Ontario SPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Unit Rolls Into Peterborough

In partnership with the Peterborough Humane Society, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is bringing its SPCA Mobile Animal Wellness Services Unit to Peterborough this week for a three-day spay/neuter clinic to help reduce pet overpopulation.

The 38-foot SPCA Mobile Animal Wellness Services Unit will be stationed outside the Peterborough Humane Society from November 24th to November 26th. Appointments were pre-booked through the Peterborough Humane Society and a total of 75 cats are scheduled to be spayed or neutered during the clinic. That translates into an estimated 4,600 potentially unwanted kittens that will be prevented. 

Photo courtesy Ontario SPCA

The mobile clinic marks the fourth of the year for the SPCA Mobile Animal Wellness Services Unit. After careful consideration and research to determine the safest way to resume mobile spay/neuter services during COVID-19, the Ontario SPCA has resumed operations with new limited contact procedures in place. Animals are picked up and dropped off in a safe curbside process overseen by staff at all times.

Photo courtesy Ontario SPCA

“We look forward to working with the Peterborough Humane Society on this important initiative in their community, and we would like to thank pet parents who have taken the important step to have their furry friends spayed or neutered,” says Jennifer Bluhm, Acting Chief, Animal Protection Services, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society.

"We are extremely excited to be partnering with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society in bringing this much-needed mobile service into our community,” adds Shawn Morey, Executive Director, Peterborough Humane Society. “Hosting accessible spay/neuter services is vital to help reduce pet overpopulation in our community, and serves as a sample of the permanent services we will be hosting within our new Peterborough Animal Care Centre. We are so thrilled to be able to bring this service to our community." 

To learn more about SPCA Mobile Animal Wellness Services, or to make a donation to help stock the unit with medical supplies and cover operating costs, visit Ontariospca.ca/mobileservices.

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Lakefield Farmers’ Market Holding Special Holiday Market On Sunday, December 6th

The Lakefield Farmers’ Market will be holding a Special Holiday Market on Sunday, December 6th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Municipal Parking Lot next to the Village Inn in Lakefield.

“The Lakefield Farmers' Market is pleased to try something new this year,” says Market Manager Jenny Ross. “A Special Holiday Market will provide an opportunity for customers to buy local food and products one more time this year. Stock up for the winter cooking season ahead and pick up some items for Christmas gifts.”

Lots of great gift ideas will be available at the Lakefield Farmers’ Market “Special Holiday Market” on Sunday, December 6th (Photo courtesy Lakefield Farmers’ Market)

"Vendors and volunteers will once again be providing the COVID safe and welcoming environment that our customers depend on," adds board member Jennie MacKenzie.

Mark your calendar and make your list. You’ll have so many items to choose from such as kombucha, kettle corn, baking, chicken, knitting, jams, prepared foods, beef, pork, wine, vegetables, seasonal wreaths and so much more.

Many of the vendors are available for off season sales. Their contact information is listed here.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Maximized Mobility, Miss Grove & Company, Fleetwood Hills Farm & More!

PTBOCanada is delighted to to be running StooNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

Maximized Mobility owners Kathy and Lauraine sell innovative enclosed mobility scooters, but they’ve recently expanded their space on The Parkway to include a Warehouse Boutique. They carry distinctive clothing, plus sizes, jewelry, infant and children items, home décor, brand name housewares, brand name shoes and boots, lots of knicknacks and great Christmas decorations. Located at 649 the Parkway Unit #1, they are open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit maximizedmobility.net for more info.

Miss Grove & Company is Margie Langille’s business. A monthly subscription box, Margie features local artisans, her own handmade baked goods, preserves, beautiful fresh flowers and more.  At just $30, and farm to door delivery across the Kawarthas, Miss Grove and Company can provide a unique gift for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, house warming gifts—you name it, they do it. Margie also works with a lot of local companies and realtors. Check it out at missgrove.com.

The Start-up Visa Program enables immigrant entrepreneurs to launch innovative companies by providing valuable assistance in navigating the Canadian business landscape. The Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas was recently certified to offer the program. One of only 31 business incubators in Canada, and the first in a rural area, Cluster President John Gillis says the program has the potential to attract some of the best and brightest minds from around the world who can build businesses in this area and create jobs. Expected to launch early next year, check out innovationcluster.ca/startupvisa for more info.

Congratulations to Fleetwood Hills Farm on having its White Liquid Honey crowned Champion-White Liquid Honey and Grand Champion Liquid Honey-Reserve at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair! Stephen Moore and his family operate 289 acres just South of Lindsay. Go to fleetwoodhills.com for more info.

