Otonabee Conservation Launches 2025 Seedling Program Encouraging Property Enhancement With Trees For Landowners

Otonabee Conservation has launched its 2025 Seedling Program, encouraging landowners in the Otonabee Region Watershed to plant and grow trees to enhance their property and mitigate climate change.

MEREDITH CARTER, MANAGER OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AT OTONABEE CONSERVATION, HOLDS A BARE ROOT TREE THAT WAS ONE OF 4,500 TREES PLANTED AT A WATERSHED RESIDENT’S PROPERTY IN OTONABEE SOUTH MONAGHAN TOWNSHIP in the fall of 2020. PHOTO COURTESY of OTONABEE CONSERVATION

“Trees play an important role in maintaining a healthy and resilient natural environment; planting more trees will help provide habitat and mitigate the impacts of climate change,” said Meredith Carter, Otonabee Conservation Watershed Management Program manager. “Last year, nearly 100 landowners in our watershed purchased and planted 9200 trees and shrubs through our Tree Seedling Sales Program. This will translate to approximately the production 106,000 kg of oxygen.

The Conservation offers various coniferous and deciduous trees and wildlife shrubs, including White Pine, Eastern White Cedar, Red Oak, Sugar Maple, Highbush Cranberry, Buttonbush, Serviceberry and Tamarack. The minimum order is 25 seedlings per species.

“Trees and forests also protect water quality in our rivers and streams,” said Carter, “They provide essential habitat for birds and wildlife, contribute to environmental and human health and mitigate climate change impacts in our watershed.”

Pickups are scheduled for this spring with an order deadline of Feb. 24 at 4 p.m.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

City of Peterborough to Remove Ash Trees Three Sites Starting Monday

The City of Peterborough is removing roughly 150 dead and/or dying ash trees from three separate locations beginning Monday.

In 2024, the City planted 1,000 trees as part of the City’s Urban Forest Strategic Plan. Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The removal is occurring in wooded lots lining residential areas near Eldon Court and Cunningham Boulevard, along the south side of Farmcrest Avenue and Willowcreek Boulevard.

The trees being removed are infested with Emerald Ash Borer and pose a potential risk of harm to residents and private property. Once the trees are removed, woody material, including the trunk, limbs and brush, will be left on site to decompose naturally. The City says this adds organics to the site and encourages wildlife habitat.

Removing these trees is part of the good forestry practices required to maintain and enhance the City’s urban canopy as part of the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Flood Watch Issued For Municipalities Along Trent-Severn Waterway Due to Frazil Ice

Otonabee Conservation has issued a flood watch for municipalities along the Trent-Severn Waterway within its jurisdiction due to the potential for flooding because of frazil ice.

Photo courtesy of Otonabee Conservation.

Frazil ice is a kind of slush ice that occurs when temperatures drop below freezing, but solid ice cannot form because of the fast, turbulent water. Where frazil ice accumulates, it is likely to restrict water flow, which may cause increased water levels and possibly flooding. 

Otonabee Conservation advises residents of flood-prone areas to be prepared for potential flooding and stay aware of local conditions and alerts over the next week.

Water levels can be monitored online at: 

1)      Trent-Severn Waterway’s Water Management InfoNet.

2)      Water Survey of Canada Real-Time Hydrometric Data 

3)      Otonabee Region Conservation Authority website 

The Flood Watch message will expire on Monday unless updated earlier.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Winter Season Not Slowing Down Griffin's Greenhouses; Business to Continue Community Outreach

Winter may slow down other green places but Lakefield’s Griffin’s Greenhouses continues to help the community during the colder seasons.

Photo courtesy of Griffin’s Greenhouses.

The Greenhouse offers regular seasonal workshops. These can include building wreaths, mini-sleighs and floral arrangements for the holidays.

“One of our goals is to educate the knowledge and options that you can still garden in the winter,” said Vikki of Griffin’s Greenhouses.

She notes that November is the second-busiest month of the year. The Greenhouse uses several outlets to help inform the community about their options regarding growing their green thumbs.

“We’re providing lots of knowledge. We put out videos on Youtube done by a local videographer,” she explained. “Knowledge is our number one takeaway to share what we know. We always keep the door open and follow back to people who always have questions. We’re really confident and generous with our time in answering questions.”

The business has been operating for roughly 48 years. Vikki and her brother Kyle purchased the business from their parents several years ago. After going to college and university and working in other career paths, the siblings eventually returned to the family business they grew up helping their parents run.

The business has received help from the family, spanning several generations. Vikki says she’s proud to call Griffin’s a ‘true family business.’

