4th Line Theatre Collaborates With Lakefield College School's Ondaatje House On The Purse Project

4th Line Theatre, in association with the students from Lakefield College School’s Ondaatje House, will be collecting purses and personal care items to fill purses in December 2020 and January 2021, to distribute to women in need in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. 

In this area, there are hundreds of women who receive support from social service agencies and regional community groups. Some are seeking shelter, safety and refuge, and others are seeking support in rebuilding their lives following tragic circumstances.   

“We at 4th Line acknowledge our privilege and constantly strive for ways in which we can give back to our community and to support people in need,” says Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell.

Photo graphic courtesy 4th Line Theatre

Individuals can donate a new or gently used purse containing personal care items, donate a new or used purse (clean and empty), donate personal care items to fill the purses, or donate money earmarked for the purse project, and 4th Line Theatre will purchase a purse and the items to go in it: 

Personal care items sought for donation include:

·         *Feminine hygiene products (pads, liners and tampons)

·         *Deodorant

·         *Soap bar or body wash

·         *Toothpaste, tooth brush

·         *Hair comb or small brush

·         *Cloth face mask

·         Washcloths and small towels

·         Body lotion

·         Hand sanitizer or wipes

·         Q-tips, cotton balls

·         Lip balm and moisturizers

·         Socks and slippers

·         Gloves, mittens, ear muffs, hats and scarves 

·         Nail clippers & files

·         Shampoo & conditioner

·         Hair clips & elastics

·         Tissue Packets 

·         Gift cards to grocery stores, coffee shops

·         No used items or food of any kind

Items marked with [ * ] above are placed in every purse, and other items are added based on available donation

The purses, personal care items, and donations can be dropped off at 4th Line Theatre’s Administrative Office located at 4 Tupper Street, Millbrook, Ontario L0A 1G0. The office will be open between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays between Monday, November 30th, 2020 through Wednesday, December 23th, 2020.  Collections will continue after Christmas from Monday, January 4th, 2021 to Thursday, January 28th, 2021.

Any inquiries for The Purse Project can be directed to 4th Line Theatre’s Artistic Administrator Jess McDougall at jess@4thlinetheatre.on.ca or by phone at 705-932-4448.

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Donations To The Habitat For Humanity ReStore Will Directly Help Homeless Youth & Families At YES Shelter

The YES Shelter for Youth and Families and the Habitat for Humanity Restore are partnering to help ensure youth and families experiencing homelessness have basic needs met while in shelter, and when they move into new housing.

In the past, YES has been able to help meet basic clothing and houseware needs of youth and families in the Emergency Shelter by accepting donations of used items from community members. But since the beginning of COVID-19, YES has not been able to take donations.

Photo courtesy YES Shelter

In addition, as the demand for YES’ services has been increasing, and YES has been expanding programs, YES no longer has the space or human resources available to manage incoming donations of used items. To help with this issue, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region has agreed to supply them with basic clothing and housewares from the selection of used items that can be found at the Habitat ReStore. 

This means that if you have used clothing, furniture or housewares that you think could be useful to youth and families who are struggling, you can donate those things to the Habitat ReStore in Peterborough, and the youth and families that YES serves will benefit from your donation. 

YES still needs and gratefully accepts monetary support, and donations of new toiletries and all non-perishable foods at their Emergency Shelter location, which is located at 196 Brock Street. 

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Ontario SPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Unit Rolls Into Peterborough

In partnership with the Peterborough Humane Society, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is bringing its SPCA Mobile Animal Wellness Services Unit to Peterborough this week for a three-day spay/neuter clinic to help reduce pet overpopulation.

The 38-foot SPCA Mobile Animal Wellness Services Unit will be stationed outside the Peterborough Humane Society from November 24th to November 26th. Appointments were pre-booked through the Peterborough Humane Society and a total of 75 cats are scheduled to be spayed or neutered during the clinic. That translates into an estimated 4,600 potentially unwanted kittens that will be prevented. 

