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Peterborough Blogs
Local School Spruces Its Anniversary With Tree Planting From $3,500 Grant
/Over 50 volunteers of students, faculty and sponsors planted 40 white spruce trees around their campus with a $3,500 grant in celebration of Kawartha Montessori School’s 40th anniversary on Saturday morning.
Kawartha Montessori School students Jenna Quinn (left), 14 and Esther van Oostveen (right), 6, digging up dirt to plant one of 40 white spruce trees. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The trees run along both sides of the school and beside Highway 7. Added forestry for the school acts as a natural sound guard, decreases outside distractions for students and beautifies the campus among several other benefits according to Celia Johnstone, Tree Canada community advisor.
"It's a very exposed windy site," she said. "The schoolyard is very exposed so it provides good protection from the wind. There are also shade trees, provide the clean air as we breathe and mitigate the greenhouse effect."
"Having our school on this beautiful 10-acre property, we enrich our academic curriculum daily using the outdoors," said Carolyn Donaldson, Montessori principal. "From a very young age, having these students know that giving back to the environment is so important."
Students planted eight trees on Friday with a total of 48 planted. The ordeal was a positive experience for the school as it was the first community activity they could hold since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's just so great to plant so many trees to help the environment and to impact future generations here,” said Jenna Quinn, 14, grade 8 Montessori student. "It's such a beautiful campus and it's great to have trees out here."
The $3,500 came from the Community Tree Grant by Tree Canada with UPS providing the money as the sponsor. It is given annually with eligibility spreading across Canada.
An application was submitted in the fall by a school community member according to Johnstone.
Snacks such as cookies and muffins with refreshments were made by Montessori students and were served at the tree-planting event.
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PVNC Presents Students With Annual Catholic Student Leadership Awards
/As part of Catholic Education Week, which runs May 1 to 6, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNC) honoured 38 students with a Catholic Student Leadership Award during a ceremony at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough on Wednesday.
One student was selected from each elementary and secondary school and winners were presented with a special medallion.
Award recipients were nominated by principals, teachers and in some cases, fellow students. Each demonstrated outstanding qualities in Catholic leadership, family commitment, involvement in school affairs, involvement in community activities and dedication to a difficult situation or task.
“These award winners are true role models who embody the goals of our Catholic Graduate Expectations,” said Braden Leal, Chairperson of the Board. “Catholic Education Week affords us a perfect time to pay tribute to the student leaders in our schools and reflect on the importance of faith in our lives, and the role it plays in Catholic education.”
A full list of recipients is below:
Faith Griffiths, St. Mary CES, Lindsay
Niamh Walsh, STA Virtual Elementary School
James Gouin, STA Virtual Secondary School
Jayden Hopkins, St. John CES, Peterborough
Ruby Briand, Holy Cross CSS, Peterborough
William White, St. Peter CSS, Peterborough
Quinten Fowler, St. Paul CES, Peterborough
Makenzie Nichols, Holy Trinity CSS, Courtice
Chase Hudson, St. Stephen CSS, Bowmanville
Lola Bittner, St. Catherine CES, Peterborough
Avery Pick, St. Patrick CES, Peterborough
Michel Gagné, St. Michael CES, Cobourg
Liam Cook, Immaculate Conception CES, Peterborough
Anna Golobic, St. Francis of Assisi CES, Newcastle
Alena Vuong, Holy Family CES, Bowmanville
Elizabeth Payne, St. Joseph CES, Bowmanville
Katie Payne, St. Paul CES, Norwood
Matteo Crimi, Notre Dame CES, Cobourg
Cheyenne Hudson, St. Elizabeth CES, Bownmanville
Rees Tewsley, St. Anne CES, Peterborough
Keira deLaPlante, St. Joseph CES, Douro
Emma MacDonald, Monsignor Leo Cleary CES, Courtice
Chloe McMahon, Monsignor O’Donoghue CES, Peterborough
Sydney MacLellan, St. Paul CES, Lakefield
Janey King, St. Mary CES, Campbellford
Eva Winn, St. Luke CES, Downeyville
Hunter Young, St. Teresa CES, Peterborough
Connor James, St. Mother Teresa CES, Courtice
Emma Smith, St. Mary CES, Grafton
Daniel Zito, Good Shepherd CES, Courtice
Jessica Harris, St. Mary CSS, Cobourg
Alisha Byrne, St. Thomas Aquinas CSS, Lindsay
Addison Gerelus, St. Martin CES, Ennismore
Madison Mohr, St. John Paul II CES, Lindsay
Raina Willson, St. Dominic CES, Lindsay
Ayaji Antolin, St. Joseph CES, Cobourg
Donny Drake, St. Anthony CES, Port Hope
Josiah McMahon, St. Alphonsus CES
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Peterborough Police Begin 'Operation Freeze' To Encourage Smart Decision Making In Children
/The Peterborough Police will begin ‘Operation Freeze’ aimed at rewarding children for making good choices, announced on Wednesday.
