PtboPics & Video: Women's Business Network Of Peterborough Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Congrats to the Women's Business Network of Peterborough, which celebrated its 50th Anniversary last night at The Venue.

Hosts for the evening were WBN's Co-chairs Amy Simpson & Jocasta Boone

Jocasta gives us a walk through the decades and the rise of women's rights and influences 

A look back at the beginning of the WBN

 Jocasta Boone wins the Member of the Year awardKeynote speaker and fiddler Natalie MacMaster

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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What It Was Like To Take Part In Kirk Wipper Memorial Portage

Alana and Kyla, pictured at far left

It started out as a quick message asking about a Kirk Wipper Memorial Portage and would I be interested in participating. We were a group of Ontario Educators (aka "edutweeps") along with our families, who were immediately enchanted with being a part of this memorable portage that would end up at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough in time to mark the beginning of the Kirk Wipper public memorial.

Andy, Ross, Ryan, Jeff, Nick, Colin, Lynn, Anna, Kyla (my daughter) and I were a small but mighty team who were responsible for the first leg of the Peterborough leg of the portage. We all walked the portage and while the boys carried the canoe, Kyla and I had the chance to walk and talk with one of the organizers, Tim
McDonagh, and heard about his connection to Kirk, what the canoe meant to him, and how much he enjoyed walking with the canoe and meeting the people who had come out to participate in the portage.

Our leg of the portage was about 6 km (Hwy 28 starting at Springville United Church, up to Sir Sandford Fleming Drive, across and right onto Dobbin Road finishing at Lansdowne). After the canoe left us, I’m not
sure who carried the canoe or what their adventure entailed but I can tell you it was fun to participate in the memorial portage and be with friends who love to paddle, love to get involved, and are fun to be with. I'd like to think Kirk Wipper would have totally approved of our crew!

On a personal note, my daughter Kyla was the youngest person to carry the canoe and she was very proud to add her signature to the paddle that was given to his wife Ann Wipper after the memorial service. Although Kyla took some convincing to actually help carry the canoe, she was mighty proud to share her story with her dad at the end of the day.

For more pics from the day, click here and here.

[KirkWipper.ca; Canadian Canoe Museum]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Alana Callan; photo via Flickr]

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Singer Sarah Loucks Newest Music Video "Be As It Should" Shot Locally

Check out Peterborough native Sarah Loucks' most recent music video, "Be As It Should", which was filmed in nearby Cavan. You can follow her on Twitter for news and upcoming tour dates.

["Be As It Should" video]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Peterborough Speakers Series "Visionaries of Change" A True Inspiration

Honourable Peter Adams

Recently, the Peterborough Speakers Series "Visionaries of Change" presented by the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation took place at The Venue. Seven speakers from the local area brought their personal stories of belief, courage, and inspiration to the stage to share with an audience of about 150 people. This event, which will now become an annual thing, raises funds for the five local Peterborough Networked Family Health Teams.

Tracey Groombridge with Laura Kennedy & Julie Brown

Katherine sharing her stories about her trek to Mt. EverestI had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Katherine Barron, who at 16 years old completed the Everest Base Camp Trek in October 2010. Katherine joined the Royal Canadian Army Cadets at age 12 after hearing a presentation and immediately knew it was the right fit for her.  She discussed her challenges and triumphs that she faced as she prepared for such an experience not even knowing yet whether she'd be one of the 16 people chosen. Once chosen, anticipation and nervousness grew and even the day of departure they all had to pass one last fitness test before boarding the airplane—which unfortunately sent two people returning home. Katherine set off on this once-in-a-lifetime journey for 17 days. Throughout the trek, there was a constant rollercoaster of emotions and physical exhaustion with the long days, illness and lower oxygen levels with being at such a high altitude. Katherine hopes by sharing her story of the difference cadets has made in her life and the opportunities she has had will encourage other youth to join and discover the discipline and dedication she has experienced.

John Hastings chatting with guests from the evening.Canadian Kayak National Team member John Hastings captivated the audience with footage of his kayak journeys over the years and how driven he's been to pursue his dreams, despite the challenges that he has faced. Yet he continues to strive harder to accomplish all the goals he has set for himself.  

I was so honoured to be in the company of such wonderful people for the evening. It was definitely a reminder that we are capable of being resilient and to not let obstacles we are faced with force us to give up. Rather, those obstacles should only be a motivator to get the best out of what life has to offer us.  

