At its second meeting this year, 100 Women Peterborough has chosen Camp Kawartha’s Kids in Need to receive member donations.

The collective philanthropy group met virtually on June 20 to raise funds for an organization in need. The group hears presentations from three organizations randomly drawn from a larger list of organizations nominated by the group’s members. The organization receiving the most votes from members receives the donations contributed by the group’s members.

The three organizations that presented to 100 Women Peterborough at June’s virtual meeting were Camp Kawartha, The Canadian Canoe Museum, and Fairhaven Foundation, with Camp Kawartha chosen by majority vote to receive the funds.

In Camp Kawartha’s presentation to the members in attendance, philanthropy coordinator Susan Ramey explained the importance of providing families with the opportunity to send their children to camp. Donations provide both partial and full subsidies for children of limited financial means to attend Camp Kawartha’s summer camp programs.

“We are immensely grateful to the 100 Women group for making the outdoors accessible to children and youth by supporting our subsidy fund,” says Camp Kawartha’s executive director Jacob Rodenburg in a media release. “Every child, no matter their circumstance, has the right to experience nature and the joys of the outdoors. With this important support from 100 Women we will be able to welcome summer campers and students whose families are facing financial challenges and help those kids to learn to care for each other and the earth we share.”

Camp Kawartha is an accredited, award-winning, not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to the promotion of the highest standard of programming. Established in 1921, Camp Kawartha has expanded into a year-round facility, offering day and overnight summer camps for children ages four to 17. They offer curriculum-linked outdoor and environmental education programs for students in grades K to 12 and facility rentals for meetings, workshops, group retreats, and conferences.

“100 Women Peterborough is honoured to be able to support another charity in our region, Camp Kawartha, with a timely donation as we head into the summer months when parents are looking for opportunities, experiences, and child care for their children,” says Wendy Hill, one of the founding members of 100 Women Peterborough. “We thank every organization that presents at our meetings, which serve as a unique way to learn more about the incredible charities and their important work in our region. Members always leave inspired and with a better understanding of each organization.”

The collective philanthropy movement began in the United States in November 2006, when Karen Dunigan of Michigan formed the “100 Women Who Care” group. After their first meeting, the women raised over $10,000 for the purchase of 300 new baby cribs for a local organization. The movement has grown over the past 17 years to include groups of men, women, youth, and children around the world, with hundreds of chapters in Canada alone.

Since its formation, 100 Women Peterborough has collectively donated more than $170,000 to 21 local organizations: Hospice Peterborough, Peterborough Youth Unlimited, One Roof Warming Room, New Canadians Centre, Cameron House, Five Counties Children’s Centre, Casa De Angelae, Lakefield Animal Welfare Society, Community Care Peterborough, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, Community Counselling and Resource Centre, Peterborough Pregnancy Support Services, Heads Up for Inclusion, Kawartha Youth Orchestra, Peterborough GreenUP, Bridges Peterborough, YMCA Strong Communities, Homeward Bound Peterborough, Good Neighbours Care Centre and Food Bank, PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network, and Camp Kawartha.

For the first time since the pandemic began, 100 Women Peterborough will hold an in-person meeting at 6 p.m. on September 19. Organizers invite those that are interested to attend the meeting to learn more about the collective philanthropy group, its impact in the region, and to connect with other like-minded women.

For more information about the upcoming meeting and to join 100 Women Peterborough, visit www.100womenptbo.ca.

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough’s annual ‘Rebel with a Cause’ returns on Wednesday, July 12th to honour and recognize individuals who have shown advocacy and action to address social issues and inequalities, while also raising funds to support the work of the charitable organization.

For the first time in the event’s seven-year history, five ‘Rebels’ will be honoured: Faelen Dobbin, Betty Baker, Kathy Hardill, Peggy Shaughnessy, and Mkwa Ghiizis.

All are welcome to attend the evening event, which takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. in Nicholls Oval Park in Peterborough, with tickets costing $25. This year’s event will include live performances by Babe Chorus, a picnic dinner and desserts, a silent auction, a 50/50 draw, entertainment, and the award ceremony.

Honorees for Rebel with a Cause are nominated by Elizabeth Fry Society staff, who see first-hand the impacts made by the individuals, with nominees then voted on by the organization’s board.

