Peterborough Blogs
With patient volumes above 100 percent of the hospital’s funded bed capacity over the past year, Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has made the decision to open an additional 24 unfunded inpatient beds later this month.
This past spring and summer, however, patient numbers have continued to exceed hospital capacity, prompting the Health Centre to open 24 unfunded beds on a year-round basis.
Love Lives Here: Peterborough Statement Of Unity Gaining Hundreds Of Signatures
/Peterborough has responded to an anti-immigration "rally" planned by a few individuals for September 30th with a massive show of force, unity and love.
A huge and growing network of Peterborough businesses, organizations and individuals are drowning out the "rally" with the announcement of a Solidarity Weekend—"Love Lives Here", taking place September 29th to October 1st.
Community members and organizations have been meeting and gathering support over the past couple of weeks to organize a response to the "rally", and an online Statement of Unity is gaining momentum with hundreds of signatures from organizations and individuals.
As well, Mayor Daryl Bennett released this statement on the anti-immigration "rally":
“We must stand together against racism and hate. While our Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects freedom of expression, it also seeks to preserve and enhance our multicultural heritage. I trust that our law enforcement agencies will monitor and take action if any situations cross over to the promotion of hate or the advocacy of violence. The freedom of expression is not absolute.
Canada is a nation that was built on immigration. Our farms, our towns and our cities have grown and have flourished through the contributions of immigrants, their children, and their children’s children. To advocate against immigration is to advocate against what defines us as a country.
City Staff received an application for a park rental for a rally. The City is unable to deny an applicant the opportunity to hold a non-violent rally against immigration policies and the Trudeau government. However, the City has notified the police of the event and they have informed the City that they will monitor the situation.
I would assume that these individuals want to create controversy and get media attention. The last time one of these individuals was part of a rally in Peterborough it involved four people standing on a corner. We don’t want to raise the profile of these individuals.
The Peterborough community has responded appropriately to this latest action by showing compassion and support for diversity through creative events such as the Chalk Out Hate initiative that will be held on Friday.”
History teaches us we must not stand by idly: Sign the Statement of Unity here, and spread the word.
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Rotary Club Of Peterborough Installs Buddy Bench At St. Catherines Elementary School
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha presented its first Rotary Buddy Bench to St. Catherines Catholic Elementary School Principal Shelley Adair and the staff and students of the school.
Nate Loch, a former student there and the inspiration for the project, shared candidly with the group in the school library his past experiences in both elementary and high school regarding bullying—of being both the victim and the perpetrator of bullying.
Left to Right: Donna Geary, Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha; Donna’s son, Nate Loch; Past President Kim Winter; St. Catherines Principal Shelley Adair; Rotary Club President Len Lifchus.
Nate closed his powerful talk with this message:
“I am optimistic looking towards the future of the schooling systems, and I’ve seen the great effort undertaken from the school board to try and tackle the gigantic problem of bullying. But this is where it starts, and this is where it can end—right here in this school, in the playgrounds and everywhere in between.
"I hope that as teachers you can guide the students into using this bench to promote inclusiveness and to be open to the idea of socializing with people they aren’t familiar with, or they might not be comfortable around. I hope to see this project succeed, and if it were to change the perception of a single child, I’d say it will have been a success.”
University Students Sarah Ross & Brianna Hamilton Raise Important Funds For PRHC's Adult Mental Health In-Patient
/Two university students, both from Peterborough, have just made an huge impact on mental awareness and treatment.
Sarah Ross and Brianna Hamilton collaborated on a baseball tournament on August 26th—Hitting Back at Mental Illness: In Memory of Jake Stanley and Kathy Ross—that was a home run, raising more than $35,000 for PRHC's Adult Mental In-Patient Unit.
Dynamic duo: Brianna and Sarah at the ball tournament
Sarah, a Trent student going into her fourth year of Nursing, and Brianna, a 4th-year Criminology student at Carleton University in Ottawa, have been good friends ever since Brianna reached out to Sarah in January 2016 to ask her about her own experience in PRHC's Adult Mental Health In-Patient Unit.
Brianna Hamilton and Sarah Ross presenting the cheque to PRHC
"I had previously been a patient in December of 2014 and she knew that and wanted more information before getting help," Sarah tells PTBOCanada. "Since then, we have been very close friends. I have also lost my mother, Kathy Ross, who was the Principal of St. Peter's Secondary School, to mental illness in December of 2012."
"Earlier this year, Brianna mentioned to me about doing a fundraising tournament for PRHC's Unit and dedicating it to my mother and Jake Stanley, also a former St. Peter's student, who lost his own battle to mental illness in September of 2015."
Left to right: Lesley Heighway (Foundation Member), Sandra Hamilton, Brian Hamilton, Brianna Hamilton, Graeme Ross, Sarah Ross, Anne Ondercin (Foundation Member) and staff from PRHC's Adult Mental Health In-Patient Unit
With both of their deaths having such huge impacts on the community, Sarah and Brianna felt it was a great idea to be able to collaborate and honour their memories and raise money for a cause they would both be behind.
They ended up having a huge turnout at Norwood Community Centre ball diamond, with more than 20 teams in the tournament. In addition, they received an anonymous donation from a community member that covered the cost of the location.
