Peterborough School Boards to Close Friday If CUPE Staff Strike Cannot Reach Agreement

Peterborough public and Catholic school boards could be closed on Friday to in-person learning as Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) plans to engage in a full withdrawal of services from schools on Friday.

Photo courtesy of PVNC.

The closures will occur if school boards cannot reach an agreement by Friday.

The Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic School Board (PVNC) and Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) have release the following statement regarding school closures:

“Please know, we do not make this decision lightly and we understand the impact this will have on families. Without CUPE workers on-site, however, we simply cannot ensure safe conditions for all students and staff.”

The statement continues that this course of action is appropriate based on the following considerations:

• supervision of students;

• medical support and care for all students;

• safe operation of water and sanitation systems, including required water flushing;

• conditions of school buildings and classrooms, and

• overall safety and security.

CUPE represents 55,000 employees that represents custodians, maintenance staff, secretaries, educational assistants, early childhood educators, learning commons specialists, paraprofessionals, central IT employees and more. They are looking for an 11.7 per cent increase in wages and are in a legal strike position starting Thursday. School boards must be given five days’ notice of any possible strike action.

Both school boards believe negotiations between the province and CUPE could go into late Thursday night.

Stephen Lecce, Ontario minister of education is adamant about keeping kids in the classroom and wants CUPE to withdraw their strike.

“In response to CUPE’s decision to strike, our government introduced legislation that will keep kids in class,” said Leece. “I’m again calling on CUPE to immediately withdraw this strike and work with us to keep kids in the classroom. Otherwise, to make sure schools don’t close, we have no choice but to proceed with legislation.”

I'm calling on CUPE to immediately cancel this strike that will only hurt our kids. pic.twitter.com/Sd851X2tyN

— Stephen Lecce (@Sflecce) November 2, 2022

If schools close on Friday, PVNC and KPRDSB will have students will transition to remote, asynchronous learning from home.

Both boards are beginning to collect information from families who require additional technology and distributing technology to students prior to Friday according to a statement issued by PVNC and KPRDSB.

On Friday, classroom teachers will connect with students through their regular communication platforms (e.g. Google Classrooms). The asynchronous model provides flexibility for families as teachers will be providing work that can be completed by students at any time during the day.

For students enrolled in virtual schools, programming will proceed as usual.

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Peterborough School Board Communication Services Team Wins National Award

Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board won an Award of Distinction for its Everyday Hero Staff Recognition Program during the 2022 BRAVO! Awards Gala hosted by the Canadian Association of Communications in Education (CACE) on Monday.

Communications officer Alyssa Cymbalista (left) and communications manager Galen Eagle (right) celebrate their awards during the CACE gala on Monday. Photo courtesy of PVNC.

CACE recognizes and honours exemplary work in all aspects of school public relations, communications, marketing and engagement through this awards program each year.

“Our communications staff provide effective communication strategies to stakeholders across the district,” said Joan Carragher, PVNC director of education. “This award recognizes their exemplary work. It is a very well-deserved honour for a communications program that highlights our amazing staff and supports our multi-year strategic plan.”

The Everyday Hero Staff Recognition Program was developed as a strategic communication project to acknowledge the efforts of a range of school board staff and to help further the “Valuing Relationships” strategic priority set out in the board’s 2021-2025 strategic plan.

The CACE BRAVO! Awards are the only Canada-wide awards program specifically designed to recognize excellence in school board communications.

“We are thrilled and honoured to receive this national recognition from the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education,” said Galen Eagle, PVNC manager of communications. “We were looking for a creative way to demonstrate to our employees how much they are valued. The Everyday Hero Staff Recognition Program has been a huge success story for us, allowing us to pay tribute to employees who lift-up those around them and go the extra mile for their peers, students and the families we serve.”

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Fleming College Fall Open House To Run This Saturday

Fleming College is welcoming prospective students at the annual fall open houses at Frost, Sutherland and Haliburton campuses this Saturday.

