CMHA HKPR Accepting Nominations For Annual Mental Health Awards

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) is now accepting nominations for the Annual Mental Health Awards and Tam Grant Bursary.

Photo by Luke Best.

Individuals are encouraged to nominate someone who is deserving of recognition for their efforts in improving mental health in the community, including volunteers, community leaders, individuals with lived experience of mental illness and their family members.

CMHA HKPR is also accepting applications for the annual Tam Grant Bursary, for students entering post-secondary education with a diagnosed mental illness. The deadline for award and bursary submissions is 4:30 p.m. on June 24.

CMHA HKPR is calling for submissions for the following awards:

The Achievement Through Adversity Award honours a client of CMHA HKPR services, or a survivor of mental illness, who has shown continued courage and tenacity in reaching their goals. In education, employment, volunteering, or through the tasks of daily living, this individual is a role model for others on the journey to a healthy life.

The Distinguished Service Award acknowledges the significant contribution volunteers make to our agency, by recognizing deserving individuals for their exemplary effort.

The Maurice Lovnes Award is presented to an individual or individuals who have volunteered with CMHA HKPR, and who have exemplified the following traits during the year: Vision, Dedication, Caring, Support and Commitment.

Caregiver Champion Award honours a family member or caregiver who has shown continued support to a person living with mental health concerns.

Naresh James Award recognizes an individual who has championed critical issues, pioneered initiatives, and has achieved lasting impacts in support of those who live with mental health issues, as well as assisting their families and friends. This individual has demonstrated commitment to support individuals who live with mental health challenges through their leadership, advocacy, and perseverance.

Champion of Mental Health – CMHA HKPR acknowledges individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the community by supporting mental health. These contributions should support Knowledge, Hope and Belonging: the three pillars that form the foundation of our organization to enable Mental Health for All.

Tam Grant Bursary - Access to educational programs is one way for individuals living with schizophrenia or other serious and persistent mental illnesses to realize their own potential. The Tam Grant Memorial Bursary seeks to encourage and support these individuals as they pursue higher education.

This bursary is offered in memory of Tam Grant who lived with schizophrenia while pursuing his university education. After years of struggling with his illness, Tam took his own life in 1977 at the age of 32. Frustrated and saddened by the lack of community supports at the time, Tam’s Parents Bill and Margaret Grant created the Tam Grant Bursary to assist young people living with schizophrenia or other serious and persistent mental illness to pursue post-secondary education.

Bursaries are awarded each year at the Annual General Meeting for registration for the upcoming school year. The maximum amount awarded annually is $1,000.

For this year’s Tam Grant Memorial Bursary application visit cmhahkpr.ca/bursary.

All award nominations and bursary applications must be received by 4:30 p.m., June 24.

Successful nominees and applicants will be presented with their award or bursary at the CMHA HKPR Annual General Meeting, which will be held on September 21, at Celebrations in Lindsay.

Nomination forms for the awards can be found at cmhahkpr.ca/awards.

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Age-friendly Peterborough Community Engagement Survey Now Open

The City of Peterborough is seeking public input on an update to the Age-friendly Peterborough Community Action Plan. The Community Engagement Survey is directed at older adults (ages 50+) who reside in the City of Peterborough, Peterborough County, Curve Lake First Nation, and Hiawatha First Nation.

Stock photo.

The purpose of the survey is to receive community input and information to gauge how age-friendly the Peterborough region is today and how to make it more age-friendly in the future. The results will be incorporated into the new Community Action Plan for 2023-2025.

The first Age-friendly Peterborough Community Action Plan was launched in 2017 as a guide for Peterborough to become a thriving region that is inclusive, respectful, and accessible to people of all ages and abilities. The goals of the plan are to ensure that older adults have their basic needs met, are able to get around the community, are supported to build relationships, and have the opportunity to learn, grow and contribute.

“The 2017 AFP Plan identified a clear path forward to enhance programs, services, and infrastructure to support healthy aging,” said Keith Riel, Chair of the Age-friendly Peterborough Advisory Committee, “It is important that we hear from older adults so we can incorporate their current needs into the new Community Action Plan.”

The survey can be found on the City’s public engagement website, Connect Peterborough at www.connectptbo.ca/age-friendly, along with the 2017 Community Action Plan, the 2020 Impact Report, and plans for additional public engagement opportunities.

The survey will be available until May 31.

Paper copies of the survey are available at Community Care offices and libraries. If you require assistance completing the survey or would like to request it in an alternative format, please call 705-748-8830 ext. 3624.

More information about Age-friendly Peterborough can be found at www.peterborough.ca/aging.

