Here Are Pictures From The 1980s At The Peterborough Zoo

Did you visit the zoo during the '80s? Then feel the nostalgia as you slide into these pics provided to us by our friends at Riverview Park & Zoo...

PTBOCanada Co-Founder Evan Holt at the zoo in 1983

[Related: 1970s Pictures At Zoo]

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Look At These Beauty Light Pillars Over Peterborough Tonight

James Todd captured this stunning image of light pillars on Sunday night (January 29th). "I took the picture just off Lily Lake Road, facing towards the city," he tells PTBOCanada.

City lights reflecting off Moisture Crystals

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Peterborough's Two Special Needs Hockey Teams Just Played Against Each Other For First Time Ever

History was made in Peterborough on Saturday morning (January 28th) as the Kawartha Komets Juniors played against Electric City Maroon & White at the Evinrude Centre in a battle between the city's two special needs hockey teams—the first time they had ever played each other.

Kawartha Komets coach David Fisher & Electrick City coach Chris J-Boy Williams

"This was a huge event and such a step forward between the clubs with nothing but smiles and happiness on the ice which is what special needs hockey is all about," Coach J-Boy Williams says, adding "A big thanks to Carol and David Fisher for inviting us to play and cheers to a bright future and many more friendly games between us!"

Here are pictures Eileen Kimmet captured of an emotional day these parents, kids and coaches will never forget...

The game was a nailbiter, ending in a 6-6 tie.

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Fleming College Has Highest Winter Enrollment In Its 50 Year History

Great news for Fleming College—and Peterborough—as the college has kicked off 2017 with record winter enrollment. Overall, first-semester intake was 1,238 students, the highest in the College’s 50-year history. The previous record high for winter start-up was 1,081 students in 2013. Winter enrollment for all students—both new and returning—is up three percent over 2016.

FLEMING ALSO WELCOMES RECORD NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
 
Fleming also announced a record number of international students to its campuses. More than 460 new international students—including 135 students at Frost Campus in Lindsay—started at the College this January, an increase of 130 percent over January 2016. This increases the total number of international students by 70 percent to 874, with students attending from more than 25 different countries.

“We are absolutely pleased to welcome all of our new students to Fleming College," says Fleming College President Tony Tilly. "Our campus communities are thriving, diverse and collaborative—key aspects of an inspiring learning environment."

The College experienced growth across a broad spectrum of programs—and most of Fleming’s academic schools saw a surge in new students.
 
More than half of Fleming’s 100-plus full-time programs offer a January start. Students can study through the summer and start third semester with the fall cohort. This intake ensures a flexible option for students of all ages.
 
For students interested in starting at Fleming this fall, the deadline for equal consideration is approaching. Prospective students are encouraged to apply by February 1st to secure a seat in the program of their choice for fall 2017.

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Two Carpentry Apprentice Students At Fleming College Built Mental Health Awareness Benches

On Bell Let's Talk Day on Wednesday, Fleming College unveiled Mental Health Awareness Benches on campus—one each for Sutherland and Frost campuses.

Standing (l-r): Kerri Davies of CMHA HKPR, Fleming Carpentry professor Scott Fleming, Carpentry student Mike Payne.
Sitting (l-r): Fleming President Tony Tilly, Carpentry student Brad Morey, Mike Kingdon of Chemong Home Hardware, and Dean of Trades and Technology Maxine Mann.

Two Carpentry Apprentice students, Brad Morey and Mike Payne, designed and built the benches with materials donated by Chemong Home Hardware. They represent a physical space for people to come together and communicate or solely reflect.

The benches are further intended to illustrate Fleming’s commitment to developing, supporting and maintaining an environment for positive mental health.

Here are some tweets that went out about the benches...

