With the nomination period for the October 26 municipal election closing on August 21, Peterborough voters are looking for answers from candidates for city councillor who have filed their nomination papers.
In a multi-story series, kawarthaNOW is contacting all registered candidates in each of the City of Peterborough’s five wards — Ward 1 (Otonabee), Ward 2 (Monaghan), Ward 3 (Town), Ward 4 (Ashburnham), and Ward 5 (Northcrest) — for their position on key election issues such as housing, affordability, and council transparency, with comments from new candidates added as required.
In the first series of stories, kawarthaNOW asked candidates to introduce their campaigns by answering three questions: why they are running, what the biggest challenge is in their ward, and what makes them a unique candidate for councillor.
In Ashburnham Ward, longtime incumbent Keith Riel has left his seat vacant by entering the mayoral race while fellow incumbent Gary Baldwin, who also serves as first deputy mayor, filed his nomination papers on May 4 to seek a fourth term on council.
Ashley Bonner, a proud East City resident and community organizer, became a first-time candidate when she filed on May 7.
Returning to the Ashburnham Ward race is Dreams of Beans owner Andrew McGregor, who ran in the 2022 election and failed to unseat either incumbent, coming in third behind Riel by 953 votes. McGregor entered the 2026 race on June 16.
Another familiar face is Jason Stabler, who launched his campaign on May 28. He previously ran in the 2014 municipal election as a Town Ward candidate, coming in third behind Diane Therrien by 1,174 votes.
kawarthaNOW asked each of the four candidates to respond to the three questions in email, and is publishing their answers verbatim with no editing. McGregor did not respond in time for publication; this story will be updated with any response he provides.
1. Why have you chosen to run for ward councillor?
Gary Baldwin
It has been a privilege to have represented and served the residents of Ashburnham Ward for the past 12 years. As an experienced councillor, I understand how governance works and what it takes to get things accomplished. I have developed an excellent rapport and working relationship with City staff. I come to council meetings well-prepared, with a focus on debating the issues and representing my constituents to the best of my ability.
While there are big issues discussed at council meetings, what I like most about my role as a city councillor is the constituency work. I pride myself on delivering the best service possible. This often means meeting with constituents face-to-face, answering phone calls and emails, and then problem solving and working with staff to resolve concerns.
I have had a great deal of encouragement to continue in my role as councillor. I enjoy the work and am prepared to commit another four years to the residents of Ashburnham Ward.
Ashley Bonner
I’ve lived in Ashburnham Ward my entire life, and my decision to run comes from a deep love for this community and a strong commitment to public service. Over the years, I’ve had countless conversations with neighbours on doorsteps, in parks, and at community-led events. I’ve heard people’s stories, concerns, hopes, and ideas for how we can make our ward stronger.
I’m running because I want to help turn those conversations into action. Ashburnham Ward is a place with incredible community spirit, and I believe we can build on that by creating a more connected, inclusive, and resilient ward where residents feel heard, valued, and supported.
For me, leadership also means doing the work to understand how decisions are made. Out of commitment to this role and respect for the responsibility of public service, I’ve watched almost every council meeting for over a year. I believe it’s important to understand what has worked, where improvements are needed, and how to bring informed, accountable leadership to City Hall.
Jason Stabler
Ashburnham Ward is where I grew up and where I am now raising my own family. I love this community, its neighborhoods, its people, and everything that makes it a great place to live. I want to give back to a place that has given me so much, and help ensure it continues to thrive for everyone who calls this place home.
2. What is the biggest challenge in your ward?
Gary Baldwin
Ashburnham Ward spans from Trent University to Bensfort Rd. As such, there are a myriad of issues throughout the ward. The challenge is addressing concerns when presented.
