Minor AAA Petes Fundraising For Breast Cancer Research Through Hockey Battles Cancer

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The AAA minor Petes’ teams will be supporting the U12 team’s fundraiser honouring Melissa Hinze; hitting the ice in their pink jerseys to raise awareness for Metastatic Breast Cancer from Jan. 27 to 29.

Photo courtesy of AAA Minor Petes.

The cause is near and dear to the hearts of many in the local hockey community, who believe specialized research into metastatic cancer is so needed.  

This fundraiser is in memory of Melissa Hinze, who lost her battle of stage four Metastatic Breast Cancer in the spring of 2022.

It was Melissa who began this fundraiser through the AAA minor Petes’ last year in hopes that more funds would be raised for cancer research through the Canadian Cancer Society. Her son’s U11 team raised just over $3,000 in this first fundraising event.

While in palliative care she mentioned one of her wishes was for this event to continue. Her husband Chris Hinze, along with their son Blake (11) and daughter Jasmine (13) were determined to see it through for another year.

Melissa passed away on May 11, 2022 after her six-year battle with cancer.

“It was very sudden, she went in for a day procedure and never came back out,” recalls Chris. “She had a great six years when she was battling it, she was an absolute trooper.”

Chris reached out to head coach of the U12 team Wayne Clark, and they began the efforts to celebrate Melissa’s life and raise money for cancer research through the second annual event.

He says 100 per cent of the money raised from this fundraiser, including toque sales and silent auction donations, will go towards cancer research.

“Our goal is to raise awareness. If women are feeling a sensation, or feeling a lump, don’t wait. Go in and get things looked after sooner rather than later,” says Chris, who hopes these earlier cancer measures and precautionary steps can ensure women don’t reach the stage four phase.

The U12 AAA Petes are being joined by the U10, U13, U14 and U15 teams repping their bright pink jerseys at their upcoming games. Chris says this is the first year having this many teams on board.

Schedule for the upcoming Hockey Battles Cancer Minor Petes Games.

The main event, taking place Sunday at 4:15 p.m. will have the U12 Petes facing Kingston at the Healthy Planet Arena. The event is free admission and is set to feature speeches and a ceremonial puck drop with Neave Alderson.

Alderson, a 15-year-old Ewing sarcoma survivor, handed the boys their pink fundraiser jerseys at the Kinsmen Civic Centre on Wednesday.

“My son handed her the jersey and she handed the hockey players their jerseys,” says Chris. “We tried to make it a really special thing, we want to make sure these boys know the importance of what it is they’re doing.”

At the time of this article, the fundraiser currently sits at $2,785 raised of their $4,000 goal.

“We really want to get the research out there, and to help doctors and scientists to figure out how to deal (passed) stage 1, and what happens when these women are at stage four,” says Chris. “Stage four should not be a death sentence. My wife lived six years via cancer (clinical) trials, research dedicated to just stage four cancer. You can’t put a price on that.”

To donate to Hockey Battles Cancer and support Metastatic Breast Cancer research, visit the link.

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Local Leafs Fan Mike Davy, 65, Passes Away From Cardiac Arrest After Returning From First Live Toronto NHL Game

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Peterborough’s Mike Davy passed away overnight from cardiac arrest at 65, after coming back from his first live Toronto Leafs Game on Wednesday night.

Davy at his first Leafs game with Toronto winning 3-2 in overtime. Photo courtesy of Craig Meridith.

Davy was diagnosed with ‘global development delay’ that significantly hinders his physical and cognitive development. He also had several heart complications throughout his life, undergoing several surgeries including his heart valves. He was supposed to get x-rays of his heart the following morning.

He spent ten years under social worker Craig Meridith through Fleming College’s Blue Box program. He passed away peacefully overnight on Meridith’s couch after returning home from the Leafs game. Meridith said there weren’t any telltale signs of his death when he stayed overnight.

“He had a cough, like a hack. You didn't really think anything of it because he's had heart surgeries over the year,” explained Meridith.

Davy often would accompany Meridith and his partner to their trailer. Photo courtesy of Craig Meridith.

Davy attended his first Maple Leafs game in Toronto on Wednesday against the New York Rangers. Forward Mitch Marner scored the walk-off game-winning goal in overtime for a Maple Leafs 3-2 win.

It was the perfect first and last game for Davy to watch before his passing said Meridith.

“When they announced Mitch's name, his arms went up in the air and he almost jumped out of the wheelchair” he explained. “I had to pin him down so he didn't fall over out of sheer joy.”

