Read Mayor Bennett's Statement On A Report The Police Services Board Is Trying To Remove Him

Photo: Evan HoltPeterborough Mayor Daryl Bennett today released the following statement to media:

A media report indicates that the Peterborough Lakefield Police Services Board has made an application to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission to attempt to remove me from the Board.

 

I have no notice or knowledge of any such application, nor have I had any indication from any Board member that such an action was being contemplated. If such an action has been taken, it clearly would have been appropriate and respectful to advise me of same.

 

An application of this sort would represent a rogue action focused on petty politics rather than quality policing. If there is lingering disappointment on the part of the Board that the Police Service did not receive its full 8.4% budget increase from the City this year, that disappointment must be put aside in the interest of civility and an acceptance of the public will. There is a time to graciously accept the will of the elected members of City Council and their constituents, and this is it.

 

I am aware that the Board has maintained a secret file on me, which I have not been permitted to see, and that there may be similar files on other Councillors. It is very troubling that the Board has adopted a practice of maintaining secret files on those with whom it disagrees. Nonetheless, I am hopeful that Board members will do the right thing and, like all other public agencies, focus their energies on serving people rather than attacking them. 

 

The statement is issued in Daryl Bennett's capacity as Mayor and not as a Member of the Peterborough Lakefield Police Services Board.  

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[UPDATE: 2:11 p.m. July 4th]

Media Release Response From The Board...

July 4, 2012
The Police Services Board does not have the authority to remove a member from the Board.
According to the Police Services Act, the authority to investigate the conduct of a board member and impose sanctions rests with the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.
The board continues to carry out its responsibilities to uphold the integrity of the Police Services Act and to ensure the citizens of Peterborough and Lakefield have adequate and effective policing.
There will be no further statements at this time.

Thank you
Nancy Martin Board Chair

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Farm To Table Offering Culinary Foot Tours Of Downtown Every Wednesday

Starting this week (July 4th), Farm to Table will be offering weekly culinary foot tours of downtown Peterborough every Wednesday.

These tours will allow patrons to sample products from independent retail stores and restaurants across the downtown core, and will showcase some of the local, seasonal and artisanal foods that our community has to offer.

The tours will depart each Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. from the Downtown Farmer’s Market. "This is going to be a fun way to explore the downtown," says Farm To Table's tour guide, Donald Fraser. “We're going to be hitting up a number of local businesses, by foot and by fork.”

The Downtown Culinary Tours will include weekly stops at a number of retail outlets, including Chasing the Cheese, Naked Chocolate, and Black Honey Bakery. There will be beer tastings at local breweries, VQA wine tastings at local wine bars, and seasonal food samples at a revolving list of restaurants—including Rare Grill House, Brio Gusto, and the brand new Le Petit Bar.

Tickets for the tours are $25 per person. For more info, call Farm to Table at 705-977-0604, email donald@ptbolocalfoods.ca or visit Ptbolocalfoods.ca.

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A Black Bear Entered A Home Near Burleigh Falls This Morning

From Peterborough County OPP release today...

BEAR IN THE KITCHEN

(Galway-Cavendish-Harvey Twp., ON) – On Friday June 29, 2012 at approximately 4:50 A.M. officers from Peterborough County OPP responded to a complaint of a Bear in a Bolton’s Road home, west of Burleigh Falls.

A black bear had knocked the barbeque off of the deck and forced entry into the home through the screen door. The animal was rummaging through the kitchen when it woke the home’s occupants and was eventually scared off.

No persons were injured but the animal caused damage to the kitchen and an exterior door to the home.

Provincial Police remind residents and cottagers in all areas that bears forage for food primarily by using their keen sense of smell and they will investigate that smell even if it is coming from your home, cottage or camp.

Remember:

    • Keep all perishable food in the refrigerator and off the counter.
 
    • Close and secure all ground level windows and doors
 
    • Fill bird feeders only during the late fall and winter months then store them in the spring and summer.

    • Put garbage in containers with tight fitting lids and only put it out on garbage days, not the night before.
 
    • Store garbage containers in bear resistant bins, sheds or garages but do not store outside in plywood boxes, old freezers or vehicles.