File photo.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., attendees can check out different events taking place at each campus and speak with instructors and professors from a wide array of programs, who will be on hand to answer questions and meet prospective students.

Guests can tour our campuses, learn more about the services that are available to students and get the latest information on financial aid options, the application process, residence life and making the transition from secondary school to Fleming College.

The Sutherland Campus will commence with a land acknowledgment at the front entrance of the Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre (KTTC). There will be fitness demonstrations put on by law and justice students and instructors, and the Child and Youth Care program will be running a sensory simulation lab for visitors. There will be many other displays and demonstrations throughout campus labs and at the KTTC throughout the day.

At the Frost Campus visitors can catch some live tree climbing and blasting technique demonstrations along with interactive demonstrations on the heavy equipment simulators. Displays of rocks, minerals, geophysical equipment and specimens from Frost’s Fish and Wildlife labs will be on display.   

Visitors to Fleming’s Haliburton Campus have a chance to tour the Haliburton School of Art + Design and try their hand at felting in the Fibre Arts Studio or hand building with clay in the Ceramics Studio.  

Fleming’s Pre Service Firefighter program will be hosting its open house at the Eastern Ontario Emergency Training Academy located at 36 Industrial Rd. in Norwood. 

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Hometown PTBO: Crestwood Edge On Giving Student-Athletes Extra School Credits and Fitness While Improving Overall Health

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks to the staff and students of the Crestwood Edge Program about how it provides a higher level of fitness training for high school student-athletes and being able to obtain extra school credits.

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Trent University Creates Largest Endowed Bursary After $2.5 Million Donation; Aid Four Students Annually With Socio-Economic Barriers

After a $2.5 million donation from the Joyce Family Foundation, Trent University has created its largest-ever endowed bursary announced at Bata Library on Friday afternoon.

The Joyce Family Foundation that was created by the co-founder of Tim Hortons, Ronald V. Joyce. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The bursary is available beginning in the 2023-24 school year for four students beginning their studies at Trent University. The bursaries are valued at up to $5,000 annually, are renewable for a maximum of four years and require each successful applicant to work with a mentor in an extracurricular activity throughout their program. Every subsequent year accepts another four students for the bursary.

All students are eligible but preference is given to students coming from Peterborough (City or County), Durham Region and Haliburton County and who face socioeconomic barriers to post-secondary education.

“This gift, which creates our largest fund for student aid, greatly enhances Trent University’s ability to support students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent president and vice-chancellor.

The Joyce Family Foundation is a private family foundation created by the late Ronald V. Joyce, the man behind Tim Horton of the renowned Canadian franchise.

“Ron Joyce believed in hard work and the power of education to open doors and help meet potential,” said Maureen O’Neill, Joyce Family Foundation executive director. “This gift is part of the Board’s commitment to Ron Joyce’s legacy and genuine belief in youth to bring their talents and contributions into Canadian society.”

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In-Person Continuing Education Classes Return to Trent University

Registrations are open for in-person, interactive workshops and multi-week courses through Trent University’s Continuing Education program announced on Tuesday.

File Photo.

These in-person classes are back at Trent University’s Traill College starting Oct. 17 and are open to lifelong learners from the community who are looking to build connections and learn something. Topics including beekeeping, music, American Sign Language (ASL), writing, cooking and money management are available as classes.

“For the first time in two years, in-person Continuing Education classes are back at Catharine Parr Traill College in downtown Peterborough,” said Dr. Michael Eamon, Trent director of Continuing Education. “Members of the greater community can find inspiration and discover something new alongside fellow lifelong learners while immersing themselves in Traill’s unique learning spaces, using the College library or taking in a meal at The Trend café.”

Multi-week courses start at $260 (including HST) for the series and workshops start at $40 (including HST), plus appropriate materials.

Traill will be hosting a Continuing Education open house event on Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. where community members can learn more about the courses being offered, meet instructors and explore the learning environment at the College’s downtown Peterborough location (the Scott House at 315 Dublin St.).

