Artwork Memorializes Messages From Residents Impacted By Suicide And Overdose

The Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) and Hospice Peterborough unveiled an art installation, which involves messages to loved ones who died by suicide and overdose, at Rogers Cove last week, following a collaborative event that raised $1,455 in donations for Hospice’s suicide bereavement programs.

From left, local artist Lee Higginson and Elizabeth Bower-Gordon, Hospice Peterborough communications assistant, stand at Rogers Cove on Aug. 2 during the unveiling of artwork from the Darkness to Light event. Photo courtesy of Hospice Peterborough.

Local artist Lee Higginson created the installation, called Frayed/Bound, with messages from and materials chosen by Peterborough and area residents who had gathered on Dec. 21 for Darkness to Light – an outdoor sunrise gathering held at Rogers Cove for anyone impacted by suicide and overdose.

“The hope is that Frayed/Bound captures the sense of being undone and raw, but also the idea that being connected in grief makes the person, and community, stronger,” said Higginson.

Last year’s inaugural event was free to attend and focused on the unique grieving process that follows loosing someone to suicide.

“We are grateful for this community collaboration that helped support those who had experienced this type of loss and allowed them to come together to honour their person,” said Sheila Bourgeois, Hospice Peterborough’s Child and Family Life Specialist. “The generous funding will help Hospice to continue to offer our specialized support group for people who have experienced the death of a close family member by suicide.”

“Our hope through this event is to not only create awareness and financial support for the programs, but also help breakdown stigma and barriers to accessing the support,” said Vince e Bierworth, Executive Director for the GPHSF. “These are great programs with kind and compassionate people there to help you through your journey.”

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Deanna Spence, Sino's Fine Foods, GreenUP and Peterborough Chamber

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…

Deanna Spence is a Registered Massage Therapist with 28 years of experience and she recently made the leap into her own massage therapy practice.

Located at 2226 Woodglade Blvd in Peterborough, Deanna offers therapeutic massage, including an assessment and treatment plan, as well as salt glow and massage, which is a 90-minute session and includes head-to-toe exfoliation followed by an hour-long relaxation massage. For details and to make an appointment visit westendmassagetherapy.ca.

Ilir Sino is well known for the Original Spaghetti House, the landmark restaurant at the corner of George and Lansdowne in Peterborough.

Sino recently started his own production facility to produce his sauces, dressings, soups, oven-ready dinners, panzerottis, pasta, pizza and more. Located at 597 Monaghan Rd., across from Nisbett’s, be sure to check out Sino’s Fine Foods for take home, delivery or catering. Sinosfinefoods.com.

Peterborough GreenUP is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this Thursday (August 11) from 4:00 - 7:00 at Ecology Park. Ecology Park is just one of many remarkable accomplishments over the past three decades, in fact GreenUP has been recognized both nationally and internationally as a model that other communities have followed. The celebration on Thursday will feature lots of family-friendly programming, refreshments and light dinner. Please RSVP at greenup.on.ca

A special congratulations this week to Sarah Budd, who will be taking over the reins of the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce upon my retirement on Oct. 31st.

Sarah grew up in Lakefield and Warsaw and brings a tremendous background in business and sales and 15 years at the helm of Habitat for Humanity. Stu Harrison is continuing his weekly business beat through his retirement “if he’s welcome.”

Editor’s note: Stu, you’re always welcome to have the Business Beat on PTBOCanada!

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Local Youngster Hosting Lemonade Stand To Help Friend In Dirt Bike Accident Recovery

Hailey Kahler, of Peterborough, is hosting a lemonade stand on Saturday, with all proceeds going to her friend Nixon Parsons, who has spent the last few weeks at Sick Kids Hospital after a dirt bike accident.

Photo courtesy of Hillary Kahler.

The lemonade stand will happen on Saturday from 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at 387 Edison Ave.

Local businesses have also donated raffle prizes like gift cards to restaurants and prizes.

Everything at the lemonade stand will be $1, with all proceeds going to the Parsons family.

“I want to help him because he’s my friend,” said Hailey. “And maybe buy him something nice to help him feel better.”

Hillary, Hailey’s mom, says they will transfer the funds to the Parsons family so they can use them however they need.

For the last few weeks both of Parsons parents have been by his side, so they have been unable to work.

Family and friends have been donating to allow them to stay in hotels near by and keep up with any bills that may arise.

Hillary says that Hailey has always wanted to do a lemonade stand, so when she heard her friend had been hurt she thought that would be a great way to raise money and put it towards something that matters.

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Blind Woman To Cycle Through Peterborough in Province-Wide Tour; Fundraiser To Create Stem Cell Registry

Blind author Amber Needham is cycling through Peterborough next Friday as part of a province-wide tour to raise money to begin a stem cell registry.

