Ahead of National Philanthropy Day on November 15, the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation is celebrating the generous community donors who are supporting the $70 million Campaign for PRHC.

With this year’s tagline “change the world with a giving heart,” National Philanthropy Day is held annually across Canada to recognize and honour the donors, volunteers, and organizations who work to make a difference in their communities.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the joy of philanthropy and what our regional community has made possible by reimagining healthcare right here, close to home,” says PRHC Foundation President and CEO Lesley Heighway. “It’s the entire community coming together to make great care possible.”

As the government does not fund equipment and technology for hospitals, the most generous communities are the ones that have the best hospitals and the ones that attract top healthcare professionals.

That’s why the PRHC Foundation silently launched the Campaign for PRHC in 2020, with the intent of reimagining healthcare for the hospital’s regional population of 600,000 by funding state-of-the-art technology and prioritizing critical care areas.

Following a public launch in June 2024 with a $60-million goal, making it the largest campaign in the hospital’s history, the goal was increased to $70 million in August 2025 to respond to some exciting additional opportunities brought forward by the hospital. To date, the Campaign for PRHC has raised $58.86 million in donations and has made a demonstrable impact on healthcare in the region.

“We have a number of years of our campaign under our belt, so we are at the stage where we can tangibly point to the significant changes that donors have made possible at the health centre,” says Heighway. “Part of the success of this campaign is the fact that it covers six different pillars of care. Many donors are giving back to an area of care that’s been important to themselves or to their family members, and they can tangibly see the impact their donations are making in that same area of care.”

For example, donors who have directed their gifts to cardiac care have funded the complete renovation and upgrade of two cardiac catheterization lab suites that are now equipped with state-of-the-art technology that supports faster, more accurate and safer care. Donors who have supported mental health advancements have seen the opening of a Youth Eating Disorders Day Treatment Clinic, as well as a new courtyard to support the treatment of vulnerable patients in the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit.

The hospital has also been equipped with two new cutting-edge CT scanners that support earlier and clearer diagnoses of cancer and other conditions, a second MRI machine to facilitate an additional 5,000 procedures every year, the upgrade of four operating rooms to have minimally invasive surgical tools with fluorescence-guided imaging for the first time, and the Reactivation Care Centre that supports patients no longer requiring acute care as they navigate their next steps. During the campaign, PRHC also received official designation as a Level III Trauma Centre and it was donations that funded the Emergency Department equipment that supports that designation.

“All of these advancements are 100 per cent donor-funded,” says Heighway. “It’s all of our community donors — from those who give monthly, those who give through direct mail or our Grateful Heart program, those who give through events and personal fundraisers, and those who make gifts of securities — that allow us to be responsive to the hospital’s most urgent needs.”

While the technology advancements alone have been attracting top healthcare professionals to bring their expertise to PRHC, the campaign further aims to attract talent through the Physician Innovation Accelerator, an endowed fund that invests in physician-driven research. Like the PRHC Foundation Nursing Innovation Awards, held at PRHC’s inaugural Nursing Symposium in May 2025, the fund encourages creativity and innovative problem-solving.

“When physicians are training in larger academic centres and coming here, they have research projects in mind and things that they want to accomplish,” says Heighway. “When they turn to the team at PRHC as part of their recruitment conversation and they ask if they can undertake their research here, this endowed fund will allow the hospital to say, ‘yes, you can apply for research funding.'”

On top of the life-saving investments that have already been made through donations to the Campaign for PRHC, there are many more critical care areas that PRHC Foundation is continuing to fundraise for to reimagine health care close to home. They include bringing digital pathology to PRHC’s laboratory that serves PRHC and four partner hospitals, introducing an electrophysiology lab to make possible the treatment of electrical conditions of the heart for the first time at PRHC, and building a hybrid operating room (OR) to reduce patient risk and recovery time by combining minimally invasive and open surgical techniques with diagnostic imaging in one space.

“It’ll be the most advanced surgical suite in the entire region,” says Heighway of the hybrid OR. “It will allow physicians to treat some of the most complex cases and do multiple surgeries in one surgical session, which reduces the risk for the patient and helps them get back to their normal life faster, without the stress and anxiety of multiple separate surgeries and recoveries.”

