Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal will not seek a second term in the October municipal election.

Leal made the announcement in the boardroom at Peterborough City Hall on Thursday morning (August 20), ending months of speculation about his political future just one day before the nomination period closes.

After describing accomplishments under his term as mayor — including the mayor’s task force on housing, physician recruitment, investments in city parks, infrastructure improvements, and taking economic development and tourism in house — the 71-year-old Leal said he has “to be realistic about my age and my health.”

“If this were a two-year term, I would happily run again to see some of the major projects we have worked so hard to advance through to completion,” Leal said. “But committing to another four years of seven-days-a-week work is not what I am looking for at this stage of my life.”

He noted that he requires knee surgeries and “consequent rehab that would make my high standards of work ethic difficult to achieve” and that he wants “to enjoy my beautiful family while I still have good health.”

Leal’s decision means his four-year term as Peterborough’s 63rd mayor will conclude when the next city council takes office following the October 26 election.

Six candidates have filed their nomination papers to run for mayor: Michael Eamon, Brian Lumsden, Jacob Méthot, Neil Morton, incumbent Ashburnham Ward councillor Keith Riel, and Rebecca Schillemat.

Trent Radio director of operations Rob Hailman has also announced he will file his nomination papers on Friday (August 21). If he does, he will become the seventh candidate seeking the mayor’s chair. The nomination period closes at 2 p.m. Friday.

“The electorate now has an extremely important decision to make in the next municipal election,” Leal said. “Nostalgia and generalities is not a plan. I firmly believe Peterborough needs leaders who will continue the growth mindset we have established, and who stand on the shoulders of others.”

Leal’s full speech is available on the City of Peterborough website.

A Peterborough native and graduate of Kenner Collegiate, Trent University, and the University of Windsor, Leal began his political career when he was elected to represent Otonabee Ward on Peterborough city council in the mid-1980s. Before entering politics, he was employed as a health and safety representative for Coyle Corrugated Containers in Peterborough.

Leal remained on council until 2003, serving as deputy mayor from 1993 to 2003, first under Mayor Jack Doris and then Mayor Sylvia Sutherland.

He first ran provincially as the Ontario Liberal candidate in Peterborough in 1999, narrowly losing to incumbent Progressive Conservative MPP Gary Stewart. In a 2003 rematch, Leal defeated Stewart by more than 6,000 votes.

He was re-elected as Peterborough MPP in 2007, 2011, and 2014. During his 15 years at Queen’s Park, Leal served in several parliamentary assistant roles, as chief government whip, and in the provincial cabinet under then-premier Kathleen Wynne.

Leal was appointed minister of rural affairs in 2013 and became minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs the following year.

His provincial political career ended in 2018 when he finished third behind successful Progressive Conservative candidate Dave Smith and NDP candidate Sean Conway.

The results reflected an election that saw incumbent premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal party recording both the worst result in the party’s 161-year history and the worst result for any incumbent governing party in Ontario, as Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative formed a majority government, the Ontario New Democratic Party led by Andrea Horwath formed the official opposition, and the Liberal party lost official party status.

After four years away from elected office, Leal returned to municipal politics in 2022 when he announced his intention to run as Peterborough’s mayor. He defeated four other candidates — including then-city councillors Henry Clarke and Stephen Wrigt — finishing more than 4,600 votes ahead of Clarke.

Leal’s single term as mayor included several controversial decisions and incidents, particularly during 2025, when kawarthaNOW named him Peterborough’s Newsmaker of the Year.

In February 2025, Leal used his strong mayor powers to expedite Brock Mission’s proposed six-storey transitional housing project at 738 Chemong Road despite opposition from some neighbouring residents and most members of city council.

The decision prompted Northcrest Neighbours for Fair Process to launch a legal challenge. The group ultimately abandoned the case after a judge ordered it to provide $30,000 as security for the legal costs of the city and Brock Mission, later agreeing to pay $22,500 to settle the matter.

In May 2025, the city’s integrity commissioner Guy Giorno found Leal had violated city council’s code of conduct by intimidating councillor Alex Bierk and bullying councillor Joy Lachica in connection with the controversial redevelopment of Bonnerworth Park for pickleball courts.

