Peterborough Petes Make History With First Woman Zamboni Driver

Evelyn Johns becomes the first woman in history to drive a Zamboni during a Peterborough Petes game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) last Monday.

Evelyn Johns has driven Zambonis at several Peterborough ice rinks such as the Healthy Planet Arena, Kinsmen Arena and the now-demolished Northcrest Arena. Photo courtesy of Ken Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

Johns drove the Zamboni during the Family Day game last Monday where the Petes defeated the visiting Barrie Colts 3-2.

“I was nervous, super nervous,” said Johns. “I’ve done lots of games at the Healthy Planet Arena but it’s a lot different at the Memorial Centre. My heart started pounding with all those people watching me.”

The Petes would like to welcome Evelyn Johns to the mighty maroon and white! Evelyn joins the @PtboMemCentre building operations crew, becoming the first woman to drive a zamboni for a Petes game!#GoPetesGo pic.twitter.com/z1L3HGpP3J

— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) February 21, 2022

Johns got the gig when there was an opening through Public Works. She had been working there for the past six years when a colleague recommended that she take the job.

She was familiar with being on the ice since she played ringette for many years and intermural hockey in college but being on the PMC’s Zamboni was a different feeling for her.

“It was cool. The lights were off and I could see all the cameras flashing,” said Johns. “I told my mom and dad and they were proud of me.”

She will continue to be part of a rotation of Zamboni drivers for the duration of the season.

Johns moved to Peterborough 11 years ago as a student in biotechnology and forensics at Fleming College.

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Over $200,000 in Funding Goes to YWCA Peterborough-Haliburton and Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton and the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre will receive a combined total of over $200,000 in funding from the Ontario Government announced on Thursday.

Kim Dolan (pictured) YWCA Peterborough Haliburton executive director has held her position since Feb. 2020, one month before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Screenshot.

Tee YWCA is receiving $142,949 to support the Haliburton Emergency SafeSpace (HERS) program along with an additional $8,272 for training initiatives.

The Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre will be given $55,088 to deliver crucial services and supports to survivors of human trafficking and women who experienced violence.

“The YWCA Peterborough Haliburton and Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre provide services to the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. “This funding will help ensure they can continue to deliver supports and operate local shelters during the pandemic, especially for those who are in rural and remote areas and face transportation barriers.”

The additional investment will provide agencies with more resources, strengthen culturally responsive supports for Indigenous women and reduce geographic and transportation barriers which will significantly improve access to quality care and services to victims in rural and remote communities.

Kim Dolan, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton executive director believes the pandemic has played a huge role in the growing need for women’s services in the past few years.

“I think that the uncertainty that people have been living with, are they going to be able to keep their jobs, it’s exacerbating in rural and geographical services and connecting with the community is minimized,” she said. “So all of the factors have magnified the reality of gender-based violence.”

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Peterborough Petes Become First OHL Team To Host Pro Women's Hockey Game

The Peterborough Petes will be the first OHL team to host a Professional Women’s Hockey Player’s Association (PWHPA) game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) announced Tuesday.

Kassidy Sauvé (left), Team Sonnet goaltender of PWHPA (left) and Molly Farace (right) of the PGHA U15 AA Ice Kats were the two active women’s hockey representatives at the Petes press conference on Tuesday morning. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Team Sonnet, PWHPA’s Toronto hub and Team Harvey’s, PWHPA’s Montreal hub, will compete against each other on Feb 19. The game will occur only days after the 2022 Olympic Women's Hockey Gold Medal Game in Beijing. 

“It’s an absolute honour to host these elite athletes at the PMC in the new year,” said Shelbi Kilcollins, Petes’ director of marketing and growth. “The opportunity to collaborate alongside the PWHPA is a long-time dream for the Peterborough Petes.”

