This past summer, high school students in Peterborough and the Kawarthas took their career plans to new heights by getting valuable hands-on workplace experience in the construction and aviation industries through the Build & Soar Program.

The program was delivered by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) in partnership with the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, the Workforce Development Board, and the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Home Builders Association. The $435,210 program was funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario through the Skills Development Fund.

“We are continuing to engage youth in the diverse career opportunities of the skilled trades, driving real change for young people to find fulfilling and rewarding careers,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “That’s why our government is proud to support the Build & Soar Program, offered by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. This initiative demonstrates our dedication to ensuring that our youth have the chance to succeed close to home.”

Build & Soar matched students enrolled in the provincially approved Construction and Aerospace & Aviation Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs with local businesses in the two high-demand sectors.

“We wanted to get the students interested in careers in both of these sectors and showcase what types of jobs are available within our region,” says Eleni Gagovski, Economic Development Officer at PKED. “We want to keep students in the workforce locally. We don’t want students to feel they have to move away from the region in search of employment opportunities that we do have here.”

The Build & Soar Program was developed in response to feedback from the business community through PKED’s annual Business Count Survey, and after hearing from the local school boards on the need to build upon the SHSM programs to create opportunities and experiential learning through local employers.

The hiring demand measured by online posting activities has demonstrated a need for construction trades and aviation and aerospace-related positions in the region. With the City of Peterborough’s pledge to supply more housing, and the estimate from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that the aviation industry would globally require 480,000 new technicians by 2026, the need for local skilled workers in both sectors is only expected to grow even more.

“PKED is responsive to the specific needs of the businesses in the community,” says Gagovski. “We’re hearing from businesses that they’re short on labour and we’re able to create workforce programs and projects based on what we’re hearing from them. Not only does it help our local businesses, but it showcases why businesses should move to the region.”

Build & Soar matched 42 students in Grades 11 and 12 at schools in the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board with eight-week paid work placements.

Students participating in the construction sector were exposed to career opportunities, including labour positions, technical and electric trades, carpentry, homebuilding, renovations, hardware supply, plumbing and HVAC, interior design, landscaping, and even stone quarry operation.

For students participating in the aerospace and aviation sector, job opportunities ranged from airport administration, aircraft component manufacturing, electronics, aviation development, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, and piloting.

“The program helped students take what they’ve learned in school and put it into a real-life situation on a job so they can see the finished product at the end, whether they were building a home or helping to build an airplane,” says Gagovski. “It’s nice for them to actually be able to see the progression of their work.”

Not only were the students able to see the wide range of opportunities available for them when they enter the workforce, but they learned which ones were of most interest to them.

“We had a lot of students specifically interested in engineering and CNC operators in a wide variety of components,” Gagovski says. “They weren’t sure exactly what they wanted to do, but going from a classroom to a position at an actual employer helped them narrow it down.”

Students were exposed to different positions within the companies at which they were placed. Paired with a trainer or supervisor, students gained valuable insight into the expectations of the positions and learned about their “career ladders” — the future opportunities that such positions can lead to.

As part of the Build & Soar program, PKED collaborated with the Workforce Development Board (WDB) to research, develop, and design two new career ladders — one for aviation and one for construction – infrastructure planning — as part of WDB’s growing career ladder series. Program participants, as well as all students and job seekers, can use the interactive career to learn more about career growth opportunities and career paths in both aviation and construction.

As for the 35 employers who hired the SHSM students participating in Build & Soar this past summer, they received a 50 per cent wage subsidy upon completion of the program, and they have reported the wage has been put to good use.

“The employers are finding that the SHSM programs are setting the students up for success,” says Gagovski, noting that many employers kept the students onboard beyond the summer.

For the students, they gained valuable experience while still getting paid — something that is not always possible with high school placements.

“It’s a different summer job that really isn’t traditionally available for a high school student,” Gagovski says. “It benefited both the students and the employers.”