“People have seen our children watch our children grow, and our staff have seen them too,” she explained. “Some of our staff have been with us for over 20 years. There’s that comfort and familiarity that people value in our business.”

A week before Christmas, Griffin’s Greenhouse will run its ‘Dutch Auction’ to clear all inventory before its new season in March. It’s an opportunity for the business to start fresh with brand-new products for its customers.

“We’re not into recycling for next season,” said Vikki. “We want fresh and new.”

As a reflection of their Dutch heritage, the auction is a way flowers are sold in the Netherlands, a fun way of clearing out all merchandise and starting again with a clean slate.

“We feel we are vibrant and active in our community,“ explained Nikki. “Giving and sharing back with the community with our time is something that we’re proud of.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough-Kawartha to Install 40 Electric Vehicle Chargers

Peterborough and the Kawarthas are building 40 new electric vehicle charging stations, announced on Tuesday.

File Photo.

“For Electric Vehicle drivers, locating a nearby and accessible charging station can determine whether they enjoy a quick stop or face a lengthy detour that impacts their work, school, or family commitments,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “By enhancing access to public charging infrastructure and strategically placing chargers where they are most needed, we are promoting the adoption of EVs in Ontario.”

These new chargers, part of the government’s $63 million EV ChargeON Program Community Sites Stream, will be located at:

• Four new chargers at Walmart Peterborough

• Eleven new chargers at Miskin Law Community Complex

• Four new chargers at 336 Lansdowne St. E

• Eight new chargers at 1781 Lansdowne St. W

• Four new chargers at Villa Wash & Esso Peterborough

• Five new chargers at Peterborough Chrysler Ltd.

• Four new chargers at the North Kawartha Community Centre, Apsley

“With more than 201,000 electric vehicles on the road in Ontario, we’re putting shovels in the ground to build more charging stations and make life easier for drivers,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “That includes a focus on smaller and underserved communities across our province where we are providing more certainty for parents and workers during their commutes.”

Each new EV charging site will include Level 2 charging stations, Level 3 or a combination.

The government has also launched a new Ultra-Low Overnight Electricity Price Plan and is exploring options for an Electric Vehicle Charger Discount Electricity Rate to further support EV adoption and reduce emissions. The new Ultra-Low Overnight Electricity Price Plan helps customers who use more electricity at night, including those who charge their electric vehicle, save up to $90 per year, according to the Ontario Government.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Hometown PTBO: Heidi Westbye Competing At the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers in Dubai and Raising Funds For Her Trip

This week on Hometown PTBO, David Tuan Bui talks with 15-year-old Heidi Westbye about being selected to compete in the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers in Dubai this December for Team Canada, how she got into beekeeping and how she is raising money to fund her trip.

To donate to Heidi and her team's cause, follow the link.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

City of Peterborough to Host Home Energy Expo On Oct. 19

The Home Energy Expo will occur at the McDonnel Street Community Centre, 577 McDonnel St., on Oct.19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The City of Peterborough, GreenUP and For Our Grandchildren are hosting the Home Energy Expo, which will feature informational booths. Admission to the Home Energy Expo is free.

The Home Energy Expo will demystify household retrofit options for those planning their home energy renovation journeys. Local tradespeople will be on hand to discuss various energy-saving solutions that can be installed to lower home energy bills, improve interior comfort, and reduce fossil fuel pollution.

Several Peterborough homeowners who have completed an energy renovation will be present. Expo attendees can speak directly with these homeowners to learn about their experiences undertaking a retrofit and realizing utility bill savings.

“Providing residents with vital information directly from homeowners with first-hand experience completing an energy renovation is important. Homeowner-to-homeowner interactions are less intimidating for some than speaking with contractors, especially if one has never completed a renovation before,” said Councillor Joy Lachica, City Council's representative on the Peterborough Environmental Advisory Committee.

Booths tabled by Heating-Ventilation-and-Air Conditioning, insulation, and solar photovoltaic contractors will be present to discuss specific technology and answer product-related questions. Representatives from Enbridge Gas will be featuring the Home Efficiency Rebate program, which includes up to $5,000 in energy retrofit incentives for qualifying applicants. Homeowners can also speak with energy auditors to learn more about the building assessment process, typical renovation projects, and likely energy savings.

