The Rotary Harbourfront Outdoor Rink in Cobourg. (Photo: Town of Cobourg / Facebook)
The Rotary Harbourfront Outdoor Rink in Cobourg will stay open during the province-wide shutdown, but with enhanced enforcement to ensure compliance with public health measures.
On Wednesday (December 23), Cobourg council held an emergency meeting and decided to keep the fountain rink — known as the “frink” to locals — open for the duration of the province-wide shutdown, which runs from Saturday, December 26 until Saturday, January 23rd.
“We understand and appreciate the need to have our outdoor rink operational during a time when so few activities are available for our community,” says Cobourg mayor John Henderson. “Physical and mental well-being are crucial especially during this time of isolation and I ask that all rink users comply with the provincial and public health requirements.”
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Outdoor recreational amenities include ice rinks are permitted to open under the Ontario government’s shutdown rules, as long as gatherings are limited to 10 people, people who are not members of the same household maintain at least two metres of distance from one another, and no team sports are played.
On Thursday (December 24), municipal staff will erect a rectangular fence around the perimeter of the rink. For Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, a maximum of 25 skaters will be allowed on the rink at a time.
When the shutdown takes effect on Saturday (December 26) and for the duration of the shutdown, no more than 10 skaters will be allowed on the rink. Cobourg police will provide special constables as added full-time security to enforce the rules and to support contact tracing.
The new rules for the Rotary Harbourfront Outdoor Rink in Cobourg come into effect on December 26, 2020. (Graphic: Town of Cobourg)
In addition, as of Monday (December 28), all rink users will need to register in advance on the town’s website for 45-minute time slots.
The new operating hours for the rink will be noon to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting.
Along with maintaining two metres of distance from others not in the same household, rink users must sanitize their hands before using the rink and must be wearing ice skates or ice sledges. Hockey sticks, pucks, or games of tag are not allowed on the ice surface. While not required under provincial rules, face coverings are strongly recommended.
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Those who fail to follow the rules of the outdoor rink will be asked to leave immediately.
As part of Wednesday’s emergency meeting, Cobourg council also asked municipal staff to report back to council on Monday, January 4th with possible sites and costs for a second community rink in the Town of Cobourg.
As Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day are statutory holidays in Ontario, all government offices and services are closed (because Boxing Day falls on a Saturday this year, the statutory holiday is observed on Monday, December 28). Liquor and beer stores are closed, except for a selected few beer stores that will be open on Boxing Day. Most businesses — including malls, box stores, and grocery stores — are closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day but are open on Boxing Day. Many businesses close early in the afternoon on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
All services and businesses are affected by the province-wide COVID-19 shutdown that begins on Boxing Day (December 26) and continues through the remainder of the holidays. Here are a few key things to know about the impact of the shutdown on services and businesses:
Indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities are closed (this includes municipal arenas and facilities).
Museums and art galleries are closed.
Libraries can provide curbside pick-up only.
Grocery stores and pharmacies are limited to 50 per cent capacity.
Big box and discount retailers that sell groceries are open, but limited to 25 per cent capacity.
Shopping malls are closed for in-person retail, but curbside pick-up (or in-mall pick-up at a designated area) is permitted.
All other retailers are closed for in-person retail, with only curbside pick-up or delivery permitted.
Only take-out or delivery is permitted at restaurants (no inside or outside dining).
Movie theatres and performance venues are closed.
Personal care services are closed.
For your convenience, we provide this list of holiday hours for 268 selected businesses and services across the Kawarthas. 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 (we’ve included phone numbers), especially when you are travelling any distance. If your business or organization is listed and the hours are incorrect, please let us know by using our content feedback form.