The report, which also found Leal’s decision-making on the redevelopment did not involve a “private advantage” for him or for his wife, concluded the mayor’s comments to councillor Alex Bierk that “You’re going to regret you ever said that” and “I’ll carve you like a Thanksgiving turkey” — comments made after Bierk mentioned the mayor’s pickleball-playing wife by name during a council meeting — constituted intimidation.

Giorno also found that Leal had bullied councillor Joy Lachica by yelling at her in a city hall corridor following a council meeting on the Bonnerworth Park redevelopment, as well as through his behaviour toward her at a subsequent closed session.

Despite Giorno’s findings, city council meeting as general committee voted 7-3 against penalizing the mayor for breaching city council’s code of conduct, with councillors Bierk, Lachica, and Keith Riel voting against the motion (Leal had recused himself from the discussion and the vote). The arguments in support of the mayor were that he had already been penalized enough through the public shame of the integrity commissioner’s report.

Giorno issued another report in January 2026, this time clearing Leal of breaching council’s code of conduct during an incident in March 2025 while speaking to a business administration class at Trent University, when he used the n-word. The mayor claimed he had been quoting former U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson, but the incident prompted calls for his resignation, a protest outside city hall, and nine complaints to the integrity commissioner.

In his report, while Giorno described the slur as “odious” and said the mayor’s use of the term was “not acceptable,” he found that council’s code of conduct did not apply to speech made in an academic setting where the mayor was not acting in his official capacity. City council later amended the code of conduct to address the use of racial slurs.

Leal also faced criticism over his support for substantial increases to the Peterborough Police Service’s operating and capital budgets, including a 9.22 per cent operating increase for 2026 and a $25.4-million increase to the estimated cost of renovating and expanding the city’s two police stations.

The 2026 municipal election will be held on Monday, October 26. Peterborough voters will elect a mayor, two councillors in each of the city’s five wards, and school board trustees.

With files from Paul Rellinger.

The original version of this story has been updated with excerpts from Mayor Leal’s speech.

As the fall municipal election in Peterborough approaches, residents are asking candidates hard questions about their most pressing issues — including their financial priorities.

Councillors are responsible for making decisions on the city’s annual budget, including priorities for services ranging from the police to the library and much more. For voters, understanding a candidate’s position on funding needs and priorities is central to making a decision on whether to support a candidate.

In recent years, the annual budget process has drawn significant criticism from residents. For example, when city staff proposed a 25 per cent cut in funding for 75 arts and social services organizations in the 2025 draft budget as a way to reduce costs, council heard from 33 public delegations before voting to maintain 2024 funding levels

Municipal elections across Ontario will take place on Monday, October 26. As residents of a single-tier municipality, Peterborough voters will elect a mayor, two city councillors in each of the city’s five wards, and school board trustees.

Although incumbent mayor Jeff Leal has yet to declare whether he intends to run for re-election, six candidates have filed their nomination papers so far seeking the mayor’s chair: Michael Eamon, Brian Lumsden, Jacob Méthot, Neil Morton, incumbent councillor Keith Riel, and Rebecca Schillemat.

Meanwhile, seven incumbent councillors have already begun their campaign for re-election. With 18 first-time or repeat candidates fighting to take their roles, each seat will be hotly contested. The nomination period is still open until Friday (August 21), so it’s possible even more candidates may decide to throw their hats in the ring.

As part of a multi-story series on the Peterborough municipal election, kawarthaNOW has already asked registered candidates in each of the city’s five wards 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 — and has published their responses verbatim: Ward 1 (Otonabee), Ward 2 (Monaghan), Ward 3 (Town), Ward 4 (Ashburnham), and Ward 5 (Northcrest).

kawarthaNOW has now contacted all registered ward candidates to ask for their position on key election issues, including the question “What are your financial priorities and how will you balance funding needs across city services?”

kawarthaNOW asked each of the ward candidates to respond in email, and is publishing their answers verbatim with no editing.

kawarthaNOW asked each of the ward candidates to respond in email, and is publishing their answers verbatim with no editing. Responses were not received by publication date from Jessica Correa (Ward 1 – Otonabee), Andrew MacGregor (Ward 4 – Ashburnham), or Charmaine Magumbe and Debbie Halstead (Ward 5 – Northcrest). Jessica Correa has since withdrawn from the race. Charmaine Magumbe and Andrew MacGregor provided responses after publication.

kawarthaNOW has reached out to Aris Metaxakis, a Ward 2 – Monaghan candidate who registered after kawarthaNOW sent its questions to candidates, and will include his answers to the questions if he responds.

