More often than not, the kindness behind a gesture means more than the actual gesture itself.

One Peterborough musician is keenly aware of that, sharing the revelation with 23 other local musicians who, to date, have received a combined $6,000 from the Peterborough Musicians’ Benevolent Association (PMBA) to help make up for income loss during the COVID-19 shutdown of local pubs and performance venues.

“(PMBA board member) Al Black sent me a message and told me what they are doing,” said the musician, asking to remain anonymous.

“I knew what the PMBA is about and what their work is. It’s a great thing that they do. The money helps. I play at least 10 gigs a month. I do odd jobs but I make my living playing music. But someone saying ‘Hey, you’re a musician’ is really nice. To be considered is way more valuable to me than the money. That kindness came out of nowhere and I was really blown away by it.”

What the PMBA “is about” is helping musicians during a time of need that results in loss income from not being able to perform.

VIDEO: Peterborough Musicians’ Benevolent Association documentary

The late singer and keyboardist Phil “Mr. Deluxe” Marshall was the inspiration and the founding member behind the PMBA. As part of the musical community in Peterborough, he perceived a need to assist local musicians and came up with the idea of “musicians helping musicians”. He began to host an informal blues jam on the third Saturday of every month at his favourite pub, the now-closed Pig’s Ear Tavern in downtown Peterborough.

A donation jar was put out and the funds collected were given to a local musician who needed some financial assistance in tough times due to unforeseen circumstances. Marshall was planning to expand the idea by reaching out to the entire community of musicians when he passed away suddenly from a heart attack while shovelling snow in December 2013.

His partner wanted to keep Marshall’s PMBA dream alive, so she approached now-retired school principal and part-time musician Don McBride, who then brought on board well-known local musician Al Black, John Punter (former owner of the now-closed Pig’s Ear Tavern in downtown Peterborough), and retired banker Norm Kastner to establish a PMBA committee.

Marshall’s dream to expand his idea was realized when the first PMBA Deluxe Blues Jam was held in January 2014 at the Pig’s Ear Tavern.

When the Brock Street pub was sold and subsequently closed in spring 2017, the monthly event moved to its current home of Dr. J’s BBQ and Brews at 282 Aylmer Street North (at King Street).

Over the years, by way of the generous donations of many who have attended the jams, the PMBA has been able to financially assist countless musicians. That lifeline, according to board member Jo Pillon, has remained consistent and has never been more vital than it is now.

“The gravity of the situation right now is dire for those who have had gigs and tours cancelled,” says Pillon, who — together with McBride, Kastner, and Black — organizes the monthly jams, identifies local musicians who require a hand-up, and reaches out to them.

“We’re kind of going week to week, even day to day really, not knowing how much we can help with limited funds. We’re thinking this is kind of the first wave and we’ll continue to help as long as we can.”

The challenge in fulfilling that mandate, notes Pillon, lies in the fact that the Deluxe Blues Jam, the primary source of funding for PMBA’s philanthropic work, is cancelled until further notice due to the government-mandated closure of pubs due to COVID-19. So not only are musicians out of work, but the association that was helping them has lost its main fundraiser.

Those who want to make a donation are asked to do so by mailing a cheque to the PMBA, c/o Norm Kastner, 4509 County Road 29, Douro-Dummer, Ontario K0L 2H0. Donations to the Peterborough Musicians’ Benevolent Association can also be made by e-transfer to ptbomusiciansbenevolent@gmail.com.

“People have been very generous,” says Pillion. “This is exactly what we (the PMBA) are here for: to help when circumstances unforeseen occur. If this isn’t unforeseen, nothing is. Our mandate is to help musicians in time of need and here we are. We’re so thrilled to be able to help, even it’s a drop in the bucket.”

“Some (musicians) we have reached out to have said ‘There’s people that need it more than I do, so I will step aside for now.’ There are musicians who are thinking of their fellow musicians.”

The PMBA Deluxe Blues Jam, says Pillon, will continue when the COVID-19 emergency is declared over. She adds acts have been booked until November.

“I’m so thrilled to see musicians putting their music out there online,” she says.

