PRHC Receives New MRI Machine and Critical Infrastructure Upgrades

A new MRI machine is being invested into the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) from the Ontario Government to address wait times for diagnostic imaging announced Wednesday.

Photo Courtesy of PRHC.

A payment of $101,023 from the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund will support upgrades and repairs to emergency infrastructure.

“This new MRI machine will save thousands of trips to other communities each year with local residents being able to access this health service right here in Peterborough,” said MPP Dave Smith. “Fewer trips for families to Toronto or Kingston for health care saves money in gas and meals while reducing travel time and the impact on the environment.”

Over the last 10 years, the demand for MRI services has increased on average by approximately four per cent annually and wait times have got longer with 54 per cent of cases completed within target wait times in 2013-14 to 39 per cent of cases completed within target in 2019-2020.

“Since 2017, the demand for MRI services at PRHC has continued to increase. In fact, outpatient MRI requests have increased 53% from 2017 to 2021. The addition of a second MRI at PRHC will not only improve access to care closer to home for our patients, it will decrease wait times and offer modern, leading-edge MRI technology for patients in our community and region,” said Dr. Peter McLaughlin, PRHC President and CEO, PRHC. “I am thrilled that PRHC is among those hospitals across Ontario to receive funding for a new MRI machine as part of this investment.”

This new investment brings additional MRI service to Peterborough making it easier for patients to receive the care they need closer to home. It is part of the government’s $30 million investment in the 2021 Budget to support MRI services for patients and add new MRI machines to hospitals across the province.

“Our government made a commitment to end hallway health care, and that includes ensuring that patients have access to high-quality MRI services,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By providing hospitals with annual investments to support net new MRI machines, our government is helping to ensure that these vital services are available patients now and in the future.”

The Ontario Government is investing up to $324 million in new funding to enable Ontario’s hospitals and community health sector to perform more surgeries, MRI and CT scans and procedures including on evenings and weekends according to the press release.

The 2021 Budget, Ontario's Action Plan: Protecting People's Health and Our Economy, outlined a total of $1.8 billion in additional investments for hospitals in 2021-22.

This includes funding to create more than 3,100 additional hospital beds to increase capacity. There is an increase of $778 million in operating funding to ensure all publicly funded hospitals will receive a minimum one per cent increase to help them keep pace with patient needs and to increase access to high-quality care for patients and families across Ontario as stated in the press release.

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Community Care Seeking Nominations For "Grandparent of the Year" From Children

Kids grade 2-6 have a chance to highlight their elders through Community Care Peterborough in the “Grandparent of the Year” contest for the 35th rendition announced on Wednesday.

“Every year we are amazed by the scope of stories we have received,” said Danielle Belair, Community Care executive director. “Many of the honorees are indeed grandparents or great grandparents of the students however there have been a number of entries that highlight an Elder or special senior friend as well.”

Community Care has three categories to highlight the relationships with the special people in our children’s lives. They are: English language, French language and Indigenous entries.

“Teachers in the City and County of Peterborough have had the opportunity to use the contest as a writing assignment for their students,” said Belair. “We also recognize that not all teachers will know about this opportunity so we opening it up to the public too and will accept entries until December 3rd. If your child is in grades 2 to 6 and not participating with their class, you can enter their story and picture too.”

A committee will select one winner and one honourable mention from each group of grades; primary and junior and each category. (Primary is Grades 2 & 3. Junior is Grades 4, 5, & 6)

Community Care would like the student to include the following information in their submission:

• What they think is important about their relationship with their grandparent, elder or special older person.

• What kinds of activities are done together?

• What kind of knowledge have they shared?

• Describe a happy occasion the student and their nominee shared.

• How does their nominee make them feel when you are together?

• Why they are proud of their nominee?

• Why does the student think their nominee should win this award?

• A hand-drawn picture of the student and their nominee together.

Optional: A student can submit a recorded video of them reading their story. This is not required and will not affect judging.

“This 'SMILES ALL AROUND’ event is too important to our community to cancel,” said Belair. “It's more important than ever to share some positive stories about important people who are in our lives.”

All entries must be received by Dec. 3rd. Entries may be submitted by mail:

Community Care

185 Hunter Street East

Peterborough, ON

K9H 0H1

Attn: Tracy Kennedy.

They can also be submitted by email to tkennedy@commcareptbo.org.

Winners will be announced in mid-February.

For parent entry forms or more information about the Grandparent of the Year event visit this link.

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Call for Proposals for 4th Line Theatre’s 2022 Digital Festival of Light & Dark

4th Line Theatre is seeking project proposals from local artists for original or existing artworks to be featured in the 2022 Digital Festival of Light & Dark.

