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Volunteers Recognized at 4th Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner

November 29, 2018 6:54 pm Leave a Comment

Ivan Goodhand, Allyssa Adams, and Stephen Hayman were presented with Volunteer of the Year awards at the 4^th Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner hosted by the Kawartha Lakes Sport and Recreation Council. The Optimist Club of Lindsay was also recognized as Volunteer Organization of the Year for their collaborative approach to providing quality recreation opportunities for any child that wants to play.

The event was held Wednesday, Nov. 7^th at the Lindsay Golf and Country Club.

Goodhand was recognized for his extensive involvement in the community. With at least 10 sports organizations benefiting from Ivan’s involvement over the years, he is an exceptional role model for community involvement and active living. Ivan takes part, gives back, gets involved and always does so with the most positive of attitudes and the kindest of cooperation.

Adams was commended for her long-term commitment to minor baseball organizations. Allyssa works tirelessly to fulfill her personal belief that communities are built on volunteers. In addition to sport leadership positions (Secretary, Communications Officer), Allyssa is a role model to many of the girls she coaches and to the youth she encounters both in her volunteer positions and full-time job at the Boys and Girls Club. Although Allyssa does not have a child participating in the sport groups she volunteers for, she leads by example with a commitment to positively impacting the children and youth of our community.

Hayman earned special distinction this year being the first person to receive two nominations in one year. He is the backbone of the Kawartha Lakes Soccer Club with 10 years of volunteer service, as a coach, mentor, and board member. Described as hard working and dedicated, but one who never looks for any recognition, he’s “the coach that everyone loves because he makes things fun, plays by the rules and in the end, makes them all better people and athletes. Not just the kids but the adults and the organization as a whole.”

The winners were chosen from an impressive list of nominees that also included Joanne Graham (Doctor George Hall PS), Stephanie McDonald (Lindsay Rugby Football Club), Kellie Hayman (Lindsay Lynx), Kerri Phillips (Little Britain Merchants), Deborah Smith (Kawartha Cycling Club), and Randy West (Central Ontario Wolves).

The Volunteer Organization of the Year Award had the highest number of nominations to date with the Fenelon Falls Pickleball Association and the Central Ontario Wolves also vying for the award.

To complement the awards, the short film Kickstart was screened. The film documents the experiences of Street Soccer Canada team members as they prepared for and participated in the Homeless World Cup. Rich Fatoussi, the film’s producer, and Paul Gregory, the founder of Street Soccer Canada were both on hand to discuss the film and answer questions. Street Soccer programs provide a foundation of community and peer support through recreation for homeless individuals in communities across Canada. The Homeless World Cup is an annual international tournament for Street Soccer participants across the world.

The KLSRC is a volunteer organization committed to the enhancement and promotion of sport, recreation and healthy active living opportunities for all citizens of the City of Kawartha Lakes. Among its goals are to support the growth of sport and recreation in CKL by providing a network for sport organizations to share resources and expertise.

The 4^th Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner was made possible with thanks to the HKPR District Health Unit, event sponsors Hutton Angelo LLP and Arbor Tech Tree Care and Service Inc., award sponsors Kawartha Lakes Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic and Traditional Styles, Custom Building and Design and supporting sponsors the Lindsay Golf and Country Club, Creighton Docks & Boat Lifts, Fresh Fuell, and Lindsay Sportsline.

For more information, or to get involved in this positive work, contact KLSRC co-ordinator Gary Pearson at 705-324-4493 ext. 237 or by email at gpearson@klsrc.mydev.ca.

On behalf of the sport and recreation community, the KLSRC gives thanks to the following organizations:

$68,600 and $66,300 Grants Support Kawartha Lakes Sport and Recreation

November 8, 2018 4:40 pm Leave a Comment

On Wednesday, the Kawartha Lakes Sport and Recreation Council (KLSRC) welcomed members of the sport and recreation community to a special ceremony at the 4^th Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner to mark the launch of the Accessible and Adaptive Recreation Project and the Physical Literacy Network for Early Learning Providers. Local MPP Laurie Scott was on hand to congratulate community partners and hear more about how the two Seed grants, with a combined total of $134,900, awarded to EarlyON and the Kawartha Cycling Club, will enhance recreation opportunities for older adults and support early learning providers through a physical literacy training program.

“I would like to extend my congratulations to the Kawartha Cycling Club for receiving an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant,” said MPP Scott. “I am pleased that this grant will help the Kawartha Cycling Club expand local access to recreation and promote healthy lifestyles in our community.

