Mental Health and Addictions Program ‘Moving Beyond Addiction’ Opens in Peterborough

Right to Heal, a local not-for-profit organization, will run ‘Moving Beyond Addiction’ and Redpath programs over a 16-month period announced Monday.

From left to right: Randy Mellow, chief of Peterborough County-City paramedics; Dave Smith, member of Provincial parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha; Peggy Shaughnessy, Whitepath Consulting founder and president; Tim Farquharson, acting Peterborough Police chief; David Smith, member of Provincial parliament for Scarborough Centre; and the Hon. Michael Tibollo, Minister for mental health and addictions. Photo by Felicia Massey.

Through a $367,480 investment from the Government of Ontario, 320 people in the community will receive the program’s services.

Clients will undergo an evidence-based assessment once referred to determine the correct treatment for their needs. The assessment will consider multiple variables including trauma, abuse, domestic violence, housing status, financial situation and severity of the substance abuse. Once the assessment is complete they will enter into one-on-one counselling and/or the Redpath Intervention program.

Redpath programs use a combination of clinical and cultural approaches while focusing to create a healthy mind, body and spirit.

The intervention program consists of 21 three-hour-long counselling and training sessions in both community and institutional settings. Clients will then enter an aftercare program where they will complete two hours a week of group training sessions that focus on personal development and a full reintegration back into society.

“The Redpath services bring wellness and recovery home (to Peterborough) and will add to what is currently being provided in the City”, said Peggy Shaughnessy, Whitepath Consulting founder and president. “It’s very exciting as a developer of the Redpath model to be home.”

Those referred to this program will typically be unhoused/at risk of homelessness and suffering from mental health and addiction issues. The Elizabeth Fry Society will administer the referral process, enabling the funding for the pilot to flow fully to program services. The program will also accept family and self-referrals.

Right to Heal will work in collaboration with these specific prioritized target populations:

1. Peterborough Police, Peterborough County-City Paramedics and Peterborough Regional Health Centre refer clients who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing opioid overdoses.

2. Health and social services referring clients from places such as the Consumption and Treatment Services/Opioid Response Hub, Brock Mission, Cameron House and One Roof Community Centre.

Last year, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith announced $500,000 in annual funding to expand detox services at Fourcast.

Earlier this year, the Peterborough Opioid Response Hub opened with $1,350,000 in annual funding.

“Overdose deaths continue to rise in Peterborough. It’s a crisis that affects families and loved ones across our community. It is clear that more treatment spaces are needed; we need to expand services and lower barriers of access if we want to address this crisis,” said Dave MPP Smith. “Moving Beyond Addiction will save lives. It is a proven program that will help those struggling with addiction move beyond addiction and reintegrate back into society.”

Debbie Carriere is an example of Redpath’s success, having taken the program 15 years ago.

In 2006, the mother of three worked as a psychologist at Central East Correctional Centre and was working towards her Ph.D. when she experienced a traumatic life event that would trigger trauma from her past.

Over the course of nine months after this Carriere abused substances and was arrested, eventually ending up in a psychiatric hospital in Jan. 2007. After returning to Peterborough she met Shaughnessy and began the Redpath program.

Carriere is now the executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society.

“I needed help, I needed something different, and it literally saved my life,” said Carriere. “It really saved my life and it saved the lives of my children.”

Visit Ontario.ca/MentalHealth or call 2-1-1 to access help and learn more about publicly available mental health and addiction supports in Peterborough.

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"Cancer Takedown" Event to Fundraise for Cancer Care Coming to Market Hall

“Cancer Takedown” is fundraising for local cancer care through performances and storytelling on Nov. 16 at Market Hall Performance Centre.

Linda Kash is well-known for her role as the Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese Angel. File photo.

Cancer Takedown is an evening of song, story and solidarity, with all proceeds from ticket sales going to Cancer Care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).

The night will be MC’d by m Linda Kash and Megan Murphy, featuring stories shared by people with cancer and performances from local musicians Kate Suhr, Melissa Payne and their bands, musical director Anthony Bastianon and Denise Oucharek. It will be an opportunity to rally the community and provide hope.

Cancer Takedown is organized by husband and wife Rick and Amy Kemp. Rick has been a patient of PRHC since 2019 when he was diagnosed with metastatic kidney cancer. In May 2021 his battle doubled as he was diagnosed with a second primary cancer, central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma.

For Rick and others living with cancer, there are good days, and there are days when the battle is much more emotional than physical. The Kemp’s idea for Cancer Takedown was born out of those darker days, even referring to the show as being a “spirit-raiser” as much as a fundraiser.

“The goal of Cancer Takedown is twofold. One is to raise funds. The other is to raise spirits for those battling cancer and the people helping them in their journey,” said Rick.

Tickets are $30 for general seating, and $50 for cabaret and can be purchased at: https://www.markethall.org.

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First Peterborough County Makerspace Opens at Selwyn Public Library In Lakefield

The first Makerspace in Peterborough County opens at the Lakefield branch of the Selwyn Public Library (SPL) with help from the Ontario Trillium Foundation on Friday.

Photo by Felicia Massey.

Makerspace is a place for all ages and skill levels to craft, create, explore technology and share skills using high-tech to no-tech tools.

Appointments must be made to use the space and can be pre-booked on their website.

