FCM Grant Helps City of Peterborough Enhance Urban Canopy

The City of Peterborough is restoring its urban canopy and increasing tree coverage by planting thousands of new trees through grants from the Government of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees Program and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund (GMF) totalling $1,623,230.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The money was from GMF’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative, to plant up to 4,000 trees throughout the city, maximizing benefits for residents and the City’s urban canopy. 

Jointly announced by the Government of Canada and FCM in May 2024, GCCC will support the planting of at least 1.2 million new trees across Canada by the end of March 2031, while providing funding, resources, and coaching to communities.  

“This initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change by restoring the vital ecosystems in our community,” said Emma Harrison, Peterborough-Kawartha MP. “Planting trees brings immediate benefits to all living beings and lasting benefits for generations to come. I’m proud to be part of planting the seeds today that our children and grandchildren will one day enjoy.”

“Fair and equal access to trees means ensuring that every resident, in every neighbourhood, can enjoy the cleaner air, shade, and beauty that our urban forest provides,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “The support from this FCM grant will not only help us expand canopy coverage city-wide, but it will also allow us to replace the many trees we’ve lost. Peterborough's tree canopy has been greatly impacted over the last few years by a derecho in May of 2022, the ice storm in March of 2025, and the invasive emerald ash borer. With this grant, we'll be able to rebuild and replenish our urban forest, making sure the benefits of trees are shared equitably while building a greener, more resilient Peterborough for the future.”

“With the right trees in the right places, communities of all sizes can unlock environmental, social and economic benefits,” said Rebecca Bligh, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. “Through the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, our municipalities now have access to the funding, training and resources they need to make tree planting a smart investment in the long-term health and resilience of our communities.” 

Trees will be planted along road allowances, parks and open spaces. The City will maintain the trees.   

Factors like space, soil conditions, sunlight, and nearby utilities and structures will help determine the location and species of the tree to be planted. Large, native-growing trees are planted whenever possible.  

As part of the City’s annual tree planting program, notification letters are sent to property owners when a tree is going to be planted on a boulevard or road allowance. A door hanger is also provided when the tree planting location has been marked in advance of the planting.

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Coming Full Circle Program Launched In Haliburton County For Networking In Substance Abuse and Metal Health Challenges

Point in Time and the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) have officially launched its Coming Full Circle Program in Haliburton County with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of CMHA HKPR.

Funded by Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP), the program is a transformative two-year initiative designed to build a network of peer support workers who bring lived and living experience of substance use and mental health challenges according to a press release. These individuals are trained, mentored, and supported to contribute meaningfully to improvements in the health and social systems across Haliburton County.

The program is rooted in the belief that lived experience is a powerful asset. Peer support workers offer a unique and invaluable perspective, fostering trust, empathy, and connection in ways that traditional services often cannot.

“This program represents a different approach to care, one rooted in connection and lived experience.” said David Barkley, program supervisor. “Peer support means working with someone who truly understands the barriers and challenges because they’ve been through them too. That authenticity helps build trust and makes it easier to navigate the tough realities that can come with living in smaller, rural communities. People deserve support from a place where they feel welcomed, not judged.”

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Fleming College Awarded Over $357,000 to Launch Research On Resilience In Nursing

Fleming College has been awarded $357,033 to fund a three-year applied research project aimed at improving nurse well-being at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) through structured resilience training, announced last Friday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The money was awarded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), in collaboration with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The funding is provided through the College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF), one of the main grant types under the tri-agency College and Community Innovation (CCI) program.

The project is led by Fleming College faculty members Jill Henderson, MN, RN; Wendy Morgan, MA-Ed, MA-CP; and Melissa Sherrer, MN, RN, from Fleming’s School of Health and Community Services. They are joined by Dr. Michael Ungar, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience at Dalhousie University.

“The nursing workforce in Canada faces severe challenges with devastating rates of burnout and projected shortages,” said Dr. Theresa Knott, Acting Co-President, Fleming College. “A recent poll from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions reports 40 per cent of nurses intend to leave the profession within the next year. This funding will help address these workforce pressures and strengthen the future of health care in Ontario and across the country.”

The CCSIF-funded project builds on a successful pilot study led by Henderson and Morgan, previously funded by NSERC. In that study, the duo delivered resilience training to fourth-semester students in Fleming’s Practical Nursing program. Their research demonstrated clear benefits: participants reported improvements in overall mental health, increased self-awareness, better emotional regulation, and greater confidence in managing stress. Many also valued the group-based support.

With this new funding, the research team will adapt and expand their resilience training model to support nurses at PRHC and study the impact of the training over time. The goal is to help nurses’ psychological well-being, reduce burnout and strengthen job satisfaction. The study offers a scalable training model to shape best practices in nurse support at the provincial and national levels said Dr. Knott.

