Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) is inviting community members to turn their “empties into homes” in September by participating in a local bottle drive in support of affordable housing.

Habitat for Humanity Canada is once again partnering with The Beer Store to raise money for Ontario affiliates of the not-for-profit housing organization that aims to help families achieve affordable home ownership. People can drop off their empty beer, wine, and liquor containers at participating locations of The Beer Store in the Peterborough area and in Kawartha Lakes and donate their refund directly to Habitat PKR.

In addition, The Beer Store will also be collecting both cash and debit donations at the checkout, as a means of giving community members more ways to support local affordable housing initiatives.

The money raised in the Peterborough and Kawarthas region will directly support Habitat PKR’s two current housing projects: a single-family home in Fraserville and an accessible duplex in Peterborough’s East City for seven women with disabilities. While the two projects are scheduled for completion by Christmas, Habitat PKR still needs funding to help cover construction costs.

“Our goal is to collect as many empties as possible across Peterborough and the Kawartha region between now and September 21,” Holly McKinnon, Habitat PKR’s communications and marketing manager, told kawarthaNOW.

“It’s tough to set an exact target this year because we have more locations participating in support of Habitat PKR than ever before, which is a great problem to have. What matters most is that every can and bottle really will add up. Something as small as one empty beer bottle really does help build an affordable home.”

McKinnon said she hopes the entire community will rally behind the campaign.

“It’s such an easy way to invest back into your community and make a lasting difference for local families,” she said.

Through the Ontario Deposit Return Program, all beverage alcohol containers purchased in Ontario with a deposit can be returned to The Beer Store. Containers over 100 millilitres carry a deposit of 10 to 20 cents, which can be donated during the bottle drive to help support Habitat PKR’s work to create safe and affordable housing by giving a hand up to homeownership for more families and individuals in the community,

The local Beer Stores participating in the fundraiser are located in Lindsay, Lakefield, Peterborough, Bridgenorth, Hastings, Havelock, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Haliburton, and Minden. Locations are subject to change, so Habitat PKR suggested residents visit the website at habitat.ca/bottledrive for the most up-to-date list.

“This is a wonderful partnership, and it’s fantastic to have our local Beer Store locations supporting us this year,” said Habitat PKR CEO Susan Zambonin in a statement.

“What makes it even better is that there’s a Beer Store close to each of our ReStores in Peterborough, Lakefield, and Lindsay. It means people can easily drop off their empties on the way to shop or donate at the Habitat ReStore — a simple way to give back and help build safe, affordable homes for families in our community.”

To date, The Beer Store locations participating in the fundraiser are:

• Bobcaygeon – 25 King Street East
• Bridgenorth – 882 Ward Street
• Fenelon Falls – 125 Lindsay Street
• Haliburton – 15 Hops Drive
• Hastings – 23 Front Street East
• Havelock – 28 Ottawa Street
• Lakefield – 102 Queen Street
• Lindsay – 370 Kent Street West
• Minden – 12325 Highway 35
• Peterborough – 570 Lansdowne Street West
• Peterborough – 139 George Street North
• Peterborough – 1154 Chemong Rd.
• Peterborough – 1900 Lansdowne Street West

Habitat PKR is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting affordable homeownership. Habitat gives a “hand-up not a hand-out” to local families and individuals by offering no down payment and geared-to-income monthly payments.

Since 2002, Habitat PKR has supported 96 local families into affordable homeownership.

With the ever-increasing cost of food and living, crafting a meal for the affordable price $1.25 is no easy feat — especially when you want that meal to be nutritious and enjoyable to children as young as seven years old.

But that’s exactly what chef Lisa Dixon has managed to do as the food and nutrition lead for Upbeat!, a free after-school music program led by the Kawartha Youth Orchestra (KYO).

Running on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the school year at the KYO’s new home at the New Canadians Centre (St. James United Church) in downtown Peterborough, with transportation available from select schools, Upbeat! provides students in grades 3 to 8 with nutritious food before leading them in high-quality string music lessons. Students get free violin, viola, or cello loans through the KYO and no music experience is required.

“It was (started by) a handful of really dedicated adult musicians that wanted to inspire children who could not afford to play an instrument,” says Dixon, the former owner of Black Honey cafe and bakery in downtown Peterborough, who joined the KSO board last spring. “Upbeat is vetting and looking for those younger kids and getting them warmed up to being a KYO member.”

The program got its footing in 2021 and continued to grow through an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant which ran out last June. Since then, KYO has relied on donations to fund the program — including to pay the professional instructors their deserved wage — which was cut back from originally being held three days per week.

With Dixon on the board, one compromise KYO was not willing to make was limiting the food program. Instead, she was determined to find a way to ensure the upwards of 50 children could be fed “well and nutritiously” for $1.25 each. She spent her summer experimenting with the most economic foods that would taste good.

“It’s been fun, and I’ve really worked on making the menu tight and exciting for the kids, but also more healthy,” Dixon says. “And surprises happen. They love tomato soup-like candy! We have to make second batches for them.”

Dixon was able to slim down on the food costs by purchasing in large quantities, but also by receiving donations from farmers. From rice pilaf and egg noodles to cornmeal muffins and hummus, she found some hits that both stayed within her budget but also excited the children.

“They come so hungry after school,” Dixon says. “It was a good year, and the model will be used again (for the upcoming season).”

In revamping the menu, Dixon also changed the service from a buffet to a maître d’ system with assigned tables of mixed ages, each with a leader, to avoid the children forming cliques.

