Through the Morton Family Foundation, Peterborough residents David and Patricia Morton have made a $60,000 donation to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton to help women and children experiencing gender-based violence in Haliburton County. Since 2020, the Morton Family Foundation has donated $310,000 to the charitable organization. (Photo supplied by YWCA Peterborough Haliburton)
Having donated $50,000 each year to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton over the past five years, well-known Peterborough philanthropists David and Patricia Morton have stepped up once again to support women and children escaping domestic abuse in the Haliburton region — this year by donating $60,000.
The couple have been donors to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton for 13 years, and began their annual $50,000 donation at the height of the pandemic in 2020, when violence against women increased, especially during lockdowns. With this year’s $60,000 gift through the Morton Family Foundation, the couple’s six-year total donation to the YWCA has reached $310,000.
The Mortons say they increased their annual donation by $10,000 this year after seeing a need for even more support, as instances of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence (IPV) are continuing to increase both nationally and locally.
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“Police reports and other recent statistical data show that domestic abuse and IPV have actually increased since 2024,” Patricia says in a media release.
According to Statistics Canada, police services across the country in 2024 reported 349 victims of family violence per 100,000 individuals and 356 victims of IPV per 100,000 individuals aged 12 and older.
As a professor emerita who taught history and women’s studies for 26 years at Trent University, Patricia says she strongly believes that helping women is vital in creating a more safe and equitable society where families can live and thrive — something her husband David also believes.
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“It is becoming almost a tradition for David and I to help support the wonderful work of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton,” Patricia says.
“This year, we are increasing the amount of our annual donation because, sadly, recent studies show that children who experience or witness domestic abuse and violence in their own homes have twice the rate of psychiatric disorders as children in non-violent homes.”
She adds that, so far, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton has been able to accommodate all vulnerable rural women and children who are fleeing from domestic abuse and violence through its services in Haliburton County, which include the YWCA Women’s Centre and Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace (HERS).
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For his part, David says he and Patricia “are very pleased to be able to continue our support of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.”
“The work that YWCA Peterborough Haliburton does to keep women who are at risk safe is obviously critical,” David says. “As a man, I am always shocked and appalled at how many men continue to abuse their partners. I have never been able to understand why this happens so frequently, but it is something that must somehow be addressed more seriously by social and government agencies.”
“And now, to learn that there have been a few human trafficking cases in Haliburton in recent years makes YWCA’s role even more crucial. We are so pleased to be able to continue to support YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s efforts as its activities in support of abused women are, unfortunately, more needed than ever.”
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Both Patricia and David say they “deeply hope” their donation encourages other residents who can afford to do so to donate to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton .
“Let us all always remember that ‘There but for good fortune go you and I,'” the couple says.
Warrants have been issued for the arrest of 28-year-old Peter Pople, 44-year-old Michael Waterman, and 29-year-old Kaya Coughlin, all of Peterborough, in connection with the homicide of a 33-year-old man in downtown Peterborough on December 6, 2025. (Police-supplied photos)
Peterborough police are searching for three suspects wanted in a connection with the homicide of a 33-year-old man in downtown Peterborough earlier in December.
At around 6 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, officers were called to an apartment building near Brock and Aylmer streets where they found a severely injured man in an apartment. Despite life-saving efforts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Through investigation, police have identified three suspects — all Peterborough residents — and obtained warrants for their arrest.
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Two of the suspects, 28-year-old Peter Pople and 44-year-old Michael Waterman, are wanted for second-degree murder. The third suspect, 29-year-old Kaya Coughlin, is wanted for manslaughter.
Police have already arrested a fourth person, 32-year-old Dominick Rivers of Peterborough, in connection with the homicide and charged him with accessory after the fact to murder, failure to comply with probation, and six counts of operation while prohibited under the Criminal Code. The accused man appeared in court on December 10 and was remanded into custody.
Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 ext 555, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at stopcrimehere.ca.
A temporary overnight warming centre was established at Northumberland County headquarters on Courthouse Road in Cobourg on November 27, 2025 after county council decided to close the low-barrier warming room at the 310 Division Street shelter (pictured) earlier in the year. (Photo: Northumberland County)
Northumberland County’s new warming centre in Cobourg has been open for two weeks now and has welcomed an average of 15 people nightly looking for a place to escape winter’s chill.