Thank you to all who made this event happen and I already look forward to next year's event and the stories that will be shared to inspire us all.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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PtboPics: Jonathan Bennett And Natalee Caple Read From New Poetry Books

Last night at Titles Bookstore, two authors—Natalee Caple and Jonathan Bennett—read from their recently released books. The excerpts of poetry that were read from Natalee's The Semiconducting Dictionary (Our Strindberg) and Jonathan's Civil and Civic were both enlightening and humorous. 

Natalee CapleJonathan Bennett

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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"Ted On The Roof" Wraps Up Decade Of Fundraising For Leukemia Research

[chextvDOTcom]

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Peterborough's Mike O'Connor & Jag Tanna Involved With Upcoming Film "Textuality"

[UPDATE: Monday, May 9th -- The Venue is showing a FREE screening of Textuality this Wednesday (May 11th). Doors to the Venue lobby bar open at 8 p.m., and the show begins at 8:30 p.m.]

[UPDATE: Tuesday, April 5, 7:05 a.m. -- the Textuality soundtrack that Mike O'Connor and Jag Tanna had a hand in (see below for more deets) is now live. Check it out here—Canadians are representing!]

The upcoming romantic comedy Textuality (starring Jason Lewis, Eric McCormack and Carly Pope), about two people trying to navigate multiple relationships in the modern dating world, has a significant Peterborough connection. Mike O'Connor, co-founder of WIND Mobile, is executive producer on the movie and producer of the soundtrack, and I Mother Earth's Jag Tanna collaborated with Vapor Music on the soundtrack. Both O'Connor and Tanna reside here in Peterborough.

The Canadian release is set for April 22nd in select cities across Canada, and the soundtrack comes out April 1st.

[TextualityMovie.com; @TextualityMovie on Twitter; Textuality on Facebook]



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Election Peterborough: How Social Media Will Have An Impact (And How To Interact With Local Candidates)

In the past, it was much easier for politicians to avoid any meaningful dialogue with constituents while they were out on the campaign trail: to hide behind attack ads or to stick to carefully prepared key messages written by party spin doctors.

That is beginning to change, thanks to social media.

We, the citizens of Peterborough, can now do the following:

 • engage with the political candidates on Twitter and on Facebook, asking that they run a campaign that is about issues and that they steer clear of personal attacks, half-truths, and hyperbole;
 
• insist that they provide factual, verifiable answers about their political record and that they spell out their plans for our riding in as much detail as possible;
 
• attend public events featuring the candidates and share audio and video footage of those presentations with our fellow voters via social media;
 
• write to the candidates about issues that matter to us and share their responses so that everyone can benefit from what we learn.
 
I intend to monitor the Facebook pages and Twitter feeds for Dean Del Mastro (CPC), Betsy McGregor (Lib), Dave Nickle (NDP), and the Green Party candidate (when that person is declared). I hope you will, too.

I hope you'll ask them questions and engage them in conversation so that, come voting day, you'll have a clear sense of which candidate will do the best job of representing the interests of the citizens of Peterborough Riding.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH THE CANDIDATES ONLINE:

Dean Del Mastro
web: TheDeanTeam.ca
facebook: Facebook.com/deandelmastro
twitter: @votedelmastro

Betsy McGregor
web: Betsymcgregor.liberal.ca
facebook: Facebook.com/betsymcgregor
twitter: @betsymcgregor

Dave Nickle
web: Davenickle.ca
facebook: Facebook.com/pages/Dave-Nickle/133285860052348
twitter: @davenickle

[written by PtboCanada contributor Ann Douglas]

[Related: Election Race Has Begun In Peterborough (And Jabs Already Starting To Fly)]

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PtboPics: Peterborough Roller Derby Is Being Featured Today On Newswatch at 5:30

[UPDATE: And here's the video from shoot.]

With the Peterborough Roller Derby now boasting two teams, The Electric City Rollers and The Damage Dollz and a possible venue at the Douro Arena, CHEX TV's Teresa Kaszuba felt it was her time to try out for the team. Watch Newswatch at 5:30 today to catch the full tryout. In the meantime, here is a sneak peek behind the scenes at the shoot...  

Getting geared upOrganizer Lucid Lou getting miked upLow angle shot as the team practices their footwork Teresa laces up, wearing fishnet stockings and safety gearTeresa gets used to gliding on wheelsIt's not as easy as it looks!*Phew* Solid ground

[Related: Newswatch at 5:30; Weekend Wrap-Up: Peterborough Roller Derby Chooses Team Name, New Yoga Studio... And Supermoon!; PtboPics: Peterborough Roller Derby League Roll Into Second Practice]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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