Local Engineering Firm Celebrates 15th Anniversary

From starting as a small business unit in Lakefield, Cambium Consulting & Engineering marked its 15th anniversary this past week.

Photo Courtesy of Cambium Consulting & Engineering.

The firm cannot have a formal celebration due to the shutdown, the staff reflect on past accomplishments and the changes over the years as part of their milestone.

Cambium was founded in 2006 with nine people offering environmental engineering services from an office in the Fleming Industrial Park.

Photo Courtesy of Cambium Consulting & Engineering.

They expanded in 2010, relocating to a larger office on Hunter Street in East City. Cambium added Geotechnical and Construction Quality Verification to its service suite from a second location on The Queensway in the same year. They have over 130 staff at offices located in Barrie, Oshawa, Kingston and Calgary.

“When we started Cambium 15 years ago, we had no idea that it would become what it is today. We aimed to craft a workplace we would enjoy and seek people that shared our beliefs to join us,” says John Desbiens, CEO and president. “As it turns out, we keep finding those people.”

Photo Courtesy of Cambium Consulting & Engineering.

In the past year, Cambium has been renovating a 25,000 square foot facility at 194 Sophia St. that will merge several Peterborough operations. The renovations and relocation are scheduled to be completed by June this year.

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Women-Dedicated Networking Business Celebrates 60th Anniversary

The Women’s Business Network has celebrated its 60th anniversary with a virtual event featuring guest speakers, trivia, giveaways and business spotlights for all its members on Wednesday.

Formed in 1961, the WBN is a networking channel for businesswomen who want to enhance and expand their professional contacts and grow their businesses.

The virtual gathering allowed members to give testimonials and reflect on how WBN has affected their lives and its positive impact.

“The membership boasts about 175 members at full capacity,” said Danielle McIver, WBN president. “It’s about supporting women with their goals. Whatever you’re doing as a female community member in Peterborough, we want to support you.”

Examples of network members are entrepreneurs, business owners, administrators and several other occupations. Photo Courtesy of WBN.

With the pandemic, McIver had the WBN adapt to the drastic changes the world has undergone. She became president of the organization last year.

“I’m honoured to be here to celebrate a milestone and it’s exciting that we’ve had so much change in this the last year and we’ve been able to have a strong virtual membership,” said McIver. “There was so much pivoting, so much challenge and so much change.”

Margaret Steeves was the first president of the WBN serving from 1961-1962. Photo Courtesy of WBN.

McIver made the year’s theme “you belong” since COVID-19 negatively affected several women’s careers.

“I was seeing a lot of people losing jobs, losing career paths that they felt was their identity in WBN,” she said. “The ‘you belong’ theme was really making sure we can embrace people for whatever the situation was right now that they were at.”

The WBN is run by a board of directors with up to 13 volunteer members who dedicate 10-30 hours a month to the organization. Photo Courtesy of WBN.

The WBN offers a learning program featuring guest speakers, trade shows, special events and gala socials for women in the Kawarthas and surrounding areas from September to June according to the official website.

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Star Wars Day Celebration Force Chokes Its Way Into Peterborough

There is no disturbing lack of faith in Peterborough as Matt Stewart and Carolyn Smith held their annual “Star Wars Day” in honour of a pun-inspired celebration on Tuesday.

Matt Stewart (left) and Carolyn Smith (right) dress up at several conventions together such as Comic-Con and Fan Expo. Photo by David Tuan Bui

The fan-made holiday is held every May 4 which originated in 2011, playing off the famous Star Wars phrase, “May the Force (Fourth) Be With You”. This is the fourth consecutive year Stewart and Smith have participated or held an event for the occasion.

“I am Star Wars obsessed,” said Stewart. “You can take it away from me but you can’t get it out of me, I just really like it.”

Stewart mimicking Darth Vader’s “force choke” alongside his collection of Vader’s masks. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The two celebrated the sci-fi series as they invited fans to their front lawn to dress up as characters, mingle, enjoy Star Wars music and look at the various displays put out for the socially-distanced event. While the weather was less-than-favourable with light rain, it did not dampen the celebration’s spirits.

“Some people walking by have waved, got some pictures and a few cars have honked their horns,” said Stewart. “It’s been good.”

Stewart and Smith had created several of the displays prior to the event. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The event was intended as a similar experience to a comic convention on a significantly smaller scale like Fan Expo or Comic-Con. The gather was a way for fans to celebrate the renowned franchise together as a community.

Stewart got his first Star Wars experience seeing Return of the Jedi in theatres in 1983. He fell in love with the franchise after seeing it again on videocassette at home.

