Peterborough Blogs
Media Spell Out First-Ever Victory Over Rotarians To Promote Rotary Club of Peterborough's Kids 11th Annual Spelling Bee On May 3
/To promote the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s 11th Annual Regional School Spelling Bee for grade-school children, the media got their first win over the Rotarians in a friendly competition at the McDonnel Street Community Centre on Monday afternoon.
Tiffany Arcari (right) effortlessly spells a word correctly to help Peterborough media defeat the Rotarians for the first time since it began in 2023. Photo by David Tuan bui.
Since 2023, media —including yours truly— has been pitted against Rotarians in a spelling bee competition, similar to what the kids will deal with.
Representing the local media were the Peterborough Examiner, The Tiffany Show/YourTV, KawarthaNow/Freq 90.5/Oldies 96.7, 100.5 Fresh Radio and PTBOCanada.
Tiffany Arcari of The Tiffany Show and Joelle Kovach of the Peterborough Examiner were the last two competitors standing to give the media their first-ever win against the Rotarians. The latter won in the head-to-head competition between the final contestants.
The kids event is divided into two groups. The Junior Division for Grades 4-6 runs at 9 a.m. and the Senior Division for Grades 7-8 starts at 1 p.m. at Fleming College on May 3.
Prizes for this year’s participants include week-long sessions at Camp Kawartha and Trent Excalibur Camp, Lazer Tag Parties at Zap Attack, gift cards for lessons at the Art School of Peterborough, Bikes and Art Supplies from Crayola.
The Rotary is asking any local schools in the region that want to participate or local businesses to sponsor the event to e-mail Spelling Bee Co-Chairs Mary-Anne Greco and Donna-Marie Fennel at spellingbee@peterboroughrotary.ca.
Editor’s note: I was eliminated in the fourth round last year with “legitimacy.” I was eliminated this year in the second round with “thoroughly.”
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Hometown PTBO: Renée Oake Carrying On Her Father's Legacy Through the Carl Oake Rotary Swim
/This week on Hometown PTBO, David Tuan Bui talks with Renée Oake, about her father's recent passing, carrying his legacy through the Carl Oake Rotary Swim and how the fundraiser has impacted the community.
Anyone can donate at any time online at the Rotary’s website.
Rotary Swimathon Founder Carl Oake Passes Away Ahead of 39th Annual Fundraiser Launch
/Ahead of the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s 39th Rotary Swimathon launch scheduled for Feb. 28 at the YMCA of Central East Ontario, founder Carl Oake has passed away at 79 years old on Thursday, announced at the Baker Tilly KDN on Monday morning.
(From Left to Right) Renee Oake, Tana Oake, Vanessa Oake Hogan and Lesley Oake share a moment of love as their father and/or husband, Carl Oake, had passed away last week at 79 years.. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Also known as the Carl Oake Rotary Swim, the fundraising event supports Easter Seals and Rotary projects, raising over $1.4 million since its inception. A goal of $50,000 has been set for fundraising efforts towards Rotary projects which is being collected until March 28.
The event encourages groups, organizations and individuals to swim at the lanes at the YMCA to raise funds. Introduced last year are the ‘Cannonball’ and ‘Floating Catwalk’ Challenge. They were added to allow those who cannot swim or provide an alternate activity to raise money for teams or individuals.
His daughter and event organizer, Vanessa Oake Hogan says that this event will always continue the legacy left by her father.
“We never had any intention of stopping and especially now, we always knew it was important to the community,” she explained.
Over the weekend, several notable Peterborough figures, organizations and friends and family of the Oakes expressed their condolences of Carl’s passing on social media. The outreach was reassuring for the Oake family knowing Carl’s impact on the community.
“But the last couple of days, the outreach has been incredible and I know that's what people know him for primarily,” said Vanessa. “It really helps in dealing with this loss to know that he touched so many lives and was recognized and appreciated for that. It helps us cope with this difficult loss.”
Carl Oake and his daughter Renee after the latter finishes up swimming her lanes in 2022. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Despite Carl’s passing, it will not deter from the event in late February if at all creates an opposite effect, says Vanessa.
“I just think we have a huge boost of energy behind the event this year and renewed sense of importance,” she explained. “Hopefully the community rallies and joins us to honour dad with the end goal of helping the community.”
The public is encouraged to participate in the events as an individual or a team and can register online. Those registered will be assigned a fundraising page. The public can also donate directly via the website and receive an instant tax receipt.
