Family Rallies Around Local Senior Who Fell Victim To $10,000 Scam
/After a local senior fell victim to a scam that took $10,000 from him, his family is hoping to fundraise enough to restore his finances.
Photo courtesy of Tania Lamond.
Peterborough Blogs
Non-Profit Organization Holding Online Auction For Community Space Sound Barriers
/Non-profit agency Alternatives Community Program Services (ACPS) is hosting a charity auction to raise $10,000 to install sound barriers towards their new community space this Thursday.
Ken John Jones, ACPS volunteer (pictured) with a charcuterie board and winter ornaments as autioned items for the event. Jones has been a client of ACPS for 14 years and has volunteered since 2019. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
“At times it is very difficult if not impossible to understand what people are saying when the space is being used by more than a few people, “said Jackie Carson, ACPS director. “Right now, we are currently offering activities for approximately 25 people and it's a very big challenge especially for people who already have sensory issues.”
The community space is has completed their general renovations and located is at the former St. George's Anglican Church at 270 Braidwood Ave. It is 2500 square feet in diameter and 38 feet at its highest peak.
Programs and events offered at the space include staff training, meetings, cooking classes, art nights, movie nights and more.
The auction runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is held online. Examples of bidding items are paintings, handmade crafts, charcuterie boards, gift cards and gift baskets. The list of items are regularly updated daily.
“We will be able to accomplish our goal of building a community hub for the south end of Peterborough as well the surrounding community,” said Carson.
Alternatives is a non-profit agency that provides opportunities and outcomes for learning and skill development in the areas of employment, volunteerism, recreation and community connections for people with developmental disabilities and other exceptionalities in Peterborough City and County.
Local Doctor Grateful For Communities Support In Bringing His Daughter's Family Home Safe From Ukraine
/Oleg Veselskiy, a doctor at Kawartha Centre and Peterborough Regional Health Centre, is currently in Poland with his daughter and her family who fled from Ukraine after Russian invasion.
Oleg Veselskiy, his daughter and her family. Photo courtesy of Veselskiy.
Dr. Veselskiy came to Canada in 2002 after he met his wife, a Canadian nurse, in United Kingdom.
His daughter Jenya now lives in Kharkiv, Ukraine with her husband and three children.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, Jenya and her family spent five days in a make shift bomb shelter in the basement of an apartment building with close to 50 people in it.
“As soon as I heard war started we started thinking about escape routes,” said Veselskiy.
Veselskiy says through the Peterborough medical community he has a lot of connections to doctors from and in Poland. A Polish doctor offered Veselskiy and his family an apartment in Krakow to stay in temporarily.
Because Jenya and her husband have three children considered minors, aged 13, 9 and two-months old, Jenya’s husband was able to leave the country unlike many other men his age. They also brought along with them their dog Edwin.
“I am grateful her husband was able to come because I don’t know that my daughter would have left without him,” said Veselskiy.
He says they joined a convoy of families making their way to Poland, and though the journey was long they made it safely.
“As soon as I knew they were safe I booked a flight to Poland and met them at the train station,” he said. “I brought them to this apartment and this is where we are staying now.”
Now that Jenya and her family are safe, Veselskiy’s main concern is getting them back to Peterborough, he says.
“We’re safe, we’re just waiting,” he said.
Jenya and her husband have the proper documentation to travel to Canada, but their children do not.
“They weren’t planning on doing any travelling any time soon,” he said. “The kids passports have expired, and the two-month old, well she doesn’t even have one yet.”
Veselskiy’s wife, who is still in Peterborough, started the application process as soon as they knew Jenya and her family were coming to Peterborough. He notes it has been challenging and wonders how those without family or friends elsewhere are managing to apply while actively escaping a warzone.
Now, after his home city has been ravaged by war and his daughter and grandchildren escaped, he says life seems different.
“It’s a different world, you start thinking differently about your life,” he said. “It’s not ‘how are you doing’ anymore, its ‘are you alive?’. My daughter worries for her friends that didn’t leave.”
Still, after everything they have been through, Veselkiy says he is grateful.
“It’s incredible, it’s tragic, it’s emotional, but its also unbelievable seeing all the people willing to help,” he said. “People in Peterborough have been unbelievably supportive, we don’t know what to do with all of this support.”
Veselskiy’s coworker started a GoFundMe that will help Jenya and her family restart their lives in Peterborough. He says coworkers have been bringing clothes for the baby and his wife is updating him daily with baby items that are being delivered.
“It has been a difficult but also a grateful time. We could complain about things going bad, but other people have it worse.”