“We appreciate the music but sometimes we forget about the people that give us that music. If we can think a little further beyond our enjoyment of one’s music and how it came about, how much blood, sweat and tears goes into it, maybe we will think a little bit further than just listening to a song and reach out and give some money to a musician.”

In a bid to encourage donations, singer and guitarist Dennis O’Toole is delivering a free CD to all who donate. In addition, he has donated two guitars to be auctioned off on the PMBA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Peterborough-Musicians-Benevolent-Association-PMBA-1793945220918230/.

A picture is worth a thousand words — or even just nine of them.

Front-line healthcare workers in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) have a message for everyone: “We’re here for you. Please stay home for us. ❤”

The photo of 17 ICU staff, who refer to themselves as The ICU Team at PRHC, also features a sign reading “Thank you ICU Angels”.

Vince Bierworth of Bell Media Radio in Peterborough, whose wife Lauren is an ICU nurse at PRHC, shared the photo with kawarthaNOW on Friday night (March 27).

The ICU Team at PRHC wants everyone to share the photo on social media with the hashtags #StayHome, #PRHCStrong, and #InThisTogether.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for all of the Kawarthas region, except for Northumberland County, for possible heavy rainfall overnight on Saturday (March 28) into Sunday.

Rain, heavy at times, is forecast to begin on Saturday night and continue into Sunday.

Thunderstorms may accompany the rain, starting in Southwestern Ontario in the evening and spreading towards the Ontario-Quebec border by noon Sunday.

Total rainfall amounts could exceed 25 mm in very localized areas that receive multiple rounds of heavy rain in thunderstorms.

There is considerable uncertainty regarding where the highest rainfall amounts are expected.

Rainfall warnings with the criteria of 25 mm within 24 hours where the ground remains frozen may be required at a later time should heavier rainfall amounts become more likely.

The Peterborough County OPP, Peterborough Police Service, and Peterborough Public Health have issued a joint media release to remind the public that police are enforcing compliance with the Ontario government’s declaration of a state of emergency under the Emergency Measures and Civil Protection Act, and to explain how the public should be reporting allegations of non-compliance to police.

On March 17, 2020, the Ontario government mandated the closure of all bars and restaurants (except for the provision of takeout and food delivery), facilities providing indoor recreational programs, public libraries, private schools, licensed child care centres, movie cinemas and theatres (including those offering live performances of music, dance and other art forms), and concert venues.

On March 23, 2020, the Ontario government expanded the declaration to order the closure of all businesses and organizations except those deemed as “essential workplaces” (see the list of essential workplaces).

On March 28, 2020, the Ontario government made a new emergency order under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act that prohibits public events and social gatherings of more than five people, replacing the previous emergency order prohibiting organized public events of more than 50 people. Exceptions apply to private households with five people or more, child care centres supporting front-line health care workers and first responders (limit of 50 people), and funerals (limit of 10 people at a time).

To allow police to enforce compliance with Ontario’s state of emergency, Ontario’s Provincial Offences Act has been updated to include three offences with set fines.

There is a $750 fine for failure to comply with an order made during a declared emergency, a $1,000 fine for obstructing any person exercising a power in accordance with an order made during a declared emergency, and a $1,000 fine for obstructing any person performing a duty in accordance with an order made during a declared emergency. Corporations can also be fined $500,000 for non-compliance. Any of these fines can be applied on each day that an offence occurs or continues.

If you want to report an allegation of non-compliance, contact the Peterborough County OPP at 705-742-0401 (or the non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122) or the Peterborough Police Service’s non-emergency line at 705-876-1122. 911 is for emergencies only; do not call 911 to report allegations of non-compliance.

On March 25, 2020, the Government of Canada invoked the Quarantine Act to require all travellers returning to Canada — with the exception of what the federal government is calling “essential workers” — to enter a mandatory 14-day period of isolation, regardless of whether any symptoms of COVID-19 are present.

For complaints related to a person not complying with the Quarantine Act, call Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000. Health units, and not police, are responsible for fielding and investigating these complaints.

Peterborough Public Health is also continuing to conduct surveillance and inspections of facilities to confirm compliance with closures or modified operations for restaurants and bars (i.e. take out or delivery services).

