Allyson and Ken in Vivanlee ParkKen has never run for Council before.

"Honestly," Ken says, "it's scary to put your name out there. But I have a track record of being a community advocate and want to be a Strong Voice for the residents. I hope to get that opportunity."

He enters this election with varied life experiences that help him (1) be open to listening and understanding issues and (2) be ready to work hard with people to find solutions.

CURRENT ROLES

DREAMS UNLIMITED CHILDCARE CENTRE
Ken works with his wife, Elizabeth, who is the Director of Dreams Unlimited Childcare Centre in Summerside.  The Early Childhood Centre has provided full-time permanent employment and much-needed essential childcare spaces to Summerside since 2005.  Trenholm may be most recognized for bicycling with a group of children around the city every summer as part of the daycare’s summer program. In fact, in 2022, the group bicycled more than enough kilometers (5,863 km to be exact) to cross Canada if they rode as a tag team. 

Check out the story featured on Compass:



SAFE SUMMERSIDE
Ken recently resigned as the President of SAFE Summerside.  It would have been a conflict of interest for him to be a Councillor and then President of an organization that advocates to Council.  SAFE stands for Streets Are For Everyone.  Since 2022, Ken has been working with the community and developing strategies to increase the safety for those who use active transportation (AT) within the city.   Through a series of consultations with stakeholders and community members, a number of recommendations have been presented to the city to make the city streets safer for those who walk, bicycle, use wheelchairs, mobility scooters, etc. 

At the heart of this issue is the tragic toll of the 7 pedestrian fatalities that have occurred within the city of Summerside resulting from being hit by a car.  Of those 7 fatalities, there have been four fatalities in the last five years (between Dec 2018 and Dec 2023).  The average age of those four pedestrians was 69 years.  The Canadian age-specific pedestrian death rate (2018 to 2020) per 100,000 for someone 60-69 years of age is 1.12 (https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231030/cg-a001-eng.htm).  Summerside’s pedestrian death rate is 6.25 –-> 5.6 times higher than the national average.

SAFE Summerside repaired and gave away 113 bicycles to those in need, including immigrants and the unhoused, last year, and they look to keep helping people in 2024 and beyond through the Bicycle Recycle Program.

To best understand the issue and see first-hand how Ken advocates for the people of Summerside, watch the March 20, 2023, presentation to City Council: 

 

SAFE WALK PROGRAM FACILITATOR
Ken is also a member of Recreation PEI's WalkSAFE team.  He presents a pedestrian safety skills program for students in grades 1-4.  These presentations were piloted in Island schools in the Spring 2024.  Ken's focus is Summerside and Area schools.  Ken brings a positive and welcoming voice to each classroom with lots of laughs, learning, and maybe some treats.  :)

Ken before a Walksafe Presentation for a Grade 4 classroom


PAST ROLES

To make an informed decision at election time, here is a summary of Ken's past experiences that he brings to the table:

ADVOCACY 

  • In 2005, Elizabeth and Ken fought tirelessly in a public challenge to expand infant care services in Summerside. When Summerside's City Council denied our application to increase childcare spaces from ten to fifteen children despite a lack of infant care in the community, it was incredibly tough to understand this decision.

    Coming fresh from his advocacy work in Vancouver (where he represented people denied assistance at appeal hearings), he dug deeply into the complaints received and into the process that was followed by the City Council when they denied their application. There were several inconsistencies. It was Ken's pleasure to support his wife, an innovative, loving, determined, and passionate educator for the children of this community.

    They filed a detailed appeal to the Island Regulatory Appeals Commission (IRAC). Ultimately, in March 2006, our appeal to the Island Regulatory Appeals Commission proved successful as they recognized the unfair treatment they had faced from the council, stating that "[t]he meetings held in 2005 strongly indicate that the council acted in an unfair manner towards the appellant's amendment application. . . . the commission is of the opinion that council exercised its discretion in an unfair manner".

