Ontario Government Invests Over $186,000 For Peterborough County OPP Mobile Crisis Response Teams Expansion

The Ontario government is investing $186,860.34 over two years to support the mobile crisis response team expansion, led by Peterborough County OPP, announced at the Peterborough Police Station on Friday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The funding will enable police to work with trained crisis workers to provide the specialized support often needed when interacting with people who are experiencing a mental health-related crisis.

“Our police are increasingly confronted with the need to assist vulnerable people in a mental health crisis,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “This funding will assist the Peterborough County OPP deliver appropriate services focused on de-escalation. Meeting the unique needs of an individual who is in crisis will help ensure a better outcome for everyone involved.”

For 2025-26 and 2026-27, 36 police services and OPP detachments will receive approximately $9 million through the Mobile Crisis Response Team Enhancement Grant to increase the capacity of mobile crisis response teams across the province.

“We’re supporting our police services by providing them with the resources they need to assist vulnerable people in crisis situations,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “Mobile Crisis Response Teams are best positioned to respond to people experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis and are an important part of how police in collaboration with this government are working hard to keep Ontarians safe.”

“This grant will enable the OPP to expand its Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT), allowing us to improve pathways and connections to necessary services for those experiencing crisis,” said Chris Galeazza, Inspector/Detachment Commander, Peterborough County OPP. “When police and health partners can continue working together through initiatives like this, safety is improved, and we see better outcomes for everyone.”

“We're proud to receive this enhancement grant to expand live crisis response across the 4,000 km² region served by the OPP,” said Calli Lorente, CMHA-HKPR Manager of Integrated Crisis Services. “With a second team in place, we can respond in real time to support those experiencing crisis. This timely response allows for a stronger connection to the person and a more appropriate connection to the right service. Connecting people in the community to people at resources in their community is the goal of this team. The expansion is exciting as it supports positives outcomes in all aspects of the community.”

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Peterborough Lakers Fundraising Campaign Gets $15,484.50 For PRHC Foundation

Through a partnership established in May, the Peterborough Lakers have raised $15,484.50 for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation in a cheque presentation held at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Friday afternoon.

(From left to right) Len Powers, Lakers board member; Lesley Heighway, PRHC president and CEO; Randy Manning, Lakers Advisor and Pete Dalliday, Lakers director of community engagement. The Lakers lost to the Six Nations Chiefs 4-1 in the best-of-five series in the MSL Finals. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The campaign encompasses the technology and equipment used in the hospital, according to Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation president and CEO.

“The whole $70 million campaign is about equipment and technology,” she said. “There's a number of a different priorities within our campaign but every dollar raised is going toward the campaign.”

Throughout the MSL season, the Lakers sold limited-edition Lakers merchandise, held auctions and held a special PRHC Family Night on June 26 to help raise money.

“There's a saying, ‘The best hospital exists in the most generous communities,’ and that's absolutely true,” explained Heighway. “We're very fortunate to have a very generous community stepping behind this campaign and really helping propel care forward for decades to come.”

@ptbo_canada The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers have raised $15,484.50 for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation during their partnership this season. The funds help PRHC go towards technology and equipment and attract top healthcare professionals. #ptbocanada #journalism #news #fyp #peterborough ♬ Fighters - OctaSounds

In addition to the $15,484.50, Kawartha Smart Homes surprised the PRHC foundation with a $1,300 donation, five dollars for every goal scored by the Lakers this season.

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Minister of Long-Term Care Visits AON Inc.'s Newly-Built Station Place In Havelock

As Minister of Long-Term Care, Natalia Kusendova-Bashta made a stop in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, she was happily greeted by the staff of AON Inc.’s Station Place long-term care home in Havelock on Tuesday afternoon.

Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care (left) and Michael OKeeffe, Station Place administrator (right) touring Station Place and all of its amenities. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Roughly 110 staff were out to greet the Mississauga Centre MPP with clapping and cheers as Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith escorted her to the facility.

