Extended Hours for One Roof Community Centre On Wednesday and Thursday

One Roof Community Centre will be open for extended hours of service on Wednesday and Thursday due to temperatures anticipated to drop below -15C for the Peterborough area.

One Roof Community Centre began extended hours on select days this year on Jan. 2. Photo courtesy of One Roof Community Centre.

They are open from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with the to-go meal provided between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The following day will be open from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The Centre is closed to drop-in service from noon to 3:00 p.m. for the meal preparation and pickup period to protect the health and safety of the public, volunteers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emergency shelters are open and available to people experiencing homelessness who require emergency overnight shelter:

• YES Shelter for Youth and Families, 705-748-3851, 196 Brock St.

• Brock Mission men’s shelter, 705-748-4766, 120 Murray St.

• Cameron House women’s shelter, 705-748-4766, 739 Chemong Rd.

• Overflow Shelter at 210 Wolfe St., overnight phone 705-761-1875

Emergency After Hours Services related to the emergency shelter is available through Social Services by calling 705-926-0096. Please visit the Social Services website for information regarding the After Hours program.

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Peterborough Woman Cycling From France To Belgium With Wounded Warriors Canada

Miranda Zeppieri, a Peterborough local, will be participating in the 100 Days to Victory Battlefield Bike Ride with Wounded Warriors, cycling from France to Belgium in June.

Photo courtesy of Miranda Zeppieri.

Wounded Warriors Canada provides a range of clinically facilitated mental health programs specifically developed to support the unique needs of Veterans, First Responders and their families. Zeppieri has been a supporting the cause since 2016.

Being a military partner, a step-mom to two military daughters, and having multiple extended family members in the military, Wounded Warriors is an organization close to Zeppieri’s heart.

“It’s one of those things I quickly became very passionate about,” she said. “I became passionate about cycling about eight years ago, then found out about the Wounded Warriors highway of Heroes ride and I became involved in that. It was amazing and I was able to give back to the military community. I’ve done that ride every year since 2016.”

Wounded Warriors has since retired the Highway of Heroes ride, now Zeppieri participates in their mental health ride which is 220 km long.

From June 13 - 17, Zeppieri, with a group of 100, will cycle from Arras, France to Mons, Belgium - the route the Canadian Corps trekked during the last 100 days of World War One. The Battlefield Ride will be Zeppieri’s longest ride yet, at over 400 km.

“My big ‘why’ as to why I’m riding is that this is my chance to give back and to make a difference within the military community,” said Zeppieri. “I’m doing it as a challenge to myself and I’m also advocating as an individual with two rare medical-complex disorders. I ride to show other people that you can do things even if you have challenges.”

Zeppieri has lived with epilepsy her whole life and also lives with PTSD and anxiety. She says that cycling acts as therapy for her.

In addition to being able to give back to the military community, Zeppieri is also looking forward to seeing the name of her Great-Uncle, who fought in France during WWI, on the wall at Vimy Ridge and paying her respects.

Lauralee Mills and Miranda Zeppieri. Photo courtesy of Miranda Zeppieri.

Each participant in the 100 Days to Victory Battlefielrd Bike Ride must raise $4,000 in order to participate for a total fundraising goal of $400,000 between all participants.

While honouring Canadian soldiers’ service and sacrifice during WWI, the money raised will help support the mental health programs offered by Wounded Warriors Canada.

Zeppieri will be riding with her friend Lauralee Mills and they are fundraising both individually and as Team Zip and Mills.

To donate to Zeppieri’s ride, click here.

To donate to Team Zip and Mills, click here.

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Riverview Park And Zoo Otter Twins Boldt And Lawrence Turn Four

Twin otters Boldt and Lawrence at Riverview Park and Zoo turn four on Tuesday.

In captivity River otters have a life expectancy of about 25 years. Photo courtesy of RPZ.

Both male otters came to RPZ in 2019 from the Aquatarium in Brockville.

They joined two river otters already living at the zoo, Splish and Melissa.

RPZ’s outdoor otter exhibit opened in 2007 and has two pools, a waterfall and a slide, as well as outdoor land areas for the animals to roam, play and hide.

The boys celebrated their birthday in their icy cold pool at the zoo.

River otters have two layers of fur that protect them from cold water.

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Flood Watch In Peterborough Area In Anticipation Of Up To 25 Millimeters Of Rain

Otonabee Conservation has issued a flood watch for all water bodies in the Peterborough area.

