What It Was Like To Take Part In Kirk Wipper Memorial Portage

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Alana and Kyla, pictured at far left

It started out as a quick message asking about a Kirk Wipper Memorial Portage and would I be interested in participating. We were a group of Ontario Educators (aka "edutweeps") along with our families, who were immediately enchanted with being a part of this memorable portage that would end up at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough in time to mark the beginning of the Kirk Wipper public memorial.

Andy, Ross, Ryan, Jeff, Nick, Colin, Lynn, Anna, Kyla (my daughter) and I were a small but mighty team who were responsible for the first leg of the Peterborough leg of the portage. We all walked the portage and while the boys carried the canoe, Kyla and I had the chance to walk and talk with one of the organizers, Tim
McDonagh, and heard about his connection to Kirk, what the canoe meant to him, and how much he enjoyed walking with the canoe and meeting the people who had come out to participate in the portage.

Our leg of the portage was about 6 km (Hwy 28 starting at Springville United Church, up to Sir Sandford Fleming Drive, across and right onto Dobbin Road finishing at Lansdowne). After the canoe left us, I’m not
sure who carried the canoe or what their adventure entailed but I can tell you it was fun to participate in the memorial portage and be with friends who love to paddle, love to get involved, and are fun to be with. I'd like to think Kirk Wipper would have totally approved of our crew!

On a personal note, my daughter Kyla was the youngest person to carry the canoe and she was very proud to add her signature to the paddle that was given to his wife Ann Wipper after the memorial service. Although Kyla took some convincing to actually help carry the canoe, she was mighty proud to share her story with her dad at the end of the day.

For more pics from the day, click here and here.

[KirkWipper.ca; Canadian Canoe Museum]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Alana Callan; photo via Flickr]

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Peterborough Workplace Transportation Challenge "Shifting Gears" Kicks Off On Sunday

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Another season of the workplace transportation challenge Shifting Gears begins Sunday for the full month of May. The focus of the campaign is to encourage you to bike, walk, carpool, or use public transportation to get to and from work each day. Have you and your workplace registered yet?

 

[Shifting Gears]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Stuff to Do in Peterborough This Weekend

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Friday

Juke Box Mania 2011, Trentwinds International Centre, 6 p.m.

Saturday

Canadian Canoe Museum hosts "How to Weave a Woodland Pack Basket", 9 a.m. -5 p.m. 

Ducks Unlimited presents Peterborough Chapter's 24th Annual "World's Largest Greenwing Gathering", 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Trent Severn Waterway underneath the Peterborough Liftlocks

Trent University presents Spring Thaw Open House, 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

8th Annual Green Expo, Evinrude Centre, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., $7/Adults, $5/Seniors, Free/Children Under 12

Peterborough Speedway kicks off their 2011 season, gates open at noon, first race at 6 p.m. 

Peterborough Symphony Orchestra presents East Meets West, Showplace Performance Centre, 8 p.m. 

Sunday

2011 Walk for Kids Help Phone, Jacksons Park, Registration begins at 9 a.m.

Hike for Hospice, Millenium Park, Registration begins at 10 a.m. 

Silver Bean Café NOW OPEN for the season

 

To submit info for "Stuff to do in the Patch This Weekend", email evan@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.

Peterborough Speakers Series "Visionaries of Change" A True Inspiration

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Honourable Peter Adams Recently, the Peterborough Speakers Series "Visionaries of Change" presented by the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation took place at The Venue. Seven speakers from the local area brought their personal stories of belief, courage, and inspiration to the stage to share with an audience of about 150 people. This event, which will now become an annual thing, raises funds for the five local Peterborough Networked Family Health Teams.

Tracey Groombridge with Laura Kennedy & Julie Brown

Katherine sharing her stories about her trek to Mt. EverestI had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Katherine Barron, who at 16 years old completed the Everest Base Camp Trek in October 2010. Katherine joined the Royal Canadian Army Cadets at age 12 after hearing a presentation and immediately knew it was the right fit for her.  She discussed her challenges and triumphs that she faced as she prepared for such an experience not even knowing yet whether she'd be one of the 16 people chosen. Once chosen, anticipation and nervousness grew and even the day of departure they all had to pass one last fitness test before boarding the airplane—which unfortunately sent two people returning home. Katherine set off on this once-in-a-lifetime journey for 17 days. Throughout the trek, there was a constant rollercoaster of emotions and physical exhaustion with the long days, illness and lower oxygen levels with being at such a high altitude. Katherine hopes by sharing her story of the difference cadets has made in her life and the opportunities she has had will encourage other youth to join and discover the discipline and dedication she has experienced.

