The Ontario government announced on Tuesday (May 19) that it is extending all existing emergency orders until Friday, May 29th, but is also loosening some restrictions as part of its first stage of reopening the province.

The orders, which were due to expire on May 19, include the closure of bars and restaurants except for takeout and delivery only, restrictions on social gatherings of more than five people, and staff redeployment rules for long-term care homes and congregate settings like retirement homes and women’s shelters.

However, the government is amending an emergency order to allow some outdoor recreational amenities to open, including outdoor sports facilities and multi-use fields (including baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and frisbee golf locations, tennis, platform tennis, table tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts, BMX parks, and skate parks), off-leash dog areas, and outdoor picnic sites, benches and shelters in park and recreational areas.

Outdoor playgrounds, play structures and equipment, fitness equipment, public swimming pools, splash pads, and similar outdoor water facilities will remain closed until later stages of the province’s reopening plan.

The government has also approved an exemption to the emergency order related to gatherings of people to allow drive-in religious gatherings, under certain conditions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Vehicles must be kept two metres or more apart, only members of the same household can be in one vehicle, people will not be able to leave their vehicles, and no more than five people can conduct the service at one time from outside a motor vehicle and they must stay at least two metres apart.

“Although we are entering the first stage of our framework to reopen the economy, it’s critical that we continue to do so in a safe and responsible manner,” Premier Doug Ford states in a media release. “The people of Ontario have been doing a fantastic job to help flatten the curve and stop the spread of this terrible virus. With warmer weather beginning, individuals and families will now be able to enjoy many outdoor amenities, but everyone must continue to maintain physical distancing from those outside of their household.”

Health minister Christine Elliott says “reopening parks and other outdoor spaces is important for our physical and mental health” but is encouraging people to be responsible by keeping a safe distance of at least two metres from members outside of their household.

The government says it has extended the emergency orders until May 29th in consultation with Ontario’s chief medical officer of health. The orders are made under the province’s declaration of a state of emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. The state of emergency was first declared on March 27th and was extended until June 2nd on May 12th.

Here is the list of all current emergency orders:

• Closure of Establishments
• Prohibiting Organized Public Events, Certain Gatherings
• Work Deployment Measures for Health Care Workers
• Drinking Water Systems and Sewage Works
• Electronic Service
• Work Deployment Measures in Long-Term Care Homes
• Electricity Price for RPP Consumers
• Closure of Places of Non-Essential Businesses
• Traffic Management
• Streamlining Requirements for Long-Term Care Homes
• Prohibition on Certain Persons Charging Unconscionable Prices for Sales of Necessary Goods
• Closure of Outdoor Recreational Amenities
• Enforcement of Orders
• Work Deployment Measures for Boards of Health
• Work Deployment Measures in Retirement Homes
• Access to COVID-19 Status Information by Specified Persons
• Service Agencies Providing Services and Supports to Adults with Developmental Disabilities
• Pickup and Delivery of Cannabis
• Signatures in Wills and Powers of Attorney
• Use of Force and Firearms in Policing Services
• Child Care Fees
• Agreements Between Health Service Providers and Retirement Homes
• Temporary Health or Residential Facilities
• Closure of Public Lands for Recreational Camping
• Work Deployment Measures for Service Agencies Providing Violence Against Women Residential Services and Crisis Line Services
• Limiting Work to a Single Long-Term Care Home
• Work Deployment Measures for District Social Services Administration Boards
• Deployment of Employees of Service Provider Organizations
• Work Deployment Measures for Municipalities
• Limiting Work to a Single Retirement Home
• Work Deployment Measures for Mental Health and Addictions Agencies
• Congregate Care Settings
• Access to Personal Health Information by Means of the Electronic Health Record
• Global Adjustment for Market Participants and Consumers
• Certain Persons Enabled to Issue Medical Certificates of Death
• Hospital Credentialing Processes
• Education Sector
• Management of Long-term Care Homes in Outbreak

The Peterborough County OPP has released the name of the motorcyclist who died on Saturday (May 16) on Northey’s Bay Road in North Kawartha township.

