Local Soap Company Keeps Firefighters Clean and Places First at Clean Beauty Awards

SootSoap Supply Co., a company out of Port Hope, has won first place at the 2021 Clean Beauty Awards.

K.Dee Howards poses with SootSoap products. In the wake of COVID-19 SootSoap released a line of hand sanitizer to combat germs while keeping skin healthy. Photo courtesy of SootSoap Supply Co.

SootSoap Supply Co. was started by K.Dee Howard. It is a line of personal care products like body wash and shampoo designed for firefighters.

“I developed SootSoap for my husband initially, who is a firefighter in Brampton,” said Howard. “I discovered after he came home smelling like fire even after showering numerous times that it was contaminates and toxins causing the smell,” she said.

Howard did some research and found there was no products to help combat this. She also found that cancer is the number one cause of death in firefighters, and these toxins are the cause of it.

Her products are designed to absorb and discard of both the smell and the toxins that firefighters often come into contact while on duty.

SootSoap launched their first product line in 2019 and is now Howards full time job.

Since launching Howard has found that it’s not only firefighters that come into contact with toxins and hard-to-get-rid-of odors at work.

“Lot’s of people can benefit. People that experience environmental toxins, every day things like fuel and grease, kitchen smells, we even have customers that are pig farmers,” she said. “We’re finding more and more uses for our products.”

This year SootSoaps shampoo was the first place winner in the hair wash category of the Clean Beauty Awards.

The Clean beauty Awards recognize the best performing beauty and personal care products, manufactured without the use of known harmful chemicals, from across the globe.

“In a year and a half to go from a firefighter, industrial shampoo to a shampoo recognized by clean beauty influencers, it’s pretty amazing,” Howard said. “Being clean, all natural, and biodegradable is very important to me. Our core challenge is to get rid of toxins so the last thing I want to do is add in more chemicals.”

Photo courtesy of SootSoap Supply Co.

Howard says her aim with SootSoap is to create products that will solve a problem.

“Innovation comes from our customers saying ‘I don’t have a solutions to this particular challenge’,” said Howard. “My challenge is to find solutions that don’t exist currently.”

To view SootSoap’s full line of products click here.

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Peterborough Pride Celebrates Diversity with 'Change Starts Here' Pride Week

Nogojiwanong/Peterborough Pride Week will take place this year from September 17-26. This is the 19th year of Pride in Peterborough.

Peterborough Pride held a T-Shirt design contest this year. The winning design was submitted by Chantel Daniels and Julie Stender. Their design will be featured on t-shirts sold this year, they also received a $100 prize. Photo from PTBOPride.

The theme of the 2021 Pride Week is “Change Starts Here”. The gay or queer rights movement was born out of a need for fundamental change to end the oppression, discrimination, and violence against 2SLGBTQ+* individuals, says Peterborough Pride.

“Over the last 50 or so years we have seen laws change to end the oppression and to provide equal rights,” said Peterborough Pride in a press release. “That said, violence and discrimination against People of Colour and Black, Indigenous, and Queer individuals has continued. We all have to actively make the changes to the culture that perpetuates these injustices.”

Due to COVID-19 there will be no parade, march or large gatherings during Pride Week this year.

Various community run virtual events and gatherings will be announced and can be found here.

Peterborough Pride invites community members to show their Pride and express their feelings by decorating their homes and businesses to signal that they are part of a welcoming community where nobody needs to feel alone or unsafe.

To learn more about Nogojiwanong/Peterborough Pride Week 2021 go to peterboroughpride.ca

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Electric City Football Club Kicks Off Banner Challenge

The newly-introduced Electric City Football Club (ECFC) has started their “banner challenge” as a contest and to promote the brand for the upcoming season in 2022 beginning Wednesday.

The ECFC had their inaugural press conference on Aug. 9 with their logo release on Aug. 13. Photo by David Tuan Bui,

Banners have been placed in Downtown Peterborough on three streets where entrants have to take selfies with the branding of all locations to be eligible for the giveaway.