Davy had done volunteer work with Trent University with their Blue Box program, Bata Library and bussing tables. He was a Special Olympics athlete in bowling.

“He's funny and outgoing but he also knew how to push your buttons at the same time when he was seeking attention,” said Meridith. “At the end of the day, he was a great guy.” 

Davy was also an avid fan of the Peterborough Petes and Toronto Blue Jays.

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Photos: Peterborough Lakers Present Retirement Jersey to The Pizza Factory Owner Peter Bouzinelos

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The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers presented the Pizza Factory owner Peter Bouzinelos with his own jersey and Lakers season tickets in celebration of 43 years of business. Bouzinelos has been a team sponsor for several years. He is closing down The Pizza Factory for retirement with the last day on Jan. 29.

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'Blankets for People' Initiative Launched For Anyone Needing It For the Cold Weather; Blanket Donations Can Be Made to Windsor's Drycleaning

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The Peterborough County-City Paramedics (PCCP), Fourcast, Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough and Windsor’s Drycleaning Centre have launched the first-ever ‘Blankets for People’ initiative to provide blankets and/or sleeping bags to anyone who needs them announced on Friday.

(from left to right) Kerri Kightley, Fourcast; Craig Jones, Peterborough County City Paramedics commander of operations and Bruce Thompson, Windsor’s Drycleanign Centre co-owner wrapped in a blanket to kick off the inaugural ‘Blankets for People’ initiative. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Peterborough City/County residents are encouraged to donate new or used blankets and sleeping bags at Windsor’s Drycleaning Centre to be cleaned and packaged for redistribution. There are already some blankets donated towards the cause prior to the announcement of the initiative.

The cleaned items are shipped to Fourcast’s CTS site at 220 Simcoe St. (beside the Downtown Bus Terminal) to be picked up. Clean blankets or sleeping bags will be given with no questions asked. There are no criteria for anyone to receive a blanket according to Craig Jones, Peterborough County City Paramedics commander of operations.

“There's a no-barrier environment,” said Jones. “If you need a blanket, we will get you one.”

‘Blankets for People’ will run until the cold weather season has finished.

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Hearts 4 Joy Opens Artisan Shoppe in Charlotte Mews

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Hearts 4 Joy is celebrating the grand opening of their new Artisan Shoppe in Charlotte Mews on Feb. 11. 

Photo by Angela O’Grady.

Program membership has since extended from 8 artists to 13 artists with intellectual exceptionalities as they have found a space to create and sell. 

Hearts 4 Joy is a non-profit organization serving those over 21 who live with intellectual exceptionalities.

Those who wish to visit the shop can do so from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Peterborough Petes Blank London Knights 3-0; Head Trainer Brian Miller Works 2,000th Hockey Game

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The Peterborough Petes celebrated their head trainer Brian ‘Bman’ Miller’s 2,000th career game in fashion, with a 3-0 shutout win over the London Knights at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) on Thursday night.

The Knights dropped four of their last six games while the Petes three of their last four prior to this game. Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

Miller was honoured prior to the puck drop at centre ice and was presented with a framed collage of his career highlights.

“It’s surreal,” exclaimed Miller in a Tuesday interview. “I've been doing this for 30 years and 2,000 games but it is real and it's kind of neat because I'm told that a lot of trainers hold in this long and do this many games so it's a special game.”

After Thursday night, Miller has worked 1520 Ontario Hockey League and 480 American Hockey League games. Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

Only one goal was scored in the first period, occurring almost in the 16th minute by Petes’s Brennan Othmann on a breakaway. He deked past Knights goalie Brett Brochu for a backhand goal for a Petes’ 1-0 lead after one.

The second period saw the score remain unchanged as both teams totalled 20 shots apiece. Avery Hayes had a shorthanded breakaway chance but was denied by Brochu.

Hayes got redemption and took over the game in the third, sniping a shot from the faceoff circle past Brochu for a 2-0 lead. London pulled their goaltender and had a powerplay late in the game but Hayes scored the shorthanded empty-netter goal from his defensive zone to seal up the Petes’ 3-0 win.

The Petes host the OHL defending champion Hamilton Bulldogs at the PMC for Billet Appreciation Day.

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Fleming College Paramedic Students Taking the Plunge for Campbellford Memorial Hospital

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Six polar-plunging paramedic students are getting ready to take part in the icy Lake Ontario dip in support of the Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) announced Wednesday.  

