City of Peterborough Advises Public to Be Prepared During Emergency Preparedness Week

The City of Peterborough encourages residents be informed of taking the necessary steps and be ready for an emergency, with Emergency Preparedness Week running until Saturday.

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This year’s theme is ‘Be prepared. Know your risks.’

“We can’t always predict when an emergency will strike, but we can take steps to be ready,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “The recent ice storm showed just how quickly severe weather can disrupt our lives. By having a plan, staying informed, and keeping emergency supplies on hand, we can help protect ourselves, our families, and our community. Preparedness saves lives, and it starts with each of us.”

Residents can access Alertable, a new tool to help stay informed during emergencies and critical events.

The free download tool is a community notification system that provides emergency alerts and essential updates directly through text messages, SMS notifications, telephone messages and emails. It is designed to ensure clear and timely updates to users and ensure effective communication to enhance public safety.

“Alertable is a vital tool in keeping our community informed during emergencies,” said Jodi DeNoble, director of emergency and risk management. “We encourage everyone to register and choose their preferred method of communication - whether it’s a phone call, text message, email, or notifications through the Alertable app. In an emergency, important information will be shared through the method you select, helping the community stay safe and prepared.”

The City says simple steps like creating an emergency plan and having an emergency kit on hand can help residents be prepared.

An emergency preparedness kit should include:

• Battery powered or windup flashlight

• Battery powered or windup radio

• First Aid Kit

• Portable external battery charger for cellphones, laptops, etc.

• Water (Two litres per person per day)

• Canned or dried food that won’t spoil

• Manual can opener

• Extra batteries for your flashlight or radio

• Cash-if there is an extended power outage many stores may only be able to accept cash as a form of payment

• Blankets

• Candles and matches

• A list of emergency numbers and important contacts

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City Asking Residents to Bring Ice Storm Brush and Debris to the Curb

The City of Peterborough is urging residents to bring all brush and debris related to the March 28 to March 30 ice storm to the curb by Monday to ensure pickup by the City.

Photo by Aaron Elliott.

This service is for storm-related debris, branches and tree limbs that cannot be collected through the City’s regular curbside collection for yard waste.

Brush collection is expected to last another six to seven weeks. The collection is not scheduled for a particular street at a specific time. Residents are asked to ensure that all debris is at the curb, ready for pickup when the crews arrive.

Crews are currently working in neighbourhoods between Parkhill Road and Lansdowne Street. Another collection will occur in neighbourhoods completed before Monday within the next few weeks.

To help ensure efficient and prompt pickup, residents are encouraged to dispose of small sticks, branches and lightweight brush through the regular yard waste program. Brush can be tied in bundles with light rope or twine and should not weigh more than 13 kg (30 pounds). It should have a length of up to one metre (three feet) and a diameter of up to 30 cm (12 inches).

For curbside yard waste collection, residents can place unlimited quantities of yard waste in reusable containers, labelled bushel baskets or paper yard waste bags.

Residents are asked not to place whole trees or large tree stumps at the curb for removal.

Residents are also asked to avoid parking in front of curbside debris piles to help crews access debris quickly and easily.

Street sweeping of City streets is now underway in the north section of the city, and will be completed in the west, south and east sections of the city over the coming weeks. Street sweeping is expected to be completed by mid-June.

When placing storm debris at the boulevard for yard waste collection, please avoid putting debris too close to the curb so that it may wash into the street during a rainstorm.

Residents are also asked to be mindful of sightlines to ensure the safety of pedestrians and vehicular traffic and to prevent debris from obstructing the sidewalk.

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City of Peterborough LIfts State of Emergency Declaration From Late-March Ice Storm

The City of Peterborough has officially ended the State of Emergency declaration from the March 28 to 30 ice storm.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The State of Emergency was declared on March 30 after the region was hit by a severe ice storm that led to downed trees and tree limbs and widespread power outages throughout the City.

“As the City officially lifts its State of Emergency following the devastating ice storm in March, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our residents, emergency responders, utility workers, City staff, and volunteers for their incredible resilience and dedication over these past few weeks,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “The response from our community has been nothing short of extraordinary.”

Clean-up efforts are still underway across the City.

