May 2021 | Vol. II
The Trent Symons Campus Lands are a precious asset, rich in natural and cultural heritage, vital to the resilience of Trent and our communities. Our vision is to create an inspiring, sustainable, and complete community to learn, live, innovate, and be active. In our care for and use of the land, Trent will demonstrate leadership in environmental education and stewardship, respect for Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, and thoughtful integration of the natural and built environment.
Advancing Long-Term Care in Peterborough
Trent’s vision is for a University-Integrated Seniors Village anchored by a long-term care home. Building on Trent’s position as a globally recognized age-friendly university, the research expertise in the Trent Centre for Aging & Society, and the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, the Seniors Village will provide hands-on learning opportunities for our students and advance research into aging, while meeting the needs of our community.

Did you know:

  • Peterborough is the 3rd oldest community in Canada.

  • ~2,500 people locally are waiting 2-4 years for a long-term care bed.


  • A unique research and teaching agreement between Trent and peopleCare will advance promising practices in long-term care, enhancing the quality of life for seniors in the home and across the sector.

  • An environment-led approach to planning, beginning with detailed field studies based on western science and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, determined appropriate building sites that have the least impact to the natural environment.

  • Based on the results of the environmental studies, more than two-thirds of the site will remain natural and undeveloped.

  • The Seniors Village is just one of the many ways Trent seeks to bring together knowledge, inquiry, and collaboration to advance important community needs and connections. 
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
Rural Aging: The Defining Demographic Narrative of Our Times
Trent scholars lead the way in the interdisciplinary field of rural gerontology
Trent University is well situated — literally — to do research into the growing field of rural gerontology, the study of aging outside of urban centres. The highest rates of population aging worldwide are in rural areas, and Peterborough is connected to the surrounding county, townships and small towns. For students, this means unique opportunities for experiential learning. To date, Trent’s contributions in the field of gerontology has proved mutually beneficial for both students and local communities.

“Students can have an almost immediate impact in terms of helping organizations reconsider the way they’re doing things for older adults,” says Dr. Mark Skinner, dean of social sciences and humanities. “It’s exciting because the work can be transformative, working towards changing things for the better in our aging society.”

Learn More

Opportunities for community engagement will occur at many points throughout the process of bringing the Seniors Village and long-term care home vision to life.

The draft Stage 1 Site Plan, proposing the development limits for the long-term care home and Seniors Village, and the background studies on the site are available for community review and comment until Sunday, May 30, 2021.
Register Now: Virtual Information Sessions
Join us for one of two online information sessions about the University-Integrated Seniors Village. We will share the results of the environmental studies, draft development limits for the Seniors Village and will answer your questions on the process and next steps.
Afternoon Session

Thursday, May 20, 2021
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Evening Session

Thursday, May 20
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
TRENT LANDS & NATURE AREAS PLAN IN ACTION
A New Approach to Planning
The Trent Lands & Nature Areas Plan (TLNAP) outlines a new process for advancing campus/community infrastructure that takes a landscape-led approach, beginning with detailed field studies based on western science and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge to determine appropriate building sites that have the least impact to the natural environment.

An Environmental Impact Brief (EIB) has been completed that included four-season field studies and secondary data review. Continuous engagement with the local First Nations has taken place throughout this process, including an independent review of the reports and recommendations by an ecologist with Traditional Knowledge. The EIB characterizes natural features, functions and linkages on the lands and identifies development boundaries for the long-term care home and Seniors Village.  

This environmental work identified the preferred location for the Seniors Village and Long-Term Care home. In total, more than two-thirds of the site will remain natural and undeveloped.

Our intent is to seek City of Peterborough approval to these development limits (this is referred to as a Stage 1 Site Plan) before detailed site design begins. There are further studies and steps required before any development could proceed. Third-party developers will be required to conduct further studies based on their proposed site plan, including an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and other studies required by Otonabee Conservation and the City of Peterborough such as traffic, hydrogeologic, and servicing studies. Their proposed Stage 2 Site Plan will need to be approved by the City of Peterborough.  
Location: Water Street and Woodland Drive

The location for the Seniors Village is at the north-west corner of Water Street and Woodland Drive. This site was selected for a variety of reasons:  

  • Access to the campus: There is an established accessible road for student and resident access to the amenities on the Seniors Village and on the campus, enabling a thriving multi-generational community for living and learning. 

  • Access to the community: The site is along Water St, a major roadway, and is serviced by City of Peterborough transit and the new County bus route that connects this site to Selwyn Township and Curve Lake.  

  • Access to servicing: Municipal services, such as power, water and sanitation, are already available at this site enabling the long-term care home to move ahead and bring new beds to the community as quickly as possible. 

  • Access to nature: The long-term care home and Seniors Village will be surrounded by nature with trails and spaces to gather outside, for residents, the campus, and local community.  
ABOUT peopleCARE
peopleCare's vision is to change the world of senior living - through innovation and leading practices, embedding learning and research into everything they do, delivering quality, resident-focused care, and operational excellence.

Recently named one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for the 8th year in a row, peopleCare Communities is a Canadian, family-owned leading operator of senior living communities, with strong values and a 50-year history of service. They are committed to engagement and collaboration to create vibrant communities of care that deliver meaningful experiences, clinical best practices, engaging programs and integrated services that meet seniors’ changing needs. peopleCare’s innovation and leadership has earned Accreditation Canada Exemplary Status, Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum designation, and the single largest research grant from the Ontario Centres of Excellence, which funded our award-winning Clinical Pharmacy Model, a first-of-its-kind for long-term care in Canada.