Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Monday afternoon (June 22) for Hastings Highlands, including Bancroft.
Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain.
Thunderstorms are expected in the area on Monday afternoon (June 22).
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Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!
Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.
The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.
In September 2019, Theatre Trent supported the Peterborough debut of Park Street Productions' "Bernie and Nick" (starring Brad Brackenridge, pictured, and Lindsay Unterlander) at The Theatre on King in downtown Peterborough. The Theatre on King and Peterborough's other theatrical performance venues have been closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Theatre Trent has launched the Theatre Trent Venue Relief Fund to support the venues until they are permitted to reopen. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
Peterborough’s vibrant theatrical community has suffered greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with local non-profit performance venues including Market Hall Performing Arts Centre and The Theatre on King closed since March. While Ontario is gradually reopening its economy, performance venues are still not allowed to open.
That’s why Theatre Trent, Trent University’s student-run theatre group, has announced the Theatre Trent Venue Relief Fund to support Peterborough’s performance venues — and is launching a fundraising drive to help ensure local venues make it through the pandemic lock-down.
The group has already set aside $6,000 to assist The Theatre On King (TTOK) and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, the two venues that host the majority of productions sponsored by Theatre Trent.
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Founded in the 1960s, Theatre Trent is one of the oldest student levy groups at Trent University. It provides funding for theatre and multidisciplinary performances, with a mission to nurture Trent student life by funding accessible and inclusive creativity for hundreds of students. Over the past five years, Theatre Trent has supported over 275 local productions, including three major month-long multi-arts festivals, amounting to over 1,100 separate performances reaching around 45,000 audience members.
Recognizing the devastating economic impact of the pandemic on local performance venues, the Theatre Trent COVID-19 task force joined forces with former Theatre Trent members, Trent University faculty, and members of the Electric City Culture Council board of directors to create the Theatre Trent Venue Relief Fund.
“This is an unprecedented situation,” says task force founder and performing artist Sarah McNeilly, who is pursuing her M.A. at Trent University. “Although businesses are slowly being permitted to re-open, live performance venues will remain shuttered for quite some time. These venues need our support now to help ensure they can persist until they are allowed to reopen.”
The Theatre Trent Venue Relief Fund will provide $5,000 to The Theatre on King and $1,000 to Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, reflecting the portion of Theatre Trent events that take place at each venue.
“TTOK runs on community energy and goodwill,” says The Theatre on King artistic director Ryan Kerr. “We’ve been getting donations since this crisis began, and the support means the world to us. It’s the difference between our existence on the other side of this crisis or not.”
In October 2019, Theatre Trent supported Cordwainer Productions’ presentation of the controversial musical “Spring Awakenings” at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. The Theatre Trent Venue Relief Fund will provide $5,000 to The Theatre on King and $1,000 to Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, reflecting the portion of Theatre Trent events that take place at each venue. (Photo: Cordwainer Productions / Instagram)
“This initiative is fantastic, and we are thankful to be a part of it,” adds Market Hall general manager Chad Hogan. “The best way to support the hall is to become a member, which provides benefits to you, and helps us demonstrate the community-wide support the Hall enjoys.”
“We need to make sure that performing artists and audiences will have rehearsal and performance spaces to return to when we are permitted to do so,” says writer and performer Kate Story, a member of the Theatre Trent executive and TTOK board chair. “Imagine a Peterborough without live theatre, dance, music. It’s not a pretty picture.”
“The impact on the local community would be catastrophic,” adds Public Energy executive director Bill Kimball. “Not only would our artists and audiences lose out, the local economy would take a big hit as well. Arts and culture bring in $58.9 billion annually to the Canadian economy.”
While the $6,000 donation from Theatre Trent is generous, McNeilly admits it won’t be enough to get local performance venues through the COVID-19 crisis.
“This is why we are going public with the Theatre Trent Venue Relief Fund — we’ve launched a fundraising drive,” she explains. “We are asking our community to match and/or exceed our $6,000 donation in order to help us save our local theatres. Even the smallest donation will go a long way.”
Rather than setting up a separate crowdfunding campaign, Theatre Trent is encouraging members of the community to donate directly to TTOK and the Market Hall.
