Two Young Boys Donated Their Chore Money To Riverview Park & Zoo

This summer two young boys (Nathan and Andrew) came to the Riverview Park and Zoo and donated their allowance to the zoo—along with this nice note and picture below.

The note and picture

And there is more. Zoo Manager and Curator Jim Moloney tells PTBOCanada: "Just last week, Nathan had a birthday party and instead of getting presents, he raised money to adopt one of our animals (a Brazilian Agouti). These are some pretty special boys!" Indeed.
 

Nathan donating

Andrew

Help to support an animal friend of your choice through the zoo's Animal Adoption program. Adoption fees help contribute to animal care, nutrition, and enrichment for the animal that you adopt! Call 705.748.9301 x2331 for more information on the adoption program.

Nathan on his birthday

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PVNC Raises $27,500 To Sponsor Syrian Family

The Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board presented Sister Ruth Hennessey of Peterborough’s Casa Maria Refugee Homes with a cheque for $27,500 Tuesday (October 13th) as part of an ongoing fundraising effort to sponsor the relocation of a Syrian refugee family to Canada.

Barbara McMorrow (right), Director of Education for PVNC, presents Sister Ruth Hennessey of Peterborough’s Casa Maria Refugee Homes with cheque for $27,500

In early September, the PVNC community was moved by the Syrian refugee crisis to hold a board-wide fundraising effort. Working with Casa Maria, a non-profit organization that supports and offers safe temporary shelter to refugees, PVNC identified a family of seven who have fled war-torn Aleppo and are now in limbo in Saudi Arabia. Relatives of that family, themselves refugees who have recently relocated to Toronto, toured three PVNC schools in September to tell their story and put a face to the international refugee crisis.

“When we put the call out to our Catholic school communities and the staff at our board office to help support this family, the response was incredible,” PVNC Director of Education Barbara McMorrow says. “Sponsoring a family has offered our community a tangible way to make a difference in what is otherwise an overwhelming crisis.”

Casa Maria has now filed the paperwork for the seven family members, and the sponsorship process to bring the family to Peterborough is underway.

UPDATE: Here are pictures of the family members...

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Gentlemen Of The Otonabee Bare All To Fight Homophobia In Competitive Sport

A calendar by Peterborough rowers to raise money for LGBTQ issues in sport has been released. Engaging in a tradition made famous by the Warwick Rowers from the UK, members of the Peterborough Rowing Club have created a semi-nude calendar (and various prints) called "Gentlemen of the Otonabee" to tackle issues of homophobia and showcase their brotherhood in sport.

photo by J.Lee Photography

The tasteful, rustic, vintage-toned calendar—aptly named for the 6 km stretch of the river that runs by the rowing club in Peterborough—speaks to the sense of tradition that the rowers all share. Rowing is steeped in heritage and has a long-standing reputation of gentlemanly behaviour, both on and off the water.

"It's about building an ally base," says Evan Schuett, a member of the rowing team. "Sport should have no sexual orientation—and in a sport where tight-fitting unisuits already leave little to the imagination, we thought this was an issue that we could address publicly."

photo by J.Lee Photography

$5 from the sale of each calendar will be donated to Egale Canada, an organization that raises awareness about LGBTQ issues in sport—whether it's on the water, on the field or in the locker room.

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Together: An Exhibition On Positive Global Change Coming To Peterborough

The "Together" truck is driving change across Canada—and on October 6th, it rolls into Peterborough. This Together exhibition on global development is an interactive experience on wheels for all ages, highlighting Canadian contributions to positive change around the world.

This custom-built truck has 1,000 square feet of exhibition space, and features powerful photography, film, and audio; one-of-a-kind artefacts; an interactive world map of Canadian contributions overseas; and a skills quiz for visitors to discover how they can contribute to the fight against poverty.

The Together truck will be parked at Trent University (1600 West Bank Dr.) on October 6th and 7th. It will be open to the public from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. both days. Admission to the exhibition is free.

Together was developed by Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), and features the work of 21 Canadian organizations working to reduce poverty around the world.

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Tim Horton's Smile Cookies Support Hospice Peterborough's Every Moment Matters Campaign

For one week (September 14th to 20th), Tim Horton's guests can purchase a freshly baked chocolate chunk Smile Cookie for $1 at participating restaurants in Peterborough, Bridgenorth and Lakefield, with 100 percent of the proceeds proudly donated by Tim Horton's Restaurant Owners to support Hospice Peterborough's Every Moment Matters Campaign.

