Local Woman Spending the Night Outside; Raising Money Through Homelessness Awareness Initiative

Wilhelmina Don-Venus will be pitching her tent this Saturday, (International Human Rights Day) spending the night outside in Peterborough and raising money through her ‘Tent-Up To Make Homelessness #UNIGNORABLE’ initiative.

Photo Courtesy of Wilhelmina Don-Venus.

Don-Venus “… hopes to raise both awareness to the cold reality our unsheltered neighbours live during the winter months, and funds to support local homelessness initiatives and support for the almost 300 people in Peterborough who don’t have the basic human right of a safe place to sleep,” she says in a press release.

Beyond raising awareness, she wants her efforts to support the vital services that local, charitable organizations provide to those who are facing winter outside.

“There is a network of agencies who work to provide outreach, cold weather survival gear, counselling and so many integral supports to our neighbours experiencing homelessness and I want to help by raising funds to be invested in these services,” said Don-Venus.

Last year, she met ‘Jessica’ and her dog, ‘Hailey.’ Don-Venus says Jessica has been homeless for over 5 years and will likely face another winter outside.

“Her love and commitment to faithful companion Hailey has precluded her from many temporary and more permanent housing options,” said Don-Venus.

Although some local shelters provide accommodation for pets, she says Jessica had several bad experiences and no longer feels safe.

“While I can’t change the circumstances in Jessica’s life, I feel that it is very important for us all to do what we can, every day to have empathy and compassion for all of our neighbours,” she said.

The United Way Peterborough and District has set up a giving page to help Don-Venus reach her $2,500 goal by Dec. 13.

“We are all born equal in dignity and human rights and taking a moment to share a kind word or offer encouragement to those who are struggling is meaningful, and may be the one thing that keeps them going for another day,” said Don-Venus.

To learn more about ‘Tent-Up To Make Homelessness #UNIGNORABLE’, or to donate, visit the website.

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“Darkness To Light” Invites Sunrise Watching For Anyone Impacted By Suicide and Overdose

Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) is hosting the second annual ‘Darkness To Light Winter Solstice Gathering’ that invites those impacted by suicide and overdose to Rogers Cove to watch the sunrise on Dec. 21, announced Thursday.

Photo courtesy of GPHSF.

GPHSF encourages those attending to arrive at 7:30 a.m. and join the moment of silence as the sun rises over the lake.

“Our community has been significantly impacted by suicide and overdose and we hope that this gathering will help create a space where those directly touched can come together for a quiet moment,” says Julie Brown, last year’s host.

Brown is returning this year to lead the group with a message of support and a moment of silence as the sun rises on the winter solstice morning.

The rain or shine event is free of charge, though donations to support suicide bereavement work through Hospice Peterborough can be made through GPHSF’s website.

“The holidays can be a difficult time for those struggling with bereavement,” says Vince Bierworth, GPHSF executive director. “After feedback about how impactful last year’s event was, we are glad to be able to offer once again some comfort for people impacted by suicide and overdose in our community.”

Register online here.

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Adoption Awareness Month with The Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society this November

The Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society recognizes November as Adoption Awareness Month, raising awareness about the role that everyone can play in helping children and youth achieve permanency and lifelong connections through adoption.

File photo.

They are committed to finding families that have the strengths and skills to support children who may have siblings, complex needs or open adoption relationships with their family of origin, as it can be challenging to find families who are able to meet the needs of older children, large sibling groups or those with complex medical, developmental and behavioural needs.

Adoption is one of several permanency options that children’s aid societies consider when looking for life-long connections for children in care. Kinship, customary care, legal custody and adoption are all options that are considered.

“The benefits of maintaining lasting family connections are numerous and all young people, including those in care, deserve those benefits. These changes offer a more consistent and responsive adoption experience for children, youth and families,” says Karen Kartusch, manager of the Regional Adoption Program for Highland Shores Children’s Aid, Kawartha-Haliburton CAS and Durham CAS. “Our goal is to find the right families for children and youth, and connect them as quickly as possible.”

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) continues to prioritize the government’s strategy to redesign the child welfare system by focusing on the needs of children and youth and by creating solid foundations to support strong families.

According to the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society, children living with their own families, in their own culture and in their home communities is the priority. However for some children living with their kin may not be an option, and when it is not, the child deserves a family that is a good fit for them.

