The Electric City Special Needs Team Just Made 300 Candles To Help Raise Money For The Team & Build Team Chemistry

The Electric City Maroon & White special needs hockey team gathered at Coach Chris Williams house on Saturday (September 29th) for a candle “pouring party” of 300 homemade candles.

It’s a new fundraising initiative that began with the creation of the “Electric City Candle Company” to assist with the costs of running a special needs sports organization such as ice time, equipment and travel costs.

Candle pouring party at Coach Williams house

“I came up with the idea after seeing a Facebook video on a young girl with Down syndrome who started her own candle company in New Zealand,” Coach Williams tells PTBOCanada. “I reached out to them for advice and was given some great feedback and encouragement on how to get everything off the ground.”

Candle pouring party at Coach Williams house

With very limited financial sponsorship, the money made through the sales of these candles will help the team but more importantly give the opportunity to kids and adults with special needs to be directly involved with the creation and distribution of something beautiful, a product they made from scratch.

“For me, the initiative is important because it gives the players a sense of pride of accomplishment,” Coach Williams says. “They voted on what scents we would use, the dye colours, and of course were involved with the creation of the candles from start to finish.”

Coach Williams (at right) with one of his players

The theme of the 300 handmade soy-based candles made is “Shining A Light On Special Needs”.

It gives the players a chance to get together in a social setting and work together as a team to learn skill sets and build chemistry and confidence—ingredients that will ensure they all have a great season on and off the ice.

One of the players at candle pouring party

The Mason jar style 8.5 oz candles will sell for $10 and are handmade with a focus on seasonal Fall/Winter/Christmas scents including Winterberry, Christmas Garland and Warm Vanilla Sugar. There will be a total of nine different varieties available.

“If we sell the initial trial run of 300, that will give us the chance of getting together again and doing another 300,” Coach Williams tells PTBOCanada.

One of the players at candle pouring party

Players will be selling the candles independently to friends and family, and online sales will be ready by the Thanksgiving weekend through the team’s website electriccityspecialneedshockey.com.

For more information on the candles or if you’re interested in providing financial sponsorship of the team, contact Coach Williams here.

Spread the word on your social media channels about these unique candles for a great cause!

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Hydro One To Acquire Assets Of Peterborough Distribution Inc. From City Of Peterborough

The City of Peterborough and Hydro One have reached an agreement for Hydro One’s acquisition of Peterborough Distribution Inc. (PDI) from the City for $105 million plus terms that include distribution rate guarantees for customers as well as a separate agreement for the construction of a new regional operations centre in Peterborough.

The agreements comprising the transaction meet the terms and conditions approved by Council, including:

- A 1% distribution rate reduction and a five-year freeze in distribution rates for customers
- A second five-year period with distribution rate increases limited to inflation and an earnings sharing mechanism to offset rates in year 11 and onward
- Protections for PDI employees with employees receiving employment offers to move to Hydro One
- A sale price of $105 million
- An agreement to develop a regional operations centre and new fleet maintenance facility in Peterborough on specified pieces of land to be acquired concurrently with the closing of the acquisition of the assets of PDI following regulatory approvals

The agreements are subject to Ontario Energy Board (OEB) approval. The OEB regulates the province’s energy sector, including setting rules for electricity companies and establishing rates that energy utilities are permitted to charge.

PDI is one part of the Peterborough Utilities group of companies. PDI includes the “poles and wires” business of Peterborough Utilities. City of Peterborough Holdings Inc. retains ownership of the rest of the group of companies, including its water utility, the Riverview Park and Zoo, metering services, and its power generation business.

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W. Garfield Weston Foundation Invests Whopping $7.5 million In The Canadian Canoe Museum’s New Facility

The W. Garfield Weston Foundation is investing a whopping $7.5 million in The Canadian Canoe Museum’s new facility to be built at the water’s edge.

This lead private gift announced on Wednesday (May 16th) will support capital costs and educational program development for the new museum, to be built alongside the Peterborough Lift Lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway. It is the largest known private one-time gift to a charitable organization in the City and County of Peterborough.

Rendering of new Canoe Museum

“From the high-profile headquarters that is the new museum, we will be inspiring Canada by canoe," says John Ronson, Chair, Board of Directors. "This investment is indeed transformational, and will not only support the construction of the new museum, it will see our programming reach more people inside the museum, outside the museum, and virtually, around the world."

The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has been a long-time supporter of the museum dating back to 1995, two years prior to its opening, and was instrumental in its founding.

The construction of the new canoe museum is being supported by a $65 million fund raising campaign.

The addition of this beautiful new museum at the Historic Lift Lock's doorstep will make this a must see destination for even more visitors from around the world.

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The Causeway Sustained Some Damage During Last Week's Wind Storm

According to a media release from the County, the James A. Gifford Causeway has sustained damage as a result of the wind storm last Friday (May 4th).