Ward 1 – Otonabee

Kevin Duguay

City’s are facing considerable challenges arising from the downloading of responsibilities from upper levels of government. Community residents’ needs and requirements also continue to evolve, change and expand.

My responsibility as a City Councillor is to ensure the prudent and use of tax dollars addressing the wide-range of City programs, services and facilities.

For the next Council term, I will ensure that the overall City Budget achieves a proper balance between the taxpayers ability to accommodate the operating and capital budgets while ensuring that the City continues to grow and prosper.

The City’s Effectiveness and Efficiency Review Report is scheduled for public release in September 2026. This Report will provide Council and the community with various options to shape the financial parameters of future budgets.

Lesley Parnell

The municipal tax dollar has specific, mandated responsibilities. There are the “must dos” in order of priority and with balance, versus the “nice to dos”. We have embarked on a fulsome “Effectiveness and Efficiency Review” of all municipal services. This will highlight areas of opportunity to improve the delivery of services, in the most financially and priority driven way, to be efficient and sustainable moving forward. A Master Plan to help us stay focused and achieve the priority goals first — if the plan is adopted by the new council.

Chris Potter

My financial priority is discipline.

Residents are tapped out, and that has to be the starting point.

I do not support municipal tax increases beyond the rate of inflation. If council wants residents to pay more, council needs to be able to clearly explain why, what the money is for, and what has already been done to find savings first.

That doesn’t mean cutting recklessly. It means asking tougher questions before spending more.

We need to look closely at service delivery, staffing costs, capital planning, debt, reserves, outside boards and agencies, and whether programs are actually delivering what they’re supposed to deliver.

The City still has to fund core services, including roads, transit, housing-related pressures, emergency services, parks, waste, and infrastructure. None of that disappears because the budget is difficult. But the answer can’t always be to raise taxes and move on.

I want to see a stronger focus on value for money, clearer reporting, better long-term planning, and a budget process residents can actually understand.

Ward 2 – Monaghan

Matt Crowley

At the end of the day, every budget comes down to making choices.

My priority has always been to make sure taxpayers receive value for the money they pay while ensuring the City continues to provide the services people rely on every day.

Bottom line, that starts with looking after the infrastructure we already have. Roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, parks, and public facilities are very expensive to replace if we don’t maintain them properly. If we continue to invest in them now, it helps avoid much larger costs tomorrow.

It also means continuing to grow our commercial and industrial tax base through economic development. The more businesses we attract, the more we broaden the tax base and reduce pressure on residential property taxpayers over the long term.

One of the biggest financial challenges we face today is that we’re increasingly responding to downloaded issues that extend beyond traditional municipal responsibilities. Housing, homelessness, addictions, and mental health all have a direct impact on our community, but they also require strong partnerships with the provincial and federal governments. Local property taxes were never designed to fund every challenge a community faces.

My approach is fairly straightforward in that we spend responsibly, plan for the long term, invest where it makes the biggest difference, and continue advocating for Peterborough to receive its fair share from other levels of government.

Ashley Flynn

Many dollars our city spends comes from the taxpayers, so I think they need to be treated with respect.

I would like to ensure we’re getting value for every tax dollar while protecting the services our residents rely on. That means setting clear priorities, looking for efficiencies, and making long-term investments that reduce costs down the road instead of simply reacting year to year. We need to think further into the future instead of just focusing on the now.

Again, this comes down to the need to grow our revenue through economic development, not by continually asking homeowners to shoulder higher taxes. Expanding our commercial and industrial tax base, is one of the best ways to strengthen city finances over the long term.

