With the nomination period for the municipal election closing in just over a month on August 21, only one local candidate has registered to run as a school board trustee in the City of Peterborough — a stark contrast to the 29 candidates who have registered so far to run for mayor or councillor.

Public and separate English and French school boards in Ontario are governed by a board of trustees consisting of members elected by residents in the municipalities the school board serves. Each board also includes two student trustees.

While City of Peterborough residents can vote for six trustees across four school boards, only one local candidate has registered as of July 14 as a English public school board trustee.

In the Kawarthas region, the English public school boards are the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) and Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB), the English separate school board is Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB), the French public school board is Conseil Scolaire Viamonde (CSV), and the French separate school board is Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir (CSCMA).

KPRDSB consists of 10 elected trustees, including three from the municipality of Clarington, two from the City of Peterborough, two from Peterborough County, and three from Northumberland County, as well as one trustee appointed by Alderville First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, and Hiawatha First Nation.

TLDSB consists of nine trustees, including one from Bracebridge, one from the Huntsville area, one from the Gravenhurst area, five from Kawartha Lakes, and one from Haliburton County.

PVNCCDSB consists of seven trustees, including two from Clarington, two from the City of Peterborough, one from Peterborough County, one from Kawartha Lakes, and one from Northumberland County.

Both CSV and CSCMA have 12 trustees, with each having one trustee who represents the Kawarthas region.

The current school board trustees representing the City of Peterborough are Rose Kitney and Steve Russell on KPRDSB, Mike Ayotte and Loretta Durst on PVNCCDSB, Kristine Dandavino on CSV, and Marcellin Kwilumondo on CSCMA. Dandavino and Kwilumondo, who are both based in Oshawa, are running for another term.

As of July 14, the only registered school board trustee candidate in the City of Peterborough is Corey Scott for KPRDSB.

The situation is slightly better in the City of Kawarthas Lakes. For TLDSB, incumbent Tim McAlpine is registered for Wards 2 and 3, incumbent Colleen Wilcox is registered for Ward 7, and Ashley Ferreira is registered for Wards 6 and 8. No candidates are registered for TLDSB Ward 1 and 4 or for TLDSB Ward 5.

For PVNCCDSB, only Mary Winn has registered as a candidate.

School boards receive their power and direction from Ontario’s Education Act and are accountable to the provincial government. A primary responsibility of trustees is to advocate for public education in the community and with the province.

The Ontario Education Services Corporation (OESC) describes the role of trustees to collectively set the vision for the school board, develop policies, allocate resources, and set the goals for programs and operations. Some other core responsibilities of trustees include approving the annual budget, overseeing the implementation of Ministry of Education policies, and representing and advocating for their constituents.

School boards receive the vast majority of their funding via the Core Education Funding model administered by the province. Each board is provided a funding package based on the average daily enrolment of students of the board.

Funding is provided for activities associated with the core education funding pillars, including classroom staffing, learning resources, special education, school facilities, student transport, and school board administration.

Since the creation of public school boards in 1816, trustees have been an elected position. Today, school boards may also appoint trustees to represent marginalized communities.

The election process is designed to enable trustees to be able to effectively meet their responsibilities to advocate for the community’s public education and to liaise between the community, schools, and the province.

Recent changes made by the provincial government could be dissuading some people from running as school board trustees.

Last August, education minister Paul Calandra said he would consider eliminating trustees from boards and the election ballot if it allowed the province to “deliver the product better.”

This came shortly after Calandra introduced Bill 33, which gave the minister the authority to replace a board with an appointed supervisor in cases of “public interest,” such as financial mismanagement and divisive student issues.

MPP Chandra Pasma, who is the education critic for the official opposition, has criticized Bill 33 as an attempt to “take over” the public school system.

To date, eight school boards have been placed under provincial supervision: the Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Thames Valley District School Board, Near North District School Board, Peel District School Board, and York Catholic District School Board.

Calandra’s subsequent Bill 101, Putting Student Achievement First Act (2026), which passed the legislature in May, places further restrictions on trustee’s powers but did not include the elimination of school board trustees.

On Thursday (July 16), Parks Canada announced that the eight annual Lock & Paddle event has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

“The decision has been made out of an abundance of caution due to forecasted weather conditions and concerns about air quality, with the health and safety of participants, volunteers and staff remaining our highest priority,” reads a media release. “As this event is dependent on the availability of the Peterborough Lift Lock and operational requirements during the navigation season, Lock & Paddle will not be rescheduled this year.”