The Moore family

And congratulations to Dick Crawford and PKA SoftTouch for having their micro-needle device awarded 2nd overall in the Top 10 Best invention from iCAN 2020, the premier event in Canada for worldwide inventors and innovators. The single-shot, pre-filled, pre-measured device delivers a drug to the body of the patient effectively and painlessly. After fifteen years of development, the device is in the final stage of testing, and they hope to confirm their first licence in the next six months. Pkasofttouch.com

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24-Year-Old Legally Blind Trent Student Brett Michael LeBlanc Is Missing

On Friday, November 20th, Brett Michael LeBlanc was reported missing to the Peterborough Police Service.

Brett, 24, is a student at Trent University and was last seen late Tuesday night (November 17th) on campus. Brett is legally blind. He is able to walk without assistance and typically wears black sunglasses, according to a Peterborough Police media release. He is described as a male white, 5 ft 10”, 169 lbs, brown medium length hair, thin moustache, wearing white high-top sneakers.

Photo of BretT Courtesy Peterborough Police

On Saturday, November 21st, Peterborough Police, along with Trent University security, conducted a ground search on Trent University property with negative results.

If members of the public—including Trent University students—have any information on Brett’s disappearance, you are asked to call police at 705-876-1122.

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Otonabee Conservation & TD Collaborate To Plant Trees At The Brock Mission In Peterborough

More than 300 native trees and shrubs are being planted at the Brock Mission this week. The grounds at the newly built Brock Mission men’s shelter at 217 Murray Street is being planted with serviceberry, eastern redbud, tulip tree, red oak, white pine, honeylocust, fragrant sumac, and chokeberry.  

TD provided generous funding for this planting project as part of their commitment to supporting communities most vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19.

“The benefits of planting trees are widely known,” says Dan Marinigh, CAO at Otonabee Conservation. “Being surrounded by trees can help mitigate stress, improve cardiovascular health, and enhance mental health. We are pleased to collaborate with TD and the Brock Mission to add this greenspace in support of some of our community’s most vulnerable people.”

Bill McNabb, Executive Director of Brock Mission, stands next to a garden bed planted with fragrant sumac and spring flurry serviceberry at the build site for the new Brock Mission men’s shelter (Photo courtesy Otonabee Conservation)

"Too often the plan for greenspace in a project like ours gets eliminated due to financial pressures, so we are very grateful to Otonabee Conservation and TD for reaching out and ensuring that this integral part of our project is a reality,” says Bill McNabb from Brock Mission. “We are excited to be able to offer a safe outdoor space for our residents that will be filled with native trees and shrubs.”

For more information about Otonabee Conservation’s fall planting events, please visit otonabeeconservation.com.

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The Verandah Society Presents “A Very Bubbly Christmas” With Megan Murphy And Kate Suhr At Showplace

The Verandah Society is moving indoors in downtown Peterborough with live performances to bring a little holiday cheer to this COVID Christmas season, sharing stories and songs at The Nexicom Lounge in Showplace Performance Centre.

The dynamic duo behind the Verandah Society, Kate Suhr and Megan Murphy, have day and evening performance slots available from December 4th to December 24th, for their “A Very Bubbly Christmas” shows.

Megan Murphy and Kate Suhr

After their successful outdoor tour this summer, Murphy and Suhr decided to create this all-new festive show to bring cheer to families. “A Very Bubbly Christmas” features 45 minutes of new holiday themed stories and songs to entertain your bubbled family of up to 25 people.

In keeping with safe government protocols, masks must be worn, an impermeable barrier will be placed between singer and audience, and cleaning will take place between each show to ensure everyone’s safety.

Email theverandahsociety@gmail.com to book your very own show!

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Uride To Launch Ridesharing Program In Peterborough On November 27th

Uride, Canada’s Fastest Growing Ridesharing Company, is set to launch in Peterborough on Friday, November 27th, just in time for the holiday season. Uride began operations in Thunder Bay in March 2017, and now operates in eight cities across Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan—with a focus being to help fill the transportation void that exists amongst smaller communities across Canada, and to stop people from impaired driving.

In honour of the launch in Peterborough, Uride will be offering users in Peterborough up to 50% off all rides by inputting promo code URIDEPTBO when making a booking. This promotion will expire after Sunday, December 13th. Anyone interested in booking a Uride can download the Uride app from the App Store or Google Play Store, or visit the Uride website here. 

