On three nights in June, Kawartha Lakes residents can get a COVID-19 vaccination without an appointment at the drive-through clinic at the Lindsay Exhibition.

The clinic, operated by Ross Memorial Hospital, is offering “No Appointment Needed Nights” from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 17th, Tuesday, June 22nd, and Thursday, June 24th.

To be eligible to attend the clinic, you must be 18 years or older and be receiving either your first vaccine dose or your second vaccine dose (eight weeks after your first dose of AstraZeneca, or 28 days after your first dose of Pfizer or Moderna).

The “No Appointment Needed Nights” are the result of an increased supply of vaccine in the region, and those attending the clinic on these nights will receive a dose of the Moderna vaccine.

When attending the Lindsay Exhibition clinic, you must remain in your vehicle while receiving your vaccine dose and wear a face mask when interacting with clinic personnel. You are advised to wear a loose and comfortable shirt and must bring your Ontario health card.

Following your vaccination, you will be monitored in your vehicle for an additional 15 minutes, or 30 minutes if you have a history of allergic reactions.

As of Wednesday (June 14), 121,575 people in Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, and Haliburton have received first doses of vaccine, with more than 31,800 of those doses administered at the Lindsay Exhibition clinic.

Thanks to the generosity of the local community, the United Way Peterborough & District has exceeded its goal of collecting 250 care kits for people in need during the annual ‘Day of Caring’ held last Wednesday (June 9).

More than 120 local residents delivered 135 kits containing personal care and hygiene products and backpacks filled with school supplies to the United Way office in downtown Peterborough, with another 138 kits donated online, for a total of 275 kits.

Brant Basics, the locally owned independent office supply business in downtown Peterborough, also contributed more than 200 face masks to be included in the collected kits.

The annual ‘Day of Caring’ has traditionally been an opportunity for small groups of volunteers to work together on local projects. Due to the pandemic, the United Way instead asked people to donate to the United Way’s Backpacks for Kids initiative or to create a personal hygiene kit.

Backpacks for Kids sees school supplies delivered through local school for local elementary and secondary schools in the fall, when each school distributes the backpacks to children in need.

The personal hygiene kits will be delivered through local shelters for people who are experiencing homelessness, living in poverty, or in precarious financial situations.

“One young girl spent her allowance to create a kit,” says United Way CEO Jim Russell in a media release. “She said that when she first came to Peterborough, she received a backpack through her school and will never forget how proud and lucky that made her feel so was excited for the chance to pay it forward.”

Fundraising for Backpacks for Kids will continue through September, with monetary donations accepted online so the United Way can purchase school supplies.

Three members of a Peterborough family achieved their goal of walking from Peterborough to Ottawa and raising $10,000 for juvenile diabetes research.

The Cahill-Denis family participated in the Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes for JDRF in support of Mariloup Cahill, the youngest daughter of Peterborough business owner Rob Cahill and his wife Marie-Noelle Denis, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes almost two years ago when she was nine years old.

Team Ti-Loup — Marie-Noelle Denis, her oldest daughter Laurence Denis-Bertrand, and Laurence’s boyfriend David Patton — left Peterborough last Wednesday (June 9) on a 260-kilometre journey to Ottawa.

The three walkers walked around 30 kilometres per day, covering around 130 kilometres on foot — half of the total distance between Peterborough and Ottawa — as they encountered extreme heat, dusty roads, and many blisters.

Laurence Denis-Bertrand said the walk was harder than the team thought it would be.

“It was really long, but it was worth it for my little sister and all the children with diabetes,” she said.

The team arrived on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday, having raised more than $10,000 for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

Their walk — coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of the Canadian discovery of insulin — received both local and national media attention.

Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.

Ontario is reporting 296 new cases today — the lowest daily increase since September 13 when 313 cases were reported — with most of the cases in Peel (62), Toronto (60), and Waterloo (45). The seven-day average of daily cases has fallen by 24 to 479.

