Pink In The Rink 2020 Announces Goal Of $72,000, Honourary Chairs Are Ian Armstrong & Mike Martone

The Pink in the Rink 2020 media kickoff took place Tuesday (September 10th) at Kelsey’s Restaurant, and the revenue goal was announced at $72,000.

The Honourary Chairs for the 11th Annual Pink in the Rink are Mike Martone and Ian Armstrong. The event takes place February 1st as the Peterborough Petes take on the Oshawa Generals at the Memorial Centre.

Honourary Co-Chairs Mike Martone (at left) & Ian Armstrong (photo by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada)

As Peterborough Petes GM Mike Oke said it best at the media launch, the goal is to take down Oshawa in the Pink in the Rink game—and take down cancer.

Since its inception in 2010, Pink in the Rink has raised an incredible $701,249.04 for women’s cancer research.

Watch footage we captured at the launch below…

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Most Of Tent City Has Been Cleared From Victoria Park

UPDATE ON SHELTER SERVICE OUTREACH: August 28th

Social Services outreach workers will be located at the Salvation Army, 350 Aylmer St. to help people who are looking for shelter and housing. Workers will be on-site from 8:45 a.m. till 11 a.m., this week to coincide with the breakfast program offered at that location.

The daily outreach services have moved to the Salvation Army location from Victoria Park where they had been located for the last two weeks.

Outreach workers can connect people with support services, including shelter beds and help with housing, depending on their individual needs.

Social Services can be contacted at 705-748-8830 or in-person at 178 Charlotte St.

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ORIGINAL POST

Deputy Mayor Andrew Beamer has issued the following statement on the encampment in Victoria Park (Mayor Therrien was unavailable, as she is on vacation this week)…

“People are starting to comply with the closure of Victoria Park,” says Beamer in a release from the City of Peterborough. “It’s an ongoing process with people leaving the park with the number of tents down to about 15 by the middle of the day. The park is closed to everyone effective 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 27th for a period of 30 days. Anyone who is in the park now is trespassing.

For anyone who needs assistance, we encourage them to speak with Social Services workers about available support services. If they’re homeless, there are shelter beds available with an average of about 30 beds available each night over the last month. Social Services will talk to each person about their specific needs to connect them with services. Each month, the City and its community partner agencies help an average of 15 people a month move into housing from homelessness.”

Photo by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada.com

Many of the people who lived in the encampment have formed mini-Tent Cities at various locations and church properties in the city, including Emmanuel United Church's property—located a block from Victoria Park.

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Victoria Park To Close Effective August 27th, Will Re-Open After Encampment Is Gone & Grounds Cleaned Up

The City of Peterborough has announced that Victoria Park will be closed effective Tuesday, August 27 at 9 a.m. (the “Effective Date”).

“Entry into the park is prohibited during the closure,” the City of Peterborough says in a release. “Anyone who is encamped in the park must remove their items and leave the park before the Effective Date. Anyone in the park after the Effective Date is trespassing.”

Peterborough County, in consultation with the City of Peterborough, decided to close Victoria Park because conditions in the Tent City there have deteriorated to the point where it is not suitable for the shared use of the public.

“There are numerous and continuing failures to comply with the requirements of the Parks and Facilities By-Law that established minimum standards for the shared use of public parks and protection of the natural environment,” according to the release.

Victoria Park will re-open after the encampment is gone and the grounds have been restored.

Outreach workers, wearing yellow t-shirts, are regularly available on site in Victoria Park for people who need assistance. Social Services can be reached at 705-748-8830 or in-person at 178 Charlotte St.

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Mobile Animal Units In Peterborough Prevented 2,000 Potentially Unwanted Pets

In just three days in Peterborough from August 16th to 18th, a mobile unit partnership spayed and neutered 48 animals—preventing close to an estimated 2,000 potentially unwanted kittens and puppies, and provided wellness examinations to 42 animals who may not have otherwise received the care.

In partnership with the Peterborough Humane Society, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s SPCA Mobile Animal Wellness Services unit and the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society’s Mobile Wellness Unit were in Peterborough for this special event. The two state-of-the-art mobile units were stationed at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre.

