Trent University Welcomes New Excalibur Varsity Rowing Head Coach

It is back to the old stomping grounds for Trent rowing alumna Ugette Vanderpost as she becomes the new Trent Excalibur varsity rowing head coach announced on Friday.

Vanderpost has also graduated from Queen’s and Royal Roads University after graduating from Trent. Photo Courtesy of Trent University.

Vanderpost had graduated from the university in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and English.

“We are excited to have Trent alumna, Ugette Vanderpost join the Excalibur team as the new head coach of our rowing program,” said Deborah Bright-Brundle, director of Trent Athletics and Recreation. “Joining Trent Athletics and the Peterborough Rowing Club, she will be a great mentor for our student-athletes and continue to advance for the sport of rowing for our community.”

Vanderpost was coach of the Peterborough Rowing Club and Trent Excalibur rowing program from 1998-2000. She remained involved with the Peterborough rowing programs for several years and has seen the transformation and growth of rowing in the community.

She returns to Trent bringing more than 20 years of teaching and coaching experience to her new role.

“I feel very honoured and humbled to join the legacy of Trent rowing,” said Vanderpost. “It’s very exciting to join it at this time in its history as a program. I did this role 20 years ago and I’m excited to be a part of all that it is now.” 

Vanderpost is joining the School of Education as an instructor during the 2021/22 academic year and says she hopes to continue promoting a welcoming and inclusive environment for student-athletes of all levels.

“For student-athletes who are trying the sport for the first time or they’re returning to rowing after being away from it for such a long time and waiting for it to come back, it’s a very social and collaborative sport,” she explained. “I’m really looking forward to creating an opportunity for them to return and have them excited.”

With Vanderpost being in the position before, her knowledge and understanding of what Trent and surrounding area has to provide for the student-athletes and community members according to the press rlease.

She wants to bring people back to sport, whether they are just beginner or experienced rowers.

“The thing about sport is that it can be really unifying and energizing, when there’s been a lot of uncertainty about going back to school, it’s nice to marry sport and school back together in a somewhat normal way.”

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Bridges Peterborough and Fleming Host Bridges Out of Poverty Workshop

Bridges Peterborough and Fleming's School of Community Development is hosting a two-day online workshop for those that work with people living in poverty on Sept. 25 and 26.

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

“Bridges Out of Poverty” is specifically designed for social, community, health and legal professionals whose daily work connects them with the lives of people in poverty.

The program is lead by Lynn Smith-Reeve, a certified “Bridges out of Poverty” trainer with over 20 years of lived experience of poverty and will cover topics like poverty, economic class and community sustainability.

This workshop is being hosted online from 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The registration fee is $50. and closes on Tuesday.

Once registered participants will be notified of the pickup location of the workbook.

To register, click here.

For more information click here or email support@bridgespeterborough.ca

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Trent University Receives More than $125,000 in Federal Funding to Support Work-Integrated Learning for Students

Trent University students will gain hands-on career experience through new work-integrated learning (WIL) courses, boosted by more than $125,000 in federal funding announced on Monday.

Photo Courtesy of Trent University.

“These work-integrated learning initiatives are indicative of Trent University’s commitment to creating unique experiential learning opportunities that ensure our students are equipped with the skills required for today's changing workplace,” said Dr. Michael Khan, Trent provost and vice-president Academic. “These funds continue to support Trent in delivering the guaranteed experiential learning opportunities that help our graduates launch their careers.”

The funding is provided through the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative (IWIL) and Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada’s Innovation Hub (iHub).

This will provide enhanced work-integrated learning experiences to more than 200 students across at least six disciplines.

The goal of the funding is to remove barriers and increase access to innovative WIL experiences, with a focus on leveraging technology to enhance students’ experiences.

The two WIL initiatives include an Applied Research Bootcamp and a Crime Scene Challenge.

The Applied Research Bootcamp will equip students with community-based research skills including ethical research, community communication and interaction and communicating academic research within a community setting.

The Crime Scene Challenge invites forensic students at Trent in conjunction with Peterborough Police, OPP and RCMP investigators, to learn and practice fingerprinting techniques and documentation. The investigators will provide real-world challenges that students will experiment on to help solve.

