Otonabee Conservation staff and volunteers (Meredith Carter, Dave Wood, and Jasmine Gibson) capturing fish from the Millbrook Dam spillway pool for transfer into Baxter Creek. Almost 800 fish were captured and released, along with more than 200 crayfish and a few frogs. (Photo courtesy of Otonabee Conservation)
Almost 800 fish, along with crayfish and frogs, that were living in a pool of water at the base of the Millbrook Dam spillway now have a new home.
The relocation of the fish, crustaceans, and amphibians was required as the pool is being drained for the reconstruction of the spillway, as part of the Millbrook Dam Reconstruction project.
On March 7, 2018, staff and volunteers with Otonabee Conservation — with the support of staff from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) — captured 797 fish and transferred them downstream into Baxter Creek.
The rescued fish represented nine species: 275 Brown Trout, 1 Brook Trout, 85 White Suckers, and over 400 Sculpin (Mottled and Slimy Sculpin species — commonly known to be trout food).
Staff from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (Jason Runtas, Jackie Wood, and Scott Gibson) holding a Brown Trout, one of 797 fish rescued from the pool at the base of the Millbrook Dam spillway. (Photo courtesy of Otonabee Conservation)Otonabee Conservation volunteer Dave Wood confirming the identification of a sculpin. (Photo courtesy of Otonabee Conservation)
Staff and volunteers also captured and released more than 200 crayfish and a handful of frogs.
Those involved with the fish rescue included Meredith Carter, Erin McGauley, Jasmine Gibson, Terri Cox, and Doug Clifford from Otonabee Conservation, Dave Wood (a volunteer with Otonabee Conservation), and Scott Gibson, Jackie Wood, and Jason Runtas from MNRF.
The contractor, FACCA Inc., kept the worksite safe and provided assistance when needed.
From left to right: Watershed Biologist Erin McGauley, Volunteer Dave Wood, Watershed Management Program Manager Meredith Carter, Planning Ecologist Jasmine Gibson, and Risk Management Official/Inspector Terri Cox with Otonabee Conservation. (Photo courtesy of Otonabee Conservation)
Kawartha Lakes Police Service Inspector Mark Mitchell volunteering in 2017. The 27-year veteran of the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service will replace retiring Chief of Police John Hagarty in August 2018. (Photo: Mark Mitchell / Twitter)
Mark Mitchell will be the new Chief of Police of the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service (KLPS), effective August 2018.
“Inspector Mitchell has very strong management skills and an exceptional proven leadership style”, says Police Services Boad Chair Don Thomas in a media release today (March 19).
“This is the first time in about 60 years that the Chief of Police has been hired from within the Police Service.”
Mitchell takes over the position from John Hagarty, who announced his retirement in September 2017 after serving as KLPS Chief for almost 12 years.
Mitchell began his policing career with the Peel Regional Police in 1988 and joined KLPS in 1990, where he has served as an Inspector for the past 10 years while being very active in the community.
In 2009, Mitchell took a leave of absence for a year to serve with the RCMP International Peace Operations Branch, where he helped soldiers train police officers in Afghanistan to fight terrorists. In 2001, he was awarded the South-West Asia Service Medal for his participation in the effort.
He has also received the Police Exemplary Service Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal.
“This is great news for the whole community,” says Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham, who is also a member of the police services board. “I don’t believe a country-wide search would have landed a more qualified candidate than Inspector Mitchell. We are luck to have him.”
Gilstorf & Gray of Bobcaygeon was one of the partners that assisted Modern Landscape Designers in staging the award-winning "Midnight in Paris" garden at Canada Blooms 2018. (Photo: Modern Landscape Designers)
This week’s business news includes Bobcaygeon’s Gilstorf & Gray being part of an award-winning team at Canada Blooms, Escape Maze’s new location at Lansdowne Mall in Peterborough, financing secured for FV Pharma Inc.’s indoor cannabis facility in Cobourg, the opening of Peterborough’s newest craft brewery Beard Free Brewing, the return of the Slingshot summer incubation program for young entrepreneurs, a $168-million contract for BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc. to benefit Peterborough, and same-day grocery pickup now available at Walmart’s Chemong Road location in Peterborough.
Upcoming regional business events include Kawartha Chamber’s Young Professionals Panel on March 20, a public meeting on the Downtown Lindsay Heritage Conservation District Plan on March 22, a web markup language workshop in Peterborough on March 24, a small business training session in Bobcaygeon on March 28, and more.
We publish businessNOW every Monday. If you have business news or events you want to share with our readers, please email business@kawarthanow.com.
Gilstorf & Gray of Bobcaygeon part of award-winning “Garden of the Year” team at Canada Blooms
Robin Burrows, owner of Gilstorf & Gray of Bobcaygeon (fourth from left), with lead designer Julie Moore of Modern Landscape Designers (holding the plaque) and other team members accepting the “Tony Di Giovanni Award – Judges Choice Garden of the Year 2018” from Canada Blooms officials. (Photo: Modern Landscape Designers)
Canada Blooms wrapped up this past weekend and a local Bobcaygeon business was involved in the top awards at the show.
Robin Burrows, owner of Gilstorf & Gray of Bobcaygeon, was part of the Modern Landscape Designers team that won the prestigious “Tony Di Giovanni Award – Judges Choice Garden of the Year 2018”, as well as the “S.G. Ulbright Award – Outstanding Medium Size Garden”.
Robin was invited by Julie Moore of Modern Landscape Designers to participate on the team to help create “Midnight in Paris”, a garden based on the 2011 fantasy romance film starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams and directed by Woody Allen, in keeping with the 2018 Canada Blooms “Let’s Go To The Movies” theme.
A detail from inside the “Midnight in Paris” greenhouse … note the Gilstorf & Gray cushion. (Photo: Modern Landscape Designers)
Robin staged the Midnight in Paris greenhouse that featured details and elements of an artist and gardener’s studio. The complex display required extensive design and construction setup including stonework, planted gardens, and a full greenhouse along with the meticulous staging details.
“It has been an amazing opportunity to showcase our shop, Bobcaygeon, and Kawartha Lakes to hundreds of thousands of consumers and industry professionals nationwide,” Robin says. “What a fabulous experience, and an honour to work with Modern Landscape Designers.”
Modern Landscape Designers recently relocated its business from the GTA to the City of Kawartha Lakes. For more information on Modern Landscape Designers, visit modernlandscapedesigners.com.
