Easter Seals and YMCA Receive $15,000 From Carl Oake Rotary Swim

After months of crazy stunts such as downhill sledding, fire hoses and shopping carts off docks, Rotary Club of Peterborough’s Carl Oake Rotary Swim has raised $15,000 for Easter Seals Ontario and the YMCA in a cheque presentation on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Peterborough.

Easter Seals received $12,000 while the YMCA got $3,000 of the total donation.

The 36th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swimathon was held on Feb. 25 where individuals or teams were encouraged to swim a few laps at the YMCA to raise money Easter Seals and Rotary Projects.

Those unable to attend were encouraged to do a virtual at-home swim or splash at home while raising funds and sharing it on social media tagging the fundraising’s Facebook page.

To date, over $1.3 million dollars has been raised.

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YMCA Welcomes The Ontario-Federal Child Care Agreement

The province of Ontario and the federal government have signed a $13.2-billion agreement to lower the cost of child care in the province to an average of $10 a day by September 2025, on Monday.

File Photo.

“This is a historic moment for children and families across Ontario. Thanks to this agreement child care will be more affordable and more accessible to working families,” said David Allan, president and CEO of YMCA Central East Ontario. “The federal provincial child care agreement will benefit our children and communities for generations to come.”

In a press release, the YMCA notes that access to licensed, high-quality child care gives parents, and women in particular, a choice to enter or return to the workforce while ensuring their children are in safe environments.

“And now the work of rolling this out begins, and it won’t be easy. It will be worth it though as we lower the cost of care for our families and raise wages for staff. Both of these groups richly deserve it,” said Allan. “Our YMCA is looking forward to working with all levels of government and our community partners to bring this agreement to life.”

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YMCA Launches First Ever Online 50/50 Draw This Month

With the cancellation of special events and in-person fundraisers, the YMCA of Central East Ontario is launching an online 50/50 draw.

Stock Photo

All funds raised stay local and support the YMCA Strong Communities Campaign, focused on raising much needed resources to improve and enrich the lives of thousands of children, adults, seniors and families.

Tickets are available online at ymcaceo5050.ca with the Early Bird $500 Prize draw taking place on Thursday and final draw on Dec. 30.

Tickets start at just $10 for 10, $20 for 40 and for the best value $50 for 200.

Money raised will go towards:

• Helping a child learn to swim

• Helping a teen to learn to lead and feel success

• Enabling a family to use a trusted, quality child care

• Helping an adult feel a sense of belonging

• Providing low-income individuals access to health and wellness programs

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YMCA Requires COVID Vaccinations for Staff and Visitors

The YMCA will require all staff, visitors and members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access their grounds and facilities in a press release announced on Friday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The centre is following the Government of Ontario recommendations and will take effect on Sept. 22.

The mandate includes Employment Services clients at the Balsillie Family Branch where full vaccinations (two doses plus 14 days) and proof of vaccination along with photo ID to access are required.

The organization’s goal is to safely serve communities in program settings that meet and in some cases exceed public-health requirements for infection, prevention and control as stated in the release.

The YMCA is implementing a Mandatory Vaccine Policy for all Staff and Volunteers.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have continuously put safety first, going above and beyond what has been recommended,” said David Allen, President & CEO, YMCA of Central East Ontario.

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New Downtown Lofts Constructed From Old YMCA Building

The old YMCA on the corner of George Street and Murray Street has finally been converted into upscale loft apartments in a private showing on Thursday.

Hans Jain, Atria president (far right) with staff members at The Black Horse Pub with the new YLofts building. Photo by David Tuan Bui

Hans Jain, Atria president (far right) with staff members at The Black Horse Pub with the new YLofts building. Photo by David Tuan Bui

The lofts known as Y Lofts are owned and built by the Toronto-based company Atria, a development corporation. Hans Jain, Atria president along with staff hosted tours to media and community members with a luncheon at The Black Horse Pub.

Terry Guiel, Downtown Business Improvement Area executive director praised Jain for respecting and honouring the history of the city with YLofts. The building named several room models after familiar Peterborough names such as Chemong, Algonquin and Kawartha.

"They've done their research and show us that they care about this community," he said. "They're not coming in and saying, 'we're a big Toronto firm and come jump on us', they're saying, 'we want to be a part of your community.’"

YLofts occupy the old YMCA location which was first built in 1896. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

YLofts occupy the old YMCA location which was first built in 1896. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Councillor Henry Clarke showed his appreciation of the new lofts as it gives easy accessibility to several downtown amenities while revitalizing the area.

"The downtown is the economic engine of the city," he said. "To see this whole section come back to life, it's wonderful."

