Monaghan Road Housing Project Making Significant Strides In Public Update From The City of Peterborough

Construction of the City of Peterborough’s affordable housing project at 681 Monaghan Rd. will show significant progress in the coming weeks as precast structural loadbearing walls and precast floor slabs are installed followed by prefabricated wall panels, announced by the City of Peterborough on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

This is the first City construction project to use prefabricated construction techniques.

Construction started in the fall of last year with an official groundbreaking ceremony held on Oct. 11 for the six-storey building with 53 units including 37 one-bedroom, 11 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom units with amenity space and utilities on the ground floor. Construction is expected to be completed this year.

“It’s exciting to see the progress of construction at 681 Monaghan Rd.,” said Councillor Keith Riel. “This important housing project is being funded as part of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Rapid Housing Program, so it was essential that the team assessed construction techniques for both cost efficiency and the ability to facilitate a shorter construction period.”

“Unity Design Studio, formerly Lett Architects, has a rich history in Peterborough and is proud to be collaborating with the City of Peterborough on this project -  a crucial stride toward providing much-needed affordable housing,” said Roy Turner, Unity Design Studio senior project lead. “As the building takes form, we would like to express our gratitude for the dedication of the entire project team. Their commitment ensures that upon completion, this building will offer affordable housing to many and positively impact our community.”

“As proud members of this community, we are so fortunate to be able to help address this crisis with this much needed project,” said Craig Mortlock, Mortlock Construction president. “To date, we’ve spent many months working together with the City of Peterborough and the design team to design, coordinate, implement and construct this building. We are now at a very exciting stage of the project. We, and any other passerby, get to witness the fruits of the team’s planning and coordination, as the precast concrete structural panels are being delivered and placed on site. It is so rewarding to see this building taking shape so quickly, growing daily, eventually allowing so many people to call this building home.”

This affordable housing project received $18.9 million in federal funding through the third round of the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI3), $40,000 in SEED funding, $854,810 through the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) and over $4 million from the City of Peterborough.

The project will be home to vulnerable populations in Peterborough, including Black Canadians, people with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, homeless people or those at risk of homelessness.

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Ontario Government Invests Over $10 Million to Peterborough and County For Infrastructure; Mayor Jeff Leal to Prioritize Fixing Downtown Roads, Calling Them 'Embarrassing'

The Ontario Government has invested $10,154,936 into Peterborough-Kawartha to help renew and rehabilitate critical infrastructure for 2024.

Mayor Jeff Leal wants to prioritize upgrading several deteriorated downtown roads, calling them ‘an embarrassment.’

In 2023, the Ontario government provided $400 million in funding through OCIF to 425 communities. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The funding is being delivered through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund to help support economic growth and job creation, according to Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP.

“This investment of over $10 million will improve infrastructure throughout the municipalities in the region,” he said. “It is formula-based funding that is sent out to the municipalities each year and is something they can count on to plan for critical infrastructure projects.”

The following is what each municipality is receiving from the $10 million:

• North Kawartha: $100,000

• Trent Lakes: $119,868

• Douro-Dummer: $161,441

• Havelock-Belmont-Methuen: $180,124

• Selwyn: $304,404

• Peterborough County: $996,071

• Peterborough: $8,293,028

Leal was adamant about upgrading downtown roads such as Aylmer Street, George Street and Water Street.

“Some of these projects had been on the books for well over two decades,” he said.

The dilapidated roads are not representative of what Downtown Peterborough is supposed to be, according to Leal.

“When people come to the City of Peterborough, they drive to Downtown. What impression do we want them to have for the City of Peterborough?” he said. “The impression we want them to have is an innovative, growing and a progressive community and not talk about washboard streets in your downtown corner.”

Leal continued to label the roads as an embarrassment which should be addressed with the funds from the 2024 budget.

“As I've said many times, they're an embarrassment,” he explained. “An embarrassment to me and an embarrassment to every citizen in the City of Peterborough. You can't have your downtown streets in that kind of condition.”