    Drawing on these past experiences, Ken's steadfast commitment as a Ward 5 candidate is to advocate for fairness in decision-making. He is fully dedicated to carrying on this advocacy role as a representative for Ward 5. (2005-2006)

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  • As part of Ken's Bachelor of Social Work degree at the University of British Columbia, he was a case advocate for people struggling in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) of Vancouver who were denied assistance from the provincial government. The First United Mission is a low-barrier service provider that seeks a just society by nurturing each person’s spirit through ministry, housing, advocacy, and community service. Ken prepared and presented cases before appeal tribunals and successfully reversed the outcome for his clients in all but one case -- he still thinks about that one case today.  This experience made a big impact on Ken's drive to be an advocate for people. (1998)

  • The work of SAFE Summerside is Ken's most recent advocacy work. He presented twice at City Council Meetings, and was the lead author in three key documents presented to the city: (2022 - 2024)
  • Wrote a 15-page letter outlining recommendations for the Confederation Trail in 2023 when there was a request to have ATV users occupy portions of the trail.  This letter has a Summerside focus and was received well by the community and partner groups.

  • Advocated for Summerside residents who were turned down for services/assistance by the Disability Support Program. 

  • In a 2008 Purple Ribbon Campaign, Ken was featured as standing up against violence toward women and children.

  • Created an online petition to keep the Summerside Storm basketball team in Summerside when they considered moving to Charlottetown. The petition worked, and Ken was invited to announce the press conference.  Ken offered the opportunity to his son, Austin, who was featured on the front page of the Journal Pioneer. (2016)

  • When Ken immediately returned home from receiving his Bachelor of Social Work Degree at the University of British Columbia in August 1998, he created a "PEI Advocacy Office." While the organization had no building, no NPO status, and was just a vision, he set out to do a Needs Assessment on the need for PEI to have an Advocacy Office. Unfortunately, only one organization responded to Ken's need assessment questionnaire out of the three dozen he sent out.  Ken also struggled with how he could possibly set up such a free service for people when he needed a paycheque to help support his soon-to-be family.  So, he left his vision to create a PEI Advocacy Office, but advocacy never left his side.    

SENIORS

  • Collaborating with BBEMA to provide an inter-generational connection between school children at Dreams Unlimited and residents of Wedgewood Manor.  This summer (2024), BBEMA is building a pollinator garden at Wedgewood Manor and the school children who attend Dreams will be helping and working with the seniors. (since 2010) Check out the July 2024 CBC news story on the pollinator garden built between the Dreams Unlimited school children and seniors in the manor:



  • Ken prepared a proposal and successfully raised money to purchase Trishaws, an e-assist bicycle used in the Cycling Without Age program for Summerside.  This program matches seniors in manors to volunteers to help reduce social isolation. In the words of the Executive Director of Community Health & Seniors Care in the Province: "to re-engage seniors back into the communities they built." Ken presented this quality-of-life program to the Rotary Club of Summerside, and soon after, the Rotary Club became the major funding partner for this program, which will see its birth in Summerside this summer.  Ken's only regret is the person who gave Ken the idea, Dan Steele, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, died early in 2024 and would not see the birth of the program that he inspired Ken to pursue. Ken was asked to speak at Dan's Celebration of Life and asks everyone to please take the time to read Dan's impact on the community.  Dan and his family spent his school years living on Beaton Ave (in Ward 5). Ken and others have plans to create an annual event to memorize Dan and his legacy of giving to the community. (2022-2024)

    Compass aired the arrival of the Trishaws on Sep 11, 2024:




    Ken's facebook comments on the Trishaws arriving in Summerside:

    When you watch Compass tonight and learn about Trishaws in Summerside, it may seem like a straightforward success story. But behind the scenes, the journey of how I helped bring Trishaws into the City of Summerside is actually a story of being told "no"—over and over again.

    In 2022, Dan Steele—someone who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and whom we sadly lost this April—introduced me to the international Trishaw program. At first, I thought, “No way.” Despite all my experience with community development and cycling programs, Dan showed me something I had never considered: a global initiative in 52 countries that was changing lives.
    By December 2022, I contacted a range of organizations. I received endorsements from Age-Friendly PEI, the PEI Parkinson’s Support Group, and the Autism Society of PEI. I also contacted the province, local manors, and Community Connections. Everyone I spoke to was excited and eager to help bring this program to life in Summerside.

    But there was one major hurdle—fundraising.

