Ennismore Community Centre Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Community members and Selwyn Township council and staff gathered to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the construction of the Ennismore Community Centre on Sunday.

Photo courtesy of the Ennismore Community Centre.

Deputy Mayor Sherry Senis, Ennismore Ward Councillor Donna Ballantyne, local historian Paul Crough and community members whose families were instrumental in helping build the centre celebrated the milestone with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.

In October 1972, the community of Ennismore came together with the goal of providing indoor recreational space in the area. It was a big community effort, with residents and local businesses donating their time, money, labour and equipment, and the municipality (Township of Ennismore at the time) donated profits from the sale of surplus lands while the province provided a grant towards the project.

Since the original building was constructed, the Community Centre has seen several renovations, each one reinvigorating Ennismore’s community spirit and generosity.

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Local Community Mourns Trent and Fleming Professor who Passed Away

Beloved community-builder, sports fan and Trent University/Fleming College economics professor Dr. Tom Phillips passed away suddenly on Thursday.

Facebook photo.

The Peterborough local grew up in the County attending Queen Mary Public School and Peterborough Collegiate Vocational School (PCVS).

Phillips was heavily involved in his community, always sharing his economic knowledge and lacrosse stories.

He has chaired the board of the Peterborough Art Gallery, the Peterborough Golf and Country Club and the police services board and had been provincially appointed to the Community Access Centre.

Phillips began teaching at Fleming in 1983, as he achieved his Master's degree part-time through York University. He was a professor of economics and the Dean of Business at the school.

“Tom’s dedication to his hometown was epic. He dedicated his life to making it a better place and he did that by being one of the most memorable academics this community has ever produced,” said Raymond Yip Choy, Fleming business professor. “But Tom’s real impact was with people. Not only was he a great teacher, he cared deeply about his students and they knew it.”

“He cared about his colleagues and was always available for support, advice or just a chat. We will miss Tom’s booming laughter and his never-ending stream of jokes,” continued Choy. “Tom Phillips was a giant in our community. I can hear him laughing right now.”

In 1988, he started teaching at Trent. Philips continued to teach on a contract basis in the years leading up to his passing.

“Tom was an integral part of post-secondary education in Peterborough and in Durham. He taught on both our campuses; led the development of our Careerspace; had a long and impressive career at Fleming; and was an active member of the Peterborough community, to which he was deeply committed,” says Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent University president. “I was scheduled to connect with him this term and now regret that we did not do this earlier. Tom will be dearly missed by all of us who knew him.”

A memorial ceremony was soon called for Sunday after Phillips’ passing on Thursday. Family, former students, colleagues, friends and everyone who loved Dr. Phillips gathered to celebrate his life at his favourite bar, Crook and Coffer.

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Mental Health and Addictions Program ‘Moving Beyond Addiction’ Opens in Peterborough

Right to Heal, a local not-for-profit organization, will run ‘Moving Beyond Addiction’ and Redpath programs over a 16-month period announced Monday.

From left to right: Randy Mellow, chief of Peterborough County-City paramedics; Dave Smith, member of Provincial parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha; Peggy Shaughnessy, Whitepath Consulting founder and president; Tim Farquharson, acting Peterborough Police chief; David Smith, member of Provincial parliament for Scarborough Centre; and the Hon. Michael Tibollo, Minister for mental health and addictions. Photo by Felicia Massey.

Through a $367,480 investment from the Government of Ontario, 320 people in the community will receive the program’s services.

Clients will undergo an evidence-based assessment once referred to determine the correct treatment for their needs. The assessment will consider multiple variables including trauma, abuse, domestic violence, housing status, financial situation and severity of the substance abuse. Once the assessment is complete they will enter into one-on-one counselling and/or the Redpath Intervention program.

Redpath programs use a combination of clinical and cultural approaches while focusing to create a healthy mind, body and spirit.

The intervention program consists of 21 three-hour-long counselling and training sessions in both community and institutional settings. Clients will then enter an aftercare program where they will complete two hours a week of group training sessions that focus on personal development and a full reintegration back into society.

“The Redpath services bring wellness and recovery home (to Peterborough) and will add to what is currently being provided in the City”, said Peggy Shaughnessy, Whitepath Consulting founder and president. “It’s very exciting as a developer of the Redpath model to be home.”

Those referred to this program will typically be unhoused/at risk of homelessness and suffering from mental health and addiction issues. The Elizabeth Fry Society will administer the referral process, enabling the funding for the pilot to flow fully to program services. The program will also accept family and self-referrals.

Right to Heal will work in collaboration with these specific prioritized target populations:

1. Peterborough Police, Peterborough County-City Paramedics and Peterborough Regional Health Centre refer clients who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing opioid overdoses.

2. Health and social services referring clients from places such as the Consumption and Treatment Services/Opioid Response Hub, Brock Mission, Cameron House and One Roof Community Centre.

Last year, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith announced $500,000 in annual funding to expand detox services at Fourcast.

Earlier this year, the Peterborough Opioid Response Hub opened with $1,350,000 in annual funding.

“Overdose deaths continue to rise in Peterborough. It’s a crisis that affects families and loved ones across our community. It is clear that more treatment spaces are needed; we need to expand services and lower barriers of access if we want to address this crisis,” said Dave MPP Smith. “Moving Beyond Addiction will save lives. It is a proven program that will help those struggling with addiction move beyond addiction and reintegrate back into society.”

Debbie Carriere is an example of Redpath’s success, having taken the program 15 years ago.

In 2006, the mother of three worked as a psychologist at Central East Correctional Centre and was working towards her Ph.D. when she experienced a traumatic life event that would trigger trauma from her past.