This fall, the final component of the program will commence with flight simulator training for 15 students who are interested in careers as a pilot or looking to advance in aviation. The students will have access to two flight simulators that will include 30 hours of flight training modules. The flight simulators will be located within two of the high schools, with the SHSM teacher leading the students’ learning.

“This will help them both in their aviation experience and with airlines in Canada, because these flight simulators are set up to frame the aviation pathway,” says Gagovski. “It could lead to many jobs, from a pilot to an air traffic controller to anything to do with the plane itself.”

As with the construction program, the hope is that by instilling knowledge and passion for aviation, students will be inspired and begin a career journey in a thriving and continually growing sector without feeling the need to leave Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

“There is quite a bit of growth happening at the airport with some of the businesses expanding or looking to expand, which increases the need for trained employees in the aviation sector,” Gagovski points out. “We are introducing this program at a great time, when the students have already received that exposure to the airport or at an aviation business.”

The Build & Soar program builds on previous workforce development programs developed by PKED in response to the needs of local businesses, including the Pathways to Prosperity program that matched job seekers with high-demand jobs through a four-week training course and a five-week paid work placement.

With PKED dissolving at the end of the year and the City of Peterborough and County of Peterborough taking over responsibility for economic development, Gagovski is hopeful that programs like Build & Soar will continue to be available to support existing businesses in the region.

Explore training and employment opportunities at the Peterborough Airport at peterborough.ca/en/doing-business/airport-services.aspx.

This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

This branded editorial is one of a series created in partnership with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.

More homes in Lindsay will be equipped with life-saving smoke alarms thanks to recent fundraiser by a local business.

Firehouse Subs, an American restaurant chain founded in 1994 by former Florida firefighter brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, opened a franchise location in Lindsay earlier this summer. The franchise partnered with Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service for the fundraiser, which ran from September 23 to 29.

According to a media release from the City of Kawartha Lakes, a total of $2,085 was raised to help the fire service equip more homes in Lindsay with smoke alarms.

During the campaign, Firehouse Subs sold 727 large subs and 631 medium subs, contributing $2 from each large sub and $1 from each medium sub to the cause. The money will directly support the fire service’s door-to-door smoke alarm program, which the fire service said is a “critical” initiative designed to increase home fire safety across the city.

Firehouse Subs Lindsay handed over the cheque on October 9 to Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service during a lunch and photo opportunity.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the generous contributions from Firehouse Subs and our community,” said Katie Dukelow, fire prevention public educator for Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service. “The funds raised will go a long way in protecting more families by ensuring their homes have working smoke alarms.”

The door-to-door smoke alarm program is an annual initiative from June to September and covers neighbourhoods throughout Kawartha Lakes. However, the Firehouse Subs fundraiser was focused on increasing the number of smoke alarms distributed in Lindsay.

In September, the City of Kawartha Lakes also participated in the Ontario-wide “Test Your Smoke Alarm Day” campaign led by Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal.

Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service chief Terry Jones asked residents to test their smoke alarms on September 28, noting a working smoke alarm provides the best chance to keep residents and their loved ones safe in the event of a fire.

In 2022, Ontario lost 133 people to deadly fires — the highest number in more than 20 years. Many fires occurred in homes where there weren’t working smoke alarms.

“In Ontario, we’ve seen a significant rise in fatal fires and the number of people we have lost in these fires is very concerning,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg in a statement. “Entire families have been lost to fire and the most troubling part is that the majority of these fires did not have a working smoke alarm in the home. Had there been working smoke alarms, and a well thought out and practised home fire escape plan, these deaths may have been prevented.”

Another initiative benefiting Kawartha Lakes residents without smoke alarms is Safe Community Project Zero, an annual public education campaign delivered by Enbridge Gas in partnership with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council to promote the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in homes in Ontario communities where Enbridge operates.

Kawartha Lakes Fire Service has received 282 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through the campaign, which will provide more than 14,500 alarms to residents in 75 communities across Ontario.

This year, Enbridge Gas has invested $450,000 in the program which, over the past 16 years, has provided more than 101,000 alarms to Ontario fire departments.

