Celebrating 5 years of community service – David Burns, Burns’ Snow Removal

No matter what time of year, rain, sleet or shine, David Burns is there for us. His business, Burns’ Snow Removal has been run locally by his family for over 50 years. From the beginning, Dave says that his business has been “very community minded.”

For the past five years, Burns’ Snow Removal has quietly supported United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes’ community garden initiatives by making soil and straw deliveries.

Along with current community development work, United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes has expanded their Community Garden projects exponentially for the year of 2019. 30,000 sq. ft. of land has been donated to United Way CKL through a land use agreement with Crayola Canada. An unused lot on Crayola’s property in Lindsay, Ontario will now be turned into a community garden which will provide produce for programs such as the Good Food Box, Meals on Wheels, food banks, school nutrition programs, and so much more. Community Gardens yield more than food, they provide many teaching opportunities and will draw people together socially to help strengthen our neighbourhoods.

From the start, David has been extremely enthusiastic and prepared to help out this initiative in any way he can.

David Burns has been a consistent example of corporate responsibility in our community, offering lawn maintenance and snow clearing services to United Way year-round.

Thank you, David.

By cklunitedway|2019-08-27T09:41:58-04:00August 8th, 2019|News|Comments Off

Thank You to our Grantors

By cklunitedway|2019-07-15T14:31:35-04:00July 15th, 2019|News|Comments Off

Meet our co-op student: Leah!

Meet our co-op student.

From the very first day of my co-op at United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes I felt welcomed and respected. Throughout my placement I have learned many things such as, communications, event planning, and social media.

Edwin Binney’s Community Garden was the main focus of my co-op placement, which I loved. Seeing the project come together from start to finish was so rewarding to watch.

I plan to take all the things I have learned from this placement and use them in the future.

My future goal is to go to Durham College and do the 4 year program for Public Relations.

I am so glad I got to take my schoolwork and turn it into practical work experience.

– Leah

By cklunitedway|2019-06-14T13:54:00-04:00June 14th, 2019|News|Comments Off

The simple way we’re making our community garden ‘bee-friendly,’ and how you can do it too

Candace Buckley – Days Inn and Suites Lindsay

Sometimes the greatest ventures can begin with a simple idea. Here at United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes, this has been proven time and time again.

Amidst all of the work that goes in to creating Edwin Binney’s Community Garden, we came across one small problem.

“The point of this garden is to provide food security to the community but we can’t do that without our friendly neighbourhood pollinators,” explained Projects and Communications Coordinator, Elly Millington.

So, how would we attract bees and other pollinators to our garden? Luckily, Robbie Preston, and his friends from the Pollinator Action Committee were there to answer our question.

For several years, Preston has been in the business of making bee nests and selling kits to people so they can assemble on their own. For him, this project started at home when he decided to find a simple solution to make his garden more pollinator-friendly.

The idea was easy, and nests can be assembled with a few small cardboard tubes or reeds and a few pieces of wood to hold it together, or by simply drilling holes into a block of untreated wood. However, Preston said that what we had in mind was “a major venture.”

Robbie Preston with a smaller bee nest

A large-scale garden project calls for large-scale accommodations for pollinators. So, along with 12 nests, Millington wanted to build a bee hotel.

“This is super creative, I’d never think about bees being in a hotel. I immediately thought it was an awesome idea and one that so many people would get a laugh out of,” said General Manager of Days Inn and Suites, Lindsay, Candace Buckley. Not only was Buckley on board, she explained through laughter, the hotel’s employees thought it was a great idea too.

The 26-year-old manager explained that the sponsorship for this project was larger than most businesses might be on board for, but as someone who has grown up, worked, and volunteered in Lindsay, she wanted to give back.

“There are so many things in our community that I didn’t know about until I started working and volunteering here,” said Buckley. “I hope this encourages other people in the community to get involved.”

Kawartha Lakes was the seventh of 24 Canadian cities registered as ‘bee-friendly’ by Bee City Canada. The organization’s website lists planting native plants, avoiding pesticides and making places for bees to nest and lay their eggs as ways to attract solitary bees.

The bee hotel will be revealed on Saturday, June 8 at our Grand Unveiling Garden Party. To purchase your tickets and learn more, please call (705) 878-5081, or email Elly at office@ckl.unitedway.ca.

By cklunitedway|2019-06-14T13:57:39-04:00June 6th, 2019|News|Comments Off

Mural Competition Winner Announced

United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes is excited to announce that Parker Ozembloski is the winner of our Youth Mural Competition! Parker is a young local graphic designer, you can see more of her work on her website here: https://www.parkerozembloski.com/.

Parker will unveil her Mural at the Grand Unveiling Garden Party Fundraiser on Saturday June 8th, 2019. Learn more about the party, and how you can get tickets here!

Congratulations, Parker!

By cklunitedway|2019-07-15T14:26:24-04:00May 13th, 2019|News|Comments Off

Edwin Binney’s Community Garden Grand Unveiling Garden Party!

On Saturday June 8^th, 2019, United Way CKL will host a Garden Party Fundraiser: an event to celebrate the grand opening of Edwin Binney’s Community Garden on Crayola Canada’s Property. The event will take place at both Fleming College’s Auks Lodge and the brand new Edwin Binney’s Community Garden (weather permitting).

Guests are invited to attend the cocktail and speeches portion of the event at Fleming College’s Auks Lodge from 1pm until 3pm, where special guests from Crayola Canada, Fleming College and United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes will speak about the creation of this innovative Food Security venture. After speeches, guests will be invited to peruse the community tables, purchase Edwin Binney’s Community Garden merchandise, indulge in hors d’oeuvres and enjoy the cash bar. Just a quick walk down the block will land guests at Edwin Binney’s Community Garden for the ribbon cutting portion of the event.

