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Elect Peter Diedrich

About

Meet Peter Diedrich

Peter Diedrich is your candidate for Mayor of Thunder Bay to bring practical, urgent action to the issues residents face every day — economic growth, housing, safety, renewed infrastructure investment, and a city government that works.

Portrait of Peter Diedrich

Global Leadership & Experience

  • 35+ years across telecom, technology, venture capital, and global consulting
  • Led major transformation projects for Fortune 1000 companies and governments
  • International experience in China, Australia, Brazil, Venezuela, the Middle East, and the United States

Executive Experience

  • President & CEO, TBayTel — delivered 10%+ annual dividend growth; modernized operations, and grew the company across Northwestern Ontario
  • Vice President Corporate Strategy, Bell Canada and BCE — shaping growth of one of Canada's largest telecom groups
  • Chief Financial Officer roles in high-growth tech companies, including a TSX debut for a Deloitte Fast 50 company

Community Commitment

  • Longstanding engagement in local economic development, education, and community leadership
  • Local Board roles: United Way Thunder Bay, Confederation College Foundation, NWO Innovation Centre, TedX2025

Innovation & Economic Development

  • Managing Partner, RBC Capital Partners' $250M venture fund — financed and scaled emerging tech companies across North America
  • Deep experience building resilient institutions and innovation ecosystems

Education & Credentials

  • M.Sc. (MIT Sloan), executive programs at MIT & Harvard Law
  • M.Eng. & B.Eng. (Carleton), Highest Distinction; Professional Engineer (P.Eng.)
  • Faculty member at Lakehead University teaching New Venture Creation & Moonshot Project Management

What This Means for Thunder Bay

  • A mayor with global perspective, proven operational capability, and deep local commitment — ready to lead Thunder Bay into a competitive, innovative, and resilient future

Peter – TBayTel CEO

As President & CEO of TBayTel, Canada's largest independent telecommunications company, headquartered in Thunder Bay, Peter led the company through a period of customer, employee, and financial growth and community investment. Here are some results from that time, with the original source documents available to download.

40%+

Growth in TBayTel's cellular customer base across the region after the Superior Wireless integration, completed in about 100 days, with all customers on the new region-wide network by February 28, 2007.

$20M+

TBayTel's 2006 dividend to the City of Thunder Bay. TBayTel reported that without it, the municipal portion of the average homeowner's tax bill would have been $302 higher.

$150,000

TBayTel's October 2007 donation toward a second Cardiac Catheterization Lab at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, plus a challenge to the business community: match a business donation of $50,000, bringing TBayTel's total to $200,000.

+34%

TBayTel employees beat their 2007 United Way campaign goal by 34%, raising $44,247 against a $33,000 target. Peter served as a Board Director of the United Way of Thunder Bay.

Figures are as reported by TBayTel and Wireless Telecom magazine at the time. Source documents below.

Read the source documents

TBayTel Connect — Fall 2007 (Vol. 1, Issue 1)

Peter's message as President & CEO, plus the cardiac lab donation and community challenge.

PDF · 4 pages · about 1 MB

Download PDF

TBayTel Connect — Winter 2008 (Vol. 2, Issue 1)

United Way campaign results, the City dividend, and community investment.

PDF · 4 pages · about 1.4 MB

Download PDF

Wireless Telecom magazine interview — Issue Three 2007

Peter on the Superior Wireless integration and TBayTel's regional broadband and cellular expansion.

PDF · 4 pages · about 100 KB

Download PDF

What people are saying about Peter

Words from constituents and community members.

  • “I know Peter as a true and strong leader. An educator, mentor, moderator, support system, confidant and negotiator. The depth of professionalism, experience and knowledge from previous and present executive positions cascades into every challenge he encounters. Every decision he makes.”

    — Dianne L.

  • “Mr. Diedrich is fundamentally a person of original ideas relevant to the public policy domain. He is perhaps the very best example of a new wave of political and community leaders in Canada; people with an entrepreneurial spirit and deep understanding of their profession, who care about well-being of the community they serve.”

    — Janusz K.

  • “Peter, I know you are running for Mayor of Thunder Bay. It feels appropriate to express support because your leadership and clarity in the classroom naturally inspire confidence, and I appreciate the work you do for the community.”

    — Ziteng Z.

  • “Peter Diedrich advised our team as we built TEDx LakeheadU 2025, and as Project Director, I saw up close what kind of leader he is. His feedback genuinely shaped the event and helped bring TEDx back to Thunder Bay after six years.”

    — Faraz K.

  • “Peter is a straight-up, honest leader. What you see is what you get. He shows up, does the work, and takes responsibility. He's spent his whole career leading teams, fixing problems, and making sure all people are treated fairly. He is an equally comfortable and successful collaborator in the union lunchroom and the corporate boardroom. He will surely carry this adaptability and experience to council chambers.”

    — Dev B.

  • “I worked with Peter during my time as Trade Commissioner at Global Affairs Canada in Palo Alto, where we supported Canadian tech companies expanding into the US. Peter isn't just someone you can turn to for mentorship, he's someone with the right leadership skills to get things done.”

    — Simon B.

Peter in the community

Select campaign moments, community visits, and more.

  • Peter Diedrich, wearing a blue Finland hockey jersey, smiling with two older residents during a community visit
  • Peter Diedrich standing with a group of cyclists at a safe-streets advocacy gathering in Thunder Bay
  • Peter Diedrich speaking into a microphone at a candidate forum, with his nameplate on the table in front of him
  • An audience member at a Peter Diedrich campaign event filming the stage with her phone
  • Peter Diedrich smiling as he talks with supporters at a campaign reception
  • Peter Diedrich smiling with two musicians holding a cello and a double bass at a community concert
  • A family of supporters holding Vote Peter Diedrich for Mayor signs on a Thunder Bay street
  • Peter Diedrich walking his dogs downtown in front of a Vote Peter Diedrich for Mayor billboard
  • Save Our Park Space lawn signs along a Thunder Bay street
  • Peter Diedrich with a vendor at the Festival of India in Thunder Bay
  • Peter Diedrich with a class of Lakehead University students in a lecture hall
  • Peter Diedrich with the Kombans Thunder Bay cricket team
  • Peter Diedrich with supporters at a community event
  • Peter Diedrich celebrating with graduating students
  • Peter Diedrich with community supporters
  • Peter Diedrich at TEDx LakeheadU Connecting for Change
  • Scenic view of Thunder Bay with the Sleeping Giant across the harbour
  • Peter Diedrich with supporters at a community event
  • Peter Diedrich at a formal community gathering
  • Thunder Bay Border Cats baseball stadium scoreboard at a community game
  • Peter Diedrich with community members at an event
  • Peter Diedrich with a small dog on a hotel luggage cart
  • Peter Diedrich with a supporter at a community event
  • Thunder Bay flag and waterfront landscape
  • Peter Diedrich with two community members at a public meeting