Kawartha Lakes residents within the town limits of Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay, and Omemee will begin disposing of their household organic waste for curbside collection as of January. The municipality is providing residents included in the curbside organics collection program with a 45-litre organic waste bin on wheels for curbside collection, as well as a small seven-litre bin for kitchen use. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
The City of Kawartha Lakes is launching its new curbside organics collection program in the urban areas of Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay, and Omemee starting in January 2025.
Residents who are involved in the program will no longer be allowed to dispose of food or other organic waste in their regular garbage. Instead, they will be provided with a 45-litre organic waste bin on wheels for curbside collection, as well as a small seven-litre bin for kitchen use with a couple of compostable bags for the small bin.
During the week of October 21, the municipality sent letters to all residents involved in the program. Bins have been delivered to households in Lindsay and Fenelon Falls, with bin delivery in Bobcaygeon and Omemee to be completed by December 13.
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Residents who received a letter that they are included in the program and who haven’t received their bins by December 13 should contact the Kawartha Lakes waste management division or call the customer service division at 705-324-9411 no later than December 17.
With at least 30 per cent of household waste considered organic waste that can be composted, the Kawartha Lakes organics curbside collection program is intended to reduce the amount of organic waste that goes to landfill.
Every year, households in Kawartha Lakes fill up 28,000 cubic metres (more than 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools) worth of landfill space with an estimated 4,500 tonnes of organic waste.
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A successful organics program will help the municipality meet provincial policy targets and get closer to reaching our goal of diverting 70 per cent of waste from muncipal landfills by 2048.
That goal is achievable based on the experience of the City of Peterborough, which has had an organics curbside collection in place since fall 2023.
In the first year of operation, more than 28,000 participating households in Peterborough diverted over 6,000 tonnes of organic waste from the city-county landfill, resulting in an overall waste diversion rate of 76 per cent.
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In Kawartha Lakes, there are no changes to regular waste collection days as a result of the organics curbside collection program. Residents will continue to put out their garbage and recycling to the curb by 7 a.m. on their regular collection day.
However, regardless of your regular collection day, organics collection will always take place on Fridays, except during weeks with statutory holidays when collection days shift forward a day, when the collection will take place on a Saturday.
That includes the very first organics collection, which will take place on Saturday, January 4th because of the New Year’s Day holiday. Regular Friday collection will resume on January 10. As with garbage and recycling collection, the organics collection bin should be put out to the curb by 7 a.m.
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Only properties included in the town limits of Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay, and Omemee are included in the organics collection program. There will be situations where one side of a street is in the program and the opposite side is not in the program.
Residents who are not involved in the program can continue to dispose of their household organic waste in their garbage, although the municipality encourages those residents to consider using composters and digesters.
A few of the more than 50 films screening during the 2025 annual ReFrame Film Festival of social and environmental documentary films, which runs from January 23 to February 2 with in-person screenings from January 23 to 26 in downtown Peterborough and virtual screenings from January 27 to February 2. Pictured are posters for "Agent of Happiness", "Razing Liberty Square", "The Monarch Ultra", "My Dad's Tapes", "The Wild Path Home", "Logging Algonquin", "House with a Voice", and "The Day Iceland Stood Still". (kawarthaNOW collage)
Peterborough’s ReFrame Film Festival has announced the curated lineup of thought-provoking, enlightening, inspiring, and recently released documentary films that will be screened during the 2025 festival.
Once again being held in hybrid form, the 21st annual festival will take place in person from January 23 to 26 in downtown Peterborough, with virtual screenings available from January 27 to February 2.
The in-person screenings, inclusive of both full-length features and short films, will take place at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George Street) and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte Street). The virtual screenings, which include just over half of the films in the festival’s lineup, will be available on demand for ticket holders across Canada.
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ReFrame Film Festival has been held annually in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough since 2005, with a focus on accessibly sharing films that are grounded in social and environmental justice issues.
To draw attention to their thematic, stylistics, or geographical connections, each film in this year’s lineup is grouped into one of six categories: “Close to Home,” “Film Forward,” “Rooted and Rising,” “Reel Embodiment,” “Place and Identity,” and “Evening Features.”
While several of the films are internationally made and tell stories outside of Canada, they explore universal and age-old questions about the purpose of life. Here are a few highlights of
The artwork featured in ReFrame’s 2025 posters, tickets, website, and merchandise was produced through a commissioned collaboration between artists Alice Olsen Williams, an Indigenous quilt maker, and Gillian Turnham, a practitioner of traditional Islamic geometric art, with the resulting artwork digitally rendered by Michael Morritt. (Graphic: ReFrame Film Festival)
The feature film Agent of Happiness asks viewers “How do you measure happiness?”
In south Asia, the Kingdom of Bhutan measures its “Gross National Happiness” under the belief that tenets of fulfillment should be measured when assessing a nation’s development. In the film, happiness agent Amber travels the Himalayan mountains to survey the contentment of its citizens, while he, too, contemplates and grapples with his own fulfillment.
Described as a “quiet, gently absorbing documentary” by The Guardian, Agent of Happiness is being screened in-person only on Sunday, January 26 at 5 p.m. at Showplace Performance Centre.
VIDEO: “Agent Of Happiness” trailer
Another film in the “Evening Features” category combines both social and environmental justice issues.
Razing Liberty Square is a documentary based in Miami’s Liberty City, where the oldest segregated public housing in the south is located. When rising sea levels threaten the beachfront, luxury property owners are being pushed higher inland, sticking residents of the historic Liberty Square public housing project with a $300 million revitalization plan for the neighbourhood.