To date, public health inspectors have observed a high level of compliance in Peterborough, and encourage any premises permitted to remain open to implement strategies to prevent crowding and encourage physical distancing. Many such facilities have reduced hours in order to facilitate enhanced premises cleaning and disinfection.

Public health inspectors have also conducted site visits of local grocery stores to observe infection prevention and control measures and discuss best practices with owners and management. Improvements are continuing, and all stores are reminded to limit the number of shoppers to ensure that physical distancing can be maintained.

Peterborough Public Health is also encouraging the public to only go to the grocery store for essential needs, and to not go at all if you are required to be in self-isolation.

When you go grocery shopping, keep two metres away from others (grocery stores have placed floor markers at checkout to encourage physical distancing), avoid paying with cash (even if allowed; most stores only accept debit or credit card payments), and be efficient with your shopping (get in and get out).

Make sure the shopping cart or basket you use has been sanitized (ask store staff if you are not sure) and take advantage of any hand sanitizer the store makes available at the entrance. Make sure you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you get home (some people have even been showering after they return from shopping).

Galen Weston, executive chairman of Loblaws, recently issued a statement asking families and groups of friends to avoid grocery stores, and asked customers to refrain from joking about COVID-19 with other customers or employees.

Four new positive cases of COVID-19 has been confirmed by Peterborough Public Health, bringing to 13 the total number of cases in Peterborough city and county, Hiawatha and Curve Lake.

During her daily media briefing on Friday morning (March 27), Peterborough Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra said a man in his 60s with a travel history to Portugal has been admitted to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. He has had one known contact.

Also testing positive are a man in his 50s with a travel history to the Middle East, a man in his 40s with a travel history to Mexico, and a woman in her 50s whose exposure was still being investigated as of Friday morning.

All three are self-isolating and their contacts are being investigated.

The four new cases represent the largest local one-day increase in positive results since the COVID-19 emergency started. Dr. Salvaterra said the jump in the number of positive cases isn’t a surprise, due to the number of outstanding test results still being waited on.

“It’s not unexpected,” said Dr. Salvaterra. “We’re on the incline of the curve. We do expect things will pick up yet in terms of new positive cases.”

To date, Peterborough Public Health has conducted 528 COVID-19 tests, with 13 positive results and results awaited on 236 of those tested. Another 279 cases have been confirmed negative.

Of the 13 positive cases, one has recovered, one is a client of St. Joseph’s at Fleming nursing home, two are in intensive care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre, and one is an employee of Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon.

For the area served by the other health unit in the Kawarthas (Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, which includes Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton), there have been 29 positive cases, including two deaths. Six of these cases have been reported in Northumberland County and 23 cases in the City of Kawartha Lakes (most at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon). No positive cases have yet been identified in Haliburton County.

For the most recent information on COVID-19 in Ontario and the Peterborough area, visit ontario.ca/coronavirus or peterboroughpublichealth.ca.

Peterborough Regional Health Centre is also providing news, updates, information and resources on its website at prhc.on.ca/cms/covid-19-novel-coronavirus.

On Thursday (March 26), the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit announced 14 staff members and three residents of Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon have tested positive for COVID-19 following an outbreak of the illness at the home.

Another 16 staff and 35 more residents are showing symptoms, and two residents who were showing symptoms have died.

Pinecrest Nursing Home, which houses 65 residents, declared a respiratory outbreak last Wednesday (March 18) after a number of residents showed flu-like symptoms. Tests were done on the three residents, who tested positive for COVID-19.

The HKPR District Health Unit halted further testing of residents, according to its outbreak protocol, since the tests provided confirmation the disease was circulating in the home’s population.

Since then, 35 residents have developed COVID-19 symptoms and two have died, with one death on Tuesday night (March 24) and one death on Wednesday night.

Although the two residents who died were not tested for COVID-19, they had developed symptoms of the disease and were presumptive cases.

In addition, 14 staff members showing symptoms have been confirmed as COVID-19, with four having negative results. Test results are still expected for an additional 16 staff who are showing symptoms.

All staff who are symptomatic are self-isolating and the entire facility is still in isolation.

Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, Medical Officer of Health for HKPR District Health Unit, says it’s the largest outbreak of COVID-19 in Ontario so far.