Escape Maze announces new location at Lansdowne Place called “PTBO Escape”
Escape Maze is known for their fun escape rooms located at 156 Cedar Bank Road in Peterborough, where Jake Walling and her family create an exciting world of game play where you and your friends are racing against the clock.
Now the business is opening a second location at Lansdowne Mall called “PTBO Escape”. They’ve just signed a lease and are renovating a unit at the mall.
The big announcement of the new location takes place live on the PTBO Escape Facebook page on Tuesday, March 20th at 10 a.m., but they’ve already posted a few teaser videos showing the renovation.
Today on #EscapeMazeTV Fred takes you on a tour of the new Location at Lansdowne Place Mall. There aren't any walls yet, but enjoy a sneak peak of where the walls will be!
Financing secured for FV Pharma Inc. indoor cannabis facility in Cobourg
FV Pharma Inc. has secured funding from Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp. to develop a cannabis cultivation facility in Cobourg at the site of the former Kraft food manufacturing plant, which closed in 2008. (Photo: Google Maps)
FV Pharma Inc. has entered into a binding agreement with Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp. to develop a new cannabis cultivation facility in Cobourg.
FV Pharma Inc. is located at the former Kraft food manufacturing plant on William Street in Cobourg, which includes an existing 620,000-square-foot facility on 32 acres of land as well as an additional 38 acres of land available for development. When the facility is completely developed in five years, around four million square feet will be available for cannabis cultivation and related businesses — which would make it the largest indoor cannabis cultivation facility in the world.
FV Pharma founder and CEO Thomas Fairfull secured a licence from Health Canada to legally grow medical marijuana last October, and the company entered into a letter of intent with Cannabis Wheaton in December. Cannabis Wheaton is a collective of entrepreneurs that provides financing and support for the legal marijuana industry.
Under the agreement, FV Pharma will provide Cannabis Wheaton with 49.9 per cent of all cannabis and cannabis-derived products produced at the Cobourg facility — an estimated 200,000 kilograms of cannabis per year when the facility is fully operational. In exchange, Cannabis Wheaton will assist FV Pharma with all aspects of the design, development, financing, build-out and operations of the facility, as well as the marketing, branding and distribution of all products produced at the facility.
Now that financing has been secured, FV Pharma expect to hire around 200 people in the next year to support the first phase of development for the facility. Additional jobs would be created as additional phases of development are completed.
When Kraft Canada closed its Cobourg plant in 2008, 250 jobs were lost.
New Peterborough craft brewery opening on March 23
Beard Free Brewing is located at 649 Unit 4 The Parkway in Peterborough and will be bottles from its storefront, which will also feature a small taproom. (Photo: Beard Free Brewing)
Beard Free Brewing, Peterborough’s latest craft brewery, is opening on Friday, March 23rd.
Located at 649 Unit 4 The Parkway in Peterborough, the microbrewery is a partnership between head brewer Nyckolas “Nick” Dubé, John Rozema, and Steveon Zablosky.
Beard Free Brewing produces four core beers named after Peterborough landmarks — “Simcoe St”, their signature dry hopped India Pale Ale (IPA); “Harstone”, a malty Irish Red Ale; “Lock 21”, a classic cream ale; and “Little Lake”, a French Saison — along with two or three seasonal, limited-release brews.
Bottles will be available from the brewery’s storefront, which will also feature a small taproom. As its a small microbrewery, Beard Free Brewing will not be distributed through the LCBO, at least not initially.
Slingshot incubation program for young entrepreneurs returns to Peterborough this summer
The Innovation Cluster and FastStart Peterborough are bringing back Slingshot, Peterborough’s summer incubation program for young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 29 which launched for the first time last year.
Successful applicants will receive coworking space in the downtown Cube along with tools, resources, and funding opportunities to grow their business — a value of $5,000 for four months.
Last year’s participants were MaryBeth Miller and Melissa Butler of XXIV Social, Alex Gastle of Vetterview, Richard Cochrane of Status Exempt, Geoff Wolfer of Front Office Hockey, Mackenzie Evenden of Evenden Imaging, and Tyler Williamson of World Tea Podcast.
Participants in the inaugural Slingshot program in 2017 included businesses related to social media, drones, hockey, influencer marketing, podcasting, and digital solutions. (Photo: Innovation Cluster)
Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 29, planning to start their company in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, and have an idea for a company or have been operational for under one year. Applicants outside of the region are encouraged to apply if they intend on making the move to Peterborough.
At the end of the summer, the most successful company will receive a $1,000 cash prize along with other prizes. Last year’s winner was Vetterview, a social media influencer marketplace created by founder and Slingshot participant Alex Gastle. He is now in London, England growing the company.
The application deadline is Monday, April 20th at midnight and successful applicants will move into the Cube to begin working on their company on May 1st.
Peterborough to benefit from BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc. $168-million contract extension
BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc. (BWXT NEC), a subsidiary of BWX Technologies, has been awarded a $168-million, five-year contract extension to manufacture fuel for Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington and Pickering nuclear generating stations.
Three of BWXT’s Canadian-based operations (Peterborough, Arnprior and Toronto) will directly benefit from the positive impacts of the contract extension.
The Arnprior operation produces zirconium-alloy tubes, while the Toronto facility produces natural uranium pellets. These components are shipped to the BWXT Peterborough facility where they are assembled into fuel bundles for the CANDU reactors.
BWXT NEC employs around 350 skilled employees at its Peterborough, Toronto, and Arnprior locations.
Formerly GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada, the Peterborough location was acquired by BWXT Canada Ltd. in 2016. GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada constructed its first building in Peterborough in 1905.
Same-day grocery pickup now available at Walmart in Peterborough
You can now order your groceries online from Walmart and pick them up at the Peterborough Supercentre location (1002 Chemong Rd., Peterborough).
The free service allows consumers to shop for their groceries online at Walmart.ca or through the Walmart smartphone app, and pick them up at the store on the same day.
VIDEO: Walmart Grocery Pickup
After trained Walmart staff prepare the order, shoppers pull into a designated pickup parking spot and call an assigned phone number. The order will be brought out to them and loaded into their vehicle. Orders must be placed before 11 a.m. for pick up after 4 p.m. The minimum order is $50 before taxes.
A similar service (“Click & Collect”) has been available at the Loblaw Real Canadian Superstore at Lansdowne Place in Peterborough since 2017.
