The Ontario government has put the former Leslie M. Frost Natural Resources Centre in Haliburton County on the market, more than 16 years after it was closed.

The asking price for the 41-acre property on the shores of St. Nora Lake south of Dorset in the township of Algonquin Highlands is $1.1 million.

Infrastructure Ontario, the Crown agency responsible for managing provincially owned infrastructure and real estate, put the property up for sale on Thursday (October 29). The sale is being managed by CBRE Limited Real Estate Brokerage.

The property, which is being sold “as is”, has 1,480 feet frontage along Highway 35 and 2,800 feet of shore line on St. Nora Lake.

It includes 21 buildings that can accommodate more than 200 people in a mix of dorm-style rooms and cottages, a full kitchen, dining, hall, and recreation centre — although the buildings are in poor condition as they haven’t been maintained for the past 10 years. There are multiple easements on the property, including for access to a public dock and boat launch.

The Leslie M. Frost Natural Resource Centre (commonly called the Frost Centre) first opened in 1921, when the Department of Lands and Forests (now the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry) used the site as a training facility for forest rangers.

In 1944, the Ontario government and the University of Toronto Faculty of Forestry entered into a partnership to create the Ontario Forest Technical Training School on the site.

In 1974, then-Premier Bill Davis announced the site would be developed as an environmental and resource management education centre and would be called The Leslie M. Frost Natural Resources Centre, after the province’s 16th premier. It was used as a training centre for government staff, as well as by school groups, wildlife organizations, eco-tourism groups, and more.

In 2004, the Liberal government of the time announced it was closing the centre to save around $1.2 million in annual operating costs, prompting public outrage. More than 26,000 people had visited the centre in its last year of operation.

The centre closed on July 13, 2004. In response to the controversy around closing the centre, the government announced it would lease the property for “environmental and outdoor education activities” rather than sell it.

Led by area cottager and former IBM executive Al Aubry, the not-for-profit Frost Centre Institute was established on the property in 2007, where it offered an educational summer camp, a conference centre, and environmental programming.

The Frost Centre Institute closed in 2010, after operating a deficit for three years, largely due to high expenses during the winter months when the centre was hardly used.

The Ontario government then put the property up for sale, but was unsuccessful in selling it. The government has been paying for basic maintenance of the property ever since.

Police are looking for a suspect believed to be responsible for four different robberies in Coboconk, Orillia, and Gravenhurst on Sunday and Monday (October 25 and 26).

In two of the incidents, the suspect approached people using an ATM, brandished a conducted energy weapon, and demanded cash. In the other two incidents, the suspect entered a convenience store with what appeared to be a firearm and demanded cash.

The first incident took place at around 8 a.m. on Sunday (October 25) inside a bank in Coboconk in the City of Kawartha Lakes. A person was using an ATM inside the bank when the suspect approached, brandished a conducted energy weapon, and demanded cash. The victim surrendered approximately $300 in Canadian currency to the suspect, who then fled the location on foot. Nobody was injured during the incident.

The suspect in that incident was described as male, around 40 years of age, around 5’6″ tall with black hair, and wearing a black jacket, black mask, and black toque.

The second incident took place at around 6:15 a.m. on Monday (October 26), when a person using a drive-thru ATM in Orillia was approached by the suspect, who brandished a conducted energy weapon and demanded cash. The victim immediately drove away, leaving the bank card in the ATM. The suspect made unsuccessful attempts to withdraw money.

The suspect in that incident was described as male, around 30 years of age, around 5’7″ in height, and wearing all-black clothing.

The third and fourth incidents took place around 6:30 p.m. on Monday (October 26) in Gravenhurst. In both cases, the suspect entered a convenience store with what appeared to be a firearm and demanded cash. No money was obtained by the suspect in either case. The suspect left in a white sedan.

The suspect in those two incidents was described as 5’7″ and wearing a reflective jacket and a black toque, black mask, and black gloves.

Police believe the suspect in all cases is the same man. In all four incidents, a newer white four-door sedan was observed in the immediate area, which police believe was operated by the suspect.

Police are looking for the public’s assistance to help identify the suspect in these incidents. Police believe there may be witnesses to these events who were driving or walking in the area at the time of the offences.

If anyone recognizes the suspect or has knowledge of these crimes, call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit your information online at www.crimestopperssdm.com. if you have any information on this crime or any other crime. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display and you will remain anonymous. Being anonymous, you will not testify in court and your information may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000.

