As seven candidates compete to become Peterborough’s next mayor in the municipal election on October 26, kawarthaNOW is asking the contenders to outline their plans for the economy, housing, taxes, and leadership at city hall.

As many Peterborough residents have expressed a lack of trust in city hall, whoever takes the mayor’s seat will need to demonstrate their leadership style and qualities as the head of a new city council for the next four years.

With incumbent mayor Jeff Leal not running for re-election, the seven certified mayoral candidates are Michael Eamon, Rob Hailman, Brian Lumsden, Jacob Méthot, Neil Morton, incumbent Ashburnham Ward councillor Keith Riel, and Rebecca Schillemat. Earlier this week, Hailman announced he is suspending his campaign but his name will remain on the ballot.

Having conducted in-depth interviews with all seven mayoral candidates to introduce their campaigns, kawarthaNOW has asked the candidates to go on the record about the most pressing election issues.

On the topic of leadership and governance, kawarthaNOW asked the candidates three questions: “What are the two most important actions you would take during your first 100 days as mayor?”, “What one change would you make to improve transparency, accountability and public confidence at City Hall?”, and “Under what circumstances, if any, would you use strong mayor powers? Please provide one example.”

kawarthaNOW is publishing the responses from the candidates verbatim.

What are the two most important actions you would take during your first 100 days as mayor?

Michael Eamon

There are several things that must happen concurrently in the first 100 days. Personally, the most important to action is to shape council into a functioning team and build trust in the chamber. Council meetings need to be productive, where informed opinion is heard, and clear, thoughtful, and direct guidance is given. Councillors must have clear expectations of conduct and know they have the support of their mayor. We cannot wait a moment to build the council Peterborough deserves.

This year, the City commissioned its first Efficiency Review, which cost $350,000. Considering this massive investment, this is one consultant’s report that cannot be shelved. On my first day, I will be establishing that key relationship with the CAO and telling him my mandate is to address bureaucratic inertia and to be looking for areas of ongoing budget savings. Working with the CAO, I am committed to reducing redundant processes, approval bottlenecks, communication and delegation breakdowns, and general overspending. Addressing internal communication issues and operational inefficiencies are key. Likewise, addressing the external communication issue with the County, and the resulting inefficiencies that exist, is also essential. In the first 100 days, initial overtures reestablishing a trusting relationship with the County must happen. All boats rise together and a regional perspective to social and economic growth is needed. This includes a new and comprehensive approach to employment and development lands, a regional outlook for economic growth, and renewed and open conversations about all of our shared public responsibilities.

Rob Hailman

One of the first jobs for the new council upon taking office will be jumping right into the budget, working to reallocate funding towards the construction of public housing, and ensuring the budget is responsible, but does not risk essential services and important priorities in the name of efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

The second is to conduct a thorough review of the barriers facing private-sector housing construction, continuing the work of the Mayor’s Task Force for Housing Creation. While this task force did good work in identifying issues facing housing creation in Peterborough, we have seen little action or impact from its recommendations. Planning an ambitious legislative agenda to this end will be an essential task on day one.

Brian Lumsden

Reduce the Mayor’s salary by 10% and investigate the business practices of One City.

Jacob Méthot

Setting up the city for long-term success is necessary before everything else discussed is possible.

1. Improving public access to City Council. At the very least, I would restore ten delegations per issue. If people want to speak about a topic, they should be allowed to speak. If the meetings go too late, they can always be held in recess.

2. Launching a comprehensive, redeveloped communications strategy. This would improve how the City communicates important issues to residents and redesigns the way the City collects, designs, and distributes public surveys to allow for better data collection.

Neil Morton

First, I would work with council, city staff and residents to develop a Council Strategic Vision that establishes clear priorities and objectives, and acts as a roadmap for council.

Second, I would be introducing Mayor’s “Office Hours” to give residents an opportunity to meet one-on-one with me to discuss ideas, concerns, and community issues as having my ear to the ground in this way like I did canvassing thousands of doors is the best way to gauge the concerns of a community.

Keith Riel

First, turn my platform into a public delivery plan. Within 90 days, every major commitment will have a responsible lead, milestones, a target date and a clear budget status. Residents will be able to see what’s on track, what’s late and why.

Second, prepare the new Council to govern. I expect many councillors will be new. They’ll be responsible for hundreds of millions of public dollars and decisions affecting nearly every part of life in Peterborough. They shouldn’t have to figure it out as they go.

Working with the Clerk and senior staff, I’ll ensure Council receives serious preparation in municipal law, finance, governance and the respective roles of Council and staff. Councillors will also spend time learning to work through disagreement.

Council doesn’t have to agree on everything, but it does have to function.

