Peterborough Community Invited To Express Condolences To Humboldt

Members of Peterborough and surrounding communities are invited to express their condolences for the Humboldt Broncos and all those affected by Friday’s tragic accident.

With the help of Signarama Peterborough, a book of condolences has been created to allow community members to express their thoughts to the families and friends of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team, as well as the residents of the close-knit Saskatchewan town.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Petes

The book is currently available to be signed at Peterborough City Hall until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 13th as part of a display that includes photos of the 15 players, coaches, and staff that lost their lives.

Then, starting Monday, April 16th, the book will be available for signing in the North Lobby at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The display and book will be set up throughout the weekend of April 21st and 22nd when the Petes host their 2018 Development Camp at the PMC.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Petes

The book will then be sent to the Humboldt Broncos management team.

You can give to the GoFundMe fundraising page here set up for the impacted families. It has now raised more than $7 million and counting.

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Hydro One Ceases Negotiations For Purchase Of PDI

[UPDATE, March 9th]: Here is what Hydro One says in a press release...

"Hydro One announced today that negotiations on the proposed acquisition of Peterborough Distribution Inc. have ceased as both parties were unable to reach a final agreement.

The role of both parties in these commercial negotiations is to ensure that the end result is an outcome that creates customer and shareholder value. In this particular case, despite the strong offer made to the City of Peterborough, the two parties were unable to achieve that balance.

Hydro One would like to thank Mayor Bennett, the City of Peterborough and members of both negotiating teams and looks forward to continuing its relationship as long-time neighbours and proud members of the Peterborough community."

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ORIGINAL POST

Hydro One has informed the City and City of Peterborough Holdings Inc. that it is withdrawing from negotiations regarding the sale of Peterborough Distribution Inc., according to a City of Peterborough release.

Hydro One first approached the City in 2014 to express interest in purchasing PDI. City Council responded favourably to the opportunity when Hydro One entered into a letter of intent that included a competitive price, job and benefit guarantees for existing PDI workers, distribution rate and other rate protections for customers, and commitments for new jobs and new investments such as building a new regional Hydro One operations centre in Peterborough. Negotiations have been ongoing for more than two years.

According to a media release from the City, PDI executives continue to monitor the pressures and changes affecting the electricity distribution sector on behalf of its sole shareholder, the Corporation of the City of Peterborough.

PDI says it will continue to deliver exceptional service to its customers, thanks to the organization’s employees and management.

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Peterborough Utilities Crew Enroute To New York State To Help With Power Restoration After Nor'easter

On Monday, March 5th, Peterborough Utilities Group (PUG) responded to an aid assistance request from New York State seeking linepersons and utility vehicles to help restore power after the nor'easter that tore through there.

Photo of crew courtesy of PUG

PUG has dispatched a crew of five experienced linepersons and associated utility vehicles to help restore power to this area.

Local utility crews there and crews coming in from other parts of the US and Canada continue to restore power outages, as well as clear trees, poles and debris from streets. The damage to the electrical infrastructure there is severe and widespread.

Good for PUG for stepping up and sending a crew to help.

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40 New Canadians To Be Welcomed At Official Ceremony Before Peterborough Petes Game

To celebrate the growing diversity of the Peterborough community and to help reinforce the inclusivity of the game of hockey, the Petes will join members of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada in welcoming 40 new Canadian citizens at an official Canadian citizenship ceremony before the game against the London Knights on Thursday, March 1st.

The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a free Canadian flag. Members of the audience who are already citizens are invited to reaffirm their commitment to Canada by raising their right hand and taking the oath of citizenship and singing our national anthem, O Canada with our new Canadians.

THE SCHEDULE FOR THE CEREMONY

6:57 pm: New Canadians and dignitaries welcomed to centre ice
6:59 pm: Officiant’s remarks
7:04 pm: Oath of citizenship (words will be displayed on the videoboard for all fans who wish to join)
7:06 pm: Receipt of citizenship certificates
7:12 pm: Closing remarks
7:17 pm: Ceremonial puck drop with team captains
7:18 pm: National anthem
7:24 pm: Game start

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Lots More Snow Expected On Christmas Eve Making This A Winter *Winter* Wonderland

Environment Canada has issued a special advisory for Christmas Eve for the area, with snowfall of at least 5 to 10 cm expected for Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

Throwback image of snow in Peterborough courtesy Trent Valley Archives

Snow will begin late Sunday afternoon, with the bulk of the white stuff falling on Christmas Eve. General snowfall amounts of up to 10 cm are expected by the time the system passes through on Christmas morning.

Throwback image of snow in Peterborough courtesy Trent Valley Archives

Environment Canada says there will be challenging travelling conditions at times for those visiting family and friends during this holiday time.

So enjoy the Winter Wonderland but be safe.

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City of Peterborough Announces Free Tim Hortons Holiday Skating

The City of Peterborough has announced Free Tim Hortons Holiday Skating at the Evinrude Arena over the holiday season.
 
