Peterborough is one of the greatest cities anywhere—one of Canada's most secretly awesome cities. But we know that. You know that. We trumpet that all the time here: the amazing people (and their animals), organizations, institutions, non-profits, charities and businesses that make this community what it is. In many respects, it's a community of collaboration. Build a city together, not in silos.
It's stunningly beautiful, this gateway to the Kawarthas—and pretty much anyone who visits here or lives here raves about it. It has all the amenities of a big city, and then some. And the best zoo anywhere.
So yes, there is lots of greatness here—so get ready for "great" (repeat) in this paragraph. We have great businesses. We have a great emerging tech (and green tech) sector. We have great organizations like Peterborough Economic Development working to bring business here (and create jobs)—"Let's do Business” is one of their mottos—and the Peterborough Chamber (one of the best Chambers anywhere) working to help grow existing businesses (like ours), make them sustainable and advocate on their behalf. We have great post-secondary institutions in Trent University and Fleming College. We have great (and diverse) restaurants, pubs, cafés and retail stores. We have a great music, arts and cultural scene. We are a great sports town, and the Petes and Lakers are known far and wide. And most important, we have great people all around us. Peterborough is a city of great people.
But everyone knows there is room for improvement in this city; there always is. This is a particularly crucial phase, this next four years. There are many questions—and no easy answers—in the city around jobs, sustainable economy, economic development, green spaces, urban sprawl, development, Parkway (or no Parkway), taxes, the downtown, crime, addiction, social services, keeping young people here, etc.