Adam Scott Inducts Four Members Into Its Hall of Honour

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During Adam Scott Collegiate Vocational Institute’s graduation ceremony, they inducted four former students to be immortalized into their Hall of Honour on Wednesday night.

(From left to right) Robin Heard, Neil Morton, Michelle Mackey and Carly MOran. Photo courtesy of Adam Scott.

Neil Morton (class of 1989), Carly Moran (class of 2001), Michelle Mackey (class of 2008) and Robin Heard (class of 2001) were named as this year’s inductees.

Morton has a History/English degree from Trent University and a Journalism degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. His endeavours include co-founding PTBOCanada, StudioPTBO, Electric City Football Club and CORMOR.

He is also a former director of the local Chamber of Commerce and was local Chair of the United Way. He was inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame last year.

Moran is a Trent graduate with experience at OCAD and BCIT in Fine Arts/ Graphic Design. She created her firm in Revelstoke, worked as a mining line cook, supervised Health & Safety on snow road construction and snowmobiled for the film industry.

She is an active member of the arts/music community. Moran is also an avid naturalist: biking to California, solo hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, canoeing the Yukon and back-country skiing.

Mackey graduated from Trent Media Studies/English and her experiences at Trent Radio led to her graduate studies at Griffith University in Australia. She was the national anchor for the Weather Channel and then worked with the CBC before joining CityNews, covering the news, weather and anchoring.

Having personally dealt with mental health issues, she is an active advocate, having spoken at several events including Team55 Friday Night Lights. Her documentary for the Canadian Mental Health Association initiatives is award-winning.

Heard completed a B. Com at Queen’s, his accountancy qualifications and an MBA at the Schulich School of Business. His career in finance has been extensive, culminating as President and CEO of SMS Equipment Inc. which deals with mining, construction and forestry and employs 3,000 people.

He also shares his financial talents as a director for the Francis Winspear Centre for Music and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. He advocates for various charitable initiatives that benefit the greater community through his company.

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City of Peterborough Releases 2024 Lifeguard Training Program Details

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The City of Peterborough will conduct staff training for this summer’s lifeguard program from June 25 to 28 at Beavermead and Rogers Cove beaches ahead of seasonal lifeguard supervision.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF PETERBOROUGH.

Additional in-service training will occur every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. from July 3 to Aug. 21.

All staff will adhere to provincial health and lifesaving society guidelines for training. Members of the public are asked to give them space to complete their training safely.

City of Peterborough’s lifeguard program runs from June 29 until Aug. 25 with lifeguards at Beavermead and Rogers Cove beaches seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Beavermead beach has an access mat in place from June 29 until August 25. The mat provides a stable surface across the sand into the water, improving accessibility for everyone.

Peterborough Public Health monitors the water quality at our beaches from June until the end of August and posts the reports online. When lifeguards are present, a flag or sign at the beaches indicates the water quality status. For more information on water quality reporting at the public beaches, please contact Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000.

Lifeguards supervise the City’s four wading pools from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week, from June 29 until Aug. 25. The wading pools are small, shallow pools for children up to about eight years old. Children must be accompanied by an adult when using the wading pools.

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Rotary Club of Peterborough Introduces New President; Organization Donates Final $25,000 of $100,000 to Camp Kawartha Centennial Health Centre

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The Rotary Club of Peterborough has announced Ken Seim as its new president, taking over the role from Betty Halman-Plumley at the organization’s meeting at the McDonnel Street Community Centre on Monday afternoon.

All ‘Breakfast Cup’ groups volunteer groups that special breakfast for the young Breakfast Club Patrons. The ‘Thursday Club’ were declared the winners. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Halman-Plumley had her last meeting with the club as president before passing the torch to Seim. She was the fifth woman to become Rotary president in the organization’s history since its founding in 1921.

“It was an honour but it felt to be a big responsibility too,” said Halman-Plumley. “I wanted to be a great role model for other women, paving the way for them hopefully to be presidents and leaders of this club for years to come.”

“Filling Betty's shoes is not going to be an easy task,” explained Seim. “She's accomplished a lot in this year.”

The club is in the middle of a three-year plan on year two initially set up by Halman-Plumley. Seim says he wants to carry on the plan to aid the community.

“Part of is the growth of our club but we are to embark on a process to what's the next legacy project of what the Rotary Club is going to do for the community.,” he explained. “We've got the Rotary Greenway Trail, Rotary at the Five Counties Children's Centre so we're just looking for what our next big project is going to be.”

The Rotary Club donated its final $25,000 of a $100,000 pledge to Camp Kawartha. It was part of the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s Centennial Celebration Project with the money going towards the construction of the new Camp Kawartha Health Centre; an eco-friendly straw bale building completed in 2021.

The meeting also gave the award for the Breakfast Cup to one of the five Prince of Wales Breakfast Club volunteer groups. Every morning last week, each group prepared a special breakfast for the young Breakfast Club Patrons.

