Peterborough Police Begin 'Operation Freeze' To Encourage Smart Decision Making In Children

The Peterborough Police will begin ‘Operation Freeze’ aimed at rewarding children for making good choices, announced on Wednesday.

PC VanBelleghem with coupons for Operation Freeze. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police.

Peterborough Police will be presenting youth with coupons or “tickets” when they see youth making smart, safe and caring choices such as wearing helmets, helping others, or picking up garbage.

Each "ticket" is for a free small Froster from Circle K.

This ‘operation’ is made possible through a partnership with Circle K.

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34th Annual Grandparents Of The Year Awards Have Been Announced

The City and County of Peterborough has announced the winners of the 34th annual Grandparent of the Year awards.

Each year Community Care has encouraged children from grade 2 through grade 6 to recognize a Grandparent, Elder or a special older person in their life, as "Grandparent of the Year".

This year Community Care received over 150 nominations in 4 categories.

The two traditional categories of primary division for students in grades 2 and 3 and junior division for students in grades 4, 5 and 6 and new this year, two categories were created in order to accept submissions in French, adding a primary French and junior French division so that students could practice their French language skills too.

“The children shared so many wonderful stories and artwork with us,” said Danielle Belair – Executive Director of Community Care. “It is always difficult for the judges to choose an honourable mention and winner in 4 categories.”

Honourable Mention and Winners by category:

In the primary English division:

• Honourable Mention - Mahi from Kaawaate East City Public School – nominated her Nan, Sree Pathak from Katy, Texas.

• Winner – Everley from St. Joseph C.E.S. – nominated her Nan, Mary Jane Jackman from Lakefield.

In the primary French division:

• Honourable Mention – Felix from Kaawaate East City Public School – nominated his Grandparents Debbie and Wes LeBreton of Aldergove, B.C.

• Winner – Faela from Kaawaate East City Public School – nominated her Grandpa Peter Minten of Strathroy.

In the junior English division:

• Honourable Mention – Mac from St. Anne’s C.E.S. – nominated her Grandpa David Ingram of Douro – Dummer.

• Winner – Linden Dow – St. Joseph C.E.S. – nominated his Grandpa Bruce Rogers who lives near Indian River

In the junior French division:

• Honourable Mention - Madelyn from Kaawaate East City Public School – nominated her Grandpa Peter McKeiver

• Winner – Willa from Kaawaate East City Public School – nominated her Grandma Bonnie Bradley from Mount Albert.

Mary Jane Jackman from Lakefield, Peter Minten of Strathroy, Bruce Rogers who lives near Indian River and Bonnie Bradley from Mount Albert have all been declared the 2022 Grandparents of the Year.

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Hometown PTBO: Cancer Survivor Neave Alderson With Her Battle With Ewing Sarcoma, Pink in the Rink and Being Cancer-Free

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with cancer survivor and grade nine student Neave Alderson about her battle with Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone cancer; her involvement with Pink in the Rink and how she is almost five years cancer-free.

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YMCA Welcomes The Ontario-Federal Child Care Agreement

The province of Ontario and the federal government have signed a $13.2-billion agreement to lower the cost of child care in the province to an average of $10 a day by September 2025, on Monday.

File Photo.

“This is a historic moment for children and families across Ontario. Thanks to this agreement child care will be more affordable and more accessible to working families,” said David Allan, president and CEO of YMCA Central East Ontario. “The federal provincial child care agreement will benefit our children and communities for generations to come.”

In a press release, the YMCA notes that access to licensed, high-quality child care gives parents, and women in particular, a choice to enter or return to the workforce while ensuring their children are in safe environments.

“And now the work of rolling this out begins, and it won’t be easy. It will be worth it though as we lower the cost of care for our families and raise wages for staff. Both of these groups richly deserve it,” said Allan. “Our YMCA is looking forward to working with all levels of government and our community partners to bring this agreement to life.”

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Peterborough Kinsmen Raise $20,000 For YWCA Crossroads Emergency Shelter For Gender-Based Violence

The Kinsmen Club of Peterborough donated $20,000 in support of Safe Nights at YWCA Crossroads Shelter this month announced on Thursday.

Barry Craft, Kinsmen Club of Peterborough president (left) and Kim Dolan, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton Executive Director (right).

The emergency shelter is for women and children experiencing gender-based violence.

"The Kinsmen Club of Peterborough is very fortunate to be in a position to provide financial assistance to the YWCA Crossroads Safe Nights program,” said Barry Craft, Kinsmen Club of Peterborough president, “This donation is a result of the tremendous community support we have experienced with the Kinsmen Super TV Bingo recently.”

YWCA Crossroads Shelter has remained open throughout the pandemic.

The need for violence against women services has risen by approximately 30 per cent since the onset of the COVID-19 according to the YWCA.

“This wonderful demonstration of support will provide just over 300 Safe Nights for women and children in our community who have no safe place to turn,” said Kim Dolan, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton Executive Director. “We’re immensely grateful for the Kinsmen’s support and continued dedication to our local community.”

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33rd Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby Is Back After A Two Year Hiatus

The 33rd Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby is back and bigger than ever, after a two year hiatus.

Photo courtesy of OFAH.

Formerly known as the Peterborough Greenwing Fishing Derby, this year’s event will feature several new elements.

“We have listened to angler feedback from past years, and added two extra days of fishing, early bird registration prizes, goody bags for participants, and sponsored tagged fish with cash prizes for anglers of all ages to win,” said David Ryrie, OFAH Youth Education Manager.

The youth derby begins on April 30, for children 15 and under. It includes 500 tagged Trout for instant prizes, and a chance to win one of four grand prizes. The big fish prize is $1000 cash and will go to whoever catches Walter, a rainbow trout estimated to weigh between 8 and 10 pounds.

