Peterborough County Calls For Nominations For 2022 Recognition Awards

The County of Peterborough is inviting residents to nominations for the County of Peterborough 2022 Recognition Awards, which may also include nominations for 2021.

File Photo.

Nominations will be accepted for any resident or group residing in the County of Peterborough who has raised the profile or made an extraordinary contribution to our community. The nominee shall not have received a County of Peterborough Recognition Award for a similar category within the last fifteen years.

At the 2022 Recognition Awards Ceremony, the County will also be presenting awards from the 2020 nominations which were cancelled due to COVID-19.

Unless otherwise indicated, there shall be one award for each Township in each category

noted below for each year, 2020 and 2022.

• Accessibility Recognition: A group, individual or business who has contributed to accessibility improvements within the County of Peterborough. (One Countywide award.)

• Acts of Heroism: An individual who has displayed bravery in the face of personal risk, injury or death at an incident that took place either in the County of Peterborough or was to the benefit of a Peterborough County resident and which action did not occur while the individual was acting in his/her professional capacity while on duty. (Unlimited nominations.)

• Agricultural Leadership: Any individual or farm enterprise is eligible to be nominated in this category. Factors that will be used to assess the nomination will include such items as innovations, agricultural promotion and the recognition brought to the County through its operation. It may include involvement in agricultural organizations. Leadership in the agricultural community will also be considered

• Business Leadership: Any new and successful initiatives of both new and established businesses that have made outstanding contributions to the County, including tourism promotion. (One County-wide award.)

• Community Volunteer of the Year: Any group or individual who has demonstrated community involvement or volunteerism within the County.

• Environmental/Sustainability Recognition: Nominees will have demonstrated innovation and/or leadership in environmental conservation, stewardship and sustainability by having:

- Developed innovative green technologies or

- Started businesses to support and encourage sustainable living, or

- Donated conservation lands or easements or

- Undertaken ecosystem restoration or research or

- Educated others about the importance of protecting the environment or

- Achieved the overall vision for sustainability through one of the identified theme areas set out in the Sustainable Peterborough Plan: Agriculture and Local Food; Climate Change; Cultural Assets; Economic Development and Employment; Healthy Communities; Land Use Planning; Natural Assets; Energy; Transportation; Waste; and Water. (One County-wide award.)

• Heritage Preservation: An individual or group who has promoted heritage and preserves the history of Peterborough County. This could include, but is not limited to, Fair boards, Women’s Institutes, historical societies, etc. A community, public or private organization which has reached a significant milestone such as the 100th anniversary of the organization is also eligible for this award. (Please note: Birthdays and anniversaries are recognized on an on-going basis as requested.) (One County-wide award.)

• Leadership in Arts and Culture: A group or individual who has demonstrated excellence in the arts, bringing recognition to the County.

• Sporting Excellence: Any team or individual who has won a provincial, national or international sporting event. (One County-wide award.)

• Youth: A person aged 25 years or younger who has contributed to the betterment of the community and/or school environment.

Nomination forms are available throughout the County at the County of Peterborough offices located at 470 Water Street, Peterborough, from any Local Municipal Office, Township Fire Chiefs, local Police Service Boards, schools, libraries throughout the County, area Chambers of Commerce and Community Care organizations.

This year, Nomination Forms can be completed online at www.ptbocounty.ca/2022RecAwards.

Completed and signed nomination forms with supporting documents provided to the County Clerk up to and including March 15 are requested.

The Peterborough County Awards and Bursaries Committee will review the Nominations and make recommendations to County Council. County Council will select and announce the recipients in May.

The Recognition Awards Ceremony will take place on May 27 at 7:00 p.m. and will be hosted by the Township of Cavan Monaghan at the Cavan Monaghan Community Centre. If the in-person ceremony needs to be cancelled, a virtual ceremony will be held and may be a different date.

Questions can be directed to the County Clerk at 705-743-0380 or 1-800- 710-9586 or by email: clerksoffice@ptbocounty.ca.

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Local Fraternity Holds Outdoor Campout For 48 Hours To Fundraise For the Homeless

Members of the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity slept in a makeshift shelter for 48 hours last weekend to raise money for One City Peterborough to help anyone experiencing homelessness.

(left to right) Christopher Mills, Brendan Alexander, Oscar Fuchs and Marcus Fuchs huddled in a makeshift structure with hay and a tarp in the cold at the Venture North parking lot on George Street North. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

TKE (Upsilon-Kappa chapter) aids men in their mental, moral and social development for life according to their website.