One fundamental challenge is the cost to deliver services constituents have come to expect. City council needs to focus on growing our tax base to help pay for the services levels we currently enjoy. However, the biggest challenges in Ashburnham are the changing landscape of the ward and traffic. The village of Ashburnham has already seen a transformation of its landscape as new apartment buildings have been constructed on Hunter St and a new condominium built on Armour Rd. With the approval of a 17-storey apartment building on Hunter Street, the proposed 700 home development just east of the Liftlock, the swing bridge at Maria Street, a single-lane bridge on McFarlane Street, and the single-lane tunnel through the liftlock, traffic and congestion throughout Ashburnham is top-of-mind.
Ashley Bonner
The biggest challenge facing Ashburnham Ward right now is balancing rapid growth with our ward’s financial and physical realities.
East City is a beautiful and geographically unique part of Peterborough. In many ways, we are an island within the city. But over the past five years, we’ve seen a major surge in development, and that growth has placed real pressure on our infrastructure. Residents are seeing increased traffic congestion, growing safety concerns, and the strain will only worsen with more development on the horizon.
This growth is affecting residents in two major ways: our streets are becoming more congested, and our property taxes continue to rise. Year-over-year tax increases have pushed many neighbours to their financial limits. In some cases, long-time residents have been priced out of the homes and community they helped build. What makes that even more frustrating is that many people look around the ward and don’t see those tax increases reflected in better services or stronger infrastructure.
I’m running because residents deserve a reliable voice at City Hall, transparency in decision-making, and a serious plan to manage growth responsibly. Ashburnham Ward can grow, but it has to grow in a way that protects affordability, improves infrastructure, and preserves the community we all care about.
Jason Stabler
Transportation infrastructure. As the number of people living in Ashburnham grows, ensuring that people can travel across the canal (via new McFarlane Street Bridge), and north/south (via Ashburnham realignment) in a manner that minimizes impact on existing neighbourhoods and ensures that cycling and pedestrian options are included is important (there are currently limited options for crossing the canal as a pedestrian or a cyclist).
3. What makes you a unique candidate for councillor?
Gary Baldwin
Respectfully, as of this writing, I am the only candidate on the ballot with the experience of doing the job. I know first-hand the role of a councillor and understand the complexities of governance. I have a working knowledge of how the Corporation functions, I know the issues the city is facing, and I have a proven track record of working with staff to address concerns and find solutions. This coming term is an important one for Ashburnham Ward and the city. I look forward to ensuring Ashburnham Ward residents have a knowledgeable and experienced voice at the council table.
Ashley Bonner
What sets me apart is that my commitment to Ashburnham Ward isn’t a new campaign promise; it’s a proven track record. For the past ten years, I’ve been actively working to bring neighbours together, strengthen the local economy, and create a thriving and resilient neighbourhood.
I bring a unique combination of formal education in social services and international development from Fleming College and Trent University. In addition, I have a decade of business experience supporting local organizations, events, and small businesses through strategic marketing. But above all, I am a community organizer at heart. I don’t just talk about engagement; I roll up my sleeves and do the work.
I’ve been proud to help create and lead initiatives such as the Neighbourhood Networks, the Hey Neighbour pilot, the East City Neighbourhood Hub, the annual East City Neighbourhood Yard Sale, and East City CARE (Community Action for Resilience in Emergencies).
These projects reflect who I am and the kind of councillor I would be: present, prepared, collaborative, and deeply connected to the people I hope to represent. As councillor, I will bring that same energy, accountability, and dedication to City Hall to ensure all residents’ voices are heard and valued.
Jason Stabler
I have the background and experience to hit the ground running as a Councillor for Ashburnham Ward. I earned a law degree from the University of Manitoba and a graduate degree in public policy from the University of Victoria. Having worked in the BC public service and having held leadership roles in local community organizations, I understand how government works, and have experience building coalitions, navigating complex institutions, and leading initiatives that have made a real difference.
kawarthaNOW has reproduced written responses from candidates verbatim. Any errors, factual or otherwise, or any use of AI-generated content originate with the candidate.