Meals were judged by a panel of school staff and students with points for presentation, nutrition and taste. The ‘Thursday Team’ captured the trophy and bragging rights after serving up a deluxe breakfast buffet that consisted of homemade Mac and cheese, devilled eggs, heart-shaped watermelon pops and more.

The club named Catherine Hanrahan, Rotary director of public relations and Tony Grady, Rotary treasurer were named Rotarians of the Year.

Tim Maloney and Myrlene Sundberg were welcomed as new members.

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United Way Announces Chair For 2024 Community Campaign

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United Way Peterborough & District has appointed Shirley Turner as Chair of the 2024 Community Campaign, announced on Wednesday.

Shirley Turner (left) after the public announcement of being appointer chair with Anne Odercin, United Way director of philanthropy (right). Photo by David Tuan Bui

“It's such an energetic team,” said Turner. “I can't wait to be a part of it and find out how we can help more in the community.”

The retired teacher and local realtor joined the cabinet last year as a community ambassador.

“United Way is the heartbeat of our community,” said Turner. “Every dollar raised here, stays here. I’ve lived in Peterborough my entire life and I’ve seen firsthand how United Way’s support transforms lives. It’s an honour to lead this year’s campaign and work towards a brighter future for our community.”

As Chair, Turner leads the Fundraising Cabinet of volunteer leaders in spearheading fundraising efforts, speaking with potential donors and hosting community events.

“Shirley’s dedication and passion for our community are truly inspiring,” said Jim Russell, United Way CEO. “Her leadership and commitment to making a difference align perfectly with our mission. We are confident that under her guidance the 2024 campaign will achieve remarkable success.”

The United Way is seeking cabinet members to join their team for the 2024 campaign. Potential volunteers can find more information or can join online or contact Anne Ondercin, director of philanthropy at 705-742-8839 x30.

The campaign launch is scheduled for Sept. 11 at the Healthy Planet arena.

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Rotary Club of Peterborough Hosting Open House For General Public to Understand Its Operations

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The Rotary Clubs of Peterborough, Peterborough-Kawartha, and Bridgenorth-Ennismore-Lakefield are hosting an open house for the public to understand the Rotary’s operations this Thursday at the McDonnel St. Activity Centre.

The Club celebrated its 100th Anniversary on April 1, 2021 Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

The open house is from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with opening remarks at 5:45 p.m. Guest speakers are also at the open house to speak to the public.

“Guests will have the chance to chat with Rotarians and see how Rotary is making a difference in our community and around the world,” as read in a statement from a press release.

Light food is being provided with a cash bar available on site.

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City of Peterborough Marks This Week As Emergency Preparedness Week

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The City of Peterborough is marking this week as Emergency Preparedness Week by urging residents to be prepared in case of emergency.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

This year’s public education initiative theme is ‘Plan for every season.’  

By taking a few simple steps, residents can become better prepared to face the range of unique emergency challenges facing Peterborough on a seasonal basis. Residents are encouraged to: 

  • Know the risks – Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to their community and region can help residents better prepare. 

  • Make an emergency plan – It will help individuals and their families know what to do. 

  • Prepare an emergency kit – Having basic supplies to enable residents to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours without power or tap water is a widely recommended guideline. During emergencies, it may take time for emergency services to reach everyone in need, especially if the situation is widespread or resources are limited. Being prepared to sustain themselves and their family for that initial period, not only eases the burden on emergency responders but also increases their chances of staying safe and comfortable until help arrives. 

“Emergencies can vary widely in nature, so it is important for us to adapt our preparations accordingly. Whether it's a natural disaster, power outage, or other unforeseen event, having a well-thought-out emergency plan and supplies can provide peace of mind and increase our resilience in challenging situations,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. 

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Twenty Community Groups Made Peterborough Parks Greener For the Great Community Litter Clean-Up

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The first Great Community Litter Clean-up saw 20 community groups and organizations come together during Earth Week to pick up litter in Peterborough parks and along trails.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

There were 1.2 tonnes of litter collected which equals more than 133,000 plastic water bottles according to The City of Peterborough.

“As always, our community really came together for the betterment of the environment,” said Councillor Joy Lachica.“We all play a role in having a beautiful, litter-free City, whether by picking up litter, putting trash in the proper receptacles or packing our blue boxes to reduce blowing recyclables on collection day.” 

Groups can organize a litter clean-up in a park, trail or public space any time. Registration can be found on the City’s website to receive a free litter clean-up kit and arrange a designated time and location for Public Works staff to collect the garbage.  

A new online collaboration tool is available on the City’s community consultation website. Residents can log their completed litter clean-up event on an interactive map and connect with other people and clean-up groups in the community.

Through this forum, residents can also share news about their event plans, share ideas, and offer to help others. 

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2024 Capable Con Returns to Venture North On June 1 to Cap Off National AccessAbility Week

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The Council for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) has launched the return of Capable Con, a family-friendly free event that was announced at the Venture North Building on Tuesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Venture North Parking lot on June 1, the final day of National AccessAbility week.

Capable Con features fun activities, vendors, and live entertainment while promoting and creating healthy dialogues about inclusivity and accessibility.