Exploring climate gentrification as a new form of racial injustice, the film covers five years of the people who are most impacted by the developers’ bulldozers. Being screened both virtually and in-person at Showplace Performance Centre on Saturday, January 25 at 7:30 p.m., Razing Liberty Square is a story of race, climate, and gentrification.
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Other feature film highlights on this year’s lineup include Unbound, a documentary about a group of abused, traumatized, and very talented dancers as they “reclaim the stage,” The Ride Ahead, about a 21-year-old facing life’s challenges with a rare genetic disorder, and Drawing A Line, which spotlights the creator of the popular Indian stick figure cartoon that makes socio-political commentary and challenges the taboos around menstruation, mental health, and queer rights.
While they are all rooted in regional issues, some of the films and their makers have a specific connection to the Kawarthas region.
Filmed by Peterborough filmmaker Rodney Fuentes, The Monarch Ultra documents a 2019 cross-continent run following the migration path of monarch butterflies from Peterborough to Central Mexico.
VIDEO: “The Monarch Ultra” trailer
The film, which premiered at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in October, follows local environmentalist Carlotta James and thousands of other runners joining on the 4,300-kilometre relay run. The journey is woven between interviews and in-depth knowledge about pollinators, community conservation movements, and the impact environmental decline has on pollinator habitats.
The film fits into the “Rooted and Rising” category of ReFrame, marked by stories of innovation and resilience highlighting how we live in partnership with the natural world. The Monarch Ultra will be screened in-person only at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 24 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.
“In telling this story to the world, we want people to be galvanized to action and to feel something about nature and about wildlife, so the documentary was central to this story,” James told kawarthaNOW ahead of the world premiere. “It’s such a beautiful thing to be lost in a movie for an hour or two and then come out feeling as though you’ve learned something, and then want to talk about it and do something about it.”
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Another Peterborough filmmaker, Rob Viscardis will be screening My Dad’s Tapes during the festival, falling under the category of “Film Forward,” which includes films that undertook captivating and innovative approaches to filming.
Largely filmed in Courtice, the film documents director Kurtis Watson’s discovery of home videos recorded by his father during a time leading up to when he took his own life. With a combination of the tapes and conversations with friends and family, the film is a largely personal journey that fans of Viscardis’ other works (some of which have been screened at past ReFrame Film Festivals) will be familiar with.
“It’s about family relations, which is such a common thing for everybody. We all have these interpersonal relationships with our families,” Viscardis previously told kawarthaNOW. “Regardless of the themes around suicide, a lot of this film is about connection — caring for each other and being there and checking in and what not. In a broader way, the film raises awareness of mental health issues which, as a filmmaker, is a goal of mine.”
My Dad’s Tapes is screening on Saturday, January 25 at 12 p.m. at Market Hall Performance Centre, and will also be accessible during the virtual festival.
VIDEO: “My Dad’s Tapes” trailer
Falling into the “Close to Home” category, The Wild Path Home spotlights how the Peterborough-Kawarthas-Haliburton area was, in 2016, one of only 150 communities worldwide to be given the designation as a “Regional Centre of Expertise in Sustainability Education.”
Local specialists in environment, health, and educational fields, who were increasingly alarmed by the human draw to technology, made a framework of age-linked experiences to address global issues through community support, and saw young people being drawn back to the great outdoors to improve mental health, reduce stress, and improve leadership skills.
The Wild Path Home will be screened virtually and in-person at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Friday, January 24 at 5 p.m.
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Other locally based films include the short films Logging Algonquin, documenting historical and ongoing logging in Ontario’s largest provincial park, and Backwoodsman, which looks at 19th-century lumbermen in the Kawarthas and how their musical heritage has persevered to the present day.
Under the “Reel Embodiment” category, festival-goers will see documentaries that are rooted in the intersection of gender, sexual identity, health, ability, and race.
House with a Voice fits into the category as it follows six Burrneshas — people who are assigned female at birth and who take a vow of chastity and live as men in patriarchal Albania. The German film will be screened virtually and in-person at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, January 25 at 2:15 p.m.
VIDEO: “House with a Voice” trailer
The final category “Place & Identity” unpacks the way place and home shapes us and informs the human experience.
The Day Iceland Stood Still recounts the morning in 1975 when 90 per cent of women in Iceland walked off their jobs and out of their homes, refusing to cook, clean, work, or care for the children.
Told with playful animations and the women recounting their stories for the first time, the film explores the collective power of women ahead of the strike’s 50th anniversary in 2025. Also available during the virtual festival, The Day Iceland Stood Still will be screened in-person at Showplace Performance Centre on Sunday, January 26 at 3 p.m.
VIDEO: “The Day Iceland Stood Still ” trailer
The festival will kick off on Thursday, January 23rd with an in-person opening night event, which will require a separate ticket (it’s not included with any of the passes). ReFrame will announce details about the opening night event soon.
Passes for the 2025 ReFrame Film Festival are now on sale, priced at $50 for a virtual pass (which includes just over half of the films in the festival’s lineup, viewable on demand from anywhere in Canada), $110 for an in-person pass (which includes access to all in-person films and events, except for the opening night event), and $135 for a hybrid pass (which includes everything in the virtual pass and the in-person pass).
Tickets will soon be on sale for individual screenings, on a pay-what-you-can sliding scale.
Passes and a guide to all the films screening at the 2025 festival are available at reframefilmfestival.ca. Follow ReFrame on Facebook and Instagram for updates and last-minute schedule changes.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the 2025 ReFrame Film Festival.
