Peterborough Blogs
Mayoral Candidate Interview: Coun. Henry Clarke
/Felicia Massey speaks with mayoral candidate Coun. Henry Clarke for the upcoming municipal election this Monday. Massey and Clarke discuss the struggles citizens have in Peterborough, the environment, homelessness and the housing crisis.
Mayoral Candidate Interview: Jeff Leal
/Felicia Massey speaks with mayoral candidate and former MPP Jeff Leal for the upcoming municipal election this Monday. Massey and Leal discuss what Leal has been doing since four years after his MPP term ended, his return to politics and what he plans to tackle if elected.
Mayoral Candidate Interview: Coun. Stephen Wright
/David Tuan Bui speaks with mayoral candidate Coun. Stephen Wright for the upcoming municipal election occurring on Monday. Bui and Wright discuss the third economic wave, the drug addiction and homelessness issue and address community facilities.
Jim Coyle Announces Bid For Mayor of Douro-Dummer
/Longtime resident Jim Coyle officially launched his campaign for Mayor of Douro-Dummer at the Douro-Dummer Community Centre on Thursday.
Jim Coyle (left) receiving a full endorsement from current mayor and Peterborough County warden J. Murray Jones (right). Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Coyle joins Douro Ward Coun. Heather Watson in the race as current mayor J. Murray Jones has announced he will not seek re-election and retire from politics.
“My life is all about making a difference,” said Coyle. “I really believe with my leadership and helping through, we'll make a big difference in the lives here of Douro-Dummer.”
Jones was in attendance during the rally and gave his full endorsement of Doyle being the next mayor.
“I certainly support him, 100, 200, 300 per cent,” said Jones in his speech to the community centre. “He's the kind of guy we need moving forward.”
Doyle has owned and operated Coyle Packaging Group in Peterborough for 22 years and worked as a chartered accountant prior to the business.
He has been a member of the Rotary Club of Peterborough for 39 years, served on the Boards for the Peterborough Junior Lacrosse Club, the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation and Peterborough Golf & Country Club, among others.
Coyle addressed road safety for everyone, affordable housing initiatives, building permit process and accessbiility, high-speed internet access, strengthening emergency response systems for major storms as well as health, fire and police as his top priorities.
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Councillor Heather Watson Running for Douro-Dummer Mayor
/Douro Ward Councillor Heather Watson has announced her intention to run for Mayor for the Township of Douro-Dummer in the upcoming Municipal announced on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of Heather Ward.
She announced her candidacy at the Warsaw Town Hall on Wednesday.
Watson has been a Douro Ward representative since 2018. She has served on boards such as the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce, Peterborough Agricultural Society, Community Futures Peterborough and the United Way Campaign Cabinet.
"Looking to new horizons, I will focus on Building on Tradition,” said Watson. “To grow, we will need to not only look to the future but look to the past. We need to build our community, continue to update our infrastructure and build new partnerships."
Watson claims that she heard from community engagement that there is a need to reconnect and rebuild the community and that inflation and the housing crisis are making it difficult for families. Additionally, municipal facilities need new investment and that the environment and climate change are top of mind for residents.
Watson is holding a Town Hall meeting on Sep. 19 to hear concerns from residents to shape future policy.
“The next several weeks are about you. I want to hear from you and take your guidance as we rebuild and reconnect the community,” she said.
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Former MPP Jeff Leal Enters Peterborough Mayoral Race After Four-Year Absence
/After a four-year hiatus from politics, former Liberal MPP Jeff Leal is running to be the next mayor of Peterborough in a campaign launch at the Peterborough Lions Club on Thursday night.
Leal (right) greeting supporters at the door to a room of over 100 people in his campaign launch at the Lions Club. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Over 100 supporters came out to cheer on Leal as short speeches were made by several dignitaries, highlighting the former MPP’s accomplishments.
Laurie Carr, Hiawatha Chief; Adrian Foster, Clarington Mayor; Durham Coun. Granville Anderson; Lou Rinaldi, former Northumberland MPP and Ashburnham Ward Councillor Gary Baldwin were some notable figures present at the event. Carr and Baldwin spoke at Leal’s campaign while J. Murray Jones, Douro-Dummer mayor, sent a video endorsement but was not present at the event.
Leal served four consecutive terms as the MPP for the Peterborough - Kawartha riding from 2003 to 2018 until current Conservative MPP Dave Smith won the seat. The former MPP says he’s spent his time off politics volunteering in the community.
"I'm currently the chair of the board of Employment Planning and Counselling Peterborough, I'm vice-chair of the board of St. Joseph's at Fleming long-term care home, I'm on the strategic planning committee, I have a passion for golf at the Kawartha Golf & Country Club and I've also been doing consulting work in the field of agriculture,” said Leal.
The new mayoral candidate said had no intention of returning to politics, let alone running for mayor until he received overwhelming encouragement from peers and citizens.
"After 2018, I didn't aspire to run for political office again but certainly over the last four years, I've been an observer of things in the City of Peterborough and it's the unprecedented encouragement that I got,” explained Leal. “People coming up to me and said, 'We really think with the skills that you demonstrated in the past would be helpful to build a better Peterborough down the road.’”
Leal served under former Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne. He worked in several ministries as an MPP such as the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Environment and the Minister of Agriculture and Food and Rural Affairs. He says that experience will help in accomplishing his top priority if elected as mayor.
“One of the things that I'm going to identify is '100 Days of Action,' and part of that will be over the next six months to enter into positive, respectful, sensitive negotiations with Cavan-Monaghan to annex the City of Peterborough by 4,000 acres so we actually have the platform we need to encourage growth for future prosperity both for the City of Peterborough and the county of Peterborough,” explained Leal.
Leal joins councillors Stephen Wright and Henry Clarke for the mayoral race. Mayor Diane Therrien stated that she will not seek re-election in the fall last year. Voting day is Oct. 24 beginning at 10 a.m. with polls closing at 8 p.m.
Maryam Monsef Enters Mayoral Race In Peterborough
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Maryam Monsef has announced she is entering the race as candidate for the next Mayor of Peterborough.
"I believe Peterborough has what it takes to become a world-class city," says Monsef in a media release. "Despite our many gifts and successes, we are not there yet. To be a world-class city we need a better, more sustainable economy. We need neighbourhoods filled with people who have a great sense of community and belonging. I'm ready to lead."
Monsef grew up in Peterborough. She attended Grove and James Strath Public Schools before attending PCVS. She is a proud graduate of Trent University.
"I was raised by a single mother who left the uncertainty of life in Afghanistan so that her daughters could eventually become full and contributing members of society," says Monsef. "Two decades later, I stand here proud to be a product of everything Peterborough does best. The people of Peterborough saved my life. It's time for me to give back."
"My successes are rooted in my belief that dialogue, collaboration and creativity are cornerstones of effective leadership," says Monsef. "I will do the job in a way that will make this community proud."
The slogan for her campaign—which is being run by Jonathan Bennett—is: LISTEN. LEAD. THRIVE. Of note, Monsef is Co-founder of the Red Pashmina Campaign, recipient of the YMCA's Peace Medallion in 2013, represented Peterborough at the United Nations for the Commission on the Status of Women in 2013, and is an eperienced local board member. She was also on Peterborough This Week's list of Peterborough's 20 most influential people in 2013.
You can learn more on her campaign website she is launching.
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