Peterborough Blogs
A Veteran Peterborough Soccer Referee Writes This Open Letter To Parents, Players & Coaches
/Peterborough's Beth McClelland has been refereeing since her tween years, and as an adult now watched a lot of young, new officials start out as well. She has observed their treatment on and off the field, and while most people treat them with respect, many don't. She wrote this open letter below for us to share as a reminder to how your words can impact these young officials...
Photo via City of Peterborough website
Dear athletes, coaches, parents & spectators,
Summertime in Peterborough has always meant one thing to me: soccer season. I’ve been playing in various leagues since the age of four and refereeing since age 12. As a player, I’ve felt the joy that comes from forming lifelong bonds with teammates, of celebrating a win or strong effort and of improving as a player. As a referee, I’ve felt my confidence grow and taken on leadership roles and more competitive games.
I love soccer, but it’s not all butterflies and roses.
I started refereeing at the age of 12, and since that age I’ve been called worthless, stupid, terrible and a barrage of other nasty things. I’ve held back tears on the field and let them out behind closed doors after the game where the name calling replays over and over in my head. I’ve had coaches swear at me and heard parents tell their 10-year-old children "I’m a stupid bitch."
As a player, I understand the anger that comes when a referee misses a call or sees things in a different perspective. I, too, have struggled to let it go after the whistle blows. How is it possible that someone who referees could get annoyed with a fellow referee? Because I’m human. It’s because I’m human I WILL make mistakes as both a player and a referee. Because I’m human, I DO feel things on a personal, emotional level, and because I’m human, I care deeply about doing my very best. Because I’m human, the awful treatment I receive as a referee can be inexplicably painful. Sometimes it makes me want to stop refereeing and even makes me question my worth in our society.
Every season, I see a new group of young, inexperienced officials begin their journey into refereeing. Most of them aren’t thinking about the kind of games they’ll be doing in 10 years or the friends they’ll make along the way; they’re thinking it’s a pretty fun summer job. The tough reality is that after that first season, most of them won’t be back.
When a young person starts a new position at a fast food restaurant, summer camp, grocery store, etc. they often wear a name tag that specifies they’re “in training” or hold a title such as “junior counsellor”. A referee takes a course over a weekend, purchases their kit and then gets thrown on the field where they try to remember all 139 pages of the law book they just received.
Sure, there will be referees who don’t care and who don’t act professionally, but much like any other industry, they’re few and far between. Most of us just want to do a great job.
I was incredibly lucky to have some older, experienced referees encourage, support and mentor me from an early age. I can only try to do the same for those starting out and plead to this community and beyond to show respect.
As referees, we try to understand that most comments aren't meant to be personal and that people can change in the heat of the moment, but it can take many years of doing the job and many hurtful comments to figure that out.
To those who already stop to shake the referee’s hand after a game regardless of the results, thank you. To those who understand that we have bad days too, thank you. And to those who teach their children to step in the referee’s shoes because one day they might do that job too, thank you.
sincerely,
Beth McCelland
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Watch For Turtles Laying Eggs
/There are numerous spottings now of turtles alongside of roads and elsewhere—many of which are laying eggs.
We spotted this turtle laying eggs at Trent University near the Athletic Centre this morning.
Peterborough Police tweeted out this reminder to the public to watch for the turtles on the shoulders of roads...
***If you spot an injured turtle, contact the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre.
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Local Female Artists Combine Forces For Awesome "Bean Up" Series To Support Local YWCA
/Local female artists are gathering every Friday throughout the month of June at the Silver Bean Café in support of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton for the "Bean Up" Series.
This great initiative was the brainchild of well known local artist Brianna Gosselin, who teamed up with the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton and the Silver Bean Café to hatch "Bean Ups" that feature her and other local artists.
Brianna Gosselin
Featured Bean Up artists in June include Lucky Jackson on Friday, June 3rd; Brianna Gosselin on Friday, June 10; Silvia Ferreri on Friday, June 17th; and Lisa Martini-Dunk on Friday, June 24th.
The featured artists will be at the Silver Bean on their scheduled Friday from 10 am to 11 am creating live art for the public to view, and a piece of their art will be on display—and available to win—for those who sign up as a YWCA Monthly Donor during the event.
The YWCA will be present and providing information to the public about the vital services they offer in the community for women and kids fleeing domestic violence.
The Community Is Rallying Around Sarah McNeilly
/Sarah McNeilly is an amazing performance artist who is a huge part of the local, inclusive Peterborough arts scene—including recent productions at The Theatre on King, Mysterious Entity, Showplace Players and more.
