A clinician scientist, a physiotherapist, and a soccer coach are among those on the roster of panellists for Peterborough’s inaugural concussion summit.

Peterborough Athletic Concussion Awareness (PACA) and the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) are hosting the Peterborough Concussion Summit from noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28 at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.

Presented by Gowland, Boriss Injury Lawyers with financial support from the Ontario Brain Institute, the event features an array of speakers who will be sharing their knowledge about concussions. Helping kids who experience a concussion to recover safely is a key purpose behind the summit.

“We’re thrilled to bring together such an outstanding group of concussion experts representing every sector that supports a student or athlete after an injury,” PACA project manager Ryan Sutton told kawarthaNOW.

“Each panel features professionals who can speak directly to the key issues within their area of expertise. Together, these perspectives will create dynamic discussions that are not only informative, but also thought-provoking and complementary across the day.”

The event is designed to bring together educators, healthcare professionals, coaches, parents, athletes, and students for meaningful conversations and practical learning around concussion management and recovery.

All panel sessions will be moderated by Dr. Steph Dallaire. A local family doctor with the Peterborough Family Health Team and the longest-standing member the PACA panel, Dallaire is one of the most knowledgeable people locally on the topic of concussions, organizers noted in a media release.

“Dr. Dallaire brings unique insights and thoughtful questions that will make each discussion even more valuable,” Sutton added.

Those who attend the summit can expect evidence-based sessions on managing concussions in both school and sport settings. There will be networking opportunities for students, coaches, clinics, and practitioners.

Attendees can expect cross-sector collaboration among teachers, clinicians, and sport leaders, and acquire tools for supporting persistent symptoms and navigating complex recoveries.

The “Return to Learn” panel will cover topics including how schools can support students with academic accommodations, what teachers and staff should look for as symptoms linger, and how healthcare providers and educators can work together to ease students back into learning.

The panellists are Andie Hickling (research manager and occupational therapist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital), and Janice Runza (registered nurse and health and wellbeing advisor at Lakefield College School), with one additional panelist to be announced.

The “Return to Play” panel brings together clinicians, coaches, and sport leaders to share step-by-step return-to-play protocols, warning signs that can’t be ignored, and practical guidance for parents and athletes.

The panellists are Paul Hunter (CEO of Wheelchair Rugby Canada, Rowan’s Law advisory committee member, and Rowan’s Law working group member), Scott Cockburn (coach and president of the East Central Ontario Soccer Association), and Connor Massimo (physiotherapist, FCAMPT, and co-founder of Pulse Physiotherapy).

The “Fostering Stronger Connections Between Classrooms, Sports, and Healthcare” panel will explore how healthcare providers and sport leaders can better coordinate concussion management, why stronger links to the school environment are critical for student recovery, and practical strategies to build more consistent communication and support across sectors.

The panellists are Judy Gargaro (director at the Neurotrauma Care Pathways Initiative), Dr. Shannon Scratch (senior clinician scientist with Bloorview Research Institute, clinical neuropsychologist with the Brain Injury Rehab Team at Holland Family Professorship, associate professor with the department of pediatrics and associate professor with the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the at University of Toronto, and Mercedes Watson (director at the Coaching Association of Ontario).

A list of all panellists, as well as the keynote speaker for the event, will be announced before the event.

Registration for the summit is $24 for adults and $14 for students (includes venue fees), with lunch and snacks included as part of registration. All money raised through the summit will be directed towards future concussion awareness and education events through the GPHSF Concussion Fund.

For more information and to register, visit www.paca.health/education/peterborough-concussion-summit/.

Executive director Ashley Safar can’t wait to open the doors of the Peterborough Community Health Centre (PCHC) and usher community members inside for a peek at what’s been going on behind the scenes in preparation for the official opening of the downtown Peterborough clinic.

The PCHC is hosting a grand opening celebration from 1 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday (October 7) at the centre, which is located in Peterborough Square at 360 George Street North.

The free drop-in event will include a ribbon cutting and opening ceremony featuring Kathy MacLeod-Beaver, a traditional knowledge holder from Alderville First Nation, along with traditional women’s hand drumming by Naandewegaan, in the outside courtyard at George and Simcoe streets, followed by a soup tasting inside the building and opportunities to tour the newly renovated space, meet the team, and learn about upcoming services and programs.

