More than 150,000 people in southern Ontario — including thousands in the Kawarthas — experienced power outages as a result of the wind storm yesterday (May 4).

Two deaths in Hamilton and in Milton were also reported. A Hamilton man in his 50s was electrocuted after trying to clear downed hydro wires from a roadway. In Milton, a 28-year-old man died and an 18-year-old man experienced life-threatening injuries after a tree fell on them; the two worked for a tree servicing company that was clearing fallen branches from utility wires for Milton Hydro.

As a cold front moved through southern Ontario yesterday, Environment Canada recorded wind gusts up to 120 kilometres per hour. The strong winds caused significant damage including downed trees, damaged roofs, and broken or leaning hydro poles.

Municipal utility companies and Hydro One were kept extremely busy responding to reported power outages. Thousands of people remain without power while crews repair the damage.

Hydro One customers can check the status of outages at the Hydro One Storm Center website at www.hydroone.com/StormCenter3/.

One of the most serious incidents in Peterborough was near the intersection of Lansdowne St. and Monaghan Rd., when a large tree fell on hydro lines, taking out power to around 2,500 customers in Peterborough’s west end and backing up traffic.

Lansdowne and Monaghan #wind #ptbo #blackout pic.twitter.com/uxRW8KJAGj

— Rick Dolishny (@rdolishny) May 5, 2018

Traffic is blocked up on Lansdowne St. after #onstorm storm knocks down tree. #ptbo https://t.co/9E2aBz1umO pic.twitter.com/XhYFGauPcQ

— Ptbo This Week (@PtboThisWeek) May 4, 2018

The high winds caused trees to sway wildly …

The weather here is still crazy in the Southend of Peterborough @ptbo_utilities @kawarthaNOW @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/hRo5VmA4Zh

— Trudy Lawson Kelly (@bitsofwool) May 5, 2018

resulting in many trees coming down …

Big tree down behind the lift lock Foodland in East City in #Ptbo @ptbo_utilities pic.twitter.com/o0XfyaxjLy

— Cole (@MrLeptick) May 4, 2018

. Holy moly wind knocking trees right over! #stormon #Ptbo pic.twitter.com/TvgewhB34q

— christina dicosmo (@christina_dc) May 5, 2018

I have to admit that I've never seen that before… right after the #storm that just blew through #ptbo pic.twitter.com/iajuS0G1uP

— Mark Porter (@rmarkporter) May 4, 2018

Our poor tree just blew down around 5:45pm 🙁 #ONStorm #ONwx #KawarthaLakes #bobcaygeon so windy! pic.twitter.com/wkxCVnUegR

— BNL (Dougal) (@FrDougal_B) May 4, 2018

Neighbour’s tree blew over…#ONStorm Peterborough pic.twitter.com/eAttxzhBFN

— Tamalea Stone (@tamaleastone) May 4, 2018

Roofs were damaged …

Shingles are being blown off roofs all over Lindsay. Still experiencing very strong wind gusts. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/mfkF5yOTuX

— Brenda Stonehouse (@BLStonehouse) May 5, 2018

and people living on local lakes reported high waves. The Gannon’s Narrows bridge and causeway in Ennismore wasn reduced to a single lane, after waves washed out one side of the road.

A wild evening on #LakeOntario in #Cobourg #onstorm Thankfully the wind is now relenting pic.twitter.com/qksNAHdT2b

— Bill Arthur (@BillcArthur) May 5, 2018

The high winds caused the most damage, but there were also localized thunderstorms, some of which produced hail.

#kawarthalakes #ONStorm #hail right now pic.twitter.com/ZqHyPmDuTQ

— I Draw2 (@wellfocused) May 4, 2018

The City of Peterborough has hired Brendan Wedley as Manager of Communication Services effective Monday, May 7th.

Wedley, who has an Honours BA from the University of Toronto and is a graduate of the print journalism program at Loyalist College, has almost 15 years of experience in media and governance positions. From 2005 to 2013, he was a reporter with The Peterborough Examiner, including as the newspaper’s designated municipal government reporter.

In 2013, he accepted a position as communications manager with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. In March 2015, he assumed his current position as the assistant to Mayor Daryl Bennett, where he assists with communications, research, and administrative support for the mayor and council.

“Brendan’s experience with local media and strong relationships with community organizations will be a valuable resource as we continue to improve how we engage with residents,” says Sandra Clancy, the city’s chief administrative officer.

