Peterborough Petes Reassign 13 Players Following Thursday Scrimmages

The Peterborough Petes has reassigned 13 players following Thursday afternoon’s scrimmages.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

The following players were reassigned:

• Jonny Brooks

• Elijah Chavez

• Quinton Kim-Lemay

• Kasra Fathi

• Matthew Crawford

• Calum Hartnell

• Justin Ouellette

• Alexander Smyth

• Owen Cassidy

• Marcus Sulug

• Raiden Doxtator

• Matthew McKenna

• Nicholas Wlodarczyk

“It’s been a very competitive couple of days on the ice,” said Michael Oke, general manager and vice president of operations. “It’s obvious that everybody worked hard over the summer and this has led to us having to make some very difficult decisions. We will continue to monitor these players’ progress and development over the coming seasons.”

The annual Maroon vs White game takes place Friday at 4:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The general public are invited to attend the game which will also be streamed live on the Petes Facebook page.

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The Kawartha World Issues Centre To Celebrate 35 Years at Market Hall On Oct. 29

In celebration of their 35th year, Kawartha World Issues Centre, their event and fundraiser ‘Think Global, Act Local: 35 Years of KWIC’ is being held at Market Hall on Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Kawartha World Issues Centre.

The event will celebrate KWIC’s rich history and look ahead to the future.There is a keynote speech from Larissa Crawford, founder and managing director of Future Ancestors Inc. It will address the importance of youth voices in the fight for social and environmental justice according to a press release.

“This is an opportunity to celebrate KWIC’s amazing work in the Peterborough community,” said Dr. Stephanie Rutherford, Chair of the 35th Anniversary Committee and Vice-Chair of the Board. “Join us to reflect on the work of this remarkable organization that’s been making positive change for the last 35 years.”

This event will also feature a performance by Mimi O’Bonsawin, a contemporary roots singer-songwriter born in Northeastern Ontario with mixed French Canadian and Abénaki heritage and a member of Odanak First Nation.

Attendees can also support KWIC’s ongoing fundraising efforts by participating in the silent auction which boasts a number of kindly donated prizes. This includes personal training sessions, a Yankee Candle gift hamper and some exclusive vintage KWIC swag.

KWIC invites all community members to attend Think Global, Act Local and discuss the future of advocacy and the role of young people in creating change.

Tickets can be purchased through Market Hall or by emailing KWIC at development@kwic.info.

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Two Peterborough Archers Awarded Petro-Canada FACE Grant

Archer Amelia Gagné and her coach Jess Ashton have been selected to receive the Petro-Canada FACE (Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence) grant announced on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Heather Watson.

The duo has been chosen from a group of 55 up-and-coming athletes and hopes to represent Canada at the Olympics.

Archery Canada nominated them and they are the only archery athlete-coach pairs to receive the grant. Each National sports organization across Canada can nominate athletes and coaches based on their pathway toward future Olympic events.

Gagné and Ashton are both from the Peterborough area and train there. The development of the sport of archery in the region has had challenges, starting with the closure of a nearby facility in 2019, leaving competitive archers with limited options to train. They train near Red Head Archery, a new facility in Douro Dummer that opened in 2021. The two have been able to continue to work together through perseverance. They worked together at the 2023 Canada Winter Games and competed in the Youth and Masters Pan American Championships in 2024 in El Salvador. In September, they will be heading to the World Archery Championships in Alberta.

“I am so grateful to have received this funding from Petro-Canada,” said Gagné. “The money will allow me to participate in more international tournaments and assist with equipment upgrades. This will greatly benefit my progression in archery and in achieving my goals as a high performance archer.”

As a woman who has grown up in this sport, as a previous competitive archer myself, I understand the time, dedication and countless hours of work that go behind high performance archery,” said Ashton. “Programs like the Petro-Canada FACE program are invaluable for athlete development as we work towards Amelia’s Olympic goals.”

Potential Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes are awarded a $10,000 FACE grant to help them along their journey. The grants are often used for training, equipment, coach education, and travel expenses for competitions. Since 1988, the fund has provided more than $14 million in support to Canadian athletes and coaches.

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United Way and Cogeco Provide Over 450 'Backpacks for Success' For Back To School

To help kids get a head start in the classroom, the United Way Peterborough & District teamed with Cogeco on Tuesday to supply over 450 bags for their ‘Backpacks for Success’ for children at the Calvary Church.

