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Village Voice
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A WORD FROM OUR PUBLISHER
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Last week I received two anonymous items in the mail.
The first letter contained two religious tracks that said I was going to hell. I’m still not sure why.
The second was an attack on a local business. Anyone that knows The Promoter knows that we do not denigrate local business. (It may have happened in the past). Go after big global corporations and government, do the research and we are right beside you. But local business. That’s a big NO!
That’s for several reasons: they are usually our friends and neighbours; they are supporting people in the community; they maybe going through things we don’t know about. And… they support our business.
Also, the emails were anonymous. There was no one to contact and verify, give their side of the story, or stand by their convictions. That says to me that it’s probably untrue and written by a coward.
Over the years, I’ve listened to many people who have legitimate, and sometimes personal, reasons to have problems with a business. I always listen and give my opinion and keep it confidential.
Want us to take you seriously, sign your name! But I still might be going to hell.
Max Miller, Publisher
CKL FIRE SERVICE REVIEW
The Ontario government is providing up to $458,750 to help improve the delivery of critical programs and services in Haliburton-Kawartha LakesBrock. The funding is being delivered through the Municipal Modernization Program and, among others, will support the City of Kawartha Lakes Fire Department Service Delivery Review.
“COVID-19 has demonstrated the need to modernize the important programs and services municipalities provide,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock.
CKL Mayor Andy Letham commented, “Kawartha Lakes Fire Service operates over an extensive geographic area with 20 stations. We employ approximately 350 staff, the majority of which are Volunteer Firefighters. Given the significant size of the service, and ongoing
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budgetary pressures associated with maintaining equipment and facilities, we will use the funding for a third-party review of the fire service budgets. We thank the Province, and our local MPP Laurie Scott, for their commitment to assist municipalities to modernize services to continue meeting the needs of our communities.”
Municipalities will use the funding to find efficiencies and implement a wide range of initiatives to digitize, streamline and/or integrate programs and services with neighbouring communities. The funding will also help municipalities administer the cost saving measures in time for the 2022 municipal budget cycle.
TSW WATERS HIGH
Parks Canada advises the public to expect higher than normal water levels and flows during navigation hours and increased flows outside of navigation hours, across the entire navigable route of the Trent-Severn Waterway until further notice.
The higher than normal water levels and flows during navigation hours are due to the high amounts of precipitation received over the past two weeks across the system.
The increased flows overnight are the result of water management dam adjustments to address the higher than normal water levels caused by the recent precipitation. The public should consider these overnight flows as non-navigable.
Residents and visitors should exercise extreme caution around and on the water.
For more information about the Trent-Severn Waterway, visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca/trent, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter @TrentSevernNHS.
For the most current boater specific information, please follow them on Twitter: @TSWBoaterInfo, @VNTSInfoNav.
TAKING STEP 3 TO RECOVERY
The Ontario government is moving the province into Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen at 12:01am on Friday, July 16, 2021.
Face coverings in indoor public settings and physical distancing requirements remain in place throughout Step Three.
Step Three of the Roadmap focuses on the resumption of additional indoor services with larger numbers of people and restrictions in place. This includes, but is not limited to: • Outdoor social gatherings and organized public
events with up to 100 people with limited exceptions; • Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people; • Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted with physical distancing; • Indoor dining permitted with no limits on the number of patrons per table with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect; • Indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities to open subject to a maximum 50 percent capacity of the indoor space. • Indoor meeting and event spaces permitted to operate with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect and capacity limited to not exceed 50 percent capacity or 1,000 people, (whichever is less); • Essential and non-essential retail with with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres; • Personal care services, including services requiring the removal of a face covering, with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres; • Museums, galleries, historic sites, aquariums, zoos, landmarks, botanical gardens, science centres, casinos/bingo halls, amusement parks, fairs and rural exhibitions, festivals, with capacity limited to not exceed 50 percent capacity indoors and 75 percent capacity outdoors; • Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres permitted to operate at: up to 50 percent capacity indoors or a maximum limit of 1,000 people for seated events (whichever is less); up to 75 percent capacity outdoors or a maximum limit of 5,000 people for unseated events (whichever is less); and up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum of 15,000 people for events with fixed seating (whichever is less). • Real estate open houses with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres; and • Indoor food or drink establishments where dance facilities are provided, including nightclubs and restobars, permitted up to 25 percent capacity or up to a maximum limit of 250 people (whichever is less). (Editor’s note: Many organizations and local businesses are working their way through this transition and adhering to all public health rules. Please be patient and understanding while you continue to support local.)
