St Peter Teacher Running 100km Over 18 Hours Straight After Impressive Terry Fox Campaign

UPDATED: 9:40 a.m. Nov. 26, 2021.

Mme. Julie Vallieres, a teacher at St Peter Secondary School, is aiming to run 100 km, running from 3:00 p.m. on Thursday to 9:00 a.m. on Friday.

Photo courtesy of Julie Vallieres.

When the annual Terry Fox campaign at St Peter launched in October, Vallieres vowed to do this run if students raised over $30,000. A small group of teachers also promised to camp outside the school Thursday night.

Students surpassed the goal on Oct. 27 with a final tally of over $33,000.

“I’m not an athlete, I’m just someone who started running for my physical and mental health,” said Vallieres. “I’m not fast, I just know that when I set a goal I will reach it. I just get so much confidence from it.”

Photos courtesy of Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic School Board

Her goal for the overnight run is 100 km over the span of 18 hours. She will periodically be joined by other teachers though she warned them she will not be slowing down for them.

“This challenge - when you compare to what Terry Fox did- it’s nothing,” said Vallieres. “I’m healthy, I’ve got both my legs. This is not a big challenge. Like Terry Fox said ‘Anything is possible when you try. Often the limits you give yourself, that’s you limiting what you can do.”

Vallieres bib has a quote in both French and English to represent St Peters French immersion program. Photo courtesy of Julie Vallieres.

Vallieres will be running with a photo of her father and her father-in-law, who both died after a battle with cancer on her bib.

“Their photos are always on my hydration pack. Whenever I’m running and I don’t feel like running anymore I just think of my dad and my father-in-law and their battle with cancer, and then it makes me think of Terry Fox too, what he did with half a leg. It’s like, you know what lets go keep pushing. Everything is possible once it’s done.”

Vallieres completed her 100 km run Friday morning.

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Free Downtown Parking Sponsored by Wolfe Lawyers to Encourage Local Shopping

Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers are sponsoring two hours of free parking at all downtown municipal parking spaces beginning on Friday.

Parking fees that are voluntarily paid at pay-and-display machines, parking meters or via the HotSpot App during the free two-hour period will be donated to Kawartha Food Share.

“With the global pandemic affecting so many local businesses it’s more important than ever to support and shop local,” said Bill Wolfe, of Wolfe Lawyers. “Wolfe Lawyers will continue to invest in local opportunities which give back to the citizens of our great community. Wolfe Lawyers proudly sponsor ‘the gift of parking’ to let you enjoy our many great stores and restaurants during the holiday season, and we encourage people to support Kawartha Food Share with some form of donation to help those in need in our community.”

To allow for steady turn-over of on-street parking spots and convenient access to shops and restaurants, on-street parking downtown is a maximum of two hours. People who need more time are asked to park in the City’s surface lots or the King Street Parking Garage.

“We are so thankful for the continued support we receive from the City of Peterborough as well as local shoppers each December,” said Ashlee Aitkin, Kawartha Food Share. “Our shelves are always quite bare after the busy holiday season and this donation will allow us to replenish our food supply and ensure our community members continue to have safe and reliable access to emergency food. Now more than ever, we need to support our amazing local businesses and we hope citizens take advantage of this initiative and shop local this December.”

Free two-hour holiday parking continues until December 31, 2021 to encourage people to do their holiday shopping locally.

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Santa Claus is Coming to Dr. J's For a Good Cause

Dr. J’s BBQ and Brew is inviting the community to come say hello and get a picture with Santa Claus, on Dec. 5, and donating the proceeds to Kawartha Food Share.

Saint Nick will be at the restaurant from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. ready to take photos with families by appointment.

Each appointment is five minutes, and requires a minimum donation of $10. Participants must take their own photos, there will be no photographer on scene.

100 per cent of the money raised will be donated to Kawartha Food Share.

“It’s just a great way to give back,” said Addison Brown, owner. “Trying to wait in line at the mall to see Santa Claus can sometimes be a bit of a nightmare, so I thought it would be fun to do something at Dr. J’s while giving back.”

Brown says he always tries to give back this time of year, and is also hosting a fundraiser for the Canadian Mental Health Association.

On Dec. 17 and 18 from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Dr. J’s will be offering Christmas wrapping for a minimum donation of $20.

To book an appointment with Santa click here.

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Lakefield Foodland To Provide Those In Need With Turkey For Christmas

Lakefield Foodland will be brightening Christmas for local families by giving away free turkeys to those in need.

Sarah Blestoe at Lakefield Foodland. Photo courtesy of Lakefield Foodland.

