Lots More Snow Expected On Christmas Eve Making This A Winter *Winter* Wonderland

Environment Canada has issued a special advisory for Christmas Eve for the area, with snowfall of at least 5 to 10 cm expected for Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

Throwback image of snow in Peterborough courtesy Trent Valley Archives

Snow will begin late Sunday afternoon, with the bulk of the white stuff falling on Christmas Eve. General snowfall amounts of up to 10 cm are expected by the time the system passes through on Christmas morning.

Throwback image of snow in Peterborough courtesy Trent Valley Archives

Environment Canada says there will be challenging travelling conditions at times for those visiting family and friends during this holiday time.

So enjoy the Winter Wonderland but be safe.

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City of Peterborough Announces Free Tim Hortons Holiday Skating

The City of Peterborough has announced Free Tim Hortons Holiday Skating at the Evinrude Arena over the holiday season.
 
Free public skating will be available from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. on the following dates:
 
• Tuesday, December 26, 2017
• Wednesday, December 27, 2017
• Monday, January 1, 2018
• Tuesday, January 2, 2018
• Thursday, January 4, 2018

All participants are asked to follow the Skaters Code of Conduct available online here.
 
The City of Peterborough thanks the local Tim Horton Restaurant Owners for making this opportunity possible.

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Douro-Dummer Mayor J. Murray Jones Absent Due To Health Issues

The Township of Douro-Dummer is notifying the public that Mayor J. Murray Jones will be taking a leave while he recovers from recent surgery.

"I am on the mend and will be back holding the gavel at the Council table soon," Mayor Jones says. "I want to thank my wife, Anne, my family as well as all my friends and neighbours for their support."

The date of Mayor Jones’ return to his duties is not known at this time, but it is hopeful that it will be early in 2018.

While Mayor Jones recovers, Deputy Mayor Moher will assume any necessary tasks in the absence of the Mayor. “Council will ensure that the Township of Douro-Dummer continues to operate in our usual manner,” says Mayor Jones.

We wish Mayor Jones all the best with his recovery.

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City Of Peterborough Holding Ash Lumber Sale

To promote sustainability in urban forest management, the City of Peterborough has reclaimed lumber from ash trees grown in the City that have been affected by the Emerald Ash Borer. 

This lumber will be for sale on Wednesday, October 11th and Thursday, October 12th while supplies last.

Location -> Waste Water Treatment Facility, 425 Kennedy Road, Peterborough
(Building 25, first turning right as you go into the Waste Water Treatment Facility)
Date -> October 11th and 12th
Time -> 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
 
The sawmilled and partly seasoned boards are available in various widths and lengths but generally are about 8 feet long and 6-12 inches wide. The boards are priced based on thickness; 1 inch thick costing $7 each and 2 inch thick boards costing $15 each.
 
All lumber is of varying quality and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Note the City cannot reserve any of the wood in advance of the sale and the buyer will be responsible for loading all purchases into their own vehicle and removing the wood at the time of the sale.

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A Son On His Family's Anxiety About His Dad Losing His Job When GE Plant Closes

The Fuller family, like many other GE families in Peterborough, are all feeling anxious right now. With the GE Plant here closing in Fall 2018 after 125 years in the community, Robert Fuller will be one of about 350 employees losing his job.

"I think our biggest fear is the unknown of what next year will bring when GE closes," his son Connor, 24, tells PTBOCanada. "What will my Dad do for work? How will our living situation change? How will GE compensate its employees? There's a lot of unanswered questions that I feel many families are thinking about right now."

Connor with his Dad, Robert

The Bridgenorth family—which also includes Connor's mother Kim (a bookkeeper at the Real Canadian Superstore in Peterborough), his sister Kaitlin and their family dog, Sadie—are in shock about the news of the plant closing, and Connor says his Dad doesn't know what he will do when he loses his well paid job and security.

"My father has worked there 27 years," Connor tells PTBOCanada. "He doesn't have a college education, so GE is all he knows. He'll be 53 when they close, so he's not old enough to retire, but too old to find a new job again."

