Opioid Response Hub Reaches Fundraising Goal of $160,000 For Renovations

The community came through for Fourcast and the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough as they reached their Light the Way campaign goal of $160,000 for renovations of their opioid response hub announced on Tuesday.

(left to right) Ron Black, Forecast vice chair; Kerri Kightley, program manager and Jennifer DeBues, Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough executive director

The campaign was funded from community donations that launched on Sept. 15. The hub is located at the former Greyhound Bus Station at 220 Simcoe St.

“In just a few months, we received over one hundred donations from individuals, half a dozen from local businesses, a few from churches and professional associations, a grant from the City of Peterborough, plus contributions from four endowed funds held at the Community Foundation,” said Jennifer DeBues, Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough executive director. “The campaign to Light the Way to $160K really has been a community effort and I am grateful to everyone who has contributed.”

The hub’s renovations will better prepare the space to provide the wraparound health services and supports offered by Fourcast along with partner organizations according to Fourcast. This includes PARN, the 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (NPLC), Peterborough County Paramedics and the Mobile Support Overdose Resource Team (MSORT).

“Fourcast acknowledges the success of the Light The Way fundraising campaign as an overwhelming outpouring of support from a compassionate community that wants to mobilize all efforts to end the loss of life associated with opiate poisonings,” says Donna Rogers, Fourcast executive director. “We have a space that is turnkey for the operation of a CTS, and we await a long-overdue response to our application.”

The hub is expecting to open in January as it waits to pass inspections before construction within the month. Fundraising efforts will continue until it is officially open. The extra money will be used to fund several hub programs and a drive-thru window according to Kerri Kightley, program manager.

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Peterborough Paramedics Dealt With A 'Perfect Storm' Influx Of Calls Monday Night

At around 5:30 p.m. on Monday night, popular Facebook page Peterborough Scanner Feed reported that there were no available ambulances in the City of Peterborough.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Paramedics.

Deputy Chief of Operations of Peterborough Paramedics, Chris Barry, said that while all on duty units were in use Monday night, Ontario paramedics operate ‘seamlessly’.

“It’s considered seamless meaning if there happened to be a nearby ambulance that wasn’t technically in our jurisdiction they would still respond to a call here in Peterborough,” he said.

On any given night shift Peterborough Paramedics have 7 units on the roads, and 10 units during the day shift. Each unit is staffed by two paramedics.

Barry said Monday night was a ‘perfect storm’ of factors that contributed to the lack of available Peterborough ambulances.

The inclement weather lead to an influx of calls, but because Peterborough Regional Hospital is implementing new software wait times are longer.

“We were notified a couple days ago by the hospital to let us know while its being introduced there’s potentially going to be some delays, but last night was just the perfect storm.”

Barry also noted that Peterborough Paramedics always experience an influx of calls this time of year due to flu season, and many doctors offices are closed or have reduced hours for the holidays - meaning hospitals are some peoples only means of care.

“This is not an everyday occurrence, though we do see this every year around this time,” said Barry. “We’re doing everything we can as a service to put more ambulances on the road. The hope is that everyone will be better prepared next time.”

Peterborough Paramedics just hired 11 probationary paramedics, and also notes that 100 per cent of paramedics working in Peterborough are double vaccinated, meaning no paramedics have been laid off due to COVID.

“We respond to a lot of calls that generally don’t need an ambulance,” said Barry.

In 2019 Peterborough Paramedic Chief appeared in a video titled ‘Is your Urgency and Emergency - It’s your Call’.

Barry says the message in that video still rings true.

“Often people think that if they’re brought to the hospital in an ambulance they’ll get seen quicker - which just isn’t true anymore.”

Whether a patient arrives on their own or by ambulance they are triaged.

Barry notes that by Tuesday morning they were back to normal service, having only one unit out of ten in use.

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Bobcaygeon Brewing Company is getting in The Christmas Spirit and Supporting Other Local Businesses With Their Custom Gift Baskets

The Bobcaygeon Brewing Company is celebrating the holidays with their Petes Fan Pack and custom gift baskets featuring their brew and other local goods.

Photo courtesy of Bobcaygeon Brewing Company

The brewery has put together gift options in hopes to encourage people to shop locally for the holidays.

