Environment Canada has issued a frost advisory for most of the greater Kawarthas region for Thursday overnight (September 29).
The frost advisory is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Hastings County.
Temperatures are expected to dip near or below the freezing mark overnight Thursday into Friday morning.
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Frost may damage some crops in frost-prone areas.
Cover up plants, especially those in frost-prone areas, and take preventative measures to protect frost-sensitive plants and trees.
Environment Canada issues frost advisories when temperatures are expected to reach the freezing mark during the growing season, leading to potential damage and destruction to plants and crops.
The Peterborough County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has announced that Inspector Chris Galeazza is the new detachment commander.
Galeazza began his OPP career in December 1998 and was first assigned to the South Bruce Detachment. He also served at Haldimand County, the Caledonia Command Post, City of Kawartha Lakes and, most recently, at Peterborough County as the interim detachment commander.
He has participated in various projects and working groups, including a post as Pan Am Games venue commander.
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Galeazza holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology with a focus in criminology from Brock University and has completed the senior police administration course from the Canadian Police College.
He is also the recipient of the Police Exemplary Service Medal (20 years).
“I can certainly speak for all of us in Peterborough County who are delighted to welcome Chris as the new detachment commander,” states County of Peterborough Warden J. Murray Jones in a media release. “Chris has proven time and time again that he has the skills and the compassion to lead our local detachment. His down-to-earth approach serves us well. Congratulation Chris, we are all in this together.”
Twisted Trauma Foundation co-founder Jon Perrin (middle) with Colton Eddy, Melissa Carroll, Amy Terrill, and Carly Veitch of BGC Kawarthas. (Photo courtesy of BGC Kawarthas)
The Twisted Trauma Foundation has donated $5,000 to BGC Kawarthas (Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes) to support three programs to help youth address their mental health needs and fight the stigma of mental illness and addiction.
Delivered by the Youth Warehouse team at BGC Kawarthas, the three programs — “Flex Your Head,” “Creating Connections,” and “REACH” — will be offered at no cost to youth in local schools, at BGC Kawarthas and through the Youth Outreach Program. Twisted Trauma Foundation’s will support the BGC Kawarthas’ delivery of six full sessions during the 2022-23 school year.
“It is an honour and a privilege for the Twisted Trauma Foundation to fund the programs for youth mental health at the BGC Kawarthas,” says Jon Perrin, who co-founded Twisted Trauma Foundation with his wife Jen, a registered nurse. Jon became a mental health advocate after developing post-traumatic stress disorder in his role as a Kawartha Lakes OPP officer.
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Created by BGC Canada, “Flex Your Head” is designed to help youth think about, talk about, and understand issues of mental health and wellness. The program’s goals are to tear down barriers youth face in helping them cope with stress, and to create awareness and understanding of mental health and mental illness.
“Creating Connections” is a program designed to enhance addiction awareness among youth, prevent harm associated with substance use, and help reduce harmful stigma while focusing on health promotion.
“REACH” is a program to support children and youth in addressing daily challenges. Outcomes for the program include participants feeling more confident to use skills in a social environment and recognizing how their feelings, emotions and behaviours are connected.
“We are so grateful for Jon’s support as we try to help young people in our community build healthy habits and strengthen their resiliency,” says BGC Kawarthas executive director Amy Terrill.
A bird perches on the stump of a tree in Beavermead Park after the May 2022 derecho storm that destroyed or damaged trees and green spaces across Nogojiwanong/Peterborough. Ecological grief is a relatively new term for a recent phenomenon that explains the intense feelings that people may experience as a result of climate-related losses to species, ecosystems and landscapes. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Time heals. This is something that is often said as we experience the passing of a loved one. Time can heal quite slowly in some cases — especially if someone is not prepared for how to handle the event and the feelings that come with it.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s column was written in collaboration with the Kawartha World Issues Centre.
How do you handle the loss of someone that was there throughout a significant part of your life, and stands tall in your memory?
What if that someone wasn’t a person, but a tree?
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This loss of ecological life may lead to ecological grief. Defined as the mourning that occurs when we lose parts of the natural world, ecological grief is just one way that climate change is increasingly impacting global mental health.
Whereas time may not heal grief or sadness completely, stories may help with processing those hard emotions that come with loss.
Commencing in the aftermath of the May 2022 derecho storm, “Stump Stories” is an initiative from the Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC) that holds space for the ecological grief experienced by Peterborough/Nogojiwanong community members. By inviting personal stories and reflection on the role of trees in the local environment, this initiative hopes to destigmatize grief in general and build awareness about ecological grief.
