Mount Community Centre to Complete Redevelopment After Donation

The Remembering Otto and Marie Pick Charitable Foundation has donated to complete the redevelopment of The Mount Community Centre (TMCC) to provide affordable housing, announced in a press release on Monday.

Photo courtesy of the Mount Community Centre.

The construction began in September 2014. The donation concludes the development of the Mount’s main building of seventy-nine apartments according to a press release.

“‘Operation Upstream’ as we call it, enables us to support unhoused and homeless people before they need more intense supports like those in our hospital system,” said Martin Pick. “In this way, we are helping others to a better place. We are pleased to contribute to the community with a gift to facilitate the completion of 11 more affordable apartments at TMCC.”

“These affordable apartments will have a positive impact in our community,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “On behalf of the citizens of Peterborough, I want to thank Martin and Denise Pick for their outstanding generosity. As a former Minister of Agriculture, I developed a wonderful relationship with Martin Pick. Pickseed is a national and international leader in providing grass seeds and forages for the world’s agricultural community. The Mount Community Centre has improved the lives and wellbeing of so many people in our City, and this gift will allow them to make an even greater impact. This is clearly the second miracle on Monaghan Road.”

“We are humbled and beyond grateful to share that Martin and Denise Pick have made a generous donation to support the continued redevelopment of TMCC,” said Steve Kylie, the Mount Board Chair. “The Pick Family has a rich history of multi-generational philanthropy and the family name is synonymous with community building.”

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‘Get Your Art On’ at Mount Community Centre’s Art and Craft Exhibition and Sale

Join the Mount Community Centre for the 7th annual ‘Get Your Art On’ exhibition and sale of local arts and crafts at Austin Doran Hall at The Mount Community Centre May 12 to 14.

photo courtesy of the mount community centre, facebook.

Paintings, photography, pottery, sculpturing, woodworking and more will be on display and for sale.

“There are numerous artists and crafts people coming to display and sell their works,” says Hartley Stephenson, local artist and event organizer. “The items are unique and specially designed to please the buyer. Attendees are bound to find something that will interest them and be a perfect gift for Mother’s Day celebrations.”

The Mother’s Day Weekend exhibition and sale will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Friday, May 12 to Sunday, May 14 at the Mount Community Centre (1545 Monaghan Rd.)

This event is free admission, and 10 per cent of all profits will go to The Mount Community Centre’s ongoing commitment to providing affordable housing and food security.

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The Mount Community Centre Calls All Artists To Display Their Work For ‘Mountmas’

An open call has gone out to artists to display their work for ‘Mountmas’ held by The Mount Community Centre at the Austin Doran Hall on Nov. 12 and 13, announced on Sunday.

The Mount Community Centre during its renovations last summer. Photo courtesy of the Mount Community Centre.

Artwork is being set up on Nov. 11 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The Mount says this is an excellent opportunity for artists from all disciplines to display their work to the community.

“We are thrilled to be holding ‘Mountmas,’ an exhibition showcasing the inspiring talents of artists in our community,” says Hartley Stephenson, event organizer. “The world needs artists, craftspeople and workers of wonder and beauty and this will be a perfect time for artists to display their work and for attendees to pick up some holiday gifts.”

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Lemonade Stand Raises Over $200 For Mount Community Centre Affordable Housing And Food Security Programs

On Sunday five-year-old Loretta Cameron raised $242.00 for The Mount Community Centre by hosting a by donation lemonade stand.

left to right Andi van Koeverden,Strategic Advancement Director, The Mount Community Centre, Steve Kylie, Board Chair,The Mount Community Centre, and Donna Kylie. Seated Loretta Cameron, Mike Gauthier, Manager, Stenson Family Market. Photo courtesy of Nancy Sharpe.

Cameron, who is from Kingston, was visiting her grandparents and spent the weekend preparing for her fundraiser.

“It's never too early to teach children the value of empathy, volunteering, and charitable giving,” said Mike and Sue Gauthier, Cameron’s grandparents.

Mike is a manager at Stenson Family Market in Peterborough, where the lemonade stand was held.