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Partial Lane Closure At Kirkfield Lift Lock For Repairs Scheduled For Tuesday Until Saturday

The Kirkfield Lift Lock (Highway 503) will experience traffic interruptions from a lane closure starting from Tuesday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 a.m. according to Parks Canada.

THE KIRKFIELD LIFT LOCK IS LOCATED A FEW KILOMETRES NORTH OF THE VILLAGE OF KIRKFIELD. PHOTO COURTESY OF PARKS CANADA.

The closure facilitates crane access, supporting the Kirkfield Lift Lock Urgent Repair project according to Parks Canada. Traffic controls, including flaggers and signage, will be in place as necessary.

The pedestrian walking path from the south side to the washrooms through the road-level walkway will be unavailable during this period.

While repairs progress, Parks Canada advises boaters that single chamber lockages remain in place, operating on demand and taking approximately 60 minutes per transfer.

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Infrastructure Project on Armour Road Between Hunter and Clifton Street

Armour Road between Clifton Street and Hunter Street will be closed to through traffic, with access maintained for local traffic, during a major infrastructure project that will include replacing storm sewers, sanitary sewers and the water main as well as road reconstruction.

file photo.

Local traffic with a destination within the road closure will be permitted, however travellers may experience delays within the construction limits.

The project, awarded to Green Infrastructure Partners Inc., is tentatively scheduled to begin on July 17. The majority of the work is scheduled to be completed by late fall of 2023. Any carryover work that remains will be completed between May and July 2024.

The project includes removal of existing infrastructure, excavation and grading, installation of new storm sewers and sanitary sewers, watermain, concrete curb and gutter, road base and asphalt, streetlights, sidewalk, tree planting, pavement markings and regulatory signage.

Detour routes:

Vehicle detours

Southbound traffic will turn west at Parkhill Road East, south on George Street and east on Hunter Street to Armour Road.

Northbound Traffic will travel west on Hunter Street, north on Water Street and east on Parkhill Road to Armour Road.

Pedestrian detours

Pedestrians travelling north and south will take Rogers Street between Hunter Street and Hazlitt Street. 

Transit detours

Peterborough Transit Route 7 will be rerouted northbound, continuing straight on Rogers Street, turning right on Dufferin Street and left on Armour Road, returning to the regular route.

 Northbound stops on Armour Road at Douro Street, Macfarlane Street and Euclid Avenue will not be served by Route 7 Lansdowne during this construction.

The following temporary bus stops will be added:

• Northbound on Rogers Street at Oxford Street

• Dufferin Street at Armour Road

Related information can be found by visiting the Road Construction Map posted on the City’s website.

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Government of Canada Invests $74 Million into Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site

Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, announced approximately $74 million in funding for projects related to infrastructure improvements along the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site.

Current rendering of the Whites Portage Dam. Originally constructed in 1918, the dam regulates the lake’s water level and outflow into Gloucester Pool. photo courtesy of Parks Canada.

On Wednesday, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault announced that the funding will be distributed over three years for this project.

The Trent-Severn Waterway is Canada's largest, and one of the most visited national historic sites. The waterway welcomes more than 1 million visitors each year.

The network of protected areas administered by Parks Canada is a gateway to nature, history and 450 000 kilmometres2 of stories from coast to coast to coast.

Investing in these locations is said to help support the protection of natural heritage and rich history, increase climate resiliency and create jobs in local communities, while providing visitors with high-quality, safe and meaningful experiences across the country.

“The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring the sustainability of Parks Canada assets. These national heritage places provide cultural, environmental and economic vitality for Canadians,” said Guilbeault. “Parks Canada’s robust dam and lock improvements along the iconic Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site will ensure critical flood mitigation for regional communities and provide for safe navigational experiences for Canadians to connect with nature.”

Rendering of the new Whites Portage Dam design, which will replace the existing dam in the same location and orientation. photo courtesy of Parks Canada.