“We are committed to ensuring that every home in our community is equipped with working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms,” said Chief Jones in a media release. “Programs like Safe Community Project Zero are invaluable in helping us reach that goal, providing essential tools and education to protect residents from the dangers of fire and carbon monoxide.”

Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal is recommending that city councillors no longer sit on most citizen advisory committees or local boards, so they can “focus on their core mandate as elected officials.”

The report from Mayor Leal, which will be presented to city councillors meeting as general committee on Monday (October 28), also recommends changes to the portfolio chairs for each of the city’s five departments, with a new and separate portfolio for homelessness being added to community services.

The mayor’s report comes five months after a city council meeting where councillors approved a staff report that recommended, among other things, that the mayor consult with councillors about their roles on advisory committees and on local boards, municipal corporations and third party organizations and corporations, and that he report back to council with his recommendations.

“Following council’s approval and directions, the mayor consulted with each member of council,” the mayor’s report reads. “The recommendations in this report are informed by that consultation and are intended to bring greater clarity to council’s roles and responsibilities, to recognize the challenging schedule of meetings members may experience and to improve governance to foster an environment where members can focus on key initiatives involving council’s strategic plan.”

The report recommends that council rescind the appointments of councillors to the following nine advisory committees:

• Arenas, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
• Arts and Culture Advisory Committee
• Citizen’s War Memorial Advisory Committee
• Community Investment Grants Advisory Committee
• Museum and Archives Advisory Committee
• Peterborough Architectural Advisory Committee
• Peterborough Environmental Advisory Committee
• Planning Advisory Committee
• Transit Liaison Committee

In addition, the Citizen Appointment Selection Committee — which includes five councillors — would be dissolved and replaced by a working group comprising the mayor, deputy mayors, and city staff.

Council representation would remain in place for those advisory committees whose membership includes representation from Peterborough County council, such as the Age-Friendly Peterborough Advisory Committee.

Other committees that would retain council representation are the Airport Strategic Initiatives Committee, the Greater Peterborough Joint Services Committee, the Operations and Development Advisory Committee (a staff committee), the Waste Management Committee, and the Youth Commission.

As well as asserting that removing councillors from advisory committees would decrease their workload, the mayor’s report questions whether having councillors sit on advisory committees has any governance value.

“Advisory committees have been created by council to provide advice on particular issues or subjects to all of council,” the report states. “When a member of council is appointed to an advisory committee, they are asked to simultaneously fulfill two incompatible roles — they are both part of the body who advises council and a member of the council which is being advised.”

The mayor’s report also recommends that councillors no longer sit on the boards of the following organizations (actual names noted in parentheses):

• Art Gallery of Peterborough
• The Canadian Canoe Museum
• East City Ashburnham Village Business Improvement Area
• Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce (Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce)
• Market Hall Performance Centre (Market Hall Performing Arts Centre)
• Multicultural Canada Day Committee
• Peterborough Downtown Improvement Area (Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area)
• Peterborough Green-Up Association (Peterborough GreenUP)
• Peterborough Public Library Board
• Showplace Peterborough Performance Centre (Showplace Performance Centre)

There would be no changes to councillor appointments to the Downtown Action Committee, Fairhaven Board of Management, Liaison Committee with Fleming College, Liaison Committee with Trent University, Otonabee Region Conservation Authority, Peterborough County-City Health Unit Board (Peterborough Public Health), Peterborough Housing Municipal Services Corporation, Peterborough Police Service Board.

For the board of Peterborough Housing Corporation, councillor Lesley Parnell would be appointed to replace Mayor Leal. Decisions about the inclusion of councillors on the boards of City of Peterborough Holdings Inc. and the Peterborough Utilities Commission (PUC) would be considered in 2025 in relation to the pending transfer of water utility operations.

According to the mayor’s report, councillors would be free to sit on the boards or organizations in a personal capacity, but not as a city councillor or otherwise representing the city.