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Peterborough Public Health Warns Public Of Increase In Suspected Drug-Related Deaths

Peterborough Public Health is notifying community members about an unusually high number of suspected drug-related deaths for April.

Photo by Luke Best.

Through Peterborough’s Early Warning and Surveillance System, Peterborough Public Health and partners have detected high numbers of suspected drug-related deaths.

As of April 19 , there have been 14 suspected drug-related deaths in Peterborough County and City.

This increase has prompted Peterborough Public Health to proceed with issuing this notice in the hopes of bringing awareness to and preventing further drug-related harms within our community. Any substance bought from an unregulated supply should be considered tainted. Any drug can be mixed or cut with toxic substances, and even a small amount can cause a fatal poisoning.

Peterborough Public Health advises if you use substances:

• Do not use drugs alone.

• If you using with a friend, do not use at the exact same time.

• Have a plan – Ask someone to check on you or call the National Overdose Response Service 1-888-688-6677.

• Carry a naloxone kit. Keep it visible and close by.

• Avoid mixing drugs.

• Test your drug by using a small amount first.

• Call 911 immediately if someone starts to show signs of an overdose and/or cannot be resuscitated after

• Naloxone is administered.

You are at greatest risk when you are using alone. If you are using drugs right now, it is critical that you take action to stay safe. Use with a friend and do not use at the same time. You can also ask someone to check in on you or call the National Overdose Prevention Service at 1-888-688-6677.

Community members are encouraged to know the signs of opioid poisoning and how to respond. An opioid poisoning may look like the following:

• Skin is cold and clammy;

• Fingernails or lips are blue or purple;

• Body is very limp;

• Cannot wake the person up;

• Deep snoring or gurgling sounds;

• Breathing is very slow, erratic or has stopped; and/or

• Pupils are very small.

If an overdose is witnessed: Call 911. Give naloxone. Stay with the person until help arrives

Under Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, anyone who seeks medical help for themselves or for someone else who has overdosed will not be charged for possessing or using drugs for personal use.

Peterborough Public Health is also encouraging members of the public to use the recently launched ‘Drug Reporting Tool’. This tool is an anonymous survey to report overdose incidents and harms in the community. Any information shared through the survey supports Peterborough Public Health and community partners in responding to and preventing overdoses in the Peterborough Area. The Drug Reporting Tool can be accessed by clicking here.

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Omemee Man In Search Of A Living Kidney Donor During Be A Donor Month

Craig Kennedy, a husband, father to three children, a school teacher and a proud farmer from Omemee has taken to Facebook to raise awareness about living kidney donation, and find a kidney for himself, during ‘Be a Donor’ month.

Kennedy was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease in 2010. At the time of his diagnosis his kidneys were still functioning well and there was no imminent threat, though he knew in the future he may face declining function and eventually require a transplant.

Kennedy says he began taking care of his health, keeping active and partaking in proactive treatment to prolong the onset of serious illness as much as possible.

Though in 2016 things took a turn for the worse.

Spring of that year his left kidney suffered irreparable damage in an accident, which accelerated his decline.

Currently his kidneys are functioning at 15 per cent, anything lower is considered kidney failure. He is now classified as having end stage kidney disease.

“You wouldn’t know it to see me, I look normal,” said Kennedy. “But I can feel it.”

With April being ‘Be a Donor’ month, Kennedy thought it would be the perfect time to begin promoting living donation, not just for himself but for everyone waiting on the donor list.

“I’m a teacher, so I’m off for March break. It was then that I realized a lot of my staff at school didn’t even know that I was sick,” said Kennedy. “I said to my wife ‘we’ve got to get this out there’ just so people knew. I’m not a very public person so it was quite hard for me to do.”

Through Facebook he has been able to reach a larger audience than he imagined, and even learned that one of his neighbours is also waiting for a kidney donation.

“Once my story went to Facebook I found out my neighbour that lives a few kilometers up the road from me is on Dialysis. He’s kept it quiet. It’s bizarre, all of a sudden you realize there’s a lot of people out there waiting for a donation. You just have to be brave enough that when someone asks how you are, you say ‘actually not good’.”

Kennedy hopes that by spreading information, he will encourage more people to not only consider becoming a donor, but to consider becoming a living donor.

“If I can find someone, great, but it’s more to promote living organ donations. When we made the first post we had so many people reach out and say they’d like to do it but they don’t know anything about it.”

According to www.beadonor.ca there are over 1600 Ontarians waiting for a life-saving transplant. 90 per cent of Ontarians support organ donation, but only 35 per cent are registered.

