Holiday Hours For City Services And Facilities

Many City of Peterborough facilities and services will have modified hours or be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 3. Regular hours for most services resume on Jan. 4.

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

There are no changes to curbside garbage and recycling collection over the holiday period. For missed recycling collection, please phone Emterra at 705-742-3139. For missed garbage collection, phone Public Works at 705-745-1386.

Essential services, such as emergency services, public works and wastewater treatment, continue uninterrupted. Public Works can be reached for urgent matters at 705-745-1386. This line is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

While the Social Services administration office is closed over the holidays, individuals can call 705-926-0096 anytime for emergency shelter services when other shelters are full. City-operated child care programs will be closed starting at noon on December 24 and re-open with regular hours on Jan. 4.

Most recreation and community services are open with revised hours of operation.

The Art Gallery of Peterborough will be closed to the public for the month of January beginning Jan. 3. This closure will accommodate lighting improvements to the main gallery space and the installation of new exhibitions. Online programming will continue on Facebook (@AGPtbo), Twitter (@AGPtbo_) and Instagram (@AGPtbo_). Visit the Art Gallery’s website at www.agp.on.ca for digital programming, news and updates.

There will be adjustments to Transit schedules from Dec. 23 to Jan. 7, 2022, including suspended late-night trips as well as early last trips on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. There is no service on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. For full details about Transit holiday schedules and Transit Customer Service hours, please visit www.peterborough.ca/transit or phone 705-745-0525.

Vaccine clinics at the Healthy Planet Arena will be scheduled by Peterborough Public Health. The Public Health website has details: www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.

Detailed schedule for City of Peterborough services and facilities:

Closed from noon on Dec. 24 until Jan. 3, 2022:

• City Hall, including the Tax Office, Clerk's Office, Building Services and Planning

• Arenas administration office

• Social Services office

Public Works is available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 705-745-1386

The Materials Recycling Facility at 390 Pido Rd. is open for drop-off any time.

For more details click here.

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Mayor Therrien Proclaims Friday as International Day of Persons With Disabilities in Peterborough

Mayor Diane Therrien has proclaimed Friday as International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Peterborough.

This year’s theme, established by the United Nations, is ‘Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.’

In Ontario, about 2.6 million people live with a disability.

“Accessible communities benefit everyone,” said Therrien. “On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we recognize the continued impacts that the pandemic has had on people with disabilities, and the importance of working together to ensure that everyone has access to vital supports and services, as well as removing barriers to full participation in our communities.”

The City’s Accessibility Advisory Committee uses this day to promote awareness of accessible spaces, facilities, programs and services. This year the committee is focusing on an online resource that highlights winter trail use in the City.

“Isolation has been a common experience throughout the pandemic, and it can be even more challenging as we head into the winter months. The City’s trail network provides an opportunity to get outdoors and spend time in nature this winter, which is good for our physical and mental health,” said Amanda Motyer, Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Committee.

The City maintains 42 kilometres of paved trails through parks and greenspaces during the winter. There are currently 9 sidewalk plows that maintain the paved trails, as well as over 400 km of sidewalks. Depending on the severity of weather conditions, it can take up to 48 hours for all sidewalk and trail routes to be cleared after a snowfall.

On Friday, the Council for Persons with Disabilities will host a vaccine passport clinic to assist people with obtaining their enhanced vaccine passport, either by downloading the QR code to a mobile device or providing a print copy. Residents are invited to book an appointment online or by calling 705-874-8661. This event will be held at 270 George St. N.

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December 1 Proclaimed World AIDS Day in Peterborough

Mayor Diane Therrien officially proclaimed Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day in Peterborough on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of PARN.

In a tweet by Therrien, she noted that an estimated 68,000 people worldwide died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2020.

Photo courtesy of Mayor Diane Therrien.

To commemorate the day, Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN) placed red scarves around the city and invites anyone that is cold to take one.

Thank you to everyone who crafted and donated scarves to PARN for our Red Scarf Project. The scarves have been placed in the community today for World AIDS Day. If you are cold, take a scarf today! pic.twitter.com/1Ihl4kCyok

— PARN (@PARN4Counties) December 1, 2021

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Applications for Property Tax Assistance Program for Seniors now open

Applications are now available for the City of Peterborough Property Tax Assistance program for seniors and people with disabilities on low incomes.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Qualifying applicants will receive a $400 tax credit on their tax accounts which will be applied to the February 2022 interim tax bill. Applicants who previously received more than a $400 credit will be grandfathered in at their higher credit amount.

Applicants can apply under one of the following qualifications:

1. Low-income senior aged 65 years or older receiving benefits under the Guaranteed Income Supplement or the Guaranteed Annual Income System.

2. Low-income senior aged 55-64 years of age with a combined taxable income of less than $30,000 per year.

3. A person with a disability on a low income receiving benefits under the ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program)

Applications are available on the City’s website at www.peterborough.ca/TaxAssistance or at the City Hall Tax Office, 500 George St. N. Residents that received tax credits in 2021 will automatically receive a 2022 Property Tax Assistance application in the mail.