Customers have a choice between three custom gift baskets priced at $50, $100 and $200. In addition to Bobcaygeon Brewing Co. beer and merchandise the baskets also include gifts from Allen Wick Candles, Red Mill Maple Syrup, Kawartha Soap Co and Rolling Grape Vineyards to name a few.

“Our holiday gift baskets feature products from some of our favourite local producers, in addition to our delicious beers. It’s the perfect way to support local this holiday season.” said Richard Wood, president and co-founder, Bobcaygeon Brewing Co.

In addition to gift baskets, Bobcaygeon Brewing Company is launching a Peterborough Petes Fan Pack.

This package includes a Petes Lager t-shirt, a six pack of Petes Lager and a voucher for two tickets to a Petes game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The Petes Fan Pack will be available until supplies run out. Cut off for the gift baskets is Dec. 17.

Customers can pre-order online at bobcaygeonbrewing.ca or in person at the Bobcaygeon Brewing Co. taproom at 649 The Parkway, Unit 4, with both pick up and delivery options available.

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Peterborough Petes Reassign Cole Patey to the Lindsay Muskies

The Peterborough Petes have reassigned forward Cole Patey to the Jr. A Lindsay Muskies of the Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Tuesday.

The 6’0”, 200 lbs Utterson native played a total of seven games for the Petes across the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

Patey was selected in the sixth round, 113th overall by the Peterborough Petes in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection from the North Central Minor Midget AAA Predators and spent his 2019-20 season with the U18 PMHC Peterborough Petes.

“It was a tough start to the season for Cole battling an injury and this will provide him the opportunity to get into some meaningful game action,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager.

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Trent University and ClearWater Farm Partner to Enrich Hands-on Learning and Research Opportunities for Students

With a mutual goal of preparing the sustainable agriculture leaders of the future, Trent University and ClearWater Farm are collaborating to enhance research and hands-on learning opportunities for students at the University.

L-R: Trent University Professors Dr. Shaun Watmough, Dr. Karen Thompson, acting Vice-President of Research and Innovation, Dr. Cathy Bruce, and Executive Director of the Ontario Water Centre, Colin Dobell. Photo courtesy of Trent University.

“Trent University is excited to be partnering with ClearWater Farm. Our mutual interests and expertise in small-scale sustainable agriculture will enhance student and farmer-apprentice skills through practical experiences. Our students will build connections with farming experts at ClearWater, who can advise and support them as they enter the agriculture sector,” said Dr. Cathy Bruce, acting vice-president of Research and Innovation at Trent. “This partnership will also leverage Trent’s research expertise in the School of the Environment, and we look forward to collaborating on research initiatives to support sustainable practices, including addressing local and regional food security.”

Through the Memorandum of Understanding, signed on December 1, 2021, the two institutions will explore new pathways to micro-credential and for-credit courses, research collaborations, experiential farming opportunities, and special events

ClearWater Farm is the flagship initiative of the Ontario Water Centre, an educational charitable organization aimed at nurturing young the eco-leaders of the future through youth-oriented experiential learning programs that showcase water-wise practices and technologies.

Over the past four years the Ontario Water Centre has developed, piloted and rolled out the Young Agripreneurs program, a multi-year apprenticeship based at ClearWater Farm designed to help young people transition to a career in regenerative agriculture. Its partnership with Trent University will allow ClearWater to expand its educational farming endeavors to the post-secondary education sector.

“In the short-term, while we are focused on the experiential dimensions of new farmer education, we believe academic learning provides an essential complementary framework for developing true expertise,” said Colin Dobell, executive director of the Ontario Water Centre. “We are hoping to partner with Trent to co-develop micro-credentialing opportunities for our ‘agripreneurs’ in a variety of fields required to succeed as a regenerative farmer.”

The partnership will enhance the commitment of both organizations to environmental science and greentech, small-scale sustainable agriculture, and learning from Indigenous knowledge and practices.

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Pathway Of Fame Is Looking For Nominees That Are Showing Their Goodwill This Holiday Season

With the Christmas Season now here, The Pathway of Fame of Peterborough and District is asking the community to consider nominating someone deserving of recognition to The Pathway as a gesture of goodwill befitting the season.

While the call for nominations is heightened in the spring, nominations can be submitted at any time throughout the year.

