Gina Rodriguez, pictured here in the 2018 film "Annihilation", has the lead role in the Netflix sci-fi thriller "Awake", being filmed at locations around southern Ontario, including Peterborough.
Scenes for the upcoming Netflix film sci-fi thriller Awake are currently being shot in Peterborough.
Production crews are working on various streets around Little Lake, including Crescent and Lock.
The cast for the film includes Gina Rodriguez (Annihilation), Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan), Finn Jones (Game of Thrones), Ariana Greenblatt (Monster Problems), Frances Fisher (Watchmen), Shamier Anderson (Destroyer), Lucius Hoyos (Heroes Reborn), and Gil Bellows (Patriot).
Awake is set after a sudden global event wipes out all electronics and also takes away humankind’s ability to sleep.
As chaos quickly begins to consume the world, Rodriguez’s character Jill — an ex-soldier with a troubled past — may hold the key to a cure in the form of her own daughter. But she faces the prospect of saving the world before she herself loses her mind.
The film is being directed by Mark Raso (Kodachrome) based on a script by Greg Poirier, Joseph Raso, and Mark Raso.
Shooting is taking place until late September at various locations in southern Ontario, including Hamilton (where the engineering building on the McMaster University campus was transformed into a medical research facility) as well as Toronto.
The film is expected to arrive on Netflix sometime in 2020.
Tracey Ormond combines her passion for cooking healthy food and her love for community through her two businesses, That's A Wrap Catering and Classic Cooking, with the latter delivering nutritious ready-made meals for seniors and families. Tracey also donates much of her spare time to volunteer work, including with the Women's Business Network of Peterborough, One Roof Community Centre, Habitat for Humanity, the Peterborough Humane Society, and more. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
Tracey Ormond has a mission in life: to use her culinary talents to get healthy foods to people and reduce food waste.
Every single dish she creates is a labour of love to nourish and build community, whether it’s catering conferences or feeding seniors and families.
“I started catering because I honestly just love to cook,” Tracey says. “It feels good to provide nourishment to people and see them enjoy the food that I’ve created.”
For the better part of three decades, from waitressing to working in institutional kitchens, Tracey has been cooking with care. Her interest in food was sparked by her grandmother and mother, who frequently cooked signature meals from original recipes for her family.
“I saw how food brought people together, and that got me excited about trying new recipes myself,” she says.
Even when she worked on the road, driving across the country as a long-haul trucker, she was dreaming up ideas of how to make healthy wraps that are easy to eat with one hand, while sitting behind the wheel.
Today, she continues to harness the power of food and set the standard for catering excellence in Peterborough with her two businesses, That’s A Wrap Catering and her latest venture Classic Cooking.
Chef Tracey Ormond at work in her state-of-the-art commercial kitchen at Ashburnham Funeral and Reception Centre in Peterborough, where she and her team prepare fresh catered food for clients of That’s a Wrap Catering and delicious and nutritious ready-to-eat meals for clients of Classic Cooking including seniors. (Supplied photo)
Tracey partnered with Sally Harding of Nightingale Nursing a year ago to purchase Classic Cooking, a meal delivery service that delivers fresh, ready-to-eat meals to the doors of seniors and families in the Peterborough area.
“Knife and fork meals,” as Tracey calls them.
Unlike meal kit companies such as Hello Fresh and Chef’s Plate, which have introduced Canadians to online food deliveries that you have to prepare yourself, Classic Cooking delivers nutritious ready-made meals that can be heated in a microwave or conventional oven.
“We enable seniors and busy families to eat better, so they don’t have to decide at the last minute what they’re going to order and from where, or to grab a quick bite at a fast food joint because they don’t have time to make dinner,” Tracey explains.
Simple meals that are healthy and convenient are the foundation for Classic Cooking. Customers can order a variety of locally sourced and homegrown items on the menu. The meals are designed by Tracey and made from scratch by a team of cooks in her commercial kitchen at Ashburnham Funeral and Reception Centre. Together, they produce meals daily, which are shipped directly from the kitchen and arrive to customers in recyclable or compostable packages.
While Tracey is balancing the steadfast growth of Classic Cooking, she’s also in high demand supplying food to private parties, functions, and corporate events through That’s A Wrap Catering.
Tracey opened That’s a Wrap in 2013 and moved her operation to Ashburnham’s state-of-the-art commercial kitchen in 2014. With her employees, she runs a robust business that includes classes and workshops, on-site catering with the option of a liquor license, and off-site catering.
This dish of pan-seared shrimp alfredo over glass noodles with marinated grape tomatoes is an example of the fresh and healthy meals that Tracey Ormond prepares for Classic Cooking, a meal delivery service for seniors and families in Peterborough that Tracey operates with Sally Harding of Nightingale Nursing. (Supplied photo)
To order are wraps and hot meals, freezer dinners, and sandwiches with salads — made with ingredients purchased from local produce suppliers and the market. Using the kitchen at Ashburnham Funeral and Reception Centre also allows her to provide comfort food for funerals and grieving families.
As anyone who loves cooking and making food can tell you, it’s never just about the food — it’s also about caring for people. Tracey understands that even the smallest gesture can make her community better and stronger, which is why she donates much of her time to volunteer work.
She recently wrapped up her term as president of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) for 2018-19. She says her vision of being “better together” — the theme of WBN in 2018-19 — was to work with community-based organizations to accomplish far more than what might be possible working alone.
A case in point, Tracey points out, was taking leftover food from each WBN member meeting — a result of last-minute cancellations by members who had already paid for their meal — to feed people at community shelters, including the YES Shelter for Youth and Families, The Warming Room, One Roof Community Centre, and the YWCA.
“We’re a wasteful society, so it was a no-brainer that the food could be donated to shelters where it would get eaten,” Tracey says. “I was never turned away. It just seemed like the smart thing to do to feed the hungry in our community.”
Under her leadership, WBN members also raised $250,000 collectively for local charities from various fundraisers.
“To be able to say that I was in any way affiliated with that is incredible and humbling to me.”
Tracey Ormond speaking at the International Women’s Day Conference in Peterborough on March 8, 2019. Tracey recently wrapped up her term as 2018-19 president of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN), where she instituted the practice of delivering unclaimed dinners from WBN member meetings (due to last-minute cancellations) to feed people at community shelters. (Photo: IWD Peterborough / Facebook)
Tracey’s compassion doesn’t stop there. Through the Rotary Club, she helps with One Roof Community Centre as well as a local breakfast club and Food Share. She’s on the board of directors of Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, WBN, and Inspire: The Women’s Portrait Project. She also frequently volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, the Peterborough Humane Society, and Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival.
While her list of volunteer obligations is long, Tracey doesn’t seem to think it’s a big deal.
“Giving back is just who I am and what I love to do,” she says.
But for Tracey, it all comes back to food.
“I want people to feel like I created the best food for them. If I can help someone fit a good meal into their day, then I know I’ve accomplished something at the end of the day.”
That’s a Wrap Catering is located at 840 Armour Road in Peterborough in the Ashburnham Funeral and Reception Centre (840 Armour Rd, Peterborough). For more information, call 705-768-7168, email info@thatsawrapcatering.ca, or visit www.thatsawrapcatering.ca. You can also follow That’s a Wrap Catering on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
To order from Classic Cooking, visit www.classiccooking.ca or call Tracey at 705-927-5591 or Nightingale Nursing at 705-652-6118.
