Up on the rooftop
Camille Parent is trying something new for this year’s Peterborough Cares weekend
Camille Parent is about to do something he said he’d never do. He’s spending a weekend on the roof of a building.
“I guess you get braver with age,” he said.
The Peterborough Cares founder and CEO will be hoisted atop Arby’s at the Parkway Plaza on Lansdowne St. W. Friday morning.
He’s doing it to raise money for YES Shelter for Youth and Families as part of Peterborough Cares.
Peterborough Cares is a fundraising initiative supporting organizations’ efforts to raise money for various charities. It also aims to raise awareness for the causes highlighted throughout the weekend.
There are three events happening this weekend.
The Electric City Maroon and White, a special needs hockey team formerly called the Peterborough Huskies, is hosting a fundraiser at Giant Tiger on Highway 28. There’ll be a barbecue and face painting Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. OPP will join in during the event on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and again on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Morello’s Independent Grocery in Willowcreek Plaza on Lansdowne St. E. kicks off its fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada Friday at noon. There’s a silent auction, barbecue, Kawartha Dairy ice cream, and The Wolf’s Brian Ellis is spinning tunes.
Then there’s a breakfast on Saturday from 8 to 10:30 a.m., a car wash from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a barbecue from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Paul Rellinger already held his Peterborough Cares event at the Brick on May 5 to 7. Relly on the Roof raised $4,946 for the local Habitat for Humanity during Rellinger’s 48 hours atop the Brick’s rooftop.
Since launching Peterborough Cares seven years ago, Parent said people have always asked him when he’d be climbing onto a roof to raise money.
The answer was always “never” – until this year.
But Parent isn’t spending the entire weekend up there. Not just yet, anyway.
“I have to build up to it,” said Parent.
The Peterborough Vacuum owner will get a lift in the fire department’s bucket to the roof of Arby’s at 9 a.m. Friday and he’ll stay up there until 7 p.m. Ellis will be DJing in the afternoon before Housebrand performs at 4:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Parent gets back on the roof again from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Arby’s is donating $1 from every combo sold during that time to the cause.
Then on Sunday, Parent is back again from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Personal Service Coffee and Peterborough Vacuum, the business he owns, will be giving out ballots to win prizes as well as selling ballots to win a handcrocheted blanket.
Last year, Peterborough Cares raised a total of $19,691 for various charities.
Parent hopes to to be able to raise $20,000 this year.