In the Nurse-Family Partnership program, public health nurses visit young first-time mothers at home during their pregnancy and the first two years of their child's life. The program is available for pregnant women 24 years old or younger who are having their first baby, have been pregnant for under 28 weeks or less, and are experiencing financial hardship or limited resources. (Photo via McMaster University's School of Nursing)
Two health units in the Kawarthas region are working with Hamilton’s McMaster University to deliver a program where public health nurses visit young first-time mothers at home during their pregnancy and the first two years of their child’s life.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health are joining five public health units in Ontario that are currently delivering the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which has been shown to improve the health, well-being, and self-sufficiency of first-time parents and their children.
Already evaluated in the United States over the past 40 years, the evidence-based program has been adapted for Canada by McMaster University’s School of Nursing and is being evaluated in partnership with health units and health authorities in British Columbia and Ontario.
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The free public health service is available for pregnant women 24 years old or younger who are having their first baby, have been pregnant for under 28 weeks or less, and are experiencing financial hardship or limited resources.
The program sees participants visited by a public health nurse throughout their pregnancy, continuing until their child reaches two years of age.
Over this time, an expecting parent and the public health nurse could explore topics such as how to have a healthy pregnancy, preparation for child birth, nutrition, exercise, parenting, child development, future life planning, and accessing community resources.
VIDEO: Nurse-Family Partnership (U.S.)
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“This program provides expecting and new parents with the confidence and the tools they need not only to ensure a healthy start for their baby during pregnancy, but to also have a life of opportunities and success for both parent and child,” says Dorothea Service, manager of health families and harm reduction with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, in a media release.
“By developing a close relationship with a public health nurse, pregnant individuals and parents can rely on a trusted resource for advice on everything from prenatal support to caring for their child and taking steps to provide a positive future for their new family.”
Eligible women can contact the appropriate health unit to enrol directly, and health care providers and social service agencies can also refer eligible women to the program. For more information about the program, including eligibility requirements, visit the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit website at www.hkpr.on.ca/NFP or the Peterborough Public Health website at www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/your-health/nurse-family-partnership/.
Kawarthas Northumberland is promoting its Taste of the Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW) culinary tourism program with a giant fork that's over six feet tall. Pictured at Campbellford's The Dockside Bistro, the giant fork will be passed between businesses participating in the program, both providing a fun photo opportunity for guests and the potential to win fun prizes from some of the businesses. (Photo courtesy of Kawarthas Northumberland / RTO8)
If you’re enjoying a bite to eat in Kawarthas Northumberland this fall, don’t be surprised if you encounter a giant fork.
The giant fork is part of the Taste of the Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW) culinary tourism program, which celebrates food and community by sharing flavours named after or inspired by the historic waterway that links these communities together. From Coboconk to Campbellford, over 45 cafés, restaurants, breweries, and retail businesses are participating in the Taste of the TSW program, offering upwards of 65 items including entrees, desserts, coffee, craft brews, and more.
With 80 per cent of the historic Trent-Severn Waterway located in Kawarthas Northumberland, the waterway is not only the region’s main tourist attraction, but it also provides a way for locals to explore their neighbouring communities.
Kawarthas Northumberland’s Taste of the Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW) culinary tourism program celebrates food and community by sharing flavours named after or inspired by the historic waterway that links these communities together. From Coboconk to Campbellford, over 45 cafés, restaurants, breweries, and retail businesses are participating in the Taste of the TSW program, offering upwards of 65 items including entrees, desserts, coffee, craft brews, and more. Fenelon Fall’s The Little Pie Shack offers the “Lock 34 Lemon Meringue Pie,” named for the lock just a few steps away. (Photo courtesy of Kawarthas Northumberland / RTO8)
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“The waterway is a good way of connecting people together,” explains Brenda Wood, executive director of Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8), the not-for-profit organization funded by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport that promotes regional tourism activity in the area branded as Kawarthas Northumberland.
“A lot of people come to the region for the waterway, whether it’s for boating or going to cottages or just day tripping, so we want to encourage people to come out to these areas and try some of the food and beverage items inspired by the Trent-Severn Waterway.”
Originally created in 2021 in partnership with Parks Canada to celebrate the centennial (plus one because of pandemic delays) of through navigation of the Trent-Severn Waterway, Taste of the TSW invites local businesses to either rename or create an all-new product in honour of the waterway and its importance for regional tourism.
“Some of the food and beverage providers get very creative — they have fun with it,” Wood says. “It’s nice for people like boaters — whether they’re doing long distances along the waterway or just a day trip — to come to a restaurant and try a food item that goes along with the theme of their journey or their adventure.”
