Peterborough's Random Acts of Green® Mobile App Receives $200,000 In Funding

More Canadians will benefit from using the new Random Acts of Green® Mobile App thanks to $200,000 in support for its promotion and sustainability, announced by the Honourable Maryam Monsef, MP for Peterborough Kawartha on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna.

RAOG Founder/CEO Jessica Correa

The app, which was first released last Fall and has gone through updates after receiving user feedback, encourages Canadians to act daily to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) while raising awareness of individual acts toward climate change. 

Left to right: RAOG CEO Jessica Correa, Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, Mayor of Selwyn Township Andy Mitchell and MP Maryam Monsef (Photo courtesy RAOG)

“Random Acts of Green (RAOG) is grateful for this funding that will help us spread the word and get more Canadians using the app as a tool for individual climate change action,” says RAOG CEO Jessica Correa.

“The app has the power to measure how individual Canadians are reducing their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG),” she adds. “We want to prove to individuals that seemingly small daily choices make large collective impacts so that we can all make a difference for the future of the planet—starting now.” 

Photo courtesy RAOG

The funding will support the implementation, launch, measurement, evaluation and report on the success of the Random Acts of Green® Mobile App, which encourages Canadians to act daily to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) production by choosing to adopt one or more of 40 low-carbon choices or “Green Acts”.

The App has been designed based on motivational tools and barrier reduction strategies, and educates, engages, encourages and rewards individual Canadians for taking climate action. 

An official app launch party celebrating the many volunteers, local business partners and supporters is being planned for May 28th at Market Hall in Peterborough.

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Opening Day For Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market 22nd Season Is May 1st

Mark this on your calendar: On May 1st, the Peterborough Downtown Farmers’ Market will open for the 2019 season.

Charlotte Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between Louis Street and George Street as the area is transformed into a pedestrian friendly, bustling Farmers’ Market, every Wednesday between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., until October 30th.

This year marks the 22nd year of bringing fresh locally grown seasonal produce and products to Downtown Peterborough.

As a proud producers-only market, shoppers can be sure they are buying direct from the farmers, growers, bakers and chefs themselves, and learn about diverse local produce as it comes into season. Each Wednesday, market-goers will find a festive and lively market full of their favourite vendors selling seasonal produce, meats, cheese, fresh flowers, baked goods, art, plants to grow, coffee and lunches to go.

To learn more about the market, visit their website here. You can also find them on Facebook.

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Add This To Your Bucket List: Taste Of Downtown Is Saturday, June 1st

Taste of Downtown is one of those can’t miss events in downtown Peterborough. The 2019 edition takes place on Saturday, June 1st, as you can sample some of Peterborough’s best eats when Charlotte Street closes down to vehicles from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There will be food vendors, entertainment, live music, street sales and more at this delicious street festival put on by the awesome Downtown Business Improvement Area.

Make this event—which thousands of people attend—part of your bucket list this Spring/Summer. Eat it up!

Check out the DBIA Facebook event page here to learn more!

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Silver Bean Café Opens For 2019 Season On May 1st

Silver Bean Café, your waterfront cottage in the city, has announced its opening day for the 2019 season is Wednesday, May 1st.

“The end of April is always a bit of a slog for us, just hoping that the weather will get a bit warmer, that we’ll get everything figured out in the time we have, and that people will come back for another season,” the Bean says in a Facebook post.

Indeed they will come. “The Bean”, as it’s known, is not only a regular go-to spot for locals but also a bucketlist location for tourists to visit.

If you haven’t yet, make sure to check it at 130 King Street in downtown Peterborough when it opens for delicious food, drink and views.

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Fish Monitoring Happening On Gifford Causeway

The County of Peterborough in partnership with Curve Lake First Nation will be monitoring the status of the walleye in Chemong Lake for the next five years.

This Spring, County consultants along with Curve Lake First Nation community members will be collecting information on walleye that inhabit and spawn in nearshore areas of Chemong Lake along the Causeway and Eastern Shoreline.

