Ontario To Ease COVID Restrictions Starting Thursday Eliminate Vaccine Passport As Of March

During Monday mornings announcement Doug Ford stated that the Ontario Government plans to lift capacity limits in indoor settings beginning this week and will scrap the province’s proof-of-vaccination system on March 1.

File Photo.

Starting Feb. 17, capacity limits will be lifted in all settings where proof of vaccination is required, including restaurants, gyms, and cinemas.

Seating capacity at sports arenas, concert venues, and theatres will be increased to 50 per cent on Thursday and the province will also begin allowing larger social gatherings of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.

Capacity limits in other indoor public settings, including grocery stores, pharmacies, retail stores, and malls, will be maintained or increased to the number of people who can stay two metres apart.

On March 1, the province said remaining capacity limits will be removed in all indoor settings and the government will no longer require people to show proof of vaccination to enter non-essential businesses. Businesses may still choose to require proof of vaccination.

Masking rules will remain in effect but the province said a specific timeline for lifting masking mandates will be released at a later date.

The province also confirmed that it will be expanding booster dose eligibility to you aged 12 to 17 starting at 8 a.m. on Friday.

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Trent University Students Hold Walk Out And Online Petition In Reaction To Return To In-Person Learning

Trent students gathered on the Faryon Bridge Monday morning at 10 a.m. in an act of protest against the University’s decision to return to in-person learning.

Small group of students begin to gather on The Faryon Bridge at Trent University on Monday morning. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

On Dec. 17, Trent University announced that effective Dec. 20, exams would be moved online and the first week of classes would be online. The date of return to in-person was scheduled for Jan. 17, then got pushed to Jan. 31.

Students were informed Jan. 24 that they will be required to return to class on the following Monday (Jan. 31), at which point seminars and lectures will not be recorded or posted online.

“Some professors are offering online, but that’s just out of the kindness of their own heart,” said Ellie Wilson, a second year Trent student participating in Monday’s walk-out.

Wilson raised the issue that any student that comes into contact with COVID-19 and then has to isolate will potentially have no option to ‘attend’ class if an online option is not offered.

“They basically sent an email that said ‘if you have COVID, that kind of sucks because we’re not going to give you the option to learn online, if you are sick and can’t come to class - that sucks.”

Wilson noted that there are other Ontario Universities are offering a hybrid option, and she thinks that would be the best option.

“We’re not saying keep school fully online, because in-person classes work best for a lot of people. We’re just saying that the chance to learn online or in-person would be great,” she said.

The online petition, which had over 3,300 signatures as of Monday morning, raises a multitude of issues that may come with a return to fully in-person learning.

“Many students have expressed concerns over the return to in-person such as the lack of distancing in many classrooms, difficulty finding housing for 3 months, rising cases, long commutes to campus due to going back home and safety concerns among others,” the organizer stated online.

Students that attended Monday’s walk-out, and signed the online petition hope that Trent University will offer a hybris option to students. So those wanting to learn in-person have the option to do so, but those that prefer to learn online can continue to do so.

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Public Input Sought In Cedargrove Stormwater Facility Sediment Removal And Retrofit Project

The City of Peterborough is making improvements to the existing Cedargrove Stormwater Management Facility at Sherbrooke Street and Glenforest Boulevard.

Photo courtesy of The City Of Peterborough.

The purpose of this project is to improve water quality and increase flood control in accordance with the requirements set out by the Ministry of Environment Climate Change and Parks (MECP) as well as the City of Peterborough’s Stormwater Quality Master Plan. The project will :

• decrease flood risk in the area by increasing the pond's ability to store water;

• improve existing upstream infrastructure that controls and conveys water into the pond.

• enhance water quality in the Byersville Creek Subwatershed.

The project plans, additional project information and resources are available on the City’s consultation website Connect Peterborough at www.connectptbo.ca/cedargroveswm.

Residents can provide feedback and ask questions through the online engagement tool. Residents who do not have computer access, may contact the City’s Stormwater Systems Coordinator by phone at 705-742-7777 ext. 1507.

This is the second public outreach for this project because there have been significant revisions to the original design. Comments and questions will be received until February 18, 2022.

