Peterborough Blogs
‘Full of the Blarney’ Songs and Storytelling St. Patrick’s Day Event With Megan Murphy and Kate Suhr
/Shake the winter blues and embrace the St. Paddy’s Day green with an original show of Irish themed stories and songs from storyteller Megan Murphy and singer/songwriter Kate Suhr on March 17 at the Showplace Performance Centre.
photo courtesy of the verandah society.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with two shows in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Suhr and Murphy will be joined by fiddlers Melissa Payne and Saskia Tomkins for the event, presented by The Verandah Society.
Tickets are $39 adults and $25 for youth, available online or by calling the box office.
CMHA HKPR and Hospice Peterborough Partner On Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group This Spring
/The Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) and Hospice Peterborough have partnered to run the Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group for Peterborough and the surrounding areas this spring.
photo courtesy of hospice peterborough website.
The group is an eight-week program designed to provide participants with information and support as they navigate the changes in their life following the death by suicide of someone close to them. The group will explore aspects of suicide loss, such as stigma, the neurobiology of suicide and tools for coping with grief after suicide as well as connecting participants and encouraging self-care.
“It is difficult to come to a group like this one, because acknowledging and accepting the death is one of the hardest yet most essential steps on our grief journey. A group of complete strangers connecting with one another from such a deep, painful and honest place allows an indescribable magic to unfold. They are committing themselves to this group because they don’t want to go through this alone,” says group facilitator Alice Czitrom.
Grief programming is not government funded and has been made available through the combined efforts of our community. Upcoming Survivors of Suicide Loss groups are made possible through this new partnership between Hospice Peterborough, CMHA and its community fundraising initiatives, such as CMHA HKPR’s 2019 Ride Don’t Hide event.
“We are so pleased to have this partnership with CMHA HKPR to serve our community. This funding will help provide meaningful connections and give those grieving a suicide loss a place to turn to," added Hospice Peterborough executive director Hajni Hős.
After participating in the 8-week program, participants are invited to attend monthly follow-up groups where they can connect with peers from their group as well as attendees from past Survivors of Suicide Loss Groups.”
CMHA HKPR and Hospice Peterborough will also be launching a program for people who have experienced the death of someone close to them as a result of opioids in the fall of 2023.
Individuals can register for the Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group by calling Hospice Peterborough at 705-742-4042 ext. 251.
Ontario Government Provides Funding For Public Transit in Peterborough Under Gas Tax Program
/The Ontario government is providing more money to support the expansion and improvement of public transit services in the County of Peterborough; giving $1,827,406 as part of the province’s gas tax program.
file photo.
“We know that municipal transit systems are essential to the success of our communities. They connect people and families to jobs, education, medical appointments, groceries and housing,” said Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough- Kawartha. “Under Premier Ford’s leadership, our government continues to step up to the plate to provide the funding municipalities need to ensure transit remains a safe and reliable option in communities across Ontario.”
Funding for the gas tax program is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province during the previous year. Municipalities that support public transit services in their community receive two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenue collected.
To make up for reduced gas sales due to ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s gas tax program includes one-time additional funding of $80 million to help ensure municipalities can continue to support their transit systems.
“Public transit is a key driver of economic growth in Ontario, helping people get to where they need to go, whether it is to work, school, or run errands. As more people return to public transit, our government is providing municipalities with the funding they need to accommodate growing ridership, while ensuring they can continue to deliver safe and reliable transit service for people in their communities,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation.
Gas tax funding can be used to extend service hours, buy transit vehicles, add routes, improve accessibility or upgrade local infrastructure.
Embrace Equity in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough With Free International Women's Day Community Events
/The Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC) and the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC) are hosting two free International Women’s Day (IWD) community events celebrating the theme Embrace Equity in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough.
photo courtesy of Kawartha World Issues Centre.
The first event is a community march/rally on March 8 from noon to 1 p.m., and the second event will explore Diverse Youth Voices in Leadership with guest speaker Cheyenne Sundance on March 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Every year on March 8, International Women’s Day is recognized worldwide to acknowledge the historical and ongoing work towards women’s equality and social justice. The day was created by the United Nations in 1977 to increase awareness on the vital role of women in peace efforts and development, with aims to end discrimination and achieve women’s full and equal contribution to the world.
The daytime rally and march on will be hosted in-person, starting downtown at Peterborough Square Courtyard and traveling North along the sidewalks of George Street to Confederation Park, across from City Hall. Once reaching City Hall Town Ward City Councillor Joy Lachica will speak, and local poet Emily Cleary will do a short reading.
The second, evening event will be hosted in a hybrid format with community members having the opportunity to join online via Zoom or in person at the Lion’s Community Centre (347 Burnham St.) The event will be hosted by CRRC Coordinator Czarina Garcia, and will feature an opening drum from Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle and an opening welcome by Anne Taylor of Curve Lake First Nation. Peterborough's First Poet Laureate Sarah Lewis will also be performing an original piece written for this event.
The majority of the event will be guest speaker Cheyenne Sundance. Sundance, the 25 year-old executive director of Sundance Harvest and full-time farmer of a three-location farm in south western Ontario, will speak on Diverse Youth Voices in Leadership. Following the presentation, there will be a 20-minute open space discussion period and the evening will wrap up with a closing prayer.
Registration is required through Eventbrite.
Canadian Mental Health Association Teams Up With Peterborough Petes for Talk Today Game Night
/The Peterborough Petes and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) are teaming up to host Talk Today Night during the Petes home game against the Windsor Spitfires Thursday night.
photo courtesy of the peterborough petes.
