Fleming College Creates New Bursary Program After $1.5 Million Gift

Fleming College is establishing its largest-ever endowed fund for student tuition assistance after a $1.5 million gift from The Joyce Family Foundation, announced on Thursday.

(From left to right)  oanne Spicer, Associate Vice President, Student Experience, Fleming College; Katie Pezoulas, Executive Director, Advancement and External Relations, Fleming College; Linda Ricker, Director of Finance, The Joyce Family Foundation; Maureen Adamson, President of Fleming College and Interim President and CEO of Colleges Ontario; Maureen O’Neill, Executive Director, The Joyce Family Foundation; Nick Stone, Associate Vice President, Health, Fleming College; Chris Jardine, Associate Vice President, Marketing and Advancement, Fleming College. Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

This gift provides 11 annual bursaries of $5,000 each for students who face financial or other barriers to accessing post-secondary education.

“This historic gift, which establishes our largest fund for student tuition assistance, is a meaningful investment in Fleming College and in the young people of our region,” says Maureen Adamson, Fleming College president. “We are deeply grateful to The Joyce Family Foundation for their commitment to reducing barriers and supporting Canadian youth as they pursue education that enables them to reach their full potential and contribute to their communities.” 

The Program will disburse $55,000 annually to support young people in the Peterborough and Kawarthas region.

“This extraordinary gift from The Joyce Family Foundation demonstrates the profound impact philanthropy can have on students’ lives,” says Katie Pezoulas, Fleming executive director of advancement and external relations. “At a time when inflationary pressures are making education increasingly difficult for families to afford, this investment will be transformational. It will open doors for young people who might otherwise be unable to pursue post-secondary education and ensure they have the support they need to succeed.” 

The Joyce Family Foundation is a private family foundation created by the late Ronald V. Joyce, co-founder of the iconic Tim Horton’s coffee franchise and a champion of philanthropic causes. 

“Ron Joyce believed in the power of education to change lives, and he held great respect for the role colleges play in preparing young people for meaningful careers,” said Rob MacIsaac, Joyce Family Foundation board chair. “This bursary program reflects his steadfast commitment to empowering Canadian youth facing barriers, ensuring they have every opportunity to pursue education and build brighter futures.” 

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Havelock Receives Ontario Trillium Grant of $145,000 to Revitalize Cordova Mines Outdoor Rink

The Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen has received a $145,000 Capital grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to revitalize the Cordova Mines outdoor rink, announced on Friday.

Photo courtesy of the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen.

Funds provided by the OTF grant have enabled major repairs to the existing outdoor rink. This provides additional recreation opportunities, including basketball, pickleball, tennis and ball hockey.

“By providing funding for major repairs, we are ensuring this vital community hub is not just saved but transformed into a year-round multi-purpose facility,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “This supports active, healthy living and ensures families have a modern, safe, and accessible place to play, whether they are enjoying skating in the winter or ball hockey, pickleball and basketball in the warmer months.”

This funding extends the rink's current seasonal use to year-round multi-purpose.

“On behalf of the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, I want to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for supporting the revitalization of the Cordova Mines Outdoor Rink,” said Mayor Jim Martin. “This beloved attraction in the Hamlet with a Heart of Gold where families come together and pride of place shines and continues to strengthen our local spirit and economy. We’re also very grateful to the Cordova Mines Recreation Association and our dedicated Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Fire Fighters whose volunteer efforts keep this treasured gathering place alive and thriving.”

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Peterborough Museum & Archives Awarded Over $45,000 In Provincial Grant

Peterborough Museum & Archives (PMA) has been awarded $45,433 through the Community Museum Operating and Pay Equity Grants Program (CMOG) from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. 

File Photo.

This annual provincial funding supports community museums that meet Ontario’s museum standards of operation, ensuring that museums preserve, present and share the province’s rich cultural heritage said Susan Neale, PMA director.

“The CMOG and Pay Equity program recognizes the vital role that community museums play in education, culture and heritage preservation,” she explained. “This funding helps the PMA continue to deliver engaging exhibitions, meaningful educational programs and responsible stewardship of our community’s history.” 

According to the City, applicants to the program are required to submit a comprehensive report on performance measures and finances and to demonstrate compliance with the provincial museum standards for community museums, including governance, collections management, conservation and public access.