When someone becomes a living donor, they can either designate their organ to a certain person - and their compatibility will be tested, or they can donate anonymously to anyone that they fit with.

Kennedy notes that even if someone wanted to donate a kidney to him and they weren’t compatible, they could give it to someone else which in turn would shorten the waiting list for everyone needing a kidney.

To follow Craig’s story visit his Facebook page facebook.com/kidneydonor4craig to contact him, email livingkidneydonor4craig@gmail.com.

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Local Highschool Sweethearts Searching For A Surrogate To Help Them Start A Family

Brianna and Josh Gill, high school sweethearts from Peterborough, have put a call out for a surrogate to help them start the family they’ve always wanted.

Photo courtesy of Brianna Gill.

The two met and started dating at age 14 while attending Kenner Collegiate high school.

When Brianna was around 16 she was diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH), a condition that affects one in 5000 women. With this diagnosis Brianna learned that she was born without a uterus, though she does have ovaries.

“I was only 16 so it was a lot to hear,” she said. “I remember being devastated because right from a little girl you always dream of what your future will look like and your family, and imagine carrying a baby.”

Outside of her family, Josh was the only person that knew of her diagnosis at the time, says Brianna.

“I always felt like I was going to be with Josh forever and I think that’s why I wanted to tell him right away. I thought he had a right to know that if he wanted kids that would be a challenge for us. I thought if he decided that was too much for him to deal with we could just end things right there, but he was so supportive and he has been by my side ever since.”

In 2018 Josh and Brianna were married, and have since started a ‘furry’ family with their two dogs Nellie and Dixie.

Until 2020, Brianna kept her diagnosis secret. Aside from her family and Josh no one knew.

“It just made me feel different, and I didn’t like the idea of feeling different. “

She says that after the two were married friends and family began asking when they would start trying for a family.

“It’s innocent enough and I know people don’t mean any harm but hearing that repeatedly took a toll on my mental health. It just reminded my that our journey to parenthood was going to be challenging.”

In 2020, together, Briana and Josh went public on social media with her diagnosis, while they began going to a fertility clinic to explore their options.

“The support we got after we posted that was humbling,” said Josh. “We didn’t expect that.”

Their plans to start a family were put on hold due to COVID, but in January of 2021 they officially started looking for a surrogate, and started their Instagram account ‘Growing The Gills’.

Initially a family friend offered to be their surrogate, but after two embryo transfers that were unsuccessful, they are now looking for a new surrogate.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brianna + Josh Gill = intended parents (@growingthegills)

The two posted a video to Instagram looking for a surrogate on April 6, and were surprised to see how much traction it gained.

“I get so overwhelmed, I’m so grateful I just can’t believe how much it’s blown up,” said Brianna.

The two say after posting the comments and their private messages were filled with well wishes, people thanking Brianna for being so open about infertility and some offering connections to surrogates.

“Just the amount of people we don’t even know reaching out and wishing us the best on our journey, it’s mind boggling to see how far this video has gone and it’s still making headway,” said Josh. “It’s just such an amazing feeling.”

Brianna says she originally made the account to advocate and educate people about infertility and the different ways a family can be started.

According to Canadian law, surrogacy must be altruistic meaning surrogate mothers cannot make financial gain, though any expenses related to the pregnancy can be paid by the intended parents.

Since their Instagram video has gotten popular the two say they’ve received many messages from people wanting more information and are feeling hopeful that the right surrogate will find them soon, though they have not found them yet.

To follow along on The Gills journey follow them on Instagram.

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Peterborough Police Investigating After More Reports Of Grandparent Scam Cost Senior $12,000

Peterborough Police are investigating after learning of more grandparent scam incidents.

On Tuesday officers were made aware of an incident where a 75-year-old victim was asked for $12,000. Money was exchanged at their residence on March 11.

The suspect was described to police as:

• Black male

• Stocky

• Wearing a black hoody and black pants

On the evening of March 11, officers were made aware of the incident after the scammers called back and requested another $10,000 from the 87-year-old victim. The day before the victim had received a call that their grandson was in custody and $10,000 was required for his release. The victim attended two banks to get the money. A person attended the victim’s home, and the money was handed over.

The suspect was described to police as:

• Black male

• Wearing a grey hoody and a black mask

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.