The Y Lofts range from $1,650 to $2,550 a month. The residence features a courtyard, gym, rooftop patio and communal barbeques as some of several available amenities included in the rent.

Atria has already begun accepting new tenants to be moved in on Sept. 1.

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PTBOCanada Pics & Coverage: 1st Annual Chairs For Charity At The YMCA

Last night (December 5th), the Peterborough YMCA hosted their 1st Annual Chairs for Charity event. Chairs were sponsored by local businesses and services, and were refurbished by some very talented women to be auctioned off to raise money for the YMCA's Strong Kids Campaign. There were a few bidding wars as folks gave their support to this great cause—and the chair sponsored by the Silver Bean Café will now be sitting in the living room of Kruz FM's Catherine Hanrahan! For those of you that were unable to make it to last night's event, there are still several chairs that remain as part of the silent auction, which will remain open until Monday, December 10th at noon. Just pop by the front desk before then and ask how you can submit your bid and see the chairs. Great job to Emily Gray and all the volunteers that made this come together! PtboCanada's Julie Morris

 

 

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YMCA Half Marathon Takes Place Sunday

This Sunday marks the 34th annual YMCA Half-Marathon beginning at 12:30 p.m. Keep in mind that there will be many road closures and slow downs throughout the afternoon as participants make their way through the city.  Also taking place is the 1km Fun Run, and the 5km Walk/Run.  Good luck to all runners! (You can watch for me in the 5km, I'll surely be at the back of the pack!)

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Stuff to Do In The Peterpatch This Weekend

Friday

YWCA presents Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, 12 p.m. starting from City Hall.

Saturday

Peterborough and District Farmers' Market 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Morrow Building Parking Lot)

The Great Gilmour Street Garage Sale, 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. [Map]

The Fowlers Corners & District Lions Club presents a Spring Craft Show 9:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Lions Hall at Orange Corners

Peterborough-Lakefield Community Police Auction, 10 a.m. (500 Water Street) [Related Link]

Peterborough Children's Water Festival at Riverview Park & Zoo - One day only!

2672 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps Annual Parade and Inspection, 12:30 p.m. (220 Murray Street)

Sunday

Camp Kawartha presents their annual Green-in-Motion Fundraiser, Registration begins at 9 a.m. 

Kawartha Community Midwives Annual Picnic, 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Riverview Park & Zoo, Shelter #2

Riverview Park & Zoo presents Rye Street to kick off their 2011 Concert Series. 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. in the Gazebo

 

 

To submit info for "Stuff to do in the Patch This Weekend", email evan@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.

PtboPics: YMCA Half Marathon and 5K Run!

 

And they're off!

 The Butler Crew excited to start the 5K!

Hundreds of runners begin their journey. 
  

Darl Sutherland off to a great start and finished 5th place!

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

[Related: A Look At The New Route For This Weekend's YMCA Half Marathon In Peterborough]

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A Look At The New Route For This Weekend's YMCA Half Marathon In Peterborough

Alana Callan (middle) at the start of last year's YMCA Half MarathonThis weekend, I decided to try out the new YMCA Half Marathon route. I have never run an unfamiliar race route before race day, and since the route has changed and runs through the city of Peterborough this year, I decided to give it a try.

The 21.1 km route begins at the YMCA located on Alymer street and takes runners through familiar aspects of the city. Many parts of the route are regular running routes for locals (around the Lake, out to Trent etc.). Runners leave the YMCA and run up Alymer Street to Perry Street and proceed down Crescent Street past the Little Lake Cemetery and then head to Lansdowne Street. From Lansdowne, you run up to Ashburnham Road past the canal and turn on Hunter to go through the Lift Lock tunnel and up and over "Museum Hill" and turn down Armour Road. Runners take a long trip down Armour Road to the turn-around.

It is an "out and back" route, and on the way out I had decided I hate "out and back" routes. But once I turned and headed back, I decided I quite liked running "out and back," as the run back was nicely familiar. Runners who have run the YMCA Half Marathon in the past few years will enjoy this new route for the change of scenery. I don't think I'll need to "draft" behind another runner this year as I have done in the past while running out by the airport and battling the wind.

There are four water and toilet stations this year, and I've been told that the local fire department will be taking care of the water station near the Peterborough Lift Lock.

The 33rd annual YMCA Half Marathon in Peterborough is in support of the YMCA's Annual Strong Kids Campaign, which encourages the healthy growth and development of Peterborough's youth. There is still time to register for this great event. It takes place this Sunday (February 27) starting at 12:30 p.m. and you can choose either the 5 km or 21.1 km race. There is also a kids 1 km fun run which is very fun to watch.

Click here for a PDF of the detailed route map.

[Contributed by Alana Callan]

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