Help A Syrian Family Come To Peterborough

Safe Haven for Refugees is a group of Peterborough citizens who have banded together to help sponsor a Syrian family—the Alftih family—who will be resettling in our city.

The Alftih family fled their home in Syria after their family clothing business and livelihood was destroyed in the civil war. They have been living in Lebanon for the past several months.

The parents, Haran and Randa, and their four beautiful children—Sham, 3 years old and her brothers, Gaith, Omar, and Karim, 8, 12, and 16 years old—want to rebuild their life here in Peterborough, Canada, but will likely arrive with not much more than the clothes on their back. Safe Haven For Refugees is raising money to help provide the necessities of life—including housing, clothing and food costs for one year.

Give what you can here. Every dollar counts.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Email us at tips@ptbocanada.com.

Luke Heard's Haunted House Raises $1,200 For Peterborough Huskies

Peterborough's Luke Heard hosted an Open House for his Halloween haunted house he created on Walker Avenue, with all proceeds going to the Peterborough Huskies special needs hockey team.

Luke Heard (in beard) pictured at Halloween skate announcement

Luke Heard (in beard) pictured at Halloween skate announcement

"Thanks to the amazing Luke Heard and his volunteers, $1,200 was raised," Cathie Tuck, co-founder of the Peterborough Huskies, tells PTBOCanada.

The announcement was made during the Huskies' Halloween skate on Saturday.

One again, individuals like the amazing Luke Heard show that anyone can make a tremendous difference to the community.

Peterborough Huskies co-founder Dave Tuck with Luke Heard

Peterborough Huskies co-founder Dave Tuck with Luke Heard

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Help The Casey Family Near Keene Recover After A Devastating Barn Fire

A huge fire tore through a large barn just west of Keene Sunday afternoon (October 18th), destroying the barn and all contents inside it. The barn is owned by the Casey family and was the home to three beautiful horses—Dallas, Texas and Nikki, who all survived thankfully.

Photo by PTBOCanada's Evan Holt

Photo by PTBOCanada's Evan Holt

Family friend Kayla Spittal tells PTBOCanada that Danielle Casey is the owner of these horses, and that her father James owns the farm on County Rd 2.

Nikki

Nikki

"With this tragedy comes very sad emotions," Kayla tells PTBOCanada. "Not only is it a family farm but Danielle and her deceased mother Cindy used to care for the animals. It was their mother-daughter time—cherished time together. When her mother passed, Danielle and her father James became the primary care givers for Dallas, Texas and Nikki."

Texas

Texas

Kayla is asking the community to pull together to help this family out.

"We are looking for donations or even just a loan of the items needed to help care for these animals," she tells PTBOCanada. "A few things that are needed to help are all types of brushes, lead chains, halters, saddles, outside blankets for under the saddles, salt blocks, hay, straw, grains, apples, mints, carrots, crunch—even down to some basic medications such as sprays for wounds to help with infections."

"Everything that these horses ever needed was inside that barn, as well as items that can never be replaced as they hold so much sentimental value," Kayla adds.

Dallas, Texas's mother

Dallas, Texas's mother

The family resides at 3043 County Rd 2 Keene—donations may be dropped off there. For more info on how to help, contact Kayla here.

Photo by PTBOCanada's Evan Holt

Photo by PTBOCanada's Evan Holt

Here is video of the fire our Evan Holt captured...

Contact Kayla Spittal here if you want to donate to help this family.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

PVNC Raises $27,500 To Sponsor Syrian Family

The Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board presented Sister Ruth Hennessey of Peterborough’s Casa Maria Refugee Homes with a cheque for $27,500 Tuesday (October 13th) as part of an ongoing fundraising effort to sponsor the relocation of a Syrian refugee family to Canada.

Barbara McMorrow (right), Director of Education for PVNC, presents Sister Ruth Hennessey of Peterborough’s Casa Maria Refugee Homes with cheque for $27,500

Barbara McMorrow (right), Director of Education for PVNC, presents Sister Ruth Hennessey of Peterborough’s Casa Maria Refugee Homes with cheque for $27,500

In early September, the PVNC community was moved by the Syrian refugee crisis to hold a board-wide fundraising effort. Working with Casa Maria, a non-profit organization that supports and offers safe temporary shelter to refugees, PVNC identified a family of seven who have fled war-torn Aleppo and are now in limbo in Saudi Arabia. Relatives of that family, themselves refugees who have recently relocated to Toronto, toured three PVNC schools in September to tell their story and put a face to the international refugee crisis.

“When we put the call out to our Catholic school communities and the staff at our board office to help support this family, the response was incredible,” PVNC Director of Education Barbara McMorrow says. “Sponsoring a family has offered our community a tangible way to make a difference in what is otherwise an overwhelming crisis.”

Casa Maria has now filed the paperwork for the seven family members, and the sponsorship process to bring the family to Peterborough is underway.

UPDATE: Here are pictures of the family members...

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

A S-c-a-r-y House Is Hosting Fundraiser For Peterborough Huskies

Luke Heard is the creator of the super scary HEARD'S HELLHOUSE, which is a Halloween house on Walker Avenue in Peterborough you don't want to miss. 

Heard tells PTBOCanada he will be opening the doors to the public at Heard's Hellhouse (2074 Walker Avenue) for a sneak peek on October 17th from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. (admission is $2).

He will then be hosting a fundraiser there for the Peterborough Huskies special needs hockey team on October 24th (starting at 7:30 p.m.), with all proceeds/donations going to the Huskies team. 

"The reason I picked the Huskies special needs team is because my niece, Emily, plays for them—she suffers from a rare autoimmune disease called Juvenile dermatomyositis," Heard tells PTBOCanada.

