Embrace Equity in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough With Free International Women's Day Community Events

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The Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC) and the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC) are hosting two free International Women’s Day (IWD) community events celebrating the theme Embrace Equity in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough.

photo courtesy of Kawartha World Issues Centre.

The first event is a community march/rally on March 8 from noon to 1 p.m., and the second event will explore Diverse Youth Voices in Leadership with guest speaker Cheyenne Sundance on March 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Every year on March 8, International Women’s Day is recognized worldwide to acknowledge the historical and ongoing work towards women’s equality and social justice. The day was created by the United Nations in 1977 to increase awareness on the vital role of women in peace efforts and development, with aims to end discrimination and achieve women’s full and equal contribution to the world.

The daytime rally and march on will be hosted in-person, starting downtown at Peterborough Square Courtyard and traveling North along the sidewalks of George Street to Confederation Park, across from City Hall. Once reaching City Hall Town Ward City Councillor Joy Lachica will speak, and local poet Emily Cleary will do a short reading.

The second, evening event will be hosted in a hybrid format with community members having the opportunity to join online via Zoom or in person at the Lion’s Community Centre (347 Burnham St.) The event will be hosted by CRRC Coordinator Czarina Garcia, and will feature an opening drum from Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle and an opening welcome by Anne Taylor of Curve Lake First Nation. Peterborough's First Poet Laureate Sarah Lewis will also be performing an original piece written for this event.

The majority of the event will be guest speaker Cheyenne Sundance. Sundance, the 25 year-old executive director of Sundance Harvest and full-time farmer of a three-location farm in south western Ontario, will speak on Diverse Youth Voices in Leadership. Following the presentation, there will be a 20-minute open space discussion period and the evening will wrap up with a closing prayer.

Registration is required through Eventbrite.

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INSPIRE Announces First Annual International Women’s Day Event in Peterborough

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INSPIRE is hosting their first annual International Women’s Day event on March 8 at the Waterfront Holiday Inn in Peterborough; seeking to inspire local women through the theme of equity.  

The six workshops at this event will be facilitated by inspiring female community leaders Angie Ross, Anne Taylor, Erica Richmond, Rose Terry, Rebecca Turland and Lindsay Dixon. An Artisan’s Market, featuring the works of 25 local makers, will be set up to give participants the opportunity to connect with local artisans. Megan Murphy; talented Peterborough Actor, Filmmaker, Author and Comedian will have the reins as the Emcee and Host for the day. 

The event features talks by Ashley Lamothe; winner of the PKCC 2022 President’s Award and CEO of Creative Kwe, Keynote Speaker Susan Aglukark, O.C., LL.B, Award Winning Inuk singer-songwriter and will be Emcee/Hosted by Peterborough actor, filmmaker, author and comedian Megan Murphy.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2023 of ‘equity’ is one of INSPIRE’s core values. Building on this theme, INSPIRE has created a unique and purposeful event which encourages participants to celebrate themselves and the strong women, young girls and nonbinary individuals in our communities.

INSPIRE says that tickets have been shared with local community partners, ensuring that all who wish to join have the opportunity to participate. Tickets can be purchased online at an Early Bird Price of $60 until Feb. 18.  

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Limited Tickets Available For PWHPA Game For Feb. 10

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A limited number of tickets are now available for sale for the Peterborough Petes’ first-ever school day game featuring the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Feb. 10.

File Photo.

Puck drop is at 11 a.m. for a regular season Secret® Dream Gap Tour game between Team Scotiabank and Team Harvey’s, the first of four games in the PWHPA Showcase.

“The Petes are excited to open up tickets to the general public, who have the opportunity to join thousands of local school children, educators, and Season Ticket Members on February 10 to cheer on some of the best hockey players in the world,” said Burton Lee, Petes executive director of business operations.

Tickets are available in Gibson’s Finest Club Sections C6, C8 and C21, as well as The Sandbar and start at $24.99 (plus tax and fees).

The game features the top professional and Olympic women's hockey players such as Olympic and World champions Marie-Philip Poulin, Rebecca Johnston, Blayre Turnbull, Jessie Eldridge and more.

To purchase tickets, visit the PMC Grant Thornton Box Office online, in person, or call (705) 743-3561. 

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Peterborough Petes to Host PWHPA at First-Ever School Game

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The Peterborough Petes is one of four OHL teams to host a Professional Women’s Hockey Player’s Association (PWHPA) game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) on Feb. 10 announced by the Ontario Hockey League on Wednesday.