Since 2003, United Way has provided more than 13,000 backpacks containing grade-appropriate school supplies to local students attending Kindergarten through Grade 12. Photo by Pete Dalliday.

“We're proud to continue our partnership with United Way Peterborough & District for the Backpacks for Success Program. said David Feeler, Cogeco manager. “This initiative is vital for our community, helping families and the next generation by providing the essential school supplies every student needs to kick off the school year ready to succeed."

Two local school boards, Kawartha Pine Ridge and PVNCC, and local service agencies requested the backpacks. According to United Way, the cost to deliver the program for the 2024-25 academic year is almost $14,000. Cogeco Peterborough’s investment of $5,000 provides a huge boost to UWP’s fundraising initiative.

“This program fills such an important gap in service locally and we are proud to have been able to provide it for the past 21 years” said Sara Mountenay, United Way development and communications officer. “We rely solely on the generous support of our community to prepare our students for academic success as this fundraising initiative falls outside of the United Way Community Campaign that is used to support our 20 Partner Agencies.”

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Environmental Artist and Climate Advocate Named 45th Ashley Fellow at Trent University

Subhankar Banerjee, an award-winning photographer, author and conservationist, has been named Trent University’s 45th Ashley Fellow.

The Ashley Fellow is a visiting scholar hosted each year by one of Trent University’s Colleges. The fellowship is funded by a bequest from the late Professor C.A. Ashley, long-time friend of Trent University and an enthusiastic proponent of the role that informal contacts of college life can play in the academic pursuits of the University. Photo courtesy of Trent University.

The visual artist and environmental storyteller is the founding director of the Center for Environmental Arts & Humanities and a professor of Art & Ecology at the University of New Mexico.

Since 2002, Banerjee has been working with Indigenous elders, scientists, and conservationists in Alaska. He has released several acclaimed publications – including Seasons of Life and Land and Arctic Voices – and is working on four new books, including a collaborative work with Trent History professor Finis Dunaway.

“Drawing from his lived experiences and a distinctive perspective that blends art with humanity, Subhankar perfectly embodies the ideals of the Ashley Fellowship, those of LEC, and the spirit of interdisciplinarity foundational to Trent,” said Dr. Christine Freeman-Roth, Lady Eaton College principal. “We have no doubt that his photographs and reflections around biodiversity, Indigenous rights, global conservation, and other pressing issues of the time will resonate with students, staff, faculty, and community members.”

During his residency on campus from Sept. 26 to Oct. 10, Banerjee will visit classrooms, exchange knowledge with faculty, attend a college dinner and host a public keynote address where he’ll discuss how art and visual culture can reframe our understanding of the biodiversity crisis and help shape a more inclusive and just framework for conservation that honours the rights and needs of Indigenous and other rural peoples.

“Over the past nearly half a century, the Ashley Fellowship brought many Indigenous and other civil society leaders, artists, and scholars from so many different academic disciplines to Trent University, and I’m deeply honoured and humbled to have my name added to such a distinguished list,” said Banerjee. “I’m looking forward to connecting with students and faculty to discuss why visual culture and environmental humanities are essential in apprehending our precarious time – a time in which we are a witness to the intensifying biodiversity and climate crises.”

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Pathway of Fame 2024 Inductees to Be Honoured Sept. 10

The Pathway of Fame, Peterborough & District will honour its 10 inductees for the Class of 2024 at Showplace Performance Centre on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.

The Pathway of Fame, Peterborough & District is a not-for-profit organization formed in 1997 to honour community citizens and individuals in the Arts and Humanities. Photo courtesy of the Pathway of Fame.

The Pathway of Fame, Peterborough and District will conduct its annual Induction Ceremony for the first time as an evening event.

The formal induction is open to the public and is not a ticketed event.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the evening starts with a performance by 'The Heritage Trio’ – comprised of Barry Haggarty, Terry Finn and Ken DesChamp – on the main stage at about 6:15 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Past inductee and Pathway co-founder Graham Hart is the master of ceremonies with the event broadcasted by YourTV.

The following are this year’s class of inductees:

Spencer J. Harrison (Artist, activist and academic)

When it comes to expressing his views, particularly leading the call for a change in attitudes around equity and inclusion for members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Spencer J. Harrison’s voice and influence have resonated strongly.

