City of Peterborough Shares Environmentally-Friendly Ways of Pumpkin Disposal
/The City of Peterborough has encouraged residents to dispose of their pumpkins in an environmentally friendly way and provided ways to do so.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Peterborough Blogs
Ontario Expanding 911 Models Of Care In Peterborough and the County
/The Ontario Government is expanding 9-1-1 models of care in the County and City of Peterborough to give paramedics more flexibility to provide better treatment for patients away from emergency departments.
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.
This model builds on the first phase of the program which focused on “Alternate Destination” and “Treat and Refer” models for mental health and addictions and palliative care patients, this expansion will now include a new model type: “Treat and Release” according to a press release.
Patients can be treated on-scene by paramedics and released with recommendations for appropriate follow-up care in the comfort of their preferred home or community health setting. This help savoid unnecessary trips to emergency departments and preserve beds for those that need them most.
“This model works. It means people can be treated at home or onsite, without having to go to the emergency room for service. This reduces the pressure on our emergency room at Peterborough Regional Health Centre so that those who need services can receive better, faster care,” MPP Dave Smith said. “This is an innovative way for us to address hospital wait times and hallway health care.”
Patients diverted from emergency departments through these models received the care they needed up to 17 times faster with 94 per cent of patients avoiding the emergency department in the days following treatment as stated in the press release.
“Peterborough County is pleased that the Province has embraced the implementation of the 911 Models of Care and is expanding this program,” said Warden J. Murray Jones.
This expansion will also see more patients become eligible for all three model types. In addition to mental health and addictions and palliative care patients that are currently eligible for the “Alternate Destination” and “Treat and Refer” models, patients with injuries such as minor falls or illnesses that are not life-threatening, patients with managed chronic conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy and patients with other select conditions will also be considered.
“Peterborough County-City Paramedics were pleased to implement the Palliative Care protocols in Peterborough under the first phase of new models of care and we look forward to expanding the models under phase two that will allow the clinical expertise of our paramedics to provide treatment on scene with appropriate patients in a safe and patient centered way that will assist in avoiding unnecessary burden on the health care system,” said Chief Randy Mellow.
This work is on top of the efforts the government has done to date with the March 2022 Plan to Stay Open. Some highlights include:
Ontario has processed over 25 million lab-based COVID-19 PCR tests and distributed close to 240 million free rapid antigen tests to date.
Ontario has administered over 34.5 million COVID-19 vaccinations to date.
Over 36,000 doses of Paxlovid have been prescribed to protect Ontarians against the worst effects of COVID-19, helping to reduce hospital admissions.
Ontario has invested $880 million in surgical recovery investments over the last three fiscal years, including increasing surgical capacity through funding for innovative hospital projects.
To strengthen long-term care and alternate levels of care, Ontario has invested $175.2 million to expand home care services and $117 million for the sustainability of home care services, and $1 million for the inter-facility transfer of medically stable patients in Northern Ontario.
The government has invested $764 million to provide Ontario’s nurses with a retention incentive of up to $5,000 per person.
Over 10,900 healthcare professionals (including over 7,800 nurses and externs) have been added to the health system since Winter of 2020.
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Stuart Betts Announced as Chief of Peterborough Police Service
/The Peterborough Police Services Board appointed Stuart Betts as the next Chief of the Peterborough Police Service announced on Tuesday.
Stuart Betts takes over Tim Farquharson who was serving as acting chief. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police Service.
Betts, who has 26 years of experience in policing, will officially being his role on Jan. 9.
Betts is a trained Public Order Commander and Critical Incident Commander. He is serving as Deputy Chief of Operations for the London Police Service and was the Deputy Chief of Administration prior. During his career, he has served as Frontline Patrol to Executive Services as well as Support Services and Administrative departments.
“I am thrilled and honoured to have been selected to be Peterborough’s next Chief of Police,” said Betts. “I believe the Chief of Police should be a leader in the community, and also serve to support the members of the Organization by ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to serve the community at the highest possible level. As your Chief, I will be dedicated to ensuring we excel in our commitment to professionalism and excellence in support of safety for the community and to one another. Peterborough is to be my home and I am invested in ensuring it is a safe place for my family and yours.”
Chief Designate Betts has successfully 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, focused on innovation leadership, from the University of Fredericton and is pursuing a second Masters degree in Law in Alternative Dispute Resolution at Osgoode Hall Law School. Betts is 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.
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Peterborough Police Services Board Welcomes New Provincial Appointee
/The Peterborough Police Services Board have welcome Provincial Appointee Drew Merrett as their newest member announced on Monday.
File Photo.
Merrett has been a business owner as well as having served on a number of Boards both past and present.
A press release made a statement regarding Merrett being the newest member:
“The Peterborough Police Services Board looks forward to working with Drew Merrett and believe his skills and experience will be an asset to the Board and Service.”
Merrett is being officially sworn in this Friday.
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City of Peterborough Accepting Applications For Low Income Senior & Low Income Property Tax Assistance
/Applications are open for The City of Peterborbough Low-Income Senior & Low-Income Property Tax Assistance Program.
Qualifying applicants receive a $400 tax credit on their municipal property tax accounts to be applied to the February 2023 interim tax bill. Anyone who previously received more than a $400 credit is grandfathered in at their higher credit amount.
Property owners can apply under one of the following qualifications:
Low-Income Senior aged 65 years or older
Low-Income Senior aged 55-64 years of age
Low-Income Persons with a disability receiving benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
Applications are available on the City’s website or at the City Hall Tax Office, 500 George St. N. Anyone that received tax credits this year, automatically receives a 2023 Property Tax Assistance application in the mail.
