Junior Achievement Receives $172,500 As Skills Development Fund From the Provincial Government

The Ontario government has invested $172,500.00 in Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA NEO) to help students engage with information and pilot programs to cultivate interest and education in skilled trades at the Peterborough Truss & Floor on Thursday morning.

Youth under the JA Neo program developed their own business ‘Fresh Picked Feats’ that sells locally-grown vegetables and had their products showcased during the press conference. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The money helps JA NEO educate and help students understand the importance of skilled trades. Kids will work with community and business leaders to help youth understand and activate their potential for the jobs of tomorrow by extending their programs and focus on skilled trades for full-time students.

“There was always going to be a demand for somebody in skilled trades. It doesn't matter what the economy is doing, we need plumbers, we need electricians, we need carpenters because these are all things we use on a daily basis” explained Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “It not only provides a job but a career path for your entire life.”

“Explore other opportunities that are out there. Not all trades jobs are dirty,” said John McNutt, JA Neo president and CEO. “It's a different world out there and just ask them to take a look.”

The youth also will be involved in JA NEO’s World of Choices Program to be exposed to potential career paths, understanding day-to-day tasks in a variety of careers while learning about and challenging the myths surrounding them.

They can also learn how to organize and operate a business related to a very important sector of our economy.

“Having programs like this available to our youth will set them on a path to be able to prosper in the future,” said Smith. “Ontario’s skilled trades are vital to the growth of the economy and our government’s ‘Plan to Build’, offering careers that lead to secure jobs and a good quality life.”

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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.

Youth Commission meetings are open to the community and youth are encouraged to attend and share their ideas.

The Youth Commission is resuming its important community work following a pause due to the pandemic. The Commission is made up of non-profit service providers working to assist local youth along with interested community members and youth representatives.

“The City of Peterborough’s Youth Commission is gearing up to re-ignite our mutual goals of re-engaging youth for another exciting year. Our addictive use of electronic devices and social media plus the pandemic have affected how we interact with each other, especially for our youthful citizens,” said Councillor Lesley Parnell, chair of the Youth Commission. “The Youth Commission is a way for youth to engage with our community and for our community to engage with the youth who contribute so much to who we are as a City.”

The Peterborough Youth Commission was created following the 2000 municipal election. The Commission has been very successful over the years helping to make the community more youth friendly.

For further information please contact Ellen Stewart, City of Peterborough Youth Programmer by email or phone 705-927-7046.

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City of Peterborough to Host National Youth Week Events This May

The City of Peterborough will host a variety of events for National Youth Week from May 1 to 7, in partnership with community organizations. 

photo courtesy of the city of peterborough.

National Youth Week is a movement that celebrates youth and their active participation in their community. 

Free events for youth 10 to 19 years of age will be hosted at the Peterborough Museum and Archives, Peterborough Public Library, Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre and Downtown Youth Space. 

The exciting schedule is the result of collaboration with the New Canadian Centre, Artspace and City program areas. The Peterborough Youth Council played an important part organizing some of the events. 

“The pandemic and extensive use of electronics in our daily lives have had a dramatic impact on our face-to-face social interactions, physical activity, and mental health. Please join in all the fun that National Youth Week has to offer. Meet new friends, try new healthy activities, get involved in your community,” said Councillor Lesley Parnell, Chair of the City’s Youth Commission.

For further information, please email Ellen at estewart@peterborough.ca, or call/text 705-927-7046.

For the full list of events and details, visit the City’s website.

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Local 22-Year-Old Student Writes Memoir On Her Stroke and Recovery

After a stroke-like episode left Trent University student Jenna Dakin with no memory, she picked up the pieces of the last two decades through recovery and writing.

22-year-old masters student Jenna dakin. photo courtesy of jenna dakin.

In December 2021, Dakin suffered a neurological episode that most resembled a stroke. She became unresponsive and paralyzed on her left side.

“I had a lot of cognitive deficits from it, but one of the main things that I acquired was severe retrograde amnesia, so all my memories prior to my stroke are gone.”

Dakin says that writing her memoir, 21 Cups, has helped her to navigate her amnesia and stroke recovery process.

“It basically was like re-starting the world at 21,” she continued. “I started writing as kind of a therapy tool and then next thing I knew I had half a book written. It was so therapeutic, and then I had this beautiful thing in front of me.”

photo courtesy of jenna dakin.