Having attained a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Queen’s University (1987), a Master of Arts from Trent University (2003) and, most recently, his Doctor of Philosophy from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (2014), Harrison, in 2014, completed The Freak Show: A Painted Autoethnographic Exploration of Growing Up Gay in Rural Ontario in the 1960s – Canada’s first painted doctoral dissertation.

Positioning artists in the academic world as knowledge creators, Harrison’s art is exhibited and collected across Canada and beyond the country’s borders. His art has been referenced in the House of Commons as part of the effort to change more than 70 laws to provide more inclusion for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Harrison was the founding director of Camp fYrefly, a Trent University-based leadership retreat for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, two-spirited, intersexed, queer, questioning and allied youth. Under his leadership, the camp combined arts-based and Indigenous knowledge and practices to help youth build strong positive identities, moving away from self-harm issues.

Harrison’s work has been exhibited for several years, his thought-provoking work displayed at galleries in Toronto, Belleville, Milton, and Ottawa. His newest exhibition, Does It Give You The Gay, is confirmed for this winter at the Art Gallery of Peterborough, where Spencer is the artist mentor for youths planning to pursue the medium at the post-secondary level.

For more than 12 years now, Harrison has taught at Toronto’s Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) University, specializing in courses that explore subject matter and the value of the makers of their crafts. At OCAD, he has been honoured with the Non-Tenured Teaching Award and the BLG Equity Teaching Award. Earlier, he served as artist-in-residence at Trent University in 1994-1995.

Photo courtesy of the Pathway of Fame.

John Lewis (Music)

Peterborough city and county is widely known for its diverse music soundtrack—a formidable footprint that’s well worthy of heralding whenever the opportunity presents itself.

For more than three decades, John Lewis has been. He remains local music’s head cheerleader, bringing to our attention the incredible talent of the many musical artists. His platform for doing so remains YourTV, for which he has voluntarily produced hours of programming that brings artists of all music genres and talent levels to our ears.

Bringing his background as a CBC audio engineer to the table, Lewis not only helps ensure the airing of high-quality productions but his research is over the top. More often than not, his guests are taken aback by some tidbit Lewis knows about them, personally or professionally. Lewis does his homework.

His head crammed with information drawn from a variety of sources, Lewis doesn’t simply recite a list of questions – he engages his guests in a dialogue that, once finished, leaves us with as complete a picture of him or her as one can obtain.

The list of those who have sat down with Lewis for multiple episodes of Junction 28 and The Skinny is long and impressive, featuring the likes of Serena Ryder, Jimmy Bowskill and the late Colleen Peterson. But he hasn’t limited his interview subjects to those of the long-established variety. Many an up-and-coming musician has been granted the chance to perform in-studio, introducing each to a large audience. Good things – very good things – have often followed due to their one-on-one time with Lewis.

On top of hosting his two programs, Lewis has played a huge role in YourTV’s Christmas season programming. He has spent hours creating notes highlighting every audio cue, vocal note and movement for the Peterborough Singers’ presentation of Handel’s Messiah. With Lewis’ help, local music talents such as Terry Guiel and Elyse Saunders have shared their holiday music favourites with YourTV viewers.

As a volunteer, John doesn’t mail it in. He professionally approaches every interview and performance he’s involved with. Leading by example, he plays a key role in training other YourTV volunteers, eagerly sharing his expertise with those looking to make their own mark in the community television realm.

Photo courtesy of the Pathway of Fame.

Earl Wilfong (Musician) 

Many perform music but few live the experience 24-7.

As a lifelong entertainer, Earl Wilfong’s love of performing anywhere and everywhere is unparalleled. Where there’s an audience, there’s a will to do what he does and do it very well.

Born and raised in Peterborough, Wilfong’s passion for music was kindled at age 8 in church choir settings. A year later, he added the drums and guitar to his musical arsenal, forming his first band at age 11 before honing his talents through high school when, at age 17, he came away a winner from the Canadian Jazz Stage Band Festival, earning all-star drummer status in the process.

Wilfong subsequently took his talent across Canada, the United States and overseas to Germany and The Netherlands. Comfortable with almost any music genre, he has performed with Jack Bailey, Joe Henderson, Lisle, Highway and Blindstone Bridge, to name but a few. If that’s not impressive enough, he has shared stages with The Kentucky Headhunters, Rosanne Cash, The Good Brothers, Valdy, Burton Cummings and the late Jeff Healey.