“We recognize that many paddlers and community members were looking forward to this unique event, and we appreciate your understanding. Thank you to everyone who planned to join us, as well as our event partners and volunteers, for their continued support.”

In a separate media release, the City of Peterborough announced that the beach party set to take place at Beavermead Park concurrently with Lock & Paddle has also been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

Original story:

Parks Canada’s eighth annual Lock & Paddle returns to the Peterborough Lift Lock on Saturday (July 18) from noon to 4 p.m.

More than 1,400 people took part in last year’s event, paddling 978 canoes and kayaks into the two tubs at the world’s tallest hydraulic lift lock to be lifted 65 feet (20 metres) into the air and then back down.

As with the previous two Lock & Paddle events, registration is not required. Simply show up with your canoe or kayak (stand up paddleboards and inflatable kayaks and canoes or other inflatable vessels are not permitted for safety reasons), which you can decorate if you wish. Parks Canada will have staff on site throughout the event to answer any questions.

All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate in the event. To participate, all paddlers and passengers must wear a PFD. Pets are not permitted on watercraft for safety reasons. This is a smoke-free, cannabis-free, and alcohol-free event. Visitors who do not follow the rules and requirements will not be permitted to enter the tubs.

All participating paddlers should have a sound signalling device, a buoyant heaving line, and a bailer for each boat, along with a watertight flashlight, sunscreen and a hat, and a water bottle. This is a rain or shine event, so also bring an umbrella or raincoat if rain is in the forecast.

Grounds open at the Peterborough Lift Lock at noon, featuring opening remarks. Local musician Joanna Bronson will be performing on the Le Boat Stage throughout the afternoon, courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.

Paddlers will enter from the bottom of the Peterborough Lift Lock, with Parks Canada staff continually moving paddlers up and down the lock from noon to 4 p.m. Wait times can vary once you’re in the lock. While a regular boat transfer normally takes several minutes, the process of loading hundreds of canoes and kayaks into the tubs during the event can take over an hour as Parks Canada staff ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Note that there is no through-paddling once paddlers reach the top of the Peterborough Lift Lock.

Beavermead Beach Party

New this year, Peterborough Tourism is hosting a beach party at Beavermead Park running concurrently with Lock & Paddle from noon to 4 p.m.

The free drop-in event will feature live entertainment, family-friendly activities including beach volleyball and parachute activities led by City of Peterborough recreation staff, and local vendors including Camp Kawartha, Boating Ontario, Bewdley Lions’ Club, Boardwalk Board Game Lounge, Water Lily Naturals, Full Tilt Cycle, Flavour Fashion, TJs Candies and Baskets, Play It Forward Youth, and Madd Tea Party Boutique.

Free souvenir Lock & Paddle stickers will be available while quantities last.

The beach party will take place rain or shine, but may be cancelled in the event of severe weather.

Parking

Note that parking is not available at either the Peterborough Lift Lock or the Peterborough Visitor Centre (formerly the Peterborough Lift Lock Visitor Centre) except for vehicles with accessible parking permits.

A paddlecraft drop-off option is available at the Peterborough Visitor Centre for beginner paddlers only, and paddlecraft must be transported to the water from the parking lot.

Nearby parking options include the Trent-Severn Waterway Headquarters at 2155 Ashburnham Drive, Eastgate Memorial Park at 2150 Ashburnham Drive, Beavermead Park at 2011 Ashburnham Drive, Rogers Cove at 131 Maria Street, and Peterborough Museum & Archives at 300 Hunter Street East.

Paddling to the Peterborough Lift Lock

Here are put-in locations if you plan to paddle to the Peterborough Lift Lock. Note that if you are going through Lock 20 – Ashburnhnam, you need to allow an extra 45 to 60 minutes to transfer and paddle to the Peterborough Lift Lock. There are no lockage fees for Lock & Paddle participants.

• Beavermead Campground (2011 Ashburnham Dr.) – 5-minute paddle to Lock 20, 45-60 minutes to transfer and paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock. Free parking. Note that the boat launch at Beavermead Park is temporarily closed. Paddlers can put-in at Beavermead beach outside of the designated swimming area; City of Peterborough staff will be available to direct participants to the proper location to put-in or launch their vessel.
• Rogers Cove (131 Maria St.) – 5-minute paddle to Lock 20, 45-60 minutes to transfer and paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock. Free parking.
• Millennium Park (130 King St.) – 20-minute paddle to Lock 20, 45-60 minutes to transfer and paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock. Nearby paid parking.
• Del Crary Park (100 George St.) – 35-minute paddle to Lock 20, 45-60 minutes to transfer and paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock. Nearby paid parking
• Eastgate Memorial Park (2150 Ashburnham Dr.) – 250-metre portage to paddle-access dock north of Lock 20 – Ashburnham; 20-minute paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock. Free parking.
• Trent-Severn Waterway Headquarters (2155 Ashburnham Dr.) – 250-metre portage to launch at the top and west side of Lock 20 – Ashburnham; 20-minute paddle to Peterborough Lift Lock. Free parking.
• Peterborough Visitor Centre at the Lift Lock (353 Hunter St. E.) – Reserved for accessibility needs and beginner paddlers. Drop-off only; no parking except for vehicles with accessible parking permits.

