Peterborough Tourism Strategy Community Feedback Survey Now Open
/Community members are invited to provide feedback on the draft direction of the Peterborough Tourism Strategy through a Community Feedback Loop Survey.
File photo.
Peterborough Blogs
City of Peterborough’s Corporate Accessibility Policy Seeking Public Contributions and Input
/The City of Peterborough is inviting residents to provide input into its Corporate Accessibility Policy update.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
According to the City, the Corporate Accessibility Policy will help strengthen and standardize accessible service delivery across all City departments. By providing staff with consistent guidance and improving procedural access to City services, the policy promotes equity, inclusion and customer-focused service.
The update ensures the City continues to meet current accessibility legislation, adopts modern best practices, and applies accessibility principles consistently across all City programs, services, and operations.
Residents can review the proposed policy and share their thoughts through the Connect Peterborough page.
The draft policy can be viewed under the ‘documents’ section on the webpage. Comments can be submitted directly through the online portal.
Any feedback received will be used to inform the final policy and revise language where necessary. All comments will be reviewed by the Program Manager of Accessibility Standards and Integration and the Accessibility Advisory Committee before the policy is presented to City Council for final review.
The public comment period will remain active until Feb. 27.
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Compliance Audit Committee Applications Now Open
/Applications are now open for citizens interested in serving on the Compliance Audit Committee for the City of Peterborough’s 2026 municipal election.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The Compliance Audit Committee is a requirement under the Ontario Municipal Elections Act. The Committee will address applications requesting an audit of a candidate’s or third-party advertiser’s election campaign finances and will oversee investigations into candidate finances.
Interested applicants should have experience in accounting and auditing, law, law enforcement or related academic fields. The committee remains in place for the term of the newly elected Council until the next municipal election in 2030. This is largely a volunteer position and an excellent opportunity for individuals to assist with municipal election requirements.
Applications may be submitted online with the interactive form. Packages are also available at City Hall, 500 George St. N.
Applications will be accepted until March 20 at 4:30 p.m.
Purpose of the Committee
To consider whether to grant or reject a compliance audit application made by an eligible elector;
To appoint an auditor, if the application is granted;
Receive and consider the auditor's report and decide whether legal proceedings should be commenced;
Consider reports from the Clerk identifying contributors who appear to have contravened election contribution limits and decide whether legal proceedings should be commenced.
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City Council Approves Procedure By-law Update
/Council approved a new Procedure By-law, developed in consultation with the Procedure By-law Working Group, to govern Council meetings during their Monday night meeting.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
The revisions in the proposed Procedure By-law focus on improving clarity, aligning with current legislative requirements and supporting efficient and transparent meeting processes according to Council.
It is customary during each term of Council to consider amendments to the current Procedure By-law. The Procedure By-law Working Group, comprising the Mayor, the Chair of the General Committee, the Chair of the Planning Committee, the CAO, the Commissioner of Legislative Services, the City Clerk, and the Deputy Clerk, met on several occasions to discuss procedural considerations. The Ombudsman’s Office was consulted and a review was undertaken of best practices from municipalities including Caledon, Cambridge, Chatham-Kent, Guelph, Pickering, Richmond Hill, St. Catharines, Whitby and Windsor.
The Procedure By-law updates certain aspects of how Council governs its meetings, such as the following examples:
The authority and duties of the Chair in maintaining order, decorum and the effective conduct of meetings;
Restricting the use of electronic devices during meetings to support transparency and uphold the statutory open meetings requirements;
Aurally recording Council's closed session meetings, with the recordings kept confidential in accordance with legislative requirements;
Using a consent agenda process for Council's closed session meetings, with Council having the option to approve reports through one motion prior to going into closed session and only matters not included as part of the consent agenda will be considered during the closed meeting;
Requiring that notices of motion be introduced at Committee meetings, not at a regular Council meeting, to follow a two-step approval process;
Setting a limit of four delegations per agenda item at a Council meeting to support efficient agenda management, with the delegations limit not applying to delegations heard as part of a statutory public meeting under the Planning Act or applicable legislation;
Setting a limit of two questions per Council member for questions on delegations, with the question specifically related to the content of the delegation and the response to the question from the delegate not to exceed 90 seconds - this change was amended during Council's General Committee consideration of the proposed by-law to increase the limit to two questions from one question;
When a motion to amend or a motion to defer a recommendation from City staff report is presented, the Chair of the meeting will ask staff to provide information on any implications on the amendment or deferral to ensure Council has the complete and accurate information prior to making a decision;
A majority vote is sufficient for a Motion to Reconsider where the original matter was not decided by
Council, or where it was decided by Council during a previous term of Council;A two-thirds vote will be required to pass a Motion to Reconsider where the original matter was decided by Council within the current term of Council; and
To support efficient and orderly debate, it is proposed that Members be permitted to speak to a Motion no more than twice, with each speaking opportunity limited to five minutes during General Committee meetings and a maximum of three minutes during Council meetings.