Despite a busy performance schedule, one undeniable truth has remained constant—Wilfong has never forgotten where he comes from. That has not only brought him numerous collaborations with local musicians such as Danny Bronson, Barry Haggarty, and Cyril Rawson but also benefitted numerous local organizations and charities. Simply put, Wilfong has rarely, if ever, said ‘no’ to gifting his talents to benefit this cause or that.

The list of benefactors of Wilfong’s charitable ways is long and varied: the United Way, the Children’s Aid Society, Activity Haven, the Canadian Cancer Society, The Festival of Trees, the Peterborough Regional Health Centre and the Peterborough Arts community… The list goes on and on. The homeless, the hungry and the disenfranchised among us have eased their plight due to Wilfong’s unwavering commitment to their wellbeing.

Just as he soaked up music at a young age, many young aspiring musicians have benefitted from Wilfong’s willingness to mentor them. For a number of years, he has taught music lessons, no doubt passing on the most important lesson of all—love the music, and the rest will fall into place.

Photo courtesy of the Pathway of Fame.

Melissa Payne (Musician)

To whoever gifted a very young Melissa Payne with a fiddle all those years ago, all we can say is thank you.

Born and raised in Ennismore, Payne subsequently learned to play the instrument at the knee of Doug Leahy. She learned well, to the point where she is a formidable force today, not just on the local music landscape but also well beyond its borders. Better still, Payne’s star is still rising with no limit in sight.

Anchored by a lifelong love of old-time fiddle and traditional Celtic music, Payne has steadily fashioned a remarkable recording and performance career that, to date, includes three full-length albums of original songs and never-ending stage invites. She followed up her 2012 self-titled debut album with 2014’s High and Dry and, in early 2020, Darker Than Your Dark.

If one can be judged by the company he or she keeps, rest assured, Payne is in a very good place. With her live performances consistently bringing forth critical acclaim, Payne has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Canadian music. Greg Keelor (Blue Rodeo), Natalie MacMaster, Matt Mays, James McKenty, Jimmy Bowskill (The Sheepdogs) and Nathaniel Smith share the common experience of working with Payne in the studio and on stage.

But Payne is no one-trick pony. Local theatre productions, such as 4th Line Theatre’s 2019 staging of Carmel and Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre tribute to Stompin’ Tom Connors, have also drawn on her talent.

The thread through Payne’s contributions to music and the arts is her unselfish willingness to support up-and-coming performers. Her mentoring of those with a musical dream knows no bounds, as she provides invaluable advice on booking gigs, publicity, and other business trappings. If Payne is in your corner, chances are very good that success will follow.

Many who know Payne well note her ability to mobilize others and rally support for important causes. Blessed with boundless empathy, Payne consistently and easily connects with people from all walks of life.

McKenty, who has produced all three of Payne’s albums, writes his longtime friend “is genuine…people simply gravitate to her down-to-earth personality. I’ve long been in awe watching the way people are attracted not only to Melissa’s music but also to her character.”

Photo courtesy of the Pathway of Fame.

Jim Hendry (Journalist)

For all his success, professionally and personally, Jim Hendry hasn’t done well at retirement.

Since departing from The Examiner in 2014 after a 32-year newspaper career, Hendry hasn’t come up for air. He has found and continues to look for opportunities to volunteer his time and talents to benefit his community. Sitting back with his feet up hasn’t been and still isn’t an option. Retirement, it would seem, can wait for a bit.

Born in Peterborough, Hendry moved with his family to Cobourg, returning to the city in 1982 for a job as a reporter with The Examiner. Over the following years, he rose through the ranks, serving as the daily newspaper’s weekend editor, city editor, editorial page editor and, finally, managing editor. A true professional who strove to report news factually and balanced, he was awarded a number of Ontario Newspaper Awards as well as the Harry Britain Fellowship Award granted by the Commonwealth Press Union.

Upon calling it a day with The Examiner, the road was clear for Hendry to pursue other interests, bringing informed insights into Peterborough’s political and social challenges to the table.

As a regular panellist for YourTV’s Politically Speaking, Hendry has provided fact-based opinions on the state of affairs at Peterborough City Hall and elected representatives’ performance or lack thereof. Since retiring, he has written two editorials per week for The Examiner.

