The 54th annual Easter Seals Telethon will be broadcast live this Sunday, March 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on YourTV and Global Peterborough to raise essential funds for children and youth with physical disabilities.

During the telethon, hosts Mike Marton and Stu Harrison will welcome special guests MPP Dave Smith, Regional Easter Seals Ambassador Zoe Gibbons, 2026 provincial ambassadors Natalie Kavtaradze and Miles Checkley along with Easter Seals families.

“Funds raised through Easter Seals support children and youth with physical disabilities by providing essential mobility equipment, accessible summer camp experiences where kids can be kids, and programs that help them build independence and confidence,” says Jennifer Raftis, Community Engagement & Event Coordinator with Easter Seals Ontario.

Raftis says government and health care programs do not provide funds for mobility equipment, and that Easter Seals steps in to fill the gap.

In 2025, the organization raised $170,000 and hope to exceed that amount this year. Donations can be made during the Telethon broadcast or at easterseals.org/telethon. For more information, please call 1-800-461-3391.

The CFUW Peterborough group comes together for friendship, socializing, networking, lifelong learning, advocacy and support of education for women. All individuals who identify as women and share their vision are welcome to join.

CFUW Peterborough will hold its next meeting on Thursday, March 26 at 1 p.m. at the Peterborough Curling Club, 2195 Lansdowne St. W. The featured guest speaker will be Susan Zambonin of Habitat for Humanity who will speak about that organization and the work it does in the community.

Attendees at the upcoming meeting are asked to contribute to CFUW’s Period Product Drive to raise money to buy tampons, pads, period underwear and menstrual cups to donate to Kawartha Food Share to fight period inequality.

In addition to the monthly meetings and speaker series, several smaller interest groups get together at different times throughout the month to share common interests and activities such as book clubs, dining groups, bridge games, French conversations, arts and crafts, hiking, attending music concerts and theatrical performances. Members can engage in as many groups as they like.

CFUW is a women’s organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and internationally, with more than 90 clubs in Canada. For more information, please contact cfuwpeterborough@gmail.com.

East Central Therapy Dogs   

East Central Therapy Dogs is hosting an information evening on the topics of expectations of a therapy dog and therapy dog testing on Tuesday, March 31, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. followed by spring evaluation testing on Saturday, April 11. There will be two evaluation times: from 9 to 10 a.m. or from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., for your dog to become a therapy dog. To register, which is mandatory, please visit ectd.ca/register-for-next-evaluation.   

“Dogs can be candidates to become therapy dogs if they are friendly and don’t jump up,” says Kim Waterfield, director of East Central Therapy Dogs. “The commitment needed is a weekly, one-hour visit with your therapy dog to one of our client’s sites, local nursing and retirement homes and the hospital.”

When your dog passes the evaluation test, a mandatory orientation meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. All of the above meetings and evaluation are held at Applewood Retirement Residence, 1500 Lansdowne St. W. in their activity room (follow signs starting at reception). Do not bring your dog to the information and orientation evenings. There is a $20 registration fee.

“ECTD is a wonderful organization, which is made up of volunteers who make a difference in the community,” says Waterfield.

For more information, please visit ectd.ca.

© Peterborough Examiner