The number of children and youth in society care and available to be adopted has steadily decreased over the last five years because the primary goal of children’s aid societies is focused on supporting children to live safely in their own homes.

Learn more about adoption by visiting the Central Adoption Intake Service via the Adoption Council of Ontario website www.adoption.on.ca.

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Bras Around the Building Campaign Raises $12,603 in Support of Breast Cancer Awareness

The 12th annual ‘Bras Around the Building’ campaign wraps up, raising over $12,600 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Photo courtesy of MOVE 99.7.

With $2 per bra being donated from Merrett Home Hardware Building Centre and other monetary donations from local businesses and individuals, the campaign raised $12,603, supporting the Canadian Cancer Society, breast cancer research and awareness and the services patients use every day.

For the last four weeks, residents of Peterborough and The Kawarthas have been donating their gently used bras for this campaign. A total of 3,472 bras were collected.

The bras will hang on the Pure Country 105/Move 99.7 building until Monday as a symbol of support for those battling breast cancer, to honour survivors and to remember those who have lost their battle. The public is encouraged to stop by and check out the display at 59 George St. N.

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Bras Around the Building Campaign in Support of the Canadian Cancer Society Runs Throughout October

The 12th annual Bras Around the Building Campaign is running from Oct. 3 to 28, supporting the Canadian Cancer Society, breast cancer research and awareness and the services cancer patients use every day.

Photo courtesy of Bras Around the Building.

Residents of Peterborough and the Kawarthas are encouraged to donate their gently used bras throughout the campaign. For every bra collected, Merrett Home Hardware Building Centre will make a $1 donation, with proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society to support breast cancer research and cancer services.

Over the years, the campaign has raised over $150,000 through bra collection and donation matching.

Bra donations can be dropped off until Oct. 27 at the following locations: Move 99.7/Pure Country 105 (59 George Street North), Merrett Home Hardware Building Centre (1460 Lansdowne Street), My Left Breast (203 Simcoe Street) and the Canadian Cancer Society of Peterborough and District (730 The Kingsway, Unit 2).

On the morning of Oct. 28, collected bras will be strung together around the exterior of the MOVE 99.7/Pure Country 105 building in Peterborough as symbol of support for women battling breast cancer, and to honour survivors and remember those who have lost their battle to cancer.

Bras will remain on display until Oct. 31. Upon completion of the campaign a cheque will be presented to the Peterborough and District Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society for breast cancer research based on the final number of bras collected.

Donations can be made online at www.Cancer.ca/BarsAround2022.

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Fleming College Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month By Lighting Up Campuses Purple and Blue

Fleming College to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) with Light It Up! For NDEAM, lighting up all three campus locations purple and blue Thursday evening (Oct. 20).

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

Buildings at the Frost, Sutherland and Haliburton Fleming campuses and 17 employment services providers managed by Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services (MKES) will be lit at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

“Light It Up! For NDEAM reminds us that we must constantly work toward removing barriers to employment and education for those living with disabilities and demonstrates a commitment to creating a welcoming place for everyone,” said Maureen Adamson, president of Fleming College. “We encourage businesses and organizations in our campus communities to join us and light it up on October 20.” 

This is an annual event with the Ontario Disability Employment Network. Light it Up! For NDEAM takes place in big cities, small towns and rural communities across Canada, with last year’s campaign reportedly reaching over 35 million people.

MKES has held several employer workshops throughout the month of October to focus on supporting accessible workplaces.

Visit here for more NDEAM services and to learn more about MKES.

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Keith Wightman Students Throw Celebration For Teacher With Breast Cancer During Terry Fox Walk

This year’s Terry Fox walk for Keith Wightman Public School brought special meaning to these kindergarten through grade six students.

Photo courtesy of Keith Wightman Public School.

Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Lytle was diagnosed with breast cancer last school year and got to see her students at the walk on Thursday for the first time since her diagnosis.

The school has done a number of activities to raise awareness in Lytle’s honour including designing Terry-inspired running shoes and wearing pink.

The beloved teacher was greeted with high-fives and written notes from students upon her arrival.

“We teach because we love kids, and being away from them has been hard,” said Lytle. “I’m super excited to see what’s going on, and to be here (at the school) again.”

Photo by Felicia Massey.

Photo by Felicia Massey.

Photo by Felicia Massey.

Photo by Felicia Massey.

Lytle, who lives in Hastings with her husband, finished out the school year this past June, knowing the diagnosis was coming.