TELL CITY HALL
The municipality of Kawartha Lakes has been notified that “Tell City Hall”, a Canadian Market Research company under the program of Advanis, Inc., is conducting research in our area and residents may be contacted regarding a survey.
The survey platform is legitimate, however they are not affiliated with the municipality, Kawartha Lakes Police Service or Kawartha Lakes OPP.
The Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) continues its work to deliver higher speed internet access. They are seeking a $200 million contribution from Federal and Provincial governments, to meet a project total of $1.2 billion. The project will take place over a five-year period. The government investment will be returned in five years with the amount of increased economic activity leading to increased tax base. Additional funding will come from the Infrastructure Bank of Canada ($400 million) and $400 million from a private investment.
Government investment to connectivity to date: • The provincial government has pledged $300 million in 2020, and an additional $2.8 billion in connectivity funding in the 2021 budget. • The Federal government has pledged $2.75 billion to date for use across the country. These funds have not been committed specifically to EORN project funding.
Lisa Severson, Director of Communications, EORN, presented to City of Kawartha Lakes Council a project update and noted, “I want to extend thanks to the City of Kawartha Lakes for their support over the last several years on the cell gap project. On March 18, 2021, we were very pleased to award Rogers Communications the contract as the top bidder.”
The City of Kawartha Lakes has contributed $716,000 to the cell gap project.
Across the eastern Ontario region where people
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live, work and travel on major roadways, EORN’s project objectives include: • Achieve 99 percent coverage so that they can make and receive cell phone calls. • Achieve 95 percent coverage in the eastern Ontario region where people live, work and travel on major roadways with standard definition service level which can support email, web browsing and social media services. • Achieve 85 percent coverage in the eastern
Ontario region where people live, work and travel on major roadways with high-definition service level which can support video conferencing, movie streaming and other, more data intensive applications.
Work on upgrading existing towers has begun, with 14 existing sites within Kawartha Lakes included. As well, 20 to 30 new 5G sites will be built by July 2025.
AUXILIARY GIVES SPECIAL GIFT
Volunteers at Ross Memorial Hospital do so much for visitors, patients and the hospital’s fundraising efforts.
New initiatives include the Ross Family & Friends 50/50 Raffle which launched with a pilot series in the fall of 2020. Now in its fourth series, the raffle has continued to grow with energetic participation from the public.
RMH Auxiliary President Anne Botond and members of the 50/50 Committee, Karen Simser, Linda Wakelin, Nelia Steward and Jan Morrison, recently
In photo from left to right: Jan Morrison, Nelia Steward, Anne Botond, Erin Coons, Karen Simser, Linda Wakelin
presented Foundation CEO Erin Coons with a cheque for $10,000 to support the purchase of the community’s new CT Scanner.
“When you’re a part of the Ross Family the way our volunteers are, it’s hard to stay home even when we know it’s the best way to help right now,” said Anne Botond, RMH Auxiliary President. “We miss seeing the staff, physicians, patients and visitors, and we can’t wait to get back to our regular volunteer services. We’re so pleased to be able to make this donation, during such a challenging year, and show the community that even though you can’t see us, our hearts are still at the Ross.”
For more information about volunteering with the RMH Auxiliary or to buy tickets for the Ross Family & Friends 50/50 Raffle, please visit rmh.org/volunteers.
PPH SAYS MOVE TO STEP 3 WITH CAUTION
Peterborough’s Medical Officer of Health is expressing caution as the province reopens to Step 3. Local health officials are wary that the number of current cases and outbreaks may grow unless residents continue to practice COVID-19 prevention measures. “For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started, PPH’s case incidence rate are twice as high as the provincial rate, which means there is more transmission occurring here when compared to other regions,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. “As we move into Step 3, residents will need to carefully follow public health measures and get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as quickly as possible.”