VIDEO: Taste of the TSW – “Otonabean Espresso” at Peterborough’s Silver Bean Cafe
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This year, culinary enthusiasts can have their photo taken beside a giant fork that’s over six feet tall and share their photo on social media with the hashtag #TasteoftheTSW, so others can enjoy the same great tastes and, of course, also find the giant fork.
“It just encourages people to have fun with it and to further promote the businesses who are really proud to be on the waterway and in the region,” Wood explains, adding that many of the Taste of the TSW dishes showcase flavours that are unique to the area.
“This is a very heavy agricultural region,” she explains. “A lot of the things you’re going to eat here are also grown in this area. A lot of the ingredients that go into some of these products, and a lot of the ingredients that local restaurants cook with, are sourced from the region.”
For Kawarthas Northumberland’s Taste of the Trent-Severn Waterway culinary program, Kawartha Dairy is serving up the “Banana Boat on the Trent-Severn.” Available from Kawartha Dairy’s Bobcaygeon, Lindsay, and Peterborough locations, the ice cream is a taste of a cottage country campfire, with the sweet and fruity combination of banana, marshmallow, and chocolate. The sweet tooth satisfier pays homage to the roots of the 80-year-old family business as, back when it was founded, Kawartha Dairy made cottage deliveries by boat along the waterway. (Photo courtesy of Kawarthas Northumberland / RTO8)
One such example is “Blossoms of the Trent Honey” from MoreRoses Apiaries (29 Marine Dr., Hastings). Guests can stop by the honey stand to try out their new honey created especially for Taste of the TSW.
With most of the their hives located within flying distance of the Trent-Severn Waterway, MoreRoses’ honey is made by bees collecting pollen from spring and summer flowers along the waterway, including dandelions, alfalfa, clover, trefoil, and many more. The belief is that the microclimate along the water dries the honey, giving it a delicate floral flavour.
“There are really nice pollinator gardens in the area as well,” says Wood, adding that part of the fun of the culinary tour is getting visitors to see how the waterway influences plant and wildlife in the communities. “There are wildflowers all along the Trent-Severn Waterway, and Hastings even has their community edible garden full of pollinators right by Lock 18.”
For Kawarthas Northumberland’s Taste of the Trent-Severn Waterway culinary program, Lock 27 Tap & Grill in Young’s Point offers the Lock 27 seven-ounce homemade smoked burger, which can be perfectly paired with Lock 27 Draft made with two-row malted barley and cold-aged for a crisp and clean flavour. (Photo courtesy of Kawarthas Northumberland / RTO8)
Other products on the tour tell a story, like the signature dish at Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene. “Marybelle’s Wild Rice Pudding” is the oldest recipe at the resort and pays tribute to Rice Lake’s history of being abundant with the wild rice for which it was named.
The cooked wild rice in the dish provides an earthy tone that balances the sweetness of the custard and fruity raspberry coulis.
The dish is named for Grandma Mary Belle, the talented cook and wife of Arthur Elmhirst who took over the property from his father and first turned it into a full-time operational resort, before passing it down to future generations of the Elmhirst family.
Wood notes that one of the great things about Taste of the TSW is that participants can immerse themselves in the region, not only by tasting local ingredients and flavours, but by hearing about and engaging with the stories that make each business and their dish entirely unique.
“It’s interesting hearing what visitors have to say about the Trent-Severn Waterway,” she says, adding that many will label the section that weaves its way through the Kawarthas Northumberland region as the “crown jewel” of the waterway. “Here it’s all about the nature. You’re basically stepping into a Group of Seven painting.”
VIDEO: Taste of the TSW – “Lock 32 Sundae” at Bigley’s Sweet Treats in Bobcaygeon
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A full list of businesses participating in Taste of the TSW can be found in the locally developed Toureka! app, available for free for both Android and iOS devices. With each location pinned on a map and including descriptions of each of the products, participants can easily plan their own culinary adventure along the Trent-Severn Waterway.
For example, coffee fiends can map a route that takes them from the “Lock 18 Latte” at The Water Lily in Hastings to the “Otonobean Espresso” at Peterborough’s Silver Bean Café. Those looking for a stronger taste of the waterway might plan a brewery tour that takes them from Havelock to Fenelon Falls and beyond.
“The Toureka app is great for anyone looking for a themed itinerary,” says Wood, adding that Kawartha Northumberland has other featured tours listed on the app, including motorcycle and paddling routes, for participants who want to continue their exploration of the region beyond food and drink.
As well as downloading the Toureka! app to their mobile devices, participants can also browse the featured tours using digital kiosks located in some of the region’s visitors centres, such as the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Visitor Centre located in downtown Peterborough or the Bobcaygeon tourist information centre.
