Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for southern Peterborough County, southern Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County for rain and scattered thunderstorms for Thursday evening (March 19).
The special weather statement also includes potential high wind gusts on Friday for the above areas as well as for northern Peterborough County, northern Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Hastings Highlands.
An approaching warm front will cause an area of showers and thunderstorms to move through the region on Thursday evening and overnight.
Some of the storms will contain heavy downpours, with local rainfall amounts of 15 to 25 mm possible in a single hour.
There will be the potential for high wind gusts on Friday in the morning or early afternoon as a cold front approaches, preceded by a band of scattered showers and thunderstorms. Wind gusts of 90 km/h will be possible in this band.
Should these winds develop, power outages would likely occur in some areas.
Environment Canada will continue to monitor this situation closely and may issue watches or warnings as the event draws nearer.
The Saturday Peterborough Regional Farmers' Market will move outdoors to the Citi-Centre Courtyard in downtown Peterborough effective March 21, 2020. There will be no seating areas, no dish-washing station, no play areas, and no formal places where groups can gather, and customers are asked to maintain social distancing with others as much as possible. (Photo: Jenn Austin-Driver)
The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market is going to be open on Saturday (March 21), but is moving outdoors to the Citi-Centre courtyard from its indoor winter location in the lower level of Peterborough Square.
The Citi-Centre courtyard at 245 Charlotte Street (in the middle of the three apartment buildings on Charlotte, Aylmer, and Bethune streets) was previously the market’s outdoor location.
Earlier this year, the market announced its new outdoor location would be the renovated courtyard of Peterborough Square beginning in May. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the board of the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Network (PRFN), which operates the market, decided to move the market outdoors immediately.
Brad Smith, president and CEO of AON Inc. (which owns Citi-Centre courtyard) agreed to let the market use City-Centre courtyard again until the market can move to its new outdoor location at Peterborough Square.
The PRFN board’s decision to move outdoors now was based on advice from Peterborough Public Health and in consultation with market vendors. The move will limit potential surface areas, limit the time market vendors and customers spend gathering in an enclosed space, and will increase fresh air circulation and social distancing.
“The PRFN board has worked with the health unit to implement best practices at the market (which as a food retailer is considered an essential service) and has made the decision to remain open with changes to the market structure,” reads an announcement on the market’s Facebook page.
“This will allow the community to access local foods while supporting local businesses, many whose only income are markets like these as they try to stay afloat during incredibly difficult and challenging times.”
With the move to the Citi-Centre courtyard, the PRFN board is also making additional changes to the market’s operation:
Vendors are being asked prepackage certain items, to limit all displays, and to further limit contact with goods sold.
Customers are being encouraged to contact vendors and order items in advance, before visiting the market. A list of vendors and contact information is available at www.ptboregionalfarmersmarket.org/partners.
There will be no seating areas, no dish-washing station, no play areas, and no formal places where groups can gather.
The PRFN board is also requesting that anyone who is ill, has recently travelled, or has any had any potential exposure to illness, to stay at home.
Those attending the market are asked to maintain social distancing with other customers as much as possible. The recommended guideline is to maintain a distance of two metres (approximately six feet) from other people.
“We cannot begin to describe our utmost thanks and appreciation for all of you who support the market and all of the businesses that rely on it,” the board writes. “We would like to thank Brad Smith who has generously allowed us to use the Citi-Center for the coming weeks, and we would also like to thank Peterborough Square, as they have been extremely supportive throughout this challenging time. We are so thankful for our downtown partners.”
As for Peterborough’s other Saturday farmers’ market, the Peterborough District Farmers’ Market at Morrow Park in Peterborough is remaining closed until further notice.
Kawartha Food Share is also experiencing the same empty shelves commonly seen at local grocery stores, and a Peterborough-wide proch food drive on March 23, 2020 is aiming to help the non-profit organization restock its warehouse shelves with needed items including toilet paper, canned tuna, pasta and pasta sauce, peanut butter, rice, and more. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
Are you a Peterborough resident with some extra food and toilet paper to spare? If you’re not ill or in self-isolation, you can leave a bag of non-perishable food items and toilet paper on your front porch on Monday morning (March 23) and volunteers will come around to collect it.
The city-wide porch food drive — called “Spare A Square” in recognition of low supplies of toilet paper — has been organized to help restock the empty shelves at Kawartha Food Share.
