Junior Achievement Unveils City of Kawartha Lakes Inaugural Business Hall of Fame Inductees

Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA-NEO) unveiled its inaugural JA Business Hall of Fame (BHF) inductees for the City of Kawartha Lakes announced on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of JA-Neo.

The inductees strengthen the economy and community through their exemplary accomplishments of vision, leadership and commitment to excellence in business over a lifetime according to JA-NEO.

“JA-NEO is excited to unveil the inaugural class of inductees to first ever JA Business Hall of Fare for the City of Kawartha Lakes," said John McNutt, JA-NEO president and CEO. "These exceptional business leaders are helping to inspire and show local youth that starting your own business can be rewarding and last multiple generations much like the business leaders being honored today.”

The inductees will be formally inducted at the inaugural JA. Business Hall of Fame May 11 at Mackey Celebrations in downtown Lindsay.

Tania-Joy Bartlett. Photo courtesy of JA-Neo.

Jim Bogar. Photo courtesy of JA-Neo.

Jack and Ila Crowe. Photo courtesy of JA-Neo.

Nicki and Dedes Costas. Photo courtesy of JA-Neo.

Liz Grimes. Photo courtesy of JA-Neo.

Ted Smith. Photo courtesy of JA-Neo.

Jeff Strybosch. Photo courtesy of JA-Neo.

Jason and Karissa Ward. Photo courtesy of JA-Neo.

The following are the 2023 JA BHF inductees:

• Tania-Joy Bartlett - Nev Beginnings Contracting Services

• Jim Bogar (Posthumously) - Cameron Steel

• Jack and Ila Crowe (Posthumously) Kawartha Dairy

• Nicki and Dedes Costas - Olympia Restaurant

• Liz Grimes - Cathy Allan Ladieswear

• Ted Smith - TS Manufacturing

• Jeff Strybosch - Kawartha Wholesale Bakery

• Jason and Karissa Ward - Ward Lawyers Professional Corporation

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Voice of Business: First-in-a-Generation Labour Market Shift Leaves Jobs Vacant

Workers hold a level of bargaining power not seen in a generation as labour shortages are creating pressure on wages, working conditions and benefits. Many employers and employees alike have not encountered a labour market shift like this. Employers will need to continue to be flexible in negotiations in order to fill vacancies.

For the last 40-odd years, employers held the market over employees as inflation rates soared during the 1970s and 1980s and industries found cheaper alternatives through offshoring, especially after China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001. Because of these shifts, workers struggled to find jobs and wages were suppressed as employers held most of the bargaining power. As a result, companies found it easier to hire and retain. That is not the case, however, in today’s working environment.

According to Statistics Canada’s December Labour Survey, more Canadians are working or actively seeking work. The rate of workers aged 15 or older has been rising year-over-year by about 3 per cent, the unemployment rate dropping by 0.1 per cent to 5 per cent, and employment increasing by 0.5 per cent. Regardless of these statistics, more than one-third of Canadian employers are expected to face labour shortage issues in the next few months to years due largely to the rapidly aging working-age population.

As our aging workforce begins to retire, job vacancies in our country are at an all-time high. Despite the trends in our neighbouring country to the south, Canada’s workforce has not seen the same ‘Great Resignation’ trend. More than 1 in 5 workers in Canada are between 55-64 and from 2016 to 2021, the number of those 65 and older increased by 18.3 per cent to 7 million according to another Statistics Canada report. Our labour market shortage isn’t caused by the ‘Great Resignation,’ but rather by the ‘Great Retirement.’