Funding received through the program supports PMA operations, including collections care, preservation, and public access initiatives that connect visitors with Peterborough’s heritage

“We’re proud that the Peterborough Museum & Archives continues to earn provincial recognition for its dedication to preserving our community’s heritage,” said Councillors Alex Bierk and Lesley Parnell. “This funding reflects the strength of the PMA’s commitment to maintaining professional museum standards and engaging our community in its shared history.” 

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Canadian Canoe Museum Receives $150,000 Ontario Trillium Grant For Expansion of Volunteer Roles

The Canadian Canoe Museum received a $150,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) during its annual Volunteer Appreciation event earlier this year.

Photo courtesy of Justen Soule and the Canadian Canoe Museum.

The two-year grant has supported the Museum’s Volunteer Program at its new waterfront location and helps strengthen connections across the Peterborough area and beyond according to a press release.

“The Resilient Communities Fund was designed to help vital organizations like the Canadian Canoe Museum adapt and thrive during major change,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “This $150,000 in support has allowed the Museum to completely rebuild its volunteer structure, train new roles, and welcome back its dedicated team after a pause. I am incredibly proud that our government, through the OTF, is supporting the passionate volunteers who are so essential to the Museum's continued success.”

The grant supported the hiring of a Volunteer Coordinator and the development of several new key volunteer roles. These new positions - including Visitor Services Attendant, Exhibition Attendant, Cleaning Support, Lakefront Campus Attendant, Tour Guide, and Event Support. The mony also allowed the Museum to purchase equipment and provide training, networking and learning opportunities.

“This generous support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation has been transformational for our volunteer program during a time of exciting growth and change,” said Carolyn Hyslop, Canadian Canoe Museum executive director. “Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, and this grant has allowed us to build the structure, training, and support needed to help them thrive in our new home. We are deeply grateful to OTF for helping us strengthen our community—paddling forward together with purpose and connection.”

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Applications For 2026 Community Grants Now Open

The City of Peterborough’s Community Grants Program application process for 2026 is now open as of noon on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Any not-for-profit group or association in the City that would like to be considered is invited to complete an online application for a Community Project Grant or a Community Investment Grant.

The Community Grants program provides financial assistance to non-profit, community-based organizations that provide direct programs, services, or activities that enhance the quality of life for Peterborough residents in social services and health, arts, culture, heritage, recreation or the environment. 

Applications will be open for the following Community Grants streams:

• Community Project Grants – support for a specified project for which the requested amount is $250 to $1,000.

• Community Investment Grants – support for projects and special events, specific programs or operating budgets for which the requested amount is $1,000 to $15,000.

The Community Project Grant or Community Investment Grant applications deadline is Dec. 3 at noon.

Funding for the Community Grants program is contingent on the City Council’s anticipated budget approval. All applications will be subject to an evaluation process and final approval by Council. The Community Grants Program is competitive and funding is limited and not guaranteed. 

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FCM Grant Helps City of Peterborough Enhance Urban Canopy

The City of Peterborough is restoring its urban canopy and increasing tree coverage by planting thousands of new trees through grants from the Government of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees Program and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund (GMF) totalling $1,623,230.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The money was from GMF’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative, to plant up to 4,000 trees throughout the city, maximizing benefits for residents and the City’s urban canopy. 

Jointly announced by the Government of Canada and FCM in May 2024, GCCC will support the planting of at least 1.2 million new trees across Canada by the end of March 2031, while providing funding, resources, and coaching to communities.  

“This initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change by restoring the vital ecosystems in our community,” said Emma Harrison, Peterborough-Kawartha MP. “Planting trees brings immediate benefits to all living beings and lasting benefits for generations to come. I’m proud to be part of planting the seeds today that our children and grandchildren will one day enjoy.”

“Fair and equal access to trees means ensuring that every resident, in every neighbourhood, can enjoy the cleaner air, shade, and beauty that our urban forest provides,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “The support from this FCM grant will not only help us expand canopy coverage city-wide, but it will also allow us to replace the many trees we’ve lost. Peterborough's tree canopy has been greatly impacted over the last few years by a derecho in May of 2022, the ice storm in March of 2025, and the invasive emerald ash borer. With this grant, we'll be able to rebuild and replenish our urban forest, making sure the benefits of trees are shared equitably while building a greener, more resilient Peterborough for the future.”