With the new space intended to serve as a warm place to rest, Northumberland County and the Town of Cobourg say they are working together to ensure people who drop into the room in the Northumberland County headquarters building at 555 Courthouse Road know the purpose of the centre.
Because the warming room is located in a government building not designed to include sleeping accommodations, provincial and local regulations — such as building code, fire code, and zoning — affect how the room can be used, the county noted in a media release on Friday (December 12).
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“For this reason, the room is not set up for sleeping, but instead for rest, with tables and chairs available,” the county stated. “While visitors are no longer required to remain awake, staff do conduct regular wellness checks that can be disruptive to continuous sleep.”
The county and town are encouraging those seeking “meaningful rest” with designated sleeping facilities to inquire about accessing shelter services at Northumberland County’s homeless shelter, Transition House, which is located at 310 Division Street in Cobourg.
“Our priority in hosting the warming room is to offer a safe space where people can seek respite from the cold, ensuring the health, safety, and dignity of residents facing the harsh realities of homelessness,” said Brian Ostrander, warden of Northumberland County, in the release.
“While the warming room is necessarily set up as a drop-in warming space, we know how essential uninterrupted sleep is for physical and mental well-being. Staff encourage visitors seeking this type of service to check availability at (Transition House).”
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According to the county, 50 people have accessed the warming room since it opened on November 27.
kawarthaNOW reached out to the county for comments about expectations related to occupancy and other details, but a spokesperson was not available prior to deadline.
In the release, Northumberland County and the Town of Cobourg say they will continue to work closely to ensure the safety and well-being of visitors who rely on the space.
“Our approach has always been ensuring that the warming room operates safely, responsibly, and in the best interests of the people who depend on it, as well as the surrounding community,” said Town of Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland.
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Located in committee room A at the Northumberland County headquarters building, the space operates nightly from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily until March 31. In addition to providing a warm indoor location for people experiencing homelessness, the centre provides access to washrooms, seating, and light refreshments.
The reason for the temporary warming room goes back to earlier this year, when county council directed staff to close the low-barrier warming room on the lower level of the 310 Division Street shelter and explore other locations outside of Cobourg to establish a new space.
The decision to close the shelter’s warming room followed seven months of complaints from neighbouring residents and businesses after the shelter, which is owned by Northumberland County and operated by Transition House, opened in December 2024.
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Over the summer, county staff toured and considered eight possible warming room locations, six of which were outside of Cobourg (including three churches and three municipal sites) and two of which were within Cobourg (including two municipal sites owned by Northumberland County).
In early October, council directed staff to explore the potential of a warming room at four of those locations: county headquarters at 555 Courthouse Road, the county building at 600 William Street, the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre at 216 Purdy Road in Colborne, and Fenella Hall at 8071 County Road 45 in Roseneath.
Later in the month, at its October 28 meeting, county council reviewed a staff report describing the operational considerations, outcomes and impacts, and financial implications of each location, with council ultimately deciding on the Courthouse Road location.
You can enjoy a cozy alfresco dining experience in December thanks to the snow domes at Cheeky Duck Vineyard in Lakefield. Warmed by electric heaters, the two plastic domes seat up to 12 to 14 diners each, and are already drawing diners from across and beyond The Kawarthas. The snow domes are available until January 2, when Cheeky Duck closes until the spring. (Photo courtesy of Cheeky Duck Vineyard)
If you’ve ever wanted to dine alfresco in the winter in The Kawarthas, Cheeky Duck Vineyard is making it easy to do so. The Lakefield farm-to-table restaurant has brought back their snow domes, which keep heat trapped inside and snow trapped outside so you can enjoy the wine and bites regardless of the weather.
“It’s a really cool experience that we offer,” says founder and head chef Josh Keepfer. “We have lots of clients that are even booking Airbnbs in the area and coming up from the city just to have a dome experience, which is super fun.”
Providing an experience is exactly what Keepfer and his team have always set out to do. Cheeky Duck’s origins go back to 2018 as the catering company Kitchen Farmacy, which does about 40 off-site weddings each year.
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During the pandemic, Keepfer began planting five acres of grapevine and, in June of 2024, opened the restaurant to serve share plates and pizzas made on wood stoves and live fires. As a biodynamic vineyard, Cheeky Duck prioritizes a regenerative cycle, including runner ducks assisting with pest control in place of pesticides and all food scraps going right back to the animals.