“We’re really excited to open our doors to community,” Safar told kawarthaNOW. “For a long time, people in Peterborough have been asking for a community health centre and now we have this space that’s designed to be welcoming, inclusive, and culturally safe, and a place where everybody can feel respected and supported in their wellness journey.”

“We’re looking at health from a holistic perspective,” she added, noting the centre weaves together Indigenous knowledge and western medicine to support holistic well-being. “It’s not just a clinic — it’s a hub for healing, connection, and community.”

The PCHC has been “thoughtfully designed” by Unity Design Studio (formerly Lett Architects) to reflect the diversity of the community it serves. Built by Mortlock Construction Inc., the centre is located on two accessible floors in the mall, occupying the space previously held by TD Canada Trust and the space just below the former branch.

Safar earlier told kawarthaNOW the PCHC’s central location alone increases accessibility, may contribute to a better feeling of safety for residents, and will be supportive of downtown businesses.

“The fact we will be downtown will help support the vibe in the downtown core for folks who are directly accessing the PCHC, but I think there are also going to be a lot of indirect benefits for the community,” she said.

The PCHC will offer a wide range of services under one roof, including primary care, traditional healing, community programming, and advocacy supports. Services are designed to meet people “where they are,” especially those who face barriers to care.

“Healthcare should be a doorway, not a barrier,” Safar said in a statement. “This centre was created with reconciliation at its heart. By blending traditional healing with western healthcare, we aim to improve not just individual health, but the health of our entire community.”

A non-profit, community-governed organization, the PCHC provides the community with a combination of primary health care services, free community programs, and community development initiatives. In February 2024, the provincial government announced it was providing about $4.8 million in annual funding for the PCHC.

The centre’s mandate is to provide care for priority populations, which include people who are without a primary care provider and who identify as belonging to one or more of the following groups: Indigenous individuals, racialized groups or communities, individuals with physical or mental disabilities (including those experiencing mental health conditions or substance use challenges), members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, individuals experiencing homelessness, newcomers (including immigrants and refugees), individuals living in geographically or physically isolated areas who face barriers to accessing care, and individuals living in conditions of extreme poverty.

The clinic’s comprehensive approach to healthcare includes a team of traditional healers, doctors, nurse practitioners, dietitians, social workers, and more to support people’s individual health needs. People can access community programs, mental health support, social activities, chronic disease education, and more. Services and programs are available at no cost to clients.

Indigenous clients can access culturally specific programs and find opportunities to engage in ceremony, as well as learning from traditional knowledge holders and connecting with elders.

In addition to providing healthcare and wellness services, the PCHC will address and advocate for priorities such as housing and food insecurity to foster a healthier community.

Currently, the PCHC is working with a limited number of clients from its priority populations, through referral-based intakes from its group of partners. Safar declined to provide on how many people the clinic has rostered to date as it’s evolving, she said.

The centre plans to broaden its client base as it grows, and Safar encourages people who don’t have a family doctor or primary care provider to register through the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Health Care Connect program, as the clinic will be drawing from that registry when it’s ready to expand its client intake.

For more information about the PCHC, visit www.ptbochc.ca.

Peterborough resident Betty Halman-Plumley might be celebrating 20 years at IG Wealth Management, but it’s a lot more than her clients and their financial legacies that she has championed throughout the past two decades. With years spent being involved in local organizations in various capacities, she has been a visionary committed to making the community a better place.

To share her appreciation to her clients and to the community, Halman-Plumley is hosting an Afternoon Tea event from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 26 at The Mount Community Centre in Peterborough.

“I have lots of energy and passion for what I’m doing, so it doesn’t feel like work,” she says. “Working with three generations of families is something I’m passionate about, including setting up legacies with families while people are living and healthy. The bow on that is when we know everyone’s taken care of — the family, their kids’ families, and future generations — we can ask clients if there’s any way to add another element by giving back to the community as a family.”