Founded in 2019, the PWHPA features four teams comprised of 100 of the world’s best female hockey players and was formed with the goal of creating a sustainable league that provides equity, fairness, and opportunity in women’s professional hockey. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

This will be the first-ever school game hosted by the Petes. It will contain top professional and Olympic women's hockey players, including Olympic and world champion Marie-Philip Poulin, Rebecca Johnston, Blayre Turnbull, Jessie Eldridge and more. The game is a part of the PWHPA Secret Dream Gap Tour and will feature Team Harvey’s (Montreal) taking on Team Scotiabank (Calgary). 

“Last year the Petes were proud to be the first OHL team to partner with the PWHPA, and to see that initiative expand to three additional OHL markets this season is really special,” said Burton Lee, Petes executive director of business operations. “Women’s hockey is thriving and the Petes are fortunate to have the best players in the world coming to our city to play in front of thousands of Petes Season Ticket Members and local school children.” 

Petes season ticket members and suite holders are entitled to complimentary PWHPA school day game tickets up to the number of season tickets in their regular season package.

Other tickets to the game are being held for schools in the Peterborough area and will not go on sale to the general public. 

All local schools are invited to attend the PWHPA game with discounted group tickets. The following school group opportunities are available:

  • Fundraising chuck-a-puck

  • National Anthem Program

  • Intermission games and activities

  • School Skate (pre-game or post-game)

  • PWHPA Autograph Sessions

  • Interactive curriculum-based activities

  • Women's and Girls' Hockey recognition

  • And more…

To organize school tickets, email tickets@gopetesgo.com, or call (705) 743-3681 ext. 6000.

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City of Peterborough Receives $10,000 Grant For Canadian Women in Local Leadership

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The City of Peterborough has received a grant of $10,000 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Canadian Women in Local Leadership Fund for its project, ‘Faces of Leadership’ announced on Monday.

File photo.

Faces of Leadership is a collaboration between the City and the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough. It supports the development of a more diverse and inclusive understanding of leadership and will empower participants from equity-deserving groups with the knowledge, confidence, and opportunity to see themselves as leaders in our community according to the City of Peterborough.

This project focuses on women and gender-diverse individuals who experience barriers to leadership opportunities due to the intersectionality of race, gender, (dis)ability, class, and age, among other social factors as stated in the press release.

The first phase of this project from October to December 2022, identifies current leadership development models in marginalized communities and explores where leadership is learned and what is needed to cultivate leadership skills.

The project will also map the diverse journeys that are taken, particularly by Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Color (BIPOC) and members of equity-deserving groups, to arrive at leadership positions.

The second phase for January to June involves the design and delivery of a community-led Leadership Circle – a series of six interactive workshops that will be informed by the findings from the first phase of the project according to the press release.

The Leadership Circle supports participants in confidence-building and leadership skills and connecting with existing and emerging leaders in the community. Participants will be provided with opportunities to intern with a City committee, shadow a local leader, and engage with City staff. An artist rendition of the participants’ experiences and their “faces” of leadership will be revealed at an end-of-project celebration at City Hall.

“Being involved as a leader in the community can be a stepping stone on the path to municipal leadership,” Reem Ali, city diversity, equity and inclusion officer. “We know that this was indeed the case for many of our female municipal, provincial, and federal leaders. This project intends to help participants become more confident in seeing themselves as leaders in our community – in envisioning the feasibility of holding a municipal leadership position as a goal that is achievable and in getting them started on this journey.”

“A large number of women and gender-diverse individuals work in the charitable sector, and yet we see a lack in bodies that support and strengthen leadership for this group, whether at the national or local levels,” Jennifer DeBues, executive director, Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough. We seem to also be missing a clear theory of change that speaks to growing this type of leadership. Our project can help reveal some strategies for incorporating such theories and supports at the organizational and community levels. Growing this capacity means growing the path for leadership for people who not only work at these organizations but for those who are also supported by them.”

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Peterborough Senior Ladies Slo Pitch Returns With Full Season Schedule

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There are no shortened seasons this year for the Peterborough Senior Ladies Slo Pitch League as their 21st season is back to its full schedule this year on their opening day at George (Red) Sullivan East City Bowl on Wednesday.

The Archies (pictured) were defeated by Southcrest Farms 20-9 in their opening game of the 2022 season. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The league operated on an abridged schedule with 12 regular-season games (from May 11 to June 24) and playoffs last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They postponed their 2020 season.

"A lot of ladies didn't come out last year because of Covid so it's nice to almost have a full slate again which is absolutely marvellous," said Darlene Charlton, league president.

The league is back to its 16-game schedule that runs from May 11 to Aug. 24 with games every Wednesday.

This year is operating with no Covid restrictions according to Charlton which helps with the bonding process the ladies share on and off the field. Any woman 50 or older can enjoy playing the game as it was designed as an inclusive, fun yet competitive atmosphere.

"I've only been doing this for six years and I've met some great friends and everybody just has fun," said Charlton. "Every year, you meet somebody new and it's great."