A few of the many trees lost at Rogers Cove Park in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough after the May 2022 derecho storm. The City of Peterborough has since planted a number of new trees throughout the park. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
GreenUP is grateful to be sharing its Stump Stories, alongside those of KWIC’s team, to help raise awareness of the emotional aspect of climate change.
Grief can come in many forms. For Ev Richardson, KWIC program and outreach coordinator and creator of Stump Stories, grief was an unexpected consequence of the derecho storm. One of the hidden gems of East City, Rogers Cove, was hit especially hard by the extreme weather event.
“There was so much vibrancy down by the water that day, with families entertaining small children, people walking their dogs, and the occasional senior citizen enjoying shade,” Ev wrote. Walking home, however, the weather resembled a tropical storm. “I felt very helpless, imagining those laughing, joy-filled community members still at Rogers Cove.”
Over time, Ev recalled seeing the shock and sadness from the event transform into altruism.
“I remember a power generator running between two homes, both occupied by two elderly women. Seeing that they were sharing the generator warmed my heart.”
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Seeing glimmers of hope after a devastating event such as the derecho can transform feelings of grief into feelings of acceptance and empowerment.
For Dennis Howlett, a member of KWIC’s board of directors, this meant seeing Inverlea Park as a space that inspired community action.
“[The park] was not spared from the fury of the derecho,” he wrote. “A dozen of the large old trees were blown over. Our beloved park, used by many community members, was a mess. After the storm, I took a sad walk through the park with my neighbour’s dog and mourned the loss of trees that had been growing for many decades.”
It was only until the city planted 11 new trees that Dennis was able to understand the importance of action to help deal with grief.
“Although the stumps that remain in the park are a sad reminder of the loss we experienced, they also inspire me to do more to protect the trees we do have — such as keeping the newly planted trees alive.”
Downed trees at the GreenUP Ecology Park Native Plant & Tree Nursery after the May 2022 derecho storm. This fall, GreenUP staff are replanting some of the many trees lost in Ecology Park. For those looking to plant new trees to replace ones lost in the storm, the nursery remains open until October 7. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
An appreciation for the memories of trees and what remained after the storm was voiced by staff at GreenUP as another tool to deal with grief.
“I grew up walking in woods of maple, birch, and beech, sleeping in tents under pine and hemlock,” wrote Laura Keresztezi, program coordinator at GreenUP. “I’d never encountered a catalpa. The tree still astounds me with its whimsical, tropical, and fairy tale look. I’m feeling thankful for all the trees that are still standing in our mid-sized city.”
In his Stump Story, KWIC staff member James Outterson reflected on the opportunity that ecological grief and loss of biota can bring for renewal and action.
“As we lost trees in our yard, we gained space and light — and the chance to grow a large vegetable garden, orchard, and native species patch. From destruction and sadness, we now see an opportunity to rebuild and the ability to experience the same joy we got from our lost trees.”
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Stories can be antidotes to ecological grief and inspire empowering action. If you have lost a loved tree, we invite you to start replanting and reflecting on the role of trees in our changing community.
This fall, GreenUP staff are replanting some of the many trees lost in Ecology Park. Our tree and plant nursery remains open until October 7th if you’d like to plant or replant loved trees in your area.
For more Stump Stories, or to submit your own, visit www.kwic.info/stump-stories or follow @kwic_ptbo on social media.
Local historians may know GreenUP began as emerging initiative under the umbrella program of KWIC, a long-standing partner working on sharing local stories and empowering the community to take action for their environment and climate.
Presented by Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas, "Living and Working in a Digital-First World - Technologies and Trends Shaping the Future" on October 13, 2022 will be facilitated by Innovation Cluster board chair Nicole Stephenson (upper left) and feature three expert panellists from the board: Christine Crandell (upper right), Jason Wight (lower left), and Charlie Atkinson (lower right). The free event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. (Supplied photos)
The Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas is bringing back its popular in-person “Electric City Talks” event for the local business community for the first time since the pandemic began.
“Living and Working in a Digital-First World – Technologies and Trends Shaping the Future” takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m on Thursday, October 13th at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough.
The free event will include three expert panellists discussing clean technology, information technology, and business innovation as it relates to our digital-centric world, providing perspectives on business strategy, culture, sales, customer journey, marketing strategy, and opportunities for innovation in rural communities.
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“After a two-year hiatus from in-person events, this EC Talks featuring this amazing panel is the perfect way to bring Peterborough and Kawarthas’ business community back face-to-face to discuss innovative opportunities for local entrepreneurs and support business growth in our region,” says Innovation Cluster CEO Michael Skinner in a media release.
