Peterborough Currents

Alderville First Nation grants legal personhood to Rice Lake Exploring an alternate solution to climate change, and a growing international movement

In a first for Ontario, Alderville First Nation has granted Rice Lake legal personhood. “We’ve always seen the lake as a mother, a provider," says Chief Taynar Simpson. "As a family member.”

peterboroughcurrents.ca/environment/...

Uncovering the history of the Curve Lake Day School New book reveals a pattern of abuse, cultural erasure, and systemic neglect by the Canadian government

Much of Canada's reckoning with its colonial past and present has focused on the history and legacy of residential schools. But there were also 699 day schools across Canada, including one in Curve Lake First Nation. A new book uncovers that history. peterboroughcurrents.ca/in-depth/cur...

Why the GE demolition plan could hurt Peterborough's tax base | Peterborough Currents With fewer buildings on it, the GE property will likely be taxed less. That would mean higher bills for everyone else.

The GE property at 107 Park Street generates over $500,000 in property taxes annually. If a proposal to demolish many of the buildings on the historic site goes ahead, that number will likely fall, leading to higher tax bills for everyone else.

peterboroughcurrents.ca/analysis/ge-...

We're hiring an editor. This is an opportunity to shape the future of non-profit news in Peterborough. Apply by August 19.

ICYMI, we're hiring an editor!

If you're a strong journalist with a passion of local news, we want to hear from you.

peterboroughcurrents.ca/announcement...

We're hiring an editor. This is an opportunity to shape the future of non-profit news in Peterborough. Apply by August 19.

We're hiring! As our newsroom's founding members depart to pursue new opportunities, we're seeking someone to take up the mantle and continue our work of delivering in-depth and community-centred local news to our audience.

Details here:

peterboroughcurrents.ca/announcement...

Descendants of early Peterborough Chinese restaurateurs are carrying on their families' "legacy of entrepreneurship" Over a dozen Chinese restaurants opened in Peterborough before 1950. Today, some descendents of those early entrepreneurs are continuing their families' legacies.

Over a century after Peterborough's first Chinese immigrants opened businesses in the city, some of their descendants are still carrying on their families' entrepreneurial legacy.

As Asian Heritage Month draws to a close, explore this local history article.

peterboroughcurrents.ca/community/ea...

You can also try your luck at a local Little Free Library! We've been trying to keep them stocked, as well.

Peterborough Currents launches first-ever print magazine The magazine celebrates our fifth anniversary as a local news outlet

Don't have a copy of the magazine yet? They're going fast but there are still a lot left!

Pick yours up for free (or pay-what-you-can) at:

- Take Cover Books (59 Hunter St E)
- The Food Shop (374 Water St)
- Dreams of Beans Café (141 Charlotte St)

peterboroughcurrents.ca/announcement...

It was lovely to meet so many of you at the Gilmour Street Garage Sale this morning! Thanks for chatting about local news and picking up a copy of the magazine 🙂 🗞️

A beautiful interview feature in @ptbocurrents.bsky.social about my friend Corm, me, and our long, weird, enduring friendship and collaborative partnership, as well as the healing powers of sobriety and music.

Copies of the Peterborough Currents Magazine laid out on a table. One of the copies is open to page 20, where the cover story begins.

You can dive deeper into how Ontario's housing crisis is impacting people with developmental disabilities, and how local families are working to find solutions, in our new magazine's cover story.

Learn more about the magazine here: peterboroughcurrents.ca/announcement...

Seven women sit in chairs in a grassy backyard. Some of the women are waving at the camera.

Instead of crossing her fingers and hoping a group home spot becomes available, Bischoff is taking matters into her own hands. She's working with local families to found a non-profit and build a duplex for Lucas and six other women.

Learn more about Our Daughters' Home: www.ourdaughtershome.ca

Jenny Lucas sits with her mom, Jane Bischoff, on their front porch.

Now meet Jenny Lucas, 31, and her mom, Jane Bischoff.

Bischoff is anxious about what might happen to Lucas, who has autism, when Bischoff isn't around anymore. "I'm a single mother," she said. "If I keeled over there's nobody here to look after her."

Read: peterboroughcurrents.ca/in-depth/fam...

Himanshu Shah, CEO of Canopy Support Services, poses for a photo in his office.

But many people with developmental disabilities lack access to adequate housing.