Photo courtesy Ontario SPCA

The mobile clinic marks the fourth of the year for the SPCA Mobile Animal Wellness Services Unit. After careful consideration and research to determine the safest way to resume mobile spay/neuter services during COVID-19, the Ontario SPCA has resumed operations with new limited contact procedures in place. Animals are picked up and dropped off in a safe curbside process overseen by staff at all times.

Photo courtesy Ontario SPCA

“We look forward to working with the Peterborough Humane Society on this important initiative in their community, and we would like to thank pet parents who have taken the important step to have their furry friends spayed or neutered,” says Jennifer Bluhm, Acting Chief, Animal Protection Services, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society.

"We are extremely excited to be partnering with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society in bringing this much-needed mobile service into our community,” adds Shawn Morey, Executive Director, Peterborough Humane Society. “Hosting accessible spay/neuter services is vital to help reduce pet overpopulation in our community, and serves as a sample of the permanent services we will be hosting within our new Peterborough Animal Care Centre. We are so thrilled to be able to bring this service to our community." 

To learn more about SPCA Mobile Animal Wellness Services, or to make a donation to help stock the unit with medical supplies and cover operating costs, visit Ontariospca.ca/mobileservices.

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Otonabee Conservation Just Planted 1,500 Native Trees To Help Rehabilitate A Selwyn Township Gravel Pit

On Friday (November 6th), Otonabee Conservation planted 1,500 trees at a gravel pit in Selwyn Township in order to help rehabilitate the site and return it to its natural state.

Staff from Otonabee Conservation and Selwyn Township along with local Youth Leadership in Sustainability students planted white pine, white spruce, eastern white cedar, tamarack and red oak. These native species will provide habitat for wildlife, increase biodiversity at the gravel pit site, and will help to regenerate the soil that was previously removed during aggregate extraction.

“Each year, we partner with Selwyn Township to plant trees at various sites throughout the watershed,” says Dan Marinigh, Otonabee Conservation’s CAO.

“Projects like this contribute positively to the watershed community in many ways by mitigating climate change impacts, enhancing watershed health, and providing opportunities for students to get outside and engage directly with nature.” 

This is the final tree planting event of the season, wrapping up with a total of 5,690 trees planted across the watershed at eight different locations with support from many community partners including: City of Peterborough, Selwyn Township, Siemens Canada, Brock Mission, and Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

Generous funding is also provided by Tree Canada, Forests Ontario, TD Canada Trust, and One Tree Planted.

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RBC Foundation Grants $10,000 In Support Of YWCA Crossroads Shelter & Nourish Food Programs

A $10,000 donation from RBC Foundation is helping YWCA Peterborough Haliburton address the growing need for gender-based violence supports as well as nutritious food in Peterborough and surrounding area.

“RBC Foundation’s generous donation is helping to ensure that women who experience violence continue to have a safe space to turn for refuge and support at YWCA Crossroads Shelter, while also supporting Nourish’s critical work in providing nutritious food and innovative programming to battle the chronic issue of food insecurity in the Peterborough community,” says Ria Nicholson, Major Gifts Officer with YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s.

“This year has presented our community with unparalleled challenges, specifically for our most vulnerable, so when we heard about these programs, we knew we had to help,” adds Scott Mancini, Vice-President of Commercial Banking at RBC. “The work being done by the YWCA and their partners is providing support where the need is greatest. We thank these organizations for making our community stronger.”

Scott Mancini, Vice-President, Kawartha Lakeshore Commercial Financial Services, Royal Bank of Canada, and Karalee Murray, Community Manager, Peterborough Lakefield, Royal Bank of Canada, present a $10,000 donation to Ria Nicholson, Major Gifts Officer, YWCA Peterborough Hailburton (Photo courtesy YWCA Peterborough Haliburton)

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Nourish has been working diligently with local agencies to get nutritious food to those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19. Home deliveries of food boxes (both free and subsidized) have fed more than 225 families on a weekly basis since April.

YWCA Crossroads Shelter has remained open and continues to provide essential resources, safety and information around the clock for women and their children in our community. They are currently able to provide shelter for up to 8 families while still allowing for proper physical distancing and other safety protocols such as deep cleaning shared spaces between uses and allowing for an area of isolation should someone become sick.