For Kawarthas Northumberland’s Taste of the Trent-Severn Waterway culinary program, Pizza Alloro in Buckhorn is slicing up the Trail Town Special Pizza, which is a take on the traditional Canadian pizza, made with mushroom, pepperonis, bacon, and onions. (Photo courtesy of Kawarthas Northumberland / RTO8)
Woods points out that the Taste of the TSW program is open to all businesses in Kawarthas Northumberland, not just restaurants, bars, and cafés. Food-related retail businesses can also participate, such as Lakefield’s The Cheesy Fromage which has three Taste of the TSW products, including spices and jams, caviar mac n’ cheese, and caviar quesadilla.
Businesses offering a Taste of the TSW product will be listed on the program’s website and are eligible to host the giant fork as an engaging way to attract customers.
The Dockside Bistro in Campbellford — offering Taste of the TSW products including Souvlaki on the Severn, Lock 13 Mule, the TSW Mega Burger, and even a gin cocktail named after the waterway — is the very first business to host the giant fork.
Take your photo with the Taste of the Trent-Severn Waterway culinary program’s giant fork, which will be passed between participating businesses in communities along the Trent-Severn Waterway in Kawarthas Northumberland. Can you find the fork? Diners are encouraged to follow where the fork goes through the hashtag #TasteoftheTSW. (Photo courtesy of Kawarthas Northumberland / RTO8)
While the giant fork is at The Dockside Bistro until Thursday (August 31), diners who take their photo with the fork and post it on social media, tagging the bistro and using the hashtag #TasteoftheTSW, will be entered into a draw to win a $100 gift card. On September 1, the giant fork will move to a new business participating in Taste of the TSW.
To find out the next location of the giant fork, follow Kawarthas Northumberland on Facebook and Instagram, where you can search for the #TasteoftheTSW hastag.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8). If your business or organization is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Kara Parcells is a registered dental hygienist and owner of Evolve Dental Hygiene, Lindsay's first independent brick-and-mortar dental hygiene practice. After less than a year in business, Evolve Dental Hygiene will be relocating from its current location in the Adelaide Clinic to a nearby building at 232 Kent Street West this fall. (Photo courtesy of Evolve Dental Hygiene)
Registered dental hygienist Kara Parcells wants you to know you have choices when it comes to your dental health.
That’s why late last year, Parcells opened Lindsay’s first independent brick-and-mortar dental hygiene practice called Evolve Dental Hygiene. Now, after just a few months in business, Parcells will be moving her practice out of Adelaide Clinic and into her own space at 232 Kent Street West this fall.
At Evolve Dental Hygiene, Parcells offers all the preventative care you would get from a dental hygienist in a typical dental office, even though there is no dentist on site. Her services include oral assessments, stain removal, oral cancer screening, fluoride treatment, professional whitening, and more.
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For Parcells, one of the major obstacles she’s had since starting her business is educating people on independent dental hygiene as a wellness option. Many people don’t realize that registered dental hygienists are allowed to work independently from dentists.
“Dental hygiene is a preventive therapy while visiting the dentist is restorative,” she explains, adding that she still largely encourages her clients to see a dentist as well. “You see a dentist to fix things basically, but with dental hygiene we’re looking at maintaining health and preventing disease.”
Parcells was motivated to open her own practice after years spent commuting to work in Whitby. With two young children at home, the two-hour daily commute was not how she wanted to spend her time.
Registered dental hygienist Kara Parcells with a young client at Evolve Dental Hygiene in Lindsay. Many people are unaware they can get dental hygiene care outside of a traditional dental office. (Photo courtesy of Evolve Dental Hygiene)
Additionally, between pandemic protocols, staff shortages, and Lindsay’s growing population, Parcells felt that opening her own business would let her be in more control over the time she spent with her clients, rather than having to squeeze them into a time slot.
“It was just the right time,” she says about starting her own practice and now moving into her own space. “Lindsay’s growing — they say we’re doubling the population within ten years, so there’s a definite need.”
For Parcells, operating independently allows her to provide personalized care in a comfortable space where she can really get to know her clients.
“People want to get to know us, and they want somebody that knows their mouth,” she says. “They like the idea of not seeing a different provider every single time.”
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A key piece of Parcells’ practice is letting her clients have a say in the care they receive.
“People should play an active role in their treatment,” she explains. “It’s informed consent, and people should know their options.”
She adds that she often hears people say they feel shame or embarrassment when visiting a dental hygienist, or they feel like they’re being judged. But, Parcells assures, that’s not at all the case at Evolve Dental Hygiene.
