Local Women's Organization Continues 75th Anniversary Celebration By Donating 75 Care Bags

Soroptimist International Peterborough (SIP) kept its 75th anniversary rolling by donating 75 care bags to One Roof Community Centre (ORCC) on Monday.

One Roof staff member (left) and Marnie Horton (right) unload the care bags at ORCC. SIP has roughly 40 members to empower and aid women all over Peterborough. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The bags contain socks, underwear, personal grooming items, gift cards and feminine products. Some of the donated clothing were hand-knit from SIP members.

The organization chose items that would help women with basic needs according to Dorothy Macdonald, SIP club president.

"There's a good range of choices in there and hopefully there are ladies who will receive the bags will have some enjoyment out of them,” she said.”

Andrew MacGregor expressed his gratitude for the donation after being with the ORCC for less than a month.

"We're very grateful for the Soroptimists, the community and the extended community are always showing this amazing display of generosity," he said. "We're very grateful that they're able to support us this way."

Bags are received visiting ORCC and buzzing the front door. They are kept until all bags have been given out.

SIP also made donations to PARN and The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough on the same day.

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The Rotary Club of Peterborough Annual Christmas Auction Will Support Humane Society's New Animal Care Centre

The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha and the Peterborough Humane Society (PHS) announced on Monday the 2021 Kawartha Rotary annual Christmas Auction will support ‘Our Pet Project’, the fundraising campaign for the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre.

Rotary Club President Carl Brown visits the Humane Society. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Humane Society.

“For over 23 years, proceeds from our Christmas auction have benefited many worthwhile community initiatives such as the Nichols Oval Waterpark and capital builds at both Hospice Peterborough and the PRHC,” said Carl Brown, Rotary Club President. “With construction well underway and fundraising ongoing for the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre, we felt it was an important time to support our furry friends through the 2021 auction.”

Last year’s auction raised over $18,000 in support of the YES Youth Transitional Housing Project. The 2021 auction will support the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre with a goal of giving $15,000.

“We are always thrilled when a community partner thinks of our organization and supporting the future of animal wellness. Kawartha Rotary’s Christmas Auction is a double win in that it encourages shopping at local Peterborough businesses while also helping us get even closer to our fundraising goal for the new centre.” said Shawn Morey, Executive Director, PHS.

Construction is underway at 1999 Technology Drive, the site of the new centre and fundraising is currently over $8.5M of its $10M goal.

The online auction goes live on Monday and ends on Sunday, Nov. 28.

For more information on the Christmas auction contact Susan Zambonin, Auction Co-Chair, susan@habitatpkr.ca

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Local Restaurant Celebrates Second Anniversary With 24 Free Meals For the Community

More bellies will be filled as restaurant Capra Toro will give away 24 meals to those in need to celebrate their second anniversary on Sunday.

The meals are going towards individuals or families who are in need or going through rough patches.

The restaurant is encouraging anyone to contact them through Facebook or Instagram to write a brief message of anyone deserving of a meal.

“Giving back is a huge part of our family beliefs here at Capra Toro,” said Ashley MacDuff, Capra Toro supervisor. “We love to give back when we can to the community. We’ve been able to do so with giving people in need and those deserving a meal here and there when we can.”

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Peterborough Singers Accompanist Steps Down After 25 Years of Music

Gael Morrison, accompanist with Peterborough Singers for 25 years, has stepped down from her position, announced on Monday in the Peterborough Singers newsletter.

Gael Morrison and her husband Ev. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Singers.

Following her training at the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto, Morrison worked with the Peterborough Pop Ensemble, the Peterborough Children’s Chorus and the Cambridge St. United Church Voices of Victory.

Morrison made the drive from Lindsay to Peterborough every week to accompany the Peterborough Singers.

“It made me a better accompanist, since it requires a totally different skill from playing on your own. You need a certain quality and standard to do those big works. And certainly I’ve met some wonderful, interesting people — the music and the people are the highlights,” she said.

While Morrison says she already misses being a part of the Peterborough Singers, she is enjoying having more time for kayaking and hiking.

“A good choir accompanist is the choral conductor’s most important ally in the rehearsal room, and for me, Gael was that person,” said artistic director Syd Birrell. “She is a very fine pianist, an excellent sight reader, a true professional, and she played an integral role in establishing the high standards of the Peterborough Singers, helping build the choir in our early years and beyond.”

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Green Economy Peterborough, Jason Wilkins, Kawartha Home Health Care, Junior Achievement and Cahill's

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

If you are interested in finding out how you can do more to reduce the environmental impact of your business, Green Economy Peterborough can help you measure then set and achieve reduction targets.

They are now recruiting businesses to join their next cohort that starts in January. There is an information session on Tuesday at 7 :00 p.m. or Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Just look for Green Economy Peterborough on Eventbrite or contact Natalie Stephenson at Peterborough Green Up for more information.

