Speakers

Ashlee Aitken has been the General Manager of Kawartha Food Share for nine years. She and her staff are dedicated to providing services in Peterborough and the County. Kawartha Food Share (KFS) ensures everyone in Peterborough County has safe and reliable access to emergency food relief. Through 37 member agencies, KFS feeds close to 9,000 clients per month and 17,000 children per day through 51 school nutrition programs. KFS works towards greater public awareness of the impact of hunger through education, instruction, research and documenting the effects and reality of hunger in our community. 

Members are welcome to bring non-perishable food donations to the meeting, which will be donated to Kawartha Food Share.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82832051360?pwd=LzRYcGZsTjYrUk5BYTd1WHYySWpKdz09

Mayor Jeff Leal was born and raised in Peterborough and is proud of his hometown Peterborough roots. He has always taken pride in representing the residents and the interests of the community that he lives and works in. Jeff is a Kenner Collegiate and Trent University graduate and a graduate of the University of Windsor.

He served his constituents and the riding of Peterborough as a Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) for 15 years, from 2003 to 2018. He was proud to serve as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Minister of Small Business.

During this tenure working provincially, Jeff worked collaboratively to proudly deliver public infrastructure for the Peterborough community, including funding for the GO Transit Bus, Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and Cancer Centre, the Kawartha Trade and Technology Centre, the 407 Extension to Highway 115/35, Peterborough Airport expansion, Trent Science Complex, the Canadian Canoe Museum, the Arena and Aquatics Complex, Hospice Peterborough, the OPP Forensics Unit, Kaawaate East City Public School and Mons Jamot French Public School. Before entering provincial politics, Jeff, who now lives in Ashburnham Ward, served as Otonabee Ward Councillor from 1985 to 2003. He was Second Deputy Mayor from 1993 to 2003.

An avid community volunteer, Jeff has remained actively involved on various committees across the city, including Chair of the Board of Employment, Planning and Counseling, Vice Chair of St. Joseph’s at Fleming Long-Term Care Home, and serving on the Strategic Planning Committee for the Kawartha Golf and Country Club.

Jeff is a proud Associate Member of Branch 52, Royal Canadian Legion and a member of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regimental Association.

Family is everything to Jeff; his wife, Karan, and children, Braden and Shanae, have been instrumental in helping him serve in public life.

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82832051360?pwd=LzRYcGZsTjYrUk5BYTd1WHYySWpKdz09

A new member, Geoff Dean, will do his Classification Talk. The second Classification Talk is to be confirmed. 

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82832051360?pwd=LzRYcGZsTjYrUk5BYTd1WHYySWpKdz09

Chuck's athletic journey began at Notre Dame High School in Portsmouth, OH, where he led his team to two High School State Championships in football and an undefeated 18-0 basketball championship victory. Transitioning to college, Chuck played for The University of Toledo Rockets from 1968 to 1971, steering the team to a record-breaking 35 consecutive wins, setting the longest winning streak in NCAA football history. Chuck holds the record for the most consecutive wins by a quarterback in college football history at 35-0. 

During his time at the University of Toledo, Chuck achieved numerous milestones:

• Led the team to three successive Top 20 AP Rankings (1969 – 20th, 1970 – 14th, and 1971 – 12th)
• Finished 8th in the 1971 Heisman Trophy balloting
• Named First Team All-American by The Football News in 1971
• Three-time Mid-American Conference Player of the Year (1969, 1970, and 1971)
• Inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame and The Citrus Bowl Hall of Fame (formerly the Tangerine Bowl) 

Despite NFL scouting for a position other than quarterback, Chuck declined, choosing a career in the Canadian Football League (CFL). His CFL tenure included winning the Rookie of the Year in 1972, securing a Grey Cup Championship, and being selected as the MVP of the Grey Cup Championship. Chuck's illustrious eight-year professional football career included playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Toronto Argonauts. 

In 2022, Chuck was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, solidifying his legacy in the sport's history.

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82832051360?pwd=LzRYcGZsTjYrUk5BYTd1WHYySWpKdz09

Details to follow.

Kevin Donovan - Investigative Reporter for the Toronto Star.