City of Peterborough to Mark Red Dress Day On Monday

Red Dresses will be hanging in the windows of City Hall to mark the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirited People (MMIWG2S) on Monday.

File Photo.

Mayor Jeff Leal will proclaim May 5 as Red Dress Day during a commemorative ceremony on Monday at 10 a.m. at City Hall. All are welcome to attend. 

“Red Dress Day is a powerful reminder of the heartbreaking and ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people in Canada,” said Leal. “The red dresses hanging in silence call out for justice, action and for the recognition of lives lost and families forever changed. On the National Day of Awareness, I encourage all residents of Peterborough to take a moment to reflect on the lives behind the statistics, and to consider hanging a red dress in a window, on a porch, or in a public space as a powerful symbol of remembrance and solidarity.”

“We cannot turn away from the systemic racism and gender-based violence that have made Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people disproportionately vulnerable,” said Shelley Knott, Advisor, Indigenous Relations with the City of Peterborough. “As a country, and as a community, we have a responsibility to listen, to learn, and to act. On this National Day of Awareness, we ask that you stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities in honouring the memory of those who are missing or murdered—and in committing to a future where all people can live in safety, dignity, and respect.”

The ceremony will include a smudging ceremony, singing, traditional drumming and speeches from local dignitaries.  

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City Asking Residents to Bring Ice Storm Brush and Debris to the Curb

The City of Peterborough is urging residents to bring all brush and debris related to the March 28 to March 30 ice storm to the curb by Monday to ensure pickup by the City.

Photo by Aaron Elliott.

This service is for storm-related debris, branches and tree limbs that cannot be collected through the City’s regular curbside collection for yard waste.

Brush collection is expected to last another six to seven weeks. The collection is not scheduled for a particular street at a specific time. Residents are asked to ensure that all debris is at the curb, ready for pickup when the crews arrive.

Crews are currently working in neighbourhoods between Parkhill Road and Lansdowne Street. Another collection will occur in neighbourhoods completed before Monday within the next few weeks.

To help ensure efficient and prompt pickup, residents are encouraged to dispose of small sticks, branches and lightweight brush through the regular yard waste program. Brush can be tied in bundles with light rope or twine and should not weigh more than 13 kg (30 pounds). It should have a length of up to one metre (three feet) and a diameter of up to 30 cm (12 inches).

For curbside yard waste collection, residents can place unlimited quantities of yard waste in reusable containers, labelled bushel baskets or paper yard waste bags.

Residents are asked not to place whole trees or large tree stumps at the curb for removal.

Residents are also asked to avoid parking in front of curbside debris piles to help crews access debris quickly and easily.

Street sweeping of City streets is now underway in the north section of the city, and will be completed in the west, south and east sections of the city over the coming weeks. Street sweeping is expected to be completed by mid-June.

When placing storm debris at the boulevard for yard waste collection, please avoid putting debris too close to the curb so that it may wash into the street during a rainstorm.

Residents are also asked to be mindful of sightlines to ensure the safety of pedestrians and vehicular traffic and to prevent debris from obstructing the sidewalk.

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City of Peterborough Launches Home Retrofit Loan Program

The City of Peterborough has launched a new financing program for its residents, aimed at helping homeowners lower their energy bills, improve home comfort and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Better Homes Peterborough is a four-year retrofit program offering low-interest financing, targeted incentives and personalized support to help homeowners navigate complex retrofits according to the City.

“Residential buildings contribute almost 40 per cent of local greenhouse gas emissions. Retrofitting your home is not just an investment in your house, but an investment in the collective future of our residents and our city,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “By taking individual steps to reduce our emissions we can help the city hit its target of net-zero by 2050. Better Homes Peterborough is a key part of that effort.”

“Programs like Better Homes Peterborough demonstrate how municipalities, financial institutions, and delivery partners can work together to remove barriers to deep energy retrofits,” said Melanie Johnston, EnviroCentre director of energy programs.

Upgrades can include insulation, windows, doors, heat pumps, air sealing, solar panels and battery storage, high-efficiency water heaters, lighting, EV chargers, and electrical upgrades. Homeowners can use up to 30 per cent of their retrofit loan for cosmetic or non-energy-related upgrades.

“We know from experience that navigating energy rebate programs is challenging and the coaching that this new program will provide is critical to helping homeowners make their homes more comfortable and efficient,” Tegan Moss, GreenUP executive director, “We look forward to working with partners and participants to ensure that Better Homes Peterborough helps reduce emissions in our region.”

