Family Support & Adaptive Play – June 27 – Lindsay

• What:  We’re pleased to partner with the Lindsay EarlyON Centre for a Family Support & Adaptive Play event on the fourth Saturday of each month. Join us for a safe space to play with your child (0 to 6 years of age), gain support, and make connections with other families. Dimmed lighting & sensory play, social & interactive opportunities, and small group parent discussions/support. Siblings are welcome to attend.
• When: Saturday, June 27, 9:30-11:30 am
• Where: Ontario EarlyON Centre (55 Mary St. W.) in Lindsay
• To Join: Registration is required. Email registration@oeyc.ca . For additional information, please reach out to Hayley at hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca or 1-888-779-9916, ext. 215

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• What: Is your child attending Kindergarten, Gr. 1, Gr. 2, or Gr. 3 in Fall 2026? Do they have a disability or exceptionality? Unsure what to expect? Let us help. Five Counties is organizing the Ready for School Event to:
  • Help families and kids gain knowledge and experience about attending school for the first time
  • Listen to a panel of parents share their families’ experiences transitioning to school
  • Ask questions of staff with Five Counties and other professionals who support students
  • Discover resources (like IEPs) within the school system to support your family
  • Learn about the 6F’s of Child Development and how they can help you introduce a child with unique needs to their new school setting.
  • Learn ways to advocate for your child.
  • School bus will also be on site to help kids know what to expect riding to school
  • Takeaway resources, as well as drinks/snacks
  • Children are welcome, as there will be exciting supervised, play-based activities for them! While families participate in the informative part of the Ready for School event, children can explore and enjoy a variety of age-appropriate activities.
• When and Where:
  • Saturday, June 13, at EarlyON Child and Family Centre (55 Mary St. W., Unit 106) in Lindsay
• To Join: Event is free for families. Click here to register for the event. For more information, or if you require the registration form in an alternate format, contact our Client and Family Experience Lead Hayley Hodges (hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca or 1-888-779-9916, ext. 215)

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• What: Is your child attending Kindergarten, Gr. 1, Gr. 2, or Gr. 3 in Fall 2026? Do they have a disability or exceptionality? Unsure what to expect? Let us help. Five Counties is organizing the Ready for School Event to:
  • Help families and kids gain knowledge and experience about attending school for the first time
  • Listen to a panel of parents share their families’ experiences transitioning to school
  • Ask questions of staff with Five Counties and other professionals who support students
  • Discover resources (like IEPs) within the school system to support your family
  • Learn about the 6F’s of Child Development and how they can help you introduce a child with unique needs to their new school setting.
  • Learn ways to advocate for your child.
  • School bus will also be on site to help kids know what to expect riding to school
  • Takeaway resources, as well as drinks/snacks
  • Children are welcome, as there will be exciting supervised, play-based activities for them! While families participate in the informative part of the Ready for School event, children can explore and enjoy a variety of age-appropriate activities.
• When and Where:
  • Saturday, June 6, 10 am to Noon, at Five Counties (800 Division St., Unit 2) in Cobourg
• To Join: Event is free for families. Click here to register for the event. For more information, or if you require the registration form in an alternate format, contact our Client and Family Experience Lead Hayley Hodges (hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca or 1-888-779-9916, ext. 215)

The post Ready for School Event in Cobourg appeared first on Five Counties Children's Centre.

• Help your child get ready for school by attending any of these upcoming events. Click here to register for Ready for School events:
  • Scroll down the page to register for event in Peterborough on May 30
  • Click here to register for event  in Cobourg on June 6
  • Click here to register for event in Lindsay on June 13.
• What: Is your child attending Kindergarten, Gr. 1, Gr. 2, or Gr. 3 in Fall 2026? Do they have a disability or exceptionality? Unsure what to expect? Let us help. Five Counties is organizing the Ready for School Event to:
  • Help families and kids gain knowledge and experience about attending school for the first time
  • Listen to a panel of parents share their families’ experiences transitioning to school
  • Ask questions of staff with Five Counties and other professionals who support students
  • Discover resources (like IEPs) within the school system to support your family
  • Learn about the 6F’s of Child Development and how they can help you introduce a child with unique needs to their new school setting.
  • Learn ways to advocate for your child.
  • School bus will also be on site to help kids know what to expect riding to school
  • Takeaway resources, as well as drinks/snacks
  • Children are welcome, as there will be exciting supervised, play-based activities for them! While families participate in the informative part of the Ready for School event, children can explore and enjoy a variety of age-appropriate activities.
• When and Where 
  • May 30 at Five Counties (872 Dutton Rd) in Peterborough
• To Join: Event is free for families. Click here to register for the event. For more information, or if you require the registration form in an alternate format, contact our Client and Family Experience Lead Hayley Hodges (hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca or 1-888-779-9916, ext. 215)