Over the past six years, the United Way of Peterborough and District has been a huge benefactor of Hendry’s passion for the place he calls home and those who need a hand up. First as a board member, then as the board chair and most recently as campaign cabinet chair, Hendry has wholly committed himself to the United Way’s mission while inspiring others to do likewise.

Other local entities that have progressed due to Hendry’s board involvement include the ReFrame Film Festival and the Kawartha Golf and Country Club.

If these contributions aren’t enough to put Hendry into a volunteer class of his own, consider the countless hours he has spent ensuring newcomers to the city feel welcome and valued.

Currently, a lead member of a group supporting three Syrian refugee families, Hendry has hosted six Canada World Youth exchange participants, an American Field Services youth exchange participant, and a Belarusian boy displaced by the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear disaster. Collectively, that humanitarian work earned him Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow, the highest honour bestowed by the international service club.

Photo courtesy of the Pathway of Fame.

Glen Caradus (Singer-songwriter)

Music has long been effective as a means of communicating a message to a specific group.

In between the 1960s, Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger, to name a few, spoke to anti-war protesters and civil rights activists in a voice they understood and rallied around. Fast forward to the new millennium and Peterborough singer-songwriter Glen Caradus who, for some 20 years now, has, through his music, spoken to countless children and young people about the environment and nature and their developing role in the preservation of both.

As an educator with Camp Kawartha, Ecology Park and the Canadian Canoe Museum, Caradus’ exuberant and creative teaching style has seen him add his exceptional storyteller and puppeteer skills to the mix. Since 1999, The Paddling Puppeteers, a musical puppet show he created, has enlightened kids across the country on topics such as shoreline naturalization, a critically endangered prairie ecosystem and the geological history of the Peterborough region.

Able to play multiple instruments, Caradus is also an accomplished musician, having recorded three children’s CDs, each with an environmental or nature theme.

Caradus practices what he sings of. He cycles more than he drives, and his electric hybrid provides his ride when he does drive. His garden is home to native trees, shrubs and wildflowers that he gives away for free, and under the cover of darkness, he sometimes undertakes ‘guerilla re-wilding’ – the planting of native trees in parks and green spaces in a bid to improve biodiversity.

More recently, Caradus created The Ride for Climate. In 2021, he cycled 350 kilometres over 14 hours, raising money for Peterborough Green-Up. The following year, joined by his friend Nick Ormond, Caradus covered 421 kilometres in 20 hours, bringing in more than $10,000 for Camp Kawartha and Rowan Tree Children’s School’s nature-based programming. And in 2023, Caradus logged 280 kilometres, raising more than $5,000 to the benefit of For Our Grandchildren’s climate change education efforts.

First Nations and reconciliation awareness is also near and dear to Caradus’ heart and, on that front, he has been very active. In 2014, he partnered with the Rotary Club of Peterborough-Kawartha to create Adventure In Understanding, a since annual six-day/five-night culture-based canoe experience for First Nation and non-native youths aged 16 to 18. The 100-kilometre trek through the Kawartha Lakes culminates at Curve Lake First Nation. Participants engage in reconciliation by learning about First Nations in the region, connecting with Elders and the land and being together.

Meanwhile, the developmentally disabled have benefitted from Caradus’ voluntarism. Over the past three years, he has volunteered for the Dream Players, which performs musical theatre. Other benefactors of Caradus’ time and talents include the Five Counties Children’s Centre and, for 25 years now, Ecology Park where he helps with its gardens and tree nursery. 

Photo courtesy of the Pathway of Fame.

J. Murray Jones (Politician)

Peterborough County and, by extension, rural eastern Ontario have a champion, and his name is J. Murray Jones.

Upon retirement in 2022, Jones departed politics as the longest-serving warden of Peterborough County—an 11-year run that capped a stellar municipal government career that also saw him serve many years as mayor of Douro-Dummer Township and chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus.

In the political game, there have been, and still are, few who command the respect that Jones has earned. Blessed with an over-the-top personality, marked by a booming voice and a near-infectious laugh, it’s hard not to like Jones. But don’t be fooled. The requisite attributes of an effective politician – leadership, vision, and passion – are present in abundance, and their effectiveness as a representative of the people can be found therein.