    I had countless conversations with local chapters across Canada, explaining my vision of securing funding for six trishaws within one year. The response? “No.” Time and time again, I was told that my goal of raising enough money for six trishaws in such a short time was unrealistic. I was advised to aim for just one trishaw and to temper my expectations.

    But here’s the thing: those people didn’t know me very well, nor did they know our community. 😊

    The funny thing about being told "no" is that it pushes me to dig deeper for solutions. It’s my nature to be solution-focused, especially in the face of opposition.

    I knew one thing for sure—more people, the right people, needed to hear about this program and understand its potential. And once they did, I knew they would see the value in turning what seemed impossible into something possible.
    To spread the word, I went on Spud FM, CBC Island Morning, and spoke with the Journal Pioneer. I also shared the proposal with Rotary, just as they were launching their Community Needs Assessment. On December 6, 2022, I presented my funding proposal to Rotary, and their response was immediate and enthusiastic. They agreed to be the lead fundraiser for the project. By November 11, 2023, Rotary had applied to the provincial Active Transportation Fund to cover the remaining costs. The trishaws have arrived.

    So, after being told "no," that it couldn’t be done in one year, it was done in just 11 months.

    I never doubted for a single moment that this would happen. The program is not just about cycling—it's about inclusion, accessibility, and enhancing the quality of life for people who need it most.

    I am forever grateful for the work of Rotary in our community and how the legacy of Dan Steele, who grew up in Summerside, will be honoured every time I see the trishaws.

    Ken's interview with the CBC (Dec 2022) can be listened to:



  • Various meetings with seniors and community consultations on what the senior community recommends for safer streets in the city of Summerside (2022-2024)

  • Created and coordinated a team of six Summerside youth to work on "The Changing Faces of Employment." The youth interviewed the elder population on the types of employment they had in their past, documenting the interview with voice recordings, photos, and artifacts. The youth then took the information, prepared it for online content, and then wrote the HTML code under Ken's tutelage.  Although the site is no longer available, it provided a multi-generational experience that was rewarding for all. (2001)

  • Coordinated the Good News Crew conducting interviews with seniors in Summerside, some scheduled, and others "on the street" interviews to understand and learn, in what the Journal Pioneer called "an exercise in community engagement." (2015)

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HOUSING & FOOD INSECURITY

  • Creator of the Biking for Breakfast Challenge.  Ken began the event in response to two Island breakfast programs examining changes that would have resulted in one program closing and another program charging students a fee to use the program.  When Ken heard this information on Compass, he organized what would be the only road cycling charity event in North America that travelled across a complete province in one single day. This unique and exciting event was fully supported on rural country roads, some near traffic-free, alongside gently touched landscapes and farmer’s fields, and always within minutes of one of PEI’s five dozen sandy beaches.  The event raised money and awareness of the need for school breakfast programs while offering an epic challenge for participants: to bicycle across PEI in one day. The event received national awards, a 75 percent average per year increase in participants and fundraising, and a lot of media attention during its 6-year run.  Ken still honours the financial support provided by the Dairy Farmers of Canada when they came on as a Title Sponsor.  People continue to talk about this event 15 years later.  Ken's goal was for every school on the Island to have a free breakfast program by the year 2020.  In 2005, only 23 schools had a program; today, every school has either a free breakfast or snack program.   (2005-2010)



  • Led the Youth Food Bank collection at Trinity United Church as part of the Good News Crew group. (2013-2014)

  • Created a "Cookies for a Cause" program for the school children at Dreams Unlimited.  The school children would bake and sell cookies, and all of the proceeds were donated to the CBC Turkey Drive (2010)

  • Created a "Building Charities" program with the goal of offering free website design to one charity in each province in Canada.  The idea did not come to fruition, as only one application was received. (2012)

  • Researched and designed a Social Housing Needs Assessment tool; implemented the tool for residents of a social housing project in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. A final report was produced with recommendations. (1998)

EMPLOYMENT / ENTREPRENEURSHIP

  • Working with his wife, Elizabeth, they opened an early childhood centre in Summerside in 2005. Ken fully understands the benefits and challenges of running a business in the city. Ken has been primarily with the school children since 2010 and exploring the city by bicycle with a group of 15 children for 10 weeks of the summer is by far a highlight for him. (2005 - Present)

