Ontario Government Receiving Over $8.5 Million in Funding for Peterborough County-City Ambulance Services

Peterborough County-City Paramedics is receiving $8,701,551 from the Ontario Government to support the hiring of additional paramedics, wage and cost of living adjustments and general ambulance services operations announced at the Peterborough Paramedic station on Friday morning.

Warden J. Murray Jones (left), Chief Randy Mellow (middle) and MPP Dave Smith (right) during Jones’s final days as warden before retiring from a 24-year political tenure. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The funding is part of the Ontario Government investment of nearly $764 million in the province’s Land Ambulance Service Grant (LASG) to help municipalities facing increased cost pressures in their emergency departments.

“When people call 911, they need to know that paramedics will arrive quickly to meet their needs. A delay in a service call of just minutes can lead to drastically different results,” said MPP Dave Smith. “This investment will help all of us receive better service when our loved ones pick up the phone at that critical time.”

Through LASG, municipalities receive funding for 50 per cent of the costs of their land ambulance operations. This funding is part of the government’s commitment to building a modern, sustainable and connected emergency health system that supports every Ontarian on their health care journey according to a press release.

“The Province has supported our response to COVID-19 and recognized the need for support continues as we emerge from the Pandemic in order to provide stability required for our Paramedic Service to ensure we meet the community’s needs,” said Chief Randy Mellow. “In addition, the Ontario government is also continuing to fund 100 per cent of costs for Central Ambulance Communications Centres.”

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Ontario Government Announces Ontario’s Clean Home Heating Initiative

The Ontario Government is providing up to $4.5 million to bring hybrid heating to as many as 1,000 households in the community, said Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Through the Clean Home Heating Initiative, funding will support the installation of electric heat pumps with smart controls by providing local homeowners in Peterborough, St. Catharines, Sault Ste. Marie and London with incentives of up to $4,500 to pair with their existing natural gas furnaces.

This initiative, in collaboration with Enbridge, will allow households to leverage Ontario’s world-class clean electricity grid which is more than 90 per cent emissions free.

Electric heat pumps replace existing air conditioners in the summer and can operate in reverse in cooler seasons to provide home heating. With the addition of smart controls, a hybrid heating system automatically switches to a home's existing natural gas furnace depending on weather and which source is least expensive.

“Switching to hybrid heating could save homeowners up to $80 dollars every year on energy bills – an annual savings that would increase over time - and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 30 per cent,” said Todd Smith, minister of energy. “Investing in these types of transformative energy models is how we are building a pathway to a clean energy future that will protect the environment and keep costs down, all while creating new high-quality jobs across the province.”

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2023 Community Grants Program Open to Applicants This October

Not-for-profit groups can get a little boost as the City of Peterborough 2023 Community Grants Program is open to applications as of Oct 14 at noon.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Any not-for-profit group or association is invited to complete an online application for a Community Project Grant or a Community Investment Grant through the grants program.

The Community Grants program provides financial assistance to non-profit, community-based organizations that provide direct programs, services or activities that enhance the quality of life for Peterborough residents in areas of social services and health, arts, culture, heritage, recreation or the environment.

Applications will be open for the following Community Grants streams:

• Community Project Grants – support for a specified project for which the requested amount is $250 to $1,000.

• Community Investment Grants – support for projects and special events, specific programs or operating budgets for which the requested amount is $1,000 to $15,000.

All applicants will be evaluated and approved by the City of Peterborough Council.

The deadline for both the Community Project Grant and Community Investment Grant applications is Dec. 2 at 3 p.m.

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Couture Candy PTBO Celebrates Grand Opening on Saturday

Couture Candy PTBO’s second location on Lansdowne Place hosted its grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday.

Lisa Couture and Family cut ribbon in opening ceremony of their new location. Photo by Luke Best

The new storefront is located between Journeys and Claire’s at the bottom of the escalator. Couture Candy PTBO has been donated the space from the mall until Oct. 3 to aid in their ‘Cancer Care is Sweet’ fundraiser.

$1 from select products will go towards the Peterborough Regional Health Center Foundation for cancer care with a goal of $10,000.

Before the new location opened on saturday, they had already raised $8,500 according to Couture. Photo By Luke Best

“We're gonna crush it. I know we will,“ said owner Lisa Couture. “We actually have some fun challenges for the community to get more donations. There's a cool hair-cutting challenge that's will be coming up.”

