Lakefield Trail Stewardship Committee Hosting Native Plant Spring Garden Work Day For May 11
/The Lakefield Trail Stewardship Committee has announced a Native Plant Spring Garden Work Day set for May 11 at 9 a.m.
File Photo.
Peterborough Blogs
Fleming College Recognized As One of Canada’s Greenest Employers
/Fleming College's awareness of the environment was evident as it landed a spot on Canada’s Top Green Employers list for 2024.
Photo courtesy of Fleming College.
The college was able to integrate sustainable practices across its campuses and curriculum to appear on the list.
Employers were graded on several factors: unique environmental initiatives or programs, success in reducing their environmental footprint, employee involvement with green programs and whether those environmental initiatives have become linked to the employer’s public identity, attracting new employees.
Fleming was the only Peterborough organization to crack the list.
A full list can be found online.
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Community Futures Peterborough Launches New Green Funding Program For Any Peterborough City/County Business Of Up to $100,000
/Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) for Earth Day, unveiled its Climate Change and Environment Fund to help any Peterborough County and City businesses reduce their carbon footprint, announced at Charlotte Products Ltd. on Monday morning.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
“Like many organizations and leaders in the community, we want to be a part of helping fight climate change and encourage green investment in the Peterborough area,” said Devon Girard, CFP executive director. “Launching this new lending program is one way we can play a role in supporting existing businesses while also trying to attract new green companies to the region.”
The Climate Change and Environment Fund is open to any business to finance a project to reduce carbon emissions or waste. These projects could consider energy-efficient upgrades (including capital upgrades) to reduce energy bills, renewable energy improvements, or considerations of circular economies, including localizing supply chains or buying reusable bins. Under this fund, CFP will lend money at a prime rate, up to $100,000 per project.
Charlotte Products Ltd. has reduced carbon emissions by investing in the creation of its local manufacturing facilities instead of sourcing from the United States and globally.
“On behalf of the Charlotte Products team, we are honoured to host this exciting launch of the Climate Change and Environment Fund by Community Futures Peterborough,” says Matt Strano, Charlotte Products Ltd. CEO. “Sustainability is a primary concern for numerous businesses in our community,and initiatives like this fund will further bolster and reinforce their ongoing efforts.”
“The climate crisis is bringing a variety of increased financial pressures to our businesses including supply chain disruption and the rising costs of both shipping and natural gas,” said Tegan Moss, GreenUP executive director. “The Climate Change and Environment Fund is an opportunity for businesses to invest now in solutions that can help their businesses manage these costs while being a part of the solution. Imagine the possibilities: energy-efficient upgrades, renewable energy installations, circular economy initiatives – all aimed at reducing emissions, lowering costs, and enhancing the brand image of our businesses.”
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Second-Annual City Nature Challenge To Run From April 26 to 29
/The second annual community bio-blitz will occur in Peterborough from April 26 to 29 as part of the global City Nature Challenge competition.
A bio-blitz is a survey that identifies wildlife with the goal of understanding the biodiversity of a location. Nature observations can be uploaded using the iNaturalist app and posted to the Peterborough project page. All the city's wild and naturally occurring plants, animals and insects are eligible as nature sightings. Wildlife observations will be tallied at the end of the competition to determine the winning community in Canada.
On April 26 and 27, the City of Peterborough and the Peterborough Field Naturalists will host guided nature walks at GreenUP Ecology Park, located at 1899 Ashburnham Dr., both days from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event will feature family-friendly nature walks for all residents to learn how to make nature observations while exploring the park. Walks will be approximately 60 minutes, with the first tour at 11:30 a.m. and the last at 1 p.m. Guided tours depart from the event booth at the GreenUP Ecology Park Pavilion.