“Peterborough deserves ridesharing, especially during the holiday’s when demand for private transportation is at its highest and wait times can be exceedingly long,” says Skye Volpi, Uride’s COO.

“Having access to safe and reliable private transportation is important for a lot of people, especially under the current circumstances with Covid-19 where people are concerned about using public transit services,” he adds. “We believe Uride can provide just that for Peterborough.”

Over the coming months, Uride will continue to work with city officials to consult on the implementation of ridesharing bylaw that promotes safety and competition amongst private transportation companies in Peterborough.

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4th Line Theatre Welcomes Beau Dixon As An Artistic Associate

4th Line Theatre has announced that award-winning Canadian actor, writer and composer/musician Beau Dixon has joined the theatre as an Artistic Associate.

Dixon will assist 4th Line in further developing its inclusivity and diversity initiatives and strategies. WIth Dixon’s assistance, 4th Line Theatre’s objective is to establish a talent bank of racialized artists, uncover local racialized stories, and liaise with racialized community partners.

Beau Dixon (photo courtesy 4th Line Theatre)

Dixon’s research, and the relationships he forges during this project, will aid in future artistic programming and play development. Dixon’s deep ties to Peterborough and area will allow him to delve deeply into the issues of inclusivity and diversity, to ensure lasting strategies for the theatre.

 “I am thrilled to welcome Beau back to 4th Line,” says Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell. “He has a long and rich creative history at the theatre. When I decided to create a formal strategy to address inclusivity and diversity at 4th Line, Beau was the first call I made, to ask for his input.”

Kim Blackwell (photo courtesy 4th Line Theatre)

“I'm excited to be joining the 4th Line team as an Artistic Associate, because it will allow me to contribute to bringing new stories and ideas to Peterborough's artistic community, while giving me the opportunity to discover and research untold stories found within the racially diverse communities around the theatre,” says Beau Dixon.

“I will explore the creation of new forms of storytelling and share other people's history, that have been embedded in the Peterborough and Kawartha region for centuries,” Dixon adds.

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Innovation Cluster First Rural Organization In Canada To Offer Start-Up Visa Program

The Innovation Cluster is now among only 31 current other business incubators across Canada designated to offer the Start-up Visa Program.

They are also the first rural organization in Canada to offer the Start-up Visa Program, allowing immigrant entrepreneurs to build businesses in Canada that are innovative, can create jobs for Canadians and that can compete on a global scale.

Photo courtesy Innovation Cluster

The Innovation Cluster, along with other Business Incubators, Venture Capital Funds and Angel Investor Groups, have been designated to accept proposals by entrepreneurs with an innovative business idea.

There is an extensive application process that can take anywhere from 12 to 16 months. If the business in question meets all of the eligibility criteria provided by the Government of Canada and the Innovation Cluster supports the proposal, a letter of support will be provided to go along with the applicant’s full Start-up Visa application. Other requirements include having a qualifying business, meeting the language requirements and enough money to settle. 

Photo courtesy Innovation Cluster

“This is a win for the region,” says John Gillis, President of the Innovation Cluster. “The Innovation Cluster has been working for years to receive this game changing designation so that we can bring more innovation and high-tech job opportunities to Peterborough and the Kawarthas. We could not be more excited to begin rolling out the program.”

This program will bring many benefits to the region including bringing the best and brightest minds from around the world. It enables immigrant entrepreneurs to launch innovative companies that will create jobs locally and compete globally, provides entrepreneurs with valuable assistance in navigating the Canadian business landscape which can sometimes be challenging for newcomers and it will provide private sector firms with access to a broader range of entrepreneurs. 

The region is already known for its large immigration population including entrepreneurs. In the Peterborough’s New Canadians Centre Annual General Report this year, 1,147 clients were served from 78 countries to date since 2018. 

Designated organizations are able to customize their own eligibility requirements for accepting those out of the program. Key requirements for the Innovation Cluster include:

• Ownership of a business that is generating revenue that is scalable, sustainable, and in one of Innovation Cluster’s four key sectors or have intellectual property behind the business. 

• Applicant is willing to live and work in Peterborough and Kawartha Region in Ontario.

• Applicant is willing to work/co-locate at the Innovation Cluster for the first year of operation in the province, and sign a one year Innovation Cluster service contract.

Those that are interested in applying can provide the Innovation Cluster with more information in order to be personally contacted when the program officially launches early 2021. For more information, click here.

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