Photo of mobile unit courtesy Peterborough Humane Society

“The Peterborough Humane Society is incredibly thankful for the support provided by our friends at the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society and Niagara SPCA and Humane Society to bring mobile wellness services to our community this past weekend,” says Shawn Morey, Executive Director, Peterborough Humane Society.

Photo of mobile unit courtesy Peterborough Humane Society

The mobile units have been traveling across the province this summer in a collaborative effort to reduce pet overpopulation and reach underserved pet owners. Only five percent of pet owners who brought their pet to the mobile clinic in Peterborough had a regular veterinarian.

“Many people accessing these services don’t have a regular veterinarian for routine care,” says Daryl Vaillancourt, Chief, Humane Programs & Community Outreach, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. “These mobile clinics ensure pets receive basic care and give us an opportunity to talk to pet owners about pet care and the importance of establishing a relationship with a local veterinarian for regular checkups.”

Left to right: John Greer, Shawn Morey & Daryl Vaillancourt

“This is a great example of the collaborative effort of like-minded humane societies,” says John Greer, Executive Director, Niagara SPCA and Humane Society.

“With our mobile efforts we are able to reach into communities and provide services that they would not otherwise be able to receive, making for healthier animals and communities.”

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Peterborough Challenger Special Needs Baseball Making Dreams Come True For Players With Help Of Jays Care Foundation & More

Peterborough Challenger Baseball, a local special needs baseball team, provides an opportunity for children, youth and adults with cognitive and/or physical disabilities to enjoy the full benefits of participating in baseball at a level structured to their abilities. Locally, they have divisions for junior, intermediate and senior levels of play.

Earlier this year, Peterborough Challenger Baseball was invited to play in a Challenger Baseball game at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA against a team from Malden, Mass. this summer.

Seventeen players and buddies were selected, and with the help of individuals and many businesses and organizations in and around Peterborough, in four months they were able to raise $25,000 in order to take these players and their families to Pennsylvania from August 22nd to August 25th.

Among those who stepped up in support was the Jays Care Foundation, who not only provided a monetary donation towards the cost of the bus but also provided full uniforms for the players and buddies including jerseys, pants, socks, and belts.

Recently, the whole team got to go a game through the Jays Care Foundation and even made it onto the Jumbroton.

Thanks to the wonderful folks with the Jays Care Foundation and to the amazing hosts who shared the Jays Care Community Clubhouse with our Little League World Series team, we had a blast, help with our rally caps lift the Jays to a win over the Yankees, but most of all we had fun pic.twitter.com/s8SR3KyhEx

— Peterborough Challenger Baseball (@PtboChallenger) August 11, 2019

The players and their families are beginning preparations to depart to Pennsylvania for a game that will not only represent Peterborough, but also Canada at the Little League World Series.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of the players to play on a stage like this, and for their families to be there watching this moment.

Follow the team’s journey on Twitter here.

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Family Donates Wall-Mounted Bell To Ring For Children That Finish Chemo Treatments At PRHC

Harper Friel had her last cancer treatment recently at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

To celebrate the awesome occasion, her family donated a wall-mounted bell that other patients in the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) clinic at PRHC can ring when they are finished their own chemo treatments.

Harper ringing the bell

The inspiring message next to the bell with a rainbow motif says:

“Ring this bell
Three times well
Its toll to clearly say
My treatments done
The course is run
And I am on my way”

Watch the full video below of Harper ringing the bell…

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Central Smith Creamery Ice Cream Social Raises $13,420.25 For PRHC Foundation

Central Smith Creamery has announced that their Ice Cream Social on July 20th raised $13,420.25 for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation.

“The hospital has always been near and dear to our hearts,” says Jenn Scates, Vice-President of Marketing for Central Smith Creamery. “We are so fortunate to have a state-of-the-art, accredited hospital right in our community. The doctors and nurses are so committed and passionate about helping people get better. This is our way of saying thank you for the great care!”

Cheque presentation at Central Smith (photo courtesy PRHC Foundation)

With all proceeds from the day being donated to the PRHC Foundation, ice cream eaters were encouraged to say thank you for great care to the doctors and nurses at Peterborough Regional Health Centre by purchasing a $2 tribute card at the checkout, among other fundraising activities at the event. A whopping 1,500 tributes were generated.