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Trent University Aims to Make Everyone a Winner With Bingo Scavenger Hunt

Trent University students will get to experience Peterborough with Discover Peterborough Bingo, an interactive scavenger hunt hosted by the University, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism (PKT) announced Wednesday.

Photo Courtesy of Trent University.

From Sept. 7 and Oct. 22, Trent Students are encouraged to visit various locations around downtown Peterborough to complete a range of fun activities in an effort to complete two rows on their bingo card.

Once two rows are completed, students will be entered in a draw to win one of ten prize packs which include a $200 Downtown Boro gift card as well as prizes from the University, PKT and local businesses.

“Trent University is an integral part of the Peterborough community, and this partnership exemplifies our commitment to supporting local,” said Ruth-Ann Dafoe, Trent Community Relations manager. “We are excited for our returning students to explore and support the many great businesses and restaurants in downtown Peterborough through this initiative and contribute to the region’s prosperity.” 

“Trent students have always been fond of our downtown and its unique stores, services, culture and entertainment and we are certainly most appreciative of the life and vibrancy that they bring to us,” noted Terry Guiel, DBIA executive director. “Through this partnership, we want to welcome students to our community in a fun and engaging way while also acquainting them with our downtown businesses.” 

The goal of the Discover Peterborough Bingo initiative is for students to explore Peterborough, uncover new favourite shopping and leisure destinations and to support local businesses who have been impacted negatively by the effects of COVID-19 according to the press release. 

“There is so much for students to discover in Peterborough & the Kawarthas,” said Tracie Bertrand, PKT director of tourism. “Students and graduates become some of our greatest local ambassadors. We are excited to welcome these community members back and look forward to them exploring and enjoying this beautiful destination.”

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Local Schools Receive Over $15 Million For Student, Family and Staff Safety

Two local school boards have received $15,489,750 by the Ontario Government to increase safety for students, school and staff in a media conference held on Thursday.

MPP Dave Smith (right) address the media with board officials from the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

The funds as part of the school boards’ cumulative funding Will go towards projects designed to improve ventilation, air quality, Internet connectivity, hands-free water bottle stations and other public health infrastructure for the upcoming school year.

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) is receiving $11,884,400 while the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) is getting $3,605,350.

The media conference was held at Chemong Public School in Bridgenorth and was held by KPRDSB board officials and MPP Dave Smith.

”Our educators and staff, school board leader ship and families have made tremendous strides to keep our school safe from COVID-19, while continuing to deliver world-class education despite the pivots we have had to make,“ said Smith. “This $15 million has supported projects to install touchless features, Wi-Fi/Internet connectivity, HEPA filter unit, state-of-the-art HVAC systems and upgrades to plumbing fixtures to support a safe return to school in September. Critical infrastructure upgrades will add another layer of protection as we enter this new school year.”

Diane Lloyd (pictured) addressing the media in a Grade 2 classroom at Chemong Public School. The Ontario Government is providing $1.6 billion in resources dedicated to protecting schools against COVID-19. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

“Student and staff well-being is a highest priority and improving ventilation and filtration in classrooms and learning environment supports healthy and safe learning environment for all,” said Diane Lloyd, board chairperson.

The province is making over $1.6 billion in resources to school boards in Ontario for the upcoming year to keep kids as safe as possible according to Smith.

This funding will add support for student mental health, additional staff, school nurses, asymptomatic testing, remote learning technology and supporting health and safety measures in student transportation.

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Trent University Announces Vaccine Mandate

Trent University has announced that as of September 7 anyone on campus must provide proof of both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Photo courtesy of Trent University

Anyone who does not have two vaccinations will have to complete COVID testing before coming on campus. Exemptions will be allowed on medical or other protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

To encourage student participation in this initiative, the names of all students who submit proof of their two vaccinations by September 7 will be included in a draw which will provide the winning student with free tuition for the fall semester.

In addition to requiring proof of vaccine Trent will be enforcing the mandatory use of face masks in indoor settings, health screening, enhanced ventilation and air filtration, robust cleaning and sanitization, on-campus testing, and wastewater surveillance. The University is also partnering with Public Health to host on-campus pop-up vaccine clinics for staff, faculty and students.

For more on Trent’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic click here.

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