Peterborough Blogs
12 Great Reasons To Sign Up For Ride Don't Hide
/Below are 12 great reasons to sign up for the Ride Don’t Hide event for the Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge that takes place Sunday, June 26th...
1. Be part of a community initiative to help break the stigma of mental illness.
2. Be part of something REALLY BIG! Ride Don’t Hide is a National event.
3. Funds raised will stay with your local Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge to enhance programs and services.
4. Breaking a sweat can help manage stress. Exercise increases natural endorphins to boost the body’s ability to cope with your busy life.
5. Enjoy fresh air, friends and fun on the Peterborough Rotary Trail.
6. Inspire others: find a workout buddy. Connect with local fitness trainer David Kittner and join the Prowess Team to get in shape for the ride.
7. You can dust off your bicycle that’s sitting feeling very lonely in the garage and find out if it’s true that ”It is as easy as riding a bike…..”
8. With a choice of a 4 km, 12 km or 26 km ride, you can find one to suit your ability or register as a virtual rider.
9. Show your kids that you still have it! Create a multi-generational family team.
10. Awesome prizes from diamond sponsor Wild Rock Outfitters, including a $1,400 travel voucher for top fundraiser!
11. One in 5 Canadians experience mental illness in their lifetime but only half will ever seek help. Being part of Ride Don’t Hide means they are not alone.
12. Join the movement—register by April 30th and get early bird rate for Ride With Us on June 26th.
PTBOCanada.com is one of the proud community sponsors of this event.
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Fying Colours To Get $4.87 Million Expansion At Peterborough Airport
/On Friday (April 15th), the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Democratic Institutions and Member of Parliament for Peterborough–Kawartha, announced an investment of up to $4.87 million for an expansion at Flying Colours Corp.
A global aviation services company, Flying Colours Corp. retrofits a range of aircrafts and provides fully customized aircraft interiors, outfitted with the latest technologies and state-of-the-art electronic equipment. This repayable contribution, through FedDev Ontario’s Investing in Business Growth and Productivity initiative, is for the construction of a 100,000-square foot hangar at the Peterborough Airport.
MP Maryam Monsef makes the announcement
The new facility will enable Flying Colours Corp. to take on work for larger airplanes and will help the company address the increasing global demand for customized aircraft retrofitting.
“The Government of Canada’s investment in Flying Colours Corp. shows that we are committed to strengthening the manufacturing and aerospace sectors by helping companies, like Flying Colours, become more innovative, competitive and successful," says MP Monsef. "Today’s announcement is supporting a stronger, more competitive economy in this region.”
This investment in the Peterborough area is expected to have spillover benefits for more than 200 Ontario-based suppliers within the Flying Colour Corp. supply chain.
Quick Facts
-> With a total project cost of $20.15 million, this project will leverage a $1.2-million investment from the Government of Ontario and more than $14 million from private sector investment. The project is also expected to create up to 50 skilled manufacturing, engineering, management and technical field full-time equivalent jobs.
-> Established in 1994, Flying Colours Corp. previously received a repayable contribution of up to $900,000 from FedDev Ontario to expand its facilities and acquire new equipment. The successful completion of this project resulted in 37 new jobs and has positively benefited the surrounding community
[Related: 5 Things You Should Know About Peterborough's Booming Aerospace Sector]
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Peterborough By Trains, Planes, Boats And Automobiles
/Moving the goods for business takes trains, planes, autos and boats.
This guest post by Sandra Dueck—Policy Analyst/Communications Specialist at the Peterborough Chamber—looks at how developing a coherent transportation strategy for Peterborough now will serve us well into the coming decades...
By Road -> 407 to the 35/115
The business community is eagerly anticipating the arrival of this highway in 2020. This economic link will see commerce and people flowing both ways—from the GTA in the form of tourists and companies wanting to do business or relocate, and into the GTA from Peterborough allowing our companies easier access to the vast market known as the Golden Horseshoe.
By Air -> Peterborough Airport
The intentional investment by the City and County into the Peterborough Airport is paying off with innovative partnerships, companies and opportunities. There will be new passenger service starting this summer, continued flights by Stewart Travel, 15 companies that are employers driving the local economy—and there is space for a lot more. The Peterborough Airport is also considered a part of a network of regional airports that is tasked with defining how they could help relieve anticipated pressures at Toronto's Pearson Airport.
By Water -> Trent Severn Waterway
The Trent Severn Waterway (TSW) was originally built as an economic thoroughfare. Today its primary role is to ferry tourist traffic, but in that role it is a significant economic driver for the area. Are there any other ways to use the TSW for modern day movement of?
By Rail -> Kawartha Lakes Railway (CP Shortline)
Freight: Improved rail infrastructure for freight will help sustain certain economic sectors in Peterborough and open up new economic opportunities.