Bewdley Community Recycling Centre 7650 County Rd. 9, Hamilton 905-342-2514
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
8:30am-12:00pm
CLOSED
Brighton Community Recycling Centre 1112 County Rd. 26, Brighton 613-475-1946
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
8:30am-12:00pm
CLOSED
Canada Post Mail Delivery / Offices (Note: post offices operated by the private sector will be open according to the hours of service of the host business
Regular collection and delivery
No collection or delivery
No collection or delivery
Regular collection and delivery
No collection or delivery
City of Kawartha Lakes City Hall, Municipal Service Centres, and Administration Offices 26 Francis St., Lindsay 705-324-9411
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED (ALSO CLOSED DEC 27-30)
CLOSED
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities, arenas, and pools Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411
Closes at 12:00pm
CLOSED
CLOSED (ALSO CLOSED DEC 27-30)
CLOSED
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Public Libraries Various locations, City of Kawartha Lakes 705-324-9411 x1291
Open 10:00am-2:00pm for pick-up service only (Omemee branch closed)
CLOSED
CLOSED
Open 10:00am-2:00pm for pick-up service only Omemee branch open 1:00pm-3:00pm)
CLOSED
City of Kawartha Lakes Waste and Recycling Collection 26 Francis St., Lindsay 1-888-822-2225
No change
No change
No change
No change
No change
City of Peterborough Day Cares Peterborough 705-748-8830
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED (ALSO CLOSED DEC 27-30)
CLOSED
CLOSED
City of Peterborough Garbage Pickup Peterborough 705-745-1386
No change
Moves to Mon Dec 28
No change
No change
Moves to Mon Jan 4
City of Peterborough Recycling Pickup Peterborough 705-876-1600
No change
Moves to Mon Dec 28
No change
No change
Moves to Mon Jan 4
City of Peterborough Social Services Peterborough 705-748-8830
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
As provincial data and individual public health unit data will not be available on statutory holidays (December 25, December 28, and January 1), kawarthaNOW will not be posting COVID-19 updates on these dates. Data for those dates will be posted the day after the statutory holiday.
Ontario reporting 2,408 new cases today, the ninth straight day of cases over 2,000 and the second-highest case count on a single day since the pandemic began.
With today’s new cases, the seven-day average of daily cases across the province has increased by 38 to 2,304.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 11 new cases to report and 23 additional cases resolved, with the number of active cases across the region decreasing by 9 to 95.
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Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (629), Peel (448), Windsor-Essex (234), York (190), Hamilton (150), and Durham (136).
There are double-digit increases in Halton (88), Waterloo (80), Niagara (76), Middlesex-London (72), Ottawa (56), Southwestern Public Health (53), Simcoe Muskoka (46), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (31), Thunder Bay (18), Lambton (18), Haldimand-Norfolk (15), Brant (14), and Huron Perth (11), with smaller increases in Eastern Ontario Health Unit (9), Chatham-Kent (9), and Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (6).
The remaining 12 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with only 2 health units reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s cases, 52% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (887) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 676 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 2,243 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases has increased by 0.2% to 85.5%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has decreased by 0.2% to 4.8%, meaning that 48 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on December 22.
Ontario is reporting 41 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 14 deaths in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have decreased by 3 to 1,002, with 2 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 14 more patients on ventilators.
A total of 56,660 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation increasing by 19,104 to 66,976.
Due to the winter break and the remote learning period during the provincial shutdown, there will be no data to report between December 22 and January 8. There are 31 new cases in licensed child care settings, a decrease of 15 from yesterday, with 11 cases among children and 20 cases among staff.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 11 new cases to report, including 7 in Peterborough, 2 in Hastings Prince Edward, 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no new cases in Haliburton.
An additional 23 cases have been resolved, including 10 in Northumberland, 6 in Peterborough, 6 in Hastings Prince Edward, and 1 in Kawartha Lakes.
Outbreaks have been declared at Riverview Manor in Peterborough and at an unidentified congregate living setting in the Peterborough area. Outbreaks at Seasons Dufferin Centre in Quinte West and Extendicare Kawartha Lakes in Lindsay have been declared over.
There are 2 new cases in licensed child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region: 1 staff case at Hucklebug-Stepping Stone Child Care in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township in Peterborough County and 1 child case at Trent River Public School Before and After School in Quinte West.
There are currently 95 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 9 from yesterday, including 38 in Northumberland, 28 in Peterborough, 25 in Hastings Prince Edward (9 in Quinte West, 5 in Belleville, 8 in Prince Edward County, 2 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, and 1 in Central Hastings), and 4 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no active cases in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 287 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (254 resolved with 5 deaths), 224 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (201 resolved with 33 deaths), 215 in Northumberland County (176 resolved with 1 death), 27 in Haliburton County (27 resolved with no deaths), and 258 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (228 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 23.