For the week of July 4 to10, the case incidence rate for PPH was 16.9 per 100,000, compared to 8.2 for all of Ontario.
Julie Ingram, Manager, Environmental Health, reminded business owners that the provincial threestep reopening plan was designed to be cautious and gradual. “If a business is not prepared to implement all required measures, then they should scale back their reopening approach and take it gradually,” said Ms. Ingram.
For all individuals, requirements for face coverings and physical distancing remain in place. Members of the public are responsible for physical distancing from others and wearing a mask or face covering that covers their mouth, nose, and chin when they visit an indoor business or organization, or attending an indoor organized public event and are within two metres of others outside of their household. Residents must also be sure to maintain two metres of physical distance from individuals who are not part of their household when attending an outdoor place of business or facility open to the public. In certain circumstances, masks and face coverings are now required outdoors, such as when attending food and drink establishments with outdoor dance facilities.
As the majority of cases in the Peterborough area are due to the Delta variant, which is even more transmissible than the previously circulating Alpha variant, the need for high two-dose vaccine coverage is necessary to keep local case counts low. Due to the high levels of transmissibility associated with Variants of Concern, the Peterborough Interagency Vaccine Planning Team increased the local target from 75 percent to 80 percent for all eligible residents to be fully immunized by September 1, 2021. As of July 14, 54 percent of local residents aged 12 and up have received two doses.
Developers, community housing providers, non profits, landlords and homeowners are invited to learn about various incentives available to create affordable housing. Incentives apply to new construction, rehabilitation, secondary suites/additional residential units (ARUs) and subsidies within market units made available to assist Kawartha Lakes and the County of Haliburton to achieve their affordable housing targets.
“We encourage anyone interested in the program to submit an Expression of Interest application, even if the project will not take place this year,” commented Elise Karklins, Affordable Housing Program Coordinator. “An Expression of Interest is the first step in informing the municipality of a proposed project and helps to prepare for the work and planning involved for a future application.”
An Expression of Interest will result in a meeting with the Affordable Housing Program Coordinator, and possibly other municipal departments to assist with completing the final application. Expressions of Interest are always open for submission and are reviewed quarterly by Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton. To be considered during the 2021 third quarter review, please submit by August 15, 2021.
For more information on the Affordable Housing Targets Program (AHTP) and the incentives, please visit kawarthalakes.ca/ahtp.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ABOUT SAFETY
The municipality has launched a survey and a Community Conversation Toolkit for residents to provide their input into the Kawartha Lakes Community Safety and Well-Being Planning process.
The goal of the plan is to outline priority risks in the community and address them through proactive, integrated strategies that ensure vulnerable populations receive the help they need from the providers best suited to support them.
The Community Safety and Well-Being Plan Advisory Committee has identified four priority areas: mental health and addictions, poverty, housing and youth.
The focus of the survey is to gather feedback from residents on perceived or experienced challenges, obstacles and gaps that may affect safety and wellbeing in our community.
“It is important for us to understand the issues in our community and we hope everyone will take the opportunity to participate in the survey,” said Kawartha Lakes Police Service Chief Mark Mitchell who is the Chair of the Advisory Committee.
The survey is available through www. jumpinkawarthalakes.ca and will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Paper copies of the survey are also available at local Kawartha Lakes Library branches.
The Community Conversation Toolkit is designed to be used by small groups to facilitate their own conversation and provide their input to the Committee. The Toolkit and information on how to submit the results can be found at www.jumpinkawarthalakes.ca.
“Any community group, organization, association, neighbourhood or family group can use the Toolkit,” said Chief Mitchell. “We’ve provided some questions to get the conversation going and we are very interested in hearing about any challenges that may exist and ideas on how we can address them.”
Both the survey and the Community Conversations will be open until Friday, August 13 at 4:30pm.
DEDICATED TO SMALL BUSINESS
As Kawartha Lakes starts to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and the community adapts to the new normal, the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (KLSBEC) continues to dedicate its efforts to supporting the needs of our small businesses as they open their doors.