Rose Kitney

Economic development and growth by attracting business and families to Peterborough, resulting in an increase in employment opportunity and therefore increased tax revenue to support other priorities such as affordable housing, social services, transportation, traffic and road improvement.

Jen Lacey

My financial priority is to ensure every tax dollar delivers value to residents. Families across Peterborough are making difficult financial decisions every day, and City Hall should demonstrate the same discipline, clarity, and accountability. Property taxes have increased significantly. It’s not sustainable and many feel that the service they receive is not adequate.

I believe the City’s first responsibility is to maintain the core services residents rely on every day: safe roads, clean water, emergency services, parks, recreation, reliable public transit, housing, community safety, and infrastructure because delaying those investments often costs more in the long run.

Balancing funding across city services starts with setting clear priorities, measuring outcomes, and regularly reviewing programs to ensure they are delivering results, before asking taxpayers to pay more, Council should look for efficiencies, reduce duplication, strengthen partnerships with other levels of government, and pursue available provincial and federal funding opportunities whenever they are available. Whenever I hear the response “We can’t do that”, I always ask “show me why you can’t”

I also believe Council should be clear about financial decisions. Residents deserve to understand where their tax dollars are going, why investments are being made, and what outcomes they can expect — the good and the bad. It is their money and they deserve to know all information.

AJ Shearer

Every decision council makes has a financial impact on residents, so we have a responsibility to spend taxpayers’ money wisely.

That starts with getting the basics right. We need to look after our roads, bridges and other infrastructure before they become much more expensive to fix, and we need to make sure any new spending is worthwhile.

At the same time, we can’t keep asking homeowners to shoulder more of the cost. We also need to grow Peterborough’s economy by attracting new businesses and investment as the broader our commercial and industrial tax base becomes, the less pressure there is on residential taxpayers.

To me, good financial management is about finding that balance. Spend responsibly, invest in the services people rely on, and grow the economy so we can keep Peterborough affordable over the long term.

Ward 3 – Town

Alex Bierk

People want to feel confident that their tax dollars are being managed responsibly. We are in a difficult position, trying to meet growing community needs within our financial capacity. I believe there is still a great deal we can do to improve things internally at City Hall to become more efficient — rather than repeatedly looking to cut discretionary investments in areas like arts, culture, and community organizations to balance the budget.

Jenni Cathcart

My priorities are threefold: protect funding for the core services residents rely on every day, pursue strategic investments that grow our tax base and reduce long-term costs, and invest in transitional housing that helps get people back on their feet.

Jessica Kuhlmorgen-Hille

I want to freeze property tax, as stands at current rates, and work within our budgetary means. Our citizens are not bottomless wells of cash, and need relief during these unprecedented times. I aim to ensure not one cent more is asked of them, at the very least until our city and citizens are more financially stable. Council need to buckle down and tighten their waistbands like everyone else — which is where experience in poverty, stretching cents into dollars, comes in very handy. If we are in need of more funds, I will not look to our citizens, but to our MPP & MP for assistance. We all need to work together, closely, to ensure a secure fiscal future for Peterborough, and I am confident we can accomplish this with the right efforts.

Joy Lachica

My goal would be to see a Multi-year Budget template presented to Council to implement. Stepping back from the canvas to address systemic operational issues in every division and setting strategic (budget) priorities early in a council term is essential and should be a driver in the Strategic Planning. Operationally, both social infrastructure and physical infrastructure deficits require front and centre discussion and highlighting early as well.

Our 2025 Asset Management Plan highlights a $132 million annual shortfall to eliminate the backlog. Our road network is ranked in “fair” condition, with $1.4 billion in replacement costs for roads, bridges and related assets. These realities prompt a sober second thought for council and taxpayers as proposed luxury capital projects present themselves when much-needed maintenance and scaffolding of our current infrastructure requires attention.

I believe our public budget consultation process should be reassessed for format, accessibility reasons. I consider my fiduciary responsibility as councillor around budget-setting to be paramount in these challenging economic times — times, when each and every tax dollar matters immensely and municipal priorities ought to be carefully and collaboratively set.