Facilitated by the Innovation Cluster’s board chair Nicole Stephenson, the informal fireside-style chat features Christine Crandell, Jason Wight, and Charlie Atkinson, all three of whom joined the Innovation Cluster’s board this past summer.
Nicole Stephenson is the founder of Toronto-based Stephenson Law Group, and has over 15 years of Canadian capital markets experience, specializing in will and estate planning for entrepreneurs and business owners among many other services.
“Living and Working in a Digital-First World – Technologies and Trends Shaping the Future” takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m on Thursday, October 13th at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough. Registration is required but admission is free. (Graphic: Innovation Cluster)
Christine Crandell is the president of California-based NBS Consulting Group, Inc. (doing business as New Business Strategies), a global customer experience and strategy consultancy.
A recognized expert in customer experience, strategic planning, and digital transformation serving Fortune 1000 and growth stage companies worldwide, Crandell has also been an advisor to companies such as Coupa and Social Dynamx, and has led mergers and acquisitions due diligence for Good Technologies/Blackberry.
Based in the GTA, Jason Wight is the chief information officer and senior vice president of digital innovation at Ontario Power Generation (OPG) as well as the founder of X-Lab, an innovation accelerator that fosters creative thinking across OPG, develops new revenue streams, and drives efficiency improvements.
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Wight has held a variety of leadership positions over his tenure with OPG which led to his current role, where he advances technological solutions within OPG’s fleet and within the overall nuclear industry.
Toronto-based leadership consultant Charlie Atkinson has over 40 years of experience building teams, growing businesses, merging companies, optimizing profit and loss statements, restructuring, and more for a variety of corporations such as Xerox, Kodak, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, from which he retired in 2017.
A year after retirement, Atkinson founded The Winning Practice, which provides results-inspired strategic excellence focusing on people, partnerships, productivity, and profitability. He is also on the national board of directors the Information Technology Association of Canada,
The Innovation Cluster is inviting all entrepreneurs, students, academics, partners, and the local business community to attend. To register for the free event, visit ectalksdigital.eventbrite.ca.
Sam's Place Deli is vying to retain their Mac + Cheese Champion crown at the second annual Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival with their Mac & Cheese Loafwich, one of 19 traditional, adventurous, and vegan mac and cheese dishes available at participating downtown restaurants during the month-long festival in October. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
“Grab your stretchy pants.”
That’s the advice from the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) about the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival, which returns in October with 19 mac and cheese dishes available at participating downtown Peterborough restaurants.
The second annual celebration of local food and the talents of local chefs runs for the entire month of October. It’s a self-guided festival, so carb lovers can indulge as often as they like, alone or with family and friends. There are both traditional and innovative mac and cheese dishes, with vegan and gluten-free options also available. A map of the participating restaurants is available below.
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“It’s the ideal number one comfort food, and we all need a little comfort coming out of COVID and all the restrictions,” said DBIA executive director Terry Guiel during a launch event on Wednesday morning (September 28) at The Food Shop at 374 Water Street.
Once again this year, downtown restaurants will be vying to be crowned Mac + Cheese Champion, an honour bestowed last year on Sam’s Place Deli for their Jalapeño Bacon Mac + Cheesewich.
“We were beyond proud to be chosen by the Peterborough Community as the winner for 2021, and we had a lot of fun coming up with our sandwich recipe,” says Sam’s Place Deli owner Sam Sayer. “It was an amazing feeling to hold that trophy above our heads, We can’t wait to compete again this year. More than anything, we are excited to see what the other chefs will be bringing to the table this fall.”
Owen Walsh of Sam’s Place Deli, Peterborough DBIA executive director Terry Guiel, Ashlee Aitken of Kawartha Food Share, Peterborough DBIA communications and marketing manager Hillary Flood, and Dylan Reinhart of Boardwalk Board Game Lounge at the launch of the second annual Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival at The Food Shop on Water Street on September 28, 2022. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
Foodies will be able to vote online for their favourite mac and cheese dishes all month long, with the victor chosen by the end of October — receiving bragging rights for the year, a cheesy hand-crafted trophy, and a sizable donation in their name to Kawartha Food Share.
Earlier this year, the Peterborough DBIA won the best special event and promotion award from the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association for the inaugural Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival.
“The idea for this mac and cheese festival really came from the fact that we are in a university and college community,” Guiel said. “I remember my time in college, and the number one food we all ate was Kraft mac and cheese.”