Rather than trying to pressure clients, Parcells says she celebrates she “small victories” while working towards a solution that fits the client’s needs.
“The best thing to do is what’s going to work the best and what you’re going to do,” she explains. “So if you’re not going to floss, let’s look at some other tools that maybe you might do.”
At Evolve Dental Hygiene, registered dental hygienist Kara Parcells offers all the preventative care you would get from a dental hygienist in a typical dental office, even though there is no dentist on site. Her services include oral assessments, stain removal, oral cancer screening, fluoride treatment, professional whitening, and more. (Photo courtesy of Evolve Dental Hygiene)
She uses the example of a time in her own life where she found she wasn’t flossing in the evenings because she had been working night shifts and would come home late. Rather than shaming herself, she found a solution in using a pick floss that she liked and would floss while commuting home from work.
This is a technique she now often recommends to people who don’t have the time to floss, and it’s other solutions like these that she finds works best in getting people to take care of their oral hygiene.
“I have the time to be personal with people,” she points out. “We develop a relationship, so they like me and trust me.”
In getting to know her clients, Parcells has found that many people prefer holistic solutions, so she now stocks her office full of the natural alternatives that aren’t always easy to come by.
In gaining this deeper trust with her clients, Parcells adds that her practice can often be the moderator or in-between for clients who have a phobia of going to the dentist. In spending more time with the client, she’s able to understand where their phobia stems from, and she can make recommendations for local dentists who she feels will be a good match.
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“Some people have allowed me to make referrals to dentists I feel would complement their values,” Parcells explains, adding that she’s gained the trust of several clients who hadn’t been to see a dentist in years because of these fears. “I have a handful of people I can refer [clients] to and look at those people and consider who’s going to vibe well with them.”
At the new building Parcells is moving into, she hopes to share the space with other wellness practitioners.
“If there was somebody kind of looking to get started with their practice, it’s a really great opportunity for them and maybe we could join forces,” she says, adding that she’d love to show other practices the same great support she got from Lindsay when beginning her practice.
“It keeps it local. It’s such an exciting time to be an entrepreneur — especially a woman entrepreneur — right now, because there’s a lot of really amazing people doing things here in the Kawarthas.”
Kara Parcells, a registered dental hygienist and owner of Evolve Dental Hygiene in Lindsay, uses her social media accounts as a platform to educate people on independent dental hygiene as a wellness option. Through Instagram and Facebook, she share information, interesting facts, and misconceptions about oral health and wellness. (Graphic courtesy of Evolve Dental Hygiene)
When she opens her new space in early October, Parcells says it will offer the same “non-intimidating” atmosphere as her current office, with local artwork and plants decorating the waiting room.
“You don’t feel rushed, and you don’t feel like you’re just a number,” she notes, adding that she makes sure not to schedule appointments back-to-back so she ends up running late. “You’ll never wait in my waiting room.”
Parcells uses her social media accounts as a platform to educate people on independent dental hygiene as a wellness option. Through Instagram and Facebook, she share information, interesting facts, and misconceptions about oral health and wellness.
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“I like to think it’s done in a fun way that people might actually read it and kind of understand,” she says.
Evolve Dental Hygiene will be opening at 232 Kent Street West in Lindsay in October. Until then, you can visit Parcells at her current location at the Adelaide Clinic at 1 Adelaide Street North.
For more information or to book an appointment, visit www.evolvedentalhygiene.ca. You can also follow Evolve Dental Hygiene on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about dental hygiene from an independent practitioner.
A photo of a shelter in Toronto's Alexandra Park from an April 16, 2021 New York Times story by Catherine Porter about carpenter Khaleel Seivwright, who built small life-saving shelters for unhoused people living outside in Toronto during the first winter of the pandemic. Seivwright's story is told in Zac Russell's award-winning documentary "Someone Lives Here", which is screening on September 8, 2023 at Artspace in Peterborough as part of ReFrame Film Festival's free Mission Miniseries presented by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. (Photo: Ian Willms for The New York Times)
An award-winning Canadian documentary about a Toronto carpenter who defied city officials to build life-saving shelters for unhoused people during a brutal pandemic winter headlines ReFrame Film Festival’s inaugural “Mission Miniseries”, a series of four free documentary film screenings in Peterborough from August 31 to September 28.
Presented by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), the Mission Miniseries not only delivers on ReFrame’s commitment to champion documentary film centred on social and environmental justice and to nurture collaborative community partnerships, but also responds to feedback from ReFrame audiences who requested more year-round programming from the winter film festival.
