Northumberland County residents and visitors can help support treatment and services for local children by hitting the drive-through or dining inside at area McDonald’s on May 8.

Five Counties Children’s Centre is happy to announce it’s the beneficiary of this year’s McHappy Day fundraiser organized by the fast-food restaurant.

“To our knowledge, this is a first for Five Counties,” Bill Eekhof, spokesperson for Five Counties Children’s Centre, told kawarthaNOW.

The children’s treatment centre was chosen as the local children’s charity that will benefit from the annual campaign that launches on April 1. The highlight of the fundraising campaign will be McHappy Day on May 8 at the McDonald’s locations in Cobourg and Port Hope.

“We are extremely grateful to McDonald’s restaurants in Port Hope and Cobourg for choosing Five Counties to be the beneficiary of the annual McHappy Day campaign in Northumberland,” said Scott Pepin, CEO of Five Counties Children’s Centre, in a media release.

“Fundraising efforts like this one allow Five Counties to serve more kids, ensuring they can get the care they need when they need it.”

All money raised from McHappy Day for Five Counties will go towards its Building Abilities For Life campaign, which funds priority, high-demand services like speech therapy and occupational therapy in an effort to reduce long wait times.

“We are thrilled to have Five Counties Children’s Centre as our designated charity for 2024,” said Lisa Wilson, owner and operator of the McDonald’s restaurants in Cobourg and Port Hope.

“Our amazing teams in Port Hope and Cobourg look forward to serving our guests and supporting Five Counties Children’s Centre and Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) as they make a difference for the children and families in our communities.”

Wilson’s Port Hope and Cobourg restaurants have raised more than $145,000 since 2014 for local children’s charities and RMHC through McHappy Day.

Lyn Giles, director of fund development at Five Counties, said visiting McDonald’s on McHappy Day “sends a strong message of support to our kids and families that they matter, and that the community believes in them.”

Five Counties Children’s Centre has supported children and youth with physical, developmental and communications needs for nearly 50 years. Last year, Five Counties provided treatment services for more than 1,615 children and youth in Northumberland County.

In total, across its entire region which includes Northumberland, as well as Peterborough, Haliburton County and the City of Kawartha Lakes, more than 6,200 children and youth benefited last year from the centre’s programs, that include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and other treatment services.

Every year, McDonald’s restaurants across Canada support local children’s charities by collecting donations and dedicating to them a portion of sales on McHappy Day. In 2023, McHappy Day raised more than $7.5 million across Canada for RMHC, as well as local children’s charities.

To support Five Counties, local residents are encouraged to visit McDonald’s in Cobourg or Port Hope. On May 8, Five Counties staff, volunteers, families and supporters will be at McDonald’s locations to collect donations and thank visitors for dropping by.

Two days after the Ontario government tabled its 2024 budget, Premier Doug Ford has announced changes to the 38 parliamentary assistants at Queen’s Park — including Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith.

“By supporting ministers with legislative and committee responsibilities or taking on important projects with dedicated leadership, parliamentary assistants play a critical role in delivering on our plan to rebuild Ontario’s economy,” Ford say in a media release on Thursday afternoon (March 28).

“With today’s announcement, I’m thrilled to recognize and showcase our team’s in-depth experience, which will help us continue to get it done for the people of Ontario.”

Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith has been appointed as the parliamentary assistant to the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, a role currently held by Vaughan-Woodbridge MP Michael A. Tibollo.

He was previously the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport,

Since being elected, Smith has been an advocate for dealing with the opioid crisis in Peterborough, including supporting the consumption and treatment site in downtown Peterborough and a new 12-bed drug detox and treatment facility in northeast Peterborough expected to open this spring.

Despite having now been served a formal trespass notice, Food Not Bombs Peterborough will return to Confederation Square this Monday evening (April 1).

That’s the word from longtime group volunteer Myles Conner, who was personally served the notice last Monday as Food Not Bombs did what it as done for close to 19 years: serve free meals to those in need while bringing wider attention to the fact that there are many people in the community without enough to eat.

The notice, which was served to Conner by two city-contracted security guards, is the first that Food Not Bombs has received. It comes after two previous Monday visits — the first on March 4 — by security guards that saw the group advised it was in contravention of the city’s Parks and Facilities By-law, adopted in 2019 to curb overnight tenting on municipal property by people experiencing homelessness.

The notice, addressed to “Food Not Bombs (the owners and operators of a large red tent structure and food premises)”, says the group has erected or been within a structure, hut or tent in a park without a permit contrary to the bylaw, and is selling, offering, exposing or advertising for sale of food or drink without a permit, again contrary to the bylaw.

