December news and events in brief

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Hi, Peterborough Currents co-editor Gabe Pollock here with your weekly Peterborough Currents email newsletter!

It’s December, and we’re here to get you up to speed on what’s happening in Peterborough.

We’re entering the home stretch of municipal budget season, with the budget vote coming this Monday, December 8. Leading up to that, I’ve put together a summary of some of the recent city council news and announcements.

And it’s a busy time around Peterborough’s stages and venues, with lots of holiday events, fundraisers, and concerts. David Tough offers a few selections of upcoming performances to keep you warm through the cold months.

Let’s get to it.

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City council news in brief

by Gabe Pollock

It was another active week on Peterborough’s city council, with ongoing conversations around the municipal budget as well as some new developments. Here’s a recap of what happened, as reported by our partners in local media:

• City council held extensive discussions of a proposed bylaw that would allow the City of Peterborough to assume control over annual $150,000 payments that are being granted to the DBIA from casino revenues. The annual payments are part of a 2017 settlement over the Shorelines Casino being placed at the southern edge of town instead of in the downtown core. After multiple delegations from the DBIA and local business owners, and nearly two hours of discussion, the proposal was unanimously voted down 0-11.
  
• City council officially received the police board’s response to their request that the police lower their budget increase request from 9.22 per cent to 7.  The police board held a 20-minute virtual board meeting in closed session and then rejected the request, which Coun. Keith Riel called a “proverbial middle finger.” Councillors put forward two different motions to re-request police budget reductions, but both motions were voted down. Council will vote on the complete budget, including the 9.22 per cent police increase, on December 8.
  
• Trent Arthur offers an excellent summary of the state of city budget talks, including an analysis of how property tax increases can affect renters.
  
• Mayor Jeff Leal spoke about the budget and the “very challenging financial situation” the city faces at the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce’s annual Mayor’s Breakfast last week. While this year is a “status quo budget,” Mayor Leal said the city has spent years deferring important investments and “someone has to face the consequences.” In the next year the city will be “commissioning a comprehensive service effectiveness and efficiency review” in search of a solution. Of course, at that same event, Peterborough Police Chief Stuart Betts called out “fake news” in traditional media, so maybe you can’t believe it all.

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A series of festive events

by David Tough

December is always a busy month for events. Here is a selection of things that are happening in and around Peterborough in the next few days.  

• The annual In From the Cold concert, which has been raising funds for the Youth Emergency Shelter for over 25 years, has added a matinee performance, 2pm on Saturday, December 6 at Market Hall. Anchored as usual by Carried Away and the Convivio Singers, this year will also feature special guest Benj Rowland. 
  
• 4th Line Theatre presents Abide with Me, an exploration of historical hymns, performed by Justin Hiscox and friends, including vocalists Caylie Staples and Marsala Lukianchuk, Sunday, December 7 at 6:30pm. The concert will be hosted by Robert Winslow, and take place at St John’s Anglican Church in Ida.
  
• The Joy of Bob, a fun and interactive tribute to the can-do artistry of late television painter Bob Ross, is at The Theatre on King (171 King St), Wednesday, December 10. This is a regular event, this time featuring Peterborough Currents’ Will Pearson and Gabe Pollock. 
  
• Phil Stephenson and Glen Caradus of the Paddling Puppeteers offer a kid-friendly performance of music and puppetry at Camp Kawartha Environment Centre, on Pioneer Road, at 1pm on Saturday December 13. It’s a fundraiser for Erin Sullivan House, a transitional housing facility.  

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