“That's what we're aiming for: have fun, be engaged, learn, ask questions and just really enjoy themselves,” said Jason King, CPD marketing and programming coordinator.

Attendees have a chance to experience CPD's innovative Virtual Reality Simulation of the Time in My Shoes Program, offering a firsthand perspective on the daily challenges many individuals face.

“Disability touches every aspect of life and it's crucial that we ensure equal opportunities for all individuals, whether it's access to services, inclusive environments, or employment opportunities,” said Cody McIntyre, CPD Council Vice Chair.

The inaugural event launched in 2022. King says it is getting bigger and better each year with new annual features.

“Canopy Services is bringing their sensory tent to check out,” he explained.” It's designed to give you some place peaceful where you can have a weighted blanket or some textured items, noise-cancelling headphones, whatever you might need to calm yourself and relax. It's a really big deal when it comes to people with autism or with other types of intellectual challenges. 

Since the event’s inception, Capable Con has been bringing back its ‘Capable Crew,’ a team of everyday superheroes with disabilities who will visit various organizations to celebrate the community's diverse tapestry and promote inclusivity.

The following are the characters showcased for Capable Con:

  • Scout and traveller, a hero with vision loss and his guide dog

  • Amanda Auriel, a hero with hearing loss but can read body signals and lips to capture words spoken. She uses a skateboard with her name spelled out in sign language.

  • Power Pals Jordan and Jamie who are on the autism spectrum. They possess the power of hyper-focus, unconventional outlooks, pattern recognition, great memory and recall.

  • Bionica Bot, an amputee gymnast with interchangeable parts for her arm to suit the task at hand.

  • Cruze, a hero able to navigate anywhere with the power of his unique wheelchair

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Peterborough Petes Forward Brennan Faulkner Named Westland Insurance Community Player of the Month

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Peterborough Petes forward Brennan Faulker is the recipient of the Westland Insurance Community Player of the Month for March.

Photo by dAVID tUAN bUI.

The London native participated in three ball hockey visits to local schools and attended the Volt Hockey launch event at the YMCA of Central East Ontario which is designed to create a team environment for players with disabilities.

“I think it’s very important to be active members of the community,” said Faulkner. “We’re role models for these kids and it’s important to be a positive influence.”

The Petes Ball Hockey Program launched last year and has provided free ball hockey to over 2,000 local students and counting.

The Petes, in collaboration with educator ambassadors in each school, provide each participating school with all necessary equipment, training and support to play ball hockey at no cost.

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Interim Co-Executive Directors Hired at Peterborough Community Health Centre Hires to Spearhead Establishment of New Community Health Centre

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The Board of Directors of the Peterborough Community Health Centre (CHC) has appointed David Jeffery and Christine Brander as Interim Co-Executive Directors, announced on Wednesday.

JOHNATHAN BENNETT, CHC DIRECTOR AND CHAIR IS PART OF FOUR BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBERS. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

“David Jeffery is renowned for his decade-long leadership at Chigamik Community Health Centre, and brings a wealth of experience in establishing inclusive and culturally sensitive healthcare environments,” said Jonathan Bennett, Peterborough CHC’s board chair. “Under his guidance, Chigamik CHC evolved into a bilingual and Indigenous-focused healthcare facility, catering to the diverse needs of communities in North Simcoe Muskoka. We are so pleased that he and Christine will join us to lead the establishment of our CHC.”

Jeffery's dedication to inclusivity and accessibility makes him a natural leader who can guide the Peterborough CHC toward its mission of promoting community well-being according to a press release.

“I am honoured to collaborate with Christine Brander in leading the establishment of the Peterborough Community Health Centre,” said Jeffery. “Together, we are poised to create a healthcare model prioritizing inclusivity, accessibility, and community empowerment.”

Brander has over two decades of healthcare expertise across various domains which include acute care and primary care settings. With a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Management, Brander’s extensive background encompasses medical education, hospice palliative care and health system planning.

She had a recent tenure with the Ontario Health Central Region System Strategy, Planning, Design and Implementation team.

“I am thrilled to join the Peterborough Community Health Centre as Co-Executive Director and contribute to positive changes in healthcare delivery," said Brander. “With a focus on collaboration and innovation, we will strive to enhance accessibility and effectiveness in delivering healthcare solutions that make a meaningful difference in people's lives.”

Newly funded, which was sought on Feb. 16 last year, the Peterborough CHC is positioned to address the region's pressing healthcare needs while focusing on social determinants of health and supporting vulnerable populations as stated in a press release.

The CHC’s key initiatives are attracting new family doctors and nurse practitioners, reducing pressure on hospitals, attaching thousands of patients to healthcare providers, serving as a hub for social services, and promoting a healthier, safer downtown community.

The Peterborough CHC's programs and services will encompass comprehensive primary care, mental health services, chronic disease management and culturally appropriate care facilitated by Indigenous Traditional Healers. Additionally, the centre will be pivotal in coordinating social services and collaborating with Indigenous partners.

The next phase of the Peterborough CHC initiative involves securing an interim location and commencing client services by the end of the calendar year.

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