Anyone can donate at any time online at the Rotary’s website.
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Rotary Club of Peterborough Rename 'Breakfast Cup' To Honour Dedicated Program Volunteer; $6,000 Donation to Five Counties From Golf Fundraiser
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough has renamed its friendly competition of its morning meal program the ‘Breakfast Cup’ to the ’Koeslag Cup’ to honour one of its late dedicated volunteers, Peter Koeslag, announced on Monday morning.
The Koeslag family as part of the newly named ‘Koeslag Cup’ with this year’s winner. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The announcement was made at the Northminster United Church during a club’s meeting, including a $9,000 donation to Five Counties Children’s Centre. The proceeds were raised from the Club’s ‘Fore For Kids’ golf tournament held on Sept. 26 at Bellmere Winds Golf Resort in Keene.
The Koeslag Cup was a Prince of Wales school breakfast program that started in 1994 with Rotarians Isadore Black and Dr. Garry Humphries. Rotarians and local volunteers would be in teams to prepare delicious and nutritious meals daily for Prince of Wales Students.
Koeslag has been known to make a challenge among the volunteers to see which group could create the most exciting breakfast menus for kids during the last weeks of school before the Christmas holidays and summer break.
“He enjoyed seeing the smile on people's faces, he didn't do it for money, he just did it because he loved doing that,” said Paul Koeslag, Peter’s son. “Part of it was because when he was younger, he didn't have those opportunities. Dad just loved helping people.”
The Rotary Club of Peterborough, which meets at noon two Mondays per month, is one of four clubs in the area and one of over 46,000 clubs, with 1.4 million members around the world. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
He created a special trophy that would be awarded twice yearly to the winning team, as judged by students and school staff.
“Peter was very active in the school program,” explained Kein Seim, Rotary president. “Between him and a couple other ones that have been it for 30 years, they've been instrumental in bringing it along. From pretty meagre beginnings to a full kitchen and full breakfasts, Peter himself is very handy. If we needed something, he would make it.”
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Rotary Club of Peterborough Seeking Nominations For Paul Harris Fellowship
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough is seeking nominations for its prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Recognition in honour of the founder of Rotary International in 1905.
Tom Jenkins (third from left) was a recipient last year for his work with Peterborough Bigs for over 20 years. Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.
According to Rotary, the Fellowship recognizes local individuals for their leadership and service contributions within our community, the surrounding area and the world at large. It is considered the highest honour Rotarians can give.
Nominations in the following categories can be completed online with the deadline on Friday.
Categories include:
Community Service: To recognize an individual who makes a significant leadership contribution to the advancement and betterment of the Peterborough Community.
International Service: To recognize an individual who makes a significant contribution toward to betterment of the communities in other parts of the world, and/or leadership toward work peace and understanding.
Vocational Service: To recognize an individual who uses their vocational skills consistent wit Rotary ideals toward community and/or international matters.
Youth Services: To recognize an individual who makes significant contributions toward to youth (programs, services and/or related matters).
Environmental Service: To recognize an individual who supports activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of our environment.
Club Service: To recognize a Peterborough Rotary Club member for their outstanding service and dedication.
The recipients will be celebrated at the Club’s Paul Harris Fellow Recognition Dinner on Nov.18, the location of which will be determined.
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Elementary School's Breakfast Club Gets Cooking After Donation of Two Ovens From Rotary Club of Peterborough
/Prince of Wales’s Breakfast Club kicked off the school year on the right foot as they received two new ovens donated from the Rotary Club of Peterborough and unveiled on Tuesday morning.
Thea Chaput, Grade 6 (left); Camryn Chaput, Grade 5 (middle) and Sophie Bradley, Grade 7 (middle right) getting '“apple-loutely’ excited over the new overs with Colin Mackenzie, Rotary volunteer (Middle left) and Tommy Reburn of Leon’s Peterborough (right). Volunteers and Rotary Club members have been providing breakfast to the Prince of Wales students for nearly 30 years. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorated the ovens and the Rotary’s work during breakfast hours at the school.
The program feeds roughly over 500 children according to Brad Conlin, Prince of Wales principal.
“The School Nutrition Program has a major impact on the safety, well-being and belongingness of our students,” he said. “Many students use the breakfast program not only as a place to fill their tummies for the start of their day, but it is a place that students can use as a soft-start transition from home to school.”
