Smile Cookie Campaign Supports Peterborough Regional Health Centre For Mental Health

The Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign will support mental health care that will leave no frowns for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) announced on Thursday.

Staff and Tim Hortons owners lined up outside the main entrance at PHRC with Smile cookies and signs. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Staff and Tim Hortons owners gathered outside the PHRC main entrance to make the announcement during Tim Hortons’ 25th anniversary of the Smile Cookie Campaign.

The annual fundraiser will run from Sept. 13-19 where the "Smile” cookies can be bought for one dollar apiece where all proceeds will go to the PHRC Foundation and mental health care.

You can purchase them in-store or by online pre-order by visiting PRHC’s website, printing the form and dropping it off at a participating Tim Hortons location.

Ryan Graham, Tim Hortons owner says the Smile Cookie campaign is a great way for their stores and customers to give back to their communities.

“Over the past 25 years, the Smile Cookie campaign has raised more than $60 million for charities, hospitals and community programs across the country - with a record-breaking $110 million in 2020, he said. “We believe it’s never been more important to make sure that people in our communities have access to these services close to home.

Melinda Wall (left) has been the director of mental health services since Jan. 2019. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Melinda Wall, PHRC director of mental health services expressed her happiness that mental health is being taken more seriously than it was in years past.

"Ten to 20 years ago, you wouldn't have seen a large campaign of this scale for mental health and addictions,” she said. “I think we have come leaps and bounds and are continuing to progress and just making it more something people can talk about and feel like we can rally behind and support our community."

The money will go towards several projects to help expand mental health services since there has been a spike in mental health patient admissions during the last decade according to Wall.

“One of the projects being key is our Crisis Unit,” she explained. “We are doubled in volume in the last 10 years and the space needs to be expanded. That's our number one campaign and additional outdoor space through our courtyard for our patient unit."

Leslie Heighway has been president and CEO for the PRHC Foundation for almost a decade. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation President and CEO said she was honoured to be this year’s recipient of the Tim Hortons fundraiser.

"We're just so thrilled. You can see the amount of engagement there is today with all of our team members with mental health services and all of the Tim Hortons owners,” she explained. “We couldn't be happier that we're going to invest these funds in PRHC and mental health in particular."

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Dr. Rosana Salvaterra Becomes New Alberta Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health

Retirement did not last long for Dr. Rosana Salvaterra as she was hired by Alberta Health as the new Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health announced Wednesday.

Dr. Rosana Salvaterra during the announcement of $3 million from the Ontario Government going towards COVID-19 relief efforts. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Salvaterra will begin her new role on Oct. 4 as she retires from her position of Medical Officer of Health for Peterborough Public Health (PPH) on Sept. 19. She has maintained that role since 2008 from Dr. Garry Humphreys who had retired.

“I am looking forward to providing Dr. Hinshaw with the additional support and assistance she needs to ensure the office of the CMOH (Chief medical officer of Health) fulfills its role and mandate,” said Salvaterra. “I recognize I have a great deal to learn about my new home and new public health system, and I hope I will be able to make a meaningful contribution as a member of the team.”

Dr. Salvaterra holds a Master’s degree in Health Research Methodology, a specialty in Public Health and Preventive Medicine and is an adjunct professor at Queens University. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Salvaterra, 65, revealed that she wanted to move to Edmonton after retirement to be closer to her family last month.

Larry Stinson, PPH director of operations will become the interim CEO after Dr. Salvaterra’s retirement until Dr. Thomas Piggott assumes the role starting on Dec. 1.

“I am so pleased that Dr. Salvaterra has agreed to join our team in the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health.

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Alyssa Gaudaur is Recognized as the Petes Frontline Worker of the Week

Alyssa Gaudaur is announced as this week’s Peterborough Petes Frontline Worker of the Week as part of their “Drop the Puck” program announced on Tuesday.

Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Gaudeur is a nurse at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. She remained brave during the pandemic and kept going to work because she is passionate about helping her patients and her colleagues according to the Petes press release. 

“Alyssa has been working extra hard over the past 18 months to help patients at the hospital,” said Clarissa Sidaway, who nominated Gaudaur. “She loves her work and truly enjoys helping people. She’s a huge Petes fan and deserves a little recognition for her hard work.”

The Petes are celebrating frontline workers who have gone above and beyond for their community during these unprecedented times.

To nominate a frontline worker, click here.

Each week, the Petes will recognize and celebrate one local frontline worker for the additional time and effort they have put in during the pandemic to ensure the health, safety and happiness of those in their community.

