Guelph Today Survey

Why should people vote for you?

People should vote for me because I have demonstrated that I can do this work. I bring experience from multiple governance tables, including municipal government, public education and the University of Guelph. Each has required me to work through complex issues, consider competing priorities and make decisions that affect the people those institutions serve.

I do the work required to understand the issues in front of me. I ask questions, seek out different perspectives and consider the information presented alongside feedback from residents and stakeholders. I am willing to change my position when new information warrants it, and I am comfortable sitting in the grey when there isn't an easy answer.

My first year on Council has deepened my understanding of municipal government, its challenges and limitations, and where there are opportunities to do better. I have the experience, relationships and knowledge to continue serving Ward 6 effectively.

I'm just getting started.

 

What do you see as the three top issues facing Guelph residents right now?

 

(1)  Growth and Responsible Development:

Guelph needs more housing but faster cannot be our only measure of success. Infrastructure, services and community amenities need to keep pace with growth.  We need to consider the cumulative impact of development and make sure we are building complete, safe and livable neighbourhoods - not simply approving more units.

(2)  Affordability and Municipal Finances:

Residents are feeling financial pressure from every direction, and property taxes are part of that burden.  We need to continually examine how the city spends, look for efficiencies and ensure residents are receiving good value for their tax dollars while protecting the services they depend on. We also need to be strong advocates with other levels of government when their decisions shift costs onto municipalities and, ultimately, local taxpayers.

(3)  Community Wellbeing and Belonging:

A strong city must work for everyone. As Guelph grows and changes, we need to make sure people aren’t being left behind.  That means supporting safe and welcoming public spaces, accessible recreation and services, strong neighbourhoods and working with our community partners and other levels of government to address homelessness, mental health, and food insecurity. These are community issues, and they affect all of us.

 

What is the most important thing you want to see changed in Guelph?

I would like to see less polarization and fewer silos. We cannot solve today's challenges by importing the divisive, partisan politics we see at other levels of government. There is no place for political parties in municipal politics. Councillors are elected to represent their communities, not a party or a political agenda.

We need to be willing to have uncomfortable conversations. Disagreement is normal and necessary in good governance — the problem is when disagreement makes collaboration impossible. We do not have to agree on everything to work together, but we do have to keep talking, listening and finding ways to make progress.

 

What is the most important thing you don’t want to see change in Guelph?

I don't want Guelph to lose its strong sense of community and participation. People here show up and get involved in the city around them.

You see it in our neighbourhood groups, local businesses, festivals, volunteers, community organizations and the people who quietly step in when someone needs help. That sense of connection and shared responsibility is part of what makes Guelph feel like Guelph, and growth should strengthen it, not diminish it.

Municipal government is the level of government closest to people's everyday lives, and it is also where public participation can have a very direct impact. Residents can contact their councillors, delegate at Council, participate in public meetings and consultations, ask questions and challenge decisions. As Guelph grows, I don't want us to lose that accessibility or the ability of residents to help shape the city they live in.

 

Is Guelph growing too fast, just the right amount, or not fast enough?

Guelph doesn't get to decide whether it grows; our job is to decide how well we manage that growth.

We need more housing, but we also need to ensure infrastructure, services and community amenities keep pace with development. Growth decisions have to consider cumulative impacts on roads, transit, parks, recreation, water, stormwater systems and the neighbourhoods where people live.

The goal is not simply to build more housing. The goal is to build complete, safe and livable communities that can support growth today and into the future.

 

What makes Guelph great?

Guelph has personality. It has a strong sense of place and doesn't feel like a city that could simply be picked up and dropped somewhere else. Guelph feels distinctly like Guelph.

We have a university with an international reputation, deep agricultural roots, a strong industrial sector, incredible arts and music, rivers and trails running through the city, and neighbourhoods that each have their own character. Our roots are historic and you can still see them all around us. Our Downtown is at the heart of that history, and I want to see it come through the challenges of construction stronger on the other side.

Guelph also has an incredible network of grassroots and community organizations that reflect something fundamental about this city: people take care of each other here. They create places to belong, respond when people need help and give people countless ways to become part of the life of the city.

So many people come to Guelph and end up making a life here. There is something about this city that gets under your skin. It's a little quirky, fiercely proud of itself and hard to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it, but... if you know, you know!