Reporter Joelle Kovach has just updated readers of The Peterborough Examiner on GE Vernova’s intention to demolish most of its remaining buildings at 107 Park Street North:
“The site is known to be contaminated. In the 1990s, a rash of cancer diagnoses emerged among former GE workers who said they became sick from exposure to toxic chemicals in the factory. A study from 2014 found 3,000 toxic substances were used at GE over the years – 25 of which are cancer-causing. Neighbours have expressed concern to The Examiner about the potential for asbestos-laden dust to arise from demolition of the GE buildings. But GE Vernova has not released details on how they plan to conduct a safe demolition.” [see The Peterborough Examiner online, August 17, 2026].
Peterborough Council held two pairs of contentious discussions of GE’s intentions in October 2025 and February 2026 (see Council Proceedings). If GE had hoped that Council would consider only the heritage impact of the demolition, the company must have been sorely disappointed. Members of the public who addressed Council unanimously condemned GE’s past disregard for worker and community health and safety and wanted the City to ensure GE’s transparency and accountability for any future demolition. All Councillors were sympathetic to the public’s concerns; a handful urged colleagues to take meaningful action to safeguard the community.
Councillor Riel intimated that GE’s lawyers may have tried to quiet public criticism of its history and legacy and open skepticism about its commitment finally to do right by the residents of Peterborough:
“I had a email exchange with [Ilmar Simanovskis, Commissioner, Municipal Operations] today, and we’ve received a preliminary report from city staff about the cleanup of the GE site of 107 Park Street. It seems to be lacking any clear detail about the cleanup, how the neighborhood will be protected during demolition, and what measure are being taken with cleanup of contaminant soil because of the thousands of chemicals used on this site. … We’ve already had an indication what this company is capable of. … We had neighborhood people come here and talk about their concerns [at the General Committee Meeting of October 6, 2025]. We had workers that came here, who told you about the exposure levels, and what their life has been, and the loved ones that they’ve lost. And what was the reaction from the Company? Where I spent 38 and a half years? You got a letter from their lawyer. That is just how this company reacts to bad publicity. They will protect their name to the nth degree. It doesn’t matter. I think we, as a Council, have a duty – a duty – to make sure that this company cleans up this site.” [see videorecording of the Council Meeting, October 14, 2025, starting around 1:43:10]
Ms. Kovach’s reporting in The Peterborough Examiner suggests that GE is still trying to control the narrative.
She quotes a spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as saying, “The ministry has not yet received a demolition plan or supporting documentation from GE Vernova Inc. or the City of Peterborough regarding the proposed demolition of the former GE facility in Peterborough.”
Peterborough’s Mayor Leal told Ms. Kovach that he last heard from GE on June 30, 2026, at “a courtesy meeting to introduce to me their new government relations officer out of Washington, D.C. No substantive information was shared from either side. I asked when they planned to apply for a demolition permit. They said the work was underway to prepare a plan, but they could not give me any estimate. We’re all waiting in anticipation …”
GE’s communication with local residents raised concerns from the beginning. A few days after sharing its intentions with Mayor Leal, GE distributed a letter that advised its nearest neighbours of the pending demolition. Apparently, GE had not shared the letter beforehand (or even afterwards) with the City and Mayor Leal had to ask one of these neighbours about what GE had told her about its intentions:
Mayor Leal: Ms. McGahern, I have a question for you. Since GE never – and I repeat never – shared the contents of the letter that they sent to the neighbours, 4,500 – from the best of your recollection, could you tell me what they put in the letter?
Ms. McGahern: Yes, I could have brought it with me.
Mayor Leal: I wish you had have.
Ms. McGahern: It was very vague. It said, “Dear Neighbour: In late 2024, we hired an engineering firm to assess the condition of our buildings and they determined that they are in poor condition and with the health and safety in mind we have applied to the City of Peterborough to demolish certain buildings at 107 Park Street.” They framed it in a health and safety point of view even though there’s nobody working in those buildings. From there they the talked about the beautification that would happen, that they had retained an architectural firm to design a beautification along the fenceline. They said for further information go to the website. First of all, there’s no return address on this letter. It is an envelop with no return address, no contact information on the letter. Go to the website, no more information, no information about when the demolition is occurring, very vague, and then just sort of nice stories about share your stories about working at GE. GE is a nameless, faceless corporation to me. I have no connection to them whatsoever.
Mayor Leal: Do you still have the letter? Do you still have the letter?
Ms. McGahern: Yes.
Mayor Leal: I wonder if you’d be so kind, because I’d like my office to have a copy of it, because I never saw the contents of the letter, and we’ll make sure it gets returned to you.”
[see videorecording of the Council Meeting, October 14, 2025, starting around 53:03]
In follow-up, Councillor Riel asked Ms. McGahern about another letter that GE had distributed to neighbours years ago:
Councillor Riel: Ms. McGahern, did you receive a letter, this would be, you’ve been there since 2011, I wish when I was president of the union I had kept this letter. The letter was given to all of the neighbours, Patterson Street, Wolsely, Albert, Chamberlain, probably Douglas Avenue, not to grow any root vegetables in their garden.
Ms. McGahern: Absolutely not.
Councillor Riel: I wish that I would have kept that letter as the president of the union because it would be worth its weight in gold. That letter went out to all the neighbourhood, just like the letter that you got a couple of weeks ago, to not to grow root vegetables in any of their gardens. I’m just wondering if you can remember that? I certainly do and I wish I had it.
Mayor Leal: Ms. McGahern, your memory of that?
Ms. McGahern: No, I absolutely did not receive that letter. I would not forget something like that and I will be asking my neighbours for that letter.
[see videorecording of the Council Meeting, October 14, 2025, starting around 55:13]
GE’s “Peterborough Site Updates”
GE shares whatever it chooses about its intentions with the general public through occasional posts to Peterborough Site Updates. Ms. Kovach’s reporting and Ms. McGahern’s remarks to Peterborough Council both referred to the website.
GE’s messaging around its transparency is conveyed in an FAQ. For instance:
When will demolition begin? How will impacts to the surrounding neighbourhood be mitigated?
… Deconstructing older buildings is complex, and the work will be planned in a way that balances this with protecting the environment, workers, and surrounding community. This planning will take time. … GE Vernova remains committed to communicating with the community as the process unfolds.
How has the community been able to participate in the process to date?
The community provided input on several occasions through the City’s heritage designation process, including through deputations at City Council. … GE Vernova continues to encourage members of the community to share their favourite memories, photographs or stories, about the site.
GE also uses the FAQ to message its accountability to the community:
How does GE Vernova currently manage the site? What steps will be taken to minimize disruptions during demolition?
GE Vernova is committed to taking a careful, responsible approach to this process. Deconstructing older buildings is complex, and the work will be planned in a way that balances this with protecting the environment, workers, and surrounding community. …
Are any designated substances or hazardous materials involved in the roof repair work [on Building 30]?
GE Vernova is committed to carrying out all work safely, responsibly, and in full compliance with all applicable requirements. The appropriate remediation plans are in place to ensure any hazardous materials are safely removed and disposed of, and a third-party consultant will oversee the work to ensure safe work practices are being followed.
Notice that GE ducks the question about “designated substances or hazardous materials” altogether.
Which brings us to the theme of our public forum on October 18:
GOOD NEIGHBOURS DESERVE ANWERS!
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