Stories by William McGinn
Community
Dunsford’s Jon Thurston on his inspiring run to victory at World Wheelchair Championship
Jon Thurston of Dunsford has recently returned from the World Wheelchair Championship where he helped get Team Canada all the way to the finals against China, where they placed second.
Health
Local woman organizes protest in front of MPP’s office as healthcare system buckles
A local woman is fed up with the ongoing challenges in the provincial healthcare system, especially the lack of over-the-counter medications and timely access to seeing a doctor.
Community
End of an era for well-known local Christmas tree
It’s the end of a Christmas tree legacy in Kawartha Lakes.
Social Issues
Mariposa School kids raise money for Little Britain food bank
At Mariposa Elementary School, the group, made up of their seventh and eighth grade kids, recently finished the Trick Hunger and Treat the Foodbank campaign that brought in 831 items to the Little Britain Community Food Bank.
Health
Free tuition, pay raises and online learning offered to local residents who want to be PSWs
Two Bobcaygeon long-term care homes and one Lindsay retirement home are a few of the local connections involved in a province-wide quest to boost numbers of personal support workers.
Community
Kawartha Lakes gymnasts win big at provincial level
Six young gymnasts of the Lindsay Gymnastics Centre recently competed in the Ontario Provincial Gymnastics Championship, and out of 160 provincewide participants per age group, every one scored in the Top 10, and two of them took home the title of Provincial Overall Champion.
Social Issues
New A Place Called Home shelter open to the public in early June
After two years, the ribbon has been cut for the grand reopening of Lindsay’s homeless shelter, A Place Called Home (APCH)
Provincial
Candidates debate housing, environment and food insecurity, among other social policy issues
With the provincial election just two weeks away, the Advocate hosted an all-candidates candidates debate yesterday evening at Cambridge Street United Church in Lindsay.
Health
Health Coalitions worry Ross Memorial could abandon acute care with new bill
A similar bill was proposed in 2020, known as “Private Bill 21,” which saw hundreds of people gathered in a meeting at the Lindsay Recreation Centre determined to stop it from passing. File photo.
Health
Health Coalition sounds alarm over more privatization of health care
The Kawartha Lakes Health Coalition has expressed alarm about the Ontario government’s plans for further privatization of provincial health care.
Health
Retiring nurse spent 41 years in service at Ross
Ross Memorial Hospital’s Leanne Harding is set to retire after 41 years there -- something the registered nurse was going to do two years ago but held off to help her hospital in the fight against the pandemic.
Community
Lindsay to see its first-ever permanent skatepark
Construction has officially been green-lit for Lindsay’s first ever permanent skatepark.
Community
Twisted Trauma founder donates $1,000 to Victim Services
Former Kawartha Lakes OPP officer Jon Perrin has donated $1,000 to Kawartha Haliburton Victim Services through Twisted Trauma, the non-profit he runs along with his wife, Jen.
Community
Aftermath of shooting leaves neighbour feeling shaken
Stephanie Ellis of Peel Street, says she and other families on the street feel shaken after a March 11 shooting that sent a man to hospital with gunshots wounds.
Community
Former COVID group changes focus to help Ukrainian refugees
A local group has put together a donation drive for the refugees of Ukraine.
Community
Rags to recycling
The city is reviving the 2021 program that saw curbside textile recycling pickup available throughout Kawartha Lakes.
Community
Lindsay woman on track to be a top Canadian fundraiser for Heart and Stroke
Longtime Lindsay resident Karen McArthur is finishing up her 20th year of canvassing for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and is on track to raise $12,000 this year, surpassing her previous personal record of $7,100 from 2021.
Education
Being a teacher means balancing flexible learning with Ministry expectations
Teachers play a big role in the development of children and adolescents. But how much flexibility is there in the job?
Community
Cartoonist Kevin Frank sketches a creative life
I met Kevin Frank when I was a little kid at a talk he hosted at the Lindsay library. Good times. I’d been writing a silly story I never actually finished and he was nice enough to read it before the event started.
Community
Library use increasing as people look to get out of the house during pandemic
Lyndsay Heffernan remembers a call last week that probably sums up the way a lot of people are feeling these days.