The Price of Affordability: Why Bancroft Roads Might Look Different This Winter

Snowplows vs. Savings: Is Bancroft Making the Right Call? 

*Update: I wrote this blog with the information from the Mayor’s message found on the Town of Bancroft’s Facebook page dated November 17th, 2025 and the notes of the Committee of the Whole from November 25th, 2025. I received a call from Jake Krupa, Manager of Infrastructure and Capital Projects, saying the only rollbacks the Town will see is weekend winter maintenance. Weekend overtime is a budget killer. Mr. Krupa says that weekday maintenance will not be affected. Very much mix messaging from the Mayor and staff. I will say Mr.Krupa was very professional and I appreciate his call*

We are all feeling the pinch. From the grocery store checkout to the gas pump, the conversation lately has been dominated by one thing: rising costs. Unfortunately, the Town of Bancroft is not immune to the economic pressures hitting every household in Canada.

As budget season approaches, the municipality faces a difficult fork in the road. The choice is stark: raise taxes significantly to maintain the services we are used to, or tighten the belt to keep the tax rate as low as possible.

The Mayor’s Stance: Back to Basics According to the Mayor, the town has decided to prioritize affordability. However, keeping taxes in line means "something has to give." In this case, that "something" is road maintenance and snow removal.

For years, Bancroft the Mayor says has exceeded the provincial minimum standards for road care. Residents have grown accustomed to a level of service—speedy plowing and maintenance—that goes above and beyond what the province actually requires.

What This Means for Residents To offset rising costs without hiking taxes, the Mayor has stated that the town will now strictly adhere to those provincial minimums rather than exceeding them. The result?

• Slower response times: Snow removal may not happen as quickly as in previous years.

• Reduced maintenance: General road upkeep will be scaled back to meet the basic requirements, rather than the "gold standard" of the past.

It is a difficult trade-off, but one the municipality feels is necessary to protect taxpayers' wallets. As we head into the colder months, residents should prepare for a shift in expectations. We are trading speed and convenience for financial stability.

In the Committee of the Whole Meeting for the town of Bancroft on November 25th, the town heard from Jake Krupa, Manager of Infrastructure and Capital Projects. Here is his presentation:

 

Councillor Dave Haacke says there is no free ride: Peterborough Council is starting conversations about charging at the free zoo

Is the "Free Ride" Over? Why Charging for the Peterborough Zoo is the Wrong Move

If you grew up in or near Peterborough and you flip through your old family photo albums, I am willing to bet money on what you’ll find. There, sandwiched between Christmas mornings and first days of school, is a picture of you as a kid at the Riverview Park and Zoo.

For generations, this place has been the heartbeat of our community. It dates back to 1933, when Ross Dobbin, the GM of the PUC, returned to Peterborough from Florida with two alligators. By 1935, the zoo was officially born.

For 91 years, this gem has been accessible to everyone, regardless of their income. But that legacy is now under threat.

The City Takes Over, and the Meter Starts Running

The Riverview Park and Zoo was operated by the PUC until the City of Peterborough officially took over in April 2025. It has taken the City Council all of eight months to look at a 91-year legacy of free access and decide it’s time to monetize it.

Councillor Dave Haacke has been blunt, stating there is "no free ride." The conversation is starting with paid parking to generate revenue, but let’s be honest: does it ever stop there?

We are hearing talk of charging non-residents for visiting. We are hearing Sheldon Laidman, the City Community Services Commissioner, suggest that fees could be used as a "tool" to manage the busy parking lot. Mayor Leal has thrown his support behind the idea, noting that the park is "not free to maintain."

Parking Fees: The Thin Edge of the Wedge

They say they want to charge for parking to "manage" the crowds. They say they might only charge visitors from outside Peterborough.

But here is my worry: once you put up a gate, it’s only a matter of time before the price goes up, or the fees extend to everyone. With over 250,000 visitors annually, the Zoo is a massive draw. Being free is exactly what makes Peterborough special. It is a place that is truly inclusive—where a family struggling to make ends meet can have the exact same wonderful Sunday afternoon as the wealthiest family in town.

Putting a price tag on that experience kills the spirit of the park.

A Question of Priorities

Mayor Leal is right about one thing: maintenance isn't free. But it brings up an interesting question about priorities.

I can’t help but wonder what the entrance fees are for the new Pickleball park? That project is Mayor Leal's "baby," yet the conversation about squeezing revenue out of citizens seems squarely focused on the Zoo—a place that serves families, children, and history.

