Ashley Bonner: East City’s Community Champion
When Ashley Bonner (SSW ’09) found out she had been selected for a Rotary Paul Harris Community Recognition award, she describes the moment as surreal and incredibly humbling.
“It honestly didn’t feel real at first,” she says. “When you hear about who else has received it, it puts things in perspective. To me, it feels like recognition of East City more than anything. It is about neighbours who care about each other and show up.”
Ashley’s connection to community work started at Fleming College in the Social Service Worker program. It was there that she learned the basics of advocacy, communication, and community development.
“I still use what I learned in that program,” she says. “It helped me understand how to do this work in a way that is ethical and sustainable, not just well intentioned.”
After graduating, Ashley began her community work supporting people with disabilities. That early front-line experience shaped her understanding of barriers, equity, and inclusion. She later went to Trent University, where she became involved in student advocacy and served as President of the Part-Time Students’ Union. The experience taught her how to organize and listen to diverse needs. Ashley also coordinated youth programs and employment initiatives for people who faced numerous barriers to accessing traditional employment.
Ashley has always been interested in local initiatives and sustainability. Early involvement with Transition Town and the Purple Onion Festival sparked her interest in supporting grassroots efforts. That interest eventually grew into the creation of Smarketing PTBO, a social media marketing business focused on helping local organizations and small businesses tell their stories.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashley noticed people in her neighbourhood were looking for ways to stay connected. She started a neighbourhood Facebook group as a simple way for neighbours to share information. Over time, it grew into a network with thousands of members and became a go to place for community news, support, and events.
Through this network, Ashley has helped organize many events such as neighbourhood yard sales, holiday hops, and scavenger hunts that bring people together. One event is especially meaningful to her. The iconic annual East City yard sale began as a way to honour her mom, who passed away in 2020. It has since grown to include more than 100 participating households and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Ashley’s work has been recognized in recent years through several awards, including the Chamber Business Excellence Awards 4 Under 40 in 2023, Member of the Year from the Women’s Business Network in 2024, and the Rotary Paul Harris Community Recognition in 2025.
In addition to her neighbourhood and business work, Ashley has managed two federal election campaigns. She also currently serves as Program Director for the Women’s Business Network, where she develops monthly programming focused on connection and support for women in business.
For current Social Service Worker students, Ashley encourages getting involved early and trying a range of volunteer opportunities.
“That is where you really learn what you like and what you are good at,” she says. “It builds confidence and helps you figure out where you fit.” Ashley is quick to acknowledge the people around her. “This kind of work only happens because of relationships and trust,” she says. “There are a lot of people behind the scenes making it possible.”
Looking ahead, Ashley plans to continue growing her neighbourhood network, creating inclusive community events, mentoring others who want to strengthen their own neighbourhoods, and supporting local businesses through Smarketing PTBO.