The non-profit organization has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as some people have been stockpiling basic food and personal care items for themselves and emptying grocery store shelves of these items for others.
Kawartha Food Share assists more than 8,900 people every month through 11 food banks and 20 food cupboards in the city and county of Peterborough, as well as through four meal programs and six housing projects.
Those people, including families with children, who rely on Kawartha Food Share every month are particularly vulnerable. And if people on limited incomes cannot get needed items at grocery stores, they will turn to a food bank.
To participate in “Spare A Square”, leave a bag filled with non-perishable food items and one or two rolls of toilet paper (protected within another bag) on your front porch by 9 a.m. on Monday, March 23rd.
Beginning at 9 a.m., volunteers will drive around the city and collect the items to deliver them to Kawartha Food Share’s warehouse. In accordance with social distancing directives, the volunteers will be in their own vehicles and will have no face-to-face contact with people who leave bags on their front porch.
Needed items include:
Toilet paper rolls (please place one or two rolls of toilet paper in a ziplock bag if you have one or another bag that keeps it separate; add the bagged rolls to a larger bag of non-perishable food items)
Canned tuna
Pasta and pasta sauce
Alpha-getti, Kraft Dinner, and Chef Boyardee (items that are easy to cook and that kids like)
Breakfast cereal (a lot of children will be without school breakfast programs for the foreseeable future)
Peanut butter (Kawartha Food Share is currently out of peanut butter)
Any non-perishable fruit and vegetable items
Rice
Canned soup and stew
Feminine hygiene products
Baby formula
Important note: if you are are feeling ill for whatever reason, or if you are in self-isolation, please do not leave a bag out for collection. This will help protect the health of both pick-up and warehouse volunteers.
If you are ill or if you do not have enough supplies to participate in the food drive, you can instead make a cash donation online at www.kawarthafoodshare.com/donations.html. Even a small donation will help — for every dollar donated, Kawartha Food Share can purchase up to six dollars worth of food.
Many local businesses, especially restaurants, have donated items to Kawartha Food Share over the past week. If you own a business and want to make a larger donation of needed items, email greatturkeyexchange@gmail.com to arrange for a bulk pick-up.
Copper Lake in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. On March 18, 2020, the Ontario government announced it has closed all provincial parks until April 30th. On April 25, 2020, the government extended the closure to May 31st. (Public domain)
If you were planning to head out to a provincial park this spring to enjoy the outdoors, you’re out of luck. They are the latest casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday (March 18), Ontario’s minister of health Christine Elliott and minister of environment, conservation and parks Jeff Yurek issued a statement that Ontario provincial parks would be closed to the public from Thursday, March 19th until Thursday, April 30th.
The closure includes car camping, backcountry camping, roofed accommodations, day use opportunities, and all public buildings.
The decision to close the parks was made “to ensure public safety and the well-being of our visitors and staff in Ontario’s provincial parks”, according to the statement.
Current visitors to provincial parks will be required to vacate by Thursday (March 19).
Any person or group with a reservation for arrival up to Thursday, April 30th will be automatically provided a full refund with no penalty.
As penalty-free refunds will automatically be issued, the public is asked to avoid cancelling reservations online, as this may trigger an automatic penalty.
In an effort to support social distancing and slow the spread of COVID-19, riders will not be required to pay or show fare media to board a Peterborough Transit bus. The customer waiting and restrooms at the Simcoe Street Bus Terminal are closed to the public. (Photo: Peterborough Transit)
The City of Peterborough announced on Wednesday (March 18) that, effective immediately, there is no charge to ride Peterborough Transit.
In an effort to support social distancing and slow the spread of COVID-19, customers will not be required to pay or show fare media to board the bus.
This eliminates the personal contact that is required for the physical exchange of fares.
However, all customers will now have to board a bus using the rear door, with the exception of individuals who have accessibility needs. The seats directly behind the driver are also not in service.
Also effective immediately, the customer waiting and restrooms at the Simcoe Street Bus Terminal are closed to the public.
Drivers are monitoring the number of customers who board buses to reduce customer loads, promoting social distancing. This may result in delays, but the city says this measure is essential to help protect the public and the staff.
Peterborough Transit will continue to monitor and respond to changing conditions.
