With today’s unpredictable and constantly changing labour landscape, those entering the workforce are looking for jobs with a promising future. For those seeking work in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, the companies involved in the region’s rapidly growing aerospace sector offer many opportunities for long-term careers.

One such company is Safran Electronics & Defense. A France-based multinational high-technology group focused on sustainable air transport with 92,000 employees in 27 countries, Safran is a world leader in aircraft equipment manufacturing and operates in the aviation, defense, and space markets.

At its Canadian headquarters located just a short drive from the Peterborough Airport, Safran produces world-class products including aircraft landing gear, steering control units, engine controllers, and engine data management technology to record fault data.

“There are so many different fields in aerospace as a whole, whether the pilots themselves, the maintenance technicians that keep it all safe, or Safran that provides the original equipment,” says Ron James, Director of Program Management at Safran Electronics & Defense.

“Many opportunities exist across our business for technical grads, specifically for test technicians, industrialization, quality, electrical, software, and mechanical designers. We are invested in finding individuals with varying levels of experience who have new ideas and understand the latest technology across a variety of technical disciplines.”

While some of the jobs at Safran require highly skilled workers with aerospace training due to the regulations of the industry, there are also other roles supporting the company’s business operations.

“At our Peterborough site, we’re fairly equally split between manufacturing, engineering, and general support functions such as finance, IT, and program management, so there’s lots of general support business skillsets required as well,” James explains.

He adds there is also the opportunity for workers who have certain skills to receive in-house training.

“If you’re a technician that understands electronics, you can work with us in the aerospace industry. Workers can be trained to meet the aerospace standard, so there’s lots of opportunity for transferable skills. And once you’re here, you won’t want to leave the aerospace world. Once you’re bit by the aerospace bug, you’re stuck for life.”

Not only are Safran employees able to work their way up from entry-level to senior management positions, but with sites around the globe, the company even provides opportunities for movement across locations. James himself began 34 years ago at what is now the Safran Landing Systems plant in Ajax.

Other Safran employees have transferred out of Ajax to Peterborough, and some have even relocated out of country, either to work in more senior positions or to better fit their personal lives.

“People have transferred all over the world,” James says. “There’s obviously lots of opportunities in France, but we also get a lot of employees that come here from France to get that international experience and learn from a different culture.”

With the company’s focus on sustainability in support of the aviation industry’s goal to become carbon-neutral by 2050, James notes there is nothing but expansion, growth, and opportunity on the horizon at Safran.

“Most aircraft and big commercial aircraft or business aircraft are driven by hydraulics, and the trend is moving away from that to more electric,” James explains. “To have more electric systems, you need more electronic control units. That’s what we’re really focusing our energies on right now: developing the technology to support electric aircraft to make them lighter and more fuel efficient.”

Safran is also currently working with companies on the development of electric air taxis, a trend that has been gaining a lot of momentum in the industry.

“We need to stay up to date and align our technologies to make sure that we’re supporting not just standard airplane production, but these new startups that are really pushing the envelope of the industry,” James says. “It’s really refreshing for the industry, but it’s also quite eye-opening for us to be involved in something outside the mainstream of aerospace development.”

With Safran Electronics & Defense on pace for a record year in sales and competing on the world stage when it comes to design and manufacturing, James notes that while the Peterborough site was “homegrown” before turning into what it is today, it remains the best place for Safran to continue to expand its Canadian operations – including a possible future expansion to the Peterborough Airport.

“We’re actually running out of space in our current facilities, so moving over to the airport might be an opportunity for us in the future as we expand and continue to grow,” James explains. “It’s just around the corner from us, so it doesn’t change anybody’s commute and it’s a good fit for our work in the aerospace sector.”

Kyle Bruce, the Manager of Airport Administration at the Peterborough Airport, agrees. Since launching the airport development program in 2010, the airport now supports 22 businesses and has seen the number of jobs double from 251 to more than 500, and GDP grow even more, from $40 million to $90 million.

