Election Peterborough: How Social Media Will Have An Impact (And How To Interact With Local Candidates)

In the past, it was much easier for politicians to avoid any meaningful dialogue with constituents while they were out on the campaign trail: to hide behind attack ads or to stick to carefully prepared key messages written by party spin doctors.

That is beginning to change, thanks to social media.

We, the citizens of Peterborough, can now do the following:

 • engage with the political candidates on Twitter and on Facebook, asking that they run a campaign that is about issues and that they steer clear of personal attacks, half-truths, and hyperbole;
 
• insist that they provide factual, verifiable answers about their political record and that they spell out their plans for our riding in as much detail as possible;
 
• attend public events featuring the candidates and share audio and video footage of those presentations with our fellow voters via social media;
 
• write to the candidates about issues that matter to us and share their responses so that everyone can benefit from what we learn.
 
I intend to monitor the Facebook pages and Twitter feeds for Dean Del Mastro (CPC), Betsy McGregor (Lib), Dave Nickle (NDP), and the Green Party candidate (when that person is declared). I hope you will, too.

I hope you'll ask them questions and engage them in conversation so that, come voting day, you'll have a clear sense of which candidate will do the best job of representing the interests of the citizens of Peterborough Riding.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH THE CANDIDATES ONLINE:

Dean Del Mastro
web: TheDeanTeam.ca
facebook: Facebook.com/deandelmastro
twitter: @votedelmastro

Betsy McGregor
web: Betsymcgregor.liberal.ca
facebook: Facebook.com/betsymcgregor
twitter: @betsymcgregor

Dave Nickle
web: Davenickle.ca
facebook: Facebook.com/pages/Dave-Nickle/133285860052348
twitter: @davenickle

[written by PtboCanada contributor Ann Douglas]

[Related: Election Race Has Begun In Peterborough (And Jabs Already Starting To Fly)]

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PCVS Continues To Do Everything In Its Power To Keep Its School Alive

PCVS, which has been by far the most aggressive and vocal school in launching various public awareness campaigns to keep its school afloat (one of Adam Scott, Kenner, TASSS or PCVS will likely be closing), has now added a new poster campaign to the mix.

The posters—"Closed Doors At PCVS Means Closed Doors At Downtown Businesses"—are showing up in windows of stores downtown in support of keeping PCVS open.

PCVS's Peterborough Needs PCVS Facebook page now has more than 2,000 fans.

[Peterborough Needs PCVS]

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Election Race Has Begun In Peterborough (And Jabs Already Starting To Fly)

[chextvDOTcom]

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World Water Day Event Includes Speech On "The History of Drinking Water In Peterborough"

On Tuesday (March 22nd), it's World Water Day 2011, and to mark this special day there is a free event at the Peterborough Public Library from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in their auditorium that includes a keynote speech on "The History of Drinking Water in Peterborough". Should be interesting.

 

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Video: Dean Del Mastro Is Completely Condescending To Margaret Atwood

[UPDATE] More on the story here.

[YouTube; Atwood and MP scrap over copyright]

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PtboPics: Family Day At Ontario Speed Skating Oval In Lakefield

There was a great crowd out today for Family Day at the Oval in Lakefield. Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal was out with his family (see his picture below), and the ice conditions were pretty good considering the warm weather we've had of late, so kudos to the ice crew. People were able to try speed skates which were made available, and there were hot dogs and hot chocolate being served. It was fun in the sun.

[Ontario Speed Skating Oval]

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10 Security Cameras Could Be Coming To Downtown Peterborough

[chextvDOTcom]

Thoughts? Good idea? Pros and cons?

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Video: An Interview With The Mayor's Wife Jewell Bennett

And yes, she is asked about her "signature piece"—her hair.

[chextvDOTcom]

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What You Would Do With Peterborough Square

Photo: Evan HoltSo we recently posed the question on Twitter, "Peterborough Square. If someone handed you the building, clean slate, what would you do with it?" We received a range of interesting answers. Among them:

-- "Demolish it, build a public square & park around Market Hall with ice rink, outdoor stage, greenspace. Parking underground." —Candace Shaw

-- "Peterborough Square: Casino!" —David Feeley

-- "Dr offices. Professional buiding." —Paul Laing

-- "Ptbo Square partly demolished. Keep the theatre and leave the lower level for offices. Above should be a conference centre!" —Justin Beaudoin

-- "Convention centre, arboretum w/ space for farmer's market, town square." —Bill Juby

-- "PTBO Square should be an international flea market." —Catherine Hanrahan

Several people on Twitter really liked Candace Shaw's idea above, with Alana Callan remarking, "It would really put the focus back on downtown as a communal place, the 'heart' of the city."

So what do you think? Perfect world, what would you do with Peterborough Square? Leave it as is? Tweak? Radical change? Comment below, or elaborate on some of the thoughts above. 

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The Wheels On The Bus Will Continue To Go Round And Round, All Through The Town!

After Peterborough citizens stood up to the proposed transit cuts in an amazing show of force—exhibit A, exhibit B—city council last night reversed their decision to cut Peterborough transit, realizing, yes, it is an essential service.

"People were mobilized and they participated in democracy and they lit a fire under us…. I think that's fantastic," Coun. Dean Pappas told the Examiner. "It restores the service and that's the message that was clearly heard by all of us over the past two weeks."

[Peterborough Transit spared from service cuts after public outcry; Facebook Page Launched To Raise Awareness About Proposed Cuts To Peterborough Public Transit; Video: Amazing Turnout At City Hall To Oppose Transit Cuts]

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