The City continues to remove brush and debris from the curbside during the ice storm. This service is for debris, branches and tree limbs that cannot be collected through the City’s regular curbside collection for yard waste. Residents are asked not to place whole trees or large tree stumps at the curb for removal.

When placing debris at the boulevard for yard waste collection, please be mindful of sightlines to ensure safety for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic. Avoid placing debris close enough to the curb that it may wash into the street during a rainstorm.

It is expected to take up to eight weeks for crews to complete curbside removal of large brush and debris in all areas of the City.

Curbside collection has been completed for the area north of Parkhill Road and west of the Otonabee River.

The partial non-enforcement of the Tree Removal bylaw, including waiving permit fees for trees on private property that were damaged or destroyed as a result of the ice storm, remains in place until Monday. Regular requirements under the Tree Removal Bylaw will resume on Tuesday.

Residents wishing to remove storm-damaged trees without paying permit fees must email treebylaw@peterborough.ca and provide a photo of the tree, the property address, location of the tree on the property, the species of tree (if known), the approximate diameter of the tree and a description of the condition of the tree.

The Tree Removal bylaw remains in place for all other trees.  More information on the Tree Removal By-law can be found at peterborough.ca/trees.

The City reports significant damage to trees in City parks and along trails from the ice storm. The City is assessing and addressing hazardous tree conditions. Due to the extent of the damage, this work is ongoing.

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Peterborough County Lifts State of Emergency From Late March Ice Storm

Peterborough County has officially ended the State of Emergency as the region transitions to the Recovery phase following the March 28 to 30 ice storm.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

According to the County, the Emergency phase focused on immediate response efforts, including ensuring public safety, restoring critical infrastructure and coordinating emergency services. The Recovery phase will now focus on longer-term efforts such as cleanup and repair.

The State of Emergency was declared on March 31 to support coordinated emergency response efforts and resource allocation across the region in the face of widespread storm damage and power outages.

“With power now restored to all permanent residents and storm cleanup well underway, Peterborough County is officially ending its State of Emergency. I want to extend my sincere thanks to our residents, local businesses, volunteers, the governments of Ontario and Canada and especially to the hydro crews, public works teams, and first responders whose dedication and hard work continue to be instrumental in our recovery,” said Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden. “While this ice storm caused significant disruption, it also highlighted the strength, resilience, and unity of our communities, and while there is still a lot of work to do, Peterborough County is defined by its compassion, and that spirit of community is what will carry us forward. I encourage residents to continue monitoring official channels for safety updates, to exercise caution around waterways due to potential flooding, and to remain vigilant for falling tree limbs in forested areas.”

Services and Recovery Information:

• Peterborough County Depot Drop Off Locations

  • Peterborough County residents have until Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to drop off storm-related brush and tree debris for free at select County depots.

  • Centreline Depot (1275 County Road 24) is CURRENTLY CLOSED due to significant brush accumulation, which has made the site unsafe for public access.

  • County depots are for Peterborough County residents only and are for storm clean-up only - NO leaf and yard waste.

• County Roads and Infrastructure: All Peterborough County roads are open. Cleanup of debris along County roads is ongoing. Please use caution when driving and report any hazards to Peterborough County’s Public Works department.

• Flood Watches/Warnings: For the latest watches and warnings in your area, please contact your local Conservation Authority or the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

• Trail/Park/Forest Closure: Victoria Park and the County Forest remain CLOSED due to unsafe conditions caused by the recent ice storm. Rotary Trail has reopened for recreational use.

The County’s Emergency Operations Centre has stood down and standard operations have resumed. Monitoring and coordination will continue to support the long-term recovery needs.

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Peterborough Public Library Staffing Reorganization to Reduce Operation Expenses Says City

Peterborough Public Library is undergoing a staffing reorganization to reduce operating expenses by $120,000, as approved by City Council in the City’s 2025 Budget.

File Photo.

The Library has 60 staff, including a CEO and a manager with all other staff being unionized, non-management staff.

The reorganization will result in a net reduction of one position. Three positions will be eliminated and two new positions will be created, resulting in a net reduction of one position. A fourth affected position will be maintained but restructured to expand its role according to the City.

Services will be maintained; however, they will be delivered in a different way to achieve the $120,000 in cost savings.