Kawartha Chamber hosts Young Professionals Panel on March 20
Matt Logan (2013 Young Professional) with his wife Tracey, Lisa Besseling (2015 Young Professional), and Erin McLean (2017 Young Professional) will be the panelists of the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Young Professionals BOSS session on March 20, 2018. (Photos courtesy of Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism)
On Tuesday, March 20th, the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is hosting the latest in its Business Owners Sharing Solutions (BOSS) serminars.
This month’s session features a panel of local professionals, each of whom is a past recipient of the Chamber’s Young Professional Award of Excellence: Erin McLean of McLean Berry Farm, Lisa Besseling of Stony Lake Furniture Co., and Matt Logan of Logan Tree Experts.
Erin, Lisa, and Matt will be sharing their stories, successes, and challenges as young business owners.
Julia Wood, Economic Development Officer for the Rural and Agriculture sectors at Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, will be moderating the session.
The Young Professionals session is takes place at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 77 (10 Nicholls St., Lakefield) from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. The cost is $15 for Kawartha Chamber Members, and $25 for guests. A hot breakfast will be provided.
Bill 148 Information Session with the Ministry of Labour on March 20
On Tuesday, March 20th, the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Association (DBIA) are hosting an an information session with Kelly Howe, Regional Program Coordinator with the Ontario Ministry of Labour.
Howe will be speaking on how Bill 148 (Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017) changes the Employment Standards Act (ESA), along with the various ways a business could interact with the Ministry of Labour and differences between those interactions, as well as the powers a standards officer has under the ESA.
The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N., Peterborough). Networking begins at 5 p.m., with remarks from Howe from 5:20 to 6 p.m. followed by a facilitated question-and-answer session from 6;05 to 6:30 p.m., and more networking and one-on-one question time with Howe from 6;30 to 7 p.m.
The session is open to Peterboough Chamber and DBIA members. For more information and to register, visit www.peterboroughchamber.ca.
Panel discussion on communicating with the media on March 20
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre is presenting a panel discussion called “Telling your Story: How to Effectively Talk with the Media” on Tuesday, March 20th from 6 to 8 pm. at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough).
The panel discussion is intended for small business owners or entrepreneurs who struggle to share their story with local media. Panellists include local media professionals Paul Rellinger, Jessica Nyznik, and Catherine Hanrahan.
The discussion takes place in the Nexicom Studio. A cash bar will be available and light appetizers will be served.
Meet Trent University and Fleming College students seeking employment on March 20
The Trent Business Students’ Association is hosting “Peterborough Connects” from 12 to 1:45 p.m. at the Innovation Cluster (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
Employers can meet students from Trent University and Fleming College who are seeking employment, showcase their businessses, network with representatives from Trent University and Fleming College, and market any summer internship positions.
Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting on March 21
The Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce AGM will be held on March 21 at the the Kawartha Art Gallery. (Photo: Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce)
The Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce is holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21st at the Kawartha Art Gallery (190 Kent St. W., 2nd Floor, Lindsay).
At the AGM you can find out about the Chamber’s activities and successes of the past year, learn about Chamber initiatives for the coming year, review the financial statement, and pass a motion to accept the slate of Board members as presented.
There will also be an opportunity to view the Annual Student Juried Art Exhibit, featuring the talents of Lindsay secondary school students.
Public meeting on Downtown Lindsay Heritage Conservation District Plan on March 22
The Downtown Lindsay Heritage Conservation District. (Graphic: City of Kawartha Lakes)
The Downtown Lindsay Heritage Conservation Plan has been approved by City of Kawartha Lakes council and is moving forward to implementation.
All property owners in the downtown district are invited to a public meeting, co-hosted with the Downtown Lindsay BIA, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 22nd at the Olympia Restaurant (106 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
A stewardship guide will be available for all property owners who are seeking information on how to plan and acquire approvals for future changes or construction in the downtown district.
Trent Hills Business Excellence Awards nominations open til March 23
Nominations for the Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce 2018 Business Excellence Awards are open until Friday, March 23rd.
Nominations are limited to businesses, organizations, or individuals in the Trent Hills community or who are a member of the Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce.
Award categories include Excellence in Business (three employees or fewer), Excellence in Business (four employees or more), Emerging Entrepreneur, Pride and Progress, Customer Experience Award (Service Business), Customer Experience Award, Community Impact, Ignite 2018 (Business), Ignite 2018 (Non-Profit Organization), and the Chair’s Award.
Web markup language workshop in Peterborough on March 24
Volunteers and staff from Ladies Learning Code. (Photo: Innovation Cluster)
The national not-for-profit Canada Learning Code is hosting workshop called “Ladies Learning Code: HTML & CSS for Beginners” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 24th at The CUBE (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
Canada Learning Code workshops provide an inclusive opportunity for women, men and others who may often feel un-welcomed to enter the world of coding or are hesitant to start. The workshops provide a social and collaborative environment while promoting careers in technology.
This workshop will allow participants to learn HTML and CSS, the markup languages that drive the web and are an essential skill for web development. You will learn basic techniques and concepts that are translatable to programming languages, learn how HTML and CSS work together to create richer online experiences, learn how to create a rich website with images, video, and a CSS-defined layout, how to create a multi-page website, and what resources are available if you’d like to continue learning at home.
The workshop is for absolute beginners, so no previous experience or knowledge is required. You must bring your own laptop (although a limited quantity will be available for loan). The cost of the workshop is $55 and donations are encouraged to assist those who cannot afford to pay for the workshop.
Makeover seminar for retail businesses on March 27
Barbara Crowhurst is a retail specialist, business coach, writer, international speaker and trainer. She will be leading a retail makeover seminar on March 27, 2018. (Photo: Barbara Crowhurst)
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area are hosting “A Retail Makeover For Your Business” from 8 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 27th in the boardroom at VentureNorth (270 George St. N., Peterborough).
The seminar will be led by Barbara Crowhurst, North America’s leading retail business coach and trainer, who will have you evaluate your business and consider how you generate traffic, engage more customers, and generate higher revenues.
Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting on March 27
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, March 27th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Peterborough Golf & Country Club (1030 Armour Rd., Peterborough).
The AGM will take a look back at highlights from 2017 and chamber members will be asked to approved the corporation’s audited financial statements, the actions of the board of directors for 2017, and the proposed bylaw change.
The AGM will be followed by a special presentation by keynote speakers Jeffrey Humble, Director of Planning and Development Services with the City of Peterborough, and Bryan Weir, Director of Planning with the County of Peterborough.