“We are very excited to see our local businesses reopen after such a challenging 16 months”, said Diane Steven, Manager of the KLSBEC. “Throughout the pandemic, we adapted our programming as much as possible to meet the needs of the community. We reworked our Starter Company PLUS program to provide training and small grants to businesses adapting due to the pandemic and are continuing to support Kawartha Lakes’ small business community and entrepreneurs. We’re looking forward to receiving new start up business inquiries, reflecting renewed optimism and confidence in the market.”
Over the past 16 months the KLSBEC’s Starter Company PLUS program has trained and provided grant support to over 20 businesses, including its Spring Cohort which features seven new businesses currently in the training stage of the program. • Cold Throw Candle Co.: Charlotte Drinkwalter provides 100% soy candles that are hand poured in Kawartha Lakes. • The Doll House: Kayla Webster offers affordable, unique and trendy clothing in her Downtown
Lindsay store. • Luc’s Brew: Lucus Esson is crafting up a new raw organic kombucha brewery in Algonquin
Highlands. • Pigeon Creek Camera: TJ Ediger offers a motionpicture camera servicing and repair center focused on 16mm Bolex cameras and accessories. • The Green Treefrog: Kaitlynn McLennan manage a sustainable living store with zero waste products, refills for home, bath and body. • IT Guys: Brian Robertson provides technical expertise for computer repair and servicing. • Electric City Detailing: Korry Courts gives full service auto detailing right to your home or office.
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There are also four young student entrepreneurs that are currently getting ready to launch new businesses through the Summer Company program.
The KLSBEC offers free consultation services to anyone who is in the initial planning stages of development and to existing business owners interested in finding efficiencies in their operations.
Through funding from Ontario’s Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Program, the KLSBEC has also contracted a Virtual Business Advisor to provide complimentary support to clients by with flexible advisory services via phone and video conferencing.
Jamey Coughlin, the KLSBEC’s new Virtual Business Advisor notes, “COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges for entrepreneurs, but it has also created new opportunities. We can help evaluate ideas, develop business models and explore this new landscape.”
For more information on the KLSBEC and their ongoing programs, visit kawarthalakes.ca/klsbec. To start a conversation, you can also contact KLSBEC services at 705-324-9411 extension 1283 or email KLSBEC@kawarthalakes.ca.
BARNS OF BARGAINS
The Buckhorn Community Centre’s Bargain Barns are open for shoppers! Six of the buildings in the Festival Park have been stocked with gently used goodies to help satisfy your craving for yard sale stuff!
Starting July 20, they’re open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10am to 1pm. There are health protocols in place, the most important of which is masks are MANDATORY. The number of people in each building at one time is limited, so please be patient.
This is a fundraising effort for the BCC, so your support is appreciated. You can find out more at www. buckhorncommunitycentre.com.
CT SCANNER IS LIVE
Community members in Kawartha Lakes and the surrounding area are poised to benefit from a brand new CT Scanner at Ross Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Jamie McNabb, General Surgeon, along with the Kawartha Lakes community’s new CT scanner at Ross Memorial Hospital.
The new CT Scanner provides increasingly accurate images and data to help our physicians provide a confident diagnosis – and they do it with a lower dose of radiation, which is safer for patients. Ross Memorial Hospital conducts roughly 12,000 exams annually using a CT scanner.
Kelly Isfan, President and CEO says, “Ross Memorial Hospital is the proud home of many skilled physicians and staff – but even the most skilled healthcare practitioners need access to the best equipment. This new CT Scanner for our community provides just that – the best tool available for exceptional diagnostic imaging capabilities. Our staff and physicians will use it every single day to meet the needs of our community by diagnosing disease and injury, as well as guiding surgeries and cancer treatments.”
Some examples of when a CT scan can be used to provide an effective diagnosis or treatment include; • patients who have been in a car accident and may have internal injuries • patients who may have suffered a stroke • patients suffering chest pain or pain in their extremities that may be caused by blood clots • cancer patients who need regular CT imaging to see if their treatment is effective or if their cancer is spreading.
The cost of the new CT scanner is not covered by government funding. This essential acquisition would not be possible without the community’s support through donations to the RMH Foundation. The RMH Foundation is encouraging donations to fund the new CT Scanner through the Partners in Precision Care appeal.
CHORISTERS’ CORNER
Submitted by April Scott
The Choristers are pleased that Stage 3 is here. The number of people getting vaccinated is rising daily so just maybe the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer.