The City says improving a home’s energy efficiency can also help boost resiliency to extreme weather events.

The program is available to city residents who own detached or semi-detached houses, townhouses or small multi-unit buildings up to three storeys high.

Two financing options are available for residents - a Local Improvement Charge (LIC) Loan through the City of Peterborough or a personal loan through Kawartha Credit Union.

“We are proud to partner with the City of Peterborough on Better Homes Peterborough, which reflects our dedication to sustainability and to helping community members achieve their home improvement goals,” Norah McCarthy, Kawartha Credit Union  President and CEO.” We’re actively reducing our carbon footprint by choosing 100 per cent renewable energy, and we believe in empowering homeowners in our communities to embrace a greener future for all.”

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City of Peterborough LIfts State of Emergency Declaration From Late-March Ice Storm

The City of Peterborough has officially ended the State of Emergency declaration from the March 28 to 30 ice storm.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The State of Emergency was declared on March 30 after the region was hit by a severe ice storm that led to downed trees and tree limbs and widespread power outages throughout the City.

“As the City officially lifts its State of Emergency following the devastating ice storm in March, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our residents, emergency responders, utility workers, City staff, and volunteers for their incredible resilience and dedication over these past few weeks,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “The response from our community has been nothing short of extraordinary.”

Clean-up efforts are still underway across the City.

The City continues to remove brush and debris from the curbside during the ice storm. This service is for debris, branches and tree limbs that cannot be collected through the City’s regular curbside collection for yard waste. Residents are asked not to place whole trees or large tree stumps at the curb for removal.

When placing debris at the boulevard for yard waste collection, please be mindful of sightlines to ensure safety for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic. Avoid placing debris close enough to the curb that it may wash into the street during a rainstorm.

It is expected to take up to eight weeks for crews to complete curbside removal of large brush and debris in all areas of the City.

Curbside collection has been completed for the area north of Parkhill Road and west of the Otonabee River.

The partial non-enforcement of the Tree Removal bylaw, including waiving permit fees for trees on private property that were damaged or destroyed as a result of the ice storm, remains in place until Monday. Regular requirements under the Tree Removal Bylaw will resume on Tuesday.

Residents wishing to remove storm-damaged trees without paying permit fees must email treebylaw@peterborough.ca and provide a photo of the tree, the property address, location of the tree on the property, the species of tree (if known), the approximate diameter of the tree and a description of the condition of the tree.

The Tree Removal bylaw remains in place for all other trees.  More information on the Tree Removal By-law can be found at peterborough.ca/trees.

The City reports significant damage to trees in City parks and along trails from the ice storm. The City is assessing and addressing hazardous tree conditions. Due to the extent of the damage, this work is ongoing.

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Peterborough Public Library Staffing Reorganization to Reduce Operation Expenses Says City

Peterborough Public Library is undergoing a staffing reorganization to reduce operating expenses by $120,000, as approved by City Council in the City’s 2025 Budget.

File Photo.

The Library has 60 staff, including a CEO and a manager with all other staff being unionized, non-management staff.

The reorganization will result in a net reduction of one position. Three positions will be eliminated and two new positions will be created, resulting in a net reduction of one position. A fourth affected position will be maintained but restructured to expand its role according to the City.

Services will be maintained; however, they will be delivered in a different way to achieve the $120,000 in cost savings.

Children’s Library services and programming will continue to be provided.

The Draft 2025 Budget for the Peterborough Public Library included a 10.9 per cent or $411,571 increase in the funding requirement for the Library, which would increase to $4,175,845 in 2025 from $3,764,273 in 2024.

The City says a number of factors contributed to the estimated increase in costs, including technology costs associated with software licences and product subscription fees, as well as the first year of operating the new library branch at the Miskin Law Community Complex.

All City departments were directed to provide options to reduce operating expenses in 2025 as a way to lower the required property tax increase.

There were two options for operating expense reductions put forward for the Peterborough Public Library as part of City Council’s 2025 Budget process:

• A $70,000 reduction that would reduce Library operating hours by four hours per week

• A $120,000 reduction that would be achieved through a Library staffing reorganization, that would include the elimination of two positions

Council did not choose the option to reduce Library operating hours but approved including the $120,000 reduction through a Library staffing reorganization, in the City’s 2025 Budget.

