local businesses who now have an online presence. Instead of ordering something from Amazon, consider buying it from a local store.”
As McFarland points out, Lindsay is the economic hub of the Kawartha Lakes region and downtown Lindsay is the economic hub of Lindsay.
“It’s important to our whole region that all businesses in general, and especially those located downtown, do really well,” she explains.
“When the reconstruction is fully complete, Lindsay is going to have a beautiful thriving downtown, so we need our businesses to still be here.”
Dr. Manju Asdhir, owner of Kawartha Care Wellness Centre in Lindsay (pictured with her daughter), has seen an increase of clientele at her clinic during the pandemic. Local residents are discovering they don’t need to travel outside the region to get the services they need. (Photo: Kawartha Care Wellness Centre)
Not surprisingly, businesses in Lindsay and across the City of Kawartha Lakes are already embracing the Shop Kawartha Lakes campaign.
Kawartha Care Wellness Centre in Lindsay chose to take part in the campaign to reinforce and use the shop local message in the community.
Dr. Manju Asdhir, a chiropractor and owner of the multi-disciplinary clinic, says the clinic experienced a surge of new local patients during the pandemic.
“Prior to COVID-19, these patients were travelling to Durham and Toronto for treatments,” Dr. Asdhir says. “With services cut off in other regions, people who needed care had to explore other options locally. Because we offer a variety of specialities, residents started to take notice and stopped driving long distances to see a therapist.”
“For patients who were nervous about coming to the clinic, we were able to provide care like self-mobilization, concussion recovery, and vestibular rehabilitation through a virtual care platform so they could keep their treatment plan.”
Being agile allowed Kawartha Care Wellness Centre to flourish and to help more patients, Dr. Asdhir adds. “It’s been a win-win for all of us.”
Gridley’s Herbs and Aromatherapy in Woodville produces handmade soap and body care products. With craft shows and festivals cancelled during the pandemic, owner Michele Sauvé is expanding her online sales and in-store purchases to reach her local customers. (Photo: Gridley’s Herbs and Aromatherapy)
Michele Sauvé, owner of Gridley’s Herbs and Aromatherapy, located on the Arts and Heritage Trail in Woodville, says 88 per cent of her annual income comes from selling handmade soap and body care products at craft shows and festivals.
With events cancelled for the entire year, she lost her primary source of revenue and has to depend on online sales and in-store purchases to stay afloat.
“When all the fall and Christmas shows got cancelled, that’s when I realized I’m going to be impacted in a major way,” Sauvé says.
By updating her e-commerce site and offering scheduled appointments to browse her home-based shop, she says she’s staying optimistic and trying her best to “not only survive COVID, but thrive in COVID.”
Participating in the Shop Kawartha Lakes campaign is another opportunity for Sauvé to partner with the City of Kawartha Lakes, she adds, which has helped get eyes on her business — tucked away in a quiet rural area — over the years.
The City of Kawartha Lakes’ new “Shop Kawartha Lakes” campaign encourages residents and visitors to support locally owned and operated businesses across the region, such as Quaker Oaks Farm, a family-run business in Sebright offering an eclectic mix of food, fresh baked goods, and more. Find out more at shopkawarthalakes.ca. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
For local businesses like Kawartha Care and Gridley’s, the campaign offers a free set of customizable graphic templates they can use in their own marketing to reinforce and leverage the shop local message across the entire community.
Shop Kawartha Lakes branded content is also rolling out on social media — where businesses participating in the campaign will also be promoted — and through advertising in the coming weeks and months.
People can also show their support on social media by promoting their favourite businesses with the hashtag #ShopLocalKawarthaLakes.
While Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough remains closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the not-for-profit organization will be resuming its $2-million capital projects fundraising campaign in 2021, coinciding with the performance venue's 25th anniversary. The first priority of the "The Showplace Project: Act II Campaign" will be replacing the aging seats in the Erica Cherney Theatre. That initiative will be aided by a $99,620 grant from the Ontario's government Rural Economic Development program. (Photo: Showplace Performance Centre)
Finding a silver lining somewhere, anywhere, in the black cloud that is the COVID-19 pandemic has tested us in unprecedented fashion, Pat Hooper being no stranger to that quest.