Cameron provided free lemonade, chips and candies in exchange for donations to The Mount Community Centre to help them continue their work in the development of affordable housing and food security.

“Helping our kids experience the happiness that comes from giving to others is probably one of the most valuable ways we can nurture generosity in them,” said Gauthier. “By giving, children truly understand what kindness is and the importance of giving, not just receiving.”

“Children naturally love to help others, so getting them involved in donating to charity or volunteering when they are young is a great idea,’ said Stephen Kylie, Board Chairperson at The Mount Community Centre. “We sincerely thank Loretta and her family for their involvement in helping raise money for The Mount Community Centre.”

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Over $6 Million Raised For More Housing At The Mount Community Centre

After a concerted effort from the community, The Mount Community Centre has raised $6,272,755 towards building more affordable housing units announced on Sunday.

Photo Courtesy of The Mount Community Centre.

The money was raised through their Building Opportunity Campaign that was seeking a goal of $4 million for the 10-acre property. All of the funding was done through the volunteers.

Beavermead Construction was the company tasked to do the building however over 200 volunteers have done the painting, furnishing and landscaping.

Since August, 63 housing units have already been developed since 2013.

The units already contain several amenities such as a food centre, office space, public venue space and the Fulcrum Café.

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Hometown PTBO: Shared Dreams Of Men Being Able To Live On Their Own For the First Time

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with some parents of "Shared Dreams," men who are able to live on their own for the first time in the new Mount Community Centre.

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Former Religious Residence Converting Into Housing With Community Help

The former Mount St. Joseph’s complex is being renovated into housing units by The Mount Community Centre (MCC) with help from more than 200 volunteers.

Former Winnipeg resident Andi van Koeverden (pictured) has completed her Bachelor of Education Degree at the University of Manitoba. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Peterborough. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The 10-acre property was purchased back in 2013 and is a $4 million campaign to fully complete construction, all backed by volunteers.

It is being built by Beavermead Construction however work such as painting, furnishing or landscaping is done through volunteers.

This is the building’s final phase of construction where 63 housing units have already been developed since 2013. Construction this fall will add another five housing units and project completion will total 74 residential units.

Andi van Koeverden, MCC Director of Strategic Advancement acknowledges the affordable housing problem that has been a complaint by several Peterborough citizens and believes this is another step towards reliving that issue.

“In 2014, the City and Counsel committed to building 500 affordable units in 10 years,” she said. “We have added 63 units to that count. That is quite substantial.”

The units already contain several amenities such as a food centre, office space, public venue space and a café (currently closed due to COVID-19).

The following is where the money is being invested:

• $2,665,000 Centre & North Wing Renovations

• $710,000 Food Centre

• $500,000 Sustainability Fund

• $125,000 Grounds & Gardens

The Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network opted to turn the property into affordable housing back in 2011 according to van Koeverden.

“This group was looking at acquiring a building of some kind and turning it into affordable housing and a food centre,” she said. “They turned the ownership over to the Mount Community Centre Board of Directors who managed the redevelopment from then on.”

The MCC is continuing to seek donations and projects to finish construction within the next two years according to van Koeverden.

Donations to the construction campaign can be found here. You can also volunteer by calling 705-875-5095.

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Public Energy Holding Arts Festival At The Mount Community Centre

Public Energy has announced the final event of its 20th anniversary season. Called "Erring on the Mount",  it is a major new multidisciplinary arts festival taking place May 30th to June 1st at the Mount Community Centre (1555 Monaghan Road) that features more than 60 artists in 50 works of art and performance. There will be art installations, performance pieces, choral groups and interactive works.

Public Energy Artistic Producer Bill Kimball helping Artist Robert Edmonson install his kinetic sculpture in the Chapel. Photo: Paul Oldham

Public Energy Artistic Producer Bill Kimball helping Artist Robert Edmonson install his kinetic sculpture in the Chapel. Photo: Paul Oldham

Tickets go on sale May 2nd through the Market Hall box office, or by calling 705-749-1146.

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