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But unlike that simple box of macaroni with cheese product, the 19 dishes being offered by downtown restaurants during the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival include some adventurous options such as Whistle Stop’s Mac n Cheese Poutine, DR. J’s Mac in a Waffle Bowl, La Mesita’s El Diablo Mac + Cheese, Crepes of Wrath Mac + Cheese Crepe, and Tragically Dipped Holly Macaroni — a donut-shaped mac and cheese. A full list of all 19 dishes is available below.
“We’re the culinary capital of the region and some of our restaurants are the best in the region,” Guiel said. “It’s great to see them take this very simple mac and cheese concept and turn it into a culinary luxury item.”
One again this year, the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival will be partnering with Kawartha Food Share to run a food drive. During the festival, each participating restaurant will be accepting non-perishable donations. Festival-goers are encouraged to bring their donations downtown when visiting any of the participating restaurants.
Owen Walsh of Sam’s Place Deli displays the trophy the restaurant won during the 2021 Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival for their Jalapeño Bacon Mac + Cheesewich, at the launch of the second annual Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival at The Food Shop on Water Street on September 28, 2022. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW)
New to this year’s festival is a make-at-home recipe challenge for budding home cooks. Along with a recipe for last year’s winning Jalapeño Bacon Mac + Cheesewich, a local mac recipe is available on the festival’s website.
Curated in partnership with The Food Shop, the local mac recipe features handmade pasta from the Pasta Shop paired with local cheeses, milk, and stone-ground flour. All the ingredients for the local mac recipe can be found at The Food Shop on Water Street.
Sponsored by Shorelines Casino, the Peterborough Mac + Cheese Festival runs from Saturday, October 1st until Monday, October 13th. For more information, visit www.ptbomacandcheesefest.com and follow the festival on Instagram and Facebook.
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Mac and Cheese Dishes
Adventurous Macs
Mike Frampton (right), owner and operator of Tragically Dipped, with his Holey Macaroni mac and cheese dish. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
BrickHouse No Eff’n Way Mac Burger
Whistle Stop’s Mac n Cheese Poutine
DR. J’s Mac in a Waffle Bowl
Tragically Dipped Holly Macaroni (gluten free)
Champs Spinach Mac + Cheese Dip
Boardwalk’s Mactoberfest
Real Thai’s Mac + Cheese Bowl
La Mesita’s El Diablo Mac + Cheese
Crepes of Wrath Mac + Cheese Crepe
The Dirty Butter Chicken Mac
Amandalas Cheese + “Howcutearewe”
Vegan Macs
Eddy Sweeney and Sam Sayer of Sam’s Place Deli with their Mac and Cheese Loafwich. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Forest Vegan Mac (Gluten Free)
Nateure’s Plate Mac n Please
Grilled Cheesewich
Sam’s Mac & Cheese Loafwich
Maple Moose Grilled Cheese
Classic Macs
Chef Karen at Crook & Coffer with her Mac and Cheese Brulee. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)
Shoppers Drug Mart's fall LOVE YOU Giving Shelter campaign from September 10 to October 14, 2022 is raising funds for more than 300 women shelters and transition houses across Canada, including YWCA Peterborough Haliburton. People can visit a local Shoppers Drug Mart to purchase and personalize an icon that will be prominently displayed on the store's campaign tree. (Graphic: Shoppers Drug Mart)
Shoppers Drug Mart’s third annual fall LOVE YOU Giving Shelter fundraising campaign is now underway, with all local funds raised supporting YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.
The campaign, which runs until October 14, kicked off on September 10 when Shoppers Drug Mart announced a $300,000 donation to Women’s Shelters Canada, a national organization advocating for change on the issue of violence against women and supporting over 600 violence against women shelters and transition houses across the country.
During the fall LOVE YOU Giving Shelter campaign, customers can donate by purchasing and personalizing the “LOVE YOU by Shoppers Drug Mart” icons, which are prominently displayed on the campaign tree in all participating stores. All donated funds stay in the community where they are raised.
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“We are deeply grateful to have been selected again by Shoppers Drug Mart for their 2022 Giving Shelter campaign,” says Kim Dolan, executive director of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, in a media release. “Unfortunately, the need for violence against women support services has remained high since the onset of the pandemic. With the continued support of Shoppers Drug Mart and our incredibly compassionate community, we are able to ensure that much-needed safety, resources, and support are available to women in crisis.”
In Canada, 44 per cent of women have reported experiencing some form of psychological, physical, or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. This means most Canadians likely know a woman affected by domestic violence, but may not be aware of it because these women may be afraid to speak out.
Historically, domestic violence increases at a time of economic uncertainty. First, it was the pandemic and now Canadians are facing the highest cost of living since the 1980s.