Hospitalizations have increased by 49 to 433, although the increase may reflect underreporting over the past two days. ICU admissions have decreased by 27 to 382 (the same number reported on January 8 when there were 1,457 hospitalizations) and patients on ventilators have decreased by 24 to 244. Ontario is reporting 13 new deaths, with two new deaths in long-term care homes.

Over 11.5 million vaccine doses have been administered with more than two million people now fully vaccinated. Of Ontario’s total population, over 78% have received at least one dose of vaccine and almost 14% are fully vaccinated.

For a daily summary of cases in Ontario, including a breakdown of cases in each of Ontario’s 34 health units, visit ontario.ca/page/how-ontario-is-responding-covid-19.

In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 9 new cases to report, including 8 in Peterborough and 1 in Northumberland. There are no new cases in Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, or Hastings Prince Edward.

There is 1 new COVID-related hospitalization in Peterborough.

An additional 9 cases have been resolved, including 5 in Peterborough, 3 in Kawartha Lakes, and 1 in Northumberland.

Active cases have increased by 3 in Peterborough and decreased by 3 in Kawartha Lakes, with no change in Northumberland, Hastings Prince Edward, or Haliburton.

There are currently 56 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region (no change from yesterday), including 34 in Peterborough, 13 in Kawartha Lakes, 5 in Hastings Prince Edward (2 in Quinte West and 3 in Belleville), and 4 in Northumberland. There are no active cases in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,561 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,506 resolved with 21 deaths), 1,072 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,015 resolved with 57 deaths), 933 in Northumberland County (912 resolved with 17 deaths), 121 in Haliburton County (120 resolved with 1 death), and 1,126 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,110 resolved with 11 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Kawartha Lakes on June 5.

For detailed data for each health unit, visit the COVID-19 trackers for Peterborough Public Health, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.

For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.

The City of Peterborough has announced Reem Ali is the city’s first diversity, equity and inclusion officer.

The newly created position, approved by city council in the 2021 budget, will assist the city with addressing racism, discrimination, and the prevention, identification, and removal of barriers to access in opportunity.

“The new position reflects the city’s commitment to diversity and inclusion,” said Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien in a media release on Monday (June 14) announcing the appointment.

“For our community to thrive, we need to be open and welcoming to all people,” Mayor Therrien added. “Diversity of experiences, backgrounds and cultures makes us a better, stronger, more vibrant community.”

“As we see the historical and present-day experiences of discrimination and hate that have destroyed lives, we have a responsibility to learn, to understand, and to take action to improve our city and our country.”

Ali is currently the interim executive director of the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre in Peterborough. Previously she worked as workplace integration liaison and community development worker with the New Canadians Centre Peterborough, which supports immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers to become full and equal members of Canadian society.

Ali has a wide range of experience working and volunteering with community organizations in Peterborough as well as internationally. Prior to coming to Peterborough, Ali worked in Egypt with several organizations to protect the rights of vulnerable children.

She received her Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry from Trent University, her Master of Science degree in biochemistry from McMaster University, her Master of Public Administration in international development from Carleton University, and a certificate in ethics and contemporary social issues from Saint Paul University.

Ali serves on non-profit boards including the YWCA, the Kawartha World Issues Centre, the Peterborough Field Naturalists, and the Clean Slate Enterprise. She is also the chair of the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market steering committee.

In 2018, she received the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s 4-Under-40 award as well as an inaugural Women’s Leadership Award from Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef.

“I am very honoured to have been trusted with this new and important role in my home city of Peterborough,” Ali said, “and look forward to advancing this challenging but much-needed diversity, equity and inclusion work within the city and our local community.”

Ali will start in the new position in July.

It’s not difficult to find a row of packaged hummus stocked on most Canadian grocery stores’ shelves. However, according to Turkey native Tuncay Alkan, the version of this Middle Eastern dip and spread found in grocery stores does not compare to the version made and sold in the Middle East itself.

Tuncay (pronounced Toon-Jai) and his partner Laura moved to Canada from Turkey in 2019 after having their first child. The couple first met in Istanbul while Tuncay was completing his master’s degree in welding engineering. After working in places such as Saudi Arabia and Germany as well as various cities in Turkey for a few years, Tuncay and Laura settled in Peterborough — Laura’s home town.

