If Susan Dunkley isn’t deserving of Pathway of Fame induction as a Community Builder, quite frankly no one is.
For more than three decades, Susan has left a huge imprint on an impressive number of cherished events, social enterprises and charitable milestones, her volunteerism advancing the enrichment of a number of spheres.
Currently the chair of the Peterborough + Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce board, Dunkley is in her ninth year with that governance body. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, particularly when it comes to the advancement of women.
With the Chamber, Dunkley helped launch the Luminary Awards to shine a spotlight on women-led business excellence. She is a founding member, and two-term president of the Women’s Business Network, and, back in the 1990s, Susan helped establish the Festival of Trees fundraiser, which raised $1 million-plus for its lengthy run for women and families fleeing violence.
Driven to never stop once she sets her sights on a need, Dunkley has brought that same determination to her own business pursuits. That dates back to her involvement with McKnight’s Flower Shoppe, and her launching of Suzi Home Maker during the pandemic, an enterprise which continues to help seniors downsize and transition from their homes to new living quarters.
The list of Susan’s contributions borders on endless – lead logistics and business liaison for the Kawartha Food Share’s Porch Pirates initiative, advisor with Green Economy Peterborough, and a four-year stint as a member of the Peterborough Remembers Committee are but a few highlights of her extensive resumé.
Through it all, the woman who many know affectionately as Suzi, has had a song in her heart aching to get out. As such, she’s a 25-year vocalist and organizer with the Peterborough Singers, and a performer with, and business manager for, the Peterborough Pop Ensemble.
As for awards and commendations, Member of the Year honours came her way from the Women’s Business Network in 1992 and 1993. Scouts Canada presented her with its Award of Commendation in 2007, and in 2015, her outstanding arts advocacy was recognized with the City of Peterborough Cultural Betterment Award.
“Suzi is well organized and is a ‘can do’ person who brings people together,” raves Peterborough Singers business manager Peg McCracken, while Gail Moorehouse of Recharge Solutions says her friend “spots unmet needs, rallies people and resources, and leaves systems in place that keep serving long after the ribbon-cutting.” These are just two voices of many in awe of Dunkley’s roll-up-your-sleeves approach to meeting challenges head on with one goal in mind – the betterment of this place we call home.