City of Peterborough to Meet With Provincial Government to Discuss Priority Issues

Peterborough City Council members will meet with provincial government representatives during the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa until Wednesday to discuss priority issues for Peterborough.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

The City of Peterborough requested five delegations with ministry representatives, and all five were accepted. Mayor Jeff Leal and portfolio co-chairs from Council will meet with the Attorney General, the Minister of Sport, the Associate Minister of Housing and Parliamentary Assistants from the Ministries of Finance and Infrastructure in five separate meetings.

“The City of Peterborough is thankful for the strong, collaborative relationships we have with the provincial and federal governments,” said Leal. “The AMO conference is an opportunity to connect directly, face-to-face with our provincial counterparts to both thank them for their critical support for our community and ask for additional opportunities to partner. We appreciate the efforts from Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith and his office in assisting us in our advocacy efforts.”

As the Chair of the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus (EOMC), Leal will also participate in delegations with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions to call for supportive housing and treatment for citizens requiring mental health and addictions support that is OHIP accessible and closer to home for the citizens of Eastern Ontario.

Municipal representatives from across the province gather each year at the AMO conference to discuss municipal issues and 2,500 are expected to attend this year. The conference is also an important opportunity for municipalities to meet directly with their provincial counterparts outside of the broader AMO conference activities.

The City has requested delegations with provincial representatives to discuss topics including:

• Modernizing the municipal fiscal framework to reduce the burden on property taxpayers

• Continued support of homelessness and supportive housing programs

• Housing-enabling infrastructure

• The new Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund

• A strategy for the allocation of judicial resources for the Provincial Offences Courts

Council members also plan to personally thank the provincial government for supporting the Canadian Canoe Museum and for its assistance through the Homelessness Prevention Program.

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Douro-Dummer Township Appoints New Interim Chief Administrative Officer

Mike Rutter has become interim CAO for The Township of Douro-Dummer to support the Mayor, Council and staff during the ongoing recruitment of the Township’s next one, accounted on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Places for People.

Rutter served as the CAO for the County of Haliburton from 2015 until his retirement in 2023 and prior to that at the Township of Trent Hills, County of Peterborough and other municipalities. Rutter has over 30 years of experience as a CAO and in municipal administration to this position.

“We are fortunate to have found a professional of Mr. Rutter’s caliber to join our team as Interim CAO while we continue our search for a permanent Township CAO. Mr. Rutter’s experience will assist the Township as it moves forward with capital and operational projects,” said Heather Watson, Douro-Dummer mayor.

Rutter has assumed the role on Monday.

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U.S. Consul General Takes a Stop In Peterborough

The City of Peterborough welcomed Baxter Hunt, U.S. Consul General in Toronto to town on Monday.

(From left to right) Jeff Leal, Peterborough Mayor; Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden; Vijay Kumar Khatri, Fairlife/Minute Maid senior director of operations and Baxter Hunt, U.S. Consul General. Fairlife/Minute Maid was one of several places Hunt was toured to by Leal and Clark. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Consul General Hunt's visit is part of the City’s efforts to position Peterborough as a destination of choice for innovative businesses and people as outlined in the City Council’s Strategic Plan according to a press release.

Hunt was welcomed by Jeff Leal, Peterborough Mayor and Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden at City Hall. They discussed the strong, existing relationships with American companies and people in the region.

“It was truly an honour to host Consul General Baxter Hunt in Peterborough today and to have meaningful conversations with the esteemed representative of the United States in Toronto. We are focused on building strong, collaborative relationships and were delighted to be able to showcase the deep connections we share with our American neighbours,” said Leal. “The visit was a welcome opportunity to show off our beautiful, dynamic, innovative community. I look forward to more collaborative conversations and visits.”

Hunt joined a roundtable with Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce members to learn about the region’s business climate and build conversations with the local businesses. He also toured the Coca-Cola facility, the Flexjet Flying Colours facility at the Peterborough Airport and the new Canadian Canoe Museum next to Little Lake. 