Jones arrived in the Peterborough region in 1970. After several years in radio broadcasting and cable television, he founded and published The Dummer News, continuing to do so after being first elected in 1998 as a Douro-Dummer councillor.

While mayor of the township from 2003 until his retirement, Jones served as county warden for 11 years and was elected chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus in 2011.

As chair of the Eastern Ontario Regional Network from 2011 to 2022, Jones championed two projects near and dear to his heart: the implementation of broadband expansion providing high-speed internet access for rural eastern Ontario residents and businesses, and the securing of provincial and federal dollars for the expansion of cellular services in eastern Ontario. Both advances proved hugely beneficial during the pandemic as homes and cottages became the new workplace for thousands across eastern Ontario.

During the pandemic years, Jones exhibited the same commitment to the well-being of residents. A strong supporter of public health measures put in place, he led by example, not only volunteering at COVID-related clinics but also being among the first to roll up a sleeve and get vaccinated.

Tough as nails when he had to be, Jones tempered that with an affability still remembered with fondness by most all he met. He consistently took the time to visit with county staff, learning and remembering the names of each, from those working on road maintenance crews to the CAOs of the various townships. With a quick wit and an easy banter, Jones’ knack for putting at ease all he met remains a highly respected attribute. Often using humour to defuse the tension of difficult situations, Jones ensured everyone’s view was heard, believing that compromise and consensus are at the core of governing unflappable. 

Still connected to the community, Jones recently expressed his desire to volunteer with a County committee – proof positive that keeping a good man down is indeed difficult.

Photo courtesy of the Pathway of Fame.

Tegan Moss (Environment)

Whether promoting active transportation or working to increase climate resilience through community building, Tegan Moss is in a league of her own in ensuring that our world is a better place.

Trent University-educated – she attained her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Environmental Studies – Moss was the longtime executive director of B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop before being named the executive director of Peterborough GreenUP in September 2021. Moss’s selfless dedication and leadership in fostering positive change and empowerment are common to both roles.

In 2011, Moss assumed the executive directorship of B!KE, a not-for-profit member-based cycling education and support organization that has taught bike maintenance, repair, and riding skills from its George Street location in Peterborough’s downtown core since 2006.

Under Moss’ guidance, B!KE’s impact flourished with the expansion of cycling education initiatives. Via strategic collaborations, including a partnership with GreenUP, Moss spearheaded innovative programs, such as in-school cycling programs, community workshops and the Earn-A-Bike program, which provides access to a bike for those with limited means.

Moss’ leadership of B!KE didn’t go unnoticed. Among the accolades that came her way were the Wheels of Change Award from the Share The Road Cycling Coalition in recognition of her dedication to educating the next generation and the Peterborough-Kawartha Women’s Leadership Award, a nod to her influence and commitment to the advancement of her community.

As a staunch advocate of increased active transportation, Moss went above and beyond to convince the City of Peterborough to add more bike lanes to the infrastructure landscape. Speaking before the city council, writing letters and campaigning, Moss did whatever it took to sell the benefits of active transportation and should be lobbying tirelessly for its prioritization and inclusion as part of Peterborough’s overall transportation plan.

When the executive director role with Peterborough GreenUP opened after Brianna Salmon moved on to become executive director of Green Communities Canada, Moss jumped on the opportunity, eager for the challenge of leading the organization that, since 1991, has helped countless area residents lead more healthier eco-friendly lives.

When she’s not engaging with the community to help them better address the climate crisis, Moss can often be found doing just what you would expect – riding her mountain bike or getting her hands dirty in her wild garden. She indeed practices what she preaches and, in fact, was doing so long before it became common practice to do so.

Photo courtesy of the Pathway of Fame.

Ray Ostapovich (Community Volunteer)

Good things typically follow when someone is predisposed to help others find his niche.

More than 17 years ago, as a member of the Peterborough Lions Club, Ray Ostapovich was a key player in developing the service club’s Handicap/Medical Equipment Loan Program.

That was then, and this is now. Now, a wide range of used assistive devices and medical equipment—walkers, wheelchairs, medical beds, crutches, and the like—have been donated to the club for Ostapovich to collect and repair/refurbish for use by anyone in need.

Impressive, especially considering that Ostapovich is still hard at it… At age 88.