Donations can also be made at both stores or online.

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Late Historian Honoured With $250,000 Gift to Canadian Canoe Museum

The Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM) is celebrating a $250,000 gift to honour late local historian and avid canoer Shelagh Grant announced on Thursday.

File Photo.

The gift came from Grant’s family to celebrate her 25 years as a volunteer and member since the museum’s inception. The Grant family's gift will be recognized in the Loft of the new museum, a central community gathering space on the second floor just outside the Knowledge and Research Centre in the Atrium.

Grant passed away in 2020 and is known for her love of the North and passion for canoeing according to a press release. She was known as an internationally acclaimed expert, historian and author on the Arctic. She with her husband Jon, paddled many of Canada's northern rivers together.

"The Grant family honours Shelagh Grant's love of the North, its land, peoples, rivers, and rapids with this $250,000 gift. Shelagh's vision and committee work helped to guide The Canadian Canoe Museum in its early stages," said Jon. "This gift recognizes the canoe as a unifying legacy, from the First People's travel to today's recreation, which is an important part of our rich and unique heritage."

In the 1980s, through her work as an adjunct professor of Canadian Studies at Trent University. Shelagh became part of an instrumental Advisory Committee that helped establish the CCM and bring Kirk Wipper's Kanawa canoe collection to Peterborough.

"Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast are engaged and giving to the campaign – but to see such strong local support here in our community is heartening,” said Kevin Malone, campaign chair.

The CCM has raised 93 per cent of the $40 million capital costs for the new museum which is scheduled to open next summer. The community is invited to donate to the new museum or to support the move of more than 600 canoes and kayaks and small artifacts.

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GreenUP Celebrates $25,000 Grant For Urban Greening With Tree-Planting Ceremony

Peterborough GreenUP celebrates their $25,000 Green Space Grant to grow urban mini-forests in town with a fruit tree planting at Dominion Park on Wednesday.

Laura Kersztesi juggles apples in dominion park after announcing the green space grant . Photo by Luke Best

The grant was from TD Bank Group and the Arbor Day Foundation. Peterborough is one of just 20 North American cities to receive the grant this year.

“It's really wonderful to see this come together and have the support from these types of grants to put trees in the ground,” said Laura Kersztesi, Greenup program coordinator.

GreenUP and Nourish are creating five neighbourhood-based mini-food forests and educating how to care for fruit within urban spaces. The mini-forest locations include Keith Wightman Park, an urban farm on Highland Road, Jackson Creek and a to-be-named retirement residence.

Three apple trees such as Royal Gala and Golden Delicious were planted at Dominion Park to kickstart the campaign.

All photos by Luke Best

Kereztesi says GreenUP will plant perennials and berry bushes in the fall including currents and elderberries. She is unsure if more planting will continue past the winter season due to funding and volunteer status but wants to if possible.

“New and experienced gardeners alike have been asking frequently about integrating fruit production into their gardens, and as a community of growers, we have been dreaming about collectively planting fruitful food forests for years,” said Jill Bishop, Nourish community food cultivator.

The five mini food forests support over 10 people in becoming certified in Beginner Fruit Tree Care according to GreenUP.

The staff will help anyone who signed up to help care for the mini food forests in each neighbourhood.

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Trinity United Church Boosts Four Peterborough Programs With Outreach Fund

The Congregation of the recently disbanded Trinity United Church Peterborough has announced the establishment of The Trinity United Church Peterborough Outreach Fund. This fund will continue Trinity’s support to charities doing incredibly important work in the community.

Members at Trinity United Church. Photo courtesy of Trinity United Church social media.

This Fund will provide financial support to Trinity’s Outreach Mission for the next ten years.

Trinity has announced that the following organizations have been selected to receive support from this newly created fund:
• YES Shelter for Youth and Families
• Nourish – a program of the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton
• Friends of Honduran Children, and
• School for Young Moms – a program of the Peterborough Child and Family Centres

With the initial investment in the Fund of $250,000, over the next ten years YES and Nourish will receive at least $12,000 each per year. Friends of Honduran Children and School for Young Moms will receive at least $3,000 each per year.