It goes on to read Food Not Bombs is “directed to immediately stop contravening” the bylaw and must “immediately remove from the park the tent structure and its contents as well as any food or drink associated. You are directed to leave the park immediately and not to re-enter the park at any time until September 2, 2024.”

The notice doesn’t indicate why the September date has been designated, although the by-law stipulates that a trespass notice issued under the by-law can prohibit access to a park “for a period not exceeding six months” — September 2 would be around six months after Food Not Bombs was first verbally advised on March 4 that it was trespassing.

The notice does not indicate what would be required of the group should it return to the park after that date, nor does it mention what the amount of any fine would be if Food Not Bombs contravenes the notice. However, the by-law states that “each person” who contravenes the by-law is committing an offence and, upon conviction, could be subject to a fine of between $200 and $10,000 “for each day or part of a day on which the offence commences or continues.”

kawarthaNOW reached out city councillor Joy Lachica, a vocal proponent of Food Not Bombs, for comment on this latest turn of events. She declined comment, noting she’s “still working on some things on that front.”

Two days after the first security guard-issued verbal warning on March 4, Will Pearson, another Food Not Bombs volunteer, received an email from Mayor Jeff Leal that provided clarity on the permit requirement and noted the city first raised the matter with Food Not Bombs on February 12.

“The permit process helps keep our community safe by ensuring that aspects such as fire safety, electrical setups, the location of structures, and other considerations are agreed upon for the use of public space,” wrote Mayor Leal.

“After three weeks, a permit application had not been started. Since the group did not have a permit, it was asked to remove its tent and tables from Confederation Square on March 4, and given information on how to get a permit for its activity.”

In a subsequent email to kawarthaNOW, Conner stated he was unaware of any communication from the City of Peterborough that was provided to the group on February 12.

“Maybe the city ordered someone to inform us but I have checked in with each other person helping that night and none of us have any recollection of (this) occurring,” Conner says, adding that it is possible the notice was handed to a “random person” who was not part of the group.

Conner met with the city in early March before the formal notice was served. He now says it will be business as usual moving forward, with the group having no intention to apply for a permit.

City serves trespass notice to Foods Not Bombs on March 25, 2024 (video by Esther Vincent)

“I think they have better things to spend their time on,” Conner says, referring to city staff. “They did say that coming to a good solution is actually worth their time. They recognize that our situation might apply to other groups (and could) use it as case scenario to do some work on.”

“They made the rule (by-law) in 2019. It hasn’t applied to us until now. How much democratic review has the by-law gone under? I asked about ticket challenges. Nobody has been challenging their tickets. People just get them and don’t pay them because they’re mostly homeless people. By-laws against people with nothing have absolutely no power.”

Acknowledging “We don’t know what’s going to happen this Monday,” Conner notes Food Not Bombs in Houston, Texas “finally got an injunction after 78 tickets. They’re on their way to making precedent.”

“Activism is done a lot of the time by challenging unjust laws,” Conner points out.

“I think it would be worthwhile to get a ticket and challenge it. I’ve already got a lineup of people saying ‘I will pay for your ticket.’ I have got several lawyers saying ‘I will defend your ticket.'”

“I don’t need 80 tickets, like Houston, but I also think our city is a lot more reasonable and lot more friendly. The spirit of our town is way different that.”

“I think there’s a way for everybody to come out ahead,” Connor notes. “It’s up to city staff. I don’t know what they’re planning — we’ll see what happens. All I can do is say ‘Yeah, we’ll get a ticket and we’ll defend it. If you try to push us out, we’ll make an example of you.'”

Formed in 2005, Food Not Bombs Peterborough collects surplus food from farmers, gardeners, grocers, bulk food stores, bakers, and the community at large and then, at All Saints Anglican Church, prepares a meal that is transported each Monday night to Confederation Square. The free meals feed, on average, about 50 people.

The wholly volunteer-driven group’s stated mission is to “defend and reclaim community, sovereignty and food justice from the jaws of poverty and war.”

Should the group be forced to leave Confederation Square for lack of a permit, it will mark the second time it has been moved. It earlier served food in the lobby of City Hall before it was deemed the lobby has to be free of any obstructions during Monday night council meetings in the event of a fire or other emergency.

Peterborough students managing the aftermath of a concussion and registered to pursue a post-secondary education can apply for a bursary.

