Faceless Doll Project Teaches Powerful Lesson To Students About Missing Indigenous Women

Standing side-by-side, in a seemingly endless row that stretched the length of more than five tables, the image of hundreds of Faceless Dolls painted a powerful and haunting image.

It took several hours and the work of 80 students from Grade 7 to 12 in Peterborough to produce the end effect.

Students from St. Catherine Catholic Elementary School and St. Peter and Holy Cross Catholic secondary schools took part in an outreach Thursday (April 28th) to learn about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

The event took place in partnership with the Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle and the Curve Lake Cultural Centre.

The students heard first-hand accounts about the issues from members of Curve Lake First Nation before taking part in the Faceless Doll Project, crafting hundreds of felt dolls to represent those voiceless missing and murdered women. The dolls will be attached to banners that can travel from school to school.

“We’re getting a first hand experience, so we’re a part of the project— we’re not just hearing about it,” says Brenna Roblin, a Grade 10 St. Peter CSS student. “As you’re making it, you can just see each and every woman or girl that has been affected as you put together each dress or each piece of hair. You just care about the person as you’re thinking who has been affected and who that doll is.”

Liz Stone, Executive Director of the Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle in Peterborough, helped lead the discussion.

“I’m hoping that the students and the faculty that are involved will start to see that this is a Canadian issue, not an Aboriginal issue," Stone says. "It affects everybody. If individuals at a grassroots level starting at a young age have the knowledge, then they can create change at a large scale.”

Bringing the issue into the curriculum can be challenging for any teacher, says Amanda McInnes, the St. Catherine CES teacher who helped organize the outreach. That’s why having a tangible activity such as the Faceless Doll Project can bring home the lesson as an experiential exercise, she said.

“It makes it real," McInnes says. "Hearing about it is a powerful teaching tool, but putting these dolls together and being mindful that these are women in our community that have faced extreme violence and they are voiceless right now… it’s really important to teach.”

Phillip McQuade, a Grade 12 Holy Cross CSS student, has a new appreciation for the issue:

“I think I’m going to have a lot more awareness about what is going on, the unfairness that is going on in the Aboriginal community—especially towards women. And I think one thing that I will take from it is that it actually impacts me as a community member."

—guest post by Galen Eagle

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Courtney Druce Loses Battle With Cancer

Courtney Druce has lost her long and courageous battle with cancer.

Druce—daughter of former Peterborough Pete and NHLer John Druce—passed away Wednesday (April 27th) surrounded by family. She was 27.

Courtney fought this disease for the last 12 years—this was her 5th battle with cancer—and gave everything she had to conquer it with her positive attitude.

Courtney with her boyfriend, Bill Porter

Her Mom, Chantel, and Dad shared this letter...

"It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the passing of our beloved Daughter, Courtney. Survived by her loving Mother, Chantel; Father, John and Sister, Natalie. Courtney passed away peacefully on April 27, 2016, at the age of 27, as a result of her fifth battle with cancer. Courtney was surrounded by loved ones and we now have our own personal angel to watch over us in the heavens above.

In lieu of flowers the family wishes donations to the following Charities.
pedalforhope.ca Pedal for hope Raising funds for paediatric cancer research.

 victoriousfoundation.org Alicia Rose Foundation. Raising funds for teenage cancer awareness.

We ask that everyone please respect our need for privacy and personal time.

The service to be held in Canada. Details of the service to follow."

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Here's The Lineup For 2016 Friday Night Summer Film Series At Millennium Park

The Ben van Veen Century 21 Summer Family Film Series returns this summer with another three nights of family fun and outdoor movie screenings at Millennium Park.

The Friday evening events are dedicated to offering a free night of entertainment for families and bringing the community together.

This year's lineup includes The Wizard of Oz on July 15th, Star Wars (The Force Awakens) on July 29th and Zootopia on August 19th.

Shows begin at dusk, at approximately 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Millennium Park behind the Silver Bean Cafe. Organizers encourage audience members to bring something to sit on anprotection from the cold and insects.

