Gratitude and generosity took centre stage at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre last week as the Community Foundation celebrated 15 years of impact. The event brought together donors, board members, staff, and community leaders to honour the Foundation’s contribution to local philanthropy. For those of you who were able to join us, thank you for making it such a joyous occasion. For those of you who couldn’t make it, we hope this story fills in some of the gaps without you experiencing too much FOMO.

One of the centre pieces of the evening was the Giving Table. The Community Foundation highlighted fifteen field of interest funds including the Arts & Culture Fund and the Food Security Fund by providing each guest with a ticket worth $15 to deposit in the bucket next to the fund of their choice. An anonymous donor offered to match every donation made. The Giving Table illustrated how contributions from many people create impact with a total of $8,550 raised for these funds through the event. The two most generously supported funds were the Food Security Fund and the Arts & Culture Fund.

After a lively opportunity for people to connect with one another and make their tough decisions at the Giving Table, Board Chair Geneviève Lavallée opened the celebration highlighting the Foundation’s 15-year impact, which includes granting $8.5 million to over 150 organizations and growth of community assets to $15 million. “Your commitment to giving, your passion for community, and your belief in the power of collective action are the reasons why we are here today,” she said.

Jennifer DeBues, Executive Director of the Foundation, kicked off the evening’s presentations by explaining that “because the Foundation has been created by “many hands, many brains, many wallets and many hearts, it’s only fitting that its story be told by many voices.” Jennifer and five other presenters used the unique and lively PechaKucha presentation format, known for its fast-paced delivery to offer a series of reflections on the theme of community. Each presenter had 3 minutes and 45 seconds to convey their narratives speaking with a backdrop of 15 slides, each lasting 15 seconds.

Ian Attridge, an original member of the steering committee that led to the creation of the Foundation, brought to life the deep connections between the region’s Indigenous heritage, and environmental sustainability efforts during his presentation. In a compelling narrative, Ian emphasized the delicate balance between social, economic, and ecological functions, warning that neglecting the environment could lead to barriers or dead ends. “But then we find community,” he said, illustrating how shared effort – community gardens, pizza ovens, and backyard gatherings – can bridge challenges.

Ashley Safar presented a vivid vision for the newly established Peterborough Community Health Centre. As the centre’s first executive director and a member of the Foundation’s Reconciliation Circle, Safar drew from her personal background, Tyendinaga Mohawk on her mother’s side and Hungarian on her father’s, to highlight the importance of inclusivity in community health care. She shared a story that resonated deeply: “So often I’ve had to teach people who I am just to get basic care.” Through her PechaKucha narrative, Ashley described a space where all individuals, particularly Indigenous and queer people, feel truly seen, heard, and cared for.

Kait Dueck, Executive Director of the Reframe Film Festival, shared a passionate reflection on the intersection of art, activism, and community. “Art and activism are beautifully entangled,” Kait said, emphasizing their resilience and their power to inspire change even in challenging times. With gratitude to the Foundation’s donors, staff, and volunteers, Kait concluded by toasting the Foundation’s commitment to building a thriving community, remarking that its care “ripples outward through every act of change they help bring to life.”

Christian Harvey, Executive Director of One City Peterborough, shared a heartfelt story about his work with marginalized individuals. He began by explaining the concept of the Looking Glass Theory, which suggests that we define ourselves by how others reflect ourselves back to us. He recalled an incident during the recent ice storm when he was called in late to One City’s overnight shelter. A woman was struggling to breathe, and though he did his job, and paramedics were called promptly, Christian didn’t feel he was reflecting kindness. “We are constantly interacting with people, and people are looking to us to figure out who they are. How we show up in interactions matters.” He urged the audience to reflect truth and kindness to others, saying, “Every one of you is a gift to our community.”

Camilla Duarte, a board member of the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, concluded the evening’s PechaKucha presentations with an inspiring vision for Peterborough’s potential as a globally recognized, equitable, and thriving city. Drawing from her diverse experiences living and working in cities like Bogotá, Melbourne, Montreal, and Miami, Camila highlighted Peterborough’s strengths but also acknowledged pressing issues such as homelessness, housing shortages, and an aging demographic. Camila spoke of Peterborough’s history of resilience and innovation, believing that, like cities such as Singapore and Medellín, it can rise to meet its challenges. “By supporting newcomers, new ideas, and those struggling, we create a platform for shared growth,” she asserted.

After the PechaKuchas, the Community Foundation announced $15,000 in grants to support 15 local charities in recognition of the Foundation’s 15th anniversary. The grants were specifically directed toward smaller charities where the impact would be most meaningful, and were made possible thanks to the generosity of another anonymous donor.

Before guests resumed their conversations, Ziysah von Bieberstein, former Peterborough Poet Laureate closed the evening with their moving poem, Everyday Electric, a celebration of community, collective action, and the small,meaningful acts that illuminate our lives together. “Why does it feel like my small actions don’t change anything, even though I know if none of us did them, it would change everything?” Ziysah’s poem asks. They concluded by urging the audience to “turn toward life” and, in doing so, return to each other. The imagery of resilience and hope resonated deeply, offering a fitting and reflective end to the evening’s celebration.

On behalf of the Board and staff of the Community Foundation, thank you for joining us last week and for your contributions to our successes over the past 15 years.  Here’s to the next 15!

Warmly

Jennifer DeBues

Executive Director

P.S. It’s never too late to give! Click here; all donations will be matched up to $15,000 thanks to an anonymous donor!