Boat and gear rentals

If you want to rent a boat or gear, you can get it at one of the following local rental suppliers:

• Wild Rock Outfitters (169 Charlotte Street, Peterborough)
• Liftlock Paddle Co. (online only at liftlockpaddleco.ca)
• Beavermead Campground (2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough)
• Canadian Canoe Museum (2077 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough)
• Adventure Outfitters (1828 8th Line, Lakefield)
• Cottage Toys (37 Concession St., Lakefield)
• Kawartha Adventure Rentals (6401 Highway 28, Woodview)

For more information about Lock & Paddle, visit the Parks Canada website.

The original version of this story has been updated with additional information about the City of Peterborough’s beach party at Beavermead Park.

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 Town Ward, incumbents Joy Lachica and Alex Bierk officially launched their campaigns together on May 1.

Challenging the two incumbents are Jessica Kuhlmorgen-Hille and Jenni Cathcart, who filed their nomination paperwork on May 1 and June 23 respectively, and Nigel Lister, who filed his nomination papers in late August.

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

1. Why have you chosen to run for ward councillor?

Alex Bierk

I’m running for re-election because I believe in our City and our downtown. Over the last four years, I’ve worked tirelessly to be present, accessible, and prepared — advancing housing and homelessness solutions, supporting arts and culture and community organizations, strengthening our downtown, and advocating for a more transparent and accountable City Hall.

Jenni Cathcart

I’m running for Council in the Town Ward because I’m genuinely concerned about where downtown Peterborough is headed.

I’ve spoken with dozens of residents and business owners across the ward and beyond. The messages are consistent: people feel unsafe downtown and are avoiding it. Business owners are fed up with recurring theft and vandalism.

Many homeowners and local business owners feel their concerns simply aren’t being represented. That feeling isn’t unfounded. When I attended the DBIA’s annual meeting recently, neither of our current Town Ward councillors was there. I’m told that’s been a pattern. That troubles me.

Peterborough is at an inflection point. We can accept what’s happening downtown as the new normal — and watch the city slowly decline even as our property taxes keep climbing. Or we can choose a different path: one focused on real opportunities for growth that could transform this city over the next five to ten years.

I know which path I’m fighting for. I hope you’ll join me.

Jessica Kuhlmorgen-Hille

I chose to run because I felt the representation on council did not reflect the life experience, views, and wishes, of the full demographic of the Ward in which they serve.

Joy Lachica

I’m a passionate and skilled incumbent councillor with a tenacious vision for a thriving, growing and more vibrant Peterborough. In seeking re-election I aim to continue the intentional work I’ve begun in Town Ward.

Nigel Lister

After an immense amount of pressure from a large number of downtown business owners, along with the declining health of Town Ward over the last several council terms, I have decided to throw my hat in the ring. I plan on being a voice for the downtown businesses and I will prioritize the health of our downtown over everything else. Because without our downtown, Peterborough’s heart will no longer beat.

2. What is the biggest challenge in your ward?

Alex Bierk

The downtown is the heart of our city, and it’s also where many of our biggest challenges are most visible. Peterborough has never had a comprehensive downtown strategic plan that brings together infrastructure, parks and public spaces, housing and homelessness, public safety, arts and culture, neighborhood vitality etc. into a single, shared vision. That gap has left us responding to challenges in an ad hoc way instead of working toward a common goal. Creating a comprehensive downtown strategy should be one of the highest priorities of the next term of Council.

Jenni Cathcart

The Town Ward is challenged by the growing number of people experiencing homelessness, drug addiction and/or severe mental health issues. The latest Point in Time (PiT) survey conducted by United Way in 2024 counted 343 individuals experiencing homelessness — a 67% increase since 2021. Worse yet, an estimated 80% were reported to be chronically homeless. These statistics indicate that something needs to change.