Event schedule
Friday, April 26
11 a.m.: Opening remarks with Councillor Joy Lachica, Co-Chair of Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management portfolio, Peterborough Field Naturalists and Dylan Radcliffe, Chair of the Peterborough Environmental Advisory Committee
11:30 a.m.: Walk and Talk about Pollinators with Carlotta James, Monarch Ultra
1 p.m.: The Natural and Cultural History of Little Lake, the Otonabee River and Meade Creek with Otonabee Conservation
Saturday, April 27
11 a.m.: Opening remarks with Mayor Jeff Leal
11:30 a.m.: Meet the Trees of Ecology Park with Vern Bastable, Peterborough GreenUp
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Children’s Activity Hub with Susan Chow, Trent University
1 p.m.: Discovering Nature in Early Spring with Drew Monkman
More information about how to participate in the City Nature Challenge is on the event web page at peterborough.ca/nature.
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Earth Week Events For City of Peterborough
/The City of Peterborough will celebrate Earth Week with three key initiatives to raise awareness of protecting the environment which will start on April 22.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
The three initiatives are The Great Community Litter Clean-up on April 27 and 28; the City Nature Challenge on April 26 and 27; and the kick-off to the City’s 2024 tree planting program.
“Peterborough has a great number of individuals and organizations that are committed to the wellbeing of our environment,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “There is work happening year-round to reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Earth Week is a time to come together to take action for the betterment of our planet. We hope you can be part of Earth Week 2024.”
Great Community Litter Clean-up April 27 and 28
On April 22, Earth Day, Mayor Jeff Leal and council members will promote the upcoming Great Community Litter Clean-up on April 27 and April 28. Each year, community organizations and neighbourhood groups organize litter cleanups, especially around Earth Day, as part of their efforts to protect the environment. Community members are welcome to attend the announcement at 1 p.m. at the Beavermead Park Pavilion, 2011 Ashburnham Dr.
Everyone is invited to join the international movement, with local community groups, families, friends and neighbours organizing a litter clean-up in their favourite park, green space, trail or forest.
Groups can register their Great Community Litter Clean-up location on the City’s website to receive a free litter clean-up kit and arrange a designated time and location for Public Works staff to collect the garbage. Registered groups can pick up the kits at the Public Works office at 791 Webber Ave. during business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday).
To celebrate everyone participating in the Great Community Litter Clean-up, groups are encouraged to post photos to social media using the hashtag #PtboLitterAction and tag @CityPtbo. The City will share the group’s photos to showcase how our community respects and protects the environment.
In addition to being unsightly, litter can damage the environment by posing a poison risk or choking risk to wildlife and leaching toxins into our waterways.
“We’re happy to be working in collaboration with engaged community organizations to protect our creeks, wetlands, greenspaces and public spaces from the harms of trash, litter and hazardous waste,” said Councillor Joy Lachica. “Earth Day mobilizes over a billion people annually in environmental protection efforts and I’m proud that Peterborough is part of the movement.”
“We encourage everyone to take an hour or two with family and friends on the weekend to celebrate Earth Day and our love for the wonderful green spaces that make Peterborough shine,” said Councillor Lesley Parnell. “Communities across the country will be hosting days of action focused on cleaning up public spaces and protecting the environment.”
Glad Canada will support the Great Community Litter Clean-up by supplying garbage bags to the City of Peterborough.
City Nature Challenge Community Bio-Blitz April 26 and 27
The City of Peterborough is hosting a community bio-blitz on Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27, to record the diversity and abundance of local wildlife in Ecology Park, 1899 Ashburnham Dr., and nearby areas, including Beavermead Park and Farmcrest Park. Both days, free, guided nature walks are planned.
Residents are invited to participate in the four-day City Nature Challenge throughout the weekend, from April 26 to April 29.
The City is partnering with the Peterborough Field Naturalists , who will lead the bioblitz throughout the two days. Specific group searches, such as bird, plant, mushroom and insect counts, are planned.
