Bridges Peterborough and Fleming Host Bridges Out of Poverty Workshop

Bridges Peterborough and Fleming's School of Community Development is hosting a two-day online workshop for those that work with people living in poverty on Sept. 25 and 26.

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

“Bridges Out of Poverty” is specifically designed for social, community, health and legal professionals whose daily work connects them with the lives of people in poverty.

The program is lead by Lynn Smith-Reeve, a certified “Bridges out of Poverty” trainer with over 20 years of lived experience of poverty and will cover topics like poverty, economic class and community sustainability.

This workshop is being hosted online from 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The registration fee is $50. and closes on Tuesday.

Once registered participants will be notified of the pickup location of the workbook.

To register, click here.

For more information click here or email support@bridgespeterborough.ca

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Trent University Receives More than $125,000 in Federal Funding to Support Work-Integrated Learning for Students

Trent University students will gain hands-on career experience through new work-integrated learning (WIL) courses, boosted by more than $125,000 in federal funding announced on Monday.

Photo Courtesy of Trent University.

“These work-integrated learning initiatives are indicative of Trent University’s commitment to creating unique experiential learning opportunities that ensure our students are equipped with the skills required for today's changing workplace,” said Dr. Michael Khan, Trent provost and vice-president Academic. “These funds continue to support Trent in delivering the guaranteed experiential learning opportunities that help our graduates launch their careers.”

The funding is provided through the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative (IWIL) and Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada’s Innovation Hub (iHub).

This will provide enhanced work-integrated learning experiences to more than 200 students across at least six disciplines.

The goal of the funding is to remove barriers and increase access to innovative WIL experiences, with a focus on leveraging technology to enhance students’ experiences.

The two WIL initiatives include an Applied Research Bootcamp and a Crime Scene Challenge.

The Applied Research Bootcamp will equip students with community-based research skills including ethical research, community communication and interaction and communicating academic research within a community setting.

The Crime Scene Challenge invites forensic students at Trent in conjunction with Peterborough Police, OPP and RCMP investigators, to learn and practice fingerprinting techniques and documentation. The investigators will provide real-world challenges that students will experiment on to help solve.

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Trent University Aims to Make Everyone a Winner With Bingo Scavenger Hunt

Trent University students will get to experience Peterborough with Discover Peterborough Bingo, an interactive scavenger hunt hosted by the University, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism (PKT) announced Wednesday.

Photo Courtesy of Trent University.

From Sept. 7 and Oct. 22, Trent Students are encouraged to visit various locations around downtown Peterborough to complete a range of fun activities in an effort to complete two rows on their bingo card.

Once two rows are completed, students will be entered in a draw to win one of ten prize packs which include a $200 Downtown Boro gift card as well as prizes from the University, PKT and local businesses.

“Trent University is an integral part of the Peterborough community, and this partnership exemplifies our commitment to supporting local,” said Ruth-Ann Dafoe, Trent Community Relations manager. “We are excited for our returning students to explore and support the many great businesses and restaurants in downtown Peterborough through this initiative and contribute to the region’s prosperity.” 

“Trent students have always been fond of our downtown and its unique stores, services, culture and entertainment and we are certainly most appreciative of the life and vibrancy that they bring to us,” noted Terry Guiel, DBIA executive director. “Through this partnership, we want to welcome students to our community in a fun and engaging way while also acquainting them with our downtown businesses.” 

The goal of the Discover Peterborough Bingo initiative is for students to explore Peterborough, uncover new favourite shopping and leisure destinations and to support local businesses who have been impacted negatively by the effects of COVID-19 according to the press release. 

“There is so much for students to discover in Peterborough & the Kawarthas,” said Tracie Bertrand, PKT director of tourism. “Students and graduates become some of our greatest local ambassadors. We are excited to welcome these community members back and look forward to them exploring and enjoying this beautiful destination.”