Members of the community who wish to add their support for YWCA crisis and support services are encouraged to contact the office at 705-743-3526. Those interested in learning more about corporate and community partnership opportunities are asked to contact Ria Nicholson directly at 705-743-3526 x113.

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Daylight Saving Time Ends November 1st

It’s that time of year as Fall back happens on November 1st—a sure sign of winter.

Remember to turn your clocks back an hour—not forward or you'll be two hours ahead of the rest of us and your life will be confusing.

And don't forget to change your smoke alarm batteries as well!

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Nexicom Commits $126,000 To Our Pet Project Campaign To Build New Animal Care Centre

Nexicom has announced its commitment of $126,000 to Our Pet Project, the Peterborough Humane Society’s campaign to build the new Animal Care Centre, and will sponsor the Centre’s Adoption Technology Hub.

“2020 has been a rough year for all of us but one thing that stands out is the impact our pets have on our lives—whether it’s keeping us fit through daily walks or being that constant companion that provides unconditional love and improves our mental health,” says Julie Howe, Sales & Marketing Manager at Nexicom. “We’re so proud to be partnering with the Humane Society and we challenge other businesses in town to think outside of the box of how they can help to build this Animal Care Centre for our community.”

Photo from announcement at future site of Animal Care Centre courtesy Peterborough Humane Society

Designed by Peterborough firm, Lett Architects, the Humane Society’s new Animal Care Centre will sit on nearly 20 acres of land at 1999 Technology Drive. It will be home to the Humane Society’s Adoption and Education Centre that will serve as a community hub, and allow for expansion of their outreach, education and advocacy programs.

The Adoption Technology Hub, powered by Nexicom, will provide in-person and online visitors the opportunity to view animals available for adoption and to complete their adoption application online. Computer terminals will be located in the main lobby of the facility’s Adoption & Education Centre.

The new Centre will also be home to the region’s only High Volume Spay and Neuter Clinic providing accessible services to our community, and Canada’s first Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre in partnership with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society.

“The new Peterborough Animal Care Centre will set a new standard for animal wellness in Canada and we are excited to have amazing corporate partners, like our friends at Nexicom, who share our vision for the future of our community and its pets.” says Shawn Morey, Executive Director at the Peterborough Humane Society.

Our Pet Project, the campaign to build the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre, has raised over $7 million towards their $10 million goal and is looking for local businesses and animal lovers to help them cross the finish line and get their Centre built.  

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You Can Airbnb It At An Awesome Geo Dome On A Farm Near Peterborough Overlooking A Pond

With staycations now becoming the It thing in this pandemic era, Millen + Smith Acres farm in Keene, Ontario near Peterborough is delivering on that in a beautiful way, bringing you back to nature with farm animals grazing near you while you chillax in their just launched Geo dome.

The Geo dome, which includes a king size bed, love seat and wood stove, is nestled right over a pond that’s perfect for bird watching and canoeing in the summer, and skating in the winter months. In true rustic fashion, there is no bathroom but there is an outhouse close by.

Owners Matt Smith and Jenn Austin-Driver have created quite the utopian-like getaway. Imagine staying in a Geo dome in the great Canadian outdoors with its own pond, while nearby you are sheep, alpacas, chickens, geese, ducks, goats, cows, horses and two pot belly pigs (Billy Ray and Jolene) that you can visit by hiking around acres and acres at the farm. Pretty idyllic, eh?

At night, you can rock your best Canadian plaid while strumming your guitar and singing along to Gordon Lightfoot songs in the private campfire area, with your cooler stocked full of say, Bobcaygeon beer, while you view the constellations. It’s magical stuff.

Jenn Austin-Driver tells PTBOCanada that the inspiration for the farm and Geo dome came from the growing trend of staycations and farm stays the couple were seeing and partaking in themselves on Airbnb.

“We wanted to incorporate additional options for Agri tourism on our farm and thought this would be a really cool and modern attraction,” says. “We started doing farm tours on Airbnb this summer and it’s been amazing—we’ve hosted over 150 guests for tours since August!”

Owners Matt Smith and Jenn Austin-Driver at the farm

The couple has had such amazing feedback from the day trippers and are seeing first hand the increase in people wanting to connect with nature and farm animals, and learn about the local food cycle.