Council amended the direction on the maximum number of delegations from the original recommendation to set a limit of 10 at a Council meeting, except for statutory public meetings under the Planning Act or other applicable legislation, where the limit does not apply. Council changed the limit to four delegations per agenda item at a Council meeting, except for statutory public meetings under the Planning Act or applicable legislation, when the limit will not apply.
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City Council Unanimously Against By-Law 25-126 to Assume Power From Peterborough DBIA Board of Management
/City Council has voted unanimously against passing By-law 25-126 to assume a power from the Board of Management for the Central Area Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) during their meeting on Monday evening.
Nour Mazloum, Peterborough DBIA executive director during the Peterborough and the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce Meet the Candidates event for the federal election earlier this year. File photo.
The by-law, if passed, stated as follows:
On Feb. 21, 2017, Council approved the recommendations in closed session Report OCS17-003 and passed By-law 17-013 authorizing execution of a settlement agreement between the Board of Management for the Central Area Downtown Business Improvement Area, The Corporation of the City of Peterborough (City) and another party to an appeal to the then Ontario Municipal Board against Official Plan Amendment Number 173 and Zoning By-law 16-053 (Settlement Agreement).
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the City makes 20 annual payments to the DBIA of $150,000 each for a total of $3,000,000.
DBIA is a local board of the City.
Pursuant to section 216 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, a municipality may change a local board including assuming a power or duty of the local board.
As a result of City Council’s vote, The Corporation of the City of Peterborough by the Council has enacted the following:
The City hereby assumes the power of DBIA to receive from the City annual payments of $150,000 each pursuant to the Settlement Agreement.
Any by-laws or resolutions of DBIA pertaining to the exercise of the assumed power are deemed to be repealed or amended to the extent necessary to permit the City to receive the said annual payments of $150,000 and to spend the proceeds thereof subject only to the City’s performance of DBIA’s obligations respecting such payments pursuant section 3 of the Settlement Agreement.
This By-law is in effect when it is passed.
The DBIA issued a strong warning to City Council not to pass the by-law on Friday afternoon.
“Downtown businesses have been navigating higher operating costs, increased taxes, tariffs, and the lingering impacts of COVID-19,” said Nour Mazloum, Peterborough DBIA executive director. “This is precisely the time when they need more support, not less. We have been transparent, responsible, and accountable with every dollar we manage. That’s why this by-law is so concerning; it breaks trust. If the City can change direction without discussion on something this important, what will they do next? Trust requires year-over-year consistency. Right now, that’s what’s at risk.”
The DBIA released a statement regarding the decision on Tuesday afternoon:
Dear DBIA Members,
On behalf of the Board of Directors and our entire team, I want to extend my deepest thanks for your incredible support over the past week. Because of your engagement, your voices and your commitment to the future of our downtown, City Council voted unanimously against By-law 25-126.
This outcome was only possible because our members showed up.
You delegated, you wrote letters, you asked questions and you made it clear that the vibrancy of downtown and the independence of the DBIA matter deeply to this community.
Your efforts reaffirmed what makes downtown Peterborough so special; a strong, united business community that cares, collaborates and stands together when it counts.
Thank you for your advocacy, your time, your belief and most importantly your trust in the work we do every day. We will continue to champion the needs of our members, strengthen our partnerships with the City, and build a downtown that reflects the energy, creativity and resilience of the people who drive it.
This was a meaningful win for all of us; and we achieved it together!
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Peterborough DBIA Issues Strong Warning to the City Regarding Risks of By-Law 25-126
/The Downtown Peterborough Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has issued a strong warning regarding By-law 25-126, which is scheduled to go before City Council for approval during their meeting on Monday evening.
