Contact United Way Peterborough & District

Office Location

277 Stewart Street, Peterborough, Ontario  K9J 3M8

Office Hours

Monday through Friday  9AM-5PM

Saturday and Sunday CLOSED

Phone

705-742-8839

Email

office@uwpeterborough.ca

Staff

Jim Russell, CEO

Phone: 705-742-8839 x 26
Email: jrussell@uwpeterborough.ca

Rhonda Gilchrist, Senior Director of Operations and Revenue Generation

Phone: 705-742-8839 x 27
Email: rgilchrist@uwpeterborough.ca

Betsy MacDonald, Senior Director of Impact and Communications **On leave**

Phone: 705-742-8839 x 28
Email: bmacdonald@uwpeterborough.ca

Tonya Kraan, Director of Community Impact **On leave**

Phone: 705-742-8839 x 30
Email: tkraan@uwpeterborough.ca

Elyse Belsey, Campaign Officer

Phone: 705-742-8839 x 32 Cell: 705-772-6681
Email: ebelsey@uwpeterborough.ca 

Jessica Easton, Finance/Data Officer

Phone:705-742-8839 x 21
Email: jeaston@uwpeterborough.ca

Adeline Murphy, Campaign Officer

Phone: 705-742-8839 x 25 Cell: 705-313-0651
Email: amurphy@uwpeterborough.ca 

Elisha Rubacha, Community Impact Officer

Phone: 705-742-8839 x 33
Email: erubacha@uwpeterborough.ca

Joy Uson, Finance/Data Officer

Phone:705-742-8839 x 31
Email: cjuson@uwpeterborough.ca

Kathrine Williams, Community Engagement Project Coordinator

Phone: 705-742-8839 x 33
Email: kwilliams@uwpeterborough.ca

Board of Directors

Chair
Karen Wilson – Executive Director, Employment Planning & Counselling Peterborough

Past Chair
Dr. Marcus Harvey – Executive Director, Trent University Faculty Association (TUFA)

Treasurer and Chair, Finance Committee
Brock Maschke – Chief Financial Officer, Swish Maintenance

Chair,  Community Impact Committee
Nancy Fischer – Retired, City of Peterborough

Directors

  • Sahar Afroz – Manager, Sam’s Place
  • Reem Ali – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisor, City of Peterborough
  • Mike Baxter – Commercial Banking Senior Relationship Manager, CIBC
  • Joëlle Favreau – Health Promoter Specialist, Peterborough Public Health
  • Bruce Gibson – Retired; Dentist
  • Adam Hopkins – Senior Vice President, Academic at FNTI (First Nations Technical Institute)
  • Christi Nash – Co-Founder & Partner, Arising Collective

Labour Council Representatives | Labour Partnership

  • Marion Burton – Executive Member At Large, Peterborough & District Labour Council
  • Dr. Marcus Harvey, Executive Director Trent University Faculty Association (TUFA)

Ex-Officio

Jim Russell – Chief Executive Officer, United Way Peterborough & District

Committees

Community Impact Committee

The Community Impact Committee guides United Way’s strategies to achieve the community priorities identified in our Community Impact Agenda while also stewarding the ongoing development and evaluation of our priorities to ensure they remain relevant and responsive to our community.

The Community Impact Committee oversees United Way’s relationship building activities with its partner agencies and other community initiatives.

Chair: Nancy Fischer

Committee Members:

  • Joëlle Favreau
  • Heather Holland
  • Christie Nash
  • Kathy Neill
  • Karen Wilson

Community Advisory Board

The Community Advisory Board (CAB) acts as an advisory body to the Community Entity (CE) for Peterborough (United Way) providing guidance on issues of homelessness in the community. The Community Advisory Board (CAB) is expected to coordinate efforts at the community or regional level.

