The Council For Persons With Disabilities Opens Auditions For The Capable Crew Superheroes

The Council for Persons with Disabilities is looking for six volunteers to dress up and become The Capable Crew Superheroes! The Capable Crew is a bunch of ‘everyday superheroes’ living with disabilities, and their mission is to celebrate differences and promote inclusivity.

(LEFT TO RIGHT) ANDREA DODSWORTH, CPD CHAIR; MPP DAVE SMITH; LESLIE YEE; AKIRA, YEE’S GUIDE DOG; CPD VICE-CHAIR AND MINISTER RAYMOND CHO DRESSED IN CAPES TO HIGHLIGHT THE HEROES INVOLVED WITH CPD. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

This is a volunteer position for individuals who would like to support the disability community through meaningful interaction with both kids and adults. Applicants looking to apply should also have the following requirements and skills:

• Outgoing and good with kids.

• Knowledge about disability through lived experience and/or study.

• Ability to facilitate discussions about disability with both children and adults.

• Public speaking is considered an asset.

• Police Record Check for Vulnerable Sector.

The Council For Persons With Disabilities is looking for individuals who may or may not have disabilities including but not limited to, limb loss, vision loss, hearing loss, autism, and/or rely on the use of a wheelchair. In all instances, they are looking for the person who can best portray the role regardless of height, weight, ethnicity, etc. Those roles are:

1. Vision Loss. A non-binary character with a guide dog. Well-spoken leader of the group. An individual who identifies with the First Nations Community is considered an asset.

2. Hearing Loss. A female-presenting skateboarder. Confident and spunky. Sign Language is considered an asset.

3. Mobility. A male-presenting character with no amputations. Adventurous and determined. A wheelchair can be provided.

4. Limb Loss. A female-presenting gymnast with limb loss. Optimistic and proud.

5. Autism. A male-presenting verbally outgoing character.* Outspoken and not afraid to speak their mind.

6. Autism. A female-presenting quiet character. Soft-spoken but not shy. *Twins or lookalikes are considered an asset.

“These auditions are a precursor to our big event called Capable Con,” said John McNutt, Executive Director of CPD. “This is an excellent initiative that shows the community of Peterborough that everyone is capable.”

Auditions will take place on April 13 from 3 - 6 p.m. at the Venture North building’s ground level, 270 George St, N.

For more information contact info@pcpd.ca or at 705-874-8661.

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City Of Peterborough Consulting the Public On Creation Of A Municipal Services Corporation For Affordable Housing

The City of Peterborough is consulting with the public on the creation of a Municipal Services Corporation for Affordable Housing to allow it to manage the debt needed to build affordable housing in the community.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Housing Corporation.

The public is invited to review the information about the project and provide feedback at connectptbo.ca/msc.

Setting up a Municipal Services Corporation, or MSC, would allow the City to retain control over future housing development projects. As well, a MSC that operates as a Government Business Enterprise (GBE) would alleviate debt capacity issues for the City, which would enable new approaches to developing rental housing.

Results of this consultation will be included with recommendations for the creation of the Municipal Services Corporation in a report that is expected to be considered by Council in May.

More information, including background on Municipal Services Corporations and previous reports to Council are available at connectptbo.ca/msc.

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Property Tax Relief For Low Income Seniors And Low Income Persons With Disabilities In County Of Peterborough

Peterborough County Council passed a by-law to allow for relief of a residential tax increase in 2022, 2023 or 2024 for Low Income Seniors and Low Income Persons with Disabilities.

Stock Photo.

A Low Income Person with a Disability must submit an application with evidence of the receipt of benefits being paid under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997, or a disability amount paid under the Family Benefits Act (Ontario) or a person receiving a Canada Pension Plan Disabilities Pension, and be eligible to claim a disability amount as defined under the Income Tax Act (Canada).

A Low Income Senior who is 65 years of age or older as of December 31st of the previous year and is in receipt of benefits paid under the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), as established under the Old Age Security Act (Canada).

Applications may be filed by an eligible person to the Treasurer of one of the Lower-Tier municipalities for the purpose of receiving relief of a tax increase in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The owner or spouse of the owner or both must occupy the property as their principal residence for which the application for tax relief is made.

Applications may be filed by eligible individuals with the Treasurer of the applicants local municipality by Nov. 15, 2022 for tax relief in 2022.

Eligible property owners are entitled to tax relief provided that the said tax increase for any single year exceeds $50.00 to a maximum relief of up to $200.00 in any given year, which the Municipal Treasurer may approve or deny.

Application forms are available on the County website at http://ptbocounty.ca or by contacting your Municipal Treasurer at the local municipal office below:

• Township of Asphodel-Norwood 705-639-5343

• Township of Cavan Monaghan 705-932-2929

• Township of Douro-Dummer 705-652-8392

• Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen 705-778-2308

• Township of North Kawartha 705-656-4445

• Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan 705-295-6852

• Township of Selwyn 705-292-9507

• Municipality of Trent Lakes 705-738-3800

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Peterborough Police Services Partners With Crime Stoppers To Release Colouring Book To Help Child Victims

The Peterborough Police Service and the Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers have partnered on a new colouring book to assist in the Peterborough Police Victims Services Unit.

