Rotary Club of Peterborough Seeking Nominations For 2025 Paul Harris Fellowship

The Rotary Club of Peterborough is seeking nominations for its prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Recognition for 2025 in honour of the founder of Rotary International in 1905.

All of the Paul Harris recipients from last year’s event. Vocational Service: Dr. Douglas Chenoweth; Youth Services: Don Barrie; Environmental Service: Mike Henry; Community Service: Gordon Bowley & Sandra (Sam) Whitmore; International Service: Laurie Heigh and Club Service: Wayne Harding Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

According to Rotary, the Fellowship recognizes local individuals for their leadership and service contributions within our community, the surrounding area and the world at large. It is considered the highest honour Rotarians can give.

Nominations in the following categories can be completed online with the deadline next Wednesday.

Categories include:

• Community Service: To recognize an individual who makes a significant leadership contribution to the advancement and betterment of the Peterborough Community. 

• International Service: To recognize an individual who makes a significant contribution toward to betterment of the communities in other parts of the world, and/or leadership toward work peace and understanding. 

• Vocational Service: To recognize an individual who uses their vocational skills consistent wit Rotary ideals toward community and/or international matters.

• Youth Services: To recognize an individual who makes significant contributions toward to youth (programs, services and/or related matters).

• Environmental Service: To recognize an individual who supports activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of our environment.

• Club Service: To recognize a Peterborough Rotary Club member for their outstanding service and dedication. 

For the first time, the Rotary Club of Peterborough and Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha will celebrate the recipients at a joint Paul Harris Fellow Recognition Dinner on Nov. 20 at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club.

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Grady's Feet Essentials to Change Hands But Keeps Business In the Family

With over 40 years in Peterborough, Tony and Kelli Grady of Grady’s Feet Essentials are passing the business on to family, Theresa Thibadeau and Mark Walsh, effective Sept. 1 next year.

(From left to right) Tony Grady, Kelli Grady, Theresa Thibadeau and Mark Walsh. Photo courtesy of Grady’s Feet Essentials.

The announcement was made on the business's Facebook page in a post. Thibadeau is Tony’s cousin, with Walsh as her husband. Thibadeau has been working at the store for the past 12 years, serving as manager in the last three.

“Theresa brings exceptional customer service skills and strong accounting experience,” explained Kelli. “She knows what makes Grady's special and is passionate about carrying that forward as she takes over ownership along with her husband Mark.”

In 1984, Ken Grady Sr. founded Grady’s Orthopedic Service from his home, crafting custom orthotics for local customers. He opened the first Grady’s Shoes storefront in downtown Peterborough a year later.

Two yeas later, Tony started helping after school each day. He purchased the store with his wife, Kelli, in 1997 and was rebranded as Grady’s Feet Essentials. They opened a kiosk at Lansdowne Place Mall in 2000. This led to further expansion into an entire storefront on the mall’s upper level in 2005 and a major renovation with the help of a retail designer in 2011.

In 2018, they purchased the former Angela Mark boutique building at 231 King Street in Peterborough which is their current location. Until the pandemic hit, they were restoring the building and using it for storage and office space. The pandemic forced them to think creatively, establishing a curbside pickup location and a satellite store at King Street. By February 2022, Grady’s Feet Essentials had officially relocated from Lansdowne Place to their newly renovated King Street location.

With next year being Tony’s 40th year involved in the business, it marked a great way to cap off a career, according to Kelli.

“That felt like the right milestone to pass the torch and explore new adventures,” she explained. “With our daughters pursuing careers outside the footwear world, we looked for someone who could carry on the Grady's legacy - and we're thrilled to have found that with Theresa and Mark.”

Tony and Kelli are remaining in the community as they are both members of the Rotary Club of Peterborough. Kelli serves as the director of membership and club service while Tony was appointed the new president in July. There are no concrete plans on what the couple plans to do after Grady’s Feet but are ready to take on what life brings them.

“We're keeping ourselves open to new possibilities - it will be fun to try new things and see where our interests and skills take us next,” said Kelli.

During the final year under the Grady’s, they are helping Thibadeau and Walsh with the transition of ownership, who will take over in September of next year.

“We are deeply grateful to the Peterborough community for supporting our store over the years,” said Kelli. “Grady's Feet Essentials has always been more than just a store - it's been about the relationships, conversations and trust we've built with our customers. As we step into a new chapter, we're excited to see the Grady's tradition continue with Theresa and Mark. This isn't goodbye - you'll still see us around the community and cheering on Grady's.”

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Inaugural Lemonade Stand Day Raises $7,000 For Riverview Park and Zoo's Rotary Accessible Playground Project

A classic drink helped the Riverview Park and Zoo move closer to their $1.5 million goal for the Rotary Accessible Playground Project, as the inaugural Lemonade Stand Day raised $7,000 towards the initiative.

Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

The Kiwanis Club of Scott’s Plains held its first-ever Lemonade Stand Day on Aug.23. The event saw 33 families raise $7,000 for the project, which was celebrated on Sunday.