In her therapy practice, Diane Wolf of Diane Wolf Counselling develops practical solutions for relationship issues, trauma, and anxiety. As well as having a Master's degree in Clinical Counselling and being a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Diane has an MBA and is a business consultant and public speaker. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
Diane Wolf believes that working as a therapist is not dissimilar to working as a translator. Communication only works if people are speaking the same language — or have an interpreter who can translate for them.
Diane is no stranger to the art of translation. In 1982, she was a translator working on an American army base. She’s fluent in German and met her Austrian husband of more than 40 years while living in Europe. She spent the first four years of her marriage in Germany before returning to Canada to raise her children.
Translation and communication continue to be a key theme in her work as a counsellor.
“I say to my couples: it’s like you’re speaking two different languages,” Diane says. “One of you is speaking German and one of you is speaking English — and I’m going to translate for you.”
Most couples Diane sees have never heard of “love languages” before. Once they come to understand what a love language is, it becomes an essential part of how they communicate with their partner.
“I use a modality called emotionally focused therapy that really helps couples look at the process of how they interact, instead of the content of their interactions,” she explains.
Diane helps couples see that the problems they’re having are much deeper. It doesn’t really matter what a fight appears to be about on the surface; it’s likely that something far more important is triggering the emotions underneath it all.
Love languages can help couples learn how to tap in and satisfy the communication needs of their partner — or anyone they care about in their lives. Better communication makes dealing with emotions easier.
Diane Wolf (right) with her daughter, entrepreneur Christine Teixeira, at a member meeting of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN). In 2018-19, Diane and Christine became the first mother-and-daughter pair ever to serve on WBN’s board of directors, and they are again both serving on the 2019-20 board. (Photo: WBN)
According to Diane, five basic love languages exist: quality time, acts of service, gifts, physical touch, and words of affirmation.
“We communicate in a way that makes sense to us, so we communicate with others in the way that we would like to be communicated with,” Diane says. “Instead, we should be figuring out what the other person needs.”
While you can’t necessarily become fluent in all five love languages, you can increase your awareness of the communications needs of others.
“You can learn to become multilingual,” says Diane. “It’s also important to recognize our own love languages, so that we can let other people know how they can show love to us.”
While Diane works with many couples, she also works with many first responders experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and she sees many people who are dealing with anxiety.
Now, just four months into running her own therapy practice, Diane understands that the common thread in her professional life has always been her fascination with neuroscience. Connecting neuroscience to the body — and its natural reactions to real or perceived threats — directly translates into all of the work that she does.
“Your brain cannot differentiate between real or perceived danger — the effect on the body is the same,” explains Diane. “I help people understand how our bodies are designed to respond to stress. It’s that fight-or-flight response. In public speaking, people get nervous because they’re perceiving emotional danger and worried that they’ll make a mistake or mess up. I help them deal with overcoming anxiety by focusing on what their body is doing and how to control that.”
She admits that she’s always been fascinated with brain science, reading journal articles for fun and buying “brain textbooks” for courses she wasn’t even taking. Her first degree was in neurophysiological psychology, which continues to be her passion. Her second degree was an MBA, but she then returned to her first love by doing a second Master’s degree, this time in Clinical Counselling. She is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional.
Diane herself has been a public speaker for over 30 years and she was a communications professor in the business department at Trent University. While her therapy practice is very busy, she is always available to book speaking engagements.
“I’m doing some workshops in the fall on what I call Declutter Your Mind,” Diane says. “We use neuroscience to help people overcome anxiety, which is really a cause of having your mind cluttered.”
“When we understand how the brain works, we see that our bodies are simply responding as they are designed to when they sense physical or emotional danger. Hormones flood our bodies preparing us to fight or run, and our ability to think clearly is impaired.”
“The problem is, fight-or-run strategies don’t necessarily serve us in a society where we are less likely to need physical energy and are more likely to need to be able to think clearly,” Diane says. “So I teach people to rewire their brains to enable them to respond in a way that serves them better.”
Diane Wolf Counselling is located in Peterborough. For more information, contact Diane at 705-772-5654 or diane@dianewolf.com or visit dianewolf.com. You can also find Diane Wolf Counselling on Facebook.
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation President and CEO Lesley Heighway leads a team of professionals and volunteers who raise between $5 and $7 million every year for PRHC's diverse healthcare equipment and technology needs. (Supplied photo)
Lesley Heighway is in the big business of saving lives.
As President and CEO of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation, Lesley juggles multiple hats in her philanthropic role: business, policy, advocacy, and charity. At the end of the day, her main responsibility is to ensure money keeps rolling into the Foundation and through to the region’s only full-service, acute care hospital to provide continuous high-quality care for patients and their loved ones.
The PRHC Foundation is committed to supporting the hospital’s Regional Centres of Excellence for cancer care, cardiac care, and vascular surgery — some of the fastest growing and most innovative areas of healthcare, and which serve a population of up to 600,000 people from across Peterborough County and beyond.
Lesley works diligently within the community to help fill the gap where government funding ends by increasing annual revenue, developing new partnerships and extending the philanthropic reach of the Foundation needed to deliver everything from compassionate care to scientific advances.
For eight years, Lesley has led a team of professionals and volunteers who raise between $5 and $7 million every year for PRHC — more than $25 million over the past five years alone.
“The government does fund a portion of hospital operations, but it doesn’t fund hospital equipment and technology that our doctors and nurses use here every day to deliver great care,” she says.
PRHC’s Chief of Emergency Medicine Dr. Mark Troughton (second from left) and healthcare professionals from the Emergency Department say thanks to donors for their $1.1 million investment in state-of-the-art X-Ray technology. (Supplied photo)
Community donations fund the ground-breaking education, leading-edge research and innovation, state-of-the-art technology and facility enhancements that form the backbone of patient care at PRHC and help bring new lifesaving services to our region.
“Without donor investment, none of this would be possible,” Lesley says. “Our donors truly have touched every single area of care in this hospital.”
The hospital’s ability to fund the best equipment and technology is also key to attracting and retaining the brightest minds in healthcare, and to keeping PRHC’s standard of care on par with the top hospitals across Canada.
Lesley’s passion for healthcare philanthropy and improving a patient’s experience runs deep and is rooted in her family’s lived experience of having to travel long distance for cancer care services in her home province of New Brunswick.
She recalls the physical, emotional and financial strain on her parents, who had to drive hours from a small community to a hospital in Saint John, for her father to receive cancer radiation treatment, five days a week over a six-week period.
“I saw the toll that this had taken on their lives, with the three-hour drive and having to reside in Saint John, which was the only regional centre in New Brunswick at that time,” she says. “For me, I feel like it has come full circle. Through the work that I do, we can ensure that in Peterborough, people won’t have to travel far from home to receive great care.”
For anyone interested in giving, the Foundation welcomes and encourages donations of all kinds: life insurance, bequests, cash, securities, and memorial donations.