PC Dillon Wentworth and PSD Gryphon; Crime Stoppers Coordinator DC Keith Calderwood (Peterborough Police); Training Sergeant Ted Branch and PSD Mag; Victim Services Coordinator Alice Czitrom and PSD Pixie; Crime Stoppers Coordinator PC Greg Stokes (OPP); PC Bob Cowie and PSD Isaac. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police Services.

“The colouring book is not just a way to help the community get to know the PPS working dogs, but a tool that officers can use to help with rapport building and communication with young people coming into contact with police. What we know is that colouring, drawing, reading and writing help with emotional expression and can be a great coping tool for children, teens and adults,” said Alice Czitrom, Victim Services Coordinator, Peterborough Police Service. “We are grateful to our partners at Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers for their generous support for this project.”

The colouring book features the Peterborough Police Service Working Dogs Police Service Dogs (PSD) Isaac, Gryphon, and Mag and Facility Dog Pixie. It will be handed out to children who come into contact with police or find themselves at the police station.

“The Crime Stoppers Board of Directors and the Crime Stoppers coordinators were excited to partner with Peterborough Police Victim Services Unit on this project,” says Keith Calderwood, Peterborough Police Coordinator, Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers. “Helping children through the colouring book and learning about the working dogs of Peterborough Police is a win-win.”

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Community Foundation Of Greater Peterborough Vital Signs Report Highlights Need To Advance Gender Equality

The Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough’s newly released Vital Signs report highlights the need to advance gender equality in our community.

CFGP board of directors. Photo courtesy of CFGP.

“The Kawartha World Issue Centre received a grant from the Foundation last year to conduct research into how our region is fairing on the issue of gender equality,” said Jennifer DeBues, executive director of CFGP.

Vital Focus: Gender Equality highlights some of the ways local women and gender diverse individuals have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and how many are being left behind when it comes to accessing services and supports.

“The work of organizations and institutions locally needs to be informed by the voices of those left behind,” said Shaelyn Wabegijig, KWIC project coordinator. “There needs to be more accessible and flexible ways for those most impacted by inequalities to be heard and supported.”

KWIC executive director Sam Rockbrune says everyone has a role in advancing intersectional gender equality, and in order to address it we must address racial, social and economic inequalities.

The Vital Signs report ad grants to organizations like KWIC are ways CFGP spotlights these voices.

To get involved visit www.cfgp.ca or email info@cfgp.ca.

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Home Energy Efficiency Program Survey Now Open

The City of Peterborough is developing a new Home Energy Efficiency Program (HEEP) with a vision to support homeowners to finance home energy renovations.

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The retrofits will target improving the energy efficiency of low-rise homes, with the goal to lower greenhouse gas emissions linked to Peterborough’s residential housing sector.

The public engagement phase of the HEEP kicks off with a virtual public meeting and the launch of two public surveys.

The kick-off virtual session will be held on March 3, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The meeting will be hosted on Zoom and accessed at www.connectptbo.ca/homeenergy.

Residents who are unable to participate online can access the session by phone at 1-647-558-0588 using meeting ID 894 1615 9559.

“The HEEP is an important climate action project that can significantly lower community emissions from Peterborough’s housing stock and is aligned with the Climate Emergency Declaration goal of accelerating community mitigation.” said Councillor Kim Zippel, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change portfolio. “Once established, the HEEP will also support economic recovery with the likely increased activity in our skilled trades and auxiliary renovation services.”

A page on the City’s public engagement website Connect Peterborough www.connectptbo.ca/homeenergy provides background information on HEEP, details for the virtual engagement sessions and surveys for homeowners and rental property owners to capture additional information.

The surveys ask participants about experiences related to home renovations, perceived barriers preventing home energy retrofits, financing preferences, and identifying appealing program features for HEEP consideration.

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Extended Hours for One Roof Community Centre On Wednesday and Thursday

One Roof Community Centre will be open for extended hours of service on Wednesday and Thursday 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 Wednesday. 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 County Council Approves 2022 Budget

Peterborough County Council approved the 2022 Budget, they announced on Wednesday.

File Photo.

The approved budget will see a levy increase of 2.6% and includes a dedicated infrastructure amount of 2.5%. The levy increase equates to approximately $9.11 per each $100,000 of residential assessment.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) data has not changed as re-assessments were not completed due to COVID, therefore the average residential home (not on water) in the County has an assessed value for tax purposes of $262,000

“Peterborough County staff were asked to bring forward a responsible and all encompassing budget and they did just that. This budget is affordable and gives us the ability to address our operational and capital infrastructure improvement needs”, said J. Murray Jones, Peterborough County Warden. “The challenges of Covid-19 are still causing operational and financial challenges to the County as well as to our service provider partners. Council has demonstrated that we will continue to tackle our Infrastructure needs and deficit. Our roads and bridges are pivotal to us all.”

Click here to view the full Draft 2022 Budget.

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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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