Rebecca Schillemat

As mayor, during the first 100 days, I will:

• Create a targeted 4 year strategic plan for the council term based on input from every elected councillor, publish the goals and report on progress annually.
• Schedule the annual open town hall meetings, regular business roundtables and open office hours to improve communication and collaboration, including offering the Mayor’s office for councillors to meet with residents as needed.

What one change would you make to improve transparency, accountability and public confidence at City Hall?

Michael Eamon

One of my administrative roles was with the federal government at the National Archives of Canada. Archives were originally created to support democracy, so that a record of government decisions were kept and made accessible to the public. The lack of transparency and accountability at City Hall is a concern that needs to be addressed.

I would like to establish what I am calling a Spirit of Openness at city hall, which means ensuring that documentation on operations is easily accessible to the public. Primarily, I would like to see public online dashboards created for every city department. These dashboards would clearly indicate each department’s budget, planned and underway initiatives, and offer key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure that the goals are being met. These areas would severe a secondary purpose of being a portal that would link the public to the core policy, procedural, and budget documents that govern each department.

Related to that, I would also like to see a return of deeper citizen engagement with real consultations, not surveys with leading questions. Peterborough has a wealth of citizen expertise going untapped. During canvassing, I met people who were formerly directors, presidents, assistant deputy ministers of major corporations or government departments across the province and the country. For all of this city’s major programs and developments, we need to have blue ribbon panels of homegrown professionals who are not only subject matter experts, but can frame it through their own experience living in Peterborough.

Rob Hailman

While there are many changes I pursue to this end, the first and most important would be to reverse the changes made to council’s procedure bylaw. I opposed these changes as a delegate when they were before council earlier this year, and the intervening months have proven me right. Between reduced numbers of delegations, fewer opportunities for councillors to question delegates and presenters, and significantly curtailed time permitted for debate and discussion by council, these changes have had an immediate and universally negative impact on council’s ability to make good decisions, to hold staff accountable, and to themselves be held accountable by the public.

Brian Lumsden

Be transparent with the public and accountable for my actions; there’s the possibility of live streaming the council meeting. Treat the public with the respect that it deserves.

(Editor’s note: Council meetings are already livestreamed on the City of Peterborough website.)

Jacob Méthot

We need regular, open meetings or “Town Halls” involving both elected officials and City Staff with the public and media that allow for citizens to directly challenge those that make decisions. Once people are freely able to question, accountability and trust can start to be restored.

Neil Morton

Modernize the City’s Procedural By-law to create more opportunities for citizen engagement in the decision making — and at an earlier stage in the process. This would entail replacing the General Committee with a Committee of the Whole model, where less formal and more extensive debate and citizen engagement can take place, and ensure that matters debated at Committee of the Whole proceed to Council for ratification.

Keith Riel

Let residents see whether we’re delivering. They shouldn’t have to wait until the next election to learn whether their mayor kept a promise.

I’ll publish a public dashboard showing what’s on track, what’s late, what has changed and why. Portfolio chairs will report publicly on their major files, and once a year the mayor and senior City leadership will answer four questions in a public forum like Market Hall or Showplace: What did we promise? What got done? What didn’t? What happens next?

Accountability matters — I expect residents to hold our feet to the fire.

Rebecca Schillemat

To strengthen public confidence, as mayor I will improve communication by listening, taking action based on input from residents and experts, and informing residents of the results. This will be accomplished by:

• Establishing a weekly office hour open for Everyone to speak with the mayor
• Hosting annual ward town halls with ward councillors
• Launching interactive performance dashboards on the City’s website
• Publishing an annual report on the council’s progress that will be mailed to residents.

Under what circumstances, if any, would you use strong mayor powers? Please provide one example.

Michael Eamon

Americans love democracy, but also strong executive powers. They originally brought strong executive powers to the municipal level. And, like many American concepts, they are now becoming a part of our political life.

I am against the authoritarian and undemocratic aspects of Strong Mayor powers. I can potentially see the value of strong executive powers when there are hundreds of representatives in a legislature. I cannot see that value when there are only 11 members in a city council. I do not intend to use strong mayor powers to overrule the opinions of democratically elected councillors. I will ask councillors to offer an honest take on the views of citizens (no matter how controversial) and find a common path forward. I know this will take time, but it is time well spent. I will encourage councillors to be the best representatives that they can be and foster honest, productive discussions for the good of the city. I don’t think this can be done with the threat of being overruled at a moment’s notice.

There are elements of Strong Mayor legislation that might benefit the city without affecting the democratic process. For example, any budget approved before January is automatically deemed a “strong mayor budget” even if it received unanimous consent from council. Passing budgets early can result in cost savings for the city, in getting tenders out sooner, potentially securing better prices for services, etc. In this case, I would consider exercising this strong mayor power.

(Editor’s note: Under the province’s strong mayor power legislation, the mayor is required to propose the budget for the municipality each year by February 1, sharing it with council and the public. Within specific timelines, council can then propose amendments to the budget, which the mayor can veto, and council can override a mayor’s veto with a two-thirds vote. If the mayor does not propose the budget by February 1, council must prepare and adopt the budget.)

