Third-Annual Darkness to Light Event Brings Community Members Impacted By Suicide Together In Sunrise Gathering

Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) is hosting its third-annual Darkness To Light for community members impacted by suicide and overdose on Dec. 21 at Rogers Cove.

Photo courtesy of Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation.

The outdoor sunrise gathering marks brighter days ahead after the solstice which is the day with the smallest amount of daylight.

Julie Brown — who led last year’s event — is returning to lead the group with a message of support and a moment of silence as the sun rises on the winter solstice morning.

The event will be rain, snow or shine and is free to attend thanks to the support of Seven Hills Developments. Those wishing to attend can show up the morning of the event but are encouraged to pre-register. Organizers ask guests to arrive by 7:30 a.m. as sunrise is expected at 7:45 a.m.

“The holidays can be a difficult time for those struggling with bereavement. After feedback about how impactful the last two ceremonies have been, we are glad to be able to offer once again some comfort for people impacted by suicide and overdose in our community,” said Vince Bierworth, GPHSF executive director. “All are welcome to join us at Rogers Cove on the morning of December 21st and we would encourage people to come for 7:30 a.m., have a coffee and join us in a moment of silence as the sun rises over the lake.”

Donations can be made to the event and proceeds support the Suicide Bereavement work at Hospice Peterborough.

“Our community has been significantly impacted by suicide and overdose and we hope that this gathering will help create a space where those directly touched can come together for a quiet moment,” said Julie Brown.

“We are very grateful to GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation and Seven Hills Developments for enabling this event to take place again and offering the opportunity for people impacted by suicide and overdose deaths to come together in this meaningful, safe way,” said Hajni Hős, Hospice executive director.

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Applications Open For Steve Montador H.O.P.E Bursary For High School Students With Sports-Related Injuries

Applications for the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) H.O.P.E. Bursary in honour of Steve Montador are open with the deadline on May 1 until midnight.

(from left to right) Mike Martone (H.O.P.E.), David Graham , Eliza Graham and Chad Cavanagh (H.O.P.E.). Eliza was last year’s recipient of the bursary. Photo courtesy of Vince Bierworth and GPHSF.

The bursary is for high school students that have a reduced academic workload due to the suffering effects of sports-related injuries and are transitioning into college or university.

All applicants will be reviewed by a committee consisting of H.O.P.E., Team 55, GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation,and the Canadian Mental Health Association. All applicants will be notified of their status by May 16.

To be considered for the Bursary, you need to be:

• A student at a Peterborough City/County-based high school and registered in a first-year program at college/university

• Suffering from post-concussion syndrome sustained from a sports-related injury

• Be in satisfactory academic standing

• Have financial need

Students can apply for the bursary by downloading the registration form online.

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Mombassadors Partner With GPHSF to Raise Funds For Youth Mental Health

GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation, announced on Wednesday that they have partnered with the fundraising group the Mombassadors, with a joint goal of raising $100,000 for youth mental health programming provided by Peterborough Youth Services.

File photos.

Their first fundraiser will be an online Christmas auction that will run Dec. 8 through to Dec. 14.

The auction will feature toy bundles, gift cards, art pieces, lifestyle products and more thanks to many local businesses and Mombassador supporters.

“We are so excited to be working with GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation to support youth mental health in our community,” said Erin Marshall, Mombassadors. “GPHSF has a long history of supporting mental health programming in the community and together we are working to increase capacity and decrease wait times for children accessing mental health programming at Peterborough Youth Services. We know this pandemic has hit many children very hard and we want to ensure they have timely access to mental health programming and counselling.”

All funds raised from the Mombassadors’ Christmas auction will go directly to Peterborough Youth Services.

PYS are a non-profit social service agency that has been providing counselling and support to youth and their families locally for over forty years. With additional activities planned for the coming months from the Mombassadors and GPSHF, a goal of $100,000 will mean decreasing wait times and increasing capacity with PYS mental health programming.

“The Mombassadors are a powerhouse of passionate women dedicated to improving life for residents of our community and it is an honour to be their charitable partner,” said Laura Kennedy, Executive Director, GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation. “Youth Mental Health programming has been an area we have been funding for a number of years and we are excited to be setting a goal of $100,000 to raise with the Mombassadors.”

GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation, works to enable the Peterborough community to improve and increase their control over health, by funding initiatives that broaden equity and access to healthcare. As a non-profit Foundation their vision is to fund and support programs that positively impact the social determinants of health.

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Blue Rodeo To Play Memorial Centre December 28th, Portion Of Proceeds To GPHSF

The Peterborough Memorial Centre and GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation, has announced that Blue Rodeo will be performing at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Friday, December, 28th with special guests.  

“We are so thrilled to have the iconic Canadian band Blue Rodeo coming to play at the Peterborough Memorial Centre,” says Laura Kennedy, Executive Director, GPHSF. “It is a privilege for us to be able to partner on this event with the Peterborough Memorial Centre and we are very grateful that a portion of ticket sales will be invested in local health care across Peterborough City and County. 

Photo via Blue Rodeo Facebook page

With their 14th Warner Music Canada studio album, 1000 Arms, Blue Rodeo’s successes include induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame (2012), receiving a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award (2014) and selling in excess of four million records over the years.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, September 20th in person at the Collins Barrow Box Office inside the PMC, by phone 705-743-3561 and online at memorialcentre.ca. 

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DBIA Featured Post: Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF)

If you live in or around Peterborough and have a pulse, then surely you have dealt with some part of our cities great healthcare team at some time or another. Behind every great team is a great coach and management, which is exactly what the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) can be considered. Located at 150 King St, the foundation formerly known as the St. Joseph’s Care Foundation has been an integral part of our community for almost 30 years now.

In a nutshell, the foundation is a major fundraiser for healthcare equipment, education, research and innovative programs that help the community’s health care team give its patients the best treatment possible.

The foundation consists of a team of tireless workers, including Executive director Hannah Routly, Fundraising and Communications Coordinator Carol Lawless, Board Chair Laura Boden, and physician lead ambassador Dr. Don Harterre to name just a few. On top of these positions are a long list of tremendous volunteers who aid in improving the community based health care system that the GPHSF aims to put forth.

Along with its fundraising efforts, the GPHSF also works behind the scenes in our community in creating and fostering a team like atmosphere with every branch of healthcare. From nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and mental health clinicians, to medical secretaries, dieticians, and family physicians, they help combine the expertise of a team working together to provide you with the right care, when you need it, same day or at a time convenient to you.

This overall team effort has been helping to make things better in our community for years now and the GPHSF is actually the first foundation in Canada to support such a family health care team.

One of the GPHSF's major events held yearly is the Peterborough Speaker Series. This year's event, titled Fire Starters, is taking place on April 16th at Market Hall. Previously the GPHSF has also been a part of the Festival of Trees and the Freedom 55 Financial charity golf tournament.

A few of the initiatives and items that the GPHSF has been a major part in assisting with are the incredible Partners in Pregnancy clinic, which works with many women in our community going through various phases of pregnancy. They have also recently raised money to purchase ophthalmology equipment, 17 automated external defibrillators, 40 pulse oximeters, and 20 patient transport chairs that are all located across the city helping our healthcare team put forth the greatest care possible.

For more information on GPHSF, and to find out about volunteer opportunities, go to:
Website: Gphsf.ca
Twitter: @Gphsf
Facebook: Gphsf
Phone: 705.740.8074

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott