Balancing compassion with accountability.

"Neil, I just want to know that the city – that someone – has my back."

Our downtown is the beating heart of Peterborough’s economy, our culture, and our community identity. It's everyone's neighbourhood. But right now, not enough people are living, working, and enjoying our core. Our downtown desperately needs help.

So when I heard these words from a downtown business owner, near tears as she said them because of the challenges operating her business at a time when fewer people are shopping in our core, my heart broke for her. That person helps form the heartbeat of our downtown. And that idea of having each other's back is the heartbeat of this campaign. 

To fix the current challenges, we're bringing forward a strategy that balances compassion with accountability.

Our Strategic Approach

To achieve these goals, our municipal approach will be guided by four core strategies:

  • We will ensure that the downtown is safe, welcoming and accessible to everyone.
  • We will ensure small businesses that invest in our downtown know that the city has their back.
  • We will encourage the use of downtown for cultural, recreational, sports, and other activities – for both residents and visitors.
  • We will enhance the state of downtown through consistent enforcement of the property standards, enhanced maintenance of public spaces, and frequent outreach and ambassador patrols.

Our Core Policies

Downtown Ambassador Program

We will launch a Downtown Ambassador Program to provide a friendly, visible, and caring presence that enhances the downtown experience for residents and visitors alike.

Knowledgeable ambassadors would greet visitors, assist shoppers and tourists, provide directions and local information, and report maintenance concerns and other public safety hazards. Team members with specialized training would also help connect individuals experiencing homelessness or mental health challenges with appropriate community services.

Safer Downtown Businesses

We will amend the Downtown Community Improvement Plan (CIP) so it will include a Safety Improvement plan to include financial incentives for security improvements, including enhanced lighting, surveillance cameras, and other measures that improve safety for businesses, employees, and customers.

Peterborough Proud Program

We will establish the Peterborough Proud Program, a city-led initiative that encourages citizens to take pride in and help care for our downtown through programs such as "adopt a block", downtown cleanup days, a youth service program, and business proud awards.

Downtown Response App

We will launch a real-time Downtown Response App that enables residents to report property standards, maintenance, and cleanliness issues by submitting photos directly to City staff.

"Our Invest in Downtown plan is how we bring vibrancy back to our core. This is how we get more people living, working and enjoying our downtown. This is how we get a real return on our downtown investment."

Together, We Will.

It's time for Peterborough to have our downtown business owners' back.

It’s time to start investing in our downtown.