Caution tape was put up to alert pedestrians and drivers about downed power lines after a multi-day ice storm in Peterborough, Ontario. (Photo: Will Pearson) As of Tuesday morning (April 1), tens of thousands of residents in Peterborough were still without electricity as the city worked to recover from the severe ice storm that brought down tree branches and power lines throughout the area. Around 63,000 Hydro One customers in both the city and county of Peterborough were still without power on Tuesday morning, according to a spokesperson for the utility. “Due to the extent and widespread destruction caused by this storm, we anticipate that restoration efforts in the most affected areas will carry on throughout the week,” Tiziana Baccega Rosa stated via email. Hydro One’s outage map indicated numerous outages affecting various neighborhoods across Peterborough on Tuesday. Some outages might not be resolved until Wednesday or even later, according to the map, with some areas lacking estimated resolution times altogether. The City of Peterborough’s public works department received approximately 1,100 service calls over a 24-hour period during the weekend while Peterborough Fire Services handled over 700 service calls, as noted in a press release from the city on Sunday. In that same press release, Mayor Jeff Leal expressed gratitude towards Hydro One and public works employees for “working around the clock through this significant weather event.”
A public works employee clears debris from a George Street sidewalk on Sunday, March 30. (Photo: Will Pearson)
The city declared a state of emergency and opened several “reception centres” where residents without power could go to warm up and recharge their devices. These reception centres are located at three municipal sites: Miskin Law Community Complex, Healthy Planet Arena, and Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre.
Additionally, starting Monday, some transit buses have been converted into temporary warming stations. Buses are stationed “in areas with an identified need,” according to a city press release, including locations outside certain affordable apartment buildings run by the Peterborough Housing Corporation (PHC).
One bus is parked near the PHC building on Donegal Street where Carol Collins resides.
“The bus is here to keep us warm if we get really cold because we have no heat,” Collins shared on Monday afternoon. The bus was empty apart from the driver when Currents visited.
“We’re getting tired of having no power. We’re hungry,” said Collins, who had gone outside in her wheelchair for a cigarette. “There’s not much food around. Nothing’s open.”
She mentioned she hadn’t eaten since Saturday night except for “a couple of bites of a peanut butter sandwich.” She was hoping one of her neighbors might bring her something for dinner.
Collins noted that despite her building lacking electricity, the elevator was still functioning which allowed her mobility in her wheelchair.
Power lines connecting homes on Driscoll Terrace sag under ice accumulation on Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Photo: Will Pearson)
Travis Doak, CEO of PHC told Currents that many PHC buildings have emergency generator systems which were operating as intended during this outage. The warming buses were deployed “for instances where we’re facing prolonged outages without any emergency generators,” he explained.
A warming bus was also set up outside Jamie Fee’s residence at 526 Mc Donnel street on Monday afternoon.
Fee lives with her three children in a basement-level apartment. “It’s pitch black down there,” she said.
To stay warm during this outage they had all slept together in the living room but planned for Monday night to head to their grandma’s house near the hospital where there was electricity.
Fee expressed hope that power would return by Monday night or Tuesday morning but acknowledged that Hydro One had already delayed restoration estimates at least once.
Having experienced last year’s derecho windstorm which caused widespread damage across Peterborough made Fee more prepared for this storm; she stocked up on ice, candles, and other essentials when forecasts predicted an ice storm last week.
Doak mentioned that PHC staff conducted wellness checks on vulnerable residents and moved some individuals into temporary accommodations.He confirmed no significant damage occurred within PHC properties due to storms but emphasized cleanup would take weeks.
