Fleming College graduate and Anishinaabe professional and entrepreneur Steve DeRoy is one of seven recipients of the 2022 Premier’s Awards.

Launched in 1992 and administered by Colleges Ontario, the advocacy voice for the province’s 24 colleges, the Premier’s Awards recognize past and recent graduates from Ontario colleges who have made outstanding social and economic contributions in their fields and in the community.

A total of 126 graduates were nominated for this year’s seven award categories, with DeRoy receiving the award in the technology category.

A 1998 graduate from Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – Cartographic Specialist at Fleming’s Frost Campus in Lindsay, DeRoy is the co-founder and director of the Firelight Group, which provides community-based research and technical support to Indigenous peoples.

In 2014, he founded the Indigenous Mapping Collective — an annual workshop that aims to build a global community of Indigenous mappers who tell their own stories of place and space — with technology partners Google, Esri Canada, Mapbox, NASA, and the Canadian Space Agency.

The Indigenous Mapping Collective has since trained more than 2,500 Indigenous community mappers on emerging geospatial tools, becoming the largest global Indigenous geospatial network. More than 3,000 Indigenous communities in Canada have been added to Google Maps and Google Earth thanks to DeRoy’s work.

“Fleming College prepared me with the tools to engage in storytelling through maps and geographic information systems technologies, to stay curious, and find creative solutions to tough problems,” DeRoy says in a media release. “These foundational skills continue to be applied in my daily work as we build a global community of Indigenous mappers.”

DeRoy received his Premier’s Award at a gala event on Monday (November 28) at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel.

“We are so proud of Steve and all of his achievements,” says Fleming College president Maureen Adamson. “His work has helped thousands of Indigenous people mark their place and space in this world, on their terms. We are proud of Steve’s accomplishments and look forward to the next phase of his journey.”

The other receipients of the 2022 Premier’s Awards are Jennifer Green from Conestoga College (apprenticeship), Jason Rasevych from Confederation College (business), Shereen Ashman from Centennial College (community services),  Murray Brewster from Niagara College (creative arts and design), Mark Cameron from Humber College (health services), and  Erica Williams from Niagara College (recent graduates).

The Peterborough Petes’ annual Pink In The Rink fundraising campaign will celebrate and honour local hockey moms who have been affected by cancer, with proceeds supporting cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).

The 14th annual Pink in the Rink games takes place at the Peterborough Memorial Centre at 7:05 p.m. on February 4, 2023, when the Petes will face off against the Oshawa Generals.

Details of the campaign were announced on Wednesday morning (November 30) in a media conference at the hospital with the Petes organization and the PRHC Foundation.

“The number of patients from Peterborough and the surrounding area who rely on PRHC to support their cancer journey continues to climb,” said PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway. “It’s events like Pink in the Rink and organizations like the Peterborough Petes — along with the people and businesses who support them — that fund the tools our experts need to save and improve lives.”

The Petes are now accepting nominations at gopetesgo.com/pink-in-the-rink-2023 of local hockey moms who will be honoured leading up to and during the February Pink in the Rink game.

You can also honour someone who has been affected by cancer by having their name appear in the design of the official Pink in the Rink game jerseys, which will be worn at the game. The cost fo each name is $20 and can be purchased by contacting Ian MacGregor at the Petes Office at 705-743-3681 ext. 201 or at imacgregor@gopetesgo.com or online at gopetesgo.com/petes-pink-in-the-rink-official-jersey-name-order-form.

Over the past 13 years, the annual Pink in the Rink campaign has raised a total of $900,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. This year’s fundraising goal is $50,000, with proceeds going to the PRHC Foundation.

“With your help, we’ll continue investing in vital technology upgrades like our interventional radiology suites, where cancer is just one of the conditions treated, and experts perform minimally invasive biopsies, install intravenous chemotherapy ports, and even offer precise, targeted cancer treatments — safely and quickly so patients can go home sooner,” Heighway said.