Normally, three individuals are selected for the honour. Last year’s honourees were Indigenous knowledge leader Elizabeth Stone, Anishnaabe Kwe spoken word artist Sarah Lewis, and EFry volunteer and activist Marisa Mackenzie. This year, tthe organization had difficulty picking just three honourees.

“It was impossible to cut a couple people out — just impossible,” explains Elyssa Bisset, the society’s community central intake worker and Rebel with a Cause organizer. “The work that’s being done in the community right now is just phenomenal … it was an honour truly to be able to pick five of them this year. It wasn’t hard to find five deserving individuals.”

Bisset notes this year’s Rebels advocate for a wide range of social issues in Peterborough and the surrounding area.

“A lot of them speak to the different agents or different programs within the agency too, which is important because we have a lot of different types of work we do here,” she says.

One of the Rebels this year is very familiar with the diverse work done by the Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough. A member of the 2Slgbtqia+ community, Faelen Dobbin is a regular volunteer for the society in addition to several other organizations across Peterborough, including PARN, Canadian Red Cross, One Roof Community Centre, and more.

They have been an activist and advocate for nearly three decades and have made contributions such as collaborating with local businesses to support community programming focused on food insecurity and mental illness.

Drag performer Betty Baker is a costume designer, dancer, and conceptual performer who is well-known for her regular “Drag Queen Story Time” events at the Peterborough Public Library. She also regularly speaks out on Queer issues and the importance of Queer storytellers.

“She has developed such a beautiful following here,” Bisset says. “We would love to see more of that sort of support in the community. So she felt like an obvious choice.”

Another obvious choice, explains Bisset, was Kathy Hardill, a primary care nurse practitioner and a founding member of Health Providers Against Poverty and the Street Nurses’ Network in Ontario. She has advocated politically for increased social assistance rates, harm reduction programs, safer shelter conditions, and affordable housing.

The fourth Rebel is Peggy Shaughnessy, an expert in rehabilitation psychology and founder of WhitePath Consulting. She developed the RedPath Approach, a pro-active approach to the opioid overdose epidemic, which is the programming being used for the women seeking abstinence-based healing through programming and residence at the Elizabeth Fry House.

“Our staff has seen first-hand the impact that her RedPath approach has made on people directly,” Bisset says.

The final Rebel is Mkwa Ghiizisl, a twi-spirit water protector, artist, advocate, and the founder of the Tweak Easy unsanctioned safe overdose prevention site. Ghiizisl does grassroots work organizing rallies, vigils, and marches focused on law-barrier access and supporting those experiencing systemic failures, those using drugs, and those engaged in sex work from an Indigenous harm reduction approach.

At the July 12th event, each of the nominated Rebels will be rewarded with a small gift in thanks for their contributions to the community.

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough is encouraging the public to support Rebel with a Cause to be more accessible by donating a ticket to those experiencing financial barriers.

“People like to give back,” explains Bisset. “So, if they can’t attend, then they’d love for somebody else to go in their place and to enjoy the moment.”

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough is a not-for-profit organization working to end the criminalization of poverty, mental health, addiction, and domestic violence. The funds raised from this event are essential for Elizabeth Fry to continue to offer relevant gender-responsive programming to those who have been victimized, criminalized, or institutionalized.

To purchase a ticket for the event, donate, or learn more about the Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough, visit efryptbo.org. More information about Rebel With a Cause, including the silent auction, can be found on the Facebook event page or visit the society on Instagram @efryptbo.

For the third time since May, Peterborough police are investigating a hate/bias incident after receiving reports of antisemitic pamphlets being distributed in a Peterborough neighbourhood — this time over the Canada Day long weekend.

The antisemitic pamphlets were reported in the area of Parkhill Road West and Crowley Crescent and in the Medical Drive and Weller Street area. Police believe the pamphlets were distributed sometime during Saturday night into early Sunday morning.

Over the weekend of May 13 and 14, police first received reports of antisemitic pamphlets being delivered in neighbourhoods in the Lansdowne Street and George Street area, as well as in East City. Over the weekend of June 17 and 18, police also received reports of antisemitic pamphlets begin distributed in the Wolsely Street and Chemong Road area.

In total, police have has received 19 reports from residents and have canvassed in the areas for video and further information.

