The Ontario government is providing an additional $473,000 in funding over the next two years to Hospice Peterborough to expand access to palliative care services in the area.

The funding is part of an increase of $147.4 million in palliative care funding for around 75 hospices across the province, including $66.7 million over the next two years, which was announced by Ontario health minister Sylvia Jones at the conference of Hospice Palliative Care Ontario earlier this month.

Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith made the announcement of the Hospice Peterborough funding on Wednesday morning (June 28) at the organization’s location at 325 London Street in Peterborough.

“This funding will allow Hospice Peterborough to continue the remarkable care for not only patients, but for family members as well,” Smith says in a media release. “This is part
of our government’s commitment to ensure everyone has access to care when and where they need it most.”

Hospice Peterborough operates a 10-bed hospice residence that offers 24/7 professional, patient-centred palliative care to those in their last weeks of life. The additional funding will be used for nursing, personal support, and other services delivered to Hospice Peterborough clients. According to the organization’s executive director Hajni Hos, the increase in funding will cover around 80 per cent of the residence’s operating costs, compared to the previous 60 per cent coverage.

“At a time when the health care system is under unprecedented strain, both in terms of capacity and a challenging health care labour market, these funds make it possible for us to continue to provide the high quality patient-centered care we have provided for over 30 years,” Hos says.

Thanks to tips from the public, police have recovered a $47,000 dock stolen from a Crystal Lake cottage and have charged a 46-year-old Trent Lakes man with multiple counts of possession of stolen property and theft.

On June 17, Peterborough County OPP officers received a call from a cottage owner on Crystal Lake east of Kinmount reporting a dock and tied-off boat has been removed from the shoreline of their property at around 1:30 a.m.

The dock and boat was then floated across the lake, where the boat was untied and the dock was taken apart and loaded on the back of a utility trailer before being taken away. The abandoned boat was later recovered.

Peterborough County OPP sought out assistance from the public through a media release and social media, which generated multiple tips.

Based on information provided by members of the public, police executed a search warrant on Monday (June 26) at an address in the Municipality of Trent Lakes, where they located the stolen dock.

Officers also found other stolen property, including a 23-foot J Craft boat (including motor and trailer) valued at around $150,000 and a BBQ smoker valued at around $1,000.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested Derek Rennie, 46, of Trent Lakes who has been charged with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, one count of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, two counts of theft over $5,000, and possession of break-in instruments.

Rennie is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough on August 8.

“The Peterborough County OPP wants to thank everyone who provided information about this theft and contributed to a safer community,” reads a media release.

Environment Canada and the Province of Ontario have issued a special air quality statement for the entire Kawarthas region because of wildlife smoke beginning on Tuesday night (June 27).

The special air quality statement is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, and Hastings Highlands.

High levels of air pollution will develop on Tuesday night due to smoke from forest fires. Smoke plumes from forest fires in northeastern Ontario and Quebec will move into the area overnight, resulting in deteriorated air quality. Conditions may improve for some areas on Friday.

Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour.

Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health even at low concentrations. People with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke.

Stop or reduce your activity level if breathing becomes uncomfortable or you or someone in your care feel unwell. Take a break from the smoke at a location in your community where you can find clean and cool air. If you must spend time outdoors, a well-fitted respirator-type mask (such as a NIOSH certified N95 or equivalent respirator) that does not allow air to pass through small openings between the mask and face, can help reduce your exposure to the fine particles in smoke.

With their largest membership and subsequent collection to date, 100 Men Kawartha Lakes recently met and donated $15,000 to the Kawartha North Family Health Team. For the first time in the collective philanthropy group’s history, the other two nominated charities also received monetary donations courtesy of Lindsay Kinsmen Club.

Prior to the June 15 meeting, which was held at the Bobcaygeon Legion, each member of 100 Men Kawartha Lakes was given the opportunity to nominate a registered charity in the Kawartha Lakes. As happens ahead of each of the quarterly meetings, three of the nominated organizations were drawn at random and a representative from the charity was asked to make a five-minute statement on their organization’s work and how the organization would spend and benefit from a donation.

Each member attending the meeting cast a vote for their preferred charity, with the charity receiving the most votes selected to receive a donation. Each member of the club — which is now up to 150 members — then wrote a cheque for $100 to the winning charity.

The three groups selected to present at the June meeting were the Kawartha North Family Health Team, Kawartha Lakes Autism Support, and BGC Kawarthas (Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes).

Kawartha North Family Health Team won the majority vote, with $8,100 of the total $15,000 being given on the spot from members in attendance at the meeting. The remaining donation will be collected afterwards from members not in attendance at the meeting.

The Kawartha North Family Health Team is a community-based family health time located in Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon that provides health care services including walk-in clinics, preventative health programming, blood work, mental health and addiction recovery, and chronic disease management. They will soon also be providing services in Haliburton County, by operating the new urgent care clinic in Minden at the site of the now-closed emergency department.

Brad Campkin, a member of 100 Men Kawartha Lakes, tells kawarthaNOW that many members voted to support Kawartha North Family Health Team because they hadn’t realized it was a charitable organization rather than being funded by government.

