United Way Peterborough & District Presents: Discussing Social Issues with Peterborough-Kawartha Candidates

POSTPONED – New date and time TBD

United Way Peterborough & District is pleased to host an online discussion about local social issues. All candidates from the Peterborough-Kawartha riding are invited to discuss four complex and interconnected social issues in our community:

  • Poverty
  • Housing & Homelessness
  • Mental Health
  • Economic Opportunities.

United Way Peterborough & District and their partner agencies embed values of inclusivity, leadership, collective action, and diversity within their work, to ensure that people in our community, from all walks of life have access to basic necessities and supports to improve their wellbeing.

Many in our community are struggling to make ends meet. There is a homelessness crisis, an opioid crisis, and voters are looking beyond rhetoric to real solutions to pressing social issues. United Way is proud to host this all-candidates discussion and encourage all to attend.

said Jim Russell, CEO of United Way Peterborough & District.

The online discussion will take place Tuesday, May 24th from 3:00PM – 5:00PM on the Zoom platform with community members able watch the discussion live on the UWP YouTube channel. A recording of the discussion will be available after 5:00PM on May 24th for those unable to watch the livestream event.

United Way Peterborough & District invited all Peterborough-Kawartha candidates to provide their availability for consideration while scheduling this discussion. The discussion was scheduled based on the mutual availability of the four candidates who responded to our request. The Zoom link will be provided in advance of Tuesday, May 24th to all registered Peterborough-Kawartha candidates to encourage participation from all parties.

Moderated by Jim Russell, CEO of United Way Peterborough & District the discussion will be segmented by each of the identified issues: Poverty, Housing & Homelessness, Mental Health and Economic Opportunities and will include an overview of the prevalence and impacts of the social issue using current local data and information. United Way Peterborough & District will then ask 1-2 question(s) related to the each issue with candidates having 3 minutes to answer each question by describing how their platform will address the issue.

Information for Media and Campaign Teams:

There will be limited space on the Zoom call for media and campaign teams to attend the discussion in real time, registration is required and can be completed buy scanning the below QR code with your mobile device or by REGISTERING HERE.

Participation in the call will be limited to the moderator and candidates; audience members will remain muted, and the chat function will be disabled for the duration of the discussion.

Please reach out to Betsy Farrar, Manager of Community Impact at United Way Peterborough & District with any questions about the event or registration.

Social Posts

For 1 in 4 Canadians who menstruate, period products aren't always in the budget. You can help address period poverty in our community by contributing to our Period Promise campaign.

This year, we're sharing our running total by item type on our website [link in bio], so you can see what we have, and what we still need, as we aim to offer a greater diversity of product to residents experiencing period poverty. - We're also accepting monetary donations, which will allow us to purchase items in bulk.

Product donations will be accepted at the United Way office (277 Stewart Street), Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM until Friday March 13. [Please note: We are closed February 16 for Family Day, and February 26 for Peterborough Performs and will not be present to accept drop offs.] 

If you’d like to get more involved with our 2026 Period Promise campaign, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team! We’d be happy to help you setup a collection at your workplace, share educational resources, or chat about any other ideas you may have.
From Campaign Launch to now - this community keeps showing up. We’re in the final stretch of our Community Campaign, and every act of generosity still matters ❤️!
When words aren’t enough to express how you feel, show your love with tickets to United Way Peterborough & District’s 50/50 raffle! 💖

For the month of love, we’re offering a guaranteed grand prize of ✨$1,000✨ A prize so irresistible, we wouldn’t blame you if you grabbed a few tickets for yourself too. 

👉 Still wondering if you should enter? Just know, that even if you don’t win, your community will. Fifty percent of the proceeds from every ticket sold go directly back to our community so we get the chance to spread the love throughout Peterborough.

🔗 Follow the link in our bio to enter our February 27th draw
🎉 Sponsor Spotlight: Friends of the Stage 🎉

💛 A huge thank you to our Friend of the Stage – Supporting Sponsors for stepping up in support of housing and homelessness initiatives in our community. Your contribution helps make this event possible, and we’re proud to celebrate you at the event and through our virtual auction presented by @llf_lawyers_llp (which launches in less than a week)!

Want to support this work and enjoy an incredible night of local live music and impact?

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now — grab yours and join us at the show on Thursday, February 27th from 7-11pm @ptboshowplace 

🔗 Link in bio
📣 Peterborough and County, we’re only $105,000 away from our $1.6 million Community Campaign goal!

There’s still time to get involved, and every dollar counts - make a donation, buy your 50/50 tickets, attend PTBO Performs VI (and bid on the virtual auction presented by @llf_lawyers_llp , too) and share this EXCITING news with your networks! 

We want it all ❤️ for our community. 

#BuildingCommunity #ChangingLives
The Community Clothing Hub at @path_ptbo will be open this Saturday, February 7th from 10am-3pm for families and individuals to come pick out coats, boots, hats & mitts. 

📍 385 Lansdowne St. East

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