Children’s Library services and programming will continue to be provided.

The Draft 2025 Budget for the Peterborough Public Library included a 10.9 per cent or $411,571 increase in the funding requirement for the Library, which would increase to $4,175,845 in 2025 from $3,764,273 in 2024.

The City says a number of factors contributed to the estimated increase in costs, including technology costs associated with software licences and product subscription fees, as well as the first year of operating the new library branch at the Miskin Law Community Complex.

All City departments were directed to provide options to reduce operating expenses in 2025 as a way to lower the required property tax increase.

There were two options for operating expense reductions put forward for the Peterborough Public Library as part of City Council’s 2025 Budget process:

• A $70,000 reduction that would reduce Library operating hours by four hours per week

• A $120,000 reduction that would be achieved through a Library staffing reorganization, that would include the elimination of two positions

Council did not choose the option to reduce Library operating hours but approved including the $120,000 reduction through a Library staffing reorganization, in the City’s 2025 Budget.

Council approved various other options to reduce the property tax increase in 2025, such as ending the lifeguard service at Rogers Cove beach with lifeguard service being maintained at the nearby Beavermead Park beach, ending the maintenance of the ice for skating on the Trent-Severn Waterway next to the Lift Lock, reducing preventative maintenance of City facilities, reducing funding for advertising, and increasing the Peterborough Transit single ride fare by 25 cents.

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Routine Watermain Flushing Begins Tuesday

The City will be performing routine flushing of watermains in various areas of Peterborough beginning Tuesday and continuing through Friday.

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Flushing will take place between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Routine watermain flushing is preventive maintenance that removes scale and sediment buildup, helping to maintain water quality in the water distribution system.

Water may become iron-coloured or cloudy for a brief period. If this occurs, residents should run the cold water tap closest to the source for 20 to 30 minutes until the water is clear.

If this does not resolve the issue, please call 705-748-9301 ext. 1295 to report the problem.

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List of City Services Operating During 2025 Easter Weekend

Several City facilities and services will operate under holiday hours or will be closed between Friday and Monday during the Easter Weekend.

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Public Works can be reached at 705-745-1386. This line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

City Hall

City Hall, including Service Peterborough, the Clerk’s Office and Building Services, will be closed on Friday and Monday. Online services are available at peterborough.ca.

City Parks and trails are closed until further notice due to damage sustained during the March 28 to 31 ice storm.

Garbage and Green Bin collection and facilities

For Zones 7 and 8, curbside collection for the Green Bin, garbage, yard waste and recycling will move from Friday to Monday.

The City-County Landfill at 1260 Benfort Rd. will be closed on Friday, April 18. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Saturday and regular hours on Monday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

The Household Hazardous Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd. will be closed on Friday and open during regular hours on Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Airport

The Peterborough Regional Airport is open during regular hours, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Visit peterborough.ca/airport for more information.

Art Gallery of Peterborough

Art Gallery of Peterborough at 250 Crescent St. will be closed on Friday and Monday. The Art Gallery will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For information about gallery exhibitions and programs please visit agp.on.ca.

Peterborough Public Library

The Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. N., will be closed from Friday to Monday inclusive over the long weekend. Information and digital resources are available online at ptbolibrary.ca.

Peterborough Museum and Archives

Peterborough Museum and Archives at 300 Hunter St. E. will be closed on Friday. The Museum will be open from noon to 5 p.m. over the weekend and on Monday. Information about current exhibitions is available online at peterborough.ca/museum.

Recreation facilities

The Kinsmen Civic Centre, Healthy Planet Arena, Peterborough Memorial Centre and Recreation Facility Booking office will be closed from Friday to Monday.

The Grant Thornton Box Office will be closed from Friday to Monday. Tickets for Memorial Centre events are available for purchase online at memorialcentre.ca.

Miskin Law Community Complex at 271 Lansdowne St. W. will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, with Customer Service and scheduled ice rentals from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Regular hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. will be in place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. On Friday, the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre at 775 Brealey Dr. will open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Regular hours resume over the weekend and on Monday.

McDonnel Street Community Centre, including the drop-in Peterborough Youth Space will be closed from Friday to Monday.