As part of this study, water quality, egg collection and night monitoring will occur during the month of April. Water quality will be captured using data logging equipment placed on the lakebed. The sampling procedures they use are not harmful to the fish.

Picture of Gifford Causeway courtesy Peterborough County

It is very important the equipment is not disturbed, according to a County release. Signs will be placed at both ends of the Gifford Causeway notifying the public about the fish monitoring in progress. 

During the evening while they are performing the monitoring, people may see monitors traveling by boat and counting the number of walleye observed using spotlight style lighting equipment. Generally, workers could be onsite between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m., so don’t be startled if you spot them.

As they move forward with this monitoring, information updates will be shared with the public and also posted to their webpage on the James A. Gifford Causeway.

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Peterborough's Esther Doré Honoured For 50 Years Of Volunteer Service At Hospital

Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is celebrating the countless contributions of their 500+ dedicated hospital volunteers, and that includes a very special milestone for PRHC volunteer Esther Doré, who was recognized for her 50 years of service.

Inspired by her mother, 83-year-old Esther began her volunteer journey at Peterborough Civic Hospital in 1968. Times were different then, she says, but the core reasons she enjoys volunteering remain the same.

“It’s the giving of yourself and meeting people,” says Esther. “God gave me the gift that I could listen and also chat. My greatest joy is meeting people and spreading the word for volunteerism.” 

Esther Doré (photo courtesy PRHC)

Esther currently provides pastoral care at the hospital but has worn many volunteer hats over the years including planning hospital dances, organizing skits for clinical staff and taking trips to Toronto to procure items to sell at the hospital’s Gift Shop.

Esther embodies the spirit of volunteerism, PRHC says: “She is known as being funny, kind, compassionate, and the type of person you want to be around—especially when facing adversity.”

“Some people don’t have any family,” Esther adds. “Just being a good listener is so important to a lot of people. My advice is if you have spare time, it doesn’t matter whether it’s at the hospital or at hospice, just help someone. I’ve held a lot of hands through illnesses here. I’ve been truly blessed.”

For more information about volunteering at PRHC, click here.

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Check Out These Renderings Of The New Brock Mission

Brock Mission is a homeless shelter in Peterborough for men that includes sleeping, dining and program areas. A new modern facility is being built on the existing property on Murray Street where the old building was housed, that is slated to open late 2020.

Lett Architects is designing it and has released renderings of the project. Lett says the three-storey building has been designed around a courtyard with access to natural daylight into every room and corridor. The building will accommodate 32 shelter beds and 15 independent living units, of which 25 percent are fully accessible. The building also includes a dining hall which will provide three meals a day all year.

This is a rendering of the main entrance…

Main entrance of Brock Misson, rendering courtesy Lett Architects

The Lett Architects team is providing the most inclusive, home-like and durable building with a high level of energy performance, exceeding the 2015 National Energy Code by 28 percent. Critical to the success of the project has been the ability to meet tight budgets and schedules as the Brock Mission has been without a true home to call their own for some time.

This is a view of the Dining Hall…

View of Brock Misson dining hall, rendering courtesy Lett Architects

Watch this video to learn more about the project….

The new Brock Mission shelter is slated to open its doors in November 2020.

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Help Shape The Future Of Downtown Peterborough

Want to have your voice heard as to the future of downtown Peterborough? Join Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area on Wednesday, April 10th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Shaping Your Downtown Open House event.

The DBIA is seeking to gain valuable input from the community on the future of their work as they develop their five-year strategic plan. They need your help in finding the best path towards a strong, safe and vibrant downtown.

The Open House is Wednesday, April 10th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Peterborough Public Library (Friends of the Library Community Room).

They will be seeking your input on…

-Potential DBIA initiatives planned for the future
-Key factors affecting the success of downtown
-How you can play a role in helping downtown grow and thrive

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