Amazing Overhead View Of 16,000 People At Serena Ryder Concert
/Peterborough Musicfest tweeted out that about 16,000 people attended the Serena Ryder concert that opened Peterborough Musicfest season June 25th...
Serena Ryder concert, aerial view
Peterborough Blogs
President Obama Gave Amazing Shout-Out To Maryam Monsef In House Of Commons
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Obama shaking hands with MP Monsef
It was an amazing and unexpected moment in the House of Commons for Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef Wednesday night.
During a powerful and rousing speech to Parliament by U.S. President Barack Obama, he gave a beautiful and touching shout-out to Monsef, telling the story of how she fled Afghanistan with her mother and siblings after her father was killed by the Taliban. Many on social media said it was the highlight of his talk.
VICE News Canada Features Editor Justin Ling tweeted this...
Buzzfeed Canada Politics reporter Emma Loop tweeted this...
Speaking of the need to embrace immigrants, Obama said this of Monsef, the Minister of Democratic Institutions, in his speech:
"We see the refugees who feel that they have a special duty to give back, and seize the opportunities of a new life. Like the girl who fled Afghanistan by donkey and camel and jet place and who remembers being greeted in this country by helping hands and the sound of robins singing. And today she serves in this chamber and in the cabinet because Canada is her home."
Monsef was blown away by the remarks, and later tweeted this:
A standing ovation for Monsef was given after Obama's remarks in the House of Commons.
Buzzfeed's Emma Loop tweeted this video of Obama shaking hands with Monsef after his speech...
"It was unexpected," Monsef tells PTBOCanada of Obama's shout-out. "It was humbling and lovely. I immediately thought of my mother, her courage, her pursuit of a better life for her and her kids."
Monsef, who says it was really neat to shake hands with Obama, tells PTBOCanada this of what the moment means to her and her upbringing in Peterborough: "My story is what it is because of Peterborough, which treated my family so well when we came here. It's just another reminder about the people of our community, and their acts of kindness. How these acts of kindness and community are never forgotten."
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Can You Guess The Object From The PTBOCanada Fibber's Club?
/Enter our contest!
Read More50 Volunteers Took To Peterborough's Streets To Find Out About Homelessness: Here Are Their Findings
/For 14 hours on March 22nd, 2016, 50 volunteers set out in teams to conduct surveys on the street, in shelters, and at meal programs across the city.
They asked questions such as this:
Where are you staying tonight?
How many different times have you experienced homelessness?
What do you think is preventing you from finding and keeping long term stable housing?
Photo via @UnitedPtbo launch event introducing Giving Voice to the Homeless
What emerged from those questions was a story of individuals young and old, educated and working—some suffering from addiction, some fleeing abusive relationships, some agonizing over family breakdown, and most wanting to have their story told and understood.
The United Way Peterborough and District just released to the community more specific results from that night on the streets in their first ever "Point in Time Count" of homelessness in Peterborough. This city was one of 31 communities across the country that took part in conducting this ground-breaking research through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy.
Photo via @UnitedWayPtbo
Here are some highlights from the report...
-> A minimum of 120 people were homeless in Peterborough on March 22nd, 2016
-> 54% were chronically homeless, having spent over 6 months homeless in the past year
-> 64% experienced homelessness for the 1st time before their 26th birthday
-> 20% have attended post-secondary school
-> 98% have some form of income
-> The top 3 reasons for homeless among participants were: family breakdown, addiction/substance abuse, and unsafe housing.
The public is encouraged to review the full report here and to reflect on next steps in our community to have a strategic focus on ending the reality of homelessness.
You can also give to an Indiegogo campaign to help a documentary being made on the Warming Room's guests.
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Peterborough Police Outfitted Traffic SUV With Automated Licence Plate Recognition System
/The Peterborough Police Service’s Traffic Management Unit just unveiled its newest crime prevention and proactive policing program: The Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) system.
Three cameras installed on traffic SUV's roof
HOW IT WORKS...
-> Using infrared technology, the ALPR system—consisting of three sophisticated cameras installed to the roof of a Traffic Unit SUV (see pictures)—scans licence plates at a rate of three plates per second.
