Peterborough Blogs
PRHC Temporarily Shifts To More Restrictive Visiting Policy
/Peterborough Regional Health Centre will be moving to a more restrictive phase of temporary visiting policy on Dec. 23 as an additional measure to protect the health and safety of everyone at the hospital.
Photo courtesy of PRHC.
Under this phase of the temporary policy, the following key changes will take effect:
A limited number of designated essential caregivers will be permitted for specific patient groups only. Designated caregivers must be registered to the patient to come to the hospital.
The number of designated caregivers permitted in the patient’s room at one time will be limited to one (1) in most cases.
An essential caregiver or care partner is a person who provides support to an individual with limited capacity, an urgent medical condition, age-related issues, disability or chronic health concerns.
Caregivers may be family, friends or neighbours, and there is no age requirement to provide care. Young caregivers, adult children, spouses and peers can all provide support. These individuals are considered essential when their presence is deemed beneficial to the assessment, diagnosis, and physical and/or mental health care of the patient.
Designated essential caregivers coming to the hospital will continue to be screened at both public entrances and will be required to check in with their name and phone number at the hospital’s main information desk. They will be asked to wear a mask at all times when in the hospital, including in the patient/bed area, and to clean their hands well and frequently while at the hospital.
Visiting hours for designated essential caregivers will continue to be 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., subject to additional restrictions as detailed on PRHC’s website.
PRHC continues to strongly encourage the use of our Virtual Visiting program to support ongoing family presence while helping to keep our patients, staff and community safe. For more information about booking a visit through this program, read the FAQ document provided here.
This temporary visiting policy will remain in effect until further notice.
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Employers Can Now Apply For Canada Summer Jobs 2022 Funding
/Employers in Peterborough and area can now apply for funding from the Canada Summer Jobs 2022 program.
File Photo.
Canada Summer Jobs, a federal grant program, allows employers to hire youth and young adults between 15 and 30 and give them their first summer work experience.
Not-for-profit organizations, public sector employers, and those private sector employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees can apply for funding until noon on January 25, 2022.
Funding confirmations will be sent to employers beginning in April 2022.
Jobs can start as early as April 25, 2022 and as late as July 24, 2022. The latest someone can work under Canada Summer Jobs is September 3, 2022.
Employers interested in applying for Canada Summer Jobs 2022 funding can submit their applications online here or the Grants and Contributions Online Service (GCOS).
Applications received by fax or by email will not be considered.
Applications that support local priorities, identified by local Member of Parliament, will receive additional points during Service Canada’s assessment.
Priorities for Peterborough-Kawartha as highlighted by local MPs are:
Projects supporting local and regional tourism development
Projects supporting environmental protection
Projects supporting not-for-profit organizations
Community events
Projects supporting small businesses
Funds are distributed to successful applicants based on the results of Service Canada’s assessment of applications, and from feedback provided by MPs during their review of the list of projects.
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Art Gallery to Be Temporarily Closed While Undergoing Renovations
/The Art Gallery of Peterborough will be closed to the public, while undergoing renovations, for the month of January beginning Jan. 3, 2022.
File Photo.
This closure will accommodate lighting improvements to the main gallery space and the installation of new exhibitions.
Online programming will continue on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Visit the Art Gallery’s website at www.agp.on.ca for digital programming, news and updates.
The Art Gallery’s holiday hours:
December 23 to 26: Closed
December 29 to 31: Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
January 1: Closed
January 2: Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
January 3: Closed
Proof of vaccination is required to visit the gallery. To contact the gallery, phone 705-743-9179 or email gallery@agp.on.ca.
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Campbellford Memorial Hospital Emergency Room To Be Closed Christmas Eve
/The Emergency Department at Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) will be temporarily closed on Dec. 24 beginning at 5:00 p.m. and re-opening at 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 25, due to staffing issues.
Photo courtesy of CMH.
A contingency plan has been implemented to deal with this temporary closure to ensure the impact to patient care is as minimal as possible. EMS and other emergency services are aware of the temporary closure and during these hours’ ambulances will take patients directly to the closest area hospital that offers emergency medical services.
In reaching this decision, CMH investigated all support options and opportunities available including reaching out to our sub-regional partners who, while incredibly supportive, shared their own health human resource challenges.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly highlighted the implications of the shortage of health human resources throughout the Province,” said Eric Hanna, President and CEO. “CMH is continuously re-evaluating our strategies to recruit and retain members of our team during these challenging times.”
Anyone requiring emergency health care treatment during the closure should call 911.
Anyone requiring urgent health care treatment should go directly to one of the following hospitals:
• Northumberland Hills Hospital, 1000 DePalma Drive, Cobourg
• Quinte Healthcare Corporation - Trenton Memorial Hospital, 242 King Street, Trenton
• Quinte Healthcare Corporation - Belleville General Hospital, 265 Dundas Street East, Belleville
• Peterborough Regional Health Centre, 1 Hospital Drive, Peterborough.
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Peterborough Musician Releases New Song While Recovering From Severe Chronic Illness
/Peterborough based musician, Paul L. Clark, released his new song ‘The Purgatory Blues’ on Monday.
