Peterborough’s Riverview Park and Zoo has launched a fundraising campaign to replace the locomotive in its popular miniature train ride, with a limited-edition train ride jigsaw puzzle now available.

Established in 1974 by James Hamilton, the miniature train ride features a miniature replica of an 1860 locomotive (nicknamed “Rosco”) that is old and needs to be replaced.

Riverview Park and Zoo, an accredited zoo operated by Peterborough Utilities Commission, is seeking to raise $300,000 to replace the locomotive by 2023.

“The attraction has provided income that sustains the operations and helps to make necessary capital improvements at the Park and Zoo,” reads a media release.

With long-time supporters Ross and Ann Dobbin kicking off the fundraising campaign with an undisclosed “cornerstone investment” that includes naming rights for the new locomotive, the Riverview Park and Zoo is now reaching out to area residents and community partners to raise the remaining funds needed to replace the locomotive.

To raise awareness around the train replacement campaign and to raise funds toward the new train costs, Riverview Park and Zoo has partnered with local businesses to sell a 308-piece 11-by-17-inch jigsaw puzzle of the current 1860 locomotive replica.

The puzzle is available for $20 at local retailers — including Brant Basics, Griffin’s Greenhouse, Fork in the Road Country Market, House of Scales, and Ennismore Pharmacy — with all proceeds going to the train replacement campaign.

Other retailers, businesses, or organizations that want to bulk order the puzzle can contact Riverview Park and Zoo at connect@riverviewparkandzoo.ca or 705-748-9301 x2304.

Beyond the jigsaw puzzle fundraiser, the train replacement campaign also includes investment opportunities for businesses and organizations, including sponsoring the train station platform for $100,000, sponsoring one of three passenger coaches for $25,000, dedicating one of 21 seat benches for $5,000, and dedicating one of two accessible seat benches for $7,500.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities for the the train replacement campaign, contact Paul Hartung at 705-743-2195 or paulhartung@hotmail.com.

The Ontario government has lifted capacity limits for other organized outdoor public events, including Remembrance Day ceremonies and Santa Claus parades, effective immediately.

A regulation amendment to the Reopening Ontario Act lifting capacity limits on outdoor organized public events (including parades, memorial services, and other similar events) was approved on Wednesday (October 27).

Other changes include lifting capacity limits on ski hills and other outdoor recreational amenities, outdoor areas of museums and festivals, and removing the physical distancing limits on vehicles at drive-ins.

Although capacity limits have been lifted on organized outdoor public events, face masks must be worn if physical distancing of two metres is not possible.

The government has also lifted any remaining outdoor capacity limits in most other sectors, including outdoor areas of fairs, rural exhibitions and festivals, and outdoor areas of museums, aquariums, zoos, and science centres, among others.

Ski hills and other outdoor recreational amenities are also able to operate outdoors without capacity limits.

These settings can also opt-in for proof of vaccination for their indoor settings to remove capacity limits.

Unorganized outdoor social gatherings will continue to be limited to 100 people. Outdoor capacity limits will remain in place for food or drink establishments with dance facilities, such as nightclubs.

Proof of vaccination continues to be required in certain outdoor settings where the capacity is 20,000 people or more.

The government has also made several other changes, including:

• Removing the expired provision that permitted a negative COVID-19 antigen test to be used in place of proof of vaccination for wedding and funeral receptions in meeting or event spaces.
• Permitting indoor recreational amenities to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements to align with the approach for similar businesses and organizations.
• Clarifying requirements for signage at wedding, funeral and religious services, rites or ceremonies that opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
• Specifying reservations are not required to attend unseated concerts, events, performances, and movies in addition to seated.
• Removing the requirement that motor vehicles maintain at least two meters distance at drive-in or drive-through venues.

Haliburton OPP are reminding the public not to take the law into their own hands following the shooting deaths of a Haliburton County family’s two dogs last Thursday (October 21).

Lacey Finch, who lives on Trappers Trail in Dysart et al Township around 16 kilometres east of Haliburton, posted on Facebook on Sunday that her two dogs Hunter and Nova — a mother and her three-month-old puppy — were shot to death after they wandered onto an adjoining property.

“They were let out to do their daily routine of doing their business in the back yard before coming inside for the night and 10 minutes later I heard gunshots,” she writes.