Rob Hailman

I do not intend to use strong mayor powers. I will, to the fullest extent possible in law, delegate strong mayor powers back to council. I will, categorically, never veto a decision of council or bring forward a by-law requiring only one-third support, as these two acts are an affront to our democracy.

There are some cases, such as proposing the budget, where the mayor must use strong mayor powers under the Municipal Act. As was the practice in Peterborough until the 2026 budget, I will treat these solely as a formality and instead ensure council follows a budget review process similar to that which was used before the imposition of strong mayor powers.

Brian Lumsden

I will do everything in my power to clean up this opioid crisis and to keep the taxes low.

Jacob Méthot

Under absolutely no circumstances whatsoever would I use strong mayor powers. They are grossly anti-democratic at best and ignore the voices of thousands. I understand their use as something to push through more housing, but doing so without hearing each representative of Peterborough’s vote is disgusting.

Firing department heads means that the entire city staff turn into people who work at the will of one person in charge — the mayor. Some have families, some have children, and all have livelihoods. It’s a terrifying prospect to walk into work and wonder if your career is in jeopardy.

Using it to push through the budget, even if no changes are made, rushes the process and takes credit away from hard working councillors who make sure each aspect reflects the needs of the city.

Neil Morton

I’ve always been a culture guy, a glue guy, bringing people together. So, my goal is always to seek consensus and collaboration with council and to working together. I have no intention of using strong mayor powers in normal course of council activity. They are, however, an important tool in the toolkit provided by the province to most Ontario mayors, and one that I may use in an accountable manner on a limited basis to move forward issues I campaigned on and was elected to implement. My objective as Mayor is to govern in an open and transparent manner. I’ll always seek the advice and expertise of city staff, and garner council support on the key issues before us. I’m determined to accelerate key priorities like housing, economic development and infrastructure — areas of critical importance to Peterborough and, frankly, areas where we’re falling behind. Using strong mayor powers will never be my first choice, but should they be required to advance city priorities like keeping taxes affordable, restoring downtown or creating new housing, they will be used transparently, carefully, and in limited circumstances.

Keith Riel

I’ll use strong mayor powers when they’re the right tool to move important work forward. That includes the budget, organizational and written staff-direction powers available to the mayor, used where they help advance priority files.

I won’t use these powers as a shortcut around democracy. Winning the support of Council and the public is non-negotiable. I also won’t use the special bylaw powers to force through a bylaw that couldn’t win an ordinary majority of Council.

For example, if a shovel-ready affordable-housing project is stalled between City departments, I would use the lawful powers available to the mayor to establish responsibility and get the file moving.

Whenever I use a strong mayor power, I’ll publish the decision required by law, a plain-language explanation of why I used it and, afterward, what it achieved. I expect to be held accountable for those decisions.

Rebecca Schillemat

Strong Mayor Powers should never serve as a substitute for collaboration, clear communication, and mutual respect at City Hall. As Mayor, I will work constructively with all members of Council to establish a transparent governance framework that prioritizes consensus and respectful discussion. By setting clear planning guidelines, maintaining open channels of communication, and standardizing application processes, we can achieve our housing and economic targets democratically without needing to rely on vetoes or unilateral staff changes.

As Mayor, I am committed to consulting with every elected councillor to understand their perspectives and build a collaborative framework for decision-making. Using Strong Mayor powers unilaterally undermines democratic governance and removes valuable opportunities to refine plans through teamwork. Improving operational efficiency and municipal processes from the start addresses the root causes of delay, ensuring decisions reflect the best interests of the majority of Council and our community.

kawarthaNOW has reproduced written responses from candidates verbatim, without editing for grammar or format. Any errors, factual or otherwise, or any use of AI-generated content originate with the candidate. Editor’s notes may be provided in some cases to address factual errors.

What was billed as a community discussion focused on social issues facing Peterborough saw the city’s seven mayoral candidates express their positions on a wide range of challenges the city is experiencing.

Held Wednesday night (October 7) at the New Canadians Centre, “Together: From Individual Uncertainty to Collective Action” brought together Michael Eamon, Rob Hailman, Brian Lumsden, Jacob Méthot, Neil Morton, Keith Riel, and Rebecca Schillemat before hundreds of people both at the Romaine Street location and online.

For six of the seven candidates, it was their second debate of the day, having come together earlier for a recorded debate at Cogeco YourTV’s studio on Goodfellow Road. Hailman, who had publicly announced earlier in the week that he was suspending his campaign activities although his name remains on the ballot as a mayoral candidate, was not invited to participate in that debate.

