Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough Police Deputy Chief Tim Farquharson Announces Retirement After 36-Year Tenure
/After more than 36 years of service, Deputy Chief Tim Farquharson announced his retirement from the Peterborough Police Service announced on Wednesday.
File Photo.
His retirement will be effective on March. 1. He is assuming the role of Chief of Police for Port Hope.
“The Peterborough Police Services Board acknowledges and thanks Tim Farquharson for his exemplary dedication to serving the citizens of Peterborough, Township of Cavan-Monaghan and Village of Lakefield over the past 36 years,” said Mary ten Doeschate, Peterborough Police Service board chair. “His commitment to the service members and community was most recently noted as he took on the role of Acting Chief during the past year.”
Farquharson began as a Constable with the Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service (now Peterborough Police Service) in 1986. During his 36-year tenure, he has worked Front Line and Community Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Intelligence, Drug Unit and Support Services, at all ranks - most recently as Deputy Chief of Police. He became Acting Chief after former chief Scott Gilbert abruptly retired on Feb. 7 last year. He has then been relieved by new chief Stuart Betts.
Farquharson has been recognized as a Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Services for his role in the Peterborough Drug Strategy Task Force and received several honours of exemplary service and leadership in policing.
He has been an advocate of helping issues such as homelessness, mental health and addiction. He has developed support and raised awareness on those issues such as his ‘Stand With Tim’ campaign.
“The Board wishes Deputy Farquharson all the best on his upcoming retirement,” concluded Doeschate.
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Acting Captain Christopher Roberts Retires After a 19-Year Tenure With Peterborough Fire Services
/Peterborough Fire Services acting captain Christopher Roberts is retiring as Tuesday is his last day with the service announced on Facebook on Monday.
Photo courtesy of Peterborough FIre Services.
“We would like to extend all the best to Christopher as he moves on to the next chapter in his life. You will be missed,” said Peterborough Fire Services in a Facebook post.
Roberts spent 19 years and eight months with Peterborough Fire Services, joining on May 26, 2003.
“I had a great career with fantastic people,” commented Roberts on Facebook.
Peterborough Police Service Swear In New Chief Stuart Betts
/Stuart Betts has been sworn in and is official chief of the Peterborough Police Service in a ceremony in the Austin Doran Hall of the Mount Community Centre on Monday.
Police constable Mike Lasseter (left) plays in newly sworn-in Peterborough Police Service chief Stuart Betts (right) who assumes the role on Monday. Betts
Over 100 people were in attendance for the ceremony including Mayor Jeff Leal, Councillor Gary Baldwin, Councillor Keith Riel and officers from around the province for the ceremony among others.
Betts was the Deputy Chief of Operations and Deputy Chief of Administration for the London Police Service prior to joining Peterborough. He brings 26 years of policing into his new role.
“You can expect me to be open, accessible and very present,” said Betts. “I intend to be very public in this community, I see that the role of Chief of Police is more than just Chief of Police, it's about being a leader in the community and that's a role I intend to take very seriously.”
Betts has been familiar with the city as his wife is from Peterborough and he met her here. His first concern is to continue familiarizing himself with the community.
“My first and foremost priority is to really get embedded in the police service, to learn the people, what makes a police service and the people who work here,” said Betts. “My number one priority is to get to know the people who work here so that I know how they're serving the community and then to see what we can do to continue that service and where we can and can't service.”
During Betts’s career, he has served as Frontline Patrol to Executive Services as well as Support Services and Administrative departments.
Betts has completed the Senior Management Institute for Police with the Police Executive Research Forum at the University of Boston and the Police Leadership Program at the Rotman School of Executive Management at the University of Toronto. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from York University, a Masters of Business Administration Degree from the University of Fredericton and is pursuing a second Masters degree in Law in Alternative Dispute Resolution at Osgoode Hall Law School.
The newly-appointed police chief is also a certified Canadian Risk Manager and certified Change Management Practitioner. He has served as the co-chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Information and Statistics Committee.
Enbridge Gas Assisting Douro-Dummer Fire Services in Supporting Firefighter Training
/Enbridge Gas Inc. is helping Douro-Dummer Fire Services (DDFS) purchase firefighting training materials through a Safe Community Project Assist $5,000 donation announced Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of Enbridge Gas and Douro-Dummer fire services.
The announcement was made at Fire Station 4 in Warsaw with Fire Chief Chuck Pedersen, Deputy Fire Chief Derrick Huffman, Mayor Heather Watson and Ian Moase, GTA East Region operations manager of Enbridge Gas in attendance.
The Safe Community Project Assist program with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) supplements existing training for Ontario volunteer and composite fire departments in the communities where Enbridge Gas operates.