“This is equivalent to an NHL game with the ladies. These are the best women hockey players in the world that are going to be here at the Memorial Centre,” said Dave Pogue, Petes president. “It's going to be a treat for certainly the young girl hockey players that are going to be able to get their teams in here to watch the game but really anybody that hasn't seen an event like this has to come down.”

Jayna Hefford, Hockey Hall of Inductee, Olympic gold medalist and PWHPA Chairperson virtually appeared at the conference. Attendees included David Branch, OHL Commissioner; Michael Oke, Petes general manager; Dave Pogue, Petes president; Diane Therrien, Peterborough Mayor; Kassidy Sauvé, Team Sonnet goaltender and Molly Farace, U15 AA Peterborough Ice Kats forward.

"The fact that the Petes have partnered with the PWHPA says a lot about their organization,” said Sauvé. “The fact that they are committed to not only growing the game on the men's side but also the women's side.”

“It's part of our mandate to grow the future of hockey and not just boys hockey but girls hockey and it's a tremendous honour to have it here in Peterborough,” said Pogue.

Pre-sale tickets are available on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. through the Grant Thornton Box Office.

Kilcollins is an assistant coach for Farace and the U15 AA Ice Kats. The team won its third tournament of the season at the Brampton Two Nations Cup on Dec. 5. Farace tallied the championship assist in a 1-0 victory over the North York Storm.

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YWCA Raising the Flag to End Gender-Based Violence Across Ontario

UPDATE (2:40 p.m., Nov. 19, 2021): The flag-raising event has been changed from 1:00 p.m. to noon.

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton is going to new heights for Women Abuse Prevention Month in a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall announced on Thursday.

Photo Courtesy of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.

The ceremony will occur at City Hall on Thursday at noon The event is meant to help raise awareness and to end gender-based violence according to the YWCA.

“International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women” and the first day of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a Wrapped in Courage” flag will be raised in our community at Peterborough City Hall and a Proclamation will be declared by Mayor Diane Therrien as stated in the press release.

This Proclamation and flag-raising signal a commitment to ending gender-based violence in our community and to ensuring survivors know they are not alone. 

For the ninth year, the “Wrapped in Courage” campaign is mobilizing Violence Against Women (VAW) shelters across Ontario since violence continues to be the greatest gender inequality rights issue for women and girls according to the press release.

The YWCA is requesting that purple scarves be worn to show support for gender-based violence survivors who suffered from their homes, communities and workplaces. The purple scarf is a symbol of the courage it takes to seek support and safety from violence.

Suggested ways to address gender-based violence in a meaningful way by the YWCA:

• Talking with those close to you about how shelters in your communities play an essential role for survivor safety through their programs and services and continue to have services available throughout the pandemic.

• Contact your municipal, provincial and federal politicians to let them know you want them to take action to end gender-based violence through commitments and planning at all levels of government. 

• Visiting ywcapeterborough.org or calling 705-743-3526 to learn more about how you can support local services for women experiencing gender-based violence and their children.

• Posting and sharing photos and videos of Wrapped in Courage flags across Ontario.

• Wearing or displaying a Purple Scarf in Support of Survivors of Gender-Based Violence and post with the hashtag #WrappedinCourage to your social media accounts.

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Local Women's Organization Continues 75th Anniversary Celebration By Donating 75 Care Bags

Soroptimist International Peterborough (SIP) kept its 75th anniversary rolling by donating 75 care bags to One Roof Community Centre (ORCC) on Monday.

One Roof staff member (left) and Marnie Horton (right) unload the care bags at ORCC. SIP has roughly 40 members to empower and aid women all over Peterborough. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The bags contain socks, underwear, personal grooming items, gift cards and feminine products. Some of the donated clothing were hand-knit from SIP members.

The organization chose items that would help women with basic needs according to Dorothy Macdonald, SIP club president.

"There's a good range of choices in there and hopefully there are ladies who will receive the bags will have some enjoyment out of them,” she said.”