Wednesday night’s debate was presented by seven organizations — the United Way of Peterborough and District, the New Canadians Centre, the Peterborough Community Health Centre, the Basic Income Peterborough Network, the Community Resilience Action Network, Trent University’s Research for Social Change Lab, and One City Peterborough — and was moderated by Research for Social Change Lab manager Collin Chepeka and Jazmine Raine, a One City Peterborough board member and former federal election Green Party candidate.

The debate format saw each candidate make an opening statement before responding to a specific question drawn at random by the moderators. The candidates were provided all the questions in advance but did not know which question they would be asked. After that, three questions from the audience were fielded before each candidate made a closing statement.

Below is a summary of each candidate’s positions and views gleaned from their opening and closing statements, and their responses to moderator and audience questions.

Michael Eamon

In his opening statement, Eamon expressed his aim to “create a spirit of openness, of transparency, of greater communication and, of course, greater accountability at City Hall.”

Terming Peterborough “a great place full of great people,” Eamon said local expertise has to be tapped into — “We’re sitting on a wealth of experts; a wealth of intellect, a wealth of lived experience.”

To the moderators’ question of his approach in supporting all levels of the arts and sports cultures in Peterborough, Eamon questioned moving forward on a proposed new multi-use sports and entertainment complex when “we have unique spaces that have crumbled,” such as the former Musicfest stage in Del Crary Park.

“It’s an expensive proposition … there are some serious needs that also need city attention and funding. I’d push the pause button (on the proposed complex), and get the council and mayor up to speed but, most importantly, get you (city residents) up to speed. Big things need vision. A lot of people don’t see themselves in this vision.”

“What is the business case? What is the revenue generation case? These things are key. We have the highest per capita debt load of any municipality in Ontario (but) we have third lowest average household income. I have a fiduciary responsibility to the entire community and I I’m not going to jump in with both feet.”

To a question from Avery Trenholm of Peterborough Leaders of Tomorrow, a group she founded after the city disbanded its youth council, Eamon pledged to re-establish the council and move to create internship and co-op opportunities at city hall.

In closing, Eamon described Peterborough as “a great city, a compassionate city, my chosen city,” but a city that’s at “a bit of a crossroads. Many of the issues we did not create. When the provincial and federal governments drop the ball, it lands on the municipality.”

“We need to have our heads up and look towards the future with a shared vision.”

Brian Lumsden

Lumsden’s opening remarks centred on what have been his consistent aims: tackling “the drug epidemic plaguing our city” and “promoting affordability by keeping taxes low” by “cutting spending and demanding more efficiency from every (city) department.”

“Every candidate here should have this (drug) crisis at the top of their priority list,” said Lumsden, citing the need for housing and treatment beds and the money to fund both.

“It’s a tall order. It’s won’t be easy. I’m not willing to throw in the towel and accept our current situation as normal. We must come up with a long-term plan, not only for the addicts but for the community, and for our safety.”

Asked by the moderators how he would strike a balance between creating employment lands while ensuring the city remains committed to equity and sustainability values, Lumsden harkened back to his now-familiar platform theme.

“There are people dying in the streets,” he said, adding “I think we can do better. (The former) Trinity Church (owned and operated by One City) would be better purposed for some other use rather than a drug hub.”

Asked twice by Chepeka to answer the question posed, Lumsden continued to speak to the drug issue before saying “I’m not here to get interviewed. I’m here to do something about the drug use.” Pressed yet a third time to answer, Lumsden did says there’s plenty of land in the city, but much of it is toxic and has be “cleaned up.”

In closing, Lumsden called more “love, kindness and respect.”

“I’d like to see a city where families can go to the library without having to witness outdoor drug use where needles are spread out on the ground. We need the parks to be safe for our kids. I’d like to see our kids able to walk down the street without having to witness the tragic human suffering.”

Rob Hailman

Saying there has been “no direction” at city hall for the past four years, Hailman opened by taking aim at what has been.

“City council has been retreating from their accountability. City council has been retreating from their own capacity to make decisions, and to have informal conversations around the table. You could say that city council has been retreating from reality. We need to turn that around by having some vision about what reality we live in and what reality we want to live in.”

Action on housing and climate change, said Hailman, is needed, as is a change to the procedural bylaw to increase public engagement at council meetings.

“We need to go back to having three budget books instead of one so that the public and council can actually know what the bloody budget says. And we need to engage renters as first-class citizens in the consultation process.”

In response to the moderators’ question as to how he would help those struggling to afford housing, whether they’re unhoused, homeowners, renting, or hoping to purchase, Hailman said the money is there for the city to lead the effort.

“We’re spending hundreds of millions of dollars on things that maybe are the wrong priority. The (new) police station, the $57 million committed to the downtown arena … don’t say there’s no money, say we’re choosing to not have the money. If I’m mayor, I’ll choose to have the money (for housing).”