"My mom introduced me to Cathie Crozier Tuck (one of the founders of the Huskies), and I mentioned I'd like I do a fundraiser and help support a local charity for kids in the area who want to enjoy the same sports other kids play!"

Here are a few other sneak peek pics below from this epic Halloween house (Heard assures us it's 100 percent more scary at night. We don't doubt that one bit)...

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

A Look At The Inspiring Hike For Hospice Event Taking Place May 3rd

A Look At The Inspiring Hike For Hospice Event Taking Place May 3rd

Great day for a greater cause...

Read More

Radius Project Music Documentary On Peterborough Launches Kickstarter Campaign

Serena Ryder photo by Michael Hurcomb

Serena Ryder photo by Michael Hurcomb

A new Kickstarter campaign has been launched for The Radius Project, which was born out of a simple question: "So which famous people would I know from your hometown?" The hometown in question is Peterborough and the answer was endless. Directed by music photographer and director Michael Hurcomb and produced by Mexican Cheesus—the team behind the hit web music video series Bandwagon—the Radius Project looks at the wealth of musicians that came from the radius around a small town and went on to national and international acclaim. A short list of people that grew up or relocated to the area are Neil Young, Thousand Foot Crutch, Royal Wood, Three Days Grace, My Darkest Days, Cale Gontier (Art of Dying / Thornley), I Mother Earth, Greg Keelor, Ronnie Hawkins, The Leahys (and Natalie McMaster), producers Greg and Rob Wells, Sebastian Bach and Serena Ryder.

photo by Michael Hurcomb

photo by Michael Hurcomb

The doc will feature one on one interviews with some of these artists about their experiences here, a look into how a small city and the surrounding towns created so many acclaimed artists, interviews with outsiders looking at what makes a music scene work, a history of the music scene, interviews with some local legends, and a look at the future. 

The end result of the project will be to showcase this music scene to the world and tell an untold story to the residents too.  

I Mother Earth photo by Michael Hurcomb

I Mother Earth photo by Michael Hurcomb

The Radius Project team wants to make this documentary look and sound as great as possible. They want to use the high quality gear they have, rent some external gear, have an essential and talented shooting team, and travel when necessary for interviews.

Metric at PMC by Michael Hurcomb

Metric at PMC by Michael Hurcomb

The Radius Project is currently in production with plans to showcase the documentary at film festivals in 2016. The film is slated to premiere and be available by digital download early 2016.  

Watch a teaser campaign video here...

Teaser Trailer for the Radius Project music Documentary. For more information visit: http://theradiusproject.com Directed by Michael Hurcomb Produced by Mexican Cheesus

Click here to to help with the Kickstarter campaign. You can find the Radius Project on Facebook here, Twitter here and more info on their website. We interviewed the Radius Project's Michael Hurcomb on a recent episode of PTBOCanada Live With Mike Judson. Click here to watch it.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on TwitterPinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Trent Student Launches GoFundMe Page To Help Her Struggling Boyfriend Stay In Fleming College

Tadashi & Brittany

Tadashi & Brittany

Brittany Holmes, a Trent University student, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help her struggling boyfriend, Tadashi Ridout, be able to stay in school at Fleming College. Tadashi is running out of money but desperately wants to stay at Fleming and complete his education. Brittany, who launched the campaign several months, reached out to PTBOCanada now to spread the word about the campaign—which thus far has raised just $200 of her $5,000 goal.

"With upcoming fee deadlines weeks away, my goal is to get this campaign out there," she says.

"As outlined on my campaign, I met Tadashi two years ago, and he has been struggling to finance his education. Ever since Tad was a child, with only the support of a single parent, he and his family have struggled to make ends meet financially. When he was 16 years old, he was left with nothing but the clothes on his back, and has been self-supporting since—working part-time jobs."

"Tadashi has always talked about wanting to get a college education and his desire to create a better future for himself," she tells us. He is enrolled at Fleming in their Business program and is in the process of completing his first semester of classes, and hoping to return for second semester if he has enough money.

"With hours hard to come by in these winter months, and with the loss of his second job, he is struggling to cover his cost of living (rent, utilities, food), let alone his educational fees," Brittany says. Furthermore, his government funding has been put on hold due to some red tape policies. He continually worries that he will not be able to afford the education he deserves and desires.

"I wish to raise money to help ease the pressure Tadashi faces, so that he can focus on his education and his future," says Brittany. "He is incredibly hard working, and it's heartbreaking to see his financial status stand between him and his goals. I want to alleviate the financial stress that Tadashi feels is a burden to our future together."

"Tadashi is my best friend, the love of my life, and I want nothing more than to be able to support him. Unfortunately, being a student myself, I am unable to do so on my own."

If you're interested in helping donate to Brittany's campaign for Tadashi to keep him in school, click here for info.

"My goal is to raise $5,000, with any additional funds raised to be donated to other campaigns of similar nature," Brittany tells PTBOCanada.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on TwitterPinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

GoFundMe Page Set Up For Young Boy Fighting For His Life #PrayForParker

Parker Fulford is a very young boy from Peterborough who has overcome many struggles since being born premature, at only 23 weeks, in February 2012. The latest is very severe, as he has been airlifted from PRHC to Toronto Sick Kids with an extreme case of pneumonia. Parker, who has cerebral palsy, is in critical condition in hospital.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by James Todd to help the parents Jennifer and Mike Fulford with the costs they will incur due to travel to Toronto, losing income, food costs, etc., that add to an already stressful situation.

"I set up the GoFundMe page to do my part in helping them relieve some stress, because I know I'd hope for someone to do the same," James Todd, a father himself, tells us.

All funds collected will go to help the family cover costs. Click here to give, and use the hashtag #PrayForParker on Twitter and Facebook. 

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on TwitterPinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.