Martin and Denise Pick (third and fourth from left) are joined by son Charles Pick and daughter-in-law Dr. Rardi van Heest (left and second from left), former PRHC Board Chair Adair Ireland-Smith (third from right), PRHC President and CEO Dr. Peter McLaughlin (second from right) and Lesley Heighway at the opening of the Martin & Denise Pick Learning Centre, a donor-funded $3.1 million 4,300-square-foot state-of-the-art clinical, education, and meeting facility supporting continuous learning, innovation, and the future of world class patient care at PRHC. (Supplied photo)
No matter how big or small the donation, Lesley and her team help thousands of people understand the tangible ways their dollars are transforming healthcare for patients from across the region.
“Donors are touching the lives of patients every day,” she adds. “As a foundation, our accountability is first and foremost to our donors. While we give donors the opportunity to give back, we also have the responsibility to communicate to them how their donations are making a real difference in the lives of patients.”
To recognize the generosity of donors, the Foundation communicates impact in its publications and social media, through the media, invitations to donor recognition events, and permanent recognition on the donor wall at the Health Centre. They also share inspiring stories of patients and donors themselves, as well as community partners who have dedicated themselves to the cause of bettering local healthcare.
Lesley says a high point of gratitude to existing donors is inviting them for a tour at the hospital after an investment has been made.
“Donors get to see firsthand how our physicians and our patients are benefiting and how they have contributed to enabling our hospital to deliver better care.”
Using her vast experience in sales and marketing management and an MBA specializing in leadership, Lesley aims to foster innovative and out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to fundraising, while still maintaining the drive and compassion that fuels inspiration among her team.
“Our hospital is at the forefront of innovation, leading with forward-thinking teams. Our job at the Foundation is to listen to the vision the hospital has in each of the critical areas and then come up with our own creative ways for raising funds to support it.”
Over the last two years, Lesley has successfully led efforts to fund:
The $1.1 million needed to install two Emergency Department X-Ray Trauma Suites featuring wireless imaging technology that reduces the need to reposition patients during image-taking and quickly produces sharper images for faster, more accurate diagnoses.
The Martin & Denise Pick Learning Centre, a $3.1 million, 4,300 sq. ft., state-of-the-art clinical, education and meeting facility supporting continuous learning, innovation and the future of world class patient care at PRHC.
A $250,000 investment in the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) Clinic at PRHC, where staff provide quality cancer care to children in their own community.
$230,000 for seven new incuwarmers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), enabling the vital care of vulnerable newborns in critical situations through the warmers’ open warm workstations with access for up to three medical experts and built-in life-saving resuscitation equipment.
$550,000 in state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and technology to facilitate faster and more accurate diagnoses and treatment.
While the success of PRHC Foundation’s fundraising efforts speaks for itself, Lesley’s passion for philanthropy extends far beyond Peterborough and the Kawarthas. She works with an advocacy and advisory group of regional hospital foundation CEOs from across Ontario. As one of Peterborough’s leading experts in legacy giving (donating through estate plans), she plays an active role in working with financial and legal advisors.
Central Smith Creamery owners Ian (second from left) and Jenn Scates (right) present Lesley Heighway and Jane Lovett (left) of the PRHC Foundation with a cheque for $13,420.25. The funds were raised through Central Smith’s Ice Cream Social in support of PRHC, held on July 20th this summer. (Supplied photo)
She also shares her extensive knowledge and experience with the community through a wide range of board and advisory roles with other organizations and service clubs, as well as a variety of coaching and mentoring relationships with fundraising and young business professionals.
Delivering world class patient care, Lesley points out, is a complex endeavour with many dedicated people working on the front line as well as behind the scenes, including her team who works hard to create a workplace culture that fosters collaboration, engagement, creativity, passion and results.
“I’m very proud of my team and what we’ve been able to accomplish,” she says, smiling. “There is great meaning in what we do. Some of us have had jobs where we’ve had to leave our heart and soul at the door. That’s not the case here.”
The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation is located at One Hospital Drive in Peterborough. For more information about the PRHC Foundation and how you can make great health care possible in our community, call 705-876-5000, email foundation@prhc.on.ca, or visit www.prhcfoundation.ca. You can also connect with the PRHC Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, and Vimeo.
Betty Halman-Plumley and her team at IG Wealth Management in Peterborough specialize in Intergenerational Estate Planning, working closely with families to develop tailored solutions that families can trust with no regrets. She takes a holistic approach to secure harmony and grow, protect, and transfer a family's legacy from generation to generation. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
Betty Halman-Plumley believes in taking a holistic approach to everything she does. She learned the value of this early in her career, when she worked at the Peterborough Family Resource Centre / Ontario Learning Years Centre and during the time she served as the Executive Director.
Betty learned that, to best support children, you had to support whole families and make important connections to community.
When Betty made a career change to the financial sector and began working at Investors Group in 2005, she continued using this approach to help provide the best guidance and advice for her clients.
“I chose Investors Group because of the strength and stability of a Canadian company who also valued the importance of teaming and understood the holistic approach to financial success,” Betty shares.
Early on in her career, Betty found that she was advising and consulting with clients who often referred her to their elderly parents and to their adult children.
“Clients would connect me with their kids and then with their parents,” Betty explains. “I was working with and learning about each generation especially in the area of estate planning and this really inspired me.”
During her career at Investors Group, Betty Halman-Plumley has worked with three generations of families and has learned valuable lessons from each, including what they wished they had done differently or put in place before their loved one passed away. She has used these lessons in her role as Wealth and Estate Planner and as Elder Planning Counselor to create a more holistic approach to Intergenerational Estate Planning for her clients. (Supplied photo)
Betty took valuable lessons from each client she worked with and that allowed her to develop better systems to support them as part of their bigger family. In her role as Wealth and Estate Planner as well as Elder Planning Counselor, Betty found that her earlier experiences had helped her to create a more holistic approach and it that it was benefiting her clients.
“I have been working with three generations over my career at Investors Group, and I have learned valuable lessons from each — what families wished they had done differently or put in place before their loved one passed away,” Betty says.
“My approach works with families to ‘get in front of’ and to mitigate these and other concerns, and guides the next stage of the family’s Intergenerational Estate Plan.”
Betty’s mission is clear — to provide professional trusted wealth and estate planning solutions to secure meaningful and enduring legacies — and Betty and her team are happy to be driving this mission to support families.
“It is my goal to help create harmony between generations by developing a deeper honour and respect for their legacy story,” Betty says. “By embracing each generation in this journey, it is my hope to begin the process of opening up insights between them and of capturing their wishes and goals — not only to grow, but to protect and transfer legacies today and also to have the power to make a difference tomorrow and for generations to come.”
The work that Betty does is complex and rewarding. She must manage expectations, deliver lasting results, and help people achieve their goals … believing that wonderful things are possible. And for some of this, Betty relies on her faith.
Betty Halman-Plumley, shown here speaking at the International Women’s Day Conference Peterborough, is a past president of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough. (Photo; International Women’s Day Conference Peterborough)
Betty’s faith drives her interest in supporting people, her community, and causes. She’s not always that vocal about her faith, but she lets it guide her and she welcomes signs when they start appearing.
A couple of years ago, Betty started noticing the number 89 popping up repeatedly. It was part of her address, her ID number at work … it was everywhere. She was thinking about this one day driving in her car, listening to Carrie Underwood, and she thought how great it would be if she could sing and inspire people.
“We all need good role models, and I can’t sing, but I wanted to inspire,” Betty laughs. “I have always felt that my work was my calling and so I looked up Psalm 89, and it happened to be on page 899 in my Bible.”
Psalm 89 says, “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.”