Norwood homeowners and GreenUP clients Rick and Annie Lochhead are enjoying lower energy bills and improved home comfort after reducing their home's air leakage by almost half and installing an air source heat pump. (Photo: Clara Blakelock / GreenUP)
When Rick and Annie Lochhead realized their 19-year-old natural gas furnace had given up in early 2023, it was their trusted HVAC technician Joe Teatro who suggested they consider replacing it with a heat pump-furnace combination.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Clara Blakelock, Registered Energy Advisor and Home Energy Program Manager, GreenUP
An air source heat pump is a great option for many homes when upgrading a furnace or air conditioner.
It’s a highly efficient heating and cooling system that runs on electricity, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and, in many cases, energy bills as well.
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The Lochheads purchased their Norwood home from Rick’s father in 2004. The home was originally built in 1890, and they have done some extensive upgrades to it over the years, ripping off the old stucco and re-insulating most of the exterior walls.
Despite these upgrades, when they got an energy assessment done to apply for a heat pump rebate available at the time, they discovered an interesting surprise.
“I never knew the air leakage was that bad,” says Rick. “During the blower door test, the advisor found leakage happening all over the second floor. I had a pretty good idea where it was coming from, I just didn’t know it was that big of a problem.”
The air source heat pump at Rick and Annie Lochhead’s Norwood home provides both heating and cooling. The Lochheads installed the system on the recommendation of their trusted HVAC technician. A gas furnace provides backup to the air source heat pump during very cold temperatures but, because the heat pump can run most of the time, gas use is significantly decreased. (Photo: Clara Blakelock / GreenUP)
In addition to putting in the heat pump, the Lochheads ended up removing an old chimney on the upper floor, and sealing it off both upstairs and in the basement. They also sealed the wood floors on the second floor.
This, along with re-insulating one more exterior wall that had been missed the first time around, resulted in an impressive 44 per cent reduction in air leakage in their home.
Bryn Magee, the GreenUP energy advisor who performed this assessment, is an expert in identifying sources of air leakage which can be the largest cause of energy waste in many homes, particularly older ones.
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He highlights one of the issues found in the Lochhead home, which he has encountered in many other homes as well.
“Older homes built with lath and plaster have a common problem,” Magee explains.
“Air leakage occurs where the floor joists on the second floor connect to the exterior wall structure. If the floorboards on the second floor have a gap between them, the air enters the room and develops drafts. Applying wood filler in the gaps of the wood floor will reduce the air flow into the room.”
The Lochheads have invested in upgrading their 1890 home in Norwood, maintaining the home’s original character while making energy efficiency improvements. Many of their upgrades were done on their own or with the help of friends. (Photo: Clara Blakelock / GreenUP)
The Lochheads have been pleased with their bills since completing their upgrades.
“It’s a bit hard to tell, because the electricity has gone up a bit with the heat pump, but the gas has gone way down,” says Rick. “I think overall we’re saving about $50 per month.”
Their results, based on the data collected during their EnerGuide assessments, are very impressive. The Lochheads reduced their total energy consumption by 43 per cent, going from 212 gigajoules per year to only 121 gigajoules (a gigajoules is a unit that incorporates both gas and electricity energy use).
They also reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by a staggering 6.2 tonnes per year — a 64 per cent reduction.
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Improving airtightness is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve a home’s energy efficiency, and will lower heating bills no matter the heating system. Sealing off leaks will ensure that heat isn’t escaping to the outdoors (as well as preventing critters from getting in).
Blower door testing is the best way to get a measure of how leaky a home is now, and to discover where it’s losing heat. In many cases, the required air sealing can be a do-it-yourself job.
GreenUP provides a range of home energy services, including blower door testing. Visit our website at greenup.on.ca/home-energy/ for more information.
Located on the Escarpment Trail at the front of Ken Reid Conservation Area near Lindsay, the Illuminated Forest features a one-kilometre trail of trees decorated with thousands of lights. (Photo: Kawartha Conservation)
The Illuminated Forest is back for its third year at Ken Reid Conservation Area near Lindsay.
Kawartha Conservation first created the holiday experience, which sees trees decorated with thousands of lights, in 2022.
“The Illuminated Forest is a great way for families and individuals to spend time outside and enjoy the holidays in a different way,” says Kristie Virgoe, Kawartha Conservation’s director of stewardship and conservation lands, in a media release. “It’s a simple, relaxing walk that showcases the beauty of nature and adds a touch of the holiday spirit.”
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This year’s Illuminated Forest is located on the Escarpment Trail at the front of Ken Reid Conservation Area. The trail of illuminated trees is around one kilometre long and easy to navigate, and leashed dogs are welcome, making it an enjoyable experience for the entire family.
The Illuminated Forest is open nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. until Friday, January 3rd.
Staff will be on-site to assist visitors from December 12 to 15 and December 19 to 22.
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Parking is available for $4 in the main parking lot near the off-leash dog park, with additional overflow parking at the administrative building, and admission to Ken Reid is free.
According to Kawartha Conservation, events like the Illuminated Forest are designed to provide a safe and accessible way for people of all ages to enjoy the benefits of spending time in nature, which include improving mental well-being, reducing stress, and encouraing physical activity.
“Nature is at the heart of everything we do at Kawartha Conservation,” says Kawartha Conservation CAO Mark Majchrowski. “The Illuminated Forest is a wonderful way to bring people together to enjoy the natural beauty of Ken Reid Conservation Area while celebrating the holiday season in a simple, meaningful way.”