“Fleming College is proud to support the well-being of nurses already in the field through this important new resilience training,” she said. “While we remain committed to preparing career-ready nurses through our academic programs, this applied research project allows us to make a direct, meaningful impact on those currently serving in our healthcare system. It’s a response to real needs in our community.”

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2026 OHL Top Prospects Game Ticket Details Released

Ticket details for the 2026 OHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 14 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre have been released.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

They go on sale Nov. 12 at 10 a.m., with presale for relevant parties beginning on Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. A link to purchase tickets will become active at 10 a.m. on Nov. 12. 

The game will feature some of the top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft taking the ice at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Rosters for the game will be selected by NHL Member Teams and NHL Central Scouting to be announced in mid-December.

The inaugural showcase brought close to 200 NHL scouts out to see the Ontario Hockey League’s rising stars on display in an East vs. West format, one decided in favour of the Eastern Conference on an overtime goal by Peterborough’s own Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads.

The Petes remain at home for their next game on Thursday. They will host the Brantford Bulldogs with puck drop for 7:05 p.m. at the PMC.

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U11 Kawartha Lacrosse Girls Bring Home Silver At Sixes Provincial Tournament

Kawartha Lacrosse’s U11 girls make the podium as they won silver at the Ontario Lacrosse Association's (OLA) Sixes Provincial Championships held on Oct. 25 and 26 in Hamilton.

Back: Coach Tara King, Coach Kayla Briffett, Trainer Nicole Campbell-Leveck
Middle: Ruby McKinley, Hadley Hoar, Fiona King, Kaitlin Aiello, Kinsley Briffett, Avery Carroll, Nev McCormick
Front: Kaylen Booth, Blake Murray, Sienna Adams
Absent: Coach Sam Berardi, Alyssa Clarkson, Everlee Cook. Photo courtesy of Kawartha Lacrosse.

The performance marked the first time Kawartha Lacrosse has fielded a team in the Sixes format.

Kawartha Lacrosse’s small roster included three underage players from the U9 division. The U11 team demonstrated exceptional skill, teamwork, and resilience throughout the tournament said coach Tara King.

“It has been rewarding to watch these young athletes grow as teammates and competitors throughout our inaugural sixes season,” she said. “The girls consistently demonstrated outstanding work ethic and a positive attitude — both of which were key to our success. Also, coaching alongside my former Kawartha Lacrosse teammates with our daughters on the field made this season especially meaningful.”

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Peterborough Humane Society's Fall 2025 50/50 Lottery Shatters Previous Fundraising Record

The Peterborough Humane Society’s (PHS) Fall 2025 PHS 50/50 Lottery has achieved a new all-time high of $57,575, over $7,000 above the previous fundraiser.

The PHS 50/50 Lottery has given away over $97,000 in cash prizes, $15,000 in travel vouchers from Marlin Travel Peterborough and a luxury patio chair set from Stoney Lake Furniture Co., since it launched in the spring of 2024. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Humane Society.

This had broken the past spring’s record jackpot of $50,245 set back in May.

Allyson Allin of Lakefield, won the 50/50, taking home the $28,787.50 grand prize.

The PHS 50/50 Lottery also featured the Marlin Travel & Transat Ruffle, offering a $5,000 gift certificate for use at Marlin Travel Peterborough toward any Transat travel package. It was won but Michael Walker of Highlands East.

The lottery ran from Sept. 26 to Oct. 31 with proceeds towards PHS for animals in need.

“Our community’s love for animals continues to shine through,” said Shawn Morey, PHS CEO. “From those who bought tickets to the local businesses and media who shared our message, everyone played a part in this success. We’re so thankful for the incredible support that makes our work possible.”

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Trent University Receives $1 Million Grant to Advance Trauma-Informed Care in Long-Term Care

Through a $1-million research project grant, Trent University will introduce trauma-informed care practices into long-term care homes.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

The practice is led by Dr. Kimberly Ritchie, an assistant professor in the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing (whose research focuses on trauma and dementia.

“We know from research by Dr. Ritchie that the need for trauma-informed approaches is pressing, with nearly two-thirds of Canadian adults reporting at least one potentially traumatic event in their lives,” says Dr. Holger Hintelmann, Trent vice-president of research and innovation. “This is valuable funding for a critical project that could inform innovations in care for our aging populations.”

Ritchie will lead a four-year project with colleagues from McMaster University to co-design, implement and evaluate a trauma-informed care framework. According to Trent, this work is part of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging and is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, in particular its Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research initiative, as well as the Azrieli Foundation, Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, Brain Canada Foundation and SPOR.

Trauma-informed care emphasizes understanding the lasting impact of trauma, creating safe and inclusive environments, and equipping staff with tools to recognize triggers, de-escalate distress and build trust with residents says Ritchie.

“Research shows a two-way relationship between PTSD and dementia, making transitions into institutional settings especially difficult,” she said. “For many residents, long-term care environments can unintentionally trigger trauma memories, leading to distress and behavioural symptoms. Embedding a trauma-informed approach means safer, more inclusive and supportive environments for both residents and staff.”