Employers and industries that are struggling to fill vacancies will need to adapt their reopening and rehiring plan to offer more lucrative and competitive wages and benefits. The early pandemic shifted the mindset of workers as mass layoffs and hiring freezes caused many to reevaluate their work and worth. Now, according to this article from Ranstad, these are the top items employees are seeking in the post-pandemic world:

• Flexible work-life

  • Having the ability to set their own schedules

  • 2-3 working from home days

• Recognition and reward

  • Celebrating ‘small wins’ and showing appreciation for the employee

• Opportunity for growth

  • Additional training following years of pandemic working

  • Salary increases

  • Shifting of responsibility

• Resources for remote work

  • Funding or resources provided for home office setups

• Empathetic Leadership

  • Accommodative and supportive leadership with a focus on mental wellbeing

• Safe workspaces

  • PPE and health and wellness programs to keep teams happy

• Workplace culture

  • Collaborative projects

  • Team building initiatives

  • Effective communication

Luckily for employers, there are still tons of options and assistance for hiring and training staff in our increasingly post-pandemic economy and employment agencies across Peterborough and the Kawarthas are eager to help fill voids.

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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CMHA Calling For Funding Increase Towards Mental Health and Addictions On Bell Let’s Talk Day

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha and Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) is calling on Ontario for a substantial, immediate and ongoing base funding increase for the mental health and addictions sector on this Bell Let’s Talk Day announced on Tuesday.

One in Four Ontarians have sought mental health support during the pandemic. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

Bell Let’s Talk Day — on Wednesday — is focused on committing to significant action to create positive change in mental health and addictions care according to a press release. Ontario’s CMHAs are calling for a base budget increase from the government to improve the community mental health and addictions sector.

“We need critical infrastructure investments to maintain the highest quality of care for the individuals we serve,” says Mark Graham, CMHA HKPR CEO. “But decades of underfunding and the increased need for service are having devastating impacts on how we can best support people in need.”

CMHA says every branch needs at least an eight per cent increase or roughly under $30 million total to meet the current and growing demand for mental health and addiction services.

The funding aids CMHAs in operating costs (that increase annually), provide more services and reduces wait times according to their press release.

“CMHAs reorganize resources and redeploy staff, but struggle to meet increased demand in service with our current budget allocations,” said Graham. “We simply can’t do more, or provide even the same level of service, when we aren’t resourced properly.”

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Otonabee Conservation Issues Flood Watch Amid Snowfalls Forecast for Peterborough and Surrounding Areas

A flood watch update was issued by Otonabee Conservation for the Trent-Severn Waterway (Kawartha Lakes, Otonabee River, Rice Lake, Trent River to Hastings) and local watercourses on Tuesday, warning communities that signifiant precipitation could lead to flooding.

File Photo.

The Flood watch, issued to Municipalities of Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, City of Kawartha Lakes, City of Peterborough and Trent Hills and ORCA’s other partners in flood emergency management, states that precipitation accumulation could lead to flooding.

Falling snow and wind chill are ingredients that contribute to cooling of river/stream/creek water, promoting and accelerating the generation of frazil ice. Multiple days of frazil ice generation increases the possibility of frazil ice accumulation causing channel constriction and the back-up of water behind the accumulation/constriction, leading to flooding of adjacent low-lying areas.

Starting Tuesday night and continuing for the next 7 to 10 days, the forecast is for wind chills that will drop overnight lows well into the double-digits.

Beginning Wednesday afternoon and continuing through Thursday morning, Otonabee Conservation says a strong low-pressure system will bring high winds, cold air temperatures and significant snowfall. They are alerting municipalities, residents and businesses that floods are possible with those snowfalls expected in the next couple days, and advising those in low-lying, flood-prone areas to keep an eye out for frazil ice generation, accumulation and rising water levels and to prepare for potential flooding.

Wednesday and Thursday’s total snow accumulations are expected to be around 20 centimeters across the watershed. This winter storm is expected to be followed by a series of minor weather disturbances bringing more snow, albeit low accumulations and continued cold air temperatures into the early days of February.

Thursday and Friday’s temperature low is expected to be - 19 degrees while feeling closer to - 22 degrees.

Water levels can be monitored online at:

1. Trent-Severn Waterway’s Water Management InfoNet

2. Water Survey of Canada Real-Time Hydrometric Data 

3. Otonabee Region Conservation Authority website

This flood watch message will expire Feb. 2 unless updated earlier.