The event costs $20 for members and $30 for non-members. Doors open at 7 a.m. for networking, with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. followed by the AGM at 8 a.m. and guest speakers at 8;30 a.m. For more information and to register, visit www.peterboroughchamber.ca.
Kawarthas Northumberland Regional Ambassador session on March 28
Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) is seeking frontline staff and business operators who want to become Kawarthas Northumberland Regional Tourism Ambassadors.
RTO8 is hosting a session on Wednesday, March 28th from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront (150 George St., Peterborough) where you can learn what it takes to be a Regional Ambassador and the tools you can use to stay up to date on what the region has to offer.
You can also meet other people who share your interest in encouraging visitors to stay longer, explore farther, and spend more during their visit.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Space is limited. To register, contact Sarah Kerr at sarahp@rto8.com or 705-874-8505 ext.102.
Small business training session in Bobcaygeon on March 28
The Kawartha Lakes Small Business Entrepreneurship Centre is hosting a free session on how to use the Business Model Canvas to start a new business or gain a better insight into their current business, and to learn more about the Starter Company Plus business training program.
The session takes place from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28th at the Bobcaygeon Service Centre (123 East St. S., Bobcaygeon).
Additional sessions will take place in April in Coboconk and Omemee: from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4th at the Coboconk Service Centre (9 Grandy Rd., Coboconk) and from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Coronation Hall (1 King St. W., Omemee).
If you are interested in attending one of these three free sessions, email bminhas@kawarthalakes.ca or call 705-324-9411 ext. 1383.
Peterborough resident Jeremiah Brown has written "The 4 Year Olympian", documenting his four-year journey from a novice rower to an Olympic medalist. (Photo courtesy of Jeremiah Brown)
Should Jeremiah Brown one day find himself onstage accepting a Juno Award, the least surprised person in the room will be Jeremiah Brown.
For sure the lifelong musician would be thrilled, no question, but surprised? Not even close. But then should we expect anything less from someone who learned how to row competitively from scratch and, just four years later, brought home a silver medal from the London 2012 Summer Olympics as a member of Canada’s men’s eights team?
If that’s not impressive enough, the Hamilton-born Peterborough resident can now add ‘author’ to his resumé.
The 4 Year Olympian, Brown’s recounting of the determined journey that took him from novice rower status to the Olympic podium, will be released in Canada on March 24th with the U.S. release to follow in mid-April.
Jeremiah Brown (right) and other members of Team Canada’s men’s eights rowing team with their silver medals following the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. (Photo: Team Canada / Canadian Olympic Committee)
However, in Peterborough, his book is now available at Chapters (873 Lansdowne Street East) and Hunter Street Books (164 Hunter Street West).
“After the Olympics, I had the time to reflect on the experience,” recounts the 32-year-old Brown.
“My plan was to self-publish an ebook for college rowers — part memoir, part how-to. The early draft was pretty bad, but I sent it to 100 rowers asking for feedback. What I heard back was ‘we want to hear more about your story and the motivations that drove you’.
“In the same way I decided I’m going to go the Olympics, I decided I’m going to write a book.”
Such lofty ambition could be interpreted as cockiness, but that would sell short what motivated Brown then (and still does) to aspire to and attain goals that would seem well out of reach for the rest of us. To help us understand that, Brown points to a serious “run in with the law” when he was 17 years old and living in Cobourg — “A stupid prank that went too far.”
“I went through a process where I thought ‘I’m not a bad guy. I’m a good kid. I just made a stupid mistake’,” he recalls. “At one point I was facing eight months in youth penitentiary. That never happened but it was close. That kind of scared the shit out of me, but it also made me determined to prove to myself — and others — that I could achieve whatever potential I wanted to achieve.”
While Brown had no rowing experience prior to his beginning his journey to the Olympics, he was active athletically, playing minor hockey and later (at McMaster University in Hamilton where he attained a business degree) playing football for the Marauders.
Jeremiah Brown with Amy and their son Ethan while Brown was playing football at McMaster University in Hamilton. (Photo: Jeremiah Brown / Dundurn Press)
It was at McMaster, while the 19-year-old Brown was trying to make the varsity football team, that he learned Amy, his girlfriend of four years, was pregnant.
“An atomic bomb blasted through my ambitions, my future … our future,” he writes in his book. “The feeling was like anticipating being behind bars, only this was much worse. This was a life sentence.”
“I thought ‘Is this it? I’ve got to get the job, the mortgage and the car payments. Am I settling down? Is this the rest of my life?’,” Brown says, explaining his initial reaction to the news. “I’m very goal-oriented. To me, it was death thinking about everything being predictably predictable.”
After the initial shock, he regrouped and refocused his priorities.
“We’re going to do this together,” he says of his new plan at the time. “We’re going to raise this kid and we’re going to do a damn good job.”
While he and Amy looked after their new son Ethan, Brown continued to study at McMaster and play football. But then he suffered a serious shoulder injury, requiring surgery and eight months of rehabilitation, that shattered his dream of playing for the CFL.
“Things don’t always work out but sometimes they do. You don’t know until you try. I started rowing when I was 23. Most rowers at that level would have begun in high school.” (Photo courtesy of Jeremiah Brown)
During that final football season at McMaster, Brown had his first taste of rowing at a fundraiser organized by the university’s rowing team. He discovered the shoulder injury didn’t prevent him from rowing, but he wasn’t really interested in the sport. “I never thought I’d sit on a rowing machine again,” he writes in his book.
A couple of years later, he watched television coverage of the Canadian men’s eights gold medal performance at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
“I thought, ‘Man, they look a lot like me. Maybe I should do that. What’s to stop me from being up on that podium?'”
Together with Amy and their now three-year-old son, Brown moved to British Columbia where he found work as an analyst with TD Bank in Victoria, where the national men’s eights rowing team trains. Before long he hooked up with rowing coach Doug White who, Brown says, “was keen to go on the journey with me.”
Jeremiah Brown with his Olympic silver medal. You can meet Brown and try on his silver medal at the Peterborough launch of his new book “The 4 Year Olympian” on March 31st at Chapter’s Brown will be donating a portion of proceeds of book sales at theat event to the Peterborough Rowing Club. (Photo courtesy of Jeremiah Brown)
“When you think about the lofty goals we have for ourselves, I get the sense a lot of people wait until people show a belief in them,” he says. “To begin on your own, it’s got to start from within. It’s your responsibility to start; to take the first step.
“When you begin, that’s when people recognize your conviction, your intensity, and your desire. It’ll come through if you’re genuine and really want to get after that goal. I made the promise to myself that I was going to do this; no matter how hard it gets, I’m going to stick with it.”