What Betty read was confirmation that she was on track with the work she had been doing with families. Today this Psalm is framed and displayed in her office — as a reminder of her commitment to legacy planning and that she is doing what she has been called to do.
April Boyce, owner of Looking Glass Coaching at the 'be well centre' in downtown Peterborough, supports people of all ages living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). With her background as an educator, her experience advocating for and mentoring her own ADHD child, and specialized learning and training, she works with her clients to figure out the problems they want to solve and to develop a plan of action. (Supplied photo)
As an educator, April Boyce watched students struggle with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). As a mom to a child with ADHD, April realized she needed to be the advocate her own family needed — but she didn’t stop there.
April has now taken her learning, experience, and best practice and turned it into specialized coaching services for people impacted by ADHD in the Peterborough area.
From her new Looking Glass Coaching office in the “be well centre” at 459 George Street, April acts as a partner in the quest to harness the positive aspects of ADHD, so those who are impacted will not have to face it alone. She uses specialized coaching to help clients of all ages overcome their unique challenges while harnessing the positive aspects of ADHD.
April says the disorder has been poorly named, and her approach to coaching helps clients develop insight into what their skills are and where their successes have come from in the past.
“When there’s interest, the brain produces dopamine — a chemical necessary to sustain interest and activate executive functions,” April explains. “Those are the abilities we need to focus, concentrate, make decisions, remember things, et cetera. People with ADHD are dopamine deficient and therefore find it much harder to access those all-important executive functions.”
This understanding is part of how April works with her clients when they need help getting “un-stuck”.
ADHD can cause time blindness, making it hard to begin tasks, and it can also cause different manifestations of disorganization. These are things that April works through with her clients, who range in age from youth to newly diagnosed adults.
“ADHDers can get trapped because they can’t start,” April says. “This can be so overwhelming. As a coach, I help them understand what helps them flourish.”
April can also help clients understand how to create better environments for productivity and learning. Movement can help some clients, while harnessing creativity can help others.
Underlying all April does is the belief that the “pill is not the skill.” While many of her clients might be managing their disorder with prescribed medications, the skills she connects them with will open more positive pathways to a productive future.
April’s understanding has evolved through a combination of her background as an educator, her experience advocating for and mentoring her own ADHD child, and also lots of specialized learning.
With this wealth of experience and knowledge, along with over 300 hours of ADHD coach-specific training, April sets to work with her clients to figure out the problems they want to solve.
“We take on one thing at a time,” April says. “We figure out what’s in your way, where you want to be, and how you get there.”
This approach does not follow a typical medical model. Instead, April says she focuses on her clients as whole, nerurodiverse persons.
The whole-person approach is part of why she’s put down concrete roots at the “be well centre” at a time when many coaches are offering services online. She loves the collaborative environment the centre can provide and she’s happy to connect with her clients in person — where they share their diverse energy face to face.
“I always leave coaching sessions feeling fired-up,” she notes. “I help people leave with insights and awareness, with a plan, and with direction.”
Many of the clients April works with benefit from her use of positive psychology and her focus on the positive aspects of the disorder, while making sense of and managing the challenges — like establishing boundaries and setting goals.
“There is no correlation between intellect and ADHD,” she explains. “But many with ADHD are under-stimulated and under-employed. When they come to me, they often are in desperate need to feel like there is hope and that they are not alone.”
“There are also a lot of very successful executives and professionals with ADHD who are killing it at work, but their personal lives are in a shambles because the executive function demands of their jobs take every ounce of energy they have.”
“This is not a one-size-fits-all disorder. I want people to know when they walk into my space, it is a shame-free zone where they can work on whatever is getting in the way.”
April says monumental change happens when her clients learn to leverage what the brain does. That’s when she knows her clients will find success.
“I like coaching because my clients have a plan of action when they leave a session,” she says. “The final outcome is entirely up to them — it’s about what they want to walk away with.”
Being empowered to make plans, to see future goals, to put resources in place, and to anticipate success are welcome changes for those across the region who have been living with the daily stigma and challenges of ADHD.
April is happy to be a resource and to help the ADHD community understand that every journey is unique.
“Where did the belief come from that you have to be like everyone else?” April asks. “Let’s find what works … and do that more.”
Looking Glass Coaching is located in the “be well centre” at 459 George Street North in downtown Peterborough. For more information on Looking Glass Coaching, call 705-702-3880, email april@lookingglasscoaching.ca, or visit lookingglasscoaching.ca. You can also follow Looking Glass Coaching on Facebook and Instagram.
The Sheepdogs are Sam Corbett (drums, backing vocals), Shamus Currie (keyboards, trombone), Ewan Currie (vocals, guitars, clarinet, drums), Jimmy Bowskill (guitars, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, pedal steel), and Ryan Gullen (bass, backing vocals). (Publicity photo)
September always has a special feeling to it. The days remain are but the nights get cooler, students of all ages head back to school, and the everyday hustle and bustle returns after a relaxed summer.
Whether you’re new to the area or you’ve been here your whole life, there’s a ton of great live music to experience in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here are just a few of the events to get out and enjoy:
Brooke Wylie at the Red Dog in Peterborough on September 5
All the way from Alberta, singer and songwriter Brooke Wylie will be performing at The Historic Red Dog Tavern (189 Hunter St. W, Peterborough, 705-750-1710) on Thursday, September 5th as part of The Weber Brothers’ WE Thursdays concert series.
Wylie can make you smile, cry, and smile again within a couple songs and her presence on stage and pure voice are not to be missed. The show begins at 8 p.m. and costs $10 at the door.
VIDEO: “If I Had A Little Girl” – Brooke Wylie
The Tebworth Brothers at the Orono Fair on September 5
There is nothing like a fall fair to really usher in the autumn vibes. Head on out to the Orono Fairgrounds (2 Princess St., Orono) for the Orono Fair from Thursday, September 5th to Sunday, September 8th. The theme for 2019 is “Connecting Country and Community.”
The fair is a cornucopia of livestock shows, a midway, horse pulls, cultural expressions, culinary arts, visual arts, and of course live music. On Thursday night, The Tebworth Brothers — headed by teenage brothers Wyatt and Marshal — will be performing their traditional bluegrass music in the area. There’s also a fiddle contest on Friday evening.
For a listing of all of the events and prices, visit www.oronofair.com,
VIDEO: The Tebworth Brothers
The Sadies, The Good Brothers, and more at the Creekside Music Festival in Apsley on September 6 and 7
You might think all music festivals are done by September, but that’s not true: check out the 2nd annual Creekside Music Festival on Friday, September 6th and Saturday, September 7th at Eel’s Creek near Apsley.
There is an excellent array of music including surf/western/garage rock heroes The Sadies featuring Travis and Dallas Good. The father and uncles of those two, The Good Brothers, will also be there. There’s also the Melissa Payne Band, Mayhemingways, Ace and the Kid and more!
The Silver Hearts trio at Keene Centre for the Arts on September 13
The tiny village of Keene is starting to heat up as a happening music spot. Muddy’s Pit BBQ hosts Sunday afternoon shows throughout the summer and now the Keene Centre for the Arts (12 First St., Keene) hosts regular concerts of local and touring acts.
