Northumberland County council (left to right, front to back): Cramahe Township mayor Mandy Martin, warden and Brighton mayor Brian Ostrander, deputy warden and Port Hope mayor Olena Hankivsky, Trent Hills mayor Bob Crate, Hamilton Township mayor Scott Gibb, Cobourg mayor Lucas Cleveland, and Alnwick/Haldimand mayor John Logel. (Photo: Northumberland County)
From unveiling a modernized homeless shelter to re-opening a walk-in clinic to enhancing 100-plus kilometres of roadway, Northumberland County has made strides this year in housing, health care and infrastructure, the county’s warden says.
Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander reflected on the accomplishments of 2024 during the regular meeting of Northumberland County council on Wednesday (December 18). County staff also showed a video that highlighted some of the county’s successes over the past 12 months.
“As this year’s session of Northumberland County council comes to a close, I want to express my deep gratitude to both staff and council for their dedication and contributions to our community,” Ostrander said during the meeting. “Together through all of the various challenges, we made meaningful progress as a team.”
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Ostrander mentioned how council and the county worked collectively to maintain “the delicate balance” between servicing unique municipal priorities while delivering on key county-wide services.
Examples include paramedic care, social service programs, waste management, and infrastructure investments.
“We found solutions to complex problems, ensuring the continued delivery of our strategic priorities,” Ostrander said. That collaboration with county staff, along with partnerships with Alderville First Nation, community organizations, the provincial and federal governments, and others were critical in helping Northumberland achieve its milestones, he noted.
VIDEO: 2024 Year In Review – Northumberland County
“Our achievements in 2024 spanned a wide range of successes,” Ostrander said. “In health care, the launch of the Port Hope walk-in clinic addressed critical gaps in access to doctors.”
“For families, we’ve made strides in addressing the need for expanded daycare spaces and child and family-centred programming. “On infrastructure, we delivered well over 100 kilometres of essential road maintenance, rehabilitating bridges and culverts, and launched the multi-year County Road 64 reconstruction project.”
In terms of environmental efforts, Northumberland introduced a greenhouse gas reduction plan as part of a broader climate action strategy, he noted.
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In the realm of affordable housing, the second phase of the Elgin Park development in Cobourg is nearly complete, which will increase the number of rent-geared-to-income and market rate units by 20.
Northumberland also took “additional steps forward” in pre-construction activity on an affordable housing development on Ontario Street in Cobourg, the warden said.
The county also secured land in Cobourg for future construction. In the village of Colborne, Northumberland announced additional units for the affordable housing development on King Street.
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“This year has not been without financial pressures,” Ostrander said.
“Rising costs have made it more challenging to deliver programs and services. But despite these pressures, we’ve remained fiscally responsible, finding efficiencies while funding essential priorities, and managing community needs with care.”
Looking to 2025, Ostrander further emphasized in a media release issued by the county the importance of advocacy and partnership to address systemic challenges facing municipalities, including reliance on property taxes and the increasing complexity of local government responsibilities.
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“We will continue advocating for a modernized funding framework that equips municipalities to meet today’s realities,” Ostrander said. “By strengthening partnerships with our Indigenous neighbours, local municipalities, community organizations, and other levels of government, we can create more sustainable solutions to support our residents over the long term.”
The warden identified four priorities for the new year, including approving a county budget “reflective of current economic conditions,” expanding access to affordable housing and childcare, ehancing paramedic and social services, and maintaining and improving critical infrastructure.
“We have many reasons to be optimistic,” Ostrander said. “Together, with the leadership of this council and the strength of our community, we will continue to deliver on our commitments, meeting today’s needs while laying the groundwork for a bright future for Northumberland.”
Having raised $1.73 million in its "Raising the Barn" campaign, Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon is just $160,000 away from being able to purchase the Lakeview Arts Barn that the professional theatre company has been operating out of since 2006. Globus Theatre has also raised a further $220,000 towards its ultimate goal of $2.525 million, so the not-for-profit charitable organization can complete much-needed upgrades to the building, hire hospitality staff, and expand its children's programs. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre is hoping to kick off 2025 by securing its permanent home in the Lakeview Arts Barn.
Having raised $1.73 million in its “Raising the Barn” capital campaign, the not-for-profit professional theatre company is just $160,000 away from being able to purchase the building Globus Theatre has been operating out of since 2006.
“That means we’ll be able to go into this next year taking over the venue and not having a mortgage,” says Globus Theatre co-founder and artistic director Sarah Quick. “Any of the financial resources that we have — whether that is government funding, sponsorships, or revenue from ticket sales — can go into what we do best, which is creating the new shows that we write, direct, and perform, and bringing great artists to our rural community.”
In 2003, wife-and-husband team Sarah Quick and James Barrett founded Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon which, in 2006, became the company-in-residence at the Lakeview Arts Barn, a former cattle barn the couple transformed into a comfortable and contemporary 150-seat theatre with an attached restaurant. The duo have developed a not-for-profit professional theatre company in Kawartha Lakes that offers a variety of classic and original productions as well as the School of Dramatic Arts and other workshops and programs. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
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Along with operating Globus Theatre, Quick and her co-founder husband James Barrett (who is the theatre company’s artistic producer) have been running the Lakeview Arts Barn — a former cattle barn they purchased and transformed into a comfortable and contemporary 150-seat theatre with an attached restaurant — as a commercial venue by hosting weddings, conferences, and other gatherings so that the theatre company could also stage its productions rent-free in the building.
As a registered charitable organization, Globus Theatre was able to carry on during the pandemic by staging outdoor and online productions and by raising funds. But, as a commercial operation dependent on revenue from social gatherings, the Lakeview Arts Barn did not fare so well.
Faced with rising debt from remortgaging the building, the couple considered selling the Lakeview Arts Barn to a new owner, hopeful a buyer would let Globus Theatre to rent the space. However, after consulting with other theatre companies, industry experts, and supporters, they decided instead to launch a $2-million “Raising the Barn” capital campaign to raise enough funds for Globus to purchase the building outright.
Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon stages both original productions as well as works by Canadian playwrights that are performed by professional actors from across Canada. Pictured are Katherine Cappellacci and Jack Copland in a production of Norm Foster’s “Screwball Comedy” in 2022. (Photo: R.A. Bloom Creations and Photography)
Kicked off by a very generous $1 million donation from the John C. and Sally Horsfall Eaton Foundation, the local community also rallied behind Globus Theatre. After reaching 75 per cent of the original campaign goal, Globus Theatre increased it to $2.525 million so they could also fund some much-needed upgrades to ensure the sustainability of the organization, including fixing the venue’s leaking roof and getting upgraded lighting equipment.
Thanks to a $200,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the venue is already undergoing some transformations, including the installation of a generator.
“That would mean that if the power goes out, which tends to happen if you’re in a barn in the middle of a rural area, those shows don’t have to be cancelled,” Quick says. “When a power cut happens, the show can go on.”
Globus Theatre is renowned for its dinner theatre experiences at the Lakeview Arts Barn, which offer optional dinners before performances of its theatre productions that feature professional performers from across Canada. (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
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Along with completing technical upgrades, reaching the campaign goal means Globus Theatre, renowned for its dinner theatre experiences, could hire staff to focus on the food and hospitality side of the theatre’s operations.
“Patron engagement and making sure the experience is great for everybody is something we’ve always prided ourselves on, and now that it’s growing and growing, we want to have somebody else doing that and in charge of hospitality, so that James and myself can concentrate on the artistic and creative side of things,” Quick explains. “A lot of what we do is the experience of having dinner or even just a nice cocktail before coming to see the show, and we want that to be the best that it can be.”
Reaching the campaign goal would also allow Globus Theatre to offer even more programs and small-scale productions tailored for children.
“There’s not a ton of things for kids in this rural area and we have the ability, the resources, and the talent to bring more programs for kids together,” says Quick. “If we had the financial resources, we could grow those programs and reach out to even more people.”
The cast of Globus Theatre’s 2021 holiday panto “Mother Goose”. The professional theatre company is known for its popular traditional British pantos, which appeal both to the children and adults in the audience and provide the opportunity for young performers to work alongside professional actors. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
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For patron and sponsor Beth Gilroy, having Globus Theatre in her own community has played a very important role for her family. Her two young adult sons have taken classes through Globus Theatre’s School of Dramatic Arts and have been involved in various Globus productions. In fact, both her sons and her husband were on stage for this year’s Aladdin holiday panto.
“They’re both very academic kids who like math and science, so we wanted to give them the opportunity to do something else that was different by getting involved in the arts,” says Gilroy. “They just loved it so much and now they want to continue on with it.”
She admits that her younger son did not initially see the value in exploring his creative side, and even questioned the need for art and music classes in school. Now, however, he has done the panto for a few years, engaged in the summer camps, and even volunteered to help with the younger kids last summer.
“It’s so interesting to me that he’s gone from a kid asking ‘Why do we even have an arts class?’ to ‘This is a valid use of my time, and I want to volunteer and help the younger ones’,” says Gilroy.
She adds that it’s also difficult, in her experience, to find accessible and affordable activities for children in the area.
“The fact that our small little town has access to these things at Globus is amazing,” Gilroy says. “There’s no charge for us to participate in the panto. The idea that a kid can go to participate in a full play production and be entertained and it not cost anything — that’s a really big thing.”
Globus Theatre co-founders James Barrett and Sarah Quick as Henry and Alice in a rehearsal for a 2023 production of Michele Riml’s hit comedy “Sexy Laundry”, which saw the real-life couple reprise the roles they performed in the Bobcaygeon theatre company’s 2013 production of the play. (Photo: R.A. Bloom Creations and Photography)
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While Globus Theatre is a professional theatre company that has hired more than 300 professional performers from across Canada since its inception, it’s also a place where young people can explore their interests and gain confidence in the performing arts.
“There are a lot of times when a kid who hasn’t found his niche at school but has a vivid imagination or an interest in expressing themselves walks through our doors and finds ten other people in exactly the same situation,” Quick says.
“That’s when you create something really quite spectacular. I love it when a child — and it works the same for seniors — has found their passion. It just makes them happy and, in my opinion, healthy because they have found a place where they feel accepted and can be themselves.”
Along with staging plays from Canadian playwrights like Norm Foster and Kristen Da Silva, Globus Theatre is known for its popular dinner murder mysteries, like 2023’s “The Great Palm Tree Beach Tiki Bar Tragedy” written and directed by artistic director Sarah Quick. (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
Those who do find their passion and a true calling for the stage through youth programming at Globus Theatre can also be assured there is a place where they can sharpen their performing skills and build a future for themselves on the stage, without having to leave home or venture to larger urban areas.
“The arts in Canada is so important when you are looking at the well-being of its citizens, and that is only going to be a healthier future if there are people going into the arts,” says Quick. “It’s my responsibility as the artistic director of a professional theatre to show these kids that if that’s what they want to do, it’s a possibility.”
Quick adds that crafting a vibrant arts community in Bobcaygeon is beneficial for the economic prosperity of the entire Kawarthas region by attracting tourists.
“A huge number of people in Ontario are theatre lovers and will travel to see theatre, and if they travel to beautiful locations like Bobcaygeon — which also has nice restaurants and places to shop — then they’re super happy to be able to do that. Those other businesses benefit greatly from those tourists.”
Thanks to support from donors, Globus Theatre has raised $1.73 million towards the “Raising the Barn” campaign which will help the Bobcaygeon theatre company purchase the Lakeview Arts Barn and ensure the charitable organization has its own home. Globus Theatre has also raised a further $220,000 towards its ultimate goal of of $2.525 million to complete much-needed upgrades to the venue, including fixing the leaking roof, getting upgraded lighting equipment, hiring hospitality staff, and installing a generator that will allow the show to go on even during a power outage. (Photo courtesy of Globus Theatre)
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For her part, Gilroy — who is a real estate agent — recognizes that families, seniors, and others who are moving to the region are attracted by the local theatre and arts community.
“It makes a difference because we do see a number of people moving here from a bigger centre, and one of their worries is a loss of cultural options,” she says. “My clients have been excited and happy to hear there’s a theatre here.”
In fact, Gilroy often gives Globus Theatre tickets as a housewarming gift to her clients who have just moved to the area, some of whom end up purchasing season subscriptions because, as Quick notes, they realize high-quality professional theatre is available in their new rural community.
“Our actors are the same actors that you are going to see on stage in Toronto and around Ontario,” Quick points out. “We are making sure that the people that live here can also see professional performers.”
