Peterborough Youth Commission Meeting May 30
/The Peterborough Youth Commission will host a meeting on May 30 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at City Hall in the Doris Room.
photo courtesy of the city of peterborough.
Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough Youth Council Applications Now Open for 2023-2024 Term
/The City of Peterborough is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 term of the Peterborough Youth Council.
photo courtesy of the city of peterborough.
Young people between the ages of 10 and 21 who live or attend school in Peterborough are invited to apply to become a member of the Council.
The Peterborough Youth Council is a voice for youth in the community. Members can bring their ideas and energy to organizing and being involved in community events.
This is a volunteer position, and the volunteer hours can be used towards students’ Ontario Secondary School Diploma requirement of 40 hours of community involvement.
“The Youth Council is a voice for youth in our community,” said Councillor Lesley Parnell, chair of the youth portfolio. “Help us plan events that will resonate with young people in our community. You’ll have fun, meet other young people and gain valuable skills such as organization, communication and teamwork.”
Youth are invited to visit the City’s website to learn more and complete an application. Applications are due by April 28 at 4:30 p.m.
Local Youth Encouraged To Consider Starting a Small Business This Summer
/Youth interested in launching and running their own business this summer are encouraged to apply by May 15 to the Summer Company program offered by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre (BAC).
photo courtesy of the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre.
The Summer Company Program is the Government of Ontario’s flagship youth entrepreneurship program which helps youth aged 15-29 try their hand at business ownership by providing up to $3000 in start-up funding, one-on-one guidance from business advisors, mentorship from local business leaders, access to business workshops, training and resources and ongoing business support. Summer Company is a free youth skills program, and students are encouraged to apply early as there are limited spots available.
“March break is a great time for students to start thinking about summer employment opportunities. While there are many excellent summer jobs available through local employers, students often overlook the opportunity to launch their own business, and Summer Company is a low-risk way for youth to try entrepreneurship,” said Madeleine Hurrell, BAC Manager for Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development.
The Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre, operated by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, has been the program provider of this program for the City and County of Peterborough since 2001.
To learn more about eligibility and to apply, visit the website.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Peterborough Youth With Type 1 Diabetes Selected to Represent Canada at JDRF Children’s Congress
/15-year-old Tilly Stimpson has been selected as a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Youth Advocate for the 2023 Children’s Congress in Washington, D.C.; representing Canadian youth with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).
photo courtesy of jdfr.
Tilly Stimpson was diagnosed with T1D in 2010 at the age of 2 and a half. She has been involved with JDRF since around this time, raising awareness and advocating for the disease she lives with everyday.
“Ever since I’ve been diagnosed I’ve just been raised living with type 1. My whole life has been around diabetes, and seeing my friends grow up and living a normal life has been kind of challenging since a young age,” said Stimpson. “Knowing a lot about diabetes and knowing all about my body has given me a lot of maturity though, and it’s a good thing, but it’s also very overwhelming.”
Stimpson’s mom, Jo, describes the hardships of navigating her daughter’s diagnosis.
“It was pretty rough, I’m not going to lie. Her dad was diagnosed at the age of 32 so we weren’t new to it, but having a child with it is very different.”
“She used to run away and hide under the dining room table crying if I needed to give her a needle,” recalls Jo.
As part of Stimpson’s years of advocacy she has been involved with many diabetes initiatives, including Kids for a Cure, Let’s Make History Again, clinical trials, the Peterborough Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes and more.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, Stimpson and her family wrote 100 letters to community members in local nursing homes during the pandemic in 2021.
The TAS student says she feels passionate about the insulin crisis that those with T1D face.
“I think it’s an awful thing to struggle with, to decide whether to eat for the night or keep to themselves alive, and I hope that I can really make a difference on that,” Stimpson says.
Through all her efforts she has raised a total of over $80,000 for diabetes research.
“My main goal is to raise awareness for this disease, and not only speak on my behalf but also (for) a lot of Canadians that I know that have diabetes,“ said Stimpson.
From July 9 to 11, Stimpson will travel to Washington. D.C. to meet with some of the top decision makers in the U.S. government to advocate for T1D awareness.
The 160 youth delegates in JDRF’s Children’s Congress will speak with US Members of Congress and help them to understand what life with T1D is like for millions of people living with it, and why research to fund cure-based therapies is so critical and life-changing.
In her JDRF application, Stimpson outlined her goals during this trip.
