Peterborough Blogs
Trent Athletics Centre Temporarily Closed to Update Vaccine Passport Screening Measures
/Following the Ontario government’s announcement of the enhanced Provincial COVID-19 vaccine certificate system, the Trent Athletics Centre will require all visitors and staff to provide proof of vaccination and identification to enter the facility.
Photo courtesy of Trent University.
The Athletics Centre will be closed on Wednesday to allow updates to their booking system to support these new screening measures to e made.
The centre will open again on Thursday.
Students who are fully vaccinated and have updated their Vaccine Profile through myTrent will be permitted to book workout times online. Data from the secure myTrent site will be integrated with the Athletics Centre’s online booking system to allow for a seamless transition to the new screening requirements for students.
Trent staff, faculty and community members with memberships will be required to show proof of vaccination and identification during the screening process at the door before entering the facility. This screening will be required each visit.
All students, staff and faculty must also complete, and pass, Trent’s mandatory screening each day before coming to campus.
Individuals wishing to visit the Planet Café will not be required to show proof of vaccination to gain access.
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Flood Watch Issued in Peterborough and Area
/A flood watch has been issued to the City of Peterborough and surrounding municipalities by Otonabee Conservation, on Wednesday.
Rainfall on Lansdowne Street, Wednesday. Photo by Davin Tuan Bui.
Municipalities that may be affected are Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, City of Kawartha Lakes, City of Peterborough and Trent Hills.
From Wednesday - Thursday a moisture-laden low-pressure system and associated cold front is moving through our Region. The system will bring widespread rain and isolated thunderstorms.
Heavy downpours are expected to deliver as much as 15-20 mm in one hour. Total rainfall amounts are expected to be in the order of 40-60mm on Wednesday and another 20 mm on Thursday. Higher amounts are possible due to thunderstorms. Some lingering rainfall may continue over the weekend, but the main concern is heavy downpours and thunderstorms expected Wednesday and Thursday.
Heavy downpours and thunderstorms can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads and low-lying areas. Localized flooding is possible. As a minimum, higher than normal water levels and flows can be expected in lakes, rivers, streams, creeks, and wetlands, especially in the vicinity of culverts and bridges.
Higher than normal water levels and flows will continue over the weekend as the significant rainfall receipts of today and tomorrow flush through local waterways.
Residents are advised to be extremely cautious around all local lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks because shorelines/riverbanks will be slippery and could be undercut, and currents will be strong. Road-side ditches, wetlands and other low-lying areas may experience unsafe ponding conditions.
Dams and other water control/water conveyance structures are especially dangerous and should always be avoided.
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Ontario Vaccine Passport Program Now in Effect
/After three weeks since Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that non-essential businesses in the province must participate in a vaccine passport program, residents who are 12 or older must now show proof of vaccination.
Screenshot
Starting on Wednesday residents in Ontario will need to have proof of having received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“There are a lot of people who are concerned about this policy and I want you to know that I hear you. I understand your concerns about protecting your civil liberties and right to privacy,” said Doug Ford. “While many fully vaccinated people like myself share these concerns, the greater concern is having to shut down again or experience a sudden surge in cases like in Alberta and Saskatchewan.”
Vaccine passports are currently available online.
On Oct. 22 a QR code-based mobile application is set to launch for use by residents and businesses in place of physical vaccination receipts.
Those that do not wish to use this or do not have a mobile phone can print off an enhanced receipt with a QR code that can be scanned. Anyone without access to a printer can call call 1-833-943-3900 for assistance.
Businesses can download a free app that will scan and verify QR codes. Those checking for proof of vaccination at businesses are encouraged to match the patrons I.D to their vaccine passport and to ensure that their second dose was administered at least 14 days prior.
Identification that will be accepted with proof of vaccination includes a driver’s license, birth certificate, passport, citizenship card, Ontario photo card or other government-issued identification, Indian status card or Indigenous membership card or a permanent resident card.
Proof of vaccinations will be required at restaurants, bars, nightclubs, concert venues, gyms and fitness facilities, theatres, cinemas, racetracks, waterparks, TV and film productions with studio audiences, sports venues, casinos and gaming establishments, meeting and event spaces, strip clubs and bathhouses.
Proof of vaccination will not be required when entering a building to use a washroom, pay for an order, accessing an outdoor area that can only be done through an indoor way, placing or picking up a to-go order or purchasing admission to an outdoor event.
Children under 12 or anyone with a medical exemption will not need to show proof of vaccination.
Examples of medical exemptions include severe allergies, anaphylaxis, myocarditis or pericarditis.
Individuals who do not comply with screening or present false documents are fined starting at $750 and $1,000 for businesses under the Reopening Ontario Act.
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Fleming Offers Free Construction Program Through SkillsAdvance Ontario
/A new free construction program is available at Fleming College’s Haliburton campus this fall announced on Tuesday.
Photo Courtesy of Fleming College.
The program is being offered by the Eastern Ontario Colleges Consortium through SkillsAdvance Ontario (SAO).
The goal of the program, funded by the provincial government through SAO and the federal government, is to build a strong future for the construction industry by promoting workforce development according to Fleming.
The program supports both job seekers and recruiters by providing workers access to a free six-week professional development opportunity and employers with innovative training, growth, recruitment and onboarding tools. The six-week curriculum includes:
Four-weeks of training that includes fundamental construction skills in roofing, carpentry, framing, interior work, health and safety training and essential workplace skills to help learners succeed long term
Two-week paid placement at the end of the program to learn practical on-the-job skills
Participants receive one-on-one assistance throughout the program and their transition to employment
Qualified employers can receive funding for eligible training costs. Financial support is also available and assessed on an individual basis.