According to police, Maury McCrillis, 32, of Peterborough, was driving his motorcycle at around 2:45 p.m. on Saturday afternoon when he failed to negotiate a turn, resulting in a collision.

McCrillis was transported by air ambulance to a Toronto-area hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead at hospital.

McCrillis grew up in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and also spent time in the U.S. After high school, he joined the Canadian Forces as a piper with 2 Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment, later called the Cape Breton Highlanders.

On a military course in Borden, Ontario, he met his future wife Elizabeth, who lived in Newfoundland at the time. When Elizabeth accepted a teaching position in Ontario, the couple moved to Ontario and married in May 2019.

McCrillis became a member of the Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment, the reserve unit of the Canadian Armed Forces based in Peterborough, and performed in the regiment’s pipe band.

“He was a friend, mentor and teacher to everyone in the band,” writes the Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment Pipe Band on their Facebook page. “We will all miss him terribly.”

McCrillis leaves behind his wife Elizabeth, who is expecting their first child. He also leaves behind his parents Maury and Lisa and three sisters.

A GoFundMe campaign, authorized by McCrillis’s wife Elizabeth, has been set up at gofundme.com/f/mcpl-maury-mccrillis-iv-cd. Funds raised will go directly to Elizabeth.

Police continue to investigate the cause of the collision that took McCrillis’ life.

This story has been updated with additional details about McCrillis’ life, including a photo of him and his wife, and an official GoFundMe campaign link.

Parks Canada is preparing for the opening of the 2020 boating season on the Trent-Severn Waterway and will be conducting spring maintenance on swing bridges in Peterborough this week.

Normally this work is completed during April but, with the opening of the Trent-Severn Waterway delayed until June 1st because of COVID-19, the work is taking place in May.

The bridge work includes preventative maintenance tasks like washing and greasing swing bridges, and conducting visual inspections to ensure their safe operation.

The following swing bridges in Peterborough will be temporarily closed for regular spring maintenance, weather permitting:

• Maria Street Swing Bridge will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19th
• Warsaw Road Swing Bridge will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20th
• McFarlane Street Bridge will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 21st

Motorists are advised to plan alternate routes during these closures.

In addition to the temporary bridge closures listed above, Parks Canada will be conducting seasonal maintenance on certain bridges that cross the Trent-Severn Waterway from May 15th until June 1st. This maintenance will not close the following bridges, but vehicles may experience short delays of about 10 minutes:

• Carrying Place Swing Bridge
• Ranney Falls Swing Bridge (Campbellford)
• Hastings Swing Bridge
• Bobcaygeon Swing Bridge
• Bolsover Swing Bridge
• Boundary Road Swing Bridge
• Lakeshore Road Swing Bridge

For more information about the Trent-Severn Waterway, visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca/trent.

kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.

Here’s today summary: there are 74 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area, 142 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 16 in Northumberland County, 7 in Haliburton County, and 42 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.

That’s an increase of 1 case from yesterday’s report, with 1 new case reported in Northumberland. Note: Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is not providing updates of cases on weekends or statutory holidays; the next update from that health unit will be available on May 19.

Two new outbreaks at seniors’ residences have been declared. An outbreak was declared at Empire Crossing Retirement Home in Port Hope on May 16 after one asymptomatic resident tested positive for COVID-19 during enhanced surveillance testing. An outbreak was declared in Fenelon Court Long Term Care Home in Fenelon Falls on May 18 after one asymptomatic staff person tested positive for COVID-19.

There have 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 22,957 confirmed cases, an increase of 304 from yesterday, with 17,638 cases resolved, an increase of 278 from yesterday. There have been 1,904 deaths, an increase of 23 from yesterday. A total of 553,981 tests have been completed, an increase of 9,155 from yesterday, with 2,189 tests under investigation, a decrease of 2,225 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 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

Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.

Confirmed positive: 74 (no change from May 17)
Confirmed negative: Data currently unavailable*
Results pending: Data currently unavailable*
Deaths: 2 (no change from from May 17)
Resolved: 69 (increase of 1 from May 17)
Total tests completed: Over 6,700*
Institutional outbreaks: Kawartha Heights Retirement Living in Peterborough (no change from May 17)

*Peterborough Public Health and its partners are currently testing in long-term care homes and retirement homes. This is rapidly increasing the number of tests performed and causing a delay in the health unit’s ability to accurately report these figures. Current data will be provided as soon as possible.