People already enjoying the new bench built by our carpentry apprenticeship students. #BellLetsTalk @FlemingCollege #flemingmentalhealth pic.twitter.com/KO7mqVON4z

— David Adam Baker (@DavidAdamBaker) January 25, 2017

Benches, a spot to reflect and communicate, built by Carpentry Apprentice students are unveiled at #BellLetsTalk pic.twitter.com/xxRDsX5jPX

— Fleming College (@FlemingCollege) January 25, 2017

Talking is the key! Students build benches to start those conversations. End the stigma around #mentalhealth and @Bell_LetsTalk pic.twitter.com/TqeiQAOS0Q

— Givelo (@GiveloPtbo) January 25, 2017

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A Timid Peterborough Dog Named Oreo Will Be Looking For His Special Forever Home

On #BellLetsTalk day, The Peterborough Humane Society did their part to help reduce the stigma of discussing mental health by doing a Facebook post about a special 4-year-old Pointer/Retriever.

His name is Oreo, and he is gorgeous.

Like an Oreo cookie...

But as the Humane Society says, "Although you can't tell from his picture, he is currently very nervous and timid. He has been unsettled by the recent changes in his life. This adorable guy has not been with us long and is still adjusting to the busy environment."

The Humane Society says he will flourish in a forever home willing to help him build his confidence—he will help his owner's mental health, and that owner will in turn help Oreo with its mental health. The Humane Society are recommending a quieter home with no children.

Oreo is not yet up for adoption—"He will hopefully be up for adoption by the end of the week; he had surgery yesterday and needs a bit of time to recover," the Humane Society's Susan Dunkley tells PTBOCanada—but whoever gets him will get one special dog in need of lots of love.

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Peterborough Police Service On Mental Illness And Looking After Their Own

On Bell Let's Talk Day, Peterborough Police put out a powerful release about the importance of looking after the needs of their own. Read it below...

"The Peterborough Police Service supports Bell Let’s Talk Day and the fight to end stigma around mental illness.
 
For our Service, the wellness of all of our members, sworn and civilian, is crucial. The work of providing emergency service presents unique personal challenges that are not limited to operational staff.
 
We continue to seek opportunities that help our members cope with the rigors of their work and we have launched a variety of initiatives to ensure our employees are healthy both in mind and body.

These initiatives include an Employee and Family Assistance Plan that provides staff and their immediate family members with the ability to contact any registered psychologist, social worker or psychotherapist for confidential support and assistance.
 
In January of 2015, our Service implemented a Wellness Program for our members who are exposed to traumatic incidents on a more frequent basis. The mandatory aspect of this program removes stigma and ensures consistent check-ins.
 
In addition, five senior leaders completed a certificate course from Shepell and Queen’s University on 'Leading a Mentally Healthy Workplace' focusing on creating a healthy work environment and removing stigma.
 
Our Service recognizes that no one is immune to mental illness and we continue to build on the internal programs we have in place to ensure our members are properly supported."

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Someone Wrote "Send Love" Message On Trent University Bridge

Bridges have this way of connecting people, and bringing them together. So this simple, inspiring message someone made on the bridge at Trent University on a snowy Wednesday was a beautiful, symbolic gesture.

Julie Davis, Trent's Vice-President, External Relations & Advancement, tweeted about its impact here...

What a lovely message on the bridge @TrentUniversity today! pic.twitter.com/tLWijaUnD5

— Julie Davis (@julietrentuvp) January 25, 2017

Heading into Bell Let's Talk day, send love by sharing this post with others.

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New Canadians Centre Presents "One Night In Brazil" Gala March 4th At The Venue

PTBOCanada.com is delighted to be a media sponsor of New Canadians Centre's "One Night In Brazil" gala taking place March 4th at The Venue.

Dust off your dancing shoes, as you're in for an evening of fantastic music by Samba Toronto! Delicious Brazilian cuisine, vibrant and memorable performances highlight this annual fundraising event which supports the amazing work of the New Canadians Centre.

Since 2015, the New Canadians Centre has welcomed more than 220 newcomers from Syria to the Peterborough community. This has resulted in a 30 percent increase in the clients the Centre serves annually. With support from the community and sponsors, the Centre can help empower immigrants and refugees to become full and equal members of Canadian Society.

To purchase your tickets for "One Night In Brazil", click here. (A tax receipt for a portion of the ticket cost will be emailed to you after the event.)

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