The road has been deemed safe, but motorists are recommended to reduce their speed on it.

Safety barrels have been placed on the paved shoulder of the road along the south side of the Causeway.

County staff will be further assessing the damage and a report and plan will be brought forward to County Council soon to address the damage.

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Comeback Kid: Iconic Milltown Mini Golf Coming Back For Swan Song

It was the place where so many memories were made—an iconic local attraction that made our "57 Signs You're From Peterborough" list a couple years back.

After 33 years of business, Milltown Mini Golf owners Lynda and Barry Cross announced last June they were closing permanently at the end of the 2017 season. But now that there has been a delay in the application for redevelopment of the land, Milltown is coming back for its 34th season. 

Built in 1985 by Barry and Lynda Cross, Milltown has been the place for wedding proposals, receptions, photos, anniversaries and countless birthday parties and family gatherings. It is an annual "must-play" for many couples who became engaged there or had their first date there.

In celebration of their re-opening, Barry and Lynda Cross will be donating $250 to the Brock Mission reBuild project. The re-opening ceremony takes place Thursday, May 10th at 10 a.m., with Mayor Bennett and Councillor Lesley Parnell in attendance.

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The Story Behind Kawartha Food Share's First Ever Refrigerated Truck

Kawartha Food Share has something vital they've never had in their 19 year history: a refrigerated truck.

Their goal this year was to start increasing the amount of fresh food products they distribute from their warehouse but in order to start accessing these type of products from donors, they require a refrigerated truck to safely transport food to and from the warehouse.

Thanks to community grants from the Peterborough Police Services Board, Food Banks Canada and the Peterborough Kinsmen, they were finally able to purchase a truck.

"This truck is really a dream come true and couldn't have been possible without our local service groups who believe in our cause and want to help us in the fight against hunger in our community," Kawartha Food Share's Ashlee Aitken tells PTBOCanada.

"Often times when people think of items at a food bank, they think non-perishables and we are really working hard to change that perception," adds Aitken. "Currently about 35 percent of what we distribute to our 8,000 foodbank clients are fresh and frozen foods, and with this new addition we hope to make that 50 percent by the end of the year."

Ashlee Aitken from Kawartha Food Share

KFS will use this vehicle as a way to rescue fresh food from farmers, food producers, suppliers, restaurants and grocery stores in the area that would usually discard safe for consumption produce, and put it on the plates of those in need.

They have only had the truck for a week, but have already formed a new relationship with Costco, a longtime supporter, that allows them to access a variety of fresh produce from their warehouse 6 days a week. They hope to form a similar relationship with other local grocers so foodbank clients will have even more access to healthy, nutritious food options.

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Group Of Seven Terminated From Peterborough Farmers’ Market

[UPDATED POST, May 3rd]

Here is a press release that was just issued on behalf of evicted vendors by Julie Fleming...

"Stunned local farmers are wondering how they’ve been kicked out of the Peterborough Saturday Market after combined decades of providing their community with fresh local food.

In December, just days before Christmas, seven local vendors were given notice of a special meeting to determine whether or not they should be removed from the market.

The board claimed that 16 unnamed vendors had demanded this meeting. On January 8th the membership heard charges against one vendor, Astrid Manske of OtonaBee Apiary. She was allowed to defend herself, and after her defence, the market members voted to keep Astrid at the market.

The other accused vendors were not given an opportunity to defend themselves. The meeting was adjourned and all complaints from the anonymous 16 vendors against the remaining accused were withdrawn. With the complaints withdrawn, the remaining vendors felt a sense of relief that this battle was over and they could all get back to work.
 
So if the membership voted to keep the market whole, and the public spoke out against eviction of local farmers from farmers’ markets, why have 'pink slips' actually been issued?

The answer can only rest with the PDMA Board who have gone rogue over the wishes of the farmers' market members. The eviction order was issued by the PDMFA Board.

The board of the PDMFA are Cindy Hope (Cross Wind Farms), President, Mark Jones (T&R Jones) Marketing Manager, Jill Staples (Staples Maple Syrup) and Jan Laurie (The Sprout house).  

In the eviction notices issued by the PDFMA Board and delivered on Tuesday, the five remaining vendors all received the same letter citing vague allegations of harm to the market’s reputation generated through their 'pink slip' campaign of last December. These were precisely the same bald (and unjustified) allegations that were put forward as the basis for the special meeting last December.

These local farmers never wanted this fight. They wanted a fairly-organized venue to sell their food. The market wasn’t organized fairly and they spoke up inside the organization. They spoke up for fairness, transparency and proper governance. They joined the board, they wrote letters, they shared their concerns. They followed the 'proper channels', but in doing this they were ostracized and targeted as trouble makers. The proper channels at the Saturday Peterborough Farmers’ Market are broken. There was no need to toss anyone off the market. The evicted vendors feel that there is room for re-sellers and a wide variety of local farmers at the Saturday market, but transparency and honesty are non-negotiable.

