PETERBOROUGH, ON (March 7 2023) – If area residents are tired of winter, those feelings didn’t stop them from embracing Winterfest 2023.

Visual showing photos from Winterfest 2023 event.

Local residents, donors and corporate sponsors stepped up to support Winterfest in a big way, helping to raise $30,125 to cover treatment services for kids at Five Counties Children’s Centre. Winterfest is an annual ‘fun’draising event for Five Counties that, this year, was held over the recent Family Day long weekend with a series of virtual and in-person festivities. The amount raised this year surpasses the nearly $20,000 raised at Winterfest in 2022.

“We want to thank the support of the community, especially our staff, volunteers, families, donors and businesses who contributed to this year’s success,” says Scott Pepin, CEO of Five Counties. “We know our community is very generous, and once again, that has shone through!”

This year, Canadian Tire stores in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg, Campbellford and Fenelon Falls again stepped up as the lead sponsor of Winterfest.

Proceeds from Winterfest go to support Five Counties’ Building Abilities for Life Campaign, which helps ensure kids can get essential therapies so they can be their best. “The Building Abilities For Life Campaign is important because it helps address current wait lists for services like occupational therapy and speech-language therapy,” Pepin says. “We know the earlier a child can receive treatment, the more likely it is they can reach their full potential.”

There were a number of highlights from Winterfest 2023. Among the notable highlights:

  • Hundreds of children and families attended fun, family-friendly events at Lansdowne Place in Peterborough (on Feb. 18) and at Lindsay Square Mall (on Feb. 19).
  • A sold-out Peterborough Petes game on Family Day Monday (Feb. 20) saw many Five Counties kids and families attend and play different roles at the game. For instance, some of Five Counties kids and their siblings took on roles as GM, coach and PA Announcer, shadowing the real people who do these jobs during Petes games. Five Counties client Scott, and his entire family, also were featured in the pre-game ceremonial puck drop.
  • Approximately 125 children entered the Thank You card contest, in which they drew, coloured or created artwork that depicted thanks and appreciation.
  • Various virtual activities attracted online users to take part in a workout with the Peterborough Petes, winter scavenger hunt, story times, baking demo, snow creature contest, magic show and more.
  • An online auction saw more than 90 people sign up for and make bids on a variety of hand-made quilts, artisanal wood items, gift cards, kids’ toys, and more.

Five Counties has been dedicated to supporting children and youth with physical, developmental and communications needs for more than 45 years. In 2022/23, Five Counties is on track to support more than 6,000 kids/youth and their families in our region – the highest number of clients the Centre has ever served in a year.

Category: General News,Winterfest