28 TASSS Students Became Budding Entrepreneurs, Hosting a Shareholders Meeting As Part of Business Class Curriculum

There were 28 students of Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School (TASSS) who turned a profit as they created and sold a business, hosting a shareholders meeting as part of their curriculum that was held on Friday afternoon.

Several roles were bid on by the students to claim during the entrepreneurship such as production, human resources, health and safety, marketing and more. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

The students were tasked to become entrepreneurs by creating and running a business, assigned by TASSS business teacher Blaine White throughout the semester. Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA-NEO) partnered with the program by providing weekly advice with guest speakers.

“At the beginning of the semester, we have students learn about planning a business and then they start their own business,” explained White. “They're responsible for all of the production, all of the marketing, all of the sales and all of the finances.”

“Youth will have the opportunity to learn and experience skilled trades and entrepreneurship by creating, managing and liquidating a business,” said John McNutt, JA-NEO president and CEO. “All with the guidance and support of experts from across our community.”

TASSS students had to arrange their own shareholder meeting with speeches, a presentation and report to the media and public. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

The students founded the company ‘Encompase Eco’ which created eco-friendly firestarters that were available to purchase at the Kawartha Buttertart Factory & Bakery.

The students held a final shareholder meeting to disclose all of the earnings and share prices. They had over a 381 per cent return in selling the business according to White.

“It's amazing to me to set the bar and watch students rise to the occasion,” he explained. “I couldn't be happier that they've learned all these really awesome skills that they are going to go and carry out into their own lives and perhaps starts their own businesses in our community but I'm also proud of them as people who have developed over the last five months.”

The students were excited to receive hands-on education instead of learning solely through a textbook according to grade 10 student Aiden Budd, who served as the company’s vice president of production.

“I've never experienced anything like this, the textbooks get so boring but now that I got the opportunity to do something like this, it really feels great,” he exclaimed.

During the semester, students had to bid and campaign for roles within the company before starting the business. The students had to arrange their own shareholder meeting with speeches, a presentation and a report before the media and public. The whole process had its bumps but became an instant unforgettable experience for the students.

“I know a lot of people were nervous to get up here but I actually did enjoy it a lot, I'm proud of myself and my team for doing a great job. Mr. White, I thanked him so much for having the opportunity to be able to run this business because there are not a lot of kids that get the opportunity to do stuff like this.”

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Local Angler Six Months Pregnant With Twins Catches Two 50-Plus-Inch Muskies

Angler Megan Patterson met and surpassed her fishing goal this season, catching two muskies over 50 inches long while six months pregnant with twins.

Photo courtesy of Megan Patterson.

Her two muskies measured 52 in. (4.33 ft.) and 54 in. (4.5 feet) and were caught on the St. Lawrence River.

Joining the 50-inch club is a feat that all muskie anglers pursue. Patterson has been muskie fishing for the past six years and has netted over five of her husband’s 50-inch catches. She made it her goal to catch her own.

“Every season I have come up short,” she laughs. “In my first season, I caught a 49-inch muskie. I was so close to that 50-inch mark.”

Her social media following has tagged along for fishing trips ever since she started in the sport. Muskie season runs from June to mid-December in the Kawarthas.

Her first catch of the season was an impressive 46-incher from Chemong Lake. Photo courtesy of Megan Patterson.

“My goal was to be a big momma catching a big momma,” Patterson said. “I really wanted to go out with a bang by catching a big fish this year.”

Not only did she reach her goal of snagging a 50-plus-inch muskie but she also reeled a second, all while being pregnant with twins. Patterson recalls her surprise when her husband netted the catch and saw how big it was.

“It comes up onto the bump board and it lays so much past the 50-inch mark,” she said. “To this day that was still one of my best days on the water of my whole life.”

@meganpattterson Legal size musky for my last musky before doctors told me to rack up the rods. Pretty epic! #livebeyondland #muskyfishing #54 @Shimano Fishing @Mustang Survival ♬ Vegas (From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ELVIS) - Doja Cat

Patterson thanks the ‘two little good luck charms’ in her belly.

“It’s such a fun story that we’ll be able to tell our babies,” she said. “That all four of us were on the boat when we caught this 54-inch muskie.”

Although the couple may have to retire the 12-hour fishing trips to take care of the babies, Patterson says she’s excited to take Charlotte and Carter out on Chemong Lake and share her passion for the sport of muskie fishing.

“I’m really excited to be raising my babies fishing, having the twins out on the boat with us and catching their first muskies,” she says. “We’re so lucky to live in the Kawarthas where we have such amazing class fish even right in our backyard.”

Carter and Charlotte, born Nov. 17, 2022. Photo courtesy of Megan Patterson.