Riders are encouraged to regulary check the city’s website at peterborough.ca/transit for changes that may impact travel planning. Peterborough Transit also provides real-time service update on their Twitter feed @Ptbo_Transit.
For transit-related questions, call the Peterborough Transit customer service line at 705-745-0525.
Peterborough Public Health has confirmed the second positive case of COVID-19 in the Peterborough area.
Medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra shared the news during a daily media briefing e on Wednesday morning (March 18).
The individual who tested positive is one of 12 close contacts of the first positive case in the Peterborough area, a man in his 30s who had returned from Spain and Portugal on Monday, February 24th.
The man, who was associated with Trent University’s Peterborough campus, did not develop symptoms of COVID-19 until Sunday, March 1st. On Thursday, March 12th, he sought testing at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and was diagnosed with COVID-19.
After the diagnosis, Peterborough Public Health had identified 12 close contacts and tested those people who have symptoms. Results of testing can take up to five days.
As of 12 p.m. on Wednesday (March 18), there are two confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the area served by Peterborough Public Health (the City and County of Peterborough and Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations), 68 confirmed negative cases, and 41 cases under investigation. There have been no hospitalized cases or deaths.
This story has been updated to include the most recent local statistics on COVID-19 cases and to remove unconfirmed information about additional testing of people who may have come into contact with the second positive case.
This flyer distributed by the Hurlington family in Peterborough's Marsdale neighbourhood offers assistance to self-isolating neighbours. We have redacted the street name and phone number as the family's offer is only for their immediate neighbours. (Photo courtesy of Moray Martin)
A Peterborough family is spreading ‘viral kindness’ by offering to help their neighbours during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Hurlington family, who live in Peterborough’s Marsdale neighbourhood, are already known as the “cookie family” for delivering home-made cookies to their neighbours every Christmas.
Now they are offering to help neighbours who are self-isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic, by offering to pick up groceries, mail, or urgent supplies, or by just providing a “friendly phone call”.
United Way campaign chair David Goyette and TVM Group president and CEO Amit Sofer cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the East City Condos showroom on October 26, 2019. TVM Group has donated $1,500 to United Way of Peterborough & District. (Supplied photo)
Toronto-based property development company TVM Group has donated $1,500 to United Way of Peterborough & District.
TVM Group president and CEO Amit Sofer, who drives to Peterborough from Toronto several times weekly, made the announcement on Wednesday (March 18).
TVM Group is building East City Condos, a nine-storey building at the corner of Armour Road and Hunter Street East in Peterborough’s East City.
The TVM Group donation was based on a unique five-month relationship — a first for the Peterborough community — in which TVM Group made a cash donation for every East City Condo unit sold at events involving participation by the United Way.
“We have introduced a number of innovations to the campaign this year and this is one of the most inspiring,” says United Way campaign chair David Goyette. “Amit and his team are exemplary builders of community and their enlightened corporate citizenship will go a long way in helping to serve the many ongoing needs of our community.”
Since its founding by Sofer more than 20 years ago, TVM Group has shown a strong commitment to Peterborough through the development of multiple properties, both commercial and residential. The luxury East City Condos is in its pre-construction sales phase, with an estimated summer/fall 2022 occupancy.
“We are proud of our community relationships and our association with David and the United Way,” Sofer ssys. “We know that our donation will be put to good and valuable use.”
The government-ordered closure of bars and restaurants across Ontario to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 is having a huge economic impact on downtown Peterborough, home to more than 100 eateries. Local economic development organizations Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures Peterborough, and the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas, collectively known as "TeamPTBO", are working together proactively to identify the impact of COVID-19 on the local business sector and possible solutions so that recovery funding from all three levels of government is targeted most effectively. (Photo: Patrick Stephen / Peterborough DBIA)
Those looking for a sign that Peterborough’s business community will survive the fallout from the unprecedented measures implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19, take heart — a group of local business leaders is meeting daily with just that at top of mind.
Known collectively as TeamPTBO, the group — members are Community Futures Peterborough executive director Gail Moorhouse, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) executive director Terry Guiel, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development CEO and president Rhonda Keenan, and Peterborough Chamber of Commerce CEO and president Stuart Harrison — met in person on Monday (March 16) and will regularly meet — virtually — moving forward.
Also a member of the group, although not represented at Monday’s meeting, is the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas, headed by CEO Michael Skinner and president John Gillis.