Every six days in Canada, a woman is killed by her intimate partner. Many survivors of domestic abuse cannot “just leave” because they depend on their abusers for basic needs and have few means of escape. For women who try, it takes an average of seven attempts to permanently leave an abusive partner. On any given night, more than 600 women and children are turned away because shelters are already full.
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During the LOVE YOU Giving Shelter campaign, Shoppers Drug Mart Customers can support women in their community by purchasing a “leaf” for $2, a “butterfly” for $5, an “apple” for $10, or a “bird” for $50. Donations can also be made online at shoppersdrugmart.ca/givingshelter.
“This is our third year partnering with the YWCA for the LOVE YOU campaign,” says Mohan Joshi, pharmacist and owner of the Shoppers Drug Marts on Lansdowne Street and Chemong Road. “They are an incredible organization to work with. Our customers always have a big response. I think it’s a cause everyone can get behind, because unfortunately the reality is most people know someone affected by gender-based violence, which is what makes the work they do so important.”
YWCA Peterborough Haliburton provides safe shelter, resources, and support to help women safely escape violent situations, build upon their existing strength, and move forward in their lives. Confidential support, resources, safety planning and information are available to women, as well as the people who love and support them.
New Stages Theatre Company is presenting five shows at Peterborough's Market Hall for its 25th anniversary season in 2022-23, including a full production of "Every Brilliant Thing" starring Dora Award winner and Stratford Festival company member Steve Ross (right) and directed by Linda Kash (left), pictured at a rehearsal of New Stages' sold-out 2020 production. (Photo: Eva Fisher / Public Energy)
Celebrating its 25th anniversary season, Peterborough’s New Stages Theatre Company is returning to Market Hall Performing Arts Centre with five productions in 2022-2023.
In November, New Stages will present the musical concert Stephen Sondheim: A Celebration, followed by a full production of Every Brilliant Thing in January. From March to June, there will be staged readings of New Magic Valley Fun Town, The Secret Mask, and Sweat.
Limited season subscriptions are available for $120 (plus fees and taxes) at www.newstages.ca. Tickets for individual shows are also available at the Market Hall box office or online at tickets.markethall.org.
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Here’s the 2022-23 season lineup:
Stephen Sondheim: A Celebration (Friday, November 25)
Narrated by Beth McMaster, this musical concert pays tribute to American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who had the most profound influence on musical theatre in the past century, on the one-year anniversary of his death.
Some of Canada’s best performers will gather to celebrate Sondheim’s life and music, and the way his influence has shaped us all.
Individual tickets are $35 ($16 for arts workers, students, or the underwaged) plus a $4 service charge.
Every Brilliant Thing (Wednesday, January 18 to Sunday, January 22)
New Stages is bringing back its full production of this life-affirming play, written by British playwright Duncan MacMillan and originally performed by British comedian Jonny Donahoe, about a man makes a list of every brilliant thing in the world to convince his mother that life is still worth living.
As with New Stages’ sold-out 2020 production, Steve Ross will perform and Linda Kash will direct.
Individual tickets are $30 ($15 for arts workers, students, or the underwaged) plus $4 service charge.
New Magic Valley Fun Town (Sunday, March 26)
A staged reading of a remarkable new work by Daniel MacIvor, one of Canada’s greatest playwrights. In Cape Breton, best friends from childhood reunite after 25 years apart and spend an evening full of laughter, regrets, and revisiting uncomfortable memories that can’t be washed away.
A funny and hope-filled play about the long shadow of childhood trauma and reconciling the person you once were with the person you want to be today.
Individual tickets are $22 ($11 for arts workers, students, or the underwaged) plus $4 service charge.
The Secret Mask (Sunday, May 7)
A staged reading of Rick Chafe’s moving play, which was nominated for the Governor-General’s Award, about a man who loses his language and finds his son. When a man from B.C. is hospitalized with a stroke that leaves him with aphasia, he is reunited with his reluctant son from Winnipeg who he walked out on 40 years ago.
Told with a deft comic touch, a father and son learn to communicate amid fractured memories and fragile language.
Individual tickets are $22 ($11 for arts workers, students, or the underwaged) plus $4 service charge.
Sweat (Sunday, June 11)
A staged reading of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Lynn Nottage about a group of colleagues whose fortunes decline between 2000 and the 2008 financial crisis.
Chilling and timely, this devastating account of American industrial collapse exposes the racial and class tensions that shatter the surface when people become desperate and feel their backs are against the wall.
Individual tickets are $22 ($11 for arts workers, students, or the underwaged) plus $4 service charge.
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Founded by artistic director Randy Read in 1997, New Stages Theatre Company has earned a reputation for bringing the best of contemporary, professional theatre to Peterborough.
