Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre Hosts Truth and Reconciliation Day Sacred Fire

The Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre (NFC) invited the community to join them in a sacred fire and book reading to honour National Truth and Reconciliation Day on Thursday.

The Lovesick Lake Native Women’s Association offers and Aboriginal Prenatal Nutrition Program, a Program for Children, and Long Term Care. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

This marked the first official National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

In association with Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle and Lovesick Lake Native Women's Association, Phyllis Webstad’s book ‘Orange Shirt Day’ was read around a sacred fire in the NFC wigwam while individuals made tobacco offerings.

“This isn’t a holiday. It’s a day of remembrance and a day of learning,” said Rebekah Rego, NFC Community Wellness Worker. “Learn about not just the past but about the 94 Calls to Action, understanding what that means, then move forward with that knowledge and use it every day.”

The Calls To Action were released in 2015 by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). They are meant to address the ongoing impact of residential schools on survivors and their families and to advance the process of reconciliation in Canada.

As of Sept. 30, 2021, only 14 of the 94 Calls to Action have been completed.

“That just shows you how long this will take,” said Kim Lamothe, NFC Cultural Resource Coordinator. “Reconciliation is a work in progress and it might take years.”

Lamothe says that Truth and Reconciliation Day is about getting people to educate themselves on the history of Canada and Indigenous people.

“We need to work together because we walk this path together and we live on this earth together,” said Lamothe. ”Elders and survivors and families are telling those stories and we need to listen, and know that they’re telling the truth.”

Visitors were invited to write on canvas leaves and add them to the canvas. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

At the Truth and Reconciliation Day event at NFC visitors were invited to sign a canvas in commemoration of Indigenous relatives or community members.

The canvas will also be presented at the NFC on Oct. 4, the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

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Community Care Kicks Off October with Annual Kms for Care Fundraiser

October is Community Support Month and Community Care Peterborough is launching their annual month-long fundraising event, ‘Kms for Care’.

Staff at Community Care Peterborough celebrating pride week in September. Photo courtesy of Community Care Peterborough

In the past, ‘Kms for Care’ was a formalized run, but due to COVID-19, it has become a way for participants to raise money and be active on their own time.

“Just like last year, we are asking participants to do any activity that they love to do, sometime in the month of October and inspire their friends to donate in support of their challenge or get involved too,” said Alicia Vandine, Donor Relations and Communications Lead.

Participants must pay a registration fee of $30 and are invited to gather pledges to contribute to the fundraiser. They can do an activity on their own or they can create a team.

Community Care will provide each participant with a $20 tax receipt and a Community Care toque so that they can show the community their support.

“You can walk, jog, exercise, bike, golf, yoga, or whatever activity you love to do,” said Vandine. “You can choose a day, do it for a week or do a challenge throughout the month. I am personally doing a walking challenge. We also know a group that is organizing a golf day and clocking some kilometres for us playing golf. The challenge can be anything in support of Community Care.”

Pledges can be gathered using paper pledge forms or by setting up a fundraising page online using Community Care’s secure Canada Helps account.

Creating a fundraising page will allow teams to send a link via email or through social media. Donations received online can be directed to the community of the participants choosing.

Last year Community Care Peterborough served over 6,700 individuals, delivered over 43,000 meals and employed 45 community members.

For more information or to register for ‘Kms for Care’, visit commcareptbo.org or email - kmsforcare@commcareptbo.org.

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Virtual Homecoming and Head of the Trent Rowing Regatta Return

Trent University’s annual Homecoming will be virtual for the second year in a row, with the annual Head of the Trent Rowing Regatta being open to athletes and coaches only.

File photo.

‘Homecoming from Home’ will include virtual coffee houses, a virtual scavenger hunt and live streams of varsity games from Monday - Friday.

“While we are delighted to have our Trent University students back on campus for in-person learning, health and safety remains of paramount importance,” said Julie Davis, vice-president of External Relations & Development, Trent University. “We are looking forward to connecting with alumni virtually for Homecoming celebrations and to cheering on our Trent Excalibur student-athletes safely from home.”

To view the full virtual homecoming schedule click here.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Head of the Trent Regatta, due to last years event being cancelled.