Along with celebrating the generosity of individual donors in advance of National Philanthropy Day, Heighway is also celebrating the support of businesses and service clubs who organize third-party events in support of the Campaign for PRHC, the volunteer campaign council, and the community “reImagineers” who share their patient stories to inspire others to give.

To unite community members and further encourage people to share their stories of receiving exceptional care at the hospital, the PRHC Foundation is once again launching its “The Sharing Tree” initiative throughout the holiday season. The initiative invites community members to connect to their hospital and community by sharing what PRHC means to them.

“PRHC is a cornerstone of our community,” says Bethany Dainton, the community giving and engagement manager at PRHC Foundation. “Everyone is touched by it or has to use it, and we’re all connected through it, so National Philanthropy Day and The Sharing Tree are really fantastic opportunities to celebrate that.”

Anyone with a connection to PRHC is encouraged to write a message on an ornament to hang on The Sharing Tree. Last year, hundreds of community members contributed stories of their own experiences receiving world-class healthcare and why the Campaign for PRHC is important to them, thanked the healthcare professionals and staff at PRHC, and provided words of encouragement for patients spending their holidays in the hospital.

“PRHC’s doctors, nurses, staff, volunteers, patients, and visitors can all enjoy those notes and messages throughout the holiday season,” Dainton says. “It gives everyone in the community a chance to further rally behind the campaign to get us to that $70 million goal in a way that’s especially meaningful this time of year. It’s those little notes of impact and gratitude that continue to push the momentum of the campaign forward.”

The Sharing Tree will be available in the main lobby of the hospital with a representative from the PRHC Foundation every Friday between November 14 and December 12 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Stories can also be shared through a digital option, which will then be transferred to The Sharing Tree.

“We will then take all of these ornaments that we’ve collected from The Sharing Tree throughout that month, and they’ll go up on PRHC’s big Christmas tree in the lobby,” says Dainton. “It means a lot to PRHC’s doctors, nurses, staff, volunteers, patients, and visitors to see those notes and messages during the holiday season.”

The PRHC Foundation is also asking community members to keep their eyes peeled around town because The Sharing Tree will also be popping up at some of the Foundation’s business partners throughout the month.

“We’ve got some really wonderful ‘reImagineers’ and businesses in the community that support the campaign that we want to showcase,” says Dainton. “The Sharing Tree is one way to lift spirits, warm hearts, and further make those connections in the community through the hospital.”

To learn more about The Sharing Tree and to leave a digital message, visit prhcfoundation.ca/sharingtree.

If you’d like to make a donation to the Campaign for PRHC or find out more about it, visit the PRHC Foundation website at prhcfoundation.ca.

This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.

Melissa Redden is the new CEO/director of the Peterborough Public Library.

On Tuesday (November 11), the library’s board of directors and the City of Peterborough announced the appointment of Redden to lead the library, which has been without a permanent CEO since Jennifer Jones suddenly and unexpectedly left the role in June.

Jones, who had worked at the library for 10 years as chief librarian and then as CEO, had been leading a controversial staffing reorganization that the city paused on the same day that she left the role.

As for Redden, she is currently the manager of public service at the Ajax Public Library, where she is part of the senior leadership team supporting the chief librarian and executive officer. In that role, she oversees customer service, programming, community outreach, safety, and operations.

“We’re delighted to welcome Melissa to the Peterborough Public Library,” says Laurianne Gruzas of the Peterborough Public Library board in a media release. “Her depth of experience and commitment to community-focused service make her an excellent choice to lead the library into its next chapter.”

Prior to joining the Ajax Public Library, Redden held a variety of leadership positions with the Clarington Public Library, Museums & Archives in Bowmanville, including public service manager, collections coordinator, and deputy director.

Redden has a Master of Information, Library and Information Science from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Brock University,

“I am honoured to be joining the Peterborough Public Library as the new CEO/director,” Redden says. “Libraries are vital community spaces that inspire discovery, connection, and lifelong learning. I look forward to working with our team and partners to continue building a vibrant and inclusive library for everyone.”

Redden will begin her new role at the Peterborough Public Library on Monday, November 24.

