2025 Ice Storm Angel Nominations

When the ice storm hit, our Kawartha Lakes community showed just how strong and caring we really are. People stepped up in amazing ways—providing food and hot showers, clearing trees, and sharing power so neighbours could keep the lights on and the water out. Through it all, we saw the best of our community—kindness, generosity, and neighbours helping neighbours in big and small ways.

Now it’s time to shine a light on those Ice Storm Angels. If you know someone who went above and beyond during the storm, we want to hear about them! Nominate your hero and help celebrate the incredible spirit that continues to carry us through.

Winners will be publicly recognized, celebrated with gratitude, and showered with appreciation for their generosity of spirit. Let’s give these legends the spotlight they deserve!

Nominations close Sunday April 27, 2025. Three (3) winners will be announced Thursday May 1, 2025. Each winner will receive Two (2) Pick 2 Subscriptions to The Grove Theatre 2025.

Nominees

Andrew Carpenter - Sturgeon Point

Andrew went out his way to clear Gray and Golf Links Road in Sturgeon Point from tree branches and other debris to allow people to pass through safely. He had a small chainsaw and a white hard hat on while he cleared the roads for people to safely pass through. He helped people in their cars by directing them to nearby roads that were open, even going as far as to run home to grab the small chainsaw to help a group of boys trying to get through Gray Road with their pickup truck. His actions allowed people to safely navigate through Sturgeon Point, one of the hardest hit areas. Funny story: he went so far up Golf Links Road to clear tree branches that he met some Hydro One workers, who thought he was a safety manager because of his white hard hat!

David VanderWerf - Fenelon Falls

Dave worked tirelessly to remove trees with his chainshaw from not only neighbour’s property, but also the entire roadway out of Crane Bay in Fenelon Falls for more than a week, and all before he took care of his own property. He answered calls to give help to people running generators for long periods and stopped by homes to make sure the generators were operating safely, took care of oiling them as needed and taught people running out of propane how to start and stop their generators to preserve fuel. He taught my son how to safely run a chainsaw all while working away helping others... these lessons and patience on his part meant that even more neighbour’s were learning how to help each other. Dave always works with a "pay it forward" and "care for your neighbours" attitude and brings like minded people together in friendship doing hard labour for hours at a time and always seems to be smiling.
Thank you so much Dave for all of your help, safety lessons and hard work during the past few weeks!

Julia Taylor - Fenelon Falls

Julia Taylor was a rock star during the ice storm trying to balance the needs of her community and helping them with cleanup. Helping neighbour's with their cleanup along with organizing helpers. Manning and keeping the Fenelon Residents social media page positive and the residents informed. All the while her business was one of the last to get full hydro.

Mark Kuiken - Lindsay

Mark loaned out several generators to neighbour’s and even provided gas to get them running. We live across the street from Mark and our side of the street was without power for 8 days. Mark sourced out a larger generator for my family to use without us even asking, brought it over (with gas), and took the time to wire it directly into our panel so we could finally get our furnace running again. He also loaned one to our next door neighbour. He is a local business owner (Kewl Electric) and very community-minded - a great neighbour!

Trish Dupree - Kirkfield

Trish and the Lions den provided meals and a warm place for anybody to go to. They did breakfast and dinner the whole week, never asked for any money, Trish works very hard for her community.

Deborah Norris - Fenelon Falls

Took in a friend for shelter and warmth. Took a generator to someone without hydro. Made meals for someone who had no way to cook for their family. Made numerous wellness checks on people she cares for.

Liz Pead - Fenelon Falls

She hosted and fed people that were facing challenges and had no power during the Ice storm and emergency week.

Roger Stephens - Bobcaygeon

Not only did Roger single handily clear the road for all of his neighbours, he also made sure we could still get what we needed at the local Home Hardware store.

Denise Murray - Bobcaygeon

Denise is a caring and energetic woman who helped myself, my son and my son's elderly neighbor in Bobcaygeon clean up their properties after the storm. She also helped out another friend in Norland clean up their fallen trees. She also showed up at our business daily with Tim Hortons for the staff to share the comfort of food and to brighten our day. She also helped out another friend in Norland clean up their fallen trees. She herself was without hydro for 13 days and didn't let that hold her back form getting out there and giving a helping hand to those who needed it. Her motto is "Many hands makes light work". Her cheerful joy is contagious and she motivated my teen kids to come and help her out on all these endeavors.

Tadd Prentice - Lindsay

Tadd stepped up to help anyone that needed a hand from texting or calling to do wellness checks even knocking on a door if he got no answer. He has two of his won homes that had flooded basements and ice damage but he spread himself out to monitor them and take care of his friends family and neighbours. From getting basic coffee to those that were cold to opening his doors to friends that were hit the worst and had no way of staying warm cooking etc.
he would call first thing in the morning and anyone that needed fuel he would make the run to the 115 or even into Oshawa for generators for those that couldn’t get out for them or have a means to transport them.
He is the one of the biggest hearted people that I know. He slept very little just to make other more comfortable. He is truly a blessing to all that have encountered his acts of kindness whether he knew the or not.
He is still helping people with there clean ups the list could go on forever for all he has done and continues to do!
Much respect for all that stepped up but he is selfless to say the least so that’s why I am nominating him.