Committee of the Whole Highlights - May 6, 2025

Kawartha Lakes – The following are highlights of the Committee of the Whole meeting on May 6, 2025.  

The meeting can be viewed in full on our YouTube channel: 

All recommendations made at Committee of the Whole will return to Regular Council for review and/or adoption on May 20, 2025. 

Building Safety Month 

May is ‘Building Safety Month,’ which promotes the health and safety of buildings and occupants by using the Ontario Building Code. The Code was introduced in 1975 to create uniform building standards and keep the public safe. As part of Building Safety Month, Director Leah Barrie thanked Chief Building Official, Susanne Murchison, and the entire Building and Septic team for their roles in following the Code and ensuring the safety of buildings and the public. 

May is Museum Month 

May is a special time to celebrate how museums contribute to our history, culture, art, and science. May 18 is Museum Day, and the ‘Museums are my Vibe’ campaign is kicking off to celebrate Museum Month in Kawartha Lakes and promote seven local museums. 

Learn more about the Museums are my Vibe campaign.  

World Migratory Bird Day is May 10 

This May marks the one-year anniversary of Kawartha Lakes becoming a certified Bird Friendly City. Lights will be turned off at City Hall at night on May 10, recognizing World Migratory Bird Day, and to assist birds in their nighttime migrations. 

Celebrate World Migratory Bird Month in Kawartha Lakes by attending a local bird walk on May 10. 

Kawartha Lakes Food Coalition 15 Year Report 

The Kawartha Lakes Food Coalition is a community-based group made up of individuals, organizations, and stakeholders involved in all parts of the food system, from production to consumption. Since 2013, the Coalition has worked to build a fair and sustainable food system where everyone has access to healthy, nutritious food and no one goes hungry. Its efforts support a strong local food economy and promote environmentally friendly practices across the entire food chain, including growing, processing, and reducing food waste. The Coalition consists of both the Food Security Working Group and the Growth and Sustainability Working Group.

Food Security Working Group: 
This group focused on improving food access in Kawartha Lakes by engaging with communities and service agencies, especially those experiencing food insecurity. They advocated for policy change during elections and supported the Basic Income Pilot. They have also run a Summer Lunch Program since 2018, serving nearly 5,000 meals to students facing food insecurity. The group also promoted food literacy through workshops, supported community gardening (like the Kirkfield ‘Food Culture’ garden), and created and maintained a database of community gardens. 

Growth and Sustainability Working Group: 
This group aimed to build a resilient local food system by promoting local food, supporting farmers and increasing public awareness. Key efforts included marketing initiatives like Kawartha Choice Farm Fresh, studying the feasibility of a local food hub, expanding food value chains, offering training and workshops, and promoting eco-friendly farming practices. They also highlighted successful projects and encouraged farmer-to-farmer learning to grow a skilled and sustainable agricultural workforce. 

Next steps:
Kawartha Lakes Food Coalition will be dissolved to avoid duplicating efforts. Both working groups will continue with their projects, along with associated partners. This will allow the groups to be more aligned with the direction they are each going and the projects they are working on.

Integrated Waste Management Strategy Update 

Kawartha Lakes has updated our Integrated Waste Management Strategy for 2025 to 2029 to continue improving how waste is handled across the municipality. The plan focuses on reducing landfill use, increasing recycling and reuse, and launching new waste diversion programs like rural organic waste collection and public space recycling. With the population expected to grow and waste volumes rising, the municipality is aiming to lower the amount of waste each person throws out by 12% and cut total waste disposal by 6% by 2029. Community feedback helped shape the plan, which includes stronger education, better access to diversion programs, and new ways to track progress. 

Read the Making Waste Matter: Integrated Waste Management Strategy Update (2025 to 2029) report.  

Read the draft Making Waste Matter: Integrated Waste Management Strategy Update (2025 to 2029). 

2025 Lifecycle Management Capital Programs 

The 2025 Lifecycle Management Capital Program report outlines Kawartha Lakes’ annual plan to maintain and extend the life of paved roads across the municipality. The program includes local asphalt paving, asphalt rejuvenation, slurry sealing, crack sealing, and drainage improvements. Roads are selected based on spring damage and maintenance needs, with over 48,000 metres of roadway included in 2025. The total approved budget includes $8.36 million for urban/arterial resurfacing and $7.59 million for rural resurfacing. The following roads are included in the 2025 Lifecycle Management program: 

Road Segments designated for Local Asphalt Paving in 2025

• Young Street from Rumohr Drive to the end
• Brechin Road from CKL Road 6 to 650m west
• Cameron Road from Martin Creek Bridge to 300m south
• Cresswell Road from Fingerboard Road to 425m west
• More Crescent from North Street to the end
• Blue Water Avenue from Snug Harbour Road to Snug Harbour Road
• Mitchell Drive from Yankee Line to the end
• Heights Road from Tracey’s Hill Road to 300m north 
• Pigeon Creek Road from #286 Pigeon Creek Road to 375m west
• Hillview Drive from Bethany Hills Road to the end
• Ski View Drive from Hillview Drive to the dead end

Road Segments designated for Asphalt Rejuvenation in 2025

• CKL Road 10 from CKL Road 14 to CKL Road 17
• CKL Road 17 from CKL Road 10 to Heights Road

Road Segments designated for Slurry Sealing in 2025 

Road Segments designated for Crack Sealing in 2025

• CKL Road 6 from Palestine Road to as far north toward CKL Road 45 as budget will allow

Read the 2025 Lifecycle Management Capital Program report.  

Accessibility Awareness Recognition Awards – Youth Category 

Through the Accessibility Awareness Awards, Kawartha Lakes celebrates people and organizations that help remove barriers and promote accessibility for those with disabilities. These awards recognize efforts made by individuals, groups, businesses, and municipal staff to make the community more inclusive. However, there is currently no award to recognize young people who are also making a big difference in this area. 

To fill that gap, Kawartha Lakes is proposing a new Youth Accessibility Award. This award would highlight the work of young leaders who are already helping to make schools, social spaces, and public areas more accessible. It would encourage early involvement, raise awareness, and inspire more youth to take action, helping build a stronger, more inclusive future for everyone. 

It has been proposed to name this new award in honour of Kathryn Peeters, a lifelong advocate for disability awareness. Diagnosed with pediatric brain tumours at a young age, she faced health challenges that included legal blindness, a seizure disorder, cognitive impairment, and later in life, paraplegia due to a spinal cord injury. Despite these obstacles, Kathryn began raising awareness and funds for pediatric brain tumour research at just six years old. Over the next 25 years, she became a powerful voice in the community, speaking at conferences and events, sometimes to audiences of over 1,500 people. Her determination, empathy and leadership inspired countless others and made a lasting impact on accessibility efforts across the region. 

Kathryn passed away in 2024, just before her 32nd birthday, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, inclusion and youth empowerment. Her dedication shows the power of youth in shaping a more accessible world and makes her an inspiring figure to represent this new award.