If You Want to Charge, Give Us Something New

You might be able to tell by the tone of this post that I am strongly against charging for what is currently offered at the Zoo.

If the City is desperate for revenue, they need to get creative, not greedy. If you want to charge admission, then build new, premium experiences that are worthy of a ticket price. create a new interactive exhibit, a guided behind-the-scenes tour, or a special event venue.

But do not start charging us for what has always been free. Do not take a 91-year-old gift to the people of Peterborough and turn it into just another transaction. The Riverview Park and Zoo is special because it belongs to all of us. Let’s keep it that way.

Week in review: Real Estate Market Watch and Update (September 22nd-September 28th2025) Peterborough and Haliburton

Real Estate Market Brief September 30th, 2025 Edition 

Peterborough and Haliburton

(September 22nd-September 28th,  2025)

www.bradsinclair.ca

 Peterborough (Non-Waterfront)

# of New listings-97

# of Active Listings-300+

# of Conditionally Sold-51

# of Sold-35

Average Sale Price-$631,305

Average List Price of Sold Listings-$650,683

Average Days on Market-41

Peterborough (Waterfront)

# of New listings: 15

# of Active Listings-284

# of Conditionally Sold-11

# of Sold-7

Average Sale Price-$764,814

Average List Price of Sold Listings-$696,741

Average Days on Market-54

Haliburton (Non-Waterfront)

# of New listings-18

# of Active Listings-240

# of Conditionally Sold-14

# of Sold-4

Average Sale Price-$395,500

Average List Price of Sold Listings-$417,250

Average Days on Market-69

Haliburton (Waterfront)

# of New listings-12

# of Active Listings-254

# of Conditionally Sold-13

# of Sold-5

Average Sale Price-$577,200

Average List Price of Sold Listings: $609,580

Average Days on Market-63

Summary of the Numbers!

My Thoughts

The key takeaways from the real estate data are:

The comparison covers the real estate market in the Peterborough and Haliburton regions for the two time periods: September 15th-21st, 2025, and September 22nd-28th, 2025.

For the Peterborough non-waterfront market:

• The number of new listings decreased from 106 to 97
• The number of active listings remained over 300
• The number of conditionally sold listings decreased from 66 to 51
• The number of sold listings increased from 31 to 35
• The average sale price increased from $604,601 to $631,305
• The average list price of sold listings increased from $619,961 to $650,683
• The average days on market decreased from 47 to 41

For the Peterborough waterfront market:

• The number of new listings decreased slightly from 16 to 15
• The number of active listings decreased from 294 to 284
• The number of conditionally sold listings increased from 9 to 11
• The number of sold listings increased from 5 to 7
• The average sale price decreased from $1,035,600 to $764,814
• The average list price of sold listings decreased from $1,094,660 to $696,741
• The average days on market decreased from 63 to 54

For the Haliburton non-waterfront market:

• The number of new listings decreased slightly from 19 to 18
• The number of active listings increased slightly from 237 to 240 
• The number of conditionally sold listings increased from 12 to 14
• The number of sold listings decreased from 7 to 4
• The average sale price increased from $384,214 to $395,500
• The average list price of sold listings increased from $413,557 to $417,250
• The average days on market increased from 54 to 69

For the Haliburton waterfront market:

• The number of new listings decreased from 14 to 12
• The number of active listings increased from 251 to 254
• The number of conditionally sold listings increased from 8 to 13
• The number of sold listings increased from 5 to 5
• The average sale price decreased from $746,000 to $577,200
• The average list price of sold listings decreased from $825,380 to $609,580
• The average days on market decreased from 68 to 63

Overall, the data shows a mixed performance across the different Peterborough and Haliburton real estate segments, with some metrics improving and others declining compared to the prior week. The report provides a detailed breakdown of the key changes in the market.

Taking pictures from #bridgenorth over to the beautiful #ennismore. Despite the calm weather, it was a really cloudy day on scenic Chemong Lake.

