After just a year in the job, the Municipality of Port Hope’s chief administrative officer Candice White is leaving to become chief executive officer of Skilled Trades Ontario.
The Ontario government announced White’s appointment to the provincial agency on Friday (November 1).
“This next chapter comes sooner than anticipated, but I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead the municipality over the past year,” White said in a media release. “Port Hope is a remarkable community, and it has been an honour to serve its residents and businesses alongside the dedicated staff and council. My time here will always hold a special place in my heart.”
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An agency of the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Skills Trade Ontario was established by legislation in 2021 and is responsible for apprenticeship and skilled trades certification in Ontario.
The agency is governed and managed by a board of directors and a chief executive officer, all of whom are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council on the recommendation of the minister.
“I look forward to Candice leveraging her executive experience within public sector organizations to build upon (Skilled Trades Ontario’s) successes as we continue to work together to grow our skilled trades workforce, and develop world-class training and standards,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Peterborough-Northumberland South MPP, in a media release.
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Prior to joining the Municipality of Port Hope last November, White was chief administrative officer and clerk/treasurer of the Township of Asphodel-Norwood in Peterborough County for nine years. She has also served on the board of directors of provincial agencies including the Ontario Clean Water Agency and the York Region Wastewater Advisory Panel.
White is taking over the reins at Skilled Trades Ontario from Melissa Young, who was appointed the agency’s first CEO in January 2022. Young oversaw the launching of standards industry advisory committees, certificates of qualification and wallet cards for skilled trades professionals, and more.
White’s last day at the Municipality of Port Hope will be November 22, and she will begin her new job at Skilled Trades Ontario on November 25. The municipality is developing a recruitment process to appoint a new chief administrative officer.
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation donor, volunteer, and ambassador Jennie Ireland shared her story about receiving cancer care close to home at a cheque presentation for Peterborough's Dragon Boat Festival. The PRHC Foundation is inviting patients, former patients, volunteers, or anyone else who has been impacted by PRHC to share their personal care stories to inspire others to contribute to the Foundation's $60 million Campaign for PRHC, which will support advancements in critical care areas at the regional hospital. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
Sharing a single story can change a life. It can put a face to a cause and inspire others. When it comes to Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), sharing a story can also support world-class care close to home and even help save the lives of friends and family.
As a dedicated donor and ambassador for the PRHC Foundation, Jennie Ireland has seen the power of sharing her story first-hand. Since receiving treatment for breast cancer at PRHC seven years ago, she continues to champion the work of the hospital and Foundation by telling her story and, each time she does, she encourages more people to join her.
The PRHC Foundation wants to hear more stories like Ireland’s from those wanting to support the $60 million Campaign for PRHC, the largest fundraising effort in the hospital and Foundation’s history. The campaign will reimagine healthcare and address critical hospital challenges by investing in state-of-the-art technology, fuelling innovation, bringing new services to the region, attracting top healthcare professionals, and inspiring solutions.
Jennie Ireland in the entry way to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Radiation Centre. Seven years ago, Ireland’s life changed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. As a single mother with aging parents, receiving treatment close to home was extremely important to her. In her ambassador role, she regularly acts as a voice for the PRHC Foundation, speaking at third-party events, at fundraisers, and to fellow donors. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
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“We’re honoured when grateful patients like Jennie choose to share their stories with our community on behalf of PRHC Foundation campaign fundraising efforts,” says PRHC Foundation President and CEO Lesley Heighway. “It’s an act of generosity itself and shows the impact of donor-funded care on the lives of our family, friends, and neighbours, while supporting the next patient and the next family that comes to PRHC.”
As the region’s largest employer with more than 2,900 staff, 400 physicians with privileges, a core group of 260 volunteers, and its role in delivering healthcare to a population of up to 600,000 people in Peterborough and surrounding areas, PRHC plays an important role in thousands of people’s lives. All who are impacted are encouraged to share their stories, whether they are patients or family members of patients, donors, volunteers, staff or anyone else who has a message about the impact of PRHC on their lives.
Ireland’s story describes how important it was for her to have undergone her breast cancer treatments at PRHC. As a single mother with aging parents, being close to home meant her treatments were less stressful and she could spend more time with her family.
Breast cancer survivor Jennie Ireland (left) with Valerie Gagnon, Charitable Giving Advisor with the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation, at Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, which has raised more than $4.5 million for cancer care at PRHC since 2021. Ireland continues to be a PRHC Foundation ambassador, supporting the PRHC Foundation’s $60 million Campaign for PRHC by sharing her story. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
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In her ambassador role, she regularly acts as a voice for the PRHC Foundation, speaking at third-party events, at fundraisers, and to fellow donors. Such was the case when Ireland spoke at the Campaign for PRHC launch in June and the recent presentation of Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival’s donation to the Foundation.
“Being able to get treatment in my community meant less worry, more time with my family, and I believe had a huge impact on my recovery,” she said. “You gave me the smallest moments with my son, like putting him on and off the bus. You helped save my life and, because of you, my son has a mother.”
In addition to publicly sharing her story, Ireland has also supported the PRHC Foundation as a Peterborough Petes Pink in the Rink volunteer, a Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival volunteer, and a signatory of a fundraising mail appeal. In fact, she takes the opportunity to share her story wherever she can.