Downtown Peterborough looking south on George Street, now reduced to a single lane, towards Charlotte Street, which is now a single eastbound one-way lane between Aylmer and George. These are some of the changes being implemented by the City of Peterborough
during stage two of the province's reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic to help create more space for pedestrians, restaurant patios, and pop-up commercial space. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
Here’s today summary: there are 95 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area, 161 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 19 in Northumberland County, 9 in Haliburton County, and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
There are 2 new cases to report today, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Haliburton (the first positive case in Haliburton since June 1). There are no new cases to report in Peterborough and Northumberland. A report for Hastings and Prince Edward is not available on weekends, but the last reported case there was on May 18.
There has been a total of 39 deaths. The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there are 33,476 confirmed cases, an increase of 175 from yesterday’s report. A total of 28,719 cases are resolved, an increase of 251 from yesterday. There have been 2,606 deaths, an increase of 11 from yesterday, with 1,657 of the deaths being residents in long-term care homes, an increase of 6. A total of 1,174,727 tests have been completed, an increase of 23,408 from yesterday, with 15,424 tests under investigation, a decrease of 1,539.
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 and hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. 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.
Confirmed positive: 95 (no change) Active cases: 4 (no change) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 89 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 14,900 (increase of 450) 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.
Confirmed positive: 189, including 161 in Kawartha Lakes, 19 in Northumberland, 9 in Haliburton (no change) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations: 13 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 165 (increase of 1) Institutional outbreaks: Fenelon Court Long Term Care Home in Fenelon Falls (no change)
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Confirmed positive: 43 (no change, last positive case reported on May 18)* Probable cases: 181 (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: 36 (no change)* Total tests completed: 7,700 (increase of 240)* Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)*
*These numbers are from June 19. The health unit does not issue reports on weekends; the next report is due June 22.
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 33,476 (increase of 175) Hospitalized: 286 (decrease of 47) Hospitalized and in ICU: 86 (increase of 6) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 59 (decrease of 4) Deaths: 2,606 (increase of 11) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,657 (increase of 6, 63.6% of all deaths) Total tests completed 1,174,727 (increase of 23,408) Tests under investigation: 15,424 (decrease of 1,539) Resolved: 28,719 (increase of 251)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from May 21 – June 20, 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 May 21 – June 20, 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)
Effective June 28, 2020, Peterborough Transit is reducing the number of bus routes from 12 to nine, with only five routes going directly to the downtown Peterborough bus terminal instead of the current 12. The changes are intended to reduce crowding at the bus terminal as a health and safety measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bus drivers were surprised by the announcement of the major overhaul of transit routes and have some concerns with the speed of the changes, according to the local union president. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
The speed of a major overhaul to Peterborough Transit routes because of provincially mandated COVID-19 health safety measures is creating consternation among bus drivers, according to the local union president.
Among several changes taking effect June 28 is a reduction in the number of bus routes from 12 to nine, with just five of those routes going directly to the Simcoe Street terminal. Up to this point, all 12 bus routes led to the downtown Peterborough terminal. In addition, three new community bus routes are being added and bus stop locations are changing.
While acknowledging the more grid-like route changes are mostly an improvement over the status quo, the president of Local 1320 of the Amalgamated Transit Union that represents bus drivers and garage staff is concerned over the speed with which the changes are being put into effect.
“We pictured a slower implementation so drivers and passengers can get used to it,” says Tyler Burns. “It’s being tossed at us and we’re going to have to hit the ground running.”
“I hope it’s a smooth transition because I think it is time for our transit system to grow up and grow for the better. It would be a real shame if this stumbles hard and we have to wait another 10 years to try something like this out again. My main concern, as it always is, is the safety of my members.”
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While acknowledging that the timeline is tight, City of Peterborough transit manager Laurie Stratton says mandated pandemic health safety measures have necessitated the fast tracking of the new route system. She recognizes the speed of the changes has had an impact on transit riders as well as drivers.
“Transit has been making the necessary changes at breakneck speed, responding to the focus on public safety as well as mandates put out to all public transit authorities to deliver safe service to customers as well as keep employees safe,” she says.
“Our customers have adjusted to rear door boarding. They have adjusted to expectations regarding physical distancing and seat limits, and having to wait patiently while we run overflow buses or bring buses in from stand-by locations. This change is another in a series of changes that have come at them quickly.”
Stratton points out there normally would have been a traditional consultation process before implementing changes of this scope, but the summer months provide an opportunity for on-the-fly consultation before the busier fall season.
“Typically we would have had traditional consultation. We plan to have that going forward. With our ridership low right now, we’re looking toward a fall ridership increase. Can we make these changes in September? That’s unthinkable. This July/August timeline while our ridership is lower gives our drivers and customers the opportunity to experience it and learn about the changes, and for us to gather feedback, prior to the busier fall.”
Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien admits the new transit route system has been rolled out quickly, “like everything that we’ve done in response to COVID-19,” adding, “we don’t have the luxury of time.”
“Under the state of emergency, staff is empowered to make some of the decisions they have to make to ensure public health and safety. They’ve been really good at informing council of any changes. In a normal year there would probably be a staff recommendation to change some things. There are budgetary implications when you’re running more buses or running less buses. Something like that would come to council for the okay.”
Mayor Therrien notes one positive outcome of the new route system will be less crowding at the downtown terminal, which speaks directly to the physical distancing requirement. She adds that bio-shields to protect drivers will be installed at some point in July, creating the ability to again collect fares again — an important consideration during a year that has seen the city lose many of its regular revenue streams.
One example of a concern of bus drivers with the new Peterborough Transit bus routes is where they will take their lunch breaks. Bus drivers normally take their breaks at the downtown Peterborough bus terminal. With only five instead of 12 bus routes going directly to terminal as of June 28, 2020, this option will no longer be available. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
While Burns gets that driver and passenger safety is the motivation for bringing in the new route system quickly, he says he’s looking for even quicker answers on their effect on drivers.
“Traditionally drivers have had their lunch breaks either at the terminal or the bus garage, but with these changes that will no longer be the case,” he notes. “We’ll have people have their lunch at Lansdowne Place, at Trent University, and at Fleming. We’re not 100 per cent sure on the logistics of that — what we’ll have access to, what we won’t have access to.”
“It’s pretty apparent it won’t be business as usual come the fall, so we’re not sure what we’ll have available in terms of facilities, or access to a kitchen or a hand-washing station,” Burns adds. “We have just a few days before the changes come into effect. I like to know there’s something set in stone by then in terms of what drivers will be doing for breaks and meals.”
Regarding that concern, Stratton says management is working with driver trainers to solicit feedback on how to best accommodate meals and breaks at locations other than the terminal or garage.
“Feedback about the (people) crunch at the terminal, this has been a historic complaint of our drivers. This new system addresses that. We’ve heard a lot of concerns from our drivers about crowding on limited peak time buses. This addresses that as well.”
“If we had not changed the routes, the option was reducing service. We’re here to support the community through its economic and social recovery. We’re trying to get the trust of the public, to let them feel confident to use transit. Jamming them down here at the terminal or jamming them into the limited peak time buses is not a safe way to do that.”
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Along with the implementation of the new transit route system, a possible second challenge is looming.
Should Trent and/or Fleming not be open in September for traditional classes, transit ridership will take a major hit. Student fares bring in about $1.6 million annually. Unless other levels of government step up with funding to offset any major loss of revenue, a reduction in routes is possible that, in turn, could possibly result in driver layoffs.
“It’s a tough budget year and we don’t want to be losing any more money than we already are,” says Mayor Therrien.
Union concerns aside, the new transit route system will roll out June 28. Both Stratton and Burn do totally agree on one thing — the need for transit users to give the changes a chance to succeed.
“Change is always a challenge,” says Stratton. “We expect both positive and negative reaction.”
“The biggest thing with transit is to try and optimize what you can deliver to the most people. We know this new system will mean some folks will have to travel a little further to get to their stop, and that they will experience untimed on-the-street transfers. That’s new. But what it allows us to do is reduce overall travel times. We don’t want people on the bus longer than they need to be in a confined space.”
“I urge the public to be patient with the drivers,” adds Burns. “We’re learning the new route system at the exact same time as everybody else.”
“Tt’s going to be frustrating for drivers. Passengers are going to be frustrated too. There’s various ways to contact the city and transit management with your concerns, so take advantage.”
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
Here’s today summary: there are 95 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area, 160 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 19 in Northumberland County, 8 in Haliburton County, and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
There are 2 new cases to report today in Peterborough. There are no new cases to report in Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, or Hastings and Prince Edward. A report for Hastings and Prince Edward is not available on weekends, but the last reported case there was on May 18.
There has been a total of 39 deaths. The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there are 33,301 confirmed cases, an increase of 206 from yesterday’s report. A total of 28,468 cases are resolved, an increase of 218 from yesterday. There have been 2,595 deaths, an increase of 31 from yesterday, with 1,651 of the deaths being residents in long-term care homes, an increase of 6. A total of 1,151,319 tests have been completed, an increase of 27,387 from yesterday, with 16,963 tests under investigation, a decrease of 4,516.
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 and hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. 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.