Wedley assumes a new position in the Corporation of the City of Peterborough, created in the city’s 2018 draft operating budget as part of a new communication services division to better communicate and engage with the public when it comes to city and council news and decisions, as well as to better manage the city’s website and social media channels.

The city has allocated $131,800 for annual salary and benefits for the position. The city’s existing customer services coordinator and related positions, as well as the city’s existing corporate sponsorship coordinator, will report to Wedley.

Wedley was selected as the successful applicant after a panel of senior city staff held interviews with candidates for the position.

“I look forward to working with the team from across the corporation as we continue to enhance how we communicate and engage with residents,” Wedley says.

City councillor Diane Therrien ended weeks of speculation Thursday (May 3), announcing before a large Artspace gathering that she is seeking election as Peterborough’s mayor.

“I am running for mayor because I have seen firsthand that we can, and must, expect more from local decision makers,” said Therrien. “Tonight I pledge to each and every one of you that I will work hard every day to live up to that expectation.

“You may disagree with your neighbour down your street. They may cheer for the Habs, you for the Leafs. You may put different-coloured lawn signs out each election. But you and that person both want this city to succeed. Just because you differ on politics, it doesn’t mean that either of you is any less caring. Just because you have different maps, it doesn’t mean you aren’t trying to get to the same destination.

“Let’s move forward in the spirit of good neighbours. Let’s end this idea that city building is a zero sum game in which some have to lose if others are to win. We are all so fortunate to live here in this place in this time. Peterborough is a great city and it can be even better. We can expect more. Our best and boldest years are right ahead of us.”

A native of Mississauga, the 32-year-old Therrien came to Peterborough to attend Trent University, graduating with her Masters in Canadian Indigenous Studies. On graduation, she took a contract job with the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs in Toronto but before long returned to Peterborough and a contract role with the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network.

In January 2014, Therrien filed to run for a city council seat, seeking election in Town Ward. On October 27 of that same year, she was elected, coming up just 161 votes shy of incumbent Dean Pappas but an impressive 1,174 votes ahead of third-place finisher Jason Stabler.

“I expected more from city council after I first got elected,” said Therrien. “I thought that I would be collaborating with all of my fellow councillors. That through give-and-take and listening to each other, we would have an opportunity to make a real difference.

“Gradually, I realized this wasn’t going to happen. Too many of my peers were locked in a pattern, and often a voting bloc, that actively resisted collaboration and was even, at times, hostile to emerging voices, and resistant to acknowledging and managing the rapid changes occurring all over our city.

“When this reality became evident, I had a choice — I could have lowered my expectations, reconciled that that is business as usual, settled into my job as Town Ward councillor and made sure that I did just enough to get re-elected. But that’s not how I’m built. That’s not the community I know and that’s not the Peterborough we want. I am choosing to make a difference.”

Saying “We need to start focusing on basics … we need to make sure we get them right,” Therrien is framing her campaign around “three fundamentals of building a strong community” — jobs, taxes and infrastructure.

“We must recognize that our future employment growth will come from small and medium-sized businesses in emerging sectors,” she said.

“We are uniquely positioned to capitalize on this new economy but we need leadership that understands this new economy. We need to focus on establishing Peterborough as a regional economic centre. We need to leverage our educated workforce, our natural environment, and our proximity to the GTA.”

As for taxes, Therrien noted municipal taxes have risen by 30 per cent over the last seven years while City debt has risen by 50 per cent.

“What do we have to show for it? If you’re asked to pay more, it is reasonable for you to expect more. When it comes to how we spend your money, we must expect more.”

And regarding infrastructure, Therrien jumped on council for spending millions of dollars “on chasing vanity projects and paying endless fees to consultants” while roads and sewers fall into disrepair.

“We are overdue on upgrading some of our most essential assets like our storm water system, fixing our roads and making our streets safer … the longer we delay these upgrades, the more expensive it will become.” she said.

“We could begin immediately on building better roads and creating safer residential streets for families, particularly if we stop trying to fight an ongoing, expensive, and hopeless battle to build a bridge (The Parkway extension) over a park.”

Later, after receiving congratulations from supporters, Therrien talked on what she sees as the winds of change blowing hard come election day.

“There’s a lot of great people coming out to run in this election and I think that speaks to the fact that people want to see change and some new faces around the table,” she said.

As for her relative youthfulness, Therrien said much the same as she did on the campaign trail four years ago — it simply doesn’t matter. What does matter, she added, is her commitment to the betterment of Peterborough and her wanting to lead that conversation.

