Couple Receives Free Air Conditioner and Furnace Installation Through 'Feel the Love' After Being Nominated As Outstanding Community Member

The community showed gratitude for good Samaritans Ken and Anna Chesher as they received a free air conditioner and furnace through Lennox’s ‘Feel the Love’ program installed at their house on Friday morning.

Ken (left) and ANna Chesher (right) recently celebrated their 50-year marriage anniversary. Ken had previously worked an General Electric for 30 years while Anna was a homemaker. Photo by David TUan Bui.

The continental program encourages anyone to nominate an outstanding community member who is always giving back but needs a helping hand in replacing their HVAC equipment

According to Chesher’s nomination, Ken was known as the perfect neighbour and community member.

“If anyone in the neighbourhood ever needed help shovelling their driveways, cutting their grass or even just bringing in their garbage cans from the curb, Ken was the first one to volunteer,” according to the nomination. “Ken was always the first person the neighbours would call when they needed help with anything. Sometimes, when neighbours would move away, they would even leave Ken’s contact information for the new homeowner in case they ever needed assistance with anything too.”

Ken’s offer to help others was his way of getting to know his community better.

“I always try to meet all of them and we've had very good neighbours,” explained Chesher.

The 74-year-old Ken and Anna had recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. However, Ken’s health has deteriorated over the past decade, including an infection and breaking his ankle on three separate occasions. He has been unable to help others with physical labour for the last few years due to his injuries and needs a cane to help him walk.

All the community work has paid off as neighbours are starting to pitch in and help the Chesher household.

“My neighbours are very good. They're cutting my lawn for me and doing snowblowing,” said Ken.

Several of the Peterborough Refrigeration STafF with the Cheslers after a half day’s work to install the furnace and air conditioning. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The installation was done by Peterborough Refrigeration who were collecting nominations in Peterborough and the surrounding area for the program. The company has gathered nominations annually since 2020 and is in its fourth year in the program.

“We started this program as another way to give back to our community,” said Gord Conroy, Peterborough Refrigeration owner. “When I started my business, I named it Peterborough Refrigeration because I knew we wanted to be an important part of this community. This is one of the ways we like to give back to the community who has supported us for so many years.” 

“The reason I enjoy participating in the Feel the Love program through Lennox and Peterborough Refrigeration is because I get to help the community,” said Chris Galachiuk, Peterborough Refrigeration lead installer. “It also allows us to connect and give back to all the wonderful people we come into contact with through our work as well as around the town.” 

Peterborough Refrigeration collected nominations up until the end of August.

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