The game, presented by Syngenta and Grain Farmers of Ontario, will take place at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Feb. 23 at 7:05 p.m. and will feature:
CMHA and Grain Farmers of Ontario tables in the concourse handing out information about Talk Today
Player content relating to Talk Today to be played and shared at the PMC on gameday
PA and video board announcements
A pre-game ceremony and a puck drop featuring representatives from CMHA and Grain Farmers of Ontario
Launched by CMHA Ontario in 2014 in partnership with the OHL, the Talk Today program has grown to become one of the most comprehensive sport mental health programs in Canada. Through Talk Today, CMHA branches across Ontario have been teaming up with their local OHL teams to educate and support their players on mental health and suicide prevention.
“The Talk Today program is an essential piece to reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and encouraging players to access mental health support when needed. I’m proud to know the Talk Today program started here in Peterborough and to have been a part of it since it’s inception,” says Jack Veitch, manager of community engagement and education.
“Now, more than ever, it is important to talk about mental health; especially in sport. Game night’s like Talk Today provide a platform to speak about mental health and we’re proud to partner with CMHA, Syngenta, and Grain Farmers of Ontario to spread this important messaging and keep the conversation moving forward,” says Adam King, director of marketing with the Petes.
Tickets for the game are available by clicking here, or by contacting the PMC Grant Thornton Box Office in person or at (705) 743-3561.
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Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. To Strengthen Global Operations with Recent Key Resource Additions
/Rainmaker Worldwide Inc. (RAKR), a global leader in water solutions, has announced the addition of key resources to its global operations team on Tuesday.
photo courtesy of rainmaker worldwide Inc.
Viva Industries, an investment company owned by entrepreneurs Michael Skinner, John Gillis and Ryan Moore, will acquire a controlling interest in the Canadian subsidiary of Rainmaker Worldwide Inc., and will re-name it Rainmaker Canada & Caribbean Inc. (“RCCI”). This acquisition will allow Rainmaker to focus on the growth of its global business while the Viva Industries team drives the growth of the Canadian and Caribbean markets.
As part of the transaction, Michael Skinner will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of RCCI, John Gillis will be the Chief Technical Officer and Ryan Moore will take on the role of Chief Strategy Officer & VP Business Development. Skinner and Gillis were early investors in Rainmaker, and their expertise will greatly enhance the Company's capacity to provide innovative solutions to the water crisis.
“I have always been impressed with the needs that Rainmaker's Technology fulfills on a global scale," said Michael Skinner. “With the addition of the Miranda Technology, I believe Rainmaker is strategically positioned to be a global leader in solving the issue of providing safe drinking water and dealing with wastewater.”
RCCI will continue to sell Rainmaker's Air-to-Water Technology as well as other products and services provided for in the Joint Development Agreement between Rainmaker and Miranda Environmental and Water Treatment Technologies, Energy, Natural Resources, Engineering, Consulting, Construction and Commerce Inc. (“Miranda”) which remains in force. The full suite of products for the combined group now includes distributed solutions using Reverse Osmosis, Wastewater Treatment and Water Filtration Technology.
"We are excited to welcome Michael Skinner, John Gillis and Ryan Moore to the Rainmaker team. John Gillis, the 2020 Water Canada Business Person of the Year, will provide strategic engineering expertise to Rainmaker’s global operations. Their combined expertise and leadership will enable us to continue to provide innovative solutions for the water crisis and drive growth for the Company,” said Michael O'Connor, executive chairman of Rainmaker.
The transaction is expected to close by April 1. For more information, visit the website.
‘Poutine Feast’ Coming to Downtown Peterborough Morrow Park This May
/Canada’s largest touring poutine festival ‘Poutine Feast’ is making a stop at Morrow Park from May 4 to 7.
The festival is an assortment of Ontario's finest Poutine Vendors with a lineup of 20 communities on their tour, taking place across the province from the end of April to the end of September.
Peterborough’s Morrow Park is slated in as the festival’s second stop.
“Get ready to indulge in your favourite cheesy, gravy-covered dish at our upcoming events. We'll be bringing the best poutine vendors from across the province together in one place for an unforgettable culinary experience,” the event’s Facebook page reads.
More information on dates, locations, and participating vendors is set to be released soon.
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Mayor Jeff Leal Makes Statement Regarding Expected Drag Queen Story Time Protest at Peterborough Public Library
/City of Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal and Peterborough Public Library board chair Dan Moloney have issued the following statements regarding protests at the Peterborough Public Library Drag Queen Story Time event on Feb. 25.
betty baker addressing fans outside the peterborough public library after drag queen story time on Jan. 14. photo by felicia massey.
“The City of Peterborough supports providing an inclusive, safe community for all residents. We strongly reject any act that incites hate in the community against any particular group. Thank you to the Peterborough Public Library for promoting an inclusive community, offering programming for all residents,” Mayor Jeff Leal stated.
The Drag Queen Story Time event will feature local drag queen Betty Baker sharing some of her favourite stories around the themes of diversity, inclusion and respect.
“The Library Board supports the Library in its endeavours to educate and support inclusivity. We are behind the Library staff and the offering of Drag Queen Story Time,” Library Board Chair Dan Moloney stated.
The City of Peterborough is a member of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities. Member municipalities must advance initiatives to:
Improve their practices for social inclusion
Establish policies to eradicate racism and discrimination
Promote human rights and diversity