John Hastings chatting with guests from the evening.Canadian Kayak National Team member John Hastings captivated the audience with footage of his kayak journeys over the years and how driven he's been to pursue his dreams, despite the challenges that he has faced. Yet he continues to strive harder to accomplish all the goals he has set for himself.  

I was so honoured to be in the company of such wonderful people for the evening. It was definitely a reminder that we are capable of being resilient and to not let obstacles we are faced with force us to give up. Rather, those obstacles should only be a motivator to get the best out of what life has to offer us.  

Thank you to all who made this event happen and I already look forward to next year's event and the stories that will be shared to inspire us all.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre Hosting Fundraising Yard Sale Saturday

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[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Fleming Says Bye Bye to Water Bottles On Earth Day (First College In Canada To Do So)

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Fleming College had a decision on its hands when its food services contract was going to run out. When deciding on how to proceed with something as simple as providing water to the students, the push to cut down on the waste that plastic water bottles caused was already in motion. A marketing campaign had been started by students to encourage using more tap water, but as the students graduated, the campaign lost some steam.

In 2009, however, Fleming Go Club (Green Objectives) took the initiative to continue the campaign and take it a step further—to remove plastic water bottles all together. Fleming Student Council started by going bottle free and from there in January 2010 began on a larger campaign. The Lindsay Frost Campus also started discussing going water bottle free. Fleming Go pitched their petition and proposal to the executive and it was accepted, which means on April 22nd, Earth Day marks the first day no bottled water will be sold at Fleming—making it the first college in Canada to ban the sale of bottled water.

A reverse osmosis station was built (see pics below) and now Fleming is the first Canadian school to implement one full time. Students can now fill up their own containers for free at any time.



[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Stuff to Do In Peterborough This Weekend!

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Friday

Friends of the Library GIANT Book Sale at the Peterborough Public Library 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Kawartha Quiltmakers' Guild presents Feelings in Fabric Quilt Show, Evinrude Centre, 4 p.m. - 9 p.m., $6

Camp Kawartha Environment Centre presents Nature, Culture & Resilient Communities, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Springkle - a celebration of all things artsy, crafty & tasty, 491 Cordach Crescent, 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m.

Saturday

Friends of the Library GIANT Book Sale at the Peterborough Public Library 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Kawartha Quiltmakers' Guild presents Feelings in Fabric Quilt Show, Evinrude Centre, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., $6

14th Annual Earth Day Jackson Creek Clean Up, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Meet at the Monaghan Road entrance of Jackson Park

Springkle - a celebration of all things artsy, crafty & tasty, 491 Cordach Crescent, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Showplace Performance Centre presents Shine Dance Competition, ongoing throughout the day

Chapters presents author Bruce Gravel for a book signing, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

Community Living Peterborough presents the 2nd Annual Spring Spectacular, Peterborough Square, 7 p .m. -11 p.m. Tickets $50

Folk Under the Clock presents Ron Sexsmith, Market Hall, 8 p.m. Tickets $35

Sunday

Peterborough Field Naturalists presents Spring Wildlife Walk, 8 a.m. Meet at the Zoo for location details

Millenium Park Clean Up 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Meet at the Boat House next to the Silver Bean Cafe

2011 Peterborough MS Walk, Opening Ceremonies begin at 9:45 a.m. at St. Peter's Secondary School

Kawartha Quiltmakers' Guild presents Feelings in Fabric Quilt Show, Evinrude Centre, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. $6

Showplace Performance Centre presents Shine Dance Competition, ongoing throughout the day

 

To submit info for "Stuff to do in the Patch This Weekend", email evan@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.

Reminder: Green Waste Pickup Starts Today In Peterborough

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Place your green waste in reusable containers (with labels), bushel baskets or paper yard waste bags. No plastic bags.

Securely tie brush in bundles up to 1 m or 3 feet in length and 30 cm or 12 inches in diameter, weighing no more than 22 kg or 50 lbs.

Enjoy watching the truck take your green waste away.

More info here.



[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Suggested Playlist For Earth Hour In The Peterpatch Saturday

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Saturday is Earth Hour, when countries around the planet turn their lights out for an hour to take a stand against climate change. If you're not out and about in the city admiring the darkness for those 60 Minutes, bring it (or warm up to it) with some music themed around dancing in the dark. We've suggested some below, but make other suggestions for the Earth Hour music playlist in the comments section.




[Earth Hour]

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World Water Day Event Includes Speech On "The History of Drinking Water In Peterborough"

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On Tuesday (March 22nd), it's World Water Day 2011, and to mark this special day there is a free event at the Peterborough Public Library from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in their auditorium that includes a keynote speech on "The History of Drinking Water in Peterborough". Should be interesting.


 

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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