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Family Support & Adaptive Play – May 23 – Lindsay

• What:  We’re pleased to partner with the Lindsay EarlyON Centre for a Family Support & Adaptive Play event on the fourth Saturday of each month. Join us for a safe space to play with your child (0 to 6 years of age), gain support, and make connections with other families. Dimmed lighting & sensory play, social & interactive opportunities, and small group parent discussions/support. Siblings are welcome to attend.
• When: Saturday, May 23, 9:30-11:30 am
• Where: Ontario EarlyON Centre (55 Mary St. W.) in Lindsay
• To Join: Registration is required. Email registration@oeyc.ca . For additional information, please reach out to Hayley at hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca or 1-888-779-9916, ext. 215

The post Family Support & Adaptive Play – May 23 – Lindsay appeared first on Five Counties Children's Centre.

• What: Join us for our 2nd annual Spring Into Learning event. This year’s theme is: ‘Rethink Dis-Ability.’ Hear from a former Canadian Paralympian, a queer/binary/disabled Trent University professor, and social worker/community activist as they give their take on why it’s important to shatter our perceptions (and biases) about disabilities. If you are a caregiver, family member, community member, or professional with experience working with individuals with disabilities, this event is for you!  Join us for a day of hands-on learning, resources and guest speakers. Free event with lunch included (no child care available).
• When: Saturday, May 2, 9 am to 3 pm
• Where: Five Counties Children’s Centre (872 Dutton Road) in Peterborough
• To Join:  Fill in our online form here. You can also contact Hayley Hodges at 1-888-779-9916, ext. 215 or hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca
• Spring into Learning 2026 features:
  • Keynote speaker Alec Denys (5-time Paralympian, sports enthusiast and accessibility advocate), who shares his personal story of suffering a life-altering injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down, and how his love of sports helped him discover new abilities.
  • Workshop facilitator Derek Newman-Still (a local author, academic and activist) speaks on the importance of resiliency in their own life to respond and correct presumptions from those who diss their disability.
  • Workshop facilitator Maureen Pollard (social worker and compassionate bereavement care provider) explains how to ‘re-think resiliency’ by offering simple strategies for self-preservation that caregivers can into action when stretched to the limit. The focus is on small, manageable steps toward well-being that are possible even when life is hectic.
  • Mix and mingle session with other participants
  • Takeaway resources
  • Lunch and snacks included.

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• What: From April 27 to May 3, purchase a Smile Cookie from Tim Hortons locations in Peterborough, Bridgenorth, Lakefield, and Curve Lake to support Five Counties Children’s Centre and the Peterborough Humane Society. All proceeds (100%) will help bring a smile to the community by supporting the important work these organizations do in our community.
• When: April 27 to May 3
• Ways to Show Your Support:
  • Purchase a Smile Cookie at Tim Hortons locations in Peterborough and surrounding areas and help support both organizations.
  • We are looking for volunteers to help decorate Smile Cookies. Please complete this online form to get  involved.
  • Place a bulk order for Smile Cookies to share with your workplace, school or group.
  • Share on social media any photos of your Smile Cookies. Be sure to tag Five Counties and Peterborough Humane Society to help spread the word and boost community support.
• Where: Tim Hortons locations in Peterborough and Area:
  • Peterborough
    • 721 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough
    • 1527 Water Street, Peterborough
    • 1200 Lansdowne Street W., Peterborough
    • 336 Lansdowne Street E., Peterborough
    • 871-875 Chemong Road, Peterborough
    • 157 George Street North, Peterborough
    • 645 Lansdowne Street W. Unit (Lansdowne Place Mall), Peterborough
    • 55 Park Street N., Peterborough
    • 81 Hunter Street E., Peterborough
    • 898 Monaghan Road, Peterborough
    • 1781 Lansdowne Street W., Peterborough
    • 1420 Crawford Drive, Peterborough
    • 1901 Lansdowne Street W., Peterborough
    • 949 Highway 7 E., Peterborough
    • 106 Chandler Crescent, Peterborough
• Bridgenorth
  • 758 Ward Street
• Lakefield
  • 139 Queen Street
• Curve Lake
  • 1420 Mississauga Street