The first event in the Mission Miniseries is a selection of bicycle-themed documentary shorts as part of Peterborough GreenUP’s Summer Ride Club Bike-In Movie and Awards Celebration, which will be hosted at the pavilion at Nicholls Oval Park in Peterborough at 6 p.m. on Thursday (August 31).
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Selections include Andrea Dorfman’s There’s a Flower in My Pedal (Canada, 2005, 4 minutes), Evelyne Papatie’s Children of the Nomad (Canada, 2018, 2 minutes), Fadi Hinash’s Mama Agatha (Netherlands, 2015, 16 min), and Zachary Canepari and Drea Cooper’s Scrapertown (United States, 2010, 8 minutes).
Open to everyone, the free evening will also feature a whimsical feature-length family film presented by GreenUP, kettle corn snacks, prizes, and complimentary ABC bike checks by B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop. You can reserve a spot at eventbrite.com/e/691659320647.
The Mission Miniseries continues with a screening of Zac Russell’s Someone Lives Here (Canada, 2022, 75 minutes) at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 8th at Artspace (378 Aylmer St., Peterborough). A modern-day David and Goliath story set against the backdrop of North America’s housing crisis, the documentary follows the work of young carpenter Khaleel Seivwright to build life-saving shelters for unhoused people living outside in Toronto during the first winter of the pandemic.
VIDEO: “Someone Lives Here” trailer
In October 2020, Seivwright drove to a remote area of a Toronto park to build a small insulated shelter. On the front of the shelter, he posted two signs: “Anyone is Welcome” and the details of a GoFundMe page dedicated to raising money to build more. While his actions attracted international attention, they also resulted in staunch opposition from city officials.
Someone Lives Here follows the story of Seivwright and his tiny shelters and their residents over the course of a brutal pandemic winter. Narrated by Taka, a woman who was living in one of the shelters, the film was the Hot Docs 2023 winner for Best Canadian Documentary and Best Social Impact Documentary.
ReFrame is presenting Someone Lives Here in partnership with Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH), a grassroots organization aiming to build insulated cabins for unhoused people in Peterborough-Nogojiwanong. The screening includes a panel discussion and a question-and-answer session featuring Seivwright. As seating is limited, you can reserve a spot in advance at missionminiseries.eventive.org.
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The next film in the Mission Miniseries is Lulu Wei’s Supporting Our Selves (Canada, 2023, 75 minutes), which will be screened at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 19th at the Peterborough Public Library at 345 Aylmer Street North.
Presented in partnership with Peterborough-Nogojiwanong Pride as part of Pride Week, Supporting Our Selves explores how and why the queer community in Toronto has grown and evolved over the past 40 years, through the lens of one grassroots organization and its impact.
From the Bathhouse Raids to BLM’s Pride Parade Protest, activists of all generations lead an honest and unflinching narrative journey that charts a community’s complex and sometimes conflicting memories.
VIDEO: “Supporting Our Selves” trailer
The final event in the Mission Miniseries is a screening of Hummingbirds (United States, 2023, 78 minutes), directed by Silvia Del Carmen Castaños, Estefanía ‘Beba’ Contreras, and Miguel Drake-McLaughlin.
The film will be shown at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 28th at the Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre, outdoors at Traill College (315 Dublin St., Peterborough), as part of Dis-Orientation Week and in partnership with OPIRG and the New Canadians Centre.
Set in Laredo, Texas on the Mexican border, Hummingbirds tells the story of first-time documentarians, 21-year-old Beba and 18-year-old Silvia, two Mexican immigrants and best friends who sing and dance while they are stuck in the immigration process of a politically divided America in 2019, while the threat of deportation hangs over their heads. The documentary won the Grand at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival’s Generation 14plus section.
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The presenting sponsor for ReFrame’s Mission Miniseries is the Peterborough DBIA, which has also donated $100 Boro gift cards to be won as door prizes (one for each event).
The miniseries is also supported by Artspace, Catherine Parr Traill College, Game Theory Films, the Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies, kawarthaNOW, La Rue Entertainment, the National Film Board, and the Peterborough Public Library.
The documentary “Hummingbirds” tells the story of 18-year-old Silvia Del Carmen Castaños and 21-year-old Estefanía ‘Beba’ Contreras, two fun-loving Mexican immigrants who turn the camera on themselves as they wait in limbo in the Texas border town of Laredo. The documentary screens on September 28, 2023, at the Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre at Traill College in Peterborough as part of ReFrame Film Festival’s free Mission Miniseries presented by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. (Still photo)
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a sponsor of ReFrame’s Mission Miniseries.
Taking place every August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day is the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died from overdose, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. (Photo: PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network)
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is on Thursday (August 31), and there are several events taking place across the Kawarthas region.