As chair of the board for Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough, Hooper is frustrated the 640-seat not-for-profit performance venue remains shut down in accordance with provincially mandated orders restricting indoor gatherings to 50 people or less. But Hooper is something else: a self-professed optimist who believes, with the strongest conviction, that “we will come together again and it will be okay.”
When that will be and what that will look like is anyone’s guess, but “hanging in suspended animation” hasn’t equated to being idle for Hooper, her board colleagues, and Showplace staff — general manager Emily Martin among them. Garnering much of their attention is “The Showplace Project: Act II Campaign”, a capital projects fundraiser with a goal of $2 million that has actress Linda Kash and actress/filmmaker Megan Murphy serving as co-campaign ambassadors.
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“We had just got started on that critical part of doing face-to-face asks and then COVID set in,” recalls Hooper, adding “It wasn’t right to carry on with that. Everyone had their own issues to deal with, so we sat quietly back.”
While the plan is to ramp up the campaign again early in the new year, Hooper and co-campaign champion Beth McMaster were beaming Thursday (October 8) as Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith announced Showplace is receiving $99,620 via the provincial government’s Rural Economic Development program.
That funding, says Hooper, will be applied to the estimated $400,000-plus cost of replacing the Erica Cherney Theatre’s seats. Installed prior to Showplace’s opening in October 1996, the seats came from the Annapolis Naval Academy in Maryland.
VIDEO: Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough
“At the time there was one company in Canada that handled seats that theatres were using … they refurbished them and brought them in,” McMaster explains.
“When Showplace opened, the Prince of Wales Theatre in Toronto has just opened. Ed Mirvish put used seats in the Princess of Wales. We thought if it was good enough for him, it was good enough for us, so we went with used seats to save money.”
Now, 24 years later, the seats are very much showing their age and need to be replaced to reflect Showplace’s stature as Peterborough’s premier large performance centre, which has hosted Canadian entertainment royalty including Serena Ryder, Jann Arden, Ron James, Liona Boyd, Bruce Cockburn, Barenaked Ladies, and many more.
Millbrook native Serena Ryder performing at a sold-out show at Showplace Performance Centre in December 2019, a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the downtown Peterborough performance venue to close its doors to audiences. The Ontario government’s restriction of no more than 50 people at indoor events, regardless of the capacity of the venue, make performances at the 640-seat theatre financially infeasible. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
The public phase of the campaign, notes Hooper, will be rolled out “a little sooner than we expected.”
“Replacing the seats is the most important need. That means we’ll be selling seat-naming rights. We’re debating what the cost to have a named seat will be, but we’re hoping the work itself can be done next summer.”
This is the first major fundraising campaign undertaken by Showplace since the years immediately following its opening. McMaster was a key player in that effort.
“The fact that we paid off our mortgage within three years of opening is really quite astounding,” she says. “People were very supportive. There’s a whole group out there that so desperately wanted this place and wanted that campaign to succeed, and Showplace to survive.”
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While much is dependent on the where things are at in terms of the pandemic-required restrictions, 2021 marks a major milestone year for Showplace as the 25th anniversary of its opening is reached. McMaster, who was involved from day one in the transformation of the former movie theatre space into a performing arts venue, marvels that a quarter century has passed.
“It is very satisfying,” she says. “When I’m at Showplace people come up to me and say ‘Thank you so much for what you did to bring this place to Peterborough.’ Others have said they can’t imagine the downtown without Showplace. It was needed so badly. Many efforts had been made to bring an entertainment facility to downtown Peterborough and failed. We managed to make it work and it has been all we hoped for.”