“This outbreak of COVID-19 is currently the largest outbreak in the province,” she says. “It really brings home how devastating and deadly this virus can be for older people in our communities. I am asking everyone to do everything they can to stop the spread of this virus — if not to protect yourself but to protect others who need our care.”

Once the home declared the respiratory outbreak on March 18th, staff followed procedures to help contain the spread of the virus. Asymptomatic staff wore the proper protective equipment. Ill staff did not come to work, were advised to self-isolate at home, and arrangements were made to have them tested. Residents were isolated as best they could be in the smaller facility, with group activities stopped and meals served to residents on trays rather than in the dining room.

Despite Pinecrest having been closed to visitors (with the exception of compassionate visiting) since March 14th and the outbreak protocols put into place, the virus continued to spread in the population. In a media release, the HKPR District Health Unit says that, given the incubation period of the virus, many staff and residents were probably already infected by the time the outbreak was declared.

The confirmed cases among Pinecrest Nursing Home staff explain the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases reported on Thursday by the HKPR District Health Unit.

“This is truly a horrible time for the families and friends of the residents, as well as our staff,” says Pinecrest administrator Mary Carr. “We have a number of medically fragile and vulnerable people living in our home. Our residents are like family to our staff. Our sympathies go out to all of the families and friends of the people we have lost.”

Carr says Pinecrest staff are doing everything they can to keep their residents safe, but there could be additional deaths given the fragility of some of the residents.

Dr. Noseworthy says the HKPR District Health Unit has supporting Pinecrest by helping to ensure they have supplies and support for additional staff to cover the work of those who are home ill or recovering.

To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones. – George Washington

We’re obviously in an unprecedented crisis right with the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadians haven’t experienced anything like this in generations.

Schools and businesses are closed, services are shut down, and our already stressed hospitals are being stretched to the limit. People — especially those who have lost their jobs or are self-employed — are worried about how they are going to pay for their rent, their loans, and their groceries.

The good news is that Canadians of all stripes have stepped up. Our dedicated healthcare workers and first responders are on the front lines, helping those who are suffering from the illness, and at the risk of their own well-being. Businesses and organizations both large and small are producing or donating much-needed equipment to hospitals. People who themselves may be struggling are donating supplies to food banks to help those who are the least fortunate, or helping their neighbours find essential items in short supply.

The federal and provincial governments have all shown strong leadership by providing financial relief for Canadians, from cutting hydro rates to providing funding for those suffering a loss of income. Municipal governments are deferring property tax payments while maintaining essential services like fire, police, water, and waste management. Communities across the country are pulling together to help us get through this crisis.

And then there are Canada’s big banks.

Just exactly how are the big banks stepping up to help Canadians?

The short answer is (drum roll) … they’re not.

Are they reducing or eliminating interest rates on mortgages, personal loans, or credit cards? Are they waiving interest charges, even for a month or two? Are they even offering new interest-free loans? No.

Could they afford to do any or all of this?

Judge for yourself. In total, Canada’s five biggest banks — RBC, CIBC, BMO, Scotiabank, and TD Bank — made a collective profit of almost $12 billion in the quarter ending January 31, 2020. That’s $12 billion in three months alone, or $4 billion in profit every month. Here’s the profit breakdown for each of the big banks for the last quarter: RBC made $3.5 billion, TD Bank made $3 billion, Scotiabank made $2.3 billion, BMO made $1.6 billion, and CIBC made $1.2 billion.

So, while continuing to post immense profits, how have Canada’s big banks responded to the COVID-19 hardships of Canadians?

At first, they didn’t. They were completely silent. Crickets. Only after federal finance minister Bill Morneau asked the heads of the banks to allow people to defer mortgage payments for up to six months did they respond.

Then, on March 18th — a full week after the crisis began — the five banks (along with National Bank of Canada) issued a media release with the truthiness headline “Canada’s Six Biggest Banks Take Decisive Action To Help Customers Impacted by COVID-19”.

That sounds promising. But what is this “decisive action” exactly? To determine this, I’ve looked at the COVID-19 pages on the websites of each of Canada’s five biggest banks.

Essentially, banks are allowing you to defer by at least one month the required payments on any money you’ve borrowed from them. Some banks, such as BMO, will allow you to defer six months of payments.