“The presence of a vibrant business hub at Peterborough Airport also stimulates the local economy, encouraging the development of ancillary services,” Bruce says. “This economic growth translates into a broader range of employment opportunities and supports overall career progression across different industries.”

As for James, he sees the potential for both businesses and job seekers wanting to participate in the tremendous growth of the aerospace sector in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

“The future here is huge, not just for Safran, but for other companies in the sector and for those working in them,” he predicts.

For more information on Safran Electronics & Defense, visit safran-group.com/countries/canada. Explore more training and employment opportunities at the Peterborough Airport at peterborough.ca/en/doing-business/airport-services.aspx.

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.

Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) welcomed 12 families to their new homes at 21 Leahy’s Lane in Peterborough during a dedication ceremony on Sunday (October 20).

The 12-unit affordable condo building of 11 two-bedroom units and a single one-bedroom unit, which was completed this year, is the second and final phase of Habitat PKR’s Leahy’s Lane development. The first phase, a 41-unit condo building at 33 Leahy’s Lane, was completed in April 2022.

The Leahy’s Lane development was the first of its kind for Habitat for Humanity across Canada. Habitat PKR, whose previous home-building efforts focused on semi-detached or fully detached homes, recognized that a new approach was required to address the housing crisis and lack of affordable homes.

“This is a key milestone in of Habitat PKR’s ongoing mission to help families achieve strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership,” reads a media release from Habitat PKR.

Each of the units at at 21 Leahy’s Lane is fully complete with in-suite appliances including a fridge, dishwasher, washer and dryer, and stove. The energy-efficient condo units will help owners save on utility costs.

One of those new owners is Mohamed, who will be moving into his new home with his wife and five-year-old son. At Sunday’s dedication ceremony, he shared how the opportunity for affordable homeownership through Habitat PKR will empower his family by providing them with a stable space for his son to grow up in, and by giving them financial security and stability for the future.

“If you had asked me eight years ago whether I would ever own a home, I would have said, ‘No, never.’,” Mohamed said. “But today, standing here, it feels like a dream come true for my family and me.”

With the completion of the two phases of the Leahy’s Lane development, 53 local families have been able to achieve affordable homeownership through Habitat PKR’s program, which requires no down payment and caps mortgage payments at no more than a maximum of 30 per cent of the homeowner’s gross income. To be eligible, a homeowner must have an annual household income between $30,000 to $80,000 and have a need for affordable housing.

“Homeownership isn’t just about providing shelter — it’s about giving families the foundation they need to thrive and build a better future,” said Habitat PKR CEO Susan Zambonin. “The families moving into these homes are gaining a hand-up, not a hand-out, into the security and financial stability they need to thrive.”

Zambonin thanked the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation and Kawartha Credit Union for their support of Habitat PKR, as well as the federal government, which has made a total funding commitment of $4.75 million to Habitat PKR projects, including the Leahy’s Lane development, through the Affordable Housing Fund under the National Housing Strategy.

Along with Zambonin and new homeowner Mohamed, speakers at Sunday’s dedication ceremony included Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal, Habitat PKR board chair Hope Lee and Habitat for Humanity Canada board director Mehdi Nezarati, Peterborough-Kawartha MP Michelle Ferrari and MPP Dave Smith, Lessa Issa of Kawartha Credit Union, Leahy’s Lane condo board president Ashley Doust, and Habitat PKR communications and marketing manager Holly O’Connor.

Attendees were given the opportunity to tour 21 Leahy’s Lane, including a staged unit with furniture and décor from Habitat PKR’s ReStores.

Proceeds from sales of items at the three ReStores, located in Peterborough, Lakefield, and Lindsay, cover all the operational costs of Habitat PKR so that all financial donations to the non-profit organization go directly towards building affordable homes.

“While today’s dedication is a moment to celebrate, it is also a reminder that our work is far from finished,” Zambonin said, noting that Habitat PKR received 316 requests for affordable housing in 2023 alone.

“The housing crisis persists and the demand for affordable housing in the Peterborough and Kawartha Region continues to grow. As the leading developer of affordable housing in our community, we are committed to meeting this need through continued construction and community support.”

