Peterborough Blogs
George Street No Longer Closed Downtown For Weekend, Re-Opens Early To Vehicular Traffic
/The weekend closure of George Street to vehicular traffic downtown has been cancelled. The road is being immediately re-opened to vehicles for the remainder of the weekend, Saturday, June 13th and Sunday, June 14th.
The City of Peterborough made the decision on Thursday to close sections of George Street downtown to vehicular traffic for the weekend as an immediate action to coincide with the Province’s Stage 2 framework for the re-opening of the province that was announced on Monday, June 8th.
“It was an attempt to provide additional pedestrian space to help people feel more comfortable and safe coming back into the downtown during the COVID-19 pandemic—and it also provided an opportunity for pop-up patios for businesses on George Street through a fast-track process,” says Brendan Wedley, Manager of Communication Services. “Based on feedback after the first day, the City is reopening the road to vehicles. The City apologizes for the confusion.”
People are encouraged to physical distance—that is, stay at least 2 metres away from people who aren’t from your household or social circle of 10—as much as possible when walking through the downtown and passing by patios along sidewalks. When physical distancing isn’t possible, please consider wearing a mask.
A longer-term solution for re-working public space in the downtown will be put in place over the next couple of weeks to provide additional space for pedestrians by changing vehicle traffic lanes and on-street parking. The plan, which was created in collaboration with Peterborough Public Health and the Downtown Business Improvement Area, is available on the City’s website.
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George Street In Downtown Closes This Weekend To Help People With Physical Distancing
/George Street will be closed from McDonnel Street to King Street from 3 p.m. on Friday, June 12th until Sunday night to help people with physical distancing as businesses resume more activities under Stage 2 of the Province’s framework for re-opening during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The purpose of the street closure is only to provide space for pedestrians to stay a safe distance away from each other—not for street activities or structures. Residents are reminded that spaces created by road closures are smoke-free according to City by-law.
George Street
The weekend George Street closure is an interim measure while the City works to put in place broader changes to increase sidewalks space to assist with physical distancing by changing vehicle lanes and on-street parking. The broader changes are expected to be implemented within the next couple of weeks as the City acquires and installs barriers between vehicle lanes and the new pedestrian spaces.
A map of the planned broader changes to sidewalks, vehicle lanes, and on-street parking is available at peterborough.ca. The changes were developed in collaboration with Peterborough Public Health and the Downtown Business Improvement Area.
Besides providing more pedestrian space, the broader changes will allow businesses to work with the City through a new streamlined application process to make use of some sidewalk space to offer services outside, while maintaining space for physical distancing and following public health guidelines.
George Street
PATIO REGULATIONS
-> Currently, only previously approved patios are able to establish on downtown sidewalks as the first phase in a phased approach.
-> For businesses looking to add new patios or expand previously approved patios, a new streamlined application process has been set up to quickly review and approve requests that meet public health guidelines and essential requirements for the use of the public property. The application process will be available starting next week.
-> Patio operators are asked to follow the Province’s guidelines on the safe re-opening under the emergency situation and public health guidelines including:
Restricting the number of patrons on the patio to a maximum of 50% of the previously approved capacity.
Ensure physical distancing of at least 2 metres between patrons from different households.
Using reservations – no lineups as space is limited and lineups onto the sidewalk will make it difficult for physical distancing.
Limiting the number of patrons allowed in the outdoor space at one time.
Ensuring enough space between tables, including to allow for movement.
Access to indoor facilities is limited to patio/outdoor dining area access, food pickup, payment, washrooms or other health and safety purposes.
Not using overhead structures such as tents and canopies that may impede with pedestrians and physical distancing (using umbrellas is encouraged to provide shade).
Ensuring tables and chairs are at least one metre from the outer limit of the patio, in order to facilitate physical distancing.
Patio owners and operators are reminded that smoking and vaping are prohibited on all patios, and within 9 metres of the patio.
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Here Are The New Hours For The Kinsmen Drive Through COVID-19 Testing Clinic
/UPDATED POST (June 19th):
Peterborough Paramedics, Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and Peterborough Public Health announced today that the drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic at the Kinsmen Civic Centre will continue from Monday, June 22 to Friday, June 26 until further notice.