“I’m passionate about this community. I understand the realities of the new economy and the need to focus on jobs, taxes and infrastructure. I want to work together with council toward common goals.”

At this point, Therrien is the only declared candidate for mayor.

Peterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett has indicated he will make an announcement before month’s end regarding his plans.

Those interested in running for council or a school board trustee position have until July 27 to file nomination papers at the City clerk’s office.

Back in March, the Ontario SPCA declared 2018 The Year of the Northern Dog, an initiative aimed at bringing awareness, attention, and action to a serious animal welfare issue in Canada — the overpopulation of dogs in northern Canada.

As part of a partnership under the Ontario SPCA initiative, the Peterborough Humane Society has recently received four dogs from northern Ontario, named Braveheart, Ichabod, Morey, and Jewel.

“Our role in the community is to help animals find their forever homes,” says Shawn Morey, Executive Director of the Peterborough Humane Society. “One aspect of this mission is assisting our animal welfare partners in collaboration with communities in the North.”

As part of the Northern Dog initiative, 21 dogs were transferred from a remote community near the Manitoba border that wanted to find homes for its community dogs. North Star Air Ltd. flew the dogs to Thunder Bay on April 29th, which then made the trip to the North Bay & District Humane Society. From there, they were transferred to the Peterborough Humane Society, Quinte Humane Society, Ontario SPCA Leeds & Grenville Animal Centre, and the Northumberland Humane Society to find their forever homes.

This transfer was made possible by volunteers in Thunder Bay from various groups such as Northern Reach and Finding Them Homes – James Bay Pawsitive Rescue, as well as the North Bay and District Humane Society, the Peterborough Humane Society, North Star Air Ltd., Quinte Humane Society, Northumberland Humane Society, and the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society.

“We are beyond excited to have been part of this initiative with the Ontario SPCA and look forward to a continued partnership with them and future initiatives,” Morey says.

Susan Dunkley, Manager of Development and Outreach with the Peterborough Human Society, tells kawarthaNOW that Braveheart will be available for adoption on Friday (May 4), and Morey and Jewel will be available for adoption on Wednesday, May 9th. Ichabod is available on a foster-to-adopt program; he cannot be officially adopted until after he is neutered on Friday, May 11th.

To find out more about the Year of the Northern Dog initiative, visit northerndog.com.

Seven local farmers and food producers are “stunned” they are no longer welcome at the Saturday Peterborough Farmers’ Market.

The board of the Peterborough & District Farmers’ Market Association (PDFMA) has since confirmed five vendors’ applications for market space were not renewed for 2018, but will not comment on the reasons why.

After launching a public campaign to protest their proposed eviction from the market following allegations they were aggressive towards other market vendors, the seven vendors claim the PDFMA board has evicted them for “vague allegations of harm to the market’s reputation” as a result of their anti-eviction campaign.

On Tuesday (May 1), representatives from the so-called “Group of Seven” — McLean Berry Farm, Circle Organic, Otonabee Apiary, Ashburnham Farms Gaelic Garlic, Finest Gourmet Fudge, Chef Marshal, and Necessitea Elixir — issued a statement to media advising the board of the Peterborough & District Farmers’ Market Association (PDFMA), which operates the Saturday market, handed the seven vendors “pink slips”.

On Wednesday night (May 2), three of the vendors — Erin McLean of McLean Berry Farm, Julie Fleming of Circle Organic, and Astrid Manske of Otonabee Apiary — issued a media release with further details (published in its entirety below).

kawarthaNOW reached out to the PDFMA board and offered to publish a rebuttal or other statement of equal length from the board. The board has provided a statement (also published in its entirety below).

“The Peterborough & District Farmers’ Market Association (PDFMA) confirms that five vendors’ applications for market space were not renewed for the forthcoming year,” the statement reads in part.

“The PDFMA is not a in a position to comment on the specific reasons why individual members’ applications were not renewed, as that is a private matter between each of those vendors and the market.”

In December 2017, the PDFMA board issued a special notice to its members that a meeting would be held in January 2018 proposing a motion to terminate the membership of the Group of Seven, on which all members would vote. The notice claims the seven vendors have exhibited “behaviour that is detrimental to the corporation” including “disruptive behaviour at the market”, “inappropriate and aggressive conduct towards individual vendors at the market”, and making “false and disparaging statements about the market and its operations, governance and members”.

The Group of Seven have been vocal about the issue of resellers — vendors who purchase wholesale fruits and vegetables from places such as the Ontario Food Terminal in Toronto and then resell it at the market for a profit — and have criticized the market board for how it has handled the issue.

