Peterborough Blogs
Enbridge Assists Selwyn Fire Dept in Supporting Firefighter Training
/The Selwyn Fire Department with 49 other fire departments is getting $250,000 from Enbridge Gas for educational materials for firefighters to enhance life-saving techniques. announced Wednesday.
Andrew Bowyer, Fire Prevention Officer (left), and Gord Jopling, Fire Chief for the Township of Selwyn (right) pose with a $5,000 cheque from Safe Community Project Assist and the educational materials purchased through the program. Photo Courtesy of Township of Selwyn.
The aid is through the Safe Community Project Assist, a program with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council that supplements existing training for Ontario volunteers and composite fire departments in the communities where Enbridge operates.
“Safety is our priority. We’re proud to support Ontario firefighters who share our commitment to keeping our communities safe,” says Steve McGivery, Director, GTA East Operations, Enbridge Gas.
Since the launch of Safe Community Project Assist in 2012, 244 grants have been provided to Ontario fire departments for additional firefighter training.
“Safe Community Project Assist improves access to training materials for fire departments,” says Jon Pegg, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chair of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council. “Firefighting can be dangerous and unpredictable, and these training materials positively contribute to the health and safety of firefighters and the broader community.”
“Selwyn Fire Department is honoured to have been selected by the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council and Enbridge Gas for this valuable donation. With these funds, we can help to continue educating our firefighters in their skills as we work to keep our community safe,” says Selwyn Fire Chief Gord Jopling.
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Hometown PTBO: Chase Stillman on Coming Back to Peterborough and His Family's Lineage of Hockey
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This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday speaks with Peterborough Petes Forward Chase Stillman on his return to Peterborough through a trade from the Sudbury Wolves.
Ontario to Ease Restrictions Every Three Weeks Starting on January 31
/The Ontario Government has outlined steps to ease public health measures and restrictions starting at the end of the month announced Thursday.
Doug Ford (pictured) had to reconsider lifting the mask mandate plan for the end of March due to the rise of the Omicron variant. Screenshot.
“The evidence tells us that the measures we put in place to blunt transmission of Omicron are working,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We can be confident that the worst is behind us and that we are now in a position to cautiously and gradually ease public health measures. While February will continue to present its own challenges, given current trends these are challenges we are confident we can manage.”
As a result of the additional public health measures enacted on Jan. 5, the province is beginning to see signs of stabilization in key public health and health system indicators.
Per cent positivity has fallen and new admissions to hospitals have started to stabilize with the length of stay shortening considerably according to the Ontario Government.
In the absence of concerning trends in public health and health care indicators, Ontario will follow a cautious and phased approach to lifting public health measures with 21 days between each step.
Jan. 31
Effective Jan. 31 at 12:01 a.m., Ontario will begin the process of gradually easing restrictions, while maintaining protective measures, including but not limited to:
Increasing social gathering limits to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
Increasing or maintaining capacity limits at 50 per cent in indoor public settings, including but not limited to:
Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities;
Retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies)
Shopping malls;
Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms;
Cinemas;
Meeting and event spaces;
Recreational amenities and amusement parks, including water parks;
Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions; and
Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
Religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
Allowing spectator areas of facilities such as sporting events, concert venues and theatres to operate at 50 per cent seated capacity or 500 people, whichever is less.
Enhanced proof of vaccination, and other requirements would continue to apply in existing settings.
Feb. 21
Effective Feb. 21, Ontario will lift public health measures, including:
Increasing social gathering limits to 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
Removing capacity limits in indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to restaurants, indoor sports and recreational facilities, cinemas, as well as other settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
Permitting spectator capacity at sporting events, concert venues and theatres at 50 per cent capacity.
Limiting capacity in most remaining indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is not required to the number of people that can maintain two metres of physical distance.
Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies limited to the number that can maintain two metres of physical distance, with no limit if proof of vaccination is required.
Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required including nightclubs, wedding receptions in meeting or event spaces where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs.
Enhanced proof of vaccination and other requirements would continue to apply in existing settings.
Mar. 14
Effective Mar. 14, 2022, Ontario will take additional steps to ease public health measures, including:
Lifting capacity limits in all indoor public settings. Proof of vaccination will be maintained in existing settings in addition to other regular measures.
Lifting remaining capacity limits on religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
Increase social gathering limits to 50 people indoors with no limits for outdoor gatherings.
To manage COVID-19 over the long-term, local and regional responses by public health units may be deployed based on local context and conditions.
“Thanks to the sacrifices of Ontarians we are starting to see glimmers of hope. However we know the coming weeks will continue to pose challenges, especially for our hospital partners,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “As we continue to chart our path forward, we will continue to take a gradual and cautious approach to lifting public health measures to protect our hospital capacity and ensure patients can continue to access the care they need.”
