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Peterborough Blogs
Local Food Banks Provide Update As Power Outages Continue In Peterborough
/After a storm on Saturday left much of the city without power, food banks in Peterborough have been busy providing non perishables to those that need them.
Residents drop off food to Kawartha Food Share. Photo courtesy of Kawartha Food Share.
According to Kawartha Food Share, many local food banks had to throw out fresh and frozen foods when power shut off and foods began to thaw.
Below is a list of resources for residents in need of food.
Salvation Army, 219 Simcoe St.: Without power as of Wednesday morning. They have no phone or internet service, therefore making appointments is not possible. Those in need of food can still access the non-perishable food they have available, without an appointment Mon-Fri 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
One Roof Community Centre, 99 Brock St.: Power has been restored. Service as usual.
St. Vincent De Paul: Without power, but will continue to operate usual hours.
Sacred Heart Food Bank: Without power, will not operate on Wednesday.
YES Shelter: Without power. No fresh or frozen foods, butt the food bank will be open Thursday and Saturday for non perishable distribution.
County food banks are operating as usual.
For a full list of food banks and their hours click here.
Peterborough Public Health Urges Resident Without Power To Use Caution As Power Outages Continue
/Peterborough Public Health strongly advises residents to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves and others as the community recovers from the severe storm that hit the area on Saturday.
Photo by Luke Best.
Household Food safety
Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much and for as long as possible. A household fridge that is left closed will typically keep food cold for only 12 to 24 hours. After this period, some food will begin to spoil and other food will be unsafe to eat. Food that is unsafe may not show any signs of spoilage. Hazardous foods such as milk, deli meats, and other dairy and meat products should be discarded to prevent food borne illness. Throw out any food items that appear to be discoloured or do not smell normal.
A freezer (chest or fridge-freezer combo) will keep food frozen for one to two days if it remains closed. Throw out any thawed food that has been at room temperature for more than two hours. If food has been partially thawed, it can be safely refrozen. The quality of the food item may be affected, but the food will still be safe to consume if it has only been partially thawed.
Consider transferring hazardous food items from the refrigerator to a cooler with ice, replace the ice frequently to keep food cold (ideally at 4°C or 40°F).
Household Recreational Water Safety
If you have a pool or hot tub, there could be increased challenges with pool/hot tub operation and safety if recirculation systems are not working. Contact a recreational water professional for more information about after-care once the power comes back on. During the power outage, avoid swimming in the pool to prevent waterborne illnesses due to insufficient pool water treatment. If the water is cloudy, do not swim as this can cause an increased risk for accidental drowning.
Residents on Wells and Septic Systems
Many rural residents and some in urban areas obtain their water from a well and their property may be serviced by an onsite sewage system. Power outages can affect treatment units for both water and sewage systems as well as any pumps associated with those systems. Use bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth and any other activities that involve the direct consumption of water. When the power is restored, verify that any filters and treatment devices have resumed normal operation and flush your plumbing system to remove any untreated water by running the water for several minutes through all plumbing fixtures. As a precaution, collect a water sample as soon as possible once the power has been restored.
If you do not have water due to a pump failure, find an alternate source of water, and continue to use an alternate source until you can sample your water once the power comes back on. Use bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth and any other activities that involve the direct consumption of water.
If you are on a septic system, limit the amount of wastewater that you are generating. If your sewage cannot be pumped to the leaching bed, your tank may fill up and backup into the house or discharge to the ground. In the event you have a sewage backup into your home or you observe breakout of sewage onto your property, call a sewage hauler and immediately pump your septic tank.
If you live in a rural area, you may obtain your water from a well and your property may be serviced by an onsite sewage system.
General Safety
Avoid cooking indoors with equipment that expels carbon monoxide such as camp stoves and charcoal grills. These items should only be used outdoors and away from windows.
Do not use gas stoves unless there is proper electric ventilation working as these stoves also emit carbon monoxide.
Ensure smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and other safety devices in your home have batteries to make sure they are working in the event of an emergency.
Portable generators should only be used outdoors, in a well-ventilated area away from windows and fresh air intakes. Do not connect a generator to your electrical panel directly unless this has been previously set up by a qualified electrician.