VIDEO: Globus Theatre In Bobcaygeon, Ontario
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By securing its own home, Globus Theatre will be able to continue to provide high-quality professional theatre in the Kawarthas for many years to come.
“Instead of just thinking and living in the moment, and thinking about the next play that we’re doing, let’s think about the next decade,” Quick says. “Let’s think about how this company that has been around for 20 years can secure its future, because our community without Globus would be very, very different.”
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Globus Theatre. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Founded by Linda Kash and the late Paul O'Sullivan, the Peterborough Academy of Performing Arts believes that improv teaches valuable life skills for people of all ages and stages, including confidence building, public speaking, collaboration, and learning that it's okay to make mistakes. Early childhood educators Megan Walsh and Melody Hamilton will lead "Tiny Troupe" improv sessions for children ages four to six beginning January 1, 2025. (Stock photo)
Who says improv is just for adults? According to early childhood educator Megan Walsh, the performance art teaches life skills that are valuable even for preschoolers.
“Ages four to six is the beginning of those important social skills from building confidence, practising taking turns, being brave enough to speak in front of a group, to working with others and exchanging ideas and materials,” she says. “A lot of this age is about finding their voice.”
Walsh is teaming up with Melody Hamilton to help young kids find their voice by leading Tiny Troupe, an eight-week improv session for children ages four through six. Held by the Peterborough Academy of Performing Arts (PAPA), the sessions will take place at St. James Church at 210 Romaine Street in Peterborough every Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m. from January 12 to March 2, 2025.
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Walsh has been involved in PAPA since its founding by her mother Linda Kash and late father Paul O’Sullivan, having worked as a camp counsellor and led workshops with children of the older age brackets. But now that she commits her days to working with toddlers at Trent Child Care, she has thought about all the ways improv could benefit development from an early age.
“I was just talking to Linda one day about the benefits of improv for all ages, and how the skills you gain from improv can be applied through all ages and stages, and there’s nothing like that for our youngest age group,” Walsh says. “In early childhood care, we often come together as a group for morning check, for example, and I just realized that a lot of the activities or group cooperative games could be applied to improv and could be applied to their age group.”
The first Tiny Troupe class was held last winter, and was closely followed by a spring session. Walsh notes that given that the four year olds have just started school, for many of them “it’s just about playing with a group.”
“It’s a big mix of children who show an affinity for music and dance and performance within their home, but not so much in the school setting, and then there are the children who are more reserved, shier, and could use some tips to come out of their shell a little bit,” she says. “I think that improv and the arts in general do such a good job of bringing those two types of people together and building that community.”
Early childhood educators Megan Walsh and Melody Hamilton are teaming up to lead the Tiny Troupe improv sessions for the Peterborough Academy of Performing Arts for children aged four to six. Focused on group games and activities to teach collaboration, confidence, and speaking, the sessions run every Sunday at 3 p.m. from January 12 to March 2, 2025 at St. James Church in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of Megan Walsh)
Walsh adds that another key takeaway from improv classes at such a young age is instilling the knowledge that the goal is not to be perfect.
“The biggest part of improv is that it’s okay to make mistakes,” she says. “I feel in school and in early learning that is so structured, oftentimes we can walk them through and just go through the motions without allowing that. It’s just so important to give that structured time to just be silly, to make mistakes, to fumble over your words, and to see grown-ups doing the same.”
Throughout the eight-week program, Walsh and Hamilton — who is a co-worker of Walsh’s at the daycare and also has experience at PAPA — will lead the young participants in “very basic” improv and theatre games, often including song and music, that encourage cooperation and speaking in front of peers.
“With their age and stage, it’s a lot of pretending or imaginary play,” Walsh says. “I don’t think people understand how many of the basics of improv are just letting them pretend and letting them play. There’s so much learning that happens through play.”
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Since children are oftentimes at different stages of development, Walsh provides room for flexibility and adaptability within the program to meet the cohort’s needs and goals.
“Sometimes the group dynamic needs more focus on having a turn speaking to a group by themselves, but other times it’s a group that’s very confident and that’s not something we need to work on,” she says. “In that case, it would be a lot of performing on their own or including music if they’re interested, so it’s really gauging it based on their age and stage and what they’re interested in.”
Given their backgrounds in early childhood education, Walsh and Hamilton foster a space for children of all abilities.
“The best part is improv can be non-verbal, improv can be from a wheelchair, improv can be for various levels of development,” says Walsh. “We at PAPA have always very much been an inclusive space for all ages and stages of development and levels of physical ability to come together.”
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Walsh has already seen how this can happen through the first two Tiny Troupe cohorts of PAPA.
“Sometimes in the very first class, parents will participate with us, because often the kids aren’t even looking us in the eye, but by the end they’re showing independence and they’re not wanting to go home when the hour is over, ” she says. “We so often lose track of that hour too, because it just is so much fun.”
Lindsay Community Food Market coordinator Ashley Anderson with some of the 50 gift-filled shoeboxes distributed to Kawartha Lakes Food Source by The Shoebox Project's Kawartha Lakes chapter for women in the Kawarthas region who are experiencing poverty or homelessness. Thanks to gift donors and sponsors, the Kawartha Lakes chapter of The Shoebox Project for Women collected and delivered 210 gift-filled shoeboxes for the 2024 holiday season. (Photo courtesy of The Shoebox Project Kawartha Lakes)
From basic essentials to little luxury items to messages of support, women in need in the Kawarthas region will be receiving something special this holiday season.
Kerri Murphy, volunteer coordinator for Kawartha Lakes chapter of The Shoebox Project for Women, says 210 gift-filled shoeboxes have been delivered to four area agencies that serve women affected by poverty and homelessness.
“This year’s holiday shoebox drive in Kawartha Lakes was a great success,” Murphy told kawarthaNOW. “In total, 210 lovely gift-filled shoeboxes were delivered to four local agencies serving women, including Women’s Resources Kawartha Lakes, Kawartha Lakes Food Source, A Place Called Home, and Fourcast Addiction Services.”
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This was a increase of 30 shoeboxes from last year, Murphy noted.
Each shoebox contains about $50 worth of items and includes basic essentials like self-care products, a gift card, little luxuries, seasonal items, and messages of encouragement filled with care and compassion by the community members who assemble them.