Nour Mazloum, Peterborough DBIA executive director during the Peterborough and the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce Meet the Candidates event for the federal election earlier this year. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
According to the DBIA, if passed, the by-law would shift authority over funds that have long supported downtown stability, revitalization, safety and economic activity – potentially weakening the DBIA’s ability to deliver services at a time when downtown businesses are already facing unprecedented pressures.
The DBIA says they were not consulted on the development of the by-law. Nour Mazloum, Peterborough DBIA executive director, said she raised questions about how this change would affect the organization’s ability to carry out its mandate during an already challenging economic period.
“Downtown businesses have been navigating higher operating costs, increased taxes, tariffs, and the lingering impacts of COVID-19,” said Mazloum. “This is precisely the time when they need more support, not less. We have been transparent, responsible, and accountable with every dollar we manage. That’s why this by-law is so concerning; it breaks trust. If the City can change direction without discussion on something this important, what will they do next? Trust requires year-over-year consistency. Right now, that’s what’s at risk.”
She also stated that the DBIA has a long-standing, collaborative working relationship with City staff and remains committed to maintaining that partnership but emphasized that major financial or governance changes require proper consultation.
“By-laws have consequences and this one has them,” she said.
“You can’t pass a by-law without considering the consequences. This one has them,” said Sacha Lai-Svirk, DBIA Chair. “A by-law like this sends a message about the City’s commitment (or lack of commitment) to stability, predictability, and partnership. After the progress we’ve made together, introducing doubt right now is strategically harmful. It risks undoing years of work to rebuild confidence with the City.”
Lai-Svirk emphasized that the DBIA is not opposed to tough conversations but decisions of this magnitude must be informed, transparent, and collaborative.
“I’ve run a small business downtown for 20 years. I know exactly what uncertainty does to a business,” she said. “The last thing our businesses need is confusion about the City’s support.”
Lai-Svirk also addressed an online comment that the by-law ‘does not change anything.’
“If this by-law doesn’t change anything, then passing it is unnecessary,” she explained. “And if it does change something, the City needs to explain exactly what — and why.”
Lai-Svirk added that the DBIA warns that shifting administration of the funds to the City creates the possibility of future reductions or redirection, undermining the stability provided through existing commitments through 2037.
“We have stability until 2037. There is no reason to revisit this now. This by-law should be set aside until then,” she said.
The DBIA has highlighted the following strategic implications if the by-law is passed:
Passing By-law 25-126 without review or consultation risks:
Undermining downtown stability during a volatile economic period
Creating uncertainty for 400+ businesses who rely on DBIA support
Damaging trust between the City and downtown stakeholders
Sending a negative signal to investors, developers, and new businesses
Interrupting momentum at a time when the downtown has finally turned a corner
Jeopardizing future collaborative initiatives, including:
permanent lighting strategy
downtown boundary expansion
high-speed rail (Alto) integration
Event Centre activation
new streetscape, placemaking, and safety programs
“These are the conversations we should be having,” said Lai-Svirk. “Not a by-law that destabilizes the very partnership that makes these projects possible.”
The DBIA is formally requesting that Council:
Vote against the by-law
Conduct a full legal and strategic review
Engage directly with the DBIA, AON Inc. and downtown stakeholders
Reassess the by-law in the context of downtown’s economic recovery
“We are prepared to defend the future of downtown businesses,” said Sacha Lai-Svirk. “If Council chooses to move forward without consultation – AON Inc. and the DBIA, are prepared to take every appropriate step to protect downtown businesses and the commitments made to this community,” said Lai-Svirk. “But our hope is to resolve this collaboratively. We want decisions that strengthen our momentum, not undermine it.”
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Social Services Cheque Pickup For Friday
/Social Services clients who are set to receive a monthly cheque on Friday, can pick up their cheque at the Social Services office located at 178 Charlotte St., announced on Tuesday.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The Social Services office is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The City of Peterborough’s Social Services department has resumed mailing all other cheques and mail following the labour dispute at Canada Post.
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City Opens Applications For Low Income Property Tax Assistance For 2025/26
/Applications are available for the City of Peterborough Low Income Senior and Low Income Property Tax Assistance Program.
File Photo.
Qualifying applicants will receive a $414 tax credit on their tax accounts which will be applied to the February 2026 interim tax bill. Applicants who previously received more than a $414 credit will receive their pre-existing credit amount.
