Peterborough Blogs
'Fleming Phoenix' Unveiled As New Mascot For Fleming College
/During a celebration at Fleming College’s Sutherland Campus, the Fleming Phoenix was unveiled ‘Fleming Phoenix’ as the new athletics brand and mascot.
Photo courtesy of Fleming College.
The mascot represents the best of the Fleming College community as a mythical creature embodying the concepts of transformation and rebirth according to a press release.
Fleming continues to explain that it embodies Fleming students’ rise to new levels of success each day; Obstacles are an opportunity to transform into the best version of themselves. It is a symbol to Fleming’s dedication to continuous improvement according to the college.
The Phoenix replaces the now-retired Fleming Knight that served the school for over 50 years.
Fleming College Launching New Hairstyling Program For January
/Students can get into the beauty industry through Fleming College as they are launching a new Hairstyling Program this January, announced on Monday afternoon.
The program was designed by Peterborough’s Harmony Hair Salon owner Chris Asta. This new program will teach hairstyling theory and extensive hands-on training according to a press release.
The program is offered in a compressed format of three semesters with a wide variety of courses. Students can learn all aspects of the hairstyling business from hair care basics to running a salon. They will also learn hair-cutting, styling and colouring techniques for everyone. Retail and business side of the hair care industry are also taught in the program.
By the end of the program, students will have developed a full portfolio of their work to complement their resumes according to Fleming. A hair fashion show takes place at the end of the third semester.
Applicants can visit online for more information on how to enroll.
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Trent University Honours Past Graduates With Alumni Awards
/Trent University has distributed its 2023/24 Trent University Alumni Association (TUAA) awards to outstanding alumni to acknowledge the impact alumni make in their community, professions or with the University.
Photo courtesy of Trent University.
“Congratulations to all of the award winners who chose to study at Trent University because of their desire to create momentous change in the world and have gone on to lead that change in their professional careers and community with vision, commitment, and creativity,” said Sherry Booth, associate vice president of philanthropy and alumni engagement. “The work they do is important, and we are honoured to recognize their remarkable achievements.”
A full list of 2023/24 winners is as follows:
Distinguished Alumni Award
Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet ’74 (Catharine Parr Traill College), former MP for Hochelga in Montreal who served as NDP whip and housing critic; Dr. Keith Stewart ’86 (Peter Robinson College), senior energy strategist for Greenpeace Canada; and Dr. Gesa Weyhenmeyer ’90 (Peter Robinson College), professor at Uppsala University in Sweden, are recipients of 2023/24 Distinguished Alumni Award. This is the TUAA’s top award that recognizes demonstrated leadership, community involvement and notoriety in their sectors of work.
Spirit of Trent Award
Henry GB Clarke '70 (Catharine Parr Traill College), a former City of Peterborough councillor and deputy mayor who supported hundreds of residents experiencing homelessness; and Alice Olsen Williams '69 (Otonabee College), a renowned Indigenous artist-activist who has supported many Indigenous causes are co-recipients of the Spirit of Trent Award, recognizing their commitment to making a difference in the world by demonstrating values and lessons learned at Trent.
Young Leader Award
The Young Leader Award, recognizing young alumni who have shown outstanding leadership throughout their first 10 years of alumni status, has been awarded to Jacob Dockstator ’10 (Peter Gzowski College), who has boldly, creatively, and collaboratively promoted economic development for Indigenous communities across northern Ontario.
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Four Exemplary Student-Athletes Receive $2,000 Bursary From Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame
/Four student-athletes were recipients of the annual Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame Bursary Award at a presentation ceremony at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Wednesday night.
(Left to right) Pat Bronson, PDSHoF chair; Delaney Hancock, 18; Parker Miller, 18; Alexis Thompson Jenkins, 18; Erik Unger, 17 and Linda de Jeu, PDSHoF Second Vice Chair. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Delaney Hancock, Parker Miller, Alexis Thompson Jenkins and Erik Unger were all high-school student recipients that took home $2,000 apiece from the bursary.
It has been given annually to four recipients since 1996 (with 2020 having six). This year’s winners will have their headshots commemorated in the Hall of Fame and will have their names etched into the history of the awards’ beneficiaries.
Delaney Hancock, 18. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Hancock, 18, is an honours student and a graduate of St. Peter Secondary School. She is attending St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B. in the fall for their Bachelor of Arts Program.
She plays sports such as field hockey, soccer, badminton, ice hockey and track and field for the St. Peter’s Saints. Hancock was also a member of the varsity running club, winning several MVP awards.