In addition, as an alternative to the donation of gift-filled shoebox, The Shoebox Project Kawartha Lakes also received several online donations that allowed volunteers to create 60 additional shoeboxes.
Members of the 1st Selwyn Girl Guides assembled and donated multiple gift-filled shoeboxes to the Kawartha Lakes chapter of The Shoebox Project for Women. (Photo courtesy of The Shoebox Project Kawartha Lakes)
The holiday shoebox drive ran from November 15 through to December 13. On the 13th, shoeboxes were collected from three dedicated local drop-off locations in Lindsay (Cathy Allan Ladieswear), Fenelon Falls (Lock 34 Yoga), and Bobcaygeon (Paradiso Boutique).
Murphy and a team of volunteers looked through the shoeboxes to ensure they contained suitable items and then distributed them to local agencies on Tuesday (December 17).
“The Shoebox Project for Women is important to me as it uplifts and empowers vulnerable women in our community through in-kind support, education, and community participation,” said Murphy about why the project matters to her personally.
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“The undeniable impact of a lovely shoebox gift to a woman experiencing, or at risk of (experiencing), home instability and income insecurity is humbling and heart-warming, especially during the holiday season when it can be a very isolating and lonely time for many women,” she explained.
“I look forward, alongside my caring community, to continue to support local women in need through this wonderful project for years to come.”
In 2025, Murphy hopes to continue to expand the reach of the Kawartha Lakes chapter by engaging more community members, and involving additional community organizations and corporate groups to help fulfil “the very much growing need in our community.”
The Peterborough Women in Medicine group held a shoebox party in support of the Kawartha Lakes chapter of The Shoebox Project for Women and assembled and donated 26 gift-filled shoeboxes that have been delivered to Fourcast Addiction Services and will be distributed to women in need in Peterborough and area. (Photo courtesy of The Shoebox Project Kawartha Lakes)
The Shoebox Project for Women is an unaffiliated, non-religious, Canadian charity that supports women experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. It aims to celebrate diversity, build awareness, challenge stigma, and promote equity.
The not-for-profit charitable organization was founded in Toronto in 2011 by four women in the same family who had noticed that, while there were many opportunities to provide gifts to children experiencing homelessness during the holiday season, there were no such gift drives for their mothers. Today, there are more than 45 local chapters of The Shoebox Project for Women across Canada, almost half of which are in Ontario, as well as chapters in the U.S. and the U.K.
Five Counties Children's Centre speech language pathologist Kate helps client Nova in formulating her words, even as she helps steer Nova in the right direction during a recent treatment session. While Five Counties doesn't actually use a "smiles index" to measure success, the smiles of clients receiving treatment at the centre help staff gauge how well they are doing in supporting kids and their families. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children's Centre)
How does an organization measure success?
Every month, Five Counties Children’s Centre provides a story about the work of the charitable organization. This month’s story is by Scott Pepin, CEO, Five Counties Children’s Centre.
As the CEO at Five Counties Children’s Centre, I’m often asked this question by the boards and bodies that govern and oversee our work. This is totally understandable, as it’s important to ensure the public funds and private donations that flow to Five Counties are used for their intended purpose — treating and supporting children and youth with physical, developmental, and communication needs.
There are many ways to slice and dice how one is doing: benchmark, metrics, client satisfaction, key performance indicators, or return on investment.
One figure that’s unlikely to measure up is the smiles index.
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While this yardstick won’t show up in our financial audit nor Ministry progress report, the smiles index does have its uses at Five Counties — including helping to gauge how we’re doing to support kids and their families.
The smiles index was off the chart at a recent treatment session in Campbellford, with little Nova, her mom Katie, and our clinicians. Nova was born with Down Syndrome and started to come to Five Counties when she was two months old. Nova is benefiting from physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy — and the smiles show it.
“Five Counties will always have your back,” says Katie. “They love and adore the kids they support as if they are their own.”
Current Five Counties client Harland (left) and alumnus Nick share a moment before the Cougars for Kids event held at the Cobourg Cougars game in November. Harland and his family got to drop the puck before the game, an honour Nick did the previous year. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
Smiles were also in abundance at the Cougars For Kids event held in mid-November at the Cobourg Cougars home game.
The fundraiser allowed our families to cheer from the stands, while also providing some Five Counties kids a behind-the-scenes experiences with the Cougars.
Harland, one of our clients, was thrilled to be at centre ice with his family doing the pre-game puck drop — his smile almost as wide as the rink.
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More recently, the smiles index got a workout when organizers of the Kawartha Tri-Sport tournament dropped by Five Counties in early December with a $15,000 donation.
It was a portion of the record-breaking tally of $72,000 raised at this September’s Kawartha Tri-Sport event, which offered participants a chance to enjoy a weekend of baseball, hockey and golf while supporting local charities.
Among the tournament organizers were those who have (or know of) children who received treatment at Five Counties. That relationship led to the generous donation — and plenty of smiles all around.
A variation of the smiles index — a smiley face chart — even had a practical use at our recent All-oween accessible trick-or-treating experience, letting families share immediately how they felt about the event.
While unscientific in theory, you might say that in practice at Five Counties, smiles are made to measure!
Four-year-old Christian getting ready to participate in the All-oween accessible trick-or-treating experience at Five Counties Children Centre, a free event for children and families who receive treatment at the centre or who are waiting for services. (Photo courtesy of Five Counties Children’s Centre)
The 35 emergency shelter beds at Transition House's new shelter at 310 Division Street location in Cobourg are now open. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Northumberland County video)
Just before expected cold weather, 35 beds for people experiencing homelessness officially opened Thursday (December 19) in Cobourg’s new shelter on Division Street.
Northumberland County announced the second and third floors of the former retirement home at 310 Division St., which feature emergency shelter beds, are now ready for occupancy.
The facility, which the county purchased in 2023 in partnership with Transition House, is intended to “modernize” shelter services, and will serve as the new and only shelter of its kind in Northumberland County. In addition to short-term beds, the shelter will offer longer-term transitional housing options when the building opens in its entirety in 2025.
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With the opening of the new shelter, Transition House will be transitioning residents from the current smaller location at 10 Chapel St. in Cobourg to the new space. The new shelter will expand access to services to additional people, including couples, people with mobility issues, and people with pets.
