John Boyko, author

I am the author of five books addressing history and politics with six, The Kennedy Connection, to be published by Penguin Random House in Canada and US, due in February.

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As the world slides into an avoidable war in the Middle East, I am reminded of another avoidable war: Vietnam

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Elect Billy the Kid

Hard times have always created popular outlaws. But Billy the Kid never ran for office.

The Civil War tore the United States asunder. Over 700,000 were killed by metal or pathogens that ripped bodies apart as spectacularly as the country and concepts they were defending. The Reconstruction era that followed added distress and deprivation as shameless political maneuvering re-established elitist power throughout the country and southern white supremacists used unbridled violence to…

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Truth and the Canadian Encyclopedia

Lately, I have been finding it easy to feel uneasy. It seems that too much of what passes for political discourse in the United States and, disturbingly and increasingly in Canada, rests on a foundation of lies and a fundamental misunderstanding of history and civics. That’s why education is so important. That’s why critical thinking is essential. That’s why considering one’s source of…

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Inaugural Council Speech 

John Boyko's Inaugural speech to Selwyn Council.

On November 23, 2022, Selwyn Township Council held its inaugural meeting. Council was sworn in and then each councillor, the deputy mayor, and the mayor were invited to make their inaugural remarks. Below is my speech. Selwyn is a diverse community comprised of those who live on farms, in urban enclaves, in waterfront homes, and in a fully serviced urban Village. Mary, Brian, and I were elected…

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All-Candidate's Debate

Watch the September 29 Selwyn Township All-Candidates debate. Please see my website at www.johnboyko.com to contact me or for more information on my campaign.

Granted, it was really more of joint press conference than a debate but it still allows viewers to see; a. what each of the candidates think about various issues, b. their priorities as seen in their opening and closing statements, c. how well they can express themselves and so how effective they will be in dealing with others on council, staff, and the community You can watch the September…

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OPENING STATEMENT AT SEPTEMBER 29 ALL-CANDIDATE’S DEBATE

We must instead acknowledge that we are at a pivot point and that decisions made by the next council will shape our community for generations. It is for that reason that Lakefield needs a strong voice on Selwyn Council. I hope to become that voice.

The Selwyn Township All-Candidates Debate took place on September 29 via zoom. The link to watch the debate will be available soon and I will place it here. Below is my opening statement: My name is John Boyko, and I am running for Selwyn Township’s Lakefield Ward Councillor. I grew up in Peterborough and have lived in and served the community for over 30 years and if you would like to learn…

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Pivot Points

Lakefield is at a pivot point and, consequently, needs strong leadership on Selwyn Township Council.

We know the moments when our lives change. Sometimes we choose those moments such as when we marry, divorce, or change careers. Sometimes the moments choose us like when we suffer a life-altering accident or the death of a spouse. We recognize the moments as pivot points that split before from after. Countries experience pivot points. They are sometimes sudden such as when 9-11 quickly changed…

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National to Local in Two Minutes

We have a once in a generation opportunity to get this right.

Last Thursday I was humbled by a successful launch to my campaign to become Selwyn Township’s Lakefield Ward Councillor. Seventy-one people gathered at Lakefield’s Isabel Morris Park Pavilion on a beautiful warm evening. Lakefield’s former Reeve, Bob Helsing, was MC and introduced businesswoman Susan Twist and engaged-citizen Sue Bell-Gastle. All said positive things about my candidacy. Their…

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Community Matters

Lakefield is a small community and home to a diverse group of people who are linked by their shared conviction that a small, safe, walkable, accessible village is the best place in which to live, raise children, work, invest, and call home.

A new neighbour was marvelling that she could walk to the post office, bank, and pick a few things up at Foodland and be back home so quickly. My wife said, “Well, when you’ve been here a while it will take you much longer because you’ll be stopping to chat with so many people.” It was a very Lakefield conversation. It reflected part of why so many of us like living in this community so…

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Change is Coming to Lakefield

Lakefield will change more in the next ten years than in the last fifty. We need a strong voice on council to get this right.

Lakefield will change more in the next ten years than in the last fifty. After decades of talking about it, plans are now being made to build a new community in Lakefield South, between the water tower and 7th Line. Current plans call for 966 houses on 40 foot-lots, townhouses, and apartments/condos. When complete, the development will double Lakefield’s population. We do this right and so we…

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Five Rules Candidates Should Obey

All municipal candidates should consider following these five rules.

The municipal campaigns in Selwyn and elsewhere are now underway. Mercifully, though, we’ll not see or hear much until after Labour Day. Selwyn is like all municipalities in that staff has informed candidate of the rules regarding fundraising, where to place signs, and more. But perhaps we could make the experience a little more valuable for everyone if all Ontario’s municipal candidates…

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Why Would Anyone Be a Candidate?

Perhaps as we consider the municipal candidates whose signs will soon sprout on lawns around town we might temper our skepticism a little and consider that maybe most of them are running for the right reason.

It’s a hard slog. People running for municipal, provincial, or federal offices work for months to apply for a job that entails long and thankless hours. Inevitably, half the people think you’re wrong no matter what you do or say. When running and in office, many people insult you, lie about you, and assume the worst about you. Consider the sexist attacks endured by Peterborough mayor Diane…

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Three Priorities For Lakefield

Three Priorities for Lakefield is my campaign's media release announcing my candidacy for Lakefield Ward Councillor.

My campaign issued its first media release announcing my candidacy in the October municipal election. It stated my three priorities for Lakefield. John Boyko Announces Candidacy for Selwyn Township’s Lakefield Ward Councillor Former Lakefield Deputy Reeve, educator, and nationally respected author John Boyko has announced his candidacy for Selwyn Township’s Lakefield Ward Councillor. Boyko says…

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Are We Taxpayers, Consumers, or Citizens?

How we conceive ourselves in the world is important. We should not short change ourselves by saying we are only taxpayers and consumers.

From time to time, thoughtful people reflect on whether there is a difference between how we see ourselves and how others see us. Introspection is important for ourselves and our relationships with family, friends, and work colleagues. It is important for the health of our democracy to also occasionally consider how we see ourselves in our relationship with our elected representatives and how…

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The Derecho's Lesson

The Derecho’s Lesson

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, I learned a new word: derecho. I was driving home with my dear wife after enjoying lunch at a nice, lake-side restaurant when it looked like someone was suddenly plunging a dimmer switch. The clear blue sky turned an ominous dark purple. Then came wind, hail, and a deafening howl. A transformer exploded a cascade of white sparks behind us then another above us. No…

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Recapturing Our Flag

Those who support the Trucker Convoy seem to have captured our flag as a symbol of their movement. We need to recapture the flag.

Recapturing Our Flag Last weekend I drove four hours to Ottawa and passed several farms with large Canadian flags at the ends of their long driveways. With each flag, I cringed. The red-and-white pennant used to afford me a sense of communal pride. There, I used to think, was someone who, like me, is proud to live in one of the world’s most peaceful, democratic, egalitarian countries. But…

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Breaking the Writer's 4th Wall

Writing and reading are solitary pursuits and yet, somehow, the written word creates a special bond between a writer and reader. Let's consider the emails I have received that smash the 4th wall.

Writing and reading are solitary pursuits and yet, somehow, the written word creates a special bond between a writer and reader. I have written eight books and enjoy the part of the process that takes me to launches, speeches, clubs, and festivals – even, more recently, over Zoom. It allows me to conspire with readers to smash our solitary fourth walls. Many readers also breach that wall by…

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