Province-wide, there have been 162,663 confirmed cases, an increase of 2,408 from yesterday, with 139,010 cases resolved (85.5% of all cases), an increase of 2,243 from yesterday. There have been 4,229 deaths, an increase of 41 from yesterday, with 2,608 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 14 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has decreased by 3 to 1,002, with 2 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 14 more patients on ventilators. A total of 7,527,962 tests have been completed, an increase of 56,660 from yesterday, with 66,976 tests under investigation, an increase of 19,104 from yesterday.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends.
Confirmed positive: 287 (increase of 7) Active cases: 28 (increase of 1) Close contacts: 130 (increase of 20) Deaths: 5 (no change) Resolved: 254 (increase of 6) Hospitalizations (total to date): 13 (no change)* Total tests completed: Over 38,550 (increase of 50) Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven in Peterborough, Riverview Manor in Peterborough, Unidentified congregate living setting (increase of 2)*
*As of December 23, Peterborough Regional Health Centre reports 1 patient with COVID-19 on an inpatient unit and 1 patient with COVID-19 in the ICU (transferred from another hospital).
**An outbreak at Riverview Manor in Peterborough was declared on December 23. An outbreak at an unidentified congregate living setting was declared on December 23.
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 461, including 224 in Kawartha Lakes, 215 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 2, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 1 in Northumberland)* Active cases: 42, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 38 in Northumberland (decrease of 6 in Northumberland) Probable cases: 0 (no change) High-risk contacts: 343, including 27 in Kawartha Lakes, 187 in Northumberland, and 5 in Haliburton (net decrease of 26)** Hospitalizations (total to date): 18, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change) Deaths: 33 (no change) Resolved: 404, including 201 in Kawartha Lakes, 176 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 11, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 10 in Northumberland) Institutional outbreaks: Case Manor Care Community in Bobcaygeon, Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg (decrease of 1)**
*A total of 3 additional cases reported previously and transferred from other health units. These are not considered new cases, but have increased the case count for Northumberland by 3.
**This total includes 124 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
***An outbreak at Extendicare Kawartha Lakes in Lindsay has been declared over.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health’s service area is Hastings County (including Bancroft) and Prince Edward County.
The health unit provides daily reports, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 258 (increase of 2) Active cases: 25 (decrease of 4) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 3 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 1 (no change) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 228 (increase of 6) Swabs completed: 23,209 (increase of 7,342) Institutional outbreaks: None (decrease of 1)*
*An outbreak at Seasons Dufferin Centre in Quinte West was declared over on December 23.
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 162,663 (increase of 2,408) Resolved: 139,010 (increase of 2,243, 85.5% of all cases) Hospitalized: 1,002 (decrease of 3) Hospitalized and in ICU: 275 (increase of 2) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 186 (increase of 14) Deaths: 4,229 (increase of 41) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,608 (increase of 16) Total tests completed: 7,527,962 (increase of 56,660) Tests under investigation: 66,976 (increase of 19,104)
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 22 – December 22, 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 November 22 – December 22, 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)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from November 22 – December 22, 2020. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the dotted orange line is a five-day moving average of is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from November 22 – December 22, 2020. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for all of southern, central, and eastern Ontario calling for potentially heavy rain on Wednesday night (December 23) and into Christmas Eve, followed by a chance of snow by Christmas Day.
Rain is forecast to begin tonight ahead of an approaching low pressure system. This rain will then continue into Thursday and become heavy at times.
Total rainfall amounts of 15 to 25 mm appear likely.
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By Thursday evening or overnight, the rain is expected to change over to snow after the passage of a strong cold front.
A few centimetres of snowfall accumulation will be possible Thursday night through Friday morning.
There remains considerable uncertainty as to the exact track of this low pressure system and the timing of the changeover from rain to snow. This will ultimately affect how much snow may fall at any particular location.
Motorists should be prepared for deteriorating winter driving conditions in areas that receive snow on Christmas Eve into Christmas Day.
This past summer, a newcomer family sings the viral children's hit song "Baby Shark", a favourite among newcomer children as it helps them learn language while bringing them joy. Despite the pandemic, the New Canadians Centre has continued to offer programs for newcomers and refugees to keep them connected and to develop language and skills for success. But the non-profit charity needs your support to continue to to bring joy to newcomers and their families through these uncertain times. (Photo courtesy of the New Canadians Centre)
“Baby Shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo …”
Lubna Sadek, youth group facilitator at the New Canadians Centre in Peterborough, got to know the viral children’s hit song “Baby Shark” really well this summer.