As executive director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), Terry Guiel is a champion of local independently owned businesses. Pictured here in late 2019 promoting the DBIA’s Holiday Shopping Passport program, Guiel is one of five business leaders working together to help the local business community survive the fallout from COVID-19. (Photo: Peterborough DBIA)
“We’re identifying everything that needs to be done now, from lobbying to advising levels of government … we’re going to continue to do that and it will be probably be long term,” says Guiel, noting the impact of the government-ordered closure of restaurants and bars is particularly concerning to him, as downtown Peterborough is home to more than 100 eateries.
“Take a place like Riley’s that has upwards of 80 employees alone, and then you add in cleaning staff, security, and DJs — it’s significant. When you multiply that by all the bars and restaurants, that sector is a significant economic driver for the City of Peterborough. Thirty-two per cent of the commercial tax base is downtown alone. Its health is vital to the community.”
TeamPTBO, notes Guiel, has been in regular communication with representatives of all three levels of government regarding short- and long-term needs as they’re identified. That, he says, will continue to happen.
“They need to know what the business community needs now and is going to need. They need to know what the (local) strategies are and where to put any money as it becomes available. There’s going to be lots of red tape. We need to be creative, especially when the all-clear comes and we’re going to have to try to recover. We’re being pro-active.”
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One tangible result of the group’s meeting was Monday’s issuance of a survey to business owners throughout the city and county, asking for information regarding immediate and projected challenges and needs. The survey is available online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/COVID-19BusinessSurvey.
“We don’t want to create the wrong solutions that are only going to make things worse,” explains Keenan of the need to compile and understand that information.
“It’s to see what solutions we can help with and how we can work with all levels of government to say ‘This is the type of need our local businesses have’ so that they can build effective programs once we move into the recovery phase.”
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development CEO and president Rhonda Keenan speaks at the 2019 TD Economic Outlook Luncheon at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club on October 30, 2019. (Photo: Alyssa Cymbalista)
Keenan says, as of Tuesday afternoon, more than 160 survey responses have been returned.
“We want to be able to be responsive when we’re in a position to make a decision, and that means having information to give it to the right people so programs that aren’t helpful won’t put in place. We want programs that are actually addressing the needs of business right now.”
“We know there is never going to be enough (money) to address every single need, but we want it to be targeted and have the most effect that it possibly can when it’s made available.”
In addition to TeamPTBO’s efforts to stay ahead of the curve on behalf of the business sector, Community Futures Peterborough announced Tuesday (March 17) that it is offering each of its 147 clients the option to defer their April 2020 loan payment.
“Our mission statement is to foster a vibrant and sustainable community by supporting business development, so we’re being pro-active during this unprecedented time by offering our clients payment relief,” says Moorhouse, noting 65 per cent of Community Futures’ portfolio, which represents a total investment of $9 million, is comprised of hospitality and retail businesses.
“We are working with our TeamPTBO partners on developing assistance wherever possible. The opportunity to postpone the April payment is one option that we hope offers some comfort to our clients during this time.”
Gail Moorhouse is executive director of Community Futures Peterborough, a non-profit organization that works to generate and assist in the creation and maintenance of local employment opportunities through business development and consulting services. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
For his part, Harrison says “having the same message” is the goal.
“We’re not all trying, within our own purview, to figure things out … we’re trying to figure things out as a group,” he says.
“Everybody has their own constituency. We’ve all got our own clients. Speaking as a common voice, there’s a lot of impact there.”
“But I don’t want anyone thinking we’ve got this figured out. The federal, provincial and municipal governments, individual business people, employees, agencies … we’re all trying to figure it out. What we’re trying to figure out is what is the best information we can give to all levels of government. What does our business community need?”
Peterborough Chamber of Commerce CEO and president Stuart Harrison at the Chamber’s introducing Peterborough’s elected officials at the 2020 Power Hour event on February 12, 2020. (Photo: Peterborough Chamber of Commerce)
“Everyone is wanting that information locally, provincially, and federally,” Harrson explains. “Minister (Bill) Morneau has announced $10 billion dollars’ worth of funding, but (the federal government is) still looking for the most efficient ways to get that money into the hands of people who need it — employers and employees.”
From where she sits, Mayor Diane Therrien terms TeamPTBO’s efforts “a great initiative … it shows how in times of crisis our community always comes together.”
