City of Peterborough Property Taxes Available For Electronic Billing

The City of Peterborough is now offering property owners electronic delivery of their property tax bill (eBilling) and can subscribe to receive their property tax bills directly to their email account in PDF format.

File photo.

City of Peterborough says eBilling is a secure, convenient billing method that gives property owners total access to their tax bill information anywhere they have access to their email. To ensure the privacy and confidentiality of residents, each property tax bill will be secured with an individualized access code that is required to access the PDF document.

Registering for eBilling is a two-step process:

1. Homeowners complete the online registration and maintain their information at peterborough.ca/eBilling

2. Homeowners will receive an access code by mail that is required to access the PDF attachment

Property owners who opt into eBilling will receive their property tax bill by email on the same schedule as normal billing – an interim bill at the end of February and final bill at the end of June, annually.

Customers who opt for eBilling will no longer receive a paper copy of their tax bill.

“We’re pleased to offer this convenient new service to property owners,” said Loren Drinkwalter, the City’s revenue administrator. “Going paperless is good for the environment and helps reduce administration costs associated with printing and postage.”

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The City of Peterborough Maintains ‘AA+’ Credit Rating

The City of Peterborough has maintained an ‘AA+’ credit rating, citing the City’s “political and managerial commitment to disciplined fiscal policies” in its recently released Standard and Poor credit report announced Thursday.

File Photo.

The ‘AA+’ rating is the second highest rating on the financial services company’s credit rating scale. 

“Despite the current macroeconomic headwinds, we believe the City’s stable tax base will help Peterborough to maintain healthy budgetary performance,” says Standard and Poor, referencing the international and national economic conditions in a statement.

They referenced the City’s ability to internally finance most of its capital plan and use moderate debt issuance to fund the remainder.

Among the reasons and expectations for the City of Peterborough’s strong credit rating, Standard and Poor’s has cited: 

• Satisfactory financial management practices

• The City’s political and managerial commitment to disciplined fiscal policies

• An extremely predictable and supportive local and regional government framework that has demonstrated high institutional stability and evidence of systemic extraordinary support in times of financial distress

• Municipalities have demonstrated a track record of strong budget results with debt burdens, on average, low compared with those of global peers and growth over time has been modest

• Projection that the City will continue posting modest after-capital deficits of about 1.5 per cent of total revenues, on average, in 2020-2024

• Liquidity will be a key strength.

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Campbellford Memorial Hospital Introduces New Chief of Staff

Dr. Dimitri Louvish is the new chief of staff of Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) after its Board of Directors announced the decision on Friday.

Dr. Louvish brings more than 17 years of medical leadership experience. Photo courtesy of Campbellford Memorial Hospital.

“Dr. Louvish’s invaluable combination of experience in rural medicine and healthcare leadership and administration is an incredible benefit for CMH,” said Kevin Huestis, Chair, Board of Directors, . “During this challenging time in health care, Dr. Louvish’s leadership will be instrumental in delivering exemplary care and outcomes for our community.”

Louvish is responsible for chairing the Medical Advisory Committee and providing physician leadership and oversight for the quality of care and services according to a press release. He is also joining the CMH’s medical staff team responsible for supporting the 24/7 Emergency Department. 

“It is an honour to be appointed Chief of Staff at CMH, and I look forward to collaborating with the leadership and physician teams to improve the quality of care and access to services for the community,” said Louvish.

Dr. Louvish completed his medical degree at McGill University in 2002. He has worked in urban and rural locations and gained extensive expertise in general and emergency medicine, public health, occupational medicine, sports medicine, musculoskeletal disorders, mental health and addictions and chronic pain management. He is also an examiner with the College Family Physicians of Canada, a peer assessor and physician member of the Disciplinary and Preliminary Inquiry Committee, and a physician member at the Consent and Capacity Board, Ontario Ministry of Health.  

Louvish is continuing his physician practice in Richmond Hill while serving his role at CMH. He took over the role from Dr. Eshay Elia, interim chief of staff after Dr. Bruce Bain retired in July last year.

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United Way 'Adopt A Crop' to Fund Community Garden Project

United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes (UWCKL) will be launching a new fundraiser on Giving Tuesday (Nov. 29), allowing community members and organizations to ‘Adopt a Crop’ through their community garden.

Photo courtesy of United Way.

