Your Metres Matter Fundraising Campaign Raises Over $10,000 In The First Week To Help Revitalize The Jackson Creek Trail

In just over one week since launching the Your Metres Matter fundraising campaign, the community has raised $10,600 to help revitalize the Jackson Creek Trail in the heart of Peterborough.

The Your Metres Matter campaign is raising funds to resurface and repair points of erosion on the Jackson Creek Trail so that it continues to be accessible and safe for all trail users. Each $50 donation helps to revitalize one metre of trail.

“More than ever, people are accessing trails to get exercise, boost their mental health, relieve stress, and spend quality time with family,” said Dan Marinigh, CAO at Otonabee Conservation, “During the pandemic, the trail is seeing an increase in use as many residents seek the calm of nature nearby, and have taken up hobbies like birdwatching, hiking, dog walking, biking, and cross-country skiing. The trail is in need of repairs to restore its longevity.”

The Your Metres Matter Community Challenge also launched last week; it encourages groups to raise funds and challenge each other in a friendly community competition.

So far, Runner’s Life, Peterborough Nordic Club, Wild Rock Outfitters, and the board and staff at Otonabee Conservation have taken the challenge, already collectively helping to raise $6,500 for the campaign, which translates to 130 metres of trail.

“We are so grateful for the support we are receiving, and especially from the groups and community members who regularly utilize the trail,” said Marinigh. “The response we are having with this friendly community competition unites us with a common goal to care for and revitalize a trail we all love.”

Each $50+ donation to the Your Metres Matter campaign will receive a charitable tax receipt, photo card, sticker, and a commemorative Jackson Creek Trail badge to wear proudly while visiting the trail. A donation of $500+ dollars (or 10+ metres of trail) will be recognized on a new trailhead sign to be placed along the Trail.

“While we have raised $10,600 in just over one week of the campaign, we still have a ways to go,” said Marinigh, “As of December 8, we have raised enough to repair 211 metres of trail; the Jackson Creek Trail is 4,500 metres long so we encourage more groups to join our Community Challenge and more trail enthusiasts to consider a donation or a gift to the trail lover on their holiday list this year.”

To make a donation, track progress of the campaign, learn more about the Your Metres Matter campaign or the Community Challenge visit otonabeeconservation.com.

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Flood Watch Issued For Peterborough And Surrounding Areas

Otonabee Conservation issued a flood watch on Friday for all bodies of water in the Otonabee Region watershed.

File Photo.

Affected areas include municipalities of Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, City of Kawartha Lakes, City of Peterborough and Trent Hills.

A strong cold front will make its way into Southern Ontario Friday, bringing warmer temperatures, rain and strong winds.

Temperatures will be above normal for this time of year with a high of 6 degrees C Friday and up to 13 degrees C on Saturday before dropping below zero Saturday night. Friday afternoon could see rainfall in the amounts of 10 to 15mm with an additional 10 to 20mm possible on Saturday.

With frozen ground conditions, the expected rainfall and potential heavy downpours, combined with warm temperatures and melting snow may cause minor flooding in low-lying areas.

As a minimum, water pooling on roads and in low-lying areas and higher than normal water levels and flows can be expected, especially in the vicinity of culverts and bridges. Higher than normal water levels and flows will continue throughout the weekend as the expected rainfall and snow melt flushes through our waterways.

Residents are advised to be extremely cautious around all local lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks because shorelines/riverbanks will be slippery and could be undercut, and currents will be strong. Road-side ditches, wetlands and other low-lying areas may experience unsafe ponding conditions. Dams and other water control/water conveyance structures are especially dangerous and should always be avoided.

This flood watch will expire Tuesday Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. unless otherwise stated.

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Random Acts Of Green Is Hoping For An Eco-Friendly Holiday With Their JollyGreen Holiday Challenge

The JollyGreen Holiday Eco-Challenge hosted by Random Acts of Green is hoping to encourage people to switch to more eco-friendly habits during the holidays this year.

According to Zero Waste Canada, globally during the holiday season, waste levels increase by 25-30 per cent. With all the wrapping paper, packaging, cards, glitter, decorations, and food waste, the planet desperately needs people to rethink these wasteful traditions.

“The holiday season is full of light, joy, and cheer. But it also has a dark environmental side that no one really seems to be talking about,” said Jessica Correa, CEO, Random Acts of Green. “It doesn’t have to be like this, though. We can all act together to change wasteful traditions and rituals in favour of new ones that are less harmful to our shared home.”

Citizens, families, school boards, classrooms, and businesses are being encouraged to take the virtual JollyGreen™ Challenge during the month of December. The challenge builds awareness about things we can do for the planet this holiday season.

The challenge encourages participants to perform tasks like using a reusable mug for Christmas drinks like hot chocolate, shopping locally, and using eco-friendly de-icers when needed.