Hooper notes that while plans for a 25th anniversary celebration can’t be firmed up due to the unknown, she is certain of one thing — Showplace’s forced shutdown has created “a big void” in her life. Add to that the stress of hard decisions having to be made.
Showplace Performance Centre general manager Emily Martin with board chair Pat Hooper during happier days in 2017. With no revenue because of the cancellation of all performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the not-for-profit organization has had to lay off all its staff with the exception of Martin. (Photo: Showplace Performance Centre)
“We feel so badly about staff,” she laments. “We have laid everyone off except Emily (Martin). We’re able to get the wage subsidy but, if you have absolutely no revenue coming in, even paying 25 per cent (of wages) is impossible because you don’t have 25 per cent (revenue). We are fortunate, compared to some organizations, because we are an independent not-for-profit and we own our building. We don’t have to worry about rent. It still costs to keep the lights on, but it could be worse.”
As she nears the completion of her four-year term as board chair (Wayne Bonner assumes that role in November), Hooper admits to some frustration with the provincial orders on indoor gatherings, saying “The one thing we find really odd is the fact if you’re a place of worship, you can open at 30 per cent capacity. For us, that would be 200 seats or so, but we can’t do that. It’s a bit bewildering.”
McMaster shares Hooper’s frustration but is confident a return to business as usual will happen — eventually.
“Are we going to leap into getting back to normal? It’s lovely to think we will get back to normal six months from now with a big splash, but I’m not sure it’s going to work out that way. That will be challenging but I think it will return at some point as it once was. We just need to get past this thing.”
Comedian Ron James doing his stand-up routine at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough in October 2015, which was filmed for a CBC New Year’s Eve special. While Showplace remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the not-for-profit organization is preparing for its 25th anniversary in 2021, when it will be resuming its capital campaign to improve the venue for an eventual resumption of business. (Photo: Enter the Picture Productions)
Meanwhile, the Peterborough Performing Arts Recovery Alliance, which has representation from 13 performing arts venues and organizations, continues to strategically collaborate their respective pandemic recovery plans.
Hooper says it’s her hope that “once we get past this (the pandemic) we can keep that conversation going,” adding each member of the alliance faces challenges, COVID aside, that are common to the group as a whole.
“Everybody has been so enthusiastic about working together. It quickly became ‘we’ as opposed to ‘This is my problem.'”
"I hope when we are able to enter our theatres again that together we will find joy in that collaboration and rebuild both our Peterborough venues and companies. That is my dream right now." Randy Read, Artistic Director of New Stages Theatre Company (Photo: Julie Gagne)
On August 31st, the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) in Peterborough launched “Essential”, a photography project that raises awareness of the precarious situation of local artists and arts organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Part of EC3’s Peterborough Arts Alive initiative, the Essential project is a series of 17 photos by local photographer Julie Gagne that depicts 20 local artists during the pandemic. Each of the photos feature an artist or artists in their home or workplace and is accompanied by an artist statement about their experience of the pandemic.
Twice each week until the end of October, kawarthaNOW is publishing photos from the series. Today, we feature Randy Read, artistic director of New Stages Theatre Company.
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New Stages Theatre Company artistic director Randy Read
Randy Read, Artistic Director of New Stages Theatre Company – The Essential Project. (Photo by Julie Gagne, design by Rob Wilkes)
A message from EC3 about The Essential Project
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on both individual artists and arts organizations in Peterborough. Performance venues and galleries have been closed, concerts cancelled, exhibitions postponed, entire seasons abandoned. Organizations and facilities are trying to grapple with the loss of revenue and an uncertain future. “Reopening” is not straightforward, to say the least.
Individual artists have lost their creative income and the opportunity to work together to create — something that is absolutely vital to them and to their audiences. Many have pivoted, and developed and presented some great virtual and digital projects. But nothing replaces live performance in front of a live audience and the catalytic energy that comes from being together to rehearse, discuss, and plan projects, to gather at an opening or artist talk.