The mayor’s report also recommends the following amendments to portfolio chairs, including the creation of a new portfolio for homelessness:

• Community Services (except Homelessness): Councillors Alex Bierk and Lesley Parnell
• Community Services (Homelessness): Councillors Alex Bierk and Keith Riel
• Finance and Corporate Support Services: Councillors Andrew Beamer and Dave Haacke
• Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management: Councillors Kevin Duguay and Joy Lachica
• Legislative Services: Councillors Gary Baldwin and Matt Crowley
• Municipal Operations: Councillors Keith Riel and Don Vassiliadis

“The approval of the recommendations in this report will improve governance by permitting members of council to, collectively, focus on their core mandate as elected officials,” the report states.

Councillors will discuss the mayor’s report and its recommendations at the general committee meeting on October 28 and vote on whether or not to endorse it. Items endorsed on October 28 will be considered by council for final approval at its regular meeting the following Monday (November 4).

This story has been updated to correct an error in the name of a councillor.

Nothing spreads the holiday spirit quite like giving back to your own community. That’s why, as holiday preparations get underway, the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) is seeking sponsors and donations for their annual holiday gala and auction in support of the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.

Running with a “winter wonderland” theme, the holiday gala is the largest event of the WBN season and takes place on Wednesday, December 4 at the Holiday Inn in downtown Peterborough. Accompanying the event will be an online auction running from November 20 to December 5 on NonProfit Bidding’s auction platform.

The WBN has set its fundraising goal at $15,000, with proceeds from this year’s gala going towards vital programming and services at YWCA Peterborough Haliburton with a focus on supporting women experiencing gender-based violence.

“It’s an annual thing we do as a group of women supporting other women,” says WBN social director Rebecca O’Rourke. “We know that there’s a vulnerable part of our community of women that need extra support, so we do this every year to generate financial help.”

In 2023 alone, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s Crossroads Shelter provided 6,863 nights of safety for 121 women and 63 children. Beyond the shelter, the YWCA walks alongside women on their journey of care, and donor support enables them to continue to provide immediate assistance and resources to countless local women and families facing crisis.

Local businesses and community members are encouraged to contribute to the WBN’s support of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton by making donations to the online auction for public bid. With a set starting bid, the item will be available for anyone to make an offer, with all sale proceeds going to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.

Suggested items for donation in the online auction range from electronics to memberships, gift baskets, gift certificates, and anything else valued at $25 or more. Donors will be acknowledged by their company name or logo appearing alongside the donated item, with extensive exposure through NonProfit Bidding’s online reach.

O’Rourke suggests it’s an opportunity for individuals to spread the love across the community ahead of the holiday season by purchasing products from their favourite local businesses to donate to the cause.

“It would be a really good way to thank the business that you love and buy an extra product or service and donate it to the auction,” she says. “That gives that business exposure on our online auction and it’s a way of saying ‘I love this business, and you should try it, too.'”

To donate an item for the online auction, donors can visit the WBN auction at NonProfit Bidding and simply upload an image of the item with a description for WBN to review. Donors will hold on to the item until the winning bidder is announced and pickup or delivery can be arranged.

Those who want to donate an item to be included in the silent auction for the night of the gala, rather than in the online auction, are encouraged to email O’Rourke at social@wbnptbo.ca.

“That might be an option if someone wants to donate something that’s more of a physical item that bidders might want to see before placing a bid,” says O’Rourke.

All auction items must be donated by Friday, November 15th.

Others interested in supporting the festive occasion can become a sponsor, alongside leader sponsor Passageway Law and supporter sponsor Catherine Hanrahan of Century 21 United Reality.

With various package levels of sponsorships available and the opportunity to speak about their services, sponsors can support specific areas of the gala like the wine and three-course seasonal meal or the entertainment — which will see performances from Georgia Rose, a Peterborough singer-songwriter who recently came in first place in the Kawartha Lakes Songwriting Contest.