Born and raised in Peterborough as a first-generation Dutch Canadian and the eldest of four siblings, Halman-Plumley appreciates how hard people work for their money and, as a proud mother and oma, she recognizes the importance of building a financial legacy for families. Her team at IG Wealth Management specializes in providing intergenerational wisdom, wealth, estate, and legacy planning for families, with special care and planning for elderly members.

Prior to becoming a financial consultant in 2005, Halman-Plumley had previously worked in support of families. She spent 25 years at the Peterborough Family Resource Centre, where she implemented several initiatives and was the executive director during the Ontario Early Years Centre designation process.

When she became interested in exploring and expanding her skillset, she moved into the financial planning industry after recognizing the value she and her husband Ken received as clients of IG Wealth Management.

“As we started a growing family, I recognized the benefits of having someone provide financial planning at every stage of our family’s life,” she says. “I thought there’s a good connection there with my previous work with families and being able to support families even further through financial planning.”

One of many reasons Halman-Plumley is proud to be working at IG Wealth Management is because the company is like “a big city with a small-town feel,” where there’s always someone available to answer the phone.

“I’ve talked to many advisors who come to IG from big companies and firms, and they say IG is like the Lamborghini in the garage because of the level of sophisticated planning and support we offer to our clients” she says.

Next year, IG Wealth will be celebrating 100 years as a Canadian planning company.

“I work alongside a trusted team of accountants, lawyers, and wealth and estate planning specialists to provide my clients with holistic, coordinated advice. As a team, we ensure that every aspect of our client’s financial life — from tax and legal to long-term legacy planning — is aligned with their goals.”

“I am pleased to be working with an incredible team — my assistant Kelley Giusti and planning assistant Anthony Bordignon — who play a key role in supporting our clients,” Halman-Plumley adds. “Together, we provide seamless administrative support and deliver comprehensive financial planning solutions, ensuring our clients receive the highest level of service and care.”

In 2016, Halman-Plumley was approached by IG Wealth Management Regional Director Glenn James to be the Division Director / Branch Manager for the company’s new George Street office in downtown Peterborough, a role she says she “happily” filled until 2024.

Always eager to keep learning, throughout her career Halman-Plumley has earned a number of credentials and designations, including Elder Planning Counselor (EPC), Registered Retirement Consultant (RRC), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

With a “heart for God” who sees her work with families as an extension of her faith, Halman-Plumley also most recently earned a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) designation, which tells clients and prospective clients that she is trained to help them align Christian values with their financial planning.

As she has earned these achievements over the past 20 years, she has paved her way in an industry that is largely male-dominated.

“Women are still the minority, but IG is really leading the way with women in this industry,” she says. “Many years ago, it was all men presenting on the mainstage at conferences, and I remember putting in my evaluation, ‘Where are the women?’ Now there’s probably more women presenting than men.”

Throughout her career, from leading programs for fathers at the Peterborough Family Resource Centre to finding ways to get more women working in the financial industry, Halman-Plumley has been determined to engage all perspectives, including all ages, genders, and experiences.

This is the philosophy she brings to the number of community initiatives with which she has been involved, including the Woman’s Business Network of Peterborough (Halman-Plumley was the 2011 president and the Member of the Year in 2013), St. Anne’s Church, Kawartha Child Care Services, School for Young Moms, Alternative Community Program Services, the Festival of Trees, and many more.

As the past president for the Rotary Club of Peterborough — one of five female presidents in the affiliate’s more than a century history — Halman-Plumley strived to include a range of perspectives on the board and when considering the club’s recently unveiled legacy project.

Called Project ROAR, the community-driven $1.5 million campaign to create an inclusive, accessible playground at the Riverview Park and Zoo — which was founded by Rotarian Ross Dobbin in 1933. The design of the transformative project will invite people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the space, by widening pathways for those using strollers and mobility devices, adding even surfaces, and including a comfortable and shaded viewing area for parents and guardians.

“It’s a beautiful partnership between the Riverview Park and Zoo and Rotary and a way that people can learn and feel supported and be inspired while they’re there,” Halman-Plumley says. “All families and the whole community will benefit.”

For more information on the project and to donate, visit www.peterboroughrotary.ca/page/rotary-accessible-playground.

