Registration Open For 2022 Hike For Hospice
/Registration is now open for the 20th annual Hike for Hospice event, taking place from September 10 - 16.
File Photo.
Peterborough Blogs
Remembering Peterborough's Gary Dalliday With Caring For Our Communities Golf Tournament
/Community Care will host the Gary Dalliday Memorial Caring For Our Communities Golf Tournament on August 15 at The Quarry Golf Course in Ennismore.
Photo courtesy of The Quarry Golf Club.
Dalliday, who was affectionately known as ‘The Diller’, played for the Petes in the 1960-61 season. In 1976, he began an over 30 year career delivering sportscasts on CHEX-TV, retiring in 2009.
He focused on local sports, and had been a champion of the Peterborough and area sport scene for decades. Dalliday is a member of the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame and Peterborough Pathway of Fame.
Among his many charitable efforts in the Peterborough area, Dalliday served as a volunteer with Community Care Peterborough delivering Meals on Wheels to seniors and adults with disabilities.
“Our family is proud and thankful of this opportunity,” said Pete, on behalf of the Dalliday Family. “My dad would be very pleased with proceeds of this event helping Community Care.”
This fundraising event has a BBQ lunch available from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m., putting dinner around 5:30 p.m. depending on the pace of play. Cost is $175 per player.
The proceeds of the event will support the Meals on Wheels program in Peterborough, Selwyn Township (Ennismore and Bridgenorth) and Buckhorn areas.
“The demand for this program is growing in these areas and throughout Peterborough County, so this fundraising event in Gary’s memory is so appreciated and attached to a program that he believed in too,” said Alicia Vandine, Donor Relations and Communication Lead at Community Care Peterborough.
Last year, Community Care Peterborough delivered 45,186 meals and 4,952 grocery orders within their Meals on Wheels program.
To participate or for more information about this event contact Alicia at Community Care Peterborough (705)775-3083, ext. 224 or visit https://www.commcareptbo.org/GaryDallidayMemorialGolf.
United Way For City Of Kawartha Lakes Opens The Edwin Binney Community Garden Farm Stand To Combat Food Insecurity
/United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes will be offering fresh produce from Edwin Binney’s Community Garden every Tuesday, beginning on July 26, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. or as long as stock lasts.
Photo courtesy of United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Produce will be sold using a variable pricing model allowing shoppers to pay below market, at market, or above market values depending on their budget.
With rising rates of inflation affecting the majority of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton residents, United Way CKLH strives to offer affordable solutions that also help their projects grow to serve greater numbers of people in the community. Community members that are able to pay more will help to offset the cost for those that cannot afford market price.
Since the gardens inception four years ago, United Way CKL has donated nearly 35,000 lbs of produce to local organizations and food banks. All proceeds from the farm stand will be put back into the ongoing development and maintenance of the United Way CKL community farm.
For the time being, the Farm Stand will only be able to accept cash payment.
Weekly offerings will be posted on social media channels in advance of each week’s Tuesday market.
The Edwin Binney Community Garden Farm Stand is located at 50 Mary Street location in Lindsay.
Local Candy Shop is Donated Mall Storefront To Help Cancer Fundraiser
/A sweet deal for Lisa Couture and her candygram store ‘Couture Candy PTBO’ as they were donated storefront space in Lansdowne Place to aid in their ‘Cancer Care is Sweet’ fundraiser announced Thursday.
Photo by Luke Best.
The new storefront is located in Lansdowne Place between Journeys and Claire’s at the bottom of the escalator. Couture Candy PTBO is occupying the space until the end of the year.
The mall contacted Couture via e-mail about being given the storefront space which came as an unexpected yet pleasant surprise. The mall recognized the candygram store’s community efforts which resulted in the offer Couture could not refuse.
“They were figuring out how to work with us and admired our business because it’s so community-driven,” explained Couture. “It’s expensive to be in the mall and he thought our campaign was a perfect opportunity and they have an empty space.”
The fundraising proceeds go towards the Peterborough Regional Health Center Foundation for cancer care with a goal of $10,000. The campaign started on June 21 and runs until Oct. 3. However, if the campaign is running strong and donations continue near the end date, it will continue according to Couture.
“$10,000 is a lot for a small business so every little bit helps,” said Couture.
The new Lansdowne location will require more staff as Couture is hiring. Photo courtesy of Lisa Couture.
The shop is selling select bags of candy where $1 of each product sold goes towards the foundations. Several charity candy bags feature freeze-dried brand candy and assorted mixes.
Donations can also be made at the store or online.
Their downtown location will remain in its original location with no plans to move said Couture. No dates have been announced for its grand opening but will have the same operating hours as the mall.
Small Town Boys Putting Havelock On The Map As Softball Team Selected To Represent Ontario At Eastern Canadian Championships In Nova Scotia
/The Havelock Express U15 Rep Softball team has been selected by the Ontario Amateur Softball Association (OASA) to represent Ontario at the Eastern Canadian Championships being held in Brookfield, Nova Scotia.