On Friday, September 13th, a trio of members from legendary Peterborough band The Silver Hearts performing there. Charlie Glasspool, Tiny Davis, and Wyatt Burton will take the stage performing their jazzy/rootsy/old blues music. Opening the show will be true artist and avant-garde performer Saskia Crescentia from Gore’s Landing.
Jill Barber at the Market Hall in Peterborough on September 17
Two-time Juno award winner Jill Barber returns to town with her classy jazz-tinged music on Tuesday, September 17th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146).
One of her shows is a little like stepping back in time to a bygone era. Her latest record Fool’s Gold has been critically acclaimed and is another solid effort by the Canadian artist.
This concert is a little different: as part of her “Dedicated To You” tour, Jill will be performing songs requested by her fans. The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are $38, all fees included.
Tickets are available atthe Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org.
VIDEO: Jill Barber on her “Dedicated to You” tour
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Mike Nagoda and the Spectrum Blues Band at The Garnet in Peterborough on September 18
Peterborough Pride has a ton of events in mid-September, and one of the great live music evenings will feature Mike Nagoda and the Spectrum Blues Band on Wednesday, September 18th at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107).
Nagoda is a Toronto LGBT bluesman born with cerebral palsy who plays double slide guitar and brings his own brand of self-described ‘queer electric blues’ to the stage. The show begins at 8 p.m. and costs $10 at the door.
Busker’s Blues – Mike Nagoda and the Spectrum Blues Band
The Sheepdogs at Cultivate Festival in Port Hope on September 20
Cultivate Festival, one of Port Hope and area’s favourite events, returns for another year from Friday, September 20th to Sunday, September 22nd. The annual festival features music, local food, and fun for the entire family.
Live music on Friday includes Canadian vintage rock and roll stars The Sheepdogs (including Bailieboro’s own Jimmy Bowskill), country band Johnson Crook, ethereal rocker Kate Boothman, and bluesy/rock artist Conor Gains. On Saturday, performers include Lemon Bucket Orchestra, DJ NDN, Elliott Brood, Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar, Northern Hearts, Andrew Queen, and the Ganaraska Sheiks. Sunday’s lineup features Tanika Charles & The Wonderful, Craig Cardiff, Hill & Landing, David Newland, and Kim Doolittle and Emily Burgess.
There is literally something for everyone — a great weekend await!. For tickets and more information, visit cultivatefestival.ca.
VIDEO: “Saturday Night” – The Sheepdogs
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Mayhemingways at The Garnet in Peterborough on September 21
Time for some shameless self-promotion: Peterborough fuzz-folk duo Mayhemingways (featuring Benj Rowland and myself) will be back at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107) on Saturday, September 21st for a pair of intimate shows.
Benj and I have toured Canada extensively, including opening for and backing up Joel Plaskett and his father Bill in 2017 — a tour that included venues like Massey Hall in Toronto and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
This is a rare chance to see Mayhemingways in Peterborough in a small room, performing some new songs and old favourites. There will be a matinee show at 3 p.m. and an evening show at 9 p.m.
Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door. There are limited tickets for each show available at The Garnet or online at www.ticketscene.ca/venues/2728/.
VIDEO: “Atlantic City” – Mayhemingways
Angie Hilts at The Silver Bean in Peterborough on September 28
Excellent Peterborough-born singer-songwriter Angie Hilts will release her new record Great Escape at The Silver Bean (130 King St., Peterborough) from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 28th.
Earlier in the month, Hilts and her band are performing a release show at The Burdock in Toronto, and the Sliver Bean show is a great chance for Peterborough folks to take in her tunes.
Admission is $15, or $25 for a copy of her new CD.
The 2019-20 Board of Directors of the Women's Business Network of Peterborough. Front row, left to right: Program Director Sara George, Program Director Danielle McIver, Past President Tracey Ormond, President Grace Reynolds, External Communications Director Rencee Noonan, Director at Large Laurie English, and Secretary Nadine James. Back row, left to right: Technical Director Tiffany Arcari, Membership Director Arlene Blunck, Member Communications Director Vanessa Dinesen, Treasurer Christine Teixeira, Strategic Planning Director Diane Wolf, and Awards Director Paula Kehoe. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
The Women’s Business Network of Peterborough is run by a volunteer Board of Directors, elected by members at the Annual General Meeting in May.
This group of 13 women meets monthly to formulate the plans and deal with the business of the network, which currently has 170 members.
They also attend at special board meetings throughout the year and membership meetings from September through June.
Here are profiles and photos of the 2019-20 Board of Directors:
Grace Reynolds is a licensed Mortgage Agent based in Peterborough and services all of Ontario. She is nationally recognized by the mortgage industry for her achievements as the winner of the Canada Mortgage Awards of Excellence for Best Newcomer Agent and is one of the Canadian Mortgage Professionals Top 50 Young Guns.
With access to over 50 lenders and hundreds of products, she works on the behalf of her clients and not one specific bank or product. She provides advice and support for residential and commercial mortgage financing. She assists clients with purchasing a new home, to those looking to renew or refinance for debt consolidation, renovation projects or purchase an investment property, to assisting those in business for self and newcomers to Canada, and much more.
The mortgage industry is not as simple and straightforward as it once was. Having the advice and guidance of a mortgage broker at your side is vital. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, seasoned homebuyer or investor, she is here to help guide you through the process! With over 20 years of customer service experience, taking care of clients is what Grace does best.
Tracey Ormond is the owner of That’s A Wrap Catering, a full-service catering company in Peterborough that specializes in corporate, private and social events. They provide and deliver fresh meals, snacks and sweets to your office or home, with special seasonal, healthy and vegetarian options to choose from.
Tracey is also co-owner of Classic Home Cooking, a fresh meal delivery service for seniors and busy families. They prepare fresh meals daily and currently offer service, Monday to Friday, with frozen meals available for delivery once a week.
Tracey is immensely involved in her community volunteering with several local food programs, donating food and service to many non-profits and fundraisers.
She is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Peterborough and Peterborough Chamber of Commerce. Tracey is also a very big supporter of the Peterborough Humane Society, along with her border collie Finnegan James and her cats Juliet, Capulet and Montaque.
Nadine James is an award-winning consultant with IG Wealth Management. Working alongside her father, who has been in the business for over 25 years, they work together to provide their clients with financial strategies and peace of mind. Together they have the experience and longevity clients are looking for.
Nadine is known for her client service and takes great pride in going above and beyond for her client’s financial needs. With offices in both Peterborough and Lindsay, the company is growing in the area and helping others grow their financial wealth.
Christine Teixeira is the owner of Accountability Financial, where she provides bookkeeping and income tax preparation services for small businesses and individuals in Peterborough and the Kawartha region.
After a busy career as an environmental engineer, she made the decision to become an entrepreneur instead so she would have more control of her time and to be more available for her family. Always passionate about finance as a hobby, she completed the Small Business Accounting Certificate in 2014 and launched Accountability Financial in 2015.
Christine’s background in the engineering industry gives her a unique perspective and proves she is meticulous, detail oriented, and skilled at problem solving, which are all attributes her clients highly value.
Christine is now expanding her business by hiring other associates, and her only regret is she didn’t enter the world of being self-employed sooner.
Danelle McIver moved to Peterborough in 2011 and is thrilled that she took the leap, as joining the Peterborough community has been rewarding in many ways for her.