She sang it every day when she visited newcomer families in isolation online and in person.
“Baby Shark is a song about bringing families together, helping them stay connected especially when they feel alone,” Sadek says. “As it turns out, it is a favourite among newcomer children as it helps them learn language. And it makes them really happy when they sing it.”
VIDEO: “Together, even when we’re apart” – New Canadians Centre
Staying together when we’re asked to keep apart is a challenge for everyone, but especially for people from other countries who now call Canada home.
Through the generous support of the community, the New Canadians Centre — a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to supporting immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers in the Peterborough and Northumberland regions — has been able to move forward during the pandemic with programs for newcomers and refugees to keep them connected and to develop language and skills for success.
The centre’s long-standing women’s group, which includes women from all over the world who have made their home in Peterborough and have developed strong friendships, has moved online. New Canadians Centre staff deliver kits so the women can continue to meet weekly and bond over crafts and baking. These are important connections that support both language learning and a sense of belonging among newcomers.
During the pandemic, New Canadians Centre staff delivered kits to newcomer women in the centre’s long-standing women’s group so the women could continue to meet weekly online and bond over crafts and baking. Here, the women’s group meets over Zoom to bake Welsh Cakes together. (Photo courtesy of the New Canadians Centre)
Newcomer youth also continue to connect online to explore opportunities for education and employment and to develop the skills they need to be successful.
Over the summer, the New Canadians Centre’s newcomer youth group hosted Instagram Live sessions each week, providing an opportunity for youth to come together and engage in activities from painting to yoga to baking and online games.
Also over the summer, thanks to community support, New Canadians Centre staff delivered care packages of food staples and drawings and letters to migrant farm workers, letting them know that the community is grateful for all they do.
VIDEO: Steve and Ibrahim on Instagram Live – New Canadians Centre
Community support has also helped newcomer women step up during the pandemic, sewing caps and masks for frontline healthcare workers at a crucial time and putting to good use the skills they have developed from sewing training.
It’s clear that a gift to the New Canadians Centre impacts the lives of many people in our community.
“Because of your ongoing generosity, newcomer families are not isolated,” Sadek says. “They are hopeful. They are working towards their future.”
As Baby Shark joyfully sings when he is together again with all of his family, “Safe at Last, doo doo doo doo doo doo …”
“That’s what a gift to New Canadians Centre looks like,” Sadek says. “It’s how you can change lives when we are together, and even when we are apart.”
To help the New Canadians Centre continue to bring joy to newcomers and their families through these uncertain times, please consider making a gift this holiday season at nccpeterborough.ca/support-the-ncc/.
This story was developed in partnership with the New Canadians Centre.
Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.
Ontario is reporting 2,202 new cases today, the eighth straight day of cases over 2,00. The seven-day average of daily cases across the province has decreased by 10 to 2,266.
In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 12 new cases to report and 18 additional cases resolved, decreasing the number of active cases across the region by 5 to 104.
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Most of today’s new cases are in Toronto (636), Peel (504), York (218), Windsor-Essex (172), and Waterloo (101).
There are double-digit increases in Hamilton (95), Middlesex-London (93), Durham (86), Halton (48), Simcoe Muskoka (46), Niagara (41), Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (34), Southwestern Public Health (23), Ottawa (19), Lambton (15), and Huron Perth (14), with smaller increases in Haldimand-Norfolk (8), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (6), Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (6), and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (6).
The remaining 14 health units are reporting 5 or fewer new cases, with 4 health units (most in northern Ontario) reporting no new cases at all.
Of today’s cases, 52% are among people under 40 years of age, with the highest number of cases (833) among people ages 20 to 39 followed by 633 cases among people ages 40 to 59. With 1,900 more cases resolved since yesterday, the percentage of resolved cases remains unchanged at 85.3%. The average positivity rate across Ontario has increased by 0.3% to 5.0%, meaning that 50 out of every 1,000 tests performed were positive for COVID-19 on December 21.
Ontario is reporting 21 new COVID-19 deaths today, including 11 deaths in long-term care facilities. Hospitalizations have increased by 90 to 1,005, with 8 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 20 more patients on ventilators.
A total of 45,265 tests were completed yesterday, with the backlog of tests under investigation increasing by 8,766 to 47,872.