In honour of the occasion, Northumberland County released a video to highlight the new facility and the partnerships that have made the project possible.
“This is a proud moment for our community as we continue to take meaningful steps to support our most vulnerable residents,” said Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander in a statement. “The opening of these emergency shelter spaces is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our staff, partners, and the community over the last year. This facility represents hope, stability, and the beginning of a brighter future for those in need.”
VIDEO: “Pathways to Hope” – Northumberland County
Some operations at 310 Division St. began last month with the opening of a 24/7 warming hub on the ground floor. The space offers respite from the cold, laundry and shower facilities, food, and “a safe space for anyone in need.”
Earlier this week, several community members took part in a public walk-through of the nearly completed facility to learn more about the new services and supports. The ground floor space is also slated to serve as a cooling room during the summer months.
With the second and third floors now complete, up to 10 people currently residing at Transition House’s Chapel Street shelter will be moving into the new facility first, followed shortly thereafter by up to 17 individuals currently in the motel overflow program, the county noted in the release.
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“Once this changeover is complete — anticipated by early January — Transition House will begin intakes with members of the community seeking shelter. Shelter operations at the Chapel Street location will cease at that time, consolidating services at this modernized facility.”
In addition to providing emergency shelter, services offered on the second and third floors of the new space will focus on connecting individuals to needed resources, including wellness, housing, and employment supports.
“We are thrilled to reach this important milestone,” said Transition House executive director Ike Nwibe. “This modernized shelter is more than a building — it is a space of care, empowerment, and opportunity. We are excited to welcome our clients into their new accommodations and help them on their path to stability and independence.”
The Division Street shelter in Cobourg is described as a modernized shelter that will help people experiencing homelessness move towards secure housing and independence. (Photo: Northumberland County)
Discussions about the new shelter have been underway for several months, along with renovations to the building, which was previously a privately operated seniors’ residence.
The shelter’s opening was delayed due to a host of challenges, including unmet requirements of the Town of Cobourg’s emergency care establishments (ECE) bylaw, which was introduced by the town earlier this year. Those requirements have since been met.
During a special meeting in November, Northumberland County council authorized spending up to $587,700 for costs associated with ECE bylaw compliance and approved using the county’s general reserve to fund any costs for 2024.
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Council also gave the green light to update the 2025 budget to include financing requirements from the tax levy for the operation of the Division Street shelter in compliance with the Cobourg ECE bylaw.
Earlier this fall, Northumberland County council authorized staff to work with Transition House to secure motel rooms for people seeking shelter while awaiting the opening of 310 Division St. The capacity at Chapel Street had been reduced from 22 beds to 10 spaces to conform with Cobourg’s bylaw and meet fire code safety standards.
Early in 2025, the county expects to open the fourth floor of the shelter, which will contain 10 units of transitional housing. These units will provide longer-term housing options and supportive services for people preparing to transition to permanent housing.
The Division Street shelter in Cobourg includes 35 emergency shelter beds on the second and third floors that officially opened on December 19, 2024. Early in 2025, the county expects to open the fourth floor of the shelter, which will contain 10 units of transitional housing to provide longer-term housing options and supportive services for people preparing to transition to permanent housing. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Northumberland County video)
Northumberland County has also announced the launch of a community liaison committee for the Division Street Shelter, which met for the first time on Tuesday (December 17).
The committee comprises 21 members of the community, including neighbours in the immediate vicinity of the shelter, residents of the broader Cobourg community, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity, along with delegates from local businesses, the faith community, and community agencies, members of Northumberland Paramedics and the Cobourg Police, and representatives from both the shelter and from the Town of Cobourg and Northumberland County.
According to a release from the county, monthly committee meetings will provide a forum for sharing information, resolving challenges, and advancing solutions to support the local integration of shelter services.
100 Men of Kawartha Lakes choose three local charities to receive member donations at its meeting on December 5, 2024 at One Eyed Jack in Lindsay. Kawartha Lakes Food Source will receive $15,400 from the group of 174 men, with the Lindsay Agricultural Society and the IE Weldon Secondary School robotics team each receiving $1,000. The collective philanthropy group has met four times a year for the past seven years, raising over $250,000 for local charities. (Photo: 100 Men of Kawartha Lakes)
He is only one man willing to donate $100 four times a year, but Brad Campkin is part of a group of 174 men who are collectively making a much bigger impact on the community in Kawartha Lakes.
Campkin is a member of 100 Men of Kawartha Lakes, which has raised more than $250,000 over the past seven years for local charitable causes.
The collective philanthropy group held its fourth meeting of the year on December 5. With each member donating $100, the group raised $17,400 for three local charities. Kawartha Lakes Food Source took home a cheque for $10,000, and will receive another $5,400 once all donations are collected. Meanwhile, the Lindsay Agricultural Society and the IE Weldon Secondary School robotics team each took home $1,000.
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Prior to the meeting, each member of the 174-member group was given the opportunity to nominate a registered charity in the Kawartha Lakes.
“I’m involved because this is my way of turning my $100 into $17,400 and knowing local charities are getting 100 per cent of our donation,” Campkin told kawarthaNOW, noting there are no administrative costs connected with the $100.
Ahead of each of the quarterly meetings, three of the nominated organizations are drawn at random and a representative from each organization attends the meeting to make a brief presentation on their organization’s work and how the organization would spend and benefit from a donation. Members then vote on which charity should receive the group’s donation.
“There are several guys who help out, getting venues, being a liaison with charities, sending out emails, and making sure the donations come in a timely manner, and also just making sure we have a sound system and guys at the door for registration at meetings,” Campkin explained. “We have no titles or board. We are a giving circle who meets four times a year. That’s it.”
Campkin’s roles encompass master of ceremonies and media relations duties.
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This year, 100 Men of Kawartha Lakes partnered with the Kawartha Lakes Community Foundation, as the burden on charities to process so many individual $100 donations from the group’s members was labour-intensive and costly, Campkin noted.
Group members can now pay for a year in advance and tax receipts are generated automatically at one contact point.
“We add $2 to each $100 to cover this,” he explained.
The December 5 meeting was held at One Eyed Jack in Lindsay. Past events have been held in Fenelon Falls, Omemee, and Bobcaygeon at various venues.
“We move to different venues in the Kawartha Lakes, so members get a chance to host in their own backyard,” Campkin said.