The deadline for submitting this application is February 11, 2022.

For further information refer to the City’s Property Tax Assistance Program on the City of Peterborough website or call the Tax Office at 705-742-7777 ext. 1865.

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Easter Seals Telethon Triumphs Through Adversity and Raises Over $92,000

After having to postpone this year’s telethon, the Easter Seals Telethon raised over $92,000 on Sept. 26.

Easter Seals Telethon hosts from 2019. Photo courtesy of Easter Seals Peterborough.

Due to COVID-19, this year had hosts standing alone in the studio with pre-recorded visits with the kids.

The event’s hosts included Stu Harrison, Graham Hart, Mike Melnik, Teresa Kazsuba, Catherine Hanrahan and Caley Bedore.

“With a significantly reduced volunteer team, and a handful of hosts, we hosted the 49th Easter Seals Telethon in Peterborough last weekend and it was a huge success,” said Coralie Jacobs, Easter Seals Manager of Development, Eastern Ontario. “Our host team did an amazing job of sharing the stories of our families and Easter Seals kids and making the ask on their behalf, and the phones started ringing and didn’t stop.”

Ryerson Beardmore took the spotlight as the Easter Seals Peterborough ambassador for the second year.

Easter Seals Ontario has received record-high numbers in requests for equipment funding for children with disabilities.

“This has been a difficult 18 plus months for a lot of us, but for children with physical disabilities and their families the challenges have truly been extraordinary,” said Jacobs. “The ongoing lockdowns, restrictions, and delays have meant there are still so many children living at home without the essential equipment that would provide them with greater dignity as well as safety in the home for both the kids and their caregivers.”

To donate to the Easter Seals click here.

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Ontario COVID-19 Go-VAXX Bus Will Stop in Peterborough Region

Peterborough Public Health is partnering with the province to bring the mobile Go-VAXX bus to the Peterborough Region, announced on Wednesday.

Stock photo

The Go-VAXX bus is a mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic able to administer COVID-19 vaccines in various areas of the community.

On Sunday the Go-VAXX bus will be stopping at:

• Lang Pioneer Village Museum, 104 Lang Rd, Keene ON 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Lansdowne Place Mall, 645 Lansdowne St, W. Peterborough ON 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

“We continue to see high rates of first doses being administered at our COVID-19 vaccine clinics,” said Donna Churipuy, Director of Public Health Programs. “This shows us that our community pop-up clinics are helping residents access the vaccine and we remain committed to making it as easy as possible for the community to get vaccinated, especially in the County of Peterborough.”

COVID-19 vaccine clinics will continue to run throughout the month of October.

“Through great partnerships with our municipalities, local district school boards, private schools, and postsecondary institutions, Peterborough Public Health has been able to host COVID-19 vaccine clinics for school age children and their families throughout the region,” said Churipuy.

Unless stated, school-based COVID-19 vaccine clinics are open to all community members who are 12 years of age or older as of 2021.

A full list of upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics can be found at www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/walkin or by calling 705-743-1000.

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Selwyn Township Office Receives $100,000 in Funding

The Township of Selwyn has received $100,000 through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada plan to support upgrades to improve the customer service entrance to the Selwyn Township Municipal Office.

Image courtesy of Selwyn Township

The COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, implemented in response to the pandemic, allows the Government of Canada to invest up to 80 percent of total eligible costs for projects in provinces. The Ontario government will invest 20 percent of the eligible costs for projects across the province.

“The health and safety of our ratepayers, particularly during these uncertain times, is of the utmost importance,” said Andy Mitchell, Mayor of Selwyn Township. “This funding will allow the Township to retrofit its Administrative Office to provide a safer, more reliable atmosphere while ensuring the highest level of customer service now and in the future.”

The pandemic brought to light challenges that exist with the Municipal Office as it relates to adequate separation for customers to enter and exit the building. This funding will be used to retrofit the entrance of the Selwyn Municipal Office to support adequate physical distancing, and ensure that accessibility is maintained.

The Government of Canada is investing $200 million in municipalities through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada plan. The Government of Ontario is contributing $50 million.

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Downtown Curbside Pickup Parking Zones Being Removed

The designated curbside pickup parking zones in downtown Peterborough will begin to be removed this week with the regular parking rules resuming for those spaces.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough

The City created the curbside pickup zones in January 2021 to assist residents and businesses during the provincewide lockdown.

With the easing of public health regulations allowing the return of indoor dining, retail and many personal services, curbside pickup activity has reduced according to the City.

The City consulted with the Downtown Business Improvement Area and several downtown businesses on the current need for the designated curbside pickup parking spaces since the province has emerged from the lockdown and public health regulations have eased to allow more indoor activities.