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Family Support & Adaptive Play – April 25 – Lindsay

• What:  We’re pleased to partner with the Lindsay EarlyON Centre for a Family Support & Adaptive Play event on the fourth Saturday of each month. Join us for a safe space to play with your child (0 to 6 years of age), gain support, and make connections with other families. Dimmed lighting & sensory play, social & interactive opportunities, and small group parent discussions/support. Siblings are welcome to attend.
• When: Saturday, April 25, 9:30-11:30 am
• Where: Ontario EarlyON Centre (55 Mary St. W.) in Lindsay
• To Join: Registration is required. Email registration@oeyc.ca . For additional information, please reach out to Hayley at hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca or 1-888-779-9916, ext. 215

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Every April, we celebrate National Volunteer Month—a time to recognize the individuals whose generosity, compassion, and dedication strengthen our community. Today, we’re excited to spotlight one of our incredible volunteers, Adriana. As you can read in this Q&A, Adriana’s commitment and kindness have made a lasting impact on the people we serve.

1) What inspired you to start volunteering, and how did you get connected with our organization?

“I’ve always enjoyed working with children and wanted to gain more hands-on experience. I came across Five Counties Children Center and was really drawn to the work they do. I wanted to get involved not only to gain more experience, but also because I value how they support and make a difference for children and families.”

2) What does volunteering mean to you personally?

“Volunteering to me means giving back to the community while also learning from the people I work with. It is also a way for me to learn, grow, and make a positive impact, even in small ways.”

3) Can you share a memorable moment from your volunteer experience?

“One memorable moment was hearing how much fun the kids had with me when I was looking after them during our “Family Meet & Greet Social”. I enjoyed creating a fun space for the kids while the parents could enjoy themselves and have time to connect.”

4) What has been the most rewarding part of volunteering here?

“The most rewarding part has been being able to contribute in different ways, whether that’s helping organize or spending time with the kids during programs. Even small things feel meaningful knowing that they can make someone’s day a little better. ”

5) What skills or strengths have you developed or used in your volunteer role?

“I’ve learned to adjust quickly to different situations and figure out what’s needed in the moment, especially when things aren’t always structured. It has made me more aware and comfortable stepping in and helping where I can. ”

6) How has volunteering impacted your life outside the organization?

“It has taught me a lot about myself, especially showing me how much I enjoy working in more hands-on environments and in roles where everyday is different and can bring new challenges.”

7) How has volunteering helped you feel more connected to the community?

“Volunteering has helped me feel more connected to the community by allowing me to be part of something that supports local families. It’s made me feel more involved and given me the chance to see the kind of support that makes a difference.”

8) What would you tell someone who is considering volunteering for the first time?

“I would say it is definitely worth doing. I have volunteered at a few different organizations, and it has taught me a lot about myself. You also get to meet many people in different roles while being part of something that helps others.”

9) What is something volunteering has taught you about yourself?

“Volunteering has helped me understand what kind of work I see myself doing in the future. It has also helped me discover different career paths I had not known much about before.”

10) In one sentence, how would you describe your volunteer experience?

“My volunteer experience has been a chance to challenge myself while contributing in meaningful ways.”

Volunteers like Adriana help Five Counties Children’s Centre continue delivering life‑changing support to children and their families. Every hour shared, every smile offered, and every helping hand contributes to brighter futures and stronger communities.

This National Volunteer Month, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers. Your generosity makes our work possible—and our Centre a place filled with compassion, encouragement, and joy. Thank you for making a difference at Five Counties Children’s Centre.

If you would like to learn about Volunteer Opportunities at Five Counties, click here.

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Peterborough Lions Club Charity Raffle in Support of Five Counties

• What:The Peterborough Lions Club is hosting a charity raffle in support of Five Counties Children’s Centre, Hospice Peterborough, and the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, helping strengthen vital services across our community. The raffle has 4 prizes:
  • 1st Prize: $1,500
  • 2nd Prize: $750
  • 3rd Prize:  $500
  • 4th Prize: $250
• When: Tickets are available now (while quantities last; 2,500 tickets in total are available). Tickets are $5 each, or three for $10. To buy tickets, email Lions Club member Don Sawyer at donsawyersr@msn.com
• Where: Draw will take place on May 25, at 7 pm at the Peterborough Lions Community Centre (347 Burnham St.)

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