Young students at St. John Catholic Elementary School in Peterborough have started a project to help raise funds for Habitat for Humanity thr

Led by their teacher Kim Meekin, the Senior Kindergarten and Grade 1 students have been busy painting more than 150 rocks with bright, smiling sunshine images, after being inspired to perform a ‘random act of kindness’ as part of the religion class.

“After coming up with different random acts of kindness within our classroom, we were inspired to extend this to our community and beyond”, Mrs. Meekin explains. “Everyone in the class agreed that having a place to live was very important. This is why we chose to support Habitat for Humanity as the organization helps local families who are in need of decent and affordable housing.”

During March Break, students will be placing the rocks around the community at various locations, including churches, arenas, parks, and other public venues. Students hope to continue running the project until the end of the school year.

The purpose of the Spread the Sunshine project is to encourage people to donate to Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization that brings volunteers and community partners together to build affordable housing and promote home ownership as a way to break the cycle of poverty.

Small rocks will serve to create interest and stir curiosity, while larger rocks will include special instructions to go to the Spread the Sunshine Project website at spread-the-sunshine-project.weebly.com and make a donation to Habitat for Humanity.

The donor is then encouraged to pass the rock along to someone else to increase awareness and to inspire an act of kindness in someone new. The goal of Spread the Sunshine is to see how far the rocks and go and how much money can be raised for Habitat for Humanity.

Proceeds from Spread the Sunshine will go towards Habitat for Humanity’s 2017 build projects, including the construction of a single detached home in Peterborough this spring.

“The students are excited to see how far the rocks will travel and how much money we can raise,” Mrs. Meekin says.

To learn more about the Spread the Sunshine project, visit spread-the-sunshine-project.weebly.com, which includes a direct link to make a donation to Habitat for Humanity.

Donors can leave the message “spread the sunshine project” and include the location where the rock was found, which will help Mrs. Meekin’s students track the progress of the rocks.

All photos courtesy of Kim Meekin.

Candy Palmater has been called a squaw and a half breed; she’s been sidelined in the Roman Catholic church; and, she’s been told to give up: “people like you don’t do well at university,” she was told by a high school guidance counsellor.

She’s also fought the gender-equality battle — and won — in almost as many corners as she has years to her name.

On Wednesday morning (March 8), the 48-year-old comedian and inspirational speaker led 150 women through alternating tears and laughter to a realization that each was capable of overcoming great obstacles and of creating meaningful change.

And the prescription was as simple as it is complex: love yourself.

Develop a “love affair” with yourself, Palmater told the sold-out crowd at Peterborough’s inaugural International Women’s Day Conference.

“When you really develop that love for yourself — and it’s a hard road, you have to work at it — there’s this secret, and I wish women and girls would believe this: when you really love yourself, people can see what you feel.”

That form of self-confidence is exactly what the women gathered in the Ashburnham Reception Centre were eager to grow on International Women’s Day. Not because they want to advance their careers, or further their pay cheques, but because they want to feel independent, strong, equal, and solid. To them, that’s success.

Hosted by the Peterborough Women’s Business Network, the conference was geared to inspire, empower, and equip women to become just that.

As Palmater sat on a stool at the front of the room in a shiny royal blue dress, her presence was palpable, her humour edgy yet gentle and playful, and her message clear: if you don’t think of yourself as a miracle, a precious gift with something to offer, you should.

It is up to women of this generation, Palmater encouraged, to ensure there is no more servitude by women in the future, or in other parts of the world.

Palmater told her life story, beginning with her first five years as an adored child of a timid, loving white mother and a recovered alcoholic, mysoginistic aboriginal father. The impoverished family had retreated to a house in the woods where they sold Harley Davidsons.

Palmater’s first five years were idyllic, she says, but the fairy tale ended five years later, when she went to school.

“It was a constant struggle about fairness,” she said, from playing baseball (not softball) to serving mass with the altar boys. “To me, it was always about even-stevens, or fairsies. If I could play as well as most of the boys, why couldn’t I play?”