The PDFMA board has said the January 2018 meeting was required under the board’s by-laws after 16 vendors filed complaints about the aggressive behaviour and conduct of the Group of Seven at the market. No details of the allegations have been made public.

The four-hour meeting in January 2018 was closed to the public and media. According to the media release below, only one of the Group of Seven — Astrid Manske of Otonabee Apiary — heard the allegations against her and was allowed to defend herself. According to the media release, members voted not to evict her from the market, and the meeting was adjourned with no other allegations discussed or voting held.

The Peterborough Farmers’ Market is held on Saturdays at Morrow Park (beside the Peterborough Memorial Centre). There is an unrelated farmers’ market, the Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market, which is held on Wednesdays on Charlotte St. in downtown Peterborough. Some people have said they will visit the Wednesday market instead of the Saturday market to protest the eviction of the Group of Seven.

Media release from the Group of Seven

Local Farmers Removed from Local Farmers’ Market
May 2, 2018
Peterborough, ON

Stunned local farmers are wondering how they’ve been kicked out of the Peterborough Saturday Market after combined decades of providing their community with fresh local food.

In December, just days before Christmas, seven local vendors were given notice of a special meeting to determine whether or not they should be removed from the market.

The board claimed that 16 unnamed vendors had demanded this meeting. On January 8th the membership heard charges against one vendor, Astrid Manske of OtonaBee Apiary. She was allowed to defend herself, and after her defence, the market members voted to keep Astrid at the market.

The other accused vendors were not given an opportunity to defend themselves. The meeting was adjourned and all complaints from the anonymous 16 vendors against the remaining accused were withdrawn. With the complaints withdrawn, the remaining vendors felt a sense of relief that this battle was over and they could all get back to work.

So if the membership voted to keep the market whole, and the public spoke out against eviction of local farmers from farmers’ markets, why have “pink slips” actually been issued?

The answer can only rest with the PDMFA Board who have gone rogue over the wishes of the farmers’ market members. The eviction order was issued by the PDMFA Board.

The board of the PDMFA are Cindy Hope (Cross Wind Farms), President, Mark Jones (T&R Jones) Marketing Manager, Jill Staples (Staples Maple Syrup) and Jan Laurie (The Sprout house).

In the eviction notices issued by the PDFMA Board and delivered on Tuesday, the five remaining vendors all received the same letter citing vague allegations of harm to the market’s reputation generated through their “pink slip” campaign of last December. These were precisely the same bald (and unjustified) allegations that were put forward as the basis for the special meeting last December.

These local farmers never wanted this fight. They wanted a fairly-organized venue to sell their food. The market wasn’t organized fairly and they spoke up inside the organization. They spoke up for fairness, transparency and proper governance. They joined the board, they wrote letters, they shared their concerns. They followed the “proper channels”, but in doing this they were ostracized and targeted as trouble makers. The proper channels at the Saturday Peterborough Farmers’ Market are broken. There was no need to toss anyone off the market. The evicted vendors feel that there is room for re-sellers and a wide variety of local farmers at the Saturday market, but transparency and honesty are non-negotiable.

More information on how the public can help to save local farmers at farmers’ markets will be forthcoming.

Media release from Peterborough & District Farmers’ Market Association Board of Directors

May 2, 2018

The Peterborough & District Farmers’ Market Association (PDFMA) confirms that five vendors’ applications for market space were not renewed for the forthcoming year. The PDFMA is not a in a position to comment on the specific reasons why individual members’ applications were not renewed, as that is a private matter between each of those vendors and the market.

The PDFMA is committed to its mission, which is to ensure that vendors can maintain a smoothly run market in a spirit of mutual respect, all for the purpose of providing superior customer service and fostering a vibrant and positive atmosphere.

The opportunity to sells goods or produce at the Peterborough Farmers’ Market is a privilege. Every year, the PDFMA reviews the renewal applications for each vendor and assesses, among other factors, whether a vendor is in good standing with the market, as well as whether the applicant vendor understands, supports and promotes the market’s mission statement. To achieve its mission, it is of paramount importance that vendors work as a team and treat each other with respect, courtesy and fairness.

The decision not to renew a vendor’s application is a difficult one to make. The PDFMA understands that such a decision can have consequences for individual vendors, as it may have an impact on shoppers. For this reason, the PDFMA has taken the time to carefully review each application and to weigh each of them individually, so as to come to a decision that is in the best interest of the market community.”