Parking Services

Parking in City-operated garages, surface lots, and on-street spaces is free on weekends and holidays. The Parking Services office in the King Street Parkade will be closed from Friday to Monday.

Visit peterborough.ca/parking to find more information, including locations.

Provincial Offences Act office

Provincial Offences Act office at 99 Simcoe St. will be closed from Friday to Monday. Fine payments can be made online at peterborough.ca/POA.

Transit

Peterborough Transit will operate on a Sunday/Holiday service schedule on Friday. The customer service desk will operate on weekend hours and will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and then from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Regular service schedules are in place over the weekend and on Monday. Visit peterborough.ca/transit for details or call Transit Customer Service at 705-745-0525.

Social Services

Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. will be closed on Friday to Monday. Extended office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. resume on April 22. For information on Social Services, please visit peterborough.ca/SocialServices.

Child care centres

City-operated child care centres will be closed on Friday and Monday.

Emergency shelter services

Emergency shelter services remain open. To access them outside of regular business hours or on holidays, please call the After Hours service at 705-926-0096.

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City of Peterborough Remains In State of Emergency As Ice Storm Response Continues

The City of Peterborough continues ongoing efforts in response to the ice storm that hit the region on March 30 as the State of Emergency declaration remains in place.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The City continues to ask residents to reduce water use as water levels remain high along the Trent-Severn Waterway. These conditions are due to wet weather conditions and snow melting in the watershed's north region.

The City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility is currently processing extremely high volumes of water. Reducing water use will help reduce demands on the sewage treatment system and assist with capacity at the facility.

Residents are urged to stay well back from shorelines and waterways. Due to fast-flowing water, banks may be unstable. Children should be supervised at all times, and pets should be leashed.

Parks Canada's water management team continues to actively monitor water levels and flows and weather forecasts across the Trent-Severn Waterway. These factors are used to determine dam operations on a daily basis.

Brush and debris are being removed curbside. This service began in the north end of the City on Monday. It is expected to take four to six weeks to complete all areas of the City.

When placing debris at the boulevard for yard waste collection, please be mindful of sightlines for pedestrians and vehicular traffic safety. Avoid placing debris close enough to the curb that it may wash into the street during a rainstorm.

The City Landfill accepts residential brush, wood chips and damaged tree waste related to the ice storm at no charge until Monday.

The landfill will operate extended hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday to assist residents with storm cleanup.

The City is temporarily waiving the permit requirement to remove trees on private property that have been destroyed, destabilized or structurally compromised as a direct result of the ice storm, with the following condition:

• Residents must send email notification to treebylaw@peterborough.ca, providing photos, property address, tree species information including diameter, and provide the physiological and structural condition of the tree preferably prior to removing the tree or as soon as possible after removing a tree.

The bylaw waiver remains in place until April 28.

City-owned trees of any size, including street trees and trees in parks and natural areas, are owned and maintained by the City and are not eligible for removal or maintenance by residents. To report an issue with a City-owned tree, please call 705-742-7777 and dial 8, or 705-745-1386 after hours and weekends.

City parks and trails remain closed until further notice, due to ongoing hazards regarding falling trees and branches.

The City had an Emergency Benefit of up to $75 until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to cover storm-related expenses for eligible residents in areas still affected by the power outages.

This benefit is available to low-income residents, Ontario Works and ODSP recipients.

Eligible residents whose power has not been restored yet but who have not applied for the benefit by the deadline may still be eligible for this assistance but will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Those residents are asked to contact the Social Services office at 705-748-8830 or in person at 178 Charlotte St. (Charlotte Mews) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

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City of Peterborough Closes Sandbag Fill Location

The City of Peterborough has closed its remaining sandbag filling location on Riverside Drive at Archibald Street, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The City does not anticipate the station will reopen.

Sandbag fill locations were set up in response to localized flooding caused by high water conditions along the Trent-Severn Waterway.

The City reminds residents to continue to exercise caution near the Otonabee River, creeks and other waterways, as banks may be unstable due to high and fast-moving water.

Parks Canada's water management team continues to actively monitor water levels, flows and weather forecasts along the Trent-Severn Waterway.