Confirmed positive: 95 (increase of 2) Active cases: 4 (increase of 1) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 89 (increase of 1) Total tests completed: Over 14,450 (increase of 250) 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.
Confirmed positive: 187, including 160 in Kawartha Lakes, 19 in Northumberland, 8 in Haliburton (no change) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations: 13 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 164 (increase of 1) Institutional outbreaks: Fenelon Court Long Term Care Home in Fenelon Falls (no change)
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Confirmed positive: 43 (no change, last positive case reported on May 18)* Probable cases: 181 (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: 36 (no change)* Total tests completed: 7,700 (increase of 240)* Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)*
*These numbers are from June 19. The health unit does not issue reports on weekends; the next report is due June 22.
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 33,301 (increase of 206) Hospitalized: 333 (increase of 2) Hospitalized and in ICU: 80 (decrease of 2) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 63 (decrease of 2) Deaths: 2,595 (increase of 31) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,651 (increase of 6, 63.6% of all deaths) Total tests completed 1,151,319 (increase of 27,387) Tests under investigation: 16,963 (decrease of 4,516) Resolved: 28,468 (increase of 218)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from May 20 – June 19, 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 May 20 – June 19, 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)
The splash pad at Roger's Cove in East City in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of City of Peterborough)
Just in time for the first day of summer (and the first heat wave), the City of Peterborough has now opened all five of its splash pads.
Open daily from noon until 7 p.m., the splash pads are located at King Edward Park (455 George St. S.), Nicholls Oval (725 Armour Rd.), Roger’s Cove (131 Maria St.), Kinsmen Park (1 Kinsmen Way, at Sherbrooke St. and Clonsilla Ave.), and Barnardo Park (Barnardo Ave. north of Sunset Blvd.).
People are encouraged to follow public health guidelines when using the water play structures.
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The city opened the splash pads for the season after discussions with Peterborough Public Health on safe operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Splash pads should be considered a “hands-free zone”. Signage is posted at the splash pads to provide guidance on recommended public health measures, including:
Where there are buttons to activate water features, people should use their elbows or feet to push the buttons, depending on the height, instead of their hands.
Maintain physical distancing of at least two metres from other people who are not from the same household or designated social circle.
Bring hand sanitizer and use it frequently. Avoid touching your face.
Water play features in the splash pads that require gripping, such as water cannons, have been disabled or removed in order to encourage a hands-free environment.
“Peterborough Public Health and the city’s public works team worked quickly on opening our splash pads as another option for some relief during the heat,” says city councillor Lesley Parnell, chair of the arenas, parks, and recreation portfolio. “Please follow precautions. Play safe. Stay cool. Enjoy,”
Artist Aleks Goloborodko and his wife Iryna left troubled Ukraine for Peterborough several years ago, joining their son who was studying at Trent University. Here the couple displays some of Aleks's paintings at the annual Multicultural Canada Day Festival, organized by New Canadians Centre to celebrate the diversity that is part of Canada's identity. This year's in-person festival has been cancelled due to COVID-19, so the New Canadians Centre is virtually sharing the stories of new Canadians like Aleks. (Photo: New Canadians Centre)
Aleksandr (Aleks) Goloborodko writes beautifully. An email requesting an opportunity to chat is returned with an artfully crafted response that includes, “I would like to signify my gratitude to you for inviting me to the interview.”
This story was created in partnership with the New Canadians Centre as part of their #PtboIsMyHome series, where you can meet local immigrant entrepreneurs who are at different points in their settlement experience and careers. These are their stories of hope, home, community, and belonging in Peterborough.
A phone conversation with Aleks, a new Canadian who has settled in Peterborough, is equally charming, with his wife Iryna offering comments and encouragement from another room.
For this Ukrainian native who has made a home in Peterborough as an artist, language will be the path to success in his newly chosen country. Aleks was originally happy with life in Ukraine. He was involved with real estate and law and he operated a successful company.
He is educated and a hard worker, a family man, and someone who pays attention to details. From a brief conversation, Aleks is clearly a glass-half-full kind of guy.
Sharing his journey to Canada, he explains how 2014 was a difficult year in his home country. Rising political instability and civil unrest were signs for Alex and his wife to leave while they could. Their son Volodymyr was already enjoying a unique opportunity studying nursing at Trent University and, to Aleks, Peterborough sounded like a nice place.
Ready to leave the crisis behind, he and his wife decided to start again in Canada.
“If you understand that your life has changed and you cannot be in this place anymore, you will find it easy to drop everything and to move,” Aleks says. “It was a terrible reason to leave, but the stars showed us the way.”