Learn more about Reaching Home: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada – Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy

Co-Chairs: Jim Russell and Jocelyn Blazey

Committee Members:

  • Sewina Chu (Housing, Infrastructure & Communities Canada)
  • Aimee LeLagadec
  • Alana Parisien
  • Annie Hedden
  • Ashley Safar
  • Christian Harvey
  • Dana Hetherton
  • Dane Record
  • Debbie Carriere
  • Dion Gemmiti
  • Donna Rogers
  • Jennifer Bain
  • Jim Hendry
  • John Beamish
  • Kerri Kightley
  • Lenard Hall
  • Lori Flynn
  • Naomi Nichols
  • Paul Armstrong

Finance Committee

Chair: Brock Maschke – Chief Financial Officer, Swish Maintenance Limited / Charlotte Products Ltd.

Committee Members:

  • Mike Baxter – Manager, Commercial Banking CIBC
  • Steve Henderson – RBC Dominion Securities Inc
  • David Martin – Community Member
  • Murray Miskin – Lawyer, Miskin Law
  • Meghan Valentine – Manager, Financial Services, PRHC

Community Campaign Cabinet

  • Paul Rellinger, 2025 Campaign Chair
  • Darcy Bonner, Community Ambassador
  • Michael Eamon, Trent University
  • Ann Farquharson, Farquharson Law
  • Coby Fewings, Scotiabank
  • Bruce Gibson, Community Ambassador
  • Marg Glenn, Glenn Isle Farms
  • Sheridan Graham, County of Peterborough
  • Greg Kidd, KPRDSB
  • Richard Lambert, BMO
  • Evan Lyons, PRHC
  • Laken MacFarlane, City of Peterborough
  • Vipesh Patel, Community Ambassador
  • Thomas Piggot, HKNP Health Unit
  • Amanda Pinder, RBC
  • Stephan Ragaz, Community Ambassador
  • Balkaran Singh Sathi, Sathi Law
  • Jeannine Taylor, KawarthaNOW
  • Sebastien Tinor-Roy, TD Bank
  • Staff Sargeant John Townsend, Peterborough Police
  • Shirley Turner, EXIT Realty Liftlock
  • Danielle Turpin, Community Ambassador

Contact 211

211 is a free and confidential service that easily connects people to the critical social and community supports they need. Unlike search engines, 211 applies a human touch for personalized solutions. Their highly-trained and accredited Community Navigators know how to ask the right questions to get the full picture of a person’s needs.

Learn more about 211: 211 Peterborough

Older adult calling 211

Social Posts

Next up in our PTBO Performs VI artist series 🎤✨

Phil Stephenson of Lagan & Derelict!

🕦 9:05 PM | Thursday, February 26
📍 The @cogeco Studio, Showplace Performance Centre 
🎉 Marking their SIXTH PTBO Performs appearance!

PTBO Performs VI: Musicians United to End Homeslessness is Peterborough’s biggest night of live music featuring 14 amazing local acts set to take both stages @ptboshowplace in support of our partner agencies providing housing and shelter services. 

🎫 Tickets are available online now [link in bio] and at the @ptboshowplace box office. 

You’re not going to want to miss this!

#PTBOPerformsVI #PTBOMusic #LiveMusicPTBO
❄️ Due to inclement weather, our office will be closing early today, (Thursday, January 15)❄️

Our team will remain available remotely and will continue to monitor phones and emails.

Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe.
Buckle up for Peterborough Performs returning February 26th! 🥳

Join us for a night of impact and community as we enjoy 14 local artists at Showplace Performance Centre. All proceeds raised are in support of our partner agencies and the work they do for housing and homelessness initiatives. 

🎟️ Get your tickets at showplace.org
☁️If you’re looking for a sign (and the chance to win big, give back and change lives) this is it! 
 
🎟️Our next 50/50 draw takes place on January 30th! Purchase tickets online through the link in our bio. 

*Ontario residents only. Must be 18 or older to purchase tickets.
Looking for a night that’s guaranteed to be unforgettable? 🎶
Peterborough Performs returns February 26th for an incredible evening of live local music!