Ennismore over Chemong Lake September 2025

Brought to you by: Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell, contact me at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Team Lead at The Brad Sinclair Team

Royal Heritage Realty

Your inside source to cottage country

Not intended to solicit clients under contract 

Week in review: Real Estate Market Watch and Update (September 15-September 21 2025) Peterborough and Haliburton

Real Estate Market Brief September 22nd, 2025 Edition 

Peterborough and Haliburton

(September 15th-September 21st,  2025)

www.bradsinclair.ca

 Peterborough (Non-Waterfront)

# of New listings-106

# of Active Listings-300+

# of Conditionally Sold-66

# of Sold-31

Average Sale Price-$604,601

Average List Price of Sold Listings-$619,961

Average Days on Market-47

Peterborough (Waterfront)

# of New listings: 16

# of Active Listings-294

# of Conditionally Sold-9

# of Sold-5

Average Sale Price-$1,035,600

Average List Price of Sold Listings-$1,094,660

Average Days on Market-63

Haliburton (Non-Waterfront)

# of New listings-19

# of Active Listings-237

# of Conditionally Sold-12

# of Sold-7

Average Sale Price-$384,214

Average List Price of Sold Listings-$413,557

Average Days on Market-54

Haliburton (Waterfront)

# of New listings-14

# of Active Listings-251

# of Conditionally Sold-8

# of Sold-5

Average Sale Price-$746,000

Average List Price of Sold Listings: $825,380

Average Days on Market-68

Summary of the Numbers!

My Thoughts

The key takeaways from the real estate data are:

• In Peterborough non-waterfront:

  • The number of new listings increased from 90 to 106.
  • The number of sold properties increased slightly from 29 to 31.
  • The average sale price decreased from $641,924 to $604,601.
  • The average days on market increased from 30 to 47.

  In Peterborough waterfront:

  • The number of new listings decreased from 22 to 16.
  • The number of sold properties decreased from 9 to 5.
  • The average sale price increased significantly from $654,222 to $1,035,600.
  • The average days on market increased from 48 to 63.

  In Haliburton non-waterfront: 

  • The number of new listings increased from 13 to 19.
  • The number of sold properties decreased from 9 to 7.
  • The average sale price decreased from $475,444 to $384,214.
  • The average days on market remained the same at 54.

  In Haliburton waterfront:

  • The number of new listings decreased from 19 to 14. 
  • The number of sold properties decreased from 8 to 5.
  • The average sale price decreased from $812,450 to $746,000.
  • The average days on market increased from 38 to 68.

  The key changes seem to be a drop in Peterborough waterfront sales but a significant increase in average price, along with a general decrease in sales and prices in the Haliburton market compared to the previous week.

In the News:

Need the numbers on your property? Contact me, and I will provide you with a free evaluation at no cost or obligation.

Brought to you by: Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell, contact me at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Team Lead at The Brad Sinclair Team

Royal Heritage Realty

Your inside source to cottage country

Not intended to solicit clients under contract 

Week in review: Real Estate Market Watch and Update (September 8-September 14 2025) Peterborough and Haliburton

Real Estate Market Brief September 16th, 2025 Edition 

Peterborough and Haliburton

(September 8-September 14th,  2025)

www.bradsinclair.ca

 Peterborough (Non-Waterfront)

# of New listings-90

# of Active Listings-300+

# of Conditionally Sold-69

# of Sold-29

Average Sale Price-$641,924

Average Days on Market-30

Peterborough (Waterfront)

# of New listings: 22

# of Active Listings-290

# of Conditionally Sold-13

# of Sold-9

Average Sale Price-$654,222

Average Days on Market-48

Haliburton (Non-Waterfront)

# of New listings-13

# of Active Listings-240

# of Conditionally Sold-3

# of Sold-9

Average Sale Price-$475,444

Average Days on Market-54

Haliburton (Waterfront)

# of New listings-19

# of Active Listings-252

# of Conditionally Sold-6

# of Sold-8

Average Sale Price-$812,450

Average Days on Market-38

Summary of the Numbers!

My Thoughts

The key takeaways from the real estate data are:

• Peterborough has a higher volume and average sale price compared to Haliburton, both for waterfront and non-waterfront properties. This suggests stronger demand and a more active market in Peterborough.

• Waterfront properties have a higher average sale price than non-waterfront in both markets, indicating a premium for waterfront locations.

• Days on market for both areas are 30 days +

• Active listings remain very high in both Peterborough and Haliburton, suggesting an inventory-heavy market. However, Peterborough's non-waterfront is picking up steam with a high number of conditionally sold listings.

• Haliburton is commanding higher prices for waterfront properties compared to Peterborough waterfront, which could be attracting buyers seeking premium lakefront homes in cottage country.

In the News:

Need the numbers on your property? Contact me, and I will provide you with a free evaluation at no cost or obligation.

Brought to you by: Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell, contact me at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Team Lead at The Brad Sinclair Team

Royal Heritage Realty

Your inside source to cottage country

Not intended to solicit clients under contract