The Accessible and Adaptive Recreation Project will be led by the Kawartha Cycling Club with project coordination provided by the KLSRC. New accessible recreation opportunities for older adults will be coordinated through a multi-activity pilot program and enhanced by new adaptive equipment, instructor training and an online Accessible Recreation Directory. Through community consultation, the KLSRC heard that there was a need to promote new recreation opportunities that meet the emerging needs of a changing population. Thanks to the $68,600 from the Foundation, older adults will have more accessible opportunities to get active in the City of Kawartha Lakes.

“Congratulations to the Ontario Early Years Centre Haliburton Victoria Brock for receiving an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant,” said MPP Scott. “I am excited about this grant helping the local Ontario Early Years Centre promote healthier, more active lifestyles for children.”

The Physical Literacy Network for Early Learning Providers will be led by EarlyON with project coordination provided by KLSRC. In addition to physical literacy training, early learning providers will be supported in their efforts to deliver quality physical activity through peer-to-peer mentorship, network building and ongoing support from a hired consultant. Recent local data indicates a trend toward decreasing movement competence in young children. The $66,300 grant from OTF will help local early learning providers to equip their students with movement skills that are the foundation for lifelong active participation.

“The impact of these Ontario Trillium Foundation grants cannot be underestimated,” said Gary Pearson, Coordinator of the KLSRC. “These projects add significantly to achieving the goals of the Kawartha Lakes Sport and Recreation Strategy. Through shared leadership, our community partners are best equipped to build capacity in the sport and recreation sector. The key result is that more City of Kawartha Lakes residents have opportunities to develop fundamental movement skills and be active across the lifespan.”

The KLSRC is committed to the enhancement and promotion of sport, recreation and healthy active living opportunities for all residents of the City of Kawartha Lakes. If you wish to learn more about accessible recreation or physical literacy, please visit the website at: www.klsrc.mydev.ca.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded more than $120 million to some 700 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.

Lindsay ‘Old Boys’ team a big hit

March 1, 2018 7:27 pm Leave a Comment

Published by: Gary Pearson

Rugby is known around the world as a fast-paced, hard-hitting, high-impact sport. Rugby is also well-known for its positive social aspects of community building and camaraderie within and even between clubs. Leagues that modify the laws of rugby seek to embrace the latter while drastically reducing the risk of injury.

Old Boys rugby – in other jurisdictions known as Masters Rugby or Golden Oldies Rugby – offers players over the age of 35 with a chance to play a fun, yet still competitive game. The “Grumblers” of the Lindsay Rugby Football Club (LRFC) made their successful debut in the spring of 2014. The team name honors LRFC founder Vince Jones and his newsletter, “The Grumbler”, and seems like the perfect fit for the Old Boys rugby team.

In four seasons of Grumblers rugby, the LRFC has built interest within the City of Kawartha Lakes community, played against old rivals in Belleville, Cobourg, and Peterborough, and has added new rivalries with teams from Barrie and Toronto.

According to Club volunteer and Grumblers player, Tom Jeffrey, the league offers older players with a chance to play the sport they love but without the risk of injury. “Anyone over 60 can wear red shorts. Those players can’t be tackled. Players over 70 wear purple and they pretty much play touch,” he said.

Besides the modified tackling rules, the Old Boys games are governed by a simplified set of laws that better suit the aging athlete, including changes to scoring laws (tries only, no conversion or penalty kicks) and allowing unlimited substitutions.

Modified forms of rugby have begun popping up all over the world. In addition to the modified laws in the Old Boys league, recreational and competitive touch leagues offer players a totally different experience of the game with no tackling. Further modifications to the laws of the game have even led to the development of “Walking Rugby” in the UK.

Law modifications allow players of any age and skill level to participate in the game, making rugby available to community members as a truly lifelong pursuit.

According to LRFC Vice President, John Carr, in addition to the men’s side, the Lindsay RFC Old Girls (30+) got in a couple of touch games this year and will be looking to build on that for next year. The Club has also considered adding an adult touch rugby league.

According to John, the door to join in with the Grumblers is always open, “It doesn’t matter if you have never played rugby before or played last in high school or played for the senior men’s team. If you are 35 or older and want to play some fun, competitive rugby, The Grumblers may be the spot.”

The welcoming sentiment is echoed by seemingly everyone involved with the Grumblers. When I first reached out to Tom for information about the team, he responded with a simple and honest question that I’m certain the LRFC would like share with the entire CKL community: “You gonna play Old Boys?”