“The maître d’ would come get a tray of food and bring it to the table, and that way, they make sure they all eat properly and if they don’t — or if there’s a kid that’s upset because they don’t like something they’re getting — we can be told about it by the maître d’,” says Dixon. “It fosters leadership and empathy.”

After their snack, the children are split into their groups for ensemble music instruction from the musicians as they work towards a recital over the holiday season and in June.

“The Christmas concert is not bad — the instructors are not hitting it high with expectations so it could be very small, like a little bit of a Bach and then a lullaby — but the kids are excited that they did it,” Dixon says. “But then by June, I’m crying, I’m just so moved by how well they did.”

As the KYO seeks donations to continue running its programs, Dixon explains there are always suggestions about adding fees, though the board members recognize this would take away from the purpose of providing an accessible space for the arts. This, she says, is even more critical since arts education is being stripped away more and more in schools.

“Visual arts, music, and performing at a very young age are really important because it develops a child’s brain — not only for more success in academics, but it develops them socially,” Dixon says, noting how phones and the pandemic may have isolated kids.

“This is really helping a lot of kids. The ones that are feeling successful are the ones that are coming out of (Upbeat!) having learned a little bit about music, but also having learned that much more about communication and really small social skills that will do so much more for them by the time they’re in high school and become young adults.”

For Dixon, the nutritious food component is also a critical aspect of the program, noting that not everybody has good food education in their home. She also knows that sometimes food can be a “scary” or “dangerous” thing if preparing food is a chore or kids are being pushed out of the kitchen.

“Food can be a negative aspect of a child’s life, and I would like that when food is introduced, whether they like it or not, it is made with love and care, and then eventually they will eat it,” Dixon says, noting it’s a point of connection between the children.

“Even if the lentil dahl didn’t quite work, if there’s another kid at the table who is eating it, they can talk about how in their country, it’s a main staple.”

Through these opportunities, Dixon has also seen the kids become introduced to all new foods, and will often send recipes home with the parents, as well as any leftovers from the day.

“That really excites me,” she says. “It’s giving them literacy, it’s giving them security, and it’s giving them nourishment on top of that.”

Registration is now open for the 2025-26 Upbeat! at forms.gle/BGp9gAthZ96DHAdZ6 until Sunday, September 7 . Upbeat! is available for grades 3 to 8, with a wait list available for first and second graders.

Kawartha Youth Orchestra is seeking food donations, instruments (including keyboards), and monetary donations. To donate, visit www.thekyo.ca/upbeat/ or email contactus@thekyo.ca.

Residents are invited to gather with advocates, supporters, and others in downtown Nogojiwanong-Peterborough in September to take a stand against sexual violence.

Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC) and partnering community organizations are hosting their 47th annual “Take Back the Night” advocacy and awareness event and march on Thursday, September 18.

This year’s theme is “Rage and Resistance,” which, according to KSAC, reflects the anger many people feel when they consider how prevalent sexual violence still is, especially for people who are marginalized. The goals of the event are to provide an outlet for people’s emotions, the opportunity to support one another, and to rise in resistance.

“The best outcome for us is to create a space where survivors of sexual violence feel seen, heard, and believed,” Jocelyn Enright, KSAC prevention education and community engagement coordinator, told kawarthaNOW.

“It’s a beautiful thing to see so many supporters at Peterborough Square and who join the walk downtown,” said Enright, who expects around 100 people will participate in the event.

“The knowledge that every single person there believes and supports survivors — that’s how we help show people that they are not alone and show the public that we will not stop fighting until the streets are safe for women and gender-diverse folks.”

Take Back the Night runs from 5 to 9 p.m. outside in the Peterborough Square courtyard at the corner of Water and Charlotte streets. The event is free and open to everyone, and light refreshments will be available for participants.

“We welcome folks of all genders to come to participate, learn, and advocate for social change,” organizers stated in a media release.

From 5 to 6:30 p.m., representatives from a variety of community agencies will have tables to share information about their resources and how people can connect for support.

Along with KSAC, participating agencies include Centre for Gender and Social Justice, Elizabeth Fry Society (EFry) Peterborough, John Howard Society, Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC), Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle, Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre, PARN, Peterborough Community Legal Centre, Peterborough Domestic Abuse Network, Peterborough Regional Health Centre Women’s Health Centre, Soroptimist Peterborough, Victim Services Peterborough Northumberland, and YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.

Then, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., there will be poets, speakers, and performers followed by the candle-lit solidarity march. Organizers will provide art supplies earlier in the evening for people who want to make posters for the march.

The march will begin and end at the Peterborough Square courtyard, heading north on George Street to Murray Street, then along Murray Street to Water Street, and south on Water with a brief stop at Victoria Park before heading back to the courtyard.

KSAC exists to offer healing, safety, and support to those affected by sexual violence and harm and aims to end sexual violence through prevention education. The agency works with people of all genders aged 16 and older who have experienced any form of sexual violence or harm, whether recent or historic, in the counties of Peterborough, Haliburton and Northumberland, and in the City of Kawartha Lakes.

For more information about KSAC’s supports and services, visit the website at kawarthasexualassaultcentre.com, email info@kawarthasac.ca, or call 705-748-5901.

The oldest worldwide movement to stand against sexual violence, Take Back the Night began in the 1970s with a tribunal council meeting in Belgium attended by over 2,000 women representing more than 40 countries.

Early activists protested the lack of safety for women, including when walking down the street alone at night. One of the first Take Back the Night events was held in 1972, when a group of women at the University of Southern Florida donned witches’ brooms and black capes and marched through campus to demand resources and safety for women.

In 2025, there will be over 20 Take Back the Night events in communities across Ontario.