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Additional Act Announced for Peterborough Summer Concert Series

Canadian Country Sensation Chad Brownlee will be playing the Enbridge Energy Stage at the Peterborough Memorial Centre for the PTBOLive Summer Concert Series on July 23.

Chad Brownlee is known for several hit songs such as “Dear Drunk Me”, “Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere” and “The Way You Roll”. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Local artist SJ Riley willl perform on stage the same night as Brownlee.

The series will accompany other concert dates that feature acts such as The Trews and Big Wreck. The former will have special guests and former frontman Three Days Grace, Adam Gontier and cousin Cale Gontier, bassist for Art of Dying.

Actor and comedian Shaun Majumder — known for his work on YTV and “This Hour Has 22 Minutes — will kick off the first date for Jun. 4 with special guest and fellow comedian Ali Hassan.

Other acts include Splash’N Boots, Jim Cuddy Band and a Classic Albums Live night with Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album.

Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10:00 a.m. online or by phone at (705) 743-3561. The exclusive pre-sale for PMC Scoop members happens Wednesday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is only available online.

Tickets range from $125 per vehicle to $225 per vehicle plus fees (vehicle occupancy must be in accordance with the highway traffic act).

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Nutritionist Jane, Todd Barr, Cycle Savage and Horlings Garden Centre

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

Nutritionist Jane Bischoff recently relocated her holistic nutrition consulting business to Lakefield. Jane works with people who have digestive issues, weight problems, anxiety, joint pain and lots more. She can provide meal plans and also carries a line of supplements based on your blood type. Jane continues to book appointments utilizing one-hour Zoom calls.

Visit her official website or you can find her on Facebook or just call 705-740-5092.

Todd Barr recently launched two initiatives. Condition Shift offers backbone coaching, consulting, and/or staffing to networks, coalitions, and collaboratives to safely come together and shift the conditions that hold complex social problems in place. A skilled strategist, Barr is uniquely positioned to help you get to the root of a problem and work collaboratively to affect social change.

Barr can also help individuals and organizations through his coaching and consulting business. He offers support with strategy and strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, one-on-one leadership coaching, and community engagement and convening.

Cycle Salvage Peterborough is making waves as the new Suzuki Marine and Polar Kraft Boats dealer in the Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes region!

Cycle Salvage is well known for its sales and service for motorcycles, ATVs, and snowmobiles, including as an authorized Arctic Cat dealer. Co-owner, Ryan Matthews says they’re offering outboard and boat sales, marine service and repair with a full team of licensed, professional mechanics.

Horlings Garden Centre, just south of Lakefield, has new owners. Samantha Turner and Doug Gordon recently purchased the business, which was founded by the Horlings Family back in 1963.

Samantha and Doug plan to continue the name and the legacy established by the Horlings. For details on their current operating hours and protocols visit their website find them on Facebook or call 705-652-7979. Hats off to the Horlings family on a great run!

“Like” StoosNews page on Facebook here!

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YWCA Launches 2021 Virtual Challenge Fundraiser For Women

The YWCA is hosting a Virtual Challenge as an online fundraising initiative in support of local YWCA resources for women experiencing gender-based violence.

Photo Courtesy of YWCA Peterborough.

Participants choose an activity to accomplish during the month of May, register online and challenge others to match their efforts.

Activities are flexible, with options ranging from athletic challenges, virtual Mother’s Day events, cooking or yoga skill-share challenges (or the option of creating something entirely new), offering participants of all ages and abilities the opportunity to participate safely in their own way and schedule.

As women’s organizations across Canada have seen a 30 to 40 per cent increase in the need for safety and support this past year, local fundraising initiatives are more vital than ever.

“Women’s lives continue to be threatened by abusive men who are taking advantage of COVID-19 safety protocols to isolate, manipulate and cause harm,” says Kim Dolan, YWCA executive director. “Our entire community needs to be actively involved in looking out for loved ones who may be at risk of violence and supporting the local services that help to equip women to safely create change in their lives.”

Participants who raise $250 or more will be entered in a draw to win one of three prizes generously donated by Bennett’s Furniture and Mattresses and other local businesses. Winners will be announced on June 14.

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#PtboSignWars T-Shirts Now Available For Order (And You Don't Have To Go To Aisle 15 To Get Them)

It has been quite the week in Peterborough, Ontario as #PtboSignWars dominated the local social media scene and won over the hearts of the community at the same time. 

The “Meet me in Aisle 15” T-shirt is a reference made by Merrett’s Home Hardware that the product sold in that aisle could ambiguously be things that could be at a party. Photo by PTBOCanada.

