Fleming College Nursing Student Receives $5,000 Through Cash for College Contest
/Fleming College awarded practical nursing student Kelly Cairns $5,000 through their Cash for College contest given on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of Fleming College.
Peterborough Blogs
CUPE Announces Potential Strike On Monday If Deal Not Struck With Ontario Government
/The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is set to strike again on Monday after rejecting the Ford government’s negotiation offers and citing that the proposed contract would “further harm” Ontario schools.
CUPE workers originally had a strike on Nov. 4 and continued on Nov. 6. Photo By David Tuan Bui.
Laura Walton, president of the CUPE school board’s bargaining unit, said the union has given its notice of a province-wide strike for Monday.
“From the beginning, we’ve been focused on improved jobs for education workers and improved services for students. For us, there is no one without the other,” said Walton. “It’s incredibly disappointing that the Ford government categorically refused to put money on the table to give students the type of learning environment they need.”
The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) has Tweeted that they intend to strike Monday if a deal is not reached.
CUPE, the union representing support workers in our Board, has provided notice that it intends to commence a strike (full withdrawal of services) on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022 if it does not reach a central agreement with the provincial government before then.
— PVNCCDSB (@PVNCCDSB) November 16, 2022
The School Boards Collective Bargaining Act requires that school board workers give five days’ notice before striking.
On Nov. 7, the Premiere Doug Ford said they would repeal Bill 28 which stripped the ability to strike and deem it illegal if the CUPE would cease all striking action. CUPE agreed to withdraw and go back to the bargaining table to renegotiate.
Schools had re-opened for students after two days from the CUPE strikes that consists of roughly 55,000 workers.
CUPE’s Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU) central bargaining committee has been negotiating for 167 days. During this time, they have made progress on the wage front, having reached a reported “middle ground” with the Ford government and the Council of Trustees’ Associations (CTA) on wage negotiations.
CUPE workers had been advocating for a six per cent wage increase, down from their original ask of 11.7 per cent over four years. They are also seeking more full-time staff in schools.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce expressed “disappointment” that negotiations with CUPE have failed, noting that this strike notice was issued only a few days after talks restarted.
“We are disappointed that only a few short days after talks restarted, CUPE has filed notice to once again shut down classrooms. Since resuming talks, we’ve put forward multiple improved offers that would have added hundreds of millions of dollars across the sector, especially for lower-income workers,” he said in a Tweet. “CUPE has rejected all of these offers. We are at the table ready to land a fair deal that invests more in lower-income workers and keeps kids in class.”
We offered $335 million more over four years for CUPE workers alone.
— Stephen Lecce (@Sflecce) November 16, 2022
So, why are we here? pic.twitter.com/QZFxQ8Iu9r
Lecce says the government will remain at the bargaining table in hopes of reaching an agreement in time to avert what Walton said will be a “full strike.”
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Clarington Trustee Kevin MacKenzie Elected As PVNC School Board Chairperson
/Clarington trustee Kevin MacKenzie has been elected as Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board chairperson for the 2022-23 term during the inaugural meeting at the Catholic Education Centre on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of PVNC.
MacKenzie has served as a trustee for four years, having first been elected in the 2018 municipal election. He served as the board’s vice-chairperson from 2021 to 2022.
“Since first being elected to the board of trustees in 2018, I have been consistently awed and inspired by what our students and staff can achieve when provided the opportunity to thrive,” said MacKenzie. “I am honoured to take on this new leadership role. I have long wished to serve and give back to my community and I look forward to working with my fellow trustees as we pursue the board’s mission to accompany our students and strive for excellence in Catholic education.”
During Tuesday’s inaugural board meeting, Peterborough County trustee Jenny Leahy was elected as the board’s vice-chairperson. Leahy, who retired from her 18-year career as an executive administrative assistant at PVNC in July 2021, joined the board of trustees in May 2022 as an appointee. She was re-elected to the position during this year’s municipal election on Oct. 24.
Newly elected trustees Mike Ayotte (Peterborough), Joshua Glover (Clarington), Mary Ann Martin (Kawartha Lakes) and Kathleen Tanguay (Northumberland) also joined the board table on Tuesday.
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Trent University’s Bachelor of Arts & Science Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary With Annual Lecture Series
/Trent University is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Bachelor of Arts & Science (B.A.S.) program with a new annual lecture series created in honour of the late Dr. David Ellis announced on Monday.
B.A.S. is one of 23 programs at Trent that offer a paid co-op stream, through which students can gain valuable connections and graduate with 12 months of hands-on job experience in as little as four years. File Photo.
Ellis, a professor of Chemistry, served as acting dean of Science and dean of Humanities at Trent before passing in 2019. The Nov. 16 lecture is inspired by one of Dean Ellis’ signature sayings “Ask Me Anything”, and will feature a discussion on visual argumentation by Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent president and vice-chancellor, as the inaugural speaker.
“I am honoured to be the speaker at the inaugural lecture,” said Groarke. “This event is a fitting tribute to honour the legacy of Dr. David Ellis, a man whose open-mindedness and natural curiosity for intersections between the arts and sciences was the driving force behind the dynamic degree program that embodies core elements of the Trent experience.”
Since the degree’s launch in 2012, 70 students have graduated from the program. Since then, the program has grown to 109 current students, 52 of which are currently in their first year – the largest-ever number of first-year students in the program’s history according to Trent.