While sitting on the edge of a hospital bed at 3 a.m., physically and mentally drained as he recovered from a severe chronic illness that left him gaunt and exhausted, and brought him to the brink of death, Clark had what he calls an epiphany.
“I kept hearing an earworm. I smiled as I realized what I was hearing wasn’t any existing music. I buzzed my nurse and asked for a piece of paper and a pen and the words that fit the tune in my head poured out of me. The entire song flowed out all in one shot,” he said.
Clark says he soon found - or was found by - people that could help him.
One of those people was Don Skuce, the longtime owner of Ed’s Music Workshop in Peterborough. Clark met Skuce at a weekly breakfast that saw a number of musicians get together to swap tales over eggs and bacon.
Both were ill, Skuce in the final stages of a tough battle with cancer and Clark on the cusp of his own debilitating illness.
“It was obvious that both of us were rapidly losing weight but our dark humour begged us to ask the question ‘So who is going to die first?’ We’d laugh and often I told him ‘The devil doesn’t want me and the Lord won’t take you, so what are we going to do.’”
Skuce passed in June 2018 but Clark’s memory of their special relationship never faded. When he found himself critically ill facing his own death, Clark discovered strength in their bond. But more to the point, the poignant words he shared with his friend never left his head, eventually forming the basis of one very special song.
Back home recuperating, Clark brought ‘The Purgatory Blues’ to life.
After recording his percussion tracks, he enlisted some of his favourite musicians - vocalists Bridget Foley and Lindsay Barr, guitarist Brandon Humphrey, and bassist Rob Foreman – to round out what he had been hearing in his head.
They recorded The Purgatory Blues under the name The Smirky Waters Band.
The result is a piece that unites elements of R&B, soul-jazz and reggae that deny it being buttonholed into any particular identified music genre.
“I don’t write and play genres…I write and play moods,” said Clark. “I’ve learned to go with the flow as opposed to thinking so much you wreck it. Surpass any fears or nervousness. When you trust, you’re on a different foundation and it takes you to another level. The verses are what I learned - laugh at the noise, your dreams know the way. The Purgatory Blues is a very personal piece that pays homage to my friendship with Don and each of my fellow travelers.”
To purchase the studio version of The Purgatory Blues by The Smirky Waters Band from any one of a number of major distribution platforms, visit https://songwhip.com/the-smirky-waters-band/the-purgatory-blues.
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CMHA HKPR Receives Combined $60K Donation From Two Local Organizations
/The Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge branch (CMHAHKPR) received a $50,000 donation from the Kinsmen Club of Peterborough, and a $10,000 grant from the Peterborough Police Services Board Auction Fund.
Photo courtesy of CMHAHKPR
The donations, both received on Monday, will support the new Mobile Mental Health and Addictions Clinic being launched in 2022.
“We thank the Kinsmen Club of Peterborough for their generous donation which will support our new Mobile Mental Health and Addictions Clinic,” said Mark Graham, Chief Executive Officer, CMHA HKPR. “The new clinic will bring specialized mobile mental health and addictions care to underserviced and under-resourced communities.”
The clinic will operate within a custom-built retrofitted bus, travelling to communities across the Four Counties. With a multidisciplinary team and collaboration from community partners, it will provide individuals with a variety of services together under one roof, including mental health and addictions services, psychiatric support and follow-up, sexual health and addictions education and support, and basic primary care and health screening for vulnerable populations.
Photo courtesy of CMHAHKPR.
“We’re pleased to have been selected by the Peterborough Police Services Board as a recipient of the Auction Fund Grant, which will support our new Mobile Mental Health and Addictions Clinic,” said Graham. “The launch of this program is a monumental step in bringing specialized mobile mental health and addictions care to underserviced and under-resourced communities.”
“The Peterborough Police Services Board is pleased to support the Canadian Mental Health Association’s new Mobile Mental Health and Addictions Clinic with an auction fund grant. The Police Board and the Police Service recognize and understand the need for effective supports and programs that will help support our fellow citizens who are struggling with their mental health and/or addiction to substances,” said Bob Hall, Chair of the Peterborough Police Services Board. “The CMHA is to be commended for this project and we hope that this grant will be part of a community solution.”
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Peterborough Petes Offers Fans Exclusive Deals For Small Businesses Through New Partnership
/The Peterborough Petes have partnered with FanSaves that connects Petes fans with exclusive deals to several local businesses via app or their website announced Tuesday.
Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.
FanSaves is a digital couponing platform that features discounts and deals from sponsors and affiliated brands of sports teams, organizations and communities.
The digital coupon book that is free by people who live in and visit the Peterborough area and who are looking to support local businesses. Season ticket holders have exclusive access to special offers not available to the general public.
“We are beyond proud to be partnered with the Petes and to be connecting people to team sponsors,” said Shannon Ferguson, FanSaves co-founder and CEO. Fans and locals now have a great way to digitally engage with the team and support local businesses who support the Petes. Plus, who doesn’t love saving money just for being a fan.”
Petes Fans can access FanSaves in three ways:
Downloading the Petes app, opening the main menu and clicking FanSaves
Heading to the Petes website, clicking on Fan Zone and clicking FanSaves
Downloading the FanSaves app