You may know them from television, radio, or Instagram. You may have read their work or collaborated with them on community projects. You may have seen them around Peterborough. But you’ve never seen them take on a challenge for a good cause quite as as delicious as naming Peterborough’s Ultimate Burger of the Year.

Eight well-known Peterborough-area residents — Laura Montague, Dan O’Toole, Neil Morton, Tiffany Arcari, Nour Mazloum, Pete Dalliday, Jason Wilkins, and Paul Rellinger — have been selected as “burger ambassadors” for the United Way Peterborough & District’s inaugural Ultimate Burger Battle.

The team has been tasked with sharing reviews and behind-the-scenes experiences as they spotlight the eight restaurants participating in the November fundraiser while encouraging community participation.

The idea behind the Ultimate Burger Battle is simple: try one-of-a-kind, creative burgers at the participating restaurants across the city and county and vote for your favourite by November 30. The restaurants will donate $2 from each burger purchased during November to the United Way’s 2025-26 community campaign to support programs and services that strengthen the local community, from ensuring residents have access to food and housing to providing mental health services and programs for children, families, and seniors.

“While I anticipate the Ultimate Burger Battle will draw us closer to our goal of $1.6 million, what I’m most looking forward to can be summed up in two words — campaign momentum,” says Rellinger, who is also the United Way’s 2025-26 campaign chair.

“The month-long initiative comes at the perfect time. Workplace campaigns are underway across the city and county, our direct mail appeal is going out, and our monthly 50/50 draw is gaining traction. The Ultimate Burger Battle adds yet another layer to the traction already gained and, more importantly, keeps the campaign front of mind, thanks in no small way to the enthusiasm and related strong social media presence of each of my fellow ambassadors.”

The first-ever Ultimate Burger Battle in Canada (originally called “NovemBurger”) was held by United Way Thunder Bay in 2019 and was met with so much success that it has grown into a national event. In 2024, 10 United Way affiliates across the country participated in the month-long campaign, selling a total of more than 67,000 burgers.

“November’s a really great time in terms of the fundraising calendar,” says Adeline Murphy, campaign officer with the United Way Peterborough & District. “The Ultimate Burger Battle is a really fun way to engage more than just our workplaces on the fundraising trail by engaging our community as a whole, and right before the holidays as well.”

The eight participating restaurants, many of which were recommended by community members and already famous for serving up a delicious burger, are Agave by Imperial (376 George St. N., Peterborough), Chemong Lodge (764 Hunter St., Bridgenorth), Dirty Burger (211 Hunter St. W., Peterborough), Double Dz’s Diner (2622 Maple Grove Rd., Peterborough), The Loon Lakefield (150 Queen St., Lakefield), Pizza Villa & Pasta House (846 Ward St., Bridgenorth), The Rink Tap & Grill (597 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough), and The Vine (165 Sherbrooke St., Peterborough).

The restaurants have come up with some impressive and mouth-watering delights, from a panko-crusted salmon patty at The Vine to a smash burger at Double Dz’s Diner and a “triple threat” burger at The Rink.

“There’s going to be a lot of cheese going on, some caramelized onions, some mushrooms — they’re decadent, for sure,” says Murphy. “Peterborough has such an amazing food scene and we’re really excited to be highlighting that through this event.”

Community members are encouraged to share photos of their burgers on social media, tagging #UltimateBurgerBattle and #UWPUBBB, and to vote for the People’s Choice award anytime until November 30 at www.uwpeterborough.ca/united-way-ultimate-burger-battle/. The Ultimate Burger Battle Passport is also available to help you track your bites — and the stakes are high because, if you try five or more burgers, you’ll have the chance to become an Ultimate Burger Battle Ambassador for next year’s fundraiser.

Workplaces can also sink their teeth into the action through the “Ultimate Burger Battle @ Work,” a team lunch where employees order burgers together to support their United Way workplace campaign.

In early December, the People’s Choice winners will be announced, along with an award for the Most Burgers Sold and, of course, the Ultimate Burger of the Year as chosen by the Burger Ambassadors themselves.

“They are a very collaborative group and there has already been some talks of them going together and doing crossover fun burger collaborations,” says Murphy. “This is going to showcase that when we all come together, we can make a real difference — and it doesn’t take too much. We’re very excited and we hope that everybody has fun.”