On Friday (September 15th), the dynamic duo presented the PRHC Foundation with a cheque for $35,516.25 in support of Adult Mental Health In-patient services at Peterborough Regional Health Centre in the mental health courtyard.
"We were blown away by the amount we raised and we’re so grateful to everyone who donated, participated and sponsored," say the girls.
Members of Jake Stanley Baseball Team
All the proceeds will be used to support PRHC’s Adult Mental Health In-Patient unit and their efforts to create and facilitate a safe, therapeutic environment. The funds will be invested in supports that will enhance the patient experience and aid mental health patients in relaxation, a distraction from other stressors, and self-soothing while they receive treatment.
This includes investments in therapeutic furniture such as rocking and/or massage chairs, iPads with therapeutic applications, exercise equipment, self-regulation sensory items such as weighted blankets and self-harm prevention tools, reading materials and more.
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Maryam Monsef On Her Inspiring Chat With Angelina Jolie At TIFF
/Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef and her mother Soriya Basir had an inspiring meet with actor/activist Angelina Jolie on Sunday (September 10th) at the TIFF screening of The Breadwinner, an animated film Jolie executive produced about an 11-year-old girl in Afghanistan living under Taliban rule.
MP Maryam Monsef and Angelina Jolie at TIFF screening of Jolie's The Breadwinner
The film, about a headstrong young girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family, is based on the bestselling book by Canadian writer Deborah Ellis.
Monsef says the book and movie speaks to her for many reasons: "It's the story of an 11-year-old Parvana's journey of survival in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and her attempt to help her family as the breadwinner. Breadwinner tells the story of Afghanistan through the eyes of a child. For years, Ellis has shined light on the struggles and resiliency of Afghan people and the strength of women and girls of Afghanistan. With the animation of The Breadwinner, we are all reminded once again to never underestimate the power of a girl."
Monsef tells PTBOCanada that she and her mom had a memorable few minutes with Jolie: "She is proud of Canada's role in the world as we progress gender equality and promote diversity. She also said that of all the places she goes to, she is happiest when she is surrounded by the women of Afghanistan. She doesn't know what it is about them, she just feels connected to them."
Monsef's mother even received this hug from Angelina...
Photo courtesy Maryam Monsef
Monsef, who says Angelina is beautiful inside and out, adds that she told the actress this at the meeting: "I thanked her for helping to tell the story of Afghan people, and she said she would continue to do so."
Monsef also "fan-girled huge" when she met the Breadwinner author Ellis (pictured 2nd from left below)...
Monsef came away very moved by her experience at the TIFF screening:
"Teachers in Peterborough often call me and Mom to come in and talk to their students after they read The Breadwinner," Monsef tells PTBOCanada. "The kids always had many questions and such compassion. Seeing all the kids in the audience yesterday and talking to Angelina and others involved made me appreciate the deliberate efforts to focus content like this on children as the audience. They will grow up to fix this broken world and it's never too early to teach compassion."
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How James Strath Students Had A Huge Impact On Classmate Saxon Guiel
/Eleven-year-old Saxon Guiel had to take many months off from school last year because of issues related with his autism/Tourette's Syndrome and Aspergers.
His Grade 5/6 classmates from James Strath Public School in Peterborough sent him a pile of wonderful cards on the last day of school in June that made him feel special and looking forward to school and being with his classmates this year.
Here is the collection of cards they sent him...
This gesture with its words of encouragement by these James Strath students made a world of difference, and helped Saxon transition back to school this year.
His classmates affectionately named him "Saxor" the dinosaur...
Also, Saxon loves Sonic The Hedgehog and most of the cards included a picture of Sonic...
Of all the amazing cards, this was one of Saxon's favourite—"Keep Shining Even When The Sun Isn't"...
The initial idea for the students sending the cards was by his home room teacher, Mr. Gennings.
His teachers all signed their own card to Saxon as well...
Saxon tells PTBOCanada he will never forget the love and understanding his classmates showed for him:
"It made me feel good and I missed my friends at school."
Saxon read all his cards when he received them and again the night before school this year, and it got him really excited to return.
"I am so grateful the school puts such a great effort into understanding Saxon's autism and Tourette's, and working with him to help him cope," his father Terry tells PTBOCanada. "Our family and in particular Saxon has gone through a great deal as we struggled to find ways to treat him as medications always seemed to make things worse."
"I believe we have found an answer that allows him to return to school but it wouldn't have been possible without an understanding school and faculty, and certainly would not be possible without the love and support of these remarkable classmates."
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5th Annual Paint The Town Red For United Way Of Peterborough Raises Record $15,000
/The United Way of Peterborough has announced that the 5th annual Paint the Town Red on July 19th raised a record breaking $15,000+.
Thirty-two restaurants, cafes and pubs—up from 22 last year—donated 25 percent of their daily sales to support United Way Peterborough & District, with proceeds directly impacting vital social services in this community. The donations came in from restaurants, individual donations from customers, and the UW's newly launched Text to Give program.
Left to right: United Way of Peterborough Director of Philanthrophic Impact Lisa Smith, United Way of Peterborough CEO Jim Russell & United Way of Peterborough cabinet member Laura Crann.