Nearly 19 years ago, while looking for animal handling experience, Danielle walked through the doors of a local veterinary practice, and through the guidance and encouragement of several inspiring mentors, she stayed growing her skills as a technician, an office manager, an inventory manager, team leader and VPM.
In 2018, she joined Veterinary Purchasing, one of the most highly-respected companies in the veterinary industry, with their Executive Services team and began consulting for practices all over Ontario. She’s now fortunate enough to give back to the industry by facilitating workshops and supporting businesses throughout the province.
In 2017, Danielle started her own side business, Gleam Event Management, which organizes community event for the whole family, including the furry family! Her first large-scale event, The Peterborough PAWtacular, gives people the opportunity to spend a day devoted to their family pet and is now in its second year.
Sara George is the founder or “Head Betch” of Electric City Brigade of Beer Betches, a sisterhood of beer drinkers dedicated to the pursuit of all things craft beer with a focus on education and community betterment.
Sara is very proud of the safe space she has created for women (and those who identify as) to attend events and join in their collective love of craft beer. The group meets once a month at venues all over the Peterborough area and beyond.
Sara is excited to be a part of the Board of Directors as a Program Director this year and looks forward to meeting the new membership in the upcoming season.
Arlene Blunck is excited to be celebrating her 35th year at All Office Machines servicing Peterborough, City of Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland counties. She helps her customers select the proper office equipment, such as copiers, printers, shredders, scanners, postage machines for their “wants” and more importantly, their needs.
Arlene has been a Rotarian for over 17 years and is very involved in Rotary’s Family Fun Night and Fireworks Committee and also helps out at the Breakfast Food Program every week.
Her passions include running, geocaching, biking, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and spending time with friends and family.
Arlene has been a member of the WBN for many years and is enjoying her role as Membership Director and looking forward to the challenges and blessings that this year brings.
Tiffany Arcari chose to start her life in Peterborough at 18 years old, attending Fleming College in the Recreation and Leisure program. She immediately felt a connection with the culture, opportunity, and strong sense of community that Peterborough had to offer.
At 22, she decided Peterborough was home for her so she put down her roots, started a career path, and purchased a home. With aspirations to dedicate herself to the community, she spent the next decade building her skillset and connections, and impacting Peterborough through her employment.
Tiffany currently works with the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce working in event, sponsor, and membership coordination. This career change better aligns with her ethos and further inspired her to take action in the community.
It’s important to Tiffany that she take care of her home through community involvement. She has thoughtfully searched for opportunities through employment and serving on the WBN Board. Her strengths include problem solving, public speaking and the confidence to diplomatically express her opinions. She is driven by her high personal and performance standards as well as her fervor for this incredible city she calls home.
She is experienced in public relations, efficient in critical thinking situations and passionate for relationship building. Tiffany wants to be a catalyst for change and feels her passion, adaptability, and spirit are an asset to WBN.
Laurie English is Specialist, Major Gifts at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. Her role is to connect with community-minded individuals who are passionate about improving healthcare at our local hospital.
Laurie is currently Director at Large on the WBN Board. She has served in a variety of roles in the community including Board Director for Little Lake and Highland Park Cemetery, where she also sat on the Human Resources and Strategic Planning Committees.
In addition, she was a Board Director for Hospice Peterborough. During her term she was Chair of the Communication and Stakeholders Relations Committee. She is currently a Client Services Volunteer.
When she is not working or volunteering, Laurie enjoys spending her summers on Anstruther Lake with her family and friends. She is passionate about travelling and especially enjoys vacationing in Europe.
Rencee Noonan is a Memorial Counsellor at Peterborough Monument Works, as well as Marketing and Advertising Coordinator of EyeTech Vision Care.
Rencee has coached and managed many soccer and basketball teams over the years for Peterborough Power Basketball Association, Mapleleaf-Cavan FC Soccer Club and Peterborough City Soccer Association, and has been a member of their board.
She also enjoys volunteering with different charitable events like Strutt Your Mutt, Behind Closed Doors, Habitat for Humanity Home Builds, Walk a Mile in her Shoes, Relay for Life, Reilly on The Roof, YWCA Tag Days, Sick Kids, and Breakfast for Learning.
Rencee resides in Peterborough with her husband and four children, and enjoys spending time with her three adorable grandkids.
Paula Kehoe is the founder and senior copywriter with Red Rock Communications, a boutique communications agency based in Peterborough. With 14 years of journalism and communications experience, she brings a natural storytelling to building brands.
She specializes in copywriting and creative services for technology, retail, health and wellness, not-for-profit and lifestyle brands, to drive their profits forward by making a connection with their ideal customers and getting them to take action-all from impactful copy, content and strategies.
Paula is also the co-founder and VP of marketing and communications for SoftCoverVR, a technology company specializing in virtual reality, augmented reality, animation, and 360° video solutions for clients in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.
This is Paula’s second time volunteering on the WBN board of directors, serving as the awards director for the 2019-20 season.
Diane Wolf is a former business professor and professional speaker, who is currently in private practice providing therapy to couples and individuals in distress.
Diane has travelled extensively as a professional speaker for over 30 years, delivering her signature talk “Communicate with Confidence and Clarity” to thousands of people across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. She is also the creator of a communication styles instrument that has been used for 20 years to help people assess their own communication styles and learn how to communicate effectively with people who have different styles.
Diane holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counselling, an MBA in Learning and Knowledge Management, and an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology (specializing in neurophysiological psychology). Her unique blend of education and experience, coupled with her natural warmth and empathy, ensure that she can provide a safe and non-judgemental therapy environment. Her lifelong passion for brain science permeates everything she does so that her clients can be assured that her work is based on scientifically sound principles and empirical research.
Diane has been married for 40 years to Andreas, and they have three grown children. Spending time with her grandchildren is her very favourite activity, although she is also a voracious reader who is known to sacrifice sleep when she simply cannot put a book down until she has completed it.
Vanessa Dinesen is the owner of Dinesen Financial, which provides day-to-day bookkeeping, payroll, financial reporting, budgeting, administration, and consulting to businesses locally and virtually since 2009.
Her previous roles have included Business Management, Accounting and Payroll instructor at Trillium College and previous owner of Peterborough Mompreneurs. Vanessa holds a Business Administration – Accounting diploma from Sir Sandford Fleming College and a BBA Honours Degree from Trent University.
Vanessa’s passion is to inspire new business owners to create and build their dreams. She was born, raised and still resides in East City of Peterborough with her husband and six children. Work-life balance is a priority for Vanessa; when she’s not working, she enjoys family time, reading, walking, and local live sports, such as hockey, lacrosse, and race cars.
Grace Reynolds, 2019-20 President of the Women's Business Network of Peterborough. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
Welcome to another season of the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN). I’m honoured and excited about the opportunity to serve as president for 2019-20, and look forward to enjoying this year with you.
It’s my great pleasure to work with the exceptional women on the board of directors. They’ve been working hard to bring you a line-up of inspirational speakers and events to promote women in a positive way, and to keep us motivated and involved throughout the season.
We have a membership of 176 supportive, intelligent, and diverse group of women from all professional backgrounds. They never cease to amaze me with how much they are willing to do to lend a helping hand to their peers, to serve on a committee, and even volunteering their time as mentors to other members.
Feedback from the membership says members are eager for more opportunities to develop, learn, and navigate their next career moves, or simply to further develop their talents and skill sets. I believe the WBN can continue to deliver those opportunities with this year’s program.