The home has been newly built and is set to admit residents this Monday with a capacity of 128.

The groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 9, 2023. The project was to be completed by September this year but it was completed ahead of schedule in the summer.

The long-term care home was part of the provincial government’s $6.4 billion commitment to build more than 30,000 new beds by 2028, along with 28,000 upgraded long-term care beds across the province.

@ptbo_canada As Minister of Long-Term Care, Natalia Kusendova-Bashta made a stop in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, she was happily greeted by the staff of AON Inc.’s Station Place long-term care home in Havelock. #ptbocanada #journalism #news #fyp #havelock ♬ You Blues You Lose - Jeff Lofton

The site is approximately 86,355 sq ft. and is located at 628 Old Norwood Rd. in Havelock. AON won the bid to build the long-term care home on Feb 17, 2022.

The home features dining, activity areas, lounges and access to outdoor spaces, accommodating 128 beds.

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City of Peterborough Recognizes International Overdose Awareness Day On Aug. 31

The City of Peterborough joins communities across the world in remembering the thousands of lives lost to drug overdose on International Overdose Awareness Day, which takes place on Aug. 31.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, reduce stigma and remember the friends, family, and community members we’ve lost,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “The overdose crisis doesn’t just shatter families; it fractures our entire community.”

Moms Stop the Harm and Peterborough Aids Resource Network will hold a flag-raising ceremony on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at City Hall. A purple flag will be raised in memory of those lost to drug poisoning and in recognition of the grief carried by their loved ones.

A Community Memorial and Awareness Event will be held at Confederation Square, across the street from City Hall, on Aug. 29 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

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City Council Approves Recommendation to Make Physician Recruitment Program Regular

The Council approved an update on the City's physician recruitment pilot program and recommended making it a regular, ongoing program starting in 2026 during their Monday meeting.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

According to City Council, the recruitment and retention of family physicians in Peterborough is a critical issue for the community, which is highlighted in the City’s Strategic Plan as high-performing healthcare systems support community wellbeing and drive economic growth.

Analysis included in the report highlights that over 13,000 additional patients risk becoming unattached if aging physicians retire without replacements.

During the current pilot project, the following have started practicing in the community as of May 2025:

• Six new Family Health Organization (FHO) physicians, keeping approximately 8,000 patients from becoming unattached

• One independent practice physician from the United Kingdom, who has rostered over 2,200 patients

• Three Community Health Centre (CHC) physicians who are looking after vulnerable sector patients, and they will add more once clinic construction is complete

Council endorsed converting the internal physician recruitment pilot program to a permanent program. This would establish a permanent in-house physician recruitment program, ensuring a sustained and coordinated municipal approach. The program will work closely with partners, including the Peterborough Ontario Health Team, Family Physician Think Tank and PRHC, to design and implement a strategic work plan.

The program includes a multi-pronged physician recruitment and retention strategy, including continued financial incentives, refinement of the Whole of Village incentive program, and enhanced participation in international recruitment efforts through partnerships such as the Eastern Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance (EOPRA).

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Quaker Foods City Square Has Mobile Water Station Available During Extreme Heat

The City of Peterborough’s PTBO H2O mobile drinking water station is available at Quaker Foods City Square for people to access water during the current heat event, announced on Tuesday.

File photo.

It is available from 8 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m. this week, Tuesday through Thursday and next week, Monday through Thursday.

It is equipped with eight drinking fountains and eight water bottle refill stations. The unit is filled daily with 1,400 litres of municipal tap water. 

The Water Services Division of the City of Peterborough operates the mobile drinking water station. It is regularly rented out for community events and can be deployed for public access to drinking water. 

Water Refill Stations

Outdoor water bottle filling stations are available at City facilities in the following locations:

• Quaker Foods City Square, 215 Charlotte St.  