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New Pig's Ear Tavern Owners Adamant To "Keep What Made It Special" For Summer Reopening

Following Monday’s announcement of Ashley Holmes and Steve Robertson becoming the new owners of the Pig’s Ear Tavern, they were resolved to ‘keep what made it special’ for its summer opening.

Robertson was a patron of the Pig’s Ear during his student tenure at Trent University while Holmes worked in the tavern for seven years. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

Popular weekly events included Karaoinke, Pingo, open mic and trivia nights that are being revived as one of many ways to retain the same beloved atmosphere. The logo of a pig’s ear is also retained.

"The spirit of the bar, the look and the feel, bringing back the events that were cherished by the patrons, the community and at the same time, do what we can to improve things that need to be improved,” said Robertson.

While former owner John Punter is in retirement and living in Mexico with his wife Lylie, both Holmes and Robertson say he will remain involved with the tavern’s revival as part of his blessing of its reopening and to see in flourish in the next chapter.

“Having John and Lylie support us is really great to help with the vision and the community wants it to be the same so we're going to try to keep it the same for them,” said Holmes. “We just get to help bring it back to life.”

John will serve as an advisor for the tavern and possible arrangements for him to occasionally run events digitally or if convenient, in person.

While several elements will remain the same, the duo says it’s impossible to fully turn back the clock to its pre-pandemic state. Some changes to be made are mild cosmetic alterations and potentially providing more washroom space.

“We need to work with the city to make sure that everything we have to put in place is within compliance with whatever the standards are today,” explained Robertson. “Once we've done the basic function heating and cooling, fixing up some of the aesthetics, then it's more a matter of tables of chairs because they were all auctioned off. We need to get new signage and all the basic components to opening a tavern from an empty canvas.”

While some of the auctioned items have remained in Peterborough, the tavern is happy to put them back on display. There is no harm if Holmes and Robertson have to start over.

“If people want to keep the stuff that they purchased, we're more than happy to replace the things and create a new generation of memorabilia,” explained Holmes.

Liquor licenses and obtaining various permits from the City are reasons for the tavern projected to be open later rather than sooner.

“We don't want to rush it,” said Holmes. “It's already been closed. We don't want to have to close it again so we want to do everything we can do right now.”

Since the initial announcement, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive for the tavern’s return but it has set a high standard for the new entrepreneurs to uphold the beloved reputation.

“There's a lot of pressure on us to do it right,” explained Robertson. “There's very high expectations that we've got generations of people who have reached out who are very keen to come back for that opening week and celebrate but we've got some big shoes to fill so let's hope we do it right.”

According to the official Pig’s Ear website, the tavern is projected to open this summer.

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Make Everyday Family Literacy Day with Five Counties

Five Counties Children’s Centre is encouraging literacy everyday of the year, recognizing the life-long benefits of reading through Family Literacy Day on Jan. 27.

Five Counties’ Communicative Disorders Assistant Lynne Cooke (front left) reads with Dominic, as (back from left) Speech-Language Pathologist Ida Lloyd and mom Kimberly tout the benefits of reading. Photo courtesy of Five Counties.

As the day to promote literacy approaches, Five Counties wants families to make reading, language and literacy part of their everyday routine.

The staff at Five Counties believe the lessons from Family Literacy Day should be encouraged and embraced 365 days of the year.

“We can’t talk enough about the importance of literacy and speech skills for a child’s future success in life,” says Speech-Language Pathologist at Five Counties Ida Lloyd. “Reading, singing, listening, talking and playing with your child every day is not only fun, but supports literacy. It’s one of the most valuable things we as parents and caregivers can do for our kids.”

As part of its work in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton, Five Counties Children’s Centre provides therapy and support services for hundreds of children with speech, language and communication needs. They say developmental milestones, like those listed here by the Ontario Government, can be a good tool to measure the progress a child is making to communicate. Five Counties also offers tips, milestones and resources on its KidTalk website for families to support children’s speech skills.

“There are many fun ways that families can encourage literacy skills, without children even realizing they are learning. Reading a book at bedtime, visiting the library, playing a board game together or swapping jokes while doing the dishes can all be great options,” says Lloyd. “Engaging a child for 15 or 20 minutes every day by reading and promoting literacy skills is worth every minute, especially given the life-long rewards it has for everyone.”