More information on how the public can help to save local farmers at farmers' markets will be forthcoming."

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ORIGINAL POST (May 2nd)

Just days before the Saturday outdoor market season is set to begin, the "Group of Seven" as they are known has received notice that they have been terminated from the Peterborough Farmers’ Market.

All these local vendors—Circle Organic, Otonabee Apiary, Ashburnham Farms Gaelic Garlic, Finest Gourmet Fudge, Chef Marshal and Necessitea Elixir—have been handed their pink slip from the Peterborough Farmers’ Market Board.  

Photo courtesy McLean Berry Farm

One of the evicted vendors, Buckhorn's McLean Berry Farm, has been a staple at the Saturday Farmers Market in Peterborough since 1991—the year Jane and Sam McLean bought the farm, and started attending the market.

"We're very disheartened to have received this eviction notice days before our season starts," Eric McLean from McLean Berry farm tells PTBOCanada. "All we want to do is provide our local communities with fresh fruits and vegetables. We said before that we won't stop fighting for local food and we will continue to do so but need a moment to pause and consider all of our options of how best to move forward as this has really caught us off guard."

More info coming on Wednesday when a press release goes out from Erin McLean, Astrid Manske and Julie Fleming on behalf of the expelled vendors.

We have not received a press release from the Peterborough Farmers' Market board as of yet.

UPDATE: McLean Berry Farm posted this statement on Facebook about what they describe as "a very cloudy and unknown time"...

Hundreds of comments are pouring in our Facebook page. Go here to add yours.

This is a developing story. Check back for more info.

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Peterborough Community Invited To Express Condolences To Humboldt

Members of Peterborough and surrounding communities are invited to express their condolences for the Humboldt Broncos and all those affected by Friday’s tragic accident.

With the help of Signarama Peterborough, a book of condolences has been created to allow community members to express their thoughts to the families and friends of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team, as well as the residents of the close-knit Saskatchewan town.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Petes

The book is currently available to be signed at Peterborough City Hall until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 13th as part of a display that includes photos of the 15 players, coaches, and staff that lost their lives.

Then, starting Monday, April 16th, the book will be available for signing in the North Lobby at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The display and book will be set up throughout the weekend of April 21st and 22nd when the Petes host their 2018 Development Camp at the PMC.

Photo courtesy Peterborough Petes

The book will then be sent to the Humboldt Broncos management team.

You can give to the GoFundMe fundraising page here set up for the impacted families. It has now raised more than $7 million and counting.

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Hydro One Ceases Negotiations For Purchase Of PDI

[UPDATE, March 9th]: Here is what Hydro One says in a press release...

"Hydro One announced today that negotiations on the proposed acquisition of Peterborough Distribution Inc. have ceased as both parties were unable to reach a final agreement.

The role of both parties in these commercial negotiations is to ensure that the end result is an outcome that creates customer and shareholder value. In this particular case, despite the strong offer made to the City of Peterborough, the two parties were unable to achieve that balance.

Hydro One would like to thank Mayor Bennett, the City of Peterborough and members of both negotiating teams and looks forward to continuing its relationship as long-time neighbours and proud members of the Peterborough community."

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ORIGINAL POST

Hydro One has informed the City and City of Peterborough Holdings Inc. that it is withdrawing from negotiations regarding the sale of Peterborough Distribution Inc., according to a City of Peterborough release.

Hydro One first approached the City in 2014 to express interest in purchasing PDI. City Council responded favourably to the opportunity when Hydro One entered into a letter of intent that included a competitive price, job and benefit guarantees for existing PDI workers, distribution rate and other rate protections for customers, and commitments for new jobs and new investments such as building a new regional Hydro One operations centre in Peterborough. Negotiations have been ongoing for more than two years.

According to a media release from the City, PDI executives continue to monitor the pressures and changes affecting the electricity distribution sector on behalf of its sole shareholder, the Corporation of the City of Peterborough.

PDI says it will continue to deliver exceptional service to its customers, thanks to the organization’s employees and management.

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Peterborough Utilities Crew Enroute To New York State To Help With Power Restoration After Nor'easter

On Monday, March 5th, Peterborough Utilities Group (PUG) responded to an aid assistance request from New York State seeking linepersons and utility vehicles to help restore power after the nor'easter that tore through there.

Photo of crew courtesy of PUG

PUG has dispatched a crew of five experienced linepersons and associated utility vehicles to help restore power to this area.

Local utility crews there and crews coming in from other parts of the US and Canada continue to restore power outages, as well as clear trees, poles and debris from streets. The damage to the electrical infrastructure there is severe and widespread.

Good for PUG for stepping up and sending a crew to help.

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