Patterson is a member/ambassador of various fishing organizations such as Shimano, Mustang Survival, Musky Maniacs, Muskies Canada and the Ontario Women's Anglers Association.

She operates under a catch-and-release method through her muskie fishing, ensuring the fish is out of the water for no more than two minutes before reviving and releasing the catch. Paterson urges anglers catching any species or class of fish to be prepared with the proper release tools in their boat.

“Conservation is such a big part of this sport. We use incredible releasing tools to make sure that we are putting these fish back into the water almost the same way they came into the boat,” Patterson said.

Those wishing to follow along with Patterson’s muskie fishing adventures can find her at @meganpattterson on all social media applications.

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City of Peterborough Open Nominations For 2022 Civic Awards

Nominations for the City of Peterborough 2022 Civic Awards are open to recognize and honour local volunteers and achievers in sports, arts and culture who had outstanding achievements in 2022 announced on Friday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

“It’s the people of Peterborough that make our City special,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “If you know someone who had outstanding accomplishments in 2022 through sport or volunteerism in community, culture or environmental stewardship, let’s make sure they get recognized.”

Nominations are open until March 31 at 4:30 p.m. for the following categories:

• Adult Athlete of the Year

• Athletic Award of Merit

• Community Betterment

• Cultural Betterment

• Environmental Stewardship

• Holnbeck Award

• Junior Athlete of the Year

• Lifetime Achievement Award

• Mayor's Youth Award

• Senior Athlete of the Year

• Volunteer of the Year

• Youth Volunteer of the Year

Nomination packages are available using the interactive form online and paper copies are available at City Hall, located at 500 George St. N.

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Local Shoppers Drug Mart Campaign Raises Over $10,000 For YWCA Crossroads Shelter

Donations to the 2022 LOVE YOU Giving Shelter campaign by Shoppers Drug Mart raised $10,638 in support of the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton for women experiencing gender-based violence announced Wednesday.

file photo.

“We’re thrilled with the success of the LOVE YOU by Shoppers Drug Mart fall fundraising program to grow women’s health and would like to thank everyone who participated. Each year, our customers and staff demonstrate their generosity and their commitment to supporting women in our community, and we couldn’t be more proud of everyone’s contributions,” said Shoppers Drug Mart owner (High St., Chemong Road and Lansdowne St. locations) Mohan Joshi. “YWCA Peterborough Haliburton plays a critical role in our area, and the proceeds from this year’s campaign will go a long way to helping them support women who are fleeing abuse.”

This annual campaign is national in scope, yet locally based, with customers and employees donating directly to women’s shelters in the community to ensure that resources and programming are available to meet the needs of women across the country.

“Your generosity fuels YWCA intervention programs that make it possible for women and children to safely escape violence and rebuild their lives. Thank you for helping to ensure that strong, reliable support continues to be available in our community,” said YWCA executive director Kim Dolan.

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Peterborough Petes Win In the Last-Minute Against Rival Oshawa Generals, 3-2

Add another win for Peterborough in their historic rivalry with Oshawa as the Petes won in last-minute fashion, 3-2 against the Generals at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

Peterborough earned a power play 1:55 into the game but turned sour fast. Generals’ Luke Torrance chipped the puck for himself after a seemingly won faceoff by the Petes for a shorthanded breakaway. Michael Simpson saved the first shot but Ryan Gagnier cleaned up the rebound for a 1-0 Oshawa lead. Roughly 13-and-a-half minutes later, Brennan Othmann got Peterborough on the board from Samuel Mayer’s point shot to tie it up into the second.

13:13 into the second period saw Tucker Robertson take on a solo mission, speeding by three Generals and beating goaltender Jacob Oster for a 2-1 lead going into the third. During that period, Othmann took a puck to the face but would eventually return.

Oshawa wasted no time in the third period, scoring 47 seconds in as Calum Ritchie shot at the net from outside the faceoff circle that went in through traffic for a 2-2 tie. With 52 seconds remaining, Othmann took the game into his own hands, rifling a shot from a drop pass that Oster could not corral into his glove for a 3-2 lead and win. The goal was Othmann’s 16th of the season and second of the game.

The Petes hit the road for two back-to-back road games beginning Friday against the Guelph Storm. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. and is being televised on TSN as part of the CHL on TSN series.

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The Government of Ontario Investing $60,000 in Hospice Norwood

New funding from the Government of Ontario is set to make a big difference for programming at Hospice Norwood.

photo courtesy of hospice norwood.

The funding will be used to renovate an accessible bathroom, increase accessibility in the meeting space and hire a Rural Outreach Coordinator to oversee/coordinate community hospice programs.