  • Created the iCanSoccer program, consisting of two player development phases (Winter and Spring) and then the Let's Play Soccer Festival.  The program contained a personalized marketing campaign that resulted in 35,000 views and 2,651 social media interactions in only 41 days. The Let's Play Soccer Festival [story by CBC] was a U4 to U12 games-only event that created a safe play space to learn, explore, and have a blast! (2016- 2017)

  • Created and ran Atlantic Pedaler for two years.  Atlantic Pedaler was the stomping ground for all things cycling in Atlantic Canada.   It included interviews with local riders, awards, and a Commuter of the Month feature. There were various correspondents from Atlantic Canada featured, from a bicycle courier to a biomechanics expert to triathlon and duathlon to a Confederation Trail Correspondent.  As a volunteer project, it received high prasie from the cycling communities across the world and only . Many of the major cycling magazines in the world caught wind of the site, and we received publicity. The birth of the "Kilometre Club" was a place where cyclists would log in and record their KM biked daily. Ken also created three podcast episodes [the only podcasts he has ever produced], including mixing sounds, interviewing guests, and marketing the shows. Although the site is no longer online, it was first designed with basic HTML, which can still be viewed and is still somewhat functional in its web archive version. (2005-2006)

  • A member of a network of Entrepreneurship Advisors providing consultation and advice to new entrepreneurs. (Entrepreneurs' Forum, 2006-2008)

  • Manager of the East Prince Youth Development Centre in Summerside, which involved various employment and entrepreneurship services:
    • Youth Volunteer Services Directory (2001)
    • Annual Job Fairs (2000-2001)
    • Parent Power Employment Program (2000-2001)
    • Coordinated a research project that identified a gap in East Prince entrepreneurship services to youth in the area (2000)
    • Created a new Youth Entrepreneurship Services in Summerside through collaboration and consultation with local, regional, national partners, funding agencies, and stakeholders.  A series of think tanks and consultations occurred.  Outcome: the birth of a new entrepreneurship program with measurable goals. (2001)

  • As an Employment Skills Trainer, Ken was a case manager for individuals with intellectual disabilities in the provision of support to encourage greater independence through employment and supported employment options. Employed during two summer rotations and two maternity leave positions with Community Connections. (1995-2000)

  • As an Employment Counsellor, Ken carried a caseload of 80 individual clients, assisting them in their career direction through testing, discussion, and the development of the tools and techniques to find, apply, and be offered a position. The majority of clients were youth. (Eastern Kings Community Learning Centre 1999)

CHILDREN & FAMILY HEALTH, FITNESS, PROTECTION, and DEVELOPMENT

  • Coached 31 soccer teams, ranging from U4 to U15, over the span of 14 years. At times, Ken was coaching three teams in one season with the Summerside United Soccer Club.  Ken wanted to provide each player on the team with a special experience, so he created certificates for each player, games to earn badges, and an end-of-season team video to have as a keepsake.  Ken used "fair play" when coaching and would create the lines in advance of the game to ensure players played equal amounts.  His philosophy was that no one gets better by sitting on the beach.  While there have been many highlights over the years and wonderful children and parents, one year, his team won the Provincial Championship using Fair Play, and that principle was key for Ken to honour each child's contribution to the team (2006-2020) 



  • Ken answered the call for a volunteer to build a website to restore the Scales Pond, which is connected to the International Children's Memorial Place in Freetown.  An April 2009 flood washed away the historic mill pond.  The website was designed with a content management system because the Board members wished to be able to update the site's content without having any knowledge of web page development. The Board also accepted Ken's recommendations for the domain name and branding of the site.  By October 2013, after a little over a year of the website being online, the fund-raising goal of $1M was reached, and Scales Pond was restored.  Ken has visited the site often, taking time to honour those lives taken from us too early while pausing on the Ever Living Forest, and sitting for a moment with the ICMP Legacy Sculpture created by Julie Glaspy.

