Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough Public Health Warns Public Of Increase In Suspected Drug-Related Deaths
/Peterborough Public Health is notifying community members about an unusually high number of suspected drug-related deaths for April.
Photo by Luke Best.
Through Peterborough’s Early Warning and Surveillance System, Peterborough Public Health and partners have detected high numbers of suspected drug-related deaths.
As of April 19 , there have been 14 suspected drug-related deaths in Peterborough County and City.
This increase has prompted Peterborough Public Health to proceed with issuing this notice in the hopes of bringing awareness to and preventing further drug-related harms within our community. Any substance bought from an unregulated supply should be considered tainted. Any drug can be mixed or cut with toxic substances, and even a small amount can cause a fatal poisoning.
Peterborough Public Health advises if you use substances:
Do not use drugs alone.
If you using with a friend, do not use at the exact same time.
Have a plan – Ask someone to check on you or call the National Overdose Response Service 1-888-688-6677.
Carry a naloxone kit. Keep it visible and close by.
Avoid mixing drugs.
Test your drug 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.
You are at greatest risk when you are using alone. 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 Prevention Service at 1-888-688-6677.
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;
Cannot wake the person up;
Deep snoring or gurgling sounds;
Breathing is very slow, erratic or has stopped; and/or
Pupils are very small.
If an overdose is witnessed: Call 911. Give naloxone. Stay with the person until help arrives
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.
Peterborough Public Health is also encouraging members of the public to use the recently launched ‘Drug Reporting Tool’. This tool is an anonymous survey to report overdose incidents and harms in the community. Any information shared through the survey supports Peterborough Public Health and community partners in responding to and preventing overdoses in the Peterborough Area. The Drug Reporting Tool can be accessed by clicking here.
Ontario Government Offering Individuals Up To $28,000 Towards Tuition For In-Demand Work
/The Ontario Government is launching a new training program, Better Jobs Ontario, on Friday which will pay up to $28,000 in tuition and other costs for short-duration training programs that allow job seekers to match their skills with the needs of hiring employers in the community, they announced at Fleming College on Monday.
Photo by Angela O’Grady.
Better Jobs Ontario will be open to anyone looking to train for in-demand work, including those on social assistance, who are self-employed, gig workers, youth, and newcomers to the province.
“To build a stronger Ontario, we need all hands on deck. Our government is on a mission to help everyday people earn bigger paycheques and we’re leaving nobody behind,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “Whether you are a young person struggling to break into the job market, a gig worker hustling to make ends meet, or unemployed and on social assistance, our government is here to give you a hand up to building a better life and stronger province for us all.”
Starting on Friday, this program will pay up to $28,000 in tuition and other costs for short-duration training programs that allow job seekers to match their skills with the needs of hiring employers in the community. Expanding on the current Second Career program, more applicants will now be eligible for up to $500 per week in financial support for basic living expenses.
“This funding opens doors for underemployed workers, new students and anyone looking to pursue a new career that requires a specific skillset,” said Fleming College President Maureen Adamson. “It expands job training and education to those who need it the most.”
Nominations Open For Peterborough And The Kawartha Chamber 2022 Business Excellence Award
/Nominations are now open for the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Business Excellence Awards.
File Photo.
Categories for business nominations include Commercial Development or Renovation, Customer First, Employer of the Year, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Farm Family of the Year, Green Initiatives, Health & Wellness, Hospitality, Local Focus, Marketing & Promotion, Micro Business, New Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year, Not-for-profit, Professional Services, Retail, Skilled Trades, and Tourism.
Individuals are also eligible to be nominated in categories like Business Citizen of the Year, 4-Under-40 Profiles, New Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year, Businesswoman of the Year – Entrepreneur, and Businesswoman of the Year – Organization.
Nomination forms are available at pkexcellence.ca. The deadline to nominate a business or individual is at 4:30 p.m. on May 25.
Three finalists in each category will be announced in August. The winners will be announced in the fall.
StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Tragically Dipped, T-Elle Boutique, Jethro's Bar and Stage and Lakefield Optometrist
/PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…
Tragically Dipped opened recently at 386 Water St. Owner Mike Frampton offers old-school doughnuts, coffee, breakfast and snacks made with fresh local ingredients.
It’s a brand-new restaurant space and Frampton will gradually expand the menu over the coming weeks. The doughnuts have been so popular that Mike is limiting walk-in purchases to one box of six per person! You can also pick up some whole bean coffee from Rapids End.
