Rotarians Defeat Media To Promote Rotary Club of Peterborough's Kids 10th Annual Spelling Bee For May 4

The Rotarians got the last laugh and word in over the local media in a promotional spelling bee competition at the McDonnel Street Community Centre on Monday afternoon.

Donna-Marie Fennell of the Rotary Club attempting to defend her spelling bee title in the promotion Media versus Rotary competition. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Several media members —including yours truly— participated in the event to promote the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s 10th Annual Spelling Bee which will take place at the Whetung Theatre at Fleming College on May 4.

The competition is divided into two groups. The Junior Division for Grades 4-6 runs at 9 a.m. and the Senior Division for Grades 7-8 starts at 1 p.m.

“We’re hearing from teachers at participating schools that kids are very determined to make it to regional bee and they are focusing intently on studying their practice words,” said Catherine Hanrahan, spelling bee committee chair.

The event is being broadcast on YourTV Cogeco.

The top three spellers in each division will win prizes, trophies and more.

“We’ve had a number of local businesses come forward with some really generous prizes like a week at Camp Kawartha or a week at Trent Excalibur Camp, a party at Zap Attack and lessons at the Art School of Peterborough,” said Hanrahan. “We also have two bicycles generously donated by Canadian Tire on Lansdowne and Realtor Rebecca Quinn from Century 21 United Realty.”

Every participant will receive a grab bag with items like Family Swim Passes for the YMCA, Train Passes for Riverview Park and Zoo, free games from Zap Attack, handmade toys from Leslie Covert and silly putty from Crayola. The winning students' schools will also be eligible for bursaries from the Rotary Club of Peterborough for literacy projects.

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Community Futures Peterborough Launches New Green Funding Program For Any Peterborough City/County Business Of Up to $100,000

Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) for Earth Day, unveiled its Climate Change and Environment Fund to help any Peterborough County and City businesses reduce their carbon footprint, announced at Charlotte Products Ltd. on Monday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“Like many organizations and leaders in the community, we want to be a part of helping fight climate change and encourage green investment in the Peterborough area,” said Devon Girard, CFP executive director. “Launching this new lending program is one way we can play a role in supporting existing businesses while also trying to attract new green companies to the region.”

The Climate Change and Environment Fund is open to any business to finance a project to reduce carbon emissions or waste. These projects could consider energy-efficient upgrades (including capital upgrades) to reduce energy bills, renewable energy improvements, or considerations of circular economies, including localizing supply chains or buying reusable bins. Under this fund, CFP will lend money at a prime rate, up to $100,000 per project.

Charlotte Products Ltd. has reduced carbon emissions by investing in the creation of its local manufacturing facilities instead of sourcing from the United States and globally.

“On behalf of the Charlotte Products team, we are honoured to host this exciting launch of the Climate Change and Environment Fund by Community Futures Peterborough,” says Matt Strano, Charlotte Products Ltd. CEO. “Sustainability is a primary concern for numerous businesses in our community,and initiatives like this fund will further bolster and reinforce their ongoing efforts.”

“The climate crisis is bringing a variety of increased financial pressures to our businesses including supply chain disruption and the rising costs of both shipping and natural gas,” said Tegan Moss, GreenUP executive director. “The Climate Change and Environment Fund is an opportunity for businesses to invest now in solutions that can help their businesses manage these costs while being a part of the solution. Imagine the possibilities: energy-efficient upgrades, renewable energy installations, circular economy initiatives – all aimed at reducing emissions, lowering costs, and enhancing the brand image of our businesses.”

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Peterborough Police In Search of Missing 14-Year-Old Girl Since Thursday

The Peterborough Police Service is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a 14-year-old Peterborough girl, Arynn Chatten.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Friends last saw Chatten on Thursday in the Monaghan Road and Lansdowne Street area. Family and officers have checked and spoken to friends and family but are becoming concerned because Chatten has not checked in as she usually does. 

Arynn is described as female, 5'5, medium build, dark hair, sometimes wears glasses (but not always). She was last seen wearing black and grey patches jacket, light jeans, green running shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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Five Counties Children's Centre Chosen As Smile Cookie Campaign Recipients

Five Counties Children’s Centre (FCCC) has been selected as the local charity that benefits from the annual Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign, announced on Monday. 

Five Counties volunteers will be at local Tim Hortons locations in Cobourg and Colborne next week to assist with the Smile Cookies Campaign. The annual fundraising campaign returns, with proceeds supporting Five Counties kids. Photo courtesy of FCCC.

The campaign runs from April 29 until May 5 at locations in Cobourg and Colborne.  

“We are very grateful to Tim Hortons locations in Cobourg and Colborne for selecting Five Counties to be the beneficiary of the annual Smile Cookie Campaign,” says Scott Pepin, FCCC CEO. “Fundraising efforts like this help reduce wait times and ensure more children and families get the access to care they need when they need it.”  