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: 165, including 142 in Kawartha Lakes, 16 in Northumberland, 7 in Haliburton (increase of 1 from May 17)
Probable cases: 0 (no change from May 17)
Hospitalizations: 11 (no change from May 17)
Deaths: 32, including 28 at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon (no change from May 17)
Resolved: 140 (increase of 7 from May 17)
Institutional outbreaks: Caressant Care Lindsay, Maplewood Nursing Home in Brighton, Kawartha Lakes Retirement Residence in Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Court Long Term Care Home in Fenelon Falls, Empire Crossing Retirement Home in Port Hope (increase of 2 from May 17)*

*An outbreak was declared at Empire Crossing Retirement Home in Port Hope on May 16 after one asymptomatic resident tested positive for COVID-19 during enhanced surveillance testing. An outbreak was declared in Fenelon Court Long Term Care Home in Fenelon Falls on May 18 after one asymptomatic staff person tested positive for COVID-19.

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

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

Confirmed positive: 42 (no change from May 15)*
Probable cases: 182 (no change from May 15)*
Deaths: 5 (no change from May 15)*
Hospitalized: 1 (no change from May 15)*
Hospitalized and in ICU: 1 (no change from May 15)*
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change from May 15)*
Recovered: 28 (increase of 1 from May 15)*
Total tests completed: 5,644 (increase of 332 from May 15)*
Institutional outbreaks: None*

*Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is not providing updates of cases on weekends or statutory holidays. The next update will be available on May 19.

Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 22,957 (increase of 304 from May 17)
Hospitalized: 972 (increase of 38 from May 17)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 174 (increase of 3 from May 17)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 133 (increase of 4 from May 17)
Deaths: 1,904 (increase of 23 from May 17)
Total tests completed 553,981 (increase of 9,155 from May 17)
Tests under investigation: 2,189 (decrease of 2,225 from May 17)
Resolved: 17,638 (increase of 278 from May 17)

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

Canadians across the country are expressing shock and sadness after Captain Jennifer Casey was tragically killed in the crash of a Canadian Forces Snowbirds jet near Kamloops in British Columbia on Sunday (May 17).

Casey was the Snowbirds team’s public affairs officer. She was 33 years old.

The tragedy is especially affecting Canadians because the crash happened while the Snowbirds were conducting Operation Inspiration, a mission to cross the country and salute Canadians doing their part to fight the spread of COVID-19.

The accident involved a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CT-114 Tutor aircraft which, minutes after taking off from the airport alongside another jet, appeared to lose control and crashed into a nearby residential neighbourhood.

The pilot of the aircraft, Captain Richard MacDougall, was able to eject at a very low altitude just before the plane crashed. He is being treated for his injuries which, contrary to previous reports, are not considered life-threatening. It is unclear whether Casey died after ejecting from the jet or whether she died when the plane hit the ground.

“Today, the RCAF has suffered another tragic loss of a dedicated member of the RCAF team,” said Royal Canadian Air Force commander Lieutenant General Al Meinzinger. “We grieve alongside Jenn’s family, friends and colleagues and are deeply saddened. Our thoughts also go out to the loved ones of Captain Richard MacDougall. We hope for a swift recovery from his injuries.”

Casey was originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Prior to joining the military, she worked in broadcast radio in Halifax. She moved to the Quinte area in Ontario in 2013 when her then-husband Mike Howell, a member of 2 Air Movements Squadron, was posted at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton.

She worked as a news anchor and reporter for Quinte Broadcasting in 2013 until she joined the Canadian Armed Forces in August 2014 as a direct entry officer. After graduating from 14 weeks of basic training at Saint-Jean Garrison in Québec, Casey’s first assignment was as a public affairs officer at 8 Wing Trenton at CFB Trenton. She spent the 2018 season with the CF-18 Demo Team, travelling North America and the United Kingdom with the NORAD 60 jet.