Downed tree limbs litter Fleming Park downtownon March30th2025.(Photo: Will Pearson)
On Monday afternoon, thecity began running ashuttlebusfrom downtowntoitsreceptioncentresas Peterboroug h Transitservicewascompletelysuspendedafterthestorm. Partialtransitservicewasa lso restored late Mondayafternoon.Emma Stephenson waitedforthe shuttlebusacross thestreetfromcity hallon Mondayafternoon. Shehadspentthepasttwonightssleepingunder five blankets tryingto staywarm, she said, sinceherdowntownapartmentbuilding lostpower Saturday. By Monday, sheobservedthatpowerhadalreadyreturnedto muchofherneighborhood, butherbuildingremainedcoldanddark.“Iknowthey’redoingwhat theycan, but it’sfrustratingwhenit’s likeeverybodyelsearoundyouhaspower,”shesaid.
For Stephenson, itwaschallengingtoreachanyoftheremainingfewstoresand restaurantsopen afterthestormtoobtainfood, since shesuccessfullynavigatedwithoutacar.
Shehadhoped tocatchesomewhereonthebus Sundaytogetfood, but learnedafterwalking tothedowntowntransitterminalthat Peterbo rough Transitwascompletelyclosed.
“Therewasno physicalposteroranythingthatsaidbusesare canceled,”shesaid.“You’dthinkthey’dknowpeoplearen’tgetting[ cellphone] serviceanddataisnotworking.”
Thecitywaiteduntil2PMMondayafternoonbeforeofferingtheshuttletothewarmingcentres, longafterthecentresfirstopened Sundaymorning. Stephensonsaidthere shouldhavebeenawayfornon-driverslikeherself togettothecentressooner.Tree limbs blocked Harvey Street sidewalkindowntown Peterboroug h March30th2025.(Photo: Will Pearson)
Business thrivedat Dreamsof Beans Café-oneofthefew establishmentsstillopenindowntown. Thecaféwasfullall daywithcommunitymembers seeking warmth,, Wi-Fi, andplaces topowerup theirdevices.
“I’veneverseen somanypeoplehuddledover apowerbar,”said caféowner Andrew Mac Gregor. He added hesupports seeingthecafébusybut wishes itwasn’tduetoanongoingemergencyfacingthecity.”Iwishweweregatheringcloseandgettingtoknoweachotherunderdifferent circumstances.”
The Trinity Community Centre hadacalmvibeas dusk fellon Mondayevening. Ahandfulofguests relaxedandtalkedas sunlight pouredintoformersouth-facing church hall windows dimmedand faded.
The Trinity Centreoperatedby One City Peterbourgh acts as adrop-inspaceforthedayandshelteratnightfor thoseexperiencing homelessnessandmarginalization.
Staff reliedonbattery-poweredheadlampsandflashlightswhile transitioningfromdaytime setupmostlytables)tonighttime(cots).
“Thecentrehasstayedopenthisentiretimebutstilllacks electricity,”wrote One Cityexecutivedirector Christian Harveyvia textearly Mondayafternoon.”Staff, membersofthecommunity, and shelter residentshavebeendeterminedlycreative inmaking surethisplace remains operational.”
When Sioux Lily Dickson wokeup Tuesdaymorningwithnopower, shewonderedhowshe’dkeep themedicationnecessaryforher Crohn’sdiseasecold.
“Irealized Ican’tcareaboutmyfood. Ineedtomakesurethisreallyexpensive medicationiswell taken careof,”shesaid.
Luckily, a friendwithpowerofferedtopickupherprescriptionstostaycoolinfridge.
Dickson, a residentin East City, revealedneighborshiphashelped immensely. Her neighbor sharedtheirgeneratorallowingherkeep asmallelectric heaterrunningthroughouttheday. Anotherneighbor droppedoffsomegrilledchicken.
“In East City, we’vestillgotthatkindofneighborliness,”shesaid.”Everyonehere looksoutforeachother.”
However, Dickson, a disabilityadvocate, worries aboutthosewithdisabilitieswhoaren’tassupported by neighbors..
Shenotedithasbeenchallengingformanydisabledpeopletoreach warmingcentres. Withoutinternetconnectivity, manyremain obliviousabout available servicesaccordingtocityofferings..
“Tonsmoredisabledindividualscouldbenefitifonlytheyknewwhatresourcesareoutthereiftransportationwereaccessible.”.
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