Under White’s guidance, Brown did just that and, remarkably, was named to the national rowing team in January 2011. Just three weeks before the 2012 Olympics got underway, he was named to the men’s eights team.
“The experience was a roller coaster,” Brown says. “We went in as the third-ranked crew in the world, so the expectation was to at least win bronze.
“In our first heat, we went at a higher stroke rate than we had ever done before, and came last by 13 seconds. In that event, that’s a disaster. We were distraught.”
But Brown and his teammates rebounded in a big way from that setback, earning a place in the men’s eights final and finishing second to three-time reigning champion Germany, earning the silver medal.
“My memories are of training with the guys and what we went through together. I’m proud of how we kept our composure and got through that. But at the end of the day, things become the past pretty quickly. A recipe for depression is to try to live forever in a moment in time you experienced.”
That understanding serves Brown well in his current position at the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national manager of “Game Plan”, an athlete wellness and transition program supporting 3,000 Olympic, Paralympic, and national team athletes across more than 54 sports.
“Situational depression strikes a lot of athletes. It’s a whole identity crisis thing: ‘Who am I now? The thing that I was chasing, it’s gone now.’ Our program is designed to try to make that transition smoother.”
VIDEO: “The 4 Year Olympian” Book Trailer
Like rowing, putting pen to paper in a purposeful way was a leap of faith for Brown — but early reviews of The 4 Year Olympian have been very positive. Ken McQueen of Maclean’s describes the book as “gutsy, unflinching and ultimately inspiring.” He could very well have been describing its author.
“My hope is people who read this book will be inspired and feel like it’s up to them and, if they take that first step, then they’re on their way,” says Brown.
“Things don’t always work out but sometimes they do. You don’t know until you try. I started rowing when I was 23. Most rowers at that level would have begun in high school. I can’t tell you I’m going to achieve every goal I set, but I know how to go about it. I’ve figured that out. I’ve demystified what it takes to achieve goals.
“There’s nothing to it other than being focused and consistently working at it every single day. I don’t care if it’s writing or rowing or being a musician, that’s a fundamental truth.”
“The 4 Year Olympian” by Jeremiah Brown will be available online on March 24, 2018, but copies are already available in Peterborough at Chapter’s and Hunter Street Books. (Photo: Dundurn Press)
Admitting his Olympic medal and now a published book are “tough acts to follow,” Brown is excited to further pursue another lifelong passion: music. He took classical piano as a youth for 10 years and has been playing the drums since he was seven.
“Music is something you can do all your life. And you can always improve. It’s such a joy to play with other musicians, so I’d like to become a better musician.”
Bottom line? We’d be wise to not rule out that Juno Award one day coming Brown’s way.
You can meet Brown — and try on his Olympic silver medal — at his Peterborough book launch at Chapter’s (873 Lansdowne St., Peterborough) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 31st.
Brown will be donating 15 per cent of all book sales during the event to the Peterborough Rowing Club, to fund the purchase of a new rowing shell from Hudson Boat Works.
For information about Jeremiah Brown and The 4 Year Olympian, including where to buy the book, visit www.the4yearolympian.com.
Spring officially arrives on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 12:15 p.m.
The arrival of spring in the northern hemisphere is marked by the vernal equinox: the moment when the earth’s axis is perpendicular to the sun, so the sun’s rays shine directly on the equator.
There’s an equinox in the spring and another in the fall, the difference being whether the sun’s rays are crossing the equator into the northern hemisphere (spring) or into the southern hemisphere (fall).
Spring arrives in the northern hemisphere when the equator passes the centre of the sun’s disk and the earth’s axis is perpendicular to the sun. Daylight hours begin to increase until June, as the northern hemisphere increasingly tilts towards the sun. (Photo: NASA)
The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal” and “night”, but it doesn’t mean there are actually equal hours of day and night.
At sunrise and sunset, it’s still light even though the centre of the sun’s disk is below the horizon … so there are always a few more minutes of daylight than night on the vernal equinox.
However, the vernal equinox does marks the day when we begin to get more hours of daylight than night, as the northern hemisphere increasingly tilts towards the sun.
Daylight hours continue to increase until the summer solstice — the longest day of the year and the official beginning of summer — which occurs this year on Thursday, June 21 at 6:07 a.m.
If you ever wondered why rabbits and eggs are associated with the Christian spring holiday of Easter, it’s because Easter began as a pagan festival celebrating the return of life in the northern hemisphere, with rabbits and eggs symbolizing fertility.
Spring is celebrated with festivals around the world, including Holi (“festival of colours”) in India, the Chinese New Year, and Passover and Easter in western culture.
Easter — Good Friday this year falls on Friday, March 30th — began as a pagan festival celebrating the return of life in the northern hemisphere. After the advent of Christianity, it became associated with the resurrection of Christ.
However, remnants of Easter’s pagan roots can be seen in the symbols of fertility we associate with the holiday: rabbits and eggs.
Championed by Bill Lockington (front centre) and administered by Electric City Culture Council through Executive Director Sue Ditta (second from left), the inaugural Peterborough Arts Awards will be presented to six individuals who have shown outstanding achievement in the arts. Also pictured, from left to right, are sponsors Shelley Barrie of Merit II Realty Limited, Paul Hickey of BrandHealth, Kate Ramsay (behind Bill Lockington), and Betty Morris of The Stewart Group, along with Bill Kimball of Public Energy and writer and performer Kate Story. Not pictured: sponsor Paul Bennett of Ashburnam Realty. (Photo: Tammy Thorne / kawarthaNOW.com)
Artists make an invaluable contribution to Peterborough’s quality of life, and it’s time they receive the recognition they deserve.
That’s the message the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) and its supporters shared today (March 15) at the Art Gallery of Peterborough, as they announced the inaugural Peterborough Arts Awards.
Championed by Bill Lockington of LLF Lawyers, the $2,000 awards will be presented to six individuals who have shown outstanding achievement in the arts.
The inaugural Peterborough Arts Awards will be presented during the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts on May 25, 2018. (Graphic: Electric City Culture Council)
The awards will be presented during the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts on May 25, 2018, with special guest speaker Wanda Nanibush, curator of Indigenous Arts at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Lockington led the sponsorship campaign, raising $60,000 to support each of the awards for five years. Awards will be given to Indigenous, emerging, mid-career, and senior artists of any discipline, as well as an arts champion, and an arts catalyst.