“With the right trees in the right places, communities of all sizes can unlock environmental, social and economic benefits,” said Rebecca Bligh, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. “Through the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, our municipalities now have access to the funding, training and resources they need to make tree planting a smart investment in the long-term health and resilience of our communities.” 

Trees will be planted along road allowances, parks and open spaces. The City will maintain the trees.   

Factors like space, soil conditions, sunlight, and nearby utilities and structures will help determine the location and species of the tree to be planted. Large, native-growing trees are planted whenever possible.  

As part of the City’s annual tree planting program, notification letters are sent to property owners when a tree is going to be planted on a boulevard or road allowance. A door hanger is also provided when the tree planting location has been marked in advance of the planting.

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Fleming College Awarded Over $357,000 to Launch Research On Resilience In Nursing

Fleming College has been awarded $357,033 to fund a three-year applied research project aimed at improving nurse well-being at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) through structured resilience training, announced last Friday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The money was awarded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), in collaboration with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The funding is provided through the College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF), one of the main grant types under the tri-agency College and Community Innovation (CCI) program.

The project is led by Fleming College faculty members Jill Henderson, MN, RN; Wendy Morgan, MA-Ed, MA-CP; and Melissa Sherrer, MN, RN, from Fleming’s School of Health and Community Services. They are joined by Dr. Michael Ungar, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience at Dalhousie University.

“The nursing workforce in Canada faces severe challenges with devastating rates of burnout and projected shortages,” said Dr. Theresa Knott, Acting Co-President, Fleming College. “A recent poll from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions reports 40 per cent of nurses intend to leave the profession within the next year. This funding will help address these workforce pressures and strengthen the future of health care in Ontario and across the country.”

The CCSIF-funded project builds on a successful pilot study led by Henderson and Morgan, previously funded by NSERC. In that study, the duo delivered resilience training to fourth-semester students in Fleming’s Practical Nursing program. Their research demonstrated clear benefits: participants reported improvements in overall mental health, increased self-awareness, better emotional regulation, and greater confidence in managing stress. Many also valued the group-based support.

With this new funding, the research team will adapt and expand their resilience training model to support nurses at PRHC and study the impact of the training over time. The goal is to help nurses’ psychological well-being, reduce burnout and strengthen job satisfaction. The study offers a scalable training model to shape best practices in nurse support at the provincial and national levels said Dr. Knott.

“Fleming College is proud to support the well-being of nurses already in the field through this important new resilience training,” she said. “While we remain committed to preparing career-ready nurses through our academic programs, this applied research project allows us to make a direct, meaningful impact on those currently serving in our healthcare system. It’s a response to real needs in our community.”

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Trent University Receives $1 Million Grant to Advance Trauma-Informed Care in Long-Term Care

Through a $1-million research project grant, Trent University will introduce trauma-informed care practices into long-term care homes.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

The practice is led by Dr. Kimberly Ritchie, an assistant professor in the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing (whose research focuses on trauma and dementia.

“We know from research by Dr. Ritchie that the need for trauma-informed approaches is pressing, with nearly two-thirds of Canadian adults reporting at least one potentially traumatic event in their lives,” says Dr. Holger Hintelmann, Trent vice-president of research and innovation. “This is valuable funding for a critical project that could inform innovations in care for our aging populations.”

Ritchie will lead a four-year project with colleagues from McMaster University to co-design, implement and evaluate a trauma-informed care framework. According to Trent, this work is part of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging and is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, in particular its Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research initiative, as well as the Azrieli Foundation, Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, Brain Canada Foundation and SPOR.

Trauma-informed care emphasizes understanding the lasting impact of trauma, creating safe and inclusive environments, and equipping staff with tools to recognize triggers, de-escalate distress and build trust with residents says Ritchie.

“Research shows a two-way relationship between PTSD and dementia, making transitions into institutional settings especially difficult,” she said. “For many residents, long-term care environments can unintentionally trigger trauma memories, leading to distress and behavioural symptoms. Embedding a trauma-informed approach means safer, more inclusive and supportive environments for both residents and staff.”