“A lot of people can use a helping hand at this time of year especially now. We want to offer our assistance to the people in Lakefield and area,” said Ross Blestoe, co-owner. “Despite a significant shortage of turkeys available this holiday season, we have worked with our partners to secure enough Frozen Grade A turkeys to give away to those in need. We support a lot of local charities, non-profit organizations and sports groups, but this turkey give-away lets us put our assistance ‘right on the table’ for those who need it most.”

Turkeys will be given away, one per family, on Dec. 15 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. while supplies last.

Recipients are asked to show I.D. with an address.

For further information contact Ross Bletsoe 705-652-3999, rbletsoe@lakefieldfoodland.com or Ian Bletsoe 705-652-8232 Ext. 317, ian@lakefieldfoodland.com.

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Campbellford Memorial Hospital Hires Interim President and CEO

Campbellford Memorial Hospital announced on Tuesday that Eric Hanna has been hired as the new Interim President and CEO.

CMH is the only hospital located between Peterborough and Belleville and provides a comprehensive array of acute care services, including a 24-hour Emergency Department.

Hanna replaces Dr. Bruce Bain who has been in the position on a temporary basis since October 19th. Dr. Bain will continue in his role as Chief of Staff at CMH.

“We thank Dr. Bain for his exemplary work this past month as the Board searched for a new Interim President and CEO,” said Kevin Huestis, chair of the hospital’s Board of Directors, “Dr. Bain’s continued leadership as Chief of Staff will make for a smooth transition, and Eric brings a wealth of expertise that aligns with our hospital’s imminent challenges and opportunities.”

Hanna recently retired from his position at Arnprior Regional Health where he had served as President and CEO since 2008. While at ARH, Mr. Hanna increased the amount of long-term care beds operated by the hospital by 60% and was instrumental in securing more than $30 million in funding for capital redevelopment projects.

He has also previously worked as a consultant for KPMG and the Ministry of Health and as a senior executive at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Whitby General Hospital in Whitby, Memorial Hospital in Bowmanville and Queensway Carleton Hospital in Ottawa.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the incredible staff and leadership team at Campbellford Memorial Hospital,” said Hanna, “There are many initiatives in the coming months focused upon improving the patient experience at CMH. Small rural hospitals have an integral role in todays healthcare system; ensuring local access to appropriate care will be a priority of mine.”

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Peterborough City, County and First Nations are Seeking Nominations for My COVID Champion Campaign

Beginning Monday local residents are invited to pay tribute to community members who have gone above and beyond to help others during the pandemic and participate in a 4-week campaign called My Covid Champion.

Screenshot.

Hosted by Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations, the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County, residents are invited to nominate individuals who have stepped up using the hashtag #mycovidchampion on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Hardcopy nomination forms will also be available at County, Township and local government offices

Posted tributes to local Covid Champions will be re-shared through local traditional media and social media, filling our community with expressions of gratitude.

“Following two years of unprecedented difficulty, we are very pleased to be joining the City of Peterborough, The County of Peterborough and Hiawatha First Nation to recognize some of the amazing things that have occurred during this time of adversity,” said Chief Emily Whetung, Curve Lake First Nation. “Along with our neighbours, we are coming together to encourage people throughout the region to celebrate the amazing experiences that you’ve had since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please join us in saying Chi-Migwetch to all of the Covid Champions in our area.”

Because the words “thank you” or “miigwetch” sometimes aren’t enough, Covid Champions and those who nominate them will qualify to receive one of 8 locally-sourced gift baskets valued at $250 each. A random draw the week of December 13 will be held to determine the gift basket recipients.

When nominating a Covid Champion, residents are encouraged to consider essential service providers, healthcare workers, first responders, friends and neighbours.

How to nominate:

1. Go to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

2. Choose whom you would like to nominate as your Covid Champion.

3. Write a brief tribute to your Champion, saying why they should be nominated.

4. Be sure to include the hashtag #mycovidchampion

5. (Optional) Tag your COVID Champion and one or all the following: @PtboCounty, @curvelakefirstnation, @CityPtbo, @hiawathafirstnation.

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Peterborough Youth Pays It Forward With Teddy Bear Donation to Fire Department

Hunter Nelson, 4, made a special delivery of teddy bears to the Peterborough Fire Department on Monday.

Hunter with the firefighters that provided life saving assistance, a few months after, and again at four years old. Photo courtesy of Kate McEwen.

He brought the teddy bears for firefighters to keep in their trucks, in case young children involved in emergencies need them for comfort.

When Hunter was just four months old his family had to make a difficult phone call to 911.