Use caution when driving. Many street lights and traffic signals are out. Intersections need to be treated as four-way stops and pedestrians have the right of way. Drive slowly, as with no street lights it will be difficult to see pedestrians, cyclists and other obstacles or hazards in the road. Many roads are closed due to fallen trees and wires, so be prepared to take alternate routes to your destination.
It is safest to walk during daylight hours. If you have to walk after dark, bring a flash light and wear bright coloured clothing so that you can be seen.
For further public health and safety updates, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and www.peterborough.ca.
Peterborough Police Determine No Counterfeit Coins Were In Circulation After Investigation
/Peterborough Police Service have determined that no counterfeit coins were used at a Chemong Road plaza coin machine announced Wednesday.
The Toonie was introduced in Canada on Feb. 19, 1996. Photo by Luke Best.
The police discovered the possible counterfeit Toonies on April 21 and believed they were not genuine according to reports.
After further investigations, the police determined that the coins were genuine.
Voice of Business: Technology, Diversity and Flexibility Are Key to Workforce Challenges
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The labour issues hitting businesses across the country didn’t start with the pandemic, but it did accelerate the problem to a point where it’s one of the biggest issues holding back economic growth.
According to a survey by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC):
55 per cent of Canadian entrepreneurs are struggling to hire the workers they need
64 per cent report that labour shortage limits their growth
61 per cent must increase their hours and/or their employees’ hours
49 per cent must increase wages and benefits
44 per cent have delayed or unable to deliver orders to clients
Lack of access to a workforce with the right skills is holding back businesses and hiring difficulties increase in smaller communities.
Nationally, unemployment has fallen to 5.2 per cent.
Our economy is bouncing back, but that’s putting further strain on businesses’ ability to hire. Projections range on when things will return “back to normal,” but we can say with confidence these challenges aren’t going away in the short term.
These issues were decades in the making, but ultimately what is important is finding our path forward.
What businesses are doing according to BDC:
Offering flexible work arrangements (e.g. telework, flextime, compressed workweeks) – 37 per cent
Internally training less-qualified workers – 35 per cent
Recruiting younger workers and/or students – 26 per cent
Hiring freelancers or contractual or independent workers – 25 per cent
Recruiting immigrants and/or foreign workers – 10 per cent
Automating certain areas (e.g. using robotics, cognitive agents, smart workflows or advanced analytics) – 10 per cent
Recruiting older/previously retired workers – 9 per cent
BDC notes Increasing diversity and flexibility are important for business growth, including three key areas: youth, immigrants, and older workers. Immigration in Canada slowed to a crawl through the pandemic. Both youth and immigrants bring skills and a willingness to grow and develop. BDC recommends offering more opportunities to youth and immigrants as a way to make better use of our workforce.
When it comes to older workers, we need to address flexibility. They have an incredible set of skills and experience that our economy has relied on for years. Workers approaching retirement may no longer be interested in working full-time hours but could be open to part-time and hybrid options.
More and more businesses are turning to automation as a way to streamline the business. For most businesses, it’s not a case of a robot replacing a staff member — it’s all the small things adding up to a more efficient process. Examples include:
Automated email marketing campaigns
Chatbots and automated messaging systems
Sales lead generation and management
Touchscreen ordering
Self-checkouts
Online booking and automated appointments
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems
Collect job applications
Businesses can further streamline by adopting new technology like updated email systems, shared digital calendars, and cloud-based workflow systems.
There’s no single solution that’s going to answer our workforce challenges. The local business community has shown its ability to adapt, pivot, and invest in new technology. The challenges facing businesses continue to change, but our economy is growing and to grow with it businesses need to be open and flexible in growing their workforce.
Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.
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City Of Peterborough Declares State Of Emergency After Devastating Storm
/The City of Peterborough officially declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday morning.
File Photo.
Mayor Diane Therrien made the announcement on social media, and said the Emergency Management team submitted the declaration to the province some time on Tuesday.
There are still parts of the City and County without power, as crews work to restore downed hydro lines.
Updates will come as they are provided.