Passenger: There are projects being pushed in southwestern Ontario and along the GO Lakeshore East line to Bowmanville. With improved rail infrastructure for freight in Peterborough, perhaps the case for passenger rail would become more attractive to Metrolinx/GO or VIA to take on.
The return to rail movement is gaining steam throughout the province. How we get more rail traffic out of and to Peterborough is not the critical point, just that we get to the point where we can offer a freight option that improves time to the GTA and eventually a passenger option as well.
How do you see us moving the goods in the future? Tell us on our Facebook page.
To learn more about the Peterborough Chamber, click here.
[Related: 10 Top Opportunities For Growth In Peterborough]
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A Chicken Was Found At A Tim Hortons In Fenelon Falls
/The Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes gets many different types of pets brought to it. But this one seems a little different.
Yes, it seems a chicken found at a Tim Hortons in Fenelon Falls near Peterborough was dropped off there on Wednesday.
The Tim Hortons Chicken
Apparently the chicken caused quite the traffic jam at the Tim Hortons. No word if it was lined up in the drive-thru.
So if anyone knows whose chicken it is, well she is now in Lindsay at the Humane Society headquarters.
The Humane Society says on its Facebook page post that it has lots of volunteers who would like her if she's not claimed.
Also, anyone who wants to use this obvious line we just thought of—"Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the Tim Hortons"—please do so.
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Peterborough Police Unveil Gender Neutral Bathrooms
/The Peterborough Police Service and its community partners are calling on the community to help create safe, inclusive and positive spaces.
Police themselves have taken leadership and a significant step in that direction by changing their single-stall bathrooms throughout the police station into gender-neutral washrooms.
“We know that people look to police services to set an example of what safety, inclusion and well-being looks like," says Peterborough Police Chief Murray Rodd. "This is one step in the right direction of what we can do to demonstrate our commitment to safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces."
Chief Murray Rodd pictured with Police community partners
“For some people this might just look like a 3x5 sign on the door," adds Chief Rodd. "For other people, when they see it they know they are being welcomed for who they are."
Rodd believes the Peterborough Police Service has a responsibility to every person in their jurisdiction to recognize that some are more vulnerable and at risk than others. "We look to our community partners to help ensure that our responses are appropriate and effective,” he says.
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Paul Rellinger On Relly On The Roof & This Amazing Community
/Relly On The Roof returns for a sixth year April 28th to 30th, again raising funds for Habitat For Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha under the Peterborough Cares fundraising umbrella.
At noon on Thursday, April 28th, Paul Rellinger (aka "Relly")—with the generous help of the Peterborough Fire Department—will be lifted onto the roof of The Brick (1200 Lansdowne St. W.). While Habitat For Humanity volunteers collect donations in the parking lot below, Relly will live atop The Brick until 5 p.m. on April 30th.
"Since I first took to the Brick roof in 2011, this event has reinforced something I was already well aware of—Peterborough residents always find a way to give something," Paul Rellinger tells PTBOCanada.
"We've raised thousands of dollars for Habitat For Humanity. Most of that has been in the form of loose change but it adds up in an awful hurry. Habitat For Humanity, through its partnerships, is able to make that money stretch to help fulfill its important mandate," Rellinger adds.
A highlight of the weekend will be a live music showcase outside The Brick on Saturday, April 30th starting at 1 p.m. Featured performers include Rick and Gailie Young, Jessie Morrissey and Adam Grills, Hilary Dumoulin, Missy Knott, Terry Guiel and Jan Schoute.
Dave Stanley, manager of The Brick, is volunteering his time and staff for Relly on the Roof. Also providing invaluable support is Sobeys, Canadian Tire, Boston Pizza, The Pizza Factory and Tim Hortons.
"I can't say enough about The Brick and its manager Dave Stanley," Rellinger tells PTBOCanada. "Also everyone at Habitat For Humanity and good friend Camille Parent, whose Peterborough Cares initiative gave birth to Relly On The Roof and remains its partner. It's going to be a great three days. I'm excited to get going."
We're excited to see the community get behind this again.
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Peterborough Had Lowest Unemployment Rate In March
/Great news for Peterborough, as new stats released show the city had the lowest unemployment rate of Canada's 34 census metropolitan areas in March.
Statistics Canada reports that Peterborough's rate fell to 4.3% in March—all the way down from 6% in February, 6.7% in January and 7.6% in December. Stats Canada analyst Vincent Ferrao says the unemployment rate in Peterborough hasn't been this low since way back in late 2003.
After having the second highest jobless rate of Canada's 34 census metropolitan areas back in November, Peterborough is now tied for the sixth best rate.
The province is projecting the Ontario economy will grow by 2.2 percent this year, so Peterborough needs to continue to capitalize on this momentum in the job front.