• Eastgate Park, 2150 Ashburnham Dr.  

• Peterborough Marina, 92 George St. N.  

• Beavermead Park washroom facilities, 2011 Ashburnham Dr.  

• Rogers Cove washroom facilities, 131 Maria St.   

Water bottles can also be refilled inside the following City facilities during hours of operation:  

• Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St.  

• Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr.  

• Miskin Law Community Complex, 271 Lansdowne St. W.  

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PRHC Foundation Unveil $1.5 Million Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit Courtyard to Support Mental Health Patients; Expansion of Campaign Extended to $70 Million

The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has unveiled and celebrated the opening of its $1.5 million Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) courtyard to support the hospital’s most vulnerable mental health patients, announced on Wednesday morning.

The hospital also announced the expansion of its $60 million fundraising campaign to $70 million.

From left to right) Jen Taylor, PRHC VP of finance and corporate services; Jennifer Cox, PRHC mental health and addictions director;Dr. Rajasekar Baskar, PRHC Chief of Psychiatry and Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation president and CEO. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“This is a transormative memont for mental health care at PRHC and a wonderful example of how your donations can make a positive difference in the lives of patients, who could be your family, friends or neighbours,” said Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation president and CEO. “This space changes where patients heal, which changes how they heal.”

The courtyard was purely donor-funded and is uncommon in Ontario hospitals and PRHC has been reached out about its idea and functions according to Heighway.

“Some of the work that happens here is truly remarkable and groundbreaking,” she explained. “The team, since announcing this courtyard, has had inquiries from some major hospitals in the Toronto marketplace where their PICU patients don't yet have access to the outside.”

PRHC says the courtyard’s features include:

• Colourful native vegetation to attract butterflies, a natural aid for mindfulness

• Seating areas in different configurations that offer patients solitude when they need it and space to visit with care providers and loved ones

• Open gathering areas for group activities and social connection

• A shaded area to accommodate those who are sensitive to sunlight due to their treatments

• A colourful, tactile recreation surface

The courtyard’s use will occur in the coming days.

“The courtyard is a game-changer, for which we’re incredibly grateful,” said Jennifer Cox, PRHC mental health and addictions director. “Until now, PICU patients had no access to outside, even during stays that could last weeks or months. This secure outdoor treatment space is not only safe and dignified but healing. It allows our patients to engage in mindfulness, movement and connection with others and their environment in ways that improve health, wellness and their quality of care.”

@ptbo_canada The Peterborough Regional Health Centre has unveiled and celebrated the opening of its $1.5 million Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit courtyard to support the hospital’s most vulnerable mental health patients. #ptbocanada #ptbo #peterborough #journalism #journalist #news #fyp ♬ Valse - Evgeny Grinko

During the ceremony, Heighway announced that the original $60 million fundraising campaign — announced in June last year — has been extended to $70 million. PRHC has already raised $55 million and extended it to fund future projects by no later than December of 2027 but could finish in March of the same year.

With the expansion of the fundraising goal comes new projects including a digital command centre that would operate like a triage but in a broader sense, similar to air traffic control for the hospital, according to Heighway.

“It's making sure that the right patient gets the right in the right spot,” she said. “It helps with hospital efficiency, it helps with faster turnaround times for test results, easier access to care so this is the entire digital realm of the hospital all being integrated under one hub, in one physical location.”

Other projects and ideas are in the works but were not disclosed to the public at publication of this article.

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City of Peterborough Prohibiting Smoking In All Parks

The City of Peterborough reminds residents and visitors that smoking and vaping are prohibited in all City parks, sports fields, playgrounds, splashpads, wading pools and beaches except in designated smoking areas.

File photo.

Smoking is prohibited in these public areas under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and the Peterborough Smoking Bylaw.

Anyone smoking outside a designated smoking area in one of these spaces could be subject to a penalty of $305.