Finch and her partner went looking for the dogs and found evidence they were shot on a neighbour’s property.

Finch adds that the “monster that did this” shot the dogs with a shotgun “at close range, took off their collars, dragged their bodies and covered them with sticks.”

According to Finch, both dogs were friendly and the neighbour’s adjoining property has no pets, children, or livestock “so there is nothing that my dogs, especially a three-month-old puppy, posed a risk to.”

The shooting was reporting to Haliburton OPP, who issued a media release on Wednesday morning stating they are still investigating the incident.

Finch’s original and subsequent Facebook posts on the shooting of her dogs have understandably provoked outrage, with several comments on the posts identifying a local man who was allegedly responsible for the shooting.

Haliburton OPP are aware of the posts and are asking people to let the police do their job.

“The OPP would like to remind the public that the person responsible for this has not been positively identified by police,” the media release states. “The Haliburton Highlands detachment will be investigating any incidents that appear to be in response to this shooting.”

In Ontario, shooting a dog that has wandered onto private property is only legally permitted under the Protection of Livestock and Poultry from Dogs Act, when a dog is found either attacking livestock or poultry or straying on property where livestock or poultry is regularly kept.

Police have arrested a 25-year-old Lindsay man in Elliott Lake in connection to a June shooting incident in Bobcaygeon.

On June 12 just after 9:30 p.m., officers with Kawartha Lakes OPP responded to a report of gunshots being fired in the area of Front Street in Bobcaygeon.

Police say a sport-style motorcycle approached a Ford F-150 pickup truck and fired multiple shots. Both vehicles sped away from the area, with a second round of gunfire happening in the vicinity of Anne Street and East Street. No injuries were reported.

Last Friday (October 22) shortly before 10 p.m., officers with East Algoma OPP located and arrested Dakota Fredericks, 25, of Lindsay at an apartment on Hillside Drive North in Elliot Lake.

Fredericks, who was transported back to Kawartha Lakes, has been charged with two counts of discharge a firearm with intent, possession a firearm contrary to prohibition order, use of a firearm while committing an offence, two counts of pointing a firearm, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm.

The accused man remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Lindsay at a later date.

Police are asking anyone with information in relation to this investigation to call the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP’s non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or by visiting www.khcrimestoppers.com to submit an anonymous tip.

Peterborough’s new Opioid Response Hub is $25,000 closer to being renovated thanks to a contribution from the Brian and Lynne Kelly Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough.

On Tuesday (October 26), the Four County Addiction Services Team (Fourcast) — which is leading an initiative to establish an Opioid Response Hub at the former Greyhound bus terminal on the northeast corner of Simcoe Street at Aylmer Street North in downtown Peterborough — announced the donation as part of the initiative’s “Light The Way to $160K” campaign.

“We hope this donation encourages others to learn about the opioid crisis and make their own contributions to the Light the Way campaign,” says Brian Kelly in a media release.

Once renovated, the Opioid Response Hub will provide a location for services and supports from organizations such as Fourcast, PARN, the 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, Peterborough County Paramedics, and the Mobile Support Overdose Resource Team (MSORT).

“Brian and Lynne recognize that the opioid issue is destroying lives, shattering families, and taking its toll on the entire community,” adds Jennifer DeBues, co-executive director of the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough. “Supporting the Opioid Response Hub is an active step towards creating solutions to the opioid crisis in Peterborough.”

The ultimate goal is for the Opioid Response Hub to also serve as a Consumption and Treatment Site (CTS). However, according to Fourcast executive director Donna Rogers, the organization and its partners are not waiting for approval to proceed with the planned renovation.

“We are still waiting to hear about funding for the Consumption and Treatment Site and do not have a timeline on that decision,” Rogers explains. “While reopening the site with CTS funding approval would be best, we remain committed to using this perfect location to improve the level of access and response to those who rely on our community partners for support.”

The “Light The Way to $160K” campaign, which runs until November 30, has raised over $71,000 to date. Donations to the campaign can be made through the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough website at www.cfgp.ca/LightTheWay or by mailed cheque to the foundation’s offices at 261 George Street North, Peterborough K9J 3G9. Cheques should be made out to Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough and include CTS Fund on the memo line.