For one night and one night only, fourteen talented local artists will take the stage under one roof, showcasing a vibrant mix of folk, pop, and everything in between. You’ll discover new favourites, sing along to familiar hits, and experience the best of Peterborough’s music scene.

Best of all, you can feel good knowing every ticket makes a difference. Proceeds raised from Peterborough Performs support our local partner agencies and their housing and homelessness initiatives. By coming together through music, we’re strengthening our community and helping create lasting solutions.

🎟️Get your tickets today at showplace.org or through the link in our bio

And don't forget to keep an eye out for our online auction - coming soon...👀
First up in our PTBO Performs VI artist series 🎤

@caitlinoconnormusic of @detentionclubmusic 

🕘 9:10 PM | Thursday February 26
📍 Main Stage, Showplace Performance Centre
🎉 Making their first-ever Peterborough Performs appearance!

PTBO Performs VI: Musicians United to End Homelessness is Peterborough’s biggest night of live music - with fourteen acts set to take both stages @ptboshowplace in support of our work ensuring everyone has a place to call home. 

Tickets available online [link in bio] and at the @ptboshowplace box office. 

Don’t miss it. 🔥

#PTBOPerformsVI #PTBOMusic #LiveMusicPTBO
Office pranks on Jim are back and better than ever for 2026🐭🤣!

High spirits, strong teamwork and lots of laughs and heart here at UWP.
After many years of dedicated service, we are preparing to celebrate Jim Russell’s upcoming retirement, and the incredible leadership he has provided to United Way Peterborough & District. Jim’s commitment to community, collaboration, and compassion has helped shape the organization we are today, and we are deeply grateful for the impact he leaves behind.

As we look ahead to our next chapter, we are now seeking a Chief Executive Officer to build on this strong foundation and lead UWP through continued growth and community impact guided by Reconciliation, equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion.

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities.

💻 Learn more by visiting www.uwpeterborough.ca/ceo-hiring/ [link in bio]

📧 To apply, send a resume and cover letter (PDF) to ceohiring@uwpeterborough.ca

🗓️ Deadline for applications: February 16th, 2026
✨ We’re back in the office and kicking off our first work day of 2026 with the best kind of news! Celebrating our December 50/50 winner and the incredible community that makes moments like this possible. 

❤️ Our monthly 50/50 draws are a growing way to support our 20 local partner agencies while giving Ontario residents the opportunity to win big.

🎟️ The January draw is live now - tickets are on sale through the link in our bio, and our next draw takes place on January 30 at 1:00 PM. 

*Must be 18+ to purchase tickets. Ontario residents only.
From all of us at the Peterborough & District United Way, we are wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year! We're excited to continue our work with our amazing donors, partners, and volunteers in the years to come.

📅 Reminder: The tax deadline for charitable contributions is December 31.

Show your #LocalLove and donate to United Way Peterborough & District to help build community & change lives. 

Consider donating today, visit the link in our bio to learn more about our work and ways to give.
2025, what a year! 

We’re so grateful for the generosity, care, and community spirit that made these moments possible.

As the year comes to a close, this is also a friendly reminder that gifts made by December 31 are eligible for 2025 charitable tax receipting. Thank you for supporting your neighbours, today and all year long.

Learn more about the ways to give at the link in our bio.

Reminder: there is a secure mailbox located at the front of our office (277 Stewart St.) checked daily.
🚨Reaching Home Funding Applications Are Now Open!🚨

United Way Peterborough & District is happy to share that we are accepting applications from agencies for the Reaching Home program, on behalf of the Government of Canada.

👉 What is Reaching Home? It is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides funding to communities to help them address their local homelessness needs.

Applications close January 22nd, 2026. Find eligibility requirements and full application details on our website:
🔗 uwpeterborough.ca/reaching-home/ or follow the link in our bio
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