Sustainable Fashion Comes to Lansdowne Place With Second-Hand Clothing Store

The Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region sells a lot of second-hand items and can add clothing to that list by opening a ReStyle store in Lansdowne Place mall last Friday.

(left to right) Christina Skuce, Habitat director of Philanthropy and Communications; Debbie Hinze, Operations Lead and Beth Burke, Logistics Supervisor. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

In addition to second-hand clothing, they also sell purses, shoes, hats, scarves and accessories with some items that have never been used.

"We are so excited to bring a sustainable fashion option into Lansdowne Place,” said Cristina Skuce, Habitat director of Philanthropy and Communications. “This provides a great thrifting option for men's, women's and kids' clothing for members of our community and another affordable shopping option for every member of your household."

The store took over the property during Labour Day weekend and took less than a week to prepare its opening. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The ReStyle store is the first second-hand clothing store in Lansdowne Place according to Skuce.

The idea of the store came back in April last year during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic after the city ask Habitat to start accepting clothing donations since other places that accepted them were closed.

“If you think back to that time, people are at home, more times on their hands, people were doing a lot of organizing and decluttering and they had nowhere to drop stuff off because everything was closed,” explained Skuce. “So that's when we started opening our ReStores to accept those donations.”

Over 60,000 pounds of clothing was donated after the first three months of the Habitat accepting them.

The ReStyle store is outfitted with change rooms so customers can try out clothing before making a purchase. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The store was able to hire new staff and accept new volunteers to aid in the ReStyle’s opening.

Habitat is always looking for new volunteers to help in their ReStyle or ReStore facilities especially for high school students wanting to fill their mandatory 40-hour community service. High school co-op programs are also available through the non-profit organization.

“People have really embraced the second-hand shopping option and sustainable fashion and thrifting,” exclaimed Skuce. “It’s really exciting to see customers coming in and say, ‘I can't believe this is available second hand!’”

Proceeds from the ReStyle store support the Habitat’s home-building efforts in the Peterborough and Kawartha region.

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Foodie Friday: Marty Moo's and Their In-House Made Food and the 20-Minute Food Challenge

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We talk with Marty Moo's owner Joy Bonham about her cooking background, how all the food is made in-house and the 20-minute food challenge.

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Federal Candidate Interview: Conservative Candidate Michelle Ferreri

Angela O’Grady speaks with the Conservative federal candidate Michelle Ferreri for the upcoming election. We answer community-submitted questions surrounding her stance on climate change, vaccine passports, the housing crisis and small businesses.

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Instructions Issued To Dining Establishments For Patron Information Collection

Peterborough Public Health has issued instructions to dining establishments on collecting diner information due to recent large-scale COVID-19 exposures in the community announced on Thursday.

File Photo.

These instructions, effective immediately, enhance the provincial requirements and are directed toward owners, operators and persons responsible for food premises with indoor and/or outdoor dining areas according to the press release.

Names, phone numbers, location of dining establishment and server name are the information dining establishments are urged to collect.

Collection of patron information is mandatory under O. Reg. 364/20: Rules for Areas at Step 3 and the Roadmap Exit Step.

As a result of recent large-scale exposures and insufficient patron contact records, Peterborough Public Health continues to follow a significant number of people who have been deemed high-risk contacts of a person with COVID-19. Two of the recent large exposures occurred at two different local food premises.

“Case management and contact tracing are essential components of our local COVID-19 response to prevent transmission and protect our community,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. “These instructions, which ask operators to use the template that we have created for the collection of patron information, will help to ensure that sufficient and thorough details of exposure are provided to our office, which will allow for efficient and timely follow-up, when large-scale exposures occur. And I want to remind everyone choosing to dine out that you must provide accurate contact information to the operator. It won’t work if the data is wrong.”

Dr. Salvaterra noted that these instructions are an extension of a requirement that currently exists in the legislation governing Step Three of the current provincial restrictions.

The instructions aim to prescribe the exact information that restaurants should be collecting for patrons who remain onsite to dine. The instructions do not apply to food premises that require patrons to order and pay for their food, prior to sitting at a table such as cafeterias and fast food establishments.

Julie Ingram, Manager of Environmental Health advised the community that the Instructions are mandatory and enforceable under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA).

“Public Health Inspectors are educating restaurant operators to ensure that they are aware of the importance of adequate record-keeping and to ensure that these Instructions are implemented within their establishments,” she said.

Ingram noted businesses are not the only ones that could face consequences for non-compliance.

“It’s important for the community to know that not only business owners and operators be charged but for failing to complement these instructions but customers themselves can be charged with obstruction under the Reopening Ontario Act,” she added.

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YWCA Crossroads Shelter receives $20,000 donation from The Peterborough District Masonic Association

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton announced a charitable contribution of $20,000 from The Peterborough District Masonic Association, on Wednesday.

YWCA’s Ria Nicholson receives a donation from The Peterborough District Masonic Association, presented by Right Worshipful Brother Tom Mortlock, District Deputy Grand Master (centre), and Worshipful Brother Philip Lake, District Secretary (right) Photo courtesy of YWCA Crossroads Shelter.