While adjusting to his new country, Tuncay found himself craving a taste of home. Hummus is the food that says home the most for Tuncay, since it is a popular and signature food in Turkey. Chickpeas, the key ingredient in hummus, date back more than 10,000 years in Turkey — they were first domesticated from a wild plant that today only grows in southeast Turkey.

“Hummus is classical in my geography,” Tuncay explains. “There are places that only make hummus — nothing else. I hadn’t tried making it because I was always buying it from the best places in Turkey.”

He ventured into a Canadian grocery store, only to find the hummus sold there was not as good as what he ate in Turkey.

“I need to make my own hummus to feel like I’m home again,” Tuncay recalls thinking.

Recreating a native dish has helped Tuncay adjust to his new home in Canada over the past two years. Making and sharing food — especially when it holds personal meaning — is a great way to cultivate social relationships. Especially in Turkey, where hospitality is a cornerstone of the country’s culture.

“Whenever I share and cook Turkish food for someone here, I feel like I’m hosting them in my home country,” Tuncay says.

While volunteer cooking for Food Not Bombs Peterborough, Tuncay felt like he was hosting hundreds of Canadians in his native land. He made and shared his hummus and other Turkish recipes several times for the organization, which serves food to around 150 to 200 people a week.

Tuncay Alkan’s Turkish Hummus Recipe (Two Ways)

Tuncay is happy to share his hummus recipe with kawarthaNOW readers. Tuncay’s recipe features the two most popular ways of making and serving hummus in Turkey: with butter as a rich dish to be eaten soon after it is made (such as for an appetizer on toasted bread or pita before dinner), and with olive oil for a lighter-tasting version that lasts longer and can be enjoyed as a spread or a dip.

Making and sharing food from your own culture is also a powerful way to promote feelings of belonging when in a new country, something Tuncay himself noticed while working for a non-government organization in Turkey that assists refugees.

“I found the best and most connecting activity was related with food,” Tuncay explains. “Whenever we made food with refugees, people used to feel like home.”

For Tuncay, the practice of cooking home foods holds as much nostalgic meaning as it does taste.

“I create a little Turkey in my kitchen,” he says. “Whenever I want to visit Turkey, I go to the kitchen.”

His passion for cooking dates back to his childhood and spending time in the kitchen with his mother and grandmother, who passed on their love for cooking.

“It was a family thing for me,” Tuncay says.

But it wasn’t until he was living alone while attending university in Turkey that he found himself cooking alone for the first time out of necessity. As a vegan, he explains that it was not easy to buy food that met his dietary restrictions.

“Being vegan is not easy in Turkey,” says Tuncay. “You need to cook every day — you will not find (vegan) food outside. I needed to find new recipes so it wouldn’t be boring for me. I love trying new things, so I kept cooking after that.”

In describing Turkish cuisine, Tuncay cites the rich spice culture and dense forests in the country — aspects of Turkish culture reflected in his recipes. It’s clear from his description that cooking Middle Eastern food here in Canada connects him back to the land, culture, and family he left behind in Turkey.

According to Tuncay, experiencing that connection to Turkey through cooking has helped him get through one of the biggest challenges while adjusting to a new country: missing his family and friends.

“We miss them a lot,” Tuncay says. “We talk every day, having video talks and showing them around. We talk about what’s happening here and there.”

Another major challenge for Tuncay has been adjusting to the Canadian winter, especially during the pandemic, when social gatherings and winter activities have been limited.

“Winter is not my favourite climate,” he laughs. “I was excited to find some winter activities eventually.”

Despite these challenges, Tuncay does feel a sense of home and belonging in Peterborough. He and his family enjoy exploring trails and nature and have a goal to explore one new location every week.

“I love living in Peterborough,” he says. “It’s a really family-friendly city with beautiful trails and nature. There are so many beautiful places to discover.”