The year 2024 marks the group’s seventh year, after beginning in 2018 with 34 members and raising $3,400.
“As we have grown, we have made it so that all three charities take home a donation — $1,000 for the two charities that did not receive the majority of votes, and the balance to the top vote-getter.”
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“We get the chance to hear from all three charities,” Campkin noted. “We learn what they do and the challenges they face. We all learn, and we all win. Seeing tears in the eyes of our charity spokespersons’ eyes is always very emotional.”
Looking ahead to 2025, 100 Men of Kawartha Lakes has a goal of hitting the 200-member mark.
“At that time, we will take a vote from our members as to whether we stay as one group or create two or three smaller groups,” he said.
100 Men of Kawartha Lakes has no maximum number of members so “the more the merrier,” Campkin added.
“It’s important for all members to know even if you cannot make a meeting, your participation is crucial to our success. Several of our members rarely make the meetings but their donation is integral to our success.”
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The 100 Men of Kawartha Lakes group was formed by Richard Gauder, who also began 100 Men in Scugog, Oshawa, Clarington, and Whitby.
The group meets four times each year in March, June, September, and December. All men are welcome to join the group.
Kinsmen Club of Peterborough president Barry Craft donates $10,000 to Accessible Playgrounds Ontario founder Julie Grant and volunteer Nancy Turner in support of the Ennismore Inclusive Playground Project. With support from several local clubs and organizations as well as individual donors, the project has raised more than $100,000 of the $250,000 needed to fund the building of Jude's Joy, an accessible playground with rubber bottom and ground-level games and activities, at Ennismore Waterfront Park. (Photo courtesy of Ennismore Inclusive Playground Project)
“Inclusive parks matter because every child deserves to play.”
That is the slogan for the Ennismore Inclusive Playground Project, which will see a barrier-free playground called Jude’s Joy developed at the Ennismore Waterfront Park.
Thanks to community donations reaching over $100,000 in support of the build, soon no child living in the Peterborough region will have limitations to accessing the fun, learning, and connection that can be found on a playground.
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“Although it will be in Ennismore in a small area, it will draw from the whole region,” says Julie Grant, founder of the Accessible Playgrounds Ontario website. “There’s a huge need and there’s a lot of children and seniors in this area who would benefit from an accessible surface and accessible elements that support playing together.”
On her website at accessibleplaygroundsontario.ca, Grant created digital map of more than 300 accessible playgrounds across Ontario after her three-year-old son Jude, who has cerebral palsy (the most common physical disability in children) and a global developmental delay, began using a walker. She was excited for him to learn to use it at the park to gain independence but, instead, he faced difficulty in manoeuvring the wheels on the sand and woodchip surfaces typically found at playgrounds.
“We tried to research where the nearest playgrounds were that had a rubber base, because we realized that was what he needed to be able to have independent freedom and initiating the play experience on his own and keep up with his peers,” Grant says.
After learning she would have to drive more than 60 kilometres to find an accessible playground for her young son Jude, who has cerebral palsy, Julie Grant put together a database of more than 300 accessible playgrounds across Ontario. Later, in partnership with the Ennismore Optimists Club, she began the Ennismore Inclusive Playground Project with a fundraising goal of $250,000 to build a barrier-free playground for children of all abilities at Ennismore Waterfront Park. (Photo courtesy of Julie Grant)
Grant discovered that the closest accessible playgrounds to which she could bring Jude were in Port Hope or Port Perry — both or which are upwards of 60 kilometres away.
“One of the biggest things a lot of people don’t realize is it’s not just about the rubber (base), because the playground also needs equipment the kids can play with while they’re in their mobility device if they’re not able to leave that device,” she says.
“It’s one thing to have the inclusive base, but it’s another to actually have ground-level play experience where he can play with stuff in his walker or have a ramp up to the playgrounds to interact with other kids.”
Grant teamed up with the Ennismore Optimist Club, which was responsible for building the current playground at Ennismore Waterfront Park, to launch the Jude’s Joy project with the goal of raising $250,000 to cover the cost of the build.
While the inclusive playground will allow children who face mobility limitations to have fun, Grant says the benefits are more far-reaching.
“Regardless of ability, regardless of the age and stage we’re in, there’s always something to learn from our peers, and (this park will) create disability representation and community inclusion,” she says. “It’s also for the parents and grandparents that have disabilities who want to be able to fully engage with their children and play alongside them.”
VIDEO: Ennismore Inclusive Playground promotional video
Since launching this past May, the Ennismore Inclusive Playground Project has seen support from several clubs and organizations, including large donations from the Peterborough Kinsmen Club, Kiwanis Club of Peterborough, and the Buckhorn District Lions Club. Most recently, the Rotary Club of Bridgenorth-Ennismore-Lakefield donated $10,000 and the Ennismore-based Kawartha Tri-Sport Tournament group donated $15,000.
All community members who donate more than $250 will get a recognition plaque in their name on the park site.
“It’s already a cherished park space, but we’re hopeful that, through the plaques and recognition and people wanting to show their support, people can come together to create a space for everyone,” Grant says.
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Despite the milestone in reaching $100,000, Grant is not slowing down the fundraising efforts in the new year.
The initiative is hosting “The Together Breakfast” on Sunday, February 2 in the accessible upper level of the Ennismore Arena during the annual PolarFest family festival hosted by the Township of Selwyn.
Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith and other special guests are expected to make an appearance serving up pancakes, sausages, and warm beverages from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in support of Jude’s Joy. Cash only, breakfast is priced at $8 for ages 13 and up, $5 for those aged 6 to 12 and free for children under 6.
Sporting a rubber base and ground-level activities, the inclusive playground to be built at Ennismore Waterfront Park will be beneficial to not only children facing physical and developmental disabilities but will allow for parents and grandparents with disabilities to play alongside their children. More than $100,000 has been raised of the $250,000 needed to build Jude’s Joy, a barrier-free playground at Ennismore Waterfront Park through the Ennismore Inclusive Playground Project. (Design renderings courtesy of Ennismore Inclusive Playground Project)
“It’s for everyone of all abilities and ages and we’re hoping to have everyone come out to and make connections,” says Grant. “We’re excited to have a project-specific event that’s fundraising for the project.”