Rugby is a sport that is played worldwide by men, women, boys and girls. The Lindsay Rugby Football Club was founded on August 10th 1978, by Vince Jones, when a group of former students from the two local high schools, (I.E. Weldon & L.C.V.I) and a few ex-patriate Brits got together at the Victoria Park Armoury to declare their intention of forming a rugby club. Sufficient interest was established, approval by the Ontario Rugby Union was received and the Lindsay R.F.C. was born. The LRFC has grown over the past 39 years to a premier rugby club in Ontario. LRFC runs two Senior Men’s teams that compete at the highest level of club rugby in Ontario, along with Senior Women, U18 Girls and Boys, U16 Girls and Boys, U14 Boys, U12 Co-ed tackle, U10 and U8 Co-ed Flag and an Old Boys team, known as the Grumblers

3rd Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner

November 7, 2017 7:13 pm Leave a Comment

Pat Staneland, Patty Tomlinson, and Darryl Buttar were presented with Volunteer of the Year awards at the 3^rd Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner hosted by the Kawartha Lakes Sport and Recreation Council. Ops Minor Baseball was also recognized as Volunteer Organization of the Year for their positive culture of volunteerism and work to ensure accessibility for any child who wants to play.

The event was held Thursday, Nov. 2^nd at the Lindsay Golf and Country Club.

Staneland was recognized for spending countless hours volunteering her time in the community. She facilitates exercise classes for seniors in Burnt River, is a certified CAN Bike Instructor, serves on the Kawartha Cycling Club Board of Directors, and volunteers her time with many other community initiatives including community dinners and blood pressure clinics. Staneland’s efforts serve to enhance individual and community wellbeing throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Tomlinson was commended for her dedication to the Bobcaygeon Skating Club, where she serves on the executive and on-ice as a CanSkate instructor. Tomlinson is praised for her continued commitment to the Club, even after her own daughters have moved on from skating. Known as “the rock of the skating club”, Tomlinson’s organizational skills and positive attitude makes it easy for the Club’s volunteers to deliver quality skating programs.

Buttar serves as a kid’s hockey and baseball coach. He is very busy as a business owner, yet maintains his coaching commitments to develop kids through sport. Buttar is known to select more and often less advanced athletes in order to develop more players for the future. His long term athlete development approach encourages and inspires more kids to find their passion and to stay in sports. Known for his encouraging and constructive approach, Buttar creates a positive sport environment for players, parents and fellow coaches.

Other nominees recognized for their efforts were Trevor Tompkins (Lindsay Wildcats Basketball), Chris Osborne (Boys and Girls Club), Tom Jeffrey (Lindsay Rugby Football Club), and Steve Blodgett (Bobcaygeon Minor Baseball). For both Jeffrey and Blodgett, this was their second year to be nominated for the award.

To compliment the awards, there were also three presentations from partner organizations at the event.  Grant Allman (Fenelon Falls Curling Club) spoke about innovations in curling equipment and gameplay that help make curling to a cradle-to-grave activity. Lisa Kaldeway (HKPR District Health Unit) presented on behalf of a Trillium Lakelands District School Board teacher about some of the innovative approaches to delivering quality physical education and daily physical activity opportunities. Rob Cyr (Boys and Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes) capped off the presentations with an update of some new and upcoming programs – including adult recreation leagues, trauma informed sports for kids, and collaborating with volunteer groups to deliver high quality multi-activity programming.

The KLSRC is a volunteer organization committed to the enhancement and promotion of sport, recreation and healthy active living opportunities for all citizens of the City of Kawartha Lakes. Among its goals are to support the growth of sport and recreation in CKL by providing a network for sport organizations to share resources and expertise.

Over the coming years, KLSRC will continue its work towards the integration of physical literacy and Long Term Athlete Development into quality opportunities for all to be active in the CKL.

The organization is looking for volunteers and community partners with an interest in developing physical literacy and observing positive outcomes in health, education and community development.

The 3^rd Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner was made possible with thanks to City of Kawartha Lakes Community Partnership and Development Fund, event sponsor Arbor Tech Tree Care and Service Inc., award sponsor Patricia Boyd, Sales Representative, Royal LePage, and supporting sponsors the Lindsay Golf and Country Club, Lahay Creative, Creighton Docks & Boat Lifts, Hutton Angelo LLP, Fresh Fuell, Pearson Insurance Limited, Lindsay Sportsline, Kawartha Lakes Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic, Dulux Paints, Boiling Over’s Coffee Vault.