“We just want to have something a bit close to us to be able to serve the beautiful food that we offer, but also a kind of agritourism experience,” says Keepfer. “When people park and they see the farm animals, then come and sit down and have the dining experience, it’s the whole picture. It’s something that we’ve been working so hard in creating so that experience in not just the food and wine, but the land itself.”
Hailing from Wales, Keepfer trained under Michelin chefs across Europe and says that eating outside and dining on share plates is something that’s very common overseas but also something he describes as being the “Canadian cottage way.”
“It’s special when we go out to the lakes here and see family at the cottage,” he says. “You have a dining table and people bring food and share food, and it’s just the romance of it and the experience from it that we really wanted to harness here.”
The snow domes at The Cheeky Duck Vineyard make for an intimate and cozy gathering for dining as well as for special occasions including corporate dinners, bachelorette parties, birthdays, and more. For head chef and founder Josh Keepfer, dining outdoors is reminiscent of the “Canadian cottage way” as people share food over the dinner table. (Photo courtesy of Cheeky Duck Vineyard)
Keepfer says Cheeky Duck Vineyard focuses on “comfort familiarities that people love and can relate to,” which is why they want to make outdoor dining available, even in the winter.
“We wanted to carry on that experience of guests sitting outside and dining and really enjoying the food aspects, the wine aspects, and the views of the vineyard, so we thought about how we can keep that experience in place,” Keepfer says.
The vineyard is now equipped with two large plastic domes — upgraded in size from last year’s — that can seat up to 12 to 14 diners at a time across three tables. Larger groups can also secure an entire dome, which has been done for corporate dinners, bachelorette parties, birthday parties, and other events.
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While they are kept warm with electric garage heaters, the domes aren’t insulated so Keepfer recommends diners wear layers just in case they get chilly.
“I’ve walked in and there’s been people just in their T-shirts and there have been people with just a small jumper on, so it’s really dependent on your comfort level,” Keepfer says. “We pre-heat the domes so when guests arrive, they’re already warm.”
Open “snow or shine,” the domes are already proving to be a popular destination, with lots of reservations already booked right through Christmas and until January 2 when Cheeky Duck closes until the spring. Of course, if a snow dome table isn’t available, you can still dine inside the restaurant.
Founded by Chef Josh Keepfers, Cheeky Duck Vineyard is a biodynamic and zero-waste vineyard. Runner ducks are used for pest control in place of pesticides and all food waste goes back to the animals. Because the land plays such a major role in the farm-to-table restaurant’s operations, dining alfresco has become an important experience offered on site. (Photo courtesy of Cheeky Duck Vineyard)
“People just want to do something different in the Kawarthas right now,” Keepfer says. “It’s been a very welcomed experience.”
Located at 1786 Youngs Point Road in Lakefield, Cheeky Duck Vineyard is open from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday and from 10 to 3 p.m. on Sundays for brunch. Note that the restaurant is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but will reopen on Boxing Day.
Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)
First responders in the City of Kawartha Lakes will be using $50,000 in provincial government funding to take care of their own.
The Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service and the Kawartha Lakes Police Service have each received a $25,000 grant through Ontario’s Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel (MHS4PSP) program to enhance mental health and wellness initiatives for their front-line staff.
The funding targets mental health and wellness initiatives for employees, such as providing first responders with access to specialized training and resources that address the unique pressures and trauma associated with emergency response work.
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The Ontario government announced the MHS4PSP program last November with a $32 million budget to provide specialized services for police officers, firefighters, correctional workers, paramedics, and others who support Ontario’s public safety system.
This November, the province announced grants to 72 fire services, 43 emergency health services, and 24 police services across Ontario.
Services in northern Ontario received $30,000 grants and services in southern Ontario received $25,000 grants.
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With paramedics in Kawartha Lakes responding to nearly 14,000 calls annually, the Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service will use the $25,000 grant to provide advanced training for its peer support team, superintendents, and front-line staff.
“We are very appreciative of the opportunity to improve mental health and resiliency support for our paramedic service,” said Jamie Golden, Kawartha Paramedic Services’ deputy chief, in a statement.
“Over the next four months, we will use this access to training to assist our staff with a focus on mental health promotion, resiliency-building and early intervention measures tailored to the occupational stresses associated with the work our staff perform daily.”
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In 2024, the Kawartha Lakes Police Service responded to just under 17,000 calls. The service will use its $25,000 grant to offer enhanced resiliency training and initiatives that strengthen peer support.