PTBOCanada got the ball rolling last week after posting a sign war inspired from a town in Virginia. From there, they challenged a few local businesses to fire their signs up and get the #PtboSignWars started. 

Anden Kitchen & Bath, Merrett Home Hardware Building Centre and Friendly Fires were the first three Peterborough businesses to exchange shots. Five days and hundreds of fantastic witty signs later, #PtboSignWars was making headlines across the country on social media and has motivated other cities in Canada to do the same.

Pete Dalliday of Fresh Radio played a big role in the campaign, encouraging Peterborough to participate in #ptbosignwars and helping the “Kids For Lids” fundraiser that benefitted Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Peterborough.

“After 14 months of pandemic life this was exactly what the community needed,'' he said. “Reading the signs made me laugh out loud but reading the thousands of comments from viewers and listeners was perhaps my favourite part.” 

As always, PTBOCanada is always looking to give back to the community. Following a very successful PTBOCanada “Lids For Kids” campaign, Kirtus Evoy, owner and Publisher of PTBOCanada, is pleased to announce that even more money will be raised for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Peterborough. 

Based on one of the most popular and shared sign exchanges this past week between Anden and Merrett’s, PTBOCanada is launching a limited edition #PTBOSignWars “Meet Me In Aisle 15” T-shirt. 

$10 from every T-shirt sold will go directly to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Peterborough as they will benefit from all the proceeds. Anden, Merrett and Friendly Fires have already committed to buying T-shirts for their staff and customers while Kori Malakos and Matt D’Agostini from Ricart Promotions have quickly made this idea a reality. We thank all of them for their support to kick this campaign off. 

T-Shirts can be ordered by going to ptbocanada.com/shop. Shirts can be purchased until Wednesday, May 5th at 9:00 a.m. where pickups can be done in roughly two weeks.

For more information, contact Kirtus Evoy at kirtus@ptbocanada.com.

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Hometown PTBO: Gary Lawless Growing Up In Peterborough, the City's Great Athletes and His Journalism Career Into the NHL

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday speaks with Vegas Golden Knights Insider Gary Lawless on growing up in Peterborough, the local athletes he grew up and played with and his journalism career in town to the NHL.

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Community Rallies to Create Fundraiser For Dirt Bike Accident Victim

Jake MacDonald may have suffered the worst accident of his life but his community has rallied together and arranged a fundraiser for his recovery on Tuesday.

Donations as far as Alberta have come in to support MacDonald. Photo courtesy of Crissie Morrow.

The Facebook group “Let’s Help Jake MacDonald” has already raised approximately more than $1,500 with over 280 members in the group. All proceeds go towards MacDonald for any incidentals that the accident cost and to help him get back on his feet during the recovery.

Crissie and Josh Morrow, close friends and next-door neighbours created the fundraiser two days after the accident had occurred on Sunday.

“I bawled my eyes out. I couldn’t believe it,” said Crissie. “I felt like I needed to do something and I didn’t know what to do so I got talking to a bunch of my girlfriends, we talked about it and we ran from there.”

Several local businesses have donated goods for a charity auction that will take place next Friday with details to follow. Items such as gift cards, a television, purses and cups are some of the many prizes that will be auctioned.

“The response from people and a lot of local businesses in Havelock, Madoc, Marmora and other places have been phenomenal,” said Crissie. “Over 50 different items have been donated for the auction we’re having next week.”

MacDonald has been a hockey referee for minor hockey in the past four years for Havelock and Norwood. Photo courtesy of Crissie Morrow.

The 22-year old crashed face-first resulting in brain hemorrhaging and a fractured left foot while dirt biking at Cordova Lake just north of Havelock on Sunday late afternoon.

He was airlifted to Kingston General Hospital and was sedated since the accident. The Havelock resident had a successful overnight craniotomy on Wednesday.

There is no timeline on when MacDonald will make a full recovery but it could be up to a year at least according to Crissie.

“We had a Zoom call with him and his mother last night (Wednesday),” said Crissie, “He’s breathing on his own and has been responsive to touch and the voices from his family.”

MacDonald grew up playing baseball, soccer and hockey in his teenage years. Photo courtesy of Crissie Morrow.

MacDonald is a licensed mechanic and was studying to be a diesel mechanic at Centennial College in Scarborough.

He has played minor hockey for Havelock and Norwood and has refereed for the same leagues for the past four years.

All cash donations can be e-transferred to close friend Kaitlyn Carriere at k.carriere@hotmail.com. Leave a memo that the donation is for MacDonald.

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