Registration is available online at trentu.ca/continuingeducation.

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Workplace Training Programs Open For Registration at Fleming College

Fall courses are open for registration as Fleming College offers programs in everything from executive leadership training to business and management workshops.

File Photo.

The Continuing Education and Corporate Training Office offers courses from executive leadership training to business and management workshops to turn students into highly skilled, ready-to-work employees according to Fleming.

This semester’s established certificate and specialized training modules include coaching and conflict resolution skills, team leadership and a high in-demand PEAK Leadership training program. 

Customizable training options are available for groups, key team members or individuals. 

For more information on available workplace training programs and how to enroll email corporatetraining@flemingcollege.ca.

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Camp Kawartha Celebrates 100 Years With Exhibition Through Peterborough Museum & Archives

The Camp Kawartha: Making a Splash for 100 Years exhibition celebrates a century of camp life from Sept. 17 to Dec. 4 at Peterborough Museum & Archives.

File Photo.

Since 1921, children have experienced outdoor activities and education on the eastern shore of Clear Lake through Camp Kawartha’s summer camps, retreats and workshops.

Featuring nostalgic camp memorabilia like a 1930s wool swimsuit and a Peterborough Canoe Company vessel, Camp Kawartha: Making a Splash for 100 Years displays archival and contemporary photographs of campers participating in various activities at the campsite.

Through this temporary exhibition attendees can learn how the camp evolved over the last century into the award-winning environmental leadership centre it is today.

The exhibition admission is by donation.

For more information, contact the curator of Peterborough Museum & Archives Kim Reid at (705) 742-7777 (ext. 2473).

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Virtual Museum Of The Spanish Civil War Launches At Trent University

A first-of-its-kind virtual museum, dedicated to the exploration and understanding of the Spanish Civil War is now open to online visitors after its launch event at Trent University on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

Developed and co-directed by Trent University history professor Dr. Antonio Cazorla-Sanchez, the project brings together scholars and experts from Trent, York University, the SSHRC and the University of Warwick, as well as the Embassy of Spain in Canada and Spain's Ministry of Culture and Sport. 

This virtual museum is the first dedicated museum that gives a global explanation of the conflict from a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives including history, archaeology, digital humanities, literary and cultural studies.

The project has received international support from institutional partners as well as the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada’s Connections Grant which supported the museum by providing $30,000 in funding.

“In many ways, the past is a foreign country. Through the visual elements of this museum, we are witnessing what people experienced in the moment,” said Prof. Cazorla-Sanchez. “A way for visitors to immerse themselves in the mentalities of the people who experienced those events. The big issues that were relevant in the Spanish Civil War [social justice, democracy, women’s rights, rights of minorities] remain relevant today.” 

Trent president and vice-chancellor Dr. Leo Goarke said that the museum is a reflection of Trent’s commitment to interdisciplinary, international collaboration and the digital humanities.

“The impressive result of the efforts of Professor Cazorla-Sanchez and his fellow researchers is an online tool which can mobilize knowledge in a way that makes it accessible from around the world,” he said.

Those interested can explore the Virtual Museum for the Spanish Civil War at www.vscw.ca.

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City To Host Weekly Sessions To Answer Questions Regarding Peterborough Heritage

Heritage preservation staff will be holding drop-in sessions on Wednesday afternoons starting this week and each Wednesday until October 5, to answer any questions the public may have and to receive feedback on heritage in the city.

Photo by Luke Best.

On July 25, 2022, City Council adopted the background study looking at the heritage value of the historic commercial core of Peterborough.

This was the first step in creating a Heritage Conservation District in the downtown. The study process has raised some questions about heritage districts and how the City preserves its heritage in general.

“Heritage is an important part of creating vital, diverse and sustainable communities,” said Erik Hanson, the City’s Heritage Resources Coordinator. “We want to hear from the community about how we can best ensure our shared history is preserved for future generations.”

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