That doesn’t sound so bad. You don’t have to make a credit card payment, or a car loan payment, or a mortgage payment. You can use that money to pay for your electricity bill, your internet bill, or your groceries.

But on closer examination, it’s not generous at all. You’ll continue to pay the interest on any deferred payments, you’ll have to pay banks the interest you owe after the deferral period, and the deferred payments will be added back to your principal — effectively extending the term of your loan and increasing the total interest you have to pay. In the end, you’ll actually owe the banks more than if you didn’t defer any payments.

Oh, but if you need to borrow even more money, the banks have your back. They are offering new loans or increasing credit limits to help customers “improve their cash flow”. The banks are offering to help you sink deeper into debt so that, once you are back on your feet, you’ll owe them even more money.

Think about this for a minute. Many Canadians have stopped receiving paycheques. Small business revenues have dried up. That money isn’t just “deferred” until the crisis has passed — it isn’t coming in at all. But the banks don’t care. They are going to get what you owe them. It might just take a little longer and, in exchange for their generosity, you’ll end up even paying them even more.

Remember the financial crisis of 2008? While Canada’s banking system was considered sound and didn’t require the taxpayer-funded bailout that happened in the U.S., Canada’s big banks did in fact receive public funding. According to a 2012 report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, that amount could have been as high as $114 billion. There’s some dispute about the actual amount, but there’s no dispute the banks did receive some funding from Canadian taxpayers during the 2008 financial crisis.

And now, during the COVID-19 crisis of 2020, during our own time of dire financial need, the best the banks can do for Canadians is to make them pay more, but later? That’s like a loan shark agreeing not to break your leg this month, but only if he can break both your legs next month.

Think about this for a minute. As part of its COVID-19 response, the federal government is offering the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (this replaces the previously announced Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit). It will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to four months for Canadians who have lost their income due to the impacts of COVID-19.

And where is a substantial portion of that taxpayer-funded benefit going to go? To the big banks, of course, as people make payments on their credit cards, mortgages, car loans, and credit lines. Even if you defer a bank payment for a month or two, eventually some of these tax dollars will end up in the coffers of the big banks, helping them maintain or even increase their already huge profits. Our tax dollars will be going to five banks that are collectively raking in $4 billion in profit each month.

If that doesn’t infuriate you, I don’t know what will.

Unlike the rest of us, the big banks are not sacrificing anything during the COVID-19 crisis. We are taking a double hit: first from the loss of income due to COVID-19 and eventually by having to pay taxes to the government to help pay for the COVID-19 relief package that will help us out now. And remember, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit itself is a taxable benefit, so you’ll be paying taxes on that too.

But the banks aren’t taking a hit at all. It’s business as usual for the banks. Instead of reducing their profits to help Canadians get by during the pandemic, the banks are actually going to increase their profits when customers have to pay additional interest from deferred loan payments.

Even if you accept that the banks are doing all they can do, or that deferring payments with no interest relief is an acceptable response from the banks, then just try to get that promised relief.

In order to apply for relief, many banks are doing it on a “case by case” basis. You have to call your bank’s toll-free line, or fill out an online form, or make an appointment so you can present your case for “financial hardship.” Just try to reach your bank to beg for relief: every one of the big bank’s websites has a message about “an extremely high volume of calls” or “unprecedented call volumes”.

If you do finally get through to your bank and have the chance to make your case, there’s no guarantee your bank will actually give you the requested relief.

Of course, nothing is ever black and white. Many Canadians have investments in the big banks, and higher profits mean higher dividends to feather the nest egg. Banks also employ thousands of people, and asking banks to reduce their profits may threaten jobs. At least these are the types of arguments you can expect the banks to make. We heard them all before when banks were gouging their customers with service fees, and it didn’t prevent them from closing local branches in communities across Canada.

And, were it even possible for the federal government to force the banks to do something more substantial to help Canadians, it would undoubtedly throw free-market economists into a sky-is-falling financial frenzy.

But this is all beside the point. The sky has already fallen for the average Canadian. We are all making very real sacrifices right now.

It’s time Canada’s big banks finally stepped up and did the same, by providing real relief for their customers.

This opinion piece does not necessarily reflect the views of kawarthaNOW or its sponsors or advertisers.