The daylong visit featured local cuisine and a tour of Peterborough County and the Peterborough Region.

“I have had the honour of serving as the Consul General in Toronto since last October and one of the best parts of my job is engaging with communities and regions such as Peterborough that are creating jobs and economic prosperity in both our countries,” said Hunt. “I appreciate the invitation to Peterborough where I have experienced the vibrant community first-hand this summer. The full day engagements highlighted the strong economic ties, people-to-people ties and collaborative spirit between the United States and Canada.  I look forward to continuing the many conversations we started today.”

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City of Peterborough Appoints New Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management Commissioner

City Council has appointed Blair Nelson as the City of Peterborough’s new commissioner for infrastructure, planning and growth management, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The decision was based on the recommendation of Jasbir Raina, chief administrative officer, during Monday’s meeting.

Nelson’s role is to lead a City department that includes Planning, Development and Urban Design, Building Services, Asset Management and Capital Planning and Engineering and Capital Works according to the City.

“City Council is focused on moving our community forward which includes substantial investments in our City’s infrastructure, implementing the new Official Plan to manage growth and alignment with Council’s Strategic Plan for our community,” said May Jeff Leal. “Blair’s extensive experience leading large, complex infrastructure projects will help position our City to continue the momentum that we’ve built.”

Nelson has served as the City’s Director of engineering and Capital Works since November 2022 and has held the City Engineer role with the City of Peterborough since July 2018. He joined the City in 2005 as an engineering design and construction technologist and has held progressively responsible positions, including Manager of design and Construction and Manager of engineering and Public Works, before moving into his current role.

Nelson is a Professional Engineer with memberships in the Professional Engineers of Ontario, Municipal Engineers Association, and Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. He was born and raised in the Peterborough area. He moved outside the community for school and returned to Peterborough to work as a project manager and engineer in the private sector before joining the City of Peterborough.

“I’m excited to continue to work with the knowledgeable and dedicated Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management team in this leadership role. We look forward to delivering essential services and infrastructure alongside our City colleagues to implement Council’s Strategic Plan,” said Nelson. “How we plan, build and manage our municipality is central to our community’s wellbeing.”

“Blair is a committed, forward focused and authentic leader who has proved his professional competence, managing many complex engineering projects in his career,” said Raina. “Blair possesses exceptional tacit knowledge about the City’s infrastructure and will prove to be instrumental in moving our City forward while we continue to invest over the next many years to maintain and build our critical infrastructure. I am extremely pleased that Blair has accepted a position in the City’s Leadership Team to lead this value-creating department.”

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Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act (Bill 31) To Be Presented For Third Reading

The Murray Whetung Community Service Award Act will be presented for a third reading on March 25, 2025, announced by Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith on Friday.

The second reading passed unanimously at Queen’s Park in early March last year. pHOTO courtesy of Dave Smith.

In the First and Second World Wars, roughly 7,000 First Nations individuals volunteered to serve. As a result, many who served were stripped of their rights for a time away from the reserve. Indigenous veterans able to retain their status were often ineligible for benefits available to non-Indigenous veterans following the wars.

If passed, the bill will create an award for Cadet Corps and Squadrons at the Annual Ceremonial Reviews. They will select a member who has displayed exceptional volunteerism and citizenship over the previous year for a new award from the province of Ontario, the Murray Whetung Community Service Award.

“Murray Whetung was a pillar in our community. He volunteered fight in the Second World War and dedicated his life to family and service. I was honoured to receive his endorsement for this legislation before his passing,” said Smith. “This bill does more than recognize the life of one man; it seeks to teach others of the injustices First Nations veterans faced for risking their lives in service to Canada.”