Now in Peterborough, Aleks has started to create art. He works in mixed media, letting his feelings flow freely and without language barriers, because the art he creates is its own language.
“I like being an artist now, because artists don’t need so many languages,” he says.
Details from “The Seagull” (24″ x 18″) and “The Creek” (24″ x 36″), two paintings by Ukrainian native and new Canadian Aleks Goloborodko. (Photos courtesy of Aleks Goloborodko)
But, as Aleks recognizes, the language of art could only take him so far in his new country.
“I needed English,” Aleks says. “I (also) speak German, but English was new.”
Determined to succeed and ready to remove barriers, Aleks spent a difficult first year in Canada, learning English day by day and month by month through ESL programs offered at Trent University.
“It was funny to sit with teenagers in class at 50 years,” Aleks laughs. “Now I am a student at Fleming ESL and I don’t have a choice. I need to speak, to write, and language barriers make you uncomfortable. I also need language to bring my art to people, in galleries or festivals.”
Aleks is one of the many Peterborough residents closely connected to the New Canadians Centre who will be missing the organization’s annual Multicultural Canada Day celebrations because of the restrictions needed to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s causing sadness and difficulty, but Aleks is taking it in stride.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic means Aleks Goloborodko has no place to show his art, he’s taking it in stride. “This makes space for me to create more pieces and to contact other places for my art,” he says. (Photo courtesy of Aleks Goloborodko)
“Many festivals and events are now cancelled, so I cannot show my art,” he says. “But this makes space for me to create more pieces and to contact other places for my art.”
Aleks has a strong desire to build connections for his art and to be connected to new people. He’s excellent at networking and he notes how helpful New Canadians Centre has been in helping him rebuild his sense of community, saying the centre has brought him into contact with many new friends.
“One friend hooks another and then you build more and more with friends,” Aleks says, a smile coming through in his voice.
Artist Aleks Goloborodko gives Canada a big thumbs up. Originally from Sevastopol in Ukraine, he and his wife Iryna found out about Peterborough from their son Volodymyr, who was studying at Trent University. He has since graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is now a health care worker. (Photo courtesy of Aleks Goloborodko)
Cancelled festivals and COVID-19 aside, Aleks is loving his new community. When asked about how his son, now an intensive care unit nurse, is enjoying having parents so close by, there is more laughter.
“He is not always so happy with his mom asking so many questions all the time,” Aleks remarks, while his wife makes some comments in the background. “He is happy with his first line job. He loves it and he is happy with that.”
After some more discussion about his art, painted landscapes, and some portraits, Aleks declares the interview a success.
“This was my first interview in my life,” he laughs. “So many new things for me here in Canada.”
This year, the New Canadians Centre is celebrating 40 years of welcoming and supporting newcomers, and the annual Multicultural Canada Day Festival is an important part of this history. The festival brings our community together for a celebration of our country’s birthday and the multiculturalism that is core to Canada’s national identity.
Newcomers and their families have grown to be part of the rich cultural fabric that binds our community together. “Peterborough Is My Home” — our chosen home that we love, cherish, and support. This year’s Multicultural Canada Day programming embraces this sentiment and has been adapted to reflect physical distancing guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To learn more about other #PtboIsMyHome activities and events leading up to and on Canada Day, please visit nccpeterborough.ca. You can also follow New Canadians Centre on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.
Here’s today summary: there are 93 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area, 160 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 19 in Northumberland County, 8 in Haliburton County, and 43 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.
There are no new cases to report today in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, or Hastings and Prince Edward. A suspected outbreak declaration at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon was lifted on June 18.
There has been a total of 39 deaths. The most recent death was reported on May 7 by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Province-wide, there are 33,095 confirmed cases, an increase of 178 from yesterday’s report. A total of 28,250 cases are resolved, an increase of 246 from yesterday. There have been 2,564 deaths, an increase of 11 from yesterday, with 1,645 of the deaths being residents in long-term care homes, an increase of 9. A total of 1,123,932 tests have been completed, an increase of 27,225 from yesterday, with 21,479 tests under investigation, an increase of 3,408.
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 and hospitals. This information is at least 24 hours old, so it is not real-time data.
We publish the daily report, usually by late afternoon, with the most current information released by health units. 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.
Confirmed positive: 93 (no change) Active cases: 3 (no change) Deaths: 2 (no change) Resolved: 88 (no change) Total tests completed: Over 14,200 (increase of 400) 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.