Most Areas In Peterborough To Have Restored Power By End of Tuesday
/Most of the City is expected to have power restored by Hydro One while damage caused by Saturday’s severe windstorm is under repair.
File Photo.
The storm is causing extreme pressure on City of Peterborough public works, forestry, and waste collection services. Crews are doing their best to address storm damage and respond to the increased volume of material.
City crews are prioritizing requests for service related to downed trees along streets and sidewalks. With the extent of the damage, there is a significant backlog. Residents are asked to refrain from calling more than once to report a location. Requests are logged and prioritized.
As some streets may still be blocked by downed trees and power lines, some areas may not receive curbside waste collection on their scheduled day this week if crews are unable to safely access the area in waste collection vehicles at the time of collection.
Green waste
There is no limit on the quantity of green waste that can be placed at the curb; however, it must be put out within guidelines on sizes and weights to allow crews to handle the material. Due to the high amount of material, collection may be delayed.
Green Waste includes brush, branches, hedge and tree trimmings, grass clippings, leaves, house and garden plants, trimmings and small quantities of sod (within weight limits).
All brush and branches must be tied in bundles up to one metre (three feet) in length and 30 centimetres (12 inches) in diameter, weighing no more than 23 kilograms (50 pounds). Larger-size items cannot be loaded into the collection vehicle.
Stumps, soil and stones are not accepted through the green waste collection.
As an alternative to curbside collection, the City accepts green waste at the Bensfort landfill at a fee of $7 for 100 kilograms or less of material or for $95 per tonne for the entire load.
For green waste collection questions, please call 705-745-1386.
Garbage
For this week and next week, the City will be adjusting its garbage collection guidelines to allow one extra garbage bag or one extra garbage can (lift) to be put out for collection for each household, increasing the limit to three from two, to accommodate the disposal of spoiled food due to the extended power outages.
A lift is:
One plastic garbage bag no greater than 66 centimetres by 90 centimetres and a maximum of 23 kilograms (50 pounds) in weight;
One garbage can no greater than 125 litres (30 gallons) with side handles and a lid and 23 kilograms (50 pounds) in weight; or
One item less than one metre (three feet) in length and 23 kilograms (50 pounds) in weight.
Peterborough residents may also take garbage directly to the landfill at 1260 Bensfort Rd. during operating hours. Please refer to the City website at peterborough.ca for further details.
For garbage collection matters, please call 705-745-1386.
For general waste management related questions, please call 705-742-7777, ext. 1657.
While the garbage collection limit is adjusted for the storm response, the City asks that residents please separate out recyclable materials before throwing out food waste. There is no limit on the amount of recyclables that can be put out for collection each week. Recyclable materials can also be taken to the Recycling Depot on Pido Road at no charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
City facilities
City Hall at 500 George St. N. and the Peterborough Waste Management Facility/landfill on Bensfort Road will re-open for in-person services on Wednesday. The landfill is only able to accommodate transactions for customers using cash or customers with landfill accounts until its internet and phone service are restored (updates will be provided when services are restored).
Other City facilities are closed for public use for regular services on Wednesday.
Social Services will offer in-person service at the Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. N. on Wednesday for emergency basic needs assistance for clients. For all other inquiries, clients should contact their case workers by phone or email. Social Services will transfer to the Social Services office on Charlotte Street when power is restored to that facility.
Peterborough Transit is operating regular service. The customer kiosk at the downtown terminal is currently closed due to the power outage.
Access to showers and charging for electronics
For anyone who needs access to showers, the City will provide access to showers at Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, Healthy Planet Arena and Kinsmen Civic Centre from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 25 and May 26 Individuals must ask to use the showers to get access to the amenities at the facilities.
For those looking to charge electronic devices and electronic mobility aids, the following locations will be available for charging devices (regular services at the locations will not be available) on Wednesday, May 25, 2022:
Peterborough Public Library, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Healthy Planet Arena, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Peterborough Museum and Archives, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Safety
The City strongly encourages residents to stay away from trees in parks and on trails. Assessment of damage continues. Damaged trees may not yet be identified or addressed, which may be hazardous with limbs that may fall. The cleanup following the storm is ongoing and it will take some time for crews to move throughout all of the City’s parks and trails.