Congratulations to local artist Jason Wilkins on the opening of his new studio. Called The Jason Wilkins Factory, the space is located at 7-188 Hunter St. W. and he plans to expand his teaching, studio, podcast and gallery. Wilkins is offering art classes for children and adults and a new home for the Peterborough Arts Collective.

Jason does murals, illustrations, caricatures, animation and more. Look for wilkinsartandcreative.com or on Instagram @jwilkinsfactory.

Kawartha Home and Healthcare Services recently added a transportation service. You get a certified, licensed and insured PSW driver who can transport and accompany you to a wide variety of appointments and events. It could be to the grocery store, doctors’ appointment or anywhere else you need. 

Located at 320 Water St., Kawartha Home Healthcare offers facility staffing including RN’s, RPN’s, PSW’s and Health Care Assistants as well as foot care services. Kawarthahomehealthcare.com

Nominations are now open for next year’s Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Awards. The nomination deadline is November 26th. Visit this link for details.

Cahill’s will be collecting gently used winter coats for ladies, men and children and donating them to five local charities to help keep people warm this winter.

Last year, they collected over 500 winter coats and they would love to beat that mark this year. Just drop your coats off at Cahill’s at 134 Hunter St. W. anytime in November and receive a 15 per cent store gift certificate.

“Like” StoosNews page on Facebook here!

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Local Man Completes Hiking the Bruce Trail End to End and is Now Raising Funds for Two Local Charities

After hiking the Bruce Trail in its entirety, local man Jackson Parlevliet is raising money for HeadsupCAN and the Youth Emergency Shelter.

Jackson Parlevliet after completing the Bruce Trail. Photo courtesy of Jackson Parlevliet.

Parlevliet began hiking Canada's oldest and longest marked footpath that stretches 900 km from Niagara to Tobermory on Aug. 11 when he realized his mental and physical health were declining.

“I started doing the hike because I was feeling very depressed,” he said.

After hitting his head at work a few years ago and enduring a severe concussion and brain damage, he was struggling with his mental health.

“I wanted to do something healthy to get me on track. At the beginning it was really really hard, I couldn’t go very far and I was just feeling so out of shape. I stuck with it and kept going until it started to get easy, then it got hard again towards the end because I was just really tired.”

Over the course of the 58 day hike Jackson lost 30 lbs and found a love for hiking. Photo by Jackson Parlevliet.

“I just thought so much. There were certain days I just would be in the woods by myself and start crying,” he said. “But I genuinely feel like a different person now.”

Initially this hike was only meant to better Parlevliet’s health, though as he walked alone he began to think there was potential for something more.

After he completed the trail end-to-end on Nov. 8, 58 days after starting, Parlevliet created a GoFundMe.

50 per cent of all the money raised will be going to HeadsupCAN, a local charity that aims to help those suffering from post-concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) symptoms.

“I picked HeadsUP because it’s personal to me. I’ve been struggling with concussion related brain trauma since I was in high school, and also because I trust where the money is going. The founder Ryan Sutton is from Ennismore.”

The other 50 per cent will be going to the Youth Emergency Shelter.

“I wanted to do something nice at Christmas - I love Christmas. Gifts aren’t what Christmas is about to me, but I still think that kids should be able to have some gifts and have some food and feel like they’re loved at Christmas.”

According to the Bruce Trail website, the trail can be hiked one way in 30 days. Jackson completed his hike (end-to-end and back again) in 58 days. Photo by Jackson Parlevliet.

Parlevliet says it was a tough trek,hiking around 40 km a day, and there were many times he wanted to quit. Now that it’s done he hopes to hike more in the future.

“I’ve wanted to do this Bruce Trail thing for a while. I started thinking about the idea in 2015 or 2015. I didn’t really know anything about it. If you have anything you want to do, just do it. Just make it happen.”

He says he hopes anyone interested in hiking the Bruce Trail will reach out to him on Instagram with any questions.

“I didn’t have fancy gear, I didn’t have poles, I didn’t have good shit - I just did it. It was really uncomfortable at times it rained for like 15 days straight, my feet were soaking, it was really miserable but I made it through and then got to good weather. If there’s anything you want to do, don’t wait for other people - just make it happen. I’m so glad I did it. There were times I thought ‘I can’t do this anymore I want to quit’ but I just kept going and it felt so good to be done.”

To donate to the Bruce Trail End to End Charity Hike click here.

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Fourcast Announces Expansion, Gets Funding For Addictions Services

Addiction treatment centre Fourcast will expand with $500,000 in annualized funding for mobile withdrawal management services from the Ontario Government announced at Victoria Park on Friday.

