Township Of Douro-Dummer 2022 Burn Permits Are Now Available
/Residents of Douro-Dummer can now apply online for their 2022 burn permits.
Photo by Angela O’Grady
Peterborough Blogs
Hurlington Family Bakes 3,000 Cookies To Share With Community
/The Hurlington family of Peterborough has been busy baking cookies to distribute to the community, as they do every year at this time.
Photo courtesy of Alvea Hurlington
The family moved to Peterborough in 2005, and out of a desire to do something special to get to know their neighbors, Cookie Day was born.
Each year around Christmas the family has a ‘mega-bake day’ and bakes enough cookies to share with the community.
Now, 16 years later the family is known as ‘The Cookie People’.
This year, the family baked a total of 3,000 cookies in one day including six different flavours. They were able to put together over 200 boxes of cookies for anyone that wants one.
Alvea Hurlington, the oldest sibling, documented ‘cookie day’ on social media.
In one comment she told a friend ‘Anyone can do something fabulous for the people around them no matter how simple’.
The Hurlingtons are no strangers to good deeds. When the COVID-19 Pandemic hit in March 2020 the family quickly put together a flyer letting their neighbours know that if they needed help picking up groceries or urgent supplies, temporary childcare or even just a friendly phone call.
“Everything we do, we do it as a crew,” Hurlington said in a past interview with PTBOCanada.
In her social media post, Alvea wrote “With all the craziness going on in our world the Hurlington family would still like to inspire you to do something special for your community.”
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Housing Stability Fund And Rent Supplement Program Update
/Starting Jan. 1, 2022, the Housing Stability Fund and Housing Choice Rent Supplement programs will be available through Social Services with the City of Peterborough, rather than at the Housing Resource Centre as previously administered.
People who receive Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) are not affected by the changes to the Housing Stability Fund administration as they can already access the program through Social Services.
This change will impact individuals who:
receive a Housing Choice Rent Supplement; or
access emergency financial assistance to prevent homelessness or to move into housing and who do not receive OW or ODSP.
For more information and to review frequently asked questions click here.
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Peterborough Public Health Issues Drug Poisoning Alert
/Peterborough Public Health issued an alert regarding a significant increase in suspected drug poisonings locally, on Monday.
File Photo.
“Over the last two days, Paramedic Calls for Service and Emergency Department Visits for suspected drug poisonings have been consistently high,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health. “This has prompted us to proceed with issuing a public warning in hopes of preventing further harms in the community.”
Beginning Dec. 14 through to Dec. 21, local paramedics responded to 9 opioid related calls for service, and there were 12 opioid-related Emergency Department Visits.
Peterborough Public Health advises if you use substances:
o Don’t use drugs alone o If you use with a friend, do not use at the exact same time
o Have a plan – Ask someone to check on you or call the National Overdose Response Service 1-888- 688-6677
o Carry a naloxone kit, keep it visible and close to you
o Avoid mixing drugs
o Test your drug by using a small amount first
o Call 911 immediately if someone starts to show signs of an overdose and/or cannot be resuscitated after naloxone is administered
Peterborough Public Health encourages everyone to recognize the signs of opioid overdose and know what to do:
o Skin is cold and clammy
o Fingernails or lips are blue or purple
o Body is very limp
o Can’t wake the person up
o Deep snoring or gurgling sounds
o Breathing is very slow, erratic or has stopped
o Pupils are very small
If an overdose is witnessed: Call 911. Give naloxone. Stay with the person until help arrives.
“The mixture of opioids and other drugs, accidental or not, can increase the risk of overdose and death,” Said Dr. Piggott. “If you are using drugs right now, it is critical that you take action to stay safe. Use with a friend and do not use at the same time. You can also ask someone to check in on you or call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677.”
Peterborough Public Health also stressed that under Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, anyone who seeks medical help for themselves or for someone else who has overdosed, WILL NOT be charged for possessing or using drugs for personal use.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 3 drug poisoning deaths for every death attributable to COVID-19, Dr. Piggott explained.
“This serves to remind us that our community is confronted by two immediate and very significant threats to public health - the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and the increasing harms of substance use and the contaminated drug supply.”
For a list of local community agencies that are providing naloxone, harm reduction supplies, and overdose response services over the holidays visit https://www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/stay-safe-over-theholidays/.