In his closing remarks, Hailman spoke to the suspension of his election campaign, noting “This is the last campaign event I intend to participate in.” He added he was excluded from the YourTV debate — something he alleged was “misrepresented” to the media.

Addressing criticism from some that he’s not “a serious candidate,” Hailman asked what “serious” means, noting he’ll continue his work advocating for a better Peterborough well after the election.

“My name will be on the ballot and you’re free to a choice about me in whatever way you choose.”

Jacob Méthot

The youngest of all the candidates, Méthot used his opening statement to address the limited number of people that can address city councillors at their meetings, noting “when they do speak, they get ignored.”

“We need to have the ability to fight for what is right in our community. Everybody’s an expert in their own community about what they think is the right fit for the future of Peterborough.”

Méthot also took aim at the use of strong mayor powers that “completely ignore anybody’s actual opinion about a situation, and completely remove people from the democratic process which, I think, is very gross.”

Asked by the moderators what he would do to support those new to the city and ensure Peterborough is a safe and welcoming community, he said current mayor Jeff Leal’s use of a racial slur in a lecture at Trent University was “one of the reasons that made me realize that students my age are really engaged in a lot of ways that people underestimate us, and our ability to reach out for social change when we see an obvious wrong in our community.”

Méthot says besides working closely with organizations like the New Canadians Centre, he’d ensure there’s an open-door policy for anyone “struggling with anything Peterborough-related.”

“We need to look at hiring practices as a city,” added Méthot when asked how he would advance DEI (Diversity Equality Inclusion) at the municipal level.

In closing, Méthot noted “too many are just one terrible week away from losing it all.”

“I’m not afraid of those struggling and talking to them. I want to do what others won’t and open the doors for direct communication, and reduce barriers people face while trying to access or discover care.”

“I want accountability while doing so. What’s the point of this event if you can’t later say ‘You lied and you are facing the consequences of that.'”

Neil Morton

Referencing his communications background, Morton said he’ll use his skills in that area to ensure city residents “feel like they’re active stakeholders in community building.”

“I’m going to be doing regular neighbourhood town halls with councillors in every ward. We’ll switch to a committee of the whole model, so there will be unlimited delegations and people can speak for however long they want. People are going to be heard again.”

In response to the moderators’ question of how much his perception and support of a potential employer for Peterborough hinge on what they build and how they treat their employees, Morton first defended One City Peterborough in the wake of Lumsden’s earlier criticism — “They save lives in this city … they’re doing God’s work with the shelter and housing.”

To the question at hand, Morton said the city “isn’t doing a good job” attracting new businesses or encouraging existing businesses to expand.

“The more wealth we have here, the bigger the social safety net. Aggressively, as mayor, I’ll be working with economic development and be the chief ambassador for the community to bring as much business here as possible.”

Admitting the lack of employment lands “is a big hurdle” to overcome, Morton referenced the serviced but vacant Clean Tech Commons land that is available for lease at Trent University, terming it “an albatross hanging over the city.”

“I would figure out a path forward. Bring Trent to the table. Bring the City of Peterborough to the table.”

Asked what kinds of businesses he would like to see locate here, Morton listed clean tech, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and tech and aging.

In closing, Morton said Peterborough is “at a defining moment in its history.”

“We have to tackle this moment. We need a leader, a collaborator, a consensus person, and someone who has relationship capital and political capital, and can work to create solutions rather than point out problems.”

Keith Riel

As the only mayoral candidate with political experience, Riel gave his take, as an incumbent Ashburnham Ward councillor, on what has transpired this council term.

“I’ve watched people come to city hall who just wanted to be heard and were turned away instead,” he said, adding “Neighbours were told they couldn’t speak on decisions that affected their own streets.”

“People noticed and they stopped trusting city hall. I want to earn your trust back. Big decisions will happen in public; in front of the council you elected. Once a year, I’ll stand in front of you, in a public meeting, and tell you what we promised, what we got done, what we didn’t get done, and I’ll take your questions and answer every one of them. City hall belongs to you. I want to make sure that it works again for you.”

Asked by the moderators what his approach to generating revenue for the city would look like, and what influence “felt human impact” would have on how dollars are spent, Riel said “Real efficiencies mean the same or better service for less. Cutting services and calling it efficiency is wrong.”

“We’ve had a couple of people up here talk about the arena. The city promised to put $57 million into that. We were expecting the federal and provincial governments, and private money, to come to the forefront to make up $114 million. To date, that money is not forthcoming. If the city was on the hook to build a $200 million arena, your taxes would be 4.9 per cent before we start anything, and you would have double-digit taxes for the next 30 years to pay for a $200 million arena.”

Confirming the city is in negotiations with Cavan-Monaghan for employment land, and that a mediator has been assigned by the province, he also referenced the Clean Tech Commons property.