Due to the winter break and the remote learning period during the provincial shutdown, there will be no Ontario school data to report between December 22 and January 8. There are 46 new cases in licensed child care settings, an increase of 26 from yesterday, with 24 cases among children and 22 cases among staff. This represents the total number of cases reported from Friday afternoon to Monday afternoon.
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In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 12 new cases to report, including 6 in Peterborough, 3 in Hastings Prince Edward, 2 in Northumberland, and 1 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no new cases in Haliburton.
An outbreak at Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg was declared on December 21 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
An additional 18 cases have been resolved, including 6 in Northumberland, 5 in Peterborough, 5 in Hastings Prince Edward, and 2 in Kawartha Lakes.
There has been 1 new ICU hospitalization in Hastings Prince Edward and 1 new hospitalization in Peterborough.
None of the cases reported today in licensed child care settings are in the greater Kawarthas region.
There are currently 104 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 5 from yesterday, including 44 in Northumberland, 29 in Hastings Prince Edward (12 in Quinte West, 4 in Belleville, 9 in Prince Edward County, 2 in Tyendinaga & Deseronto, and 3 in Central Hastings), 27 in Peterborough, and 4 in Kawartha Lakes. There are no active cases in Haliburton.
Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 280 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (248 resolved with 5 deaths), 223 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (200 resolved with 33 deaths), 211 in Northumberland County (166 resolved with 1 death), 27 in Haliburton County (27 resolved with no deaths), and 256 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (222 resolved with 5 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Peterborough on November 23.
Province-wide, there have been 160,255 confirmed cases, an increase of 2,202 from yesterday, with 136,767 cases resolved (85.3% of all cases), an increase of 1,900 from yesterday. There have been 4,188 deaths, an increase of 21 from yesterday, with 2,592 deaths in long-term care homes, an increase of 11 from yesterday. The number of hospitalizations has increased by 90 to 1,005, with 8 more patients with COVID-19 in ICUs and 20 more patients on ventilators. A total of 7,471,302 tests have been completed, an increase of 45,265 from yesterday, with 47,872 tests under investigation, an increase of 8,766 from yesterday.
The provincial data in this report is pulled from Ontario’s integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) at 12 p.m. the previous day. Data from local health units is more current and is usually reflected in the provincial data the following day. There may be discrepancies between the Ontario data reported today (which is from yesterday) and the local health unit data reported today (which is from today).
Peterborough Public Health’s service area is the City and County of Peterborough and the Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
The health unit provides daily reports, including on weekends.
Confirmed positive: 280 (increase of 6) Active cases: 27 (increase of 1) Close contacts: 110 (increase of 5) Deaths: 5 (no change) Resolved: 248 (increase of 5) Hospitalizations (total to date): 13 (increase of 1)* Total tests completed: Over 38,500 (increase of 50) Institutional outbreaks: Fairhaven in Peterborough (no change)
*On December 22, the health unit is reporting a new hospitalization. As of December 18, Peterborough Regional Health Centre reports 1 patient with COVID-19 on an inpatient unit.
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s service area is the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Haliburton County.
The health unit provides reports from Monday to Saturday, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 461, including 223 in Kawartha Lakes, 211 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 3, including 1 in Kawartha Lakes and 2 in Northumberland) Active cases: 48, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes and 44 in Northumberland (decrease of 5 in Northumberland) Probable cases: 0 (no change) High-risk contacts: 369, including 32 in Kawartha Lakes, 198 in Northumberland, and 5 in Haliburton (net increase of 25)* Hospitalizations (total to date): 18, including 11 in Kawartha Lakes, 6 in Northumberland, and 1 in Haliburton (no change) Deaths: 33 (no change) Resolved: 393, including 200 in Kawartha Lakes, 166 in Northumberland, 27 in Haliburton (increase of 8, including 2 in Kawartha Lakes and 6 in Northumberland) Institutional outbreaks: Extendicare Kawartha Lakes in Lindsay, Case Manor Care Community in Bobcaygeon, Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg (increase of 1)**
*This total includes 134 high-risk contacts directly followed up through the Public Health Ontario contact tracing process that are missing the contacts’ county.
**An outbreak at Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg was declared on December 21 after an employee 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.
The health unit provides daily reports, excluding statutory holidays.