Mike Rousseau (left) with Amber Needham (right) riding in Bayfield, Ont. just off the southwest coast of Lake Huron. Photo courtesy of Mike Rousseau and McGinny Photography.

Needham is riding a tandem bicycle with friend Mike Rousseau throughout most of southern and eastern Ontario in the span of six and a half weeks. They are riding over 2,500 km and started at St. Thomas on July 4. The final leg ends at the teaching hospital University Health Network (UHN) scheduled for Aug. 20.

They are collecting donations from passersby during their trip with a goal of $80,000. All proceeds go towards the UHN and Dr. Clara Chan.

Needham suffered cornea damage from a retinal lubricant that was on recall — but unfortunately did not know at the time — and triggered a preexisting condition.

Dr. Chan worked on Needham with stem cells known as the Cincinnati procedure provided the author could provide her own donor. She quickly found one from a retired nurse that helped her gain clear vision again. The treatment inspired Needham to help Dr. Chan make this procedure easier for future recipients.

“I was one of one of the lucky ones,” Needham explained. “It was live tissue and I had such a perfect match. What I want to do is help Dr. Clara Chan create a stem cell registry so when it comes time to need this, it’ll make it far less stressful and more efficient.”

Unfortunately, Needham redamaged her eyes from a compost bucket moisture. Invasive fungus hit her eyes, grew over them and put her back to square one with glaucoma damage. The fungus had to be scraped over 17 weeks until it was eradicated. As a result, she can only see centrally and not peripherally.

During the trip, several onlookers and bystanders would strike conversations with the pair. Needham was astonished by how many stories that related to her situation were told by others.

“While we’re able to talk to people on our rest, it’s amazing how many stories you get from other individuals who are clinically blind or have another disability,” she said. “It’s inspirational. People see our signage, hear our story and slip us $20.”

“Part of the thing that makes it memorable is a number of people can relate,” added Rousseau. “It’s amazing how many people are affected by blindness. It’s out there.”

Needham’s book, ‘The Blind Girl Sees’ shares her experiences dealing with going from perfect vision to becoming blind. All proceeds from her book sales go towards her $80,000 goal.

“If you think about possibilities regardless of your disability, human beings are very resilient if we allow ourselves to be,” said Needham. “It feels amazing that I can be active and do something for others.”

Donations can also be accepted online and her book is available on her website.

Roughly $10,000 has been raised during this article’s publication according to Rosseau.

The duo is arriving in Peterborough next Friday, rest the following day and leave for Cannington on the 14th.

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Peterborough Lakers Lose 11-10 In Double Overtime to Brooklin Lacrosse Club in Evenly Matched Game

UPDATE: 4:06 p.m. at Aug. 5, 2022.

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers were narrowly defeated by the Brooklin Lacrosse Club 11-10 in double overtime at the Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

Brooklin’s Ryan Barnable (left) attempting to defend Lakers’ Austin Hasen’s superman dive shot at goaltender Nick Damude. Hasen scored two goals for the Lakers in a losing effort. Photo courtesy of Anna Taylor and Peterborough Century 21 Lakers.

Brooklin’s Connor Kearnan scored the game-winning goal just 16 seconds into sudden death overtime.

The game was evenly matched as each period prior to double overtime ended in a tie with the lead changing hands seven times throughout the game.

Lakers Thomas Hoggarth sent the game to the extra frame with 1:23 left in the game for an 8-8 tie into overtime. Both teams scored two goals apiece to make it 10-10 into sudden death.

Hoggarth led the Lakers with four goals and two assists. 

Lakers goalie Doug Buchan stopped 58 saves while Brooklin netminder Nick Damude made 46 saves.

Peterborough went 2/2 on the power play while Brooklin failed to capitalize on their lone chance.

Game four is on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby. Game five is Monday at 8 p.m. at the Memorial Centre. 

Lakers game leaders: 

• Thomas Hoggarth (4-2) 

• Austin Hasen (2-0) 

• Holden Cattoni (1-4) 

• Taite Cattoni (1-2) 

• Joe Resetarits (1-1) 

• Tyler Hendrycks (1-1) 

• Cory Vitarelli (0-5) 

• Matt Gilray (0-1) 

• Mitch Ogilvie (0-1) 

This gives Brooklin the first victory of the playoffs despite their 12-10 game two Tuesday win. Major Series Lacrosse award the game to Peterborough after a suspended Brooklin coach was active on the bench during that time.

Brooklin has 24 hours to appeal the decision. The Lakers have a 2-1 series lead in the meantime.

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Peterborough Musicfest Welcomes Alyssa Reid And Valley On Saturday

Valley and Alyssa Reid will hit the stage at Del Crary Park on Saturday as part of the Peterborough Musicfest Summer Concert Series.

