$8.6 Million Invested Into Home Energy Efficiency Program For Affordable Heating In Peterborough

In an effort to fight climate change and reduce costs to homeowners, the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) are investing $8.6 million to launch the City of Peterborough’s Home Energy Efficiency Program.

(From left to right) Michael Papadacos, City of Peterborough Commissioner of Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management; Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada; Jeff Leal, Mayor of Peterborough; Tegan Moss, GreenUp executive director; Rowena Santos, Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Brampton Councillor; Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden; Kevin Duguay, Peterborough City Councillor and Michelle Ferreri, Peterborough-Kawartha MP. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The announcement was made with several dignitaries attending in front of an East City residence Thursday afternoon. Notables included Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada; Councillor Rowena Santos of Brampton; Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden; Michelle Ferrari, Peterborough-Kawartha MP and Councillor Kevin Duguay.

The money is through a $2.87 million grant and a $5.75 million loan from the Green Municipal Fund’s Community Efficiency Financing program.

“This particular program will roll out right away,” said Leal. “This is a unique opportunity to take advantage of this Government of Canada administered through FCM to get your applications in, get your changes made and make things more energy-efficient.”

The offers homeowners and renters two loan choices: one tied to the property via a Local Improvement Charge and the other an unsecured loan provided directly from a partnering financial institution.

The loans are capped at $125,000 or 10 per cent of the current property value. They can finance home energy efficiency improvements that lower emissions, reduce energy costs, and enhance comfort by upgrading windows, doors, air sealing and insulation and installing low-emission heating such as heat pumps and alternative energy sources like solar panels according to a press release.

The program aims to help approximately 600 households retrofit their homes. This results in total reductions in emissions of 825 tonnes of CO2 per year, saving over 28,000 gigajoules of energy.

While this applies to homeowners, the federal government seeks solutions for those renting, especially those paying utilities.

“This is obviously for people who already are homeowners that these programs are being offered,” said Guilbeault. “We are looking what can be done also with people who rent, whether they're not owners of the building in terms of how can we help them and perhaps these owners to increase the energy efficiency of those units as well.”

In 2019, under former mayor Diane Therrien, the City of Peterborough declared a climate emergency. It updated its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Roughly 23 per cent of emissions in the city come from the 34,660 residential dwellings as stated in a press release.

“We are, in fact, working with municipalities, provincial governments and organizations across the country to increase the rate of new building homes being built in Canada,” said Guilbeault. “Through the first-ever Canada's housing strategy, we're deploying billions of dollars and we are starting to see more and more buildings being built all across the country.”

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Peterborough Petes Game to Benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough in 'Big Game For Kids' On March 7

The Peterborough Pets game against the Ottawa 67’s on March 7 will be extra special as a fundraising night for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough (Peterborbough Bigs) in the “Big Game for Kids,” announced on Thursday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Bigs.

The game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre has the puck drop for 7:05 p.m. The event features a classic photo booth, chuck-a-puck prizes and local hockey action while making meaningful differences for Peterborough youth.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Peterborough Petes and Monaghan Lumber for the 'Big Game for Kids,' an event that combines the excitement of hockey with the spirit of community giving,” said Brent Shepherd, Peterborough Bigs executive director. “Together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of children and youth in our community by providing them with the support and guidance they need to succeed.”

All funds raised benefit Peterborough Bigs’s mentoring programs, allowing the organization to continue matching young people with caring adult mentors, fostering meaningful relationships and positive outcomes according to a press release.

Tickets are available at the Peterborough Bigs website or by contacting Hilary Morgan at (705) 743-6100.

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Hometown PTBO: Fiddle Player Irish Millie Playing Music With Her Father and Upcoming Tour Locations

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with fiddle player Irish Millie about starting music at a young age, playing alongside her father and future endeavours such as merchandising and upcoming tour destinations.

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Homelessness Benefit Concert Returns With 'Peterborough Performs IV' For United Way at Showplace On March 7

Sixteen acts are taking the stage at Showplace Performance Centre for United Way’s ‘Peterborough Performs IV: Musicians United to End Homelessness’ to fundraise for homelessness initiatives announced Thursday morning.

Musician Dan Hicks is one of 16 acts joining ‘Peterborough Performs IV."‘ Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The one-night event takes place on March 7 at Showplace (290 George St. N.) at 7 p.m. with tickets for $50.

The campaign is in its fourth year with the ultimate fundraising goal $1.45 million. The concert has raised over $84,000 to date, with 95 per cent of the proceeds going to local shelters according to Paul Rellinger, event organizer.

“We all feel homelessness is a big issue that we can't as individuals do anything about,” he said. “You can make a difference with this event.”

While the event averages over $28,000 annually in raised funds, Rellinger adds that no goal is set for this campaign's fourth edition.