PolarFest attendees can further support Jude’s Joy by pledging Selwyn Township councillor Mary Coulas’ team for the 2025 Polar Plunge, which takes place at 2 p.m. on February 2 at Ennismore’s Rotary Park. Joined by the Ennismore Eagles Girls U18B Team to form The Playground Plungers, Coulas has set a goal of raising $3,500, with proceeds split between the inclusive playground and B.E.L. Rotary. Pledges can be made online at www.easypledge.ca/bel-rotary/.
For more information on the Ennismore Inclusive Playground Project or to make a direct donation, visit ennismoreinclusiveplayground.com.
Now based in Lac-des-Loups in western Quebec, Peterborough folk multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Benj Rowland is returning home to perform at the Pig's Ear Tavern on Sunday afternoon. (Photo: John Gearin)
Every Thursday, kawarthaNOW publishes live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that musicians provide directly or that venues post on their websites or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, December 19 to Wednesday, December 25.
If you’re a musician or venue owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).
5-8pm - Christmas with Mike & Marsala; 9pm - Pop Machine
Saturday, December 21
5-8pm - Christmas with Rick & Gailie; 9pm - High Waters Band
Sunday, December 22
4-7pm - Zachary Lucky
Monday, December 23
7-10pm - Crash & Burn w/ Rick & Gailie
Tuesday, December 24
4-7pm - Christmas Eve w/ Carling Stephen & Rob Phillips
Coming Soon
Friday, December 27 5-8pm -The Colton Sisters; 9pm - The Woodhouse Crooks ft Bridget Foley
Saturday, December 28 5-8pm - East Coast Holiday w/ Irish Millie & Luka Hall; 9pm - Night Howlers
Sunday, December 29 4-7pm - Live music TBA
Boston Pizza Lindsay
435 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-0008
Friday, December 20
8-11pm - Michael Arthur Tremblay
Cat & The Fiddle Cobourg
38 Covert St., Cobourg
(905) 377-9029
Friday, December 20
8pm - Karaoke w/ Cait
Saturday, December 21
8-11pm - Errol Boucher
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Crook & Coffer
231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-876-0505
Friday, December 20
7-9:30pm - Shuga
Saturday, December 21
2-4pm - Sean Hully; 4:30-6:30pm - Sean Conway
Erben Eatery & Bar
379 George St. N., Peterborough
705-874-8379
Thursday, December 19
5-7pm - The Groove Lounge w/ Doug McLean
Friday, December 20
9pm - Karaoke
Ganaraska Brewing Company
33 Mill St., Port Hope
905-885-9029
Sunday, December 22
2-5pm - Open mic w/ Errol Boucher
Ganaraska Hotel
30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254
Saturday, December 21
2-6pm - Ed Smith and The Even Squares
Gordon Best Theatre
216 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 876-8884
Sunday, December 22
2-3pm & 6:30-9pm - Christmas With The Hicks ft Kate Brioux, Melissa Payne, and Kate Suhr w/ Beau Dixon, Nicholas Campbell, and Paul Crough (SOLD OUT)
Jethro's Bar + Stage
137 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
705-931-0617
Thursday, December 19
8-10pm - Jeanne Truax & Friends; 10pm-12am - The Union
Friday, December 20
6-8pm - Carpe Noctem; 8-10pm - Andrew Queen & Not Dead Yet; 10pm-1am - The Russlin' Bears
Saturday, December 21
6-8pm - Newberry Family Variety Hour(s) Holiday Singalong ; 8-10pm - Peter Graham Band; 10pm-1am - Country Christmas ft Nicholas Campbell, Jeanne Truax, and Aaron Hoffman
8:30pm - A Sadleir Solstice ft Horseman Pass By, Gnostic Front, Kahraba, Bad Mayor & Sportsman ($20 at the door or in advance at https://www.sadleirhouse.ca/concerts)
Kelly's Homelike Inn
205 3rd Street, Cobourg
905-372-3234
Friday, December 20
7-10pm - Kat Lovett
The Locker at The Falls
9 Lindsay St., Fenelon Falls
705-887-6211
Saturday, December 21
7-9:30pm - The Parlour Sets (no cover)
Mainstreet Bar & Grill
1939 Lakehurst Road, Buckhorn
(705) 657-9094
Friday, December 20
8pm - Bob Butcher
Coming Soon
Tuesday, December 31 8pm - New Year's Eve w/ The Hippie Chicks
McGillicafey's Pub & Eatery
13 Bridge St.. N., Hastings
(705) 696-3600
Thursday, December 19
7-11pm - Karaoke
McThirsty's Pint
166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220
Friday, December 20
9pm-1am - Jordan Thomas
Saturday, December 21
9pm-1am - Dan Young
Sunday, December 22
8pm - Open mic
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The Muse Gallery & Cafe
23 Bridge St., Bancroft
613-332-1573
Coming Soon
Saturday, January 18 6pm - The Salt Cellars ($25, tickets available at The Muse)
Olympia Restaurant
106 Kent St. W., Lindsay
705-328-1444
Friday, December 20
5-8:30pm -Live music TBA (reservations recommended)
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation President and CEO Lesley Heighway (left) and PRHC Clinical Manager Brendan Sova (right) stand with some of the members of the care team at PRHC's new Reactivation Care Centre. Left to right are physiotherapist Kaitlyn McLeod, occupational therapist Beth Morgan, and pharmacist Alice Yang. The new Centre takes a customized approach to the unique needs of each patient with input from an interdisciplinary care team that includes nurses, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, rehabilitation assistants, recreational therapists, social workers, dieticians, and many more professionals. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
With the help of community donors, Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) officially opened its new Reactivation Care Centre on Monday, December 9. The 12-bed specialized medical unit is designed to support patients as they prepare to return home once they no longer require acute care at the hospital.
“The hope is that we’ve set up such a robust integrated and collaborative care model for patients that they are successful upon discharge,” says Sarah Berges, Director of Medicine, Transitional Care, and Seniors’ Health at PRHC. “It is grounded in the foundation of specialized care for older adults and represents the future of healthcare by improving the patient and caregiving experience and improving the health of the population, while also strengthening PRHC’s ability to lead system transformation.”
The unit is focused on the care of seniors and is a key initiative of PRHC’s Seniors’ Care Centre of Excellence and its “home first” philosophy. Patients are aided both in their health and functional needs for their return home. The unit is grounded in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s “4Ms” framework for an Age-Friendly Health System which outlines key elements of high-quality older adult care: medication, mobility, what matters to me, and mentation.