Mosun Fadare in 4th Line Theatre's 2018 production of Beverley Cooper's The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale directed by Kim Blackwell. Photo by Wayne Eardley - Brookside Studio.

The Digital Festival of Light & Dark will foster virtual engagement between local artists and community members from Millbrook, Peterborough, Lakefield, Port Hope, Cobourg and surrounding areas.

“I am thrilled to bring back the Festival of Light & Dark for a second year. Last year the response to the works created was overwhelming. In 2021, we supported 12 artists and this year we are excited to see what types of projects will be submitted,” said Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell.

Proposals may feature one or more of the following art forms: dance, film, theatre, music, visual art & photography. Priority will be given to artists who explore the concepts of light and/or the darkness, in whatever medium they choose to work.

4th Line Theatre will award micro-grants of $250 to each successful applicant. Proposals must include a 300-word description of the proposed project and the Artist(s)’s CV/Bio.

The deadline to submit proposals is Nov. 24, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. All proposals must be emailed to 4th Line’s Artistic Administrator, Jess McDougall, at jess@4thlinetheatre.on.ca

Successful project applicants will be notified by November 29, 2021. Artists will then have two months to prepare a video or film which runs five minutes or less, that showcases their new or existing piece of video art.

The videos will be released on 4th Line Theatre’s YouTube channel for viewing as of Monday, January 24, 2022. These videos will be available to the public to view at no cost.

For more information regarding the festival, please contact Jess McDougall by phone at 705-932-4448 or by email at jess@4thlinetheatre.on.ca.

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Remembrance Day Services in Peterborough County and Surrounding Areas

Remembrance Day is on Thursday and the City of Peterborough, surrounding communities and townships are hosting both in person and online services to remember and honour veterans for their courage and service.

File Photo

Peterborough

The Royal Canadian Legion - Peterborough Branch 52 will hold a service at the Cenotaph in Confederation Square, with a moment of silence at 11 a.m. The service will be shorter due to the pandemic, but people are welcome to attend following public health guidelines including physical distancing.

Remembrance Day services will also be broadcast on YourTV Cogeco.

Douro-Dummer

To observe the complete Remembrance Day ceremony, as well as a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Warsaw Cenotaph, view a pre-recorded video of the ceremony on the Township’s YouTube channel. The video will start at approximately 10:45 a.m. on Thursday. A link to the video on the Township YouTube channel will be provided ahead of Nov. 11.

Asphodel-Norwood

Norwood Cenotaph Service begins at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Cenotaph located at 42 Ridge Street, Norwood.

Westwood Remembrance Day Cenotaph Service begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday at the Cenotaph in Westwood (beside the Library).

Keene

Thursday, 11 a.m. Keene Cenotaph (northwest corner of Heritage Line and County Road #2).

Due to COVID-19 the formal Remembrance Day Service will not be taking place this year. Council Members will be laying wreaths at the Keene Cenotaph. Residents, and Dignitaries are more than welcome to attend. Physical Distancing Guidelines will be adhered to – maintain 6ft apart, as well as the use of face coverings.

Lakefield

The Lakefield Legion Remembrance Day Ceremony will be live streamed on their Facebook Page. The Ceremony will start at 10:55.

Buckhorn

The Buckhorn Community Centre is hosting an in-person service on Wednesday (1782 Lakehurst Road, Buckhorn). Service will be outside and begin at 1 p.m. Light lunch will be served after the ceremony with a limit of 75 people max. Those entering the BCC must adhere to the PPH guidelines.

Curve Lake

Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the Cenotaph (872 Mississauga St, Wollaston)

National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa

The Ceremony will be live at the National War Memorial. Watch the ceremony live on The Royal Canadian Legion's Facebook page.

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MP Michelle Ferreri Named Shadow Minister of Tourism

On Tuesday Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and the Official Opposition, announced the Conservative Shadow Cabinet for the 44th Parliament.

File Photo.

It is the shadow cabinet's responsibility to scrutinize the policies and actions of the government, as well as to offer alternative policies.

Ferreri says she can not wait to help the tourism sector move into recovery while supporting and promoting Canada.

The current Minister of Tourism is Randy Boissonnault.

Also announced on Tuesday, Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Philip Lawrence was named the shadow minister for the Federal Economic Development Agency for eastern, central and southern Ontario.

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Ontario Government Invests $375,000 Into Hospice Peterborough For COVID-19 Relief

Hospice Peterborough gets a $375,000 boost from the Ontario Government to offset any costs incurred from the COVID-19 pandemic announced on Tuesday.