“It’s one of those things our community was missing,” said Lockington, whose firm is sponsoring the award for outstanding achievement in Indigenous art.
“We spend so much time on economic development, yet the cultural community makes a huge contribution, not only economically and in driving tourism, but there’s a feeling, an important cultural aspect it brings to our community. It is so important to promote this, and then sustain that promotion.
“There wasn’t a recognition of the arts and what it means for this community. That was my motivation. If an artist wins one of these awards from their peers in the community, it will mean something for their career.”
Bill Lockington of LLF Lawyers led the sponsorship campaign, raising $60,000 to support each of the Peterborough Arts Awards for five years. “There wasn’t a recognition of the arts and what it means for this community. That was my motivation.” (Photo: Tammy Thorne / kawarthaNOW.com)
Lockington said his personal interest in the arts is very eclectic.
“Musically, I’m a big Willie Nelson fan. Artistically, locally, I love Peer Christensen’s work. I’m a Georgia O’Keeffe fan on a bigger scale, because I do macro photography and love big florals.”
The other sponsors for the Peterborough Arts Awards are: Shelley and Tim Barrie of Merit II Realty Limited (Outstanding Emerging Artist); Betty and Bill Morris of The Stewart Group (Outstanding Mid-Career Artist); Paul Hickey of BrandHealth (Outstanding Senior Artist); Paul Bennett of Ashburnam Realty (Arts Champion); and Kate and Alex Ramsay (Arts Catalyst).
Honourary Patron Mayor Daryl Bennett, who could not make it for the announcement today, said that Peterborough’s thriving arts community “contributes to the exceptional quality of life in our region.”
Bill Lockington of LLF Lawyers with EC3 executive director Sue Ditta at the announcement of the inaugural Peterborough Arts Awards, held March 15, 2018 at Art Gallery of Peterborough. (Photo: Tammy Thorne / kawarthaNOW.com)
EC3 Executive Director Sue Ditta said this is the first time that artists in the community have been recognized with awards like this — but that the seed was planted over a decade ago with her friend Liz Bierk, wife of world-famous Peterborough-based artist, the late David Bierk.
“The original idea to do an arts awards program was something Liz and I talked about as part of the City’s centennial celebrations,” Ditta said.
“We did a lot of arts projects as part of those celebrations, but never did an award. Then, when the City did its Municipal Cultural Plan in 2012, it set up EC3 and said it wanted a council to support arts in the community, and one of the priorities was an arts awards program.
“Liz was a great inspiration, but these awards are an EC3 project and it’s something that Bill Lockington has managed.”
Ditta said another great thing they’ll be doing at the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts is handing out four bursaries for students.
“The Bierk Art Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough is sponsoring the bursaries for students pursuing post secondary education in visual arts,” she said. The Bierk Art Fund was established to honour the memory and celebrate the life of Liz Bierk and to support arts and culture projects in Peterborough)
Winners of the Peterborough Arts Awards will be chosen by a jury of peers. Ditta said the jury would include “other artists, curators, critics, and champions — and people who will obviously have agreed not to be nominated.”
She added that the jury has not been chosen yet and won’t be disclosed until the day of the awards.
Nominations are open until 5 p.m. on Monday, April 23, 2018 ecthree.org and can be made by (or for) any resident of the City or County of Peterborough. EC3 will be hosting a workshop to provide support and advice on the nomination process at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17th at The Theatre on King (159 King St., Peterborough).
St. Patrick's Day falls on a Saturday this year, so there's lots of live music on March 17th to help you celebrate being Irish for a day. Local Celtic band Hunt the Hare (Jonathan Berlingeri, Frank Callaghan, Kane Miller, and Brendan Quigley) is performing at three venues on Saturday: McThirsty's Pint at 12 p.m. and The Social at 3 p.m. in downtown Peterborough and at The Canoe & Paddle in Lakefield at 8 p.m. (Photo: Hunt the Hare)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, March 15 to Wednesday, March 21.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
St. Patrick's Day Bash ft Hal Draper (12-3pm), Kate Kelly & Bobby Watson (3-6pm), Present Tense (6-9pm), and Northern Soul (9pm-12am)
Coming Soon
Saturday, March 24 1:30-5pm - PMBA Deluxe Blues Jam hosted by Kim Doolittle, Kirsten Addis, and Emily Burgess (by donation, PMBA t-shirts available for $25)
Frank's Pasta and Grill
426 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-2727
Friday, March 16
9pm-12am - Karaoke; 12am - DJ
Saturday, March 17
St. Patrick’s Day w/ Little Lake (8pm) and DJ McPimpin (11:30pm)
Wednesday, March 21
8-11pm - Open Mic
Coming Soon
Saturday, March 24 8pm - Joker; 11:30pm - DJ
Ganaraska Hotel
30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254
Friday, March 16
10pm - DJ Loco Joe
Saturday, March 17
3-6pm & 9pm - St. Patrick's Day w/ Washboard Hank & the Shananigans
Wednesday, March 21
8pm - Open mic w/ Rob Foreman and Clayton Yates
Coming Soon
Friday, March 23 10pm - DJ Loco Joe
Saturday, March 24 2pm & 10pm - Blueprint
The Garnet
231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 874-0107
Thursday, March 15
5pm - Pints N Politics; 9pm - Pat Maloney. Mary-Kate Edwards, Patrick Dorie ($10)
Friday, March 16
5pm - Forselli Fridays; 9pm - Deux Trois, Maximum Chill, People You Meet Outside Bars
Saturday, March 17
5-7pm - Chester Babcock
Monday, March 19
9pm - Noah Derksen w/ Mary-Kate Edwards ($7-$10)
Coming Soon
Thursday, March 22 5pm - Pints N Politics
Friday, March 23 5pm - Forselli Fridays w/ Ben Rough; 9pm - Huttch w/ Paper Shakers