“We want make connections with as many folks as possible through as many diverse avenues as possible,” Austin-Driver tells PTBOCanada. “The more time we spend connecting and talking about the farm and sustainable farming practices, the more people think about incorporating better food choices into their day to day, and in turn farmers are highlighted more and more—which only helps our local agricultural industry. Farmers feed cities.”

The Geo dome just opened overnight last week, and has already started to fill their remaining 2020 fall/winter dates. This thing is sure to be a hit right into 2021 and beyond.

“The Geo dome is a year-round stay, with tons of seasonal activities to partake in on and locally off the farm,” Austin-Driver tells PTBOCanada. For those concerned with Covid cleaning, the couple adheres to rigid Covid cleaning policies and procedures to protect hosts and guests alike.

For more on the farm, check out the Airbnb listing here, the Instagram page here (this farm is so gram worthy), and Facebook here.

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Peterborough’s Eastgate Memorial Park COVID-19 Testing Site Relocating Back To Northcrest Arena For Testing Inside

The COVID-19 testing centre currently located at Eastgate Memorial Park will relocate to Northcrest Arena at 100 Marina Blvd. effective Monday, October 26th to accommodate colder weather through the fall and winter seasons.

Once relocated, this site will no longer offer drive-through testing; individuals with appointments will be asked to come inside the arena for their test.

Operating hours will continue to be 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and testing is available by appointment only. The final day of operations at Eastgate Memorial Park will be on Friday, October 23.

The link to the booking tool is available through the PRHC website and on the Peterborough Public Health website. If you are looking to book an appointment for the Northcrest Arena site, you must meet at least one of the following screening criteria: 

• You are showing mild symptoms of COVID-19 

• Peterborough Public Health has informed you that you have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19

• You have received a notification through the COVID-19 Alert App 

• You are part of an outbreak investigation as informed by Peterborough Public Health

• You are required to be tested routinely, such as staff at long-term care and retirement homes

• You are planning an indoor visit with a loved one at a long-term care home

• You are a traveler without symptoms and require a test to confirm you do not have COVID-19 before travelling internationally

• You have been advised by a medical professional that testing is required prior to a procedure

• You are required to be tested before admission to a congregate setting or other facility
  

HOW IT WORKS WHEN ARRIVING AT NORTHCREST ARENA FOR TESTING

-> Arrive inside the main entrance at Northcrest Arena five minutes in advance of your booked appointment. 

-> Clean your hands as you enter the arena and wear a mask inside at all times except when you are being tested. Please also keep a physical distance of two metres between yourself and other people. Remember to bring your Ontario Health Card and driver’s licence with you.

-> With the new, appointment-based system in place, traffic issues are not expected to be a concern as the COVID-19 testing service returns to the Northcrest site.

You can access your test results online using your Ontario Health Card number at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/  or by calling your healthcare provider.

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100 Women Peterborough Raise Vital Funds For Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre

On October 13th, the 100 Women Peterborough group came together for their second virtual meeting during the pandemic to raise funds for an organization in need.

Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre was chosen by majority vote (also presenting were Peterborough Pregnancy Support Services and Kawartha Youth Orchestra) to receive the funds, and 100 Women Peterborough is anticipating the total donation to be upwards of $5,000 based on feedback from the membership. 

“Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist, not-for-profit, charitable organization dedicated to supporting those affected by sexual and gender-based violence and harm,” says Executive Director Lisa Clarke, who presented at the meeting.

Photo of 100 Women Peterborough meeting courtesy 100 Women Peterborough

At the Centre in Peterborough, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre offers individual clinical counselling, psychoeducational and therapeutic groups and workshops, advocacy and accompaniment services, 24/7 crisis support, peer supports, prevention education and professional training.

“With the incredible support of 100 Women of Peterborough, we will be building the sustainability of our new 24/7 crisis support text line that we launched this summer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” adds Clarke. “We are so grateful to this group of committed, empowering women leaders in our community to invest in the healing of survivors of sexual and gender based violence.”

To learn more about the impact of the powerful, inspiring “100 Women Peterborough”, click here.

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