"It's pretty amazing how much money and energy can be saved by doing some simple upgrades to homes, like improving insulation and air sealing,” said Clara Blakelock, Peterborough GreenUP home energy program manager. “Heating a home with a fossil-fuel burning furnace, like natural gas, oil, or propane, is often the largest household contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Homeowners can save even more energy by upgrading to an efficient heat pump, which in many cases will also slash the home's greenhouse gas emissions by 30 to 50 per cent or more.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

City of Peterborough Participates In Global We Love Cities Competition

The City of Peterborough is celebrating the community’s sustainability, environmental and climate actions, participating in the World Wildlife Fund’s We Love Cities global competition that kicked off on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

“I am thrilled that Peterborough has been selected by the World Wildlife Fund to participate in this year’s We Love Cities competition to choose the most environmentally minded community working towards local sustainability goals,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “Being selected to be part of the competition reflects our community’s commitment toward sustainability and progress that we’ve made together on climate change actions.”

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is leading the contest, which raises awareness about local sustainability actions and community engagement in 80 cities across 34 countries. We Love Cities is open for voting from Oct. 1 to 31.

Residents can vote and provide direct input on why they support sustainability efforts in Peterborough at welovecities.org/city/peterborough. Alternatively, interacting with #WeLovePeterborough posts by the City of Peterborough will also count toward the community tally. The WWF will announce the winner of the city with the most social media likes, reposts, and shares in each participating community throughout October.

“The We Love Cities competition is a brilliant platform to build awareness of sustainability and climate action. The WWF is a highly regarded environmental organization that is helping Peterborough reach a wider audience as it achieves its environmental goals,” said Councillor Joy Lachica. “It’s also important for climate work to be engaging and fun, which is why this opportunity is so exciting. Peterborough is contending on the international stage. Let’s help our community claim the top of the leaderboard.”

The WWF nominated Peterborough for the We Love Cities competition because the city was a finalist in the WWF’s One Planet City Challenge. Other Canadian cities joining the We Love Cities contest are Hamilton, Calgary and Vancouver.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Fleming College Receives $360,000 to Fight "Canada's Worst Invasive Plant"

The money will go to fighting a highly prevalent aggressive reed commonly known as invasive phragmites.

FLEMING COLLEGE PHOTO

Fleming is getting the funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF).

Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry made the announcement last week.  

Fleming will partner with Nature Conservancy Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and Saiwa Inc. to innovate the fight against what’s being billed as “Canada’s worst invasive plant”.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to help Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada with their important conservation work,” said Fleming president Maureen Adamson. “Together, we will provide conservationists and resource managers with valuable tools to effectively combat the spread of invasive plants that threaten our native vegetation.” 

The 3 year project is led by the researchers from Fleming’s Centre for Applied Machine Intelligence and Integration Technologies (CAMIIT) and School of Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences (SENRS).

It aims to advance automation in the detection and surveillance of the invasive plant using machine vision algorithms, remote sensing data, and innovative drone technologies.

CAMIIT’s Dr. Fereydoon Diba, in collaboration with Saiwa Inc., will develop a specialized drone with machine vision capability to recognize the invasive plant.

SENRS professor, Dr. Josh Feltham, along with Nature Conservancy Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada will collect drone surveillance data.

Fleming students will assist with the project’s data collection and hardware development.

“This collaboration highlights the capabilities that technology and innovation can bring to natural resources, and the real-world problems that can be solved through applied research,” added Adamson. “It’s promising to see CAMIIT and SENRS combining forces with such highly respected national conservation organizations.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

More Than 600 Trees Planted in South-End Park

About 60 volunteers planed 620 new trees at Kiwanis Community Park on Saturday.

city of peterborough photo

The event was put on by Tree Canada and the LCBO as part of Tree Canada’s Community Tree Grant program and the Trees 4 Peterborough initiative which includes contributions from RBC Dominion Securities, the Excelsior Group, Peterborough Homes and Merrett Home Hardware.

“Tree Canada’s Community Tree Grants program provides funding and technical expertise for community greening, innovation and stewardship initiatives,” said Nicole Hurtubise, CEO of Tree Canada. “We are thrilled to support the City of Peterborough’s tree planting project, which will bring long-lasting social and environmental benefits where people live, work and play.”

The event, to enhance the city’s urban forest canopy, was also supported by The Rotary Club of Peterborough, Peterborough GreenUp and Otonabee Conservation.

A diversity of native trees were planted at the park to replace approximately 400 dead or dying ash trees that have been negatively affected by the emerald ash borer.

The affected trees along with understory vegetation including invasive buckthorn were removed in August.

“The planting of a diverse species of more than 600 trees in Kiwanis Park will be very much appreciated by the residents of Ashburnham Ward who live in close proximity to this park,” stated councillor Gary Baldwin, co-chair of the Community Services portfolio.

“I believe the residents of the area will be pleased with the end results and enhancements to the park,” added councillor Keith Riel.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.