At the end of the last school year, the ovens began to malfunction, making it difficult to prepare meals promptly and efficiently.
“Faces of trusted adults and the impact of our volunteers goes beyond the needs of just the healthy breakfasts and lunches that are provided,” said Conlin. “The staff and volunteers always have a lens of inclusivity which fosters an environment of food for some, food for all.”
Peterborough Rotarian of the Year and volunteer Catherine Hanrahan contacted her fellow Realtor colleague at Century 21 United, Tom Reburn, who also owns Leon’s. His company supplied, delivered, and installed them free of charge during the last week of August.
“Leon’s is well known as a great community supporter so I didn’t hesitate to reach out to my friend Tom to see if he could hook us up two new stoves and a microwave.” says Hanrahan.
One Prince of Wales student highlighted the club's importance and how having breakfast can positively impact a child’s learning experience.
“This year, as soon as I saw the first person go in the Breakfast Club doors, I went in as well. I was hungry and I didn’t have a chance to eat breakfast. At my old school we had plain oatmeal everyday. At POW we have a variety of foods. A couple of days ago we had eggs, hash browns, and cereal. If we have eggs three days in a row, they are always cooked differently. The program is really important to me because in the morning sometimes I can make myself a hot chocolate but most of the days I don’t have time. After I eat breakfast, it helps me to focus better at school. There are a lot of community volunteers and they are always treating us nicely and coming to our tables to ask us if we want more. I would love to volunteer because I love to cook. Today I helped a little girl make her yogurt more tasty by squeezing an orange into her yogurt like the adult volunteer showed us how to do. Another day I helped that girl’s little sister when she spilled her drink all over herself and the floor. Children from every grade can eat breakfast together, whether they can’t afford it, or they didn’t have time that day. That is why Breakfast Club is important to me and the rest of the school.”
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'Fore the Kids' Golf Tournament Returns For Rotary Club of Peterborough On Sept. 26
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough has brought back the ‘Fore the Kids Golf Tournament’ at Bellmere Winds Golf Course for Sept. 26 to support local children.
Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.
One example of a child being supported is Jude, who is three years old and has a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy and a Global Development Delay. He has been accessing Five Counties programs like physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy since he was four months old.
“Thank you to everyone who supports this event. It shows the families at Five Counties that they have an entire community behind them, cheering them on.” said Julie, Jude’s mother.
The shotgun start begins at 1 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for individuals and businesses.
Golfers of all skill levels are invited to register for the event at a fee of $150 per person for $600 for a foursome. The price includes a round of golf, a cart for convenience, lunch and the chance to win prizes.
A one-year lease of a Honda from Trent Valley Honda for a hole-in-one is up for grabs.
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Hometown PTBO: Ken Seim As the New Rotary Club of Peterborough President and Family's History With the Organization
/This week on Hometown PTBO, David Tuan Bui talks with Ken Seim about becoming the new president of the Rotary Club of Peterborough, his family's history with the organization and the club's future with him at the helm.
Rotary Club of Peterborough Introduces New President; Organization Donates Final $25,000 of $100,000 to Camp Kawartha Centennial Health Centre
/The Rotary Club of Peterborough has announced Ken Seim as its new president, taking over the role from Betty Halman-Plumley at the organization’s meeting at the McDonnel Street Community Centre on Monday afternoon.
All ‘Breakfast Cup’ groups volunteer groups that special breakfast for the young Breakfast Club Patrons. The ‘Thursday Club’ were declared the winners. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Halman-Plumley had her last meeting with the club as president before passing the torch to Seim. She was the fifth woman to become Rotary president in the organization’s history since its founding in 1921.
“It was an honour but it felt to be a big responsibility too,” said Halman-Plumley. “I wanted to be a great role model for other women, paving the way for them hopefully to be presidents and leaders of this club for years to come.”
“Filling Betty's shoes is not going to be an easy task,” explained Seim. “She's accomplished a lot in this year.”
The club is in the middle of a three-year plan on year two initially set up by Halman-Plumley. Seim says he wants to carry on the plan to aid the community.
“Part of is the growth of our club but we are to embark on a process to what's the next legacy project of what the Rotary Club is going to do for the community.,” he explained. “We've got the Rotary Greenway Trail, Rotary at the Five Counties Children's Centre so we're just looking for what our next big project is going to be.”