Initiated in 2001 by Sally J. Finn at The Salvation Army in St. Kilda, an inner seaside suburb in Melbourne in Australia, IOAD has since become the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died from overdose, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.
The year’s theme, “Recognizing those people who go unseen,” is about acknowledging people in communities who are affected by overdose but might go unseen in the crisis.
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IOAD events are being organized in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg, Port Hope, Haliburton, and Bancroft by organizations including regional health units, Moms Stop the Harm, Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN), Ontario Network of People Who Use Drugs, John Howard Society of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton, and Green Wood Coalition.
“My heart goes out to those who have been impacted by the loss of loved ones, and those who have responded to the drug poisoning crisis,” says Peterborough’s medical officer of Health Dr. Thomas Piggott. “Each year we have the opportunity to reflect on our support systems and services and commit to building a better community to support people who use drugs and their loved ones. On August 31st, we will grieve those that we have lost, and renew our vow to demand better drug policies that are based in healthy equity and human rights.”
“Every drug poisoning is someone’s loved one — let’s take the time to remember the ones we’ve lost, the ones left behind, and those who are doing the critical work to help prevent more drug poisoning fatalities,” says Dr. Natalie Bocking, medical officer of health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. “On behalf of all of us I would like to acknowledge the many lives lost and their grieving loved ones left behind. Let’s end the stigma and focus on remembering the person behind the statistic.”
Every August, Gail Parry displays a photo of her late daughter Jody outside of her Peterborough home. Parry is a member of Moms Stop The Harm, a network of Canadian families that advocates for change as that pertains to failed substance use strategies and policies, and is the key organizer of local events associated with International Overdose Awareness Day held annually on August 31. (Photo courtesy of Gail Parry)
In Peterborough, in advance of IOAD on Thursday, harm reduction and naloxone distribution pop-ups will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N.) and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Peterborough Public Health (185 King St.). On Thursday, Moms Stop the Harm Peterborough will host a memorial event at Millennium Park (131 King St.) from 1 to 4 p.m., including stories from family members who have lost loved ones as well as information about substance use, overdose prevention, and harm reduction training.
In Lindsay, an event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday in Victoria Park (190 Kent St. W.) to remember those lost to drug poisoning and to support grieving loved ones. The event will feature live music, activities, and a butterfly release ceremony at 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact Natasha James at John Howard Society of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton at 705-340-0228 or njames@jhscklh.on.ca.
In Cobourg, a flag-raising ceremony will takes place at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday at Victoria Hall (55 King St. W.), following by a memorial and awareness event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a candlelight vigil at 8 p.m. Everyone is invited to submit the name and/or a memory of a loved one to be read at the vigil by emailing IOADNorthumberland@gmail.com.
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In Port Hope, a flag-lowering ceremony will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Port Hope Police Service ( 55 Fox Rd.). Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony and join in a moment of silence.
In Haliburton, an IOAD event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Head Lake Park (13 York St.) featuring feature guest speakers, music, refreshments, and activities. For details, contact Katlin Archibald at 705-559-3904 or katlin@parn.ca.
In Bancroft, an IOAD event takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday at North Hastings Community Trust (19 Valleyview Dr.) to raise awareness of overdose, to promote education around naloxone and safer drug use supplies, to share personal stories, and to participate in some art related activities to remember the lives of friends and family who have lost their lives to overdose.
A Peterborough Transit bus. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
The City of Peterborough has announced Peterborough Transit will be implementing several route service changes effective Sunday (September 3).
“Changes will streamline some routes, improving efficiency and helping to ensure buses are on schedule,” reads a media release. “The new schedule will accommodate seasonal transit demands as ridership increases as school resumes and businesses return to regular operation after the summer season.”
Among the changes, weekday service will resume on Route 11 and 11A Water following the summer break, providing direct service from Trent University to Traill College and the Peterborough Terminal. Late-night service will resume on Route 5 The Parkway and Route 6 Sherbrooke.
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Highlights of the route changes are provided below.
Route 4 Weller
Route 4 Weller will travel to the Museum from Sherbrooke Street at Woodglade Boulevard via the Peterborough Terminal in the eastbound direction, and the reverse in the westbound direction. There is a new bus stop on Glenforest Boulevard at Denure Drive in the westbound direction.
Route 4 Weller will no longer be servicing the Chandler Crescent area. Route 9 Parkhill will now service this area.
Route 5 The Parkway Southbound / Route 8 Monaghan Southbound
Route 5 The Parkway and Route 8 Monaghan, in their southbound direction, will now be servicing new stops at the Shorelines Casino and the GO Transit park-and-ride lot on Fisher Drive. These currently service these stops in the northbound direction.