She spoke to Guiel on Tuesday and, on Monday (March 16), a conference call involving herself, TeamPTBO members, and Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef took place.
“What I’ve been saying is we don’t need to bail out airlines,” she says. “We need to help the backbone of our economy which is our small- and medium-sized businesses.”
Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW.com)
“The challenge is municipalities are so limited in their funding and their capacity to provide assistance. We’re looking at what can do locally, but also continue to advocate higher levels of government about the need to support our entrepreneurs.”
“Everything’s changing, even hourly, but we can lay the groundwork … suggestions and a framework for how we’ll be able to come back from this, which we will do.”
Mayor Therrien’s optimism is wholly shared by Guiel and it’s based on past experience.
“Our business community is very resilient,” he says. “We survived the flood. We’re going to survive this.”
Five of Peterborough's leading economic development organizations have joined forced to launch a survey of local businesses to help determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and develop a unified approach to possible solutions to offset the impact. (Photo: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development)
businessNOW™ is the most comprehensive weekly round-up of business and organizational news and events from Peterborough and across the Kawarthas.
Every week, our managing editor collects news and events related to businesses and organizations from across the Kawarthas. If you’d like us to promote your news or event in businessNOW, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
The week’s news features Peterborough’s economic development organizations coming together as TeamPTBO to launch a survey to evaluate impact of COVID-19 on local businesses, Community Futures Peterborough offering COVID-19 loan relief for its business clients, entrepreneur Leslie Bradford-Scott launching a podcast to explore her father’s twisted past, nine municipalities in the Kawarthas get $3.2 million in gas tax funding for public transit, and other notable business and organization news from across the Kawarthas
Due to the impact of COVID-19, no new business events have been added this week, and previously listed business events have ether been cancelled or postponed.
Peterborough’s economic development organizations launch survey to evaluate impact of COVID-19 on local businesses
“TeamPTBO” is Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, Community Futures Peterborough, the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas, and the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.
Peterborough economic development organizations, who collectively call themselves “TeamPTBO”, have come together to identify the impact of COVID-19 on the local business community.
The group — Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED), the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area, the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures Peterborough, and the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas — is working to assist the local business community in dealing with the economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A lot of people are saying a lot of different things online about what’s being affected,” explains PKED corporate communications officer Keaton Robbins. “If we can push everyone to this survey, we can begin to triage the main issues for different local businesses and how they are being affected.”
By working together, TeamPTBO will be able to identify issues as well as meaningful programs to assist businesses, from small to large, in recovering from the impacts of the pandemic. The information collected through the survey, which could be used in seek funding from different levels of government, will have the most impact coming from a collective of economic development organizations.
“We want to make sure we are getting the same information and we’re creating a unified program to help our local businesses,” Robbins says.
The survey includes questions such as where a business is located, what sector a business is in, changes to business operations as a result of COVID-19 including impacts on employees, other major concerns, and the type of assistance needed.
Community Futures Peterborough offers COVID-19 loan relief for its business clients
Community Futures Peterborough, located in the VentureNorth building in downtown Peterborough, supports small business by providing flexible financing solutions and services. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) has announced it is supporting its business clients during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering them an option to defer their April 2020 loan payment.
“We are experiencing an uncertain time and want our clients to know we are here to support their business,” says Grant Seabrooke, vice-chair of the CFP board. “Our priority is to ensure our clients know we are here to help.”
Community Futures Peterborough currently has 147 clients with over $9 million dollars invested in community businesses.
“We are continuing to work with our TeamPTBO partners on developing assistance wherever possible,” adds CFP executive director Gail Moorhouse. “The opportunity to postpone the April payment is one option we hope offers some comfort to our clients during this time.”
The CFP board is continuing to closely review the situation and is prepared to offer future relief as required.
Business clients of Community Futures Peterborough will be contacted via email and will have the opportunity to opt-in to the deferral program.
There is no negative impact to the businesses credit score for those who select to postpone their payment.
Entrepreneur Leslie Bradford-Scott launching a podcast to explore her father’s twisted past
“Rewriting Dad” is a podcast hosted by Walton Wood Farm founder and CEO Leslie Bradford-Scott and local actor and filmmaker Megan Murphy. The podcast is based on a secret manuscript Bradford-Scott’s late father wrote in prison 32 years ago. (Graphic: Rewriting Dad)
Peterborough-area entrepreneur Leslie Bradford-Scott, the CEO and founder of award-winning Walton Wood Farm in Bailieboro, is launching a new podcast on Tuesday, March 24th called “Rewriting Dad”.