I subscribe to the “housing first” approach, which has shown that housed individuals have a greater chance of overcoming addiction and mental health challenges than those receiving care while in less stable conditions. From what I’ve learned, the 50-unit Modular Bridge Housing Community is regarded as a successful starting point. My understanding is that it’s at capacity and volunteers have needed to turn people away.

How might we build capacity by replicating what’s worked in this community? And how might we build out the housing pathway, so the tiny houses are the first step in a journey to becoming self-sufficient again? If elected, I’d seek to explore solutions with our city housing experts and partners from non-profit groups.

Jessica Kuhlmorgen-Hille

Crime, poverty, homelessness, mental & addictions healthcare — as they are all interwoven into one large challenge.

Joy Lachica

The biggest challenge for Town Ward is dispelling its myths, its perceptions and being acknowledged as the heart, the soul and the cultural lifeblood of this city. As our historic social centre, the meeting place and the marketplace for this rich region, Town Ward is on the path to reclaiming its fullness with a 2026 governance table that believes unequivocally in its centrality and invests strategically in its revitalization.

Nigel Lister

Having people understand that the economic engine drives the social cart. With prospering businesses in the downtown and City wide there will be far more financial support from the private sector towards social programs to help those in need. We have to take a term or two and focus on supporting our entrepreneurs downtown and across the City.

3. What makes you a unique candidate for councillor?

Alex Bierk

I bring tireless work ethic and a combination of lived experience, professional experience, and four years of municipal experience. My wife and I live in Town Ward with our three children, and my career as an artist is based downtown. I’ve built both my career and my life in this community.

My experiences have taught me to approach challenges with creativity, integrity, and empathy, always grounding my decisions in both my own lived experience and the experiences of the people I represent.

During this term, I’ve taken leadership roles in housing and homelessness, helping advance some of the most significant responses our community has ever undertaken. I’ve championed for the downtown, for arts and culture, community services, and affordable housing through Peterborough Housing Corporation. I consistently advocated for transparency, meaningful public engagement, and responsible use of public funds.

Jenni Cathcart

Most business leaders become industry experts. I became an expert in a process — human-centered problem solving. It’s an approach that starts by understanding a problem from the perspective of the people living it, then uses that insight to identify root causes, generate ideas, and test what works. Over a 25-year career, I’ve applied this approach to tackle challenges related to energy, transportation, housing, and commercial development.

What that means is that I ask critical questions, I listen carefully, and I know how to cut through complexity to get to what matters. I’m fiscally responsible, data-driven, and comfortable with budgets and financial decisions — skills I’ve built managing departments and serving a wide range of clients.

On a personal level, I’m a community builder and a long-time volunteer — I’ve served on boards, been a Scouts leader, and fundraised for cancer research and bicycle advocacy. My husband and I moved to Peterborough’s Old West End in late 2024, and we’re here to stay. Peterborough is our forever home — and that’s exactly why I want to help shape its future.

Jessica Kuhlmorgen-Hille

I have lived experience none of the other candidates have. I am a disabled middle aged woman, with a difficult past on these very streets. I know what is to be poor, unwell, unhoused, abusing substances. I know how hard things are when you aren’t getting the health care and social service supports you need to stay above water and heal. I have lived downtown, Ward 3, for almost 20 years. This is my home.

Joy Lachica

I possess a love for governance, policy and community that stems from 11 consecutive years of experience in elected positions (ETFO — 7 years, City Council — 4 years).

Political skills and acumen are essential to equitably address the needs of our municipality in what is certainly an evolving municipal landscape. With changes to the Municipal Act, and the exercise of strong mayor powers in this last term of councils across Ontario, there is a new set of dynamics to navigate within municipal democracy. I bring a depth of understanding to these shifting sands. In my daily practice as a politician, I stay very connected to news and policy on all 3 levels of government.

Although I’ve been a career educator, in tandem, I’ve lived other lives … in music, in theatre as well as in the service industry. My diverse background brings a recognition of what an economic driver the arts are in our city. We’re so lucky to have an arms length Municipal Arts Council in our city supporting our community of prolific arts groups and individual artists. We must sustain them and invest in them in order to reap the social, community and economic dividends as a city.

Nigel Lister

My network and creative problem-solving abilities. I have a vast network that spans across all the entire City and far beyond Peterborough that I am happy to utilize, when necessary. I also feel I have a unique ability to distill issues and problems down to their simplest form and find creative solutions to solve them.

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

The story was updated on September 1 to include responses from Nigel Lister, who filed his nomination papers after this story was originally published.