Affected areas include the Municipalities of Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, City of Kawartha Lakes, City of Peterborough and Trent Hills.

After experiencing a low-pressure trough that brought warm air temperatures, rain, and snowmelt to the Region last week, we will experience similar weather conditions on Tuesday as a Texas Low Pressure system passes over Southern Ontario. Air temperatures will soar to 6 degrees Celsius, and the system will deliver 20-25 millimetres of rain, possibly heavy at times.

Rain on snow on frozen ground will cause already above-normal water levels/flows to increase even more, possibly resulting in overbank flooding. However, if water levels do rise enough as to exceed channel capacity, it is expected to only do so in low-lying areas and to cause only nuisance level flooding. Ice cover break-up is not expected and flooding due to ice jams is also not expected. Wednesday, will see the system gone from the Region and a return to seasonal air temperatures.

Area residents can expect ponding of water in low-lying areas because frozen ground conditions will prevent absorption, followed by the freezing of this water as the air temperatures change back to below zero. Also, ponding will occur around culverts and drainage basins that are blocked due to snow, ice and/or debris. Residents and businesses along the shores of area waterbodies and watercourses, especially those located in low-lying areas, are strongly encouraged to keep a close watch for possible flooding and to take action to limit or prevent damages due to potential flooding. Adults, parents, and caregivers are advised to keep themselves, children, and pets away from all waterways and conveyance structures (i.e., dams, culverts, and bridges).

Water levels can be monitored on-line at:

1) Trent-Severn Waterway’s Water Management InfoNet

2) Water Survey of Canada Real-Time Hydrometric Data

3) Otonabee Region Conservation Authority website

This flood watch will expire Thursday unless otherwise noted.

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Ontario To Scrap Licence Plate Sticker Renewal March 13

The Ontario government has announced it is ending licence plate renewal fees and sticker fees by March 13 and will refund the cost of stickers purchased over the past two years.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“We are eliminating licence plate renewal fees,” Premier Doug Ford announced Tuesday morning. “And scrapping the requirement to have licence plate sticker for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds.”

Anyone who bought them from March 2020 onwards is eligible for a refund.

“This means over 7.5 million vehicle owners can expect a refund,” Ford said.

To recieve a refund drivers will need to make sure the address on their licence is up to date by March 7 online or by phone with ServiceOntario at 1-888-333-0049.

Any outstanding tickets or fines must be paid for before receiving a refund.

Refunds can be expected by the end of April via cheque.

No refunds will be given for the period of March 2020 to March 2022 for passenger, light-duty commercial vehicles, motorcycles or mopeds owned by a business, the government said.

In Tuesdays announcement Ford said licence plates will still need to be renewed but that it will be free with no sticker required.

This move will cost the province $1.1 billion a year in revenue and comes ahead of the Provincial election set for June.

“We’re just putting that back into your pocket and its about affordability,” Ford said.

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Fleming And Trent Partner To Expand Pathways For Indigenous Learners

Fleming College and Trent University have signed new articulation agreements that allow Fleming students to obtain a Bachelor’s degree through programs offered at Trent’s renowned Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

Eligible graduates from Fleming’s Ecosystem Management Technology, Environmental Technology, and Fish and Wildlife Technology programs will have the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Indigenous Environmental Studies at Trent in two additional years of study – graduating with both their diploma and degree credentials in five years.

Eligible graduates of Fleming’s Early Childhood Education and Educational Support programs, who also self-identify as Indigenous, will receive 7.0 and 5.0 credits, respectively, towards Trent’s Indigenous Bachelor of Education degree. These are two new pathways are exclusively for Indigenous students.

“These pathways are another step towards Fleming’s commitment to upholding the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations for postsecondary institutions,” said Maureen Adamson, President, Fleming College. “The new agreements build on Fleming’s long-standing relationship with Trent University to provide academic programming and research partnerships in areas related to environmental and natural resource studies that value Indigenous teachings.”

The Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People have both identified addressing the educational gap for Indigenous learners as a priority.

“Creating more opportunity for individuals who identify as Indigenous to access higher education, especially opportunities in both college and university environments, is an important factor in honouring and advancing the teachings and leadership of Indigenous communities,” said Professor David Newhouse, chair of the Chanie Wenjack School of Indigenous Studies at Trent. “The Indigenous-focused degree programs at Trent aim to support generations of Indigenous youth by producing greater numbers of role models. We know these programs are successful in that way as Trent University is ranked first in Canada for promoting Indigenous visibility.”