Hajni Hős, Hospice Peterborough Executive Director (left) with MPP Dave Smith (right) in front of Hospice Peterborough on London Street. Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested $40 million to add over 200 new hospice beds in Ontario for over 7,000 additional patients annually. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The money given is a 36 per cent increase from last year and brings their 2021-2022 funding to $1,425,000. During the COVID-19 pandemic, residential hospices experienced a decrease in community donations which are used to help support day-to-day operations as stated in the press release.

This capital investment is part of Ontario’s $23 million to help residential hospices across the province provide high-quality, compassionate end-of-life services and care to people and their loved ones.

This new investment is in addition to the province’s annual investment of over $74 million per year in palliative care.

“Hospice Peterborough will continue to provide high-quality, compassionate, end-of-life care to meet the needs of our clients, their families and caregivers in our community,” says Hajni Hős, Hospice Peterborough Executive Director.

As Ontario’s plan to end hallway health care, the government is investing $23 million to help residential hospices across the province provide high-quality, compassionate end-of-life services and care to people and their loved ones.

This investment is one factor in an integrated approach to reduce silos in health care and create a seamless, patient-centred system according to the press release.

“There’s no question Hospice Peterborough has felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; community events to raise capital and support programming was cancelled,” said MPP Dave Smith. “This boost in funding will help them reorient, plan for the future and deliver the best care for patients.”

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Local Organizations Receive Vital Community Grants to Combat COVID-19 Inequality

The Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough (CFGP) announced on Tuesday that Vital Community Grants totaling $90,000 will go to nine local organizations whose work focuses on supporting equity-deserving people who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo courtesy of The Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough.

This year’s Vital Community Grants theme was an “Equitable COVID-19 Recovery”.

CFGP notes that some people have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 relative to others. Indigenous people, women, youth, people with disabilities and others facing systemic inequality have experienced a heightened chance of exposure to the virus, social isolation, lack of access to food, services and education, worse health outcomes, and adverse financial repercussions.

Nine local charities led by, serving and focused on equity deserving groups were invited to a participatory granting circle to discuss their applications and allocate the available funds. Participatory grantmaking is a decision-making process that invites those who are most knowledgeable about an issue to identify priorities and direct the available funds.

The recipients of 2021 Vital Community Grants are:

Heads Up for Inclusion

To support the Community Amigos Program by providing space for connection to reduce social isolation for people living with disabilities

Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation

To support programs for in-care youth transitioning to independent living

Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle

To reverse the damage that was caused by residential schools and the pandemic by bringing in Elders and Traditional Knowledge Holders as well as language speakers

Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN)

To assist in the reduction of financial and socio-economic barriers to people needing to engage in PARN’s programs and services

The Council for Persons with Disabilities

To engage more young people living with disabilities

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough

To launch and support a group counselling program that supports mothers and birthing parents who have lost custody of their children

TRACKS Youth Program (Trent Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge and Science)

To provide resources, workshops and activities to Indigenous youth living in the seven Williams Treaties First Nations in Ontario at no cost

YES Shelter for Youth and Families

To support the RISE Youth Housing program that helps youth between 16 and 24 resolve homelessness and find stability 

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton – Nourish Project

To support its civic literacy work including programs like Hungry for Income, a food insecurity training series

Donations to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund are still being accepted by the Community Foundation and will continue to be used to support charities with their pandemic recovery work https://cfgp.ca/project/covid/.

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City Services on Remembrance Day 2021

Many City services and facilities will be closed or operating under modified hours in observance of Remembrance Day on Thursday.

File Photo.

City Hall

City Hall, including the Tax Office, Clerk’s Office and Building Services, will be closed. Online services are available at www.peterborough.ca.

Garbage, recycling and yard waste

No garbage, recycling or green waste collection will occur on Thursday, November 11.

Collection scheduled for Thursday, November 11 moves to Monday, November 15, 2021. Please ensure all garbage, recycling and green waste is at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day, but not before 6 p.m. the preceding day.

• The City/County Landfill at 1260 Bensfort Rd. will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

• The Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd. will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Public Works

Public Works can be reached at 705-745-1386. This line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Arenas Division

The Arenas Division office will be closed.

Arenas will be available to user groups for scheduled ice time.

The Healthy Planet Arena will host a walk-in vaccine clinic from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on November 11.

Art Gallery of Peterborough

The Art Gallery of Peterborough will be closed on November 11.

For information about gallery exhibitions, programs and how to book a visit, please visit www.agp.on.ca. 

Downtown Youth Space

The Downtown Youth Space at 201 McDonnel St. will be closed. To learn more about free, drop-in programs for youth aged 13 to 18, visit www.peterborough.ca/dys.