Photo courtesy of Fleming College Facebook.

Danielle Balvert, Sam Joyce, Hannah Carson, Stephan Nguyen-Duong, Theo Guenther and Taiya Martin are the Fleming students taking part in this year’s 31st annual Polar Plunge. The team has already raised $697 to support the hospital.

These students are passionate about community involvement and hope to raise money to help fund new equipment for CMH to help improve patient care and experience. 

The plunge takes place at the Lion’s Club Park in Campbellford on Jan. 28 at noon.  

Donate and support the students and CMH here.  

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Haven Brewing Company Builds Giant Beer Can In Honour Of 'Beer Can Appreciation Day'

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The first beer can was developed on Jan. 24, 1935 and Haven Brewing Company honoured the occasion with a giant beer can standing in front of their Rye Street business.

Haven Brewing Company co-owners and brothers Andrew (left) and Nathan Anker (right) took over the the former Smithhavens Brewing Company Apr. 9, 2020 but bought the company in October 2019. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“It was idea that we had probably a year ago,” said Nathan Anker, Haven Brewing co-owner. “We realized that January 24 is ‘Beer Can Appreciation Day.’ The biggest part of the idea was we needed something out by the road to make it clear that we're here.”

The can is a repurposed water silo from one of their farmers that had gotten damaged and could no longer be used.

“It froze and cracked so it wasn't really holding water anymore,” explained Nathan. “We got that from him thankfully and they we took it to an auto shop to get it wrapped like you would a car, we did up a design to make it as much like a beer can as much as possible. It's nice to see ideas coming together after a couple of years.”

The process took two weeks for it to be developed once the design and plans were completed. Anker was astonished and impressed with the turnout of the giant beer can when he and his brother went to pick it up.

“It's just awesome, it turned out perfectly, it's exactly the right colouring, it looks like a beer can and you know exactly what it is supposed to be,” said Nathan.

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Hometown PTBO: Peter and Anna Bouzinelos Closing the Pizza Factory After 43 Years of Service

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This week on Hometown PTBO, Samantha Bianco talks with Peter and Anna Bouzinelos of the Pizza Factory, reliving their 43 years of service, how the family started and thanking Peterborough for their patronage as they are closing their doors on Jan. 29.

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Canadian Canoe Museum Provides Progress Update On New Museum; Delays Grand Opening

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Progress updates outline that industry-wide construction challenges have delayed the Ashburnham Drive Canadian Canoe Museum’s (CCM) opening to late summer or early fall announced Thursday.

photo courtesy of the canadian canoe museum.

The CCM is creating a cultural destination to learn about Canada’s collective history, and reinforce connections to land, water and to one another through the lens of the canoe. The new museum will be located on a five-acre site with views of Little Lake and connection to the Trans Canada Trail and various public parks.

“It is an exciting time for the Canadian Canoe Museum. A little more than a year ago, we had just begun construction. Since then, we’ve achieved many milestones,” said executive director Carolyn Hyslop. “The building structure has come to life before our eyes, the mass timber façade is taking shape and the building is nearly closed in. Exhibits have been developed and are being sent to fabrication, the fundraising campaign is in its final stretch and the collection is nearly ready for its move across town.”

A national fundraising campaign has raised 95 percent of the project’s $40-million cost to date. The project is also made possible in part by the generous support of various local and national donors.

While they report steady progress has been made, the new museum’s opening will occur later than initially anticipated. The museum had originally hoped to welcome visitors in early summer 2023, but due to these delays the anticipated opening is now late summer or early fall.

CCM says the project is experiencing delays due to the pandemic and its ongoing impacts on the construction industry, affecting supply chains and material availability resulting in material shortages.

“As designers, we have seen unprecedented upheaval in the construction sector over the last two years. While there have been similar delays and supply chain issues on the CCM, through our integrated approach to project delivery, these have been minimized compared to other projects. We are pleased with the progress made and look forward to seeing the museum open to the public in 2023,” said managing principal at Lett Architects Inc. Bill Lett.

The CCM remains hopeful that the new museum will be able to celebrate its grand opening during paddling season.

“We are working very closely with the project team to recover the schedule delays, as we would be overjoyed to open earlier. With so much excitement and interest in the new museum, locally and nationally, we want to be transparent with our community about the timeline as we know many are planning trips to visit us this summer,” continued Hyslop.

To learn more about the new museum or to donate, visit the website.

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