T-Elle Boutique in Downtown Peterborough has a new owner. Victoria Shaoling has been inspired by Lien Vu, the previous owner, so she decided to start a new adventure in the fashion industry and purchased the boutique.
Located at 131 Charlotte St., across from Galaxy Cinema, T-Elle Boutique offers fancy apparel for proms, graduations, parties, Mother of the bride or any special occasion. Victoria also carries fashionable casual collections made in Montréal. Stop in or visit telleboutique.com.
Jethro’s Bar and Stage just opened last week at 137 Hunter St. in Peterborough.
Owner Kayla Howrand and her family have taken over the former Sapphire Room on Hunter Street and they plan to offer lots of live music, including Charlie Glasspool every Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7. p.m. Follow Jethro’s Bar and Stage on Facebook for updates.
Lakefield Optometrist Dr. Rick Heyden recently retired after 27 years serving the Lakefield community.
Dr. Emily Kendall will be joining the practice, working alongside Dr. Jessica Nichols and Dr. Shelley Martel. In addition, Lakefield VisionCare is joining with FYidoctors, Canada's largest doctor-owned eye care provider. The practice will continue at the same Queen Street Lakefield location with the addition of FYidoctors' leading technology and expanded line of Canadian-made frames. Lakefieldvisioncare.com
Green Party Candidate Hosted A 'Policy Walk & Roll” For Earth Day
/Robert Gibson, Green Party Candidate for Peterborough-Kawartha, held a walk through downtown Peterborough to speak about current issues on Friday afternoon.
He addressed issues such as climate change, public health, the opioid crisis, natural heritage protection, housing, basic income, public transit and workplace safety reform.
“Doug Ford’s sprawl agenda and failure to protect wetlands has serious local consequences in Peterborough – Kawartha, including severe, expensive flooding,” Gibson said in a press release. “Ontario Greens are the only party with a real plan to protect the nature that protects us.”
Gibson was announced as the Ontario Greens candidate in Peterborough-Kawartha on Thursday. He has a bachelor's degree in environmental science from Trent University, a freelance journalist and frequent contributor to the Arthur; Trent University's student newspaper.
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T-Elle Boutique Legacy Lives On As New Owner Takes Over
/T-Elle Boutique, a women’s apparel shop downtown Peterborough, has been transferred to new management and will remain open after original owner Lien Vu announced her retirement.
Victoria SL in T-Elle Boutique. Photo by Luke Best.
Victoria SL took over the shop on April 1 and has been learning from Vu since. The shop has been rebranded as “T-Elle Boutique by VSL.”
“I’ve always been interested in owning a business and this just seemed like a very interesting opportunity,” said SL.
Though she has never owned a retail store, SL has plenty of experience in hard work.
With a PhD in linguistics, SL operated an English language academy in Taiwan then moved to Canada and has been a professor at Trent University since 2014. She is also a licensed Zumba instructor.
“I like to do all kinds of things, this is an experience,” said SL. “If you have the ability to do it, just do it.”
She hopes that her taking over T-Elle might inspire others to do the thing that they’ve been thinking about doing.
@ptbo_canada T-Elle’s Boutique has everything you need for your fancy dress needs! #LocalShop #ShopLocal #PTBOCanada #DowntownPTBO ♬ kiss me back girl - veggibeats
The decision to take over came quickly, she says. When visiting the shop during its closing sale with a friend, Vu asked if she wanted to take over randomly.
“I believe in divine timing, everything has its own time,” said SL. “I’ve always been fascinated by fashion, and I thought this could be something to build off of. It’s just an amazing opportunity for me. I’m not feeling pressure, just excitement.”
Now, a few weeks into owning the business, Vu is showing SL the ropes to the business before she leaves for good.
“I feel free,” said Vu.
Vu notes that she is glad SL is taking over, and that Peterborough will still have a place to buy outfits for their special occasions.
SL says she plans to continue the shop as Vu had it, though maybe in the future she will begin to bring in more of her own style.
The shop will be open Tuesday - Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Appointments can also be made by calling (705) 742-7778.
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Electric City Football Club Draws With League1 Ontario Defending Champions In Debut Match
/The Electric City Football Club went toe-to-toe with the defending League1 Ontario champion Guelph United.
The men’s team forced a 0-0 draw in their season opener at Guelph University’s Alumni Stadium on Thursday night.