In honour of the late Steve Montador, the Helping Others Participate Equally (HOPE) bursary was established to support students transitioning from high school to college or university who are suffering the long-term effects of a sports-related concussion and require a reduced academic course load as result of injury.

Montador — a former Peterborough Pete, NHL defenceman, and a HOPE board member and supporter — suffered concussions playing hockey, which ultimately ended his career. Prior to his death in February 2015 at age 35, Montador was very vocal about his struggles and his depression, and he made a commitment to be an advocate for others.

An autopsy found Montador suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive and fatal brain disease associated with repeated traumatic brain injuries including concussions and repeated blows to the head.

Students at a Peterborough city or county-based high school and registered in a first-year program at college or university can apply for the bursary. Applications are now open.

Vince Bierworth, executive director of GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation, said the bursary initiative is significant for a few reasons.

“This bursary is important because it provides support to students transitioning from high school to post secondary who are experiencing the long-term effects of concussion,” Bierworth said.

“It helps draw awareness to the fact that there are student athletes out there who are having this experience. It’s also important to everyone involved in HOPE to honour and pay tribute to (Montador), who was not only a member of HOPE, but a friend and advocate.”

The first recipient of the bursary was in 2018.

“Our hope for this year, as it is each year, is to be able to support as many students as we can who are pursuing post-secondary education but require a reduced workload due to sports related-concussion,” Bierworth explained.

“The best part of this bursary is seeing the students, who are on their road to recovery, having some of the financial burden of post secondary lifted off their shoulders so that they are more able to focus on their recovery.”

Applications close on May 1 at midnight. All applicants will be reviewed by a committee consisting of HOPE, Team 55, GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation, and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Applicants will be notified of their status by May 20.

To be considered for the bursary, a person needs to be:

• A student at a Peterborough city or county high school and registered in a first-year program at college or university
• Suffering from post-concussion syndrome sustained from a sports-related injury
• Be in satisfactory academic standing
• Have financial need.

Students who meet the above requirements and would like to apply for the bursary can download the registration form at gphsf.ca/stevemontador/.

After Montador’s unexpected death, his friends and fellow board members of HOPE established the bursary initiative.

Montador’s story is the subject of the 2017 book by Ken Dryden titled Game Change: The Life and Death of Steve Montador, and the Future of Hockey.

Good Friday is a statutory holiday across Canada, so all government offices and services, malls and big box stores, and beer and liquor stores are closed. Almost all grocery stores are also closed, while most drug stores remain open. On Easter Sunday, most drug stores and a few grocery stores are open, while almost everything else is closed. On Easter Monday, some government offices and services remain closed, but all beer stores, grocery stores, and malls and big box stores resume normal hours, and a few liquor stores are open in larger communities.

For your convenience, we provide this list of holiday hours for 288 selected businesses, services, and organizations across the Kawarthas. This information comes from their websites and social media accounts, which may or may not be up to date, so please always call them first to confirm their hours (we’ve included phone numbers), especially where you see “call to confirm” (which means the business did not indicate specific holiday hours) or if you are travelling any distance.

If your business or organization is listed and the hours are incorrect, please let us know by using our content feedback form. We do not have the hours for restaurants in this list as there are far too many to include.

Note: Holiday hours for Foodland grocery stores have been corrected based on updated from the Foodland website.

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If you live in Peterborough and want to get a jump on your spring yard cleaning over the Easter long weekend, you can once again put your leaf and yard waste out to the curb for collection next week.

The city’s yard waste collection service begins on Tuesday (April 2) and will continue until the last week of November on your regular collection day.

Residents can put out unlimited quantities of yard waste in labelled reusable containers, bushel baskets, or paper yard waste bags. Plastic bags will not be accepted.

Brush can be tied in bundles weighing not more than 13 kilograms (30 pounds), with a length of up to one metre (three feet) and a diameter of up to 30.5 centimetres (12 inches). The same weight restriction applies for yard waste in reusable containers, which must have two fixed handles and an easily removable lid.

If you put your yard waste in reusable containers, they must have two clearly identifiable yellow labels attached that identify the contents as yard waste. The yellow labels are available for free at Peterborough City Hall (500 George St. N.) from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Note that City Hall will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Yard waste should be put out after 6 p.m. the night before, or no later than 7 a.m. the morning of, your regular waste collection day.

A Hastings resident is being recognized for her efforts as a good citizen.

Carrie Hayward, who has “worked around the clock” to help people facing mental and physical challenges and to advocate for those who are marginalized, has received a nod from the provincial government for her volunteer contributions.