“I became a donor and ambassador to help make sure more patients like me get the care they need where they need it most — right here at home,” said Ireland.
Jennie Ireland drumming for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation’s team during Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival. As a PRHC Foundation ambassador, Ireland regularly shares her story as a breast cancer survivor who received the treatment she needed close to home at PRHC. Sharing a story of receiving great care at PRHC is just one of the ways to support the PRHC Foundation’s $60 million Campaign for PRHC. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
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For Heighway, stories like Ireland’s help people understand the real-life impact of donations to the Campaign for PRHC.
“To hear her explain what it means to her and her family to have become a patient and experience expert and compassionate care close to home first-hand, made possible by donors, is really moving,” says Heighway. “I’ve heard from community members that Jennie has helped them better understand how truly important donations are to people just like them.”
Along with inspiring donations that will help fund equipment at PRHC to care for patients, who could be a family member or friend, sharing a story can also lift the spirits of hospital doctors, nurses and staff, offer hope to current PRHC patients, and encourage others to think about and share their own connections with the hospital.
It can also raise awareness of the fact that, because government does not fund hospital equipment or technology, the most generous communities have the best hospitals.
Since Nick Beamish experienced a health crisis and was unable to receive the care he needed close to home at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), he has become a father of two young sons, both of whom were born at PRHC. He has known many family members who have experienced the lifesaving care offered by the hospital and, as a father, has a new perspective on how important it is for everyone to receive the best care close to home. That’s why he shares his story on behalf of the PRHC Foundation. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
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That’s top of mind for high school teacher and coach Nick Beamish, who chooses to donate and share his story because of a time when he was unable to get care close to home at PRHC and wants to see a future where patients in his situation can.
After experiencing heart palpitations for weeks, it was just before the Christmas break when he went to PRHC and was told there was an urgent issue with his heart rhythms. He learned the hospital did not have the facilities to do the necessary procedures and, as a result, he had to be rushed far from home to Kingston where he spent Christmas in the ICU.
“It was stressful, not just for me being in the hospital, but for my family in having to make the two-and-a-half-hour trip to just come and check in,” he recalls. “The thing that I most felt was loneliness and frustration in the sense that I was so far away from my family, and I was so far away from home.”
High school teacher and coach Nick Beamish has become an ambassador and donor for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation after he needed to go to Kingston to receive urgent cardiac care because PRHC did not have the facilities to perform the necessary procedures. While donor support has already allowed the hospital to update its two Cardiac Cath Lab suites with state-of-the-art technology, additional donations will fund the construction of a third cardiac lab that will support the introduction of cardiac electrophysiology. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
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Since then, Beamish has been an advocate for the Campaign for PRHC which, in part, will see further investments in PRHC’s Cardiac Centre for Excellence. While donor support has already allowed the hospital to update its two Cardiac Cath Lab suites with state-of-the-art technology, additional donations will fund the construction of a third cardiac lab that will support the introduction of cardiac electrophysiology — treatment for electrical conditions of the heart.
These advancements will help eliminate the need for patients like Beamish to travel as far as Kingston or Toronto to receive cardiac care.
“The major thing for people to understand is that, while a heart issue needs to be solved, the fact that you are so far away from home is such a stressor on yourself and your family,” Beamish says. “The fact that PRHC is trying to raise the money to be able to bring this type of procedure to the Peterborough region so that people can get the type of care close to home is invaluable.”
Beamish has since become a father of two young sons, who were both born at PRHC, and has known many family members who have experienced the lifesaving care offered by the hospital. It is his hope that they will continue to be able to get any future care they need close to home, and that’s why he shares his story.
“I remember when Nick dressed up as Santa Claus for a children’s event in support of the Foundation, and soon after his health crisis put his life on hold and forced him hours away from family to get the care he needed,” says Heighway. “Now Nick’s a dad himself and he has a new perspective on how important it is for us all to receive the best care close to home. I’m glad he’s willing to share that experience and how donors like him can help make it possible. Every one of us deserves world-class care, right here.”
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Supporting world-class care close to home can start with reaching out to the PRHC Foundation to share a story of impact.
“Grateful patient stories highlight the joy in philanthropy and hope for the future of patient care,” says Heighway. “They can break down stigma, build community connection, and inspire us all to think about the role our hospital plays in all our lives.”
Like Jennie and Nick, you too can share your story through the PRHC Foundation and inspire others as a Campaign for PRHC ambassador. For more information or to volunteer, please email foundationeventsonline@prhc.on.ca or call Valerie Gagnon, PRHC Foundation Charitable Giving Advisor, at 705-743-2121, ext. 4184.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the PRHC Foundation. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
The Peterborough Public Library is bringing award-winning author and screenwriter Catherine Hernandez to the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on November 4, 2024 for a book reading, question-and-answer session, and book signing. Hernandez is the author of "The Story of Us", which was the selection for this year's One Book, One Ptbo" a shared community reading experience. (kawarthaNOW collage)
There’s still time to register for the free grand finale of this year’s “One Book, One Ptbo”, a shared community reading experience organized by the Peterborough Public Library with partial funding support from the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough and the Friends of the Library.