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Peterborough Public Health Announces Next Board of Health Meeting

Peterborough Public Health has announced that the next Board of Health meeting will take place in person on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m.

PHOTO BY EVAN HOLT, PTBOCANADA

The meeting will take place in the Hiawatha LIFE and Cultural Centre at 431 Hiawatha Line, Hiawatha First Nation.

This meeting is open to the public. All participants are required to wear a face covering or mask.

Those interested in attending must RSVP to ensure adequate room for physical distancing. RSVP’s can be sent to bcadence@peterboroughpublichealth.ca

To view the meeting agenda click here.

The next Board of Health meeting will take place on October 13, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. at the Peterborough Public Health building.

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Canadian Mental Health Association Hosts Vigil and Resource Sessions to Honour World Suicide Prevention Day

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) is hosting a candle light vigil and community resource sessions to mark World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. Events will be hosted in both Peterborough and Lindsay.

Photo courtesy of CMHA HKPR.

Approximately 4,000 Canadians die by suicide each year and it is the second-most common cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24.

The vigil is a memorial to those who have lost their lives to suicide and offers support to the loved ones of those who have died by suicide. World Suicide Prevention Day raises awareness about suicide, mental health concerns and suicide prevention.

“We want people who have been impacted by suicide or are struggling with thoughts of suicide to know that there is help available, all you need to do is to ask. Everyone is invited to turn out on September 9 and 10,” said Jack Veitch, Manager of Community Engagement and Education with CMHA HKPR.

The event on September 9 will be held at the Silver Bean Café in Peterborough. Community resources will be available from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

On September 10 the event will be held at Labrynth Garden in Lindsay. Community resources are available from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m, the vigil will begin at 7:30 p.m.

For more information on the Peterborough event contact Kelley Curtis at 705-748- 6687 extension 1016 or email kcurtis@cmhahkpr.ca.

For more information on the Lindsay event contact Jack Veitch at 705-748-6687 extension 1015 or email jveitch@cmhahkpr.ca.

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Peterborough Public Health Uses City Buses For Mobile Vaccination Clinics To Local Workers

With an assist from the City of Peterborough and their city busses, more than 150 local workers were issued COVID-19 vaccines by Peterborough Public Health over the past few weeks.

Peterborough Public Health serves the residents of Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations and the County and City of Peterborough. Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Public Health.

“We greatly appreciate the City’s speedy response to our request to access a city bus and drivers for use as a mobile vaccination clinic,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, medical officer of health. “Together we were able to bring vaccine to several local workplaces to make it easy for employees to get vaccinated as we continue to do all we can to protect our community against the coming fourth wave.”

The mobile vaccination clinic travelled to five area workplaces, including Safran Electronics & Defense Canada, Nefab Inc., Disaster Mitigation Services, Dynacast Peterborough and two stops at the Kingdon Timber Mart in Lakefield.

Mayor Diane Therrien was happy to see local workers respond so positively and encourage all residents to get vaccinated.

“The City of Peterborough and Peterborough Transit are proud to support the work being done by Peterborough Public Health to make it convenient for people to get the COVID-19 vaccine,” she said. “By getting the COVID-19 vaccine, we’re helping to protect ourselves, our families and our community.”

Dr. Salvaterra noted the demand for first doses has increased since the province’s recent announcement that vaccine certificates will be required as of Sept. 22 in high-risk settings such as restaurants, gyms and long-term care homes.

COVID-19 vaccines remain widely available by appointment at more than 28 pharmacies throughout the City and County. Local walk-in vaccination clinics have taken place in area schools, the Healthy Planet Arena (formerly Evinrude Centre) and other locations. Both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are offered at walk-in clinics. For the latest schedule, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/walkin.

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Hometown PTBO: Four-Year-Old Jaxon Croft's Journey From Beating Cancer And Supporting Sick Kids

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday speaks with Jesse Croft and his four-year-old son Jaxon about being in remission from Ewing Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, that inspired the “Cancer is Poopy” campaign to benefit Sick Kids.

Support the cause by visiting their website where 20 per cent of the proceeds go towards Sick Kids Foundation.

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Ontario Government Announces Vaccine Passport System For Non-Essential Business Access

Full COVID-19 vaccinations will be required to access non-essential businesses in Ontario starting on Sept. 22 announced by the provincial government in a live stream press conference at Queen’s Park on Wednesday.

Screenshot.

The announcement was made by Ontario Premier Doug Ford along with Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Kaleed Rasheed, Associate Minister of Digital Government and Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health.

The announcement was made to help non-essential businesses open amid a fourth wave from the Delta variant.