Participants must also tag ECFC and use the hashtag #WeAreECFC while posting their photos on social media (Instagram, Facebook or Twitter) to be entered into the draw.

The ECFC Banner Challenge Kicks off today!

We've scattered ECFC banners throughout @PtboDBIA on three different streets. Take a selfie with a banner on each of the three streets to be entered into the draw. pic.twitter.com/CLDDJFrcpl

— Electric City Football Club (@ElectricCityFC) September 1, 2021

Three entrants will be selected at random in a draw to win an ECFC t-shirt and an inaugural scarf as part of the giveaway.

The contest ends at the end of Friday where the contest winners will be announced.

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Petes Announce Top Fitness Testing Performances from 2021 Training Camp

The Peterborough Petes 2021 Training Camp wrapped up day one of fitness testing on Tuesday, August 31 at Hybrid Sports Complex. They have released a list of top performers from each fitness test.

Image courtesy of the Peterborough Petes

Forward Tyson Doucette made the top performer list twice in pullups and vertical jump.

Forward Carson Whitson placed first in both the vertical and broad jump, while forward Nick Lardis placed third in both of those categories.

Image courtesy of the Peterborough Petes

The Petes will kick off day two of Training Camp on Wednesday at the Memorial Centre with the first six of twelve scrimmages being played from 8:30 to 11:30am and 2:00 to 5:00pm.

Fans can tune into the scrimmages live from the Petes Youtube channel.

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International Overdose Awareness Day Memorial Event Held At The Silver Bean

A memorial service to honour those lost to drug overdose was held at the Silver Bean Cafe on Tuesday.

White crosses set up at the event to honour those lost to overdose.

The event was hosted by Gail Perry, a member of Moms Stop The Harm, an organization of people impacted by substance use related harm or death.

Perry lost her daughter Jody Smith to complications related to opioid use three years ago.

“I’m not ashamed of how my daughter lost her life,” Parry said. “I’m ashamed of how people pick and choose which life has value.”

Parry says her daughter was mistreated during hospital visits because of her opioid use, which ultimately lead to her death.

“Stigma is deadly,” she said. “It is a killer. It creates dangerous and narrow minded attitudes towards those who need help and understanding. It shames and keeps people silent, alone and in hiding. Stigma interferes with getting the right kind of support and medical attention.”

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A post shared by Peterborough Police Service (@peterboroughpolice)

Tuesdays event hosted members from local harm reduction offices like PARN, The Elizabeth Fry Society and Fourcast.

The Elizabeth Fry Society provided on-site Narcan kits and training.

“Narcan is a way to help preventable deaths,” said Abby from The Elizabeth Fry Society. “It’s a way to practice empathy, it’s a way to help support people that are struggling in our community that are being stigmatized and demonized by societal expectations that we’ve been fed our entire lives.”

A Narcan kit includes two doses of Naloxone, a nasal spray that is used to reverse overdoses in an emergency situation.

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City Issues Open Invite For Information Session Of Official Plan

The City of Peterborough is hosting an online community information session of the final draft of the City’s updated Official Plan announced Tuesday.

Photo Courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The sessions will accommodate as many people as possible, with four sessions will be offered at different times where participants are encouraged to choose the time that works best with their schedule.

Wednesday, Sept. 1

• 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. or

• 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 2

• 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. or

• 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Each session will begin with a presentation to summarize the process, public engagement, themes of the comments received and the organization of the Final Draft as well as time for participant questions.

Registration to attend one of the four timeslots is available online at: www.eventbrite.ca/e/peterborough-official-plan-update-community-information-session-tickets-166507106237.

Once registered, residents will receive a link to the online meeting by email.

Anyone who is unable to access the sessions online can contact the City during office hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 705-742-7777 ext. 1880 for information on how to register and attend by telephone.

The proposed Official Plan and the final Land Needs Assessment are available for review on the City’s website at www.peterborough.ca/planit and through Connect Peterborough at www.connectptbo.ca/official-plan-update.