Those wishing to be tested on the weekend (with or without symptoms) can call the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at PRHC at 705-876-5086 to book an appointment. The PRHC Assessment Centre operates by appointment only from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, seven days a week.
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ORIGINAL POST
Hours of operation are changing for the drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic at the Kinsmen Civic Centre.
The drive-through clinic at the Kinsmen Civic Centre for residents without symptoms will operate from Monday to Friday only from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and continue until at least Friday, June 19th. This clinic is regularly evaluated and may adjust operations based on demand.
Those wishing to be tested on the weekend (with or without symptoms) can call the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at PRHC at 705-876-5086 to book an appointment. The PRHC Assessment Centre operates by appointment only from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, seven days a week.
Photo courtesy PRHC
One-day drive-through COVID-19 testing clinics continue throughout the County of Peterborough until June 17th. For a list of upcoming clinics, visit peterboroughpublichealth.ca and click on the link for Testing.
Testing clinics are led by the Peterborough Paramedics with support from PRHC, the City of Peterborough, the County of Peterborough and Peterborough Public Health. Remember to bring along your Ontario Health Card with you.
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Road Construction Will Slow Traffic Throughout Peterborough
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The City of Peterborough has started sealing the cracks in the City’s roads this week. This helps lengthen the life of the road, preventing water infiltration.
Unfortunately that also means that many roads will be reduced to single lanes in either direction. Check out the City’s handy online map to see where construction is currently slowing down your commute (denoted in purple).
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Trent U Rising: Peterborough University Continues Its Climb Up Global University Rankings
/Trent U’s exceptional learning environment and academic performance has earned the University a ranking among the world’s best.
In the 2020/21 Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR), Trent is holding steady at No. 32 out of 96 Canadian universities, while placing 1237 out of over 20,000 global institutions—up nine places from last year’s 1248 place ranking and earning Trent a spot in the top 6.2% of universities worldwide.
“We are proud to see Trent recognized as a notable institution for both world-class research and exceptional learning experiences,” says Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “These rankings continue to highlight how Trent is making an impact globally as a leading Canadian institution.”
The newly announced CWUR ranking caps off a year that has seen Trent University rank highly in many prestigious independent rankings and surveys, including Maclean’s University Report. Indeed, with the release of the 2019 Maclean’s University Report last fall, Trent continued to hold on to the top spot as Ontario’s No. 1 undergraduate university for the ninth year in a row, and No. 3 in all of Canada.
Each year, the CWUR publishes the largest academic rankings of over 20,000 universities around the world. These rankings focus on four key pillars—quality of education, alumni employment, quality of faculty and research performance—with no reliance on surveys or university data submissions. In this year’s list of the top 2,000 universities globally, only 44 of Canada’s 96 universities made the list—including Trent.
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The Peterborough Naval Association Announces It Is Dissolving Organization
/The Peterborough Naval Association has announced it is dissolving its organization and will create a trust fund with the proceeds from the sale of its property to support veterans, veterans’ families, veterans’ organizations, educational bursaries and other causes.
“Faced with declining revenues and increasing costs, our members voted to dissolve the association and sell the property at this time to create a legacy fund that will continue to support veterans and their families into the future,” says Dan Ayotte, interim president of the Association.
The Peterborough Naval Association has been an active, involved veterans’ association for more than 70 years, fulfilling the mandate of its Charter. It was launched in November 1947, and incorporated in 1953. The association was involved in the formation of the national Royal Canadian Naval Association.
The Naval Association fostered a spirit of fellowship and assistance among those who have served and supporters of those who have served in the naval services of Canada, the British Commonwealth and its Allies. It preserved the memory of service members who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country. And it supported charitable organizations in the community.
One of the main factors behind the increased costs for the association was the age of the facilities with rising maintenance and operating costs for the property at 24 Whitlaw St.
In addition to creating a trust fund to support veterans and their families, the Naval Association is leaving a legacy in another way. The Naval Association is transferring its property to the City of Peterborough to become public land that’s next to Beavermead Park and a future extension of the trail network around Little Lake
Mayor Diane Therrien says the Naval Association leaves a legacy in the lives of veterans and their families who created friendships and enjoyed activities through the association’s facilities and programs. “Even as the association plans for its dissolution, the members are focused on helping veterans and contributing to the broader community,” Therrien says.