“There is no room for hate in our community at any time,” says Peterborough police chief Stuart Betts in a media release. “The number one goal of the Peterborough Police Service is public safety, and the service is committed to this goal.”

Peterborough police have provided a map to show the community the approximate locations of the reports by month.

On Tuesday (July 4), Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal issued a statement about the antisemitic pamphlets.

“I am saddened and disgusted to learn that antisemitic hate literature has been distributed in our community,” Leal says, adding he has been in contact with the police. “Racism and discrimination of any kind have no place in Peterborough. We stand with our city’s Jewish community and strongly condemn all forms of hate.”

Anyone with information about these incidents or any video is asked to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 ext. 555. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at stopcrimehere.ca.

Residents can also report hate/bias incidents through the Peterborough Police Service’s online reporting portal at peterboroughpolice.com/en/report/online-reporting.aspx.

Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough is seeking a new general manager who is ready to “hit the ground running,” with the deadline to apply July 14.

Located at 290 George Street North, Showplace has been the region’s premier mid-sized venue for the performing arts since 1996. Showplace is an independent, incorporated not-for-profit organization and registered charity governed by a board of directors.

With a 632-seat mainstage theatre including a large stage, orchestra pit, and green room as well as a lower-level multi-purpose room with a seating capacity of 100, Showplace offers arts-related and community facility rentals for musical performances, dramatic productions, recitals, and meetings. A licensed foyer is on the main level with another licensed bar in the multi-purpose room. Showplace also provides a box office service with tickets available both on site and online.

Showplace has an annual operating budget of around $870,000 a year, including a service grant from the City of Peterborough, with facility rentals as its primary source of revenue.

The general manager, who leads Showplace’s team of two full-time and seven part-time staff and supports the organization’s 150 volunteers, is responsible for the operational leadership and overall management of the facility, directly supervising the front-of-house manager, the box office manager, the technical director, and the bookkeeper.

Reporting to the board of directors through the chairperson, the general manager’s responsibilities include programming and facility rentals, financial management, facility management, human resources, marketing and promotion, planning, and board relations.

Showplace is looking for candidates with a minimum of three years’ experience in a performing arts facility either as a general manager, an assistant general manager, or a facility manager, and with a minimum of three years of arts management experience in the not-for-profit sector. Candidates must have a post-secondary diploma or undergraduate degree in arts administration or business administration or the equivalent. A valid driver’s license and Smart Serve training are assets.

The ideal candidate is an experienced performance venue leader looking to build a legacy who is ready to “hit the ground running.” A team-oriented leader with strong organizational, analytical, planning, and grant-writing skills, the ideal candidate will be a great communicator who is personable and approachable, as well as a nimble problem-solver and creative thinker who is decisive and accountable and operates with integrity.

Candidates should be willing to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as required.

Showplace has recently undertaken major renovations including brand new seats in the mainstage theatre, a new marquee, and new HVAC units. The organization has also just launched a year long consultant-led strategic planning process that will include an environmental scan, operational review, business continuity plan, and audience development review.

This full-time permanent position has an annual salary of $60,000 to $70,000, with salary and benefits package negotiable. To apply, email a single PDF containing both your cover letter and resume to jobs@showplace.org no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, July 14th. The PDF file should be named with your surname and first name (i.e., SurnameFirstname.pdf).

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted, and they will receive a detailed job description. Candidates are asked to refrain from follow-up inquiries regarding application status. All applications are considered confidential. Showplace in an equal opportunity employer. If you need accommodation to participate in the application process, let Showplace know in your email when submitting your application.

This branded editorial was created in partnership with Showplace Performance Centre. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the entire Kawarthas region beginning Tuesday (July 4).

The heat warning is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawarthas Lakes, Northumberland County, Hastings Highlands, and southern Haliburton County.

A two- or three-day hot and humid event is expected to begin on Tuesday and last into Wednesday or possibly Thursday for eastern regions.

Maximum temperatures will be the high twenties to low thirties, with humidex values in the high thirties to low forties. Minimum temperatures overnight, in the high teens to low twenties, will bring little relief.

These hot and humid conditions will begin to end from west to east Wednesday night.

Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and can result in the Air Quality Health Index approaching the high risk category.

Extreme heat affects everyone. Drink plenty of water even before you feel thirsty and stay in a cool place.