The project team will review and evaluate the feasibility of all feedback as it develops the project plan.

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URide Peterborough To Donate Portion Of Thursday Proceeds To Peterborough Shares And Announces 50 Per Cent Off Rides For January

URide Peterborough announced that for the remainder of January all rides will be 50 per cent off, and portions from each ride on Thursday will be donated to Peterborough Shares.

Photo courtesy of URide PTBO.

Peterborough Shares is a Facebook group that aims to help anyone in need. To date URide Peterborough has donated over $500 to the group.

The group provides those in need the opportunity to ask for things like groceries or household items.

On Thursday a portion of each ride will be automatically donated to the group.

To receive 50 per cent off any ride up to $20 enter the code 50PTBO on their app.

This promotion will be available until Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m.

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Extended Hours for One Roof Community Centre On Tuesday and Wednesday

One Roof Community Centre will be open for extended hours of service on Sunday and Monday due to temperatures anticipated to drop below -15C for the Peterborough area.

One Roof Community Centre began extended hours on select days this year on Jan. 2. Photo courtesy of One Roof Community Centre.

They are open from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 pm on Tuesday and from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with the to-go meal provided between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Wednesday, due to temperatures anticipated to drop below -15C for the Peterborough area.

The Centre is closed to drop-in service from noon to 3:00 p.m. for the meal preparation and pickup period to protect the health and safety of the public, volunteers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emergency shelters are open and available to people experiencing homelessness who require emergency overnight shelter:

• YES Shelter for Youth and Families, 705-748-3851, 196 Brock St.

• Brock Mission men’s shelter, 705-748-4766, 120 Murray St.

• Cameron House women’s shelter, 705-748-4766, 739 Chemong Rd.

• Overflow Shelter at 210 Wolfe St., overnight phone 705-761-1875

Emergency After Hours Services related to the emergency shelter is available through Social Services by calling 705-926-0096. Please visit the Social Services website for information regarding the After Hours program.

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City To Host Meeting To Highlight Transportation Needs On East Side Of Peterborough

Planning for how people travel around the City and planning for transportation needs on the east side of the City will be the subject of public information meetings being held at noon and 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 3.

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

The meetings are being held as part of the development of the new city-wide Transportation Master Plan and the separate Eastside Transportation Study for the area east of the Otonabee River and north of Lansdowne Street East. The meetings will include a presentation about future transportation projects that could be recommended in the two studies as well as a question-and-answer period.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the public information meeting is being held online. People who cannot participate online can join by phone. To register, visit www.connectptbo.ca/moveptbo or call 705-742-7777 x 1749.

The presentation materials will be available for review and comment on the study websites at www.connectptbo.ca starting Jan. 28.

The new Transportation Master Plan will include recommendations for all modes of travel to accommodate population and employment growth to the year 2051.

The City Council-approved vision of the Transportation Master Plan is: As the City grows, Peterborough’s transportation network will be enhanced to create a low emissions, responsive system where people of all ages and abilities can move safely, sustainably and efficiently, no matter how they choose to travel, today and in the future.

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Extended Hours for One Roof Community Centre On Sunday and Monday

One Roof Community Centre will be open for extended hours of service on Sunday and Monday due to temperatures anticipated to drop below -15C for the Peterborough area.

One Roof Community Centre began extended hours on select days this year on Jan. 2. Photo courtesy of One Roof Community Centre.

They are open from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with the to-go meal provided between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. The following day will be open from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The Centre is closed to drop-in service from noon to 3:00 p.m. for the meal preparation and pickup period to protect the health and safety of the public, volunteers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emergency shelters are open and available to people experiencing homelessness who require emergency overnight shelter:

• YES Shelter for Youth and Families, 705-748-3851, 196 Brock St.

• Brock Mission men’s shelter, 705-748-4766, 120 Murray St.

• Cameron House women’s shelter, 705-748-4766, 739 Chemong Rd.

• Overflow Shelter at 210 Wolfe St., overnight phone 705-761-1875

Emergency After Hours Services related to the emergency shelter is available through Social Services by calling 705-926-0096. Please visit the Social Services website for information regarding the After Hours program.