“The 10th anniversary of our program provides a moment to reflect on how we have grown since we launched, and to celebrate the successes of our students and graduates,” said Dr. Jessica Marion Barr, B.A.S. program coordinator. “Our faculty and students understand the value of thinking critically, approaching problems creatively, and communicating effectively as we navigate the overlapping social and scientific complexities of today’s world.”
In 2021, a new Bachelor of Arts & Science (B.A.S.) / Medical Sciences dual degree program was launched in a collaboration with Trent University and Swansea University in the United Kingdom.
The dual degree program offers students the opportunity to complete two degrees in four years for careers as medical professionals while gaining international experience.
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Five Counties Calls On Local Community to Support The Northumberland Backyard Project
/The Five Counties Children’s Centre is asking for community support on their Northumberland Backyard Project, which would see the area at the rear of its Cobourg location turned into a safe, fully accessible backyard green space available for treatment, recreation, cultural awareness and outdoor education programming for the community.
Photo courtesy of Five Counties.
The Northumberland Backyard Project is spearhead by Five Counties Children’s Centre in partnership with multiple community organizations.
The partners have applied to Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group for nearly $50,000 in funding to help with the first phase of the Northumberland Backyard Project. Commonwell’s Learning and Engagement Accelerator Fund (LEAF) provides grants for community projects that promote learning and capacity improvements.
Five Counties and its partners have secured approximately 40 per cent of funding already for the project’s $255,000 estimated cost.
Part of the funding approval is based on community support for a project. Local residents are being asked to play a part by visiting the Commonwell website between Nov. 10 and 15 and sharing support and reasons why the project matters to the community. This can involve writing a short story, uploading a photo or just leaving an encouraging comment and spreading the word on social media.
“We know there is a long-term need for this type of accessible backyard green space in Northumberland County, so we encourage everyone in coming days to show your support online and spread the word to neighbours and friends,” says Scott Pepin, CEO of Five Counties Children’s Centre. “…the proposed accessible playground and natural enhancements to the outdoor space at our Northumberland site will have countless benefits to the children and youth who receive therapy services at the (Five Counties) centre, as well as other families and community members across the County.”
Show your support using the Commonwell website.
Fleming College Multicultural Showcase to Celebrate International Education
/Fleming College Sutherland campus is celebrating International Education Week with a two-day Multicultural Showcase on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18.
Photo courtesy of Fleming College.
Fleming’s International Student Services group will host a series of activities and demonstrations to highlight the diverse talents within the community, like martial artists, dance performances and singers, featuring a culinary show and Zumba class.
Activities will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days and take place in the main foyer of the Fleming Sutherland campus.
The all-ages event is free to attend and accessible to all abilities.
International Education Week runs from Nov. 14 to Nov. 18, and aims to celebrate the importance and impact of International Education on students around the world.
Free parking will be available in the Ash, Aspen, Birch and Oak parking lots. Full event details are available here.
Doug Ford Has 'Improved Offer' For CUPE Workers
/Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the provincial government is ready to stop fighting with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and has an ‘improved offer’ for education workers at the negotiation table at a press conference in Queen’s Park on Tuesday morning.
Screenshot.
Ford declined to speak about what the improved offer was immediately after stating that his government has an offer.
This comes a day after promising to rescind Bill 28 which took away their rights to strike and made it illegal. Ford stated on Monday that he was willing to revoke the bill if CUPE agreed to cease all strike/protest action.
We’re willing to do whatever it takes to keep children in class.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) November 7, 2022
I’m urging CUPE, please show the same willingness to work together as we have today. End the strikes. pic.twitter.com/mOy5dxyFBF
The union agreed to withdraw and is expected to continue negotiations Tuesday morning.
Schools have re-opened for students following a two-day walkout from CUPE workers of roughly 55,000 workers.
CUPE has reportedly been asking for roughly 11.7 per cent wage increase over four years however the latest offer has been around six per cent. Education minister Stephen Leece and MPP Dave Smith have said workers have originally asked for 50 per cent which was deemed ‘unreasonable.’
CUPE can still legally strike but must provide five days’ notice if they wish to do so.
"I'm advocating on behalf of two million students." MPP Dave Smith Urges CUPE To Renegotiate and Stop Striking
/MPP Dave Smith explains the province's steps and stance toward the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ actions which are fighting for a pay raise. He says the ball is in CUPE's court to act but wants to have students back in schools as soon as possible.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has agreed to repeal Bill 28 if the CUPE workers agreed to stop striking. According to Ford’s tweet Monday morning, CUPE has agreed to withdraw.
I’m glad CUPE has agreed to withdraw its strike action so kids can return to class. We’ll be back at the table to negotiate a fair deal — for students, parents, workers and taxpayers.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) November 7, 2022
CUPE Education Workers Protest During First Day of Strike
/Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) education workers protest outside MPP Dave Smith’s office on Water Street as their strike for wage increases takes off on Friday.
CUPE workers are striking for a 6 per cent wage increase, down from their original ask of 11.7 per cent. “Ford and Lecce have got to go!” chants were made from the crowds as education workers picketed and receive honks of encouragement from passing vehicles.
Similar protests were held outside the offices of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott in Lindsay, and Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini in Port Hope.
The Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic School Board (PVNC) and Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) have both opted to closing schools during the strike, saying in a statement that “without CUPE workers on-site, (they) simply cannot ensure safe conditions for all students and staff.”
Students have been transitioned to at-home, asynchronous learning for the day on Friday as CUPE strikes.
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Fall Open House at Trent University on Nov. 4 and 12
/Trent University welcomes future students and their guests to explore their campus during fall open houses on Nov. 4 and Nov. 12.
Photo courtesy of Trent University.