However, the Bobcaygeon Choristers are now seriously looking for a Piano Accompanist. Unfortunately, our faithful Vivian Hethrington has now retired. We will miss her. If you are wanting a new venture and have gained at least Grade 8 Piano, we would love to hear from you.
The Choristers are all very social people and love to sing but do require an accompanist to keep them all together. As an added incentive, if we do manage to resume practices at the Resident Suites on West Street, there is a lovely grand piano for you to play on.
If you are at all interested and looking forward to the end of the Pandemic situation, please contact our Musical Director, Bob Plummer. His phone number is 705-731-1060.
Practices are on Tuesday evenings and along with some serious learning and singing, we have a lot of fun along the way.
Hopefully, next time we talk we will have some good news for you.
Submitted by April Scott
Here we are in July and we should be bringing you Concerts in the Park every Thursday evening. If you follow us on Facebook, on Thursdays, we will be recalling some of the concerts from past years.
Council members have, as usual, been holding meetings monthly via conference calls.
With the start of opening things up and vaccinations numbers rising, we are hopeful that we can possibly bring a Fall concert to you. This is not a sure thing so stay tuned for more information as it become available.
We wish you all well and stay safe as things start to get back to normal.
VIRTUAL FIDDLE AND STEP
The Ontario Open Fiddle & Step Contest in 2021 will look different, as contestants have already submitted their entries and the competition will be shown on Youtube from July 22 to 24.
This year’s competition, the 51st annual, had to go virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions. But you can still watch all the contestants, with the results given at the end of each category.
According to Cara Mitchell, the Contest YouTube links will be active at the times given on the schedule. The first link for each night will be active starting at 7pm. The second link for each night will become active once the 7pm link is complete. Each night will have two separate links to allow for a brief intermission. Each evening will run from approximately 7 to 10pm.
Links will remain active once they have premiered so that anyone is welcome to watch them again or at a later time if they missed the premiere airing time!
You can find out more and watch the competition at www.ontarioopenfiddlecontest.com.
GLOBUS THEATRE MOVES INDOORS
Globus Theatre is looking forward to finally reopening indoors with a bigger-than-ever show. The Great Cottage Catastrophe is an interactive show that allows you to solve the mystery while dining out on a delicious dinner. Running from July 21 to August 7 in Bobcaygeon, this Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre is perfect for all the detective wannabes out there.
The Great Cottage Catastrophe is about the killer real estate market in the idyllic (and purely fictitious!) town of Doncaygeon. Bidding wars are turning cottage country into a battleground…and when a body turns up it appears that someone has paid the ultimate price.
The Great Cottage Catastrophe stars some of Canada’s best improvisors including Canadian Comedy Award winners Chris Gibbs (Just for Laughs, Winnipeg Comedy Festival), Dave Pearce (CBC writer, Slap Happy Improv) and Connor Thompson (Lusty Mannequins) along with Armon Ghaeinizadeh (New Story Productions) Susan North (MoxRoc), Jennine Profeta (Girls Nite Out) and Globus Co-founder James Barrett.
“The show is part written and part improvised,” said Globus’ Artistic Director and creator of the show Sarah Quick. “This allows us to tailor it to any changing restrictions or locations or joke-worthy news stories. We wanted to create a comedy that could really get people laughing. Theatres have had a rough go of it the past 18 months, but realtors are having the time of their lives -- we figured there may be a way to make sure they weren’t the only ones laughing this summer.”
Audience members wanting to find out more about the cottage for sale in The Great Cottage Catastrophe can visit the Downtown Detective Trail - a live-action scavenger hunt in Bobcaygeon - before heading to the Lakeview Arts Barn. Here they can get ahead of the game, hear tales of bootlegging and espionage, and follow an outdoor trail of clues along Bolton Street in Bobcaygeon using the “Bobcaygeon TSW Trail Town” app. Written by Artistic Director, Sarah Quick with Canadian comedian, Chris Gibbs - who acts as the digital trail guide - these clues will be performed live by Globus Theatre’s Summer Performance Camp youth participants under the direction of Dora nominated director, M John Kennedy.
