Peterborough residents concerned about the proposed demolition of contaminated buildings at the former General Electric (GE) factory complex will have an opportunity to discuss community concerns and demands for transparency at a forum on Sunday, October 18.
“Good Neighbours Deserve Answers” takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Peterborough Public Library at 345 Aylmer Street, with admission at 12:30 p.m. The free event comes just over a week before voters head to the polls for the October 26 municipal election.
According to the event’s registration page, the forum will include a screening of the 2019 documentary Town of Widows, followed by a panel discussion to develop questions for GE Vernova and Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, along with strategies for obtaining answers.
Announced panellists include the film’s director and producer Natasha Luckhardt, GE retiree and occupational disease advocate Sue James, and Canadian Environmental Law Association staff lawyer Jacqueline Wilson.
“What’s to ensure that GE’s demolition won’t just add to our problems?” organizers ask in the event description.
Town of Widows, made by Luckhardt and Peterborough filmmaker Rob Viscardis, documents the fight for justice by former GE workers and their widows who believe workplace exposure to toxic substances caused illnesses and cancer deaths.
Both Luckhardt and James were among the public delegations who addressed city council last October about the proposed demolition and its potential consequences for the community.
VIDEO: “Town of Widows” trailer
The factory complex at 107 Park Street North began operating in 1891 as the Canadian Works of the Thomas Edison Company and later continued under General Electric. Manufacturing ended in 2018, leaving much of the complex vacant.
Property owner GEPR Energy Canada Inc., a subsidiary of GE Vernova, subsequently proposed removing most of the unused buildings while retaining several occupied buildings and others with heritage value. A heritage impact assessment commissioned by the company estimated that refurbishing the vacant centre-block buildings could cost up to $150 million.
The proposal prompted community concerns about the potential release of contaminants during demolition, the handling and disposal of demolition waste, and the long-term future of the property.
During council’s initial debate on October 7, 2025, Town Ward councillor Alex Bierk referenced a 2017 Unifor report documenting historical worker exposure to more than 3,000 toxic chemicals, including at least 40 known or suspected human carcinogens. City planning staff also advised councillors that GE Vernova had no redevelopment plan for the land being cleared and was not proposing a change in land use that would trigger additional municipal requirements for remediation.
At its meeting the following week, council voted 6-5 to limit its pursuit of heritage designation to eight buildings identified for retention, clearing a heritage-related obstacle to demolition of the remaining structures. Council also directed staff to return with an outline for a health and safety plan addressing the site and its broader impacts.
Concerns extended beyond city council, with Peterborough county council requesting information about the volume, contamination status, and destination of demolition waste, citing potential implications for the jointly owned city-county landfill on Bensfort Road.
In an October 24, 2025 letter to Mayor Jeff Leal, Ontario environment minister Todd McCarthy said ministry staff would review GE Vernova’s detailed demolition plans once received and provide technical comments and recommendations to ensure compliance with provincial requirements and protection of public health and the environment.
The following month, the Lakelands Public Health board voted to request a draft demolition plan addressing historic contamination, demolition and disposal hazards, and information about previous complaints and testing. Wilson addressed that meeting, describing the community’s concerns and advocating for public health involvement in assessing the proposed work.
The issue returned to city council in February 2026, when staff presented guidelines proposing a joint oversight table involving the municipality, provincial environment ministry, health unit, GE Vernova, demolition contractor, and an independent environmental monitor hired by the city and funded by the company.
The guidelines also outlined possible public communication measures, including plain-language technical summaries, live data dashboards, public meetings, and a hotline. These were only proposed measures, with staff noting that the city could not compel GE Vernova to adopt the health and safety plan.
At its February 23 meeting, council rejected Town Ward councillor Joy Lachica’s motion seeking disclosure of the company’s demolition plan through the chief building official by a vote of 3-8. Council also rejected by 4-7 councillor Bierk’s request for staff to report on available contamination information and seek additional information from GE Vernova.
The debate centred on the municipality’s authority, the independence of the chief building official, and potential legal liability. Supporters of the motions argued the city needed to take a more active role in obtaining information for residents. At that meeting, city CAO Jasbir Raina said GE Vernova had not yet applied for a demolition permit.
As for the October 18 community forum, it will seek answers to questions from the community such as “Will school children nearby be breathing in asbestos?” and “Will more dangerous chemicals be released into our water?”
“Good neighbours deserve answers,” organizers state in the event description. “With help from attendees, our expert panel will sharpen questions for GE and the Ministry and will develop strategies to get answers.”
To register for the October 18 community forum, visit pretix.eu/ptbo-gemolition/tix/. Space is limited.