The Head of the Trent Regatta, hosted by the Peterborough Rowing Club, will be open to athletes and coaches only.

The regatta beer garden will not take place and no social events will be held on campus or at the Rowing Club.

Visit the Regatta Central website for full details.

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Peterborough Gets First-Ever Month-Long Mac and Cheese Festival

A childhood favourite meal is turning into a celebration as Peterborough is getting their first Mac and Cheese Festival announced on Tuesday.

Judges from the Pasta Shop, the Food Shop and the Toy Shop with participants in Tuesdays competition from the Peterborough Petes, Kawartha Food Share and Trent University. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

Starting on Oct. 1, the self-guided festival will invite participants to dine in or order take-out from 18 local restaurants.

During the festival, restaurants will be competing for local votes to become the ‘Mac + Cheese Champion.’ Participants can vote online for their favourite mac and cheese dishes until Oct. 30.

The winning restaurant will receive bragging rights for the year, a cheesy hand-crafted trophy and a donation to Kawartha Food Share in the victor’s name.

“Yes, it’s a competition and of course some folks are in it for the glory- but for the most part, our 18 restaurant partners are just happy to help bring a little comfort back into the community,” said Hillary Flood Communications Manager, Peterborough DBIA. “I don’t think it gets any more comforting than mac and cheese.”

Leo Grourke, Trent University President, Sarah Khaki and Michael Khan, vice-president academic at Trent with their mac and cheese at the Silver Bean Cafe. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

The official launch party at the Silver Bean Café had three local organizations participate in a cook-off to give a sample of what people can expect in October.

The Peterborough Petes, Trent University and Kawartha Food Share each brought a crock-pot of the famed comfort food and were judged by local shop owners.

Kawartha Food Share placed first with their student-inspired mac and cheese with ingredients one might find in a student’s pantry.

In addition to serving mac and cheese, each restaurant location will host a month-long food drive in support of Kawartha Food Share. Festival goers are encouraged to bring their non-perishables downtown this October when visiting any mac and cheese restaurant location.

“We are so excited to partner with the DBIA and partake in the 2021 Mac and Cheese Festival. It’s been a very tough year for our food banks. We’re so thrilled to see so many local restaurants collecting food donations to help us restock the shelves at our 37 member agencies before the busy holiday season,” said Ashlee Aitken, Kawartha Food Share General Manager.

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Book Launch About Basic Income Comes to Local Café

The Basic Income Peterborough Network, KPR Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and Nourish hosted a launch for “The Case for Basic Income – Freedom, Security, Justice” by Elaine Power and Jamie Swift at The Silver Bean Café, on Wednesday.

Elaine Powers and Jamie Swift sign books on Wednesday. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

Swift, a journalist from Kingston, began exploring the idea of a basic income in 2013 while working with the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, a social activism group of Catholic Nuns.

The duo met when Swift moved to Kingston and began teaching at Queen’s University.

Under the leadership of former Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne, Hamilton and Lindsay were both selected as trial sites for the Ontario Basic Income Pilot in 2017.

This program saw 4,000 low-income earners receive $17,000 if they were single and $24,000 if coupled and included a $6,000 top-up for disabled people.

For people working low-wage jobs while participating, their basic income was reduced by 50 cents for every dollar they earned until they hit a cap of $34,000 for singles and about $48,000 for couples.

This pilot program ended a few months after it started when Doug Ford was voted premier.

Swift and Power began interviewing individuals that participated in the pilot program in 2018 and released the book in May 2021.

“I hope that anyone that reads this learns that Canada’s social assistance system is broken and corrupted and cruel. We live in a country that has more than enough to provide everybody with enough,” said Swift. “Basic livable income is one tool to address Canada - one of the richest countries in the world, that has millions of people living in poverty - basic livable income is one way to address Canada’s gnawing and grinding issue.”

Peterborough’s jazz trio, Chester Babcock perform at the Silver Bean on Wednesday. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

“My ultimate hope is that Canada has a basic income for anyone who needs it,” said Power. “I hope that in 50 years we can’t imagine that we ever lived without it. It seems like such a no brainer for me”

At Wednesday’s event, Swift and Power participated in a question-and-answer period and were joined by Peterborough’s jazz trio, Chester Babcock.