Tickets for the 14th annual Pink in the Rink game on Saturday, February 4th against the Oshawa Generals are available now in person at the Grant Thornton Box Office (151 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough), by phone at 705-743-3561 during regular business hours, or online anytime at tickets.memorialcentre.ca. Group ticket are available by contacting Hailey Bentley at the Petes Office at 705-743-3681 or at hbentley@gopetesgo.com.

“On behalf of PRHC’s patients and everyone who loves them, thank you,” Heighway said. “Together we’re ensuring our hospital remains a trusted place of healing and hope for you, your family and our entire community, now and always.”

Police are investigating after a 25-year-old man died when his vehicle struck a tree in Peterborough early Wednesday morning (November 30).

At around 2 a.m., officers were called to the area between Armour Road and Rogers Street, south of Parkhill Road, after reports a vehicle had struck a tree at the entrance to Nicholls Oval Park.

A 25-year-old man who was driving the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released the name of the victim.

A 26-year-old man who was a passenger suffered minor injuries.

Police say they will be in the area while they continue the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the southern greater Kawarthas region for strong winds on Wednesday (November 30).

The special special weather statement is in effect for southern Peterborough County, southern Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County.

Strong westerly winds gusting up to 70 km/h or 80 km/h are forecast to develop Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday evening in the wake of a strong cold front.

The strongest winds are expected near the shoreline of Lake Ontario, where wind gusts up to 90 km/h may occur.

The strong winds are expected to ease Wednesday night.

Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage. Isolated power outages possible.

Six new needle disposal bins are available in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County, with an seventh one coming soon.

The locations of the bins, available 24/7 and intended to reduce accidental contact with used needles, were selected in a partnership between Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network in Peterborough, the John Howard Society, Greenwood Coalition, the Town of Cobourg, the Municipality of Dysart et al, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Community Living Campbellford/Brighton, and the Haliburton County Library System.

“When needle disposal bins are located in convenient and accessible locations, there will be fewer needles found in parks and public spaces making it safer for everyone,” says Katlin Archibald, a harm reduction outreach worker with PARN, in a media release. “This in turn reduces the risk of transmission of infections to community members through contact with needles.”

The bins are located in the City of Kawartha Lakes at the health unit’s Lindsay office (108 Angeline St. S.) by the front entrance, in Haliburton County at Head Lake Park (78 Maple Ave., Haliburton) behind the Dysart Library branch, and in the municipal parking lot by the Drag River Trail (80 Maple Ave., Haliburton) across from the library in Haliburton Village, and in Northumberland County at the health unit’s Port Hope office (200 Rose Glen Rd. N.) by the back entrance, at the Rotary Harbourfront Park washrooms and bus shelter building (35 Albert St., Cobourg) in the south side facing parking lot, and at Community Living Campbellford Brighton (65 Bridge St E., Campbellford) by the back door of the building facing the parking lot.

Another needle disposal bin will be installed at a second location in the City of Kawartha Lakes, to be announced.

The bins are part of the needle exchange program that provides substance users with the necessary equipment to help prevent the spread of bloodborne infections such as HIV and Hepatitis C.

“We implemented a needle exchange program in 2008 and since then have worked with community partners such as PARN and John Howard Society to ensure safe access to a variety of harm reduction programs within the communities we serve,” says Leslie McLaughlin, a public health nurse with Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit.

The location of the bins in Haliburton County near library branches reflects the need to reduce stigma associated with substance use, which impacts care, treatment, and recovery from substance use disorder.

“Public librarians across Canada often seek guidance and training to reduce stigma and the potential for harm in our community spaces, and Haliburton County Public Library is no exception,” says library CAO Chris Stephenson.

“Our staff recently participated in anti-stigma training around drug use provided by John Howard Society, as well as optional training on administering Naloxone, a medication that is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.”