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Peterborough Tool Library To Move To Habitat For Humanity

The Peterborough Tool Library will soon be under the management of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region, moving from its current home at the Endeavour Centre.

File Photo.

The Tool Library was started in May 2006 by a group of volunteers and has been housed and run by The Endeavour Centre since it was founded. The Tool Library is a community resource that allows members to borrow unlimited tools all year round for a low annual membership fee.

The decision to find a new home for the Tool Library was made after the Endeavour Centre, a sustainable building school, needed to reorganize after two years of navigating the pandemic. Finding a new home where the Tool Library and its vibrant hub of volunteers could continue to grow and expand was important to the Endeavour team.

“We are really excited to see the Tool Library move under the Habitat umbrella. We couldn’t think of a more suitable organization to run the library and continue the mission of growing the sharing economy while providing affordable access to tools. There could really not be a better fit,” said Jen Feigin, Director of Operations at Endeavour and founding member of the Tool Library.

The Tool Library will be closing for the month of February and will reopen at its new location inside the Peterborough North ReStore located at 300 Milroy Dr in Peterborough on March 1. New expanded hours for the Tool Library’s services will be announced in February.

“The community will now be able to go shop for their gently used building materials, furniture, appliances, and home décor items, and borrow the tools they need while they are at it. Both shopping second hand and participating in a community tool library is a great way to lower your carbon footprint,” said Nikki-Ann Murray, the Tool Library’s Volunteer Coordinator.

Tool Library Memberships can be purchased in early march.

For more information on the Habitat ReStore visit www.habitatpkr.ca/restores and for more information on the Tool Library please visit www.ptbotoollibrary.ca.

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Snow Plow Crews Still Working Around The Clock In Response To Monday's Storm

Snow clearing efforts continue and are progressing well following the significant snow storm in southern Ontario on Jan. 16-17, that dropped about 34 cm of snow on Peterborough.

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

City snow clearing crews have been working in shifts 24 hours a day since the night of Jan. 16. With the progress made on snow clearing, effective 7 p.m. on Thursday the City lifted the Significant Weather Event designation it put in place on Monday.

The majority of streets, sidewalks, and bus stops were clear by Thursday afternoon; crews continue to revisit some locations that require further clean-up.

“Thank you to residents for your patience and understanding as our community digs out of this big snowfall. A special thank you to everyone who helped a neighbour or community member after the storm. We are lucky to have exemplary Public Works crews that have been out there 24/7 to keep our community going,” Mayor Diane Therrien said. “Some other municipalities had to close facilities and services for several days due to this storm. While work is still happening, we’ve been able to minimize disruption while we either enjoy or curse the huge amount of snow.”

In addition to revisiting some locations of sidewalks and bus stops that need additional clean-up, the snow clearing work continued overnight on Thursday into Friday, with the focus on restoring roadway lane widths where snow banks have narrowed the roadways, removing snow on bridges to restore sidewalk widths, and continued maintenance on other locations such as dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs.

There are other locations, like the downtown, that require additional snow removal and work will continue until those locations are addressed.

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Peterborough Plans To Address Doctor Shortage In Area With New Committee

A new committee is being formed in Peterborough in hopes to plan and implement strategies for family physician recruitment and retention, announced last week.

Stock Photo.

This committee is being formed to address a shortage of doctors in Peterborough and Peterborough County.

Currently, it is estimated that about 11,000 people in the area lack a family doctor, and it would take nine new full-time physicians to fill the gap.

The committee was presented at Peterborough City Council last Wednesday, and is still in the early stages of development. It is recommending increased funding from the county.

At a Nov. 3 county council meeting, Maria Gomez, a committee member of the education department of the Canadian Association of Staff Physician Recruiters and director for the West Northumberland Physician Recruitment, spoke to council regarding the lack of physicians in the area.

Gomez said that 20 per cent of the population is at risk of not having the required health care services.

The county, city and the Peterborough Family Health Team (PFHT) have a tri-party agreement for physician recruitment services, with the county contributing $14,980 annually and the city contributing $21,220 in 2021.

The November presentation recommended increasing their budgets to match competitive programs in other communities.

The city has since committed to funding $81,000 in 2022.

The funding request of $57,000 for the county in 2022 has been referred to the county 2022 budget.

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