PC VanBelleghem with coupons for Operation Freeze. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police.
Peterborough Police will be presenting youth with coupons or “tickets” when they see youth making smart, safe and caring choices such as wearing helmets, helping others, or picking up garbage.
Each "ticket" is for a free small Froster from Circle K.
This ‘operation’ is made possible through a partnership with Circle K.
PVNC School Board To Fly The Pride Flag During Pride Month
/Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board will fly the Pride flag at its board facilities commencing this June during the celebration of Pride Month.
Stock Photo.
Trustee Kevin MacKenzie brought forth the following motion, which passed with a majority vote during Wednesday’s board meeting:
The Board of Trustees authorizes the Director of Education to fly the Pride flag at school board facilities during the month of June, to further the promotion of an environment of inclusion, diversity and equity in our community.
“I want to set the same example to my children that Jesus did, and that’s to love all people,” MacKenzie said. “I want (students) to feel proud of their school board and their school. I want them to feel proud of themselves. I want them to be filled with pride because I can tell you that I am proud of every student in our board. Let them be proud and let’s raise the Pride flag.”
Board Chairperson Braden Leal quoted Pope Francis in his support for the motion.
“Time and time again, Pope Francis’ message is explicit – we must always consider the person. The doors of our Catholic schools must be clearly open to all people,” Leal said. “We have an opportunity to physically and symbolically demonstrate full inclusion, to welcome each and every member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community by flying the Pride flag during Pride Month.”
Director of Education Joan Carragher said the raising of the Pride flag complements the Board’s commitment to equity and the day-to-day work our schools undertake to make all students feel included.
“We will continue our commitment every single day to equity, diversity and inclusion in a focused and strategic way so that our students will continue to understand that we are accompanying them in their realization of their own unique story. The raising of the Pride flag will be one more way that we demonstrate this accompaniment,” Carragher said. “I will now work towards implementation of this passed motion from our Board of Trustees and pray that in doing so, all of our students and staff feel like they belong in our wonderful PVNC Catholic community.”
Pride month begins June 1.
The Pride flag is used to represent the LGBTQ community and to express pride and acceptance in that community.
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CMHA HKPR Accepting Nominations For Annual Mental Health Awards
/The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) is now accepting nominations for the Annual Mental Health Awards and Tam Grant Bursary.
Photo by Luke Best.
Individuals are encouraged to nominate someone who is deserving of recognition for their efforts in improving mental health in the community, including volunteers, community leaders, individuals with lived experience of mental illness and their family members.
CMHA HKPR is also accepting applications for the annual Tam Grant Bursary, for students entering post-secondary education with a diagnosed mental illness. The deadline for award and bursary submissions is 4:30 p.m. on June 24.
CMHA HKPR is calling for submissions for the following awards:
The Achievement Through Adversity Award honours a client of CMHA HKPR services, or a survivor of mental illness, who has shown continued courage and tenacity in reaching their goals. In education, employment, volunteering, or through the tasks of daily living, this individual is a role model for others on the journey to a healthy life.
The Distinguished Service Award acknowledges the significant contribution volunteers make to our agency, by recognizing deserving individuals for their exemplary effort.