Feb. 10 is the deadline for submitting this application.
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Federal and Provincial Government Investing Over $56 Million For High-Speed Internet to Over 16,000 Homes In Eastern Ontario
/Both the federal and provincial governments announced more than $56 million in combined funding to provide high-speed internet access to over 16,000 households in rural communities across Eastern Ontario, announced at Selwyn Public Library on Wednesday.
Government of Canada claims that they are ensuring that 98 per cent of Canadians have access to high-speed internet by 2026 and 100 per cent by 2030. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Amarjot Sandhu, Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure were in attendance to make the announcements on behalf of their respective governments.
Three projects are done by Bell and Cogeco to bring high-speed internet. Bell’s projects are set to be completed between March and December 2025 while Cogeco’s project is set to be completed by March 2024.
"We all know that internet is no longer a luxury in this day and age, it’s a necessity,” said Hutchings. “Access to fast, reliable internet helps rural Canadians by levelling the playing field so they can access essential services like health care and education, participate in the digital economy, or simply connect with loved ones."
“Our government is building a stronger Ontario by delivering on our commitment to achieve 100 per cent connectivity across the province by the end of 2025,” said Sandhu. “These projects will expand high-speed internet access to more unserved and underserved communities across eastern Ontario and they will ensure Ontarians have the ability to learn, work, participate in the agriculture sector, access critical health services and connect with loved ones.”
Rural communities from Omemee to Gooderham are eligible for the high-speed Internet upgrade.
A list of rural communities and service providers bringing high-speed Internet to their respective locations and investments made. Screenshot.
When asked about Internet affordability, Hutchings said there is ‘Connecting Families 2.0’ to allow low-income housing a form of a rebate through Canada Revenue Agency through Child Care Benefit or include low-income seniors receiving the maximum Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Households will receive letters through the CRA and can use them to contact their respective Internet service provider to claim the benefit according to Hutchings.
The existing $10 Internet plan offering under Connecting Families 1.0 also remains available.
“That’s for low-income families that can avail of $10 or $20 a month Internet and it’s a partnership of the Internet Services Providers,” said Hutchings.
Since April 1, Connecting Families 2.0 was launched that significantly faster speeds and increased data usage amount. It boasted download and upload speeds that are five and ten times faster, respectively, than in the first phase of Connecting Families. The data cap also doubled from 100 to 200 GB of usage per month.
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The City of Peterborough Offering Special Curbside Collection of Household Batteries
/Updated: 12:46 p.m., Oct. 27, 2022.
The City of Peterborough is holding a special curbside collection of used household batteries during the first week of November, announced on Wednesday.
Most household batteries contain toxic chemicals such as cadmium, lead, lithium, or sulfuric acid. If old batteries end up in a landfill, pollutants like these can leak out and contaminate groundwater, damage fragile ecosystems, and potentially make their way into the food chain. Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.
Battery recycling bags were distributed inside local newspapers last Thursday. Anyone who did not receive a bag can use a zip-lock bag or pick up a battery bag at City Hall, located at 500 George St. N.
Battery bags (pictured) have already been sent to residences with their local newspaper. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Bags of batteries are to be placed on top of the blue box used for paper during the week of Nov. 1-4. Ensure the bag is sealed properly as batteries can cause fires if not properly disposed of.
This collection is available within City limits and is not collected from county addresses as part of this collection.
Anyone missing the collection or living in an apartment can take used batteries to the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd. It is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
For more details, please call the Waste Management Division at 742-7777 ext. 1657.
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Peterborough Municipal Election Signs Approved For Recycling
/Municipal election signs have been deemed safe to recycle announced by the City of Peterborough on Tuesday.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The signs are made of white corrugated plastic sheeting — commonly called Coroplast — and have been added to the list of recyclable materials. City of Peterborough’s recycling services provider, Emterra, found a company that will accept the material for reuse according to a press release.
Coroplast election signs can be dropped off at the Material Recycling Facility at 390 Pido Rd. in one of the designated bins that are marked for election signs. Only the Coroplast part of the sign is accepted as any metal or wood post with it must be removed. The signs will not be accepted through curbside collection for recycling.
Candidates typically collect their election signs following elections.
Most election signs are made from Coroplast. The interior is a white corrugated plastic material which can be seen on the edges of the sign. Signs that have black interiors or edges are not made of Coroplast and are not recyclable.
Signs are to be recycled by no later than Nov. 30.
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Green Waste Collection Runs Until Nov. 25
/The City of Peterborough is continuing its weekly Green Waste Collection through Nov. 25.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
All leaf and yard waste are accepted with no quantity limit. All individual bags or containers must not exceed 22 kg (50 lbs). Brush can be tied in bundles weighing not more than the same weight with a length of up to 1 m (3 ft) and a diameter of up to 30.5 cm (12 in).
The City says green waste should be put out after 6 p.m. the night before or no later than 7 a.m. the morning of your regular waste collection.
Place in paper yard waste bags, bushel baskets or garbage bins with yellow "Green Waste" labels. Plastic bags are not accepted.
The City urges everyone to not rake fallen leaves on the road since they can clog storm drains and create slippery conditions.
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List of Peterborough City Services During Thanksgiving
/Several City services and facilities are offering modified hours or will be closed on Thanksgiving on Monday.
Wild turkeys have their feathers shimmer from the sun. Photo by Dave Ellis.