The all ages derby runs May 1-8 and for the first time ever will include tagged fish with cash prizes sponsored by local businesses.

“We still have fish in need of a local sponsor that will both challenge anglers and offset the cost of the stocked Trout for the youth derby,” said Ryrie.

Registration is required for all participants.$15 for one child, $10 for siblings, and $25 for adults.

Purchase tickets online at ofah.org/underthelock or in person at Peterborough Canadian Tire locations.

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March Declared "Easter Seals Month" In Celebration Of Peterborough Telethon's 50th Anniversary

Ahead of the 50th Peterborough Easter Seals Telethon, March has been declared “Easter Seals Month” in a virtual media conference held on Thursday morning.

Kevin Collins, Easter Seals president and CEO on the virtual meeting telling his experiences of having cerebral palsy and using a walker to navigate. Screenshot.

The declaration was made by Coun. and deputy mayor Kemi Akapo shortly after the meeting had opened.

The Telethon will be broadcasted on April 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. on YourTV and Global News but the campaign is currently seeking donations with a goal of $80,000.

They can be made online, phoning in on the Telethon or by emailing Coralie Jacobs, Easter Seals manager of development at cjacobs@easterseals.org.

The raised funds from the telethon provide financial assistance for communication devices, mobility equipment and summer camp opportunities for youth with physical disabilities.

Easter Seals will virtually announce their goal on Thursday and check in with past ambassadors and local notables.

Guests include Akapo; Kevin Collins, Easter Seals president and CEO; Stu Harrison; Graham Hart; Mike Melnik; Teresa Kazsuba; Catherine Hanrahan and Caley Bedore.

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Easter Seals Hits Two Milestones For Upcoming Telethon

On their 100th anniversary, the 50th Easter Seals Telethon kicks off its fundraising campaign to provide support for children and youth with physical disabilities beginning Thursday.

Easter Seals Telethon hosts from 2019. Photo courtesy of Easter Seals Peterborough.

The Telethon will be broadcasted on April 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. on YourTV and Global News but the campaign is currently seeking donations.

Easter Seals will virtually announce their goal on Thursday and check in with past ambassadors and local notables. Guests include Deputy Mayor Kemi Akapo; Kevin Collins, Easter Seals CEO; Stu Harrison; Graham Hart; Mike Melnik; Teresa Kazsuba; Catherine Hanrahan and Caley Bedore.

The raised funds provide financial assistance for mobility equipment, communication devices and summer camp opportunities for youth with physical disabilities.

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Norwood Woman Receives 4-H Ontario’s Most Distinguished Volunteer Award

Cathy Stockdale from Norwood is one of three recipients of the 2022 4-H Ontario Arbor Award, 4-H Ontario’s most distinguished volunteer award.

Cathy with her daughter Rebecca at a 4-H judging clinic . Photo courtesy of Cathy Stockdale.

4-H is a non-profit youth development organization that allows young people to learn about selected topics through fun, hands-on activities and mentorship.

The Peterborough 4-H association has several clubs across the county that teach about life skills.

“I’ve done it all from poultry to outdoors to crafting clubs, quilting, sewing, cooking, gardening, square dancing, even a giant veggie club,” she said.

All clubs are able to operate because of volunteers like Stockdale.

“I am getting close to 30 years of volunteering. It’s something that I did as a kid, then it eventually evolved into a leader position.”

Stockdale says that even though her own children are no longer participating in 4-H clubs, she continues to lead them because of how rewarding it is.

“Teaching kids a new skill and having them grasp that new skill, seeing the light go on when they figure it out is a very big reward. It's like watching the light bulb come on like ‘oh I can do this!’,” she said. “Watching that satisfaction of them completing that task is very rewarding for me as a leader.”

She notes that teaching young people life skills is something that does not seem to happen as often as it did years ago. Looking back to when she was in school she remembers learning basic skills like sewing, cooking and basic car maintenance.

“It's starting to come back - teaching these skills, we lost that for a while. 4-H has picked that up. Where else can you learn how to cook something and then have a meal at the end of the meeting? Or you grow a pumpkin and then see how big you can get them?”

Peterborough County 4-H ‘adopted’ a road in Peterborough County. Stockdale’s son spearheaded this idea. Here a group of members are cleaning up litter. Photo courtesy of Cathy Stockdale.

Recipients of the Arbor Award are nominated by their local Associations, and recipients are chosen by a committee of past recipients.

“Some girls got together and apparently nominated me for this award,” said Stockdale. “They got a bunch of letters together from people that I've worked with and volunteered with, they all wrote beautiful letters and they saved them for me so I could read them afterwards.”

According to the 4-H Ontario website, nominees must have shown significant leadership, initiative and made a positive impact on 4-H at various levels.

“You don’t know your self worth until you hear it from someone else's mouth. I am very blessed.”

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Peterborough Sport And Wellness Centre Launches New Website Ahead Of Summer Camp Registration

Registration for summer camps is now open and instructional sport camps are returning for the 2022 season in The City of Peterborough.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

“We are excited to work with our community partners to offer instructional sport camps again this summer,” said Jennifer Bell, Sport and Fitness Coordinator.

The City of Peterborough has launched updated webpages for recreation services to provide residents a convenient online location for all recreation programs, activities, events, and facility information. The site features online services to register for programs, request facility rentals, view drop-in schedules, and learn about memberships and upcoming events. Visit the website at www.peterborough.ca/recreation.

Spring programs begin the first week of April, with the aquatics facility at the Sport & Wellness Centre scheduled to re-open.

“We look forward to seeing our members and participants return to swimming lessons and public swimming this Spring”, said Andrea Pade, Aquatics Coordinator.

Registration for spring programming opens online, on March 8, 2022. View program offerings at www.peterborough.ca/recprograms.

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