Confirmed positive: 256 (increase of 3) Active cases: 29 (decrease of 1) Deaths: 5 (no change) Currently hospitalized: 3 (increase of 1) Currently hospitalized and in ICU: 1 (increase of 1) Currently hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator (total to date): 0 (no change) Resolved: 222 (increase of 5) Swabs completed: 15,867 (no change) Institutional outbreaks: Seasons Dufferin Centre in Quinte West (no change)
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Province of Ontario
Confirmed positive: 160,255 (increase of 2,202) Resolved: 136,767 (increase of 1,900, 85.3% of all cases) Hospitalized: 1,005 (increase of 90) Hospitalized and in ICU: 273 (increase of 8) Hospitalized and in ICU on ventilator: 172 (increase of 20) Deaths: 4,188 (increase of 21) Deaths of residents in long-term care homes: 2,592 (increase of 11) Total tests completed: 7,471,302 (increase of 45,265) Tests under investigation: 47,872 (increase of 8,766)
COVID-19 cases in Ontario from November 21 – December 21, 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 November 21 – December 21, 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)COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions in Ontario from November 21 – December 21, 2020. The red line is the daily number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of hospitalizations, the purple line is the daily number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs, and the dotted orange line is a five-day moving average of is a five-day moving average of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)COVID-19 deaths in Ontario from November 21 – December 21, 2020. The red line is the cumulative number of daily deaths, and the dotted green line is a five-day moving average of daily deaths. (Graphic: kawarthaNOW.com)
Neil Young performing 'Comes a Time' at an empty Coronation Hall in Omemee. He is making the film of his 2017 'Hometown' concert in Omemee, directed by his wife Daryl Hannah, available for free on his website during the month of December. (Screenshot)
Neil Young has just released a video of himself performing “Comes A Time” in an empty Coronation Hall in his childhood home of Omemee.
Note for mobile users
The video links are only available on the desktop version of the NYA website. However, you can adjust the settings of your mobile web browser to display the desktop version.
Young released the video as a promotion of his 2017 “Hometown” concert, also recorded in Omemee, which you can watch for free on NYA during the month of December.
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“Coronation Hall in Omemee Ontario is a wonderful old theater,” Young writes on the website. “It holds many memories of my family, all together there in that little town. My dad played Coronation Hall once in a local show as my mother, my brother and I sat in the audience.”
While the 2017 concert — which was directed by Young’s wife Daryl Hannah — was a promotion for the release of Young’s record The Visitor, it was also a promotion for the launch of NYA.
“I was uncharacteristically nervous that night in 2017 playing Coronation Hall by myself for the first time and streaming to the world,” he writes.
“‘Hometown’ is now an NYA tradition, showing every year, right here throughout the holidays.”
Neil Young performing ‘Comes a Time’ at an empty Coronation Hall in Omemee. He is making the film of his 2017 ‘Hometown’ concert in Omemee, directed by his wife Daryl Hannah, available for free on his website during the month of December. (Screenshot)
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Along with the “Hometown” concert, Young has made all of the NYA content — both music and films — free for everyone through to the end of December.
“I know this time of year is going to be hard for a lot us as we long to be with our loved ones,” Young writes.
“Our hearts go out to all of you. We send much love and a Coronation Hall quarantine ‘Comes A Time’.”
The new Canadian Canoe Museum will be located at 2077 Ashburnham Drive, north of Beavermead Park and south of Parks Canada's Trent-Severn Waterway head offices. The site is a short walk to the shores of Little Lake. (Graphic: Canadian Canoe Museum)
Peterborough’s Lett Architects Inc. will be designing the new Canadian Canoe Museum at Johnson Park on Ashburnham Drive.
The museum announced on Tuesday (December 22) that the property at 2077 Ashburnham Drive, which is owned by the City of Peterborough, has been deemed viable for the building of the new facility.
“We are thrilled that recently concluded due diligence explorations, environmental assessments, testing and feasibility studies have substantiated the Johnson Park location as a viable site for the building of the new world-class canoe museum,” says Carolyn Hyslop, the museum’s executive director.
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Hyslop says the museum will move to the next phase of feasibility and validation activities for the Johnson Park site, which is located on the west side of Ashburnham Drive, north of Beavermead Park and south of Parks Canada’s Trent-Severn Waterway head offices. The site is a short walk to the shores of Little Lake.