Residents are encouraged to visit a Cobourg or Colborne Tim Hortons to support Five Counties to purchase a Smile Cookie. Bulk orders are also available and can be ordered by completing this form. During the campaign, Five Counties staff, volunteers, families, and supporters will be at Tim Hortons locations to collect donations and thank visitors for dropping by.  

All money raised from Smile Cookie for Five Counties will go towards its Building Abilities for Life Campaign. This campaign funds priority, high-demand services like speech therapy and occupational therapy to reduce long waiting times for these critical services.  

Tim Hortons has been raising funds for local charities for over 25 years. Last year, Tim Hortons restaurants across Canada raised a record-breaking $19.7 million for over 600 local charities and community groups. The Smile Cookie Campaign has raised over $90 million since the program’s inception. 

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CMHA HKPR Open Nominations for Community Mental Health Awards

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) have opened nominations for the Annual Mental Health Awards and Tam Grant Bursary.

File Photo.

Nominees are those deserving of recognition for their efforts in improving mental health in our community including volunteers, community leaders, individuals with lived experience of mental illness and their family members.

Applications for the annual Tam Grant Bursary are also open to students entering post-secondary education with a diagnosed mental illness. The deadline for award and bursary submissions is 4:30 p.m. on June 21.

CMHA HKPR is calling for submissions for the following awards:

The Achievement Through Adversity Award honours a client of CMHA HKPR services, or a survivor of mental illness, who has shown continued courage and tenacity in reaching their goals. In education, employment, volunteering, or through the tasks of daily living, this individual is a role model for others on the journey to a healthy life.

The Maurice Lovnes Award is presented to an individual or individuals who have volunteered with CMHA HKPR, and who have exemplified the following traits during the year: Vision, Dedication, Caring, Support and Commitment.

Caregiver Champion Award honours a family member or caregiver who has shown continued support to a person living with mental health concerns.

Naresh James Award recognizes an individual who has championed critical issues, pioneered initiatives, and has achieved lasting impacts in support of those who live with mental health issues, as well as assisting their families and friends. This individual has demonstrated commitment to support individuals who live with mental health challenges through their leadership, advocacy, and perseverance. 

Champion of Mental Health – CMHA HKPR acknowledges individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the community by supporting mental health. These contributions should support Knowledge, Hope and Belonging: the three pillars that form the foundation of our organization to enable Mental Health for All.

Tam Grant Bursary - Access to educational programs is one way for individuals living with schizophrenia or other serious and persistent mental illnesses to realize their own potential. The Tam Grant Memorial Bursary seeks to encourage and support these individuals as they pursue higher education.

Tam Grant Bursary Details:
Bursaries are awarded each year at our Annual Meeting for registration for the upcoming school year. The maximum amount awarded annually is $1,000.  Applicants must be residents of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) region.

This year’s Tam Grant Memorial Bursary application can be found online.

All award nominations and bursary applications must be received by 4:30 p.m., June 21. Successful nominees and applicants will be presented with their award or bursary at the CMHA HKPR Annual Meeting which will be held on Sept. 25 at the Lindsay Golf and Country Club in Lindsay. Nomination forms for the awards can be found at http://cmhahkpr.ca/awards/.

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Peterborough Man Arrested For Exposing Himself At a Downtown Intersection

A 33-year-old Peterborough man is facing indecent act charges after an incident Saturday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 3:45 p.m., officers were called to the area of Hunter Street West and Aylmer Street about a man pacing back and forth at the intersection with his pants down, exposing himself.

Officers located a male who matched the description given to the police. The man resisted arrest and after a short struggle, officers were able to take him into custody.

The man was arrested and charged with:

• Indecent Act- public place

• Fail to Comply with Probation Order

The accused is currently bound by a probation order with the following condition to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

The accused was held in custody and appeared in court on Sunday.

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Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Authentic Love, Linklater Administration, River of Yarn and Business Excellence Awards

PTBOCanada is delighted to be running the Business Beat columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

Debra Gallo has launched a new business called Authentic Love, where she does life coaching and Reiki.

Private coaching is available at home or via Zoom and she offers guidance and support for personal growth, healing, and the development of tools within to achieve success and fulfillment. Reiki is available for home visits and promotes healing through energy to find balance. She works with people experiencing trauma, addiction, stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and both physical and mental illness. You can find her on Facebook or email 4.authentic.love@gmail.com.

Thamer Linklater has launched Linklater Administration where they partner with small businesses in Peterborough and the Kawarthas to take on administrative tasks, helping business owners clear up their hours so they can focus on doing the things they love.

They can help manage appointments, communications, create and maintain filing systems, and assist with various tasks that bog owners down. Services are offered in a hybrid model, online, or at your location as needed. Find out more at linklateradmin.com.