Peterborough Police ask those with friends or family that may be susceptible to a scam to share the following information with them:

How the Grandparent Scam Works

• The suspect calls the victim pretending to be a law enforcement officer, friend or the grandchild

• The suspect seems to know basic information but not necessarily specifics

• The suspect indicates the grandchild is in trouble or needs money

• The suspect tells you how much money is needed and that someone will pick it up at their residence

• The suspects demand the victim does not tell anyone about the phone and help create stories for the victim to use if asked why the money is needed

• The suspect will often call back asking for more money

What to do if you receive a call:

• Do not provide any personal information

• Do not hand any money over

• Remember police will never go to your door to ask for money nor would they ask money to be given to a courier

• Stay calm even if the suspect is pressuring and indicating this is an urgent matter

• If you are concerned it’s a scam call police or a person you trust

• Report the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm

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Daylight Savings Time Returns This Weekend And Peterborough Fire Services Is Reminding Residents To Check Smoke Detectors

Daylight Savings Time is back this weekend, which means residents will loose an hour of sleep on Sunday.

Stock photo

This ‘spring ahead’ will begin at 2 a.m. on Sunday and means that we will get more daylight and the sun will set later.

The sun is expected to set at 7:17 p.m. on Sunday.

It is common practice to change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms during daylight savings time to ensure they are in working order for the rest of the year.

“In order for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to do their job, they need to be working,” said Fire Chief Chris Snetsinger. "Check the expiry date and test every alarm. Be sure to change the batteries if you do not have a wired or 10-year battery sealed alarm.”

It’s the law to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in all homes.

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Douro Boy Wins Ontario Wide Contest Held By Ontario Association Of Fire Chiefs

Douro boy, Emmet, became the grand prize winner of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) home escape plan contest.

Photo courtesy of the Douro Dummer Fire Service.

The contest challenged entrants to find two ways out of every room of their home and to know where to meet outside in the event of an emergency.

Douro-Dummer Fire Services (DDFS) personnel distributed the OAFC contest entry sheets to eligible students at Warsaw Public School and St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School during Fire Prevention Week in October.

A winner was selected by the OAFC from all the entries in Ontario.

DDFS personnel met Emmet and his family to present his prizes. Fire Chief Chuck Pedersen presented Emmet with a framed copy of his entry, complete with a first-prize ribbon.

“We are grateful for all the children that took the time to prepare a plan to ensure they know two ways out of their home in the event of a fire,” said Fire Chief Pedersen. “We are so proud of Emmet who submitted a great picture, showing just that, and won first place in the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs’ contest.”

Photo courtesy of the Douro Dummer Fire Service.

Emmet received a fire safety gift pack, a $500 cash prize from the OAFC and a gift certificate from the Douro-Dummer Firefighters’ Association to use at the Kawartha Buttertart Factory.

Emmet, sister Mya Lynn and aunt Andrea also got to take a ride in a fire truck with their favourite firefighter, Wayne Greystock.

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Police Warn Public Of Recent Text Message Scam

In a social media post by the Peel Regional Police, Ontario residents were warned of a popular text message scam claiming to be refunding licence plate stickers.

Screenshot courtesy of peel Regional Police.

In light of the Ontario Government’s recent announcement, ditching licence plate sticker fees, scammers are now claiming to offer refunds via text message.

Police note that Service Ontario will never offer refunds via text message.

Never click a link that comes from an unknown number.

To see if you qualify for a licence plate sticker refund visit ServiceOntario.ca . If so, they will mail it to your home.

If you receive this text message or one similar do not click the link, do not reply, just delete it.

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Fleming College Is Working To enhance Indigenous Labour Market Information

Fleming College hosted the inaugural forum Reconciling Labour Market Information on Nov. 24 to share, discuss and acknowledge the need for Indigenous Labour Market Information (LMI) in Canada.

File Photo.

Over 100 participants attended the event, including researchers, academics and Indigenous community members.

The project team was excited to gather and present feedback on a first-of-its-kind Indigenous labour market information system that tracks and documents Indigenous job postings across Canada.

Initial reaction to the LMI system included commentary on its usefulness, relevance and key opportunities for growth.

“I’m proud of the Fleming team that includes Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers for successfully hosting the first-ever Indigenous Labour Market Information Forum,” said Maureen Adamson, President, Fleming College. “The important outcomes from this event and the ongoing project will enhance access to job-related information for Indigenous workers, leading to increased participation in the labour market.”

President Adamson welcomed the participants and highlighted Fleming’s accomplishments to date, including:

• Signing the Colleges and Institutes Canada’s (CICan) Indigenous Education Protocol

• Developing a policy on Honouring the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

• Creating an Indigenous Education Council

• Offering Indigenous Perspectives Designation for many programs

Fleming will continue to share more details about this exciting project. For upcoming events and discussions, or opportunities for a demonstration contact Jason Dennison at Jason.Dennison@flemingcollege.ca.

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