Isolated at home, cut off from their communities and the lifeblood that is their artistic practice, local artists still found ways to keep our cultural life alive. Silenced and almost invisible, they kept working. But it hasn’t been easy.
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Local photographer Julie Gagne began photographing a number of Peterborough residents in their homes during the earlier stage of the pandemic and posted the photos on Facebook. The eloquent, haunting images of her “Within” portrait project included some artists, and those incredibly moving images caught the eye of EC3 executive director Su Ditta.
Julie’s photos made us think. We have all benefited from the work of artists during the pandemic: we’ve listened to music, read books, watched films, toured virtual exhibitions, tuned in to living room concerts. What has it been like for the artists? Will people remember how essential the arts were to getting through the pandemic when it comes to recovery funding and budget planning? Will arts organizations be supported in a robust recovery plan?
EC3 asked theatre artist Sarah McNeilly to curate and coordinate, and approached Julie Gagne to do a distinct series of photos that spoke to the experience of local artists and what art means to our lives, in good times and in bad. It’s essential.
This arts awareness project is both a witness to the struggles of, and a testament to the courage and contributions of this community during the COVID-19 lockdown. Our heartfelt thanks go out to Julie and everyone in the arts community who have kept us going.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Today, we’re providing a summary of the Ontario situation over the Thanksgiving long weekend (October 10 to 12). There were a total of 2,202 new cases reported over the weekend (649 on Saturday, 807 on Sunday, and 746 on Monday), an average of 734 per day.
Of the 2,202 weekend cases, 68% were in Toronto, Peel, and Ottawa, with 754 in Toronto (140 on Saturday, 303 on Sunday, and 311 on Monday), 451 in Peel (157 on Saturday, 159 on Sunday, and 135 on Monday), and 289 in Ottawa (54 on Saturday, 119 on Sunday, and 116 on Monday). Of the new weekend cases, an average of 52% were among people 40 years old and younger.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, an additional 1,997 cases were resolved (705 on Saturday, 668 on Sunday, and 624 on Monday), an average of 666 per day. Of all cases, 85.2% are now resolved, an increase of 0.2% from Friday. The positivity rate (the percentage of positive tests among all tests completed) has increased by 0.3% to 2.6%.
Since Friday, there has been a net increase of 17 hospitalized cases (217 on Saturday, 203 on Sunday, 230 on Monday), a net increase of 13 ICU admissions (51 on Saturday, 53 on Sunday, and 60 on Monday), and a net increase of 5 ICU patients on ventilators (32 on Saturday, 30 on Sunday, and 34 on Monday). There have been 13 deaths since Friday (1 on Saturday, 3 on Sunday, and 9 on Monday), with 7 deaths in long-term care homes (7 on Monday).
A total of 111,844 tests were completed over the weekend, and the backlog of tests under investigation has decreased steadily from 58,173 on Friday to 24,420 today.
The number of new cases in Ontario schools today is 72, an increase of 20 from October 9, with 49 student cases, 8 staff cases, and 15 cases among unidentified individuals. There are 10 new cases in licensed child care settings, a decrease of 10 from October 9, with 5 cases among children and 5 cases among staff.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 2 new cases to report in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, but an additional 5 cases have been resolved. There is 1 new case in Haliburton, but an additional 3 cases in Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton have been resolved.
There are no new cases in Peterborough. The outbreak at Fairhaven long-term care home has been declared over effective October 13. The outbreak was declared on September 28 when a second employee tested positive for COVID-19.
None of the new cases in Ontario schools and child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.
There are currently 5 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, including 1 in Peterborough, 3 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, and 1 in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 131 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (128 resolved with 2 deaths), 183 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (164 resolved with 32 deaths), 45 in Northumberland County (44 resolved with 1 death), 19 in Haliburton County (18 resolved with no deaths), and 63 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (55 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Northumberland on September 8.
This report is based on data supplied by the province’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), as well as any additional information supplied by health units. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data. Note that each health unit reports the information in a different way.