Grace Reynolds is a licenced mortgage broker with Toronto-based Northwood Mortgage Ltd. She was recently selected for a “4-Under-40 Profile” by the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce for its 2019 Business Excellence Awards. (Supplied photo)
The 2019-20 WBN theme is “Be You”. I chose this theme because I believe that in all that we do, personally and professionally, we shouldn’t over-complicate ourselves.
Everything around us is complicated. The least complicated of all should be you!
Live true to your core beliefs and values. These will help you determine what’s right and wrong, and are key to making wise decisions in business.
Being successful is all about having the right mindset. You have to be committed to giving it your all, to having a great attitude, and a can-do spirit.
Even in times of uncertainty, being optimistic can pay off. It turns hard work into success which, in turn, makes you feel all the more confident in business — and in life!
If you are true to yourself, feel joy in what you do, and challenge yourself to keep up the good work, then your mindset will reflect on you. Plus, your family, friends, and colleagues will believe in you too.
WBN is a network that champions diversity and inclusion, with access to other perspectives. Members are safe to be who they are and to promote their business their way. To have an incredible community to support them is icing on the cake. We truly are better together and by embracing who you are, others will embrace you as well — and the rest will follow.
Invest as much time in building relationships with other members, strengthening your brand, and continuing to learn about tools and trends that will give your business or profession an edge. So be sure to benefit from our keynote speakers, trade shows, business spotlights, gala socials, mentorship program, and promotional opportunities — and above all, don’t forget to have fun!
If you’re new to WBN and feeling nervous about joining, let me tell you that I’ve been in your shoes. A few short years ago, I joined WBN after moving to Peterborough and I had absolutely no connections here.
I had to put myself out there and meet people — nothing to hide, nothing to fear — and the support was overwhelming. Being part of WBN boosted my confidence, gave me inspiration, support and advice. Importantly, it gave me vital business exposure.
Grace Reynolds at home with her Best Newcomer Agent award that she received from the Mortgage Awards of Excellence in May 2018. (Photo: Amy Bowen / kawarthaNOW.com)
I encourage you to get out there and get involved with WBN and the community. You never know what you’ll find, and what you get out of it may even surprise you.
It’s great to see returning members and I’m very eager to meet new our members. I look forward to seeing all of you at our upcoming meetings and getting to know each of you. I’m super stoked to crush it this year, together!
Please reach out to me anytime if you have any ideas or questions.
Youth activist Kehkashan Basu, pictured here at 16 years old receiving the 2016 International Children's Peace Prize from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus in The Hague, is one of the inspiring speakers on the 2019-20 program of the Women's Business Network of Peterborough. (Photo: Rick Nederstigt / ANP)
Once again for 2019-20, the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) is presenting an outstanding lineup of high-quality and inspiring speakers for the upcoming season, which runs from September to June.
The 2019-20 program launches in September with a keynote presentation that reinforces this year’s theme of “Be You”.
Complementing the speaker line-up are networking trade shows, development opportunities, the annual holiday gala and auction, and more.
Throughout the season, WBN member meetings will take place at Holiday Inn Waterfront and other venues in Peterborough, with networking at 5:30 p.m. dinner at 6:30 p.m., and the keynote speaker at 7:30 p.m.
The meetings are included as part of WBN membership, but anyone can register online and come as a guest (the cost is $50 for dinner and speaker) – but don’t wait, as spaces fill quickly!
Here’s WBN’s program for 2019-20 (we’ll update the program as it’s finalized):
September 4, 2019 – Season Kick-off – “Becoming Your Own Hero” with Parmida Barez
Location: Holiday Inn Waterfront (150 George Street, Peterborough)
Networking 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m., Speaker 7:30 p.m.
Parmida Barez. (Supplied photo)
Parmida Barez is an author, award-winning motivational speaker, educator, personal empowerment and public speaking coach, who has worked with numerous individuals, corporations and non-profit organizations in Canada and internationally.
Parmida uses life-changing tools, lessons, and perspectives learned from her own experience of overcoming anxiety disorder, depression, panic attacks, and agoraphobia to empower others to become the heroes of their own lives and set themselves up for real, sustainable success. Her unique delivery, creativity, and passion on stage captures individuals from all walks of life.
Parmida’s educational background is vast, ranging from degrees in political science, business, and education, as well as professional training in etiquette and hypnotherapy.
October 2, 2019 – “Mentorship: 5 Steps to Successful Relationships” with Trish Tonaj
Location: Personal Touch Banquet Hall (1135 Lansdowne Street West, Peterborough)
Networking 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m., Speaker 7:30 p.m.
Trish Tonaj. (Supplied photo)
Trish Tonaj is the founder of Phaze2Wellness. The author, health and wellness coach, and entrepreneurial mentor believes in mentorship and the power of storytelling.
With a passion for speaking, she shares stories that inspire great ideas with anecdotes on finding “The Mentor” who will help you create your own brand of magic.
Trish has written two books: Breaking Barriers and A Diary of Change: 12 Personal Tools. She also co-authored a complimentary magazine called W2 = Wealth and Wellbeing.
Celebrating over 25 years as an entrepreneur, Trish is a master coach practitioner, working with entrepreneurs and enterprise leaders who build a culture of success while mentoring their team.
She has a certificate from Harvard Law School Negotiation Institute in Mediation and Dispute Resolution, is a certified personal trainer, a yoga instructor, and a nutrition and wellness specialist.
She is a managing partner of an online education program called Mechanics of FLOW2, is a contributor to the Thrive Global Network and canfitpro magazine, and is the blog host for Share Your Story.
Love, laughter and adventure is Trish’s personal mantra and focus for achieving life’s balance between wealth and wellbeing.
November 6, 2019 – “Sustainable Development: Empowering Future Generations as Changemakers” with Kehkashan Basu
Location: Holiday Inn Waterfront (150 George Street, Peterborough)
Networking 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m., Speaker 7:30 p.m.
Kehkashan Basu. (Supplied photo)
Kehkashan Basu is an iconic youth leader, global influencer, environmentalist, champion of children’s rights, peace and sustainability campaigner, and passionate advocate of women’s rights.
Winner of the 2016 International Children’s Peace Prize from KidsRights Foundation, the United Arab Emirates native has been impacting the global fraternity with her work on children’s rights, promoting gender quality, mitigating climate change and social upliftment.
Spreading the message of peace, happiness and sustainability has been her passion since she was eight years old, and she has worked tirelessly to enlist the support of children and youth across geographical boundaries.
In 2013, at the age of 12, she was elected for a two-year term as United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Global Coordinator for Children & Youth and a member of its Major Groups Facilitating Committee. She is the youngest person and the first minor ever to be elected into this position in the history of UNEP. She is also a United Nations Human Rights Champion for her work on protecting children’s rights.
Her internationally acclaimed work on sustainability has resulted in her appointment as the Honorary Advisor for the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development – New York, a member of KidsRights Youngsters, Global Advisory Council member of Young Men 4 Gender Equality – USA, and a member of World Oceans Day Global Youth Advisory Council and EarthEcho International Youth Leadership Council. She is also the youngest member of Canada’s Women in Renewable Energy forum.