In just a moment, Dakin went from an average university student to learning how to walk again.

Just a few weeks before Christmas in 2021, she came home from a dinner out when she sat down on the stairs to take her shoes off.

“I suddenly slumped over and became completely paralyzed and unresponsive on my left side,” Dakin recalls.

The next thing she remembered she was in the hospital undergoing CT scans and MRI’s, after which she was told by neurologists of her stroke-like episode.

“People say I’m crazy because I never stopped school and I just kept going, but for me that was no question. Like I didn’t know who my mom was but I was like ‘teach me psychology because I’m continuing,’” she laughed. “If I didn’t have school I don’t know what I would’ve done. It gave me a purpose, it ignited that drive for me.”

After reaching out to a publisher at One Thousand Trees who “fell in love” with her book, Dakin was able to get it published earlier in March.

She highlights the unique perspective her memoir is told through, adding a positive spin to every setback she endures.

“I always say, I can’t find the words to be able to make other people understand what its like to go through this, to lose all your memories and restart the world. There’s really no way to describe that, but I think my book is a way to potentially show people what it is like in this world for me,” Dakin said. “I think this book (offers) the chance to view the world a little differently for a minute. Not everyone is lucky enough to experience all their firsts again, but I get to re-experience my first steps, my first words and more.”

Though Dakin is currently stable in her recovery process, she notes that having another neurological episode is a “very real possibility,” though she tries to not worry about that chance.

“I had 21 years kind of robbed from me, so I don’t want to live my life worrying that I’m going to lose more years. I’ve kind of realized that life is too short and I might as well cherish what I have right now. I just want to enjoy every moment that I can and not lose anymore of my life,” she said.

21 Cups is available on Amazon.

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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.

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Trillium Grant of $75,000 Gives Yes Shelter Research Funding to Bring Host Homes Program to Peterborough

The YES Shelter is researching if a Host Homes Program is feasible in Peterborough to prevent youth from entering the shelter system and provide supportive housing after receiving a $75,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.

YEs Shelter reports that a consistency of roughly 50 youth expereince homelessness in Peterborough. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The project goal is to determine whether it is viable and ideal to have a Host Home Program for Peterborough City and County. The grant was originally awarded in 2019 but delayed over COVID-19 until last year. Host Homes Program helps youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness have a safe, home-like environment while repairing their relationship with natural supports according to a press release. Youth experiencing trauma that can come with homelessness can be supported through the cause of their housing instability.

The funding aids in staff, research, travel, an ethics board and labour.

“This grant of $75,000 has allowed the YES Shelter for Youth to continue supporting youth and families and addressing youth homelessness,” said MPP Dave Smith. “It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child and the YES Shelter and other community partners have been able to lessen the burden on these youth by providing a safe shelter and other supports they need.”

The program helps prevent anyone aged 16 - 24 from entering the shelter system in Peterborough and gives access to community support. Typical causes of youth homelessness can include family conflict, poverty, and family rejection due to gender identity or sexual orientation according to Aimeé Le Lagadec, YES Shelter executive director.

“There are currently very few supports in place for young people who need to leave home prematurely to maintain their safety and wellbeing,” she said. “This program connects community members with the ability to keep youth safe while they access supports, continue going to school and avoid having to worry about their survival on the streets.”

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Photos: High School Students Stage Protest For Climate Action

Students from Peterborough Alternative & Continuing Education (PACE) staged a walkout from school and protested to spread awareness about climate change as part of a movement named “Fridays for Future” at Confederation Park on Friday.

Photo by Luke Best.

The students were part of the Youth Leadership in Sustainability program held in partnership with Trent University.

Aisling MacQuarrie,16, is a Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School student who is taking Youth Leadership in Sustainability. A program that prepares grade 11 and 12 students for leadership roles in sustainability initiatives at the local and global levels. Photo by Luke Best.

“In 2019, the city announced a climate crisis and they also committed to reducing greenhouse gases by 40 per cent by 2031. We're here to remind them of that promise and make sure they're upholding and making actions to get there,” said Aisling MacQuarrie, grade 11 student. “We wanted to try to make more of a difference in our community.”

Fridays for Future is a youth-led global climate strike movement that started in August 2018 when then 15-year-old Greta Thunberg began a school strike for the climate.