Nigel Lister

I have a background in business with managing revenue and growth for several different companies. I believe we can find alternative ways to create revenue for the City without having to massively increase taxes on our people to meet our budgets. I will be going into that in more detail over the next few months while campaigning.

Ward 4 – Ashburnham

Gary Baldwin

That is the million-dollar question. How do we continue to fund the services the Corporation provides at the same or better service level, and how do we pay for those services. Council works collaboratively during budget deliberations to make those decisions. My priorities for the coming term include investing in public safety (fire, ambulance police), public transportation, housing, the arts, parks and recreations, and advocating for investments in sensible and sustainable infrastructure improvements.

Ashley Bonner

My financial priorities are rooted in fiscal responsibility, transparency, and a commitment to protecting our taxpayers. With year-over-year property tax increases, many residents aren’t seeing the value of those increases reflected in their daily lives.

Our top priority must be funding our foundational, everyday city services. Before we allocate millions to flashy, new capital projects, we need to ensure our roads, existing transit systems, public safety, and core neighbourhood maintenance are fully and properly funded. Clean, safe, and functional streets are the true backbone of our community and local economy.

We cannot treat council spending like a moving target. Every single growth and economic strategy we fund moving forward must explicitly link back to the Master Plan. This prevents standalone, reactive projects from draining our budget, ensuring that when we do spend money on growth, it focuses on cost-saving infill development and the affordable, supportive solutions our community actually need.

Andrew MacGregor

In business, and in Municipal Finances, you can adjust money in one of two ways: earn more or spend less. Cutting services is a race to the bottom, leaving impoverished families behind as relied-upon services vanish, only exacerbating poverty challenges. Instead, the city should focus on earning more, and not by increasing taxes, but by increasing the tax base. Adding a thousand tax paying homes to the tax base is better than raising taxes on the existing base, and has the benefit of addressing the housing shortage crisis.

Jason Stabler

Providing the services required by a thriving community while ensuring that property tax increases are minimized is one of the core tasks of City Council. The City should continue to invest in the infrastructure (parks, roads etc) and services that improve the quality of life of our community. We should also make investments that will increase our tax base by attracting new residents and businesses and continue to seek funding from the provincial and federal government to help pay for infrastructure, rent-geared to income housing and social services.

Ward 5 – Northcrest

Andrew Beamer

My financial priorities include controlling spending, fighting to keep taxes in check, and always respecting the taxpayer’s purse. With so many individuals and families struggling today, controlling spending and keeping taxes low must be a top priority at City Hall. Fiscal responsibility must be the focus at City Hall. I have developed a strong reputation while on City Council as being a voice for responsible spending and low taxes. As mentioned, there is a balance. We need to respect the taxpayer’s ability to pay while also investing in the services that residents expect and enjoy. We need to continue to invest in roads, public safety, safe streets, parks and recreation, and housing.

Phillip Jolicoeur

My financial priority would be ensuring residents receive good value for every dollar the City spends while protecting the services and infrastructure they rely on.

Families, seniors, and local businesses are already facing affordability pressures. Council cannot treat taxpayers as though they have an unlimited ability to absorb increases. At the same time, repeatedly delaying road repairs, infrastructure renewal, and other necessary work often makes those costs much higher later.

I would focus first on essential services, maintaining what the city already owns, and examining whether programs are delivering the results residents were promised. I would support finding efficiencies, reviewing outside agency requests, pursuing grants and partnerships, and growing our commercial and industrial tax base.

Cities also need to make calculated investments in their future. Not every investment is guaranteed, but continually deferring important decisions creates risks and costs of its own.

I will not promise taxes will never increase because that would not be honest. However, I will question increases, challenge assumptions, and expect clear evidence before asking residents to pay more. People deserve to understand where their money is going and what results they should expect.

Paul Lawton

My financial priority is responsible spending. Every dollar City Hall spends came from someone who had to earn it.

That does not mean neglecting core services. It means setting clearer priorities, controlling costs, and being honest about trade-offs. Roads, sidewalks, parks, snow clearing, water, sewer, waste collection, public safety, and basic infrastructure should come before nice-to-have projects.

