Peterborough Huskies Coach, Families & Team Members In Shock After Charges Laid Against Co-Founders

Team members of the Peterborough Huskies—a special needs hockey team that has captured the heart of the city and beyond—are in shock and reeling after the news that its co-founders Dave Tuck and Catherine Tuck have been charged with fraud over $5,000 following an investigation into the misuse of funds from this local non-profit organization.

"Earlier in 2016, the Peterborough Police Service’s Fraud Unit began an investigation involving the co-accused fraudulently obtaining and using funds for personal use that had been donated to a Peterborough based non-profit organization," according to a police media release. "The total fraud is in excess of $5,000." The co-accused were held in custody and are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday (November 3rd).

Longtime Peterborough Huskies Head Coach Chris (J-Boy) Williams tells PTBOCanada he and the team are in complete shock, and trying to pick up the pieces after this devastating news.

"What a kick in the teeth," Coach Williams says. "I am trying to figure out what the next move is and how to keep the team on the ice. We have a lot of understandably upset parents and players right now."

Peterborough Huskies coach Chris J-Boy Williams with one of players

Williams tells PTBOCanada he is trying to figure out a way to save the team, which has changed the lives of so many special needs kids in the community:

"I think we will most definitely need to do something to keep this going," he says. "I am going to try and find out if we have any money left, how much ice time is paid for, etc. I'm going to say no money and no ice time which is so sad for the players. I've received messages from players that can't comprehend what's going on."

The Peterborough Huskies were set to host a Special Needs International Hockey tournament next year in Peterborough which would bring dozens of teams and thousands of families to the city, and that, too, is now very much in jeopardy, Coach Williams tells PTBOCanada.

"I'm really concerned about whether that tournament can happen now," he says, adding, "I've reached out to the VP of Special Needs International for advice."

For now, Coach Williams is hoping someone in the community will step up with money to help the players, volunteers and families save the team. This is about the kids and their needs and always has been for Coach Williams.

Right now, he and the team are at a loss for words.

Email Coach Williams here if you think you can help.

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Robinson Place In Downtown Peterborough Turns 20

Robinson Place at 300 Water Street turns 20 this year, and is hosting anniversary celebrations this Friday, November 4th. Home to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry as well as housing many other ministries, this building is also a provincial leader achieving LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum status two years ago.

One of Canada's most eco-friendly buildings, it has ample room for bicycle storage, a waterfall and community garden out back, and a 35,000-litre tank that gathers rainwater to be diverted to the flush toilets. Here are some photos of the various stages of construction...

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Peterborough Petes Are Doing Throwback Game Set In 1956, Includes 15 Cent Hotdogs

On Tuesday, November 8th—exactly 60 years to the day of the first ever OHA game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre—the Peterborough Petes will recreate the 1956 hockey game night experience, wearing replica 1956 T.P.T Petes uniforms. They will be playing against the Niagara IceDogs, who will be wearing St. Catharines Teepees throwback jerseys.

Throwback Petes jersey

The game will be a near-exact replica of a 1956 hockey experience, including:
 
-> 15 cent hotdogs (limit of two per ticket, while supplies last)
-> Special ticket discount: anyone born in 1956 or earlier can purchase a regular bowl ticket for $10
-> Anyone born on November 8, 1956 who has a ticket to the game will receive a free, autographed T.P.T. Petes replica ringer T-shirt
-> Rinkboards removed
-> 1950s music and live organ throughout game
-> Free Tide laundry detergent sample giveaway (on November 8th, 1956, the Petes gave away Lux Liquid dish detergent)
-> Remembrance Day ceremonies in recognition of Peterborough Memorial Centre, which was named in honour of veterans
-> Peterborough 534 Raider Air Cadet Squadron anthem performance
& much much more!

Tickets are still available for the November 8th throwback game—including special $10 1956 tickets—by visiting the Peterborough Memorial Centre Box Office online, in person, or by phoning 705.743.3561.

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Peterborough Raised Filmmaker Has Comedy Web Series That Is Being Featured At NYC Web Fest

There is this entire generation of millennials and beyond consuming, creating and distributing content on the web and social media—laptops and mobile devices are the new TV—and a Peterborough raised filmmaker named Danielle Lapointe has embraced this empowering digital era full on.

Danielle, a Kenner grad who currently resides in Montreal after studying film production at Concordia, produces and stars in the comedy web series Shooting the Moon that was just released this summer and is quickly gaining in popularity, as great content and video do on the web and digital platforms.