Read first became involved in theatre in 1975 while he was a student at Trent University. Also an actor and director, he has worked with the Peterborough Theatre Guild, Kawartha Summer Theatre, Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, and the Canadian Stage Company.
In 2011, Read was inducted into the Peterborough Pathway of Fame for his local contributions to the dramatic arts.
Randy Read (left), who founded New Stages Theatre Company 25 years ago, will be passing the artistic director reins to Mark Wallace. (Supplied photos)
After 25 years at the helm of New Stages Theatre Company, Read will be stepping down as artistic director at the end of the 2022-23 season, passing the reins to Mark Wallace. Wallace, a Dora award-winning theatre artist who moved to Peterborough 15 years ago, has been involved with New Stages for more than 10 years, as an actor, board chair, and — most recently — as associate artistic director.
While Read is leaving his role as New Stages’ artistic director, he will continue to be involved with the theatre company as a director and an actor.
For more information about New Stages Theatre Company and for season subscriptions, visit www.newstages.ca.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be media sponsor of New Stages Theatre Company’s 25th anniversary season.
In recognition of Rowan's Law Day on September 28, 2022 in Ontario, Peterborough Athletics Concussion Awareness (PACA) has released its four-part video docuseries called "Recognize, Remove, Manage, Prevent." This free educational and awareness resource is designed to provide students, parents, teachers, and coaches the tools to better understand concussions, how to recognize them, and what to do to manage the best possible outcome. (Screenshot)
It will first present itself as a headache.
Depending on the severity, nausea or vomiting will follow, along with dizziness, a heightened sensitivity to light or noise, and an inability to concentrate, quite possibly leading to confusion and memory lapses.
Widely known as the invisible injury, a concussion is not to be taken lightly. As a traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head, the effects can be long lasting and, in severe cases, fatal.
Rowan Stringer was a 17-year-old rugby player who died after suffering a concussion during a 2013 high school game in Ottawa. She had continued to play despite suffering headaches as a result of blows to the head during previous games. (Photo: Stringer family)
On May 8, 2013 in Ottawa, the captain of the John McRae High School girls’ rugby team was tackled and upended before landing hard on her head. Despite quick on-field medical attention and excellent post-injury care at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Rowan Stringer died four days later. She was 17 years old.
A 2015 coroner’s inquest into Stringer’s death determined the cause to be Second Impact Syndrome (SIS). Evidence revealed that Stringer had texted to a friend that she had sustained blows to the head during earlier rugby games on May 3 and 6. Despite suffering headaches, and having searched ‘concussion’ on Google, Stringer messaged her friend that she would continue play the sport she loves, writing ‘Nothing can stop meeee! Unless I’m dead.’
The tragedy of Stringer’s death can’t be overstated. It was preventable. Had she not returned to play after those first blows to the head, she would still be alive today, having graduated from Ottawa University to which she had already been accepted, and working as a nurse.
Rowan Stringer with the ball during a 2013 rugby game. Two years after her death, an inquest was held in Ottawa about the fatal injury she suffered during a game and, in 2018, the Ontario legislature passed Rowan’s Law with mandatory requirements for sports organizations for concussion management and prevention. (Photo: Stringer family)
If Ryan Sutton considers himself lucky, he isn’t saying. That said, it’s not lost on him that any one of the eight concussions he has sustained — four by the time he graduated high school — could have left him permanently disabled, or worse. Now, as project manager of Peterborough Area Concussion Awareness (PACA), Sutton’s personal experience “fuels” his work increasing education on the signs of concussion and, more vitally, the importance of allotting time to heal.
In 2018, Rowan’s Law was passed by the Ontario legislature, making it mandatory for sports organizations to ensure athletes under 26 years of age, parents of athletes under age 18, and coaches, team trainers, and officials confirm they have reviewed Ontario’s Concussion Awareness Resources module. In addition, leagues must put in place a Concussion Code of Conduct that lays out rules supporting concussion prevention, and establish Removal-From-Sport and Return-To-Sport protocols.
With the last Wednesday of each September designated Rowan’s Law Day, PACA will mark September 28th in a significant way, premiering at www.paca.health a series of videos highlighting four critical aspects of concussion: Recognize, Remove, Manage, and Prevent.
Shot mostly in Peterborough, the hour-long four-part video series was produced by Sutton with his university friend (and equally passionate concussion awareness advocate) Seth Mendelsohn contributing as a story creator and editor.
Featuring a combined 19 interviews, the series aims to influence local, provincial, and national sports organizations to take concussion more seriously by implementing policies and strategies aimed not only at early recognition of the symptoms but also the removal of athletes from play until it’s safe for them to return.