Major spending decisions should come with plain-language explanations, real business cases, lifecycle costs, operating costs, debt implications, and a clear explanation of what other priorities may be delayed.

Residents deserve careful budgeting, not automatic tax increases and not blank cheques.

Charmaine Magumbe

My view on financial priorities is that City Council must be financially responsible and accountable to Peterborough taxpayers. We need to be efficient, transparent, and have affordability measures in place.

To balance financial priorities, we should avoid funding large projects — such as Multi-Use Sport Entertainment Center MUSEC — with municipal tax dollars unless there are committed funds from provincial, federal, and private sources. For major projects like MUSEC, we should consider public-private partnerships and refrain from relying on local taxpayers to shoulder the costs. Any major project of this kind should be deferred until adequate external funding is secured.

My priority is to direct public money to essential public services that residents use every day: libraries, police, community services, arts and culture, housing and shelters, emergency services, public transit, road maintenance, and waste management. These are the foundations of a healthy, vibrant community.

We can generate more revenue for the city by:

• Increasing the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) from 4% to 5%. In 2023, the City collected approximately $863,000 in net MAT; the City retains 50% as general revenue to support the capital program and remits the remaining 50% to the eligible tourism entity (Peterborough Tourism Municipal Services Corporation).
• Negotiating a higher revenue share from the OLG Peterborough casino. In the fiscal year ending March 2026, the City received a total of $2,651,125, including a fourth-quarter payment of $597,293.
• Adjusting user fees and service charges by increasing them by 1-2%. In 2024, these generated almost $75 million.
• Modestly increasing revenue from government grants and partner municipalities (e.g., a 0.7% increase). According to the 2024 Treasurer’s report, the City received about $155 million from these sources.
• Introducing Municipal Vacant Home/Unit Taxes (VHT/VUT), implemented by cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Vancouver, and Sault Ste. Marie. These typically charge 1% to 3% of the property’s assessed value.

Gavin Muir

My starting point is revenue: our residential tax base can’t carry this city’s future on its own, so growing our economic base — through the partnerships I’ve talked about elsewhere, with the county, our post-secondary institutions, and the business community — has to be a real financial priority, not an afterthought. But new revenue only works alongside real discipline on the spending side.

My approach is “smarter spending, real results”: every dollar the city spends, whether on a major capital commitment or day-to-day municipal services, should be spent where it delivers the greatest result for residents. That means having a clear picture of what we’re committing to, why, and what we’re getting in return, before council commits public money — not after. The days of “build it and they will come” are over. We need to build actual muscle that moves this city forward, not bloat for the sake of a headline.

Jim Wasson

Economic growth is easier when municipalities manage their finances while growing the commercial and industrial tax base to reduce pressure on residential taxpayers.

kawarthaNOW has reproduced written responses from candidates verbatim. Any errors, factual or otherwise, or any use of AI-generated content originate with the candidate.

This story was updated on September 1 to include a response from Town Ward candidate Nigel Lister, who filed his nomination papers after the story was originally published.

This story was updated on September 10 to include a response from Northcrest candidate Charmaine Magumbe.

This story was updated on September 18 to include a response from Ashburnham Ward candidate Andrew MacGregor.

Twenty-two members of Peterborough’s Survivors Abreast dragon boat team and their coach are heading to France to participate in an international festival celebrating sport, friendship, and life after breast cancer.

According to a media release, Survivors Abreast will represent Peterborough and the surrounding area at the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission Participatory Dragon Boat Festival, which runs from August 24 to 30 in Aix-les-Bains in the French Alps.

Held every three to four years, the international festival is expected to bring together 4,500 breast cancer survivors on 170 teams, making it the largest event of its kind ever held. The commission has more than 300 member teams across 37 countries.

The parade of nations and opening ceremonies will take place on Thursday, August 27, followed by two days of racing on Lac du Bourget, France’s largest natural glacial lake.

Survivors Abreast will compete as team number 46 in three 500-metre races and three 200-metre races.

The festival will also include the Sandy Smith Global Finale race, a special flower ceremony honouring those who have died from breast cancer, and closing ceremonies on August 29.