Route 6 Sherbrooke
Route 6 Sherbrooke will now travel from Sherbrooke Street to Woodglade Boulevard, then to Kawartha Heights Boulevard, to Spillsbury Drive, to Fortye Gate, to Foryte Drive, to Stenson Boulevard, to Fleming College Way, and the reverse in the eastbound direction.
Route 6 Sherbrooke will no longer travel on Brealey Drive to Fleming College. Route 9 Parkhill will now service this area.
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Route 9 Parkhill
Route 9 Parkhill will continue west on Parkhill Road to service Chandler Crescent. From Parkhill Road, the route will turn left onto Brealey Drive to Fleming College, and then reverse in the opposite direction. There will be new bus stops in both directions on Brealey Drive at Glenforest Boulevard and on Brealey Drive at Ireland Drive. There will also be a new stop in the westbound direction at Chandler Crescent.
Route 9 Parkhill will no longer travel from Parkhill Road to Ravenwood Drive to Glenforest Boulevard, to Woodglade Boulevard, to Kawartha Heights Boulevard, to Pillsbury Drive, to Fortye Gate, to Fortye Drive, to Stenson Boulevard and to Fleming College Way. Route 6 Sherbrooke will now service this area.
Route 5 The Parkway
Evening weekday and Saturday Route 5A The Parkway trips will depart hourly, with southbound trips from the terminal to Fleming College between 8:02 p.m. and 11:02 p.m. and northbound trips from Fleming College to the Peterborough Terminal between 8:05 p.m. and 3:05 a.m.
Route 6 Sherbrooke
The weekday departure from Trent Bata at 7:40 p.m. will end at the Peterborough Terminal.
Evening weekday and Saturday trips will operate as follows:
From Trent Bata to the terminal: Every 30 minutes from 8:10 p.m. to 11:10 p.m. and hourly from 11:10 p.m. to 2:10 a.m.
From the terminal to Trent Bata: Every 30 minutes from 8:02 p.m. to 11:32 p.m.
From the terminal to Trent Bata via Armour Rd and Trent Gzowski: Hourly from 8:32 p.m. to 2:32 a.m.
From the terminal to Fleming College: Hourly from 7:32 p.m. to 2:32 a.m.
From Fleming College to the terminal: Hourly from 7:40 p.m. to 10:40 p.m.
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Peterborough Transit will continue using conventional and on-demand service on weeknights, Saturdays, and statutory holidays.
In addition to the route changes, three road infrastructure projects during the fall will affect certain Peterborough Transit routes construction. On Lansdowne Street from Park to George streets, stops will be out of service in both directions for Lansdowne Route 7A, Chemong Route 2, and Technology Route 10. On Armour Road from Hunter to Clifton streets, Lansdowne Route 7A northbound trips will detour via Rogers to Dufferin. On Parkhill Road to George Street, Parkhill Route 9 and Water Route 11A will be detoured via McDonnel Street.
For more information on route changes, visit www.peterborough.ca/transit or call Peterborough Transit customer service at 705-745-0525.
Fleming College in Peterborough is launching a new hairstyling program in January, with a wide variety of courses to teach students all aspects of the hairstyling business from the basics of hair care to running a salon.
According to a media release from the college, the program has been “designed by multi-award winning and internationally recognized industry professionals and entrepreneurs, including Peterborough’s Harmony Hair Salon owner Chris Asta.”
Instructors will train students in the latest in hair cutting, styling, and colouring techniques, with the onsite “Academy Salon” using environmentally sustainable Aveda products and high-quality Italian-designed equipment. Students will also study the retail and business side of the hairstyling industry.
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The program, offered in a compressed three-semester format, will include mentoring by leading industry experts. By the end of the program, “students will have developed a full portfolio of their work to complement their resumes,” according to the media release. A hair fashion show takes place at the end of the third semester.
The launch of the new program comes after a decision by Fleming College earlier this summer to end 13 programs, including its culinary skills, culinary management, and food and nutrition management programs.
In a memo sent to staff on June 15 and obtained by kawarthaNOW, college president Maureen Adamson said the decision to cut the programs came “after several years of enrolment decline in some programs, a global pandemic, and the ever-evolving demographics of learners,” adding that a suite of new programs would be created “to support labour market needs.”
More than 600 people took part in the fifth annual Lock & Paddle event at the Peterborough Lift Lock on August 26, 2023, paddling 403 canoes and kayaks into the two tubs at the world's tallest hydraulic lift lock over four lockages. (Photo: Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site, Parks Canada / Facebook)
More than 600 people took part in the fifth annual Lock & Paddle event at the Peterborough Lift Lock on Saturday (August 26), paddling their canoes and kayaks into the two tubs at the world’s tallest hydraulic lift lock to be lifted 65 feet (20 metres) into the air.