"We are grateful for the continued corporate support and partnership with local Tim Hortons Owners," says Betty Morris, Campaign Chair.
 
New this year, Canadians can share their Smile Cookie Selfies with friends and family. Simply take a picture of yourself with your Smile Cookie, then share via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #SmileCookie.
 
Visit timhortons.com/smilecookie to learn more about the charities the Smile Cookie campaign supports across Canada.

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Beautiful Message On Hunter Street To Refugees

Syria is in complete crisis, with more than four million Syrian refugees registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

This banner below that was hanging beside the Only Café on Hunter Street in Peterborough sends a powerful message that refugees from Syria—and elsewhere in need around the world—are welcome here.

Picture via Ben Rough on Facebook

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Peterborough Huskies Coach Converts Bedroom Into Gear Warehouse For Special Needs Team

The special needs hockey team Peterborough Huskies team continues to grow in popularity—and numbers. In doing so, they have to make room for all the equipment somewhere. 

To create space, Huskies Head Coach Chris J-Boy Williams converted what was once a basement bedroom in his house into a Huskies gear warehouse.

BEFORE

AFTER

The Huskies team is not only amping up for a new season but team management have already begun planning the International Special Needs hockey tournament they landed. That takes place here in Peterborough in March 2017 and is a major tournament to coordinate, with 75 teams and about 1,500 players coming into town for that.

Email the Huskies here if you're interesting in sponsoring the team/tournament or helping out in anyway.

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Here's Why A Peterborough Woman Did A Boudoir Photo Shoot For Everyone To See

In today's society, the concept of the female body image is one that women and girls all around the world struggle with. Many body types seem unattainable thanks to photoshop editing that we see in magazines and online every day.

Sara Lunn photo courtesy Stephanie Hayes

For Peterborough's Sara Lunn, the thought of taking a series of boudoir photos with local photographer Stephanie Hayes for the public to see was nerve-wracking. Steph had put the word out she was looking for women to photograph for a boudoir shoot for her online portfolio, and Sara initially jumped at the chance but soon had second thoughts.

Sara Lunn photo courtesy Stephanie Hayes

"I sat there and stewed about it for a long time," she writes in a blog entry on Steph's site. "I wanted to work with her, but I was torn. One half of me totally wanted to be that girl who looked amazing, fun, and flirty. The other half of me kindly reminded myself that I would have to hide most of my body and there was no way I would be fully comfortable. Surely she would find someone better suited for it (whatever that meant)."

Sara Lunn photo courtesy Stephanie Hayes

"I have struggled with loving myself for my whole life," adds Sara. "I am not comfortable in my own skin. I can’t remember a time when I was ever comfortable. I have an amazing partner [Ian George, her fiancé] who makes me feel like I am the most beautiful creature on the planet. He also reminds me that no one is perfect and that he loves me because of my imperfections; it’s what makes me who I am."

Sara Lunn photo courtesy Stephanie Hayes

After trying to think of excuses to back out, Sara ultimately decided to take a leap of faith and go ahead with the shoot.

"When I arrived for the shoot, I met two other women, and as it turned out, we were all incredibly nervous. It was awesome to sit and chat about what our concerns were before the shoot, how we have dealt with our insecurities and what we all hoped to take away that night. It was really great meeting people in totally different places in their lives, but, we all shared similar concerns and fears."

Sara Lunn photo courtesy Stephanie Hayes

"I was the last one to be photographed and I must admit, it was an absolute blast and would do it a million more times," Sara writes. "Steph made me feel so comfortable and to be honest, I think I was laughing for most of it (when I wasn’t trying to be serious)."

Sara Lunn photo courtesy Stephanie Hayes

"When I look at my pictures I am blown away. The first picture I saw, I actually squealed out loud and jumped up and down. That is me! Holy crap! I feel beautiful and sexy and most of all – confident and comfortable. That’s all I ever wanted. So to Steph, I say thank you. Thank you for capturing me in a light I never knew existed. It’s wonderful."

Sara Lunn photo courtesy Stephanie Hayes

"I didn't do this for my fiancé Ian, I did it for myself," Sara tells PTBOCanada. "I did it because I knew it was outside of my comfort zone and I knew Steph wanted to use the photos for her portfolio so I knew more people would see them other than just Ian and myself."

Kudos for Sara for being courageous enough to do this. The photos are beautiful.

View more photos from the shoot here.

—by Aaron Elliott

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