4th Line Theatre Fundraising To Repair Performer Saskia Tompkins Damaged Violin
/4th Line Theatre has started a GoFundMe page in hopes to raise fund to repair performer and longtime collaborator Saskia Tomkins’ violin after a fall damaged her instrument.
Photo courtesy of 4th Line Theatre.
Tomkins was taking her final bow at 4th Line Theatre in our Christmas show Christmas Comes to Mind, when she missed the last step, off the stage, and she fell.
She was not injured, but unfortunately she fell onto her violin.
The violin sustained three severe breaks. Unfortunately, Saskia did not have insurance at the time and the total amount to cover the repairs is financially prohibitive for 4th Line to cover completely. 4th Line’s insurance is not set-up to cover this kind of accident.
4th Line Theatre is asking the public to help in any way they can with funding the pricey repairs, they will cover any difference between what is fundraised and the total amount needed for the repairs and the devaluation.
The goal of the fundraiser is set at $9,500. To date $7,722 has been raised.
Tomkins is a long time supporter of 4th Line Theatre, and has performed in many shows on their stage.
To donate to the GoFundMe click here.
Peterborough Petes Reveal Pink In the Rink Jerseys For Cancer Fundraising Campaign
/The Peterborough Petes are adding some rosy colour to their maroon and white, unveiling their Pink in the Rink jersey ahead of their fundraising game announced Tuesday.
Meghan Roy (left) and Doug Gibson (right) are the first to wear the 2022 Pink in the Rink jerseys. Roy became the first female sports anchor at CHEX in 2014. Gibson played three seasons with the Petes from 1971-73. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The 13th edition of Pink in the Rink hockey game on April 9 raises money for the Canadian Cancer Society with a focus on cancer commonly found primarily in women.
The goal is to raise $50,000.
The Pets have raised a total of $812,099 for the Canadian Cancer Society through the Pink in the Rink campaign. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The new jersey is pink and maroon and has the breast cancer ribbon across both sides of the jersey. The Canadian Cancer Society patch is on the left shoulder and a patch honouring Petes Alumnus and Peterborough media figure Gary “Diller” Dalliday on the right shoulder.
Family and friends’ names who battled cancer are throughout the jersey. The names were purchased by Peterborough community members and all proceeds are donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.
“The Pink in the Rink is so much more than a fundraiser,” said Alison Payne, Canadian Cancer Society special events manager. “It celebrates the people in our community that we have lost, who are in the midst of their cancer journey and who have survived.”
Several Pink in the Rink jerseys in the past going as far back as 2012. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
A live auction is run after the game where fans can bid on game-worn jerseys but tickets must be purchased in order to participate.
A t-shirt and ticket Pink in the Rink bundle is available at the Petes store. Fans can purchase t-shirts at a fraction of the bundle price if they already bought a ticket.
The arena will use a bucket pass to accept cash donations throughout the game from fans to aid in the fundraising process.
The Petes host their Pink in the Rink night on April 9 against the Niagara IceDogs with no capacity restrictions. The game was postponed from Feb. 5 which would have had the game with a half-capacity crowd due to government restrictions.
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Carl Oake Rotary Swimathon Raises Over $50,000 For Easter Seals And Rotary Projects
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough and Century 21 United have announced that the 36th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim has surpassed their $45,000 goal and raised more than $50,000 with this year’s swim, to date, on Monday.
Carl Oake and his daughter Rene. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Donated will be collected until March 18 and benefit Easter Seals and Rotary programs in our community.
On Feb. 25 more than 50 swimmers and volunteers gathered at the YMCA of Central East Ontario to participate in the swim. This was the first in person event since COVID restrictions forced the annual swim to go virtual.
“This is our largest fundraiser of the year,” said Wayne Harding, president of the Rotary Club, at the event.
Harding notes that in the past funds raised from the Carl Oake Rotary Swimathon have been used for projects like Camp Kawartha and a shade shelter in Rotary Park.
Over the years the Carl Oake Swimathon has raised over $1.3 million for Easter Seals and Rotary projects.
While the Feb. 25 event went swimmingly, Carl Oake noted that it was not as big as past years, though he did say it was refreshing to be back in person.
To donate to the Carl Oake Rotary Swimathon click here.
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East City Flower Shop Sunflowers For Ukraine Fundraiser Is Blooming
/Since East City Flower Shop began their sunflower fundraiser for Ukraine on Thursday, owner Janet McLeod says she has sold close to 500 flowers.
The sunflower is Ukraine's national flower and has been grown on its central and eastern steppes since the middle of the 18th century. Photo by Angela O’Grady.
When news broke about Russia invading Ukraine on Feb. 24, McLeod knew she wanted to do something to help, she just wasn’t sure what.
