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Good morning, and welcome to the Peterborough Currents newsletter. Before we get to the news, I want to thank everyone who contributed to our summer revenue drive last month. During the month of August, we gained 43 new supporters, bringing our total number of active supporters to 217. Wow!
I'm so grateful. Our supporters are ensuring that thousands of people in Peterborough have access to community-centred journalism. Our supporters power everything we do at Peterborough Currents, and I think they're making a big difference in our community as a result. Here's where you can join them.
Okay, let's get to the news! |
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One City to operate daily meal program and winter overnight drop-in at Trinity United Church |
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Trinity United's congregation disbanded in 2022. But the building was purchased by the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network with the intention of turning the space into a community hub. (Photo: Will Pearson) |
What a difference twelve months can make.
As winter approached last fall there appeared to be no clear plans for keeping people who were living unsheltered in Peterborough safe and warm. At a chaotic special meeting, city councillors argued over whether there was an emergency at all. Then, council declined to fund an overnight drop-in shelter. The drop-in went ahead anyway without municipal funding.
Fast forward to now. With new provincial funding, the city is installing 50 units of modular housing at the Wolfe Street encampment and there is new leniency being shown to tenters in the area who are waiting to move into them.
And at a press event this morning, the local non-profit One City announced that it will open a new community hub serving people experiencing homelessness at the former Trinity United Church with municipal funding. The hub will offer a winter overnight drop-in from October 1 to March 31. Additionally, there will be an afternoon drop-in and meal service offered all year long starting this fall.
The afternoon meal service is intended to replace the program currently offered at the One Roof Community Centre, which is set to close by the end of the year.
The new programming will be funded by the City of Peterborough, which is providing $900,000 per year for the next three years to support the initiative, according to a press release.
In the press release, One City's co-executive director Christian Harvey stated his team is busy readying the space and "developing programming that will welcome and meet the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness." |
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"I miss my daughter so much": Families share their grief to combat stigma at International Overdose Awareness Day |
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August 31 was International Overdose Awareness Day. To mark the occasion, community members gathered at Millennium Park to honour those lost to Peterborough's toxic drug crisis, fight back against stigma and push for solutions.
People whose lives have been impacted by the crisis addressed the crowd one after another during the event. Moms and other family members held back tears as they shared stories of the loved ones they have lost.
Currents attended the event. You can read our story here. |
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"So much to be gained from a painful loss": Lessons for today's teenagers from two PCVS alumni |
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The spirit of PCVS lives on in Peterborough. And students' passionate campaign to save the school during its final year is still a source of inspiration for people — including those involved in the production of Give 'Em Hell, a new play opening this weekend that portrays the final school year at PCVS. The play runs this weekend and next at the former PCVS auditorium.
Give 'Em Hell features a cast of local teenagers who together play a fictionalized version of the final student body at PCVS. Currents convened an intergenerational conversation between two of the teenage cast members and two PCVS alumni who attended the school in its final year. Together, these four young people discussed growing up, finding a place to belong, and the role activism can play in these processes. Click here to listen to the conversation. |
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Other stories to watch
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🌏 A global climate strike is planned for tomorrow, September 15, and local climate activists are organizing a demonstration at Confederation Park (across from City Hall) from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. The goal of the climate strike is to "pressure the richest governments on the planet to end the use and production of fossil fuels," according to Mel Abberger, who is helping to organize the Peterborough event.
🚔 Police released details of another homicide last week — the third one in Peterborough this year. Two people were victims in a stabbing incident that occurred in a Simcoe Street apartment on the evening of September 6, police stated. One of the victims died and the other suffered serious injuries. Police arrested a suspect hours after they first responded to the scene. Watch Chief Betts' media conference here.
🚛 There are big changes to garbage collection coming to Peterborough in the coming months. The city is rolling out a new green bin composting program, with bins being delivered to eligible households starting this month. On October 31, weekly roadside compost pickup will commence. That same week, garbage collection will shift to biweekly and a new rule requiring clear garbage bags will come into effect. Lastly, waste collection day will shift for some households. Read all about the coming changes here.
🚌 City councillors voted Monday to dip into the transit reserve fund to keep buses running for the rest of this year. City staff had warned that Peterborough Transit needed an additional $941,000 or it would have to cease all service for the rest of the year starting in November. The funding shortfall was the result of council’s earlier decision to freeze transit spending at 2022 levels for 2023, despite rising fuel and staffing costs. Monday’s vote by council’s general committee is not final; it will have to be ratified at a city council meeting at the end of the month.
🌈 Peterborough-Nogojiwanong Pride Week kicks off tomorrow. Dozens of events are planned over the coming week to support and celebrate people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, with the annual Pride Parade scheduled for September 23 at 1:30 p.m. Learn more at the Pride website here. Or, follow Peterborough Pride on Facebook or Instagram. |
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Thanks for reading our newsletter! As always, feel free to reply to this email to give me your feedback. I love hearing from readers!
Take care, |
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Publisher-Editor,
Peterborough Currents
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