Front Row: Braydon Cooper, Dennis Roberts, Austin Levesque, Gage Locke Back Row: Coach Dave Cooper, Coach Bryce Levesque, Jori Ayrhart, Raine Ayrhart, Josh Davis, Kaleb MacDonald, Wes Menard, Nolan Mahoney, Jack Burns, Holden Rutherford, Coach Mike Menard. Photo courtesy of Havelock Express Minor Softball Association.
Cheryl and Bryce Levesque started the Havelock Minor Softball Program eight years ago in hopes to help youth develop their skills while allowing them to play locally.
The U15 Rep team plays in the Kawartha Softball League, though they play exhibition games with stronger teams in the OASA from neighboring communities.
Last weekend the team competed in the OASA Eliminations in Grafton, a tournament that seeds teams into their brackets for provincials.
Havelock Express was ranked number one in the B bracket.
On Sunday, Bryce, who helps coach the team, received an unexpected phone call inviting the team to represent Ontario at the Eastern Canadian Championships in Nova Scotia.
“OASA called my husband and told him the news,” said Cheryl. “We didn’t have a game until Tuesday so that’s when we told the parents and kids. They were shocked.”
Cheryl says the majority of the team has been playing ball together since the program started.
“They’ve grown up playing ball together.”
The team was given until Wednesday at noon to accept the invitation and now have about one month to raise the funds to get the boys to Nova Scotia.
They hope to raise $10,000 - $12,000, which will be split evenly amongst players families to cover some of the cost of travel and accommodations.
Cheryl says as of Friday she already has $600 in donations in her hand, with plenty of local business owners having pledged to sponsor the team as well.
“Our community is absolutely unbelievable,” she said. “Even before this happened local businesses have always been so eager to help. We got new jerseys this year and were hoping to have a couple teams sponsored, they stepped right up and sponsored all six teams. We were able to get some new equipment, some bats, it’s really amazing.”
As a team made up of local boys in a town of just under 5000 people, Cheryl says this opportunity is a huge deal.
“We are a small little town known for our jamboree and a train station. This is so overwhelming we’re still trying to process it,” she said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for this team and a chance to not only represent Ontario but also our town.”
The four day tournament will run from Aug. 18 - 21. In the past OASA has sent 2-3 teams to represent Ontario against teams from Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Quebec.
“We hope to go down there and be competitive. If we do well that’s a bonus.”
Those wishing to make a donation can E-Transfer Erin King, Havelock Minor Softball Program Fundraiser Coordinator at erin_king@kprdsb.ca. Tax receipts can be issued if mentioned in a note.
Businesses that would like to donate or sponsor the team should reach out to Cheryl Levesque at 705-750-5205 or at m_r_jewel@hotmail.com.
Local Beer Stores Collecting Empties For PRHC Foundation
/Beer Store locations in Peterborough will be giving customers the option to donate their empty returns to support the PRHC Foundation until Aug. 28.
File Photo.
Donations made at Peterborough and area The Beer Store locations below will help fund the equipment and technology the healthcare workers at Peterborough Regional Health Centre use to provide patient care.
Last year The Beer Store supported over 100 local hospitals and foodbanks and raised $258,843.
Participating locations include:
• Store 4701 – 570 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough, K9J 6Z8
• Store 4702 – 139 George St. N., Peterborough, K9J 3G6
• Store 4703 – 1154 Chemong Rd., Peterborough, K9H 7J6
• Store 4705 – 882 Ward St., Bridgenorth, K0L 1H0
• Store 4709 – 102 Queen St., Lakefield, K0L 2H0
• Store 4710 – 1900 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough, K9J 3K7
Customers are also invited to make monetary donations at the till, without returning empties.
Tim Hortons Camp Day Sending Local Kids To Camp
/Camp Day at Time Hortons is taking place on Wednesday. When a coffee is purchased at Tim Hortons proceeds will go towards sending a local child to camp.
File Photo.
On Wednesday, only proceeds from hot or iced coffee will go towards Camp Day fundraising.
Other ways to contribute include purchasing a camp bracelet, camp socks, rounding up the total cost of an order or making a donation.
The intention is to send children to summer camp that may otherwise not have the means to.
Since Camp Day began, Tim Hortons has sent over 300,000 kids to camp.
According to their website, kids attending camp not only have fun, they develop important life skills, build positive relationships an interpersonal skills.
Dirt Bike Community Rallies Around Local Family After 8-Year-Old Boy Airlifted To Sick Kids
/Nixon Parsons, 8, of Peterborough suffered a bad dirt bike accident at Burnt River Off Road Facility on Saturday.
Community, friends and family are rallying around the Parsons family to see them through this trying time.
According to Kieran Gillooly, family friend and member at Burnt River, Parsons, his brother and dad are regular riders and Burnt River members. His mom and baby sister can often be found cheering on the sidelines.
On Saturday, Parsons was air lifted to sick kids in critical condition, where he has had multiple CT scans and MRI’s. His neurology team is focusing on his brain.