Adopt a Crop will provide individuals and organizations with the opportunity to sponsor or “adopt,” a crop at Edwin Binney’s Community Garden, UWCKL’s food security and food literacy project. All proceeds will go towards the community garden.

The project was started in 2019 on unused land on the Crayola Canada property. Over 50,000 pounds of produce have been donated to 20 organizations with food programs and 11 food banks in the last four years, according to UWCKL.

“Running a farm as a non-profit is a major investment of time and resources, we’ve been incredibly fortunate to have corporate and individual donors to help us with our work in tackling local food insecurity,” says Emily Beall, United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes co-executive director. “This season we produced more food than ever before; over $40,000 worth of fresh produce that was donated into our communities across the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton. Adopt a Crop is an effort to involve the community more, while also ensuring we have the means to maintain the garden, grow nutrient-rich foods and provide educational opportunities.” 

This fundraiser will be ongoing until all sponsorships are claimed for the 2023 growing season. Sponsorships will be available each year, with sponsors from the previous year receiving the right of first refusal to adopt their crop again.  

There are 25 crops available for adoption. To learn more visit the Adopt a Crop website starting Tuesday.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Forbidden Pleasures, Flash Freeze, Bob Gauvreau and Innovation Cluster

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…

Jane and Hal Elliott opened Forbidden Pleasures in 1989, 33 years ago.

Since then, the company has grown to three locations, the Market Plaza and the Brookdale Plaza in Peterborough and the Verne Plaza in Oshawa. The Elliotts are happy to announce the sale of the business to their daughter Kristen Destounis. Kristen has worked alongside her parents since the 90s and has contributed much to the growth and success of the stores. Jane and Hal would like to thank their loyal and diverse group of customers, as well as all of the staff over the years who have helped create a comfortable, safe and inclusive place to shop.

Freeze Dried Candy is a thing…

Billed as Peterborough’s newest and chilliest Candy Company, the Flash Freeze Candy Company recently launched with an exclusive distribution deal through Couture Candy. Couture Candy owner, Lisa Couture, is proud to be supporting another female-led local company and loves the new freeze-dried product, describing it as the biggest and most viral global trend in candy. Check it out at couturecandyptbo.ca or stop into the store at 386 George St. N.

Bob Gauvreau recently announced some big news, that Envolta, a cloud accounting firm originating in Ottawa, has joined the Gauvreau Brand.

Formed in 2012, Envolta is an innovative cloud-based accounting firm that serves the North America market with a heavy emphasis on utilizing the latest technology. With team members located across Canada, the combined team, which will continue under the Gauvreau name, now has over 80 team members, an experienced executive team, as well as partners for the Accounting, Tax, Law and Advisory arms of the business. As Bob says, ‘it’s go time.’

Congratulations to Mike Skinner and John Gillis, who recently announced their retirement from the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

With Mike as CEO and John as President, the Cluster has seen tremendous success, both as an organization, and as the launching pad for more than 300 companies, the creation of nearly 900 jobs, and an economic impact of $54 Million dollars. Successful in their own right, the cluster was a true labour of love for the pair, so a tip of the hat to Mike Skinner and John Gillis on a job well done. Watch for an announcement on a new CEO before the end of the year.

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Dave Ellis 2023 Kawartha Lakes Wildlife Calendars For Sale

Start the year off right by purchasing a 2023 Kawartha Lakes Wildlife calendar, featuring special photographs of local wildlife by Omemee-based photographer Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

Photo by Dave Ellis.

The calendars are made by a local printing company with heavy weight paper and high quality photo printing. Each photo is 11 x 8.5 inches so the calendar measures 11 x 17 inches when hanging. It is bound in the middle with a spiral coil.

Him and his wife, Astrid, designed the calendars and the pictures they contain.

“We started early this year so that the calendars will be available in time for Christmas. They make a very nice, reasonably priced Christmas gift that you can enjoy all year,” says Ellis.

Ellis notes that the costs to produce and deliver the calendars went up, “just like everything else has this year,” but wanted to keep the calendars affordable as a gift or personal purchase, so they are not raising their price. Calendars will continue selling for $25 per calendar including delivery in the local area, just like years prior.

If you are interested to see a preview of the calendars, please send an email to wildlife@eastlink.ca and Ellis will send you the information needed to order a calendar.