Once notified that equipment is available, Ostapovich initiates the collection process, bringing the donation to his workshop. There, he inspects and repairs the equipment, logging it in his inventory. That done, he waits for the call from someone who, already burdened by health issues and, often, related financial challenges, is hard-pressed to purchase expensive new equipment. Ostapovich then moves quickly to loan the needed equipment at no cost.

A number of organizations in Peterborough, such as PRHC, and many occupational therapists, are well aware of Ostapovich’s work and refer patients to him. In record time, he facilitates delivery and, if necessary, provides set-up in the patient’s home.

As of September 2023, more than 3,600 pieces of medical equipment and assistive devices were on loan. Better still, Ostapovich’s garage is home to a large stockpile of equipment ready for the next call for help—a testament to his determination to ensure the demand is met, no matter how high.

As a huge side benefit, the environment comes away a big winner. Without Ostapovich’s intervention, many donated items would have been otherwise discarded. By repurposing each piece of donated equipment, he gives new life to that which, at one time, could have been landfill-bound.

A member of the Peterborough Lions Club for nearly 60 years, Ostapovich is a past chair of the Canadian Hearing Society, the Lions Multiple District A Hearing Committee and the Lions District A3 Hearing Committee – the latter a position he held for 40 years.

Photo courtesy of the Pathway of Fame.

Kirk Wipper

If timing is everything, there is no better time than now to honour Kirk Wipper.

Back in May, when the new Peterborough home of the Canadian Canoe Museum was officially opened, it’s certain that Wipper was in the thoughts of many, and for very good reason. Without his generosity, love of watercraft and foresight, the museum wouldn’t have opened at its original Peterborough location in 1997.

In the late 1950s, Wipper started his extraordinary collection of canoes, a process kicked off by the gift of a rare circa 1890 basswood dugout destined to become the centrepiece of the museum. Wipper subsequently travelled the country in search of canoes to secure, housing each in a building at Camp Kandalore that later became home to the Kanawa International Museum of Canoes, Kayaks, and Rowing Craft.

The world’s largest collection of watercraft grew to contain more than 500 canoes and related artifacts, prompting the suggestion that Peterborough would be an ideal location for a permanent museum to store and display them. With numerous volunteers on board, developing a knowledge centre about the canoe was floated and adopted, leading to the opening of the Canadian Canoe Museum at the Monaghan Road location of the former Outboard Marine.

Besides providing the inspiration and the springboard for what has become the internationally recognized home of all things canoe, Wipper has also been instrumental in ensuring the immense contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canada’s growth and development have been kept front of mind.

A volunteer with several canoe, paddling, camping, and water safety organizations, Wipper served 45 years with the Royal Lifesaving Society of Canada and was a national director of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. The Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association, which later became Paddle Canada, benefited from Wipper serving as the inaugural chair of its History and Archives Committee.

In 2002, Wipper was fittingly appointed a member of the Order of Canada. When he passed 12 years later, tributes to his and his life work poured forth. Among those taking the time to honour him was James Raffan, the executive director of the Canadian Canoe Museum at the time.

“If you look at the tributes to Kirk that are pouring in, you will see that he indeed changed the world for the better,” wrote Raffan.

“This is surely the end of an era. Kirk will be missed but his legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of the members, volunteers, staff and friends of the museum (entrusted with) stewardship of these 600 canoes and kayaks – this unique portrait of Canada he created.”

Photo courtesy of the Pathway of Fame.

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'Fore the Kids' Golf Tournament Returns For Rotary Club of Peterborough On Sept. 26

The Rotary Club of Peterborough has brought back the ‘Fore the Kids Golf Tournament’ at Bellmere Winds Golf Course for Sept. 26 to support local children.

Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

One example of a child being supported is Jude, who is three years old and has a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy and a Global Development Delay. He has been accessing Five Counties programs like physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy since he was four months old.

“Thank you to everyone who supports this event. It shows the families at Five Counties that they have an entire community behind them, cheering them on.” said Julie, Jude’s mother.

The shotgun start begins at 1 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for individuals and businesses.

Golfers of all skill levels are invited to register for the event at a fee of $150 per person for $600 for a foursome. The price includes a round of golf, a cart for convenience, lunch and the chance to win prizes.

A one-year lease of a Honda from Trent Valley Honda for a hole-in-one is up for grabs.

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Peterborough and District Labour Council Hosting Free Labour Day BBQ at Nicholls Oval

The Peterborough and District Labour Council (PDLC) is hosting a free Labour Day BBQ at Nicholls Oval on Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough and District Labour Council.