Hancock is active in the sports world not just as an athlete. She is an official for minor soccer, a hockey timekeeper, a lacrosse timekeeper and a fitness leader for the Ice Kats training camp. In high school, she was a LINK leader and a peer tutor in a special needs physical-education class and a member of the Athletics council.
She has played hockey for the PGHA Ice Kats, coccer with the Oshawa Kicks, Ice Hockey for the Central York Panthers U18 AA team and has been a member of the Kawartha Lakes Lightning running Club.
Outside of sports, Hancock volunteered for Kawartha Food Share as a food sorter, was an instructor at Girls with Game Basketball camp, a Peterborough City soccer camp instructor, baked for Humane Society Fundraiser on National Cupcake Day and helped at the Saints Classic Tournament.
Parker Miller, 18. Photo by David Tuan bui.
Miller is an honours student and a graduate of Adam Scott Collegiate. In the fall, he plans to attend McMaster University in Hamilton to study business.
During high school, the 18-year-old played volleyball, basketball, soccer and ultimate frisbee. He served as captain of the soccer and basketball teams. In ultimate, he was awarded the gold medal game MVP honours during back-to-back OFSAA championships in the past two seasons. Miller also was the 2023 Nationals gold medal game MVP.
He captained his school basketball team to an OFSAA Bronze medal earlier this year. His team also was awarded the OFSAA Sportsmanship Award.
In the community, he has played basketball with the Time 2 Hoop program as captain. Miller also played rugby in the Pagans program and ultimate.
His leadership skills continued by coaching basketball and soccer at local summer camps, coaching and organizing a grade six youth basketball house-league team, officiating basketball, scoring and timing at basketball games, tournaments and camps. He helped with training sessions for Peterborough youth basketball and Time 2 Hoop program. Miller was a camp counsellor at the Raiders summer basketball camp and a Level 1 CISA ski instructor.
Alexis ‘Lexi’ Thompson Jenkins, 18. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Jenkins is an honours student and graduate of the Crestwood Edge program at Crestwood Secondary School. In the fall, she will be attending the University of Oregon on a lacrosse scholarship while studying human physiology.
At Crestwood, she participated on the basketball, volleyball, wrestling, lacrosse, Nordic Ski and rugby teams. Individually, she did track and field and cross country. She was a captain of her teams in lacrosse, basketball and rugby. She earned numerous Kawartha and COSSA individual championships as well as being named MVP in basketball and wrestling.
At the year-end athletic banquets, Jenkins was awarded the Larry Pearson Award, the Sportsmanship Award and the Dysart Award three years in a row. To cap off her Crestwood athletic tenure, she was named ‘Student of the Year’ which recognizes leadership, character and athletics.
The 18-year-old was a member of the Kawartha Lacrosse Club, was on Team Ontario’s box lacrosse team, Peterborough Power basketball player, a Kawartha Nordic Ski Club member and part of the Peterborough Legion Pacer track and field club.
A leader both on and off the field, Jenkins displayed leadership skills by coaching and officiating rugby for elementary school athletes, volunteering at the Pagans Minis program, coaching house league lacrosse and officiating youth soccer.
She volunteered at Kawartha Food Share program as a porch pirate, Champlain animal hospital and was an ‘amigos’ for Crestwood’s lunchtime support program for the LLS students.
Erik Unger, 17. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Unger also was an honours student and graduate of Adam Scott. He is headed south this fall to attend the University of Massachusetts – Amherst to study mechanical engineering and compete on the track and cross-country teams.
In addition to those sports, the 17-year-old also is into Nordic skiing. Known for his performance at high-level events, Unger has won almost every Kawartha, COSSA and OFSAA event he has competed in. He has 4 gold medals, 2 silver medals and a fourth-place finish in his OFSAA career.
He is a Paul Burke Honour Athlete, earned his senior and junior athletic letters and numerous MVP awards in all three sports.
Unger has four All Ontario Awards from Athletics Ontario and was named one of the top 10 athletes in the city by the Peterborough Examiner last year. He also was a 2022 Running Lane USA All-American Selection and he has received the Member of Parliament Award after his U18 National Cross Country Championship win in 2022.
Unger has raced and skied on every competitive level, including internationally with several championships.
He has volunteered with Skate Canada as a youth instructor, with Peterborough recreational power skating, cross country and a relay for life participant.
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Trent University Hires Inaugural Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
/Dr. Rona Jualla van Oudenhoven has been appointed Trent University’s inaugural equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) effective this September, announced on Thursday.
Photo courtesy of Trent University.
“Trent’s strength lies in our diversity, highlighting broad perspectives and diverse ways of learning, knowing, and discovery. Dr. Jualla van Oudenhoven’s appointment builds on our commitment to human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion and will amplify our ongoing initiatives in EDI,” said Stephanie Williams, Trent HR vice president. “The committee was impressed with Rona’s depth of knowledge and experience in implementing equity, diversity, and inclusion strategic plans across campuses. She demonstrated a compelling ability and commitment to creating and supporting an inclusive and safe campus.”
