One City and GreenUP Get Planting at the Trinity Centre As Part of Green Infrastructure Initiative

GreenUP and One City Peterborough helped Trinity Centre become more in tune with nature by planting trees and other greenery over 75 sq.m. of lawn Tuesday morning.

Volunteers Eila Buziak (left) and Quentin Day (right) finish the planting of a pear tree as one of several species to occupy the Trinity Centre. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The project at One City is part of the Living Cities Program, an initiative by Green Communities Canada to help organizations aid their respective communities in green infrastructure projects.

The green infrastructure will increase the biodiversity of plants on the site, improve stormwater management, and increase access to food according to Tegan Moss, GreenUP executive director.

“We are grateful to receive support from Green Communities Canada through the Living Cities Fund,” she said. “These funds allow us to work closely with equity-deserving communities to co-develop plans for green infrastructure that work for the community where they are planted.”

Moss adds that the green infrastructure will help to improve air quality and offer the opportunity for people to work together to build a stronger sense of community and belonging as they collectively care for the plants.

Volunteers moved soil, compost and mulch. They planted 20 trees which included apple, pear, peach, apricot, birch, black cherry and maple. Six currant and raspberry bushes were installed, as well as 94 other plants including New England aster, silverweed, swamp milkweed, switchgrass, brown fox sedge, blue flag iris, wild strawberry, yarrow, prairie smoke, and creeping thyme.

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.

One City Peterborough Needing Volunteers For StopGap Drop-In Centre

One City Peterborough is seeking volunteers for donation sorting and food preparation among other job positions.

photo courtesy of Peterborough dbia.

One City says they could use help at the StopGap Drop-In Centre and at the new home they are currently renovating (mudding, painting and performing minor renovations to the second half of the new duplex).

Those interested in helping with the new home can contact One City via email here.

Jobs include receiving food and survival gear donations, preparing and organizing snacks and sandwiches, preparing hot food and coffee/hot chocolate urns, collecting and transporting donated food, maintaining/cleaning the kitchen and storage as needed.

Their goal is to get a crew to be able to receive and sort donations as well as prepare food during the shifts between 1 to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Those who are interested, or know someone who might be, can email program coordinator Erin.

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.

Community Art Exhibit Hosted By One City Peterborough Will Be Hosted At Public Library

One City Peterborough will be hosting an art exhibit at Peterborough Public Library from Sept. 1 - Oct. 16.

Photo courtesy of One City Peterborough.

One City Peterborough runs an Open Art Drop-In Studio as part of their Community Development programming.

Community members’ art will be on display on the main floor of the library, with John Climenhage’s work being displayed in the basement and Em Farquhar-Barrie’s work displayed in the front window.

In addition to their exhibit, One City will also be running drop in collage-making classes on Sept. 20 (1-4 p.m.) and Oct. 1 (1-5 p.m.).

A panel discussion titled One Art, One City: Creating Community Through Art Making will be hosted at the library on Oct. 6, from 7-8:30 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.

One City Peterborough Introduces 'Community University' Offering Pay What You Can Workshops For Community Advocates

One City Peterborough has launched their Community University, which will offer pay what you can workshops to any individual wanting to learn more about advocacy and community action.

Photo by Luke Best.

The fall semester will feature five different workshops.

Making Space to Hold Space: Self-regulation in the Presence of Trauma

This three part workshop will focus on learning how trauma and stress affects brains and bodies, and how regulation can help to prevent trauma, heal trauma, and work towards living a life with integrity.

This workshop focuses primarily on doing this work within ones self, and how being in a state of regulation can assist when supporting others who are experiencing distressing events. This training has been adapted from Eric Gentry’s Forward Facing Trauma Therapy Course to fit our needs as nontherapists.

This workshop is aimed at volunteers, helping professionals, and anyone interested in exploring what it can mean to live with intention and alignment to your principles.

Meaningful Flag Making: Reclaiming flags towards Community Transformation

Led by Jeff Macklin of Jackson Creek Press, participants will learn about the historical use of textiles and flags in activism, explore messaging, colour, and composition, and utilize lino printing, stamps, sewing, and painting to work on their own piece.

Nonviolent Communication Basics

This workshop builds upon the course Making Space to Hold Space, however it is not a requirement to have completed that course.

Nonviolent communication is an approach that looks to move past the defensiveness that so often divides us to a place of connection where we can share our feelings and needs and be open with each other on how we would like those needs to be met. The purpose of this workshop is to learn a way of communication that can assist in our ability to listen and share with one another. It's a form of communication that seeks to move from domination to connection. This is useful in de-escalation, support relationships and personal relationships.

This workshop is aimed at volunteers, helping professionals, and anyone looking for a different way to communicate.

Listening Rather Than Force: Techniques for De Escalating Potentially Violent Situations

This course offers techniques that can be used to de-escalate situations that could become violent, in a way that instead builds connection.

Transforming My Community: Using Kingian Nonviolence as a Framework for Social Change

This workshop studies the principles and practices of Kingian Nonviolence, and imagines how they might be used to make change in our own communities.

This workshop is aimed at advocates, activists, volunteers, helping professionals, and anyone looking to make change in their community.

More information regarding location, dates and time, or to register, visit https://www.onecityptbo.ca/communityuniversity

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.