For more information about Habitat PKR and how to get involved or donate, visit www.habitatpkr.ca.

A 55-year-old Peterborough woman is facing arson charges following a fire on Friday night (October 18).

At around 8:50 p.m., Peterborough Fire Services responded to multiple calls about a Stewart Street residence that was on fire.

Upon arriving, fire crews found the residence was fully engulfed with fire. They determined all occupants were safely out of the residence and aggressively attacked the fire, bringing it under control. Damage is estimated at $200,000.

Peterborough police were also called to the fire. Through investigation, they learned the fire had been deliberately set by a tenant.

As a result, police arrested a 55-year-old Peterborough woman and charged her with arson with disregard for human life. The accused woman was held in custody and appeared in court on Saturday.

Peterborough police and the Ontario Fire Marshal are continuing an investigation into the fire. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 705-876-1122 ext. 555. To submit an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit stopcrimehere.ca.

During an upcoming summit in the Haliburton Highlands, Places For People is bringing together various stakeholders to explore the region’s housing needs and potential solutions.

Places For People, in conjunction with the County of Haliburton, is co-hosting the third annual Haliburton County Housing Summit from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday (October 24) at the Minden Hills Community Centre, located at 55 Parkside St. in Minden.

Organizers say this year’s summit will recognize the progress being made to create the housing needed by the people who live and work in the county, with the target audience for the summit “anyone who wants to do something about our housing challenge,” Places for People founder Fay Martin told kawarthaNOW.

“Everyone can make a contribution,” Martin said. “Only if everyone puts their shoulder to the wheel will we accomplish what’s needed. Hopefully we will see developers who want to be part of the solution and employers trying to find ways of housing their employees.”

“Everyone is welcome, including members of the public who want to see change and help make it.”

The day will begin with a welcome from Liz Danielson, warden of Haliburton County, and Bob Carter, mayor of Minden Hills, who have provided use of the facility for free, along with Patti Tallman, CEO of Haliburton County Development Corporation, which is funding the event.

As with previous summits, the format will open and close with experts from outside of Haliburton and feature two local panels on housing densification and worker housing.

“We’ll learn about the work similar communities are doing that we might adapt and explore new models and strategies with local leaders, other experts, and community members,” a media release noted.

What would be the best possible outcome of the summit?

“Action,” said Sherry Lawr, Places for People’s co-chair of marketing and communications. “What we’d love to see is, following the summit, all the potential partners and stakeholders continue the momentum we will no doubt gain and move the mountain towards action.”

“There is a lot of goodwill in this community and many like ours. We just need to find ways to say yes — yes, we can.”

Guest speakers for the day are Claire de Souza and Joe Gallivan.

Claire de Souza is housing development coordinator for the City of Collingwood and the city’s first “concierge,” a newly created position designed to facilitate a pro-active approach to attracting, supporting, and streamlining building of the kind of housing the city’s community needs, including accessory dwelling units as well as larger projects.

Joe Gallivan, senior planner with the County of Frontenac, will explain how the creation of a municipal utility corporation helped the municipality address the cost and inefficiency of insuring private water and wastewater systems.

The first of two panel discussions will be on the challenges of finding housing for workers.

“Workers need private transportation, a sturdy vehicle, and the rate of pay they receive tends not to account for the cost in efficiency of how spread out and unreliable the work is,” said Martin, who will moderate the panel. “Even well-paid professionals, such as tradespeople and senior-level staff, struggle to find appropriate housing, even if it’s affordable.”

Algonquin Highlands Township councillor Sabrina Richards, owner of Big Hawk Lake Marina, is one of the three panellists. She will share her experience as a business owner who feels she has no choice but to provide housing for her employees.

Xavier Masse from the Haliburton School of the Arts will bring attendees up to speed on the school’s new student residence, and consider if and how adding this resource will impact the local housing picture for workers.

Gary Dyke, CAO of Haliburton County, will provide an update on a proposal to use county-owned property for an integrated housing project the came out of discussions from the 2023 summit.