For more information about A Case for Basic Income, Freedom, Security, Justice or to buy the book, click here.

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Country Rock Band Blue Rodeo Makes Return to Peterborough Memorial Centre

Canadian country rock band Blue Rodeo is returning to the stage at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) for a concert for Dec. 27 announced on Monday.

The show date is exactly two years since their last performance at the PMC. Image courtesy of Peterborough Memorial Centre.

In 2019 before they walked off the stage after performing in front of a near-capacity crowd for more than two hours, Greg Keelor, singer of Blue Rodeo, announced to the fans, “We’ll see you next year Peterborough.”

“This annual holiday Blue Rodeo show has become a highlight in our event calendar, for obvious reasons we weren’t able to do the show last year but we are so excited to be in a position to be welcoming the guys back for another unforgettable December night in 2021,” said Jeremy Giles, PMC Facility Manager.

Since forming 30 years ago, Blue Rodeo has sold over 4 million albums, won countless Juno awards, been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, been named to the Order of Canada and have been honoured with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.

"Blue Rodeo is truly one of Canada's great treasures, our community has formed such a special bond with this band, Blue Rodeo’s sound and energy is like a warm familiar blanket that can keep us all warm and comfortable on a cold December night after a hard couple of years,” said Giles. “This will be our third time having Jim Cuddy at the venue in the last 15 months and he just continues to amaze us with his talent and storytelling, we encourage fans to buy their tickets early. This is one show you will not want to miss.”

Tickets are on sale Friday in person at the Grant Thornton Box Office inside the PMC, by phone at 705-743-3561 and online at www.memorialcentre.ca. The exclusive pre-sale for PMC Scoop members happens Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

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World Suicide Prevention Day Creates Hope Through Action

The Canadian Mental Health Association of Haliburton, Kawartha and Pine Ridge (CMHAHKPR) and The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention is hosting an online vigil to honour World Suicide Prevention Day on Friday.

(left to right) Janet McCue, her great-niece Maddy, Kelly Curtis, Deb Sandeman and Maryam Monsef (Peterborough-Kawartha MP) at The Silver Bean Café on Thursday. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

The theme of this year’s service is creating hope through action.

CMHAHKPR promoted the event at The Silver Bean Café on Thursday.

Curve Lake resident Janet McCue performed a welcoming song called ‘All Directions’ and was joined by her great-niece Maddy.

McCue performs a welcoming song at The Silver Bean Café on Thursday with her great niece Maddy. Photo courtesy of Angela O’Grady.

CMHAHKPR hopes that World Suicide Prevention Day will lessen the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health and encourage people to seek help if they need it.

“Ideally we want to reduce the number of suicides and reduce the stigma around suicides,” said Deb Sandeman, Suicide Prevention Program CMHAHKPR member. “We hope that people realize there is support out there, there is specific programs aimed at improving mental health and reducing suicides.”

CMHAHKPR member Kelly Curtis says World Suicide Prevention Day is aimed at getting people more comfortable with talking about suicide.

“Being there for people and being able to say ‘are you ok’ is so important,” said Curtis. “Understanding how to reach resources is something we really want to promote.”

In lieu of an in-person candlelit vigil, this year’s participants are invited to light a candle in their window at 8:00 p.m. on Friday.

To register for the online vigil, click here.

For more information on mental health resources in Peterborough and the surrounding area, click here.

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Monarch Ultra Relay Run Inspires Pollinator Protection and Raises Funds for Camp Kawartha

The Monarch Ultra Relay Run kicks off on a 21-day running adventure, raising awareness and funds in support of monarch butterflies and Camp Kawartha in Peterborough on Sept. 19.

Carlotta James and Clay Williams running in Mexico during the 2019 Monarch Ultra Relay Run. Photo Courtesy of Rodney Fuentes.

A launch party is planned in Peterborough at 8:00 a.m. at the DePave Paradise garden, located at the southern end of Water Street. The public is encouraged to join for the send-off celebration which includes a monarch butterfly release, milkweed seed giveaway and an opportunity to meet the Monarch Ultra Team.