“At Enbridge Gas, safety is our priority. We’re proud to support Ontario firefighters who share our commitment to keeping our communities safe, healthy and vibrant,” said Moase.
This year’s $250,000 donation from Enbridge Gas will be shared by 50 Ontario fire departments including Douro-Dummer Fire Services. Funds will be used to purchase educational materials to assist in training firefighters in life-saving techniques.
Since the launch of Safe Community Project Assist in 2012, 294 grants have been provided to Ontario fire departments for additional firefighter training according to Enbridge Gas in a press release.
“These resources from Enbridge Gas are timely and much appreciated as we ramp up testing for firefighter certification to meet our new legislative requirements,” said Pedersen.
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No Injuries In George Street Apartment Fire; Estimated $75,000 In Damages
/Peterborough Fire Services were called to an apartment building on George Street after reports of smoke coming from it around 2:20 a.m. on Monday morning.
File photo.
Upon arrival, PFS says the third floor of the building was completely charged with smoke. The fire was located in one apartment and was extinguished before spreading any further.
No injuries were reported and the fire's cause is currently under investigation according to acting captain Jude Rutland. $75,000 in damages has been reported.
Peterborough Fire Services Extinguishes Wolfe Street Tent Fire
/Peterborough Fire Services aided someone out of a fiery tent on a property on Wolfe Street, east of Aylmer Street, on Sunday.
Peterborough Fire Services have responded to fires at the Wolfe Street tenting site eight times in the last four weeks. File photo.
Fire Services originally responded for a possible fire and found a campfire under a tarped enclosure. While extinguishing the campfire, firefighters saw a tent with a person inside that began to ignite. Firefighters and a pedestrian alerted the occupant and helped them get out. The fire was immediately extinguished shortly after. Peterborough Paramedics assessed the individual and did not go to the hospital as a result of the incident.
Tenting and open-air burning is prohibited on City property except where permitted in Beavermead Campground according to the City of Peterborough. In the winter, health and safety concerns are heightened with exposure to extreme cold and the increased risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning from unsafe heating sources.
Social Services outreach workers regularly reach anyone who are experiencing homelessness and who are tenting to offer assistance with accessing available shelter and housing services.
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Fire Breaks Out at Simcoe Street Restaurant Late Monday Evening
/Updated at 3:51 p.m. Oct. 25, 2022
Peterborough Fire Services responded to a report of flames showing in the windows at Indian Peacock Restaurant on 187 Simcoe St. at 10:35 p.m. Monday evening.
Police say while two crews extinguished the fire, a third ensured all residents exited the building. The fire was on the ground floor of a building with residential apartments on the second and third floors. All residents were reportedly able to exit the building safely.
The restaurant sustained extensive damage and the remainder of the building sustained minor smoke damage.
The cause of the fire was an improperly disposed firework according to a press release.
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Fleming FireFit Team Heads to the World Championships
/After achieving success at the National Championships, members of the Fleming College FireFit team are heading to the World Championships in Utah from Oct. 10 to 15 announced on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of Fleming College.
Fleming FireFit took home National bronze medals in the mixed relay team and hybrid men’s division. Each medal was won while students competed against full-time firefighters and experienced FireFit teams.
The FireFit Championships are described as the ultimate test of firefighting skills and endurance where students and experienced firefighters compete on a course comprised of six firefighting-based physical challenges. Competitors must complete each task wearing 50 pounds of firefighting gear.
Pre-service firefighter students Cameron Leonard and Greg Sheedy both qualified for the world championships. Leonard is being joined by FireFit head coach Shawna Coulter, representing the team in Sandy, Utah during championships.
During the national competition, Coulter also led the Whitby Professional Firefighters Association L 2036 to success, securing a gold medal for the top female team in Canada and a gold for the women’s relay team. Coulter also took home a bronze in the individual race division.
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Peterborough Police Still Investigating Woodglade Boulevard Fire
/UPDATED: 3:11 p.m. 13/09/22
Peterborough Police responded to a fire Tuesday morning around 6:30 a.m. at a Woodglade Boulevard home.
As of 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Peterborough Police and fire are still on the scene following a structure fire on Woodglade Boulevard between Ridgewood Road and Sherbrooke Street. Photo by Luke Best.
Police, firefighters and electricians were on the scene in the morning on Tuesday, blocking off Woodglade Boulevard between Ridgewood Road and Sherbrooke Street to traffic.
As a result of a police investigation, a 71-year-old man from Peterborough faces an arson charge.
No injuries were reported and the accused is in custody and set to appear in court on Tuesday.