“We’ve got $12 million of your money invested in a piece of land that has been sitting there that needs to be attended,” said Riel, noting he was told by Trent that “the city has not darkened our doors. That’s one of the first trips I’m going to make (as mayor).”

In closing, Riel said “Good ideas are easy. Getting it done is the hard part.”

“I grew up here, I found work here, I bought a home here and I raised a son and daughter here, Ss when people tell me they can’t afford a place to live, or that city hall doesn’t listen to them, I take it personally.”

“Before anything goes ahead, you’ll see what the cost is and how we will pay for it. Peterborough has been good to me and my family. I want it to be that kind place for everyone in this room, whether your family has been here for generations or arrived last month.”

Rebecca Schillemat

Schillemat introduced herself as a candidate who, when mayor, will “exist to listen to residents and build a community for everyone.”

“Limiting speaking (before council) to four people per item is not enough to get active input from our community. It should go back to 10. When we have an item that a lot of people want to speak about, we should have a special meeting so that everyone can speak on that one item.”

“Listening to residents is the first thing that the mayor and the council should be doing. I will listen. I’m going to have our council come together and share what our goals are, and update the progress on those goals, being very transparent with the community, and making sure that we are spending our money wisely.”

Schillemat fielded a question from the moderators around public safety, and what needs to be done to ensure our neighbourhoods, streets, and public spaces are safe for all.

“The police say there are less crimes, but I think the reporting is down,” she said, adding “We need to work with police so it’s easier for people to report crimes.”

“Downtown is the biggest thing I’ve heard about while door-knocking. I want to see it cleaned up. I literally mean the garbage needs to be cleaned up. The graffiti needs to be cleaned up. The broken windows at businesses need to be repaired quickly. I really want to work with the DBIA (Downtown Business Improvement Area) so business owners don’t have to spend the first hour of their day cleaning the street in front of their business, because it’s done by that city.”

All good things, and fewer instances of public insecurity, will stem from more people having shelter, said Schillemat. That includes shelter of some kind for the estimated 500 people on Peterborough’s streets.

“Like Rob (Hailman) said, if we have $100 million to spend on arenas and facilities, why do we not have $100 million to house people in our community?”

Schillemat closed by noting that while each candidate for mayor is well aware of the challenges and agree they need to be addressed, Peterborough needs “a leader with a clear, realistic plan and the technical expertise to execute it.”

“I’m not asking for your vote to maintain the status quo or represent the political establishment. I’m running as a practical and independent leader focused on local solutions and results.”

Following the debate, Chepeka told kawarthaNOW that those who attended — some 250 people in person and another 200 who took in the livestream on the New Canadian Centres’ Twitch account — “have a lot to chew on.”

“I think the interview style allowed us to dig a little deeper into the specifics of how the candidates view their vision and how they plan to execute it,” he said.

Speaking to an audience question that asked the candidates how humanity would be part of their leadership, Chepeka said the answers were revealing.

“The most successful mayors are those who are able to communicate a clear vision, and that is based in their personal values. I’m really happy we had an opportunity to hear a little less about the pragmatics of policy and what is driving these candidates to be on this stage tonight.”

As Chepeka also told the audience at the conclusion of the debate, he said Peterborough is “spoiled for choice” when it comes to the number of mayoral candidates.

“There are many municipalities struggling to find candidates. I’m really grateful at a time when democracy might be teetering that we have a community willing to step up and try and fill that role.”

Although the election of school board trustees is often overshadowed by the larger campaigns of mayoral and council candidates, it is a vital part of the municipal election process.

“The school board race affects you whether you have kids in school or not,” said trustee candidate Jack Henry in a recent interview with kawarthaNOW. “That’s something that you should be paying attention to just as much as a council or mayor candidate.”

While new provincial legislation is reducing the role of trustees, they remain responsible for overseeing the budget of school boards, which receive the majority of their funding from the Ontario government based on the average daily enrolment of students in schools overseen by the board.

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

“Parents, children, and community members in general deserve someone who’s going to look at how that’s spent,” Henry said.

Every property owner in a municipality pays for education

Regardless of whether a property owner in a municipality has children, school-age or otherwise, they must pay education tax at a rate set annually by the provincial government. The education tax rate is the same for all municipalities across Ontario.

The amount of education tax a property owner pays is based on the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) assessment of the property’s value. For 2026, the education tax rate for residential properties is set at 0.153 per cent of the assessed value of the property.

By default, education taxes are designated for the English public school board, unless a property owner contacts MPAC to change the designation to the English separate school board, the French public school board, or the French separate school board. The deadline to change the designation for the October 26 municipal election was June 1.

In the City of Peterborough, the English public school board is the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB), 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.

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 Peterborough.

Trustee candidates for Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board

Longtime incumbent trustee Rose Kitney is not seeking re-election as a school board trustee. She has served as a trustee for KPRDSB continuously since 2000 and previously sat on the Peterborough Board of Education prior to its amalgamation in 1997. In 2026, Kitney filed her nomination papers to run for Peterborough city councillor in Monaghan Ward.

