Paralympic Gold Medalist Jon Thurston to Headline Five Counties’ 50th Anniversary Meeting

By Scott Arnold

A golden anniversary milestone will be marked in fitting style as Five Counties Children’s Centre welcomes a Paralympic champion as its keynote speaker.

jon thurston will headline five counties 50th anniversary meeting. also pictured, pete dalliday (left) and Scott arnold (right).

Five Counties Children’s Centre will host its 50th Annual Meeting on June 22 at 3 pm in Peterborough, with Paralympic wheelchair curler Jon Thurston set to deliver the keynote address.

Thurston, a Dunsford resident who recently captured gold at the Paralympic Games in Italy, will speak as the organization closes out its 50th anniversary year. His remarks will focus on lived experience, resilience and perseverance, continuing a tradition of inspirational keynote speakers at the annual gathering.

The meeting also serves as a capstone to the Centre’s milestone year, which began in 1975 when Five Counties first opened its doors as a children’s treatment centre in Peterborough.

Alongside Thurston’s address, the event will include an update from CEO Scott Pepin on the Centre’s activities and achievements over the past year, as well as the release of the 2025/26 annual report.

Several recognitions will also be presented, including the 2026 High-Five Community Awards, which honour individuals, groups and partners supporting inclusion across the region. Long-serving staff members will also be recognized.

The event will also feature the presentation of the second annual Dave Adams Legacy Award. Named in honour of a former Executive Director of the Centre’s Foundation, the award recognizes individuals who reflect the leadership and commitment demonstrated during Dave Adams’ 27-year career with the organization.

Five Counties says the Annual Meeting brings together staff, community partners and supporters to reflect on the past year while marking a significant milestone in the Centre’s history.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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