I am so excited to be running in the fall election to be a part of Peterborough City Council (Northcrest, Ward 5)
Prior to filing my papers, while speaking with a candidate from another ward, I was told that “about ten” people were planning to run in Northcrest, and I was reminded that I did not have to run in my own riding. I appreciated the information, and it made me reflect on where I truly belong.
I was born and raised in the south end. My mother still lives in the same home where my older brother and I grew up, and where my father lived until his passing in 2025. We both attended Grove Public School and Kenner Collegiate. I spent nearly twenty years in Otonabee Ward and still have strong ties to the south end.
My first apartment, in the mid‑1990s, was in the downtown core. For almost four years, I worked at the law firm of Farquharson Daly while also bartending at Copperfield’s. I briefly moved to Toronto to work at another law firm, then spent eight months working in the Caribbean with Carnival Cruise Lines. Shortly after returning home, I began a career as a virtual tour provider for real estate. I purchased my first house in 2001 on Prince Street—single, female, and entirely through my own hard work.
In 2001, I began working for the Ministry of the Attorney General, where I stayed until 2017. As a mother of three young children, I needed more predictable hours, and I was fortunate to secure consistent part‑time employment with the Ministry of Natural Resources, where I remain today. In addition to my dedication to two employers over the last twenty‑five years, I have successfully operated my own real estate photography business. I have lived in Town Ward for six years and have worked downtown for nearly twenty‑nine years. I absolutely loved our former downtown.
And then there is Northcrest—Ward 5—where I have lived for the past eighteen years. My children attended R.F. Downey, Edmison Heights, Adam Scott, and Queen Elizabeth. I served on school councils at each one, sometimes simultaneously, and was deeply involved in fundraising and school donations. Northcrest is where I belong. This is where I chose to run.
Choosing to run in Northcrest does not mean I will turn a blind eye to the rest of our city. A strong council works collaboratively, and I will bring a clear, steady voice for the needs of our ward and for the needs of Peterborough as a whole.
Now that you know my background, I want to share some of the concerns and ideas I’ve heard from residents—and what I want to bring forward.
The abrupt eviction of Northview Daycare & Nursery School was devastating for many families. Learning that this centre alone had a waitlist of 800 children was almost unbelievable. As of March 2026, there are 3,739 children on the daycare waitlist in Peterborough. It is fair to say that working parents strengthen our local economy. I want to improve daycare availability by urging the creation of at least two new daycare centres during my term—including one in or near Ward 5.
Peterborough has a higher‑than‑average population of seniors, with residents aged 65 and over making up 25% of our community. As a City Councillor, I will listen to the needs and concerns of our seniors and implement strategies that reduce financial strain, support aging‑in‑place, and protect the dignity and independence of every senior in our community.
Peterborough must build affordable housing. We also need warm, dry, safe beds for those experiencing homelessness. In the winter, my daughters and I have prepared hot meals and served them from the hatch of my car. We have been out twice recently handing out sandwiches, bananas, and water. Many good people in our city are experiencing homelessness. I’ve had meaningful conversations with individuals about the cost of housing and the circumstances that led them to living in tents. I understand the frustration around criminal activity—I do not support that or drug use—but I do believe that no one in our city should go hungry or cold, especially children. I also understand concerns about using the former fire station as a winter shelter and its proximity to the Peterborough Zoo. I have suggestions to address these concerns and eliminate potential risks, which I look forward to bringing forward if elected.
(I strongly feel this would be an excellent location for a daycare!)
Peterborough should revive winter skating on the Canal. We are home to the world’s largest lift lock, and people love to visit it. Even before the announcement that the Visitor Information Centre would move to the Lift Lock, it seemed like the natural place to enhance tourism and community engagement. I’ve never skated on the Rideau Canal, but I know its reputation, and I would love to see Peterborough offer a smaller‑scale version, just as families here have done for decades.
With the announcement of the new Clean Streets Peterborough Initiative, there is a major oversight: residents want weekly garbage pickup, especially in the summer. Many people do not have garages to store garbage, and leaving bags outside leads to animals—and, sadly, humans—tearing them open. We don’t need eight bags every two weeks; we need weekly pickup. Keeping in mind a large senior population, which sometimes means disposal of adult depends, and storing for 2 weeks is not ideal! I understand this may have been a cost‑saving measure, but I have ideas to offset the cost and restore weekly collection.
The City should also pause spending on park “upgrades” or “improvements.” We are fortunate to have many beautiful parks, playgrounds, schoolyards, splash pads, and sports fields. Let’s maintain what we have and focus our resources on more urgent issues. Current projects should be completed, but new ones should be temporarily paused.
Finally, I must address the $57 million commitment toward a new multi‑use sports and events centre downtown. To look out for the best interests of our seniors, our working families who are barely getting by, and our youth just starting out, this level of debt is deeply concerning. Anyone who knows me knows I love attending concerts. Would it be wonderful to see concerts here at home instead of driving one to three hours? Absolutely. Would I feel safe leaving my car downtown for three hours? Absolutely not. Many homeowners simply cannot afford another tax increase. If this venue does move forward, and status quo remains in that neighborhood, I would not support a downtown location. We must secure more outside funding to reduce the City’s financial burden (tax payors).
I understand there will be many challenges to overcome on the way to a healthier future for Peterborough. As a determined woman who has spent a lifetime in this community overcoming many challenges, I look forward to putting my drive and ambition to work for Northcrest and for Peterborough as a whole. I have started visiting neighbourhoods for my door‑to‑door campaigning and really enjoy hearing from everyone!
I look forward to and welcome anyone who would love to join me and volunteer on my campaign.
Please feel free to contact me with your questions or concerns at Debbie@DebbieWard5.ca or by calling or texting 705‑750‑7099.
As with any campaign, there are many expenses, and donations are greatly appreciated. (The maximum contribution per person is $1,200, but every $20 helps.)
Updates for the website and more social media links are coming soon!
Debbie ♡