Following completion of this final round of community engagement, the Official Plan will be presented to City Council in October and a formal public meeting is being planned for November where Council will hear public delegations and will consider adopting the Plan.

Following Council’s adoption of the Plan, it would be forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for final approval.

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Peterborough and The Kawarthas O’de Piitaanemaan Pledge Reaches 1,000 Pledges

Following the July 6 introduction of the O’de Piitaanemaan Pledge (pronounced Oh-da Pee-tah-na-mawn), over 1000 people have vowed to participate in a campaign to promise to respect the land, waterways and communities of the region.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough and The Kawarthas.

The original goal of having 500 pledges by the end of 2021 was surpassed within one week. That resulted in Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism doubling that number to 1,000 as a new goal for 2021 which was also surpassed this week, less than two months after launch.

The pledge has received significant support, including both First Nations communities in the region, which issued the following statement of support “Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation are committed to continuing to work in cooperation with our neighbours, including the City and County of Peterborough. The O'de Piitaanemaan Pledge is a recent example of our coming together in a positive way. The Pledge was created by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) through meaningful and extensive consultation with both Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations. The incorporation of Michi Saagiig teachings and language within the Pledge is a demonstration of PKED's commitment to working in cooperation with us. Together, we can fulfil the intent of the Pledge – to give respect to all creation.”

The O’de Piitaanemaan Pledge has been taken and supported by many individuals, businesses, municipalities and organizations locally such as the New Canadians Centre Peterborough, the Peterborough Petes, the Canadian Canoe Museum, Fleming College and Trent University.

To learn more about the O’de Piitaanemaan Pledge, click here.

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Rosters Announced for Peterborough Petes Training Camp

The team rosters have been set for the Peterborough Petes 2021 Training Camp.

Each team will play six 25-minute scrimmages between Wednesday and Thursday, before Friday’s annual Maroon and White game at 4:05 p.m., all at the Memorial Centre.

Over 60 players will participate in this years camp, divided into three teams: Team Hybrid Fitness, Team Pat McAuley and Team East Side Mario’s. To view team rosters click here.

In addition to returning players, top picks from both the 2020 and 2021 OHL and Under-18 Priority Selections, and numerous free agent invites will be in attendance.

An updated on-ice schedule is available here.

In adhering to the OHL’s COVID-19 vaccination policy, all players, parents of players, hockey operations and support staff must have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccination before attending training camp.

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Cottage Toys Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony For New Location

The Rork family has dug deep with a groundbreaking ceremony of a new Cottage Toys location in Lakefield at a media conference on Monday.

(left to right) Andrew, Donna and Ethan Rork at the groundbreaking ceremony. Donna opened the sporting goods store in 1989. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Current and former staff, construction workers and community members attended the ceremony where the owner Donna Rork announced the details of the new building for the aquatic sporting goods store.

Four Points Construction will build the new location and is projected to be completed on May 1 next year. The store will be open all season compared to its Lakefield location — with others in Peterborough and Stoney Lake — which is seasonal.

"It's a dream that I've had for a long time and it's nice to see it come to fruition,” said Rork. “When I woke up this morning and realized this was happening, I was very emotional. I've worked at this a long time, I've pushed, pulled, dragged myself through lots of troubled times in business as everyone does and to get to this point feels really good.”

Additionally, the new location will feature air conditioning/heating, greater storefront space, better outdoor display, a storage basement, higher ceilings, more parking, a cleaner shopping experience and a more technological adaptation to the business according to Rork.

“There are all kinds of new opportunities to really customize the experience with laptops,” said Rork. “You can walk around with a customer and build an order. You can do that on a tablet, walk out the door and we deliver it to their cottage.”

The building will be located behind the Lakefield Restaurant on 37 Concession St. It is the same location where the business started in 1989.

The location is ideal for the store since it is at the heart of cottage country, near the marina and the area has a lot of traffic according to Rork.