“I hope to be able to make a difference. I want to educate members of the Government on this relentless disease and I hope to see a difference made in our advocacy work. I also really hope to make amazing connections and friendships with people from around the world who live with the same thing I do. We all have struggles and some are not the same. It will be interesting to listen to other people’s stories and I hope collectively we can help each other and the T1D community.”
Lakefield Youth Unlimited Celebrates 19-Year Anniversary with Online Fundraiser
/Lakefield Youth Unlimited (LYU) is celebrating 19 years of ministry on Oct. 27 with an online fundraiser.
File photo.
They will be celebrating the day by sharing stories of hope among youth and families in the community. These stories will be shared through short videos to the LYU website and social media feeds.
Traditionally LYU hosts a fundraising dinner each October, but they have decided to cancel the event this year. Despite this, they are still fundraising online and have a goal to reach $15,000.
“Over the summer much of our energy went into a volunteer and partner appreciation night in June and the grand opening of The Barn, our new facility, in August. We decided to focus our volunteer’s time on helping us rebuild and reconnect with our local youth rather than on pulling off a fundraising event,” said Chris Jones, LYU satellite director.
LYU is accepting donations in-person at their office, by mail, phone or online at lyufundraiser.com.
Peterborough Artist Averie Wilkins Follows In Her Dad Jason Wilkins Footsteps With Her First Sale
/Averie Wilkins, 16, is celebrating selling her first piece of art, following in her dad Jason Wilkins footsteps and pursuing a career as an artist.
Averie with a piece she did for her brother.
Averie says she has been drawing since she was young, and has memories of drawing beside her dad when she was four.
Now at 16, she draws inspiration from anime and other shows she likes. She practices different mediums like water colours, gouache, and pen and also enjoys drawing digital pieces on her dads iPad.
Jason, Averie’s dad, is a professional illustrator, live event artist, muralist and workshop instructor located in Peterborough.
Etsy is an e-commerce site usually tailored to handmade products like art, jewelry and crafts.
Averie set up her online shop a few months ago and until recently had been yet to make a sale. Until someone named David purchased a piece on March 6.
“It was really a relief. I thought no one was going to buy anything especially since I had been waiting for months,” she said. “But I got a notification on my phone and it was from Etsy. I read it and someone had purchased an item at my shop. Just a really happy and uplifting moment for me.”
Jason says he’s proud to see his daughter succeeding as an artist already at such a young age.
“I’ve always expressed to all of my kids that as long as they’re happy with what they do for a living, then I’m happy. Whatever that might be. You have to love what you do,” he said. “But it is really cool to see Averie as passionate about art as I was at her age. She’s got talent but I’ve told her that’s only half the battle - patience and work.”
While as a dad, seeing his daughter do what she loves is encouraging, as an artist seeing another artist succeed is a different level of admiration.
“I’m so proud of her for putting herself out there. It’s not an easy thing to do,” he said. “I remember George Elliott coming to speak in my high school art class. He said ‘You’re not a career artist until you sell your first piece.’ It just validates all your efforts and really makes you feel like you’re doing what you were meant to do.”
Averie says while seeing her Dad succeed as an artist has influenced her decision to pursue art, his technique is not something they share.
“He has really proven that you can be very successful and support yourself through doing something you love,” she said. “However I definitely don’t think he has had much influence on my technique, since our styles are both different. I think it’s because we are both from different times. If anything my oldest brother Sam had a big impact because he’s the one who got me into anime.”
Averie’s art can be viewed on her Instagram and purchased on her Etsy shop.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
U15AA Ice Kats Ready To Defend Number One Ranking In Canada As They Step Back On The Ice
/The Peterborough Cavanagh Disposal U15AA Ice Kats are currently ranked number one in the country, and plan on defending that title as they return to the ice.
Photo courtesy of Shelbi Kilcollins.
Shelbi Kilcollins, assistant coach of the U15 Ice Kats, says the new schedule was sent out to the team on Sunday night and players are rearing to go.
“We’re all in a group chat together and when the schedule was sent out on Sunday - for lack of a better word the girls are absolutely buzzing. We’re on the ice six times this week,” she said.
The team showing off their new jerseys. Photo courtesy of U15 Ice Kats.
The team was ranked number one in the country before they were forced to step off the ice due to provincial mandates.
Now that the girls are back, they are ready to win.
“We certainly aren’t just making the playoffs this year,” said Kilcollins. “These girls want the provincial championship.”
This season will be the last time many of the girls play together, as next year many of them will move on to play in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League.
Two seasons ago when this group played Pewee, they finished the season ranked number one in Canada and now that they are back together they plan to do it again.