Together, The Great Cottage Catastrophe and Downtown Detective Trail make up one fun-filled experience for all ages of theatregoer in Bobcaygeon this summer.
Tickets for the Great Cottage Catastrophe are on sale now by calling the box office at 705-738-2037. All prices are subject to HST and a $2 per ticket fee. • July 21 to August 7 -- 6pm – Dinner and Show
Tickets $77 • July 24 and July 29 -- 1pm – Lunch and Show
Tickets $77
To learn more, visit www.lakeviewartsbarn.com.
EXPLORE NATURE CHALLENGE
The Kawartha Conservation Foundation is encouraging people to walk, run, skip, bike or hike the trails at Ken Reid Conservation Area as part of the Explore Nature Challenge beginning August 2. The Explore Nature Challenge is a Foundation-led fundraising initiative to support important projects at Ken Reid Conservation Area and beyond.
The Kawartha Conservation Foundation is excited to launch the Explore Nature Challenge at Kawartha Conservation’s flagship property, Ken Reid Conservation Area. The Explore Nature Challenge is a virtual fitness challenge launching Monday, August 2 where participants can walk run, bike or hike the 11km of trails completely at their own pace.
Whether you decide to complete the challenge all at once, or break it up into varying times and distances, the goal of this challenge is to motivate people to get out, explore and be active.
Best of all, participants who complete the challenge will have trees planted on their behalf at one of Kawartha Conservation’s properties and receive a commemorative medal.
It has been a difficult and trying year after spending
most of the past year at home. With Provincial restrictions easing, many are looking to reconnect with loved ones safely in nature. And this is a great way to promote mental, emotional and physical health, while raising important funds to support projects that matter to the community.
You can find out more at www kawarthaconservation.com
LOCAL WOMAN RIDES TO FIGHT CANCER
By Deb Crossen
Helping to fight children’s cancer takes a lot of money. And there are many ways to make your donations, but one local woman is using her love of cycling to get the job done.
Diane Dempsey is taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge in August, where riders set their distance and fundraising goals, then get online support from family, friends and the community. Diane has set a lofty goal this year, hoping to cycle for 1,800km and raise $4,200.
But after speaking with her, I have no doubt she’s going to surpass that.
Just 18 months ago, at 60, Diane rekindled her love for cycling, then last year took up the Great Cycle Challenge at the urging of her daughter. She raised more than $3,000 and rode 2,020km. For that accomplishment, she received a “Hero Jersey” from event organizers.
“No child should have to go through cancer,” she told me. “They’re the little warriors and heroes in my book. I want to raise as much as possible for this great cause.”
Diane “trains” by riding from her home in Lindsay to Uxbridge or Peterborough on the Victoria Rail Trail and Kawartha Trans-Canada Trail. A “short ride” for her is to Fenelon Falls and back.
Diane says that local businesses have been instrumental in helping her reach her goals. “Many businesses have stepped up with donations, and I really appreciate their support. I’d like to give a huge shout out to the Bike Garage and Al Hussey who not only donated but also looks after my bikes.”
Diane’s enthusiasm and energy are inspiring. Maybe I will go for that walk today!
You can support Diane with a donation at greatcyclechallenge.ca/riders/dianedempsey. You can also follow her progress through August on her Facebook page.
SWING BRIDGE REOPENING DELAYED
Parks Canada regrets to inform the public that a temporary operating solution at the Bobcaygeon Swing Bridge, as had been suggested in previous communications, will not be possible this summer.
Parks Canada was recently advised that the contractor is unable to provide adequate
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substantiation, as required under their contract, that key mechanical components involved in rotating the bridge meet industry safety and quality standards. As such, Parks Canada will not allow the installation of these components, and has instructed that they be refabricated.
Construction Project Information
• The bridge is estimated to re-open for vehicular traffic in December 2021, with final swing commissioning and landscaping taking place in spring 2022. Questions & Answers related to this delay and the project in general can be found at www.pc.gc.ca/tswKawarthaLakes. • Areas currently fenced due to construction will remain so until construction is completed. Please follow onsite signage for safe access to and from the lower north island mooring area. • Enhancements have been completed on the upstream lock gate that enable a temporary canal crossing to and from the downtown core for most personal transportation devices (scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, etc). Enhancements consist of widening the lock gate, adding temporary ramps, and modifying the approaches. Modifications to the lock gate will not affect boat navigation.