Hayward is among 13 recipients who were presented with the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship for 2021 and 2022 by lieutenant governor Edith Dumont and citizenship and multiculturalism minister Michael Ford during a ceremony Monday (March 25) at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.

The second highest honour awarded by the provincial government, the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship recognizes exceptional civic leadership and volunteerism that has had a lasting impact on recipients’ communities and the province.

Hayward is a former board member and current volunteer at LOFT Community Services.

“Carrie Hayward has worked around the clock to help people facing mental and physical challenges,” a government media release stated.

“Her crowning achievement is the construction of Bradford House, which provides housing for up to 100 at-risk seniors and homeless individuals. A fierce advocate for the marginalized, she strongly campaigns for the dignity they deserve. Carrie’s time, effort and support will be a lasting legacy.”

In addition to her work with LOFT, Hayward also serves as chair of Campbellford Memorial Hospital’s (CMH) board of directors.

She retired from the Ontario public service sector, following her tenure as the assistant deputy minister of the regional operations division for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Hayward also previously held senior executive roles in the province’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Community and Social Services, as well as working for Anishinabek Nation as its health director.

Her family roots in Campbellford date back to 1906 with the arrival of her great-grandparents. Hayward began cottaging in the Trent Hills area 30 years ago and has called it home for more than a decade.

“(Hayward) views CMH as an integral part of our region and contributing to the hospital’s current and future success enables her to give back to the community,” CMH stated.

The Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship is intended to honour individuals for their exceptional long-term efforts and outstanding contributions to the well-being of their communities throughout the province.

An independent advisory council reviews each nomination and selects the candidates. The lieutenant governor is the advisory council’s honorary chair.

Since 1973, 573 people from across Ontario have been invested with the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship.

Local philanthropists Martin and Denise Pick have made another donation to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation — this time a $1 million donation the regional hospital has invested in minimally invasive surgical tools and state-of-the-art diagnostic technology.

The hospital’s women’s and children’s unit was named after the couple in honour of the donation during a private family event on Tuesday (March 26).

“Martin and Denise believe in the power of philanthropy to make their hospital and hometown great,” said PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway in a media release. “They have a long history of making transformational gifts and their generosity has been shaping the future of health care in this region for years. We’re beyond grateful for their continued support.”

The couple have long-standing relationships with PRHC both as volunteers, with Martin a former PRHC Foundation board member, and donors. In 2019, PRHC unveiled the Martin and Denise Pick Learning Centre, a 4,300-square-foot centre to support multidisciplinary health care training and education initiatives at the hospital. Most of the $3.1 million cost of the centre was donated by the Picks.

Both that donation and the $1 million donation announced on Tuesday were made through the Remembering Otto and Marie Pick Charitable Foundation, a family charitable fund named for Martin’s father and mother. Martin’s father died from his third heart attack in 1959 at the age of 54.

“Denise and I feel that the quality of health care available in a community is tied to its overall quality of life — to its ability to grow and prosper,” Martin said. “We want to help make sure the doctors and nurses at PRHC have the tools they need to deliver the best care. To do that, we need to support them and give them the equipment that will allow them to innovate.”

“The more we can do to support PRHC, the more we can help improve health care for patients from Peterborough and our surrounding communities,” Denise added. “We hope our donation encourages others to join us.”

The Picks’ $1 million donation has allowed PRHC to upgrade one of four general operating suites with state-of-the-art minimally invasive surgical tools, Heighway said. As technology and equipment is not covered by government funding, hospitals rely on the generosity of community donors to acquire it — something that also helps PRHC attract top health care professionals to work at the hospital.

According to PRHC general surgeon Dr. Joslin Cheverie, the investment “has given my colleagues and I access to brand new, leading-edge equipment to perform cancer surgeries” and has enabled the hospital to introduce fluorescence-guided imaging to general surgery.

“This new, specialized system is letting us operate with increased precision,” she said. “It’s an advancement that has tremendous potential for the treatment of bowel and other cancers.”

The $1 million donation has also helped fund two new leading-edge CT (computed tomography) scanners that support safer and more accurate diagnosis by generating higher quality and more comprehensive images.

The donation is also helping PRHC treat more urgent and chronic conditions like cancer, stroke, and traumatic injury without invasive surgery through the expansion and upgrading of the hospital’s interventional radiology suites.

“It’s so encouraging to have the support of people like Martin and Denise Pick, who care as much about our health care future as we do and are willing to invest in us and the technology we need to make our vision a reality,” said PRHC president and CEO Dr. Lynn Mikula.