Trent University’s Newest College to be Named Gidigaa Migizi to Honour Professor Doug Williams

To honour and celebrate the memory of the late Gidigaa Migizi (Doug Williams), Trent University is naming its sixth college will be named Gidigaa Migizi College.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

The Gidigaa Migizi College is being built on the east bank of the Symons Campus in Peterborough. The building will include as many as 700 new beds for first-year students and classrooms, faculty offices and student spaces. The University expects it to open in the fall of 2028. The new college crest, scarf and colours will be unveiled next year.

“This naming is a testament to Trent’s ongoing commitment to recognizing and celebrating Indigenous culture and heritage,” said Marilyn Burns, vice president of Trent communications and enrolment. “Gidigaa Migizi, a respected elder and a pillar in the Michi Saagiig Anishnaabeg and Trent communities, has left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire and educate our students for generations to come. Gidigaa Migizi College will stand as a beacon of knowledge, diversity, and respect, embodying the spirit of inclusivity and learning that is at the heart of Trent University.”

The professor, elder, and community leader was known for his dedication to Trent students and for protecting Anishnaabeg's treaty rights.

The decision to select an Anishnaabe name for the new college was a recommendation of the University’s Champlain Report to honour the treaty and traditional territory on which Trent University sits, according to a press release. Meaning ‘spotted eagle’ in English, the name Gidigaa Migizi College was recommended by the University’s Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers Council and approved by Trent’s Board of Governors.

“Gidigaa Migizi was a giant both at Trent and in the Anishnaabeg nation. He was a champion of knowledge, of learning, of students and of our community,” said Anne Taylor, Curve Lake First Nation Elders Council member. “In our culture, eagles are held in high esteem and symbolize honour, respect, strength, courage, and wisdom. These are all characteristics we want Trent students to embody.”

Migizi was one of the first graduates of Trent University’s Native Studies (now Indigenous Studies) program. After graduating, he remained involved with Trent, helping shape academic programs, administrative policies, and cultural practices and advancing education about Indigenous peoples.

He was co-director of the Indigenous Studies Ph.D. program and a professor at the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies. Migizi served on the University’s Indigenous Education Committee and the Elders Council. Before joining Trent as a student and then as a faculty member, Gidigaa Migizi was a bricklayer who helped build Champlain College at the University.

Migizi was an active negotiator for the legal recognition of treaty rights. His greatest accomplishment in this arena was the advocacy work he undertook in the precedent-setting case R v. Taylor and Williams, working through the court system to bring legal recognition of pre-confederation treaty rights through the interpretation of Treaty 20, 1818. As a result of this landmark case, he defended the right to hunt and fish for signatories to the Williams Treaties as stated by Trent.

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Hometown PTBO: Chris Marris of the Peterborough Theatre Guild and Two Generations Being Involved in Local Arts

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Chris Marris about how she got into the Peterborough Theatre Guild, her life as a retired teacher/principal and her mother's involvement in Peterborough arts.

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Clarington Trustee Kevin MacKenzie Re-Elected as PVNC Catholic Board Chairperson

Clarington trustee Kevin MacKenzie has been re-elected as the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board chairperson during their annual meeting at the Catholic Education Centre on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of PVNCCDSB.

MacKenzie is serving for the 2023-2024 term. He has served five years as a trustee, having first been elected in the 2018 municipal election. He served as the Board’s vice-chairperson from 2021-2022 and chairperson from 2022-2023.

“Serving as chairperson has been a profound honor, and being re-elected is a responsibility I accept with both pride and humility,” said MacKenzie. “The past term has shown me the incredible capabilities of our students and staff, a testament to our commitment to excellence in Catholic Education. In my second term, I am committed to deepening our collective efforts, ensuring every student flourishes in an environment that values faith, learning, and community.”

Simultaneously, Peterborough County trustee Jenny Leahy was re-elected as vice-chairperson in her second year. Leahy joined the Board of Trustees in May last year as an appointee and was re-elected to the position during the Oct. 24, 2022 municipal election.

Peterborough trustee Loretta Durst had her second anniversary appointment to the Board. Durst won re-election in the Oct. 24, 2022 municipal election.

Trustees Joshua Glover (Clarington), Mary Ann Martin (Kawartha Lakes) and Kathleen Tanguay (Northumberland) marked one-year anniversaries at the Board table.

Tuesday was the first annual meeting for trustee John Connolly (Peterborough), appointed to his position in September.

During Tuesday’s annual board meeting, trustees were appointed to standing and ad-hoc Board committees.

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Campbellford Memorial Hospital Applying Additional Visitor Restrictions In Response to COVID-19 Outbreak

With continuing challenges by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak within their Inpatient Unit (IPU), Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) is adding additional measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our patients, staff and visitors effective immediately.

File photo.