As a result of advanced DNA testing technology, Peterborough police have identified remains found at the bottom of the Otonabee River in 1988 as those of Gerald Durocher, pictured in this undated photo. Born in November 1949, Durocher would have been 38 years old at the time he was murdered. (Police-supplied photo)
As a result of advanced DNA testing technology, Peterborough police have identified a murder victim from 36 years ago who was previously known only as “The Otonabee River Man.”
Police made the announcement at a media conference at the Water street police station on Wednesday morning (December 11).
On July 10, 1988, members of a recreational dive club who were diving in the Otonabee River in Peterborough near Lock and McKellar streets made a gruesome discovery: the remains of a disembodied human head. The divers found the skull on the river bottom around 130 feet from shore.
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Although the discovery was followed by an extensive air and underwater search by police, the rest of the victim’s body was never recovered. Because of evidence that the head has been dismembered from the body, police concluded the victim was murdered.
Because there were no reports of missing men in Peterborough at the time the remains were found, police suspect the head may have been brought to the area from elsewhere.
In October 2021, Peterborough police submitted evidence to Othram, an American corporation located in The Woodlands, Texas that specializes in forensic genetic genealogy to identify murder victims, in the hopes that advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy could help generate new leads and assist with identifying the remains.
VIDEO: Cold Case – Peterborough Police Service – Otonabee River Man (1988)
Othram scientists used forensic-grade genome sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile, which was then used by Othram’s genealogy team in conjunction with forensic genetic genealogy to identify potential relatives. Peterborough police used this information to locate and interview the potential relatives.
Along with subsequent confirmatory DNA testing by the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, this process led to the positive identification of the victim as Gerald Durocher. Born in November 1949, Durocher would have been 38 years old at the time of his death.
Police believe Durocher had connections throughout Ontario, including Ottawa, as well as the Quesnel area in central British Columbia. In the months leading up to his death, he was known to frequent the former Vendome Hotel in Ottawa.
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Police investigators are encouraging anyone with information pertaining to Durocher or his death to come forward, noting that sometimes even the small details can play a large part in solving a case.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Constable Lacey White at 705-876-1122 ext. 266 or the Peterborough Police Service Crime Line at 705-876-1122 ext. 555.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or stopcrimehere.ca. Peterborough-Northumberland Crime Stoppers has offered a $5,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest in this case.
Environment Canada has issued a snow squall watch for the northern Kawarthas region for Wednesday night (December 11) through Thursday and possibly into Friday morning.
The snow squall watch is in effect for northern Peterborough County, northern Kawartha Lakes, and southern Haliburton County.
Lake effect snow squalls off Georgian Bay are expected to develop in the region beginning Wednesday night. Strong westerly winds gusting up to 50 km/h will accompany the snow squalls, resulting in widespread blowing snow and significantly reduced visibility at times.
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The northern Kawartha Lakes area will receive the brunt of the weather, with snow squalls continuing through Thursday night.
Snow squalls may temporarily move out of the area Thursday due to changes in wind direction. However, they are expected to redevelop Thursday evening and persist into Friday morning.
Local heavy snowfall with peak snowfall rates of 4 to 8 cm per hour and total accumulations of 30 to 60 cm are possible. Locally higher snowfall amounts greater than 60 cm will be possible Thursday through Thursday night, especially if a single strong snow squall remains over the same area.
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Northern Peterborough County and southern Haliburton County may see peak snowfall rates of 3 to 6 cm per hour, with total accumulations of 10 to 20 cm.
Under the snow squall bands, visibility will be significantly reduced due to the heavy snow combined with blowing snow, and snow will quickly accumulate. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. Road closures are possible.
Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. If you must travel, keep others informed of your schedule and destination and carry an emergency kit and mobile phone.
GreenUP is a not-for-profit environmental organization that works to promote sustainability, green living, and environmental education in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Pictured is Parys Carr facilitating a group of children during an Earth Adventures Summer Camp at GreenUP's Ecology Park. The charity, which is facing unprecedented financial challenges that are putting some of its programs at risk, is seeking increased community donations. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
With the climate crisis worsening and the need for local climate action increasing, GreenUP’s work to promote sustainability, environmental education, and green living is more important than it has ever been in the non-profit charity’s 30-year-plus history.
However, GreenUP is facing critical financial challenges that could impact the organization’s ability to support the long-lasting change necessary for ensuring a healthy and sustainable community in the face of an increasingly unstable climate.
“It’s an emergency and we need to be acting like it’s an emergency,” says GreenUP’s executive director Tegan Moss. “We need to make sure that our plans for the future are well-grounded in the scale of emergency that we’re currently facing.”
GreenUP program coordinator Hayley Goodchild facilitates a workshop on forbs and native grasses as part of GreenUP Ecology Park’s new native plant propagation program. Community donations will help support continued programming at Ecology Park in 2025. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
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Where other organizations may focus on a single priority area, GreenUP has always spread its focus and funds across several priority areas as needed, including sustainable transportation, green infrastructure, waste management, energy efficiency, and other critical environmental initiatives.
GreenUP has funded this work through multiple revenue streams, including community donations, government funding, and revenue-generating programs and services. Unfortunately, with today’s government funding priorities, changing consumer trends, and rising inflation, these revenues no longer add up to what they once did.
“GreenUP has been really successful largely because of our diversity of approaches,” says Moss. “As our communities face unexpected challenges like homelessness and the opioid crisis, it can become really difficult for donors to prioritize the threat of climate change which, in so many ways, often isn’t visible.”