Five Counties has shared 12 tips (as compiled by the Start Early organization) that families can use to support literacy for young children:

• Start early. Reading to babies is important for healthy brain development and lays the foundation for language and writing skills.

• Make reading part of the daily routine. Reading or sharing a story every day is ideal. Create a set time during the day (like just before bed) to which parents and children can look forward.

• Try board and cloth books for babies. By age one, babies can grab books. Board and cloth books are great options for youngsters who like to touch things and put them in their mouths.

• Take turns with your toddler. At their second birthday, most toddlers can hold a book and point at pictures. Let your toddler turn the pages of a board book and respond to her when she points or reacts to the story.

• Ask your child questions while reading. Make the reading experience interactive. Ask them questions, like: “what do you think will happen next?,’ or “What was your favorite part of the story?”

• Reread favorite books. Most three-year-olds can complete sentences in familiar stories. Read their favorite books over and over to help them learn through repetition.

• Point out similar words. By age four, children begin to recognize letters. Pointing out words in a book that start with the same letter can help preschoolers become familiar with the letter, helping them recognize certain words that start with that letter.

• Count objects on the page. If reading to a child, count objects on the page together to help strengthen early math skills.

• Get a child to tell the story. After their fifth birthday, children can sit still for longer books and create their own stories based on the pictures. Ask a child to share the basic plot of the book or make up stories based on what is seen on each page.

• Read with passion! Using inflection and maintaining the same highs and lows in your voice at the same point in a story helps your child begin to remember the words.

• Set an example. Let your child see you reading books to help them develop their own love of reading.

• Read, read, read and repeat. Reading to your child helps develop a love of stories and books, while taking you to new worlds and on new adventures. Read to a child early and often!

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Havelock Fire and Ice Festival Hosting Hockey Player Brigette Lacquette

The HBMProud Havelock Community Outdoor Rink is set to host the Fire and Ice festival; a free event featuring hockey player Brigette Lacquette on Feb. 11.

Photo courtesy of the Havelock Fire and Ice Festival.

From noon to 7 p.m., the Havelock Fire and Ice festival will have many family-friendly activities to enjoy, including ice carving, fire performers, a petting zoo, fireworks and more.

The festival will feature an appearance by hockey player Brigette Lacquette. Lacquette is the first First Nations hockey player to be named to Canada's National Women's Team.

Lacquette first joined the National Women's U18 Team in Aug. 2008, and went on to win silver and gold at the 2009 and 2010 IHF U18 Women's World Championships.

For more information on Havelock’s Fire and Ice festival, visit the rink’s Facebook page.

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City of Peterborough Honours Two Petes For World Juniors Gold Medal Performance

Peterborough Petes’ Owen Beck and Brennan Othmann were honoured by Council at City Hall for their gold-medal performances during the World Juniors Championships at the beginning of Monday’s General Committee meeting.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Mayor Jeff Leal made a presentation on behalf of City Council recognizing their efforts for the Petes and Peterborough.

Othmann was obtained from the Flint Firebirds on Nov. 12, several months prior to the deadline. The Petes dealt Artem Guryev, two second-round and one third-round pick for Othmann. He was drafted 16th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Beck was acquired from the Mississauga Steelheads in exchange for Jack Van Volsen, Justin DeZoete, Peterborough’s second and third-round picks in 2025, Erie’s second-round pick in 2025 and Peterborough’s fourth-round pick in 2026 on Jan. 7.

He was a late call-up to Team Canada for the World Juniors on New Year’s Day after an injury to Colton Dach. He had 17 goals and 23 assists in 30 games with the Steelheads this season prior to being traded to the Petes on Jan. 7.

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Winterfest 2023 Fundraiser In Support of Five Counties

Join Five Counties Children’s Centre for family-friendly, in-person and virtual fun during their Winterfest 2023 fundraiser.

Five Counties Children’s Centre staff members Linsey Kampf, Lyn Giles and Lisa Graham are ready to hop aboard Winterfest. Photo courtesy of Five Counties.