The relay run, originally planned to follow the monarch migration from Canada to Mexico as it did in 2019, has been shortened to a 1,800-kilometer run across southern Ontario with COVID-19 protocols in place to keep participants and supporters safe.

From Peterborough, the runners head southwest to Toronto, Burlington, Hamilton, St. Catherine's and Niagara Falls, before looping back around towards London, Cambridge and Kitchener. It will end in Barrie on Oct. 9. Each morning, two ultra runners will begin a 50-kilometer leg at 8:00 a.m. and finish around 2:00 p.m., depending on their pace. Another two runners will pick up exactly where the first two left off and run a 30-kilometre leg.

“Not only will this be one of Canada's longest relay runs, it will also be an opportunity to connect communities across Ontario on an inspiring journey of hope and resilience that combines ultra-running and environmental conservation,” said Carlotta James, project co-founder.

The team hopes to meet many Canadians who are also passionate about protecting the earth along the route and already have several popups planned to highlight communities involved in conservation actions such as native plant habitats and nectar gardens for pollinators.

This year’s run is raising funds for Camp Kawartha, a non-profit organization that offers nature education programming for youth. Almost $5,000 has been raised for the camp through the Monarch Ultra’s fundraising campaign with a goal of reaching $10,000.

The Monarch Ultra team invites people to come out and cheer on the runners along the way, as well as to dress up in costumes and make signs for the runners who are running extremely long distances in support of monarch butterflies. The relay run takes place along the Trans Canada Trail and Waterfront Trail. The full route can be viewed here.

The team will also be sharing stories on their 21-day journey through their social media sites, follow the Monarch Ultra on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or visit their website to learn more.

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Experience Lang Pioneer Village Museum By Lantern Light this September

Lang Pioneer Village Museum has announced its fall event schedule, the first event this season is Village by Lantern Light taking place September 17 and 18.

A GUIDED TOUR OF THE MUSEUM THAT COMPLIED WITH THE COVID-19 PROTOCOLS IN 2020. PHOTO COURTESY OF LANG PIONEER VILLAGE.

From 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm each evening, visitors are invited to enjoy the historic village by the soft glow of lantern light.

This event will provide visitors a different twilight-to-nightfall perspective of the historic village. Guests will learn how pioneer families spent their time after dark, exploring themes from entertainment to education to preparing for bed.

Visitors are invited to discover how the Tinsmith influenced nighttime preparations, see demonstrations of various traditional crafts and trades and listen to traditional Indigenous stories told by the fire and learn about stargazing and find out what the moon and stars tell us about harvest time with the Dortwood Observatory.

Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance on the Museum’s online Museum Shop.

Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60+), $7 for youths 5-14 years of age and children under 5 years of age are free. Family admission is also available for $40 and includes 2 adults and up to four youths ages 5-14.

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Canadian Mental Health Association Hosts Vigil and Resource Sessions to Honour World Suicide Prevention Day

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) is hosting a candle light vigil and community resource sessions to mark World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. Events will be hosted in both Peterborough and Lindsay.

Photo courtesy of CMHA HKPR.

Approximately 4,000 Canadians die by suicide each year and it is the second-most common cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24.

The vigil is a memorial to those who have lost their lives to suicide and offers support to the loved ones of those who have died by suicide. World Suicide Prevention Day raises awareness about suicide, mental health concerns and suicide prevention.

“We want people who have been impacted by suicide or are struggling with thoughts of suicide to know that there is help available, all you need to do is to ask. Everyone is invited to turn out on September 9 and 10,” said Jack Veitch, Manager of Community Engagement and Education with CMHA HKPR.

The event on September 9 will be held at the Silver Bean Café in Peterborough. Community resources will be available from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

On September 10 the event will be held at Labrynth Garden in Lindsay. Community resources are available from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m, the vigil will begin at 7:30 p.m.

For more information on the Peterborough event contact Kelley Curtis at 705-748- 6687 extension 1016 or email kcurtis@cmhahkpr.ca.

For more information on the Lindsay event contact Jack Veitch at 705-748-6687 extension 1015 or email jveitch@cmhahkpr.ca.

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