Watch This Excellent Video From PCCHU On Community Health

[via @jefdeuck; PCCHU]

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Peterborough's Jane's Walk 2013 In Celebration Of Jane Jacobs

Jane's Walk is a yearly celebration in memory of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs, who promoted getting out and learning more about your community.

“No one can find what will work for our cities by looking at … suburban garden cities, manipulating scale models, or inventing dream cities. You’ve got to get out and walk.” 

—Jane Jacobs, Downtown is for People, 1957

Chris Gooderham is organizing the Peterborough walks, in conjunction with the Peterborough Field Naturalists.

May 4th

• 10 a.m. - A Tour of Transition
• 2 p.m. - Contentious Ribbon of Green: Exploring the Parkway Corridor 

May 5th

• 9 a.m. - Islands of Green
• 1 p.m. - Creek Mystique
• 3 p.m. - Mindfulness & the Art of Sensing

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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#HonourTravis By Donating Blood At Honourary Blood Clinic In Peterborough

Peterborough's Travis Reid, who proposed to his girlfriend on stage at Peterborough MusicFest in 2011, died recently at the age of 22 from injuries sustained in a car crash. The Crestwood grad's family is hosting a "In Honour of Travis Reid Blood Drive" at Canadian Blood Services in Peterborough on May 2nd from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 55 George St. N. Call and book your appointment at 1-888-236-6283 or register your donation to count towards Travis’s goal (INHN013793) at Blood.ca/partnersforlife.

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City Of Peterborough Release: Higher Water Levels Anticipated on Otonabee River

From a City of Peterborough emergency management release today...

A flood warning remains in effect for the City of Peterborough. The Otonabee Region Conservation Authority (ORCA) has advised that water levels will continue to rise along the Kawartha Lakes and Otonabee River over the next fews days.

City staff are closely monitoring the situation in consultation with ORCA, Trent Severn Waterway, Ontario Power Generation, as well as local dam operators, and are prepared to respond as required.

Residents in low lying areas along the Otonabee River are encouraged to monitor water level changes on their properties and take necessary precautions to protect life and property. Docks and structures close to the water should be secured or moved and other personal effects such as lawn furniture should be moved to higher ground.    

Residents are advised that they should have sufficient and appropriate emergency supplies on hand, and sump pumps and backflow preventers should be checked to ensure that they are functioning properly. Properties that are susceptible to flooding should consider acquiring supplies such as pumps, generators and sand bags from rental companies, hardware stores and landscape suppliers.

To report a flood in your area, call the Flood Watch Hotline at 705-745-5791, ext. 228 – available on a 24 hours a day.

If, at anytime, city residents feel that they are in immediate danger by rising water, they should call 9-1-1. Please refer to the City’s website www.peterborough.ca for additional information including what to do in the event of flooding and sandbagging techniques.

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Kids Help Phone Charity Event Takes Place At Nicholls Oval May 5th

Lindsay Barr will be performing

Come out to Nicholls Oval on Sunday, May 5, to Walk So Kids Can Talk presented by BMO. This is Canada’s largest walk to support child and youth mental health and well-being.

Every day, kids in our community are hurting. And every day, they take the courageous step to reach out for help. With Kids Help Phone, they can receive the caring and confidential support they deserve, online or by phone, 24/7.

The walk starts at 10 a.m. on May 5th and will take place rain or shine. It’s a fun, family friendly event where you can enjoy a great experience outdoors while supporting an important cause.

The event will be MC’d by Energy 99.7 Promotions Coordinator, Mel Hannah, and will also feature a performance from Lindsay Barr and a “Kids Zone” with several fun-filled activities for children at the walk.

As a charity, Kids Help Phone relies on your support. Visit Walksokidscantalk.ca to learn more and sign-up as a walker or volunteer.

—by PtboCanada contributor Beth McClelland

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Watch This Amazing Anti-Bullying Video Peterborough's Avery Cantello Did As Tribute To Amanda Todd

Peterborough's Avery Cantello was friends with Amanda Todd when she lived out in B.C., and has created this beautiful song—"Carnival Of Souls" (watch the video below)—as a tribute to Amanda and as a stand against bullying (Avery herself has been a victim of bullying). This Crestwood student's video is going viral and she has been profiled on CHEX Newswatch. You can buy the song on iTunes, and all proceeds go to Kids Help Phone. Also, check out the Facebook page Avery has started with others in honour of Amanda Todd called "Project Cinderella"—a page devoted to people standing up in solidarity against bullying. Watch (and share) this video of empowerment...