The fraternity slept outside at the Venture North parking lot on George Street North from Friday at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday at 4:00 p.m. The campaign gave their members to experience the hardships and struggles that people experiencing homelessness face according to Christopher Mills, TKE member.

"We will never truly understand what it's like to be homeless because I have a nice car, I can go back home to and a bed but not everyone has that opportunity," said Mills. "So I couldn't even begin to imagine what all of them (the homeless) have to go through being out here in all this weather.”

TKE was successful in reaching its goal of $5,000 on Saturday night raising over $3,500 in an online fundraiser and the rest with in-person donations.

The homeless showed their gratitude as they often paid visits to them and grabbed a snack or drink for their trouble.

"Some of the people experiencing homelessness came by to show their support, thanked us and asked us for any food," said Mills. "Some of them even donated themselves because they were so grateful for the work that we're doing."

The fraternity also had local supporters making food, drink and monetary donations towards the cause. The Peterborough Police Service and MP Michelle Ferreri also paid visits to show their support.

"We're trying to do our part and help make Canada a better place to live,” concluded Mills.

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Scott Gilbert Retires As Peterborough Police Chief

Chief of Peterborough Police Scott Gilbert will officially retire as of Monday.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police Services.

Peterborough Police Services Board made the announcement last Friday.

“On behalf of the board, we acknowledge Scott’s accomplishments during his tenure ensuring that community safety was always priority number one,” said board chair Les Kariunas in a media release.

Gilbert became Peterborough’s police chief in July 2018, after being a long-time member of the Toronto Police Service.

“Scott has led the service through significant changes over the past three and a half years,” Kariunas said. “His work in advancing police accountability, adoption of new technologies and creating efficiencies in police community responses have resulted in a well-respected police service by citizens throughout the City of Peterborough, Lakefield and Cavan-Monaghan. The Board wishes him all the best in retirement.”

Deputy Chief Tim Farquharson has been appointed as Acting Chief effective Monday.

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Local Entrepreneur To Open This Weekend's PolarFest With a Bang

As PolarFest begins its three-day event this weekend, Adam Brown, Chemong Lodge owner will have his business kick off the opening ceremonies with a fireworks display on Friday night.

Adam Brown, Chemong Lodge owner (left) with Charlie “Woodchuck” Andolek (right) with one of several ice sculptures. The pictured sculpture is incomplete but is a three-dimensional hockey goalie. Photo by Kirtus Evoy.

The event will run from Fri. to Sun. in several townships such as Selwyn, Lakefield and Bridgenorth. Scheduled events include a candlelight skate, ice sculpture show, pancake breakfast and a spaghetti dinner.

"It's an exciting weekend in the fact in the timing of some restrictions being lifted and that we're able to kick on with PolarFest," said Brown. "It's all the great things we can do outdoors and in our within our community and an opportunity to encourage people to get out."

The Lodge will have free coffee, hot chocolate and some treats available during the opening festivities. The fireworks are done by Supernova Fireworks.

The following is a list of events for PolarFest:

Friday

• 7:30 p.m. - Outdoor Opening Ceremony - Chemong Lodge (764 Hunter St. Bridgenorth) - Kick off PolarFest lakeside with a fireworks show by Supernova Fireworks

• 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. - Candlelight Skate (Ticketed Event) - Ontario Speed Skating Oval (3358 Lakefield Rd. Lakefield) - Hundreds of lights will guide your way around the Oval! Register for your time slot by visiting ontariospeedskatingoval.com

Saturday

• All Day - Ice Sculpture Show - Cenotaph Park (Bridge St. and Water St. Lakefield) Cenotaph Park will sparkle with exquisite ice sculptures by talented sculptors.

• All Day - Ice People Ice Sculptures - Heritage Park (804 Ward St. Bridgenorth) Using ice from Chemong Lake, The Ice People will fill the park with ice sculptures.

• 9:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m. - Drive-Thru Pancake Breakfast - Causeway Christian Assembly (1307 Yankee Line, Ennismore) - FREE

• Noon to 3:00 p.m. - Nordic Day - Ontario Speed Skating Oval - Stop by Adventure Outfitters (1828 8th Line, Lakefield) to grab your equipment, head to the Oval and enjoy the trail groomed for cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

• 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Drive-Thru Spaghetti Dinner - Bridgenorth United Church (832 Charles St. Bridgenorth) - Adults: $12 / Children 7 and under: $7

• 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. - Candlelight Skate (Ticketed Event) - Hundreds of lights will guide your way around the Oval! Register for your time slot by visiting ontariospeedskatingoval.com.