Award-winning author and screenwriter Catherine Hernandez will be at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough at 7 p.m. on Monday (November 4) to read from from her 2023 novel The Story of Us and to participate in an on-stage question-and-answer session.
Earlier this year, Hernandez’s novel was selected from a short list of three books by community vote to be the title for the second annual One Book, One Ptbo, which featured a series of book clubs, workshops, and more over the past few months.
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Narrated through the perspective of the protagonist’s baby, The Story of Us follows an overseas Filipino worker named Mary Grace Concepcion who leaves home and her husband to first be a caregiver in Hong Kong before travelling even further to Toronto. After navigating careless employers and unruly children, she then cares for Liz, an elderly transgender woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and the two form a surprising and heartbreaking bond.
Hernandez is a queer woman of Filipino, Spanish, Chinese, and Indian descent who married into the Navajo Nation. Having just released her fourth novel Behind You, she is most known for her acclaimed debut novel Scarborough, which was a 2022 Canada Reads finalist and adapted into an award-winning film.
“We have had the best time this year engaging with the community to discuss themes in The Story of Us, around chosen family in the LGBTQ+ community, dementia, and domestic workers in Canada at our programs this year,” says Karen Bisschop, community development and outreach librarian at the Peterborough Public Library. “We can’t wait to sit down with Catherine to chat with her about her novel.”
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Doors at the Market Hall open at 6 p.m. for the grand finale event, which begins at 7 p.m. Following a reading by Hernandez, Mauricio Interiano of the New Canadians Centre will lead a question-and-answer session with the author. Audience members are encouraged to come prepared with their questions. Following the discussion, books will be available for purchase from Take Cover Books and Hernandez will be available for a book signing.
While the grand finale event is free to attend, advance registration is required at ptbolibrary.ca/OneBook.
With this year’s One Book, One Ptbo wrapping up, the library is beginning to plan for the third annual shared community reading experience and is asking community members to submit suggestions for next year’s title. Library staff will create a short list of titles from these selections for the community to vote on next year.
A resident and their pet were able to escape without injury from this tent encampment in the Bond St. area of Lindsay after a fire on November 1, 2024 that Kawartha Lakes police believe was deliberately set. (Photo supplied by Kawartha Lakes Police Service)
Kawartha Lakes police are investigating two separate fires at two tent encampments in Lindsay early Friday morning (November 1).
At around 5:09 a.m. on Friday, the Kawartha Lakes Police Service along with Kawartha Lakes Fire and Rescue responded to a fire in the area of Bond Street in Lindsay.
Upon arriving, officers observed a small tent encampment and surrounding area fully engulfed in flames.
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“Fortunately, the resident and pet were able to escape without harm,” reads a police media release, which also describes the incident as “disturbing.”
Then, at around 6:20 a.m., police and fire crews responded to another tent on fire in the area of Colborne Street East in Lindsay. There were no occupants in the tent at the time of the fire.
Police believe both fires were intentionally set, and the criminal investigations unit is investigating the fires as arson.
Police are looking to speak with the occupants of a pickup truck that was caught on CCTV leaving the Bond Street area at the time of a tent encampment fire. (Photo supplied by Kawartha Lakes Police Service)
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Police are looking to speak with the occupants of a pickup truck that was caught on CCTV leaving the Bond Street area at the time of the first fire.
Anyone with information about either fire is asked to contact the Kawartha Lakes Police at 705-324-5252.
If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can call Kawartha Haliburton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at www.khcrimestoppers.com.
Clocks will ‘fall back’ an hour when daylight saving time (DST) ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday (November 3).
The annual return to eastern standard time (EST) means it will be lighter in the morning when we get up, with the sun rising at 6:54 a.m. on Sunday in the Kawarthas. On the other hand, it will be darker earlier, with the sun setting at 4:59 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
The end of DST also means it’s time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and to check whether the alarms need to be replaced (if they are more than 10 years old, they probably do).
If you find daylight saving time annoying, you can blame New Zealand entomologist George Hudson. He first proposed “saving daylight” in 1895 so he could have more time during the day to collect insects. (Public domain photos)
Although it’s commonly believed Benjamin Franklin came up with the idea for DST, it was actually New Zealand entomologist George Hudson.
In 1895, Hudson proposed a two-hour shift in the clocks (he wanted more daylight to collect insects).
“The effect of this alteration would be to advance all the day’s operations in summer two hours compared with the present system,” Hudson wrote in 1898, explaining his original proposal. “In this way the early-morning daylight would be utilised, and a long period of daylight leisure would be made available in the evening for cricket, gardening, cycling, or any other outdoor pursuit desired.”
A few years later, English outdoorsman William Willett also proposed advancing the clocks during the summer months (he wanted more daylight to golf).
The first governments to implement DST were Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1916, as a way to conserve coal during World War I. Britain and most other European countries adopted it shortly after, with the United States and Canada adopting it in 1918.
DST used to begin the first Sunday of April and end the last Sunday of October, but in 2007 the U.S. decided to change it to begin the second Sunday of March and end the first Sunday of November in an attempt to conserve energy.
To avoid issues with economic and social interactions with the U.S., the Canadian provinces that observe DST followed suit.
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What are the health effects of changing time twice a year?