Emergency services urge residents to only use 9-1-1 for emergencies. They are experiencing a higher-than-normal volume of non-emergency calls to 9-1-1.
Peterborough Fire Services reminds residents that open-air burning with wood is not permitted in the City. Only outdoor fire appliances that burn propane or natural gas are permitted. Chimneys and other wood-burning devices are not approved.
Residents are asked to refrain from raking green waste, including leaves and branches, into the streets as they are a hazard to cyclists and vehicles using the road, and it may block catch basins, which could lead to local flooding.
Community food programs
Community agencies continue to provide food programs, including:
Salvation Army, 219 Simcoe St., takeaway breakfast, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday
One Roof Community Centre, 99 Brock St., take away lunch, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Kawartha Food Share continues to support its member food banks that are operating throughout the community
Community Care meals program
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Peterborough Golf & Country Club Tees Off 125th Anniversary With Throwback Golf Tournament
/Over a century of drives, chips and putts have happened at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club (PGCC) as they celebrate their 125th anniversary with a kickoff golf tournament this Saturday.
125th Anniversary co-chair Diane Topping (pictured) wearing traditional ladies’ golf attire during the late 1900s while taking a swing at the 12th tee at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The event features a step-aside scramble golf tournament with some features relative to 1897, the year the golf club was founded. The tournament will feature stymies (other golf balls could not be marked and were natural obstacles for other golfers) with curling rocks on two of the greens and old-style putters used by course staff.
“In 1898, a picnic basket was had so we’re going to replicate that, folks will come off and we’re going to have sandwiches the way it was with a picnic basket,” said Ron Dempsey, 125th anniversary committee co-chair.
@ptbo_canada Happy 125th anniversary, Peterborough Golf & Country Club! Here is to another 125! #ptbo #ptbocanada #golf #golftiktok #golftok #peterboroughgolf #anniversary ♬ Mario Golf 64 - Koopa Cup - Goodknight Productions
The club will host several other events to commemorate the course’s milestone. In June, the course will have a curler’s golf day (as the course also has its own curling rinks). July 1 features a celebration day with a cake and other festivities.
Non-club members can have a chance to try the course as August allows members to bring a guest for $18.97 to celebrate the year the course was founded.
The Rye Street band will perform in September at the course. October is hosting a “Swing & Sweep,” where members can golf for nine holes and curl for six ends.
“This is a very exciting year,” said Dave Robinson, PGC president. “We’re really looking forward to a great year starting with our May 28th event.”
There are roughly 900 members at the PGCC (with an overlap between golf and curling). The club was founded on May 28, 1897.
Crews Arrive From The US To Help Local Hydro And Forestry Workers After One Of The Most Deadly Wind Events In Canadas History
/Crews crossed the border on Monday to assist crews already working to clean up from Saturday’s storm in Ontario, Hydro One announced on their social media pages.
According to Hydro One, in the first 24 hours after destructive thunderstorms passed through the province, Hydro One crews have restored power to more than 360,000 customers throughout its affected areas in Ontario, with over 226,000 customers that remain without power.
Damage includes at least 800 broken poles, and just as many downed power lines, along with countless trees and large branches causing power outages.
This is Caleb. He is one of almost 100 hydro workers here from Alabama. Thank you very much gentlemen for coming to @CityPtbo to help us out. “200 poles to do and none of them are easy”. I wish all of you a safe, productive day. We are grateful 🥹 pic.twitter.com/QTisN7xRMO
— Councillor Lesley Parnell (@LesleyParnell) May 24, 2022
According to The Weather Network, Saturday’s storm was a Derecho. The term derecho is Spanish for "straight head" as most of the associated wind damage is the result of straight-line winds that blast out of the storm, as opposed to tornadoes that spin.
The Weather Network reported Saturday’s derecho was one of the most destructive and deadly wind events in Canada’s history.
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Liz Law Wins Close To $40,000 With PRHC Foundation 50/50 Draw
/Liz Law of Warkworth won $39,905 in the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation 50/50.
Photo courtesy of PRHC.