Free public skating will be available from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. on the following dates:
 
• Tuesday, December 26, 2017
• Wednesday, December 27, 2017
• Monday, January 1, 2018
• Tuesday, January 2, 2018
• Thursday, January 4, 2018

All participants are asked to follow the Skaters Code of Conduct available online here.
 
The City of Peterborough thanks the local Tim Horton Restaurant Owners for making this opportunity possible.

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Douro-Dummer Mayor J. Murray Jones Absent Due To Health Issues

The Township of Douro-Dummer is notifying the public that Mayor J. Murray Jones will be taking a leave while he recovers from recent surgery.

"I am on the mend and will be back holding the gavel at the Council table soon," Mayor Jones says. "I want to thank my wife, Anne, my family as well as all my friends and neighbours for their support."

The date of Mayor Jones’ return to his duties is not known at this time, but it is hopeful that it will be early in 2018.

While Mayor Jones recovers, Deputy Mayor Moher will assume any necessary tasks in the absence of the Mayor. “Council will ensure that the Township of Douro-Dummer continues to operate in our usual manner,” says Mayor Jones.

We wish Mayor Jones all the best with his recovery.

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City Of Peterborough Holding Ash Lumber Sale

To promote sustainability in urban forest management, the City of Peterborough has reclaimed lumber from ash trees grown in the City that have been affected by the Emerald Ash Borer. 

This lumber will be for sale on Wednesday, October 11th and Thursday, October 12th while supplies last.

Location -> Waste Water Treatment Facility, 425 Kennedy Road, Peterborough
(Building 25, first turning right as you go into the Waste Water Treatment Facility)
Date -> October 11th and 12th
Time -> 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
 
The sawmilled and partly seasoned boards are available in various widths and lengths but generally are about 8 feet long and 6-12 inches wide. The boards are priced based on thickness; 1 inch thick costing $7 each and 2 inch thick boards costing $15 each.
 
All lumber is of varying quality and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Note the City cannot reserve any of the wood in advance of the sale and the buyer will be responsible for loading all purchases into their own vehicle and removing the wood at the time of the sale.

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A Son On His Family's Anxiety About His Dad Losing His Job When GE Plant Closes

The Fuller family, like many other GE families in Peterborough, are all feeling anxious right now. With the GE Plant here closing in Fall 2018 after 125 years in the community, Robert Fuller will be one of about 350 employees losing his job.

"I think our biggest fear is the unknown of what next year will bring when GE closes," his son Connor, 24, tells PTBOCanada. "What will my Dad do for work? How will our living situation change? How will GE compensate its employees? There's a lot of unanswered questions that I feel many families are thinking about right now."

Connor with his Dad, Robert

The Bridgenorth family—which also includes Connor's mother Kim (a bookkeeper at the Real Canadian Superstore in Peterborough), his sister Kaitlin and their family dog, Sadie—are in shock about the news of the plant closing, and Connor says his Dad doesn't know what he will do when he loses his well paid job and security.

"My father has worked there 27 years," Connor tells PTBOCanada. "He doesn't have a college education, so GE is all he knows. He'll be 53 when they close, so he's not old enough to retire, but too old to find a new job again."

Photo by Evan Holt

Both Connor and his sister Kaitlin still reside at home after their post secondary education and while both have careers—Connor as quality control technician for Publican House Brewery in Peterborough, his sister as a registered vet tech in Woodbridge, Ont., where she commutes—this has not alleviated the stress the family feels about making mortage payments.

"I don't know if we can afford to live in our house with my Dad's current salary getting taken away," says Connor. "Next fall will be very hard not just for us, but for every family affected by this."

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PRHC Foundation Receives $1 Million Pledge From McCloskey International

The PRHC Foundation has announced a pledged gift of $1 million from McCloskey International in support of outstanding patient care for children and babies at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).

The announcement was made at the Greenbridge Celtic Folk Festival hosted by internationally‐renowned musicians Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, and held this weekend on the McCloskey family property in Keene near Peterborough.

Left to right: PRHC Foundation CEO Lesley Heighway, Donnell Leahy, Sylvia and Paschal McCloskey of McCloskey International, Natalie MacMaster and PRHC Foundation Governor Emeritus Terry Windrem join MacMaster and Leahy's children at the site of this weekend's Greenbridge Celtic Festival for a photo in celebration of the McCloskey's $1 million pledge to the PRHC Foundation.

Paschal McCloskey, McCloskey International founder and president, says the visionary gift represents both an investment in the Children & Babies Program at PRHC, and in the Foundation’s legacy program outreach:

“The thought of a baby or a child requiring hospital care is heartbreaking, especially when it means seeking specialized treatment outside our community,” says McCloskey. “Not only can the costs add up quickly, but the emotional toll of being separated from family support systems can be devastating. McCloskey International is committed to investing in innovative technologies that support care for PRHC’s most fragile patients and their families close to home, where and when they need it most.”

“With their support of critical lifesaving equipment, as well as investing in the Foundation’s ability to raise funds for the future through our legacy giving program, McCloskey International is truly transforming care, both today and tomorrow,” says PRHC Foundation CEO Lesley Heighway.

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