Learn more about the Burger Ambassadors — including who they are, what they are most excited for, and how they will decide to crown the Ultimate Burger of the Year — below.

Dan O’Toole

Born and raised in the Peterborough area, Dan O’Toole has just recently returned home. He modestly says he “used to be on TV” — he was a long-time sports anchor on TSN as well as Fox Sports 1 — but now enjoys being part of his hometown community and finding ways to give back everything that was given to him.

“My tastebuds have been training for 50 years for this — they never knew what they were getting ready for, but they were always at the ready,” he says. “My strategy is simple: grab a map of this great city, start at the locations around the perimeter, and work my way in. This way, any added weight won’t bog us down as distances will get shorter by the end.”

What is he looking for when it comes to the Ultimate Burger?

“You eat with your eyes, and if it looks good, you’re already halfway to a great burger. The first bite is the next key. Does it have just the right amount of burger/bun ratio? So much can be lost when a bun is simply too large. Is there just enough crunch? Are the toppings distributed properly? Is there too much of one thing and not enough of another? And last but not least, the taste. The perfect burger bite should fill you with nostalgia of backyard BBQs, pool parties, and small joys in life. If it triggers the warm fuzzies, then that there is a great burger.”

“I don’t take this task lightly,” he adds. “I’ve searched for the Ultimate Burger my entire life. The fact that I now get to actually name one is a dream come true.”

Laura Montague

Laura Montague is proud to say that she is from Peterborough and has over a decade of experience working at local development firm Ashburnham Realty.

Her work has been recognized locally by honours through the Women of Impact program and the Peterborough & Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce Top 4 Under 40 award. Laura’s leadership extended over a decade volunteering for the Downtown Business Improvement Association, she previously served on the 2017-2018 Campaign Committee for the United Way Peterborough & District board and co-hosted the 2017 / 2018 Paint the Town Red events that raised $31,000.

For years, she has been promoting the local food scene through her Instagram account @PTBOEaters and, most recently, became a food columnist at the Peterborough Examiner.

“I have eaten my fair share of burgers throughout my life; however, it wasn’t until I became an adult that I realized that there were opportunities to find the most satisfying,” she says.

“I believe it all starts with quality ingredients and culinary creativity. My favourite burgers are well seasoned on top of a fresh baked bun and are juicy — sometimes with crispy bacon if I’m feeling it. My burger always looks deliciously stylish, and I know I have found the perfect burger when I take my first bite.”

Neil Morton

Neil Morton is a serial entrepreneur and community builder. He is co-author of What If You Could?: The Mindset and Business Blueprint for Your Life of Purpose. He was chair of the United Way of Peterborough & District in 2017, and inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2023, as well as Adam Scott Collegiate Vocational Institute’s Hall of Honour in June 2024. Being chosen as an ambassador for the United Way’s inaugural Ultimate Burger Battle is definitely one of his biggest honours yet, as he loves burgers.

“I want to want to devour the burger like it’s the last burger I’ll ever eat,” he says.

“For that to happen, it has to have nice substance, it has to melt in your mouth, it has to be medium rare-ish, and if you have caramelized onions, mushrooms, swiss, or brie cheese, and an onion ring on it for good measure, my goodness you stand a great chance of winning the crown.”

Pete Dalliday

Pete Dalliday was born and raised in Peterborough and has spent over 30 years on radio and TV, calling play-by-play for the Petes, Lakers, and Halifax Thunderbirds. A proud supporter of United Way, he’s also a self-proclaimed burger enthusiast.

“I’ve never met a burger I didn’t like, but I have met a few that I liked a lot more than others,” he says. “My strategy’s pretty simple: I’ll be judging on the full experience – taste, texture, and that all-important first bite factor. If I take one bite and think, ‘I’d drive across town — even through five sets of lights on Lansdowne — for that again,’ we might have a winner. I’ve dined at most if not all of these local spots, and I know they’ll all be fantastic.”

“I’m just happy to help the United Way and give some small businesses a little extra support — when that happens, everyone wins,” he adds. “And to do it with some great friends like Neil and Dan and the others is a bonus.”

