GoFundMe Campaign Set Up For 16-Year-Old Peterborough Teen Fighting Brain Tumor In Toronto Hospital

UPDATE: July 3rd, 2017 -> Melissa's dad Rick tells PTBOCanada the great news that his daughter is cancer-free: "Melissa is overwhelmed with the emotion and the lost time," says Rick. "She just got back from her last round of radiation Friday and has a lot of catching up to do." Indeed, Melissa is planning to get her G2 license, take at least one summer course, and start Grade 12 in September with all her friends. Rick wants to thank the entire Peterborough community for their tremendous support of the family during this trying time.

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UPDATE: February 16th -> Sadly, Melissa's status in that the diagnosis was changed to cancer. Her treatment continues. Our prayers to her and her family.

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UPDATE: February 1st -> The surgery went over 10 hours and she's recovering now, the family tells PTBOCanada. It's a benign tumor and 90 percent is out—it's very rare for her age and a large size. She will need visual testing for quite some time and hormone therapy. "The Dolishny family is overwhelmed with the support from family and friends, but in particular the Peterborough community," Rick tells us.

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ORIGINAL POST

After suffering blury vision and nausea, 16-year-old Peterborough teen Melissa Dolishny was recently diagnosed with a tumor in her brain that affects just about every facet of her life—vision, balance, digestion, sleep and more. She’s now blind in one eye with reduced vision in the other.

After being diagnosed recently at Toronto Sick Kids, Melissa has been moved to Toronto Western Hospital where doctors will be removing the tumor. This will be followed by months of therapy and rehabilitation.

Melissa

Melissa's father Rick

Melissa's father, local entrepreneur Rick Dolishny, tells PTBOCanada that "no matter the outcome of the surgery, there will be challenges." He adds that the support from the community has been amazing, "from our friend's offer to initiate a GoFundMe fundraiser, to the nonstop texts and tweets from friends, to the support from our family, to friends from Kenner, to the Peterborough community."

Living an hour and a half away from the hospital, the Dolishny family is in urgent need of assistance as they have transportation costs, parking, food and basic expenses of living away from home, and trying to uphold the expense of their family home in Peterborough. The GoFundMe campaign has just been set up to help the family through this trying time.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Please give what you can and share on your social media pages.

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City of Peterborough Comes On As Major Funding Partner For The Innovation Cluster

The Innovation Cluster has announced $300,000 in funding from the City of Peterborough to assist in the operational costs of the new downtown incubator devoted to innovation and technology start-ups. The expanded downtown incubator in the VentureNorth building will put Peterborough on the map as a city for start-ups to grow and succeed.

Many people are surprised to find out that the Innovation Cluster is a not-for-profit organization that does not take equity in the start-up companies that it supports—a model that many other incubators adhere to.

As a not-for-profit organization, the Innovation Cluster relies on support from its major funding partners: the Province of Ontario through the Ontario Centres of Excellence, the Peterborough Region Angel Network, Trent University, Fleming College, and now the City of Peterborough.

The funding from the City will in part be used to subsidize the open concept space for start-ups that are accepted into the Cube for a period of time, reducing the financial burden of getting started for early stage companies.

Successful applicants will forgo the significant expense of rent initially to focus on other important aspects of building a company. The funding will also help to expand the Innovation Cluster’s unique programming that is designed to sky rocket clients' businesses.

The unique and modern downtown space provides entrepreneurs with an inspiring, motivating and collaborative environment to operate their start-ups out of with full time access to mentors, advisors and hands-on workshops. The renovations of this space are expected to be completed in early February.

With more than 60 incubated and virtual client companies (and counting), two locations and only four full time staff, the Innovation Cluster is looking forward to expanding its current operations to better serve these incredible future job creators.

“This funding will allow for the Innovation Cluster to focus on what we do best and help entrepreneurs in Peterborough and the Kawarthas,” says President & CEO Michael Skinner, who is ecstatic that the City of Peterborough has joined the cause to help entrepreneurs create new high tech jobs.

In 2010, Canada had over 100 operating business incubators. In these incubators, 900 client firms raised revenues in excess of $93 million while creating full and part-time employment for more than 13,000 people. The five year survival rate for incubator clients has been reported from 75 percent to as high as 87 percent, much higher than a start-up making a go of it on their own.

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Peterborough's Karan Leal Has Been Selected One Of Canada's Outstanding Principals

St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School Principal Karan Leal has found herself in some prestigious company, having been selected by The Learning Partnership as one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals of 2017.

A group of staff, students, parents, clergy and fellow educators nominated Mrs. Leal for the award, which is among the highest honours for a principal in public education.

Principal Karan Leal with school prime minister and Grade 8 student Jodi Overwijk.

“I was extremely touched by the nomination,” Mrs. Leal says about hearing she had been selected. “When I found out, it warmed my heart deeply.”

Now celebrating its 13th year, The Learning Partnership’s Canada’s Outstanding Principals program recognizes the unique and vital contribution of principals in publicly funded schools. The 40 principals, nominated by parents, colleagues, and community members, and chosen by a national selection committee, are being celebrated for demonstrating innovation, leadership and for employing creativity in finding solutions and opportunities within their school communities.

They will be awarded for their accomplishments at the annual Canada’s Outstanding Principals gala on February 28th at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel.

Mrs. Leal has been an educator in the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board for more than 31 years and has been principal at St. Patrick CES for five years.

“The staff here at St. Patrick are incredible—they all have special gifts, so my role in many ways is to empower them to go out and explore their gifts to the fullest,” Mrs. Leal says. “And because of that, we have the ability to offer an incredible wide range of opportunities for our students.”

Under Mrs. Leal’s leadership, St. Patrick has been recognized as a gold-level Ontario EcoSchool and the school offers a wide-range of extracurricular activities for students such as a robotics club, math and problem-solving teams, school musicals, talent shows, spelling bees, public speaking competitions, Skills Ontario teams (robotics, videography and cardboard boats) and an array of sporting opportunities.

Mrs. Leal also helps organize the school’s annual Christmas hamper campaign, where gifts and food are collected and hand-delivered to underprivileged families in the community.

Those who nominated Mrs. Leal talked about her ability to inspire students and staff alike, her collaboration with the local parish and parent communities, and her strive to create a welcoming, inclusive school environment where students have ample access to technology.

St. Patrick CES hosted the first ever Board-wide Robotics Competition in November 2016. Principal Karan Leal said her role as a Principal is to empower her staff to take chances and to embrace their talents and interests. Students at the school benefit from an array of extracurricular activities as a result.

“Karan has a strong commitment to the growth and wellbeing of her staff and students, which makes her an outstanding educator and leader," says Maria Kennedy, Parent Council Chair 2011-2016. "She takes time to celebrate student and staff achievements and she creates a school environment in which parents are welcomed and respected."

“Perhaps the greatest testament to Karan Leal as an outstanding principal is found among the students of the school," says Rev. Msgr. Michael Heffernan, of Our Lady of the Assumption in Keene. "One finds a great love and respect for Mrs. Leal by the pupils. And…I have found her to be supportive in my role as pastor as we work together, educating and strengthening the students in their faith and moral development."

The winners of the Canada’s Outstanding Principals program will benefit from an exclusive five-day executive leadership training program at one of Canada’s top business schools, the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. The program will introduce them to leadership and management practices presented by business, government and education leaders as well as Rotman faculty.

The 2017 winners will join the prestigious ranks of the National Academy of Canada’s Outstanding Principals, which now boasts over 400 members. The National Academy offers principals ongoing networking, mentoring and professional development opportunities so they can enhance their leadership skills.

—guest post by Galen Eagle

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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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