Council approved various other options to reduce the property tax increase in 2025, such as ending the lifeguard service at Rogers Cove beach with lifeguard service being maintained at the nearby Beavermead Park beach, ending the maintenance of the ice for skating on the Trent-Severn Waterway next to the Lift Lock, reducing preventative maintenance of City facilities, reducing funding for advertising, and increasing the Peterborough Transit single ride fare by 25 cents.

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Routine Watermain Flushing Begins Tuesday

The City will be performing routine flushing of watermains in various areas of Peterborough beginning Tuesday and continuing through Friday.

File Photo.

Flushing will take place between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Routine watermain flushing is preventive maintenance that removes scale and sediment buildup, helping to maintain water quality in the water distribution system.

Water may become iron-coloured or cloudy for a brief period. If this occurs, residents should run the cold water tap closest to the source for 20 to 30 minutes until the water is clear.

If this does not resolve the issue, please call 705-748-9301 ext. 1295 to report the problem.

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City Receives Grant to Provide Assistance For Swimming Leadership Programs to Low-Income Residents

The City of Peterborough has received a grant from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities to assist low-income families and individuals in covering the registration and equipment needed for the Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, and National Lifeguard programs.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Participants must meet the eligibility requirements under the City’s recreation subsidy guidelines.

Those interested in applying for the grant can contact Summer Ley at sley@peterborough.ca

Sessions run from May 4 to Au.t 31. Session information is as follows:

Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid with CPR-B:

• Sunday, May 4, Saturday May 10, Sunday, May 11, Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bronze Cross & Standard First Aid with CPR-C:

• Each Sunday from June 1 to June 29, 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

National Lifeguard Pool:

• Each Sunday from June 15 to July 13, 12:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid with CPR-B:

• Each Sunday from July 6 to August 3, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid with CPR-C:

• Each Sunday from July 6 to August 3, from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

National Lifeguard Pool:

• Each Sunday from August 3 to August 31, from 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a registered charity dedicated to removing financial barriers for low-income families and individuals, ensuring everyone has equal access to sport and recreation.

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List of City Services Operating During 2025 Easter Weekend

Several City facilities and services will operate under holiday hours or will be closed between Friday and Monday during the Easter Weekend.

File Photo.

Public Works can be reached at 705-745-1386. This line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

City Hall

City Hall, including Service Peterborough, the Clerk’s Office and Building Services, will be closed on Friday and Monday. Online services are available at peterborough.ca.

City Parks and trails are closed until further notice due to damage sustained during the March 28 to 31 ice storm.

Garbage and Green Bin collection and facilities

For Zones 7 and 8, curbside collection for the Green Bin, garbage, yard waste and recycling will move from Friday to Monday.

The City-County Landfill at 1260 Benfort Rd. will be closed on Friday, April 18. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Saturday and regular hours on Monday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

The Household Hazardous Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd. will be closed on Friday and open during regular hours on Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Airport

The Peterborough Regional Airport is open during regular hours, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Visit peterborough.ca/airport for more information.

Art Gallery of Peterborough

Art Gallery of Peterborough at 250 Crescent St. will be closed on Friday and Monday. The Art Gallery will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For information about gallery exhibitions and programs please visit agp.on.ca.

Peterborough Public Library

The Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. N., will be closed from Friday to Monday inclusive over the long weekend. Information and digital resources are available online at ptbolibrary.ca.

Peterborough Museum and Archives

Peterborough Museum and Archives at 300 Hunter St. E. will be closed on Friday. The Museum will be open from noon to 5 p.m. over the weekend and on Monday. Information about current exhibitions is available online at peterborough.ca/museum.

Recreation facilities

The Kinsmen Civic Centre, Healthy Planet Arena, Peterborough Memorial Centre and Recreation Facility Booking office will be closed from Friday to Monday.

The Grant Thornton Box Office will be closed from Friday to Monday. Tickets for Memorial Centre events are available for purchase online at memorialcentre.ca.

Miskin Law Community Complex at 271 Lansdowne St. W. will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, with Customer Service and scheduled ice rentals from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Regular hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. will be in place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. On Friday, the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre at 775 Brealey Dr. will open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Regular hours resume over the weekend and on Monday.

McDonnel Street Community Centre, including the drop-in Peterborough Youth Space will be closed from Friday to Monday.

