Peterborough Blogs
New Electric Vehicle Chargers Opens In Selwyn Township
/Selwyn Township has made itself a little greener as they have introduced its new electric vehicle chargers at the municipal office on Tuesday morning.
(From left to right) Emilie Fargeout, Senior Project Manager for Earth Day Canada; Shilpi Singh, Aviva Canada Assistant Vice President of Sustainability; Sherry Senis, Selwyn Township Mayor; Ron Black, Deputy Mayor; Biran Henry, Smith Ward Councillor; John Boyko, Lakefield Ward Councillor and Ennismore Ward Councillor Mary Coulas. Photo courtesy of Selwyn Township.
The announcement was made with Township members, Aviva Canada and Earth Day Canada representatives.
In November, the Township installed six electric vehicle chargers at four locations. These include the Township Municipal Office, Ennismore Community Centre, Bridgenorth Library, and the River Den in Lakefield.
The new chargers help expand access to public charging in Selwyn Township which supports a transition to electric vehicles and reduces greenhouse gas emissions according to Mayor Sherry Senis.
“Today, we're not just launching new electric vehicle chargers; we're plugging into a sustainable future for Selwyn Township,” she said. These chargers mark our commitment to driving change, empowering our community to embrace clean transportation and steer towards a greener horizon.”
The installation of the new electric vehicle chargers was funded through Aviva Canada’s Charged for Change program in partnership with Earth Day Canada.
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Siemens Canada Employees Plant 100 Trees and Shrubs at Riverview Park & Zoo
/Employees from Siemens Canada in Peterborough planted 100 native trees and shrubs at the Riverview Park & Zoo on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of Otonabee Conservation.
The planting was in partnership with Tree Canada and Otonabee Conservation.
A variety of native trees and shrubs, including buttonbush, speckled alder, tamarack, Saskatoon serviceberry, and silky dogwood will increase species diversity and enhance habitat for local wildlife in the area adjacent to the Otonabee River on the Riverview Park and Zoo grounds according to Otonabee Conservation.
“Siemens employees have planted a wide selection of trees in the Peterborough-area in the past ten years, and more than 17,800 trees in total across Canada,” said Ian Almond, Siemens plant manager. “Beautifying our community and contributing to a more sustainable future is a responsibility and an honour. We are grateful to our employees and our local partners who help make it happen.”
“We are thrilled to continue working with Tree Canada and Siemens to make habitat enhancements in our watershed,” said Janette Loveys Smith, Otonabee Conservation CAO/secretary-treasurer. “We value our ongoing partnership and our shared commitment of supporting community engagement and the environment.”
“Riverview Park and Zoo, welcomes over 300,000 visitors a year with no admission fee for outdoor education and recreation. We are home to many native species of wildlife that share our natural spaces on the shores of the Otonabee River,” said Cathy Mitchell, Riverview manager and curator. “This project, with support from our valued partners, will help achieve the goal to further naturalize the shoreline and create more bird and pollinator friendly spaces.”
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Peterborough Ranked Seventh In Total Observations In The Country From City Nature Challenge
/Peterborough’s City Nature Challenge initiative that wrapped up on April 29, exceeded last year’s community bio-blitz numbers with higher public participation, more species sighted and greater total observations logged that resulted in a seventh-place finish in the country.
PHoto by David Tuan Bui.
In total, 2,076 wildlife observations were made, recording 577 species within the community during the four days of citizen science for the second annual community bio-blitz to record wildlife in Peterborough.
Out of the 40 participating Canadian communities, Peterborough ranked 13th in total observations, 12th in total number of species observed and 11th in the number of participants making observations. Peterborough ranked seventh per capita for the total number of observations made during the bio-blitz, beating out nearby cities like Kingston and Toronto.
On May 6, wildlife experts completed their identification and verification of recorded nature observations gathered during the bio-blitz and submitted it to the event organizers.
“Community events like the City Nature Challenge showcase how truly alive our city is, with wildlife in every nook and cranny waiting to be discovered,” said Councillor Joy Lachica. “Residents should celebrate that they share their homes with so many plants and animals, which makes Peterborough an extra special place to live for all.”
Peterborough's most observed species from April 26 to 29 are as follows:
Plant species: 31 Yellow Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum)
Bird species: 25 Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)
Tree species: 23 Eastern White Cedars (Thuja occidentalis)
Fungus species: 16 Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa)
Mammal species: 12 Eastern Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)
Insect species: 7 Asian Lady Beetles (Harmonia axyridis) [introduced species]
Amphibian species: 7 Green Frogs (Lithobates clamitans)
A full list of observations can be found on the Peterborough iNaturalist project page.
The City of Peterborough partnered with the Peterborough Field Naturalists to curate guided nature walks led by Ecology and Beavermead Parks volunteers on April 26 and 27. In addition, nature-focused children’s programming was offered over the two days to excite kids about the beauty of nature found in Peterborough.
The next City Nature Challenge is scheduled for April 25 to 28, 2025.
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Twenty Community Groups Made Peterborough Parks Greener For the Great Community Litter Clean-Up
/The first Great Community Litter Clean-up saw 20 community groups and organizations come together during Earth Week to pick up litter in Peterborough parks and along trails.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
There were 1.2 tonnes of litter collected which equals more than 133,000 plastic water bottles according to The City of Peterborough.
“As always, our community really came together for the betterment of the environment,” said Councillor Joy Lachica.“We all play a role in having a beautiful, litter-free City, whether by picking up litter, putting trash in the proper receptacles or packing our blue boxes to reduce blowing recyclables on collection day.”
Groups can organize a litter clean-up in a park, trail or public space any time. Registration can be found 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.
A new online collaboration tool is available on the City’s community consultation website. Residents can log their completed litter clean-up event on an interactive map and connect with other people and clean-up groups in the community.
Through this forum, residents can also share news about their event plans, share ideas, and offer to help others.
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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.
This community event aims to gather volunteers to help prepare the committee’s plant garden for the upcoming growing season.
Volunteers will meet at Service Ontario, located across from Foodland, at 9 a.m. The day will focus on revitalizing and maintaining the garden. Tasks include picking up recycling and litter, weeding and removing dead plant material to ensure the garden flourishes throughout the season.
“We're thrilled to invite members of our community to join us for a couple of hours of rewarding work in our native plant garden,” said Bruce, Lakefield Trail Stewardship Committee member. “It's a great opportunity to give back to our environment and make a tangible difference in our community.”
Participants are advised to dress according to weather conditions and to bring gardening or work gloves. Additionally, volunteers are encouraged to bring their favourite weeding tools, loppers, shovel, rake and kneeling pads if available. Extra tools will be provided on-site for those who need them.
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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.
