Tributes to, and remembrances of, Ann Farquharson poured forth Tuesday in the wake of her unexpected passing.
The prominent Peterborough lawyer, former city councillor, and civic leader died in her sleep at her home sometime over the weekend.
Her death at age 68 has shocked and saddened many people from the several facets of community life that she was immersed in, both as a meaningful contributor and as a staunch advocate.
According to former Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, a celebration of life for Farquharson will be held at 2 p.m. this Saturday (November 29) at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.
“She was Peterborough’s daughter,” says Monsef of her longtime friend and supporter.
“She cared about this community and served it like it was her full-time job. We may have seen some headlines about some of her interventions, but the bulk of her work she did behind the scenes. Our community is so much better because of her.”
“Today (Tuesday) marks the start of 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence, a mission near and dear to her heart,” says Monsef, who served as the federal Minister for Women and Gender Equality from 2017 to 2021. “There’s a void. I don’t know what we’re going to do without her, but part of it is we have to pick up and carry on the work.”
In a prepared statement, Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal remembered Farquharson as “a dedicated advocate for our community” who “served the people of Peterborough with integrity and an unwavering commitment to making life better for others.”
“Her leadership, her thoughtful voice at the council table, and her years of service left a meaningful and lasting impact on our city. Beyond her time as an elected official (from 2006 to 2010), Ann was an active and passionate community supporter, always working to strengthen the places and organizations she cared about. She will be remembered for her generosity, her spirit, and her steadfast belief in building a stronger Peterborough.”
As yet a further tribute to Farquharson’s “remarkable life and contributions,” the flag outside City Hall was lowered to half-mast on Tuesday.
Also sharing reflections with kawarthaNOW was current Peterborough MP Emma Harrison.
MP Harrison says she and Farquharson “became fast friends” when Harrison announced her intention to seek the federal seat this past March. On the evening of her June election win, Farquharson was among those gathered at her victory celebration to offer congratulations.
“We spoke almost every day since we met,” says MP Harrison, adding “It’s going to leave a tremendous hole in my daily life not hearing from her.”
“One of the things Ann did best was elevate the voices of people who were strong advocates, especially women, in politics and in leadership roles. We shared the same passion for this community and for the riding as a whole. She wanted to see it represented and supported well. That was what she really cared about.”
“Anytime there’s a passing of someone like Ann, it’s a stark reminder of what’s really important in life, which is supporting one another and kindness, but also remaining steadfast in your beliefs and fighting for what’s right.”
Meanwhile, a “reeling” Joy Lachica acknowledged “such an absence” in the wake of the passing of “a very dear friend.” The Town Ward councillor says Farquharson “introduced me to the soul of Peterborough” when Lachica moved to the city.
“It was so meaningful to be introduced to the people, places and organizations; to the network that makes this such a great city. Ann was really a fulcrum in the wheel of so many who sought to be involved and connected, especially women. She really connected us and shone a light on things that mattered.”
“Many of us would have felt lost without her there to light that fire; to speak about the things that are important. I speak of her in the present tense because her fire and inspiration will live on within the folks she spent time with.”
kawarthaNOW also reached out to community activist Danielle Turpin.
“Ann really pushed people to do their best,” says Turpin, the founder and owner of Peterborough-based Home Care Workers Cooperative who, at one time, was seriously considering a 2026 run at a city council seat.
“She knew I was considering running. I knew Ann for several years — we’d meet at community events — but just this past year we connected more formally. We went out for breakfast and it became a bit of a regular thing.”
“I was looking through some of her text messages last night (Monday). In several of them, she told me how proud she was of me. I’m 51 years old. Her saying how proud she was of me sits very differently. She tried to make sure people knew their worth, especially women. She encouraged them to do their best; to know their value in society.”
Terming Farquharson “a force for good,” Turpin says “We lost a really good one yesterday (Monday). I don’t think the spirit that Ann had is going anywhere. I think, if anything, this (her passing) may light a fire. It’s like ‘OK, Ann’s job is done. We now need to carry that torch a little bit for her.”
Farquharson was a volunteer with the United Way of Peterborough and District’s 2025-26 campaign cabinet, and United Way CEO Jim Russell speaks to there being two levels of grieving in the wake of her passing.
“There’s the grieving of the loss of the person, and then the grieving of what does this mean for the community in terms of her passion and her commitment,” says Russell.
“Ann was a fierce, fierce defender of things she believed in. Then you layer on that the love she had for the community, the roots she had in the community — whether it was her allegiance to her party of choice, the Liberals, or her allegiance to boards she sat on. She was full throated and that was really part of her part of her makeup. She was all in. When you experience that viscerally from someone, it’s powerful. She was a force of nature. She was larger than life in many ways and that will be missed.”
“The other thing is she lived well. She enjoyed herself, she travelled, she had a rich network of friends, and she had a lot of interests. She was a model for all of us on how to live a life in many ways. Certainly we (the United Way) benefited from her commitment and passion. She was here last week phoning (United Way campaign) donors and thanking them. Most of the people she phoned she knew, or had some connection to.”
“She was a real model on taking action. She wouldn’t hesitate to phone CEOs and mayors and councillors and MPs. She was fearless in that regard. Part of that was her training as a lawyer and part of that was just her make-up — not taking no for an answer and advancing the cause. She was model and a template for how people engage in their communities. What’s interesting for me is that it was all about personal relationships for her.”
Feeling the loss of Farquharson as keenly as anyone is her longtime friend Terry Guiel, the executive director of the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce.
During his time in Peterborough, Guiel worked as a clerk in Farquharson’s law office, served a term on city council from 2003 to 2006 and, from 2013 to 2023, served as executive director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).
“She would friend you to death,” says Guiel. “If you were her friend, she knew everything about you. She would support all your friends, your kids, your pets. She friended hard and that’s a rarity.”
A self-proclaimed Conservative, Guiel says his political beliefs never got in the way of their friendship.
“She would constantly try to bring me over to the dark side,” laughs Guiel, adding “It made for great debate and conversations.”
“When we heard yesterday (Monday), we were all on her patio deck. I looked around and saw Liberals and NDP (supporters). I said “I guess I was her token Conservative.’ But I think she enjoyed that I brought a different perspective. She respected my opinion, but she would tell me I’m wrong a lot.”
“She really opened my eyes to a lot of things that were misogynistic and sexist, especially within the levels of government, including the municipal level,” Guiel recalls. ” The community has lost someone who was a strong advocate for the community.”
“I can’t name one person who has done more than Ann, and I don’t think there’s anybody out there right now. You have to have a lawyer’s mind. She did. You have to have a fight in you. She did. You have to be able to accept that people are going to hate you for your advocacy, which she tolerated.”
“In her advocacy for her community, she ruffled feathers, but if your feathers were ruffled by Ann, you were on the wrong side of what’s best for the community.”