A few months ago, Bradford-Scott was given a secret manuscript her late father wrote in prison 32 years ago. The manuscript contained shocking stories of her father’s involvement with the Mafia, the CIA, the INS, the FBI, and the RCMP.
With her childhood memories turned inside-out, Bradford-Scott was left with more questions about her family than answers.
Along with her co-host, local actor and filmmaker Megan Murphy — whose documentary film Murphy’s Law was based on the discovery of own father’s long-lost journal of his 1973 solo bike journey through Ireland — Bradford-Scott will try to discover the truth behind this strange and twisted family saga.
“Light-hearted hosts Meg Murphy, the daughter of a criminal lawyer, & Leslie Bradford-Scott, daughter of a criminal, turn each page inside out as they try to get to the truth of a dangerous, shocking, and twisted history,” the podcast description reads.
For more information about “Rewriting Dad”, including a teaser, visit www.rewritingdad.ca.
Nine municipalities in the Kawarthas get $3.2 million in gas tax funding for public transit
The City of Petrborough has received $1.9 million in gas tax funding for Peterborough Transit. (Photo: Brianna Salmon / GreenUP)
Last Thursday (March 12), the Ontario Ministry of Transportation announced $365.3 million in funding for 111 municipalities to expand and improve local transportation across the province — including $3.2 million for nine municipalities in the Kawarthas.
The funding comes from Ontario’s gas tax program, which provides stable and predictable transit funding for Ontario municipalities by providing two cents per litre of provincial gas tax to improve and expand transit.
Determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province, funding under the program can be used to upgrade infrastructure, increase accessibility, purchase transit vehicles, add more routes. and extend hours of service.
The following nine municipalities in the Kawarthas receiving funding are:
Cramahe (Alnwick/Haldimand, Hamilton Township) – $48,600
County of Peterborough – $41,007
Dysart et Al – $14,458
Other notable business and organization news from across the Kawarthas
Shelley Barrie with her rescue dog Aube and Gail Lockington with Sammy. The two women (and their dogs) have pledged $25,000 to the Peterborough Humane Society’s campaign to build its new animal care centre. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Humane Society)
Here’s a summary of other notable business and organizational news from across the Kawarthas over the past week:
Shelley Barrie and Gail Lockington have pledged $25,000 to “Our Pet Project”, the Peterborough Humane Society’s campaign to build its new animal care centre. The two made the donation on behalf of their dogs Aube and Sammy. Ground-breaking of the new centre is expected in the fall 2020, with construction anticipated to be complete in winter 2021.
John Rufa, owner of Kawartha Country Wines (2452 County Road 36, Buckhorn), is expanding with a new 3,000-square-foot production facility and a 1,000-square-foot wine tasting room that will also be open for special events.
Demolition of the former Baskin-Robbins plant in Peterborough is about to begin. Dave Pogue purchased the property at Aylmer and Simcoe Streets and is planning to redevelop the property as a combination of commercial units and apartments.
Restwell Upholstery (494 The Parkway, Peterborough) is celebrating 75 years in business in 2020. Kerri Rogers and her husband purchased the business, formerly located at Ashburnham and Lansdowne Streets in Peterborough, from the Peltz family in 2008.
Due to the COVID-18 pandemic, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (270 George St N., Peterborough) is closed to the public until Tuesday, April 14th. The closure includes the Visitor Centre. While all economic develoopment and tourism services are still available, all workshops and events are cancelled during this time.
The Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas has closed both incubator locations in Peterborough and Lindsay until Monday, April 6th due to the COVID-18 pandemic. Innovation Cluster startup clients will still have access to the space with their access cards, but members of the public must be escorted on the premises. All advisory services are still available via phone.
Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre in Cobourg is closed as part of the Town of Cobourg’s shutdown of all municipal facilities in response to the COVID-16 pandemic. All activities and events at Venture13 are cancelled.
Due to COVID-19, most business organizations have either cancelled or postponed upcoming events, including meetings and workshops, during March and into April. Business events will return to businessNOW when restrictions on public gatherings have been lifted.
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