To access local data regarding opioid-related harms, visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and search for “Opioids” or click here.
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Trent University Student Wins $500 Early Bird Prize With The Boro's Holiday Passport Draw
/Trent University student, Jonah Udovc has won the final Holiday Shopping Passport early bird draw of 2021, which is a $500 Boro giftcard.
Jonah Udovc and Terry Guiel, Peterborough DBIA. Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA.
Udovc’s winning Holiday Shopping Passport was drawn on Dec 15 at the Peterborough DBIA.
He collected his stamps after purchasing a coat from Wild Rock Outfitters and a new house plant from Plant Goals.
The $500 gift card can be used at various stores in the downtown core, and Udovc says he will use it to explore places he hasn’t been to.
“Supporting local directly impacts the livelihood of our local shop owners which feels far more impactful than shopping at a big box store. I love the downtown and couldn’t imagine shopping for the holidays anywhere else,” said Udovc.
Holiday Shopping Passports are still available at any one of the 150+ participating shops, boutiques, salons, restaurants, and cafes in downtown Peterborough. Each completed Holiday Shopping Passport increases the chance to win up to $1,500 in Boro gift cards.
The $1,500 grand prize draw will happen on Jan 12, 2022.
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Lindsay Man Wins $75,000 On Instant Poker Ticket
/Trent Kroll, 58, of Lindsay is celebrating after winning the top prize of $75,000 with an Instant Poker ticket.
Photo courtesy of OLG.
Kroll purchased the ticket at Shell on Lindsay Street in Lindsay, and asked the clerk to pick the ticket for him.
“I was watching TV while playing my tickets with my lucky dime when I realized I won,” said Kroll. “My heart stopped, and mind started racing. I thought this couldn’t be real, and checked my ticket using the OLG App about 30 times.”
The avid fisherman and outdoor enthusiast says when he called his sister to tell her the news he had a hard time getting the words out.
“She had to ask me, ‘What are you saying?’”
Kroll said he plans to use his winnings to pay bills and get a place of his own.
“I am dumbfounded-it hasn’t really sunk in yet. I feel like I’m in a daze,” he said.
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Selwyn Township Cancels Senior Skating Indefinitely Due to Rising COVID-19 Cases
/The free senior skating events at Lakefield-Smith and Ennismore Community Centres have been cancelled by the Selwyn Township due to the rising cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant announced Tuesday.
Stock Photo.
The Lakefield skating ran from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. Ennismore’s skating occurred every Monday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The township wants to reopen free skating to seniors next year if it is safe to do so according to their social media post but no specific timeframe has been given.
Michelle Ferreri Tells A Story Of A Peterborough Woman In Her Maiden Speech
/Member of Parliament Michelle Ferreri gave her maiden speech at the House of Commons on Dec. 16.
In Ferreri’s first ever speech she brought to light the mental health crisis in Peterborough-Kawartha.
She told the story of Cassie, a Peterborough local who struggled with her mental health.
On Sept. 20, Cassie passed away. Ferreri made a promise to Cassies’s mother that her story wouldn’t end in vain, and that she would work to help the other ‘Cassies’ in Peterborough.
“Cassie is the real example of what needs to be solved and the crisis we’re living in,” said Ferreri. “Her mom wanted her story shared. She wants people to know what happened.”
When Ferreri posted a video of her clip on Facebook, members of the community and Cassie’s family members expressed their praise in the comments.
“I wrote the speech myself, I didn’t have any help or input on what I chose to write. I think I’ll be able to look back on my maiden speech in the future and it will remind me of why I started this. There’s days when it gets hard and overwhelming but I can go back to my maiden speech and be reminded of why I’m doing this and what I’m trying to achieve.”
Ferreri also noted how COVID-19 has magnified the opioid and mental health crisis, and that Canada needs to learn to live with COVID.
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Peterborough Drug Strategy Shares Holiday Closures And Safety Tips To Prevent Opioid Poisonings
/With the holiday season approaching, Peterborough Drug Strategy partners are reminding community members about the importance of overdose prevention and not using drugs alone.
It is not uncommon to see drug poisonings and other harms increase over the holidays. This time of year can be difficult for many people, and can trigger sadness, stress, anxiety, and other difficult emotions. While people use drugs for many different reasons, this can lead to consuming more alcohol and other drugs in an effort to cope or manage these feelings.