Confirmed positive: 187, including 160 in Kawartha Lakes, 19 in Northumberland, 8 in Haliburton (no change) Probable cases: 0 (no change) Hospitalizations: 13 (no change) Deaths: 32 (no change) Resolved: 163 (increase of 1) Institutional outbreaks: Fenelon Court Long Term Care Home in Fenelon Falls (decrease of 1)*
*A suspected outbreak was declared June 11 at Pincrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon after a staff person with atypical COVID-19 symptoms tested positive for the virus. After additional tests were completed and the health unit conducted a thorough investigation, it was determined that the situation at Pinecrest Nursing Home does not meet the case definition for an outbreak. As a result, the suspected outbreak declaration has been lifted.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
Confirmed positive: 43 (no change, last positive case reported on May 18) Probable cases: 181 (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: 36 (no change) Total tests completed: 7,700 (increase of 240) Institutional outbreaks: None (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 33,095 (increase of 178) Hospitalized: 331 (decrease of 20) Hospitalized and in ICU: 82 (decrease of 2) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 65 (increase of 5) Deaths: 2,564 (increase of 11) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 1,645 (increase of 9, 64.2% of all deaths) Total tests completed 1,123,932 (increase of 27,225) Tests under investigation: 21,479 (decrease of 3,408) Resolved: 28,250 (increase of 246)
New COVID-19 cases in Ontario from May 19 – June 18, 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 May 19 – June 18, 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)
The James A. Gifford Causeway project will see improvements made to around 1.4 kilometres of the causeway, including repairs to the Chemong Bridge. An additional 5.3 kilometres on Yankee Line (County Road 14) are also being rehabilitated. The federal government is contributing $4.8 million to the project, with the Ontario government contributing $3.2 million and Peterborough County and the Township of Selwyn contributing $1.9 million. (Photo: Peterborough County)
The Canadian and Ontario governments are investing $8 million in Peterborough County and the Township of Selwyn’s project to improve the James A. Gifford Causeway in Bridgenorth.
The two governments are also investing in other road and bridge improvement projects in the Kawarthas region, including in Hiawatha First Nation, Asphodel-Norwood in Peterborough County, Faraday in Hastings County, and Minden Hills and Highlands East in Haliburton County.
The funding was announced on Friday (June 19) by federal rural economic development minister and Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, Ontario infrastructure minister and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott, and Peterborough County warden J. Murray Jones.
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The James A. Gifford Causeway project will see improvements made to around 1.4 kilometres of the causeway, including repairs to the Chemong Bridge. An additional 5.3 kilometres on Yankee Line (County Road 14) are also being rehabilitated. These improvements will increase safety for motorists and pedestrians and extend the life of the bridge and roadway for many years.
The federal government is contributing $4.8 million to the project, with the Ontario government contributing $3.2 million and Peterborough County and the Township of Selwyn contributing $1.9 million.
“The James A. Gifford Causeway is the county’s busiest stretch of road and the causeway improvement plan is the largest infrastructure project that Peterborough County has undertaken and the largest overall grant-funded project in our history,” Jones said.
VIDEO: Infrastrucutre investments in Central and Eaatern Rural Ontario
Other projects in the Kawarthas region being jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments and local municipalities include:
$1.9 million for the reconstruction of nine kilometres of Centre Line Road between County Road 45 and Asphodel 3rd Line in the Township of Asphodel-Norwood in Peterborough County
$1.1 million for the replacement of the Old Hastings Road Bridge in Faraday in Hastings County
$4.8 million for the recontruction of two kilometres of Paudash Street between Cowe Street and Lakeshore Road in Hiawatha First Nation
$1.6 million for the replacement of the South Wilberforce Bridge in Highlands East in Haliburton County
$1.2 million for the replacement of the Sedgewick Bridge in Minden Hills in Haliburton County
“Not only will these vital projects help create well-paying jobs during the construction phase, they will have long-lasting benefits for residents and businesses for years to come,” Monsef said.
Other jointly funded projects in central and eastern Ontario include road improvements in Beausoleil First Nation and Collingwood, as well as bridge repairs and replacements in Adjala-Tosorontio and the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.
The Canadian government is investing over $22 million in these projects through the Rural and Northern Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, with the Ontario government contributing more than $10 million, and municipalities and First Nation communities contributing more than $5 million.
“Investing in infrastructure is essential to the recovery of central and eastern Ontario’s economy,” Scott said. “These projects build new roads and bridges and drive local economic development in these communities.”
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