The Pathway also encourages groups and organizations to consider nominating a deserving individual in any of the available categories: Visual Arts, Dramatic Arts, Literary, Entertainment / Musical, Cultural Betterment, Community Samaritan, Community Builder, or Media.

A one-page nomination form can be downloaded as a pdf from https://ptbopathwayoffame.ca/nominees/. The Pathway of Fame is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2022.

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Local Restaurant Providing 24 Free Meals To Those In Need For the Holidays

Capra Toro’s generosity continues into the holidays as they are giving away 24 free meals to anyone in need for Dec. 19.

The meals are going towards individuals or families who are in need or going through rough patches.

The restaurant donated 24 meals to the same cause last month as part of their second-anniversary celebration.

The restaurant is encouraging anyone to contact them through Facebook or Instagram to write a brief message of anyone deserving of a meal.

“Giving back is definite a huge part of our family beliefs here at Capra Toro,” said Ashley MacDuff, Capra Toro supervisor. “We love to be able to give back when we can to the community.”

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Over $6 Million Raised For More Housing At The Mount Community Centre

After a concerted effort from the community, The Mount Community Centre has raised $6,272,755 towards building more affordable housing units announced on Sunday.

Photo Courtesy of The Mount Community Centre.

The money was raised through their Building Opportunity Campaign that was seeking a goal of $4 million for the 10-acre property. All of the funding was done through the volunteers.

Beavermead Construction was the company tasked to do the building however over 200 volunteers have done the painting, furnishing and landscaping.

Since August, 63 housing units have already been developed since 2013.

The units already contain several amenities such as a food centre, office space, public venue space and the Fulcrum Café.

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Warsaw Swing Bridge Temporarily Reduced To One Lane

Parks Canada announced on Monday that Warsaw Road Swing Bridge will be temporarily reduced to one lane for vehicle traffic on Friday and Saturday, between 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

The bridge will be closed for temporary removal of the cyclist steel plates located on the outer edge of both traffic lanes on the main bridge deck.

Traffic control will be in place.

Drivers are asked to exercise caution , respect working crews and equipment, and obey signage and flag persons in the area.

The Warsaw Road Swing Bridge was closed from October 2020 to August 2021 to undergo a full replacement of the bridge superstructure, repairs to concrete abutments, replacement of mechanical, hydraulic and electrical operating systems, and to bring the bridge up to full highway loading.

Part of this work included the installation of perforated cyclist steel plates on the outer edge of both traffic lanes to provide a smooth and safe ride over the bridge for cyclists.

Following the reopening of the bridge, it was discovered that noise levels on the bridge were elevated as a result of the plates vibrating on top of the bridge grating when vehicles travel over them.

The plates will be removed and will be replaced in the spring with new plates that will allow for installation of fasteners to reduce noise levels. Noise from the bridge will not be fully eliminated but rather reduced to levels similar to what existed prior to construction. Cyclists are advised to exercise caution when crossing the bridge until the new plates are installed.

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City of Peterborough Accepting Applications for Advisory Committees and Hearing Officers

The City of Peterborough is accepting applications for citizen appointments to advisory committees and hearing officers.

The City’s legislated and advisory committees provide input and guidance on the provision of municipal services and programs for our community. These citizen appointments are volunteer opportunities.

Appointments are available on the following committees: 

• Age-friendly Peterborough Advisory Committee 

• Arenas, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee 

• Community Investment Grant Advisory Committee  

• Museum and Archives Advisory Committee 

• Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee  

• Peterborough Environmental Advisory Committee 

Applications for advisory committees are accepted until Dec. 23. An interview may be required.

Applications are also being accepted for the position of Hearing Officer in accordance with By-law 20-077.

Hearing Officers are delegated authority by Council to independently conduct hearings and make delegated powers of decision.

Eligible candidates must have knowledge of and experience in administrative law. Hearing Officers are remunerated at the rate established by Council.

Applications for Hearing Officer are accepted until Dec. 17 at 4:30 p.m.

Applications for all positions are available online at peterborough.ca/committees , and hard copies are available at the Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 500 George St. N., during regular business hours.

The City requires all volunteers to provide proof of vaccination from COVID-19 prior to their first day of volunteering.