The Maurice Lovnes Award is presented to an individual or individuals who have volunteered with CMHA HKPR, and who have exemplified the following traits during the year: Vision, Dedication, Caring, Support and Commitment.
Caregiver Champion Award honours a family member or caregiver who has shown continued support to a person living with mental health concerns.
Naresh James Award recognizes an individual who has championed critical issues, pioneered initiatives, and has achieved lasting impacts in support of those who live with mental health issues, as well as assisting their families and friends. This individual has demonstrated commitment to support individuals who live with mental health challenges through their leadership, advocacy, and perseverance.
Champion of Mental Health – CMHA HKPR acknowledges individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the community by supporting mental health. These contributions should support Knowledge, Hope and Belonging: the three pillars that form the foundation of our organization to enable Mental Health for All.
Tam Grant Bursary - Access to educational programs is one way for individuals living with schizophrenia or other serious and persistent mental illnesses to realize their own potential. The Tam Grant Memorial Bursary seeks to encourage and support these individuals as they pursue higher education.
This bursary is offered in memory of Tam Grant who lived with schizophrenia while pursuing his university education. After years of struggling with his illness, Tam took his own life in 1977 at the age of 32. Frustrated and saddened by the lack of community supports at the time, Tam’s Parents Bill and Margaret Grant created the Tam Grant Bursary to assist young people living with schizophrenia or other serious and persistent mental illness to pursue post-secondary education.
Bursaries are awarded each year at the Annual General Meeting for registration for the upcoming school year. The maximum amount awarded annually is $1,000.
For this year’s Tam Grant Memorial Bursary application visit cmhahkpr.ca/bursary.
All award nominations and bursary applications must be received by 4:30 p.m., June 24.
Successful nominees and applicants will be presented with their award or bursary at the CMHA HKPR Annual General Meeting, which will be held on September 21, at Celebrations in Lindsay.
Nomination forms for the awards can be found at cmhahkpr.ca/awards.
Council for Persons With Disabilities Launch Inaugural Capable Con
/In an effort to promote inclusivity and the community for living, learning, playing and working equally, the Council for Persons With Disabilities (CPD) has launched its inaugural one-day event ‘Capable Con’ on Tuesday.
(From left to right) Jason King, CPD volunteer; Zaun, King’s guide dog; Rachel Quilty, CPD digital marketing and event facilitator; Mariah Yee, CPD communications coordinator; Andrea Dodsworth, CPD chair; Leslie Yee, CPD vice-chair and Akira, Leslie’s guide dog. They are all joined by superheroes The Capable Crew that were unveiled during the launch. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
This inaugural event is scheduled for June 4 — the final day of AccessAbility Week — from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. outside the VentureNorth building. The free event is designed to create open, healthy dialogues about disabilities and accessibility.
“Disability is not one thing; it is interconnected to everything,” Leslie Yee, CPD Vice-chair. Every person will have a disability at some point in their lives.”
The first-ever convention features a variety of all-age events:
Interactive and inclusive games
Virtual reality simulators
Scavenger hunts
Board games
Pokémon Trading Card Game tournament for beginners
All-Day stage entertainment
Draw prizes
In February, CPD received $26,340 in funding for their simulation software as part of their Time In My Shoes Program. The virtual reality experience allows people to experience the daily challenges many face through realistic simulation.
Simulations range from getting groceries while vision-impaired, navigating a street in a wheelchair and more.
(From left to right) Hearing Loss Hero, Samantha Aurel; Amputee Hero; Bionica Bot, Vision Loss Hero, Traveler and Scout; Twin Autism Heroes, The Power Pals and Wheelchair Hero (currently unnamed). The Capable Crew are fictional characters created as superheroes turning their disabilities into superhero powers. Photo courtesy of CPD.
The unveiling of ‘The Capable Crew’ occurred at the launch. They are a group of fictional superheroes that serve as ambassadors for the event. Each superhero uses their disability as a superpower. They were illustrated by Mariah Yee, CPD communications coordinator.
“We hope this creates a more inclusive and celebratory environment,” said Mariah.
Mariah Yee with her illustrations of The Power Pals, two superheroes who have autism. Yee has been drawing ever since she was at a young age. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