Ontario's supportive housing waitlist has grown by 50 percent since 2017/18. One local agency is warning of a "rising crisis in homelessness" among their disabled clients.

Read: peterboroughcurrents.ca/in-depth/fam...

Andrea Dowey poses for a portrait in her bedroom at Casa de Angelae, a home for women with developmental disabilities in Peterborough, Ontario.

Two women wash dishes at Casa de Angelae, a home for women with developmental disabilities in Peterborough, Ontario.

The story opens with a visit to Casa de Angelae, a non-profit home in Peterborough's west end where four women with developmental disabilities live.

Casa de Angelae is a local success story — and proof that solutions ARE possible.

Read: peterboroughcurrents.ca/in-depth/fam...

Families fight to find housing for their loved ones with disabilities Ontario's supportive housing waitlist has grown by 50 percent since 2017

Our magazine's cover story examines how some local families are working together to secure safe, stable housing for their loved ones with disabilities.

It's a long read; so you might prefer to check it out in print. But if digital's better for you, voila: peterboroughcurrents.ca/in-depth/fam...

This pilot issue of our magazine was made possible by the Business Innovation Stream of the Canadian Periodical Fund. We're grateful for the federal government's support, which allowed us to hire a designer and pay for printing costs.

Peterborough Currents launches first-ever print magazine The magazine celebrates our fifth anniversary as a local news outlet

It's time to reveal a big project we've been working on for the last six months. 🥁

🎉 Introducing the Peterborough Currents Magazine! 🎉

It's free (or pay-what-you-can) and you can find copies around town. Let us know what you think!

Learn more here ⤵️

peterboroughcurrents.ca/announcement...

A bittersweet birthday for Peterborough Currents Our funding has dried up. Here's how we're adapting.

It's a bittersweet birthday for Peterborough Currents as we grapple with a significant budget shortfall.

This isn't a fundraising message. Just an honest account of our business struggles — and how we're adapting to survive.

Please read 🙏

peterboroughcurrents.ca/announcement...

Staff cuts loom as local school board faces budget deficit Staffing cuts are on the table for “all employee groups,” a school board representative says

The KPR school board is mulling millions of dollars worth of staffing cuts to balance its budget next year.

Two teachers' union representatives worry the cuts will negatively impact students.

Read about it here ⤵️

peterboroughcurrents.ca/news/layoffs...

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thanks!

Back when we were publishing these stories, our readers expressed appreciation for the way they helped to break down an otherwise opaque municipal process. Proud to now have our work recognized by our industry peers.

If you missed the stories, here they are: peterboroughcurrents.ca/series/city-...

🎉 Wow, thank you for the recognition! 🎉

A real honour to be nominated alongside so many other inspiring local news publishers.

Local therapy dogs spread comfort and connection "I think dogs are nicer than most people," said a Royal Gardens resident who looks forward to the therapy dog's weekly visits.

When volunteer Kim Meekin walks in the front doors of the Royal Gardens Retirement Residence, the faces of residents and staff light up. But it’s not Meekin they’re so happy to see. The smiles are for Marjorie — the gentle giant who pads along beside her.

peterboroughcurrents.ca/community/me...

Here's what voters in Peterborough are saying about next week's election U.S. threats are top of mind in this election, but other important issues are being overshadowed, local voters say

We asked over a dozen local voters to share their thoughts as next week's federal election approaches.

Here's what they said.

peterboroughcurrents.ca/politics/pet...

You're welcome! Thanks for reading and engaging :)

Librarians speak out against upcoming layoffs at Peterborough Public Library City council approved the layoffs as a cost-cutting measure during 2025 budget deliberations

Three librarians face layoffs at the Peterborough Public Library as the city moves forward with cost-cutting measures. The city says services won't be impacted, but the library union disagrees.

Here's our report on what's happening at your public library ⤵️

peterboroughcurrents.ca/news/peterbo...

TTOK founder Ryan Kerr to step down — but not before staging a final production this spring TTOK's general manager Shannon McKenzie LeBlanc is stepping up to keep the theatre alive.

Next month's production of "Death in Reverse: Project Baroness" at the Theatre on King will be special.

It'll be the final show with founder Ryan Kerr at the helm of the black box theatre.

peterboroughcurrents.ca/arts/kerr-an...