Peterborough Museum and Archives

The Peterborough Museum and Archives exhibitions and gift shop are open from noon to 5 p.m. on November 11. Information about current exhibitions and COVID-19 protocols for visitors is available online at www.peterborough.ca/museum.

Peterborough Public Library

The Peterborough Public Library will be closed on November 11. Information and digital resources are online at www.ptbolibrary.ca/.

Provincial Offences office

The Provincial Offences office at 99 Simcoe St. will be closed. Fine payments can be made online at www.peterborough.ca/POA.

Social Services office

The Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. will be closed.

Child care centres

City-operated child care centres will be closed on November 11. All before and after school child care programs will be open.

Emergency shelter services

Emergency shelter services remain open: call 705-926-0096 after hours, during weekends and on holidays.

Sport and Wellness Centre

The Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre will open regular hours. Visit www.peterborough.ca/pswc for information about schedules and programs at the Wellness Centre.

Transit

Peterborough Transit will operate on a regular service schedule on November 11.

The Customer Service desk at 190 Simcoe St. will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. for pass sales and inquiries only. Please visit the website www.peterborough.ca/transit or call 705-745-0525 for detailed schedules.

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Second Annual Winter is Coming Food Drive Launches in Peterborough

Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha, Ashlee Aiken, General Manager of Kawartha Food Share and J. Murray Jones, Warden of Peterborough County, announced the launch of the second annual Winter is Coming Food Drive on Nov. 4.

(LEFT TO RIGHT) MURRAY JONES, ASHLEE AITKEN AND DAVE SMITH AT KAWARTHA FOOD SHARE. KFS DISTRIBUTES 150,000-200,000 POUNDS OF FOOD IN A MONTH WHICH FEEDS OVER 9,000 INDIVIDUALS. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

Last year, the Winter is Coming Food Drive collected thousands of pounds of non-perishable food items and cash donations for food banks in Apsley, Lakefield, Havelock, Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Buckhorn.

Following that, MPP Smith held a separate drive, the Spread the Warmth Clothing Campaign, collecting enough socks, gloves, toques, and underwear to supply the needs of the Brock Mission, Cameron House and Yes Shelter last winter.

The Winter is Coming Campaign 2021 will incorporate the Spread the Warmth Clothing Campaign for Peterborough’s shelter system.

“We know that between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there’s a drop in donations to food banks and shelters, but the need doesn’t drop,” said Smith. “That’s why we do this, to fill the gaps in resources for our most vulnerable individuals. Our community displayed an incredible level of compassion and community throughout these last 18 months, caring for neighbours, friends, and loved ones. I am confident we can build on that sense of community and fill our food banks and shelters over the next month.”

Photo courtesy of Dave Smith.

“So many of us are blessed with a warm roof over our head and meals when we need them. But there are many in our communities who aren’t - and winter is coming. Please consider supporting MPP Dave Smith with your donation of some non-perishable food items for our Township food banks in the County and if you have them, toiletries and winter clothing for the Peterborough shelters. This is the time of year when community comes together, we put our arms around those in need and we show our support. Please donate whatever you can,” said Jones.

Food Drives will take place as followed:

Buckhorn Foodland 10a.m. – 2p.m. Nov. 6

Lakefield Foodland 10a.m. – 2p.m. Nov. 13

Havelock Foodland 10a.m. – 2p.m. Nov. 20

Lakefield Giant Tiger 2p.m. – 6p.m. Nov. 26

John’s Valu-mart 10a.m. – 2p.m. Nov. 27

All food donations will be delivered to the local food bank within the township.

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Local Photographer Releases Kawartha Lakes Wildlife Calendar

Local photographer Dave Ellis is putting his work on display by selling 2022 calendars of his wildlife photos.

Dave Ellis (pictured) has been doing photography for five years since his retirement. Photo Courtesy of Dave Ellis.

Two different calendars are available for purchase from Ellis. This is his third year creating and selling them.

The calendars contain wildlife found in the Kawartha Lakes area contains shots of animals such as bald eagles, snowy owls and more.

”A lot of people have no idea that these things are here. A lot of people don't even know that we have bald eagles,” said Ellis. “These were shot probably no more than five kilometres from right here (in Peterborough).”

The calendars were created in late October with roughly 200 printed up. People from all over the world have purchased Ellis’s calendars such as United States and Europe.

Ellis has had his photos showcased in local media for roughly three years.

Photo Courtesy of Dave Ellis.

Calendars are available by emailing wildlife@eastlink.ca. They are available for pickup or by delivery.

"We've always been canoeing, fishing and that kind of thing, being out in nature,” reflected Ellis.” We had time once we retired to appreciate the outdoors more."

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