"We're working hard to expand health care services in rural communities like ours, and this investment will ensure that patients in Norwood receive high quality end-of-life care," said MPP David Piccini. "This additional funding and programming will better enable the hardworking staff and volunteers at Hospice Norwood to leverage Peterborough and deliver better care to our community."

Programming will be focused on people living with a palliative diagnosis, caregivers of people living with a palliative diagnosis and people experiencing grief due to the death of a significant person in their life.

Hospice Norwood will be holding a public information meeting at the Norwood Legion on Jan. 31 to update the community on progress Hospice Norwood has made in the past year and introduce the new Rural Outreach Coordinator.

Intake for programs will occur through Hospice Peterborough and those interested in the programming can contact Intake Coordinators Amy and Lisa at 705-742-4042 × 251.

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Hometown PTBO: Dan O'Toole Being Appointed the Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick's Day Parade and His Irish Heritage

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with former sports anchor Dan O’Toole about being appointed the Grand Marshall of this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade, his Irish heritage and his podcast Boomsies.

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Fleming Orientation Welcomes New Students with Winter Skate

Fleming College Sutherland Campus welcomed students for the new January semester, offering on-campus events and information for new and returning students on Thursday.

photo by Samantha Bianco.

On campus, students had the opportunity to attend program orientation sessions, meet faculty and connect with Fleming’s Student Experience team, along with some fun on-campus events.

The day started with a pancake breakfast at the Steele Centre, and a skating rink from Fleming Student Administrative Services was open to all students at the Sutherland Residence Village. Magician and comedian Wes Barker performed for students at the Steele Centre Pub, and free beaver tails were handed out later in the afternoon to the first 150 students.

It may be cold but we are staying warm during Fleming Skates, part of Orientation for @FlemingCollege students. Bundle up and join us at the outdoor skating rink at the Sutherland Residence Village until 5 p.m. today. Skating is available for all Fleming students! ❄️ pic.twitter.com/SFXy16tSIi

— @Fleming_Pres (@Fleming_Pres) January 19, 2023

As of January 2023, Fleming has just over 5,300 students across their three campuses. 

• 1,434 students at the Frost Campus (Lindsay)

• 3,1812 students at the Sutherland Campus (Peterborough)

• 58 students at the Haliburton School of Art + Design (Haliburton)

These numbers also include 1,100 new International students from around the world who came to Fleming this January.

photo by Samantha bianco.

Some of which, Steele Centre manager Whitney Piper mentions, have never seen snow or a skating rink in-person. 

“It’s great to see (students) on the ice, and putting on skates for the first time,” Piper said. “It’s the real Canadian experience for these students who’ve never experienced it.”

For more information on Fleming College campus orientations, visit the website.

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Canadian Government Invests Over $110,000 For Six Senior Support Projects in Peterborough

The Canadian Government has invested $116,881 to fund six community-based senior support projects in Peterborough through the 2021–22 New Horizons for Seniors Program announced at the Activity Haven Senior Centre on Thursday.

Minister of Seniors, Kamal Khera (left) with Lynne Bullard, Activity Haven board president (right) prior to the announcement. Seniors are considered one of Canada’s fastest-growing population groups, representing almost 25 per cent of the population by 2051 and could reach close to 11 million people within 15 years according to the Canadian Government. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Seniors, Kamal Khera where $23,500 of that funding went towards the ‘Activity Haven In Motion’ program.

“Our government is committed to support such initiatives so they can continue to provide seniors with engaging activities to stay active, as well as increase their social participation so they can maintain a strong presence in their communities,” said Khera. “This is in addition to the steps we have taken to make life more affordable for seniors so they can pay for their daily expenses and have the quality of life they deserve.”

The Centre provides seniors with guided exercises, yoga sessions and lunch and learns events that promote the health and well-being of older adults.

“The New Horizons for Seniors Program has enabled us to partner with Trent Health in Motion to provide our members with a unique experience,” said Janet Buchanan, Activity Haven executive director. “The benefits of this program include improved strength, flexibility, endurance, mental health and socialization.”

Mayor Jeff Leal and Peterborough-Kawartha MP Michelle Ferrari were in attendance. The former also spoke after Minister Khera made her announcement.

“I am glad to see how the New Horizons for Seniors program is empowering seniors right here in Peterborough,” said Leal. “It’s our duty to support older adults and I encourage everyone in our community to get involved with Activity Haven Senior Centre to connect with other seniors, learn new skills and stay active.”

According to the Canadian Government, their national priorities focus on senior projects that:

• support healthy aging;

• prevent elder abuse;

• celebrate diversity and promote inclusion; and

• help seniors age in place.

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