Outside of baseball, the ladies often join each other in golf tournaments, euchre tournaments, picnics, casino days and theatre visits.

The following are the eight teams in this year’s league:

  • Crossman Excavating

  • The Wellness Chef

  • Crook & Coffer

  • Trentview

  • Archies

  • Southcrest Farms

  • Jack’s Restaurant

  • Kristine Laufer

Charlton took over as the league’s president after Kathryn Woodbeck stepped down from a decade of service. Woodbeck still remains involved with the league as a player and volunteer.

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

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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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Local Reporter Makes All-Female Broadcast Team For Women's Hockey Game

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Global News reporter and anchor Katrina Squazzin is going from the newsroom to the broadcast booth for a night on an all-women’s commentary team announced Tuesday.

Squazzin (pictured) joined Global News Peterborough in 2019 is from the Chatham area. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Peterborough Petes announced Squazzin as the colour commentator for the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) regional game between Team Sonnet and Team Harvey held on March 26, at 7:05 p.m.

She is joined by fellow Global colleague and sideline reporter Meaghan Roy and play-by-play commentator Julia Tocheri of TSN.

"The fact that we're able to bring a PWHPA game here to Peterborough as someone who grew up playing hockey most of my life, I think of how excited young Katrina would have been to be able to come and see a game in her hometown so I'm just so happy to be a part of it,” said Squazzin.

Squazzin became the first female colour commentator in Petes' history with Freq 90.5 on Feb. 10.

"It's definitely been a step outside of my comfort zone but I'm very thankful for the Petes for giving me the opportunity to call the Petes games and have another opportunity to grow and continue to develop this new skill," she said.

Squazzin previously did colour commentary for basketball with Mustangs TV shortly after graduating from Carleton University (majoring in journalism and law). She has worked several sports gigs such as Homestand Sports, TSN 1150 and CFL.ca both behind the scenes and as an on-camera personality.

The PWHPA broadcast will include a 30-minute pre-show featuring interviews with players, additional sports media figures, PWHPA general managers and hockey influencers from the Peterborough area.

Fans can tune into YourTV Channel 700 to catch the pre-show and entire in-game broadcast on March 26.

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Peterborough Petes Make History With First Woman Zamboni Driver

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Evelyn Johns becomes the first woman in history to drive a Zamboni during a Peterborough Petes game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) last Monday.

Evelyn Johns has driven Zambonis at several Peterborough ice rinks such as the Healthy Planet Arena, Kinsmen Arena and the now-demolished Northcrest Arena. Photo courtesy of Ken Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

Johns drove the Zamboni during the Family Day game last Monday where the Petes defeated the visiting Barrie Colts 3-2.

“I was nervous, super nervous,” said Johns. “I’ve done lots of games at the Healthy Planet Arena but it’s a lot different at the Memorial Centre. My heart started pounding with all those people watching me.”

Johns got the gig when there was an opening through Public Works. She had been working there for the past six years when a colleague recommended that she take the job.

She was familiar with being on the ice since she played ringette for many years and intermural hockey in college but being on the PMC’s Zamboni was a different feeling for her.

“It was cool. The lights were off and I could see all the cameras flashing,” said Johns. “I told my mom and dad and they were proud of me.”

She will continue to be part of a rotation of Zamboni drivers for the duration of the season.

Johns moved to Peterborough 11 years ago as a student in biotechnology and forensics at Fleming College.

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Over $200,000 in Funding Goes to YWCA Peterborough-Haliburton and Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre

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YWCA Peterborough Haliburton and the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre will receive a combined total of over $200,000 in funding from the Ontario Government announced on Thursday.

Kim Dolan (pictured) YWCA Peterborough Haliburton executive director has held her position since Feb. 2020, one month before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Screenshot.

Tee YWCA is receiving $142,949 to support the Haliburton Emergency SafeSpace (HERS) program along with an additional $8,272 for training initiatives.

The Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre will be given $55,088 to deliver crucial services and supports to survivors of human trafficking and women who experienced violence.

“The YWCA Peterborough Haliburton and Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre provide services to the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. “This funding will help ensure they can continue to deliver supports and operate local shelters during the pandemic, especially for those who are in rural and remote areas and face transportation barriers.”

The additional investment will provide agencies with more resources, strengthen culturally responsive supports for Indigenous women and reduce geographic and transportation barriers which will significantly improve access to quality care and services to victims in rural and remote communities.

Kim Dolan, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton executive director believes the pandemic has played a huge role in the growing need for women’s services in the past few years.

“I think that the uncertainty that people have been living with, are they going to be able to keep their jobs, it’s exacerbating in rural and geographical services and connecting with the community is minimized,” she said. “So all of the factors have magnified the reality of gender-based violence.”

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