Born prematurely, Hunter had under-developed lungs and needed to sleep with an oxygen monitor. A few weeks after he was home from the hospital the monitor went off while he was napping.

“I went in and found him unresponsive and blue, so we had to call 911. Fire was first on scene and they swooped him away and got right to work,” said Kate McEwen, Hunters mom. “I had two young daughters at home, 2 and 3 at the time, two fire fighters came in and gave them teddy bears. It really made a big difference that those fire fighters stayed with them and talked with them and they had the teddy bears to distract them from the chaos.”

Now, every year on Hunter’s birthday, the family tries to give back. Sometimes to the NICU at the hospital and sometimes to the fire department.

This year Hunter saved his money and friends and family donated some, and together they donated 18 teddy bears to the fire station.

When he and his family made the delivery Hunter got to say hi to the same men that were on scene when he was four months old, and tour the fire hall while wearing his fire gear.

“He wants to be a firefighter when he’s older, that’s been strong now for a couple years,” said McEwen. “He’s very passionate about that.”

She says while Hunter doesn’t remember the day the firefighters came he knows what they did, and what the teddy bears given to his older sisters mean to them.

“I know lot’s of families go through stuff like this, this was just our way of giving back because we know what that feels like.”

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One Local Business Will Win $1000 With The Boro's Holiday Window Contest

Downtown businesses are being given the chance to win up to $1,000 cash with The Boro’s Holiday Window Contest.

Photo courtesy of The Boro.

Over the past few weeks, merchants in the downtown area have been hard at work decking the halls and walls for a chance to win big at the 2021 Holiday Window Contest. The business that gets the most votes will receive a $1,000 cash prize with second and third receiving $500 and $200 respecitvely.

Judging will take place online at theboro.ca. Participants can vote for their top three windows each day throughout the contest period from Friday to Dec. 6. The theme for this year’s contest is “Holiday Cheer.”

“I love seeing our shop windows illuminated with lights and holiday decorations. Our merchants always create top-notch displays that bring a wonderful festive spirit into the downtown core,” said Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. “This year we’ve mapped out some of the best hot chocolate spots so folks can bundle up and come experience the charm of our historic downtown shopping district while touring this year’s holiday displays.”

Participants can view the Holiday Windows from home online or take a downtown tour and cozy up with a hot chocolate along the way.

To stay up-to-date on this year’s holiday window contest, follow The Boro on Facebook and Instagram.

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Making a List and Checking it Twice: Lynn's Flowers and Gifts in Norwood is Getting Ready to Launch Annual Naughty and Nice List

Lynn’s Flowers and Gifts in Norwood is gearing up for another year of fundraising with their annual Naughty and Nice list.

Santa’s helpers Kevin, Megs and Trixie check up on the Naughty and Nice list weekly. Photo courtesy of Lynns Flowers and Gifts.

For the last four years the flower shop has hosted a Naughty and Nice list.

Customers donate a minimum of $5 to get their own name or the name of a friend on their choice of the naughty or nice list - which is posted in the shop. They can either give a reason as to why they have been put on either list or ‘resident elves’ Trixie and Megs will find a reason.

If someone finds a name on a list and they think it’s in the wrong spot, they can match the donation to move it to another list.

“We try to encourage people to come in to either try to get their name off the naughty list, or put someone else there,” said Megan Wilson, daughter of shop owner Lynn Wilson. “It’s kind of like a big game, a big rivalry thing while raising money.”

From Nov. 24 until Dec. 8 Trixie and Megs will post updated videos to Facebook highlighting new additions to the list. Santa’s brother Earl has also been known to make an appearance.

This year all donations will go to the Norwood Food Bank and Hospice Norwood.

“We chose Hospice this year because we’ve been noticing they’ve been unable to do a lot of fundraising because of the pandemic, so we wanted to get them on our list and raise some money for them this year,” said Lynn.

Since it’s beginning in 2018 the Naughty and Nice List has raised over $4,700 for local initiatives. Last year the list raised $1,400 that was split between the Norwood Food Bank and Community Care.

“This community is such a huge thing for us and I honestly do think it would be a little bit different if we weren’t in such a close knit community,” said Megan. “They support our business 24/7 and especially when it comes to Christmas and doing things like this they are hugely the reason why it’s so successful.”

Ballots for the Naughty and Nice list are available at Lynn’s Flowers and Gifts (2353 County Rd 45) and at The Christmas Corner (2351 County Rd 45), both located in Norwood and owned by Wilson. Ballots can be purchased with cash only.

Every $5 donation gets one ballot for the grand prize draw, which will be announced when the fundraiser is over.

One winner will receive two tickets to Come From Away, a production that has been awarded best musical in North America.

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