Casey lived in Quinte West until she joined the Snowbirds in November 2018.

After learning of Captain Casey’s death, Canadians posted tributes and condolences on social media, including from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Tonight, I join all Canadians in mourning the loss of a member of the @CFSnowbirds #OpInspiration team, Captain Jennifer Casey. I’m sending my deepest condolences to her loved ones, and wishing Captain Richard MacDougall a full recovery.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 18, 2020

The loss of any member of the RCAF is a national tragedy. Ontario sends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and @RCAF_ARC teammates of Captain Jennifer Casey. Our thoughts are also with Captain MacDougall as he recovers from his injuries. https://t.co/UsAEHBjIQk

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) May 18, 2020

The Canadian Armed Forces has placed the CT-114 Tutor fleet on operational pause and Operation Inspiration has been delayed indefinitely.

A RCAF flight safety team will depart from Ottawa to investigate the circumstances of the accident and will begin their work immediately upon arrival.

kawarthaNOW is providing a daily report of COVID-19 cases in the greater Kawarthas region.

Here’s today summary: there are 74 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area, 142 in the City of Kawartha Lakes, 15 in Northumberland County, 7 in Haliburton County, and 42 in Hastings County and Prince Edward County.

There’s been no net change in cases from yesterday’s report: while 1 new case is reported in Peterborough, 1 case in Northumberland reported on May 16 has been transferred to another health unit based on the infected person’s current residential address. Note: Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is not providing updates of cases on weekends or statutory holidays; the next update from that health unit will be available on May 19.

There have 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 22,653 confirmed cases, an increase of 340 from yesterday, with 17,360 cases resolved, an increase of 340 from yesterday. There have been 1,881 deaths, an increase of 23 from yesterday. A total of 544,826 tests have been completed, an increase of 16,217 from yesterday, with 4,414 tests under investigation, a decrease of 6,151 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 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

Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.

Confirmed positive: 74 (increase of 1 from May 16)
Confirmed negative: Data currently unavailable*
Results pending: Data currently unavailable*
Deaths: 2 (no change from from May 16)
Resolved: 68 (no change from May 16)
Total tests completed: Over 6,600*
Institutional outbreaks: Kawartha Heights Retirement Living in Peterborough (no change from May 16)

*Peterborough Public Health and its partners are currently testing in long-term care homes and retirement homes. This is rapidly increasing the number of tests performed and causing a delay in the health unit’s ability to accurately report these figures. Current data will be provided as soon as possible.

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: 165, including 142 in Kawartha Lakes, 15 in Northumberland, 7 in Haliburton (decrease of 1 from May 16)*
Probable cases: 0 (no change from May 16)
Hospitalizations: 11 (no change from May 16)
Deaths: 32, including 28 at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon (no change from May 16)
Resolved: 133 (increase of 1 from May 16)
Institutional outbreaks: Caressant Care Lindsay, Maplewood Nursing Home in Brighton, Kawartha Lakes Retirement Residence in Bobcaygeon (no change from May 16)

*One case reported for Northumberland County on May 16 has been transferred to another health unit based on the person’s current residential address.

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

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

Confirmed positive: 42 (no change from May 16)*
Probable cases: 182 (no change from May 16)*
Deaths: 5 (no change from May 16)*
Hospitalized: 1 (no change from May 16)*
Hospitalized and in ICU: 1 (no change from May 16)*
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 0 (no change from May 16)*
Recovered: 28 (increase of 1 from May 16)*
Total tests completed: 5,644 (increase of 332 from May 16)*
Institutional outbreaks: None*

*Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is not providing updates of cases on weekends or statutory holidays. The next update will be available on May 19.

Province of Ontario

Confirmed positive: 22,653 (increase of 340 from May 16)
Hospitalized: 934 (decrease of 41 from May 16)
Hospitalized and in ICU: 171 (increase of 9 from May 16)
Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 129 (decrease of 6 from May 16)
Deaths: 1,881 (increase of 23 from May 16)
Total tests completed 544,826 (increase of 16,217 from May 16)
Tests under investigation: 4,414 (decrease of 6,151 from May 16)
Resolved: 17,360 (increase of 340 from May 16)

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

Sister Ruth Hennessey passed away at Peterborough Regional Health Centre on Thursday (May 14) at the age of 84.