“Our officers have a demanding job, both physically and mentally, which takes a toll on their overall health,” said Kawartha Lakes Police Sergeant Ryan Boutin in a statement. “Shift work, exposure to traumatic events, and the constant need to make critical decisions under pressure can be overwhelming.”
“The training opportunities provided through this funding will help ensure that everyone in our organization has the tools to maintain their mental and physical well-being.”
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In addition to Kawartha Lakes paramedics and police, $25,000 grants under the MHS4PSP program were allocated in the Kawarthas region to the Port Hope police, Peterborough County paramedics, City of Peterborough fire services, Cobourg fire services, and Minden Hills fire services.
The Ontario government selected Warrior Health as the vendor to design and deliver the services and programs for the MHS4PSP program. The consortium brings together over 300 years of combined mental health expertise and more than 1,000 mental health professionals, treatment providers, navigators, and volunteers from industry-leading organizations such as Wounded Warriors Canada, Homewood Health, CAMH, Trillium Health Partners, and Boots on the Ground.
Services and programs for the MHS4PSP program include a website and mobile app offering public safety personnel confidential and anonymous access to services such as internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, self-screening tools, educational resources, and round-the-clock support. Warrior Health also offers 156 fee-for-service programs including general wellness, peer support, leadership, mindfulness, anti-stigma programs, and pre-employment mental health screening.
A 63-year-old person from Lindsay is dead following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 35 north of Pontypool on Saturday morning (December 13).
At around 11 a.m., Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and emergency crews responded to a collision involving a cargo van and a car on Highway 35 just north of Ballyduff Road.
The driver and lone occupant of the car, a 63-year-old person from Lindsay, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Police have not released the gender or name of the victim.
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The driver and lone occupant of the cargo van was taken to Ross Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.
Highway 35 was closed between Highway 7A and Telecom Road for seven hours while police documented the scene.
Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage from the area at the time of the incident is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, submit a tip to Kawartha Haliburton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.khcrimestoppers.com.
From locally made gifts to holiday décor to hosting festive gatherings, locally owned independent small businesses on Water Street between Hunter and Simcoe streets in downtown Peterborough have you covered this holiday season, including Needles in the Hay, Watson & Lou, The Neighbourhood Vintage, Sweet Fern Floral Studio, and St Veronus and Bijoux Bar. (kawarthaNOW collage)
There’s a certain section of Water Street in downtown Peterborough, between Hunter and Simcoe streets, that’s long been known for the locally owned independent small businesses that line the street.
Whether you’re doing your Christmas shopping or hosting a holiday get together with family or friends, you can find anything from yarn and fibre arts accessories, handmade items from local and Canadian artists and makers, vintage clothing, fresh cut flowers, Belgian cuisine and beer, classic cocktails, and more.
When you head to downtown Peterborough this holiday season, make sure to stop in at the eclectic businesses along Water Street, including Needles in the Hay, Watson & Lou, The Neighbourhood Vintage, Sweet Fern Floral Studio, and St Veronus and Bijoux Bar. You might be surprised how many things you can cross off your shopping list.
Needles in the Hay
Owned and operated by Deanne Guttman, Needles in the Hay is a haven for the crafters and fibre artists you’re shopping for this year. The store is stocked with premium natural fibre yarns that come in a range of colours and price points, alongside hooks, needles, and other accessories for fibre art crafts. (Photo courtesy of Needles in the Hay
One of the longest-running shops in downtown Peterborough, Needles in the Hay is a haven for the crafters and fibre artists you’re shopping for this year. Founded and owned by Deanna Guttman, the store is stocked with premium natural fibre yarns that come in a range of colours and price points, alongside hooks, needles, and other accessories for fibre art crafts.
This holiday season, shop the curated collection of “Great Gifts for Makers” featuring guidebooks, stitch markers, project wallets, and so much more made by quality small businesses located across Canada. If you know someone whose New Years Resolution is to learn a new activity, gift them the joy of a beginner knitting or crochet class. In the new year, Guttman will be hosting the beginner classes in the workshop space above the store called The Hayloft to support fibre artists and create a supportive community.
Needles in the Hay is open at 385 Water Street in downtown Peterborough from Mondays to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Browse the holiday collections at needlesinthehay.ca.