As a member of the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha and an avid fundraiser for multiple charities, when one of her flower suppliers, Bell Floral in Bowmanville, sent an email saying all proceeds from sunflower orders would be donated to the Red Cross McLeod knew what to do.
“I thought ‘this is perfect’ I purchased sunflowers from that supplier and put it out there that we were donating all the proceeds from our sales to Ukrainian Relief,” said McLeod. “It’s taken off from there. I am really humbled by the response of people who have also been looking for a way to help.”
McLeod notes that some people buying sunflowers are of Ukrainian descent and are heartbroken for their country, some are watching the news and don’t know how to help and some just know it’s the right thing to do.
“I had one gentleman come in, give me money and say ‘just pay it foreword, give the flowers to someone who might want them’. It’s so Peterborough.”
Sunflowers at East City Flower Shop are $5 per stem, with all proceeds going to Ukrainian Relief Efforts.
McLeod notes to ensure she has enough flowers, customers should pre-order by calling the shop at (705) 742-1617.
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March Declared "Easter Seals Month" In Celebration Of Peterborough Telethon's 50th Anniversary
/Ahead of the 50th Peterborough Easter Seals Telethon, March has been declared “Easter Seals Month” in a virtual media conference held on Thursday morning.
Kevin Collins, Easter Seals president and CEO on the virtual meeting telling his experiences of having cerebral palsy and using a walker to navigate. Screenshot.
The declaration was made by Coun. and deputy mayor Kemi Akapo shortly after the meeting had opened.
The Telethon will be broadcasted on April 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. on YourTV and Global News but the campaign is currently seeking donations with a goal of $80,000.
They can be made online, phoning in on the Telethon or by emailing Coralie Jacobs, Easter Seals manager of development at cjacobs@easterseals.org.
The raised funds from the telethon provide financial assistance for communication devices, mobility equipment and summer camp opportunities for youth with physical disabilities.
Easter Seals will virtually announce their goal on Thursday and check in with past ambassadors and local notables.
Guests include Akapo; Kevin Collins, Easter Seals president and CEO; Stu Harrison; Graham Hart; Mike Melnik; Teresa Kazsuba; Catherine Hanrahan and Caley Bedore.
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Local Country Star's Sixth Annual Charity Golf Tournament For Youth Mental Health a Go
/Country star Tebey is back with his sixth annual Tebey Golf Classic in support of youth mental health announced on Tuesday.
Last year’s event was on June 24 at the Black Diamond Golf Club. Photo courtesy of Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation.
Over $125,000 has been raised over the past five years towards youth mental health that includes:
Covid-19 Response Drop In Centre - YES Youth Emergency Shelter for Youth and Families
YES Homelessness Prevention Program partnership with Peterborough Youth *Services and YES Year one and Year two Funding
211 Awareness Campaign – Peterborough Youth Services and YES Shelter
Ongoing education for Mental Health Clinicians of the Peterborough Family Health Team to support free patient mindfulness programming
Funds raised through the event will go towards Youth Mental Health programming through Peterborough Youth Services and YES Shelter For Youth and Families.
“It’s going to be great to be back this year raising money for Peterborough Youth Services and the YES Shelter,” said Tebey. “They have provided so much support to those struggling and have had a huge impact on the lives of youth and families in the Peterborough area.”
The tournament is scheduled for June 2 at Wildfire Golf & Country Club with a shotgun tee-off at 1 p.m. An outdoor acoustic performance will happen at 7 p.m.
Foursome tickets are available on Eventbrite for $1,000 where a $200 tax receipt will be provided to each group. The tournament includes a meet-and-greet with Tebey, acoustic performance from him and special guests (to be announced), activities, contests, meals, prizes and professional photos of your group.
“All of us at PYS (Peterborough Youth Services) are so grateful to the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation and Tebey for their joint fundraising efforts to improve youth mental health, said Heather Holland, PYS executive director. “Community donations are integral to expanding our reach and impact as an agency and every dollar will be directed to reducing wait times and providing more timely access to service.”
“What we are seeing at the tail end of the pandemic is young people and families left with fewer community supports and available housing options more than ever,” Aimeé Le Lagadec, YES Shelter executive director. “Participating in the Tebey Golf Classic is an incredible and fun way to help YES continue helping young people and families in Peterborough out of homelessness."
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Easter Seals Hits Two Milestones For Upcoming Telethon
/On their 100th anniversary, the 50th Easter Seals Telethon kicks off its fundraising campaign to provide support for children and youth with physical disabilities beginning Thursday.
Easter Seals Telethon hosts from 2019. Photo courtesy of Easter Seals Peterborough.