With help from their coach, the Peterborough paddlers have been training to improve their technique and endurance while learning to paddle as one.

“Strength is not in one paddle alone, but in every heartbeat moving forward,” the coach tells the team.

The Peterborough team includes breast cancer survivors in various stages of treatment, recovery, and survivorship. Along with veteran paddlers who have participated in previous international festivals, several newer members will be attending the global event for the first time.

Breast cancer survivor dragon boat paddling began at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver in 1996, when sports medicine professor and exercise physiologist Dr. Don McKenzie challenged the prevailing medical advice that women treated for breast cancer should avoid strenuous upper-body exercise because of the risk of developing lymphedema.

McKenzie trained 24 breast cancer survivors for three months before introducing them to dragon boat paddling. At the end of their first season on the water, none of the participants had developed lymphedema and they reported being fitter, healthier, and happier.

The participants also found companionship and mutual support through the sport, helping inspire an international movement that uses dragon boat paddling to promote active living and raise awareness that people can live full lives after a breast cancer diagnosis.

As for Survivors Abreast, the team is best known for hosting Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival. The annual event celebrated its 25th anniversary in June and has raised more than $5 million for equipment used to screen, diagnose, and treat breast and other cancers at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

Survivors Abreast hosted the international dragon boat festival in Peterborough in 2010, and the team later attended the festivals in Sarasota (Florida) in 2014, Florence (Italy) in 2018, and Waikato (New Zealand) in 2023.

In the media release, the team thanked community members who have supported its fundraising efforts through fashion shows, golf tournaments, yard sales, and wine cork collections.

The races can be watched live at live.ibcpcfrance2026.com.

A back-to-school campaign organized by a Peterborough-based professional services firm will be delivering 310 fully stocked backpacks to children and youth in Peterborough and Winnipeg.

On Tuesday (August 18), Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory announced the fifth annual Gear Up for Good campaign had exceeded its goal of collecting 300 backpacks, thanks to the efforts of local businesses, donors, volunteers, community organizations, and members of the Gauvreau team.

Of the 310 backpacks collected, 100 are being distributed through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough, 100 through the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation, and 10 through Peterborough Youth Services. Another 100 backpacks are being distributed through United Way Winnipeg.

The campaign expanded beyond Ontario for the first time this year, reflecting Gauvreau’s growing presence in Manitoba. Along with its headquarters in downtown Peterborough and offices in Toronto and Ottawa, the firm has offices in Winnipeg and Steinbach.

“This campaign is a perfect example of what happens when a community decides to show up,” said Gauvreau founder and CEO Robert Gauvreau in a media release.

“We set a goal of 300 backpacks, and our community didn’t just meet it — they pushed us past it. We’re incredibly proud of what everyone accomplished together.”

In addition to backpacks and school supplies, the campaign’s partners are providing families with other back-to-school supports.

Domino’s Pizza donated 300 pizza vouchers, including 200 for families in Peterborough and 100 for families in Winnipeg. The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area and Community Futures Peterborough donated 200 $20 Boro gift cards, which can be deemed at participating downtown businesses, while Asta Hair Styling School is providing two full days of free back-to-school haircuts for participating children.

In addition, Crayola Canada donated an assortment of markers and pencil crayons, Ricart Branded Apparel & Promo donated 22 backpacks as well as toques and hats, Kawartha Property and Legal Services and Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce each donated four fully stocked backpacks, Peterborough Friends donated bulk school supplies and bags, and McDougall Insurance donated $320 along with school supplies, lunch bags, and water bottles.

Peterborough Petes defenceman Thanasi Marentette and the Marentette Mission donated $500 to the Gear Up for Good campaign.

“This year was about more than filling backpacks,” said Gauvreau community manager Tiffany Arcari.

“We wanted to take some of the pressure off families heading into September and give kids a few extras to help them feel confident and excited about the school year. The response from our partners and the community was incredible.”

Gear Up for Good began five years ago and has now provided more than 900 fully stocked backpacks to children and youth.

During last year’s campaign, Gauvreau exceeded its goal of 200 backpacks by collecting and distributing 207 to Peterborough-area children through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough and the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation.