Watson & Lou
Owned and operated by Katie Küntz, Watson & Lou is a boutique shop and studio space that supports and celebrates the local arts community. The store stocks a wide variety of handmade products made to be gifted, from bath products and candles to jewellery, glassware, artwork, and more. (Photo courtesy of Watson & Lou)
If you’re hoping to wrap locally made gifts to put under the tree this year, make sure to drop in to Watson & Lou, a boutique shop and studio space owned by Katie Küntz that supports and celebrates the local arts community. The store stocks a wide variety of handmade products made to be gifted, from bath products and candles to jewellery, glassware, artwork, and so much more.
Not sure what to get? Find gift-giving inspiration through the boutique’s curated gift guides being posted on Facebook and Instagram throughout the holiday season.
Watson & Lou is also your one-stop shop to get you all decked out for the holidays, with collections of seasonal decorations and essentials from cards and wrapping paper to candies, scented candles, and ornaments. Shopping the collection will undoubtedly put you in the Christmas spirit.
Located at 383 Water Street, Watson & Lou is open daily throughout December, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and Monday. You can also shop online at www.watsonandlou.com.
The Neighbourhood Vintage
Owned and operated by Jacquelyn Craft, The Neighbourhood Vintage offers a range of vintage clothing for men and women that covers an array of eras and styles, as well as vintage sunglasses and BAGGU bags. This holiday season, you can give the gift of the vintage shopping experience by purchasing gift cards of any value. (Photo: Bryan Reid)
Do you want to ensure you give someone a truly unique gift this year? Head to The Neighbourhood Vintage, where you will find one-of-a-kind vintage clothing.
Vintage gift giving has become more and more popular in recent years, and you never know what you’ll find at this vintage consignment shop founded by Jacquelyn Craft. The store represents a range of eras and styles of high-quality clothing that’s at least 20 years old, making for some unique finds — some of which are coming back into style.
Not sure what to pick out? You can give the experience of vintage shopping by purchasing a gift card to The Neighbourhood Vintage so your loved one can search for their own undiscovered treasures.
The Neighbourhood Vintage is open at 391 Water Street from Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. To browse the curated collection, visit theneighbourhoodvintage.com.
Sweet Fern Floral Studio
Owned and operated by Angela McDonald, Sweet Fern Floral Studio is a boutique flower shop that sells pre-arranged and custom bouquets and arrangements of fresh cut premium flowers. With holiday centrepieces, faux greenery, potted plants, and custom wreaths to home décor, sweet treats, and local artwork, the shope has the decorations needed for any holiday celebrations. (Photo courtesy of Sweet Fern Floral Studio)
When you’d like to liven up your home for festive gatherings or gift fresh cut flowers, visit Sweet Fern Floral Studio. Coming from a family of florists, owner and head designer Angela McDonald has crafted a boutique studio that’s blooming with premium flowers pre-arranged in bouquets and arrangements suitable for any occasions.
From designs ordained with ornaments, pine, and dogwoods to gift boxes that pair blooms with Canadian-made goods, you’ll find stunning floral holiday gifts made with care, attention to detail, and a creative eye.
Potted plants, faux greenery, holiday centrepieces, and custom wreaths will help you deck the halls with the holiday spirit ahead of your gatherings, while the home décor, sweet treats, and locally made artwork will bring the cozy vibe to your home all winter long.
Sweet Fern Floral Studio is open at 387 Water Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. To learn more about Sweet Fern Floral Studio or to shop online, visit www.sweetfernfloralstudio.com.
St Veronus Café and Tap Room and Bijoux Bar
St Veronus Café and Tap Room and annex bar Bijoux Bar are owned and operated by wife-and-husband Shannon Mak and Roland Hosier. St Veronus serves Belgium cuisine and rare Belgium ales while Bijoux Bar offers an extensive wine list, Belgian beer, and classic cocktails with a twist. Both St Veronus and Bijoux Bar can accommodate holiday gatherings and celebrations. (Photo courtesy of St Veronus)
When you need a break from your Water Street shopping spree, warm up by stepping into St Veronus Café and Tap Room for lunch or dinner or its annex bar Bijoux Bar for a relaxing beverage or two. Owned by husband-and-wife Roland Hosier and Shannon Mak, both businesses bring a taste of Belgium beer culture to downtown Peterborough.
St Veronus serves up authentic Belgian cuisine and rare ales that each come with a story staff would love to share with you. Bijoux Bar is a cozy space inspired by the warm “brown bars” of Antwerp where you’ll find an extensive wine list, Belgian beer, and classic cocktails with a twist — everything, from the fresh-pressed juice to the bitters and syrups, is made from scratch in house.