“With those values, I know the Naval Association will continue to be a presence in our community, regardless of whether it’s an incorporated organization or an informal, close knit association of veterans and community minded individuals.”
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2020 Hootenanny On Hunter Street Is Cancelled
/The 10th edition of the popular downtown Hootenanny on Hunter Street festival has been cancelled until 2021 organizers have announced.
"It breaks my heart to have to cancel an amazing full day of music we had planned,” says Terry Guiel, DBIA Executive Director. "It’s going to be a different summer downtown without all the festivals, but our focus right now is the safety of the community. For now, we’ll keep working with our downtown businesses to help them through this crisis, including helping them engage their customers online.”
Photo courtesy DBIA
The DBIA is keeping the planned musical lineup private with the aim to bring all the acts booked for this summer back to play Hootenanny in 2021.
The event was started by the late Jonathan Hall, and this would have been the 3rd year it was organized by the DBIA. Hootenanny was planned for August 8th and involves closing Hunter Street West between George and Aylmer streets to host a street festival. Hootenanny features large licensed patios, downtown vendors, and attracts about 10,000 people annually.
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A Peterborough Family Saved A Baby Beaver In The Kawarthas & We're Not Crying, You're Crying
/It’s not often that you get to rescue one of Canada’s national wildlife treasures but on Sunday (June 7th), that’s exactly what Stony Lake island cottager Tracy Turner and her family did—saving a baby beaver (aka “beaver kit”) that was in despair.
Photo by Tracy Turner of baby beaver she rescued
“It was so sweet and happy to see me,” Turner, who resides in Peterborough, writes in a Facebook post that has garnered grateful comments from across Canada.
“It was stuck in a pool of water between two rocks at the side of the island. For the past two or three days I kept hearing what sounded like a cat meow. Today, I went and checked it out. I dislodged a stick that was blocking his way out and he went right into my hands and onto my paddle board. Just dropped it off to the Kawartha Wildlife Centre. They think he/she is around 2 or 3 weeks old and left the den when its parents didn’t come for him. ❤️ We miss our little friend already.”
Photo by Tracy Turner of baby beaver she rescued
“Just reading some of the comments on Facebook, I’m so overwhelmed by the positive response and how happy this has made people,” Turner tells PTBOCanada, elaborating on how the rescue went down to us:
”When I heard the cries while out on my paddle board, I cautiously moved closer to the rock face of our island. I looked around, trying to find the source of the cry but also not wanting to disrupt a nest or something like that. Then I noticed a rock that sat away from the shore a bit and very slowly peered into the pool of water behind it. I saw this furry little head and he seemed so happy to see me, scrambling and crying and trying to get to me.
A branch had fallen and was lodged where he was trying to get out. As soon as I moved it, he climbed out of there so fast! I had long gardening gloves on that my stepdaughter Molly brought me because I didn’t want to get bit but he was just so small he wanted to be cared for. I picked him up with my paddle and he sat on my board with me, letting me put my hands around him. Molly bravely got in the cold lake water and pushed us to the dock where Matt, my husband, had a towel waiting. He was happy to be snuggled up.”
What the baby beaver was transported in during the ride to Kawartha Wildlife Centre (photo by Tracy Turner)
Turner says that Kawartha Wildlife Centre team in Ennismore was simply amazing to deal with.
“Matt emailed the Kawartha Wildlife Centre in Ennismore. They responded almost immediately and I was overjoyed that they would take him. I was worried about having to keep the baby overnight with us as we were all worried that he had been without food for at least a few days that we knew of or maybe longer.”
The baby was transported by boat and then car to the wildlife centre. “The little beaver did not like the boat ride over to the marina from the island so we went slow,” Turner tells PTBOCanada. “But the whole car ride in to town he got all curled up in the towel and slept. Imagine how tired he must have been. The women at Kawartha Wildlife Centre were so amazing with him and knew exactly what to do. He made such an impact on our family and I’m just so grateful to everyone who helped us.”
Thom Luloff, Chair of the Kawartha Wildlife Centre’s Board of Directors
At the Kawartha Wildlife Centre, the dedicated Wildlife Care Team of staff and volunteers provided care around the clock. The beaver was stabilized after several days of dehydration and exposure to the elements.
Photo by Tracy Turner