The second of the two panel discussions will explore how small housing densification projects are becoming a factor in meeting housing needs.

Developer Richard Carson, owner of Hot Pond Enterprises Corp., will describe the process of working with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to fund an 18-unit housing project, which will include affordable housing, currently underway in Haliburton Village.

Susan Zambonin, Habitat For Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region, will discuss how the organization’s successful medium-density development in Peterborough could be adapted for application in Haliburton County on one or more properties currently under consideration.

Kirstin Maxwell, CEO of Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Housing Corporation, will describe recent progress on projects in the Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton.

Those who interested in attending the October 24 summit are asked to RSVP by emailing Fay Martin at fay@placesforpeople.ca. For more information about Places For People, visit www.placesforpeople.ca

When a driver spotted a red-tailed hawk sitting in the same spot near Havelock hours after seeing him the first time, he knew something was not right.

After being taken to the Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary in Minden, the bird of prey (who was named Slater) was found to be bloodied, underweight, and suffering from rodenticide toxicity — poison that can affect not just targeted rodents but also birds of prey, wildlife, pets, and even humans.

“We’re in a biodiversity crisis here and we need to really take this seriously,” says Allison Hansen, co-founder and campaign director at Rodenticide Free Ontario (RFO), a citizen-led organization dedicated to protecting wildlife, pets, and people from the risks of rodenticides.

A resident of Minden Hills and a long-time animal advocate, Hansen founded the campaign in 2021 after her sister’s dog was poisoned by rodenticides. Shortly after, her own dog died from secondary exposure caused by the consumption of a poisoned animal.

“When she got sick, I started to do as much research as possible and found how horribly ineffective, dangerous, and inhumane these products are,” says Hansen.

To launch RFO, Hansen gained support from the Defend Them All Foundation which helped champion the moratorium on getting certain products banned in British Columbia. RFO advocates for a province-wide ban on rodenticides by working with municipalities such as Pickering, which became the province’s first to pass a policy limiting the use of “rat poison” on city property.

“The issue with these poisons, in particular the anticoagulants, is that they don’t kill the intended target immediately, so it takes several days for them to die,” says Hansen. “In that time frame, they are observed going back and forth to feed on this poison multiple times, spending more time out in the open and dying slow and painful deaths, which makes them easier (for animals such as wildlife and pets) to prey upon (them).”

PDF: Rodenticide Free Ontario Fact Sheet
Rodenticide Free Ontario Fact Sheet

Hansen explains that these ingested poisons can remain in the liver for upwards of a year. While a predator might not get a lethal dose from feeding on one poisoned rat, upon continuing to consume several, their immune system will continue to be suppressed, making the animal more susceptible to mange.

“Rehab centres are seeing a lot of cases of extreme mange coming in and it’s affecting reproductive success, hunting success, and then also making them more susceptible to vehicle strikes and window strikes,” she adds. “Part of the issue is (rodenticides) don’t address the root cause of an infestation. By simply placing poisons in and around your home, you’re still not sealing entryways or removing attractants.”

Through RFO, Hansen hears stories from people around Ontario who have had their dogs get into poisons, whether by ingesting it themselves or by secondary exposure from rats and other rodents. Rodenticides can also pose a danger to children.

“They’re brightly coloured and they’re also flavoured to make them attractive, so children can often mistake them for a toy or candy,” Hansen says. “Even though the bait boxes are supposed to be tamper proof, they’re not.”

Monika Melichar, founder and president of Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary, estimates that rodenticide poisoning affects around 10 per cent of the birds of prey that are admitted into the Minden sanctuary.

Though not often the case, Slater was quickly diagnosed with rodenticide poisoning as he was found to not only be largely underweight, but also to have blood in his mouth, in his stool, and under his skin. Currently, he is housed in an oxygen chamber to assist with his breathing and, to help reverse the damage of the anticoagulants, he is getting daily vitamin K infusions which could last anywhere from two weeks to up to a month.