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Ice Storm Updates From City of Peterborough (April 4)

As storm recovery efforts continue in the City of Peterborough, all Public Works crews and 23 contractor crews are working throughout the City, addressing hazards on roads, sidewalks, trails and in parks.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Proper food waste disposal is essential to prevent contamination and maintain community cleanliness says the City.

Residential Properties 

• Residents should use their green bin to dispose of spoiled food. All packaging must be removed before placing food waste in the bin. 

• Residents may also dispose of spoiled food waste at no charge at the City Landfill/Compost Site, 1260 Bensfort Rd., until April 14. Spoiled food waste should be removed from its packaging before disposal.  

Multi-Unit Residential and Commercial Properties 

• If the building does not have a green bin program, please coordinate with the property owner or building manager to arrange proper disposal. 

The City Landfill is also accepting residential brush, wood chips and damaged tree waste related to the ice storm at no charge until April 14.  

Curbside chipping service for large tree debris that cannot be processed through the regular yard waste curbside collection will be provided when resources can be redeployed to provide that service. Resources are dedicated to storm response efforts, addressing hazardous and critical conditions. The City will provide an update when the curbside chipping service for large tree debris will begin.

When placing tree debris at the boulevard for yard waste collection, the City asks to be mindful of sightlines for pedestrian safety and vehicular traffic. Avoid placing debris close enough to the curb that it may wash into the street during a rainstorm.

As a result of the ice storm, the City is temporarily waiving the permit requirement to remove trees on private property that have been destroyed, destabilized or structurally compromised as a direct result of the ice storm, with the following condition:

• Residents must send email notification to treebylaw@peterborough.ca, providing photos, property address, tree species information including diameter, and provide the physiological and structural condition of the tree preferably prior to removing the tree or as soon as possible after removing a tree.

City-owned trees of any size, including street trees and trees in parks and natural areas, are owned and maintained by the City and are not eligible for removal or maintenance by residents. To report an issue with a City-owned tree, please call 705-742-7777 and dial 8, or 705-745-1386 after hours and weekends.

Team Rubicon Canada is deploying volunteers to Peterborough to assist residents with downed trees and storm debris on their properties. To contact Team Rubicon for assistance, please email request_assistance@teamrubicon.ca clearly indicating the location—whether the address is in the City of Peterborough or Peterborough County—or call 647-473-8655.

With high water levels in all regional waterways and rain in the forecast, the City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility is processing extremely high volumes of water. To help reduce the demands on the sewage treatment system and assist with capacity at the facility, residents are strongly urged to conserve water over the next several days.

The municipal drinking water system has maintained operations throughout the state of emergency with no disruption to service.

Warming centres continue to be available in the City of Peterborough for residents of the City and County experiencing extended power outages as Hydro One crews continue to work to restore power to affected areas.

The City’s warming centres are open at the following locations:

• Healthy Planet Arena, banquet hall, 911 Monaghan Rd.: closed at 9 a.m. on Friday

• For Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the 24-hour warming centre is relocated to the McDonnel Street Community Centre at 577 McDonnel St. starting 9 a.m. on Friday, April 4. Food support will be provided at this location on Friday. This location is anticipated to be open until at least 9 a.m. on Monday

• Miskin Law Community Complex, 271 Lansdowne St. W.: open 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily through to at least noon on Monday

• Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr.: open 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and through to at least 9 a.m. on Monday

The City is monitoring conditions and will assess needs to determine warming centre location services after Monday, April 7.

Showers are available at all Miskin Law Community Complex and the Sport and Wellness Centre during warming centre hours of operation. Community partners, including the Salvation Army, will provide food at the McDonnel Street Community Centre on Friday.

With widespread power outages continuing, please check on neighbours and loved ones.

Peterborough Transit has resumed regular service, with some detours where hazards such as downed trees affect routes. Anyone requiring Transit to visit one of the City’s warming centres will ride for free: notify the driver of the destination when boarding.

City Hall, the Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St., the Peterborough Public Library and the Peterborough Museum and Archives are open regular hours. The Provincial Offences Office at 99 Simcoe St. reopened on Friday.

Recreation facilities have returned to regular, full operations, including arenas, the pool and community centres.

The Art Gallery of Peterborough is closed for unscheduled maintenance until Sunday.

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