Re-Elect Lesley Parnell

As your City Councillor, with knowledge, experience, professional and respectful working relationships with staff, stakeholders and our community, I understand my jurisdiction. I work well and respectfully with my council partners to achieve the many accomplishments for the City and Otonabee Ward. That is just the first step – the foundation. Then you need patience, a bit of gentle tenacity and budget approval. 

Here are some achievements made, with my council partners. These achievements are made through strong collaboration amongst the city councillors with a focus on community growth, and fiscal responsibility. 

City Wide Achievements

• Free Youth Transit – by fall 2026 – all students aged 13 – 18 will have free transit passes and the education to navigate maps and the public transit system. This represents a valuable life skill and a fantastic opportunity for students and their families.

• Significant progress on our urban forestry goals, including Trees 4 Peterborough which has resulted in 3600 new trees planted in the Peterborough community.

• Continuous support of new housing initiatives across the spectrum and many changes to our planning protocols to eliminate the red tape and get to the “building permit” stage faster. Through my continued efforts, Hilliard Street and Alexander Court Housing projects are in the cue. We continually advocate to upper levels of government for housing funding dollars. And have had success in many ways with more tbc.

• I have volunteered to support (rules based) Brock Mission, Cameron House and the Youth Emergency Shelter. Plus fundraised for CrossRoads.

• Outdoor Sports and Recreation Master Plan

• With the completion this year of the Premier Level A diamond at Morrow, the multi use Knights of Columbus Park and West end sports park - 6 of the top 10 identified community priorities have been achieved. Throw in some new splash pads, upgraded baseball diamonds and many neighbourhood parks redevelopments - we are on our way to Community Well-Being.

• The Organic Program has been very successful - thanks to you.

• Many roads have been upgraded through various programs.

• Championed having an extended season and hours at our splash pads.

Otonabee Ward Specific

• The turning lane and new traffic lights on Lansdowne West by Westview Village and Merrett Home Hardware is underway.  Utility re- locates then the actual widening into 2027.

• Approved Maryland Community Living Housing

• Park and Lansdowne Intersection rebuild happens this year

• Environmental and reforesting work will start at the Kennedy Drive Snow Dump this summer.

• New pedestrian crosswalks on Spillsbury South,  Erskine and on Monaghan by Kenner

• New splash pads at Valleymore, Turner Park and Kinsmen

• Trees along airport road and many other places

• Stop sign enhancement at Mountain Ash

• Speed recognition signs on Crawford, Cameron and Monaghan

• Trees in the Grove Tot lot off of Barbara

• Rocks to prevent dumping at the end of Cameron and beside Costco

• Revitalization of Whitefield, Keith Wightman and Glenn Pagett parks in 2026

• Morrow Park will have a new Premier Level A baseball diamond with all the perks Fall 2026

• New Kenner tennis courts

• Upgrades to the base ball diamond at Stacey Green

• Yearly trail clean ups and beyond  (for 16 years so far)

• Miskin Law Community Centre with the south end library branch and walking track are a huge success

• Fixed the Memorial Centre floor which bought us 20 critical years

• High Street – major $7 million reconstruction in the cue

• Holy Cross Sports Field & Track. Provincial championship level!

• Dual Sports Fields at Fleming

• Succeeded in having public works reuse as much of the necessary line flushing water for trees and street cleaning.

Hydro One Regional Office is being build on Fisher Drive. This deal was the most successful and important financial decision in Peterborough. Millions in the bank for equity and interest to invest in capital and property tax reduction, saved all the jobs, all distribution rates will be lower in perpetuity, and we avoided multi millions of dollars in storm damage.

Multi Use Sport & Entertainment Centre

We recognize that invest is crucial for our downtown and seek partners for a significant revitalization. We are just at the “next step” to find partners and develop a financing plan. We have NOT spent millions.

If we can secure significant partners, it will be fantastic for our downtown and city.  If not, the project will not happen. Good luck to the team.