Tomas Alvarez (left) aiding teammate Connor Wilson (right) from a Guelph United defender. Photo courtesy of Electric City Football Club.
Electric City came within inches of the club’s first-ever franchise goal as Tomas Ribeiro had a free kick that sailed just over the crossbar and into the netting over the goal posts in extra time. Daniel Oshana also had a close call for ECFC shooting just wide of the net in the 90th minute.
The team sent two busloads of fans to the game that gave the atmosphere of a home game as ‘Electric City” chants filled the stands throughout the match.
"The support made the away field look more like a home field," said Jamie Sherwood, ECFC men's head coach. "The noise that they created really stimulated the players and helped the players at moments in the game."
“The match versus Guelph last night was another big milestone for Electric City in this amazing journey we are on,” said Rob Jenkins, ECFC president. “It was amazing to see the players in the ECFC kits and the fans all in yellow supporting the club. The players showed their quality on the pitch by outplaying the defending champions and playing with the character that will make the community proud.”
Electric City controlled most of the game causing Guelph to play aggressively. That physical play resulted in six yellow cards for the defending champs.
"We were the ones in control of the game and that was the message that we gave to the players going into the game," said Sherwood. "We wanted to control the game as much as possible. Control the game, control the environment, control the opposition and control the way that we can play."
Electric City despite not scoring a goal and getting a draw, played a favourable game having less than three weeks of training camp. Sherwood was introduced as the team’s head coach on April 4 ahead of the team’s first day of training camp.
"It shows what this group is capable of," reflected Sherwood. "It shows absolutely where our baseline is now; we know our standard. If we can't do that week in and week out, we won't be where we believe we should be at the end of the season."
Ben Vyfschaft (middle) clearing the ball in the defensive zone. ECFC allowed only one high-quality chance to Guelph United throughout the match. Photo courtesy of Electric City Football Club.
The next ECFC’s men’s game is April 30 against the North Toronto Nitros at Downsview Park 2. Their home opener on May 7 at 8 p.m. against Windsor TFC at the Fleming Sports Complex.
The women’s team debuts on Saturday L1O Premier Division debut Saturday on the road at Markham’s Alliance United at 3 p.m. Their first home game is against Oakville’s Blue Devils FC on May 14 at 3 p.m. at Fleming.
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Three Trent University Employees Honoured with 2022 Eminent Service Awards
/Three long-serving Trent employees will be honoured as recipients of the 2022 Eminent Service Award: Robert Clarke, librarian who guided the Bata Library through its revitalization; manager of Environmental Services Wayne Craft who worked to keep Trent safer throughout the pandemic; and Dr. Margaret Steffler, an English Literature professor.
Photo courtesy of Trent University.
“It is outstanding employees like Margaret Steffler, Robert Clarke, and Wayne Craft, who have earned us a reputation as an outstanding post-secondary institution that cares about its students and employees,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “This award is very special honour befitting the dedication that they have shown to the Trent community.”
Created in 1978, the Eminent Service Award is presented annually to recognize individuals distinguished by a track record of outstanding contributions to University life that go beyond the performance of their job or role. This year’s recipients will be honoured at the in-person Heart of Trent employee appreciation events on May 11.
Clarke served as the university librarian from 2007-21. During his 14-year career with Trent, he guided the Library & Archives through significant transformation, including the revitalization of the Bata Library, the implementation of the Omni library services platform and Collaborative Futures, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Clarke has ensured the Library & Archives continues to evolve with the times, remaining relevant and responsive to the needs of the Trent community.
Craft worked for Trent in Facilities Management for 21 years, most recently as manager of Environmental Services. Well-known for his excellent customer service, he also played a key role in contributing to the safety of the Trent community during the pandemic. A long-time member of the Facilities and Grounds committee, Craft also worked to make the Trent Nature Area Trails accessible for all to enjoy.
Professor Steffler’s contributions to the English department, and the University in general, have been numerous, according to Trent University faculty. She has also served on hiring and curriculum committees, the faculty board, the Committee on Academic Personnel, and the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Prof. Steffler has also served as chair of the English department.
Learn more about the Eminent Service Award and other employee appreciation awards to be bestowed at this year’s Heart of Trent event.
Visitor Restrictions at Campbellford Memorial Hospital
/On Wednesday the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit declared a COVID-19 outbreak on the Inpatient Unit at Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) following confirmed cases of hospital transmission.
Photo courtesy of Campbellford Memorial Hospital.