Photo of Sarah by Andy Carroll
Shortly after her 31st birthday, Sarah was diagnosed with cancer. And now, the community Sarah has given so much to and so loves is giving back to her as a GoFundMe campaign has been launched for her as she begins her battle against it.
Photo of Sarah by Andy Carroll
"Sarah is one of the most popular and loved artists in this town," fellow performing artist Ray Henderson tells PTBOCanada. "She has her hands in so many different projects and mediums. A singer, actor, Improv artist, just to name a few. Her fire and passion is tireless and relentless."
"The smile you see in all her pics is genuine because she is just so full of life," adds Henderson. "Her partner, Spencer Allen, is just as loved as he is such a valuable piece to the artistic puzzle of this community. You won't find another couple whose outlook, work ethic and creativity provides such a rich environment in our community. Sarah herself is such an incredible and beautiful soul."
Sarah is going to have to take a lot of time off work to fight this cancer, and her and Spencer need the community's help for all of the expensive treatments, prescriptions, travel and time off work that will be required.
Spencer and Sarah
Give what you can to the GoFundMe campaign here, and spread the word on your social media channels. (Already, more than $7,000 [**UPDATE: more than $14,000 has now been raised***] of the $10,000 campaign goal has been reached in a short period of time.)
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A Big Mac For Fort Mac: Local McDonald's Helping Fort McMurray Families
/UPDATE: May 10th, 2016 -> The Big Mac For Fort Mac is going across Canada. "An Every Big Mac Supports Fort Mac fundraiser is happening across the country this coming Friday through Sunday," Adam Grachnik, External Communications Manager with McDonald's, tells PTBOCanada. "A number of guests and franchisees, including in Peterborough, came forward with similar ideas. We’re donating $1 from the sale of every Big Mac purchased in every one of our 1,400 restaurants across the country over the three days to the Red Cross."
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ORIGINAL POST
Local Peterborough area McDonald's restaurants have stepped up bigtime, with one dollar from every Big Mac sold going to help the relief efforts for the people of Fort McMurray.
This amazing "Big Mac For Fort Mac" news comes via our friends from The Wolf...
Photo via The Wolf
As one Fort McMurray evacuee remarked on The Wolf Facebook page, "As a former resident of Ptbo & current evacuee of Fort McMurray this makes my heart swell ❤️ Please go have a Mac for the Mac!"
Another Fort Mac evacuee had this to say: "Peterborough born and raised, but now I'm here back from the Mac after 4 days on the run. I can tell you from the bottom of my heart that every little bit helps. We have our cats and the shirts on our back, but we are still fortunate and lucky to be home."
A local McDonald's employee tweeted at us about how kind a gesture this is for the local franchise owners to do this...
The locations involved are in Peterborough, Lakefield, Lindsay and Bancroft, but we hope to see this spread to other franchises across Canada.
Spread the word. And buy a Big Mac.
[Related: There's A Little Bit Of Fort McMurray In All Of Us]
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Holy Cross Students Walk A Mile In Her Shoes Event Was A Thing Of Beauty
/[***UPDATE: YWCA tells PTBOCanada that the total amount raised for the Holy Cross Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event is $2,383.25—surpassing their goal of $2,000! Awesome!!]
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This year's Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event for YWCA takes place May 27th, but in the build up to the big day many local schools—Holy Cross, Crestwood and Kenner—are hosting their own special events to raise money and awareness among students.
On a beautiful Tuesday (May 3rd), Holy Cross students and staff hosted a great day at their school to show their support for Walk a Mile and promote healthy relationships.
More than 50 staff and students participated, walking four laps on the school track in heels.
Eileen Kimmett was there and snapped these great photos...
There were also great tweets throughout the Walk a Mile event at the school...
The day was further proof that youth in our community—the next generation to make an impact—are amazing.
[Related: 10 Things You Should Know About 2016 Walk A Mile In Her Shoes]
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$11,000 Raised At 2016 Walk So Kids Can Talk In Peterborough
/Despite a rainy first day of May, almost 100 walkers turned out for the 2016 Walk So Kids Can Talk supporting Kids Help Phone on Sunday morning.
The James Strath Public School Drumline provided entertainment as walkers registered...
Photo by Daniel Morris
Kids Help Phone is a free, anonymous confidential counselling and information service for young people—an invaluable resource for them.
At Sunday's event, there were many great volunteers, including Justine, a first-time volunteer pictured below...
Photo by Daniel Morris
People of all ages came out to support this amazing cause, which raised more than $11,000 for Kids Help Phone.
That included a younger walker sporting a cape on the route...
Photo by Daniel Morris
After the walk, Boston Pizza was kind enough to donate pizza for participants...
Photo by Daniel Morris