Dr. Jualla van Oudenhoven will play a central role in all areas of human rights, equity, and accessibility across Trent’s campuses in Peterborough and Durham according to a press release. She will provide strategic leadership in developing and implementing EDI policies, programs, practices and a university-wide EDI action plan.
She will also aid in the recommendations of the University’s Anti-Racism Task Force and the Joint Report with the Trent University Faculty Association on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity forward in collaboration with departments across campus.
“EDI can be very complex work, and at the same time, we can keep the underlying philosophy of equity for all quite simple, as a basic rights entitlement for everyone,” said Dr. Jualla van Oudenhoven. “In fact, the measure of any institution, person, or entity is visible in how we treat our most marginalized groups. This is EDI advocacy.”
Dr. Jualla van Oudenhoven is currently the chief diversity officer at Radboud Universiteit in Nijmegen, Netherlands. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of West Indies with undergraduate specializations in psychology, management, and higher education.
Her doctoral research focused on violence studies and rights-based approaches to addressing inequities, forming a natural backdrop for her EDI work. She continued her professional development achieving certifications in project management, coaching, human rights theory and practice and restorative justice and is a Canadian-certified inclusion practitioner.
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Trent University Receives $3.5 Million Gift to Double Number of Community-Based Research Projects
/Trent University received a $3.5-million gift from an anonymous donor that will double the number of community-based research projects, announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Photo courtesy of Trent University.
The research programs create a lasting impact that allows more students to gain valuable hands-on experience and create meaningful change in the Peterborough region according to a press release.
The anonymous donor gave $1.2 million earlier this year following the launch of the Campaign for Momentous Change but increased it $3.5 million after recognizing the needs and benefits of the Trent Community Research Centre (TCRC).
The money provides ongoing funding for training students and employers, enhancing hands-on learning opportunities, providing funds for primary research, and covering travel and other expenses for students to complete research projects in the Peterborough area as stated in the press release.
“Trent University is a catalyst for community well-being and success through its thought leadership, research, collaborative endeavours, and community-building initiatives including community-based research,” said Julie Davis, Trent vice-president of external relations and development. “We thank the supporter for this transformational gift that strengthens our ability for many years for academia and communities to come together to address complex and urgent societal challenges.”
“Whether it’s groundbreaking research with the Five Counties Children’s Centre or the Brain Injury Association of Peterborough Region, Trent students are using community-based research opportunities to gain valuable experiential learning in areas close to their hearts and creating momentous change in our communities,” said Kevin Whitmore, Trent director of Careerspace.
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PVNC Seeking Candidates for City of Peterborough Trustee Board Position
/The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board are seeking candidates for a Catholic Trustee position and fill a Board vacancy and represent separate school ratepayers for the City of Peterborough.
File Photo.
The appointed trustee will serve until the end of the current term of office in November 2026.
Applicants to fill the vacant seat must be:
A Canadian citizen, at least 18 years of age; and residing within the jurisdiction of the Board.
A baptized and practicing Roman Catholic, who is shown as an English-language Roman Catholic school supporter on the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) form.
Not an employee of the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, or any other district school board, or school authority in Ontario.
Candidates do not have to reside within the City of Peterborough to be considered.
Catholic Trustee applicants are invited to submit an application package including the following:
A cover letter
A curriculum vitae outlining personal and professional experience
Applications must be submitted to the Director’s Office via email to trusteeapplications@pvnccdsb.on.ca by 4 p.m. on Aug. 31.
Selected candidates will be contacted and asked to make a brief presentation to Trustees at a special in-camera Board meeting in September, indicating their interest in serving as a Trustee for our Board and their dedication to Catholic education according to the application.
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Hometown PTBO: SPSS Student-Athlete Valedictorian Grace Murphy About Her Sports Tenure with SPSS and Going to Queen's University
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This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with SPSS student Grace Murphy about her athletic tenure with the school, her affiliation with the Electric City Football Club and her goals as she sets off to Queen's University in Kingston.
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Trent University's 17th Annual President’s Excalibur Golf Tournament Fundraises For Student-Athlete Scholarship
/The 17th Trent University President’s Excalibur Golf Tournament saw 76 golfers hit the links at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club on Thursday.
Trent University kinesiology graduate Grace Sanderson making a putt with onlookers cheering her on to help kick off the 17th Annual President’s Excalibur Golf Tournament. Last year’s event took place at the Quarry Golf Club. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