“I really enjoy sharing my photos of our local wildlife with all of you and I look forward to meeting you when we deliver the calendars,” continues Ellis. “We hope you like the calendars and thank you for your support.”

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SPARK Photo Festival Welcoming Submissions From the Community, Celebrating Ten-Year-Anniversary

April 2023 marks the 10-year anniversary of the SPARK Photo Festival, and plans are underway to celebrate the past decade and focus toward the future of photography through Open Call Exhibits.

Photo courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival.

Each year since 2013, photography exhibits are displayed in public places throughout Peterborough, Northumberland and City of Kawartha Lakes and the festival has become a much-anticipated arts event.

All photographers are welcome to the Open Call Exhibits, whether you shoot with high-tech equipment, smart phone or a vintage film camera. Displays can be printed, framed, on canvas, posters or even a projection project, as long as it features still photography, it fits into SPARK.

“The SPARK Photo Festival exists for the community. Our free-to-visit festival is accessible to all and highlights the local photography talent that abounds in the region,” says Ken Powell, chair and board of directors member. “We are delighted to be marking this 10th anniversary and have many favourite festival components returning, plus new innovations.”

The Juried Exhibit has been growing each year with a record number of entries from photographers across Ontario for 2022. SPARK is now accepting photographers’ entries for next year’s theme of Water.

The competition is open to all Ontario residents, and each photographer is eligible to submit up to 3 images. All submitted images are judged by a jury of photography professionals. The top 25 images will be exhibited at Chasing the Cheese in Peterborough, and the best of the best will be awarded with cash prizes. Submissions close Feb. 1.

Photographers interested in showing their work but don’t know where to start will have the opportunity to apply for a program for first-time exhibitors. Full details of the new Emerging Artists Exhibit program are to be released soon.

For all details for the Open Call Exhibits and Themed Juried Exhibit and online entry, visit the SPARK website.

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Kawartha Contractors Dream Big Campaign Fundraises For SickKids Foundation

Cutting Edge Landscaping and Excavating and Harrison Truck Centre are raising money for the SickKids Foundation through the second annual ‘Kawartha Contractors Dream Big Campaign,’ raising over $17,000 so far.

This is the second year of this campaign which is fundraising to ‘(build) a new SickKids that’s even safer for every child in our community,’ according to the campaign page.

The Kawartha Contractor Dream Big Campaign has raised 89 per cent of their $20,000 goal with $17,700.

Recognized donations include Lakeside Mobile Tire Inc., Monaghan Lumber Specialties and more.

“… last year we spent many weeks at SickKids Children’s Hospital following an accident with our daughter Kacie. I can’t begin to describe what an amazing place SickKids is and how lucky we are to have it available to us when in the time of need. With that said I am happy to be able to donate to such a great cause through this campaign,” said Ryan Kelly (RK Designs), thanking both Cutting Edge and Fawcett Excavating LTD.

Donations can be made to the Kawartha Contractor Dream Big Campaign here.

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Peterborough Petes Cough Up Four Unanswered Goals In 6-4 Loss to Sudbury Wolves

The Peterborough Petes allowed four unanswered goals from the Sudbury Wolves resulting in a 6-4 loss on Diabetes Night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

Petes’ Tommy Purdeller wasted no time and scored four minutes into the game. The lead lasted for nine seconds as Evan Konyen scored his fifth goal of the season to tie the game at one. Sahil Panwar made it 2-1 to give Peterborough the lead into the second.

David Goyette tied the game up for Sudbury four minutes into the second. Three minutes later, Purdeller scored his second of the game for a 3-2 Petes lead. Connor Lockhart extended the lead and gave Peterborough an insurance goal to make it 4-2. The Wolves quickly countered 31 seconds later to cut into the lead 4-3 with a Nick DeGrazia goal heading into the third.

Konyen scored again, 3:58 into the period to tie the game at 4-4. He scored again, netting the hat trick, giving Sudbury their first lead of the game. Alex Pharand gave the Wolves an insurance goal two minutes later and never looked back for the 6-4 win.

Diabetes Night was a personal initiative brought forth by Petes’ goaltender Michael Simpson (where you can donate online) who has had Type-1 diabetes since he was three. The Petes in partnership with Tandem Diabetes Care raised $7,869 on the night to send local children to Diabetes Canada D-Camps.

The Petes will travel to Oshawa Friday night to take on the rival Generals for the second time in two weeks.

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