SCHMALE FIGHTING FOR PONTYPOOL
Local MP Jamie Schmale is disappointed in the Government of Canada’s latest announcement concerning the VIA Rail service along the Quebec City to Toronto corridor.
While Schmale has worked behind the scenes on the rail project during his time with former MP Barry Devolin and most recently, campaigned twice on the project itself in 2015 and 2019, he does have numerous issues with the government’s latest news.
“Funding for this initiative was initially proposed in 2008 under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper,” said Schmale. “Since 2015, the Liberals have spent millions on one study after another while failing to get a single shovel in the ground. In fact, if you look at the government’s own news release, the announcement doesn’t mention building a new train service, just to take the first steps in preparing for one… eventually.”
“One of the first meetings I took in Ottawa after being first elected in 2015 was with officials from VIA Rail to advocate for a potential stop in either Cavan Monaghan or Pontypool,” said Schmale. “Given that Peterborough will have one, it only makes sense that a stop be located in Kawartha Lakes especially considering the amount of residential and tourist growth expected in this area.”
DOCK POLICY SURVEY
City of Kawartha Lakes staff have been gathering the public’s input on proposed amendments to the Dock Encroachment Policy.
The amendments are being developed to provide staff with an appropriate framework to address a variety of ongoing concerns regarding private docks on municipal property, including the overcrowding of docks, safe-distancing from nearby roadways, and maintaing the structural integrity of docks and their surrounding municipal infrastructure.
You can have your say at www.kawarthalakes.ca/ dockpolicy. The deadline to complete the survey is July 30.
After that, staff will compile the feedback for presentation to Council in the fall so amendments can be finalized by the end of the year.
IT’S EASIER TO GET YOUR SHOT
Getting a first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine is now easier than ever.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR) is inviting anyone 12 years of age and older to visit any of its mass immunization clinics in Fenelon Falls or Minden for a first OR second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. No appointments are necessary – walk-ins are welcome!
“We are receiving a lot more vaccine which means we can offer more appointments and opportunities for people to get vaccinated,” says Dr. Natalie Bocking, Medical Officer of Health for the HKPR District Health Unit. “Our goal is to vaccinate as many residents as possible so we can all be protected from COVID and not have to see any further shutdowns, illness or deaths.”
While there are still thousands of appointments available at Health Unit clinics until the end of July, Dr. Bocking says residents can also now visit a clinic as a
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BOBCAYGEON
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“walk-in” for their first or second dose. Anyone coming to a clinic is asked to bring their Ontario Health Card.
Walk-ins are welcomed at the following clinic locations: • Fenelon Falls Community Centre – 27 Veterans
Way, Fenelon Falls – 10am to 4pm • S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena – 55 Parkside Street,
Minden – 10am to 4pm Clinic dates are listed on the Health Unit’s website at www.hkpr.on.ca.
Some individuals may still prefer an appointment, and there are many spots still available through the provincial booking system for Health Unit clinics throughout the region. As well, area residents can get vaccinated at local pharmacies, or through “pop-up” clinics being hosted by local hospitals, family health teams and community health teams. Walk-ins are also welcome at many of these clinics.
With so many opportunities to get vaccinated, Dr. Bocking is urging everyone who has a second dose appointment currently booked for August, September or October to get their second dose sooner. Two doses offer better protection from the Delta variant, which is now prevalent throughout the province.
“We know the Delta variant is more transmissible and can cause more severe illness so it’s important people get their second dose as soon as they can to ensure they are protected,” Dr. Bocking says.
The other group Dr. Bocking hopes to see take advantage of the increased access to vaccine right now is local youth. With in-person learning expected to resume in the fall, Dr. Bocking says its crucial that youth aged 12 to 17 years get both doses before schools starts back in the fall.
“While most young people who got COVID did not suffer severe symptoms, we don’t know if that will be the case with the variants of concern we are seeing now,” Dr. Bocking says. “For their protection, and the protection of their family and community members, it’s important that our youth get vaccinated.”