Danielle Lapointe and Jeremy Sandor, co-directors of Shooting the Moon

Shooting the Moon is an autobiographical comedy following Danielle's journey as an Ontario girl adjusting to life in Montreal's film industry—and Episode 6, "Homesick", was filmed in Peterborough. In the episode (watch it at end of post), Danielle goes home to Peterborough to visit her Mom, Dad and Nana, but finds that the relaxing vacation she'd hoped for is anything but.

"The role that Peterborough plays in Shooting the Moon is that my character (also named Danielle) is closely tied to her small town Ontario roots," Danielle tells PTBOCanada. "Anyone who moved from a smaller town to a city—especially with an added language barrier—can tell you that there are adjustments to make. For me, I wanted to play up the naiveté of my character. In Episode #6, my character ends up going home to visit her family for a respite from her constant filmmaking failures."

Danielle in Episode 6 at family brunch

Since its online launch, the web series has been gaining lots of great critical praise. In its biggest honour yet, it has now been chosen as one of the "Official Selections" at the 3rd Annual NYC Web Fest—which has become one of the world's largest and most influential festivals for new media creators. NYC Web is a celebration of the best web series that have been released online in the past year.

Danielle got her early video training at Kenner in Peterborough. "It was at Kenner that I started making video projects and experimenting with various artistic mediums after years of painting and drawing being my medium of choice," she tells PTBOCanada, adding that she returns home to Peterborough several times a year for "the fresh air, swimming, canoeing, campfires, downtown Hunter Street life, and her friends and family."

Danielle in Episode 6

Danielle says that her web series was born out of frustration. "I was working at a movie theatre, trying to figure out how to fund my filmmaking or get a job that suited me in the film industry, and my daily encounters started to feel like I was living inside of a sitcom. Whether it be the former classmates I would run into at parties who were all doing 'exciting things' or the endless search for paying jobs, I started writing down all of these anecdotes and then realized I had enough to start making either a feature film or web series."

The web series format seemed most fitting for Danielle to tell her quick stories, so she decided to focus on that medium. "There's something really liberating that creating for the web provides," she tells PTBOCanada. "The traditional filmmaking trajectory is to finish your film, then spend tons of money to enter it into festivals, and if it isn't selected, you either release it online a few years later for the hell of it or the film just kind of disappears into non existence. With the web, you are your own distributor, your own publisher, and although it's up to you to market it, you aren't waiting for a festival's permission to show people your work."

Danielle in Episode 6

Danielle's talent and passion for her craft—and innovative choice of platform to distribute it—has translated into success for her with this screening at NYC Web Fest, which runs from November 10th to 12th (Danielle's web series screens on Saturday the 12th). Danielle and the series co-director Jeremy Sandor—a talented Montreal-based filmmaker from Toronto—will be travelling to New York to attend, and represent Canada as one of the few Canadian Series featured in the festival.

Danielle and Jeremy have filmed this series on a shoestring budget, proving once again that great content and video can get noticed on the social web. One can imagine this show not only building more momentum online in future seasons—and more views as people re-watch or discover Season 1—but being picked up by traditional cable TV somewhere down the road (or Netflix).

Danielle in Episode 6

You can watch Season One of Shooting the Moon here, and watch the "Homesick" episode filmed in Peterborough below...

In Episode 6 of Shooting the Moon, Danielle goes home to Peterborough, Ontario to visit her mom, dad, and nana, but finds that the relaxing vacation she'd hoped for is anything but. WEBSITE - https://www.shootingthemoon.ca FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/shootingthemoontv/ TWITTER - https://twitter.com/shootingmoontv INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/shootingthemoontv/

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PRHC Has A Volunteer Staff Band Called The Misfits That Brings Joy To Patients

PRHC has a volunteer staff band that plays for patients once a month—and includes staff members from across all areas of the hospital.

The Misfits—made up of people from departments such as Building Services, Physiotherapy, Social Work, Laboratory, Mental Health and Finance—practice twice a week at lunch hour to prepare for the patients.

The Misfits rehearsing on lunch hour

Patients respond to music even when other memories are gone and it eases their anxiety and relaxes them when The Misfits play.

PRHC says it regularly receives positive feedback from patients and family members about this great band giving their time in such a meaningful way.

Watch the video below to learn more about The Misfits and a beautiful letter they received...