The spike in new COVID-19 cases in Peterborough over the past week was related to the Thanksgiving weekend, according to Peterborough’s medical officer of health.

“We did see an increase in cases that were linked to the gatherings that occurred at Thanksgiving,” noted Dr. Rosana Salvaterra said during her weekly media briefing held Wednesday (October 28).

The health unit reported four new cases on October 21st, with another four on October 25th and two more on October 26th.

“Even with the greatest amount of care, not all risks can be avoided,” Dr. Salvaterra said. “People tried their best — they did reduce their socializing — but despite that we had some transmission occur.”

While there were 10 new cases reported in Peterborough over the past week, only six cases are currently active. However, Dr. Salveterra says there still may be more new cases to come as a result of the Thanksgiving weekend.

“I can’t rule out completely whether or not we’ll see any further cases that will link back to gatherings that took place that weekend.”

As for Halloween, Dr. Salvaterra says following simple public health guidelines will greatly reduce the risk of infection.

“Everyone on both sides of the treats should wear a mask,” she said, also urging people to not hold household Halloween parties.

In addition, Peterborough Public Health is strongly recommending the following:

• Screen for COVID-19 symptoms before trick-or-treating or handing out treats. Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms or feel ill.
• Only travel or trick-or-treat with those in your household. Maintain two metres’ distance from other groups. Avoid crowding in hallways and at doorways.
• Wash or sanitize your hands frequently. Clean your hands before eating any treats.
• Use tongs or another tool when handing out treats. Avoid leaving treats in a bowl for trick-or-treaters to grab.
• Avoid handing out or eating homemade or repackaged treats.

As for the other upcoming holidays where people traditionally gather, Dr. Salvaterra also had some recommendations.

For Remembrance Day, she noted there are a number of virtual events being planned and that is the safest way to honour veterans.

“Because of the vulnerability of our veterans, I’m recommending that there not be any socializing before or after any of the commemorative events,” she said. “I understand that the Legions in our area will be hosting some small private events for their members. I ask the public to respect these as closed gatherings, although they may be taking place in otherwise public spaces.”

Meanwhile, with Tuesday’s snowfall reminding us that the Christmas season is looming, Dr. Salvaterra advises that at this point we should “plan for it to be a different Christmas,” adding “Hopefully we’ll get this second wave under control and may have a little more freedom.”

As of Wednesday morning, the local catchment area of Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake and Hiawatha had seen a total of 147 positive cases reported with six cases currently active. The last confirmed case was reported this past Monday (October 26).

A total of 139 local cases have been resolved with two COVID-related deaths reported, both occurring early in the outbreak. There are currently no active outbreaks reported. Close to 34,000 area residents have been tested for a testing rate of 22.9 per cent.

A new statistic being reported by Peterborough Public Health relates to the number of close contacts being monitored, which as of Wednesday stood at 81.

According to Dr. Salvaterra, a close contact is defined as an individual who has had close contact with a positive case and, as a result, are considered to be at higher risk for infection during the positive case’s incubation period.

“Public health nurses keep in touch with them during that 14-day period to make sure they are self isolating and are checking daily for symptoms,” she said.

As for pandemic fatigue, Dr. Salvaterra is not unsympathetic but warns against “letting our guard down.”

“This has been a long haul,” she acknowledged.

“It’s important to talk to someone, to be able to vent your frustration. There’s a great deal of stress in the community. People are feeling down and depressed. It’s important to find someone you can trust, that you can share your emotions or experiences with. We need to engage in constructive thinking, looking at the opportunities rather than focusing on the restrictions.”

Also participating in Wednesday’s media briefing were Peterborough board of health chair and Selwyn mayor Andy Mitchell, and Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien.

In a major setback for the Canadian Canoe Museum, the planned new museum is no longer going to be located beside the Peterborough Lift Lock due to the presence of a cancer-causing chemical at the planned site for the facility.

The museum announced on Wednesday (October 28) that it has has terminated its lease agreement with Parks Canada for the land located alongside the Peterborough Lift Lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway at 353 Hunter Street East.

In May, an independent investigation by the museum determined the site, owned by Parks Canada, contains the chemical compound trichloroethylene (TCE), along with a variety of other chemicals.