Pledge to participate in JollyGreen here to receive a pledge badge to share on socials and get green tips along the way.

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Selwyn Township Achieves Top Distinction in National Climate Protection Program

Selwyn Township has achieved Milestone 5 of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program. PCP is a network of Canadian municipal governments that have committed to reducing GHG emissions and protecting our climate.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough ED.

Reaching Milestone 5 is a significant achievement and demonstrates the leadership of Selwyn Township and its deep commitment to taking action on climate change.

“As a Corporation, Selwyn has invested in sustainability initiatives including retrofitting Township street lighting to LED, leasing a hybrid electric vehicle for the Building Department, installing roof-top solar panels on a number of Township buildings, tree planting, etc. Achieving this Milestone demonstrates Council’s commitment to protecting our environment.” Andy Mitchell, Mayor Selwyn Township.

The municipality’s actions to reduce community GHG emissions are driving positive results and helping it make progress toward its sustainability and climate change objectives.

For information about other green initiatives led by Selwyn Township, visit https://www.selwyntownship.ca/en/township-hall/Green-Initiatives.aspx.

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Friday Is Last Day For Curbside Green Waste Collection In Peterborough

The last day for seasonal curbside green waste collection in The City of Peterborough is Friday.

Residential leaf and yard waste is accepted and there are no quantity limits.

Paper yard waste bags, bushel baskets or garbage bins with yellow Green Waste labels will be picked up on the same day as garbage and recycling collection. Plastic bags are not accepted.

Each bag or container must weigh less than 22 kg. Brush can be tied in bundles weighing not more than 22 kg, with a length of up to 1 m and a diameter of up to 30.5 cm.

After Friday, green waste is only accepted at the Peterborough Waste Management Facility (Landfill) at 1260 Bensfort Rd. Quantities of 100 kg or less are free of charge. For quantities over 100 kilograms, there is a fee of $45 per tonne.

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Local Woman is Cleaning the City While Giving Back With Butt 1 Community

Donna Reid from Peterborough has been collecting cigarette waste for the last three years, and recycling it through Terracycles Unsmoke Cigarette Recycling Program.

Photo courtesy of Butt 1 Community.

Three years ago Reid participated in a community clean up with A Greener Future, an environmental nonprofit focused on litter cleanup and prevention, where she learned that cigarette butts could be recyclable.

“I just thought it would kind of be a no brainer, and I’d get people involved in the community - that’s why I called it ‘Butt 1 Community’, we’re all one.”

For the last three years Reid has been collecting butts, the ash from cigarettes and the cellophane that cigarettes come wrapped in. The carboard case can be put in the regular recycling.

She also invites community members to drop off waste they have collected at her house, and notes that she sometimes comes home to bags of cigarette butts on her porch, a welcomed surprise for her.

“I have sent just over 400 lbs of waste since 2018,” she says.

Reid ships her collection of cigarette waste to TerraCycle once a year. The program gifts her one dollar per one lbs of waste she collects, to donate to a local charity. This year she will donate the funds to Peterborough Streetvoice.

On Sunday Reid announced on social media that she submitted 147 lbs of waste this year.

“I’m getting more awareness out there so I’m hoping each year it grows a bit. The biggest thing is that people don’t understand that cigarette butts are actually waste. They’re the number one thrown out item in the entire world. Number one every time.”

In addition to raising awareness, Reid distributes ‘pocket ashtrays’ to people she sees smoking in public. A pocket ashtray is a small reusable container that suffocates a cigarette ember, contains the smell and allows the user to bring their butt home to throw out, rather than littering.

For more information on Butt 1 Community or to find out how to get involved visit their Facebook or Instagram.

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City of Peterborough Will Collect Household Batteries This Week

A special curbside collection of used household batteries by the City of Peterborough will take place during the first week of November.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Battery-recycling bags were distributed inside the Peterborough This Week newspaper on Oct. 21. Households that did not receive a bag are asked to use a zip-lock bag or pick up a battery bag at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

Residents are asked to place their bag of batteries on top of the blue box used for paper during the week of November 2 to 5 only. Please ensure the top of the bag is securely closed so batteries don’t fall out.

This is a special, one-week collection and batteries are not permitted in blue box or garbage collection at any other time.

Residents who miss this collection, or live in an apartment may take used batteries to the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd., open Wednesday to Saturday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

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Otonabee Conservation has Issued a Flood Watch for Peterborough and Surrounding Area

Otonabee Conservation issued a flood watch to Peterborough and surrounding municipalities on Sunday, that will be in effect until Tuesday.

File Photo

The flood watch has been issued to the Municipalities of Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, City of Kawartha Lakes, City of Peterborough and Trent Hills.

A slow-moving, moisture-laden Colorado low-pressure system is bringing widespread rainfall to the Region. It started overnight on Sunday and will continue through Monday and Tuesday.