There will be music, children’s entertainment and food at the event.

The theme for this year’s event is ‘Workers Together: For a Better Deal.’ Labour activists and their families from across the county will gather for the occasion according to a press release.

“We’ve made significant progress at the federal level on key issues like anti-scab legislation, pharmacare, and sustainable jobs. These achievements are a testament to what workers can achieve when we come together,” said Dave Warda, PDLC president.

Karen Littlewood, Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation president, will be a guest at the BBQ.

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Peterborough Lakers Comeback Bid Falls Short, Eliminated By Six Nations Chiefs In 11-8 Loss

The Peterborough Lakers' season ended the same way it did last year, eliminated by the Six Nations Chiefs in the MSL final, as the former lost 11-8 in Game Six at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Tuesday night.

Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Lakers.

The Lakers started the night in a huge hole, allowing the first five of six goals for a 5-1 deficit. Joe Resetarits scored a late powerplay goal to round out the period.

The second period was a low-scoring affair but did not favour the Lakers. Thomas Hoggarth opened the period with a score but that’s all Peterborough could muster. Cody Jamieson and Lyle Thompson scored for Six Nations and the Lakers dug an even bigger hole going into the third with a 7-3 score.

Peterborough tried to mount a comeback in the third, scoring the first four of five goals. A pair from Turner Evans, Owen Hiltz and Hoggarth contributed for a 8-7 game, trailing only by one.

Six Nations kept with Peterborough step-for-step as Jamieson to break the Lakers’ run. Hoggarth immediately responded to keep it within one but Six Nations was able to pull away with two more goals and end the comeback bid for the 11-8 win and MSL title.

Hoggarth was named the offensive player of the game and Eric Shewell as the defensive player.

Warren Hill made 44 saves for Six Nations and shared the Johnny ‘Shooter’ Davis Award with Doug Jamieson as playoff MVPs. Each goaltender was 4-1 in the postseason.

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Several Downtown Sections to Undergo Road Surface Repairs

Several downtown streets are receiving much-needed road surface repairs, as preparatory work has been ongoing since May.

File Photo.

The work includes replacing frames, covers, and grates, curb replacement in select locations, milling, surface paving and pavement markings. 

Structure adjustments and concrete curb and gutter replacement sections are almost complete, with only two sections remaining. Following the completion of milling operations, final concrete work may be required. 

During the next phase of milling and paving operations, no parking will be permitted on Water Street nightly between Sept. 3 and Sept. 11, and on George Street North nightly between Sept. 5 and Sept. 13. Signage will be posted. Motorists who do not follow the parking restrictions will be ticketed and towed to the Del Crary Park municipal lot at 100 George St. N. Owners must report to pick up their vehicle before 9 a.m. the next day to avoid a secondary parking infraction penalty notice. 

Milling and paving operations are scheduled to begin in August and September at the following locations: 

• Brock, Simcoe and King streets between George and Water streets: Daytime between August 26 to August 30, with one to two days required for each operation. A road closure will be in place only while operations are proceeding. The road closure will be removed when workers are not present. 

• Brock Street east of Water Street and Sheridan Street: Between September 3 and September 6, with one to two days required for each operation. Traffic control is anticipated to restrict operations to one lane with the use of flagging operations. 

• Water Street: Nightly between September 3 and September 11, with two to four days required for each operation. The elimination of on-street parking will apply during operations. Signage will be posted. Those who do not follow parking restrictions will be ticketed for a parking infraction, towed to Del Crary Park municipal lot, 100 George St. N, and must report to pick up their vehicle prior to 9 a.m. to ensure they are not in receipt of a secondary parking infraction penalty notice. 

• George Street North: Nightly between September 5 and September 13, with two to four days required for each operation. The elimination of on-street parking will apply during operations. Signage will be posted. Those who do not follow parking restrictions will be ticketed for a parking infraction, towed to Del Crary Park municipal lot, 100 George St. N, and must report to pick up their vehicle prior to 9 a.m. to ensure they are not in receipt of a secondary parking infraction penalty notice. 

Please note the scheduled dates may be subject to change depending on operational sequencing, weather, or other unforeseen issues. 

The City of Peterborough is coordinating with the contractor to minimize impacts on events planned in the downtown. 

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