This donation will help ensure safe shelter and support services for local women and children experiencing violence.

“Community leaders like the Masonic Association who prioritize equity, safety and an end to gender-based violence are absolutely vital to our organization,” said Kim Dolan, Executive Director of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton. “We sincerely appreciate the commitment of local Association members, and those who generously support their fundraising efforts on behalf of the YWCA each year.”

Tom Mortlock, District Deputy Grand Master of the Masonic Association, and his family, has been actively involved in the YWCA’s fundraising events for many years.

YWCA Crossroads Shelter provides physical safety, 24 hour support, nutritious meals and personal care essentials for women in crisis.

Fundraising support from community groups like The Peterborough District Masonic Association is critical in order to bridge the gap that remains beyond government funding, ensuring that local services are available 365 days a year.

Anyone interested in learning more about corporate and community partnership opportunities is asked to please contact Ria Nicholson directly at 705-743-3526 x113 or rnicholson@ywcapeterborough.org.

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Hometown PTBO: Wayne Hannah his TikTok Stardom, Calling PTBO Home and His Upcoming Ventures

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday speaks with TikTok star Wayne Hannah about his success on the social media app, how Peterborough became his home after living in so many places and his future ventures such as the “The More You Know” podcast.

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Federal Candidate Interview: Green Party Candidate Chanté White

Angela O’Grady speaks with the Green Party federal candidate Chanté White for the upcoming election. We answer community-submitted questions surrounding her stance on climate change, vaccine passports, the housing crisis and small businesses.

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Bridges Peterborough and Fleming Host Bridges Out of Poverty Workshop

Bridges Peterborough and Fleming's School of Community Development is hosting a two-day online workshop for those that work with people living in poverty on Sept. 25 and 26.

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

“Bridges Out of Poverty” is specifically designed for social, community, health and legal professionals whose daily work connects them with the lives of people in poverty.

The program is lead by Lynn Smith-Reeve, a certified “Bridges out of Poverty” trainer with over 20 years of lived experience of poverty and will cover topics like poverty, economic class and community sustainability.

This workshop is being hosted online from 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The registration fee is $50. and closes on Tuesday.

Once registered participants will be notified of the pickup location of the workbook.

To register, click here.

For more information click here or email support@bridgespeterborough.ca

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Book Launch About Basic Income Comes to Local Café

The Basic Income Peterborough Network, KPR Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and Nourish hosted a launch for “The Case for Basic Income – Freedom, Security, Justice” by Elaine Power and Jamie Swift at The Silver Bean Café, on Wednesday.

Elaine Powers and Jamie Swift sign books on Wednesday. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

Swift, a journalist from Kingston, began exploring the idea of a basic income in 2013 while working with the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, a social activism group of Catholic Nuns.

The duo met when Swift moved to Kingston and began teaching at Queen’s University.

Under the leadership of former Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne, Hamilton and Lindsay were both selected as trial sites for the Ontario Basic Income Pilot in 2017.

This program saw 4,000 low-income earners receive $17,000 if they were single and $24,000 if coupled and included a $6,000 top-up for disabled people.

For people working low-wage jobs while participating, their basic income was reduced by 50 cents for every dollar they earned until they hit a cap of $34,000 for singles and about $48,000 for couples.

This pilot program ended a few months after it started when Doug Ford was voted premier.

Swift and Power began interviewing individuals that participated in the pilot program in 2018 and released the book in May 2021.

“I hope that anyone that reads this learns that Canada’s social assistance system is broken and corrupted and cruel. We live in a country that has more than enough to provide everybody with enough,” said Swift. “Basic livable income is one tool to address Canada - one of the richest countries in the world, that has millions of people living in poverty - basic livable income is one way to address Canada’s gnawing and grinding issue.”

Peterborough’s jazz trio, Chester Babcock perform at the Silver Bean on Wednesday. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

“My ultimate hope is that Canada has a basic income for anyone who needs it,” said Power. “I hope that in 50 years we can’t imagine that we ever lived without it. It seems like such a no brainer for me”

At Wednesday’s event, Swift and Power participated in a question-and-answer period and were joined by Peterborough’s jazz trio, Chester Babcock.

For more information about A Case for Basic Income, Freedom, Security, Justice or to buy the book, click here.

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Hike for Hospice Peterborough On Their Way to Meet Fundraising Goal

Hospice Peterborough’s Hike For Hospice event already raised over $30,000 since it started on Saturday for its one-week campaign.

Image courtesy of Hospice Peterborough

Due to COVID-19 this year’s event is being held virtually and started with a live stream of the opening ceremonies. Participants are encouraged to walk, hike or bike at their convenience from Sept. 11-17.

Hike for Hospice 2021 wants to raise $40,000, 73 per cent of that goal has already been met.

Prize winners were announced for the early bird registration and the t-shirt decorating contest on Tuesday

Wednesday they will hold a day of remembrance and Thursday participants will be invited to share who they are hiking for.

The event will end on Friday with a closing ceremony.

Participants are encouraged to share their stories, photos, videos, and fundraising ideas on the Hike for Hospice Facebook page or send them to Aimée at aoreilly@hospicepeterborough.org.

To sponsor an individual or a team click here.

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