Incumbent trustee Steve Russell is also not seeking re-election. Russell was first elected to the board in 2018 and also served as board chair. He had been a teacher prior to his election to the board.

Three candidates will compete for the two available seats in this year’s election: Shawna Blackwood, Julie Chatten, and Jack Henry. Corey Scott, who was the first candidate to register as a public school board trustee candidate in July, has since withdrawn his nomination.

Blackwood is a lifelong Peterborough resident who currently works as a chef at The Railyard Cafe and Taphouse in Peterborough’s East City. She also has a background in education, as both a dance teacher and teaching assistant at Prince of Wales Public School and Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School.

“I want to participate — I love my hometown,” Blackwood told kawarthaNOW. “We can live in the past or we can work towards the now and the future.”

Chatten, who filed to run for trustee in 2018 but subsequently withdrew her candidacy after the nomination period when she accepted a new employment position, currently works full-time as a service writer in the heavy equipment industry. She served as school council chair at Ridpath Junior Public School, was a member of the Lakefield District Intermediate School Council, and is an active volunteer in the community.

“My connection to education isn’t something that started with an election,” Chatten wrote on Instagram. “It’s something I’ve experienced as a parent, through my daughters’ education, and through my involvement in our school community.”

Henry is a graphic designer and business owner whose campaign focuses on on arts education, special education accountability, and financial transparency. Incumbent trustee Kitney has personally endorsed Henry’s candidacy.

In a recent interview with kawarthaNOW, Henry explained his motivations for running for trustee, despite not being directly connected to the school board either professionally or personally.

“KPR is eventually where my own kids are going to go,” he said. “The work to make the school board the best it can be starts now for me.”

“I’m a graphic designer. I got into that role through publicly funded arts classrooms, and I want to make sure that that opportunity is still around for future students.”

After filing their nomination papers to run for public school board trustee, Blackwood and Henry subsequently announced a collaborative campaign in which they are asking residents to use both of their available votes on their joint ticket.

“I’d much rather be collaborative, especially in a race where every community member has two votes,” Henry explained.

Trustee candidates for Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board

Incumbent separate school board trustee John Connolly will not stand in the election, after having been appointed to the board in September 2023 following the resignation of Mike Ayotte.

Incumbent separate school board trustee Loretta Durst is running for re-election. She was first appointed to the board in 2021 and was later elected in the 2022 municipal election. Professionally, Durst was a longtime administrator at Trent University where she also served on the board of governors.

“I would like to continue to promote student achievement, advocate for students, and be a voice of support for Catholic education,” Durst wrote on her website.

Also entering the race are Alex Delorey, Christine Haffie, Braden Leal, and Jacquelyn Roffey. Katerina Hutchins has withdrawn her nomination.

Delorey is a veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy and also served as a police officer. He currently sits on the boards of the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society and the 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

“Alex and his wife are raising their three children in Peterborough,” reads Delorey’s website. “Their children attend local Catholic schools, giving Alex the same practical interest in strong Catholic education shared by thousands of families across the community.”

Haffie is currently co-chair of the St. Anne Catholic Elementary School council.

After four years away, former board trustee Leal has re-entered the race. Leal’s website outlines his three main priorities: specialist high skills major programs, artificial intelligence, and the balanced day schedule.

“AI is becoming a major challenge in education, as it undermines academic integrity and the development of critical thinking skills,” Leal states on his website.

Roffey is a former teacher, non-profit professional, and parent. Her campaign values include “human centered learning” and “parents as partners”.

“I’m now the parent trusting our Catholic school system with two of the people who matter most to me. I see the incredible influence educators have on our children, and I understand the questions, hopes and concerns parents carry when they send their children through those doors each morning,” writes Roffey on her website.

Trustee candidates for Conseil Scolaire Viamonde and Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir

Neither French-language school board will see trustee elections this year due to acclamations for both boards.

For Conseil Scolaire Viamonde, incumbent trustee Kristine Dandavino initially filed for re-election but later withdrew her nomination. At the end of the nomination period on August 21, Erik LaPointe was acclaimed to the board as he was the sole candidate.

Similarly, Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir incumbent trustee Marcellin Kwilu Mondo was acclaimed, as there were no other candidates at the end of the nomination period on August 21. This will be Mondo’s second term after having been acclaimed in 2022. He currently serves as Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAveni vice-chair.

This story has been updated with a correction about Julie Chatten’s background.

Applications will open next Thursday (October 15) for a new City of Peterborough pilot program that will provide up to $450 to eligible low-income seniors and residents with physical disabilities to help pay for snow removal this winter.