Through this federal investment – part of the $557 million in funding announced by the Government of Canada in late 2022 – Parks Canada will conserve the heritage value of these important cultural resources.

The investments in infrastructure along the Trent-Severn Waterway will enhance Parks Canada’s ability to mitigate flood risks, protect heritage in Canada and strengthen the appeal of this world-class waterway as a destination for visitors and tourists.

Once these infrastructure projects are complete, the lifespan and function of these structures will have been extended for decades, continuing to connect and protect local communities. The work supported through this investment includes:

• repairs to the Kirkfield Lift Lock;

• recapitalization of the walls, tunnels and valves at Lock 42 – Couchiching;

• recapitalization of the Little Chute Dam “G” near Port Severn;

• replacement of the Whites Portage Dam on Six Mile Lake;

• recapitalization of the valve tunnels for Healey Falls Locks 16 and 17; and,

• creation of an access road from White’s Falls Road to the Pretty Channel Dam.
  Parks Canada has a mandate to conserve and present national heritage places in Canada. More than just supporting visitors as cornerstones of Canada’s tourism industry, Parks Canada’s assets play critical functions, such as transportation, water management, public safety, and services to residents and businesses, while being a source of shared pride for Canadians. These upgrades will help ensure public safety, quality and reliability for visitors, incorporate green technologies and climate resilience, while connecting Canadians with nature and history.

“From First Nations to fur traders to lumber barons and steamship traffic, the Waterway has linked communities across Ontario for over a hundred years. Investments in the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site’s infrastructure are essential for public safety, preserving natural and cultural heritage, ensuring environmental protection and conservation, and providing benefits for visitors, local communities and the nation’s tourism industry,” said Guilbeault.

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Ontario Announces $13 Million Investment For Infrastructure Improvements and Other Expenses at Campbellford Memorial Hospital

MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South David Piccini, along with officials at Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) have announced Thursday that the province is providing more than $13 million for infrastructure improvements to the hospital.

file photo.

This investment is said to help the hospital significantly through upgrades to their HVAC system, replacing their aging generator and continuing with facility improvements designed to mitigate COVID-19 transmission.

HVAC work includes replacing air handling units, improving ductwork, air filtration and ventilation systems, as well as upgrading the air distribution system and installing an automated building control system. These upgrades will reportedly reduce CMH's yearly natural gas consumption by 10,000 cubic metres, and lower its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 19 tons annually.

"As we make progress on securing a new hospital in Campbellford, it is vital that we ensure those in our community receive safe, high quality medical care," said MPP Piccini. "This critical infrastructure investment will ensure that patients at Campbellford Memorial continue to receive the right care they need, when they need it."

These investments mark a series of improvements that CMH has undertaken over the past 12 months, including the installation of a new nurse call system, renovations in the kitchen and cafeteria and the purchase of new state of the art diagnostic equipment such as a bladder scanner and digital slit lamp.

CMH has also earned "Accredited with Exemplary Standing" status from Accreditation Canada following their accreditation review last month. Accreditation Canada is an independent, not-for-profit organization that conducts reviews of health organizations around the world and sets standards for safety and quality in healthcare. Accreditation for Exemplary standing is awarded to an organization that attains the highest level of performance, achieving excellence in meeting the requirements of the program.

"This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team and confirmation that we have appropriate procedures and plans in place to provide high-quality care to our community," stated CMH CEO Eric Hanna. “(The) investment will allow us to purchase a new, state of the art generator, as well as upgrade our emergency power distribution, to ensure that when the power goes out; our ability to provide high quality patient care is not impeded.”

The funding is to be broken down as follows: $9,639,900 will go towards CMH as one-time capital funding to address the HVAC and generator, $1,874,929 for reimbursement of CMH's COVID-19 related capital expenses, $771,797 in COVID-19 incremental operating funding, up to $600,000 in one-time funding to support the hospital's in-year financial and operating pressures, $163,600 in pandemic prevention and containment funding, $81,132 through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund and $46,884 in health human resources funding.