DBIA Partners With Ferrero Chocolates To Give Away Boxes of Premium Chocolates To 4 Local Organizations That Do Vital Community Work

Ferrero Chocolates is looking to give back this holiday season and reached out to Business Improvement Areas across Ontario. The application from Peterborough’s DBIA caught their attention and they offered 84 boxes of their new premium chocolates—Golden Gallery Signature Chocolates.

The DBIA will be giving away boxes of premium chocolates to four local organizations that do vital work in the downtown: One City Peterborough, the Youth Emergency Shelter, Friends Peterborough, and the Aylmer Street Pharmacy.

Jenny Bloom (One City Ptbo), Terry “Mr. Downtown” Guiel (DBIA) & Christian Harvey from One City (Photo courtesy DBIA)

“I was elated that Ferrero would show such great support for BIAs across Ontario with this extremely generous offer,” says Terry Guiel, DBIA Executive Director. “It’s wonderful that we can use that generosity to spread a bit of joy to some in our community that may not feel very included during the holidays.”

“This year has been a struggle for so many Canadians and that’s why it’s more important now than ever before to find ways to support those who need our help,” says Maureen Romansky, Senior Marketing Director, Premium Chocolate, Ferrero Canada. “We’re proud to be able to play a small part in bringing some joy through the gift of chocolate.”

“This chocolate donation is going to raise the spirits of all the young people with us on Christmas morning,” says Brooke Erickson, Y.E.S shelter’s Community Engagement Coordinator. “Because youth in shelter rarely have anyone to buy holiday gifts for them, we asked what they would like, so we can provide something for them to open on Christmas morning. Like most kids, almost all of them asked for candy and chocolate.”

Terry Guiel (DBIA) & Engi Hakim (Aylmer Street Pharmacy), photo courtesy DBIA

The Y.E.S. shelter works to reduce and prevent homelessness by providing shelter, education and transitional supports for youth and families in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. During the delivery of the chocolates to Y.E.S., Guiel will be joined by Atria Development, who will be making a cash donation to the shelter.

“We are so grateful to Ferrero for this gift,” adds Christian Harvey, Executive Director of One City Peterborough, which focuses on housing, food security, community safety and inclusion. “In a year as we have had, where our most marginalized have faced so much, a moment of joy or a little chocolate can mean a lot.”

“Something as simple as giving someone a holiday greeting while handing out a few chocolates during this time can make them feel special and included in our community," adds Pharmacist Engi Hakim of the Aylmer Street Pharmacy, which mainly distributes addiction treatment medications such as methadone and suboxone to the clients.. "For some, this could be the only positive interaction they will experience during the holidays.”

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

The One City Peterborough Program Returns To Downtown

The One City Peterborough clean team is returning to Downtown Peterborough, and the program will feature a team of people with various barriers to employment who will be hired to enhance the downtown streetscape through added cleaning efforts.

In 2019, the DBIA issued a new request for proposals for the downtown Streetscape Maintenance Contract with an additional request that proposals include a social enterprise component. The DBIA re-hired Clint’s Property Maintenance in partnership with One City Peterborough in January. The partnership will see One City Team members working with the Clint’s Property Maintenance team in the busy, warmer months.

Photo courtesy DBIA

The One City Peterborough program aims to help people with barriers to employment to get back into the workforce, including connecting team members with local employment agencies and potential employers.

“We’re excited to have One City Peterborough back,” says Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the Peterborough DBIA. “This partnership with Clint’s Property Maintenance shows what organizations can do when they add social procurement into their contracts. Not only are we going to end up with a cleaner downtown, but we’re going to help who really need it. We’re going to make downtown stronger.”

Photo courtesy DBIA

The One City Peterborough team will be downtown during the day with cleaning carts sweeping sidewalks, picking up litter, removing old posters from lamp posts, safely disposing of needles, and other micro-cleaning tasks.

The One City Peterborough program initially launched in 2018 with both a cleaning team and a pair of outreach workers to reach out to vulnerable people downtown. It has since changed in its configuration a couple times.

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

A Unique Community Initiative Called One City Peterborough Launches Downtown

We love the concept of this new community building program called One City Peterborough that is launching June 1st in Downtown Peterborough.
 
One City Peterborough is a unique collaboration between the Downtown Business Improvement Area and Warming Room Community Ministries with the support of the City of Peterborough Social Services Division, United Way of Peterborough & District, Wild Rock Outfitters and Cherney Realty.

Photo courtesy DBIA

This grassroots initiative will take a two-part approach to making downtown Peterborough a stronger and more welcoming community hub for everyone.

HOW IT WORKS

-> One part is the One City Team which is made up of individuals with various barriers to employment who will be hired to enhance the downtown streetscape through added cleaning efforts. This team will consist of two teams of two making daily walks through downtown picking up loose litter and cleaning messes in public spaces in the busiest area of the city.

-> The other part of One City Peterborough is the employment of two full-time outreach workers who will assist people downtown with a focus on helping those facing homelessness, social exclusion, and mental health issues. The outreach workers will assist by building relationships and providing information on services available locally.

“This is an exciting opportunity to work with some very knowledgeable partners to help some of the most vulnerable people in our downtown,” says Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the Downtown Business Improvement Area. “We’re looking forward to helping those marginalized by society to overcome their barriers to employment by helping us keep our downtown looking great.”
 
“What makes downtown such a gift is its diversity — people living together, working together, and enjoying themselves together,” says Christian Harvey, Director of Warming Room Community Ministries. “It is a beautiful picture of what community can be. Our goal is to build on this and show that downtown truly is a community for everyone.”

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