Everything from vinyl signage to 3D printing can be crafted using equipment such as the Ultimaker S3 or the Cricut.

A $78,200 Resilient Communities Fund grant through the Ontario Trillium Foundation funded the formation of the creative space, transforming SPL’s former Renewed Classics thrift shop into the Makerspace.

“When you look around this room at what has been done, they have taken $79,000 and they have probably added over $200,000 worth of value for the community,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP.

Some renovations completed through the Trillium Resilient Communities grant include new paint/flooring and the conversion of an old vault into a podcasting suite. They were also able to get new furniture and a security system.

“For quite some time the board has received reports about the Makerspace,” said a 20-year SPL board member. “We weren’t really sure what it (Makerspace) was going to be and what it was going to look like but (the staff) have done a tremendous job with $79,000.”

The SPL Makerspace is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Hometown PTBO: Christopher Cannon About Living at the Mount Community Centre at "Shared Dreams" and Sports Passion

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Christopher Cannon and his father about his being diagnosed with cerebral palsy, love for sports including the Toronto Blue Jays and living on his own in the "Shared Dreams" household at the Mount Community Centre.

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Dress Purple Day on Oct. 27 to Support Children's Aid Societies

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society (KHCAS) urges the community to wear purple to raise awareness for vulnerable children and families and the groups that support them on Oct. 27.

Photo courtesy of The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society.

Every October, Dress Purple Day brings awareness to the support and intervention services that are available for families through Children’s Aid Societies. Wearing purple shows that help is available and no one is alone.

“Dress Purple Day offers an opportunity to remind our local communities that the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society works together with many other social service providers to help children, youth and families facing challenges,” says Jennifer McLauchlan, KHCAS executive director. “We are wearing purple today to show children, youth and families that we care and are here to help.”

Learn more about Dress Purple Day here: https://www.oacas.org/publications-and-campaigns/dresspurpleday/.

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Silver Bean Café Becomes Canadian Canoe Museum’s Café Operator In New Partnership

Getting a latté at the Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM) is easier for next summer as they are bringing a Silver Bean Café location to the museum’s new site on Ashburnham Drive in a partnership announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of The Canadian Canoe Museum.

Also known as ‘Silver Bean Café on the Lake,’ the menu will consist of specialty sandwiches and salads, made-to-order breakfasts, bakery items and coffee and various grab-and-go options. Kawartha Dairy ice cream will be served in the summer while soup, chilli and other comfort foods in the winter. The café will be licensed to serve alcohol.

“We were searching for an energetic, warm and welcoming team with proven experience to manage and operate the museum’s new café, that was also community-minded and would work with us to enhance our visitor experience,” says Carolyn Hyslop, CCM executive director.

The café will offer tourists, surrounding neighbours and the general public delectable delights year-round.

Silver Bean Café is expected to be open seven days a week during the museum’s hours of operation.

The space will be able to accommodate 30 people seated inside and 32 outside on the terrace.

“It is exciting to be able to provide a location that will be open all year round and maintain a presence on another beautiful Nogojiwanong/Peterborough waterfront with stunning indoor and patio options,” said Dan Brandsma, Silver Bean Café owner. “We feel we have a natural affinity to the museum’s values/culture and (the) waterfront location and will do our utmost to add to the experience with fresh, local and delicious food and drink offerings.”

The King Street location at Millennium Park is continuing to operate seasonally (typically from May to Oct.). Oct. 15 is the last day of operation for 2022.

Peterborough Public Library Launches Strategic Plan Community Survey

The Peterborough Public Library has launched a Community Survey as part of its 2023-2026 Strategic Planning process.

File Photo.

The survey allows anyone to share their thoughts on the Library’s current programs, services and collections and provide feedback on areas you would like to see improved or enhanced. Community members are invited to participate and have a say in their community library.

The information gathered through the survey will help guide the direction of the library's strategic plan over the next four years.

The survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/PtboLibraryEngagement.

Hard copies of the survey will be available upon request at the main library branch and it will be available until Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. 

Community members are also invited to an in-person focus group on Oct. 13 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the FOL Community Room.

Register for this event at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ptbo-library-strategic-planning-engagement-session-public-tickets-427415440087.

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City Releases Video of 2021 Peterborough Civic Awards Ceremony

A video of the 2021 City of Peterborough Civic Awards presentation that recognized local volunteers and their contributions to the community was released on Monday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Nominations for the annual civic awards were received this year for achievements in 2021.

“Congratulations to the citizens being recognized for their outstanding contributions to Peterborough in 2021. While we wish we could be together to celebrate the recipients of the Civic Awards, this video tribute is meant to show our appreciation for all that they have done to make Peterborough a special place,” said Mayor Diane Therrien. "The tireless work and dedication of this year’s award winners continue to make our community proud."

The winners were announced via video presentation to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The 2021 Civic Awards recognize the following nine award recipients:

Community Betterment:

• East Peterborough Lions Club

• Mapleridge Recreation Centre volunteers

  • Helen Falls

  • Liz Roberts

  • Carol Grant

  • Jane Northey

  • Jane Owles

  • Dennis Healey (posthumous)

Volunteer of the Year:

• Suzanne McMillan

Lifetime Achievement:

• Dr. Ramesh Makhija

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