She won most of her battles, and eventually turned the heart of her dying father, who, in the end, was able to see how his daughter was helping the cause of all women, and how that was a good thing.

She entered law school, was valedictorian of her class, joined a corporate law firm, then abruptly left that job to become a comedian. And, she succeeded at that too. The Candy Show ran a successful five seasons on CBC Television.

“Look in the mirror, and look deep into your own eyes,” she told the women in the audience. “Only you know what your true passion is. Only you know that fire that burns inside and how hard you will work for it.

“I try every day of my life to move closer to be that person I was meant to be. I forgive myself when I make mistakes. The mistakes are meant to be.”

Palmater’s audience was captivated, some wiping tears amidst the smiles.

“I think I’m most struck by her passion for fairness,” said Peggy Pettifer-Jones, of Christian Horizons, who attended the conference with others from that organization. “And how we must stand up for fairness. That’s the important message.”

Barb Hinsberger-Fox of Agilec also attended with colleagues.

“I like the way she talked about fairsies and taking action,” she said. “Take action, don’t just complain and whine.”

After Palmater’s morning keynote, the International Women’s Day Conference continued for the remainder of the day, with three concurrent morning workshops, an afternoon keynote from career coach Sarah Vermunt, three more afternoon workshops, and a closing keynote from Peterborough performer Linda Kash.

Trent University in Peterborough is standing behind its Wildlife Forensic DNA Laboratory, following criticism from fast-food chain Subway and skepticism from some food scientists.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Marketplace news program contracted the lab to complete DNA analysis on chicken samples from various fast-food chains.

On chicken samples tested from Subway, the lab’s results showed significant amounts of soy DNA, in some cases more than 50 percent. Samples from other fast-food chains, including McDonald’s and Tim Hortons, did not show high levels of non-chicken DNA.

After the CBC February report went viral, with international headlines like “Subway sandwiches only contain 50% real chicken”, Subway’s president and CEO Suzanne Creco, issued a statement rejecting the findings.

“The stunningly flawed test by Marketplace is a tremendous disservice to our customers,” Greco said. “Our customers can have confidence in our food. The allegation that our chicken is only 50 per cent chicken is 100 per cent wrong.”

Subway has since released the results of two independent tests conducted at Maxxam Analytics in Ontario and Elisa Technologies, Inc. in Florida. The tests used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, a technique commonly used in the food industry to detect potential food allergens.

The Maxxam testing detected 5.3 parts per million of soy proteins in the chicken, under one percent, and the Elisa testing detected 3 parts per million of soy protein, also under one percent.

VIDEO: The chicken challenge: Testing your fast food – CBC Marketplace

Some food scientists have also expressed skepticism about the Marketplace results.

Ars Technica contacted Mary Ellen Camire, a professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Maine who is also the former president of the Institute of Food Technologists (a nonprofit scientific society of food scientists).

Camire questioned the CBC’s choice to use a DNA test from a lab not specializing in food science, saying that food scientists don’t typically use DNA analysis.

Ars Technica also contacted Joseph Marcy, the head of the food science and technology department at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Marcy told Ars Technica it is “ususual” to use DNA testing, adding “I just don’t have a lot of confidence in the way that the testing was done.”

In a news release issued today (March 7), Trent University defended the lab’s results, stating that the testing CBC contracted the lab to perform “is characteristic of many forensic DNA tests the laboratory is well-known for undertaking under contract for clients, law enforcement, courts and organizations internationally.”

“At Trent we are proud to champion independent research,” states Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor at Trent University. “Defending good science is one of the key roles of universities in society. We are proud of the work of our Wildlife Forensic DNA Laboratory, its faculty and staff. It is important to stand up for sound scientific findings, particularly when they are unpopular.”