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The Pregnancy Support Services Annual Gala Raised Over $50,000 for Expansion

Peterborough Pregnancy Support Services Annual Fundraising Gala “All About Love” took place Saturday (April 23rd) at The Venue in downtown Peterborough, and raised $55,487 for centre operations and expansions.

About 100 people attended the event, which featured dinner, silent auctions and guest speaker The Honourable Dr. Kellie Leitch—Member of Parliament for Simcoe-Grey and a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon. Kellie has practiced medicine at The Hospital for Sick Children and presently works as volunteer surgeon at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Pictured: Shawn Cooper and The Honourable Dr. Kellie Leitch

"I was pleased to attend the Peterborough Pregnancy Support Services gala and fundraiser,” says Dr. Kellie Leitch. “I commend them for doing their part in providing guidance and help to those who need their community health care services.”

The funds raised from the gala will help to pay for the PPSS expansion happening this year, including a facility upgrade, restructure of their corporate operations, and the hire and training of staff in order to open as a clinic to provide specific health care services beginning with the confirmation of pregnancy.

Great crowd at The Venue

“The 100 people who attended our gala now have a better understanding of PPSS services and their plans for expansion," says Catia Skinner, Co-Chair of the event. "We hope they spread the word of how PPSS can help expecting parents facing unplanned pregnancy."

To learn more about PPSS, click here.

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Ducks & Geese Just Can't Get Enough Of Peterborough Attractions

It's not just humans that are tourists in our own city. It's geese and ducks too...

A couple geese enjoy date day by the Lift Lock on Trent Severn Waterway...

Photo by Scott Arnold, April 2016

Ducks enjoy some window shopping along Charlotte St. in downtown Peterborough with Market Hall as a backdrop...

Photo by Scott Arnold, April 2016

Photo by Scott Arnold, April 2016

A couple geese enjoy a date day at Little Lake with Centennial Fountain as a backdrop...

Photo by Tony Bianco, May 2015

Mama duck with her hatchlings in the lovely courtyard at PRHC...

Photo by Aaron Elliott, April 2016

A duck enjoys a beautiful sunset on the Otonabee River...

Photo by Devon Ulrich, April 2016

And oh yeah, not a duck or a goose but who can forget the owl that parked itself at the Ministry of Natural Resources Building in downtown Peterborough last year...

Photo by Scott Arnold, January 2015

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Trent Students Painted What Trent Means To Them In Parking Lot Where New Building Will Go

On Friday (April 22nd), Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) hosted a special "Paint Your Space" event at the Bata Library H Parking Lot on the Symons Campus at Trent University.

The event to paint parking spots was to celebrate the end of another school year and to say goodbye—and make their mark—on the famed parking lot H before it is removed in May for the building of the new Student Centre scheduled to open Fall 2017.

Trent student Chance Squires captured this great footage of the final painted spots that he sent to PTBOCanada. Watch the video below...

A video by Chance Squires - Trent U Student This is an overhead video of the Bata parking lot, where students were able to paint parking spaces to leave there mark on campus as the university makes way for the new Student Centre. Find me on Facebook!

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Peterborough Offering H20 Mobile Drinking Water Station For Events

Your summer event can now include a PTBO H2O water station that shows up and provides refreshing, cold tap water.

The accessible mobile station has eight water fountains and eight water bottle refill stations. This picture below is similar to what it will look like—but Peterborough Utilities tells PTBOCanada it is in the final stage of construction and will be digitally wrapped with their branding.

Image supplied by PUC

The PTBO H2O Mobile Drinking Water Station serves as a fun and practical way to educate people about one of our most valuable resources—drinking water.

Those interested in booking the PTBO H2O Mobile Drinking Water Station can contact Peterborough Utilities Service at 705-748-9301 (ext 1258) or email PTBOH2O@peterboroughutilities.ca. You can also find more info on their website.

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