“The priority was for Lemonaders to have fun and the feedback we have received about Lemonade Stand Day has been wonderful,” said Greg McLeod, Secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Scott’s Plains. “The Lemonaders are already looking forward to next year and so are we.”

The club added an $8,000 donation, while the Rotary Club of Peterborough matched the total of $15,000, bringing the grand total to $30,000 towards the initiative.

The concept was first presented to the Rotary Club in 2024 by Cathy Mitchell, Riverview Park and Zoo CEO. She was grateful for the community support towards the project from the inaugural fundraiser.

“We are so honoured to be the recipients of the funds raised through Lemonade Stand Day,” she said. “These funds will be put towards the Rotary Accessible Playground Project, which is an exciting playground redesign project that will rethink the space ensuring that every child, regardless of ability, can experience the fun of play.”

The fundraising campaign was launched in mid-August

Project upgrades include widened pathways between play areas for people using strollers and mobility devices, new surfaces throughout the playground to make getting around easier, relaxing shady spaces with great sight lines to make it more comfortable for visitors and their caregivers.

Donations towards the project can be made online.

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Rotary Club of Peterborough and Riverview Park and Zoo’s Launch New Accessible Playground Fundraising Campaign to Raise $1.5 Million

The Rotary Club of Peterborough and the Riverview Park and Zoo have teamed up for Project ROAR, a $1.5 million fundraising campaign for an accessible playground, announced on Thursday morning.

Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

The Project Roar Committee unveiled its plans for a completely redesigned Rotary Accessible Playground at Riverview Park and Zoo to allow anyone of all abilities and all ages to enjoy the space.

Upgrades include widened pathways between play areas for people using strollers and mobility devices, new surfaces throughout the playground to make getting around easier, relaxing shady spaces with great sight lines to make it more comfortable for visitors and their caregivers.

Rotarian Betty Halman-Plumley was the president of the Rotary Club during the 2023-2024 term. During that time, the Club conducted extensive community outreach and local needs assessments in the lead up to deciding on the club’s next big Legacy Project said Halman-Plumley.

“Rotary is thrilled to take the lead in making this playground accessible because we believe everyone and every child deserves a place to play, learn, and grow – regardless of ability,” she said. “This project reflects our commitment to inclusion, community service, and building spaces where everyone feels welcome. Together with the Riverview Park & Zoo we are building more than just a play space – we’re building a stronger, more inclusive community for families to thrive.”

Cathy Mitchell, Riverview Park and Zoo CEO, first presented the concept for this project to the Rotary Club in 2024.

“We are thrilled to work with the energy and magnetism of the Rotary Club of Peterborough through their Legacy Project to bring these remarkable plans off the shelf and to fruition,” she said. “Established in 2018 through community consultation, these engineered playground plans were created to address the diverse needs of our community, bringing all ages and all abilities together for outdoor recreation and play. Thanks to Rotary and this Legacy commitment, we are able to move forward, remove barriers, and make it happen.”

The event paid tribute to the late Rotarian Ross Dobbin who founded the Riverview Park and Zoo in 1933. Some of his family members were present to honour his name on his behalf.

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The Rotary Club of Peterborough's Fore the Kids Golf Tournament Scheduled For Sept. 25

The Rotary Club of Peterborough has released the date of its Fore the Kids Golf Tournament fundraiser at the Katchiwano Golf Club on Sept. 25.

Photo courtesy of teh Rotary Club of Peterborough.

Tournament proceeds will help fund Rotary projects and the kids who use the services of the Five Counties Children’s Centre.

Tickets are $150 per person, which includes a round of golf, a cart for convenience, lunch to recharge and compete in hole prizes.

One child supported by the cause is four-year-old Jude, who has cerebral palsy and a global developmental delay. He has been accessing Five Counties programs like physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy since he was four months old.

“Thank you to everyone who supports this event. It shows the families at Five Counties that they have an entire community behind them, cheering them on.” said Julie Grant, Jude’s mom.

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Rotary Club of Peterborough Funds Environmental Innovator Projects

The Rotary Club of Peterborough awarded five environmental innovators with funding through its Rotary Environmental Innovators Fund (REIF) for proposed local projects at the McDonnel Activity Centre on Monday afternoon.

In its third year, REIF has already awarded more than $20 thousand dollars. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The funding is for projects designed by environmental entrepreneurs that advance local environmental innovators working in biodiversity, water and wastewater technologies, climate change, sustainable living, pollution, waste disposal and more.

The following were the funding recipients:

$3,000 Top Awards:

• Wildrock Outfitters / Kawartha Land Trust – Native Plant Horticulture for Invasive Species Control

• Woodleigh Farms – Catching Carbon

• Clean Energy Generation – Sanostrategy Wind Turbine Installation

$1,000 Runner-Up Awards:

• Taproots for Tomorrow – Carbon-Positive Air-Prune Beds

• Second Nature Studio – Plastic Waste to Purpose

This year’s REIF committee has received 16 applications for local projects.

The applications are judged based on how they might impact the local climate and environment, how innovative the project is compared to existing solutions, the project's practicality, expected benefits and how the funds would be used.