“That’s really the only protocol that we know is effective,” says Melichar. “It’s a longer-term treatment because this isn’t just an instant cure, but we hope to flush out the toxins.”

“It’s a long shot because this stuff has been accumulating in him for a while, as he would have gotten into this via eating rodents,” adds Hansen.

That, says Melichar, is the greatest concern. While Slater has shown progress in the past few days of treatment, it’s unclear whether more damage has been done to his liver or other organs from the long-term exposure. She adds that it doesn’t help that migratory time is approaching for red-tailed hawks.

“Mid-October to early November is usually the peak time to migrate so he is on the cusp,” she says. “If we can pull him through and get him out of here by mid-November, we would be very happy.”

Melichar predicts that caring for patients with rodenticide costs the sanctuary close to $1,000 per week, including the medication and critical care diets needed for poisoned animals.

The good news is that, on Saturday (October 19), Slater managed to eat solid food on his own for this first time and continues to show signs of gaining strength.

“He is still considered critical, but we’re staying positive that we will be able to save him,” Melichar says. “He is definitely improving, so that’s a good sign.”

To support Slater’s care, donations can be made to the Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary at www.woodlandswildlifesanctuary.ca/donate. For more information on alternatives to using rodenticides, follow RFO on Facebook.

A Douro-Dummer man and an Oshawa woman are dead following a two-vehicle collision early Sunday morning (October 20) on County Road 25 north of Warkworth in the Municipality of Trent Hills.

Just after midnight, Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), emergency medical services, and the Trent Hills fire department responded to a report of a collision between two passenger vehicles on County Road 25, south of County Road 35, around nine kilometres north of Warkworth.

The driver of one of the vehicles, a 41-year-old man from Douro-Dummer Township in Peterborough County, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle, a 32-year-old woman from Oshawa, was transported to hospital where she was pronounced dead. There were no other occupants of the vehicles.

The Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario was notified and attended the scene.

County Road 25 has been closed for several hours between County Road 35 and Concession Road 8 for the police investigation into the collision, which is ongoing.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed or has video/dash cam footage or information relating to the collision, and who has not yet spoken with police, to contact the Northumberland OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

For the third year in a row, Peterborough theatre icons Linda Kash and Megan Murphy will once again be clad in yellow and purple tracksuits for a spirit-raising fundraiser in support of cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).

Taking place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 7th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough, Cancer Takedown offers an evening of song, storytelling, humour, and connection “for anyone touched by cancer.”

“An event like this aims to bring people together to say we’re not alone and we’ve got people around us,” says Amy Kemp, co-founder of Cancer Takedown. “It helps when we share with others how we’re feeling and how we’re doing and we’re honest about it.”

First held in 2022, the event — which Kash calls the most “uplifting” annual fundraiser she hosts — was created by Kemp and her husband Rick after his diagnosis with metastatic kidney cancer in 2019 and then CNS lymphoma in 2021.

“There is a mental and emotional burden that comes along with having cancer, and if we shed some light on that, bring attention to it, and create these events and spaces where people can talk freely about it, then the more you learn and bring awareness to it,” says Kemp.

“Our goal is creating a brand that appeals to the very human insight of what having cancer feels like, and generating awareness and empathy for it — the struggles, the optimism, the rollercoaster of emotions, the dread, the hope — and uniting people through this shared experience.”

VIDEO: Cancer Takedown 2023

Kemp assures the fundraiser approaches the cancer experience with “humour, lightness, and a lot of hope.” But, she says, it’s also honest.

“It helps to hear people talk about it, because often cancer is something that people still don’t talk about a ton,” she says. “We don’t ask people who have cancer because we’re worried about bringing it up and don’t want to be a downer or make them feel sad or scare them. But in our experience, certainly you need to talk about it, and it helps when people around you ask.”

The event will include music by Kate Suhr, Melissa Payne, Kate Brioux, Denise Oucharek, and Anthony Bastianon, along with a guest performance by The Weber Brothers.