Parsons suffered small contusions on his brain, some swelling and bruising. On Sunday hospital staff started to bring him off his medication. Gillooly says he is moving all limbs, ‘but only flickers in his left hand’.
Doctors and nurses are monitoring brain activity for brain seizures.
He has also suffered a broken nasal cavity, broken orbital bones and has lost many of his teeth.
As of Monday, Parsons has undergone surgery to close gashes around his mouth. That surgery will be followed by stitching in his mouth to help close a hole in his pallet and to try and reattach pieces of his gum. He will also need to undergo facial bone surgery.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Parsons mother let friends and family know that surgery went well.
According to Gillooly, Parsons is still using a breathing tube and is responding to his parents touches with small movements of his body.
“Our entire dirt bike community is feeling the heart ache for Nixon and his family,” said Gillooly in a social media post. “It is a parents worst nightmare come true.”
Parsons’ parents, Jake and Bennica, are by his side constantly, though the hospital only allows one parent from 9 p.m. - 6 a.m. Bennica and Parsons’ 5-month-old sister have been staying in a hotel.
To help lessen the financial strain, Gillooley asks those that are willing and able to send e-transfers directly to Parsons’ mom at bennicabrown@outlook.com. Funds will be automatically deposited and used for hotels, food and to keep up with bills at home.
“Nixon is only eight years old and is battling the biggest race right now and needs everyone’s prayers and to cheer him on,” wrote Gillooly. “He is the toughest kid I have ever met, and his continued forward progress shows just how much of a fighter he is.”
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Canada's Dinosaur Park Creates GoFundMe For New Habitat Building After Alleged Contractor Issues
/Non-profit reptile zoo Canada’s Dinosaur Park has set up a GoFundMe for their new habitat building on Wednesday after its contractor Total Construction Management Services Inc. (TCM) allegedly abandoned the construction.
File photo.
The fundraiser is set for $200,000 to complete the new building, cover legal costs to file a lawsuit against TCM and pay the sub-contractors and workers according to the GoFundMe page.
Sharper Construction LTD, Steel Con Contracting, Peterborough Crane Rentals and Zenner Concrete Pumping were the supposed unpaid subcontractors.
TCM was hired in September last year to complete the building for the next month and was given $300,000 as stated by the Dinosaur Park staff.
The park claims TCM abandoned construction in December and never returned to the job site since. The contracting company embezzled the money without paying workers and disappeared according to park director Byr Loyst.
“It’s sad that someone would do that to the animals and to a charity, he said. “I can’t believe someone is that awful a person.”
TCM owner James Gillingham has been contacted several times and by PTBOCanada by the park but did not respond. The director claims that TCM’s lawyer said the park would be reimbursed by Gillingham but was delayed by several months.
According to Loyst, he received a phone call from the TCM’s lawyer on Wednesday and the latter allegedly was lied to by Gillingham and did not have his retainer paid. The call left the park to create the GoFundMe.
If the fundraiser’s goal has been achieved, the park’s intention to take legal action would be in question. The decision would be decided by their board of directors said Loyst. He claims that the law firm he spoke with requires roughly $50,000 to pursue legal action.
Ultimately, the park’s director just wants the building finished for the reptiles and the workers to be properly compensated for their work. The incomplete building prevents admission income to maintain the park to be open to the public.
“I’m more concerned about the animals than anything else,” said Loyst. “The tortoises are stuck inside, not able to go in and out as they please and we have not been able to open.”
Donations for the GoFundMe or CanadaHelps for Canada’s Dinosaur Park can be made online.
Community Rallies Around Kit Coffee After Trying Two Years
/Kit Coffee, a locally owned coffee shop on Hunter Street, is reaching out to the community with a GoFundMe in hopes to keep the café open.
Kit Coffee is located at 144 Hunter Street. Photo by Luke Best.
Helen McCarthy started Kit Coffee in 2018 with a business partner. Initially, they operated out of the Peterborough Regional Farmers Market, and did pop-up shops at Hello Baby on Charlotte Street.
As the business grew the two were faced with the decision of opening a brick and mortar shop. After contemplating, it was decided that McCarthy would carry on with Kit Coffee alone, and she opened up shop on Hunter Street in July 2019.
“This had been something I wanted to do since I was 15,” said McCarthy. “This spot came available and it was already a coffee shop so it really was serendipitous that it was available then and I dove in.”
Since opening, Kit Coffee has faced many hurdles, while still providing downtown Peterborough with fresh coffee and handmade, baked goods.
In January 2020 McCarthy broke her ankle, which prohibited them from working in the shop, meaning she had to pay more employees.
Shortly after that the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Kit Coffee and the local business world took a great hit.
In July 2020 McCarthy broke both of her ankles, sidelining them from her own business yet again.
“It’s a combination of COVID and the fact that I was off work for the better part of two years. 2020 was a terrible year.”
@ptbo_canada hanging out at the lovely @KitCoffeePtbo today! Check out the gofundme in the comments to help the coffee shop with 🤌🏻 vibes out #localbusiness #CoffeeShop #LocalCafe #GoFundMe ♬ As It Was - Harry Styles