[Related: Top 10 Opportunities For Growth In Peterborough]
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PTBOCanada Profile: Peterborough Police 9-1-1 Communicator Christina Lake
/If there is one thing Christina Lake wants people to know when they call 9-1-1, it’s that a real person is on the other end of the line. A person that cares. A person who tries to empathize and understand. A person that really wants to help.
“We’re not faceless people,” says Lake. “I try to put myself in their shoes."
Christina Lake
Born and raised in Peterborough, Lake is the newest member of the Peterborough Police Service’s Communications team and has been a part-time 9-1-1 Communicator with the Service since June 2014.
Following her graduation from Durham College in the two-year 9-1-1 Emergency Call Taker Communications Program, Lake knew that she wanted to put her knowledge into use by working for a Police Service.
The training to become a 9-1-1 Communicator is nothing short of intensive and includes a placement period along with a five-month shadowing period once hired.
Lake recalls sitting in the 9-1-1 Centre during her training period and watching in awe as the veteran Communicators handled an emergency call. She describes one Communicator staying on the line talking to the person in crisis while another Communicator was already dispatching two officers to the location while a third Communicator was running background checks and gathering other information on the parties involved.
“It’s amazing what they do,” she says of her more experienced colleagues. “Watching everything, I thought: I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to do this. You have to be able to work with your team and take constructive criticism.”
Fast forward two years and while she is still learning every day, Lake is now a part of that finely-tuned machine run out of the Peterborough Police Station that handled 47,706 9-1-1 calls in 2015. Equal parts master-listener and talker—skills essential to her job—she has taken the meaning of multitasking to a whole new level.
Inside the 9-1-1 Centre at Peterborough Police
Lake describes one of the hardest parts of the job as trying to “read” each person that calls and make a correct assessment in a matter of seconds. While telling a person to take a deep breath and calm down may work on one call, that well-intentioned comment could only serve to aggravate and escalate a situation during another call.
Another very difficult part of her role is prioritizing calls as they come into the 9-1-1 centre and explaining to people how calls are placed on a queue, or triaged, depending on the emergency.
One of the best parts of Lake's job is helping find a resolution over the phone before an officer needs to be dispatched to intervene. Sometimes that means calling on her intensive training, and just being a good listener. Lake has had people tell her, “I just needed someone to tell me, It’s okay.”
When asked to describe her best day at work, her answer is not extravagant or extraordinary.
“The best day is when someone says a simple thank-you,” she says.
—article courtesy Lauren Gilchrist, Peterborough Police Service
[Related: The Vital Role Peterborough 9-1-1 Dispatchers Play]
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The Vital Role Peterborough 9-1-1 Dispatchers Play (& What You Should Know)
/This week (April 10th to 16th) marks National Communicators Week, a week dedicated to celebrating the work of 9-1-1 dispatchers and educating and reminding residents about the appropriate use of 9-1-1.
“There are no minor players on our team—every member of our Service makes a significant contribution,” says Peterborough Police Service Chief Murray Rodd. "Our 9-1-1 communicators and dispatchers play an essential role in serving as the community’s gateway to emergency response 24/7/365 and also serving as our officer’s lifeline when they are on the road.”
Below is an overview of the 9-1-1 team in Peterborough...
How It Works: The 9-1-1 Communications Team In Peterborough
The Peterborough Police Service’s 9-1-1 Communications Centre is comprised of a 9-1-1/Communications Manager, four Communications Shift Supervisors and 12 communicators aligned to coincide with the four platoon system. The Centre receives all 9-1-1 Emergency Calls for the City of Peterborough, the Ward of Lakefield and the Township of Cavan Monaghan. In 2015, the 9-1-1 Communications Centre received 47,706 9-1-1 calls, a 32 percent increase from the previous year.
9-1-1 Dispatchers Highly Trained
“9-1-1 dispatchers are highly trained to get people the help they need in the most effective way possible. They have mastered the art of listening and of asking the right questions. They must be both empathetic and efficient,” says Alison Kirkland, Communications Centre Manager. “Their job is one that can be extremely stressful during major incidents but it is also extremely rewarding knowing they were able to help dispatch assistance in an emergency.”
What You Need To Know When Making 9-1-1 Call
• If calling 9-1-1, it is important to stay as calm as possible, do not panic and talk in a clear manner. Understand there will be questions but answering them does not slow down the emergency services being dispatched. Emergency 9-1-1 Dispatchers are trained to get you the help you need in the most efficient and effective way possible.
• Listen to the Dispatchers. They need to get all the important information so that all Emergency Responders required are sent.
• Do not hang up the line until instructed to by the Dispatcher. Anything can happen and Emergency Services need to know your situation at all times until they arrive.
• Teach your children how to use 9-1-1. Practice with a pretend phone, and make sure they understand it’s important to call 9-1-1 only in an emergency.
• Be sure to dial 9-1-1 only when the situation you are reporting requires an immediate response by Police, EMS or the Fire Department. If you are in doubt that your situation is an emergency, always err on the side of safety.
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