Photo by Evan Holt

Both Connor and his sister Kaitlin still reside at home after their post secondary education and while both have careers—Connor as quality control technician for Publican House Brewery in Peterborough, his sister as a registered vet tech in Woodbridge, Ont., where she commutes—this has not alleviated the stress the family feels about making mortage payments.

"I don't know if we can afford to live in our house with my Dad's current salary getting taken away," says Connor. "Next fall will be very hard not just for us, but for every family affected by this."

Got a GE story to share? Email us at tips@ptbocanada.com.

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PRHC Foundation Receives $1 Million Pledge From McCloskey International

The PRHC Foundation has announced a pledged gift of $1 million from McCloskey International in support of outstanding patient care for children and babies at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).

The announcement was made at the Greenbridge Celtic Folk Festival hosted by internationally‐renowned musicians Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, and held this weekend on the McCloskey family property in Keene near Peterborough.

Left to right: PRHC Foundation CEO Lesley Heighway, Donnell Leahy, Sylvia and Paschal McCloskey of McCloskey International, Natalie MacMaster and PRHC Foundation Governor Emeritus Terry Windrem join MacMaster and Leahy's children at the site of this weekend's Greenbridge Celtic Festival for a photo in celebration of the McCloskey's $1 million pledge to the PRHC Foundation.

Paschal McCloskey, McCloskey International founder and president, says the visionary gift represents both an investment in the Children & Babies Program at PRHC, and in the Foundation’s legacy program outreach:

“The thought of a baby or a child requiring hospital care is heartbreaking, especially when it means seeking specialized treatment outside our community,” says McCloskey. “Not only can the costs add up quickly, but the emotional toll of being separated from family support systems can be devastating. McCloskey International is committed to investing in innovative technologies that support care for PRHC’s most fragile patients and their families close to home, where and when they need it most.”

“With their support of critical lifesaving equipment, as well as investing in the Foundation’s ability to raise funds for the future through our legacy giving program, McCloskey International is truly transforming care, both today and tomorrow,” says PRHC Foundation CEO Lesley Heighway.

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Peterborough's Iconic GE Plant Is Closing Fall 2018

DEVELOPING STORY...

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GE, which has been a staple in Peterborough for 125 years, has just announced it will be closing its plant here in Fall 2018, resulting in the loss of about 350 jobs.

Mayor Daryl Bennett just released this statement to the public...

"My immediate concern is for the workers and the families in our community affected by this winding down of General Electric’s operations in Peterborough. It will be a difficult time for many residents who are connected with GE or who have historical ties to this company. This year marked the 125th anniversary of GE in Canada, starting here in Peterborough in 1892.

The winding down of GE in Peterborough is a business decision that’s directly related to the slow down in orders from the oil and gas industry. It’s a drastic reversal from 2014 when GE announced that it would be adding up to 250 new jobs in Peterborough to build motors for the TransCanada Energy East pipeline, which has been delayed through the application process. Instead, GE has had to reduce the size of its workforce in Peterborough over the last several years. I understand it currently employs about 358 workers, well down from the 6,000 people employed by GE in Peterborough in the 1960s.

We are looking forward to the continued presence of BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada, which purchased GE’s nuclear energy business last year.

In the coming days, I will be requesting a meeting with both our MP and our MPP to discuss how our governments can assist with securing our community’s long-term economic foundation. Over the years, we have asked for assistance and approvals for employment land growth, the VIA Rail proposal for a new High Frequency Rail service through Peterborough, and local transportation network improvements needed to support growth. We need to continue to diversify our economy and to build the infrastructure that supports job creation."

UPDATE: Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development President & CEO Rhonda Keenan has released the following statement...

“As General Electric announces the winding down of their operations in Peterborough, this is a challenging day for the community we serve. Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development continues to work collaboratively with our region’s businesses and local stakeholders in order to diversify our economy, attract and retain talent and investment, and provide local businesses with the support and resources that they need to grow.

Our next steps are to work with our local partners and agencies in order to support GE Canada and their staff during this time of transition.

We look forward to the continued presence of BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada, and providing them with the support their business needs to thrive and grow in our community."