The project will also focus on supporting care staff, who often face high levels of stress and burnout. The framework will be piloted in one home, refined and then tested in a national trial across four long-term care homes.

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Peterborough Police Lay Several Charges During Commercial Vehicle Inspections

Peterborough Police Service Traffic Unit officers conducted commercial vehicle inspections, discovering several violations on Oct. 22 and 23.

Over the two days, they completed nine inspections and found that three vehicles were taken out of service with several charges and warnings issued.

Officers seized the plates of one of those vehicles (a truck and trailer) and the driver was charged under the Highway Traffic Act with:

• Drive commercial motor vehicle with a major defect in it or in drawn vehicle

• Improper tires - drawn vehicle - commercial motor vehicle

• Fail to accurately complete daily inspection report

• Operate unsafe combination of vehicles

• Improper braking system - commercial motor vehicle

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Peterborough Petes Squeeze Out Victory After Trailing Over Kingston Frontenacs

The Peterborough Petes squeezed out a win over Kingston Frontenacs after a multi-goal deficit to earn a 4-3 victory at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) on Saturday night.

The Petes are third in the East Division with a 7-7-1-1 record. Photo courtesy of Kenneth ANdersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The first period belonged to Kingston, as Jacob Battaglia and Kieren Dervin scored to give the Frontenacs a 2-0 lead. Peterborough led in shots 11-8, but it was the visitors who had the lead.

Peterborough had a chance early in the second period as they drew an interference penalty 27 into the frame. Adam Novotný took a one-timed shot but sailed high over the net. Braydon McCallum recovered the loose puck, fed Novotný for a second one-timer chance and buried it home to put the Petes on the board from the man advantage, 2-1.

Peterborough went on the attack again as a point shot went wide and Kingston goaltender Matthew Minchac tried to dive on a loose puck that bounced off the half-wall. He failed to cover it as it wound up on Adam Levac’s stick to a wide-open net and he scored to tie the game. Kingston regained the lead 1:34 later as Robin Kuzma one-timed it in the slot for a 3-2 game. Peterborough would not go away, as at 2:02, Aiden Young, on a wide-angle, did a spin-o-rama centring pass on the backhand and his prayer was answered with a Levac tip-in goal to tie the game at three.

Levac had a chance to get the hat trick as was awarded a penalty shot late in the period. He tried to go forehand at point-blank range but was stopped by Minchac to keep it a 3-3 game going into the final period.

Less than four minutes into the period, Braydon McCallum won a faceoff for Peterborough. Gens Ula did not waste any time as he immediately fired the puck when it drew back to him for a go-ahead goal. It was 4-3, the Petes’s first lead of the night. The home team clamped down defensively, only allowing seven shots in the third period with none finding the back of the net. That was enough to secure the 4-3 win over the visiting Kingston Frontenacs.

The Petes remain at home for their next game on Thursday. They will host the Brantford Bulldogs with puck drop for 7:05 p.m. at the PMC.

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PTBOSpotlight: Dante's Gourmet Burrito

Welcome to PTBOSpotlight! Every Friday, this segment showcases a business or organization in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. You will have the opportunity to learn more about the people behind the organization and the work they do for our community.

This week, we are featuring Dante's Gourmet Burrito. It is owned by Eva’s Delight Inc.

Located at 195 Simcoe St. (across from the Peterborough Bus Terminal), Dante's Gourmet Burrito has served fresh Mexican cuisine including burritos, quesadillas, tacos, nachos and more.

“We offer a wide variety of freshly made protein options along with multiple tortilla choices, including high-protein and gluten-free options,” said Surendra Patle of Dante's Gourmet Burrito. “All our sauces are made in-house with no preservatives and we take pride in delivering healthy, flavorful meals to our customers.”

The business first opened in 2009 as one of Peterborough’s first burrito establishments.

“Over the years, it has grown to become one of the most popular and award-winning restaurants in the area, known for its quality, freshness and commitment to great taste.”

A Downtown Peterborough staple, Dante's Gourmet Burrito has been supporting the local economy and community.

“Dante’s works closely with local farmers and small businesses, sourcing fresh ingredients from local suppliers to prepare our food,” explained Patle. “We also show appreciation to our community by offering special discounts to public servants, frontline workers, senior citizens and students.”

Whether you are craving barbacoa, carnitas, pollo asado, chorizo, tofu or any other of their selections, Dante's Gourmet Burrito can customize your meal the way you want with everything made in-house.

“Our mission is to continue serving delicious, wholesome Mexican food while supporting the community that has supported us for so many years. At Dante’s, everything we make is crafted with care, freshness, and a passion for great food.”

To learn more about Dante's Gourmet Burrito, find it online:

Instagram: @dantes_gourmet_burrito
Facebook: Dante's Gourmet Burrito

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