After a successful fundraising campaign, a new lath house was constructed in GreenUP’s Ecology Park to grow shade-loving plants for the native plant propagation program. The program is one of many that will be funded in 2025 by monetary donations to the organization. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
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One of the organization’s ongoing successes in local climate action can be found at GreenUP’s Ecology Park, whose native plant nursery propagated 2,500 native plants and trees this year. Not only did many hundreds of residents purchase these plants and trees, but they walked away with more knowledge about the importance of native species for the environment.
“We’re really excited to literally grow some of the plants and trees that we see as being one of the solutions to climate change,” Moss says. “We often direct community donations to Ecology Park, and they will continue to go towards our propagation project.”
The lath house project success was made possible after a community fundraising campaign supported the reconstruction of the structure in Ecology Park to support the growth of more shade-loving native plants. The rebuilding of the lath house followed other upgrades funded by a five-year capital campaign to make the public five-acre park a destination for environmental education and more accessible to everyone, including by building of the children’s education shelter, accessible pathways to the Trans Canada Trail, and barrier-free restrooms.
While Ecology Park is one of GreenUP’s most successful initiatives, maintaining the gardens in the park along with the park’s native plant nursery represents a major cost for the organization every year. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
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While Ecology Park remains one of GreenUP’s most successful initiatives, it comes at a significant cost.
“The reality is that the operation of Ecology Park is a really major cost for our organization every year,” says Moss. “It’s important for us to be funding the team that’s on the ground in the park, caring for the grounds, and answering questions for people who come through every day.”
Along with the native plant propagation project at Ecology Park, GreenUP also supported the planting of 1,500 trees across Peterborough along with four Little Forests at local schools. Community donations supported the Peterborough Community Orchard Stewards, a project that relies on the support of volunteer community members to plant and maintain a series of mini-orchards and food forests in public spaces across Peterborough.
Kids and families get a helmet fit and bike check-ups at GreenUP’s Let’s Bike event on July 12, 2024. The community event invites children and their families to learn about bike equipment, safety, handling skills and more through an outdoor fair. Through its active transportation programs, GreenUP encourages people to consider alternatives to driving cars, including walking, cycling, and taking public transit. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
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In addition to the planting of native species, GreenUP also supported local climate action by promoting the annual Shifting Gears May Challenge, which saw participants taking 6,472 active and sustainable trips during the month, accounting for 46,627 kilometres of travel by walking, cycling, and using public transit.
Despite this accomplishment, GreenUP’s active transportation program, which promotes planet-friendly modes of transportation among children and youth, has lost funding due to the provincial government’s shift in priorities, leaving GreenUP more reliant on municipal funding for the program.
“It means that the municipal investment isn’t going as far,” says Moss. “We’re working to still benefit the same school communities, but without that provincial support.”
Clara Blakelock, Program Manager of the Home Energy Program at GreenUP, analyzes a cold-climate air-source heat pump. A shift in funding priorities by the federal government has also affected GreenUP’s home energy program to reduce local energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. The Canada Greener Homes grant, which provided homeowners with up to $5,000 toward energy efficiency upgrades, unexpectedly ended earlier this year. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
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A shift in funding priorities by the federal government has also affected GreenUP’s home energy program which helps to reduce local energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Canada Greener Homes grant, which provided homeowners with up to $5,000 toward energy efficiency upgrades, unexpectedly ended earlier this year. While the program was supposed to last seven years, it was cancelled after just three.
“GreenUP continues to generate revenue from our home energy services, but not at the levels that Greener Homes grant drove demand for,” Moss says.
“We were seeing very accelerated emissions reductions as a result of the Greener Homes program,” she adds, noting the program saw Peterborough homeowners collectively save 14,800 gigajoules of energy this year alone — equivalent to taking 104 homes off the power grid.
To manage the impact of funding reductions, GreenUP has made the difficult decision to close its retail store in downtown Peterborough in early 2025. While the GreenUP Store previously generated revenue to support the organization’s environmental work while supporting local makers of eco-friendly products, it has been struggling since the pandemic and is no longer financially sustainable. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
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To help deal with funding reductions, GreenUP has been taking a look at its operations — including what was once a key revenue-generator for the organization: the GreenUP Store in downtown Peterborough.
A social enterprise originally established to promote eco-friendly products from local businesses while generating revenues to support the organization’s environmental work, the store has seen over a 30 per cent reduction in sales since the pandemic.
As running the GreenUP Store is no longer financially viable, GreenUP has made the difficult decision to close the store in the new year.
“For years, the GreenUP Store served as a bridge, helping the community access sustainable products while contributing funds to GreenUP’s programs,” Moss explains. “Unfortunately, this model no longer serves GreenUP in the way we need it to.”
“While this closure feels like a loss, the widespread availability of sustainable products that were once very hard to find is a win. This will create room for us to focus on fostering awareness in other areas, changing mindsets, and advancing sustainability through our programs.”
Elder Dorothy Taylor of Curve Lake First Nation leads a sacred water teaching at the Peterborough Children’s Water Festival in 2023. The annual festival, which educates elementary school students on the importance of water, will no longer receive funding from the Peterborough Utilities Commission. GreenUP is seeking community donations so the festival can continue in 2025 and future years. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
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Another program affected by a loss of funding is the annual Children’s Water Festival, which educates local elementary school students about the importance of water and was previously funded by the Peterborough Utilities Commission. This year’s festival saw an impressive 1,300 local students participating but, without the funds to replace the financial loss, the educational festival could be at risk.
“It’s been delivered every year over the last 22 years, and we would be really proud to continue offering that program on an annual basis,” says Moss.
GreenUP is looking to replace $8,000 of funding for the festival that was previously provided by Peterborough Utilities Commission. Moss notes that the loss the Peterborough Children’s Water Festival would deny our future sustainability leaders an important milestone in their childhood education.