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Local Schools Receive Over $15 Million For Student, Family and Staff Safety

Two local school boards have received $15,489,750 by the Ontario Government to increase safety for students, school and staff in a media conference held on Thursday.

MPP Dave Smith (right) address the media with board officials from the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

The funds as part of the school boards’ cumulative funding Will go towards projects designed to improve ventilation, air quality, Internet connectivity, hands-free water bottle stations and other public health infrastructure for the upcoming school year.

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) is receiving $11,884,400 while the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) is getting $3,605,350.

The media conference was held at Chemong Public School in Bridgenorth and was held by KPRDSB board officials and MPP Dave Smith.

”Our educators and staff, school board leader ship and families have made tremendous strides to keep our school safe from COVID-19, while continuing to deliver world-class education despite the pivots we have had to make,“ said Smith. “This $15 million has supported projects to install touchless features, Wi-Fi/Internet connectivity, HEPA filter unit, state-of-the-art HVAC systems and upgrades to plumbing fixtures to support a safe return to school in September. Critical infrastructure upgrades will add another layer of protection as we enter this new school year.”

Diane Lloyd (pictured) addressing the media in a Grade 2 classroom at Chemong Public School. The Ontario Government is providing $1.6 billion in resources dedicated to protecting schools against COVID-19. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

“Student and staff well-being is a highest priority and improving ventilation and filtration in classrooms and learning environment supports healthy and safe learning environment for all,” said Diane Lloyd, board chairperson.

The province is making over $1.6 billion in resources to school boards in Ontario for the upcoming year to keep kids as safe as possible according to Smith.

This funding will add support for student mental health, additional staff, school nurses, asymptomatic testing, remote learning technology and supporting health and safety measures in student transportation.

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Trent University Announces Vaccine Mandate

Trent University has announced that as of September 7 anyone on campus must provide proof of both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Photo courtesy of Trent University

Anyone who does not have two vaccinations will have to complete COVID testing before coming on campus. Exemptions will be allowed on medical or other protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

To encourage student participation in this initiative, the names of all students who submit proof of their two vaccinations by September 7 will be included in a draw which will provide the winning student with free tuition for the fall semester.

In addition to requiring proof of vaccine Trent will be enforcing the mandatory use of face masks in indoor settings, health screening, enhanced ventilation and air filtration, robust cleaning and sanitization, on-campus testing, and wastewater surveillance. The University is also partnering with Public Health to host on-campus pop-up vaccine clinics for staff, faculty and students.

For more on Trent’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic click here.

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Three Trent University Researchers Receive over $300,000 in Federal Funding through John R. Evans Leaders Fund

Three Trent University researchers, Dr. Huy Dang, Dr. Marguerite (Maggie) Xenopoulos, and Dr. Carlo Bradac, received a combined $328,351 in funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

Photo courtesy of Trent University

The CFI, through its John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), awarded Professor Dang $146,553 for his project titled Unravelling the emerging environmental risks of pollution from the High-Tech Industry.

They awarded $54,257 to Professor Bradac for a project titled Quantum-enabled nano-transducers for (bio)nanotechnologies.

Recently, Professor Maggie Xenopoulos, Trent’s newly appointed Canada research chair in Global Change of Freshwater Ecosystems, received $127,541 towards infrastructure associated with her new position.

“Our researchers have always thought big. Now, more than ever, they need state-of-the-art labs and equipment to turn their visions into reality,” said Francois-Philippe Champagne, minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “Investing in our university research infrastructure is key to our continuing role as an innovation leader in wide-ranging fields, from Indigenous research to quantum computing, from neurobiology to advanced robotics. These investments will not only support our ground-breaking contributions to science and research but also improve our economy, environment and quality of life.”

The CFI, through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund will support 332 new research projects at 50 institutions across Canada.

It also supported 29 Canada research chairs at 19 universities through its infrastructure support funding. The funding aims to help universities attract and retain top research talent from around the world and provide the specialized infrastructure they need to excel as leaders in their field.

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