While the evidence is mixed, some research has found that “falling back” results in more accidents involving pedestrians, while “springing forward” increases the risk of heart attacks and traffic accidents.
In any case, moving clocks forward or backward changes our exposure to daylight and affects our circadian rhythm (the body’s natural internal clock).
In the fall, gaining an extra hour of sleep sounds like a good thing but it can actually make you feel “jet lagged”.
It can take up to a week to adjust your internal clock to the shift in daylight hours.
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Why don’t we just get rid of DST?
It’s possible that we’ll soon be ending the practice of changing our clocks twice a year, but by making DST permanent rather than getting rid of it.
On November 25, 2020, the Ontario government gave royal assent to The Time Amendment Act, a private members’ bill tabled by Ottawa-West Nepean MPP Jeremy Roberts that proposed making “the time now called daylight saving time the standard time year-round.”
The bill would only come into force if the province of Quebec and the state of New York also make DST permanent. While the Quebec government has previously said it is open to the idea of making DST permanent if neighbouring jurisdictions do the same, the province launched a survey in October 2024 asking residents in western Quebec whether to keep the time change or not and, if not, whether they’d prefer to have DST or EST year round (communities in eastern Quebec currently observe Atlantic time with no time change).
In 2022, it looked like the U.S. was on the verge of ending the bi-annual time change. On March 16, 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make DST permanent beginning in spring 2023. Despite passage in the Senate, the bill stalled in the House, where it remained in a committee until it died with the expiration of the previous Congress.
In March 2023, Florida senator Marco Rubio reintroduced the bill into the 118th Congress, where it was sent to a senate committee with no notable progress since.
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Is making DST permanent a good idea?
The primary argument for adopting DST permanently is that, by increasing the amount of daylight at the end of the day, it would lead to more economic activity and reduce vehicle collisions, energy usage, and robberies.
But researchers in chronobiology — the study of biological rhythms — disagree that DST should be made permanent. While they also want to get rid of the bi-annual time change, they say we should be permanently adopting standard time rather than DST.
“Based on current chronobiology knowledge, permanent Standard Time (ST) would be a wiser, healthier choice,” the Canadian Society for Chronobiology has said.
Chronobiologists say adopting permanent standard time would move sunrise closer to our body’s internal clock, while permanent DST would move it further away. It’s the light in the morning that is most important in resetting our biological clocks, they say.
And it’s not just the Canadian Society for Chronobiology advocating for the permanent adoption of standard time. The U.S.-based Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, the European Biological Rhythms Society, the British Sleep Society, and the European Sleep Research Society have all issued statements supporting it.
How can we reduce the health effects of the time change?
Here are some suggestions for how you and your family can adapt more quickly to the time change:
Each morning leading up to the time change on Sunday, try waking up 15 minutes earlier than normal.
Also try going to bed 15 minutes earlier than normal each night. You can help prepare your body for an earlier bedtime by not eating two hours before you go to sleep, and put down your devices an hour before bed.
Eat a healthy breakfast when you first wake up, as food is one way to tell your body it’s the beginning of the day.
After the time change, expose yourself to daylight during waking hours as much as possible.
Reduce your use of caffeine and alcohol during the day and increase your physical activity.
The Centre for Indigenous Theatre performing a reading of Drew Hayden Taylor's "Girl Who Loved Her Horses" at the 2024 Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) at Trent University in Peterborough. For 2025, the festival is moving to the Peterborough Theatre Guild in East City. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of NIFF video)
The Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF), said to be the only Indigenous fringe festival “in the known world,” will move in 2025 to a new venue in Peterborough for its annual showcase of Indigenous arts.
Following four years at Trent University’s Peterborough campus, NIFF will be held in June 2025 at the Peterborough Theatre Guild, located at 364 Rogers Street in East City. A former church now known as the Guild Hall, the building has played host to a wide variety of performances since 1965.
NIFF general manager Lee Bolton told kawarthaNOW she’s looking forward to having the festival in its new space.
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“The venue change is a response to feedback from patrons and other local groups that suggested NIFF could attract more audiences in a more central location,” Bolton said.
“As you can imagine, finding a space that would offer us all the room we need was not easy, and we are thrilled that the (Peterborough Theatre Guild) has been willing to open their entire building to us for the festival.”
With the move, NIFF will have two indoor performance spaces: the 230-seat proscenium main stage and the “flexible” Gwen Brown Studio.
“Additional space for visual art and vendors makes this a great home for the many facets of NIFF,” a media release noted.
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“We at the Peterborough Theatre Guild are excited and honoured to support the work of Indigenous artists as we partner with NIFF,” said Marion Griffin, president of the Peterborough Theatre Guild. “We look forward to welcoming everyone.”
NIFF 2025 will feature four days of performances from June 19 through 22. As with all fringe festivals, artists are chosen by lottery. Applications open November 1 and close on February 10, 2025.
NIFF will announce the artists later in February 2025. A full schedule, including additional special events, family activities and vendors, will be available in April and ticket sales will start in May, organizers noted.
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“My hopes are that we can share the amazing variety of Indigenous arts that we are fortunate to present with more people, in a familiar and comfortable space,” Bolton said.