She is a month into her treatment and will be in chemotherapy for the next four months. She says she will likely not return this school year.

“I think in terms of the kids and the school community, it makes it real a little bit for them. We’re a K (kindergarten) to (grade) six school, and a lot of what teachers talk about they don’t fully grasp,” she said. “It’s important for people to share their stories, there’s so much mystery and fear that comes from the cancer diagnosis. When people are open about it, it’s easier and it makes it a little less intimidating for everyone.”

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Truck Pull Fundraiser For World Alzheimer's Day Brings Community Together At Peterborough Airport

The sixth annual ‘Pulling for Dementia Fire Truck Pull’ tested teamwork and strength while raising money for World Alzheimer’s Day at the Peterborough Airport on Wednesday.

Minds and Motion team celebrating their successful truck pull at the sixth annual event. Photo by Felicia Massey.

The event challenged teams to beat each other’s times by pulling the 44,000-pound firetruck the fastest while community and family members watched on and supported the cause.

AON, Trent Varsity and Minds in Motion were among the teams competing at this year’s event which took place on World Alzheimer’s Day on Sept. 21.

“We’re hoping to raise awareness in the community about Alzheimer’s and Dementia and helping our clients live normal, everyday lives,” said Jennifer Watson who pulled with Minds in Motion. “They can do everything just as much as everyone else.”

All proceeds from the Alzheimer’s Society’s Pulling for Dementia Fire Truck Pull support the programs and services of the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton.

The truck pull hasn’t been held since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. That event was deemed a success after raising $40,000.

All photos by Felicia Massey.

“I am supporting all of the wonderful people that my husband and I have met through Minds in Motion before he passed away a year ago,” said truck-puller Diane Knight. “We made wonderful friends and did lots of socializing, it was just nice to all be together. I think it’s the best thing to ever happen.”

“I did it three years ago with my husband and I wanted to come back today and be a part of it,” she said.

Honorary chair of the event Reverend Ken Fast ensured the teams of 10-12 (10 for men, 12 for women and mixed) were ready to pull before they began.

Rev. Fast holds several Guinness World Records and was dubbed the “world’s strongest priest.” He has pulled several fire trucks, a house and a 188.83-tonne Globemaster III plane.

The Trent Varsity rugby and rowing girls getting ready to prove there strength. Photo by Felicia Massey.

“We just wanted to come together and help out, do what we can to raise some money,” said Mobi Tarride, Trent Varsity team member. “Show off our muscles and support the people we can, of course.”

The Trent Varsity rowing and rugby girls finished with a pulling time of 21.17 seconds while the Minds in Motion team finished in 21.53.

The Alzheimer’s Society has raised just under $8,000 of their $30,000 goal through the fundraiser thus far.

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Second Annual Sleep Out Raises $2,000 For YES Shelter And Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre

Simal Iftikhar, a Trent University student, hosted the second annual Sleep Out in support of the Youth Emergency Shelter (YES) and the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC) on Saturday and raised $2,000 in support of both organizations.

Iftikhar at Saturday’s event. Photo courtesy of Simal Iftikhar.

According to Iftikhar, about 20 people joined her on Saturday night to sleep outside at the Peterborough Lions Club, while 10 people participated from home - sleeping in their own yards.

Saturday was damp, a bit cold and not much sleep actually happened says Iftikhar - though she noted that they were in a safe, enclosed space which is already more than those sleeping rough in Peterborough have.

Iftikhar hosted this event in hopes to raise awareness of the challenges homeless youth face, while fundraising for YES and KSAC.

The night began with a ‘round table talk’ with speakers from YES and KSAC attending to share information on the housing crisis in Peterborough and it’s relation to human trafficking.

“I think everyone waked away with a better understanding of the challenges that these people face daily,” she said.

To date Iftikhar has raised $2,000, which will be split between YES and KSAC. The GoFundMe will be open for the rest of the week for those interested in donating.

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Queen Elizabeth II Has Passed Away At The Age Of 96

Queen Elizabeth II has died at age 96, announced by Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

Stock photo.

Her Majesty, born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, serving 70 years on the throne.

Her eldest son, Charles - the former Prince of Wales, will succeed her and is no King Charles III.

"The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow,” Buckingham Palace released in a statement.

All the Queen's children travelled to Balmoral on Thursday after doctors placed the Queen under medical supervision.

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