In addition to practicing cooking and exploring nature, Tuncay credits the New Canadians Centre (NCC) in Peterborough for helping him settle in his new country, such as by providing assistance to help him obtain a work permit and his permanent residency.

Prior to the pandemic, NCC was also helping Tuncay pursue his idea of opening a café in Peterborough. Unfortunately, the project is on hold due to the pandemic, but Tuncay hopes to make it happen in the future.

“I could just live in the kitchen for the rest of my life, so I decided to something that I love and planned to open a little café,” he explains. “I’m currently working, so I’m not in a rush, but it’s still on my mind. I probably will do it after COVID.”

So even if you don’t test out Tuncay’s hummus recipe, you may still have a chance to try it someday.

The #CookWithNCC series was created in partnership with the New Canadians Centre (NCC) in Peterborough to share stories of immigration and integration. Other stories in the series include Jessie Iriwanto and her beef rendang recipe, Imad Mahfouz and his yalanji recipe, and Gayathri Rajan and her biryani recipe.

Aromas, flavours, ingredients, who we cook for and how we share our recipes — they all tell stories that shape us as a community. On this journey through pantries and kitchens, we hope that you will fill both your plate and your heart.

Share your experience trying out these recipes, or your own story and recipe, on social media using the hashtag #CookWithNCC.

To join the New Canadians Centre on their 40-year journey of welcoming immigrants and refugees, visit nccpeterborough.ca.

Here’s an update on COVID-19 cases in Ontario as well as in the greater Kawarthas region.

Ontario is reporting 447 new cases today, with most of the cases in Toronto (110), Peel (61), and Waterloo (56). The seven-day average of daily cases has fallen to 503.

Hospitalizations have increased by 11 to 384, ICU admissions have decreased by 17 to 409, and patients on ventilators have decreased by 5 to 268. Ontario is reporting 4 new deaths, with no new deaths in long-term care homes.

A total of 11,344,441 vaccine doses have been administered, an increase of 135,574 from yesterday, with 1,894,320 people now fully vaccinated, an increase of 97,538 from yesterday. Of Ontario’s total population, 77% have received at least one dose of vaccine and almost 13% are fully vaccinated.

For a daily summary of cases in Ontario, including a breakdown of cases in each of Ontario’s 34 health units, visit ontario.ca/page/how-ontario-is-responding-covid-19.

In the greater Kawarthas region, there are 6 new cases to report, including 4 in Kawartha Lakes, 1 in Northumberland, and 1 in Peterborough. There are no new cases in Haliburton or Hastings Prince Edward.

There is 1 new COVID-related hospitalization in Peterborough.

An additional 21 cases have been resolved, including 10 in Kawartha Lakes, 5 in Peterborough, 4 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton. Outbreaks at an unidentified workplace in Peterborough and at Riverview Manor long-term care home in Peterborough have been declared resolved.

Active cases have decreased by 7 in Kawartha Lakes, 4 in Peterborough, 3 in Northumberland, and 2 in Haliburton. Active cases remain unchanged in Hastings Prince Edward.

There are currently 56 active cases in the greater Kawarthas region, a decrease of 16 since yesterday, including 31 in Peterborough, 16 in Kawartha Lakes, 5 in Hastings Prince Edward (2 in Quinte West and 3 in Belleville), and 4 in Northumberland. There are no active cases in Haliburton.

Since the pandemic began in the greater Kawarthas region, there have been 1,553 confirmed positive cases in the Peterborough area (1,501 resolved with 21 deaths), 1,072 in the City of Kawartha Lakes (1,012 resolved with 57 deaths), 932 in Northumberland County (911 resolved with 17 deaths), 121 in Haliburton County (120 resolved with 1 death), and 1,126 in Hastings and Prince Edward counties (1,110 resolved with 11 deaths). The most recent death was reported in Kawartha Lakes on June 5.

For detailed data for each health unit, visit the COVID-19 trackers for Peterborough Public Health, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.

For more information about COVID-19 in Ontario, visit covid-19.ontario.ca.