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Peterborough Police Offer A Vulnerable Person Registry

The Peterborough Police Service offer a Vulnerable Person Registry for families and caregivers of vulnerable persons that they want the public to spread the word about. The information provided to police is entered into a secure database that will be used by police and other emergency services during a crisis situation.

In the event of an emergency, responding officers will have immediate access to this information, improving police understanding and response.

A Vulnerable Person is defined as a person who due to a medical, mental health or physical condition may exhibit patterns of behaviour that may pose a danger to themselves. This may include:

-> A tendency to wander

-> The inability to communicate

-> Fascinations or attractions (water, construction sites etc.)

-> Social responses (fear of strangers, aggression)

Examples include (but are not limited to) individuals with Alzheimer’s, Autism Spectrum Disorder or an acquired brain injury.

To use the registry, the vulnerable person must live in the jurisdiction of the Peterborough Police. (The family or caregiver who registers the person need not reside within the jurisdiction.)

You can register a vulnerable person either by using their online form or by attending the Peterborough Police station in person.

For more information or to fill out the online form, click here.

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Louis Tiboruhanga's Story Is One Of Tragedy, Loss, Desperation & Now Hope Thanks To Peterborough

There were a lot of firsts for Louis Tiboruhanga Thursday morning (October 27th) as he stood atop a heaping mound of freshly picked Peterborough County pumpkins in the back of a pickup truck looking to the sky and the first snowflakes of the season.

“My first Canadian snow,” the Rwandan father-of-two says.

Louis with his daughters Genevieve & Gloria

Two pickup trucks sat in front of Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School, suspensions lowered by the weight of the orange load—200-plus pumpkins.

And then the lineup started. Students snaked out of the school where they were greeted by Louis’s beaming smile.

“Thank you, here you go,” Louis says, as he places a large pumpkin into the hands of a Grade 3 student. Every student in the school was to receive their own pumpkin, including Louis’s own daughters Gloria (Grade 3) and Genevieve (Grade 1).

Louis distributes pumpkins to happy students at Immaculate Conception

How Louis ended up distributing free pumpkins to Catholic elementary students in Peterborough’s East City is a story of harrowing tragedy, loss, desperation and finally hope.

Louis fled his life in Rwanda in January 1997 and ended up in Kenya’s Kakuma (UNHCR) refugee camp. Both his daughters were born and raised in the camp, where he spent more than 19 years.

In 2008, Sister Ruth Hennessy of Casa Maria Refugee Homes in Peterborough sponsored the Tiboruhanga family. But it took another eight years before their resettlement to Canada was approved. Louis’s wife passed away in the camp in 2011.

The camp provided the necessities, including schooling, but Louis says he didn’t see a lot of hope for his children, who were schooled in crowded, under-resourced classrooms.

“The future in the camp was desperate," he says. "You can’t see your children excelling with 150 children in the classroom and expect to have a better future for them."

Desperation turned to hope on July 19th, 2016 when Louis, Gloria and Genevieve landed at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, greeted by Sister Ruth and brought to Peterborough to start a new life.

“It was a very fantastic day—an unforgettable day for me,” he says.

The children have settled at Immaculate Conception and Louis has been finding part-time work.

Peter Leahy owns Merrylynd farm in Douro where Louis has been picking pumpkins.

“Picking gives us time to chat a little," Peter says. "Louis has many interesting and humbling stories. He realizes that for him to adjust to Canada will be hard, but he's doing it for his kids to have a better life. His faith is very strong and his spirit is astonishing. We hope to help him find a job right away. He's willing to do anything and his English is very good.”

Peter Leahy and Louis giving out pumpkins to the kids

One day while working in the field, Louis expressed to Peter that he wanted to give back to the Immaculate Conception school community, which has been so warm and welcoming to his daughters.

Peter offered the pumpkins and pickup trucks, and on Thursday Louis had a chance to make a small gesture of thanks to the school and staff at Immaculate Conception. And his daughters were able to celebrate their first Canadian Halloween with schoolmates in style.

Hope is something Louis and his daughters now have thanks to Peterborough, Canada

“It is something very extraordinary to me," Louis says. "It’s extraordinary in a sense that I see it as the hope for my children—they have the future in their hands."

“I was extremely happy that the school children would come to me, accepting this small gift I had planned for them. I think it is really very wonderful.”

—guest post by Galen Eagle

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