Saturday is Local Yarn Shop Day and what better way to celebrate than to do some local yarn shopping.

River of Yarn in Keene is marking the occasion by holding a tent sale, fibre and yarn tasting, tool demonstrations, and light refreshments. River of Yarn provides luxury knitting and crochet yarns, tools, and accessories at affordable prices. They offer a variety of brands and sources of yarn, including alpaca, wool, cotton, flax, hemp, and acrylics. Drop by 353 Kent’s Bay Road on Saturday and find something that sparks your creativity.

Do you know a local business that goes above and beyond?

Nominate them for the 2024 Business Excellence Awards. The Excellence Awards are hosted by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce on Oct.29 at Showplace, but now is time to nominate outstanding businesses in the region. The deadline for nominations is May 22. Additionally, nominate a local business by May 8 and you’re entered into a draw for a $100 gift card for a chamber member of your choice. With 22 awards, there are categories for businesses of every size and sector. Nominate an excellent local business at pkexcellence.ca.

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Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce 2024 Business Summit Helping Entrepreneurs and Leaders On May 2

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Business Summit will be held on May 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fleming College.

Screenshot.

This event is tailored for forward-thinking business owners and leaders. It promises to be an unparalleled opportunity to gain insights, forge connections and unlock strategies for leading into the future according to a press release.

The Summit will kick off with a keynote address from Unity Design Studio Principal Bill Lett, followed by a series of workshops:

Workshop Session 1

• You should know more about your customers than they do – Heather Watson and Matthew Stimpson

• Unleash the power of AI – Sofie Andreou

• Unlocking Potential: Employment strategies for immigrants and diverse abilities – Andy Cragg and Agnes Wojewoda

Workshop Session 2

• Leading through uncertainty – Nancy Wiskel, Anthony Evelyn, and Nicole Cooke

• Copilot for Microsoft 365: Achieve more than ever with AI – Adam Bishop

• Meeting the media: How to best share your business story – Jaye Makinson, Jordan Mercier, Jeannine Taylor, and Marcus Tully

Lunch will feature a panel discussion on Building Your Team featuring Heather Watson of acorn30, Scott Murison of Wild Rock Outfitters, Mike Stock of Unity Design Studio, and Jennifer Scates of Central Smith Ice Cream, moderated by Sarah Budd of the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

“The Business Summit is an opportunity to learn from the experts, learn from your colleagues, and get inspired to unlock your business potential,” says Sarah Budd, President and CEO of the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce. "The world is changing quickly and events like the Business Summit help to strengthen our business community and better prepare us for the opportunities of tomorrow.”

 Tickets are available at the Chamber’s website.

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Fleming College's Open House to Run Sunday

Prospective students can meet their future professors, ask questions and learn more about Fleming College during their Spring Open House running this Sunday.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

The Open House will be held at the Sutherland, Frost and Haliburton Campuses from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Each campus will have information about financial aid, residence, off-campus housing, and post-secondary life in its communities.

Visitors to the Sutherland Campus can check out the vast array of services available to students, from accessibility to diversity and inclusion services. A self-guided tour of the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre is available and attendees can chat with current students about their experiences in various programs.

At the Frost Campus, Arboriculture students are putting on a tree climbing demonstration while the Fleming Phoenix Loggersports team will showcase their talents. Visitors can also check out insect, wildlife and fish displays. Guests can enter a contest and win a chance to blow up dozens of watermelons during an explosive demonstration of Fleming’s Blasting Techniques program.

The Haliburton School of Art + Design encourages all visitors to participate in live demonstrations and interact with Fleming’s students and instructors during Open House. Future students can check out the student art exhibit in the Great Hall and walk along the adjacent Sculpture Forest Trail.

Those interested in pursuing a career in firefighting can visit the Eastern Ontario Emergency Training Academy in Norwood and talk to the faculty, staff and students who make up Fleming’s Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training program.

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OLG Makes Fourth-Quarter Payment of Over $670,000 to The City of Peterborough

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has made its fourth quarter payment of $678,417 to the City of Peterborough for hosting Shorelines Casino Peterborough, announced on Friday.

Since 1994, host communities have received more than $2 billion in non-tax gaming revenue. File Photo.

During OLG’s fiscal year (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024), Peterborough has received $2,973,019. Since the gaming site opened in October 2018, Peterborough has received $12,377,384.

These payments to the host communities are based on a formula consistently applied across all gaming sites in Ontario using a graduated scale of gaming revenue at the hosted site according to a press release.

“For decades, profits from gaming have been an important source of funding for Ontario communities, helping to deliver vital services and making a real difference for gaming host municipalities,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “This is one of the many different ways Ontario continues to create good-paying, local jobs that play a critical role in supporting our economy, while ensuring a socially responsible gaming environment for people to enjoy.”

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