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Peterborough and Surrounding Area Under Special Air Quality Statement; Risks Expected to Rise Overnight

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health (PPH) have reported a Special Air Quality Statement as issued by Environment Canada on Wednesday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Current Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) levels in Haliburton are within the moderate (4-6) range but are expected to increase overnight. Despite being low risk, the AQHI in Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough and Northumberland are expected to rise to moderate throughout the evening and into tomorrow according to PPH.   

Reports of smoke from wildfires in the Prairies are moving through the region, resulting in poor air quality. PPH says your health can be impacted even at low or moderate levels and sometimes without a noticeable smell.

If an extreme heat event coincides with poor air quality, residents are advised to prioritize keeping cool.

Common symptoms of smoke exposure include:  

• Sore and watery eyes 

• Runny nose and sinus irritation 

• Scratchy throat and mild coughing 

• Headaches 

Some populations face greater health risks when exposed to poor air quality. This includes, but is not limited to, seniors, pregnant individuals, infants and young children, people who work outdoors, people with pre-existing medical conditions (particularly lung disease like asthma, COPD, or cardiovascular disease), and those in strenuous outdoor activity.

The following is the Air Quality Health Index:

• Low Risk (1–3): Ideal conditions for outdoor activities for everyone. 

• Moderate Risk (4–6): Most people can continue outdoor activities, but those with heart or breathing problems should monitor for symptoms. 

• High Risk (7–10): Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous outdoor activities, especially if you experience symptoms like coughing or throat irritation. 

• Very High Risk (10+): Everyone should avoid strenuous outdoor activity. Those at higher risk should stay indoors and limit exposure.

PPH suggests doing the following in case of air quality statements:

• Check the AQHI forecast daily

• Receive smog and air quality alerts directly to your email

• Create a clean air space at home by keeping windows and doors closed 

• Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter in your home, if possible

• Monitor your symptoms and adjust your activities as needed

• Check in on others, especially those in the at-risk population

• Tools to help you check in during extreme heat

• If you are included in the at-risk population, consult your primary health care provider about additional ways to protect your health when air quality is poor. 

By taking these precautions, PPH says you can help protect your health and minimize the risks associated with poor air quality conditions.

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Health Unit Encourages Eligible Families to Access Free or Low-Cost Dental Care

As eligibility for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) expands, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) and Peterborough Public Health (PPH) encourage families to explore the federal program for needed dental coverage, announced on Wednesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

PPH says familes should understand the changes to CDCP and the Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) program.

According to a press release, the CDCP is a federal government initiative aimed at making dental care more affordable for eligible Canadians. Applications are currently open for seniors aged 65 and older, children under 18, and adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate. As of last month, the program has expanded to include all eligible adults aged 18 to 64. 

“Good oral health is fundamental to overall well-being, and programs like HSO and the CDCP play a critical role in making dental care accessible to qualifying children and youth,” said Anna Rusak, Health Promoter, with the HKPR District Health Unit. “And with an increasing number of dental providers asking patients to enroll in CDCP, we want to make sure families are aware and prepared. We are here to help them through the application process.” 

The CDCP is now open to all ages and families with an adjusted family net income of $90,000 or less who have no private dental insurance and have filed their taxes. These families are invited to submit one application for their household. This program helps cover the cost of dental care, including regular check-ups, cleanings and treatments. 

Families who qualify for CDCP will receive a package from Sun Life, the company managing the program. This package will include a member card, program details, and the start date for benefits to be activated. PPH advises waiting until this start date to book any dental appointments.

PPH says when making an appointment and before starting any treatment always:

• Confirm that the dentist accepts CDCP clients

• Check your benefit start date and any costs you may need to pay

• Ask if there are any extra fees beyond what CDCP covers and if so, request an estimate or the specific amount that will be owed

PPH advises that families should never pay the full cost upfront, as Sun Life will not reimburse them directly. 

Families can apply for the CDCP online or get help from the Health Unit.

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