Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal has issued an apology after reportedly using a racial slur during a guest lecture at Trent University. Leal was invited to speak to a business administration class in mid-March, where he uttered a racial slur which he attributed to a remark from US President Lyndon B Johnson. In his apology, Leal stated that “regardless of the context or intent, using that word was wrong.” Trent has issued a statement apologizing for the event and committing to sharing EDI and anti-Black racism training to all invited speakers. Kawartha Now reports that the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) has filed a complaint to the Peterborough Integrity Commissioner and called on Trent to take actions such as ensuring the mayor is not invited back to campus.