  • In response to a lack of a central body that listed the various community programs for children and youth across PEI and understanding the importance of early years development in children, Ken created an online PEI Child & Youth Activity Guide [old web archive version].  Ken researched the information and offered all groups/organizations on the Island to submit their activity for free.  This guide categorized each activity into categories via a drop-down box (2003-2005)

  • Created a Bicycle Bus program that travelled to Greenfield, Elm Street, and Parkside Schools.  Sponsors were found, and prizes were awarded to the top school, top class, and the top student in each school received money to purchase a new bicycle. (2009)



  • Employed in various roles (2001-2009) within the Department of Health and Social Services
    • Child Protection Social Worker
    • Team Planner and Facilitator for PRIDE (Parents' Resource for Infomation, Development, and Education)
    • Worker Readiness Trainor
    • Foster Parent and Adoption Resource Worker
    • Disability Support Social Worker

  • Ken and his family developed a website called The Best Dogs for Kids.  Ken smiles as he reads the introduction on the website [web archive].  Several of Ken's family members did research for the website and Ken did a big dive and created his very own point system for various breads.  You can visit the Ranking of the Top Dogs for Kids [archive version] 

    Best Dogs for Kids Website

  • Taught over 300 Summerside children how to ride a two-wheeler.  Since 2010, Ken has provided free community events to teach children to ride a two-wheeler.  He uses a balance-first approach. He knows the importance of parents having a keepsake of the moment their child learned how to ride a two-wheeler, so he records a video and posts it online for the parent and also for other children to learn about to ride.  The www.safesummerside.ca/LearnToRide is one of the most visited pages on the website.  For the last two years, he has offered the program in Charlottetown as well based on the need.  Ken often says that watching a child come to the program being nervous and scared and then leaving with a newfound confidence and enthusiasm about a life milestone is a feeling that Ken wishes he could re-capture every day of his life.  He will continue to teach people how to ride a two-wheeler for the rest of his life.



  • Created a "Directory of Therapeutic Childhood Heroes" [old archived website].  The site provided details on the characters in children's television shows to help professionals and parents build rapport and engage a child in a non-threatening manner.  The idea came out of working as a social worker and being a parent. When Ken's three-year-old, who ate everything, one day said with a great deal of enthusiasm, "I don't want to eat dinner!" By the third time, Ken's child said this, he realized that she was mimicking an episode of Calliou were Calliou did not want to eat dinner if it was called dinner but would eat it if it was called breakfast. So, Ken called dinner breakfast for a couple of days and soon dinner could be called dinner again.  (2004-2007)

  • In 2001, in response to the need for fathers to be actively involved in the lives of their children, Ken created ActiveDADdy.com. A 100% volunteer, in your spare time, online creation.  Ken could see the future where ActiveDADdy would have "agents" to serve as "models" for the many fathers who are active and involved in their children's lives.  A way to celebrate those currently being active was to encourage the less-active.  However, things changed for Ken once the website was designed, and he was ready to go full Anne Shirley to get the message out.  This project was the first time Ken purchased a domain name (activedaddy.com), and he did not know all of the rules for renewing domain names.  They expire after a year and must be renewed.  When the domain name expired, someone else purchased the domain name and offered to sell it back to Ken for $3,000 - $4,000.  Domain names cost about $10 back then. This was a painful awakening for Ken, who did not have the money, and even if he had the money, it was an issue of principle for him.  He always believes that if something is for the common good, then it is worth the fight.  He explained to the stranger he was trying to create an "active fathering" movement, knowing that so many children grow up without having their fathers involved in their lives. The person holding the domain name hostage showed no remorse, and while Ken does not know if the same person still owns the domain name, the ActiveDaddy.com website is still currently for sale online for $2,295 US by HugeDomains.com

Active Daddy

RESIDENTIAL CARE & SUPPORT

  • As a Residential Support Worker for the Mainstream Association for ProActive Community Living in Vancouver, used modelling,  supportive problem-solving techniques, contracting, logical consequences, and reflecting feeling/meaning to develop win-win outcomes. Awarded Employee of the Year for his work. (1997-98)

  • As a Residental Support Worker for the Vancouver-Richmond Association for Community Living, provided on-call assistance.  (1997)

POLICY & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

  • A Member of the Governance Committee of SAFE Summerside, responsible for the creation of its Constitution and related policies. (2022-2024)