Along with being a Rotarian since 2012, Halman-Plumley continues to find new ways to use her leadership and passion for the betterment of the community, including by recently joining the board of The Mount Community Centre, a non-profit organization motivated by poverty reduction and community development.

“My parents came to this country and I’m just so grateful for that and for what the community has offered my family,” she says. “I’m passionate about families and women and children, so I give back with my time and money because helping people thrive is a real passion for me. I also want to inspire and mentor other women and want to be a role model for my family.”

When she has free time when not working or volunteering, Halman-Plumley loves to travel, read, walk, play golf, dance, and spend time with her family — including her three children and two granddaughters all living in Vancouver — and her close circle of good friends.

“I have lots of amazing women in my life who are leaders in this community,” Halman-Plumley says. “When we get together regularly, we support each other, we have fun together, and we share successes and lessons learned. I wouldn’t be able to do it without the support of the incredible people in my life.”

That’s why she is hosting the community gathering on October 26 — to show appreciation for the people who have supported her in the past two decades and beyond.

Celebrating 20 “incredible” years with IG Wealth Management and over 40 years giving back to this community, Halman-Plumley says she is proud of her journey and is excited to see what the next 20 years will bring.

“I just want to be able to say thank you,” she says. “Thank you clients, thank you community, and thank you to everyone for supporting me through these past twenty years and through all my life.”

This branded editorial was created in partnership with Betty Halman-Plumley — IG Wealth Management. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.

As Trent University’s 54th annual Head of the Trent weekend begins, the Peterborough police and the university are asking students and residents to celebrate “safely and respectfully” and to expect to see a larger-than-normal police presence both on and off-campus during the weekend.

The annual weekend, which features competitive rowing, Excalibur varsity games, alumni gatherings, and family-friendly activities, draws thousands of alumni, students, family, and friends to the university’s Symons Campus as well as to downtown Peterborough.

Trent University’s associate vice president of students Lawrence Lam and Peterborough police staff sergeant Mark Reesor spoke at a media conference Friday morning (October 3) at police headquarters on Water Street in downtown Peterborough.

“The annual Head of the Trent weekend, this weekend, is a time-honoured tradition to celebrate all things green and white with Trent University,” Lam said. “We have alumni and athletes coming in from all over the world back to Peterborough, back to campus, which is a huge boost to our community, our restaurants, our hotels and shops.”

Since it began in 1971 with just 13 boats, the Head of the Trent regatta has grown into one of the largest head races in North America, with more than 800 boats and 1,400 athletes competing along the five-kilometre course on the Trent-Severn Waterway.

As it does every year, Trent University “encourages all participants to celebrate safely and responsibly on campus and throughout the city. Trent works closely with the City of Peterborough, student unions, and local emergency services to ensure the weekend is safe and enjoyable for all.”

Past weekends have been marred by raucous parties attended by hundreds of students, as well as isolated incidents of mischief, theft, and nuisance in downtown Peterborough.

In addition to attending parties, many students traditionally head to downtown Peterborough on Saturday night to socialize and celebrate at the bars.

In preparation for the weekend, Peterborough police have been working over the past few months with fire and paramedics and the City of Peterborough’s emergency management, transit and board of works to develop a coordinated response during the weekend.

According to Reesor, the police response includes increased staffing levels, with the crowd management unit, the volunteer auxiliary unit, and paid duty officers who will be located both on and off-campus “so that we can respond quickly and adequately to any situations that we’re required to.”

“Trent’s very graciously stepped up and paid the bill for these additional officers because they recognize that, both and off campus, some of the people that are coming into the city are here because of the Head of the Trent weekend,” Reesor said.

In addition to the crowd management unit and the auxiliary unit, Reesor said there will be four officers on campus and seven officers in the city, with an additional four officers in the city at night.

Part of the advance planning has included meetings with neighbours and students, with the auxiliary unit visiting areas that have seen large student parties in past years to offer suggestions to neighbours on improving property safety.

While no road closures are planned during the weekend, Reesor said they are possible if required to ensure the safety of students and residents.

For more information about the Head of the Trent weekend, including a schedule of events and activities, visit www.trentu.ca/headofthetrent.