Introducing our new Executive Director

Introducing Jes Smith, our new Executive Director: January 2025
My name is Jes Smith and I am delighted to be taking on the role of Executive Director for Bedford House. I look forward to supporting Bedford House during this time as current founding leaders transition out of their roles, and we look toward what Bedford House will grow and become in the future.

I am local to the area – I was born in Peterborough, and grew up outside of Warsaw. After being away for a number of years, I moved back to Peterborough 5 years ago with my partner and 2 kiddos. Growing up, my dad was a teacher, and instilled in me the value of workers’ unions, and the power of collective action. I feel grateful that he ensured my education included learning about workers’ rights and how to advocate for them, and even included visiting picket lines with him whenever his teacher’s union was on strike.

My post secondary education included studying human rights and political science at Carleton University. It was there I learned about systems of power, exploring how and why they privilege a few at the expense (and high cost) of many. What compelled me the most was learning about the ways that folks work to bring balance to corrupt systems of power, and how groups of people mobilize and advocate for changes to our systems, towards a more equitable distribution of resources. My Masters research at the University of Guelph focused on the art of facilitation, the importance of vulnerability and honesty within this role, and using creative approaches for bringing about social change.

My work experience has been within the not-for-profit and post-secondary education setting, in the fields of gender equality, youth homelessness, sexual health advocacy, social justice, and experiential learning. My roles have been many and varied, including everything from project coordinator to office manager, board member, administrative support, and facilitator.

My passion lies in community building and development, and journeying alongside groups of folks as they learn, together. Most recently, I was working with the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough, supporting a community with diverse spiritual beliefs and backgrounds as their Director of Children, Youth and Family Programming.

In these times we’re living in, marked by isolation, fear, and with growing divisions based on difference, the community building work of Bedford House is needed now more than ever. Bridging folks together, from diverse backgrounds and across class lines, into a community that actively fosters a sense of belonging and co-learning is essential and vital work.

I look forward to building on all that Allan, Lynn, the board, staff and volunteers (past and present) have created. Working from this foundation, I’m excited to see how Bedford House will grow, enrich, deepen, and expand our impact in Peterborough.