As well as treating yourself, St Veronus and Bijoux Bar are also ideal for hosting a sit-down dinner with visiting family or an intimate holiday cocktail party with friends. To book a group or party, email roland@stveronus.com. For larger groups of up to 30 guests, private dining is also available at St Veronus.
Located at the corner of Water Street and Hunter Street West, St Veronus is open 5 to 11 p.m. on Monday and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday (the kitchen closes at 10 p.m.). Bijoux Bar is located at 399 Water Street and is open 5 to 10 p.m. on Wedesday and 5 p.m. to midnight Thursday to Saturday. Visit www.stveronus.com
Shop The Boro is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in downtown Peterborough, created in partnership with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
With a Boro gift card, supporting locally owned businesses in downtown Peterborough has never been easier. Buy a Boro gift card for your family, friends, or co-workers and let them choose their own adventure. Whether it’s a delicious meal and a night out, a one-of-a-kind find, or a day of relaxation, it’s truly the gift of possibility. You choose the value, they choose the gift.
With a Boro gift card, you are giving more than just a gift — you’re also supporting the people and places that make Peterborough/Nogojiwanong a truly special place to work, live, and play. Shop, dine, and explore the core with Boro gift cards, available online at theboro.ca/product/the-boro-gift-cards/.
Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) executive director Vince Bierworth presents National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP) worker Bailley Taylor and home and community care manager Nicole Capalbo of Curve Lake First Nation with a cheque for $5,000 to help provide culturally relevant mental health and wellness supports to Elders that are not currently available in the Curve Lake community. (Photo courtesy of GPHSF)
Two initiatives aimed at promoting improved well-being for Peterborough seniors — one through nutritional support and another in the realm of mental health care — have each received financial boosts.
The Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) has announced the recipients of its second annual senior care micro grant program. GPHSF announced the recipients of the two grants, made available to support senior care projects and healthy aging initiatives within the Peterborough area, on Thursday (December 11).
Curve Lake First Nation’s Home and Community Care and Mental Health Project and One City Peterborough’s Nutritional Support for At-Risk Seniors Project have each received $5,000.
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“Our hope for each senior care grant is to provide a positive impact on the quality of life for as many seniors as possible,” GPHSF executive director Vince Bierworth told kawarthaNOW.
“These grants are designed to either act as seed money to launch a project or to help with the continuation of an existing project. If they are able to be the starting point of something that makes a positive impact on our senior population or offers the ability to continue a project already making a positive impact for our senior population, then they have accomplished what we hoped for them.”
Back in August, the foundation announced that its senior care micro grant program was back for a second year. In a media release announcing this year’s recipients, Bierworth said narrowing down all the applications was “a difficult process.”
Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) executive director Vince Bierworth (far right) presents (left to right) One City Peterborough property development director Michael Vanderherberg, Trinity Community Centre drop-in program coordinator Cheyenne Buck, and One City Peterborough finance coordinator Brian McCarthy Finance with a cheque for $5,000 to help identify marginalized seniors with high nutritional needs that are not being met and provide interventions to offset their risk of associated health burdens. (Photo courtesy of GPHSF)
“Our recipients this year address both mental and physical health concerns, as well as nutritional concerns with some of the most vulnerable in our community,” Bierworth said.
“Our committee, which was made up of healthcare professionals and community members, were very impressed with the quality and variety of projects submitted. After much deliberation, they settled upon two projects that will have both an immediate and lasting impact for seniors and elders in our community.”
Curve Lake First Nation said in its application that the Home and Community Care and Mental Health Project is addressing a critical gap in senior care by providing culturally relevant mental health and wellness supports to Elders that are not currently available in the Curve Lake community.
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“There are limited opportunities for Elders to engage in programming that integrates mental, emotional, spiritual, and cultural well-being,” the Curve Lake application stated, adding that elders often face isolation, challenges with life transitions, and limited access to traditional knowledge and healing practices.
“By offering biweekly gatherings that combine cultural teachings, land-based activities, art therapy, addictions awareness, and connections to community partners, this project fills an unmet need and ensures our elders are supported in a holistic and culturally safe way.”
Nicole Capalbo, home and community care manager at Curve Lake Health Centre, said Curve Lake Home and Community Care, in partnership with Mental Health Services, is “grateful and deeply appreciative” for the grant.
“Our Elders are a vital part of our community and this funding will be put to great use in enhancing culturally grounded mental health and wellness supports,” Capalbo stated. “This investment strengthens our ability to care for our Elders in meaningful ways that honour their dignity, identity, and overall well-being.”