The annual event is unique to the city as it’s the only Indigenous fringe festival “in the known world,” Bolton earlier told kawarthaNOW. The 2024 installment of NIFF ran from June 21 to 23 and had a full roster with more than 20 performances, special events, family activities, and vendors. Music, puppetry, and theatre were among the arts on display during the last festival.
The City of Peterborough celebrated the official opening of its new Fire Station No. 2 in the city's north end with an open house on October 31, 2024. Located at 100 Marina Boulevard, the station is the city's first facility to be certified as a net-zero carbon and net-zero energy building, using passive solar design and renewable energy sources to achieve its net-zero goals. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
What Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal described as “a beacon of sustainability” officially opened Thursday afternoon (October 31) in the form of Fire Station No. 2.
Located at 100 Marina Boulevard at the former site of Northcrest Arena, the $11 million state-of-the-art facility replaces the firehall on Carnegie Avenue that opened in 1967 and has long outlived its best-before date.
More notably, the new fire station is the first city-owned facility designed and built to be certified by the Canada Green Building Council as a net-zero carbon and net-zero energy building.
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That will be accomplished thanks to the incorporation of automated control systems, ground source heat pumps, rooftop solar panels, and heat recovery systems.
In addition, the building was constructed as a mass timber structure, and features carbon sequestering material as well as what’s described as a high-performance exterior envelope. Featuring an abundance of natural light, there will also be a marked reduction in lighting and heat-loss costs.
According to the City of Peterborough, the station’s next-zero design will result in an estimated saving of $24,270 annually in operational costs.
Peterborough Fire Services chief Chris Snetsinger speaks during the official opening of the city’s new Fire Station No. 2 at 100 Marina Boulevard on October 31, 2024. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Addressing a large crowd comprised of current and retired firefighters, several city councillors and city staff, Peterborough Fire Services chief Chris Snetsinger wore the smile of a parent proudly showing off the newest addition to the family.
“This moment is not just about a building — it represents a commitment to progress, sustainability, and enhanced service for all of our residents,” said Chief Snetsinger.
“For 57 years, our old station served us well, becoming a home away from home for countless firefighters. It has witnessed numerous calls for help, acts of bravery, and moments of camaraderie. We’re grateful for the legacy it leaves behind.”
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But, added Chief Snetsinger, “Times change, and so do the needs of the community.”
The chief made much of the fact that the new fire station, which also features training areas for pumper operations and various rescue disciplines, is situated where Northcrest Arena once stood.
“That landmark was a hub for community activity for decades. Now, our new fire station will complement its legacy. Just as Northcrest brought people together for events and celebrations and memories, our station will be a beacon of safety and service for all.”
Pictured at the official hose-uncoupling ceremony of Peterborough Fire Station No. 2 at 100 Marina Boulevard on October 31, 2024 are (left to right) former Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien, city councillor Joy Lachica, Mayor Jeff Leal, Peterborough Fire Services chief Chris Snetsinger, and councillors Andrew Beamer, Dave Haacke, and Lesley Parnell. Also participating but not pictured are councillors Gary Baldwin and Kevin Duguay. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Later, Chief Snetsinger told kawarthaNOW that while the new fire station “was a long time coming, we did it right.” That said, he admitted “it’s tough to say goodbye” to the former station.
“But it’s about response times. As the community changes and the growth patterns change, the fire service has to change also. We’re not far away from the old one, but this does help response times overall and gets us there (to the scene of an emergency) quicker and efficiently.”
The new fire station’s coverage area extends to the eastern limits of the city as well as north of Parkhill Road to the Lily Lake Road subdivision. In addition, he said, the new location ensures a quicker response to the downtown core.
“It’s not just getting to a building,” Chief Snetsinger explained. “It’s time to task, to get up to, perhaps, the 15th floor. Also, our older downtown (firehall) can’t handle those buildings by itself. It needs help. That’s people power, which is also something we’ve been working on with city council — to have enough people to get the job done.”
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Prior to Thursday’s hose-uncoupling ceremony — a modified firehall-specific version of the more traditional ribbon cutting — Peterborough councillor Lesley Parnell, the co-chair of community services which includes the fire service, also spoke from the podium.
She said with the completion of the new fire station that will be operational in two weeks, “We are saving lives and saving the planet.”
“The north end of Peterborough is expected to continue to grow,” she noted, adding “That growth will lead to higher demand for emergency services.”
“We also wanted to demonstrate how a public building can reduce its carbon footprint and promote cleaner energy practices. That vision has guided every decision behind this facility.”
Mayor Jeff Leal addresses a crowd inside the City of Peterborough’s new Fire Station No. 2 at 100 Marina Boulevard during an official opening celebration on October 31, 2024. The station is the city’s first facility to be certified as a net-zero carbon and net-zero energy building. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Like Mayor Leal, councillor Parnell singled out Peterborough facilities and property management director Gillian Barnes, who led the project team. She praised Barnes for “bringing this home … to what you see today.”
Among her team members was senior project manager Ailan McKenzie, who pointed out the fire station’s certification as the city’s first net-zero energy building means “the building provides as much or more energy than it will consume.”
“It’s a pretty remarkable step for Peterborough and we hope it’s not the last,” she said. “There’s definitely motivation on the city’s part to keep on this path. We’re embarking on some new ventures that will allow us to make this type of building more standard in the city.”