“The Wildlife Forensic DNA Laboratory at Trent University has earned a prominent international reputation for its outstanding work in the field of DNA forensics,” adds Dr. Neil Emery, vice-president of Research and Innovation at Trent. “The University stands by the quality of the DNA Laboratory, its professors, scientists and technicians who do important work and contribute to the advancement of DNA testing techniques. This includes expertise in meat identification and involvement with over 750 forensic cases.”

According to Trent University, the DNA Lab — which is part of the Natural Resources DNA Profiling & Forensic Centre — has contributed to many well-known tests and cases, many of which have made media headlines.

Registration is now open for Peterborough’s 17th annual Dragon Boat Festival, a day of competitive dragon boat racing between community teams and breast cancer survivor teams, which takes place on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough.

Proceeds of the popular fundraising event will continue to support state-of-the-art breast cancer screening and diagnosis at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), including supporting the purchase of a new mammography machine at PRHC’s Breast Assessment Centre.

As at last year’s event, this year’s festival will again focus on “dragon bragging” rights — not only seeing who comes out on top when battling out on the water, but also who can raise the most for breast cancer care in our community.

According to Festival Co-Chair Michelle Thornton, the organizing committee is bringing back “The Dragon’s Lair” this year.

The Dragon’s Lair is a luxury tent where the top fundraising team is treated to a prime festival location, comfy furniture to relax on between races, catered breakfast and lunch, their own team masseuses, swag, and more.

Thornton says it was a huge success at last year’s festival, spurring competition in the week leading up to the fundraising deadline, and it’s going to be even better for 2017.

“We’re keeping the details a surprise, but here’s a hint: this year’s top fundraising team will even have their own dedicated butler!”

Thornton says this year’s festival will also increase engagement on its social media channels @ptbodragonboat on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter in the weeks leading up to the festival.

“By joining our private Facebook group, teams and participants will be able to take part in weekly challenges, get fitness and fundraising tips, access exclusive training and conditioning videos, and have a chance to win exclusive Dragon Boat prizes.”

Also returning for 2017 is the Junior Division, where participants between the ages of 14 and 18 can once again enter a team. Perfect for school, social, and athletic clubs, the Junior Division has a special registration rate of $500 per team.

Registration is now open at www.ptbodragonboat.ca. An early bird reduced registration rate is available until Tuesday, March 21st, with regular registration continuing until Sunday, May 7th.

As with last year’s festival, all proceeds from the 2017 festival will go to the PRHC Foundation to support the purchase of a new full-field digital mammography machine at PRHC, one of three that must be purchased over the next three years at a total investment of $1.9 million.

“Besides its ability to generate breast images of the highest possible quality, which in turn empowers PRHC’s radiologists to make the most precise observations, this investment is also going to allow the hospital to take advantage of the latest technological advances in mammography,” says Lesley Heighway, President and CEO of PRHC Foundation.

Kawartha Credit Union also returns in 2017 as the Festival’s top sponsor — their 16th year of doing so.

“Kawartha Credit Union’s Community Involvement Program actively supports initiatives that make a positive difference in the communities we serve,” says Rob Wellstood, CEO of Kawartha Credit Union. “The Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival is one such cause. For the 16th consecutive year we are proud to participate as the Platinum Sponsor in this exceptional event that unites our community in common purpose and spirit.”

Last year’s Dragon Boat Festival raised $196,468.50 for the PRHC Foundation, surpassing the previous year’s goal by 20 percent. In 16 years, the festival has raised almost $3 million for breast cancer screening and care in the community.

“Experts predict that one in nine Canadian women will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes and we know firsthand that early detection is critical,” says Leah Carroll, president of Survivors Abreast, the competitive Peterborough-based Dragon Boat team made up of breast cancer survivors that hosts the festival.

“As a community we cannot afford to let the standard of care that we’ve helped establish slip. That’s why we’re very proud to support our hospital as they continue to look for better, faster and more innovative ways to save lives by identifying this disease early on.