Between the fun to be had at the in-person gala, supporting local businesses, and raising funds for a good cause, there’s nothing but holiday joy that can come from supporting the WBN’s annual holiday event.

For more information about WBN, visit wbnptbo.ca.

They came. They mingled. They thanked.

Representatives of local community organizations and entities that have received funding from the Peterborough Foundation gathered Wednesday (October 23) at the Peterborough Theatre Guild on Rogers Street to express their gratitude.

Introduced by foundation board member Pat Hooper, each provided a brief description of what pilot project or capital purchase was funded by their grant from the foundation.

In December 2023, 10 organizations — the ReFrame Film Festival, the Mapleridge Recreation Centre, the Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough, Sadleir House, the Peterborough Theatre Guild, Performing Arts Lakefield, 4th Line Theatre, Five Counties Children’s Centre, Peterborough Musicfest, and Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region — shared $43,198.81 in grants provided by the foundation.

Six months later, another 11 organizations — the Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Showplace Peterborough, Camp Kawartha, Ancient Forest Exploration and Research, the Art Gallery of Peterborough, Hospice Peterborough, Volunteer Peterborough/Age Friendly Peterborough, the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, Public Energy Performing Arts — and the Peterborough Kiwanis Music Festival — received a combined $113,850 in grants.

Among those expressing their gratitude was Jacob Rodenberg, executive director of Camp Kawartha, which received $14,400 for the sponsoring of youth without the means to attend the camp do just that.

“As a not-for-profit charity, we can’t just do operations and expect the money we get from people paying is going to cover everything that we have to do,” he explained. “Our mission is to reach as many kids as possible. This helps us get to those kids who couldn’t afford to go to camp, and also do things that we’d never normally be able to do.”

“Isn’t it a wonderful thing?” asked Rodenberg, referring to the Peterborough Foundation grant. “A gift that keeps on giving. What a vibrant community Peterborough is — so many great initiatives underway. But they couldn’t happen without the support of things like the Peterborough Foundation. That is the enabler and we need that.”

The New Canadians Centre, which received $5,000 back in June 2023, was represented by executive director Andy Cragg. He explained the money was put toward the organization’s lengthy exploration of an opportunity to purchase its own property. He couldn’t share any more details at this point.

“The Peterborough Foundation has a unique perspective on how to make an impact in very specific ways,” he said, adding “We heard stories here about concrete items and projects that wouldn’t be funded otherwise.”

“With more complex government funders and foundations with more rules, funding for smaller but essential items or projects isn’t always possible. The reality of non-profits and charities is trying to fit what we actually need, and know we need, with the available opportunities for funding.”

Meanwhile, Sadleir House general manager Matt Jarvis explained that the not-for-profit charitable community centre (also known as the P. R. Community and Student Association) used its grant of $3,825.28 to “upgrade technology which allows us to have more user input into booking the rooms.”

“It takes an administrative task away from valuable staff time and allows us to serve more people faster,” he said. “It’s not a million dollars, but you have to take funding as bricks and build the wall with the bricks. This was a very important piece and we’re very grateful for it.”

Echoing similar gratitude were 4th Line Theatre general manager Lindy Finlan and ReFrame Film Festival creative director Eryn Lidster. The former received $7,500 for the purchase of audio-enhancing equipment for its outdoor Winslow Farm stage, while the latter used its $5,198 grant for the purchase of two computers that will enable the screenings of films “in the best way possible” at both Showplace and Market Hall.

“Somebody has taken their personal wealth and donated it to a fund like this,” said Finlan, adding “Look at how many organizations have benefited over the years.”

“It’s absolutely wonderful and give me hope that people who want to make a difference can make a difference for a long time,” she said.

Lidster, meanwhile, said they are “constantly astounded by the variety of amazing work that’s happening in this community.”

“It’s a little bit of money that goes a long way for so many different organizations,” they noted.

The history of the Peterborough Foundation, which can be traced back close to 125 years, is quite a story in itself.

In 1900, engineer Louis D.W. Magie, who worked for General Electric in the United States, moved to Peterborough to take a position with the company’s Canadian subsidiary, where he remained until his retirement in 1938.