“My Shomis (grandfather) was humbled when MPP Smith approached him about the idea of an award named after him. My Shomis did what he thought needed to be done and didn’t expect special recognition,” Emily Whetung, Curve Lake First Nation former Chief. “He was a shining example of choosing happiness in the face of adversity and an inspiration to so many of us.”

The third reading will follow the Opposition Day Motion and will be live on the Legislative Assembly video feed.

“I’ve long stood proud on November 11 because of the commitment and sacrifice he has made and as our second Remembrance Day without him approaches I can’t think of a better way to celebrate his memory,” said Whethung. “Chi-miigwetch for learning our history and ensuring it is remembered by cadets across Ontario.”

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Photos: Minister Raymond Cho Mingles With the Residents and Staff of Canterbury Gardens

Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility of Ontario, stopped at AON Inc’s Canterbury Gardens Retirement Residence while visiting Peterborough to mingle with the residents and staff.

Minister Raymond Cho (left) enjoys the hospitality of Marilyn Thomas's (right) residence at Canterbury Gardens. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Cho was in town to make several announcements in the County including at the River Den in Lakefield and the Havelock Seniors Club in Havelock.

The minister told stories, opened a Q&A session for the residents and entertained them with an alto saxophone solo.

The Korean-born politician toured the Canterbury Gardens facility including visiting the residences and listening to the living conditions of the residents which were overwhelmingly positive.

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Douro-Dummer CAO Resigns; Accepts New Position In Brighton

Douro-Dummer chief administrative officer Elena Arthurs has resigned from her position to become the CAO for the Municipality of Brighton, effective March 28.

LinkedIn.

Mayor Heather Watson says that Arthurs has been an instrumental figure in Douro-Dummer’s administrative landscape, serving with dedication and integrity. That her strategic vision and exceptional managerial skills have been pivotal in navigating the Township through various challenges and opportunities.

“Ms. Arthurs has been a valued leader in working with Township staff to achieve Council's goals,” said Watson. “We will miss her goal-driven approach but we wish her continued success in her new role.”

“I am grateful for the invaluable experiences and cherished relationships forged while serving as CAO,” said Arthurs.

The township has already begun preparations to recruit a successor. Clerk, Martina Chait-Hartwig will act as the interim during their search.

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Peterborough Chamber's Power Hour Invites Political Leaders For Panel Discussion On Business Issues

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce is gathering local political leaders for a panel discussion to tackle local business issues in a ‘Power Hour’ at Stonehouse Hall on Friday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough and the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce.

Invited politicians for the panel are Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden; Michelle Ferrari, Peterborough-Kawartha MP; Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP and Mayor Jeff Leal. The discussion is moderated by Joel Wiebe, the Chamber’s vice president and government relations & communications.

Opening remarks are in the morning with a lunch served prior to the panel discussion occurring in the afternoon.

The event features a moderated Q&A session with questions submitted from by the audience.

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Hometown PTBO: Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Paul Wilson On His Tenure With Trent University and City Council

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame inductee Paul Wilson about his effect on Trent University and its athletics program, his squash career and his tenure as a member of City Council.

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Peterborough County to Welcome Winner of 'Warden For a Day' Contest to Council On Wednesday

Peterborough County Council is welcoming the winning Peterborough County secondary school student into Council Chambers as ‘Warden For a Day’ on Wednesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The contest was announced during local government week, launched last October, with the contest ending on Nov. 3.

This contest aims to inform students in the local community about the Warden's responsibilities, the services Peterborough County provides for its residents and the various career and elected office opportunities within local government according to a press release.

Grade 9 to 12 Peterborough County students were asked to submit a 60-second video answering two questions:

1. What do you love about living in Peterborough County?

2. What is one thing that you would do as Warden of Peterborough County?

The winning student will join Warden Bonnie Clark for the County Council meeting and they will also assist with the official presentation of the VIP Trophy for the 2023 Peterborough County Plowing Match. There is also a tour of Peterborough County facilities and will receive parting gifts.

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