(left to right) Deputy Mayor Bonnie Clark, Coun. Keith Riel and Donna Rogers, Fourcast Executive Director were in attendance at Victoria Park joining MPP Dave Smith for the announcement. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The funding is part of the Ontario government’s investment of $32.7 million in new annualized funding for targeted addictions services and supports including treatment for opioid addictions.

Ontario is committing $3.8 billion over the next decade to implement Roadmap to Wellness, Ontario’s comprehensive plan to build a modern and connected mental health and addictions system centred around the needs of individuals and their families according to the press release.

“The fight against the opioid crisis requires a robust local response including a comprehensive array of services to help people beat addiction and live healthy, productive lives,” MPP Dave Smith said. “The key to this effort is strong support at every level of their recovery. $500,000 in annual funding will expand detox services, outreach, and primary medical care for more people struggling with addiction.”

Community Withdrawal Management allows individuals to withdraw from substances in their homes or in another location under medical supervision.

This new funding will hire a nurse practitioner a program manager and two addictions workers into the program. It will be integrated with Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic and other existing services such as housing, social services, residential and addiction treatment and high-quality primary medical care.

"Fourcast appreciates this investment in community withdrawal management services especially the opportunity that it provides to expand our existing program, “ said Donna Rogers, Fourcast executive director. “This new funding will add outreach and nursing capacity to our existing team. Quick and comprehensive response for people who make decisions to change their substance use is important and this investment allows us to improve access and incorporate much-needed nursing support into our response."

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Petes Forward Named to Team Canada Black for Inaugural Capital City Challenge

Hockey Canada announced Friday that Petes forward Nick Lardis has been named to Team Canada Black for the inaugural Capital City Challenge in Ottawa, Ontario.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Lardis, a 5’10”, 155 lbs winger, has appeared in all 12 games in his rookie season, tallying five goals and five assists for ten points.

The Oakville, Ont. native and Petes sixth overall pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection is currently ranked thirteenth in OHL scoring amongst rookies.

Lardis will join fellow OHL forwards, Denver Barkey (London Knights), Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals), Alex Pharand (Hamilton Bulldogs), and Colby Barlow (Owen Sound Attack) on Team Canada Black.  

Announced on November 5, Petes Head Coach Rob Wilson was named Head Coach for Team White and Petes Alumnus Kyle Raftis was appointed Director of Operations for Team Canada Red.

The Capital City Challenge will feature three national men’s U17 teams and Canada’s National Women’s Centralized Roster. Preliminary-round action kicks off Friday, November 26 at TD Place Arena, home of the Ottawa 67’s. The preliminary-round will conclude on Monday, November 29, followed by the semifinals on Tuesday, November 30. The medal games will take place on Wednesday, December 1.

The Capital City Challenge will serve as a one-time event to replace the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, while providing an opportunity for Canada’s National Women’s Team to compete as part of its centralization schedule.

Full-event ticket packages for the Capital City Challenge can be purchased for $80 (plus applicable fees), while single game tickets are available starting as low as $5. Tickets are available at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

Click here to see Canada’s full U17 roster.

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Holiday Shopping Passports are Back to Support Local Christmas Shopping

Holiday Shopping Passports are back in Peterborough and are available at 150 participating shops, boutiques, salons, restaurants, and cafes in downtown Peterborough.

Jennie Moore won the Holiday Shopping Passport early bird draw in 2020. Photo courtesy of The Boro.

Shoppers will earn a passport stamp for every $10 you spent locally in downtown Peterborough. Each completed Holiday Shopping Passport increases the chance to win up to $1,500 in Boro gift cards.

The Holiday Shopping Passport program rewards people for shopping, dining, and enjoying downtown. Last year’s program saw shoppers stamp more than $2.5 million worth of Holiday Shopping Passports.

For every $100 spent locally, up to $48 stays in the community, compared to just $14 when shopping at big box stores.

“Every year our Holiday Shopping Passport program brings an excitable shopping buzz into our downtown core,” said Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the DBIA. “In order to combat online and big box shopping trends we have to support programming that celebrates the physical shopping experience. We are so excited to have the Holiday Shopping Passports back and love rewarding our shoppers during the holiday season.”

Shoppers are welcome to collect free stamps at the Peterborough Public Library, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Visitors Centre and The Boro Holiday Hub.

This years’ Passport will be sporting a new holiday graphic, and smaller purse-friendly design. Shoppers are encouraged to shop early to increase their chances of winning in one of the three early bird prizes for a $500 Boro gift card. Early bird draw dates will take place on December 1, 8, & 15.

The final grand prize draw will take place after the holiday season on January 8 where one lucky passport holder will win a $1,500 Boro card shopping spree.

The City of Peterborough will be providing free 2-hour parking in the downtown beginning Black Friday (Nov. 26) until the end of December courtesy of Wolfe Lawyers.

For more information on this year’s Holiday Shopping Passport program visit www.theboro.ca

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