GoFundMe Created For Local Teacher That Suffered Fatal Injuries From Single-Vehicle Accident

A GoFundMe has been set up to honour the memory of grade 5/6 teacher Lucia Colacci who passed away in a single-vehicle accident on Pigeon Lake Road on Monday.

Facebook photo.

The 51-year-old St. John Paul II Catholic Elementary School teacher was married to her husband Jeff Kitney and had three children, Mateo, Marco and Natalia.  

The money raised will ease the financial burdens following Colacci’s death.

On Monday, Kawartha Lakes OPP responded to the scene of a single-vehicle rollover on Pigeon Lake Road around 8:30 a.m. near Downeyville.

Colacci was transported to the hospital from the scene where she later passed away. 

Kindergarten teacher Patricia Campbell says she worked together with Colacci for years, calling her both a friend and a colleague.

“If you knew Lucia, you knew that her presence was undeniable. When she walked into a room, she oozed confidence, enthusiasm, and self-assurance,” said Campbell. “She had a big smile, a big voice, and an even bigger personality but her students never felt intimidated by her. That was because in addition to being a great speaker, Lucia was also a great listener and an even better observer.”

Campbell and Colacci worked together at St. John Paul II and previously at St. Dominic CES.

“Lucia was the kind of educator that all educators aspire to be. Over the course of her teaching career she motivated and inspired hundreds of young people and she undoubtedly left a lasting impression on each and every one of them. Lucia had a way of breaking down walls and reaching even the most reluctant of learners. In her classroom, everyone was seen. Nobody was forgotten or ignored. Lucia made each of her students feel valued, respected, and cared for,” continued Campbell. “Her absence will be felt deeply. In our community, in our school, in our hearts. But even in her absence, Lucia will continue to teach all of us; about generosity, kindness, empathy, patience and faith, along with a multitude of other things. We were all blessed beyond measure to know her.”

Additional social workers were assigned to the school on Tuesday and are available for any students who require additional support.

Mental health support is offered through the Kids Helpline 24/7. Text CONNECT to 686868, or call toll-free at 1-800-668-6868.

The school’s flag was lowered at half-mast to honour Colacci’s memory.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

The Porch Pirates For Good Campaign is Back on Nov. 12

Kawartha Food Share’s (KFS) Porch Pirates For Good food drive is back, collecting non perishable donations from house porches in the community for Nov. 12.

Photo courtesy of Kawartha Food Share.

Leave a donation bag on your porch by 9 a.m. on Nov. 12 and the pirates will come by and collect it.

As flyers will not be distributed prior this year, KFS reminds you to mark your bag so it’s indentifiable to the porch pirates.

Any and all non perishable food items are appreciated, especially:

• Tuna

• Pasta sauce

• Mac and cheese

• Peanut butter

• Pasta noodles

• Individually packaged children’s school snacks (i.e. apple sauce, fruit cups, Chewy granola bars)

Donations can be made to Kawartha Food Share year round by dropping them off at the warehouse at 665 Neal Drive, Unit 1.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Kawartha Downs Donates $25,000 Towards Construction Completion of Peterborough Animal Care Centre

Caring about more than just horses, Kawartha Downs Raceway has donated $25,000 towards the Peterborough Humane Society (PHS) to help complete construction of the Peterborough Animal Care Centre (PACC) announced on Wednesday.

The Peterborough Animal Care Centre will be over 24,000 square feet and include a state-of-the art Animal Adoption & Education Centre, Publicly Accessible & High-Volume Spay/Neuter Clinic and a Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Humane Society.

In recognition of the donation, a dog adoption suite will be named in honour of Kawartha Downs and will also be recognized on the Donor Wall located in the lobby of the new PACC.

“Kawartha Downs provides entertainment for families and supports the community. We are also all animal lovers her,” shared Summer Nickerson-Hagen of Kawartha Downs. “Kawartha Downs would like to recognize the hard work and dedication of the Peterborough Animal Care Centre in caring for our community’s most vulnerable pets.”

“Support from local businesses like Kawartha Downs is extremely important to the success of this project,” said Shawn Morey, PHS executive director. “This new Centre will set a new standard in animal wellness and care, Peterborough will be part of a Canadian-first, which will support our local businesses and community.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Peterborough Women Takes Home New Car in PTBO Crime Stoppers Annual Car Raffle Fundraiser

Barb Erskine of Peterborough drove away in a brand new Nissan Maxima on Thursday, which she had won in this year's Crime Stoppers car raffle fundraiser.

