Peterborough Currents

Peterborough Currents

We are Peterborough Currents — an independent journalism outlet serving the citizens of Peterborough, Ontario, with in-depth and community-centred news. We're paywall-free through the support of our audience. Want to chip in? Head to www.peterboroughcurrents.ca/support-us. Thanks for listening!

  1. 2025-05-08

    An Update From Currents

    Peterborough Currents is going through some big changes.  A key piece of our funding has dried up, which has necessitated some tough conversations about what lies ahead for our community-powered local news outlet. At the same time, we're transitioning to become a non-profit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. It's a lot!  In this episode, karol orzechowski interviews Currents publisher-editor Will Pearson about everything that's going on at Currents. karol is the board chair of the Peterborough Association for Local News, the brand new non-profit that will be assuming ownership of Peterborough Currents in the coming weeks and months. We discuss the past, present and future of Currents, as well as how different journalism business models shape the content outlets produce. Have any questions? Email will@peterboroughcurrents.ca to get in touch. Thanks to Charlie Glasspool and 3C84 for the music on this episode.

    1h 29m
  2. An Interview With Andrew Roudny

    2025-02-14

    An Interview With Andrew Roudny

    Ontario is heading to the polls on February 27, 2025, and Peterborough Currents has interviewed four of the candidates running to be Peterborough-Kawartha's next MPP.  In this episode, we chat with Andrew Roudny, who is running for the New Blue Party of Ontario.

    37 min
  3. An Interview With Jen Deck

    2025-02-11

    An Interview With Jen Deck

    Ontario is heading to the polls on February 27, 2025, and Peterborough Currents interviewed three of the candidates running to be Peterborough-Kawartha's next MPP.  In this episode, we chat with Jen Deck, who is running for the Ontario New Democratic Party.

    31 min
  4. An Interview With Lucas Graham

    2025-02-11

    An Interview With Lucas Graham

    Ontario is heading to the polls on February 27, 2025, and Peterborough Currents interviewed three of the candidates running to be Peterborough-Kawartha's next MPP.  In this episode, we chat with Lucas Graham, who is running for the Green Party of Ontario.

    35 min
  5. An Interview With Adam Hopkins

    2025-02-11

    An Interview With Adam Hopkins

    Ontario is heading to the polls on February 27, 2025, and Peterborough Currents interviewed three of the candidates running to be Peterborough-Kawartha's next MPP.  In this episode, we chat with Adam Hopkins, who is running for the Liberal Party of Ontario.

    40 min
  6. A Guide to Peterborough's 2025 Budget

    2024-12-03

    A Guide to Peterborough's 2025 Budget

    Welcome to Peterborough Currents' podcast coverage of the city's 2025 budget process!  In this episode, Brett Throop and Will Pearson discuss what's behind next year's proposed tax increase and how the city might solve its budget troubles without resorting to tax hikes. We also discuss a couple of key topics we've reported on, including the city's capital shortfall and discretionary benefits for social assistance recipients. TIMESTAMPS (0:00) Community rallies against cuts to arts and community grants(6:38) Why are citizens facing a big tax hike for the second year in  a row?(17:26) Councillors met for two days to bring the tax hike down. It went up instead.(29:24) Why Mayor Jeff Leal sees high taxes as an economic development issue(37:34)  Property taxes are over a century old. Is there a better way to fund cities?(42:10) The city's capital budget and  growing infrastructure backlog(56:55) Transit riders face higher fares for the same service next year(1:03:47) Should the city fund health benefits for people on social assistance?(1:14:56) Millions more for homelessness next year; is it sustainable?(1:23:52) A "beautiful vision" of what budget season could beSPECIAL THANKS Thanks to Will Ward for the wonderful piano improvisations. Thanks to Eddy Sweeney from Trent Radio for audio of the Community Not Cuts rally. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM Our in-depth and community-centred journalism takes a lot of resources to produce. We can't do it without you. If you want to see Peterborough Currents grow (and make more podcasts!) please sign up as a financial supporter:  https://peterboroughcurrents.ca/support-us/

    1h 27m

  7. 2024-03-26

    Lessons Learned from City's Latest Homelessness Initiatives

    In 2023, the City of Peterborough implemented two new initiatives to respond to homelessness in the city and to offer low-barrier services for people whose needs were not being met by the existing shelter system at the time. Those two initiatives were the modular housing community on Wolfe Street, where 50 sleeping cabins replaced a tent encampment, and the Trinity Community Centre, which was funded to provide overnight shelter for six months of the year and a daytime drop-in program year-round. In February 2024, four people who were instrumental in designing and delivering these two initiatives participated in a panel discussion to share what the process was like, what they learned, and what challenges remain. The panelists were: Alex Bierk, Christian Harvey, Auden Palmer, and Jessica Penner. The panel was part of the Community Symposium on Housing and Homelessness, which was hosted at Trent University by the Research for Social Change Lab, the Peterborough Drug Strategy, and United Way Peterborough and District.  Peterborough Currents is sharing highlights from this panel discussion in this podcast episode. UPDATE: This discussion was recorded on February 23, 2024. At the time, the Trinity Centre's overnight shelter was set to close for the season on March 31, and mention of this closure is made a couple of times in this podcast. On March 25, 2024, One City Peterborough confirmed to Currents that the shelter will remain open until at least the end of April with support from United Way Peterborough and District. CREDITS: This episode was produced by Will Pearson. Audio recording by Ayesha Lye. Intro music by Jordan Cook. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT LOCAL JOURNALISM: At Peterborough Currents, our mission is to serve the citizens of Peterborough with in-depth and community centred news. If you value our work, please support us financially: https://peterboroughcurrents.ca/support-us/

    41 min

  8. 2023-12-16

    2024 Budget Podcast Episode Five

    Peterborough has a budget! Councillors gave it their final approval at the city council meeting on December 11, 2023.  During the council meeting, councillors made a couple of last-minute changes to lower the tax increase  to 7%, including dipping ever further into the city's reserves and voting to raise transit fares by $0.25 per ride. Sebastian, Abbigale, and Will discuss what the implications of these decisions might be. Then, they reflect on the budget process as a whole. Thank you so much for listening to this podcast series. We can't wait for the 2025 budget!! MUSIC: Thanks to Will Ward for his piano improvisations. CREDITS: Hosted by Sebastian Johnston-Lindsay, Abbigale Kernya, and Will Pearson PLEASE SUPPORT PETERBOROUGH CURRENTS: This podcast was a labour of love. But we still have bills to pay. To help Peterborough Currents produce more in-depth and community-centred journalism, please support us with a monthly contribution. Here's where you can sign up: https://peterboroughcurrents.ca/support-us/

    17 min
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About

We are Peterborough Currents — an independent journalism outlet serving the citizens of Peterborough, Ontario, with in-depth and community-centred news. We're paywall-free through the support of our audience. Want to chip in? Head to www.peterboroughcurrents.ca/support-us. Thanks for listening!

Information

  • Creator
    Peterborough Currents
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Peterborough Currents
  • Show Website
    Peterborough Currents