Winterfest 2023 is set to include virtual and in-person activities which will offer lots for families to do as the event transitions back to ‘normal’ since the pandemic. In-person events will happen on the Family Day weekend at malls in Peterborough and Lindsay, ending with a Peterborough Petes’ home game on Family Day Monday. There will also be an online auction, a variety of fun, family-friendly events and a ‘thank you card’ contest for kids starting Feb. 1.

In 2022, Winterfest raised nearly $20,000 to support the programs and services provided by Five Counties to more than 6,000 children and their families in Peterborough City-County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County and Haliburton County.

“If you suffer from the winter blahs, Winterfest 2023 is a great way to celebrate the season with fun, in-person and virtual activities for the entire family,” says CEO of Five Counties Children’s Centre Scott Pepin. “Taking part in Winterfest also helps support the life- changing work provided by Five Counties to help kids with physical, communication and development needs in our communities.”

Winterfest 2023 festivities include:

• Feb. 1 to Feb. 28 – Winterfest kicks off with the first-ever ‘Thank You Card Contest’ for Kids. Show appreciation to Five Counties supporters by writing words, creating a drawing or colouring a picture that says ‘thank you.’ Kids can enter to win prizes, and one child’s artwork will be selected and featured on Five Counties thank you cards. Find contest rules and colouring sheet samples on the Five Counties website.

• Feb. 16 to Feb. 21 – Check out the many Winterfest Virtual Events available, including a workout with the Peterborough Petes, winter scavenger hunt, story times, baking demo, snow creature contest and magic show.

• Feb. 16 to Feb. 21 – Winterfest’s Online Auction featuring a selection of hand-made quilts, artisanal wood items, gift cards, kids’ toys and more. Register online to join the bidding. 

• Feb. 18 – In-person, family-friendly fun Winterfest activities at Lansdowne Place mall (645 Lansdowne St. W) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Feb. 19 – Winterfest festivities coming to Lindsay Square Mall (401 Kent St. W) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Feb. 20 –  Cheer on the Peterborough Petes as they host the Sudbury Wolves. Take part in a raffle and have a chance to win prizes, all while supporting Five Counties.

Canadian Tire stores in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg, Campbellford and Fenelon Falls return as Winterfest’s lead sponsor in 2023.

“Winterfest is a great way to embrace the season, while supporting the valuable work being done by Five Counties,” says Canadian Tire Peterborough South owner Ralph Moulton. “We’re proud and pleased to again be able to assist a great community event and organization.”

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St. Peter CSS Returns To the Showplace Stage With 'GREASE: The Musical'

St. Peter Catholic Secondary School is set to return to the Showplace Performance Centre with the production of GREASE The Musical starting Feb. 15.

Photo courtesy of St. Peter CSS.

Sandy (Vaughan) and Danny (Forsyth)

Photo courtesy of St. Peter CSS.

Photo courtesy of St. Peter CSS.

For the first time since 2018, St. Peter’s is taking the Showplace stage with Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s GREASE The Musical, running performances until Feb. 18.

The production includes close to 200 students and staff within the school community, and is directed by drama teacher and arts chair Paul Crough. St. Peter’s staff Jennifer Riel (choreographer), James Wright (music director) and Dyanne McDonald (stage manager) are among the production crew as well.

“It’s always an exciting time, we have students from Grade 9 through 12 in the musical. The part that I love about the whole experience that the audience doesn’t get to see is the process,” said Crough. “We have students who have never sung publicly in front of someone, and they’re terrified at auditions, and we witness the growth that takes place within their confidence with a like-minded group.”

Cast leads include Ryan Forsyth as Danny and Macayla Vaughan as Sandy. The two say they are excited to see the production come to fruition with all of the hard work going on behind the scenes.

“This is a dream role of mine, and as the first and last show I get to be a part of with this school, it is something special,” said Vaughan.

General admission tickets are $28.50 plus fees and are available for purchase at the Showplace Performance Centre box office (290 George St. N) or online.

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