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: 131 (no change) Active cases: 1 (no change) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 128 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 32,300 (increase of 50) Institutional outbreaks: None (decrease of 1)*
*The outbreak at Fairhaven has been declared over effective October 13. The outbreak was declared on September 28 when a second employee tested positive for COVID-19.
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 Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 247, including 183 in Kawartha Lakes, 45 in Northumberland, 19 in Haliburton (increase of 1, in Haliburton) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations (total to date): 15 (no change) Deaths: 33 (no change) Resolved: 226, including 164 in Kawartha Lakes, 44 in Northumberland, 18 in Haliburton (increase of 3, 1 in each area) Active cases: 1 (decrease of 3) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 61 (increase of 1) Active cases: 6 (no change) Deaths: 5 (no change) Hospitalized: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU: 0 (no change) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change) Recovered: 50 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: 41,342 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
October 10 (reported October 11)
Confirmed positive: 59,139 (increase of 649) Resolved: 50,437 (increase of 705, 85.3% of all cases) Hospitalized: 217 (increase of 5)* Hospitalized and in ICU: 51 (increase of 3) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 32 (increase of 3) Deaths: 3,005 (increase of 1) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,961 (no change) Total tests completed: 4,394,461 (increase of 44,138) Tests under investigation: 45,837 (decrease of 10,301)
*As is often observed on weekends, a number of hospitals (approximately 35) did not submit data to the Daily Bed Census for October 9. The number of hospitalized patients may increase when reporting compliance increases.
October 11 (reported October 13)
Confirmed positive: 59,946 (increase of 807) Resolved: 51,105 (increase of 668, 85.3% of all cases) Hospitalized: 203 (decrease of 14)* Hospitalized and in ICU: 53 (increase of 2) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 30 (decrease of 2) Deaths: 3,008 (increase of 3) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,961 (no change) Total tests completed: 4,430,934 (increase of 36,473) Tests under investigation: 32,473 (decrease of 13,364)
*As is often observed on weekends, a number of hospitals (approximately 40) did not submit data to the Daily Bed Census for October 10. The number of hospitalized patients may increase when reporting compliance increases.
October 12 (reported October 13)
Confirmed positive: 60,692 (increase of 746) Resolved: 51,729 (increase of 624, 85.2% of all cases) Hospitalized: 230 (increase of 27) Hospitalized and in ICU: 60 (increase of 7) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 34 (decrease of 4) Deaths: 3,017 (increase of 9) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,968 (increase of 7) Total tests completed: 4,462,167 (increase of 31,233) Tests under investigation: 24,420 (decrease of 8,053)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from September 12 – October 12, 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 September 12 – October 12, 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)
Police released this photo of 16-year-old Brock Beatty of Tweed on the evening of Sunday, October 11, 2020, after he had not returned from an ATV ride in the afternoon. Early on Thanksgiving Monday, searchers located Beatty and his crashed ATV on a trail. The seriously injured teenager died several hours after being transported to hospital.
The search for a Tweed teenager who went missing on Sunday afternoon (October 11) has ended in tragedy.
On 6 p.m. on Sunday, Central Hastings OPP received a report that 16-year-old Brock Beatty was overdue after going out for a ride on his ATV earlier in the day.
He had been due to return home by 3 p.m. On Sunday night, the OPP issued a media release about the missing teenager, stating that his family were concerned for his safety as he was not dressed for the cold temperatures.
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In the evening and overnight, OPP officers, members of the OPP Emergency Response Team, and an OPP helicopter conducted an intensive search of the many trails in the area.
Police were assisted in their search by a very large number of local ATV riders and other local residents.
At around 2:30 a.m. on Monday morning (October 12), civilian searchers located Beatty and his crashed ATV along a former rail bed near Sulphide Road.
Beatty was transported to hospital by Hastings-Quinte Paramedics with serious injuries, but died from his injuries several hours later, according to an OPP media release.
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