Peterborough Drug Strategy suggests that individuals currently experiencing a mental health or substance use concern, or are working towards recovery, connecting with a trusted friend or family member and reaching out to them regularly may be helpful.
When using drugs, please remember these prevention tips:
• Don’t use drugs alone
• Use with a friend, but not at the same time
• If you are using alone, have a plan. Have someone check in with you or call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677
• Carry naloxone, keep it visible and close by
• Avoid mixing drugs
• Test your drugs by using a small amount first
• Call 911 immediately if someone starts to show signs of an overdose and/or cannot be resuscitated after naloxone is administered
Community members are encouraged to know the signs of opioid poisoning and how to respond. An opioid poisoning may look like the following:
• Skin is cold and clammy
• Fingernails or lips are blue or purple
• Body is very limp
• Can’t wake the person up
• Deep snoring or gurgling sounds
• Breathing is very slow, erratic or has stopped
• Pupils are very small
If you suspect an overdose, respond quickly by calling 911 right away. Give naloxone if available, and stay with the person until help arrives.
While a number of local community agencies will be closed between Friday at 12 p.m. to Jan. 4, 2022, naloxone, harm reduction supplies, and overdose response services are available from the following agencies:
Naloxone and emergency overdose response
• Peterborough County-City Paramedics. All paramedics carry naloxone for distribution. When attending a drug-related 911 call, paramedics can provide naloxone kits to the patient whether or not naloxone has already been administered.
Naloxone and other Harm Reduction Supplies
• One Roof - 99 Brock Street. Open Daily 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, and again from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Note: If there is an extreme cold event guests can request harm reduction supplies during the extended hours drop-in from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and again from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• FourCast – 200-130 Hunter Street W. Closed from Dec. 25 to 28 and on Jan. 1. Open Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Open all other days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• CMHA - 466 George Street N. Closed from Dec. 25 to 28 and on Jan. 1. Open Dec. 24 and December 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Open all other days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic - 360 George Street N. Closed from Dec. 25 to 28 and on Jan. 1 .Open Dec. 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Open Dec. 29 to 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Open Dec. 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Mobile Support Overdose Resource Team (MSORT) Open Dec. 24 and 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For more information, call the MSORT mobile office at 705-760-0673.
• Elizabeth Fry Society - 150 King Street., 4th Floor. Closed from Dec. 25 to January 3. Open Dec. 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Elizabeth Fry’s peer support line will be available 24/7 for calling or texting throughout the holidays at 705-768-4334 for harm reduction supplies and naloxone.
• PARN. Closed from Dec. 24 at 12:00 p.m. to Jan. 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Addiction Treatment Services (Alcohol and Drug Use)
• Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic. Closed Dec. 27, reopens Jan. 3 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Crisis Response
• Four County Crisis. If you are in crisis, call 705-745-6484 or toll-free 1-866-995-9933. By phoning these numbers, you can access 24-hour, free, confidential crisis support.
• Telecare Distress Centre of Peterborough. Call 705-745-2273 for free, non-judgmental, and confidential crisis support available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
For more information about opioid-related harms data, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and search for “Opioids” or click here.
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City to Hold Public Meeting For Fire Station 2 Relocation
/The City of Peterborough will hold a public meeting on Jan. 18 to provide a presentation on the design of the new Fire Station 2 facility and answer questions from the public.
Residents are invited to join the meeting on the City’s community consultation website Connect Peterborough or by phone.
The site at 100 Marina Blvd — which was previously the location of the Northcrest Arena — was approved in April 2021 by City Council following a detailed site study and public consultation process.
It will be the City’s first building that is designed, built and certified as a Zero Carbon Building for both performance and design categories.
Construction on the new facility is expected to start in the summer of 2022.
“We’re all very excited to see the Fire Hall #2 project moving ahead to support Peterborough Fire Service in serving the growing community in the City’s north end,” remarked Councillor Andrew Beamer, Chair of Fire Services. “Please join the public meeting to get a sneak peek of the facility and to take part in the question-and-answer period.”
Everyone is welcome to join the Public Meeting: Peterborough Fire Services Station #2 on Jan 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.:
Online at www.connectptbo.ca/fire
By phone: 1-833-651-1158 (toll-free) Conference#: 958 893 9393#