“This process will help us fine tune budget and overall costs, design and the project schedule with a view to being shovel-ready by the end of 2021,” Hyslop says.
According to a media release from the museum, the new facility will be built away from the floodplain, on a flat portion of the property on the open land along Ashburnham Drive.
“This will preserve the existing trail, shoreline and natural waterfront,” the museum states.
The museum also announced that Lett Architects Inc. of Peterborough will be designing the new museum.
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“Lett Architects are thrilled to be working with the Canadian Canoe Museum on a new home for their comprehensive collection and programming,” says Bill Lett, managing principal with Lett Architects Inc. “As a local studio, we are excited for the opportunity to design this new facility and for the first-hand chance to experience its positive impact on our own community.”
The new museum was originally going to be located beside the Peterborough Lift Lock on property owned by Parks Canada, with a design by Heneghan Peng Architects of Dublin. In October, the museum abandoned both the original location and design after an independent investigation by the museum in May determined the site contains the chemical compound trichloroethylene (TCE), along with a variety of other chemicals.
Hyslop says the museum’s original goals and vision continue to guide the new build project. These include establishing a home for 100 per cent of the museum’s canoe collection that meets Class A conservation standards, directly on the water, which allows for increased on-water and in-person programming.
“In a year that has brought every manner of exceptional challenges to us all, we are delighted to close out 2020 with positive and hopeful news,” Hyslop says. “Having found a viable site for this extraordinary project that will see the new museum situated on the shores of Peterborough’s Little Lake — what a terrific kick off to 2021.”
Rotarians Lynne Chant and Dawn Straka provide items to a successful bidder in the pick-up area after the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha's annual Christmas auction, which raised $18,622 for YES Shelter for Youth & Families. (Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha)
The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha has raised $18,622 through its annual Christmas auction.
The online auction was held from November 23 to December 6, with local businesses donating 201 items for the auction.
Club president Dan Grady expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the business community for their generosity, despite the pandemic and its impact on business.
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Spring 2021 will mark the 100th anniversary of Rotary in the Peterborough area, and the funds raised from the auction will support the club’s 2021 Centennial Project — a construction project at the YES Shelter for Youth & Families in Peterborough.
In addition to its 2021 commitment to YES Shelter for Youth & Families, recent Kawartha Rotary contributions to the community include:
an emergency grant to Community Care in Apsley to support the food bank given the recent fire that destroyed the village’s only grocery store.
a contribution to the lighting project in Peterborough’s East City for the Rotary Trail.
a contribution to the new building fund for the Peterborough Humane Society.
a contribution to the musical instruments playground at the Peterborough Zoo.
an annual sock drive that contributed over 500 pair of socks, mittens, scarves and touques to YES Shelter for Youth & Families.
participation in the Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign and donating books for children for Christmas through the Salvation Army’s Christmas Hamper Program.
For more information about the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha, visit portal.clubrunner.ca/220.
"9to5: The Story of a Movement" is one of the big-name features screening at the 2021 ReFrame Film Festival. By Academy Award winning filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar, the film tells the story of 9to5, an organization established in 1973 that is dedicated to improving working conditions and ensuring the rights of women and families in the United States, and which inspired the 1980 hit film starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton. (Photo courtesy of ReFrame Film Festival)
Early this January, ReFrame Film Festival will release the full film guide for the week-long documentary film festival, available online province-wide and running from Friday, January 22nd to Friday, January 29th.
In the meantime, ReFrame creative director Amy Seigel has graciously given kawarthaNOW readers an early look at some of the upcoming festival programming in advance of ReFrame’s official announcement.
“The program is feeling really exciting,” says Seigel. “I think our audiences are in for a treat. There’s going to be over 50 films, workshops, panel discussions, Q&As, and more.”
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Despite the fact that the festival has been moved online, there will still be an opening night event, streamed live and in real time so audiences can share a virtual collective experience.
“On the opening night of the festival January 22nd, there will be a keynote address by Drew Hayden Taylor, the award-winning playwright, author, and filmmaker from Curve Lake,” Seigel announces.
“Local poets will join Drew and we will be streaming the event live from Market Hall. We really miss our venues so much and we hope to offer audiences a glimpse into at least one of our cherished spaces.”