Further restrictions are applied to visitation to the Inpatient Unit. Until further notice, only one individual, classified by the patient as an essential caregiver, will be permitted to visit patients in the Inpatient Unit.

The hospital considers caregivers as individuals crucial to the patient's well-being, providing support that contributes to their assessment, diagnosis, physical and mental health during their hospital stay. These individuals offer ongoing support to the patient and are likely to continue assisting in discharge. Caregivers will have access to patients during evenings, weekends, and other times when they desire their presence. 

Exceptions to this policy will be considered for palliative patients, subject to approval from the IPU manager or Chief Nursing Executive (CNE).

“We understand that these measures may cause inconvenience, but the safety of our patients and the community remains our top priority," said Heather Campbell, VP of Patient Care. "We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our patients, their families, and the broader community as we continue to respond to this outbreak.”

Services in the Emergency Department remain unaffected by this outbreak and community members in need of emergency care should not hesitate to seek assistance.

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Community Futures Peterborough Introduces New Start-Up With Arc Motor Company

Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) has introduced its new client, ARC Motor Company in the Peterborough Airport’s Loomex Hangar on Wednesday afternoon.

(From Right to Left) Bryan May, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business; Tom Chep, COO Arc Motor Company; Warden Bonnie Clark; Sloane Paul, Founder/CEO of Arc Motor Company and MP Michelle Ferreri. A ‘74 Ford Bronco has been converted into an electric vehicle by Arc Motor Company. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The affiliation of the two companies saw CFP help launch ARC with a business loan.

“The passion, drive, and commitment to sustainably innovative technologies are all demonstrated through the leadership team at ARC,” says Devon Girard, CFP executive director. “We are so excited to reveal this company and its commitment to sustainability to the world.”

Based in Peterborough, Ontario, ARC is a green-tech start-up that transforms and upcycles iconic classic cars into modern and powerful electric vehicles. They equip electric vehicles with the latest technology to drive better performance and contribute to a future with net-zero emissions. The company is headed by CEO Sloane Paul — the first woman in North America to establish such a start-up — with her brother Tom Chep as the COO.

“Not only are we grateful to the team at Community Futures Peterborough for providing us with a critical loan, but also for their invaluable expert advice and guidance,” said Paul. “Their mentorship has been instrumental in steering us—as a start-up-along the right path.”

“With the support of Community Futures Peterborough, we are poised to make a meaningful impact on our community's future,” said Chep.

Chep successfully engineered the restoration of the company's first car. A 1974 Ford Bronco into a fully electric vehicle using upcycled lithium-ion batteries.

As a start-up company, qualifying for lending from traditional banks became challenging, until Community Futures Peterborough could step in and provide lending options.

“Small town businesses create very big ideas,” says Bryan May, Member of Parliament for Cambridge and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “ARC Motor Company is an example of how great ideas get off the ground with the right supports. Our government works with businesses and the organizations like Community Futures Peterborough that support them, as they find new and innovative ways to contribute to a strong economic future for Ontario and all of Canada.”

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CO2 Monitors Available To Borrow For Free In Local Libaries

According to Peterborough Public Health (PPH), residents can borrow a CO2 Monitor at any library in Peterborough City, County and Hiawatha First Nation, effectively immediately.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

In March last year, Peterborough Public Library in collaboration with PPH, —supported by devices donated by Prescientx and CO2 Check — was the first library in North America to offer CO2 monitors as part of their Library of Things lending catalogue.

As a result of cooler temperatures and rainy weather, people spend more time gathering indoors. An increased risk of spreading and acquiring respiratory illnesses stems from being indoors more often. Respiratory illnesses like RSV, Influenza and COVID-19 can be transmitted through the air we breathe according to PPH. Carbon dioxide (CO2), the air we exhale, can be monitored and used to indicate the quality of the air we breathe.

“As we enter cold and flu season, carbon dioxide monitors are one tool we can add to our suite of tools to help us stay healthy; CO2 monitors can act as a proxy for determining whether a space has adequate ventilation and fresh air,” said Keith Beecroft, PPH health promotor.

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37 Year-Old Lakefield Man Facing Impaired Charges From Monday Afternoon

A 37-year-old Lakefield man is facing several impaired charges after an incident Monday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., Police received reports of a possible suspended driver in Lakefield. An officer conducted a traffic stop in the Queen Street and Regent Street area. During the stop, the officer noticed signs of impairment and confirmed that the driver was suspended.

The man was arrested and charged with:

• Operation while impaired - alcohol

• Operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)

• Fail to surrender insurance card (Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act)

• Driving while under suspension (Highway Traffic Act)

The accused was also issued a seven-day vehicle impoundment.

The accused was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 5.

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Voice of Business: Quality Data Takes Local Input

Data is worth more than $100 billion globally, a figure that is quickly increasing.