Team members include: head coach Chris Moher, assistant coach Shelbi Kilcollins, assistant coach Tim Degeer, Lacey Clement, Chloe Fife, Kate Bell, Rhaea Flint, Claire Baynham, Sadie Davidson, Chey Degeer, Syd Sawyer, Amy Clements, Soph Harold, Molly Farace, Kylee Strano, Claire Chambers, Ava Moher, Avery Johnston, Clara Williams and Brooke Cavanagh.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Six Local Youth Entrepreneurs Launch Summer Businesses
/Six local youth entrepreneurs have recently launched their summer business ventures thanks to the Summer Company program offered by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development’s Business Advisory Centre (BAC).
(Top row from left to right) Ainsley Dunn, Drew McFadden, Grace Holmquist (Bottom row from left to right_ Owen Gerrard, Timothy Mills, Lawson Hill. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development.
The Summer Company Program is the Government of Ontario’s flagship youth entrepreneurship program which helps youth aged 15-29 try their hand at business ownership by connecting them with up to $3,000 in start-up funding, one-on-one guidance from BAC staff, advice and mentorship from local business leaders, access to business workshops, training and resources and business support.
“This year’s group are committed and passionate youth entrepreneurs. Enrolling in a program like Summer Company requires dedication and a desire to learn and improve small business knowledge. Each of the six students has taken their unique skillset and experiences and turned them into marketable and sought-after products and services,” said Suzanne McCrimmon, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development’s Director of Business Development. “We are grateful to the Province of Ontario for their continued support of the Summer Company program. These youth business owners are learning skills that they will take with them for the rest of their lives.”
This summer’s group of youth entrepreneurs includes:
Creatively Dunn (Norwood, ON) – Owner Ainsley Dunn is currently taking the Indigenous Bachelor of Education program at Trent University and handcrafts all-natural, sustainable handcrafted wooden toys and playsets for children. Her product line includes anything from themed sets, peg people, playdough stampers, stacking toys and Indigenous education sets.
Drew’s Chicks (Cavan Monaghan, ON) – Sharing his passion and love for chickens, Drew McFadden, founder of Drew’s Chicks provides complete chick kits to young families, teachers, and retirement homes. The kits include an enclosed cage, heat lamp, bedding, food, and water containers as well as two baby chicks that customers foster for two weeks, after which time they return to his farm as egg-laying chickens. In addition to chicks, Drew has expanded his fostering services to include baby quail and ducklings.
She Stitch (Douro-Dummer, ON) – Founder Grace Holmquist, a local high school student from Lakefield is a maker who designs and creates reusable bags for shopping and boating, with a focus on striving to reduce the use of plastic bags and creating beautiful, practical, stylish, and unique designs.
Trent Lakes Property Maintenance (Trent Lakes, ON) – Completing his last year of the paramedic program at Fleming College, Lawson Hill offers property maintenance services including painting, grass cutting, spring cleanups and more, focus on offering week-day services to allow homeowners time to enjoy their cottage properties on the weekends.
OG LawnCare (Lakefield, ON) – Owen Gerrard is a local student, entrepreneur offering affordable lawn care services using 100 per cent eco-friendly electric equipment instead of environmentally harmful gas-powered machines which offers clients an opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint.
3D Casting (Peterborough, ON) – Timothy Mills is a recent University of Guelph Mechanical Engineering grad returning to work on his Master of Applied Science. Leveraging his engineering knowledge and skills to launch a manufacturing start-up, he offers casting designs, prototypes and manufacturing of small plastic and aluminum parts through a combination of 3D printing and investment casting.
The Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre, operated by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development has been the proud program provider for the City and County of Peterborough since 2001.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Here's A Totally Inspiring Peterborough Video Message Called "Hip Hop Awakening"
/This YouTube video from a Peterborough man is apparently a response to a Rap Battle that took place at Pappas Billiards on the weekend. But its articulate, positive and inspiring message extends well beyond Hip Hop and speaks to a lot of stuff going on in this community—including safety, the environment, jobs, poverty, food issues, social justice, love and youth culture.
[YouTube]
Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.
PtboCanada Interview: Mayoral Candidate Daryl Bennett
/
Daryl Bennett (photo courtesy Bennett campaign) Daryl Bennett, 62, is running against incumbent Paul Ayotte for Mayor of Peterborough in the October 25th municipal election. Bennett, a Principal in The Liftlock Group of companies, grew up in East City and attended Armour Heights Public School and PCVS.
Bennett has volunteered for causes such as the 2004 flood relief effort, the campaign to build a new hospital and saving Market Hall. He is also a sponsor of bursaries at Trent University, and was named Citizen of the Year in 2004.