Barb Erskine takes the wheel for the first time of her 2022 Nissan Maxima Platinum Edition. Photo by Luke Best

The 2022 Nissan Maxima Platinum Edition purchased at Trans Canada Nissan was donated to Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers by Steve Daynes, the general manager of The Staffing Connection and Level A Professional Group. 

"I think it's important because I live in Peterborough and I want to support my community and make sure that it's safe,” said Daynes in a previous interview with PTBOCanada. “We have locations throughout the area of Peterborough and in Cobourg as a business and I want to make sure we give back to the communities that we serve."

Steve Daynes (Left) shakes hands with Erskine. Photo by Luke Best

With a value of roughly $50,000, Erskine never expected to win the car and saw the ticket purchase as more of a donation.

"Honestly, I was doing it for the cause. I'm very, very supportive of Crimestoppers. I really am," says Erskine.

Erskine was ticket #1347 of the 3110 sold. Because of Daynes' generous donation, Crime Stoppers raised just over $48,000 to fund their program.

Coming from driving a Toyota Corolla previously, Erskine was feeling a little nervous about the 300 horsepower.

Crime Stoppers is a not-for-profit organization that relies on donations and fundraising efforts to keep the program running.

(L-R) Daynes, Detective Constable Keith Calderwood and Provincial Constable Greg Stokes congratulate Erskine on her win. Photo by Luke Best

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Cabinetree Donates $50,000 To Habitat For Humanity After Completion Of Leahy's Lane Condo's

Cabinetree, a local manufacturer of cabinets and commercial components, donated $50,000 to Habitat For Humanity Peterborough & The Kawartha’s to help them continue to provide affordable housing in the area.

Michael Whitfield, Beverly Wellington, Laurel Angel, Jenn MacDonald. Photo by Luke Best.

Habitat for Humanity completed their Leahy’s Lane Condo project earlier this year and has the capacity to house 41 families.

Cabinetree provided cabinet units for the condo’s at this unit.

After completion, Cabinetree provided Habitat for Humanity with a $50,000 donation, in hopes to allow them to continue to provide affordable housing options in the Peterborough area.

“This is an investment in our community and it’s an investment in local families and we are so grateful for it,” said Jenn MacDonald, Habitat for Humanity.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Birkhof Family Receives $1450 Donation From 8U Peterborough Tigers

The 8U Peterborough Tigers Baseball team hosted an online raffle to raise money in support of the Birkhof family, after the passing of their son Steve Stapley in August.

565 raffle tickets were sold and names were entered into an online random name generator on Sept. 3.

‘Y Drive’ was the name randomly chosen as winner.

This donation will go to the Birkhof family, to help ease the finacial costs that came with Stapley’s untimely passing.

Stapley’s nephew is a member of the 8U Peterborough Tigers.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Kawartha Land Trust Receives 61-acre Woodlot From Two Anonymous Donors

A 61-acre woodlot featuring deep forest habitat was recently donated to Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) by two donors who wish to remain anonymous.

This mature woodlot, which is situated on limestone bedrock, is part of a connected, extensive forested area in Peterborough County.

Because of the donors’ long-time interest in land stewardship and sustainable forestry, the property contains a wide diversity of flora and fauna. It is also home to several species at risk, including the Butternut tree, Eastern Wood-Pewee and Wood Thrush.

“It's been a pleasure learning about the donor's intimate knowledge of the property and their inspiration to protect it forever,” said Thom Unrau, Director of Community Conservation. “Development pressures and high-grade logging are fragmenting woodlots like this one and I'm grateful to know that under KLT’s care this land will forever be managed to ensure its long-term health.”

The donors gifted the property, which they purchased several decades ago, to Kawartha Land Trust to ensure the forest and abundant wildlife would not be disturbed by future development.

“We’re extremely grateful to the donors of Pipers’ Woods for their generosity and commitment to protecting land in the Kawarthas,” said John Kintare, Executive Director. “This mature forest will continue to be home to species like the Barred Owl that prefer older forests that cannot be quickly or easily re-established once gone.”

The dedication of Kawartha Land Trust’s donors, volunteers, and supporters has resulted in the acquisition of 11 new properties in the past two years, which has expanded KLT’s protected lands to almost 5,000 acres, providing additional safe havens for wildlife in the Kawarthas and securing important ecological landscapes help combat climate change.

At the request of the donors, Pipers’ Woods will not be open to public access and its location will not be disclosed in order to ensure the preservation of its sensitive habitats.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Herod Financial Services Donates $20,000 To CMHA HKPR To Support Journeying Together Program

Herod Financial Services has donated $20,000 to the Journeying Together program at Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR), announced on Tuesday.

Photo by Luke Best.