There are now two Fleming certificate programs and five diploma programs that lead to an Indigenous Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Environmental Studies or Bachelor of Science in Indigenous Environmental Science programs for Indigenous students.

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Freezing Rain Warning In Peterborough Area Monday Night

Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement for the Peterborough area in anticipation of freezing rain occurring Monday night through Tuesday night.

The Special Weather statement is in effect in Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Halliburton and Hastings County.

Freezing rain is expected to begin Monday night and continue into Tuesday, with rain during the day.

Flooding is possible. Road conditions are expected to become slippery.

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Next Gen Kids Sign One-Day Contract With Peterborough Petes

Kids of the Peterborough Petes Next Gen program have signed one-day contracts as staff members for various positions ahead of a matinee game against the Barrie Colts on Monday afternoon.

(From left to right) Callan “Coach Cal” Perks, Next Gen General Manager; Michael Oke, Petes General Manager; Chase Savage, Next Gen Head Coach; Khaiden Kidd, Next Gen Radio Broadcaster; Emerson Malloy Next Gen PA Announcer and Ella Perks, Next Gen In-Game Host. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Next Gen game allows children to shadow staffing roles such as general manager, public address announcer, a new role as a radio broadcaster and many others.

“I think this is a type of event that gives everybody an opportunity to be involved,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager. “Whether you are someone that is a strong player or somebody that doesn't play as all but wants to be a fan and enjoy the various aspects, it gives everybody a chance to be involved and participate.”

The Petes accepted applications and auditions from the public earlier this month for the Family Day game. Essays and/or videos were accepted as entries.

The following is a list of the Petes Next Gen staff:

• Callan Perks, General Manager

• Chase Savage, Head Coach

• Abby Docherty, Assistant Coach (not present)

• Emerson Malloy Next Gen PA Announcer

• Ella Perks, Next Gen In-Game Host

• Khaiden Kidd, Next Gen Radio Broadcaster

Coach Cal went viral in a pre-game speech that went viral in November. His twin sister Ella (far right) was the Next Gen In-Game Host for Feb. 21 game. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Callan “Coach Cal” Perks became a viral sensation with a pre-game speech for the Petes in late November as part of the Next Gen game. Oke says this program is meant to help develop younger generations with several life skills on and off the ice.

“We may be developing future players for the National Hockey League but we're definitely developing future members of our community,” he said. “I think this is a perfect example of an event like this in a special game like this allows us to work with young people and help development for life but not only on the ice but off the ice as well.

@ptbo_canada @coachcalofficial telling the @petesohlhockey to get the W tonight! Be careful @Barrie Colts. #gopetesgo #ohl #petes #coachcal #familyday #gettheW ♬ original sound - PTBOCanada

The Peterborough Petes defeated the Barrie Colts 4-3. Emmett Sproule, Jax Dubois, Chase Stillman and J. R. Avon were the Petes goal scorers.

Stillman and Spoule were the first and second stars respectively with Declan McDonnell of the Colts as the third.

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City Of Peterborough A Leader In Waste Management Diverting 53 Per Cent From Landfills In 2020

Numbers released last month show the City of Peterborough is among the leaders in Ontario for waste diversion from landfill with a diversion rate of 53 per cent. Still, the City is looking for ways it can do better.

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

Residents and stakeholders are invited to attend a virtual public meeting on March 1 at 7 p.m. to learn about the City’s review and update of its 2012 Waste Management Master Plan and to give input. To register for the meeting, visit connectptbo.ca/wasteplan2022 or call 705-742-7777 ext. 1724.

Through updating the Plan, the City will consider proven waste diversion programs, policies and strategies that have been implemented successfully in other jurisdictions across Ontario.

Recommendations on waste management activities generated through the review process will go to City Council to consider updates to the City’s Waste Management Master Plan.

Councillor Gary Baldwin, Chair of Council’s Waste Management Portfolio, says he is looking forward to the conversation about how the community can work together to manage and reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill.

“We are in the process of starting city-wide household organic waste collection, that should begin next year. This will be a huge step forward for our community,” Baldwin said. “The Waste Management Master Plan update will take a broader look at how we handle waste management services.”

Waste diversion numbers are released as part of the annual Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority Datacall, Ontario's standardized waste reporting and calculation process. The numbers released on January 13 reflect data for 2020.

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