Breaking News - Tariff Support - The Chamber is your source for Tariff Updates. Check out our page for the latest Tariff Resources, SUpport & Events
Peterborough + Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Host a Chamber Event
    • Monthly >
      • The Business Exchange (TBX)
      • ChamberAM
      • Not-for-Profit Group (NFP)
    • Annual >
      • Luminary Awards
      • Seniors Showcase
      • PK Excellence
    • Campaigns and Connections >
      • Sales Lead Network
      • 26 Coffees
      • #lovelocalptbokawarthas campaign
    • 26 Coffees Program
  • Membership
    • Join Us
    • Benefits >
      • Chambers Plan
    • Profile and Sponsorships
    • Resources
    • Members Only
  • News
    • Voice of Business Podcast
    • Voice of Business
    • The Business Beat
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Resource Hub
  • Directory
  • Advocacy
    • Policy Resolutions
    • Advocacy at Work
    • Advocacy Wins
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Breaking News - Tariff Support
    • Updates
    • Resources
    • Support
    • Trade Analytics
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Host a Chamber Event
    • Monthly >
      • The Business Exchange (TBX)
      • ChamberAM
      • Not-for-Profit Group (NFP)
    • Annual >
      • Luminary Awards
      • Seniors Showcase
      • PK Excellence
    • Campaigns and Connections >
      • Sales Lead Network
      • 26 Coffees
      • #lovelocalptbokawarthas campaign
    • 26 Coffees Program
  • Membership
    • Join Us
    • Benefits >
      • Chambers Plan
    • Profile and Sponsorships
    • Resources
    • Members Only
  • News
    • Voice of Business Podcast
    • Voice of Business
    • The Business Beat
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Resource Hub
  • Directory
  • Advocacy
    • Policy Resolutions
    • Advocacy at Work
    • Advocacy Wins
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Breaking News - Tariff Support
    • Updates
    • Resources
    • Support
    • Trade Analytics

Looking at the big Picture: Peterborough

11/16/2016

 
Picture
Recently during the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Business Summit, President & CEO Stuart Harrison interviewed City of Peterborough CAO Allan Seabrooke.  What happened from the time they sat down to the end of question and answer was as unique as our city.  

It was a frank discussion of the challenges and opportunities our city faces.  There are currently 17 community plans guiding city staff. Mr. Seabrooke took these plans, analyzed them, identified themes and created a graphical image and document called Shaping Our City for the Future.  

The graphic is based on four pillars and an outer circle.  

The four pillars are:
  1. Healthy & Connected
  2. Prosperous
  3. Vibrant
  4. Sustainable
The outer circle describes the components of effective leadership:
  • Innovative
  • Responsive
  • Progressive
  • Resilient
  • Compassionate
  • CollaborativeTransparent
  • Accountable 
The discussion revealed that our municipal government has a challenging balancing act on its hands between the demands of the provincial government and its constituents.  However, Mr. Seabrooke told the crowd that the city has to ensure that they are able to work within the rules to find ways to complete creative and challenging projects. Is there a way we can solve a problem so that the city benefits as a whole? 

Mr. Seabrooke is looking forward to research being done around the red tape faced by restaurants and craft breweries in our city.  The hope is that the result and the findings will help dismantle the perception that the city is closed for business.  

He believes that residents and businesses have a role to play as well, in that, as residents or as those involved in the business community we can choose to speak positively about our Peterborough (#TeamPTBO).  He says we can do this and still have fruitful discussions about the challenges that Peterborough is facing.  

Mr. Seabrooke believes Peterborough is in a unique position in that our demographics are challenging municipal, business and community leaders to think differently about how we define success.  How can the city and all of its groups come together and use our differences to make different choices, to create an atmosphere of openness and dialogue?   He says communication from the City is crucial.  For example, a lot of people still question the investment in the airport.  Mr. Seabrooke says the impetus behind airport investment and the lengthening of the runway was to ensure the Peterborough airport could survive as a working airport first; an airport that had service capabilities for other planes and fed the service side of the aviation economy.  The emerging passenger service component is a potential bonus.   

He also addressed a question about the new library building and the value of upgrading that space.  Mr. Seabrooke explained that city staff spoke to groups of all ages and determined there is still value in having a city library.  He said the most interesting concept that emerged from those discussions was how residents are still using the library, but in a different way than in the past.  With the new building it has the potential to become a central community hub.  
Wrapping it up, Mr. Seabrooke acknowledged the city still faces challenges, but having an understanding of where we, as a community, want to go is paramount, along with recognizing and understanding how integrated our various community groups, business community and residents truly are. 

Picture

Comments are closed.

    Author

    The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce acts as a catalyst to enhance business growth, opportunity, innovation, partnerships and a diverse business community. 

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.  ​All rights reserved.
175 George Street North, Peterborough, ON, K9J 3G6
Phone: (705) 748-9771  |  (705) 743-2331  
Home    |    Calendar    |   Site Map   |    Privacy    |    Accessibility
Join the Chamber
Picture
MemberClicks