Kehkashan is the founder of a youth organization, Green Hope Foundation, which provides young people in 12 countries a networking platform to engage in the sustainable development process. In January 2018, she led a team of Green Hope members to Syrian refugee camps on the border of Lebanon and conducted environmental workshops for over 600 refugee children, turning into reality the UN mandate of “leave no one behind”.
In her role as the voice of children and youth, she has spoken at more than 75 United Nations and other international summits, travelling to over 20 countries, notable among them being the Y20 Youth Forum in Argentina and the 67th session of the DPI NGO forum at the United Nations.
For her environmental advocacy at a global level, Kehkashan has received multiple international awards. She was also named as one of Toronto’s most inspiring women changemakers.
December 4, 2019 – WBN Holiday Gala and Auction
Location: The Mount Community Centre (1545 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough)
6:30 p.m.
WBN members celebrating the holiday season during the annual WBN Holiday Gala and Auction. (Photo: WBN / Facebook)
“The Magic of The Holidays” gala features a selection of hot appetizers and spreads to delight your senses! Vegetarian and gluten free options available. Funds will be raised for YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.
January 8, 2020 – “Finding Your Community” with Abeer Al-Salihi
Location: Holiday Inn Waterfront (150 George Street, Peterborough)
Networking 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m., Speaker 7:30 p.m.
Abeer Al-Salihi. (Photo: Heather Doughty)
Originally from Syria, Abeer Al-Salihi moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with her husband in search of better employment and life opportunities.
Trained as an engineer in Syria, Abeer worked in the UAE as an engineering assistant after a few months struggling to find work. She taught herself English at home, eventually becoming a teacher and receiving her teaching license.
After the war broke out in Syria and she lost her family home, Abeer and her family travelled to Canada where they sought asylum.
Following three months in Toronto, they settled in Cobourg, building a new life for their family of four.
Abeer is motivated to help others find their community and says “Anytime or any moment I found an opportunity to help any newcomer, I would run and participate.”
In 2017, Abeer was one of 21 recipients of the Canada 150 Constituency Awards in Cobourg for her volunteer work in resettling Syrian refugees, and in 2018 was awarded the Excellence in Public Education Award by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation Union – District 14.
Abeer is currently working at the New Canadians Centre in Peterborough as a settlement worker in schools (youth worker).
February 5, 2020 – “Stand Up, Speak Out: Communicate Your Confidence & Magnify Your Presence” with Carol Schulte
Location: Holiday Inn Waterfront (150 George Street, Peterborough)
Networking 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m., Speaker 7:30 p.m.
Carol Schulte. (Supplied photo)
Carol Schulte is a professional speaker, trainer and certified coach who has been engaging and entertaining international audiences for almost a decade. She holds a BFA in Theatre Performance, an MA in Communication, and two postgraduate certificates in coaching and mentoring.
As the creator of ‘Women Living BIG’ and ‘Spark your G.E.N.I.U.S.’, she is committed to helping leaders step out of their comfort zones, initiate action and inspired change, and ultimately achieve what they never thought possible.
Carol can certainly walk her talk: she has lived in Ashrams in India to vans in New Zealand, volunteered in orphanages in Chiang Mai and Mother Teresa’s Missions in Calcutta, shaved her head for breast cancer, and bungee-jumped in her birthday suit.
Carol is a contributing author to three best-selling books, has been featured in numerous magazines and podcasts, and appears as a returning guest expert on Rogers TV. She has lived and worked in 16 countries, travelled through an additional 25, and brings her global expertise on people and empowerment to all she does.
When she’s not helping women learn to surf In South America or climb Kilimanjaro in Africa, you can find her volunteering as a bereavement facilitator, training for her next triathlon, or practising her serious carpool karaoke game.
March 4, 2020 – Annual Member Trade Show & Workshops
Location: Highland Park Reception Centre (2510 Bensfort Rd., Peterborough)
Networking 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m.
Habitat For Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region’s Women Build display at the 2019 WBN Annual Member Trade Show at Highland Park Reception Centre. (Photo: WBN / Facebook)
The WBN’s annual tradeshow provides three members with the opportunity to speak to the membership about their areas of expertise: Carrie Wakeford of Black Cap Design will teach you how to create a website that will appeal to both your human and robot visitors, Theresa Moloney will share the 10 healthy habits of highly successful people, and Janet McLeod will speak about “cause marketing”.
April 1, 2020 – “Innovation and Design Thinking” with Shelli Baltman
Location: Holiday Inn Waterfront (150 George Street, Peterborough)
Networking 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m., Speaker 7:30 p.m.
Shelli Baltman. (Supplied photo)
Shelli Baltman is the president and founding partner of The Idea Suite, a Toronto-based boutique innovation agency. She started her career as a management consultant with Mercer Management Consulting in Toronto and then joined McKinsey & Co. in London, UK, after completing her MBA at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.
In 2002, she joined ?What If!, the world’s largest independent innovation agency based in London, UK. She then started and built their customer experience innovation practice into a $4 million business before being promoted to managing director in 2007.
Moving home to Toronto in 2010, she founded and built the innovation division at market research agency Hotspex and also turned it into a multi-million-dollar business.
Since founding The Idea Suite with partner Fiona Stevenson, Shelli has worked building global brands and launching new products with clients including Starbucks, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Verizon, Mondelez and Hain Celestial. She’s a prolific speaker on the topics of insights and innovation, and you can frequently find her thought leadership alongside Fiona Stevenson in Strategy magazine.
Shelli is committed to supporting women in business and entrepreneurship through mentoring and speaking and training engagements. She is devoted to her family, including her three-year-old son and a Labradoodle named Doctor, and is also a passionate downhill skier.
May 6, 2020 – “True-To-You Leadership” with Kelly S. Thompson
Location: The StoneHouse Hall (2195 Lansdowne St, Peterborough)
Networking 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m., Speaker 7:30 p.m.
Kelly S. Thompson. (Supplied photo)
Kelly S. Thompson is a writer and retired captain in the Canadian Armed Forces, with a specialization in human resources.
While obtaining a degree in professional writing from York University, she joined the Forces at the age of 18 in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In 2011, she was medically released from the military due to an injury and returned to her passion for writing.
Kelly has a certificate in publishing from Ryerson University, a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of British Columbia, and is a PhD candidate in literary and critical studies at the University of Gloucestershire. She has taught creative writing at Trent University, Royal Roads University, and more.
Her writing has won several awards, and her “Battle Fatigue” article on military sexual harassment was runner-up for feature article of the year with the Professional Writers Association of Canada. Her essays have appeared in anthologies and literary magazines across Canada, and her articles have published in Chatelaine, Maclean’s, The Globe and Mail, and more. Recently, her memoir Girls Need Not Apply: Field Notes from the Forces, was an instant Globe and Mail bestseller and the paper named her memoir as one of the top 100 books of the year.
In her talk, Kelly will share what she learned when, at the age of 21, she was placed in charge of a platoon of soldiers while being a bubbly, feminine young woman. She will examine negative stereotypes towards female leaders, issues of harassment in the workplace, and how, after nearly a decade in the Forces, she learned to be the sort of leader who led with kindness, staying true to herself and her values.
June 3, 2020 – WBN End-of-Season Celebration
Location: Surprise location to be announced
WBN members enjoying the June 2019 end-of-season celebration at the Steele Centre at Fleming College. (Photo: WBN / Facebook)
Details will be available closer to the event date.
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