For more information contact KLSRC co-ordinator Gary Pearson at 705-324-4493 ext. 237 or by email at gpearson@klsrc.mydev.ca.

Volunteers recognized at KLSRC’s 2nd annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner

November 4, 2016 8:01 pm Leave a Comment

Kevin Tysiak, Lori Grills, and Bernice Mitchell were presented with Volunteer of the Year awards at the 2^nd Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner hosted by the Kawartha Lakes Sport and Recreation Council. Lindsay Wildcats Basketball was also recognized as Volunteer Association of the Year for their work over the past 20 years to ensure opportunities for any child to play with their “no child turned away” policy.

The event was held Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Lindsay Golf and Country Club.

 

Tysiak was recognized for spending the past 4 years developing, coaching and instructing female players, as well as rigorous efforts on the executive, for the Kawartha Lakers Softball Association. His admirable commitment to youth athletics comes solely from a passion for the game of softball and a desire to see players develop both on and off the field. Tysiak’s devotion was expressed by nominator, Tyler Jenkins, who notes that Tysiak’s selfless commitment has included mentoring several Lakers coaches, all while not having a child playing in the organization.

Grills was commended for her dedication to the Kawartha Lakes Soccer Club, acting as a team manager, as well as the club’s secretary.  She was nominated by Steve Hayman, who praised Grills’ impact as a positive role model for the girls she coaches, acting also as a friend and confidant as they have grown from young girls into women in our community.  Grills has been also been a driving force in growing the Inferno rep soccer grogram from 1 team to 12 over the last ten years.

Mitchell not only acts as Volunteer Coordinator for Therapeutic Horse Riding in Lindsay (THRIL), she’s also hands on, leading and sidewalking with the riders who come for their therapy riding lessons.  Her nominator, Kelly Russell, applauded Mitchell’s volunteering of at least 3 days a week with the organization, as well as noting her frequent attendance at bowling and basketball games for the special needs community additionally.  Mitchell’s generous spirit, infections laugh and an almost endless energy and positive outlook have inspired those around her to the point that even the horses look for her!

 

Other nominees recognized for their efforts were Rolf and Diane Martens (Fenelon Falls Curling Club), Greg Murphy (Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute / Lindsay Minor Hockey Association / “Sunday Night Basketball Program”), and Karen Brasier of the Lindsay Lightningbolts Swim Club.

To compliment the awards, there were also three presentations from partner organizations at the event. Sandy Creighton from the Lindsay Gymnastics Centre spoke about their collaboration with JumpStart, expressing the benefits of introducing more kids to gymnastics, and the fundamental movement skills children need to learn to stay active for life.  Following Creighton, was Rob Cyr (Boys and Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes) who spoke about some new and innovative programs they have considered – some of which will be introduced in the coming year. Finally, Merla McGill (Community Living Kawartha Lakes) presented the successful HELMS project (Healthy Energy Learning Motivation thru Sports). The HELMS project addresses the lack of opportunities for people supported by Community Living to participate in all kinds of sports.

The KLSRC is a volunteer organization committed to the enhancement and promotion of sport, recreation and healthy active living opportunities for all citizens of the City of Kawartha Lakes. Among its goals are too support the growth of sport and recreation in CKL by providing a network for sport organizations to share resources and expertise.

Over the coming years, KLSRC will continue its work towards the integration of physical literacy and Long Term Athlete Development into quality opportunities for all to be active in the CKL.

The organization is looking for volunteers and community partners with an interest in developing physical literacy and observing positive outcomes in health, education and community development.

The 2^nd Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner was made possible with thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation, event sponsor Arbor Tech Tree Care and Service Inc., award sponsor the A to Z Group – Ari Zider, Broker and supporting sponsors the Lindsay Golf and Country Club, Lahay Creative, Lindsay Sportsline, and Dulux Paints.

For more information contact KLSRC co-ordinator Gary Pearson at 705-324-4493 ext. 237 or by email at gpearson@klsrc.mydev.ca.

See the full event photo gallery.

Lightningbolts Say Farewell to Long-Time Head Coach

June 28, 2016 2:02 pm Leave a Comment

At their year-end barbeque at Memorial Park, members of the Lindsay Lightningbolts Swim Club reluctantly said good-bye to their retiring head coach, Lesley Molyneux.