The project will also focus on supporting care staff, who often face high levels of stress and burnout. The framework will be piloted in one home, refined and then tested in a national trial across four long-term care homes.

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City of Peterborough Releases OLG Gaming Revenue Spending

The City of Peterborough has released its funding recipients from revenue by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation as the host community for Shorelines Casino Peterborough.

Since the gaming site opened in October 2018, the City of Peterborough has received $16,524,145. File Photo.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation revenues totaled $2,717,827 for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.

Examples of how the funding was directed to benefit the community in 2025 include:

• $880,900 toward police equipment needs, including replacing vehicles 

• $500,000 for planting trees 

• $500,000 toward the City’s commitment of providing $4 million to the Canadian Canoe Museum’s capital campaign for its new facility 

• $473,000 for Fairhaven long-term care facility’s capital funding 

• $155,000 for improvements to parks 

• $89,100 for public art 

• $75,000 for sport tourism activities 

“Being a casino host community allows us to reinvest OLG revenue in areas where it will enhance the quality of life for residents and help our city grow. Thank you to the provincial government and OLG for being a strong partner through these significant investments in community infrastructure,” said Mayor Jeff Leal.

“OLG is proud to be a vital part of the City of Peterborough,” said Kathleen Devine, OLG’s Senior Municipal Relations Manager. “For the last 50 years, since the organization’s start in 1975, 100 per cent of OLG profits are reinvested in Ontario to support provincial priorities.  From critical infrastructure to important local programs, to community festivals, OLG’s profits are hard at work in the City of Peterborough and all across our province to build stronger communities. We also appreciate the contribution of gaming employees at Shorelines Casino Peterborough who are making life in Peterborough that much better. When you play at an Ontario casino, you play for Ontario.”

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Trent University Receives $359,000 Grant From TD Bank Group For University Green Network

Trent University has received over $359,000 from the TD Bank Group (TD) to support conservation and learning on the University Green Network (UGN), announced on Wednesday.

A student conducts research in a forested area part of the University Green Network at Trent University. Photo courtesy of Trent University.

The network is a large, interconnected 868-acre system on Trent’s Peterborough campus, including habitat restoration, biodiversity monitoring, Indigenous Knowledge integration, and experiential learning opportunities for students, according to Julie Davis, Trent's vice-president of external relations and development.

“Thanks to this latest funding from TD, we can take the next step in realizing the vision for the UGN – implementing the Ggwepnandizamin Systems-Level Plan,” she said. “The plan provides a structured approach to monitoring and enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem health across campus. This funding support will allow us to restore and enhance habitats, establish best practices in conservation, and create meaningful opportunities for students and the community to engage with the natural environment.”

This new grant builds on funding received from TD in 2022 to support multiple initiatives within the UGN, a system that includes diverse habitats, wildlife corridors, productive landscapes, and various green spaces that promote ecological function and biodiversity according to a press release. The UGN was first envisioned in the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan.

Earlier funding from TD facilitated the development of the Ggwepnandizamin Plan in collaboration with faculty, students, Michi Saagiig First Nations, and local organizations, including Camp Kawartha and Peterborough Green-Up.  The word Ggwepnandizamin means ‘together, putting our best effort forward towards something important’ in Anishinaabemowin. The name was provided by the Elders and Knowledge Keepers Council at Trent, who provided wisdom and guidance in developing the plan.

“Trent University's focus on enhancing biodiversity and embedding Indigenous Knowledge in environmental stewardship reflects a deep commitment to reconciliation and sustainability,” said Robyn Small, TD Bank Group senior manager, Philanthropy, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship. “Through the TD Ready Commitment, TD is proud to continue supporting Trent University in advancing this important work that honours Indigenous knowledge and creates hands-on opportunities for students and community members to meaningfully connect with the environment.”

During the next three-year funding period, Trent says the will implement key actions from the Ggwepnandizamin Plan, including developing wildlife corridors and natural areas, such as pollinator gardens; creating Michi Saagiig cultural harvesting areas; reducing invasive species, such as phragmites; launching Indigenous storytelling initiatives; and expanding teaching and learning opportunities.

The grant will also fund a part-time ecological land planning coordinator to implement the plan, integrate ecological planning into campus projects, support environmental monitoring, facilitate Indigenous engagement and involve students and faculty.

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