-> The system looks for violations including but not limited to expired validation stickers, stolen licence plates and suspended and unlicensed drivers.
-> The ALPR works in conjunction with the new in-car tablets which also contributes to the officers’ efficiency.
Traffic Sergeant Jeff Chartier and Traffic Constable Cameron Kenny demonstrate the technology
Traffic Sergeant Jeff Chartier says that the camera system reads licence plates and compares the plates to a known list that is downloaded daily. This includes information regarding stolen plates, unattached plates, prohibited and suspended drivers.
The system also allows for officers to input licence plate information for various alerts, including AMBER alerts where time is of the essence.
Traffic Constable Cameron Kenny demonstrates the new technology
Police say the system is not replacing officer interaction with the public and that traffic officers are still very much required for interaction and action with the public. If a plate scans a suspended driver, the officer will still have to speak with the driver as it may be another person, other than the registered owner of the vehicle, driving that vehicle.
The ALPR system allows officers to multitask and conduct other traffic enforcement initiatives, such as speed enforcement, while the ALPR system is running in the background.
“The new system increases officer efficiency, officer safety and road safety,” Traffic Sergeant Chartier says. “This system is all about road safety, crime prevention, investigation and proactive policing.”
The Peterborough Police Service has the one traffic SUV (pictured) outfitted with the ALPR technology with the hope of expanding to additional vehicles in the future. The funding for the ALPR system was provided by the Ministry of Attorney General via a Civil Remedies for Illicit Activities grant.
—guest post by Lauren Gilchrist, Peterborough Police
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138 Canoes & Kayaks Just Jammed Into Lift Lock On Record Breaking Historic Day
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100% Peterborough, Canada Awesome
Read MoreGovernment of Canada Invests Nearly $270 Million to Improve the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site
/On Sunday (June 26th) on Lock N' Paddle day on the Trent-Severn, the Minister of Democratic Institutions and Member of Parliament for Peterborough–Kawartha, Maryam Monsef, announced a historic federal infrastructure investment of nearly $270 million to restore and improve the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site.
This funding will be used to restore and repair bridges, dams, locks and historic masonry structures, as well as improve visitor safety thanks to new lighting, handrails and signage.
MP Monsef making the announcement on National Canoe Day. (Photo by Evan Holt)
The Trent-Severn Waterway is one of Canada’s most visited national historic sites, welcoming more than one million visitors every year. It is an integral piece of Canada’s history, and a crucial transportation and recreational link for the region. It also operates as an integrated system that mitigates flooding to ensure public safety.
Photo by Trent-Severn Waterway
As we near the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to experience and learn more about our environment and our heritage. As part of Budget 2016, the Government of Canada announced free lockage will also be free for boaters in 2017.
Canoers watching MP Monsef's historic announcement from the Trent-Severn (photo via Trent-Severn Waterway)
“This historic infrastructure investment from the Government of Canada will protect and preserve the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site for residents and visitors alike," says MP Monsef. "From First Peoples to fur traders to lumber barons and steamship traffic, the Trent Severn has linked communities across Ontario for hundreds of years. Today’s investment will ensure Canadians can continue to work and play on its shores for generations to come.”
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Paper Coffee Cups Are Recyclable in Peterborough
/A City of Peterborough release below reminds the public that Peterborough does recycle coffee cups...
A recent article in the Toronto Star told Torontonians to stop recycling their paper coffee cups. City of Peterborough Waste Management officials want residents here to know they can still recycle coffee cups in Peterborough.
“Coffee cups can be put into your 'Container' blue box and they will definitely be recycled.” says Waste Diversion Section Manager Virginia Swinson. “As always, we remind people to first remove plastic lids and stir sticks, as these are contaminants.”
While not all coffee cups are making it into the blue boxes, the City’s most recent curbside audit suggest between 60% - 70% do. The material is hand sorted at the City’s recycling facility, and is marketed along with the cartons that milk, juice and other liquid products come in.
“We really want all your paper coffee cups Peterborough!” Swinson emphasizes that every municipality has different recycling programs, different ways of sorting, different priorities, and sometimes, different markets. Peterborough is not the same as Toronto.