Andrew MacGregor expressed his gratitude for the donation after being with the ORCC for less than a month.

"We're very grateful for the Soroptimists, the community and the extended community are always showing this amazing display of generosity," he said. "We're very grateful that they're able to support us this way."

Bags are received visiting ORCC and buzzing the front door. They are kept until all bags have been given out.

SIP also made donations to PARN and The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough on the same day.

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Soroptimist International Peterborough Donates to Five Community Partners on 75th Anniversary

It may be the 75th anniversary of Soroptimist International Peterborough (SIP) but they gave presents out by donating $1,000 cheques each to five organizations on Friday.

Soroptimist International of Peterborough (SIP) was chartered on November 17, 1945. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The donations went towards community partners of SIP to help women’s and girls’ lives through programs leading to economic and social empowerment.

Cameron House (Brock Mission), Elizabeth Fry Society, The Daughter Project Girls’ Home, YWCA Crossroads and Homeward Bound were the recipients of the donations including a commemorative plaque.

Joyce Fee, former SIP president said she was “certainly proud” of the organization to fund the five recipients.

The money acquired was possible through fundraising efforts such as special dinners, fashion shows and an affiliation with the local bingo hall according to Fee.

Mayor Diane Therrien has proclaimed the week of Oct. 3rd as ‘Soroptimist Week’ in Peterborough to acknowledge the 75th Anniversary of SIP and the 100th Anniversary of Soroptimist International.

SIP has over 40 members who work to make a difference in the lives of women and girls in our own community and around the world.

“We are mediators for then for the girls,” said Fee. “We give them tools to achieve their education and career goals. Empower them to break cycles, poverty, violence and abuse.”

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Michelle Ferreri Wins Candidacy for Conservative Party

Michelle Ferreri won the nomination to be the candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada on Wednesday night.

Photo courtesy of Michelle Ferreri

Ferreri says the real work starts after winning the candidacy.

“It’s a lot of learning, a lot of reading, an influx of information,” said Ferrari.

Before she won the nomination Ferreri had to make sure she was running for the right reasons.

“For me it’s a real extension of what I’ve been doing for the community for over twenty years, which is actively listening to people and then finding solutions,” Ferreri said. “I like to use those positive relationships I’ve built in the community to be able to say I know who we can talk to, I know how we can fix this.”

Ferreri will represent the Conservative Party, while Chante White was selected for the Green Party and Joy Lachica for the NDP. Liberal incumbent Maryam Monsef will be seeking her third term as Peterborough-Kawartha MP.

This election marks the first time that all four major federal party candidates for Peterborough-Kawartha riding are women.

“There not just women, they’re diverse,” said Ferreri. “I think it’s a testament to all the other women that have done really hard work, and put themselves in traditionally male dominated careers.”

“This is a big accomplishment, it has been primarily a male dominated space for a long time and I think women are just as capable - but people are people.”

The federal election must be held on or before October 23, 2023, though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is widely expected to call an election later in August meaning a vote would be held in late September.

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YWCA's Virtual Challenge Raises Over $28,000 For Shelter and Support Services For Women Experiencing Gender-Based Violence

The YWCA has raised $28,641 for their shelter and support services from their second annual Virtual Challenge that started from May 3 - 31 announced Thursday.

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton receives only partial government funding and relies on annual fundraising initiatives to cover basic operating costs. Photo Courtesy of YWCA Peterborough.

The online fundraiser was an initiative in support of local YWCA resources for women experiencing gender-based violence.

“The Virtual Challenge provides a unique opportunity to use whatever we have to make a positive difference,” said Ria Nicholson of the YWCA. “Whether that’s the courage to raise the issue of gender-based violence with our friends and family or the means to support the YWCA’s services by making a donation - every bit helps!”

Participants registered an activity online to accomplish throughout May and challenged others to match their efforts.

Activities were flexible, encouraging activities such as cooking, yoga or anything you could think of. The challenge was open to all ages to participate safely in their own way and schedule.

