Infectious high energy is what the United Way Peterborough & District wanted and, with the naming of Tiffany Arcari as chair of its 2026-27 campaign, infectious high energy is just what the United Way Peterborough & District got.
On Wednesday (June 15) at the United Way office on Stewart Street, Arcari was introduced as the volunteer leader of the annual appeal that, while underway now, will begin officially via the campaign kick-off lunch in September.
In naming Arcari the campaign chair, the United Way has chosen a spark plug who, on the social media battlefield, has proven nothing short of a relentless warrior.
A Hamilton native who, upon graduation from Fleming College, decided to make Peterborough her home, Arcari is community manager at Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory where she has led a number of community initiatives.
That said, it’s her ongoing work as producer and host of The Tiffany Show that has brought her wider acclaim as a community builder who lifts up others in a bid to help them reach their full potential. Aired on Cogeco’s YourTV, YouTube, and other digital platforms, the show shines a light on local community builders and shares their inspiring stories.
From that has sprung Arcari’s popular annual International Women’s Day Party, which was held for a third time this past March at The Venue in downtown Peterborough. The free admission event saw a standing-room-only crowd celebrate women’s achievements via connection and the sharing of heartfelt moments.
At Wednesday’s announcement, Arcari said the role of United Way campaign chair is, to her mind, an extension of the energy she brings to conversations, and her deep-rooted passion for supporting local people, businesses and organizations.
“With The Tiffany Show, with my work at Gauvreau, the work that the United Way does — and being campaign chair — fits my mission, my vision, and my values,” she said, adding “When something aligns so beautifully like that, you’ve got to do it. You’ve got to take action.”
“When (the United Way) asked me (to be campaign chair), I was like ‘Are you sure about that?’ But I was immediately honoured and excited because I know the United Way has been in our community making changes for so many years. I knew that I wanted to step in and I wanted to help and, honestly, that just kind of fuelled the fire in my belly that always gets me to take action and do something.”
Earlier, following newly appointed United Way CEO Jason Seguya’s introduction of Arcari — he credited her as someone who “creates conversations that spotlight resilience, elevates local voices, and builds community through powerful storytelling” — she termed the local United Way “a certified neighbour,” adding “For 85 years, the United Way has shown us what happens when neighbours help neighbours.”
“This community has always been strongest when people choose to look out for each other,” Arcari said. “I’m inviting all of you to be a part of that story.”
“It’s about taking action. It’s about seeing a need and showing up to help. A neighbour notices, a neighbour cares, and a neighbour says ‘How can I help?’ My hope is this campaign carries the movement of certified neighbours — people who choose kindness, people who look out for and take care of each other, people who choose to show up.”
A particularly poignant came when Arcari reflected on when she arrived in Peterborough “with nothing and nobody.”
“It’s not easy when you don’t have a family support system and a network, and you’re starting out from scratch, and you’re young, and you’re figuring it out, and you’ve got a fire in your belly.”
“At one point, we had to choose between getting winter tires or eating for the month. I’ll never forget that moment of weighing what we were going to do; where we were going to get the money. I leaned in to the United Way and their partners for help, so I know what it’s like to have community rally, and wrap itself around you, and give you a helping hand so you can get up and you can move on with the goals and the dreams that you have. I will forever be grateful for that support.”
For his part, Seguya told kawarthaNOW that Arcari’s energy, while a factor in the decision to ask her to be campaign chair, wasn’t the only reason.
“Tiffany brings in conversations and collaborations. She’s a true convener of people. One thing that’s going to be so important in this campaign is the collective efforts of many. What Tiffany brings is a combination of both sophistication in people planning and capacity, but also an element of bringing out the best where you want to perform.”
“With Tiffany at the helm of this campaign, I’m confident that many others will demonstrate skillsets that really respond to the needs of the campaign in the long run.”
During the United Way’s 2025-26 campaign, Arcari’s involvement saw her consistently share United Way messages on her heavily followed social media platforms as well as serve as an ambassador and judge for the United Way Ultimate Burger Battle held in November.
In addition, she hosted a donation drive at her International Women’s Day event for the United Way’s Period Promise initiative — a partnership that saw close to 10,000 feminine hygiene products collected in one day.
With a goal of $1.6 million, last year’s campaign saw $1.56 million brought in for the continued vital work of the United Way’s 20 partner agencies.
Asked what the goal is for the coming campaign — a number that is always revealed at the September campaign launch — Arcari paused, before saying “You almost tricked me. I do know the goal. It’s a doozy. You’re going to have to stay tuned.”
“Two weeks ago, I sent the United Way team a list of about 50 different ideas of things we could do. I think whatever we do, A, we do it together and, B, I want to make sure it is low-hanging fruit for the (United Way) staff but big impact for the community.”
“They (staff) are already spread thin. Coming in as campaign chair, you can’t be blowing all that up. We’ve got to be very cognizant of their time and their capacity. That’s why we have a campaign cabinet. That’s why we have a board of directors. There are lots of people we can tap — many hands make light work.”
Recognized last year with a Luminary Award as Emerging Entrepreneur from the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, Arcari is no stranger to volunteer work, having sat on boards for the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA). Via her position with Gauvreau, she has also championed the firm’s annual school supplies and backpack drive.
“Reciprocity breeds reciprocity, kindness breeds kindness, and vulnerability fosters connection,” said Arcari. “it was a really dark time when I was young. You don’t have money, you don’t know where the rent’s coming from, you’re not sure how you’re going to feed yourselves next.”
“I’ll never forget that woman on the other side of the food bank counter that cashed me out. Those things stick with you, right? They helped me, so I need to pay it back. I spent most of my life kind of not feeling like I belonged until I came to Peterborough and built what I have built here, and plugged into this community. It’s really easy for me to follow that path because I care so much. I want to give back because I was helped when I was down.”
“I’m ready. I finished my term with the DBIA board of directors, so that has freed up some of my capacity. Having Bob Gauvreau make this campaign chair role fit into my community management role at Gauvreau really gives me time, space, and energy to be able to do this.”
Moving forward, Seguya says work preparing for the new campaign will continue through the summer months, noting “The best way to do so is by being pragmatic, which comes from the data (from ongoing analysis of the past campaign).”
And the new campaign goal is?
“There’s no point in asking that,” Seguya said, smiling. “You’ll get the same answer (as Arcari’s).”
For more information about United Way Peterborough & District’s 2026-27 campaign and how to become involved, visit uwpeterborough.ca or call 705-742-8839.
The original version of this story has been replaced with full coverage by Paul Rellinger.