After the death of his wife, Magie married Jessie Fairweather, the daughter of William Fairweather (founder of The Fairweather Company, a leading name on the Canadian retail landscape). With no immediate family members, Magie started to make arrangements for the provision of their estate in 1950, with the assistance of Dr. G.S. Cameron and accountant James H. Turner.

In 1953, the Peterborough Foundation was incorporated on the strength of Magie’s donation of $5,000 — a large sum at the time. Upon Magie’s death in 1956 (his wife Jessie had died two years earlier), the couple’s estate was passed on to the foundation, for which he had named its first directors, Dr. Cameron and Turner among them.

To this day, the foundation is required to present its accounts before the Surrogate Court of the County of Peterborough, ensuring its financial statements are a matter of public record.

Since its inception, the foundation, which is today overseen by a volunteer board chaired by Nancy Martin, has distributed more than $2 million from a capital base of just under $1 million.

According to Hooper, the board meets but twice a year but its work is “so gratifying.”

“What could be better than a board where you sit down and you give away money? There are so many great organizations and they’re all so appreciative. They’re not huge amounts of funding, but it does make a difference in terms of what their organizations do.”

Applications for the next round of funding are open now until Friday, November 1st. To apply, visit peterboroughfoundation.org/apply.

Hooper says the board will next meet on December 19 to review the applications, and will then follow up with the submitting organizations before deciding which organizations will be granted money and how much.

Northumberland County residents and their pets recently put their feet and paws to the pavement in Cobourg to take a stand against family violence.

Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre has announced that its 17th annual “Walk a Mile” fundraiser in downtown Cobourg on October 5 generated more than $55,000 for the Northumberland not-for-profit organization.

“We are beyond thrilled to have seen our community come together once again at Walk a Mile to support women and children impacted by gender-based violence and we are grateful for this year’s results,” said Cornerstone’s executive director Nancy Johnston.

Walk a Mile, a yearly family-friendly event, brings residents together to raise awareness and money in a quest to achieve a future free of gender-based violence.

“We hope that our community feels hope, inspiration, and motivation as we continue our work together to support families in our community and create a place free from gender-based violence,” Cornerstone said.

Many walk participants wear high-heeled red shoes to symbolize walking a mile in the shoes of women affected by gender-based violence.

The money raised from Walk a Mile is channelled into supporting the programming and services Cornerstone provides to women, children, and youth in Northumberland County. Cornerstone provides shelter, counselling, housing, prevention programming, and more to its clients.

Established in 1983, Cornerstone is an accredited violence against women agency striving to end gender-based violence by providing accessible, compassionate programs and services modelled by best practices and aimed at inspiring hope, creating safety, and fostering resilience.

“Cornerstone has helped so many great people in our area,” Preston Parkinson, a Brighton resident, recently told kawarthaNOW.

Parkinson has participated in the walk six times, which includes taking part in this year’s instalment.

“I got involved to help raise awareness and funds to help support Cornerstone and the great people they help every day,” Parkinson said.

Cornerstone provided service to almost 2,000 women, children and youth in 2023.

“We look forward to this event every year, it is a great way to see the community come together to support families,” said Johnston.

She thanked the event’s lead sponsor, Balder Corporation, and other sponsors including Canadian Tire Cobourg, Post Consumer Brands, Spoolon Manufacturing, Cobourg Police Service, Shoppers Cobourg, Wharram Tree Service, Part Time CFO Services, Stadtke Plumbing and Heating, Port Hope Colour Concepts, Cameco, Cobourg Nissan, and Ganaraska Financial.

“Many thanks to the Lions Club of Cobourg for providing breakfast, and to Starbucks Cobourg for providing coffee and baked goods,” Johnston added. “This event wouldn’t run without our group of dedicated volunteers, many thanks to Cobourg Fire, Cobourg Police Service, Cobourg Legion Pipes and Drums, and our great volunteer team.”