  • Based on a growing cycling community in Summerside and to offer opportunities to ride and develop relationships with like-minded residents instead of having to travel to Charlottetown for group rides, Ken created the Summerside Cycling Club.  In its six years of operation, the Club offered weekly training rides (similar to races), Monday night recreational rides, and youth programming, with major events such as the 2006 PEI Bike Fest (included in the Summerside Lobster Carnival), 2008 SEA PEI tour, and the Biking for Breakfast Challenge.  The coordination of many activities would not have been possible without the volunteerism of many familiar names on Committees [old website archive].  The Club early membership [old web archive] to 2010 Members [old web archive] brings back some nice memories.  (2005-2010)

  • As a Community Development Guest Speaker, represented P.E.I. on the topic of grassroots community development with respect to health promotion and participation during a Council of Atlantic Premiers Health Forum. (2008)

  • Sought views and feedback of stakeholders by designing Cycling PEI's “Visioning Day,” a day devoted to listening to stakeholders in order to obtain an organizational understanding of stakeholder interest, concerns, and willingness to assist in the growth of the organization. (2005)

  • Represented social programs in West Prince at the Program Renewal committee, including meeting with individuals in groups or one 1:1, explaining the role of this committee, and obtaining information from these individuals in these programs (child protection, family preservation, housing, home care, addictions, family service), and making recommendations based on this feedback and suggestions. (2004)

  • Designed and managed a quantitative questionnaire, tabulated results, and an analysis was produced to highlight the areas of training identified by staff as their learning needs.  The results were analyzed, and the areas of overall highest interest were selected as the topics of the Child Welfare Conference. (2003)

  • Created a Youth Action Committee [old website archive] to represent East Prince in Summerside with a 12-member Board (seven reps from Summerside, three from Kensington, and two from Evangeline). Ken recalls the discussion about either calling the group Youth Advisory or Youth Action.  Of course, in the true spirit of any youth movement, action was the unanimous choice. The Youth Action Committee participated in City of Summerside Downtown Taskforce for Re-Development, Community Legal Information Association of PEI Youth Justice Pilot Project, raised money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of PEI, developed their Constitution, two members attended national youth issues strategic planning conference called "Youth Truth", designed and facilitated a workshop on "The Development of a Youth Council" at the International Year of the Volunteer Youth Summit national conference held in Summerside, and a member of the Summerside YAC was elected to sit on the National Youth Advisory Committee with the aim to be a part of the ongoing movement to improve the public perception of youth on a national level. (2001)

  • Participated in the East Prince Health Accreditation process (2000-01)

  • In the role of Executive Director, while managing Eastern Kings Community Learning Centre, coordinated the Eastern Kings Community Needs Assessment.  Developed the questionnaire and managed the staff responsible for this project.  Also developed performance appraisal, file management, and 3-year financial tracking monitoring system. (1999)

  • Recruited to develop a tool (Parent/Child Interaction Observational Tool) to be implemented by Home Care Workers to help identify signs of abuse and neglect during home visits for the BC Child & Family Services.  (1998)

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

  • Ken has had financial management of four different not-for-profit groups on Prince Edward Island, three of which were/are located in Summerside (East Prince Youth Development Centre, Summerside Cycling Club, and SAFE Summerside)

  • Frugal Financial management principles in all of the not-for-profit groups he has managed, most recently concerned over service fees placed unto an account of donations. Ken advocated with the Board to find a bank account that the NPO could safely hold the donations without being exposed to a monthly service fee that would reduce the amount in the account -- which would not be fair for the individuals who had donated.  

  • The bookkeeper for Dreams Unlimited Childcare Centre and responsible for issuing end-of-year tax receipts to parents, filing income tax taxes, and consolidation of parental reports

  • Ken has been an Income Tax Preparer for H & R Block in Summerside and does his family's taxes every year

  • One of Ken's most favourite memories of his father (RIP) was how excited his father would get around Federal Budget time and they would always discuss the changes in the budget and the impact on people

  • Lastly, Ken will be transparent on who and how much money people have donated to his campaign: zero.  Ken will not accept money from other people to run in this campaign.

Love Shines Event in Summerside that the Youth Group Ken lead organized 2014

Youth Group that Ken facilitated organized a Peace Shines Event in 2014 in Summerside