A member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada, Sister Ruth was the founder and director of Casa Maria Refugee Homes in Peterborough. The non-profit volunteer organization sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph welcomes refugees regardless of race, social status, religious or cultural tradition and offers them safe temporary accommodation.

Sister Ruth was awarded the YWCA Peace Medallion in 2001 and, in 2018, Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef awarded Sister Ruth the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Peterborough-Kawartha Women’s Leadership Awards, in recognition of her work with refugees and immigrants. She also received a personal letter of congratulations from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Originally from Lindsay, Sister Ruth entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peterborough in 1956. Her mission experiences were in the field of education as a teacher in Peterborough, Kirkfield, and Cobourg. For 35 years, she was an elementary school teacher, first in the primary grades and then as a consultant in special education.

Her refugee work began in the 1970s, as a participant in the local welcome to Vietnamese boat people. Under Sister Ruth’s direction, the Sisters of St. Joseph began operating Casa Maria home for refugees in the early 1990s. The home welcomed refugees from any religious or cultural tradition, race, gender, or social background.

In 1997, Sister Ruth retired from teaching and devoted herself full-time to the service of refugees. Within five years, two more Casa Maria homes opened. The homes provided temporary housing as well as assistance with legal processes, language training, schooling, obtaining health care, and eventually employment and permanent housing.

In collaboration with her co-workers and many volunteers, Sister Ruth was the lead consultant for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough in the role of the umbrella organization for sponsorship of refugees, assisting parishes and groups as they established welcoming committees for refugees.

“For the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph and the family and friends of Sister Ruth, we extend our prayers and deepest sympathy,” writes the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough of their Facebook page. “May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of Christ rest in peace.”

Cremation has taken place and there will be a private interment at Highland Park Cemetery in Peterborough. A memorial mass will be celebrated later. Condolences can be sent to the Sisters of St. Joseph at 1555 Monaghan Road in Peterborough. Online condolences can be made at dignitymemorial.com.

The story has been updated to properly attribute the photographer of the feature photo of Sister Ruth Hennessey.

Victoria Day, celebrating Queen Victoria’s birthday (May 24, 1819), was first declared a holiday in Canada in 1845. It was originally observed on May 24 every year unless that date was a Sunday, in which case it was celebrated on May 25. In 1952, the federal government changed the date to celebrate Victoria Day on the Monday preceding May 25.

The Victoria Day weekend is colloquially known as the May Two-Four weekend, referring both to the Queen’s birthday and Canadian slang for a case of 24 beers (a popular beverage during the weekend). It’s considered to mark the unofficial beginning of summer, and many people traditionally go camping, open their cottages, garden, or travel during the weekend. Of course, with the COVID-19 pandemic, Victoria Day 2020 is not a traditional Victoria Day. People will be staying close to home and avoiding travel, and there won’t be celebratory public firework displays this year.

Victoria Day Monday is both a federal and a provincial statutory holiday, so any government offices and services that remained open during the pandemic are closed, as are liquor and beer stores. Many grocery stores and pharmacies are open on Monday, as are many hardware stores.

For your convenience, we provide this list of holiday hours for 145 selected businesses and services across the Kawarthas. We have only included municipal services and facilities that are continuing to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as waste collection. This information comes from their websites and social media accounts, which may or may not be up to date, so please always call them first to confirm their hours, especially where indicated and if you are travelling any distance (we’ve included phone numbers). If your business or organization is listed and the hours are incorrect, please let us know by using our content feedback form.

Search by business name, location, or keyword:

Beer & Liquor Stores

All LCBO and beer stores are closed on Victoria Day Monday. All LCBO stores are open on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m., except for the ones shown below which are closed on Sunday. Beer stores are open on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., with some stores open until 5 p.m.

Big Box Stores

Drug Stores, Pharmacies & Health Services

Government Services

Grocery Stores

Veterinary Clinics