McKenzie added “it’s a great feeling” to be present for the official opening, adding the planning and development process was “a team sport.”
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Looking ahead, Chief Snetsinger confirmed a new fire station that will serve East City is on the radar.
“We are still working with our consultant to look at a future fire station,” he said. “The consultant wants that station in East City around the Lansdowne and Ashburnham area, so that’s something we’re going to keep looking at. We don’t have any infrastructure on the other side of the river.”
Other city councillors on hand for the official opening ceremony included Gary Baldwin, Joy Lachica, Andrew Beamer, Dave Haacke, and Kevin Duguay. Also present was former mayor Diane Therrien, whose council made the initial decision to proceed with the project.
Located at 100 Marina Boulevard at the former site of Northcrest Arena, Fire Station No. 2 features a combination of high-efficiency and intelligent technologies, including automated control systems, ground source heat pumps, rooftop solar panels, and heat-recovery systems. The building is constructed with a mass timber structure, a carbon sequestering material, and a high-performance exterior envelope that helps reduce its carbon footprint. Bird-friendly and high-performance windows and doors provide lots of natural light, reducing both heat loss and the need for electrical lighting. (Photo: Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW)
Peterborough's "Washboard Hank" Fisher will be performing at Jethro's Bar + Stage on Friday night and then celebrating his 70th birthday with a show at The Pig's Ear Tavern on Sunday afternoon. (Photo: Washboard Hank / Facebook)
Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, October 31 to Wednesday, November 6.
If you’re a musician or venue owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).
6-8pm - Dinner & Jazz featuring Mike Graham and Victoria Yeh (reservations recommended)
Arthur's Pub
930 Burnham St., Cobourg
(905) 372-2105
Thursday, October 31
8-10:30pm - Open mic w/ Bruce Longman
Friday, November 1
8-11pm - Live music TBA
Saturday, November 2
8-11pm - Live music TBA
Monday, November 4
7:30-9:30pm - Local talent night ft musician TBA
Bancroft Eatery and Brew Pub
4 Bridge St., Bancroft
(613) 332-3450
Coming Soon
Saturday, November 9 8pm - '80s Karaoke Night
Bar 379 - The Old Twisted Wheel
379 Water St., Peterborough
705-742-0777
Thursday, October 31
10pm-2am - Halloween Karaoke w/ DJ Kazzi Kaz
Black Horse Pub
452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633
Thursday, October 31
7-10pm - Jazz & Blues Night ft. Rob Phillips
Friday, November 1
5-8pm - Reverend Freddie Vendetta; 9pm - Misfits In Action
Saturday, November 2
5-8pm - Ball and Chain (Michael Ball and Jody Benjamin); 9pm - Jake Norris & The Side Street Band
Sunday, November 3
4-7pm - Blues in the Bottle
Monday, November 4
7-10pm - Crash & Burn w/ Rick & Gailie
Tuesday, November 5
6-10pm - Open mic w/ Johann Burkhardt
Wednesday, November 6
6-9pm - Live music TBA
Coming Soon
Friday, November 8 5-8pm - Bread & Soul; 9pm - Odd Man Rush
Saturday, November 9 5-8pm - Rick & Gailie Trio w/ Richard Simpkins; 9pm - Jane Archer and Blues to the Bone
Sunday, November 10 4-7pm - Bluegrass Menagerie
Boston Pizza Lindsay
435 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-0008
Friday, November 1
8-11pm - Darel Wernik
Wednesday, November 6
8-11pm - Karaoke
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Cat & The Fiddle Cobourg
38 Covert St., Cobourg
(905) 377-9029
Friday, November 1
8pm - Halloween Karaoke
Coming Soon
Saturday, November 9 8-11pm - Kat Lovett
Claymore Pub & Table
95 King St. W., Cobourg
905-372-5231
Thursday, October 31
7-10pm - Halloween Karaoke
Coach & Horses Pub
16 York St. S., Lindsay
(705) 328-0006
Thursday, October 31
10pm - Halloween Karaoke
Crook & Coffer
231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-876-0505
Friday, November 1
8:30pm - Karaoke
Saturday, November 2
2:30-4:30pm - Kate Kelly; 7:30-10:30pm - Brennon Wasson
Dominion Hotel
113 Main St., Minden
(705) 286-6954
Friday, November 1
7:30pm - Open mic (no cover)
Tuesday, November 5
5pm - Gord Kidd
Erben Eatery & Bar
379 George St. N., Peterborough
705-874-8379
Thursday, October 31
5-7pm - The Groove Lounge w/ Doug McLean
Friday, November 1
9pm - Karaoke
Monday, November 4
5-7pm - The Groove Lounge w/ Doug McLean
Tuesday, November 5
8pm - Karaoke w/ Ian Clement
Wednesday, November 6
8-11pm - Open mic
Coming Soon
Friday, November 8 7pm-10:30pm - Pound of Flesh, Atria, No Small Affair, Ascension Blacklist, Lemur Wetsuit ($15 in advance at https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/49209, $20 at door)
Ganaraska Hotel
30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254
Saturday, November 2
2-6pm - Brave & Crazy
Coming Soon
Friday, November 8 8pm - Doc MacLean ($20 cash at The Ganny or Zap Records)
8:45pm - It's Not The Gramps w/ Nearvana, Greed Day (Nothing Serious), The Ramones (My Fair Lady) (no cover)
Saturday, November 2
8pm - The Show That Hank Drank - Hank Williams tribute hosted by The Quartet of 50 ($5)
Sunday, November 3
3-7pm - Washboard Hank's 70th Birthday Bash ($10 at door)
VIDEO: "Daddy Couldn't Play the Fiddle" - Washboard Hank with Benj Rowland
Tuesday, November 5
9pm - Open stage
Wednesday, November 6