"After in-depth discussions with our medical experts, we've landed on a vaccine certificate policy that is based on evidence and the best advice," said Ford.

The focus is on indoor settings with restrictions especially in places where masks cannot always be worn. Gyms, indoor restaurants, movie theatres and public settings will be under the new vaccine passport system.

The passports are not necessary for retail, banks, places of worship, essential services, salons/barbershops, workplaces or patios and other outdoor spaces.

“At no time will people be denied medical care, food from grocery stores or basic medical supplies based on their vaccination status,“ said Elliott. “We will also maintain access to these settings to those who have a medical exception or children who are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine.

Photo identification must be provided with vaccine receipts. The latter is currently available online to be printed or can be downloaded onto your mobile device, computer or tablet.

On Oct. 22, an enhanced vaccine certification will be available with a unique QR code to provide proof of vaccination conveniently and quickly. Ontario will launch a new app for convenient vaccine verification.

These rules will not apply to children under 12 and anyone with medical exceptions.

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Local Soap Company Keeps Firefighters Clean and Places First at Clean Beauty Awards

SootSoap Supply Co., a company out of Port Hope, has won first place at the 2021 Clean Beauty Awards.

K.Dee Howards poses with SootSoap products. In the wake of COVID-19 SootSoap released a line of hand sanitizer to combat germs while keeping skin healthy. Photo courtesy of SootSoap Supply Co.

SootSoap Supply Co. was started by K.Dee Howard. It is a line of personal care products like body wash and shampoo designed for firefighters.

“I developed SootSoap for my husband initially, who is a firefighter in Brampton,” said Howard. “I discovered after he came home smelling like fire even after showering numerous times that it was contaminates and toxins causing the smell,” she said.

Howard did some research and found there was no products to help combat this. She also found that cancer is the number one cause of death in firefighters, and these toxins are the cause of it.

Her products are designed to absorb and discard of both the smell and the toxins that firefighters often come into contact while on duty.

SootSoap launched their first product line in 2019 and is now Howards full time job.

Since launching Howard has found that it’s not only firefighters that come into contact with toxins and hard-to-get-rid-of odors at work.

“Lot’s of people can benefit. People that experience environmental toxins, every day things like fuel and grease, kitchen smells, we even have customers that are pig farmers,” she said. “We’re finding more and more uses for our products.”

This year SootSoaps shampoo was the first place winner in the hair wash category of the Clean Beauty Awards.

The Clean beauty Awards recognize the best performing beauty and personal care products, manufactured without the use of known harmful chemicals, from across the globe.

“In a year and a half to go from a firefighter, industrial shampoo to a shampoo recognized by clean beauty influencers, it’s pretty amazing,” Howard said. “Being clean, all natural, and biodegradable is very important to me. Our core challenge is to get rid of toxins so the last thing I want to do is add in more chemicals.”

Photo courtesy of SootSoap Supply Co.

Howard says her aim with SootSoap is to create products that will solve a problem.

“Innovation comes from our customers saying ‘I don’t have a solutions to this particular challenge’,” said Howard. “My challenge is to find solutions that don’t exist currently.”

To view SootSoap’s full line of products click here.

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International Overdose Awareness Day Memorial Event Held At The Silver Bean

A memorial service to honour those lost to drug overdose was held at the Silver Bean Cafe on Tuesday.

White crosses set up at the event to honour those lost to overdose.

The event was hosted by Gail Perry, a member of Moms Stop The Harm, an organization of people impacted by substance use related harm or death.

Perry lost her daughter Jody Smith to complications related to opioid use three years ago.

“I’m not ashamed of how my daughter lost her life,” Parry said. “I’m ashamed of how people pick and choose which life has value.”

Parry says her daughter was mistreated during hospital visits because of her opioid use, which ultimately lead to her death.

“Stigma is deadly,” she said. “It is a killer. It creates dangerous and narrow minded attitudes towards those who need help and understanding. It shames and keeps people silent, alone and in hiding. Stigma interferes with getting the right kind of support and medical attention.”

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A post shared by Peterborough Police Service (@peterboroughpolice)

Tuesdays event hosted members from local harm reduction offices like PARN, The Elizabeth Fry Society and Fourcast.

The Elizabeth Fry Society provided on-site Narcan kits and training.

“Narcan is a way to help preventable deaths,” said Abby from The Elizabeth Fry Society. “It’s a way to practice empathy, it’s a way to help support people that are struggling in our community that are being stigmatized and demonized by societal expectations that we’ve been fed our entire lives.”

A Narcan kit includes two doses of Naloxone, a nasal spray that is used to reverse overdoses in an emergency situation.

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