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“The video series shows how all the stakeholders — teammates, coaches, parents, and teachers — can support one another and how important that is to someone who’s going through a concussion experience,” says Sutton, mindful of the difference that such awareness and protocols could have made for Rowan Stringer.
Concussion signs and symptoms. (Graphic via Concussion Legacy Foundation)
“One of the things we really try to address is the teammate and the friend have the ability to help that (concussed) individual and speak on their behalf,” adds Mendelsohn.
“It’s hard to explain what you’re going through (when concussed). It’s hard to identify. There are a lot of challenges that happen when you experience the injury. Having a person who’s a bit more educated on the severity can break down some of those walls.”
Sutton notes many concussed athletes go through “an internal negotiation” following their injury, asking themselves ‘Should I play? Should I not play?’
“When the stakes are high, more often than not athletes will continue to play,” says Sutton, who played hockey, baseball, and rugby as a youth growing up in Peterborough.
Released on Rowan’s Law Day on September 28, 2022, the Peterborough Athletics Concussion Awareness (PACA) four-part video docuseries called “Recognize, Remove, Manage, Prevent.” is designed to provide students, parents, teachers, and coaches the tools to better understand concussions, how to recognize them, and what to do to manage the best possible outcome. (Screenshot)
Mendelsohn, who was raised in Markham, played high school football in Vaughan. He suffered his only diagnosed concussion in Grade 12, a week before the season started.
“I was able to get back to class pretty quickly, but it took me four to six weeks to get back to football,” he recalls. “A lot of my teammates were also my classmates. They didn’t really understand why I wasn’t able to play if I was in class.”
“It was very alienating and it led to mental health complications that I didn’t acknowledge at the time. It was hard to correlate the head injury with the anxiety. When I met Ryan, we were able to connect about our experiences. I’ve learned a lot more through this journey that we’ve been on.”
Mendelsohn and Sutton met at Brock University, teaming up to co-found the HeadsUp Concussion Advocacy Network in 2017 with the mission “to build collaborative networks and partnerships that work to innovate concussion education, research and awareness.” Sutton, meanwhile, wrote his Masters thesis on The Sport Related Concussion Experience. A few years later, in his role at PACA, he connected with Mendelsohn to continue the work they started and remain passionate about.
“We’ve been on a journey to essentially get to where we’re at right now,” says Sutton, noting he’s confident more communities will “take notice of the work we’re doing at a local level” and be inspired to do likewise.
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While Mendelsohn agrees there’s much work to still be done around concussion awareness, management and prevention, he’s heartened by the progress seen since Rowan Stringer’s tragic death.
“Ryan and I have talked at a few high schools and seen that Rowan’s Law Day is such a big thing for them — they all wear purple, they all have their own way of addressing this,” he says.
“What I don’t think people really understand is the youth concussion rate has constantly risen since 2010. This is an ongoing issue but we are seeing a lot more education, with a lot more people realizing that this is something that needs to be talked about.”
Gordon and Kathleen Stringer hold a picture of their 17-year-old daughter, Rowan, who died after suffering a concussion during a 2013 high school rugby game in Ottawa. She had continued to play despite suffering headaches as a result of blows to the head during previous games. (Photo: David Kawai)
Both agree that the example being set by professional sports leagues in the form of players being removed from the game if they suffer a head hit is a good thing in terms of its influence on lower-level sports organizations.
“Whatever they see on TV, whatever they’re seeing live at a pro game, they’re going to start to emulate,” says Ryan, adding “More rigid removal from playing is very important. It’s going to trickle down.”
Still, personal experience is the best teacher, and for both Sutton and Mendelsohn, it’s the driver of all they do and plan to do.
“I felt really strange when I was going through my recovery in terms of how I was perceived,” says Sutton.
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“I’m a big advocate of understanding the social side of the injury. We know a lot about the medical side, but not how it’s intertwined with mental health. I’m very passionate about helping others not go through what I went through or, if they do, have resources available to them that will make them feel like they’re not alone.”
To view the PACA concussion education documentary series, visit www.paca.health.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Now that her kids have grown up and left home, renowned parenting expert and author Ann Douglas has turned her attention to something that 68 million women in North America are also facing: navigating the challenges of midlife. The former long-time Peterborough resident's new book 'Navigating the Messy Middle: A Fiercely Honest and Wildly Encouraging Guide for Midlife Women' comes out on October 1, 2022. (Photos courtesy of Douglas & McIntyre)
Now that her kids have grown up and left home, renowned parenting expert and author Ann Douglas has turned her attention to something that 68 million women in North America are also facing: navigating the challenges of midlife.