CMHA HKPR’s Journeying Together program provides education and support to caregivers and family members of individuals with a mental health concern. The program supports approximately 250 individuals per year, helping them learn how to better support their loved ones and themselves.

The Journeying Together program is available to caregivers in Peterborough and County, Northumberland, Haliburton, and Kawartha Lakes.

“The Herods are leaders in supporting caregiver mental health in our community and they have championed our Journeying Together program since 2014. The Herod’s support has been instrumental in the success of the program,” said Jack Veitch, Manager of Community Engagement and Education at CMHAHKPR.

The Family Education Support Worker facilitates a 9 session educational group to assist family, friends and caregivers in the development of capacity and skills related to living with a loved one who has mental health concerns. Topics are based on common needs of caregivers.

Topics that family members and caregivers may learn about include:

• Understanding Mental Illness and Stigma

• Navigating the Mental Health System

• Communication

• Boundaries, Limits and Expectations

• Addressing Emotions

• Stress and Self-care

• Crisis and Relapse Planning

“It is so important for individuals suffering a mental health concern to have a strong support system. Journeying Together helps sustain the people who love and support their family member or friend who is having challenges. We are so blessed to be able to help the CMHA deliver this important service,” said Kevan Herod, CEO of Herod Financial Services.

“We know that the pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health in our community and we recognize the toll that this has taken on caregivers of loved ones with a mental health concern. Programs, like our Journeying Together program, are needed now more then ever,” says Veitch.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Lindsay Woman Donates $50,000 To Fund Fleming College Bursary To Honour Her Late Husband

A new bursary will help Fleming College students for years to come thanks to a $50,000 donation from Lindsay resident Shirley O’Neill.   

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

The Paul and Shirley O’Neill Student Bursary is open to financially eligible students enrolled in the Practical Nursing, Personal Support Worker, Heavy Equipment Techniques and Resources Drilling Technician programs. 

Shirley wanted to make the significant donation to honour her late husband, Paul. Shirley also wanted to make a contribution that would ensure the great work of future nursing and PSW graduates at Fleming College continues.  

Paul and Shirley O’Neill, both born in Lindsay, met as teenagers at a local dance hall. They married in 1962.   

The couple spent most of their working years in Oshawa, devoting much of their 30-year careers to Oshawa Hydro and General Motors. They returned to the Lindsay area after retirement.  

Paul passed away in 2013.   

At 88 years old, Shirley is an avid sports fan and counts both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Blue Jays among her favourite teams.   

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Peterborough Humane Society Receives Over $30,000 In Donations Unexpectedly From Various Residents

As the Peterborough Humane Society (PHS) works toward completion of the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre, the organization has seen a welcomed influx of impromptu community support.

According to PHS, Bob and Betty Burgess or Peterborough came into the shelter one day to donate blankets and towels. Later, staff discovered the Burgess’ had also silently included an envelope with a cheque for $10,000. Betty’s love for animals prompted them to donate after downsizing and selling their home.

“We thought the extra money we got from the sale of our house could help more animals” said Bob. The couple have 2 rescue cats of their own and were known for caring for many other cats in their community.

Gary and Ferne Earle contributed for a similar reason.

“Our love for animals is what motivated us to give. When we saw the 'Our Pet Project' ads on television we saw an opportunity to celebrate the work that the Humane Society does for animals.” said Ferne, “Companion animals have brought a lot of love into our home, many times they gave us peace and serenity. The Humane Society does great work and we were fortunate enough to be able to give. We hope more people donate to help out these animals in need.”

The couple who have been married for over 57 years phoned the Shelter and donated $20,000.

Amanda Ferguson, a Registered Veterinary Technician is also passionate about animal welfare, and knowing that the Peterborough Humane Society is growing, thought it was a great time to help and donated $1,000 online.

“My donation was made in memory of our late dogs, Coco and Jagger. I currently work as Practice Manager at Rice Lake Animal Hospital, where the entire team is dedicated to the health and wellbeing of animals big and small, and look forward to seeing the great work that PHS does continue to grow when in their new home.” said Ferguson.

“The spontaneity of community giving has been noticed and is extremely appreciated. The impact these gifts have no matter the size, supports the tireless work our dedicated team provides to care for animals in our community and beyond, and will also help immensely with building our new home where we can assist more animals, and provide game changing opportunities for animals and their humans. We need more community support like this to help us reach our goal and start the next chapter in animal wellness at our new Centre,” said Shawn Morey, Executive Director of the Peterborough Humane Society “Giving can be as easy as going online, calling or walking in. We encourage everyone to stand up, come together for animal welfare, and make this their pet project.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.