[YouTube via @P_M_Z]

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#RandomActsofGreen: CFGP's 7 Days Of Green (#7daysofGreen) Creates Exciting Social Media Initiative

Roll up your sleeves, Peterborough! The community is about to get its green on. The Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough have announced an exciting new community initiative,  7 Days of Green (hashtag #7daysofgreen on Twitter). Why? To increase Peterborough’s creative dialogue about local green activities while building awareness around green living and giving. 

7 Days of Green kicks off April 16^th with Random Acts of Green, a day when community members throughout the City and County are challenged to incorporate green activities into their lives—and each day forward—and share them on social media. Wondering what you could do? A few simple ideas to greenify your life a little more include:

• Think before you buy: Purchase environmentally sustainable cleaning products and help keep our waterways toxin-free by using eco-friendly products (handy tip: you can get these products at the GreenUP Store!)
• Compost your food waste: One-third of what we throw away at home could be easily diverted from landfills. The bonus is you get nutrient-rich compost for your garden.
• Be water smart: Install aerators in your sink faucet and showerheads and reduce your water consumption by 30%—all without affecting the performance of your water system!

Starting April 16th, spread the word about Random Acts of Green. Why? Because every green act matters. Tweet your Random Acts of Green and pictures to @cfgp_ and use the hashtag #randomactsofgreen, or email your info and pictures to info@cfgp.ca and you’ll become a part of history.

Yep, history.

The Community Foundation is creating a community art installation from the images that you tweet and email that will be displayed over the next year throughout the community—starting at Lansdowne Place! 

For more information and a full schedule of 7 Days of Green activities, visit www.cfgp.ca/green (we're a proud sponsor of this). All events are open to the public.

To learn more about the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, go to their Facebook page or website. And if you're on Twitter, use the #7daysofgreen and #randomactsofgreen hashtags.

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Read The Notice Sent By TASSS Principal After Another Fire Was Started At The School

[UPDATE: A teen has been arrested and charged with arson in the first fire on Monday.]

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There was another fire at TASSS today (March 28th), the second fire this week at the high school—the first occurred on Monday. And while the fire was contained quickly—it started in a bathroom again—there is obviously growing concern about who is starting them. This email below went out from TAS principal Annie Johnston this morning. 

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From: Annie Johnston 

Sadly,the TAS community was again a victim of someone who has deliberately

set fire to a toilet roll in a washroom.  In this case the fire was found

and put out very quickly and the smoke and damage much less.

Students and staff followed the fire drill procedure quickly and co

operatively.  The washroom where the fire occurred was in a hallway that

could easily be closed off so the rest of the school could return to their

classes without further interuption.  They were outside approx. 15 min.

Members of the Board Joint health and Saftey team were notified of the

fire and the process to get students back to class safely.

 The 3 classes that were in that hall were moved to other rooms in the

school.   The Firefighters have cleared the area of smoke and have done

the needed air tests to ensure that it is safe.  There are no classes

taking place in that hall for the afternoon.  A small odour remains which

will discipate soom.

We will be having a whole school assembly this afternoon to discuss the

fires which happened  this week, how they have affected students, staff,

firefighters, police etc... and what we as a community can do to take

charge of our schoo so this does not happen again.   A fire fighter and a

policeman will  also be at the assembly with us.

Sincerely,

Annie Johnston

Annie Johnston

Principal

Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School

1009 Armour Road North

Peterborough, Ontario

K9H 7H2

[via]

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Watch Courageous 14-Year-Old Tessa Smith Kick Cancer's Butt

Fourteen-year-old Emily Township teenager Tessa Smith, who lives near Omemee, has had battles with cancer since she was a baby. MyKawartha did a great story on her last fall and the fight she's putting up with the help of family, friends, doctors and nurses at The Hospital for Sick Children. Tessa made this video below she just posted to YouTube documenting her amazing spirit and fight...

[YouTube via @reynolds_mary; MyKawartha]

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