For more information on the Campbellford Memorial Hospital and this investment, visit the website.

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Kirkfield Lift Lock Repairs Contracted; Projected Completion For This Year's Navigation Season

Parks Canada has awarded a contract for the Kirkfield Lift Lock to undergo repairs since suffering a mechanical failure on Sept. 2 that resulted in its closure for the rest of 2022.

The Kirkfield Lift Lock is located a few kilometres north of the Village of Kirkfield. Photo courtesy of Parks Canada.

The Lift Lock is scheduled to be fully operational by the beginning of this year’s navigation season according to Parks Canada.

The scope of work will include: 

• Repairs to the structural, mechanical and electrical components.

• System improvements to increase safety controls and access improvements to critical system components.

• Backup system improvements to minimize impacts on future maintenance activities.

The Kirkfield Lift Lock is the second-highest hydraulic lift lock in the world with a lift of 15 metres (49 ft). The Kirkfield lock is at the highest point along the waterway at 256.20 m (840.5 ft.) above sea level.

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Local Service Clubs Launch ‘We Can’t Wait’ Campaign for Campbellford Memorial Hospital Redevelopment

Various local service clubs have launched the ‘We Can’t Wait’ campaign, supporting the redevelopment of the Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) as part of a larger Campus of Care.

In Oct. 2021, Campbellford Memorial Hospital announced that local farmer Jim Curle had donated nearly 50 acres of land for the proposed redevelopment of the hospital. Photo courtesy of Campbellford memorial hospital.

In addition to a new hospital, the proposed development will also contain a new Long-Term Care home, a Community Mental Health Clinic, the Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network and future plans for supportive senior housing.

With various plans to build a new hospital talked about for decades and formal negotiations with the Province nearing the ten-year mark, executive director of the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation John Russell has seen his share of starts and stops when it comes to redevelopment in his ten years with CMH.

“It really feels different this time. We have the land secured, we have partnerships in place, a local Long-Term Care home ready to redevelop alongside us, and even leadership donors who are beginning to indicate their financial support,” said Russell. “Local governments across the region have expressed their support, we’ve really never been this prepared to move to the next step.”

That next step, CMH says, involves securing a planning grant and the Provincial Government’s approval to move the project forward. Although the approval will not only provide the funds required to plan and design the new facility, it will provide the needed regulatory authorization.

“Simply put, we’ve gone as far as we can without that planning grant,” Russell continued.

photo courtesy of CMH.

Lawn signs in support of CMH can be seen throughout Trent Hills and the Kawarthas, directing residents to visit the CMH website to learn how they can help support the redevelopment process and join the We Can’t Wait campaign.

“We’ve always been huge supporters of the hospital,” said president of the Rotary Club of Campbellford Dave Sharp. “We wanted to find a way to help and right now what we need most is to show the Provincial Government that our community is behind this project one hundred percent.”

Sharp and the Campbellford Rotary Club are one of the local service clubs behind the We Can’t Wait campaign.

This sentiment was echoed by president of the Campbellford Lions Club Don May. The Lions have also shown their support behind the campaign.

“We wanted to do what we could to support this project. The proposed redevelopment will be a huge benefit to our community and everyone who lives here,” said May. “Our population continues to grow, continues to age, and we need this project approved now.”

Neighbouring Rotary Clubs in Stirling-Rawdon and Brighton are also supporting the campaign, and CMH says We Can’t Wait signs will soon start popping up in those communities.

photo courtesy of CMH.

A recent analysis of CMH showed that over the next ten years the hospital will need between $25 and $30 million in renovations and repairs to keep the facility up to current standards, and even if approval of a planning grant comes, it will still take up to seven years until a new facility is ready to open.

Over the past year Public Health has closed admission at the hospital twice during COVID-19 outbreaks as the hospital lacks the infrastructure to maintain private rooms and meet modern outbreak control standards. CMH says certain parts of the facility are 70 years old and as a result lack the accessibility, technology and patient flow designs that would typically be found at newer hospitals.