Upon arrival at Edwin Binney’s Community Garden at 3pm, United Way CKL will recognize grant supporters including Ontario Trillium Foundation, Lindsay C.H.E.S.T Fund, IHeart Community Fund, and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. Guests will convene to witness the grand unveiling of the Days Inn and Suites Bee Hotel and the Mural created through the Youth Mural Competition. Prizes for the Mural Competition will be awarded, then attendees will be invited to explore the gardens at their leisure.

Tickets for the event are now on sale at the United Way office. The tickets are sold at $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. To reserve your ticket, please call the office at 705-878-5081

By cklunitedway|2019-04-24T15:14:37-04:00April 24th, 2019|News|Comments Off

Mural Competition Public Voting Now Open!

With the gardening season growing near, and the Grand Unveiling Garden Party Tickets now on sale, it’s also time to cast your vote for your favourite Youth Mural Competition entry! Click here to cast your vote for the mural you think should go at the front of Edwin Binney’s Community Garden.

The mural competition jury will take results of the public voting into account and will make their final decision. Public voting period ends Tuesday April 30th at 12 noon.

By cklunitedway|2019-04-23T16:19:21-04:00April 17th, 2019|News|Comments Off

Mural Competition Deadline Extension

A Note from United Way CKL’s Projects and Communications Coordinator:

“We’re excited to announce that we’re extending the deadline for the Edwin Binney’s Community Garden Mural Competition! We know that CKL, Haliburton, and Peterborough have some incredibly talented youth, and we want to make sure we’re reaching as many of them as we can. We have $1,000 up for grabs– not to mention the incredible networking and portfolio building opportunities that come along with the competition. What are you waiting for?!”

How do you enter? It’s more easy than you think! Click the picture below to go to the Mural Page of our website for full details. To sum up, all you need to enter is:

1) Your Design

2) A 1-page Artist Statement for your design

3) A 1-page Letter of Intent describing your background and hopes for the future

4) At least 2 photos of other work you have completed in the past

Are you ready to submit? Click here to enter the competition!

By cklunitedway|2019-03-29T10:22:10-04:00March 29th, 2019|News|Comments Off

United Way CKL Newsletters

United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes is excited to show you our most recent newsletters. If you have any questions or comments relating to the content of these newsletters, please contact our Projects and Communications Coordinator, Elly Millington. Happy Reading!

Spring 2019 Newsletter:

[pdf-embedder url=”https://ckl-unitedway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/spring-newletter-2019.pdf” title=”spring newletter 2019″]

Winter 2019 Newsletter:

[pdf-embedder url=”https://ckl-unitedway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-Winter-Newsletter-E-Copy.pdf” title=”2019 Winter Newsletter – E-Copy”]

Fall 2018 Newsletter:

[pdf-embedder url=”https://ckl-unitedway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2018-Fall-Newsletter.pdf” title=”2018 Fall Newsletter”]

Summer 2018 Newsletter:

[pdf-embedder url=”https://ckl-unitedway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2018-Campaign-Newsletter.pdf” title=”2018 Campaign Newsletter”]

Spring 2018 Newsletter:

[pdf-embedder url=”https://ckl-unitedway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2018-Spring-Newsletter.pdf” title=”2018 Spring Newsletter”]

By cklunitedway|2019-03-26T15:27:59-04:00March 26th, 2019|News|Comments Off

Community Care Health and Care Network announced as the 2018/2019 Mona Hall Legacy Fund Recipient

United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes (UWCKL) has announced Community Care Health and Care Network as the recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Telecare Mona Hall Fund to create a teleconference caregiver support program based on a successful pilot project.

Penny Barton Dyke, Executive Director for UWCKL said, “The funds will be dedicated to setting up a communication support system to assist families who are caring for a relative or friend. Community agencies and partners have seen significant increases in the number of families taking on the role of informal care providers for a family member in their home and the prediction is this role will increase with our aging population.”

“Teleconferencing will increase access to support and education for caregivers who may not be able to leave the home due to caregiving duties, transportation barriers or time constraints,” says Joan Skelton, Director Community Support Services. A pilot project with caregivers using the teleconference outreach was very positively received.

“With this generous grant from the Telecare Mona Hall Fund, individuals can now participate in the Caregiver Connection Teleconference Series to provide a meaningful supportive opportunity that will contribute to social inclusion and build social connections with others in the community who are going through a similar situation, all from the comfort of their own home,” explains Ms. Skelton.

When Lifeline Telecare closed its doors, funds were transferred to UWCKL to administer through a committee process and to help local groups initiate innovative programs in response to emerging or identified community priorities over a five-year period. The funds have been overseen by a committee of volunteers with expertise. Four agencies have received funding since the launch of the grant fund in 2016: Kawartha Sexual Assault addressed dating violence prevention for youth; Ontario Early Years created the Queen Victoria Public School Summer Outreach Program; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton created an in-School Mentoring Resource initiative and marketing for mentors and last year, The John Howard Society started a Caring Dads Program to increase skills for fathers needing special supports.

“Over the years, we have been given the privilege of small legacy gifts which have allowed us to invest in people in real time. When donors give to UWCKL they do so with purpose and with the knowledge that funds go to high priority needs which are monitored with the help of citizen review panel teams ensuring transparency and accountability,” adds Ms. Barton Dyke. Next year will be the final year for the Mona Hall Fund.

For further information on Caregiver Connections, please contact:

Joan Skelton, Director Community Support Services

Community Care Health and Care Network

T: 705-324-7323 ext. 232 E. jskelton@ccckl.ca

By cklunitedway|2019-03-26T15:35:17-04:00March 14th, 2019|News|Comments Off