A regular customer had spray painted the golden shovel and left it for the business for the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The former windsurfing instructor noted that with the pandemic weakening and restrictions becoming looser that people are eager to go cottaging more often while purchasing recreational goods as part of the getaway.

“There's been so much increase in cottage purchases, boat sales are through the roof and that's an obvious sign that people are going to continue (after) skiing, tubing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and all the fun stuff that we do,” she said.

The pandemic dealt a crushing blow to the business as there were two months of zero income when COVID-19 forced the country into lockdown.

"I cancelled all my orders. I don't know what's going to happen, I'm running out of money and it was really scary," explained Rork. "I was really low on cash because you've gone a whole winter with no-to-little cash flow."

The business saw some of the best sales ever beginning in May last year when they reopened two months after the initial lockdown. Cottage Toys was so successful that it became troubling to manage the surge of orders at several points.

“It was quite overwhelming, we had such a hard time managing the volume and it's all coming in at once,” said Rork. “We’re really grateful for the growth for our business.”

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Peterborough Public Health Receives $3 Million To Fight COVID-19 Efforts

Peterborough Public Health (PPH) has received $3,043,300 from the Ontario Government to help in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in a media conference at the King Street health office unit announced on Monday.

Dr. Rosana Salvaterra (pictured) will retire this September after 13 years of service. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The announcement was made by MPP Dave Smith and was joined by Dr. Rosana Salvaterra and Larry Stinson, PPH Director of Operations.

The funding will cover two parts:

• $2,027,300 in relief funding to support ongoing efforts

• $1,015,000 COVID-19 mitigation to offset expenses incurred from previous work

“We are grateful for this one-time funding from the province to support our local COVID-19 response and vaccination efforts,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. “As we look ahead to resuming vital public health services while the pandemic continues to unfold, provincial funding will be essential to ensure Peterborough Public Health has the capacity to keep our community safe and healthy on many fronts.”

Dr. Salvaterra cautions the city of a possible fourth wave with doubling of new cases over the weekend she said.

She encourages that immunization is the most powerful tool against COVID-19 by getting vaccinated. Salvaterra wants to see 90 per cent of our eligible population get the necessary shots in the pandemic battle.

Larry Stinson (pictured) will act as the interim CEO before Dr. Thomas Piggott will assume Dr. Salvaterra’s role. Photo by David Tuan Bui

Stinson — who will become the interim CEO after Dr. Salvaterra’s retirement on Sept. 19 — says the government money to offset the increase that would have come to the municipalities. More than $1 million will help mitigate PPH’s funding from 25 to 30 per cent.

The money will also go towards school-based public registered nurses and a public health inspector practicum program.

Health unit staff and volunteers have delivered vaccinations across Peterborough County and surrounding Indigenous communities.

“More than 212,000 vaccine doses have been administered,” says Stinson. “More than 57,000 residents have been tested for COVID-19 at least once. We’ve been able to successfully manage 52 outbreaks since the pandemic began.”

Nearly 75 per cent of local residents are protected from COVID-19 Stinson added.

Additionally, Smith announced that as of Aug. 1, the Ontario Government’s new Low-Income Senior’s Dental Care Program will expand.

The income eligibility thresholds for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program are being updated. In 2019, the Ontario government launched the Ontario Seniors Dental Care program to provide free routine dental care for eligible low-income seniors across the province.

“Peterborough-Kawartha has the highest number of seniors in Canada. They have put a lifetime of effort working, investing in our community and paying for the social services we all enjoy,” said Smith. “This program provides comprehensive, free dental care for our lower-income seniors. This expansion will offer the program to more,”

Since the launch of the Seniors Dental Care Program in 2019, over 50,000 Ontarians have enrolled in the program. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Income thresholds are now updated for single Ontarians aged 65 and over from $19,300 to $22,200 and for couples with a combined annual income from $32,300 to $37,100.

This will allow roughly 7,000 more seniors to access the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.

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