“Our musicians have all been impacted in some way, shape, or form by this disease and they’re very thoughtful in their approach,” says Kemp. “They choose songs that really resonate, and though they’re not written about cancer, they really touch on some of the feelings and emotions that many people with cancer have. They mix rally cries and songs with others that are more reflective.”

Playing between performances will be videos featuring the musicians and other community members sharing stories about their own experiences with cancer. Those at the event in past years can be assured this year will offer all new videos and stories.

“There’s no shortage of cancer patients, unfortunately,” Kemp says. “It’s an opportunity to get a little deeper into their personal stories around how cancer has made them feel.”

Kemp adds that the stories will all centre around the mental toll rather than the physical burden of the disease.

“The physical is what is usually asked about — ‘What are you going through?’, ‘What’s your treatment like and do you feel sick?’ — but we try to bring attention to asking people more about how they feel and give them an opportunity to just let it out,” she says. “An event like this brings that to the forefront in a way that feels okay and safe and hopeful and there’s a camaraderie and community that comes from going through some really dark times.”

With Cancer Takedown now an annual event in Peterborough, Kemp is hopeful that it could inspire other communities.

“I think a lot of communities could benefit from the same event, so hopefully that’s in our future to expand out,” she says. “The more attention you bring to it, the more awareness we have, and ideally we get to a place where there’s a mental health professional on every person’s oncology team that can walk them through the mental process and the emotional process, just like we have great care on the physical side.”

If there wasn’t enough reason to come together for a good cause, as Kemp says, “Megan and Linda in velour track suits will never disappoint.”

Tickets for Cancer Takedown are $39 for general admission and $54 for assigned table seating and are available at markethall.org.

Kawartha Lakes Food Source (KLFS) is hoping people will open their cupboards and their hearts by setting aside one food or other item every day in November for people in need.

As the holiday season approaches, KLFS is gearing up to launch its annual “reverse advent calendar” food drive. This year’s drive will run for the month of November.

KLFS said the idea behind the reverse advent calendar is simple: rather than getting something each day, it’s calling on the community to give something every day in November by setting aside a food or household item to donate and, at the end of the month, to deliver the collected items to the not-for-profit distribution centre in Kawartha Lakes.

Erika Henry, KLFS donor stewardship coordinator, told kawarthaNOW the goal of this year’s initiative is to collect 3,000 pounds of food.

“The best thing that can happen, in addition to KLFS gaining inventory to make it through the later winter months when the need is the greatest but donations tend to drop off, is raising awareness about the record-breaking number of food bank visits we are experiencing,” she said.

In 2023, KLFS recorded 13,670 visits to its member food banks and is averaging 1,127 monthly visits this year.

“The more help we receive, the lighter the load becomes for everyone, which is crucial in this moment when inflated food and living costs are making things more challenging for all,” Henry added. “Every little bit counts.”

Residents can complete the reverse advent calendar by collecting as many items as they can from KLFS’s list. On a weekday after November 30, residents can drop off their completed calendar to the KLFS distribution centre located at 164 Needham St. in Lindsay.

Items on the list include canned ham, stuffing, pasta noodles, pasta sauces, canned fruit, pancake mix, canned potatoes, coffee, and hot chocolate.

The full list of items assigned to each day between November 1 and 30 can be found on the KLFS website at www.kawarthalakesfoodsource.com.

KLFS also invites community members to stay tuned to its social media channels for weekly posts and updates.

“This event is particularly exciting when you team up with a group to help you collect each item,” a media release noted. “The reverse advent calendar is a great way for school classrooms, sports teams, or offices to work together with their cohorts to give back to the community and make a difference this winter.”

KLFS said now that summer employment opportunities are finished for the year, it is anticipating another increase in food bank use throughout the winter months, due to a loss in income for seasonal workers.

“The reverse advent calendar is one of the opportunities KLFS has created to help the community engage in our fight against hunger,” the organization said. “Many of the donations collected through this initiative can be distributed in time for Christmas, providing food and hope to our friends and neighbours who are struggling.”

In a quest to fight food insecurity, 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.