By resuming regular parking rules for these spaces, customers will be able to use the spaces for up to two hours instead of the reduced 15-minute limit for the designated curbside pickup parking zones.

Residents and visitors are reminded that on-street parking in the downtown is limited to a maximum period of two hours unless otherwise posted, and parking rates are $1.50 for each hour.

Customers can pay for parking at a parking meter or a pay-and-display machine with coins. The HotSpot App allows customers to pay for parking with credit or debit.

Parking is free evenings after 6 p.m., weekends and statutory holidays. The first hour of parking is free at the King Street Parkade on King Street between George and Aylmer streets.

The City will continue to monitor parking requirements and any changes to public health regulations to consider further adjustments to parking services, if necessary.

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New Pool Pod Improves Accessibility At Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre

A new portable Pool Pod that can assist people with mobility impairments to get in and out of a pool has been installed at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre thanks to a $50,000 grant from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, a national charity dedicated to helping kids overcome financial and accessibility barriers to sport and recreation in an effort to provide inclusive play for kids
of all abilities.

The City of Peterborough was selected as one of nine inaugural Jumpstart Accessibility Grant recipients for the Pool Pod project, improving the accessibility of the community facility. A ribbon cutting for the new pool pod took place Thursday (February 7th) with Mayor Therrien.

Ribbon cutting ceremony on February 7th (photo courtesy City of Peterborough)

The new lift equipment improves the ability of people with mobility impairments to independently use the leisure pool, where previously they may have required assistance from a lifeguard.

The Pool Pod provides safe, efficient access to the pool, allowing more people to enter and exit the pool in a short period of time. This will enhance the Centre’s ability to develop specific recreational and therapeutic pool programming for people with physical disabilities.

New pool pod in use (photo courtesy City of peterborough)

The City of Peterborough tweeted out video of the new pool pod in use…

A new portable Pool Pod that can assist people with mobility impairments to independently get in and out of a pool is now operational at the @PSWC1 thanks to a $50,000 grant from @CTJumpstart Charities. @DianeNTherrien @FlemingCollege pic.twitter.com/wSuz78i5Qj

— City of Peterborough (@CityPtbo) February 7, 2019

With the installation of the Pool Pod, Chelsey Gray, Aquatics Coordinator says that “work has begun to develop and deliver specialized aquatics programming supporting recreational and therapeutic participants. Our new programming will support children, families and agencies such as Five Counties Children’s Centre with recreational and therapeutic adapted swim lessons.”

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How A Peterborough Woman With A Prosthetic Got Her Fitting Paddle

Peterborough’s Rachel Quilty was born with a partial left arm and has lived with a prosthetic for most of her life. The 19-year-old, who is affiliated with War Amps, had always wanted to become a camp counsellor at Camp Oconto—an all-girls camp where she had spent many years as a camper.

With her prosthetic, she wasn’t able to complete level D instruction with a traditional paddle which she’d need to teach canoeing as a counsellor. After seeking advice from fellow camp counsellors and getting the word out, The Canoe Museum writes in a blog post how volunteers, retail business and organizations came together to make a paddle that worked for her.

Photo of Rachel with her fitted paddle courtesy Canoe Museum

THE ORIGINAL PROTOTYPES

“Wild Rock Outfitters donated a used paddle for the first prototype, in which a hole was added to accommodate the hook at the end of her prosthetic arm,” the Canoe Museum writes. More than 10 design prototypes were made over the next year to fit with Rachel’s prosthetic.

When Five Counties Children’s Centre asked Wild Rock if there was anyone they could recommend as this project evolved to find her the perfect fitting paddle, they suggested the Canadian Canoe Museum and that’s where volunteer Rick Schuett became involved.

Rachel and Rick at Canoe Museum

Rick, who has been creating custom canoe paddles for three decades, carves paddles on the second floor in the artisan exhibit area on Fridays. Rick’s first paddle for Rachel worked well, with its middle connector on the shaft for movement, but over time the constant pressure eventually broke it apart and the metal hook from her prosthetic wore down the wood on the paddle’s grip.

For the second paddle, the Canoe Museum says that “Rick re-designed the middle connector pieces with stronger materials that enabled the lower portion of the paddle to be mobile for more ease and control. In addition, he added a piece of metal to the paddle’s grip to prevent wear and tear from the hook.”

Photo courtesy Canoe Museum

HOW RACHEL USES THE PADDLE

-> Rachel puts the hook from her prosthetic arm through the hole in the grip and uses her right arm to move the bottom of the paddle.

-> The notch in the middle acts as the wrist she doesn’t have on her left hand and then she’s able to maneuver the paddle to perform various strokes.

With Rick’s expertise and dedication, he has given Rachel the means to accomplish her goals. The Canoe Museum says that in addition to becoming a camp counsellor, Rachel is working as a certified lifeguard and swim instructor at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre where she also uses the specialized paddle to teach swimming.

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