“Sustainability connects to almost every aspect of our daily lives,” she says. “Because there are so many layers to that learning, we need to be invested as learners and as people who are committed to sustainability to continue deepening that journey over time.”
Moss notes that the Children’s Water Festival and other environmental education programming is fundamental to instilling knowledge and interest in sustainability from a young age.
“These landmark activities that we engage in with young people help them develop informed and critical understandings of these issues, help them have foundational experiences, and help them to become champions related to the cause,” she says. “Education is underpinning how we can become engaged members of our society and active participants in creating a more sustainable community.”
Despite its funding challenges, Peterborough GreenUP continued to see success in 2024, including through Ecology Park, community plantings, energy efficiency, and educational programming. (Graphic courtesy of GreenUP)
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While the climate crisis can seem overwhelming and beyond our ability as individuals to fix, Moss notes that we can all do our part by taking action locally — and that includes supporting the work of environmental organizations like GreenUP to help make communities more sustainable.
“We do deeply appreciate it when folks are able to support us,” Moss says. “It’s important they know that we’ll do everything we can to make sure their dollars go as far as they can to impact our community in really positive ways.”
To support GreenUP, visit www.greenup.on.ca/donate-now, where you can make a one-time donation or become a Friend of GreenUP by committing to a monthly donation.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Peterborough GreenUP. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Community Futures Peterborough's Business Advisory Centre Manager Rose Terry (middle with the blue jacket) with the fall 2024 graduating class of Starter Company Plus, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered for the first time by Community Futures Peterborough. Not only was this the program's largest cohort ever, representing 21 small businesses in the City and County of Peterborough, but each participant who completed the program received a micro-grant of up to $5,000 to grow their business. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
There is no such thing as an entrepreneur having too many connections in the communities they serve.
That’s good news for 21 recent graduates of the Starter Company Plus program, as each one has walked away from the program with new connections that can help them launch or grow their business — not to mention a micro-grant of up to $5,000 each.
The recent graduating class marked a milestone as the largest cohort ever in the City and County of Peterborough for the provincially funded entrepreneurial training program that was administered by Community Futures Peterborough’s new Business Advisory Centre (BAC) for the first time.
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“Congratulations to all the participants of this year’s Starter Company Plus Program,” says Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith in a media release.
“Your dedication and hard work throughout this program are truly commendable. As you embark on this exciting journey of growth and innovation, remember that every significant achievement begins with the courage to take the first step. Here’s to your future success and the positive impact you will create in our community.”
Designed for both emerging and expanding businesses established within the last five years, the program had the entrepreneurs participating in a series of dynamic workshops and receiving personalized guidance from experienced local mentors over several weeks.
Kerrie Davis of Davis Orchards was one of the entrepreneurs who graduated from the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. Davis has already connected with Pies by Zach, one of the other 21 local businesses that participated in the program, to provide catering services for an upcoming event at her Douro-Dummer farm. Using the grant she received through the program, Davis will be expanding her business by planting more fruit trees. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
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The entrepreneurs who participated in the program operate 21 small businesses across a range of diverse sectors including agriculture, personal services, retail, hospitality, and more:
Kerrie Davis of Davis Orchards (Douro-Dummer)
Chris Duff and Ashley Foreman of Duff Acres (Otonabee South Monaghan)
Amanda Slade of EmpowerMind Coaching (City of Peterborough)
Jennifer Ducker of Hair Apothecary (City of Peterborough)
Susan Tung of Hanoi House (City of Peterborough)
Heather Litster of Heather’s Holistics (City of Peterborough)
Deborah Howarth of High Spring Trading Post (Havelock-Belmont-Methuen )
Jodi Forestell of Jodi-Lee Nutrition & Wellness (Trent Lakes)
Kayla Le Franc of Kayla Le Franc Photo (Otonabee-South Monaghan)
Owen Walsh and Sam Sayer of Love you, Mean it (City of Peterborough)
Elena Thomas of On Point Custom Catering (City of Peterborough)
Zach Washburn of Pies by Zach (City of Peterborough)
Jamie Seed-Binnie of Scooter Heating & Air (City of Peterborough))
John Stewart of Showbile Media (Cavan Monaghan)
Jody Allen of Smash Courts (City of Peterborough)
Adam Atkinson of Stormlight Engineering (City of Peterborough)
Ashley and Kevin Woollacott of Summer Soul Yoga & Wellness (City of Peterborough)
Taylor Wilkes of Tailored Together (City of Peterborough)
Shaoling Victoria Wang of T-Elle Boutique by VSL (City of Peterborough)
Tiffany Lennox of The Doggery (City of Peterborough)
Emily Berardi and Tara Mansfield of TE Media & Design (City of Peterborough)
“It’s critical for any potential business owner to know there is community support behind them, and there is belief in them, their business ideas, and their business plans,” says Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures Peterborough.
“The excitement that we have generated in the Starter Company Plus program this fall shows the continued belief we have in the strength of our local economy and the people who are living in the City and County of Peterborough who want to start and grow their business.”
Otonabee South Monaghan photographer Kayla Le Franc making her pitch during the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. Designed for both emerging and expanding businesses established within the last five years, the program had the entrepreneurs participating in a series of dynamic workshops and receiving personalized guidance from experienced local mentors over several weeks. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
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With such a large group, and with each participant at a similar place in their business journey, there was ample opportunity for the entrepreneurs to make connections and learn about other businesses within the region.