Tiffany Arcari

Tiffany Arcari is the host and creator of The Tiffany Show, a televised and digital talk show built on real stories, real conversations, and connections. She’s also the community manager at Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory and a proud Fleming College alum who fell in love with Peterborough — and her now-husband — at 18 years old. A foodie and dog mom, she loves cooking, sharing kitchen stories, and exploring the community.

“The thing I am most looking forward to in the Ultimate Burger Battle is seeing community rally together,” she says. “United Way does remarkable work supporting our community, and it’s seriously an honour to help spread the word and be part of something fun that gives back and brings foodie friends together. It fills my heart — and my belly. I have to tell you, cheeseburgers are my third favourite meal behind spaghetti with meatballs and lasagna. Getting people around a table for a good cause and meal is something very special to me.”

She says she is so “jazzed” for the campaign that, throughout November, she’s switching her monthly “Breakfast with Tiffany” networking event to “Burgers with Tiffany,” where she’ll be ordering burgers from one of the participating Burger Battle restaurants.

“This entire campaign is a super fun way to support local, connect with others, and foster community spirit. The world, and our community, needs more initiatives like this right now — kind, positive, and focused on bringing people together.”

Nour Mazloum

Nour Mazloum is the executive director of Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) and was previously the marketing and communications manager at Kingston Economic Development.

She serves on the Economic Developers Council of Ontario’s (EDCO) Board of Directors and has been recognized with EDCO’s 2021 President Award and the 2022 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Influencer of the Year Award. In 2024, she was honoured as Ontario’s Champion of Diversity. she holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Philosophy and Political Studies from Queen’s University and is an MBA candidate at the Royal Military College of Canada.

“I’m most excited to see the creativity and passion our local restaurants bring to this campaign,” she says.

“It’s a chance for businesses to showcase their unique flavours, collaborate, and have a little fun while doing it. Most of all, I love how it brings the community together for some friendly competition and good food.”

Jason Wilkins

Originally from Toronto, Jason Wilkins is a dynamic live event artist, muralist, and illustrator who is now proudly based in Peterborough where he operates his studio and creative hub, the Jason Wilkins Factory.

A 2001 graduate of the prestigious Sheridan College Interpretative Illustration program, he has amassed over two decades of experience collaborating with brands like Adidas, Lululemon, Toronto Blue Jays, McDonald’s, TikTok, Paramount Worldwide (Ninja Turtles), Porsche, and many more. His artistic philosophy revolves around infusing joy and positivity into every stroke of his bold lines and vibrant splashes of colour. As a child of the ’80s, his creative spirit is deeply rooted in nostalgia and innovation.

“Sampling burgers from amazing area restaurants, and helping raise money for United Way? The perfect recipe,” he says. “I’m most excited to bring friends and family along for this next month of burger-binging to find that local burger unicorn.”

Paul Rellinger

Paul Rellinger is an effective and passionate communicator with 45 years of combined print and radio broadcast media experience. As a journalist and columnist, he has been awarded numerous honours, including a Canadian Community Newspapers’ Association (CCNA) award, four Ontario Community Newspapers’ Association (OCNA) awards, and three Metroland Media editorial awards. In 2008, he was presented with the OCNA Silver Quill Award in recognition of 25 years of community newspaper service. Since 2016, under the name of Rellinger Writing Services, Paul has been a features writer for kawarthaNOW and, since 2022, has sourced and written news content for Oldies 96.7/Freq 90.5.

Named chair of the 2025-26 United Way of Peterborough and District campaign in May 2025, he is the past chair of Peterborough Musicfest, the longstanding chair of Peterborough Family Literacy Day, a past president of the Kinsmen Club of Peterborough, and has sat on the boards of a number of community organizations. For his community work, he was inducted into Peterborough’s Pathway of Fame in 2021 and, in 2024, received the United Way’s Champions of Change Award.

“Fundraising is hard work, for sure, but the Ultimate Burger Battle shouldn’t be,” he says. “Campaign strategizing has its place in the boardroom but, as an outreach event that reflects the spirit of the campaign, this initiative offers the opportunity to laugh, smile, and be positive. That’s infectious.”

“Yes, the risk of serious indigestion for the ambassadors is real, but that’s a small price to pay for the chance to say, between bites, that Building Community and Changing Lives (the theme of the community campaign) is needed now more than ever.”