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Winners Announced For Rotary Club of Peterborough’s 11th Annual Regional Spelling Bee Championship

Excitement was buzzing as the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s 11th Annual Regional Spelling Bee Championship have named their top three competitors in their respective divisions, held at Fleming College on Saturday.

The following where the top three spellers from the Junior and Intermediate divisions:

Junior (Gr. 4-6)

1. Verna Conlin-Hanley - St. Anne CES

2. Kieran Scerri - Kawartha Montessori School

3. Olivia Best - Queen Elizabeth PS

(from left to right) Buzz the Spelling Bee Mascot, Kieran Scerri, Verna Conlin-Hanley and Olivia Best of the Junior Division. Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

Intermediate (Gr. 7-8)

1. Henry Sharpe - Adam Scott Intermediate PS

2. Tyler Phillips - St. Teresa CES

3. Shreyas Balakrishnan - Kaawaate East City PS

(from Left to Right) Tyler Phillips, Shreyas Balakrishnan, Henry Sharpe of the intermediate division. Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

The top spellers in each division won a week at Trent Excalibur Camp, a week at Camp Kawartha, bikes from Canadian Tire, lessons at the Art School of Peterborough, a party at Zap Attack Laser tag, tickets for local events courtesy of Miskin Law, cash for their schools’ literacy programs and more.

More than 4,000 children competed in qualifying bees at their schools in order to participate in the final event.

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Rotary Club of Peterborough Breaks Fundraising Record of $57,748 From 39th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim

The Rotary Club of Peterborough has a new fundraising record, accumulating $57,748 at the 39th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim fundraiser, announced at the Ashburnham Funeral Home & Reception Centre on Monday afternoon.

Since its inception, the Swimathon has raised over $1.4 million for Easter Seals and Rotary Projects. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

This is the first swim without Carl Oake, as the family announced his passing in early January. He started this event 39 years ago.

“The community really came out,” said Ken Seim, Rotary president. “It's a bittersweet thing that people came out and with Carl's passing but we're pledged to keep it going and with great enthusiasm.”

Approximately 15 teams and organizations signed up for the Swimathon and other activities. Groups and individuals signed up to participate in swim lanes, catwalk, and cannonball challenges to raise money for the event.

The goal was to raise $50,000 which was easily shattered.

One aspect Seim recognized this year was that there were a lot more participants from younger generations who helped fundraise for the cause and contribute to Oake’s legacy.

“What I'm really happy about is that we're getting more and more young people coming out,” he explained. “We've had two hockey teams, we had the Lakers out this year, the U13/U18 Petes as well as the Special Olympics so it's good to see the younger people coming out.” 

The Rotary Club presented cheques for $13,000 to Easter Seals and $3,000 to the YMCA for their Strong Kids campaign during the announcement.

The Carl Oake Rotary Swim Committee have named next year (as the 40th Anniversary) to be ‘like totally 80s’ themed. It reflects the year 1986, when Oake founded the event to celebrate music, fashion and pop culture during that time.

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Rotary Club of Peterborough Makes Big Splashes At the 39th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim

The 39th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim dipped into the YMCA Central East Ontario pool to fundraise their goal of $50,000 for Easter Seals Ontario and Rotary Club of Peterborough on Friday morning.

Vanessa Oake Hogan (left), Renee Oake (middle) and Lesley Oake triumphant after finishing their swim. Renee has had professional swimming experience and swam 129 laps. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Around 15 teams/organizations signed up to participate in the Swimathon. Groups and individuals signed up to do swim lanes, catwalk and cannonball challenges to support Easter Seals and Rotary Projects in our Community for the event’s 39th rendition.

“It's amazing to have an event go on this long,” explained said Vanessa Oake Hogan, event organizer. “I think it means a lot to the community and it's had so much support that we're able to carry that support forward and we don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

This is the first swim without Carl Oake, as the family announced his passing in early January. He started this event 39 years ago.

“I hope he's here watching over us and I think he'd be really proud,” said Oake Hogan.

At the end of the swim, Century 21 Realty presented the Oake family with a bench dedicated to Carl Oake’s memory and legacy to remain at the YMCA.

“It was hard coming back into the pool after dad passed because he swam here all the time but to be able to come here now and see that bench, I think it's going to be really special for us,” explained Oake Hogan.

Since its inception, the Swimathon has raised over $1.4 million for Easter Seals and Rotary Projects. Other recipients of the proceeds are literacy programs, various shelters (Brock Mission, Yes Shelter and more), Breakfast for Kids, Camp Kawartha, Rotary Trail and more.

Over $17,500 of the $50,000 goal was already raised online at the publication of this article but more funds have yet to be accounted for with a final tally.

Anyone can donate at any time online at the Rotary’s website.

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Hometown PTBO: Kelli & Tony Grady of Grady's Feet Essentials Celebrating 40 Years of Business and Their Induction Into JA-NEO's Business Hall of Fame

This week on Hometown PTBO, David Tuan Bui talks with Kelli and Tony Grady of Grady's Feet Essentials about celebrating 40 years of business, being inducted into JA-NEO's Business Hall of Fame and their roles with the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

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