9pm - Karaoinke
The Publican House
300 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5743
Friday, November 1
7-9pm - Jake Dudas
Puck' N Pint Sports Pub
871 Chemong Rd., Peterborough
(705) 741-1078
Friday, November 1
8pm - Halloween Karaoke w/ Ian Clement
Rolling Grape Vineyard
260 County Rd 2, Bailieboro
705-991-5876
Thursday, October 31
5:30-8:30pm - Brad Renaud
Sunday, November 3
2-5pm - Daniel O'Farrell
Royal Crown Pub & Grill
4 King St. E., Colborne
905-355-1900
Saturday, November 2
8pm - Halloween Party ft Little Lake Band (no cover)
Scenery Drive Restaurant
6193 County Road 45, Baltimore
905-349-2217
Saturday, November 2
5-7:30pm - Brian Bracken
The Social Pub
295 George St. N., Peterborough
705-874-6724
Coming Soon
Saturday, November 16 1-4pm - PMBA Deluxe Live ft host band Al Black and the Steady Band w/ spotlight musician Sam Allison aka Lotus Wight ($10 donation suggested)
Tap & Tonic Pub & Bistro
18-22 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 947-2333
Thursday, October 31
7-10pm - Justin Cooper
The Thirsty Goose
63 Walton St., Port Hope
Friday, November 1
8pm-12am - Bedford Bells
Saturday, November 2
8pm-12am - Bruce Longman
The Venue
286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008
Kawartha Lakes Food Source (KLFS) is seeing rising food bank use in the City of Kawartha Lakes, which is consistent with nationwide findings recently released by Food Banks Canada in its HungerCount 2024 report. (Photo: KLFS)
On the heels of Food Banks Canada reporting the highest-ever number of monthly food bank visits and signs the food bank system is buckling under the strain, Kawartha Lakes Food Source (KLFS) says it has found itself in situations this year of having “alarmingly low inventory” on hand.
As the provider to member food banks in the City of Kawartha Lakes, in the summer KLFS issued a state of emergency plea to the community for assistance stocking its shelves.
Local food bank usage is up and donations are down, said KLFS donor stewardship coordinator Erika Henry, reflecting the findings of Food Banks Canada’s “HungerCount 2024” report released on Monday (October 28).
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Some of the national report’s overall findings include the fact that in March 2024, there were more than two million visits to food banks in Canada — the highest number in history. The number of visits represent a six per cent increase compared to 2023, and a 90 per cent increase compared to 2019. At the same time, “there are signs that the food-banking system is reaching its absolute limit,” the report states.
Henry told kawarthaNOW “the report definitely reflects our situation locally.”
“While our inventory has begun to see the typical holiday season boost, we are still concerned about what happens after the giving boom,” said Henry. “Late winter can be particularly challenging as the inventory starts to wane again while demand increases due to lack of seasonal employment, increased heating costs, and lack of locally available fresh food.”
“Regarding the report’s claim that 30 per cent of food banks are running out of food, we have had moments this year of alarmingly low inventory and at times have had to reduce what was being sent out to our member food banks, with some getting as little as half of what we would typically supply,” she added.
Kawartha Lakes Food Source (KLFS) is serving more clients than ever before. In the summer, KLFS issued a state of emergency plea to the community for assistance stocking its shelves. (Graphic: KLFS)
Following KLFS’s social media post in late July declaring the state of emergency, the community responded by donating more than 2,000 pounds of food in the weeks that followed.
“We love this community and are so appreciative of the generous support we receive, but it is unfortunately a band-aid solution that doesn’t address the issues of poverty and a broken social safety net that Food Banks Canada highlights in the report,” Henry said.
The HungerReport notes the two million visits in March “is consistent with record high rates of food insecurity and reflects findings from other recent studies showing greater numbers of people experiencing economic hardship.”
“This year’s increase is happening against the backdrop of the ongoing affordability crisis and an uptick in unemployment rates, including a significant increase in unemployment rates among recent newcomers than in previous years,” the report states.
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According to the HungerCount report, 18 per cent of food bank clients now report employment as their main source of income, compared to 16.7 per cent in 2023 and 12 per cent in 2019.
“The fact that having a job no longer protects people from facing food insecurity means that more members of the community are needing our services while fewer are able to support us,” Henry said.
The report adds the number of food bank clients who report employment as their main source of income has historically been between 10 and 12 per cent, but began to climb in 2022 along with the rapid increase in inflation.
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“This year, the cumulative impact of inflation has further eroded the purchasing power of people in employment, including many whose incomes are above the official poverty line,” the report states.