On Thursday, July 25th, staff at Peterborough Regional Health Centre were in for a real treat when Central Smith arrived in the cafeteria over lunch hour to scoop free ice cream. The local ice cream company wanted to personally say thank the doctors and nurses who work tirelessly to deliver great care to the community.

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City Of Peterborough Issues Release Regarding Weather Forecast & Wellbeing Of Those Living In Tent City

The City of Peterborough, which is looking for a new space for overflow shelter beds in the city, has issued a release regarding the 7-day forecast as concern grows for the wellbeing of those living in the Tent City at Victoria Park.

“The 7-day forecast includes a strong probability of thunderstorms and extreme heat,” the media release says. “A very large branch recently fell close to tents in Victoria Park. With the number of large trees in Victoria Park, it, along with any City park, can be unsafe during a thunderstorm. For your own safety, we urge those who have alternative places to go that are indoors to please move to alternative shelter.”

The City is asking people not to camp in the park. “If you are homeless, check with emergency shelters (Brock Mission, Cameron House and YES) daily as bed availability changes every day and talk to our outreach workers who are committed to assisting you in accessing alternative shelter.”

While emergency shelters and overflow shelter beds are currently needed, the City recognizes that:

• Housing first is the goal rather than people living in shelters

• Living in a tent is not a safe and stable option for you

• Living in a tent does not provide you with the access to the services and supports that we want everyone in our community to be able to access

• Public spaces are shared by the entire community.

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A Record-Breaking 34 Participating Restaurants Will Paint The Town Red For United Way

The 7th Annual Paint the Town Red event in support of the United Way Community Campaign will have a record-breaking 34 participating restaurants this year.

It takes place Wednesday, July 17th, and the participating restaurants will be donating 25 percent of their daily sales to support United Way of Peterborough. Last year’s event raised more than $16,000, bringing the total to over $75,000 since 2013.

Photo from Paint the Town Red Media Launch courtesy United Way of Peterborough

“I am thrilled be part of Paint the Town Red this year and even more excited to see restaurants in the County of Peterborough participating for the first time including Jack’s Restaurant in Lakefield and Rallis Burger Family Restaurant in Bridgenorth,” says David Goyette, Chair of this year’s United Way campaign.

Adds United Way Development Officer and Event Coordinator, Erica Richmond: “This is truly my favourite event of the year. I believe that food has the power to bring people together and this is consistently demonstrated during this event as community members support local businesses who are supporting our community. It’s a full circle of support bound together by food, conversation and local love.”

For a full list of participating restaurants, click here—and make sure to hit up one of them on Wednesday for a great cause!

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Brock Mission Shelter Redevelopment Set To Begin After $5.2 Million From Federal Government

On Thursday (July 11th), MP Maryam Monsef announced a $5.2 million financial commitment from the federal government for the redevelopment of the Brock Mission—a non-profit organization formed in 1987 to provide shelter for homeless adult males.

“Addressing housing and homelessness in our community will solve many of the other challenges we face,” says Monsef. "My team and I have been working with several local groups to support building housing locally. I’m happy to announce that the Brock Mission is receiving a significant boost to build 30 new shelter beds and 15 new affordable housing units for homeless and at-risk men.”

Main entrance of Brock Misson, rendering courtesy Lett Architects

The redevelopment of the Brock Mission—which is located on Murray Street—is expected to begin as early as this month and be completed in 2020.

"I am happy to see this investment in emergency shelter for Peterborough," says City of Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien. "We are facing a serious housing crisis and all levels of government must come together to make change. This is an important step in the right direction."

View of Brock Misson dining hall, rendering courtesy Lett Architects

Lett Architects is designing it (see renderings in this post) and says the three-storey building has been designed around a courtyard with access to natural daylight into every room and corridor. Aside from the shelter beds and housing units, the building also includes a dining hall which will provide three meals a day all year.

“We are very grateful for the support that MP Maryam Monsef and her office have given our redevelopment project,” says Bill McNabb, Executive Director of the Brock Mission. “The investment from the National Housing Co-Investment Fund has enabled us to finally move forward on a much needed purpose-built facility that offers appropriate Housing First shelter services and supportive housing to some of our most vulnerable homeless citizens.”

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