    • Do not stockpile garbage, take it to the dump frequently
 
    • Never leave garbage behind. If you must leave before garbage day or if you do not have pick-up, take your garbage with you when you go. Take it to the dump or local transfer station.
 
    • Keep meat scraps in the freezer until garbage day
 
    • Do not leave pet food outdoors. Feed pets indoors, not outside or in screened in areas or porches.
 
    • Remove grease and food residue from barbeque grills, including the grease cup underneath, after each use.
 
    • Do not put meat, fish or sweet food (including fruit) in your composter

    • Pick all ripe fruit off trees and remove vegetables and fallen fruit from the ground

    • NEVER PURPOSELY FEED BEARS (or other wildlife) OR TRY TO APPROACH THEM!
 
Remember, you are responsible for your own personal safety. Take precautions when you are outdoors.

For Bear Problems contact: the Ministry of Natural Resources Bear Report Line at 1-866-514-2327

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Neat Footage From Circa 1920 Depicting Lives Of British Girls At Peterborough Orphanage

This silent film, The Tide Of Immigration from Library and Archives Canada, is a compilation of various newsreels produced from 1919 to 1921 depicting the lives of immigrants in Canada. The final story in the film (starts at the 7:27 mark) is set right here in Peterborough, and introduces us to British girls living at Hazel Brae, an orphanage founded by Dr. Thomas Barnardo for homeless or destitute English children.

[YouTube]

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Dinosaurs Live! Exhibit At Indian River Reptile Zoo All Summer

They move! They roar! Yes, a neat new exhibit Dinosaurs Live! runs from June 30th to September 3rd at the Indian River Reptile Zoo, featuring life size dinosaurs with motion and sound. Make sure to check it out.

Here's the team working to assemble the life sized Tyrannosaurus rex for the exhibit.

[YouTube; Indian River Reptile Zoo]

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Today Is National Canoe Day!

Although numerous canoe related festivities took place this weekend, National Canoe Day is officially today (June 26th). The Canadian Canoe Museum—housed right here in Peterborough—is hosting an open house to celebrate, so stop in and explore some of our canoe heritage and culture.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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A Final PCVS Photo Of Staff & Students To Say Goodbye To Iconic School

[via @susieclarke]

R.I.P. PCVS

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Lindsay's World Record LipDub Video That's Bringing Awareness To Their City

On May 31, 2012, the world's largest LibDub was shot in Lindsay's main street. With more than 9,300 people in attendance, the LipDub made history as the world's largest and Canada's first city LipDub. The LipDub was used as a way to bring their community together in a show of spirit and potential, and bring exposure to their city. Here's the final result in a video that already has more than 15,000 views—and national media attention—since being uploaded to YouTube Saturday... 

[YouTube]

Maybe Peterborough should create a fun video like this to promote our great city? What would your ideas be?

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A Really *Really* Old Maytag Washing Machine At Lang Pioneer Village In Keene

[YouTube; Lang Pioneer Village]

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Here's The Top 10 Intersections For Collisions In Peterborough

Peterborough Community Police's Traffic Managment Unit has released stats so far this year for the Top 10 intersections for collisions (and what the Top 10 were last year).

"The one intersection of note," according to the police release, "is that Monaghan and Lansdowne is no longer in the Top 10 for this year. It actually did not make the Top 20. It has been #1 or #2 for the past 5 years."

Here's the breakdown...

2012 So Far

1 Clonsilla and the Parkway

2 Clonsilla and Sherbrooke

3 Parkway and Lansdowne

4 Rubidge and King

5 Fairbairn and Parkhill

6 Parkhill and George

7 Lock and Lansdowne

8 Sherbrooke Rubidge

9 Ashburnham and Lansdowne

10 Clonsilla and Goodfellow

 

2011 Year End Stats

1 Sherbrooke and Clonsilla

2 Monaghan and Lansdowne

3 Monaghan and Parkhill

4 Clonsilla and Goodfellow

5 Parkway and Lansdowne

6 Clonsilla and Parkway

7 Bellevue and Chemong

8 Wolsely and Chemong

9 Parkhill and Fairbairn

10 Sherbrooke and Monaghan

 

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