This year, participants who raised more than $250 were entered in a draw to win 1 of 3 prizes. This year’s winners are: 

• 1st Prize – Recliner (donated by Bennett’s Furniture and Mattresses) – Bethany LeBlonc 

• 2nd Prize – Home Care Package (donated by Swish Maintenance Ltd & Merrett Home Hardware Building Centre) – Alder Howe 

• 3rd Prize – Foodie Package (donated by Ashburnham Ale House, Chuck’s Roadhouse Bar & Grill, Primal Cuts, The Chocolate Rabbit & Sobeys Towerhill) – Patti Clancy, Kawartha Home & Health Care Services

“We hope that in seeing this compassionate community response, local women are reminded that they’re not alone – especially as COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease and opportunities to seek support become more available,” said Nicholson. “The YWCA is here, day and night, thanks to the support of our wonderful community.”

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Women-Dedicated Networking Business Celebrates 60th Anniversary

The Women’s Business Network has celebrated its 60th anniversary with a virtual event featuring guest speakers, trivia, giveaways and business spotlights for all its members on Wednesday.

Formed in 1961, the WBN is a networking channel for businesswomen who want to enhance and expand their professional contacts and grow their businesses.

The virtual gathering allowed members to give testimonials and reflect on how WBN has affected their lives and its positive impact.

“The membership boasts about 175 members at full capacity,” said Danielle McIver, WBN president. “It’s about supporting women with their goals. Whatever you’re doing as a female community member in Peterborough, we want to support you.”

Examples of network members are entrepreneurs, business owners, administrators and several other occupations. Photo Courtesy of WBN.

With the pandemic, McIver had the WBN adapt to the drastic changes the world has undergone. She became president of the organization last year.

“I’m honoured to be here to celebrate a milestone and it’s exciting that we’ve had so much change in this the last year and we’ve been able to have a strong virtual membership,” said McIver. “There was so much pivoting, so much challenge and so much change.”

Margaret Steeves was the first president of the WBN serving from 1961-1962. Photo Courtesy of WBN.

McIver made the year’s theme “you belong” since COVID-19 negatively affected several women’s careers.

“I was seeing a lot of people losing jobs, losing career paths that they felt was their identity in WBN,” she said. “The ‘you belong’ theme was really making sure we can embrace people for whatever the situation was right now that they were at.”

The WBN is run by a board of directors with up to 13 volunteer members who dedicate 10-30 hours a month to the organization. Photo Courtesy of WBN.

The WBN offers a learning program featuring guest speakers, trade shows, special events and gala socials for women in the Kawarthas and surrounding areas from September to June according to the official website.

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YWCA Launches 2021 Virtual Challenge Fundraiser For Women

The YWCA is hosting a Virtual Challenge as an online fundraising initiative in support of local YWCA resources for women experiencing gender-based violence.

Photo Courtesy of YWCA Peterborough.

Participants choose an activity to accomplish during the month of May, register online and challenge others to match their efforts.

Activities are flexible, with options ranging from athletic challenges, virtual Mother’s Day events, cooking or yoga skill-share challenges (or the option of creating something entirely new), offering participants of all ages and abilities the opportunity to participate safely in their own way and schedule.

As women’s organizations across Canada have seen a 30 to 40 per cent increase in the need for safety and support this past year, local fundraising initiatives are more vital than ever.

“Women’s lives continue to be threatened by abusive men who are taking advantage of COVID-19 safety protocols to isolate, manipulate and cause harm,” says Kim Dolan, YWCA executive director. “Our entire community needs to be actively involved in looking out for loved ones who may be at risk of violence and supporting the local services that help to equip women to safely create change in their lives.”

Participants who raise $250 or more will be entered in a draw to win one of three prizes generously donated by Bennett’s Furniture and Mattresses and other local businesses. Winners will be announced on June 14.

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