Gail Parry has a Christmas season tradition — an annual undertaking she dearly wishes wasn’t a part of her life at any time of the year. Circumstances, tragic is every respect, have dictated otherwise.

Following the death of her daughter Jody in August 2018 from health complications related to her substance use, Parry has overseen the placing and decoration of a memorial Christmas tree in Peterborough Square.

Since 2019, ornamental bulbs featuring photos of people whose substance use proved fatal, either from overdose or the poisoned drug supply, have hung from the tree’s sparkly white branches.

“It’s a place to honour the lives of those lost — a safe place,” says Parry who, not unlike any of those who have lost a loved family member or friend depicted on the tree, draws comfort from the display.

“I miss her every single day. She was my only child. Christmas was special for us. Our last Christmas together was in 2013. She was waiting for long-term treatment for months. The call never came.”

This year’s memorial tree, located on the upper level of the downtown mall near the food court, will go up Wednesday (November 30) at about 10 a.m. and stay in place until the week prior to New Year’s Eve.

“A mom from Lindsay is going to be joining me,” says Parry, adding, “She lost her son recently and is having a service for him the same day.”

Parry is a member of Moms Stop The Harm, a network of Canadian families that, among other things, advocates for change as that pertains to failed substance use strategies and policies, She is a also a key organizer of events related to International Overdose Awareness Day marked each August 31st at Millennium Park.

As satisfying as that work is for Parry, her memorial tree initiative hits home on a much deeper personal level.

“When I lost Jody, I wanted to honour her life and the lives of others lost,” recalls Parry, attributing the memorial tree idea to another member of Moms Stop The Harm in Powell River, British Columbia.

Due to the continuing opioid crisis, the number of ornaments on the memorial tree continues to grow every year. According to data from Peterborough Public Health, 63 people in the Peterborough region have died from drug poisonings over the last year — that’s one death every six days on average.

“There were a lot of photos on that first tree but, every year, we add more photos,” Parry says. “There have been at least 100 bulbs on the tree and I’ll have more this year. I may have to come up with another tree for next year to put beside this one.”

Helping Parry out with the tree this year is Aizha Pollock, the manager of Harm Reduction Services with PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network in Peterborough.

“The tree means different things to different people but, of course, it’s a way to remember and honour those lost,” says Pollock. “With the opioid crisis being what it is, we’ve all lost somebody. The holiday season is a difficult time for many, but especially for those who have lost a family member or friend to the opioid crisis or to drug poisoning. It’s a bit of a way to alleviate that pain by honouring them and also raise awareness to try and prevent that pain for somebody else.”

The memorial tree, adds Pollock, serves another broader purpose.

“It puts a face to the opioid crisis,” she says. “It can seem like a very faceless thing when you haven’t lost someone in your life. It really brings it home that these people are loved just like anybody else — that each one isn’t a statistic but an individual.”

“It’s hard to tell from a photo what walk of life someone comes from but, again, it makes them less of a statistic. It personalizes them.”

Hopefully, adds Pollock, that will help lessen the inherent stigma attached to substance users: those who see the faces in the ornaments will be moved to realize they are ordinary people, of all ages and from all walks of life, who struggled with an addiction not of their choosing and paid the ultimate price.

Passers-by do take notice, says Parry.

“People stop and comment about how beautiful the tree looks and how sad it is,” she says.

But, as she told kawarthaNOW this past August, there has been rare instances where ignorance has cut deep and it has left a scar on her heart — including the time a man who stopped to look at the tree and told Parry, “They all should be taken out into a field and then shot in the head like a sick horse.”

“I said ‘These are our kids on this tree’ — then he said it again,” she recalls. “There are a lot of people that have judgment. It’s terrible. Ignorance equals stupidity.”

Those interested in having an photo ornament displayed on the tree are asked to email Pollock at aizha@parn.ca or phone her at 705-768-1719.

Parry adds arrangements can also be made by contacting Hospice Peterborough or the Elizabeth Fry Society.