Meanwhile, the majority of food bank clients continue to report “grossly inadequate provincial social assistance” as their source of income.
Like Food Banks Canada, KLFS says food banks are not a solution for ending hunger in Canada.
“We are aligned with Food Banks Canada’s position that food insecurity is an income issue, and food banks are not the answer,” Henry said. “We provide emergency food and supplies to those in need, but with demand increasing this dramatically after over 22 years in operation, it’s safe to say that we are well beyond an emergency.”
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In 2023, KLFS recorded 13,670 visits to its member food banks and is averaging 1,127 monthly visits this year.
KLFS operates from a centralized distribution centre, where it collects food from reclamation sources, buys food in bulk, sorts, and stores food, promotes awareness of hunger and its impact, and co-ordinates fundraising. It provides food and personal care items to its member organizations on a monthly, fair share basis. The organization supports eight food banks, six social service agencies, and 21 student breakfast programs.
“A food bank is not meant to be a permanent fixture in anyone’s life,” Henry pointed out. “We fully support Food Banks Canada’s recommendations for long-term government action needed to address affordability issues and fix Canada’s broken social safety net.”
To achieve their goal of a net-zero home, the owners of this Peterborough County home collaborated closely with their construction team using the integrated design process, a collaborative approach where everyone involved from design through construction looks at the building as a complete system rather than as a sum of its individual parts. (Photo courtesy of Rebecca Schillemat)
As our communities grow, new and custom-built homes of all shapes and sizes are increasingly in demand. Energy needs, however, are costly.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by guest author Rebecca Schillemat of the Peterborough & The Kawarthas Home Builders Association with Jackie Donaldson of GreenUP.
Residential, commercial, and industrial buildings account for close to 30 per cent of Canada’s carbon emissions, when including materials, construction, and use.
It comes as no surprise that the residential building sector is seeking ways to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, build more sustainably, and lower emissions.
The Peterborough & the Kawarthas Home Builders’ Association (PKHBA) is working to support its members — professionals in residential construction — with strategies that both build vibrant communities and long-term sustainability in the residential construction sector in the Kawarthas region.
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Recently, PKHBA and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association hosted a full-day workshop for local construction professionals on an innovative and comprehensive strategy called the integrated design process (IDP).
With the guidance of educator Troy Tilbury of Building Knowledge Canada Inc., builders from the City of Peterborough, Peterborough County, and the City of Kawartha Lakes learned how to build homes with improved performance that reduce owner energy costs and lower construction waste.
The IDP gathers professionals involved in various stages of the building process to collaborate on the construction of a building from the beginning of the design development. Meeting regularly, these experts — which could include the owner, architect or designer, electrical and structural engineers, energy advisors, mechanical/HVAC specialists, and others — work together on overlapping areas of expertise to uncover opportunities to improve building performance.
Local building professionals recently gathered for a full-day workshop hosted by Peterborough & Kawarthas Home Builders’ Association and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association. The event focused on the integrated design process, a collaborative design and construction strategy that activates the shared experience of building professionals to create buildings that are more efficient, less wasteful, and have a reduced carbon footprint. (Photo: Rebecca Schillemat)
In the IDP process, practitioners are encouraged to explore certain strategies. These strategies, listed below, can be considered by anyone building or retrofitting a building.
Optimizing the building envelope
Materials that enclose a home (insulation, roofs, and doors, for example) should be chosen for thermal performance that reduces the need for heating and cooling.
Windows and doors can be placed to take advantage of the sun’s warmth to reduce heating needs by up to five per cent.
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Designing home systems to integrate effectively
Insulation can be installed, and airtightness can be adjusted so that they complement the heating system to minimize energy waste.
The right-sized heat pump can be an excellent way to reduce energy consumption, while a dual-core hot water heater with a backup tank has the potential to create enough heat to power a home’s radiant in-floor heating and heat a hot tub.
Ensuring good air quality and ventilation
A key takeaway for PKHBA members at the IDP workshop was that houses can never be too airtight, only under-ventilated.
A coordinated ventilation system ensures that fresh air is introduced efficiently to a building without losing too much heat or cooled air. Understanding how to use a home’s Heat Recovery Ventilator (ERV/HRV) is a part of this, and essential for maintaining comfort and maximizing the efficiency of an HVAC system.
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Choosing and using materials efficiently
Through the IDP process, participants are encouraged to collaborate on material selection that meets both energy-efficiency and sustainability needs. This can include using advanced framing techniques, insulation with high thermal resistance, and reflective roofing. The carbon impact of manufacturing a building material can also be considered during selection.
Embedding sustainability strategies identified through consultation and collaboration into the design and construction of a building reaps long-lasting rewards for both builder and owner.
Working with professionals early in the planning process keeps project goals achievable and attainable during construction.
Ultimately, a home is much more than the biggest financial investment one can make — it’s a place where families grow, memories are made, and futures are built.
Rebecca Schillemat is the executive officer for the Peterborough & The Kawarthas Home Builders Association (PKHBA). PKHBA would like to thank and give credit to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, Troy Tilbury of Building Knowledge, and Natural Resources Canada for data and information in this article. For more information about PKHBA, visit www.pkhba.com.
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