Over the course of nine months after this Carriere abused substances and was arrested, eventually ending up in a psychiatric hospital in Jan. 2007. After returning to Peterborough she met Shaughnessy and began the Redpath program.

Carriere is now the executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society.

“I needed help, I needed something different, and it literally saved my life,” said Carriere. “It really saved my life and it saved the lives of my children.”

Visit Ontario.ca/MentalHealth or call 2-1-1 to access help and learn more about publicly available mental health and addiction supports in Peterborough.

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"Cancer Takedown" Event to Fundraise for Cancer Care Coming to Market Hall

“Cancer Takedown” is fundraising for local cancer care through performances and storytelling on Nov. 16 at Market Hall Performance Centre.

Linda Kash is well-known for her role as the Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese Angel. File photo.

Cancer Takedown is an evening of song, story and solidarity, with all proceeds from ticket sales going to Cancer Care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).

The night will be MC’d by m Linda Kash and Megan Murphy, featuring stories shared by people with cancer and performances from local musicians Kate Suhr, Melissa Payne and their bands, musical director Anthony Bastianon and Denise Oucharek. It will be an opportunity to rally the community and provide hope.

Cancer Takedown is organized by husband and wife Rick and Amy Kemp. Rick has been a patient of PRHC since 2019 when he was diagnosed with metastatic kidney cancer. In May 2021 his battle doubled as he was diagnosed with a second primary cancer, central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma.

For Rick and others living with cancer, there are good days, and there are days when the battle is much more emotional than physical. The Kemp’s idea for Cancer Takedown was born out of those darker days, even referring to the show as being a “spirit-raiser” as much as a fundraiser.

“The goal of Cancer Takedown is twofold. One is to raise funds. The other is to raise spirits for those battling cancer and the people helping them in their journey,” said Rick.

Tickets are $30 for general seating, and $50 for cabaret and can be purchased at: https://www.markethall.org.

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First Peterborough County Makerspace Opens at Selwyn Public Library In Lakefield

The first Makerspace in Peterborough County opens at the Lakefield branch of the Selwyn Public Library (SPL) with help from the Ontario Trillium Foundation on Friday.

Photo by Felicia Massey.

Makerspace is a place for all ages and skill levels to craft, create, explore technology and share skills using high-tech to no-tech tools.

Appointments must be made to use the space and can be pre-booked on their website.

Everything from vinyl signage to 3D printing can be crafted using equipment such as the Ultimaker S3 or the Cricut.

A $78,200 Resilient Communities Fund grant through the Ontario Trillium Foundation funded the formation of the creative space, transforming SPL’s former Renewed Classics thrift shop into the Makerspace.

“When you look around this room at what has been done, they have taken $79,000 and they have probably added over $200,000 worth of value for the community,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP.

Some renovations completed through the Trillium Resilient Communities grant include new paint/flooring and the conversion of an old vault into a podcasting suite. They were also able to get new furniture and a security system.

“For quite some time the board has received reports about the Makerspace,” said a 20-year SPL board member. “We weren’t really sure what it (Makerspace) was going to be and what it was going to look like but (the staff) have done a tremendous job with $79,000.”

The SPL Makerspace is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Hometown PTBO: Christopher Cannon About Living at the Mount Community Centre at "Shared Dreams" and Sports Passion

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Christopher Cannon and his father about his being diagnosed with cerebral palsy, love for sports including the Toronto Blue Jays and living on his own in the "Shared Dreams" household at the Mount Community Centre.

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Dress Purple Day on Oct. 27 to Support Children's Aid Societies

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society (KHCAS) urges the community to wear purple to raise awareness for vulnerable children and families and the groups that support them on Oct. 27.

Photo courtesy of The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society.

Every October, Dress Purple Day brings awareness to the support and intervention services that are available for families through Children’s Aid Societies. Wearing purple shows that help is available and no one is alone.

“Dress Purple Day offers an opportunity to remind our local communities that the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society works together with many other social service providers to help children, youth and families facing challenges,” says Jennifer McLauchlan, KHCAS executive director. “We are wearing purple today to show children, youth and families that we care and are here to help.”

Learn more about Dress Purple Day here: https://www.oacas.org/publications-and-campaigns/dresspurpleday/.

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Silver Bean Café Becomes Canadian Canoe Museum’s Café Operator In New Partnership

Getting a latté at the Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM) is easier for next summer as they are bringing a Silver Bean Café location to the museum’s new site on Ashburnham Drive in a partnership announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum.

Also known as ‘Silver Bean Café on the Lake,’ the menu will consist of specialty sandwiches and salads, made-to-order breakfasts, bakery items and coffee and various grab-and-go options. Kawartha Dairy ice cream will be served in the summer while soup, chilli and other comfort foods in the winter. The café will be licensed to serve alcohol.

“We were searching for an energetic, warm and welcoming team with proven experience to manage and operate the museum’s new café, that was also community-minded and would work with us to enhance our visitor experience,” says Carolyn Hyslop, CCM executive director.

The café will offer tourists, surrounding neighbours and the general public delectable delights year-round.

Silver Bean Café is expected to be open seven days a week during the museum’s hours of operation.

The space will be able to accommodate 30 people seated inside and 32 outside on the terrace.

“It is exciting to be able to provide a location that will be open all year round and maintain a presence on another beautiful Nogojiwanong/Peterborough waterfront with stunning indoor and patio options,” said Dan Brandsma, Silver Bean Café owner. “We feel we have a natural affinity to the museum’s values/culture and (the) waterfront location and will do our utmost to add to the experience with fresh, local and delicious food and drink offerings.”

The King Street location at Millennium Park is continuing to operate seasonally (typically from May to Oct.). Oct. 15 is the last day of operation for 2022.