“It really comes down to one of two things; do you continue to spend money maintaining a limited facility, or do you invest that money to build a modern, state of the art hospital that will be able to recruit top talent and continue to provide the exemplary care our community needs,” explained Russell.

Residents who wish to learn more or get involved with the We Can’t Wait campaign can visit the website.

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City of Peterborough Makes Waves With New Splash Pad in Turner Park

The perfect summer day occurred for the City of Peterborough to debut its sixth splash pad located in Turner Park on the corner of Chamberlain Street and High Street on Thursday morning.

Three-year-old Moana Lewin enjoys Turner Park’s new splash pad, totalling six water pads in Peterborough. The pad replaces the former wading pool that was over 50 years old. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The pad features several arcs with sprays, suspended buckets, several geysers, water guns and a pole that emits water like an umbrella. The water is considered to be safe and drinkable according to Councillor Lesley Parnell.

The new water facility replaced the wading pool that occupied the park for over 50 years.

The City had a ten-year plan to replace all wading pools with splash pads which saves money said Parnell.

“It is much more water-efficient this way, you're not filling up a great big pool and emptying it every single day and waiting for it to warm up,” she said. “We do not have to have a lifeguard for a splash pad so that does save us on the operations expenses, they're just incredibly popular and safe clean fun.”

The City’s plan is to replace all the town’s wading pools with splash pads with one remaining at John Taylor Memorial Park between Hamilton Street and McKellar Street. There are plans to install more splash pads according to Parnell.

“We're going to replace the water spray in Hamilton Park so that's going to be a smaller splash pad than what we have here,” she said. “Then we're looking for a location in the west end for a splash pad and then were are looking after the McKellar Park’s wading pool and switching that into a splash pad.”

Splash pads are open from noon to 7 p.m. every day. They are located at:

• King Edward Park, 455 George St. S.

• Nicholls Oval, 725 Armour Rd.

• Rogers Cove, 131 Maria St.

• Kinsmen Park, 1 Kinsmen Way

• Barnardo Park, Barnardo Avenue

• Turner Park, 673 Chamberlain St.

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Ontario Government Invests Over $5 Million In Rural Townships For Infrastructure

The Ontario Government has given over $5 million to five townships in the Peterborough-Kawartha area for infrastructure announced at the Millennium Gardens in Douro-Dummer on Wednesday.

(left to right) MPP Dave Smith; Andy Mitchell, Selwyn mayor; Janet Clarkson, Trent Lakes mayor; Jim Martin, Havelock Belmont Methuen mayor and Warden J. Murray Jones under the gazebo at Millennium Gardens. Smith says it takes $1.2 million to pave one kilometre of a road. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The mons is part of the 2022 funding allocations under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), the province’s main general assistance grant to municipalities.

“Our local municipalities provide the on-the-ground services we rely on; roads, bridges, wastewater infrastructure, maintenance and affordable housing,” said MPP Dave Smith. “This stable source of funding, increased again this year, provides our local rural communities the opportunity to finance critical infrastructure and keep property taxes under control.”

“This OMPF funding is nothing but good news for the townships in Peterborough County. It is very much appreciated and is critical for the everyday things we need to accomplish. It is truly a partnership,” said Warden J. Murray Jones, Douro-Dummer mayor.

"We are pleased that the Province is continuing with this important program to assist Municipalities. The funding for Selwyn of $1,068,400 will assist our community to move forward on our capital programs and to assist with targeted operational budgets,” said Andy Mitchell, Selwyn mayor.

Each township has yet to fully discuss where the money will be going except for Trent Lakes where the funds will be used to redo their public works buildings said Janet Clarkson, Trent Lakes mayor.

“This is going to be a long way toward taking the pressure off that and any of this money helps the municipalities move forward without borrowing money,” she said.

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