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In its application, One City highlighted the need for a nutrition project for at-risk seniors who are unsheltered or marginalized in the community.
“Seniors make up 35 per cent of the individuals accessing drop-in services on a regular basis, many of whom also have complex nutritional needs due to chronic illness, diabetes, exposure related injuries, chronic malnutrition, and severe dental decay, among other factors,” One City noted. “This project will identify marginalized seniors with high nutritional needs that are not being met and provide interventions to offset their risk of associated health burdens.”
Danita Gilbert, nurse care coordinator with One City Peterborough, said the pilot project will allow One City to gather valuable data about the impact of nutrition on health for the most marginalized seniors in the community, in addition to providing direct nutritional interventions.
“One City Peterborough is very grateful that we will be able to use this grant to do just a little bit more to help those folks who face elevated health risks when they are unable to meet their nutritional needs,” Gilbert said. “We hope that this data can provide a foundation for development of a longer-term, targeted nutrition program.”
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According to GPSFH, the senior care micro grant program will return in August 2026 with the next request for applications.
When the GPHSF was first established (originally called St. Joseph’s Care Foundation) in 1999, its primary focus was to fund senior care projects and healthy aging initiatives within the Peterborough community.
While the foundation has grown, taken on new partnerships, expanded its focus, and adopted a new name — GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation — since then, senior care has remained a primary and important focus for funding.
The grants have been made possible due to funding provided by the June Towle Trust. Towle passed away in 2023. As part of her legacy, she established the June Towle Trust that would see money from her estate be donated to the GPHSF upon her passing.
Community members interested in making a donation to support the GPHSF’s senior care fund can visit www.gphsf.ca or call 705-740-8074.
United Way Peterborough & District CEO Jim Russell takes a selfie with the United Way team on December 12, 2025 during the organization's annual Peterborough Pajama Day, where community members and workplaces donate $5 to the United Way and wear their PJs or other comfy clothes for the day. Russell also announced that the United Way has raised $855,000 so far for its 2025-26 community campaign, which is just over half of its $1.6 million goal. (Photo: Jim Russell / United Way)
The United Way Peterborough & District has raised $855,000 so far for its 2025-26 community campaign, which is just over half of the campaign’s ambitious $1.6 million goal.
United Way CEO Jim Russell shared the mid-campaign update on Friday (December 12), which was also the organization’s annual Peterborough Pajama Day, where community members and workplaces donate $5 to the United Way and wear their PJs or other comfy clothes for the day.
Events like Pajama Day contribute to the 2025-2026 campaign goal while also raising awareness of the rising demand for essential services provided by the United Way’s 20 local partner agencies in the Peterborough area, including housing and homelessness, food support, counselling, crisis intervention, and youth services.
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“PJ Day is a lighthearted way for people to come together and show their United Way spirit,” Russell said in a media release. “It’s fun, it’s engaging, and it reminds us what we can achieve when we rally together. We are heartened by the incredible support, conversations, and energy we’ve seen on the campaign trail this year.”
After exceeding its ambitious fundraising goal of $1.5 million last year, the United Way increased this year’s goal by $100,000.
“This year, our goal is higher because the need is higher,” Russell explained. “We increased this year’s campaign goal by $100,000 because our 20 partner agencies are responding to unprecedented pressures, especially around homelessness, food insecurity, youth supports, and mental health. This is a moment for all of us to come together.”
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Russell added that the United Way recognizes that people can feel financially stretched during the holidays, but a donation to the organization goes a long way by strengthening the entire social safety net for the community.
“This campaign has always been about neighbours helping neighbours,” said United Way campaign chair Paul Rellinger. “We’ve made meaningful progress, but now we’re asking the community to help us push across the finish line. Peterborough has a long history of stepping up, and I know we can do it again.”
According to the United Way, the $1.5 million raised during last year’s community campaign allows the organization’s partner agencies to deliver 266 programs and services to people in the city and county of Peterborough, including 15,013 nights of safe shelter for families and youth experiencing housing insecurity, 243,042 nutritious and culturally appropriate meals, snacks, and food boxes, and 6,472 support sessions to help individuals overcome barriers to employment and access legal and financial wellness resources.
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“These numbers represent real people — families, seniors, and youth who needed someone in their corner,” Russell said. “And this year, those needs are only increasing.”
