Workplace Integration Program Provides Valuable Service In Peterborough

Employers should check out the non-profit Workplace Integration program, which is affiliated with the New Canadians Centre here in Peterborough.

Their mandate is to assist employers in the Peterborough area to attract, hire and retain immigrants, refugees and other newcomers.

They facilitate connections between local professionals who can assist newcomers with informational interviews, mentoring relationships, volunteer placements and work placements. An informational interview is a one-time meeting with one of their clients in which they can ask a professional particular questions related to the field. A mentoring relationship lasts about 4 to 6 months, in which the two parties meet once every 2 or 3 weeks.

As a "mentor", you are not responsible for hiring or finding employment for the client you meet with, but to provide advice and information. More information about the program and being a mentor to a newcomer can be found here.

[Workplace Integration Centre]

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Local Food Bank Really Needs Your Donations

[UPDATE: Sorry, once again CHEX has disabled their embed code in video below, not allowing us to share this video with others.]

CHEX Newswatch reports on the continuing need for donations to the food bank Kawartha Food Share in January and February, due to a spike in the need for food.

[CHEX Newswatch]

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Rock The Ice IV Takes Place At Memorial Centre February 6th

Olympic Bronze Medalist Joannie Rochette has officially been added to the line-up of skaters performing in Rock the Ice IV on February 6th, 2013 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The six-time Canadian Champion, who won the silver medal at the 2009 World Championships, joins an impressive cast including four-time World Champion Kurt Browning, two-time Olympic Silver Medalist Elvis Stojko and World Champion Jeffrey Buttle.

Tickets are available for Rock the Ice IV at Memorialcentre.ca or at the Peterborough Memorial Centre box office. The show starts at 7:00 p.m. Rock it.

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Sign In Peterborough Says... "Meery X-Mas"

This sign spelling was spotted at White House on Charlotte Street. It's not a great effort.

[via @Doug_Tilley]

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Watch The Idle No More Flash Mob That Took Place At Lansdowne Place

An "Idle No More" flash mob broke out Saturday (December 22nd) at Lansdowne Place Mall in Peterborough, a follow up to a protest earlier in the week in town from local members. This national grassroots campaign—which is rapidly gaining momentum—is a transformative movement calling on all people to join in a revolution which honours and fulfills Indigenous sovereignty which protects the land and water. Idle No More movement feels the federal government is not abiding by treaty rights, and is holding demonstrations across the country. Learn more about Idle No More and First Nations rights here. Watch some footage of the flash mob captured by PMZ below..

[PMZ]

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Listen To The Epic Calls Spanky's Received From A Drunk, Belligerent Customer Named Ken

Spanky's bar in downtown Peterborough recently asked a patron to leave their establishment as he had a wee bit too much to drink—ok, a way bit too much to drink. Well Ken—or more like "I Am Ken" as he will come to be known when you listen to this—did not take kindly to being given the boot. He went back to wherever he was staying that night and left many messages on Spanky's phone telling them in no uncertain terms just how he felt. And Spanky's brought them to life in this hilarious animated video. WARNING: I Am Ken's language is totally NSFW.

[YouTube]

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3,000 Canadians Needed To Donate Blood By End Of This Year, Including 200 In Peterborough

Here's a PSA from Canadian Blood Services...

December 21th, 2012 (Peterborough) — As we approach the Christmas holiday and turn the page on another year, Canadian Blood Services is asking eligible Canadians to “GIVE A HOLIDAY MIRACLE” by donating blood during the days around Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Collecting blood during the holiday season is a challenge, as many donors go away or are busy with other activities. Yet many patients will spend their holiday receiving cancer treatment or undergoing life-saving surgery and emergency care. During the weeks of December 24 and December 31, Canadian Blood Services estimates a need of 25,000 units of blood to give holiday miracles to hospital patients across Canada.

In order to meet this blood collection goal, we still need 3,000 more Canadians to book appointments and donate blood between now and the end of the year. In Peterborough, we need 206 donors to donate blood in order to help meet this goal.

“We’d like to thank Canadians who took the time to donate blood so far this holiday season, but we need that generosity to continue through the end of the year,” says Sue Harris, Community Development Coordinator.  “As the year draws to an end, do something that embodies the spirit and generosity of the season—give blood. It costs you nothing, and it’ll give someone a holiday miracle.”

There are plenty of opportunities to donate blood this holiday season.

Peterborough Blood Donor Clinic
55 George St. N.

Open

Saturday Dec 22^nd 8am – 12noon

Monday Dec 24^th 10am – 2pm

Thursday Dec 27^th 3pm – 7pm

Friday Dec 28^th 8am – 12noon

Platelets, which are derived from blood donations, are of particular concern around the holiday season. Because platelets only have a shelf life of five days, it is not possible to “stock up” ahead of time. Patients with diseases such as cancer need large quantities of platelets as part of their treatment. It is critical that our clinics are full of “miracle workers” over the holidays to meet the need for platelets.

Please visit us online at Blood.ca or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) to book an appointment to donate today. To help meet the continuing need for blood, donors who have an appointment in the coming weeks are urged to honour it.

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PtboPic: If The End Is Near It's Time To Head To Sizzlin' Downtown Peterborough

[via @vinceb]

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Breaking News: The World Still Exists & Peterborough Still Rocks

Morning Peterborough, the world has not ended. And Peterborough still totally rocks! It is a little snowy out though. So city, carry on but drive safe. And head on down to The Wolf's Gift of Christmas with Brian Ellis and Dani Stover at the Historic Red Dog.

Bring it...

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Listen To The Weber Brothers Song "When Christmas Falls On Peterborough"

This is great.

[via]

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