Highlights From New Community Assessment Report On Peterborough

The Peterborough Examiner ran a long article last week called "Who We Are" that summarized the key findings from the Peterborough County-City Health Unit's Community Assessment Report 2010. Some of the findings from the Examiner article include:

-Peterborough city's umployment rate is 8.1%, Ontario's is 6.4%.

-When it comes to money, private Peterborough households are bringing home a median of $51,660 per year, about $9,000 less than the rest of Ontario.

-Peterborough people are tops in Ontario for getting regular physical activity

-More Peterborough children live in families that worry about running out of food, or go without eating for an entire day, than the Ontario average.

-More and more Peterborough people are turning to food banks -- 54% more people have used food banks over the past seven years.

-Fewer than half of us (45.7%) are in the normal weight range while 17.2% are obese.

-About 22% of Peterborough residents smoke

-In 2005, 44 Peterborough people used methadone therapy; that number swelled to 920 people by 2009.

-Mental illness is affecting an estimated 26,616 Peterborough people while 10,646 of those people suffer from major depression.

[The Peterborough Examiner]

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PtboPics: Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School Anti-Bullying Event

Kim Driscoll (middle) pictured with students

The colour pink is prominent today at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School as they are holding an anti-bullying event spearheaded by teacher Kim Driscoll. The theme was to wear pink to send a message that students are taking a stand against any form of bullying.

Anti-bullying programs work, schools say, and more and more are focusing on stamping it out at their schools with such events. Kim Driscoll had T-shirts made for the event. Every one of them sold out.

Pink was chosen as the colour to be highly visible to help spread the message that the issue exists and for sympathy to those affected by it. Kim feels that it is a very real issue and is pleased by the involvement of the students and the teachers.

Even teachers participated in the event

[Words & pictures by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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PRHC Foundation Holding Info Session At Showplace This Thursday For "Closer to Care" Campaign

Recently, the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation announced a community fundraising campaign to expand cancer care services at our hospital, including the addition of a single radiation facility at PRHC so more local cancer patients can get life-saving cancer treatment here rather than having to travel to other cities to get treatment. The campaign is called Closer to Care, and PRHC Foundation President Julie Davis tells us "many people have expressed an interest in getting involved."

So they are having a volunteer information session this Thursday (November 18th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) in the downstairs lounge at Showplace on George Street, where they will share more details about the campaign and the different ways people can get involved.

Spread the word.

[Closer to Care: A Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Centre]

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Peterborough Green-Up Store Celebrating 1st Anniversary

The Peterborough Green-Up Store (378 Aylmer Street North) is celebrating its 1st anniversary on Saturday, November 27th.

Drop by between 11:00 and 12:00 to meet some of their local producers and take advantage of special promotional prices on some items. See more deets on the day's celebrations on poster at left.

[Peterborough Green-Up; Green-Up Store Blog]

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Adam Scott Marks Remembrance Day In Unique Way

[via TVCogecoOntario]

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Peterborough Residents Go Into The Dragons' Den

Last night on CBC's Dragons' Den, two local residents took on the dragons panel in hopes of a deal. Dr. Penny Forrester and Kerri Sedore (pictured above) of Professional Weight Loss Services were asking for $250,000 for 25% of their company, but unfortunately their business plan wasn't of interest to the dragons.

This is not the first time an entrepreneur from Peterborough has tried to strike a deal on the show. A couple of years ago, the owner of the Eco Laundry Room went on the show hoping the dragons would assist in helping with their plans of expansion. (Eco Laundry Room continues to have their location here on Bethune Street, as well as one in Toronto.) 

So who in the Patch has the million dollar idea that the dragons would bite on?

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris, @cupcakeJu]

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Update on 2010-11-04 15:51 by PTBOCANADA

Last night's show (Season 5, Episode 6) has now been posted and you can watch it in its entirety at CBC's Website. The local pitch starts at the 24:00 mark.

Flu Clinics In The Patch (Yes, They're Free)

View the full .PDF of clinics here.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris, @cupcakeJu]

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