This will be Peterborough's second year participating in the event, which is aligned with the City Nature Challenge, a global competition to record nature sightings in communities worldwide. The observations will be confirmed and tallied as part of Peterborough's official submission to the City Nature Challenge. Winning communities for the highest number of wildlife observations will be announced by the City Nature Challenge in May 2024.
Details on how to participate in the City Nature Challenge are online at peterborough.ca/Nature.
City tree planting
The City’s 2024 Urban Forestry Plan includes planting 1,000 new trees along City streets and in parks as part of its commitment to managing the urban forest. Street trees are part of the City's green infrastructure system and provide essential benefits to the community. They improve air quality, minimize noise and dust, and reduce stormwater runoff. Trees also benefit individual property owners by increasing property values and decreasing heating and cooling costs.
The City spring tree planting season will kick off during Earth Week, weather permitting.
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City of Peterborough's Rain Garden Subsidy Program Open For Fifth Year
/The City of Peterborough’s Rain Garden Subsidy Program, in partnership with GreenUP, is launching its fifth year that provides eligible property owners with educational resources and up to $1,000 toward the cost of installing a rain garden.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF PETERBOROUGH.
“Currently, only 25 per cent of Peterborough’s stormwater is filtered for pollutants before entering natural waterways, such as the Otonabee River or Jackson Creek,” said Curtis Mei, City’s stormwater systems coordinator. “Rain gardens are an important part of a greener stormwater management strategy. Rain gardens reduce the amount of polluted runoff entering local waterways, which keeps the watershed healthy and can also reduce the risk of localized urban flooding.”
Rain gardens must be designed and located in a particular way to function properly. This subsidy process provides support for property owners, including design templates, educational resources, and on-site consultation from GreenUP staff.
“We know folks can be intimidated by the idea of designing and building their own rain garden, but it’s doable with a bit of support,” explained Laura Keresztesi, GreenUP coordinator with Neighbourhood and Residential programs. “That’s why GreenUP has partnered with the City to support this subsidy program. We help applicants through the process, step-by-step.”
This year, the maximum subsidy amount is $1,000 per garden, and GreenUP provides up to two on-site visits to advise on design and construction.
“The number of subsidies is limited and are awarded on a first come, first serve basis,” explained Keresztesi. “We encourage you to reach out as soon as possible.”
Interested property owners, organizations and businesses can learn more and begin the application process online at peterborough.ca/RainGarden.
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City of Peterborough Receives 2023 Call2Recycle’s Leader in Sustainability Award
/The City of Peterborough has been recognized as a recipient of Call2Recycle’s Leader in Sustainability Award for 2023 in recognition of the community’s outstanding results in diverting batteries from landfills, announced on Monday.
File Photo.
Peterborough residents diverted 4,241 kgs of batteries from the landfill in 2023 using the municipality’s battery collection options, helping to ensure the environmentally responsible disposal and reuse of the materials.
The City of Peterborough works with Call2Recycle, a not-for-profit organization that provides battery recycling programs nationwide to divert batteries from going to the City’s landfill.
“Thanks to your contributions and support of valued partners like you, Call2Recycle increased collections by 32 per cent in 2023, diverting almost 6 million kilograms of batteries from landfill,” in a statement made by Call2Recycle.
Batteries can be dropped off at the Household Hazardous Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd. and at locations throughout the city for safe disposal:
City Hall, 500 George St. N.
Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. ptbolibrary.ca
Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr.
Other battery drop-off locations in Peterborough:
GreenUP Store, 378 Aylmer St.
Kingan Home Hardware, 167 Simcoe St.
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Kawartha Land Trust Receives $2.9-Million Investment To Help Protect 1,400-Acre Nature Reserve
/After a $2.9-million investment from the Province of Ontario’s Greenlands Conservation Partnership, Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) has purchased its largest conservation property of the 1,400-acre Hammer Family Nature Preserve announced in Trent Lakes on Monday.