“Thanks to the efforts of Ontarians going out to get their booster dose and adhering to current public health and workplace safety measures, we are in a position where we can begin planning to gradually and cautiously ease restrictions,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “The months ahead will require continued vigilance, as we don’t want to cause any further disruption to people’s everyday lives. We must continue to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities by following the measures in place and by vaccinating those who have not yet received their doses.”
To support businesses required to close or reduce capacity due to the public health measures put in place to blunt the spread of the Omicron variant, the government has launched the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program.
Through the new program, the government will provide eligible businesses with a rebate payment of up to 100 per cent for property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to these restrictions. Applications for the program opened on Jan. 18. Learn more about the program and apply here.
The government is also introducing a new COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant that will give businesses subject to closure under the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen a $10,000 grant.
The money will flow to eligible businesses in February. In addition, the government is also improving cash flows for Ontario businesses by making up to $7.5 billion available through a six-month interest- and penalty-free period for Ontario businesses to make payments for most provincially administered taxes.
This penalty and interest-free period started on Jan. 1. This supports businesses now and provides the flexibility they will need for long-term planning.
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Peterborough Petes Promote Inclusivity With New Warmup Jerseys
/The Peterborough Petes have unveiled warmup jerseys designed to promote inclusivity and make hockey more accessible announced on Thursday.
James Guo (pictured) signed his standard player agreement contract on Aug. 17. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.
The jerseys include Peterborough’s nickname “The Electric City,” as the first town in Canada to install electric streetlights. It also contains a screen-printed patch stating, “Hockey for All.”
The custom, game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off at the end of the season with proceeds going towards future hockey initiatives to increase accessibility.
“Fully Promoted powered by Signarama, believes in helping and empowering community and as such it was a privilege to be able to create the unique ‘Hockey for All’ logo that appears on the shoulder of the jersey,” said Morgan Smith, Signarama Peterborough CEO, Morgan Smith. “Hockey is a great sport, Canada’s game, and should be enjoyed and inclusive of all, as fans, spectators or by players,”
“We are thrilled to see the concept of these jerseys come to fruition and be worn by our players in arenas across the province,” said Eric Ebenbauer, Petes director of sales. “The values of Fully Promoted/Signarama align with the mission of the Petes to make hockey more inclusive and accessible and we are proud to partner on this initiative.”
All proceeds from the game-worn, warmup jerseys will go towards funding towards local hockey initiatives in the area including the First Shift program the Petes are hosting in March. Bidding for the 2021-22 practice jerseys will open and be announced at a later date.
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Peterborough Fire Services Highlights The Importance Of Keeping Hydrants Clear Of Snow
/Peterborough Fire Services reminds residents of the importance of keeping snow away from fire hydrants and maintaining access.
File Photo.
The co-operation of homeowners and businesses in maintaining a clear path to fire hydrants on or near their property helps emergency personnel to access critical water supplies and minimize property damage in the event of a fire.
Residents are asked to be mindful of any fire hydrants on or near their property when clearing snow, keeping hydrants clear of snow and other obstacles.
"There are over 2,000 fire hydrants in the City of Peterborough," said Amanda Nichols, Public Educator for Peterborough Fire Services. "We really appreciate residents keeping hydrants accessible by ensuring snow doesn't get dumped or blown on top of them. Precious time can be lost in a fire emergency if hydrants are not visible and accessible.”
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Extreme Cold Warning In Peterborough County Begins Thursday Morning
/Environment Canada issued an extreme cold warning for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, northern Hastings County, and Haliburton County, beginning Thursday morning.
Photo by Angela O’Grady.
Late Wednesday afternoon, a cold front will push through the region, which will cause temperatures to abruptly drop below freezing.
By Thursday morning, cold temperatures in combination with brisk northwest winds will lead to wind chill values between -30°C and -35°C Thursday morning. Wind chill values are expected to moderate through the day Thursday, but may drop to near -30°C Thursday night into Friday morning once again.
Residents are encouraged to dress in layers if going outside is necessary.
It is also noted that surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways, and parking lots — especially untreated surfaces where snow has not yet been cleared — may become icy and slippery.
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No COVID-19 Deaths and One Outbreak For January 19, 2022
/No new deaths and one outbreak with 569 active cases have been reported by Peterborough Public Health on Thursday.
The one outbreak occurred at a congregate living setting on Wednesday with 31 cases reported.
There are 157 total hospitalizations and 27 total ICU admissions to date in Peterborough.
New COVID-19 cases by date. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Public Health.
For more information visit: https://localcovidtracker.ca/
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Peterborough Plans To Address Doctor Shortage In Area With New Committee
/A new committee is being formed in Peterborough in hopes to plan and implement strategies for family physician recruitment and retention, announced last week.
Stock Photo.
