The City of Peterborough has officially ended its State of Emergency, which was declared on March 30, following the severe ice storm that hit the region from March 28 to 30. The declaration was lifted on Wednesday.
The storm caused widespread damage, downing trees and limbs, and resulting in power outages across the city. Mayor Jeff Leal expressed gratitude to residents, emergency responders, utility workers, city staff, and volunteers for their resilience in the aftermath.
Clean-up efforts are ongoing, with curbside removal of brush and debris continuing. Crews are expected to complete this work in all areas of the city over the next eight weeks. The removal service is for smaller debris, branches, and limbs. Residents are advised to avoid placing whole trees or large stumps at the curb.
Additionally, the city has extended the partial non-enforcement of the Tree Removal bylaw until April 28, waiving permit fees for storm-damaged trees on private property. Regular bylaw enforcement will resume on April 29.
Damage to trees in city parks and along trails is also being addressed, with ongoing assessments and safety work. Updates on reopened parks and trails can be found at peterborough.ca/StormUpdate.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