“The members want to hear that the money is going to something concrete with a specific benefit,” he explains. “When [members] heard that the Kawartha North Family Health Team literally was funded by donations only, I think they were all taken aback.”

For the first time ever, the two organizations that weren’t selected also received monetary support thanks to a donation of $5,000 from the Lindsay Kinsmen Club. As a result of this generosity, Kawartha Lakes Autism Support received $3,000 while BGC Kawarthas received $2,000.

“This is the kind of positive energy and just incredible giving that we’re generating from this group,” Campkin notes

The collective philanthropy movement began in Michigan in 2006 when Karen Dunigan formed a group called 100 Women Who Care. Together, the women raised over $10,000 for 300 new baby cribs for a local organization. Since then, similar collective philanthropy groups of women, men, youth and even children have expanded to regions across the globe.

The 100 Men Kawartha Lakes group was formed in 2018 by Richard Gauder, who also began 100 Men in Scugog, Oshawa, Clarington, and Whitby. The club meets four times each year in March, June, September, and December. Since its formation, 100 Men Kawartha Lakes has donated $139,300 to 23 registered charities in the region.

Though 100 Men Kawartha Lakes is at well over 100 members now, they are always looking for more, explains Campkin.

“One of the things that attracts people to the club is that many times people are busy, and don’t want to volunteer their time on weekends, fundraising, or having to go to meetings on a regular basis,” he says, adding that with 100 Men, the donors are only committing to four meetings per year and donating $100 each time.

Those interested in joining 100 Men Kawartha Lakes can visit 100menkawarthalakes.ca.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for most of the Kawarthas region for possible heavy rainfall on Tuesday (June 27).

The special weather statement is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.

Slow-moving showers or thunderstorms are expected Tuesday across the region and some areas may receive significant rainfall amounts, with 30 to 50 mm possible.

Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.

If visibility is reduced while driving, slow down, watch for tail lights ahead and be prepared to stop. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.

Heavy rainfall in combination with other weather factors, such as hail, wind, and lightning, will make outdoor activities unsafe.

Look up “ambassador” and Adam White’s picture may show up beside it. In the case of Five Counties Children’s Centre, Adam defines that term.

Adam is a strong advocate and promoter of the life-changing work that goes on here for kids and youth receiving treatment for physical, developmental, and communications challenges. Adam brings a unique perspective, as a Five Counties volunteer, former board member, past chair and — perhaps most significantly — a client who received treatment at Five Counties for many years.

At nine months of age, Adam was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and it was for that reason he came to Five Counties. I’ve known Adam since he was a pre-schooler, as he was my very first client when I started at Five Counties as a new therapist in 1982.

Adam describes “growing up at Five Counties,” and he sure knew his way around (and to) the Centre. During our treatment sessions, he could tell you the exact route (street-by-street, including directional turns) to get to Five Counties. His attention to detail was evident even back then.

Adam was always very articulate, and it was obvious that he was very bright, even at the age of four. In fact, he used his verbal skills to distract staff and clinicians away from his therapy sessions, which truthfully were hard work for him.

He was blessed with supportive parents who had expectations for him, and were able to keep him focused on both his therapy and life goals. They supported him, pushed him, and knew when to let him go.

Adam received treatment for several years at Five Counties, took part in many of our recreational programs like sledge hockey, and eventually volunteered in those same programs.

As an adult, he became an educator and returned to Five Counties as a volunteer and board member.

Adam’s experience as a client at Five Counties has brought a unique perspective to the board. His insight as a former client and current teacher and educator has been invaluable. Adam served many years on Five Counties’ program and services advisory committee and, in that forum, his input and ideas were very helpful to me in my current position.

Like others, Adam realizes that with changes in medical research and diagnoses, the needs of kids being seen at Five Counties change constantly. Adam supports the notion that, to meet a changing caseload, Five Counties must work smarter to be there for clients and their families at the right time, in the right place, with the right kind of service and intervention.

It is bittersweet to see Adam stepping away from the board at Five Counties this year, but perhaps timely given the new role he starts this fall as an elementary school vice-principal.

Fittingly, Adam was the keynote speaker at our recent annual general meeting. It’s always emotional to hear him speak, given the passion, poignancy and personal stories he relates about Five Counties. That was in evidence in comments he made in a recent video recording.

VIDEO: Adam’s Story

“Growing up at Five Counties really meant that I had a place to come to where I felt very welcomed, where I felt a lot of joy, but on the other hand, I also felt like I was coming to a place where people had high expectations for me,” Adam says in the video. “Early on in my life, that gave me the sense that really I could do anything I put my mind to. My parents told me that, and the staff at Five Counties told me that. When you take that atmosphere as the foundation and for your life, you can’t help but benefit.”

As a clinician working day-to-day with a child, it’s hard to picture them all grown up. In Adam’s case, I feel fortunate to have an ongoing connection and see all that he’s achieved.

When Adam talks about all that Five Counties has done for him, let’s not forget all he has done for us. Our staff feel a strong sense of pride and satisfaction from any role Five Counties may have played contributing to Adam’s success.