About Peterborough Tourism
Peterborough Tourism is the City of Peterborough’s tourism service delivery and marketing program.
What we do
Peterborough Tourism helps to put the city in the spotlight as a destination of choice for a diverse range of visitors. Our areas of focus include:
- Events and festivals, including the Elevate Peterborough Pilot Program, operations of city facilities and parks, event enhancements, and free event listings on ptbotourism.ca
- Sport tourism, including event bids and hosting, and supporting partners in the City’s sport community
- Visitor services, including virtual supports and the operation of the Peterborough Visitor Centre at 151 Lansdowne Street West (inside the Peterborough Memorial Centre Grant Thornton box office, at the corner of George and Lansdowne Streets), and the distribution of the official destination guide and visitor maps
- Destination marketing including advertising, promotions and partnership
- Management of the official City of Peterborough tourism website and social handles, including opportunities for city-owned tourism businesses to have a free business directory listing
- Media hosting, including travel media and content creators
- Destination management and implementation of the Peterborough Tourism Strategy
Discover Peterborough Tourism Growth Strategy 2026-30
In June 2026, we unveiled a new tourism strategy aimed at strengthening the city’s position as a destination for visitors while supporting long-term economic growth and community well-being.
Learn how the Discover Peterborough: Tourism Growth Strategy will serve as the roadmap for tourism development and promotion through to 2030.
Who to Contact
Destination Marketing + Media Relations: If you’re looking to do discuss destination marketing, including advertising, promotion or media opportunities, contact Cara Walsh, cwalsh@peterborough.ca
Festivals and Events: If you are organizing a festival, event or tournament, contact Tourism & Events by email at ptbotourism@peterborough.ca.
Recreational Programming: If you're looking to discuss community recreational and cultural programs, customer services or partnership opportunities with our program team, contact Heather Stephens, Service Area Manager, Programs and Customer Services by email at hstephens@peterborough.ca
Visitor Services: If you’re a visitor to the community looking for information, contact the Visitor Centre, by email hello@peterborough.ca, by phone 705-743-3561, or by visiting the Peterborough Visitor Centre at the Lift Lock (353 Hunter Street East, Peterborough). Currently open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tanya Budgen
Jose Garcia-Perez
Ashlee Kielbiski
Recreation Events, Sport & Tourism Coordinator
Email: akielbiski@peterborough.ca
Phone: 705-742-7777 ext. 2214
Nalisha Sankreacha
Recreation Events, Sport & Tourism Coordinator
Email: nsankreacha@peterborough.ca
Phone: 705-742-7777 ext. 2212
Andrea Pade
Operations Manager, Customer and Volunteer Experience
Email: apade@peterborough.ca
Phone: 705-742-7777 ext. 2208
Cara Walsh
Communications Specialist
Email: cwalsh@peterborough.ca
Phone: 705-742-7777 ext. 2165
Leadership
The program is delivered through two City divisions: Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services division and Strategic Communications & Service Peterborough, with staff that work together to provide a variety of projects including events, sport tourism, visitor services, and marketing.
The work of Peterborough Tourism is directed under the leadership of Heather Stephens (acting director of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services) and Brendan Wedley (director of Strategic Communications and Service Peterborough).
Peterborough Tourism Strategy
The Discover Peterborough Tourism Growth Strategy 2026-30 received endorsement from City Council in June 2026.
This strategy is set out to help the City of Peterborough achieve its vision of becoming a welcoming and inclusive year-round destination that celebrates its blend of beautiful waterways and green spaces, vibrant arts and events scene, and deep respect for history, heritage and living cultures.
Municipal Accommodation Tax
Tourism services are funded through Municipal Accommodation Tax (aka transient accommodation tax or MAT) revenue, as well as leveraging other divisional resources as needed. By integrating tourism services with the City’s Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services Division and Communications, tourism activities benefit from existing event, recreation, cultural services, and communications resources. In June 2019, Peterborough City Council passed By-law 19-063 establishing a 4% MAT.