To make donations go further, the United Way has brought back its “double your difference” donation match challenge. Anonymous donors will match 100 per cent of donations of any amount made by those who did not donate to the United Way last year, and will also match increases of 10 per cent or more made by returning donors over the amount they donated last year.
“These matching dollars mean every gift goes further, especially right now,” Russell said. “If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to give, this is it.”
With just over three months left until the campaign concludes on March 31, the United Way is calling on individuals, workplaces, service clubs, and organizations across Peterborough and the County to help meet the $1.6 million goal.
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Upcoming campaign events over the winter months include the ongoing monthly 50/50 draw, workplace and community fundraisers, and Peterborough Performs VI on February 26 at Showplace Performance Centre. The United Way notes that tickets for the 50/50 draw and Peterborough Performs also make purposeful holiday gifts.
“We have made meaningful progress, and for that we are deeply grateful,” Russell said. “And we are optimistic, because we know what this community can do when we all pull together to reach, and hopefully exceed, our goal so we can sustain the essential services people rely on. Every gift, at any level, moves us closer. Together, we can finish strong for Peterborough.”
Donations can be made online at give.unitedway.ca/donate/wpeter, by calling 705-742-8839, or in person at the United Way office at 277 Stewart Street in downtown Peterborough.
Tara Smith, respiratory therapy charge technologist at Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Lindsay, and Imran Syed, son of late former RMH physician Dr. Azhar Syed, in the intensive care unit at the Lindsay hospital. Friends and family of Dr. Syed visited RMH on December 8, 2025 to present a cheque representing proceeds raised through the memorial golf tournament held in his honour in September in Oakwood. (Photo courtesy of RMH Foundation)
The son of a late respected physician who practised at Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) stopped by the Lindsay hospital on Monday (December 8) to present the RMH Foundation with a cheque for $4,109, representing funds raised from a golf tournament held earlier this year in his father’s honour.
Friends and family of Dr. Azhar Syed, including his son Imran, gathered in RMH’s intensive care unit (ICU) to share memories of the man who spent decades at the hospital as an internal medicine specialist. Dr. Syed passed away from pneumonia in April 2020 at the age of 64.
“Dr. Syed was very supportive of our respiratory program, pulmonary function test clinic, and the critical care unit,” Tara Smith, a respiratory therapy charge technologist who worked with Dr. Syed, told kawarthaNOW.
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“He was always willing to take time away from his office to help with our sickest ventilated patients,” Smith said.
“He was quite specific in getting his bronchoscope set up the way he liked it in the ICU and then. once we were all organized, we realized we didn’t leave him a path to get to the head of the bed. He always had a good laugh each time and then he manoeuvred himself in there somehow.”
“He was a kind and knowledgeable doctor that is missed in this community,” Smith added.
Dr. Azhar Syed practised in Lindsay and cared for patients in the ICU at Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Lindsay from 1988 until before he passed away from pneumonia in April 2020 at the age of 64. (Photo courtesy of Syed family)
The RMH Foundation said in addition to meeting in the ICU, it was fitting his family and friends have honoured Dr. Syed with a memorial golf tournament, as golf was his great passion.
“The RMH Foundation is grateful to all who took part in the Dr. A. A. Syed Memorial Golf Tournament,” the hospital stated in a media release.
The $4,109 donation will support the growth of RMH’s critical care capacity, which is a priority focus of RMH Foundation’s “We Are The Ross” capital campaign.
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“Just as Dr. Syed supported patients at the Ross, providing life-saving care day and night, his family and friends are supporting this important work with a gift that will help us to modernize our critical care facilities,” Smith said in the release.
“We’re delighted that Dr. Syed’s family continues to feel connected to the Ross and on behalf of our patients and families, our thanks to everyone who took part in this fundraising golf tournament.”
Dr. Syed practised in Lindsay and cared for patients in RMH’s ICU from 1988 until before he died in 2020.
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Due to the pressures of the pandemic, it was impossible to gather his family, friends, and colleagues for a large memorial service when Dr. Syed passed away. Instead, his family chose to celebrate his life with a memorial golf tournament on September 14 at Oliver’s Nest Golf Club in Oakwood — his favourite course.
Dr. Syed was a founding member of the golf club, where he taught his children how to play golf.
“He used to take us to Oliver’s Nest all the time growing up and was a die-hard Tiger Woods fan,” his son Imran said. “He really emphasized the role of starting early in creating great golfers and had me swinging a club at four years old.”
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