A clear non-flammable liquid with a sweet smell, TCE was commonly used as an industrial solvent in the past. It is classified as a human carcinogen and a non-carcinogenic health hazard. Groundwater and drinking water contamination from industrial discharge of trichloroethylene is a major concern for human health and has resulted in numerous public health incidents and lawsuits in the U.S.

The museum states that this discovery, “together with the costs associated with clearing the contamination, the resulting unavoidable project delays, and inevitable rising costs have rendered the site no longer viable for the new museum build.”

Carolyn Hyslop, the museum’s executive director, states in a media release the museum and Parks Canada reached an “amicable dissolution” of the lease agreement “at no additional punitive cost to the museum.”

The museum is now looking at alternative sites in Peterborough where the new museum can be located, and will conduct feasibility studies and environmental assessments before selecting a new site.

“We are in the process of identifying and selecting a new site for what will be a revised museum design that will complement the waterfront site selection,” Hyslop says. “The museum remains dedicated to building a home that will permit us to share 100 per cent of our collection in a facility that meets conservation standards, to creating a new suite of exhibitions, and to increasing opportunities for in-person, digital and on-water programming.”

With the Peterborough Lift Lock site no longer an option, the original architectural designs for the new facility — which were designed around the Lift Lock site — are now obsolete.

“We had a beautiful, award-winning design that was perfectly suited for the Lift Lock location that is regretfully utterly non-transferable to another location,” Hyslop says. “Recognizing the deep attachment and disappointment shared by all involved in the face of current circumstances, the museum looks forward to announcing the selection of a new site in Peterborough that will help us advance this important project by the end of the year.”

Despite this major setback, the museum states “the project is expected to be shovel-ready by the end of 2021.”

The ground water at 353 Hunter Street East, owned by Parks Canada, is believed to have been contaminated by chemicals seeping from an adjacent property. Two factories were located in the area.

Westclox (formerly The Western Clock Company) operated a clock-making factory on Hunter Street, on the hill overlooking the Trent Canal, from 1922 until the early 1980s. The building, which has since been converted into condos and offices, is now called Time Square and is operated by the Skyline Group of Companies. It is unknown whether industrial solvents were used in the manufacture and assembly of clocks.

Fisher Gauge operated a metal die-casting plant at 194 Sophia Street near the Trent Canal. The company, which later became FisherCast Global, was acquired by DynaCast in 2008 and currently operates a factory on Neal Drive. Industrial solvents such as TCE are used for both cleaning and finishing metals.

Peterborough police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing person, 35-year-old Ryan Kelly of Peterborough.

Kelly was last seen leaving his residence at 2 p.m. on Monday (October 26) and has not been in contact with his family since.

He is described as a Caucasian male, 5’8″ and 150 pounds, with blue eyes, brown hair balding in the front, and a goatee. He has an eye brow ring and an earring.

Kelly was last seen wearing a green and orange coat and work boots with a grey helmet and possibly riding a CCM bicycle with a motor on it.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.stopcrimehere.ca.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit is warning people who use drugs there may be potentially dangerous opioids in the community, following reports by Kawartha Lakes police of five overdose incidents in the last six days.

The overdoses are thought to be the result of a contaminated or poisoned drug supply or inconsistent or increased potency, causing more severe overdose reactions.

“We are very concerned about these recent overdose incidents and are encouraging everyone to be extra vigilant and aware,” says Catherine MacDonald, the health unit’s substances and harm reduction coordinator. “This alert is being issued because there are potentially toxic substances present in the community that are putting people’s health at risk.”

Signs of an overdose include very large or very small pupils, slow or no breathing, cold and clammy skin, blue or purple fingernails or lips, and snoring or gurgling sounds. Often in drug overdoses, it is also difficult to wake up the person.

The health unit is reminding anyone who uses drugs (or know someone who does) to follow these safety tips: test a small amount of drug before you use, never use alone, ensure that 9-1-1 can be contacted in the event of an overdose, avoid mixing your drugs, and keep a naloxone kit on hand.

Naloxone is an emergency medicine that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose until the victim can get to hospital for treatment. Many local police and emergency responders already carry naloxone.

Free kits are also available to people who use opioids, as well as their family and friends, at participating pharmacies in Kawartha Lakes. To find exact locations for free naloxone kits, visit the Ontario government website at ontario.ca/page/where-get-free-naloxone-kit.