Here's A Letter Sent To Us From A Woman Whose Sisters Could Soon Be Homeless In Peterborough

The letter is unedited. Here it is in its entirety...

Back in December the furnace stopped working in the apartment my 2 sisters rent. One sister has a part time job that she struggles to get hours at, and was recently laid off from the second job she had. The other sister is on assistance as she has a disorder that doesn't allow her to work.

They told the landlord about the furnace and he did not fix the problem. At Christmas time it was 13 degrees in that apartment in the morning on a good day. Due to the landlord not fixing the furnace, they had to spend the little money they had between them for the month on space heaters and bills and did not feel obligated to pay the rent, since the Landlord Tenant Act states the landlord must provide certain vital services and the provisioning for heat is one.

When the hydro bills for December and January came in, as you can imagine, they were large, too large for 2 young struggling girls. They were unable to pay the bills on time, didn't know they could call and make payment arrangements, and the hydro was cut off.

When my younger sister called her assistance worker, she was told they couldn't help her because the bills were in my working sisters name. They gave her a number to call the Housing Resource Centre. So, my working sister called them and had to leave a message. They returned her call later that afternoon and asked her some questions about her situation and her work situation. As soon as she told them how much money she had made in the last 4 weeks, which was around 260.00 they told her she did not make enough money for them to be able to assist her?!?! To out astonishment she was TOO POOR to receive help from the people we were told could help her with emergency funding.

My sisters are in the process of filing a T2 abatement of rent and moving out of that apartment. My working sister was forced to file for assistance, she is not happy about it either. The hydro has been re-connected now and they are leaving.

My concern is, how was she too poor to receive help in her situation? She works and contributes to this community as much as possible. She certainly still has to pay taxes that go towards these community programs right? Never has any run-ins with the law....how? Why?

Why was she literally forced to file for assistance? Left with no other options or people who would help those girls for a month to figure out the situation? It makes me very disappointed in this Community.

She is working hard to find more work and to get out of a bad situation, it would have been nice for the Housing Resource Centre to not turn their backs on her.

Thanks for listening, please help me make people aware of this horrible situation.

*Also, just so you know, Welfare only pays my sick sister 595.00 a month. If you think about that, that is supposed to cover rent/housing, heat/hydro, and food/hygene items for one person each month. Welfare will only allow 368.00 each month for payment towards rent, that leaves 227 a month to pay for heat (enbridge), hydro (PUC) and buy groceries. When the heat and hydro average payments are factored in, she received $2.90 a day to spend on food/hygene. Is it just me or does anyone see a problem here?? Welfare told her she needs to find a more affordable apartment....anyone have an apartment she can rent for less than $200 a month?

—Samantha Payne

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Here's An Email From A Trent Prof Circulating About Proposed Development On Charlotte Street

Letter from  Trent Environmental & Resource Studies Professor Stephen Hill...

I'm writing about a proposed development in downtown Peterborough. Shoppers Drug Mart is seeking to abandon their existing store at Charlotte & Aylmer and move to a new larger site kitty corner from where they are now. The new site, if approved, will demolish all of the buildings on the north side of Charlotte, between Bethune and Aylmer (from the paint store to Jim's Pizzeria/Have you Seen). The corner of Charlotte and Aylmer will be a 37 car parking lot, with the new Shoppers building occupying the rest of the block (& loading docks fronting on Bethune). In urban design terms, it's an unmitigated disaster to create a building for no other purpose than to fit the brand image of Shoppers Drug Mart.

For those with more time on their hands, I've written up more on the backstory and posted it to this blog site: SaveCharlotteStreet.blogspot.com.  I'd welcome comments or additional information if you have any.

The whole idea of destroying a vibrant street to build this seems beyond comprehension. Regardless, some city councillors think it's a good idea. I am fairly confident that a concerted effort by a group of citizens can help change their minds (go Margaret Mead!), to ensure the development either doesn't happen or happens in a manner that will result in a building of enduring value. 

If you'd like to do something, please spread the word and take the time to write or call your Councillor, the Mayor and/or the City's Director of Planning. Their contact information is available by clicking here. There also needs to be people willing to speak articulately against this at the Planning Committee when this development is being considered.  

[Save Charlotte Street Blog]

[Photos by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Dragons' Den Hosting Auditions In Peterborough At Trent University February 16th

If you're interested in trying out for the hit CBC show Dragons' Den, you can audition in Peterborough February 16th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Trent University. Producers are coming to town, and local entrepreneurs can pitch them for the chance to get on a taping of the show in Toronto.

The producers are making more than 40 stops in Canadian cities, and Peterborough is the second stop on their recent cross Canada search to find prospects for future episodes.

The auditions in Peterborough are hosted by Trent University Conference & Hospitality Services at the Great Hall at Trent University (1770 West Bank Drive).

No experience is necessary and participants of all ages are encouraged to audition.

More info can be found here and here.

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WestJet Could Be Coming To Peterborough In 2013

WestJet employees have voted overwhelmingly to endorse the company's plans to launch a regional airline subsidiary starting in 2013 with smaller planes to be added to the fleet, according to this CBC story. And Peterborough is mentioned as one of the possible new destinations to be added in this CBC TV report...

[via David Feeley]

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Peterborough Green-Up Hosts 80s Dance Party February 25th

On Saturday, February 25th, The Montreal House will come alive with Eighties tunes to help raise funds and celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Peterborough Green-Up. Tickets are available at Green Eyewear and Peterborough Green-Up for $25 each.  Get 'em while they're hot!

 [Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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A Creative Cocktail Happens This Tuesday Evening At Market Hall

This Tuesday (February 7th), Market Hall (140 Charlotte Street) will be the venue for the latest Creative Cocktail. From 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., you will have the opportunity to meet, network and collaborate with professionals from local businesses. If you would like to attend or for more info, contact Chantelle Held by email, call 705.743.0777 ext. 2132 or RSVP via Twitter or Facebook.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Here's Pictures From The Rotary Polar Plunge In Ennismore Today

This afternoon at Rotary Park in Ennismore, folks braved the chilly waters to take a dip in Chemong Lake for a good cause—the 32nd Annual BEL Rotary Polar Plunge. Creative costumes and brave smiles faced the crowd as the fans cheered on their bravery. Each team or individual were plunging to help raise funds for a local organization or charity of their choice. Check out the pictures...

 

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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