That’s just the value of what we can directly monetize. Its value goes well beyond that, playing a critical role in life and business. We use data for everything from picking television shows to planning growth in our communities.

Good quality data can be priceless. The more detailed and the more local the information, the greater its impact. At the Chamber, we rely heavily on data to better understand business and economic challenges and create forward-thinking policy that will better position our business community for the future.

One way you can help is by completing the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) Business Confidence Survey. This annual survey of businesses across Ontario offers a benchmark on the business climate. It’s your opportunity to have your voice heard on the issues that matter most, including priorities for economic growth, labour shortages, technology, climate change, and confidence in the economy and your own organization’s success.

Data from the Business Confidence Survey is used in the OCC’s annual Ontario Economic Report and its advocacy on policy priorities for the year ahead. As well, chambers, boards of trade, and other organizations use that data to inform their understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing businesses.

The more local participation we have in the survey the more local the data we access. Otherwise, we are relying on data aggregated from across Ontario. Please take five minutes and complete the Business Confidence Survey here. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 21.

Nearly two years ago, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) launched its quest to democratize data with the Business Data Lab (BDL). The BDL brings together the latest data from various sources to track evolving market conditions in user-friendly modules. It’s a powerful tool that makes accessing current data and analysis easy for businesses and organizations — and it’s free!

Last week, the CCC announced an expansion of the BDL Business Conditions Terminal. This tool offers up-to-date and historical data on:

• Sentiment and outlook

• Workforce

• Business activity

• Business dynamics

• Financial conditions

• Transportation and tourism

• International trade

• Environmental practices

It also includes an executive summary section offering a brief summary of each topic as well as a rating on its conditions.

Currently, the BDL is seeking renewed support from the federal government to keep this valuable tool functioning at its best. We have signed a letter urging the Government of Canada and the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business, to continue supporting BDL's mission and tools.

Locally, we need you to subscribe and read our weekly newsletters to get the latest information and find opportunities to offer your input on Chamber initiatives and priorities.

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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Fleming Phoenix Roundup: Nov. 10 - 11

The Fleming Phoenix volleyball and basketball teams struggled and were unable to get in the winning column from their weekend games.

The Fleming Phoenix logo was unveiled for the college on Sept. 8, replacing the Fleming Knight. Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

Both men’s and women’s Fleming Phoenix volleyball teams fell to the Seneca Stin on Saturday.

The men’s team lost all three sets, 25-16, 25-20, 25-18.

The women’s team lost all three sets to the Sting with scores of 25-9, 25-15, 25-20.

Both teams play again this Friday against the La Cite Coyotes at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre. The women play at 6 p.m. and the men at 8 p.m.

During this match, the name of the new Phoenix mascot will also be revealed. The name came from submission of a community contest held on Oct. 30.

The Phoenix men’s basketball team could not defeat the Georgian Grizzlies in a 92-78 losing effort at home at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre on Friday.

Tyler Murray had 23 points, Miyake Ugbogbo netted 16 points and eight rebounds, and Marcus Parnell and Jesean Wilson with 11 points each as the team’s top scorers.

The men hit the road this Friday to Ottawa to face the Algonquin Wolves with game time at 7 p.m. Fleming plays on consecutive road games as they will also play the La Cite Coyotes on Saturday with tip off for 2 p.m.

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'Be a Santa to a Senior' Program Launches For Fifth Year

The Be a Santa to a Senior program by Home Instead is encouraging Peterborough give a gift to older adults in the community who may not have anyone to celebrate with for a fifth-straight year.

Photo courtesy of Home Instead.

“The holidays can be hard for many older adults, especially those who may not have a companion to share them with,” said Glen Robson, Peterborough Home Instead owner. “Through Be a Santa to a Senior, we can help these seniors experience the happiness and togetherness the season can bring.” 

Thye program encourages shoppers to find ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ trees or displays with ornaments featuring the name and desired gift of an older adult and buy the requested gift with the ornament attached. Ornaments will be available until Dec. 8. to be delivered in time for Christmas.  

The program’s goal is to collect 1,400 gifts.

Be a Santa to a Senior trees can be found at the following locations:   

• Salon Sorella and Day Spa: 42 Queen St., Lakefield, ON K0L 2H0 

• Wellwise by Shoppers Drug Mart: 745 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough, Ont. K9J 1Z2 

• Sherwin-Williams: 950 Lansdowne St .W. #5, Peterborough, Ont. K9J 1Z9 

• Gentry Apparel: 377 George St. N., Peterborough, Ont. K9H 3R2 

• Lakefield IDA: 32 Queen St., Lakefield, Ont. K0L 2H0 

“Gifts aside, the true value comes in the connection Be a Santa to a Senior makes between the community and our older neighbors,” said Robson.

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