Parking Services

Parking in City-operated garages, surface lots, and on-street spaces is free on weekends and holidays. The Parking Services office in the King Street Parkade will be closed from Friday to Monday.

Visit peterborough.ca/parking to find more information, including locations.

Provincial Offences Act office

Provincial Offences Act office at 99 Simcoe St. will be closed from Friday to Monday. Fine payments can be made online at peterborough.ca/POA.

Transit

Peterborough Transit will operate on a Sunday/Holiday service schedule on Friday. The customer service desk will operate on weekend hours and will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and then from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Regular service schedules are in place over the weekend and on Monday. Visit peterborough.ca/transit for details or call Transit Customer Service at 705-745-0525.

Social Services

Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. will be closed on Friday to Monday. Extended office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. resume on April 22. For information on Social Services, please visit peterborough.ca/SocialServices.

Child care centres

City-operated child care centres will be closed on Friday and Monday.

Emergency shelter services

Emergency shelter services remain open. To access them outside of regular business hours or on holidays, please call the After Hours service at 705-926-0096.

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City of Peterborough Remains In State of Emergency As Ice Storm Response Continues

The City of Peterborough continues ongoing efforts in response to the ice storm that hit the region on March 30 as the State of Emergency declaration remains in place.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The City continues to ask residents to reduce water use as water levels remain high along the Trent-Severn Waterway. These conditions are due to wet weather conditions and snow melting in the watershed's north region.

The City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility is currently processing extremely high volumes of water. Reducing water use will help reduce demands on the sewage treatment system and assist with capacity at the facility.

Residents are urged to stay well back from shorelines and waterways. Due to fast-flowing water, banks may be unstable. Children should be supervised at all times, and pets should be leashed.

Parks Canada's water management team continues to actively monitor water levels and flows and weather forecasts across the Trent-Severn Waterway. These factors are used to determine dam operations on a daily basis.

Brush and debris are being removed curbside. This service began in the north end of the City on Monday. It is expected to take four to six weeks to complete all areas of the City.

When placing debris at the boulevard for yard waste collection, please be mindful of sightlines for pedestrians and vehicular traffic safety. Avoid placing debris close enough to the curb that it may wash into the street during a rainstorm.

The City Landfill accepts residential brush, wood chips and damaged tree waste related to the ice storm at no charge until Monday.

The landfill will operate extended hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday to assist residents with storm cleanup.

The City is temporarily waiving the permit requirement to remove trees on private property that have been destroyed, destabilized or structurally compromised as a direct result of the ice storm, with the following condition:

• Residents must send email notification to treebylaw@peterborough.ca, providing photos, property address, tree species information including diameter, and provide the physiological and structural condition of the tree preferably prior to removing the tree or as soon as possible after removing a tree.

The bylaw waiver remains in place until April 28.

City-owned trees of any size, including street trees and trees in parks and natural areas, are owned and maintained by the City and are not eligible for removal or maintenance by residents. To report an issue with a City-owned tree, please call 705-742-7777 and dial 8, or 705-745-1386 after hours and weekends.

City parks and trails remain closed until further notice, due to ongoing hazards regarding falling trees and branches.

The City had an Emergency Benefit of up to $75 until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to cover storm-related expenses for eligible residents in areas still affected by the power outages.

This benefit is available to low-income residents, Ontario Works and ODSP recipients.

Eligible residents whose power has not been restored yet but who have not applied for the benefit by the deadline may still be eligible for this assistance but will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Those residents are asked to contact the Social Services office at 705-748-8830 or in person at 178 Charlotte St. (Charlotte Mews) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

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Public Information Session for Riverside Park and East City Bowl Upgrades Begins Thursday Night

The City of Peterborough is hosting a public information session about proposed upgrades to Riverside Park and East City Bowl on Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Peterborough Lions Centre, 347 Burnham St.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Residents unable to attend the public information session can provide feedback through a public survey, available online at connectptbo.ca/riverside. Hard copies of the survey are available at City Hall, 500 George St. N.  The survey will be open until 11:59 p.m. on April 18.

The ball diamonds located at Riverside Park and East City Bowl, 325 Burnham St., require repairs to address areas of deterioration. The wood fence, bullpen, batting cage, irrigation, score keepers tower and lighting were identified as areas in need of improvement.

City of Peterborough staff will be available to answer questions about the proposed upgrades to the park. Residents can provide feedback on what amenities they want to see in the proposed revitalization of the park.

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