Since training is on campus, participants will be required to adhere to Fleming’s campus-wide vaccination policy and submit proof of having received their first and second doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The program is open to high school graduates, early school leavers, and unemployed or underemployed youth and adults. Employment Insurance (EI) eligible and non-EI eligible, as well as women, Indigenous peoples and newcomers to Canada are encouraged to apply.
SAO Construction begins at the Haliburton Campus on Oct. 4, and a virtual information session is scheduled for Sept. 21.
To register, visit flemingcollege.ca/SAOconstruction or email SAOconstruction@flemingcollege.ca.
There will also be an intake for the Peterborough Campus for the Winter semester.
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PRHC Foundation Launches First-Ever Online 50/50 Lottery
/The PRHC Foundation announced the launch of its first online 50/50 Lottery in support of patient care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation.
By participating in the Foundation’s newest fundraising initiative, ticket buyers can win cash and prizes online while supporting the PRHC Foundation.
“We all want the best possible patient care for our loved ones, but government funding doesn’t cover all the hospital’s needs,” said Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation President and CEO. “That’s why the support of the community is so important. The proceeds from the new 50/50 Lottery will help fund the equipment and technology that form the foundation of patient care. They’ll help bring new lifesaving services to our region, and enable PRHC to attract the best doctors, nurses and staff to our hospital.”
The jackpot is over $7,000 and growing, with a bonus prize of a $2,500 Resorts of Ontario Gift Certificate (or a $2,000 cash bonus).
The grand prize winner will be announced on October 28, 2021. Two early bird draws will provide additional chances to win, with cash prizes awarded every hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 8 and 22.
Tickets are available online only.
Ticket options include 10 tickets for $10, 40 tickets for $20, 160 tickets for $40 or 400 tickets for $75. Ticket buyers must be 18 years of age or older and in the province of Ontario to play.
For more information, visit prhcfoundation.ca or email prhcfoundation5050@gmail.com.
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Peterborough Gets First-Ever Month-Long Mac and Cheese Festival
/A childhood favourite meal is turning into a celebration as Peterborough is getting their first Mac and Cheese Festival announced on Tuesday.
Judges from the Pasta Shop, the Food Shop and the Toy Shop with participants in Tuesdays competition from the Peterborough Petes, Kawartha Food Share and Trent University. Photo by Angela O’Grady.
Starting on Oct. 1, the self-guided festival will invite participants to dine in or order take-out from 18 local restaurants.
During the festival, restaurants will be competing for local votes to become the ‘Mac + Cheese Champion.’ Participants can vote online for their favourite mac and cheese dishes until Oct. 30.
The winning restaurant will receive bragging rights for the year, a cheesy hand-crafted trophy and a donation to Kawartha Food Share in the victor’s name.
“Yes, it’s a competition and of course some folks are in it for the glory- but for the most part, our 18 restaurant partners are just happy to help bring a little comfort back into the community,” said Hillary Flood Communications Manager, Peterborough DBIA. “I don’t think it gets any more comforting than mac and cheese.”
Leo Grourke, Trent University President, Sarah Khaki and Michael Khan, vice-president academic at Trent with their mac and cheese at the Silver Bean Cafe. Photo by Angela O’Grady.
The official launch party at the Silver Bean Café had three local organizations participate in a cook-off to give a sample of what people can expect in October.
The Peterborough Petes, Trent University and Kawartha Food Share each brought a crock-pot of the famed comfort food and were judged by local shop owners.
Kawartha Food Share placed first with their student-inspired mac and cheese with ingredients one might find in a student’s pantry.
In addition to serving mac and cheese, each restaurant location will host a month-long food drive in support of Kawartha Food Share. Festival goers are encouraged to bring their non-perishables downtown this October when visiting any mac and cheese restaurant location.
“We are so excited to partner with the DBIA and partake in the 2021 Mac and Cheese Festival. It’s been a very tough year for our food banks. We’re so thrilled to see so many local restaurants collecting food donations to help us restock the shelves at our 37 member agencies before the busy holiday season,” said Ashlee Aitken, Kawartha Food Share General Manager.
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Clean Slate For Peterborough Public Library Users With Eliminated Fines
/All outstanding late fees from the Peterborough Public Library are no more as they have been eliminated according to a press release on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Public Library.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the library stopped charging late fees and forgave outstanding fines on people’s accounts.
“We were happy to discover that library items continued to be returned regularly,” says Jennifer Jones, Library CEO. “There were no noticeable changes in people’s returning habits with or without the late fines.”
Late fines have been shown to create feelings of shame and embarrassment, keeping people from returning to the library according to the press release.
The Library also noted that outstanding fees can also create financial barriers that prevent people from ever using the library in the first place. By eliminating late fines, the library can better support literacy efforts in the community and reduce barriers to accessing library materials and services.
“If you’ve been avoiding the library because you think you might have fines, we want to welcome you back to the library with a clean borrowing record and a fresh start,” said Jones. “Technology isn’t perfect so if you notice fines on your account after September 21, please reach out to library staff. We may have missed something or you may have fees for lost items on your account.”
The move to a fine-free library service will allow 11,927 members to have late fines removed from their accounts. In addition, 1,694 members will have their library accounts unblocked.
Items will still have due dates and need to be returned. An item is considered lost when it has not been returned for more than 44 days past the due date. At that point, the member’s account is charged a replacement and processing fee for the item.
Any member with more than $10 in fees will be blocked from using their account. Visit ptbolibrary.ca/borrowing for full details on how the Library handles lost and damaged items.
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Alzheimer Society of Peterborough asks Community to Help a Neighbour on World Alzheimer Day
/The Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton is honouring World Alzheimer’s Day by inviting community members to reach out to family and friends that are living with dementia and offer support.
Photo courtesy of the Alzheimers Society of Peterbororough Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton.