Saturday, March 24 10pm - Famines, Pseudo, Belly Flop ($8)
Sunday, March 25 8pm - Nick Ferrio, Shadowhand
Golden Wheel Restaurant
6725 Highway 7, Peterborough
(705) 749-6838
Thursday, March 15
7-9pm - Pop Country Line Dancing Lessons w/ Tina O'Rourke (beginner plus to intermediate, $7)
Saturday, March 17
8pm - St. Patrick's Day Party ft House Brand ($20 for dinner at 7pm and music)
Wednesday, March 21
7-9pm - Line Dancing Lessons w/ Marlene Maskell ($7 per person, all levels welcome)
Coming Soon
Saturday, April 14 7pm - Odd Man Rush ($20 for dinner and show)
Gordon Best Theatre
216 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 876-8884
Coming Soon
Saturday, March 24 7-9:30pm - The Wakami Wailers w/ Glen Caradus & Michael Ketemer ($25, proceeds to Camp Kawartha)
Hot Belly Mama's
378 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 745-3544
Thursday, March 15
8pm - Quickshifterst (PWYC)
Junction Nightclub
253 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 743-0550
Saturday, March 17
9pm - St. Patrick's Day w/ DJ Bill Porter
McGillicafey's Pub & Eatery
13 Bridge St.. N., Hastings
(705) 696-3600
Thursday, March 15
7-11pm - Karaoke w/ Jefrey Danger
Friday, March 16
8pm - Live music (TBA)
Saturday, March 17
9pm - St. Paddy's Day Party w/ The Hard to Handle Band
Wednesday, March 21
7-10:30pm - Open mic w/ Phoxy Music
McThirsty's Pint
166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220
Thursdays
9pm - Live music with Tony Silvestri
Fridays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
Saturday, March 17
12-2pm - Hunt the Hare
Sundays
8pm - Open stage hosted by Ryan Van Loon
Mondays
9:30pm - Trivia Night hosted by Cam Green
Tuesdays
9pm - Topper Tuesdays w/ DJ Jake Topper
Wednesdays
9pm - Live music with Kevin Foster
The Mill Restaurant and Pub
990 Ontario St., Cobourg
(905) 377-8177
Thursday, March 15
7pm - Madman's Window
Saturday, March 17
St. Patrick's Day w/ The Spirits (2pm) and Bruce Longman (4pm)
Coming Soon
Thursday, March 22 7pm - Greg Hannah Band
Murphy's Lockside Pub & Patio
3 May St., Fenelon Falls
(705) 887-1100
Coming Soon
Friday, March 30 8pm - Jesse Slack
Oasis Bar & Grill
31 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-6634
Thursdays
6:30pm - Live music
Sundays
5:30pm - PHLO
Wednesdays
6:30pm - Live music
Pappas Billiards
407 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-9010
Thursday, March 15
7-10pm - Open Mic
Pastry Peddler
17 King St., Millbrook
(705) 932-7333
Coming Soon
Saturday, March 24 5:30pm & 7:45pm - Blues Dinner Night w/ live music by Lotus Wight and Saskia ($50 per person)
Pattie House Smokin' Barbecue
6675 Highway 35, Coboconk
(705) 454-8100
Saturday, March 17
St. Patrick's Day w/ Fiddler Jay (3-6pm) and Al Matthews (6:30-9:30pm)
Publican House Brewery
300 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5743
Friday, March 16
8-10pm - Cale Crowe
Saturday, March 17
St. Patrick's Day w/ live music by Rob Phillips (3-6pm) and Tony Silvestri (8-11pm)
Coming Soon
Friday, March 23 8-10pm - Danny Bronson
Saturday, March 24 8-10pm - Rob Phillips
Puck' N Pint Sports Pub
871 Chemong Rd., Peterborough
(705) 741-1078
Saturday, March 17
9:30pm - St. Patrick's Day w/ High Waters Band
Red Dog Tavern
189 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 741-6400
Thursday, March 15
9pm - The Discarded w/ with The Trespassers
Friday, March 16
Connor Clarken
Saturday, March 17
7pm - Colt Harley
Tuesday, March 20
9pm - Open mic w/ Matt Diamond (sign up at 8pm)
Coming Soon
Friday, March 23 10pm - Peterborough Folk Festival presents BA Johnston ($4 before 8pm, $8 after)
Saturday, March 24 Modest Apollo
Friday, March 30 Emily Burgess
Saturday, March 31 Rainbow Romp
Thursday, April 5 Diamond Dave
Saturday, April 7 Hill Dum
Saturday, April 21 Silverhearts
Riley's
257 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 750-1445
Thursdays
Travis Berlinbach
Fridays
Travis Berlinbach
Saturdays
Josh Gontier
Sundays
Josh Gontier
Mondays
Josh Gontier
Tuesdays
Josh Gontier & Cale Gontier
Wednesdays
Guest performers
Sapphire Room
137 Hunter St., Peterborough
(705) 749-0409
Friday, March 16
9pm - Borderless Bound Records presents Luna Li, Shirazi, DJ Molly ($10)
Coming Soon
Friday, March 23 8-10pm - Spoken word featuring Sam Speaks, Niambi Tree, Kristal Jones, Fraser Rishi, Mc Rainbow Maxwell w/ Mary-Kate Edwards opening
The Social
295 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 874-6724
Friday, March 16
10pm - Nashville Night ft Greg Williams
Saturday, March 17
St. Patrick's Day ft Hunt The Hare (3pm), DJ Morgan (5pm), Paper Shakers (8pm), Oh Geronimo (9pm), Austin Carson Band (10:30pm), DJ Morgan (12am) (free cover all day, $5 after 10pm)
VIDEO: "Hunt the Hare"
Southside Pizzeria
25 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough
(705) 748-6120
Fridays
9am-12pm - Open mic ($2)
The Trend
110 London St., Peterborough
(705) 750-1265
Coming Soon
Thursday, March 22 8-11pm - Trent University Music Society Open Mic
Turtle John's Bar & Grill
4620 County Road 45, Cobourg
(905) 377-9113
Friday, March 16
10pm - Joker
Turtle John's Pub & Restaurant
64 John St., Port Hope
(905) 885-7200
Coming Soon
Saturday, March 24 10pm - Cindy & Scott
The Venue
286 George Street North, Peterborough
(705) 876-0008
Saturday, March 17
10pm - Trent International Students' Association Cultural Outreach St. Patrick's Day After Party ft Blinkyindcut, Kizzy Damuth, Kyng Shine & DJ Vin ($10)
A celebration of the life of Stuart McMaster, who passed away on March 13, 2018, will be held in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre on March 21st. (Photo: McMaster family)
Stuart McMaster, the husband of local playwright Beth McMaster, passed away quietly at his home on Tuesday, March 13th at the age of 85.
Born in Welland, Stuart grew up in Perth and attended Teachers’ College in Ottawa. He began his teaching career at the Rockcliffe Airport School in Ottawa, where he met his wife-to-be Beth.
They married in 1956 and moved back to Beth’s home town of Peterborough, where they would raise their three children.