“They’ve created this really incredible community,” says Rose Terry, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre. “A lot of them have started working together and collaborating with one another, whether to partner on a business event or to partner on a product.”
The outcomes of these connections for the participants are already coming to fruition, something that Girard believes is a major benefit of the program.
“The connections that are built into Starter Company Plus program far outweigh the value of the grant dollars that the participants received upon program completion,” Girard says.
For example, Kerrie Davis of the Douro-Dummer farm Davis Orchards is going to be hosting a tree-planting event that will include Zach Washburn’s Pies by Zach as a food vender, while Tiffany Lennox of The Doggery is now sourcing meat from Chris Duff and Ashley Foreman’s Duff Acres farm to use for her all-natural dog food products.
“We gained valuable knowledge in marketing strategies, financial planning, and made lasting connections with many other incredible local entrepreneurs,” says Duff.
Jodi Forestell of Jodi-Lee Nutrition and Wellness, on online business based in Buckhorn, was one of the entrepreneurs who participated in the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. Participants received guidance from the Community Futures Peterborough’s Business Advisory Centre and local experts on business strategy, cash flow statements, financial support options, marketing and communications, and more. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
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With Terry leading the program, participants were supported by local experts including BAC Business Advisor Lindsay Irwin, Community Futures Peterborough Loan Manager Braden Clark, and Social Kat Media owner Kat Tepylo Murphy, who each focused on their own specialties and entrepreneurial experiences. Participants received guidance on business strategy, cash flow statements, financial support options, marketing and communications, as well as how to use creativity as a problem-solving technique.
“An important aspect of the program is the entrepreneurs actually get real-time feedback on their ideas and strategies and they then receive direction from our seasoned experts,” Terry explains. “A lot of the entrepreneurs are absolutely incredible at their service or product, but may not have a business background. Being able to take a four-week complimentary program where they really focus on the business side is going to move their business forward faster and more effectively than they would on their own.”
In addition to expert guidance and networking connections, participants received other supports including a six-month membership with the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, as well as a conditional pre-approved loan from Community Futures Peterborough.
Zach Washburn pitches his Peterborough-based business Pies by Zach during the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. Using local and seasonal ingredients, Pies by Zach makes and caters authentic fire-cooked pizza. Washburn will use the Starter Company Plus grant he received to invest in upgrades and expand operations. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
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For the first time since the Starter Company Plus program has been delivered in the Peterborough area, every one of the participants who successfully completed the program was awarded a micro-grant up to $5,000.
“With the grant, we look forward to expanding our business and investing in new infrastructure to better care for our livestock,” Duff says adding their money will expand their pastures, add additional livestock, and improve the overall sustainability of the farm.
“Davis Orchards will use the dollars to expand operations to bring more fresh local fruit to more customers in 2025,” says Davis. “We are so excited to be planting even more apple, plum, and peach trees for the community and region to taste.”
Ashley and Kevin Woollacott of Summer Soul Yoga and Wellness has purchased new equipment to launch reformer Pilates classes, while Heather Litster of Heather’s Holistics will be bringing her menstrual education to more community members through online and in-person educational workshops.
As well as emerging small businesses, the Starter Company Plus program supports businesses established within the last five years. Susan Tung, owner of Peterborough’s Hanoi House, a Vietnamese restaurant which opened in 2020, participated in the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
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“These unique businesses play a vital role in supporting and improving our community by creating jobs, and reinvesting in products and services that enhance the quality of life for everyone,” says Terry. “We’re really excited to see the participants’ innovation that comes from this financial support.”
For Girard, having the highest-ever number of participants in the Starter Company Plus program to date reflects how much the local business community is growing, something Community Futures Peterborough is also seeing in its other programs.
“This is a testament to our thriving business community and the entrepreneurial spirit,” Girard points out. “We’re not seeing a slowdown in people looking to meet with us on advisory services or to meet with us on lending. This has also been validated through the Starter Company Program and the significant interest generated from people who want to start and grow their business.”
The 21 businesses in the City and County of Peterborough that participated in the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time, is the program’s largest-ever cohort, and each participant who completed the program received a micro-grant of up to $5,000 to grow their business. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
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Community Futures Peterborough also saw significant benefits from running a large cohort and has plans to continue with the model.
“When we launch the next round of Starter Company this spring, it will continue to be a large cohort,” Terry says. “It has been really beneficial for the businesses to build a community around themselves.”
To learn more about the Starter Company Plus program at Community Futures Peterborough, visit communityfuturespeterborough.ca/startercompanyplus/, and be sure to sign up for their e-newsletter and follow their socials to be informed of the next application period.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Community Futures Peterborough. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
The Ontario government is providing $99,900 to the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton to help more people living with dementia and their families receive the support they need. (Stock photo)
With dementia rates “skyrocketing,” the executive director of the Kawarthas-area chapter of the Alzheimer Society is welcoming new funding from the provincial government that’s intended to help more people living with dementia and their families receive the support they need.
The Ontario government announced on Monday (December 9) it is providing $99,900 to the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton.
According to a media release, the funding will support services offered through the Alzheimer Society of Canada’s community-based “First Link” care navigation program, that aims to help people living with dementia and their families navigate dementia care and access education and resources.
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Jen Johnstone, executive director of Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton, shared her reaction to the funding announcement with kawarthaNOW.
“At a time when dementia rates are skyrocketing — up 65 per cent by 2030 — this funding has been desperately needed,” Johnstone said. “We applaud the government for their recognition of this rising crisis, and for providing support for care partners and persons with dementia across our four-county region.”