“The first goal is to do better than the year before,” he said. “What I'm really excited about is the event is going to well pass $100,000 in money raised over four events and that's pretty good for something that was just an idea four years ago.”

Tiffany Arcari from ‘The Tiffany Show’ is the emcee for the event.

The following are the acts performing at this year’s concert:

• The Weber Brothers Band

• Emily Burgess

• SJ Riley

• The Austin Carson Band

• The Peterborough All-Star Band (featuring Rick and Gailie Young)

• The Cheryl Casselman Trio

• Irish Millie

• Tom Eastland

• Chris Collins

• Bread & Soul

• Phil Stephenson/Glen Cardus/Ron Kervin

• Jacques Graveline

• The Hippie Chicks

• Michaela Hetherington

• Dan Hick

• Tim Burnie (stand-up comedian)

An online auction with over 50 items runs until March 7 at 10 p.m. Local businesses, sponsors and organizations have donated all the lots for the auction.

Tickets to Peterborough Performs are available for purchase at the Showplace Box Office. The discount code ‘LoveLocal’ is available to purchase two tickets for $40 until next week Thursday.

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Woman Arrested After Allegedly Striking a Man With a Cell Phone And Closing a Door On His Hands

A 21-year-old Peterborough woman is facing charges after a domestic incident with another man on Thursday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 4:10 a.m., officers responded to a disturbance in the Goodfellow Road and Talwood Drive area. A verbal argument between a man and a woman broke out with the woman allegedly striking the man in the head with a cell phone and closing a door on his hands, injuring them.

The woman was arrested and charged with:

• Assault with a Weapon

The accused was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on March 19.

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Suspicious Package at Chandler Crescent and Florence Drive Deemed Safe Peterborough Police Say

Peterborough Police have determined that a suspicious package discovered at Florence Drive and Chandler Crescent area sidewalk left on Wednesday night is deemed safe.

A DRPS Bomb Squad Robot examining the suspicious package. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police Service.

The package was spotted at roughly 6:30 p.m. when Police had advised the public to stay clear and residents living in the area to remain in their households during the investigation. They had stayed in their houses for several hours.

The Durham Regional Police Bomb Squad was called to assess the package and deemed it safe at approximately 10 p.m.

The Peterborough Police Service thanks the neighbourhood for their patience and understanding.

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Stay Clear of Chandler Crescent Due to Suspicious Package Warns Peterborough Police

Peterborough Police have Florence Drive closed at Chandler Cres for an investigation regarding a suspicious package.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Police request that everyone avoid the area and remain in your residence if you reside on the street.

The police appreciate those and thank everyone for their patience and understanding.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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Peterborough County Council Approves 2024 Budget

Peterborough County Council has approved the 2024 Budget entails a rise in the levy by 6.29 per cent during Wednesday’s meeting.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough County.

The budget changes include:

• a dedicated infrastructure levy set at 2.5 per cent

• an increase of 2.57 per cent for the Operating Budget

• and an increase of 1.22 per cent for the Shared Services Budget

This increase in the levy translates to a tax rate increase of 5.69 per cent or approximately $21.81 for every $100,000 in residential assessment.

“Peterborough County staff were tasked with presenting a budget that is both responsible and comprehensive, and they successfully fulfilled that mandate,” said Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden. “This budget will enable the County to tackle both operational and capital infrastructure needs, all while managing the challenges of inflation and the cost of living that persistently affect our ratepayers as well as the County's operations, finances, and those of our service provider partners.”

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Man Flees Residence With Prescription Medication After Break and Enter; Police Seeking Information On Suspect

The Peterborough Police Service is investigating after a residential break and enter in the Village Crescent and Lansdowne Street area early Wednesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 1:45 a.m. officers were called to the residence and learned that a homeowner had woken up to find an unknown man in their home. When spotted, the man fled the home with some prescription medication. 

Officers started searching the area and K9 Officer Wentworth and PSD Gryphon were called in for a track. During the search, officers followed a long distance to a broken window on an abandoned house in the Lansdowne Street and Clonsilla Avenue area. Officers searched and determined no one was in the building.

The suspect was described to police as:

• Male

• 5'10"

• Thin build

• Wearing dark clothes including a dark hoodie

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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$70 Million Winning LOTTO MAX Jackpot Ticket Sold In Kawartha Lakes

Peterborough City and County residents better check their lottery tickets as Tuesday’s $70 Million Winning LOTTO MAX Jackpot ticket was sold in Kawartha Lakes, announced on Wednesday.

File Photo.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) will not reveal the location of the ticket’s sale until a winner has claimed the prize at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto.

The winning numbers were 01, 04, 23, 24, 31, 40 and 48 with 38 as the bonus.

The next LOTTO MAX Jackpot is estimated to be $18 million.

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