Photo by Luke Best.

Alyssa Reid’s single ‘Alone Again’ topped charts in 2011 and she hasn’t stopped climbing since.

Her latest album, “ASHS” with over 10 million streams so far, is a testament to her artistic growth and evolution.

JUNO Award-nominated Valley is an alternative pop group based out of Toronto. The group picked up a 2020 JUNO Award nomination in the category of “Breakthrough Group of the Year’.

This event is completely free, with first come first served seating. it is suggested that concert goers bring a lawn chair, chairs will be available to rent at the venue.

If a storm occurs during a concert, a cancellation announcement will be made from the stage. Peterborough Musicfest will not issue a cancellation call until 7:45 p.m. fifteen minutes before the scheduled start of 8 p.m. Rescheduling of cancelled concerts is not guaranteed.

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Peterborough Police Seeking Whereabouts of Missing 38-Year Old Local Man

Peterborough Police Service are asking for the community’s help in finding 38-year-old Stephen Shoenmaker who was reported missing in the Peterborough area Friday morning.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police.

Shoenmaker is described as the following:

• 38 years, 5’1”, slim build

• 100 lbs.

• Brown shaggy hair and beard

• Tattoos visible on face and neck

Anyone with information on Schoenmaker’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122.

Schoenmaker is known to frequent Northumberland County, Central Hastings and Durham Region.

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Heat Alert In Effect In Peterborough As Temperatures Expected To Reach Over 31 Degrees

A heat alert is in effect for The City of Peterborough, as of Friday, with temperatures expected to reach over 31C for the Peterborough area and prolonged heat overnight.

Photo by Luke Best.

One Roof Community Centre is extending its hours of service on Saturday and Sunday. A lunch meal will be served between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. each day.

The drop-in centre extended hours will be from:

• 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday

• 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday

Outdoor water bottle filling stations are available at City facilities in the following locations:

• Beavermead Park, 2011 Ashburnham Dr.

• Eastgate Park, 2150 Ashburnham Dr..

• Peterborough Marina, 92 George St. N.

The public is also able to refill water bottles at the Peterborough Public Library on Aylmer St. during its operating hours (Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

For information about how to protect yourself from hot weather, visit the Peterborough Public Health website.

Emergency shelters are available to people experiencing homelessness:

• YES Shelter for Youth (705-748-3851) at 196 Brock St.

• Brock Mission men’s shelter (705-748-4766) at 217 Murray St.

• Cameron House women’s shelter (705-748-4766) at 738 Chemong Rd.

• Overflow Shelter at 210 Wolfe St. (705-748-4766 – ask for Overflow Shelter)

Emergency After Hours Services related to emergency shelter are available through the Social Services by calling 705-926-0096. Please visit the Social Services website for information regarding the After Hours program.

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Peterborough Peace Council To Host Annual Lantern Vigil On Anniversary Of The Bombings Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki

The Peterborough Peace Council will host their annual Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemoration Ceremony at Little Lake on August 9, the 77th anniversary of the dropping of an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan by the U.S Military.

Lanterns at Hiroshima Commemoration event in 2018. Photo by Gianne Broughton.

The Peterborough Peace Council was formed in 2014 in hopes to foster compassionate non-violent direct action & conflict resolution through information sharing.

“We are a network that helps each other to build peace in our community, and worldwide,” said Gianne Broughton, council member.

One a month the group hosts a vigil at the corner of McDonnell Street and George Street. Broughton says that sometimes there is a theme for the vigil, like the war in Ukraine or housing and homelessness crisis in Peterborough, but other times the vigil is simply to promote peace.

Commemorating the tragedies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki has been happening for years, but Broughton says the Peterborough Peace Council has been hosting their event for six or seven years.

The event is meant to show solidarity to those affected and to support the UN Nuclear Ban Treaty, which Canada has not signed.

“This night gives people a chance to really feel the terribleness of nuclear weapons,” said Broughton. “We also talk about what can be done instead.”

Broughton highlighted non-violent strategies like diplomacy, ending exploitation and following treaties that are already enacted.

Broughton notes that this years event may be more poignant that other years, because of what is happening in Ukraine.

“Nuclear annihilation is a real threat with the war in Ukraine,” she said. “People need hope, we need to do something.”

The commemoration will begin at 7:45 p.m. near the T-Wharf on Little Lake. Lanterns will be launched at 8:30.

Before lanterns are launched Michael Ketemer will provide music on his Hammer Harp. A keynote speaker will address the crowd, followed by ‘open sharing time’ for attendees that wish to speak.

Those that attend are welcome to create and bring their own lanterns, though there will be some available there. Attendees are also asked to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.

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