First Link is described as a community of experts ready to help people recognize the signs of dementia and learn how to navigate the challenges that come with a diagnosis. First Link connects people with dementia-focused health services, support, and information in their community.
VIDEO: First Link® – Help for people living with dementia and care partners
“With this funding, they will be able to hire additional staff members, reduce wait times, and provide timely support for new clients, ensuring that everyone receives the care, education, and resources they need to navigate the challenges of dementia,” stated Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott in the release.
The funding is part of the Ontario government’s $6.9-million investment over two years to support those who have received a dementia diagnosis on their care journey. Funding will support hiring an additional 36 full-time equivalent staff members, shortening wait times for existing patients and providing support for approximately 7,000 new clients across Ontario, according to the release.
“The provincial government aims to support individuals and families dealing with dementia complexities, enhance the Alzheimer Society’s capacity, and promote community awareness,” said Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith. “These efforts are essential for improving quality of life and addressing the increasing need for comprehensive dementia care as the population ages.”
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As a result of the funding to the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton, clients will have access to a coordinator who will assist with care planning, care co-ordination, and referrals to community services. Connection is an important part of the journey, Johnstone said.
“No one should need to navigate the journey of dementia alone. This funding is a critical step forward.”
The executive director told kawarthaNOW she encourages all community members who have someone with dementia in their lives to reach out to the organization for support.
“A diagnosis of dementia is not required to access our services — in fact, we can support you to receive one if it is needed,” she added.
In Ontario, more than 250,000 people live with dementia, and this number is expected to grow as the population continues to age.
As part of the 2022 Budget, Ontario is investing $120 million over three years for dementia services. In the 2023 Budget, the province accelerated the commitment of $1 billion over three years to stabilize the home and community care workforce and support the expansion of home care services.
In the 2024 Budget, the government is investing an additional $2 billion over three years to boost this acceleration, support earlier investments to increase compensation for personal support workers, nurses and other frontline care providers, and to stabilize expanded services, according to the release.
Duff Acres co-owners Ashley Foreman and Chris Duff with their children William, James, Evelyn, and Charles. The Keene farm family has once again teamed up with local businesses to create a gift bundle during the 2025 holiday season for a local family in need. (Photo courtesy of Duff Acres)
The owners of a Peterborough County farm are teaming up with local businesses in hopes of making the holidays merry and meaningful for a local family in need.
Duff Acres in Keene has announced the return of its annual “Holiday Giftaway,” which it calls “a heartwarming event that highlights the power of local small businesses coming together to give back to the community.”
This holiday season, Duff Acres is partnering with Starrs Signs & Designs, 100 Acre Brewing Co., White Pine Pottery, Kawartha Sweets & Eats, and other local businesses to create a special bundle of goodies for an area family.
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Ashley Foreman, who owns the farm with her husband Chris Duff, said this is the third year the farm has embraced the holiday giveaway opportunity.
“We’ve been deeply moved by the heartfelt stories shared by those nominating others,” Foreman told kawarthaNOW. “We’ve heard of many individuals facing health challenges that have left them unable to work and families navigating the first holiday season without a cherished loved one.”
“Through the Holiday Giftaway, we aim to bring a spark of joy to someone who may be struggling to embrace the holiday spirit,” she said. “In today’s world, where the rising cost of living makes it harder for many to make ends meet, we understand how overwhelming the season can feel. Our hope is to ease the burden for someone and help them rediscover the magic of the holidays.”
The gift bundle created in 2023 by Duff Acres co-owners Ashley Foreman and Chris Duff in partnership with local businesses. Members of the community can submit the names of families they believe could use a little extra cheer this holiday season. (Photo courtesy of Duff Acres)
Foreman said the initiative is now a cherished tradition at Duff Acres, and it’s about more than giving gifts.
“It’s about celebrating the spirit of community, supporting local, and showing that even small gestures can make a big difference in someone’s life,” Foreman noted in a media release.
The gift bundle will contain a curated selection of local products, including from Duff Acres, each hand-picked in an effort to showcase the creativity and craftsmanship of the participating entrepreneurs.
“From delicious homemade treats to hand-crafted goods, this bundle is a reflection of what makes our community so special.”
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The recipient family will be chosen through a nomination process. Members of the community can submit the names of families they believe could use a little extra cheer this holiday season. The winner will be contacted on December 13, with the bundle ready for pick-up in time for the holidays.
“We believe in the power of community, and the Holiday Giftaway is our way of uniting local businesses for a greater cause,” said Duff.
To nominate a family for the Holiday Giftaway, follow Duff Acres on Facebook and Instagram and look for the official Holiday Giftaway post with all the details on how to enter. Submissions are open until 11:59 p.m. on December 12.
Foreman and Duff, who have four children, built their home in 2019 on the 50-acre property where Duff had been raised and which has been in his family since 1987 and, in 2021, began running a hobby farm in part to keep their children busy during the pandemic.
The couple has since expanded the operations of the farm, which they say is dedicated to both community engagement and sustainable practices.
“We proudly invite our customers to visit the farm, offering a first-hand look at where their food comes from and how it’s raised,” Duff told kawarthaNOW. “Supporting local businesses is a priority for us, and we’re honoured to contribute to community events and fundraisers throughout the year.”
“We’ve also built meaningful partnerships that promote sustainability, including working with a local childcare centre to transform their food waste into feed for our animals, reducing landfill contributions while nourishing our livestock.”
“Additionally, we collaborate with local businesses to collect microgreen and produce waste, turning what might otherwise be discarded into valuable resources for our farm. By fostering these connections, we aim to support not just our farm, but the entire community,” Duff explained.
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