Gauvreau credited the growth of the campaign to businesses, employees, clients, volunteers, and community members who donated supplies or money, purchased items from campaign wish lists, volunteered their time, or helped promote the initiative.

A 50-year-old Peterborough man with a history of hate-motivated behaviour is facing several charges in connection with online threats directed at local residents.

Peterborough police say two of the charges against Kevin Goudreau are the first laid by the service under new federal hate crime laws.

Meanwhile, police have received reports about anti-immigration posters appearing around Peterborough but say the posters do not currently meet the threshold for a hate crime. The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has also notified its members that the posters appearing downtown were not authorized and will be removed.

As for the charges against Goudreau, police were made aware in early August of a series of online threats made towards several Peterborough residents.

Following an investigation, officers with the police service’s major crime unit obtained a warrant to search a Peterborough residence. Officers executed the warrant on Thursday (August 13) and arrested Goudreau.

He has been charged with two counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm motivated by hatred, two counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, and five counts of failing to comply with a probation order.

According to police, Goudreau is currently bound by three probation orders requiring him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. The orders also prohibit him from posting information about two of the alleged victims. Police determined that two of the online posts were motivated by hatred.

Goudreau was scheduled to make another court appearance on Tuesday (August 18). None of the charges has been proven in court.

Goudreau, who has identified himself as a white nationalist and has posted images of himself displaying Nazi symbols, has a history of hate-motivated behaviour in Peterborough.

In 2022, Peterborough police charged Goudreau with uttering threats, criminal harassment, and failing to comply with a probation order after an incident involving a lesbian couple who lived in the same apartment building. Police classified that incident as a hate-bias crime because of the nature of the comments allegedly made.

In 2017, Goudreau organized an anti-immigration rally in Peterborough. The City of Peterborough initially issued him a permit to hold the rally but later withdrew it after he failed to provide the required documentation.

The planned rally prompted hundreds of residents to participate in Solidarity Weekend, a series of events celebrating diversity and inclusion and opposing racism and white supremacy. A handful of people attended the anti-immigration rally, although Goudreau did not appear.

In a separate statement, Peterborough police said they have recently received reports of posters from the Dominion Society of Canada appearing near Douro Street and the Rotary Trail.

Police said the posters outline the group’s position on immigration, including what it calls “remigration.” While police have recorded reports about the posters and understand they are controversial, they say the presence of the posters does not rise to the level of being a hate crime. Police have not indicated there is any connection between Goudreau and the posters.

Police chief Stuart Betts said the service remains interested in receiving reports about hate- or bias-motivated incidents, even when they do not meet the threshold for criminal charges.

“There is no room for hate in our community at any time,” Betts said. “The number one goal of the Peterborough Police Service is public safety, and the service is committed to this goal.”

“In this instance, what we are seeing does not rise to the level of criminality. There are currently laws within the criminal code that can assist and lead to charges. As the community has seen, most recently last week when a Peterborough resident (Goudreau) was arrested and charged for online comments, when grounds for charges exist, the Peterborough Police Service will apply them.”

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area has also emailed its members after posters associated with the Dominion Society appeared in and around the downtown.

“The Peterborough DBIA does not support anti-immigration groups or messaging that promotes exclusion or intolerance,” executive director Nour Mazloum wrote in the email shared with kawarthaNOW. “Our downtown is a place for everyone, and we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community where people of all backgrounds, including newcomers and immigrants, feel welcome, safe, and supported.”

According to Mazloum, the posters were not authorized by either the DBIA or the city and, as is the case with all unauthorized posters in public spaces, they will take the necessary steps to remove them.

The DBIA is advising members who encounter people seeking to post or distribute materials near their businesses to use their discretion, prioritize their safety, and contact the DBIA for help finding appropriate resources.

“We also want to emphasize that this is not about limiting legitimate discussion or differing viewpoints,” Mazloum wrote. “Our concern is with unauthorized posting and with messaging that conflicts with the inclusive and welcoming downtown community we are committed to building.”

Residents can report hate- or bias-motivated incidents through the online reporting portal at www.peterboroughpolice.ca/online-reporting-portal.