For three weeks leading up to the election, she sat outside Swedish Parliament every school day, demanding action on the climate crisis.

Mayor Diane Therrien encouraged the students in their protest and movement before heading to the Peterborough Environmental and Climate Action Expo (EnviroX). Photo by Luke Best.

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Peterborough Police Lay 70 Traffic Related Charges In First Week Of School

The Back-to-School Traffic Safety Initiative between Peterborough County, Township of Cavan Monaghan and the Peterborough Police Service has safety at the forefront with 70 charges laid in the first week. 

Photo by Luke Best.

Between September 6-9, officers laid the following charges:

• Speeding: 42

• Distracted Driving: 1

• Crosswalk Offences: 2

• Permit Violations: 23

• Unsafe Vehicles: 2 (Towed from Highway)

“Peterborough Police remind motorists that back to school time is an exciting time for children and we want to ensure it’s also a safe time,” said Acting Chief Tim Farquharson, Peterborough Police Services. “Please be aware of school zones, buses on our roads, and students walking and cycling to school. Together we can ensure everyone has a safe and memorable back to school experience.”

Peterborough Police will continue to monitor school and community zones over the coming weeks to ensure school children are safe during the return to school.  

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Peterborough City U13 Girls Triumphant At Durham Regional Soccer League Champions

The Peterborough City U13 Girls secured the win in the Tier 1 division of the Durham Regional Soccer League Championships at Herrema Fields in Uxbridge this past weekend.

Top Row (L-R): Nicole Plunkett (Assistant Coach), Kathryn Murphy, Lily Papageorge, Kayla Leeson, Sydney Smith, Sophie Snajdr, David Bartleman (Head Coach), Elaina Wilson, Brynne Bartleman, Payton Rogers, Lily-May Borges, Bridgette Powers, Nick Powers (Assistant Coach) Bottom Row (L-R): Danika Jacobs, Taylor Bidgood, Lyla Simpson, Charlotte Donaldson, Ellie Lewington, Gabrielle Savoy, Grace Plunkett, Allie Hamilton. Photo courtesy of David Bartleman.

The pressure was on as the girls needed either a win or a tie to claim that first place title in the Tier 1 division of this championship.

A 2-0 win over the North Durham United Football Club put the team in first. Grace Plunkett scored both game goals, adding to her season total of 19 and earning her third place in league scoring. Ellie Lewington finished the season with 9 shutouts the most among all teams in the League. 

The league this year was a combined league consisting of both U13 and U14 Girls. 

Peterborough City finished the year with a record of 11 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses, scoring an astounding 46 goals and conceding only 18.

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Nine-Year-Old Farmer Hard At Work Building Birdhouses To Earn Enough Money To Buy A Cow Of His Own

Cameron Ormiston, 9, has been busy this summer building and selling birdhouses with hopes to soon be able to buy his own cow.

Cameron lives with his family on their beef farm in Omemee and raise charlets, shorthorns, sheep and ducks.

The nine-year-old grew up going to cattle shows with his parents and has recently started showing cows himself at local fairs.

He began saving up money from birthdays and Christmas and doing chores for his parents and grandparents last year with plans to buy a cow of his own.

This year he planted some corn an planned to sell it, but with the drought that didn’t pan out so it was back to the drawing board.

“Birdhouses seemed like a good idea,” said Jennie, his mom. “We had some spare lumber laying around so we got to work.”

Making the bird houses is a team effort at the farm.

“I do the sanding and the painting,” said Cameron. “Mom helps me staple the pieces together and I drill the hole for the bird.”

Jennie says working hard and using tools like this is nothing new for Cameron.

“Cameron has always worked hard,” she said. “He learned to drive the excavator when he was seven, he’s used to being around tools and equipment. Dad is big on safety and he’s grown up doing it.”

So far Cameron estimates that he has sold about 40 birdhouses, and he has close to 20 pre-made.

Birdhouses sell for $15 each and can be purchased at the stand located on their family farm at 297 Lilac Rd., Omemee.

At the stand there is a notebook for customers to leave comments.

“He’s gotten a crazy amount of support, people have left notes that are from as far as Oshawa and Toronto,” said Jennie. “He’s had people offer to send him money if they’re not close, just a lot of support.”

Cameron plans to save around $2,000 for a calf that he can halter break and Jennie says he’s close to halfway there.

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