Lesley was born in Manchester, England and started swimming at ten.  She started competing for the Tyldesley Swim Club at 11 and was selected as a member of the English National Youth Squad between the ages of 13-16.  Molyneux represented Great Britain as a junior international swimmer between the ages of 14-16.  At 16, her family immigrated to Canada as a result of her father’s job transfer.  After swimming briefly with a swim club in Scarborough, Lesley entered the work force.

She worked in the financial industry for 18 years before moving on to aquatics at the Lindsay Recreation Complex for 20 years.  When her three children (now aged 27, 29 and 30) started swimming, Lesley coached for the Lindsay Lightningbolts Swim Club from 1995-1999.  Molyneux returned to coaching in 2007 and has been the head coach of the team until her retirement.

When asked about her experiences as an elite swimmer, Lesley reflected, “I learned to prioritize my school work with my training schedule, how to work hard……yes I did puke and yes I did get right back in and swim. I learned that winning does not always mean a medal. I learned how to be patient as desired results do not happen every meet. Consequently, I learned how to accept both success and disappointment. I made life long friendships that have lasted to this day, not only with swimmers but with officials too, one of which became president of the English Amateur Swimming Association.”

Molyneux reflected that her coaching career was not unlike her swimming career: “I still have to make priorities, arrange schedules, work hard and be the best that I can be. I am constantly learning. I have to be patient and learn to accept success and disappointment, but this time it is not for myself but for the swimmers in the pool. I again have made friendships that I hope will last for years to come. The most important lesson that I have learned is that not everyone is going to be a World Record holder or Olympic Medalist. Winning is always putting your best effort forward, being the best you can be, and having no regrets.”

Finding a head coach to replace Lesley is proving to be a challenge for the LLSC Board.  Unlike larger city clubs, the head coaching position is not a full-time job. The team practices from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 6:30-8:00 a.m. on Saturdays. Ideally, a head coach would be a local person who has a passion for coaching swimming and is looking for a part-time position. More information is available at the Lightningbolts website.

First Physical Literacy Summit a Huge Success

April 20, 2016 4:01 pm Leave a Comment

The Central East Physical Literacy Project hosted its first Summit “Physical Literacy for Lifelong Participation” April 15 and 16 at the Holiday Inn, Peterborough. Over 100 participants came together to learn, network and strategize to raise awareness about the importance of getting the residents of the region participating in physical activity across the lifespan.

“Literacy has provided us with knowledge and now physical literacy can convert that knowledge into action. The seeds of a healthy lifestyle were sown at the Summit,” said Dr. Dean Kriellaars, Canada’s renowned physical literacy researcher and advocate from the University of Manitoba. Dr. Kriellaars was joined by Brandy Tanenbaum, co-lead of the Play Safe Initiative from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to deliver keynote addresses.

The Summit also provided an opportunity for representatives from different organizations to come together for the first time to discuss physical literacy. “We were encouraged to see sport, recreation, education, early child care and health sectors come together at the summit to learn how to work together to provide quality physical literacy environments  and  opportunities for people of all ages,” said Lisa Kaldeway, Co-chair of the Central East Physical Literacy Project.

The Central East Physical Literacy Project is a collaborative of agencies including:  Boys and Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, Kawartha Lakes Sport and Recreation Council, Trillium Lakelands District School Board and other agencies from Northumberland and Peterborough counties.

“I was struck by the level of engagement of the participants; they were inspired and motivated to be the change makers in their communities by becoming physical literacy champions.”

Dr. Kriellaars

Summit participants from the City of Kawartha Lakes region returned home as newly inspired champions of physical literacy. “The Kawartha Lakes Sport and Recreation Council (KLSRC) was pleased to be involved in planning the Summit and looks forward to hosting several follow-up training opportunities through the CEPLP. The City of Kawartha Lakes was well represented by KLSRC partners and community members as both volunteers and participants at the Summit,” said Gary Pearson, Coordinator of the KLSRC.

 

The Physical Literacy Summit is just one of the initiatives that The Central East Physical Literacy Project will be offering.  The Project aims to engage leaders in sport, recreation, health, education, and municipal government and will be working to provide education and training to foster communities where residents are active for life.

Funding for the Summit was provided in part by the RBC Learn to Play Project, with the goal to help children develop the confidence and skills they need to enable them to play, and become happy, healthy and active for life.

Learn more on the KLSRC Physical Literacy page.

“Physical literacy is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.” – International Physical Literacy Association