Applicants can apply under one of the following qualifications:
Low Income Senior aged 65 years or older.
Low Income Senior aged 55-64 years of age.
Low Income Disabled Person receiving benefits under the ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program).
Applications are available on the City’s website at peterborough.ca/TaxAssistance or the City Hall Tax Office, 500 George St. N. Residents who received tax credits in 2025 will automatically receive a 2026 Property Tax Assistance application in the mail.
The deadline for submitting this application is Feb. 6.
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City of Peterborough Seeks Community Input to Shape Tourism Strategy
/The City of Peterborough is developing a tourism strategy to guide the growth of Peterborough as a competitive, sustainable and four-season destination and is seeking community input.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
Over the coming weeks and months, the community will have opportunities to participate in conversations and other engagement activities that will help shape the future of tourism in Peterborough.
The City has engaged Bannikin, an Ontario-based tourism consultancy with extensive experience in developing tourism strategies for communities and destination marketing organizations according to a press release. A proposed Tourism Strategy is expected to be presented to City Council in spring 2026. As the busy summer tourism season comes to a close for another year, this project will focus on community engagement activities, including connecting with tourism-sector businesses and the broader community.
“Tourism is vital to the City of Peterborough – it enhances quality of life, generates economic returns for businesses, and creates jobs for community members,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “This new Tourism Strategy will provide a road map for collaborating on tourism development, management, and marketing.”
Meaningful community engagement is at the foundation of this tourism strategy development work and several opportunities for community participation are built into this project across fall 2025.
An online survey is now open and responses will be accepted through to the end of October. Additional information and updates, including dates and times for in-person ‘community café’ sessions, will be available in the coming weeks and will be published on the Connect Peterborough website.
An overview of engagement activities is included below:
Online Community+ Survey throughout the month of October
Virtual Key Informant Interviews throughout October
To engage selected voices from the community, including elected officials, City staff, local partners and collaborators, and leaders from Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation
Virtual Focus Groups in early to mid-November
To engage representatives of key interest groups and representatives of tourism business clusters
In-person Community Cafés in mid-November
To engage with residents, including re-engaging with those who have participated in other engagement activities like the online survey
“The City has had some incredible wins since bringing tourism service delivery in-house, including successfully landing the Women’s Major Series Lacrosse Tournament, the TELUS Cup, and securing media coverage like CP24 Breakfast,” said Brendan Wedley, Strategic Communications and Service Peterborough Director. “The new Peterborough Tourism Strategy allows for us to play to our strengths, develop opportunities, collaborate with businesses and community organizations, and ultimately, define how we position our destination for visitation and sustainable growth in 2026 and beyond.”
The development of this comprehensive, city-focused Tourism Strategy is the latest initiative undertaken by the City of Peterborough since tourism service delivery was brought ‘in-house’ at the beginning of 2025. Other initiatives undertaken by the City’s destination marketing program include several successful sports tourism bid opportunities coming to Peterborough in 2025 and 2026, media hosting including a live broadcast with CP24 Breakfast, the launch of a new year-round Visitor Centre operating out of the Peterborough Memorial Centre and a suite of digital and print marketing pieces.
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City Seeking Intersection Improvements For Fairbairn Street and Towerhill Road/Lily Lake Road
/The City of Peterborough is seeking input on the upcoming project to improve the intersection at Fairbairn Street and Towerhill Road/Lily Lake Road.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
The project is being designed to improve vehicular, pedestrian, and cycling accessibility according to the City.
Residents are invited to view the project scope and plans, as well as additional project information and resources and submit questions and feedback through the interactive features on the City’s community engagement hub.
The general scope of this project is to:
Install traffic signals to improve the functionality of the intersection;
Implement dedicated turn lanes at the signalized intersection to improve vehicular traffic flow;
Improve the roadway geometry on the approaches to the intersection; and,
Improve pedestrian and cyclist access along Lily Lake Road by providing an off-street multi-use trail on the south side of Lily Lake Road from York Drive to the subject intersection.
This project is planned to be constructed in multiple phases, with the anticipated phasing as follows, subject to funding approvals:
Phase 1 (2025): Preliminary design and utility coordination
Phase 2 (2026): Detailed design, property acquisitions and utility relocations
Phase 3 (2027): Construction
