Citizens gathered for another rally in protest of the Bonnerworth Redevelopment project before a Peterborough City Council meeting on June 24th. 

Whether they arrived by a specially outfitted Bonnerworth bus, drove, rode their bike, or walked, protesters banged pots and pans, chanted, and even mimicked turkeys—a reference to the Mayor’s April threat to “carve” Councillor Alex Bierk “like a Thanksgiving Turkey”—in an attempt to goad Mayor Jeff Leal into making an appearance outside of City Hall.

Mayor Leal’s decision not to come out to address the crowd was not surprising. In advance of the evening meeting, Arthur reached out to Leal to ask if he intended to speak to those assembled or if there was anything he could do at this point as Mayor to stop or augment the project. 

In response, Leal provided a one-word answer: “No.”

Last week, Leal re-affirmed to Arthur that “Peterborough has a skilled, talented, first class public service with a work plan for the Bonnerworth and Knights of Columbus Parks.”

Earlier on Monday, the Coalition to Save Bonnerworth Park issued a media release that included a letter from Kitchener-based lawyer Patrick Kraemer on behalf of “a group of concerned citizens in the City of Peterborough.”

According to the letter, this group is currently “considering their options to hold the City accountable for the flawed process and decision making that is happening” but does not include any specifics. 

When asked in a follow-up Dave Wesley, the group’s media contact, told Arthur that the letter “speaks for itself,” and that “next steps will depend entirely on how the City responds.”

“Since Mayor Leal, Counc. Parnell, and councillors who support the destruction of Bonnerworth Park have refused to meet with us and not responded in any meaningful way to questions from us, the people of Peterborough or councillors opposed to the plan, they have forced us now to speak to the City through our lawyer,” Wesley wrote. 

During the protest, Wesley addressed the crowd as members of the Peterborough Tigers baseball team stood on the steps at the main entrance to City Hall and led chants of “save our ballpark” between speakers.

Wesley explained that because the City has yet to respond to their requests, the group had directed their lawyer to do the talking and any response will need to be channeled through Mr. Kraemer on their behalf. 

The decision to hire a lawyer who is not local to Peterborough was also intentional, Wesley explained to reporters following his speech, to avoid any perceived conflicts of interest or bias. 

When asked for comment on the letter, Mayor Leal reiterated that he does not comment on legal matters.

John Gerelus, a member of the Coalition to Save Bonnerworth Park, called attention to the recent decision by Councillors Alex Bierk, Joy Lachica, and Keith Riel to publicly call on staff for answers to citizens’ questions. 

“They went public with questions to the City, makes the City accountable publicly to answers and that's what we've been asking all along,” he said. “So when you see them, thank them, email them, because they've come a long way. They're a big part of what we're doing now.”

Judith Richardson and Tim Noble donned turkey hats during the protest while urging the crowd to contact their Councillors on this issue. 

“We need to open this up for conversation again,” Richardson said. “We need another public consultation.”

“I recommend that everybody email the Councillors that voted for this and ask them for a motion for new information,” she continued. Notably, the motion to move forward with the Bonnerworth redevelopment was approved unanimously by Council in October of 2023 and the budget of $4.4M over 2024 and 2025 was approved unanimously during November budget talks.

However, public unrest to the decision erupted following a public consultation session on March 21st and subsequent motions brought forward by Joy Lachica to grant Council greater oversight of the final site plan were voted down or found out of order by Council.