(Left to right) Chief Keith Knott, Curve Lake First Nation; Dave Smith, MPP, Peterborough-Kawartha; Hon. Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Environment, Conservation, and Parks; Mike Hendren, Senior Advisor to the Ontario Conservation Community, The Schad Foundation; John Kintare, Executive Director, Kawartha Land Trust; Paul Downs, Chair of the Board, Kawartha Land Trust; Laurie Scott, MPP, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock; Mayor Terry Lambshead, Municipality of Trent Lakes. Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Lake for Kawartha Land Trust.
The purchase is the largest in the organization’s 22-year history.
The property contains acres of forests, wetlands, fields and natural shoreline along Pigeon Lake. The preservation of this property ensures the protection of its important ecological values, maintains vital natural connectivity in the region, and provides future opportunities for public access and nature connection according to John Kintare, KLT executive director.
“Kawartha Land Trust is extremely grateful for the government funding partners and private donors who made this ambitious project possible,” he said. “The protection of this natural gem of the Kawarthas is an important investment in nature, in the Kawarthas, and Ontario at large. It was only through our strong partnerships that we were able to achieve such a positive conservation outcome.”
“The Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) congratulates Kawartha Land Trust on protecting the amazing Hammer Family Nature Preserve,” said Alison Howson, OLTA executive director. “The Greenlands Conservation Partnership protects habitats for many species at risk and has made significant increases in the availability of green spaces for the people of Ontario to enjoy.”
Funding for this project was also received from the Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund (NSCSF) and private donors. The fund helps conserve, restore and enhance the management of ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, and grasslands to help tackle the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss according to a press release.
Three-quarters of KLT’s Hammer Family Nature Preserve is home to tracts of forests and wetlands. KLT says this property's preservation will ensure that the vital ecological services it provides — clean air, clean water, and mitigating the effects of climate change — will be protected for current and future generations.
“The support and financial investments from the Province of Ontario, Government of Canada, and private donors, has resulted in the creation of a regional and provincial community asset,” said Kintare. “This conservation outcome would also not have been possible without the countless contributions of KLT’s dedicated community of volunteers, donors, partners, and supporters throughout our 22-year history.”
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$9.3 Million Investment Made For New Net-Zero Fire Station At Former Northcrest Arena Location
/The federal government and Federation of Canadian Municipalities have invested $9.3 million to construct a new net-zero fire station at the former Northcrest Arena location on 100 Marina Blvd., announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The Green Municipal Fund, a $1.6B fund which since 2001 from the Government of Canada, has helped municipalities and local actors switch to sustainable practices faster and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by close to 3M tonnes. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The announcement was made by Whitby Member of Parliament Ryan Turnbull, who also serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. He was present on behalf of Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Scott Pearce, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
“This transformative project will incorporate renewable energy, mass timber construction, and water-saving technologies, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and substantial operational cost savings of $24,270 per year for the city,” said Turnbull.
The $9.3 million investment is divided into $1,226,080 in grants and $8,173,910 in loans through the Green Municipal Fund.
The new station will replace the existing Fire Station 2 at Carnegie Road.It can no longer meet the city’s needs since being built in 1967, according to the City.
“The new Fire Station #2 will be the City’s first building that is designed, built, and certified as a Zero Carbon Building for both performance and design categories,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “This key investment in the City of Peterborough Fire Services will enhance community safety by reducing emergency response times while also protecting our environment by producing zero emissions.”
The net-zero building features automated control systems, ground source heat pumps, rooftop solar panels and a heat-recovery system. The building will also be constructed from mass timber instead of concrete, steel or aluminum to achieve a lower carbon footprint. It will also include water-saving features and be resituated to reduce flood risk and meet operational standards.
Construction completion is slated for this fall. The City and Mayor Leal have yet to determine what will happen to the Carnegie fire station location.
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City of Peterborough to Begin Curbside Collection of Christmas Trees On Jan. 2 Throughout the Month
/The City of Peterborough begins curbside collection of natural Christmas trees throughout January starting on the second.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