MP Maryam Monsef released this statement on her Facebook page...

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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328 Paddlecraft Just Filled Both Tubs At Trent Severn National Historic Site In Epic Display

Last year, 138 paddlecraft were jammed into one of the ginormous "tubs" at the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site in Peterborough on Lock n' Paddle day, breaking the previous record of 101. 

This is what it looked like at Lock 21 during last summer's Lock 'N Paddle...

June 26th, 2016

This year, Lock 'N Paddle upped their game even more, filling both tubs on a beautiful Saturday (June 24th) with more than 150 canoes and kayaks each (to mark Canada's 150 birthday) and lifting them 65 feet.

It was one heck of a jigsaw puzzle for organizers and Lockmaster Ed, seen in this video below...

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But they did it. Look at this picture we took from mission control...

Photo by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada

Here is the view from the front Trent-Severn Waterway tweeted out...

Here is the view from above photographed from a drone by Justen Soule for Parks Canada...

And once the lock chambers were at an equal elevation, the Lock Master halted the lockage and participants and visitors raised their paddles and sang both O Canada and Happy Birthday in celebration of 150 years of Confederation.

Have a listen of the Happy Birthday...

Here is the moment the chambers aligned...

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Here's a closeup of the East chamber tub filled...

PHoto by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada

And here's a closeup of the West chamber tub filled...

Photo by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada

360 panorama by Evan Holt, PtboCanada

UPDATE: Here is video our Evan Holt filmed from inside a canoe...

Well done Lock 21, well done Peterborough!

Photo by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada

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Newly Named Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies At Trent University

Trent University has announced the naming of the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies.
 
Coinciding with National Aboriginal Day on Wednesday (June 21st), the announcement of the newly-named School was among a substantial series of recommendations, furthering Trent’s leadership in indigenous reconciliation and education.

Photo courtesy Trent University

The recommendations include an innovative lecture-talk series that will bring prominent Indigenous leaders to the University to speak on Indigenous issues, and a new academic requirement for all undergraduate students to successfully complete at least 0.5 credits from an approved list of courses with Indigenous content. With this recommendation, Trent becomes only the third university in Canada to institute mandatory Indigenous course content.
 
“The naming of the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies and the implementation of the associated recommendations are a milestone in the evolution of Indigenous Studies at Trent," says Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University.

Wenjack Theatre

Trent's largest lecture hall/theatre is named after Chanie Wenjack, and the newly-named school is another huge step in honouring Chanie Wenjack, a young Anishinaabe boy who died in his attempt to escape a residential school in 1966.

Photo courtesy Trent University

The Chanie Wenjack School of Indigenous Studies brings together Trent’s undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. programs under one School and unites various events, initiatives and spaces dedicated to Indigenous perspectives, knowledge and culture at the University.

Photo courtesy Trent University

“This is the latest effort in Trent’s well-known 48-year record of Indigenous reconciliation,” says David Newhouse, director of the School, and chair of Indigenous Studies at Trent. “We will continue to honour the life of Chanie Wenjack and recognize the impact that residential schools had on Indigenous peoples through the work that we plan to undertake at Trent."

"Our goal at the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies is to constantly advance the knowledge of and about Indigenous peoples with a view to the overall improvement of quality of life and to contribute to the creation of places of respect, dignity and power for Indigenous peoples,” adds Newhouse.

Trent’s leadership in Indigenous Studies dates back to 1969 when the University became the first in Canada, and only the second in North America, to establish an academic department dedicated to the study of Indigenous peoples and Indigenous knowledges.

A full timeline of the University’s history of leadership in Indigenous education can be viewed at the new website for the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies.

The land on which Trent University is located is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Mississauga adjacent to Haudenosaunee Territory and in the territory covered by Treaty 20 and the Williams Treaties.

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UPDATED POST: Someone Stole Jackson And Chubby From The Riverview Park & Zoo

UPDATED POST: Someone Stole Jackson And Chubby From The Riverview Park & Zoo

UPDATE -> Their two beloved box turtles have been returned safe

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