In her new book Navigating the Messy Middle: A Fiercely Honest and Wildly Encouraging Guide for Midlife Women, which comes out on Saturday (October 1), Douglas has written what is described as “a fierce and unapologetic book” for and about midlife women in their 40s to mid-60s, pushing back against the toxic narrative that tells them their “best-before date” has long passed.
The former long-time Peterborough resident — Douglas and her husband currently live in Hastings Highlands — was inducted to Peterborough’s Pathway of Fame in 2020. She has written 25 non-fiction books, including the “Mother of All Books” parenting series which has sold over half a million copies in North America to date, as well as more than 1,000 pregnancy and parenting articles for respected publications including Canadian Family, whose former editor-in-chief praised her as “Canada’s most trusted parenting writer.”
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Many early readers of Douglas’s parenting books and articles, who are now either approaching or in midlife, will appreciate her practical, evidence-based strategies for thriving at midlife — or, as she calls it, “the messy middle.”
“It’s a time in our lives when our roles and responsibilities are changing and we’re trying to connect the dots between past, present, and future — to figure out who we’ve been, who we are, and who we hope to become,” Douglas says. “At the same time, we’re being faced with all kinds of confusing messages about what it means to be at midlife. ‘Midlife is magical!’ ‘Midlife is miserable!’ What we eventually figure out is that it’s actually a little of both. The truth is somewhere in the middle — the messy middle.”
For her book, Douglas interviewed well over 100 women of different backgrounds and identities and shares their diverse conversations about the complex and intertwined issues that women must grapple with at midlife, including family responsibilities, career pivots, health concerns, and building community.
Seven myths and misconceptions about midlife covered in Ann Douglas’s new book “Navigating the Messy Middle: A Fiercely Honest and Wildly Encouraging Guide for Midlife Women”. (Graphic courtesy of Douglas & McIntyre)
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“We talked about our hopes and dreams and our worries and regrets, plus our ongoing struggles, big and small, to make sense of this middle chapter of our lives — a time when our bodies, lives, and relationships tend to be in flux,” Douglas says. “We acknowledged our feelings of exhaustion and of being overwhelmed — the fact that midlife is a time of life when we tend to be carrying an exceptionally heavy load and when we’re relied upon by an awful lot of people.”
As a stage of life, Douglas notes, midlife has been poorly researched compared to other stages of life. Most research that has been done has focused on the concept of the “midlife crisis” as it applies to men.
“Often midlife executive men in particular,” Douglas explains. “And when scholars remembered to focus their research on women, the women that they studied were almost always white, middle-class heterosexual women. Social and political identities like race, class, gender, sexual identity and age intersect with one another in a way that amplifies both inequality and privilege. In other
words, midlife isn’t experienced the same way by all women.”
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For her book, Douglas made a point of deliberately seeking out the stories of women whose lives and experiences have been very different from her own. As she writes in the introduction to her book:
I knew that if I wanted to do justice to a book like this, I needed to get inside the heads of a whole bunch of different women (and by that I mean any queer, non-binary, two-spirit, transgender or cisgender person who identifies as, or feels some affinity with, the role of ‘woman’ as defined in Western culture right now). Sure, I’m a woman at midlife, but I’m only one woman at midlife — and a relatively privileged one at that.
Organized in three parts, Navigating the Messy Middle covers a wide range of topics, from health and relationships to career and finances, with chapter titles including “Midlife Expectations,” “The Truth about Menopause,” “Midlife Mental Health,” “Your Body at Midlife,” “Midlife Epiphanies and Curveballs,” “Family Matters,” and more.
For all the messiness of midlife, Douglas says it has been “my very favourite life stage.”
“By the time you arrive at midlife, you have a lot of living under your belt. You know yourself so much better than you did when you were younger, and you’ve learned to be kinder to yourself. That makes life so much better and easier. Or at least, that’s been my experience.”
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As the title implies, Navigating the Messy Middle looks beyond easy self-help answers and simple negative stereotypes to offer women the tools they need to chart their own special course through midlife.
“We need stories that honour our own unique journeys, that celebrate all the learning and growth that happens at midlife, and that highlight the importance of journeying through midlife with others,” Douglas says. “I’m really hoping that this book will help to spark a lot of really important conversations between midlife women.”
Navigating the Messy Middle: A Fiercely Honest and Wildly Encouraging Guide for Midlife Women is published by Douglas & McIntyre. It will be available October 1, 2022 as a paperback at independent booksellers across the Kawarthas as well as online and as an ebook.
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