In this interview with PtboCanada, Bennett gives his vision for the city, and the reasons why he thinks he has what it takes to be Mayor.
PtboCanada: You say you declared your candidacy because you care about our city and about the future of our city. The way things are going, how does Peterborough's future look? Are you concerned about lack of jobs here? And if so, how do you propose we turn things around? Also, you say you intend to revitalize Peterborough and provide new opportunities for its residents. Can you give us an idea of some of the main policies and how they might differ from Mayor Ayotte's approach.
Bennett: I would not be running if I didn't think it was necessary. I didn't just wake up one morning and decide to become the Mayor. The decision came over the past four years, brought about in part by watching and listening to people's concerns about how difficult it had become to deal with City Hall—the stories about families whose children were spread far and wide because of the lack of opportunity in our own community; the stories about elected members of Council speaking about their lack of empowerment to deal with the needs of their constituents under the current regime. And finally, the decision came looking at a picture of my youngest grandson, with a perceived caption of him saying, "Why didn't you try to do something for my generation?"
One of the most important functions of the Mayor is to build consensus. It takes six votes to pass all matters at City Hall and it takes leadership to bring the members of Council together to do what is best for the community. Gaining consensus and making decisions is something I've done all my working life. The job of bringing business and tourists to our community starts by getting the operations of the City in order and creating a new environment of customer service. We, the Council, create the environment that pro-actively sets the agenda for progress. That means that we don't just follow processes that are already in place. The days of dotting i's , crossing t's and filling in the blanks so we can convince ourselves that everything is in order are over. We have far more potential to be the best we can be, and our job is to get on with it.
PtboCanada: What would you do to clean up our downtown, get rid of the crime/drugs/panhandlers, etc.? How would you help change the perception that our downtown is not safe and get more people down there to support the local businesses?
Bennett: Some of the answer is already in place, through the promotion and activities of the DBIA (Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Association), but we can do more. I think the Police Service has done good work as well. What we need to add to those is a more frequent consultation with and involvement by the businesses themselves, so that the health of the core is always top of mind. I think that the opportunities for eyes on the street that result from downtown housing will help, as will a new approach to downtown waterfront improvements. The ultimate strength of the downtown lies in a collective understanding that we all have a precious and historic resource that has to be actively supported in order to compete with the powerful suburban model.
PtboCanada: Aside from your website you launched, we noticed you're employing social media (Twitter) as part of your campaign @Bennett4Mayor. Will you continue to "tweet" if elected mayor as some other mayors do (e.g. Mayor Ellis in Belleville, Mayor Miller in Toronto) to let citizens know what you're up to in the community? How will you make yourself accessible within the community?
Bennett: I think it's time we bring a new generation of technology to reach out to people, and Twitter is a good example. So is internet voting. Personally, I will continue to operate much the same as I have for the past forty some years. I'm very much hands on; I understand that communication is essential in any business or government, and people will not have to wonder what I'm up to.
PtboCanada: How do you plan to reach out to the younger generation (Gen X, Gen Y) to show them you care about their needs? Because they are the future of this city.
Bennett: Well, everything about our campaign is aimed at providing the kind of leadership that will improve our collective well-being, and particularly for youth, whose opportunities to stay here and find work and a good life are far too limited. Peterborough has good schools, and we are fortunate to have Trent and Fleming to attract youth and to develop their skills. But it is our job at City Hall to create the employment and community conditions that will entice them to stay. As part of our campaign, we will be scheduling community consultations for youth so we can hear from them directly. As Mayor, I am attracted to the idea of a permanent Youth Council so their concerns are always on our agenda.
PtboCanada: For those that say Daryl Bennett is "a suit", all about business and his "old boy network", what do you say to that?
Bennett: Well, it all comes down to what a business is and what business people do. To me, business is a process of bringing people together to create, advance or resolve things. We all do that. Whether it's creating a lease on a building, operating a retail store, operating a media outlet, drafting the framework for a new by-law or delivering a social program, you bring people together to make change that is in the interests of your customers and your community. I've had some forty years of business experience where I have done just that, and I've had some success at it. I believe I can apply that experience for the benefit of the people of Peterborough.
PtboCanada: What would being Mayor of Peterborough mean to you?
Bennett: A wonderful opportunity to give something back to the community that has been so good to our family. A vote for me on election day will be a statement that the citizens of this community think we can do better.
[Daryl Bennett's website; 2010 Municipal Election; MyKawartha's Electionfest blog]
Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.