According to Parks Canada, a total of 403 canoes and kayaks were packed into the Peterborough Lift Lock over four lockages — which is more than previous events.
Organized by Parks Canada to celebrate the national historical site, the event returned after a three-year absence due to the pandemic. The theme of this year’s event was “Lift Your Spirits,” with Parks Canada encouraging all participants to decorate their vessels and wear costumes for the event.
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For the first Lock & Paddle event in 2016, 138 canoeists and kayakers broke the world record for the number of canoes and kayaks in a single lockage. In 2017, that record was broken again for Canada 150 celebrations, when 328 canoes and kayaks filled the two chambers in a single lockage.
In 2018, the objective was to get as many paddlers as possible through the Peterborough Lift Lock in a three-hour period, with 262 canoes and kayaks making the journey. In 2019, for the first time, the event was held in the evening and featured a lighted paddlecraft parade, lighted night-time lockage, and free overnight camping.
The event was not held in 2020, 2021, or 2022 because of the pandemic.
A 69-year-old boater drowned on Pigeon Lake in Kawartha Lakes sometime between late Sunday night (August 27) and early Monday morning, apparently after falling overboard.
At around 12:40 a.m. on Monday morning, officers with Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), members of the marine unit and fire and rescue, along with a helicopter from Joint Rescue Coordination Centre at 8 Wing Trenton, began a search after responding to a call about a missing boater.
Shortly before 6 a.m., searchers located the lifeless body of the missing boater submerged in the water.
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Police have identified the victim, who was the lone occupant of his boat, as a 69-year-old Kawartha Lakes man.
While police are continuing their investigation, they say he was was found not wearing a life jacket.
The OPP are reminding boaters, personal watercraft users, and paddlers to wear a life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) while on the water. Capsized vessels and falling overboard are the top contributing factors in boating deaths every year.
Motorcycle enthusiast Terry Guiel (closest to camera), executive director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), leads participants in Peterborough's first-ever United on the Highway Poker Run on August 26, 2023, raising funds for United Way Peterborough & District. The event was organized by the DBIA in partnership with Cogeco and the United Way with prizes donated by sponsors including Lafarge, Euphoria Wellness Spa, Liftlock Cruises, Classy Chassis, Team VanRahan Century 21, Cogeco, Sink or Swim Tattoos, and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
A little rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of local motorcyclists participating in Peterborough’s first-ever United on the Highway Poker Run on Saturday morning (August 26) to raise funds for United Way Peterborough & District.
Originally scheduled for July 15 but postponed because of inclement weather, the event went ahead rain or shine on Saturday, with riders and their bikes gathering in the parking lot of the VentureNorth building in downtown Peterborough between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. to register for the event in advance of an 11 a.m. departure for the poker run.
A poker run is a fundraising event, where participants — often riding motorcycles — must visit five to seven checkpoints within a specified amount of time, drawing a playing card at each one. The objective is to collect the best poker hand at the end of the run to win prizes.
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The United on the Highway Poker Run was organized by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), in partnership with Cogeco and the United Way. Peterborough DBIA executive director Terry Guiel , who is a motorcycle enthusiast himself, came up with the idea.
“The best fundraisers are the ones that are interactive and fun for everyone involved,” Guiel said in a media release. “People have been very excited about being able to play this classic game while exploring downtown Peterborough and the Kawartha.”
“I thought this would be a unique way to mix my passions for the downtown, motorcycles, and also raising money for amazing local organizations in our community.”
One of the winners of Peterborough’s first-ever United on the Highway Poker Run on August 26, 2023. The fundraiser was organized by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) in partnership with Cogeco to raise funds for United Way Peterborough & District. (Photo: Terry Guiel / Facebook)
Some of the prizes for the United on the Highway Poker Run including $500 and $1,000 worth of motorcycle-related items, along with a downtown shopping spree and more. Prizes were donated by sponsors including Lafarge, Euphoria Wellness Spa, Liftlock Cruises, Classy Chassis, Team VanRahan Century 21, Cogeco, Sink or Swim Tattoos, and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism.
Proceeds from the event will support United Way Peterborough & District.
“When the rubber hits the road, kind hearts and strong passions for community are even more revved up,” said United Way CEO Jim Russell. “We are so grateful to Terry and the team at the DBIA for driving this event, and for helping build a more resilient Peterborough. Bikers are very giving people and we want to thank everyone who (attended) and who generously donated a prize.”
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