Total local rainfall amounts of 30-50 mm are expected before the system leaves the Region. The Region will get a break from the soaking rain through mid-week, starting Wednesday. However, this period of fair weather will be short-lived, ending Friday, October 29th as another potent Colorado low-pressure systems will again bring total local rainfall amounts of 30-50mm over the weekend. During both rainfall events, localized amounts of 50+ mm are possible if heavy downpours also occur.

Expected rainfall and especially heavy downpours, combined with already moderately elevated water levels/flows in the Region’s lakes, rivers, streams, creeks, and wetlands may cause minor flooding in low-lying areas.

As a minimum, water pooling on roads and in low-lying areas and higher than normal water levels and flows can be expected, especially in the vicinity of culverts and bridges. Higher than normal water levels and flows will continue throughout the week and next weekend as the expected rainfall from the two events flushes through our waterways.

Residents are advised to be extremely cautious around all local lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks because shorelines/riverbanks will be slippery and could be undercut, and currents will be strong. Road-side ditches, wetlands and other low-lying areas may experience unsafe ponding conditions. Dams and other water control/water conveyance structures are especially dangerous and should always be avoided.

Otonabee Conservation is advising all area municipalities and residents to prepare themselves for possible flooding. Area water data and information can be monitored on-line at:

1) Trent-Severn Waterway’s Water Management InfoNet

2) Water Survey of Canada Real-Time Hydrometric Data

3) Otonabee Conservation Precipitation and Water Level Data

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Questions and Comments Open for Curtis Creek Improvement Project

The City of Peterborough is looking to make improvements to Curtis Creek between Tivey Street and Swanston Avenue through a flood reduction and channel naturalization project.

Photo courtesy of ConnectPTBO

The general goals of the project, in accordance with the recommendations set out in the Curtis Creek Flood Reduction Master Plan, are to:

1. reduce the negative impacts of flooding on properties in the watershed;

2. naturalize the channel to improve water quality and wildlife habitat;

3. provide slope stability and erosion control measures; and

4. improve the open space and pedestrian connections south of Euclid Avenue at Trent Street.

The project plans, additional project information and resources are available on Connect Peterborough, City’s online community engagement hub, at www.connectptbo.ca/curtiscreek. Residents can submit comments and ask questions through the online engagement tool.

Residents who are directly impacted will be consulted on an individual basis as designs are finalized. Local residents, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation and Otonabee Region Conservation Authority have been approached as part of the ongoing work.

The project team will consider feedback received through Connect Peterborough as it develops the project plan.

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City of Peterborough Teams up with Hellmans Canada to Kick Food Waste to the Curb

Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Waste Reduction Week in Canada, the City of Peterborough has announced a new partnership with Hellmann’s Canada in support of food waste awareness.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Over the next three months, half of the City’s waste collection vehicles will be sporting a new look, with a creative message from Hellmann’s on the driver side of the vehicles. The tongue-in-cheek message provides an important educational perspective on food waste:

‘This is Canada’s Most Popular Food Truck. Unfortunately. 58% of Food produced in Canada gets thrown out.’

“Thank you to Hellmann’s for sharing this important message through a sponsorship initiative. Bringing attention to food waste is the first step to changing our behaviours,” said Councillor Gary Baldwin, Chair of the City’s waste management portfolio. “From meal planning, to cooking, to left-overs and composting, we need to be conscious of reducing food waste, and diverting it from the landfill in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

City residents are encouraged to minimize the amount of food waste they place in their regular garbage by participating in the City’s back yard composting program, which provides cost-subsidized composters for sale to local residents at City Hall, 500 George St. N., or at the Household Hazardous Waste Depot, 400 Pido Rd. More information is available on the City’s website at www.peterborough.ca/waste.

“At Hellmann's we believe food is too good to be wasted, so we’re thrilled to partner with the City of Peterborough to help educate Canadians about food waste in this unique way via Canada’s most popular food truck, the garbage truck,” said Kristen Denega, Senior Brand Manager, Hellmann’s Canada. “Canada is one of the worst offenders when it comes to food waste with almost two-thirds of food thrown away still being edible. We hope this partnership encourages City residents and passers by to learn more, either through our website or the City’s, and take action.”

In addition to food waste reduction, the City is also focused on the diversion of food waste from landfill with a new organic waste collection and processing program. Work continues on a new source separated organics food diversion program.

The City of Peterborough GROW (Green Resource Organics Waste) is on target for a Fall 2023 implementation. Residents can learn about the GROW project and the City’s efforts towards Zero Waste at www.peterborough.ca/grow.

Waste Reduction Week in Canada runs from October 18 to 22, 2021. The program focuses on the principles of circular economy, resource efficiency, and waste reduction. Waste Reduction Week celebrates our environmental efforts and achievements while encouraging new innovative ideas and solutions.

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