ABOUT PETER

Peter is first and foremost a father of three teenage boys - Aidan 16, Liam 14 and Conor 13. He is  married to Kristine Summers, a primary teacher. Our family resides in the East End of St. John's. 

Peter  grew up in St. Bernard’s Fortune Bay where his parents instilled a strong passion for community service.

He is a passionate volunteer and is dedicated to the community in which he lives. In April 2016, he received a Certificate of Appreciation from Premier Ball in recognition of his community contribution and volunteer service.

He has grown weary of partisan politics but remains engaged in public policy issues and community activism. He is committed to teaching his sons the values of cooperation, volunteering and service above self. 

His  policy, communication and advocacy background spans 30 years in the fields of strategic planning, budgeting, special event planning, public administration, journalism, public relations, social media, dispute resolution, project management, media and government relations. 

He has worked as an executive assistant and senior policy advisor for a half dozen provincial government departments and Director of Policy and Operations for the Official Opposition.

Peter is a self-employed communications professional, researcher and project manager.  He provides trusted communication advice to a number of private, public and not-for-profit organizations.  

 He studied Journalism at the Bay St. George Community College in Stephenville (CONA) and worked as a broadcast journalist in Labrador West, Marystown, Grand Bank, St. John’s, Stephenville, Port Aux Basque and Corner Brook.  Peter earned a BA (Political Science and History), certificates in Municipal and Public Administration from Memorial University.  He is currently trying to find time to work on farthing his academics. He has been accepted for a Masters of Employment Relations, Memorial University. 

Peter has chaired school councils at Virginia Park Elementary and St. Paul's Junior High where he remains a member of the council. He continues his long time connection to Virginia Park Elementary where he volunteers with the school breakfast program and keeps a paternal eye on new school construction.


He has been involved in teaching kids chess, public speaking and volunteering to judge science and heritage fairs. Peter is a past president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils where he served in various executive roles and participated in numerous consultations with educational stakeholders.

Peter is well known and outspoken on public issues, particularly on education issues in his community and the province. 

Among his past volunteer activities he has served on many boards and service group executives including: The Virginia Park Community Center, The Health Science Lions Club, Terra Nova Toastmaster, St. Paul's Knights of Columbus (former Grand Knight), St. Paul's Parish, Friends of Victoria Park, St. John's Clean and Beautiful and the Colony of the Avalon.

While he is no longer engaged in partisan political activities, he continues to speak truth to power - seeking accountability and transparency on his blog, Polemic and Paradox, public talk shows and local and national news outlets.

In his spare time Peter enjoys reading, photography, board games, hiking, showcasing our great province to visitors and delving into Auditor General Reports and completed ATIPP requests.