The city is limiting the 2026-27 pilot program to 100 participants. If more than 100 eligible applications are received, the city will randomly select participants so every eligible applicant has an equal chance of being chosen.

Applications open at 8:30 a.m. on October 15 and close at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21. They can be submitted online at www.peterborough.ca/snowremoval, by calling 705-742-7777, or in person at City Hall at 500 George Street North.

Residents selected for the program can receive up to $450 toward the cost of snow removal over the winter, paid in two instalments of up to $225.

The first payment will be made by direct deposit once an application is approved. To receive the second payment, participants will have to provide receipts showing the first instalment was spent on eligible snow removal services. The second payment will be issued at the end of February 2027.

Participants will be responsible for arranging their own snow removal, either through a snow-clearing company or a neighbour who is willing to perform the work for a fee and provide receipts.

To qualify, an applicant must live in the City of Peterborough, own and occupy their home during the winter, and be either 65 or older or have a physical disability.

Applicants must also be unable to clear snow themselves and have no other adult in their household physically able to do so. Residents of condominiums where the condominium corporation is responsible for snow removal are not eligible.

Household income must also fall below the current Statistics Canada Low-Income Measure after tax.

The maximum after-tax household income ranges from $30,255 for a single-person household to $42,787 for two people, $52,403 for three, $60,510 for four, $67,652 for five, and $74,109 for a household of six.

The snow removal subsidy pilot grew out of a proposal earlier this year to help seniors and people with mobility challenges deal with windrows — the heavy ridges of densely packed snow and ice that city road plows can leave across the ends of driveways.

In January, Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal introduced a motion asking city staff to investigate options for a seniors snow-clearing program, including assistance with windrow removal. Council unanimously supported the motion.

The city subsequently conducted public consultation on a potential windrow removal program. A survey received 636 responses, with 63 per cent of respondents reporting a disability or health condition that made clearing windrows difficult and 70 per cent saying they had avoided leaving home because of an uncleared windrow.

City staff considered three options: providing the service using municipal staff and equipment, contracting the work to a private company, or providing residents with a subsidy to arrange their own snow clearing.

An in-house service would have required additional staff, storage space, and specialized equipment costing as much as $170,000. A contracted service was estimated to cost from $55,000 for 100 driveways to as much as $100,000 annually, depending on winter conditions and the location of participating properties.

Staff instead recommended the subsidy model, saying it would give residents flexibility to choose someone familiar with their property while avoiding additional demands on public works crews during major snowstorms.

Council unanimously endorsed the staff recommendation at its May 25 general committee meeting and gave it final unanimous approval at its June 1 regular meeting.

Council also pre-committed $45,000 in the 2027 public works budget to fund the pilot for up to 100 households.

The original program proposal focused on windrow removal, although the program being launched by the city is described more generally as a snow removal subsidy program providing financial assistance toward eligible snow removal services.

The city will evaluate the pilot following the 2026-27 winter season, with the results expected to help determine whether and how the program continues in future years.

More information is available at www.peterborough.ca/snowremoval, by calling 705-742-7777, or by emailing snowremoval@peterborough.ca.

Hospice Peterborough’s annual Hike for Hospice has raised more than $148,000, setting a new record for the non-profit charitable organization’s largest annual fundraising event.

Close to 440 people took part in the September 27 hike at Millennium Park, walking from the Silver Bean Cafe to Beavermead Beach, with a shorter route turning around at Rogers Cove.

The fundraiser supports Hospice Peterborough’s palliative care and bereavement programs, which are provided free of charge to residents of all ages in the city and county of Peterborough.

Last year, the event raised a then-record $138,000 with more than 360 participants. This year’s total has already surpassed that mark, with fundraising continuing until the end of October.

Participants gathered in Millennium Park before setting out along the waterfront route, with activities including face painting and memorial crafts for children.

Hospice Peterborough executive director Hajni Hos led participants in a sponsor song, which the organization described as a new Hike for Hospice tradition.

Notorious T.A.S.H. was again the top fundraising team, bringing in $12,960, with Hospice Peterborough’s staff team Heart and Sole coming in a close second at $12,025.

Notorious T.A.S.H. team captain Kyle McConnell was the top individual fundraiser for the third year in a row, raising $4,530. Once again, he was hiking in memory of his late wife Tash, a nurse who worked at Hospice Peterborough and Peterborough Regional Health Centre and passed away in hospice in 2024 from cancer at the age of 39.

Hospice Peterborough said the money raised through Hike for Hospice goes directly toward all aspects of its services and programs, helping ensure palliative care and grief support remain available at no cost.

Since 1988, the organization has provided support to people living with life-threatening illness, their caregivers, and people experiencing grief and bereavement.

Its programs and services include home support, peer support groups, caregiver support, grief groups, family support, and residential hospice care.

Donations to Hike for Hospice can continue to be made at easypledge.ca/hospice-peterborough/ until the end of October.