After several consecutive readmissions to hospital, patient Jeff (left) expressed how glad he is to have the support of the Reactivation Care Centre team, including occupational therapist Beth Morgan (right), and a comprehensive plan that includes the use of specialized technology funded by donors to help him achieve the mobility he needs to return home to his family. He feels that he’s now on his way to regaining the strength and confidence to live more independently, take part in family activities and help out with some of his favourite chores on their farm. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
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“The key thing on admission to the unit is that staff work collaboratively with patients and their caregivers to gain an understanding of what matters most to them that will help them get home,” says Berges. “We’re embedding the allied care team that supports patients to be active in their care, establishing an understanding of a patient’s baseline functions, what their opportunities for improvement are, and helping them to regain their strength and confidence. We’re going to meet the patients where they’re at and make sure that we’re maximizing their function.”
The Reactivation Care Centre will take a customized approach to the unique needs of each patient with input from an interdisciplinary care team that includes nurses, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, rehabilitation assistants, recreational therapists, social workers, dietitians, and many more professionals.
“We have a really engaged and passionate group of staff who have joined us in the unit with a very focused approach,” says Berges. “They all work together to create the best care for that patient using their expertise and working to the full scope they have to offer.”
Along with patient beds, vital signs monitors, and specialized wheelchairs, the unit’s technology includes digital “collaboration boards” provided through Cisco Canada’s Country Digital Acceleration Program. Installed in patient rooms, the boards support day-to-day care by enhancing secure communication between healthcare providers, patients, and their families, ultimately improving the overall patient experience.
“This will engage the patient so they’re more empowered to be part of their care,” Berges explains. “We are hopeful that as the technology continues to grow and develop with us, that patient will know when they’ve attained their goals.”
High school student Delaney Campbell (left) is completing her cooperative education placement in the new Reactivation Care Centre through PRHC’s Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP). Under HELP, students and other volunteers spend time with Reactivation Care Centre patients like Flo (right). The Reactivation Care Centre takes a seniors care-focused and goal-oriented approach. The unit follows the “4Ms” framework which outlines key considerations for high-quality elderly care, including medication, mobility, what matters, and mentation. Patients will have their own say in focusing on the functional goals that matter to them most. (Photo courtesy of PRHC Foundation)
By having a comprehensive care plan in place to support patients for a successful return home, the unit aims to reduce the length of stay in acute-care hospital beds as well as to prevent readmissions.
“The idea is that if we can maximize these older adults from a functional perspective, they can return home and be much more successful in the community because we have set them up for success,” says Berges.
The Reactivation Care Centre is a pilot project that not only aims to address the need for specialized seniors’ care given the growing and aging population in the region, but to reimagine how healthcare can be delivered in other areas of care as well.
“The idea is that this is a model of care that could be then transferred to any healthcare setting if you get the right mix of team and the right approach to care,” says Berges. “We can grow our learning within our own facility and share our knowledge with other centres, demonstrating how we can provide care in a different way. It doesn’t need to be in this small microcosm of a unit, but we can actually expand this across the organization and across hospital sites.”
$400,000 in funding for the Reactivation Care Centre was made possible through community donations to the PRHC Foundation’s $60 million Campaign for PRHC, with one of the priority areas for the campaign being to address urgent needs at the hospital as they arise.
Peterborough Regional Health Centre Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive Noel Bennett (left) and President and CEO Dr. Lynn Mikula watch as Occupational Therapist Beth Morgan uses the new, innovative technology within the recently opened Reactivation Care Centre at the regional hospital. The installation of digital communication boards from Cisco Systems enhances communications and ensure patients are empowered through involvement in their own health care. (Photo courtesy of PRHC)
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“Our campaign donors who give undesignated gifts are empowering us to do what the hospital needs when they need it,” says Lesley Heighway, President and CEO of the PRHC Foundation. “It’s great to be in a position where we’re able to be responsive when these wonderful opportunities for innovation and advancement arise.”
This flexibility has been instrumental in allowing PRHC to adapt to the community’s most pressing needs. In recent years, funding for urgent needs at the hospital have supported emergency COVID-19 responses, an investment in critical Emergency Department equipment that supports the hospital’s Level III Trauma Centre designation, and technology in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Labour & Delivery, Breast Assessment Centre, Palliative Care Unit, Laboratory, and Diagnostic Imaging.
“It’s donors who made this happen, by allowing and trusting the Foundation to be responsive,” Heighway says. “While we are typically looking at the long-term needs of the hospital, being nimble to address short-term needs is very important. Our hospital is very innovative, and this ‘highest priority’ focus area of our campaign allows the Foundation to support some of that innovation.”
“The Foundation’s ability to meet our urgent need as we are dealing with capacity issues every single day has allowed us to pivot and do something really innovative,” adds Berges. “It is giving PRHC the chance to lead innovative healthcare, which is really exciting.”
The new Reactivation Care Centre at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) was officially opened on December 9, 2024. Pictured from left to right are PRHC President and CEO Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC Foundation President and CEO Lesley Heighway, PRHC Director Medicine, Transitional Care and Seniors’ Health Sarah Berges, PRHC Clinical Manager Brendan Sova, and PRHC Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive Noel Bennett. The 12-bed unit is a pilot project to offer specialized seniors’ care while aiming to reduce readmission and make space in the acute-care hospital beds. (Photo courtesy of PRHC)
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Berges notes there are already plans to develop the Reactivation Care Centre by creating an environment that is “more realistic to home” to support patient transition. One idea is for a tea and coffee station where patients can practise their functional motor and cooking skills as they prepare to return home.
“Equipping the unit with the equipment, supplies, and technology that we need to support these patients in a different way allows us to operationalize best practices for care for older adults,” says Berges.
She adds that the Reactivation Care Centre would not have been possible without the support of community donations to the PRHC Foundation.
“It was the passion of these donors to bring something new and innovative to the hospital that has allowed us to get here. Their willingness to join us on this journey has been fantastic.”
For more information on how the PRHC Foundation’s $60 million Campaign for PRHC will reimagine healthcare at the regional hospital, and to make a donation to the campaign, visit prhcfoundation.ca.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
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