Sunday

• All Day - Ice People Ice Sculptures - Heritage Park (804 Ward St. Bridgenorth) Using ice from Chemong Lake, The Ice People will fill the park with ice sculptures.

For a full schedule of events and details, click here.

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Former Owner Of P.G Towns And Sons Fondly Remembers The Douro Landmark Four Years After It Caught Fire

Four years ago, on Feb. 2, 2018, Douro residents were shocked and saddened to learn that P.G Towns and Sons General Store had burnt to the ground after being a staple in the community for over 125 years.

Gerome Lemoire, Mike Towns and Mark Towns holding a case of 'While Mindin the Store', Mike’s book, recovered from the fire.

On Feb. 2, 2018 around 1 a.m. the building fondly referred to by locals as ‘The Store’ caught fire.

The Store was the hub of the community. Located right in the centre of the Hamlet of Douro, it brought locals together for groceries, farm goods and the latest local news.

Michelle Towns owned and operated the store with her husband Chris Coons for about 12 years, until they shut it down in 2016.

The Store made a come back when Michelle’s sister Nancy Towns, along with her brother Mark and Bernard and Lise Leahy re-opened the building calling it ‘Towns and Leahy Mercantile’.

Below are photos taken by Mike Towns at the opening of Towns and Leahy Mercantile in 2017.

Shortly after it’s re-opening was when The Store caught fire.

Now, four years since it has been gone, former owner Mike Towns enjoys hearing locals fond memories of The Store.

“My mind is pretty busy today,” he said. “Michelle (his daughter) made a post about the anniversary on Facebook and I’ve read some really great comments from people, that helps a lot with grieving. If I can say with humility, we really do hear great things about The Store even now after it’s gone.”

Mike says seeing neighbors stop in the isles to chat is one of his favourite memories from working at The Store.

“There’s no place to stop to say hello to someone in Douro now, it makes quite a difference in the village I feel,” he said. “We lost a way of life that night. And that way of life, it was meaningful to everyone. We had a place to keep in touch with our community.”

Footage from Towns and Leahy Mercantile by Angela O’Grady, 2017.

Mike, who is a photographer, recalls the night his family’s legacy went up in flames as a night he will never forget.

When he heard the news, he and his wife Rosemary jumped in their car right away, Mike with his camera in tow.

“I stopped before I went out the door and I thought am I being selfish taking a picture of this, and I decided no I should take it with me,” he said.

The two pulled into the church parking lot across the road from The Store.

“That was our first full view of it and it was just like the sky had opened up to take the flames. They seemed as high as the building. It was quite emotional. And those photos have more impact than any photo I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Now the empty lot where The Store once stood serves as a gathering place for the Towns family and their friends.

Currently those driving by may spot Chris and Michelle’s children skating on their home made rink which sits on the concrete slab that was once The Store.

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Peterborough Police And Trent University Launch Public Body-Worn Camera Survey

The Peterborough Police Service is partnering with the Trent Research Centre to conduct a survey to better understand and obtain input from the community on police worn body cameras.

Body-worn cameras have entered the public discourse as a potential tool to increase police accountability. The exploration of this technology has become important as many police services across the province and the country are in various stages of research and implementation.

Both organizations are interested in the views and experiences of the citizens of the City of Peterborough, Village of Lakefield, and Township of Cavan-Monaghan.

The survey will be open from Tuesday until Feb. 28.

Responses will help both the police and Trent University understand and learn how the community feels about the use of body-worn cameras as well as form guidelines and policies and potentially a pilot project.

Participation is voluntary and anonymous; however, the Trent researcher is looking for age, gender, career and in which municipality participants reside or work.

To participate in the survey click here.

To acquire a paper copy of the survey contact sdueck@peterborough.ca.

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Pathway Of Fame Announces Three New Members To Join Facilitating Committee

The Pathway of Fame, Peterborough and District has bolstered its leadership group with the addition of three new names to their Facilitating Committee, announced on Tuesday.

Joining the Facilitating Committee is Stephanie Bolender, Jim Ross and Tom Watt.

Bolender was founding first vice chair of The Pathway of Fame at its inception in 1997-1998, serving as assistant to fellow Director Barb Bell. She remained active with the Pathway Facilitating Committee until Bell’s death in 2008, but has since returned.

Ross has volunteered at Showplace for the Pathway of Fame annual induction ceremony for the last four years.

Watt is retired, and continues to serve as Councilor at Large for the municipality of Douro-Dummer.

2022 marks the 25th year of The Pathway of Fame.

For complete information about The Pathway of Fame, inductees and the nomination process, visit https://ptbopathwayoffame.ca/.

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