Stuart continued his teaching career at various schools in the Peterborough area from 1959 until his retirement in 1989.
Stuart McMaster (right) in 1986 when he was a teacher at Keith Wightman Public School in Peterborough. kawarthaNOW’s own Sam Tweedle (left, in the Batman t-shirt) was one of his students. (Photo: Correna Drummond-Hale / Facebook)
An avid gardener, Stuart transformed the McMaster’s country home into a place of beauty, where it was enjoyed as a stop on the Art Gallery Garden Tour, by local artists who came to paint, and more.
Stuart was also an artist himself, working in oils and acrylics, and he created props and sets for the Peterborough Theatre Guild, of which his wife Beth was a member and playwright, and other local theatre companies.
Recently, Stuart created the visuals for The Legendary Icon Series at Showplace Performance Centre, written and narrated by Beth. The popular presentation of history, trivia, imagery and music profiled entertainers such as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Noel Coward, Judy Garland, Johnny Mercer, and more.
Stuart has been cremated and will be buried in the spring at Hillside Cemetery in Lakefield.
Friends are invited to celebrate Stuart’s life at a reception in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre, which will be held on Wednesday, March 21st from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Stuart is survived by his wife, his sister, his three children, and his five grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested people donate to their favourite charity.
Peterborough City Council has approved funding to support the development of a single-source organics pickup program in Peterborough, similar to other Ontario municipalities. The program will collect curbside kitchen waste for residents beginning in fall 2019.
Peterborough City Council has approved funding to support the development of a single-source organics pickup program in Peterborough.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Danica Jarvis, GreenUP Environmental Education Coordinator.
The program will collect curbside kitchen waste for residents beginning in fall 2019.
Over the last 10 years, many municipalities in Ontario have put similar programs in place. The question on many local residents minds is, how will this program impact our community?
The hope is that an organics collection program will help us to significantly reduce our waste, and will also help to reduce the negative environmental and human health impacts associated with sending valuable resources to landfill.
On average, Ontarians produce more than 850 kilograms of waste each year — one of the highest per capita rates in the world. While we have implemented comprehensive recycling programs in many communities, only about 25 per cent of our waste is recycled.
If this behaviour continues, the Bensfort Road landfill site will be full within 20 years.
In other communities across the province, organics collection programs have been very successful, adding years to the lifespan of existing landfills. This is because a significant amount of the waste we produce is actually food waste.
Tara Stephen, Manager of Waste Management with the County of Peterborough, says that 50 per cent of residential garbage bags are filled with organics. This includes fruit and vegetable peelings, meats and bones, wasted food, pet waste, and leaf/yard waste.
Fleming College students conduct a waste audit on behalf of the County of Peterborough. Waste audits capture waste generation habits by analyzing contents of garbage and recycling; results showed that 50% of residential garbage bags are filled with organic waste that could be diverted from landfill. (Photo courtesy of GreenUP)
The County of Peterborough regularly completes waste audits to provide local food waste data. Waste audits capture waste generation habits by analyzing contents of garbage and recycling. These audits are a snapshot in time and provide an overview of current waste habits in the area.
So what does 50 per cent food waste add up to?
It is between one and three pounds per garbage bag during an average week. In Canada, the cost of that wasted food is $31 billion per year!
When we send food and organic wastes to the landfill, we also lose valuable organic materials that can be turned into rich compost and add critical nutrients to our soil base.
This is all part of creating a more circular economy, where waste can be recovered, reused, and reintegrated, rather than an economy in which goods are purchased, used, and then disposed of.
Reducing the amount of food waste and organic materials going to landfill is also a critical step toward reducing the greenhouse gas emissions created by our waste sector.
According to the Province’s Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario, our provincial waste sector was responsible for 9.4 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions last year, the majority of which came from organic waste. According to the strategy, this is because “when good and organic materials are landfilled, they break down and emit methane, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more harmful to our climate than carbon dioxide.”
To put this in a global perspective, if food waste were a country, it would be the world’s third largest emitter — surpassed only by China and the United States. That is a staggering statistic.
Fortunately, the City of Peterborough is moving towards the responsible choice of recovering organic waste through curbside collection. In the County of Peterborough, the Waste Management Plan is currently under review for 2018, and a single-source organics collection program is being considered there too.
Curbside organics collection will collect curbside kitchen waste for residents beginning in fall 2019. In the interim, GreenUP is rolling out a new at-home compost installation program in partnership with the City of Peterborough. The “Kitchen to Compost: Too good to waste” program will begin in May 2018.
A new collaborative including Peterborough Public Health, the County of Peterborough, Nourish, The City of Peterborough, GreenUP, and Sustainable Peterborough has also been developing a campaign to educate the local population with the goal of preventing wasted food.
This community-driven initiative will feature an event during Local Food Month in September, which will include a panel of experts sharing residential tips and trick for preventing food waste. There will be opportunities leading up to Local Food Month to participate in and evaluate your own waste habits at home. Details will be released within the upcoming months.
In the meantime, GreenUP is rolling out a new at-home compost installation program in partnership with the City of Peterborough. The “Kitchen to Compost: Too good to waste” program will begin in May 2018.
Homeowners in the City of Peterborough can have a home compost system delivered and installed. along with instructions for its use — all for only $20, which is less than the regular cost of a composter.
For more information about the Kitchen to Compost program, or the food waste initiative, please contact danica.jarvis@greenup.on.ca or call 705-745-3238 ext 216.
A resident of R.J. Brooks Retirement Centre in Bancroft had died following a fire on March 15, 2018.
Update March 27, 2018 – Police have identified the victim of the fire as 75-year-old Margaret Kellestine of Bancroft. The Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office has determined that the cause of the fire was deemed accidental due to careless smoking.
An elderly woman has died in an early-morning fire at the R.J. Brooks Retirement Centre in Bancroft.
At around 2 a.m. on Thursday (March 15), the Bancroft Fire Department responded to a fire in one of the units in the facility, located at 1 Alice Street in Bancroft.
At 4 a.m., Bancroft OPP were called to the facility when a 74-year-old woman was found dead after the fire was extinguished.
The cause of the fire is unknown, and the woman’s name is not being released pending notification of next of kin.
Bancroft OPP, Bancroft Fire Department, the Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office, and the Office of the Chief Coroner are assisting with the investigation.
All residents have been evacuated from the R.J. Brooks Centre and have been moved to the Bancroft Bible Chapel, next door to the centre.
Police are asking people who wish to check on residents to do so at the Bancroft Bible Chapel.
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