Trinity United Church was established in 1872. In 2021 the Congregation made the decision to disband as of June 2022. Measures were taken over the past year to ensure that the faith-based mission of the Congregation continues into the future.

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Selwyn Township Receives $750,000 To Renovate Upper Level Of Former Lakefield post Office

The Township of Selwyn has been approved for up to $750,000 through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF), to retrofit the former Lakefield post office to create an accessible and comfortable upper-level community space.

The clock tower of the former Lakefield Post Office building, which currently houses the Peterborough + Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce satellite office. Photo courtesy of The Township of Selwyn.

The CCRF is delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and provides funding for projects that aim to revitalize downtown cores and main streets, reinvent outdoor spaces, create green infrastructure and increase the accessibility of community spaces.

Selwyn applied for this funding to retrofit the former Lakefield post office, which currently houses the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism and Police Services, to create an accessible and comfortable upper-level community space.

According to the Township, this space has been under-utilized and is in need of accessibility upgrades and repairs, due in part to its age. This project includes the installation of an elevator/lift, construction of an accessible washroom and kitchenette, office/work stations, and board/meeting room, making this the perfect location for a community space that can be used by everyone.

“We are very excited to announce this project to the community of Selwyn Township. Not only will we be creating a space that is accessible to everyone, while preserving the heritage features of this historic landmark; but we are also creating a space that will benefit so many in our community,” said Andy Mitchell, Mayor of Selwyn Township. “From those who are taking their first steps in the world of entrepreneurship or those who are just looking for a quiet space to work. A space that will encourage learning, growth, and collaboration.”

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Otonabee Conservation Receives Over $1 Million In Funding To Improve Four Local Outdoor Areas

Otonabee Conservation has received over $1 million from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) towards four projects throughout the Otonabee River watershed.

Funds from the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) and the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) will reinvent and revitalize Jackson Creek Trail, Harold Town Conservation Area (CA), Warsaw Caves CA, and Selwyn Beach CA.

“Otonabee Conservation is honoured to receive this significant investment from the Government of Canada to enhance four of our most popular outdoor recreation properties across the Region,” said Ryan Huntley, Chair of the Otonabee Conservation Board of Directors, “These improvements will provide a more enjoyable and inclusive outdoor experience for residents and visitors to our watershed that would not be possible without this funding from FedDev Ontario; we are grateful for this commitment to Conservation Areas and trails in our watershed.”

Otonabee Conservation was awarded $368,000 from the TRF to revitalize the Harold Town CA by increasing accessibility and inclusivity of trails and adding facilities such as picnic shelters and an accessible, inclusive washroom.

Through the CCRF, $524,000 was awarded to Otonabee Conservation for the revitalization of the Jackson Creek Trail. This includes bridge repairs and railing replacement, improved grading, and the addition of accessibility features.

An additional $189,000 from the CCRF will enable Otonabee Conservation to construct accessible and inclusive washroom facilities at the Warsaw Caves Conservation Area and at Selwyn Beach Conservation Area in Lakefield.

Each location will also include new signage and virtual/digital technology integration to enhance visitors’ experience and understanding of the habitat and wildlife along the trail, and to recognize First Nations heritage.

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City Council Approves Over $20,000 Of Grants To Seven Peterborough Organizations

Peterborough City Council approved allocating $20,458 to various local charitable and not-for-profit organizations as recommended by the Community Investment Grant Advisory Committee, on Monday.

Capable Con is one of seven organizations receiving funding. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

This year the city received twelve applications for their Investment Grant funding and all twelve applications received funding. Due to the low number of applications received and the Committee’s evaluation of those applications, a surplus of funds remained.

The Committee discussed how best to approach this unique occurrence and recommended a motion to Council addressing the surplus.

That the remaining surplus Community Grant funds will be split between seven different organizations.

• $5,000, Community Care Peterborough, Meals on Wheels program

• $1,958, Peterborough Historical Society-Hutchison House Museum, repairs to stairs and install a bike rack

• $3,500, Council for Person's with Disabilities, support for Capable Con 2022

• $3,000, Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, upgrade ticketing platform

• $3,000, Peterborough Folk Festival, assistance to cover costs of paying performers

• $2,000, Peterborough Drug Strategy, hire an external consultant to support strategic planning and post COVID-19 engagement

• $2,000, Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee, support the development of education, communication, and engagement activities

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