“On behalf of Fourcast and all the partners involved at the Opioid Response Hub, I’d like to thank Brian and Lynne Kelly for showing such generosity and compassion with this donation,” Rogers says. “Along with all others who have donated to our Light The Way campaign, it’s clear that many people support our vision to transform 220 Simcoe Street into a place that serves those in our community who are most in need.”

An Omemee woman has made good on her promise to shave her head in support of brain tumour research.

Earlier this fall, Britney Krzeminsk launched a fundraiser in support of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada after someone she loves was diagnosed with a brain tumour in June. As an added incentive to donors, Britney offered to cut lengths off her 28-inch mane of hair if she met her fundraising goals.

If she reached her total $1,500 goal, she promised to shave her head completely.

By the end of her fundraising campaign, Britney had raised $4,100 — almost three times her original goal.

So, on Sunday (October 24), which was Brain Cancer Awareness Day in Canada, Britney visited Glenda’s Place Hair Salon in Peterborough, where owner Glenda Shields came in on her day off to personally cut off three 28-inch braids of Britney’s hair — and then proceeded to shave Britney’s head.

“Due to the huge success of my fundraiser, my husband and my mom also got in on the head-shaving action,” Britney writes in a Facebook post.

In addition to the funds she has raised for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, Britney has donated her cut hair to Chai Lifeline Canada, a non-profit organization based in Toronto that makes wigs for those who have lost their hair due to illness.

Britney is a registered veterinary technician at Omemee Veterinary Hospital, and has also worked for the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, helping to care for and rehabilitate injured native Ontario turtles.

Omemee Veterinary Hospital also supported Britney’s cause, raising $515 for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada during September by donating proceeds from its $10 cash ‘fear free’ nail trims.

With Dress Purple Day 2021 on Wednesday (October 27), the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies wants the public to know about a significant shift in this year’s campaign.

Beginning with a purple ribbon campaign in the Toronto area in 1992, for almost 30 years children’s aid societies in Ontario have used the month of October for a campaign to remind people of their role in keeping children and youth in their communities safe from abuse and neglect.

The successful Dress Purple campaign led to October becoming “Child Abuse Prevention Month”, with the Ontario government officially proclaiming the month in 2017.

However, this year Ontario’s child welfare sector is focusing on Dress Purple Day as a way to remind people about the important role they have in supporting vulnerable children, youth, and families in our communities, and is no longer using “Child Abuse Prevention Month” as a campaign theme.

“What we now understand is that the campaign’s success also came with a price,” says Nicole Bonnie, CEO of the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, in a statement. “Vulnerable and marginalized families — especially from Indigenous and Black and African Canadian communities — have told us that the campaign’s emphasis on reporting led to an unwarranted increase in surveillance of their families and communities. In many ways, the campaign was more harmful than helpful.”

According to the association, the campaign’s historical focus on reporting contributed to the overrepresentation of vulnerable and marginalized families in the child welfare system. While everyone still has a legal duty to contact their local children’s aid society if they have a concern about the safety or well-being of a child or youth, the association says people should “check their biases”before doing so.

“We know that racism, prejudice, and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, ability, poverty, and sexual orientation can lead to the overreporting and oversurveillance of families in certain communities,” Bonnie point outs.

According to the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, most of the calls they receive are not about abuse, but about families struggling with chronic challenges — including mental health, addictions, and extreme financial stress — that can make it difficult for them to support the basic needs of their children.

The Dress Purple Day campaign is about supporting Ontarians facing challenges and ensuring children, youth, and families have access to the supports, information, and resources they need, with a focus on strengthening families through enhanced community-based prevention and early intervention.

The association says Dress Purple Day is also a day to remind young people they have rights to safety and well-being that extend beyond their physical bodies. They have the right to be safe emotionally, spiritually, and culturally. They have the right to have their intersectional identities — which include culture, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — protected and supported in all spaces.

“Dress purple to show that you’re part of the community that cares for children, youth, and families,” Bonnie says. “Let’s make sure they all know that no matter the challenge they are facing, services and resources that meet their cultural and identity-based needs are available. They have the right to the most appropriate kind of support, and we are here to help them find it. No one is alone.”

For more information about Dress Purple Day 2021, visit www.oacas.org/dresspurpleday/.