Board of Directors
Peterborough District Farmers’ Market Association

This story has been updated to include a statement from the board of the Peterborough & District Farmers’ Market Association.

“Blue skies, nothing but blue skies, from now on.” – Irving Berlin

As noted on a plaque honouring his numerous contributions to slo-pitch at the local, provincial and national levels, Bill Bowers’ wish for all ball players was for sunny skies with nary a drop of rain in the forecast.

Oh, how very pleased Mr. Slo-Pitch would have been Wednesday morning (May 2) as that dedication was unveiled in bright sunshine before a huge throng of close friends, former teammates, and slo-pitch league executive members gathered at Bowers Park off Brealey Drive.

Bowers died suddenly last July at age 72 — 41 years after organizing Peterborough’s first slo-pitch league. He went on to serve as president of the Peterborough Slo-Pitch Association right after, serving in that role for many years while furthering the game’s reach and development at the provincial and national levels.

Still, as his longtime friend and Peterborough Slo-Pitch Association executive colleague Dave Crowley noted, Bowers never lost sight of one simple thing — slo-pitch is a great game to play but the relationships it forges are the reward.

“What Bill understood was it wasn’t about the hits and it wasn’t about the runs or the wins and the losses, it was about being with the guys,” Crowley said.

“Bill showed up (in Peterborough) and he had this game called slo-pitch. And guess what? We got to be kids again, not for a couple of years but for decades. Without him, I’m not sure it would have happened.”

The unveiling was very emotional for Bob and Maureen Lewis, who befriended their neigbhour Bowers close to 40 years ago. Both avid slo-pitch players, they served with Bowers on the Peterborough Slo-Pitch Association executive for a number of years as well as spent a lot of off-diamond time together.

“Our mutual love of the game is what brought us together,” recalled Maureen.

“Bill’s passion and desire to build the sport of slo-pitch in our city was contagious. Bob and I are forever grateful we were invited along for the ride. We miss our chats about everything and anything. We miss his goofy sense of humour. Bill was a humble and honest man who was always quick to deflect any praise or accolades.”

That was a lot deflecting as the accolades numbered many: receiving the Sports Personality of the Year Award from the City of Peterborough in 1997, being named Peterborough’s Tourism Ambassador of the Year (also in 1997), and his induction into the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

In addition, in 1996, the ballpark that’s now home to his plaque was named Bowers Park, partly in recognition of his helping raise $250,000 towards the construction cost of the four-diamond facility in 1991.

Besides getting the game off the ground in the mid 1970s just a few years after arriving in Peterborough from Toronto to take a job at Trent University as its print shop manager (he retired in 2010), Bowers played a major role in the development of the Peterborough Slo-Pitch Council in 1986, serving as its first president. Ten years later, he was a key player bringing the Slo-Pitch National championship tournament to the city.

“Bill was looked up to by many of the (slo-pitch) volunteers across Canada and was certainly a mentor to all of the new recruits that come in and help out in their communities,” said Slo-Pitch National vice-president Trish Harrow-Rodic.

She added that Slo-Pitch National has struck an award in Bowers’ name that will be bestowed each year upon a league “that exemplifies above and beyond service in their community.” The inaugural award has fittingly gone to the Peterborough Slo-Pitch Association.

Also reminiscing was Steve Gardner, president of the Peterborough Men’s Senior Slo-Pitch League — one of two leagues that Bowers played regularly in right up until his passing.

“Bill was an ambassador for the game and continued to be right up until his last days … he loved the game, he was a student of the game,” said Gardner.

“When Bill got to the senior league, he was able to be a player. His team, McMillan Sports, dedicated the season to Bill. I’m sure Bill is up there laughing because we stunk.”

And making the long trek from his home in Fargo, North Dakota was Bowers’ son Dan.

“My father sunk his heart into it for years (the Peterborough Slo-Pitch Association) and he took great pride in it, and he took tremendous pride in this facility and all the joy it brings to so many,” he said.

“He would certainly be very humbled but very, very proud.”

Later, Bob Lewis remembered his friend as someone whose volunteer work wasn’t limited to slo-pitch circles as he lent a hand wherever he thought he could help.

He added he hopes Bowers Park visitors — slo-pitch players and otherwise — take a moment to stop and read the plaque’s inscription as they make the trek toward the diamonds.

In addition to the playing for McMillan Sports of the Peterborough Men’s Senior Slo-Pitch League, Bowers also played for J.O. Express of the Peterborough Slo-Pitch Association.

Following the dedication, both teams squared off as a tribute to their late teammate.