The opening night of the 2021 ReFrame Film Festival will feature a keynote address by award-winning playwright, author, and filmmaker Drew Hayden Taylor, streamed live from Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of ReFrame Film Festival)
Audiences can also expect to see homegrown works by local filmmakers, investigating current issues through a regional lens.
“Cara Mumford’s new film ‘Sing Them Home’ is a meditation on local water systems,” Seigel says, referring to the Métis/Chippewa Cree filmmaker from Alberta who has been living in Peterborough since 2010.
“It is a collaboration with dancer Jenn Cole that incorporates the words of Leanne Besamoke Simpson.”
The 2021 ReFrame Film Festival will also feature films from local filmmakers. “Sing Them Home” is Cara Mumford’s collaboration with dancer Jenn Cole that incorporates the words of Leanne Besamoke Simpson. (Photo courtesy of ReFrame Film Festival)
“Also there’s ‘The River’, a short by Benjamin Hargreaves about The River magazine — it’s a really wonderful portrait of the community.”
“We’re also really excited to premiere our first commissioned project that was created in collaboration with Public Energy,” Siegel adds.
“It documents many of the local artists who were involved in the Pivot Series and discusses a lot of the issues currently facing the performing arts community.”
The 2021 ReFrame Film Festival will also feature films from local filmmakers. “The River” by Benjamin Hargreaves is a documentary that follows the hardship and creativity of a contributor to The River magazine, which features art and stories of those who identify as living in poverty in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of ReFrame Film Festival)
In addition to programming created by Peterborough and regional filmmakers, audiences can also expect the big-name features that have put ReFrame on the map.
“‘9to5: The Story of a Movement’ is a film by Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar,” Seigel says, pointing out that Reichert and Bognar won the Best Documentary Feature Academy Award last year for their film American Factory.
“The film follows the 1970s movement for office workers that inspired the movie ‘9 to 5’,” Siegel explains, referring to the hit 1980 satrical film starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton. “It’s the story of a feminist movement from organizing on a grassroots level to massive nation-wide union building.”
VIDEO: “9to5: The Story of a Movement” trailer
Also screening at the festival is the Canadian documentary film No Ordinary Man, directed by Aisling Chin-Yee and Chase Joynt and written by Chin-Yee and Amos Mac, which premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival in September.
“‘No Ordinary Man’ documents the life of American jazz musician Billy Tipton,” Seigel explains.
“In this film, Tipton’s story is reimagined and performed by trans artists as they collectively paint a portrait of this hero.”
VIDEO: “No Ordinary Man” trailer
Also screening at the festival are the Canadian documentary films John Ware Reclaimed, which premiered at the Calgary International Film Festival in September, and Judy Versus Capitalism, which had its Canadian premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in May.
“‘John Ware Reclaimed’ is a film that follows filmmaker Cheryl Foggo on her quest to re-examine the mythology behind John Ware, a black cowboy who settled in Alberta before the turn of the 20th century,” Siegel says. “‘Judy Versus Capitalism’ tells the story of the fight for abortion rights here in Canada through an artful portrait of the life of activist Judy Rebick, and we’ll be talking with Judy through the festival.”
VIDEO: “John Ware Reclaimed” trailer
VIDEO: “Judy Versus Capitalism” trailer
In addition to the numerous local, national, and international short and feature length documentary films that audiences can watch on-demand for the duration of the festival, ReFrame will also offer many filmmaker talks, panel discussions, Q&As, and workshops.
For the first time ever, ReFrame will be offering a special opportunity for emerging filmmakers in collaboration with Peterborough’s Electric City Culture Council (EC3).
“Something that both ReFrame and EC3 are passionate about is to foster a filmmaking community here in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough,” says Seigel. “We’re excited to have a professional development workshop for emerging filmmakers that will bring together funders and experienced artists to discuss some of the issues and pathways towards making a documentary film.”
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Festival pass holders will have access to all these films, panels, workshops, and more.
All-access passes and five-packs (you can pick your five favourite films to watch) are available for purchase now — they make wonderful holiday gifts — at my.reframefilmfestival.ca/passes/buy. Single film tickets will also be available when the festival’s online film guide is released in early January.
Siegel reminds audiences that, just like the traditional in-person festival, there are a set number of “seats” for every virtual screening. This means that, when the film guide is released online in January, you will need to pre-register tickets for each film you would like to see.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a sponsor of the 2021 ReFrame Film Festival.
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