Priorities for Ward 1

I support more housing that meets different needs and budgets, from first homes to places where seniors can downsize. Thoughtful planning can help us welcome more neighbours while protecting farmland, natural areas, and heritage.

I’ll advocate for:

• More apartments, townhouses, duplexes, and small residential buildings within existing serviced areas.
• Mixed-use neighbourhoods where homes, shops, and everyday services are close together.
• Protecting existing rental homes and pursuing partnerships with nonprofits and housing co-ops to create permanently affordable housing.
• Planning water, wastewater, roads, emergency services, and walking and cycling connections alongside development.
• Prioritizing infill and compact growth to reduce pressure on farmland and rural areas.

Residents should be able to understand a proposal and have their say while their input can still influence the outcome. I want openness to become an everyday part of how our Township works.

I’ll advocate for:

• Council discussions happening in public whenever legally possible, with clearer reporting after closed sessions.
• Proposals and plain-language explanations shared early, including what residents can influence.
• Public reporting on major project budgets, timelines, changes, and final costs.
• Publicly available consultant contracts and clear reporting on what they delivered.
• Recorded votes on major planning decisions so residents can see who supported what.

I’ll explain my votes publicly and offer regular, year-round opportunities to connect, including evening, in-person, and virtual options.

As a downtown shopkeeper and resident, I see how visitor pressures affect everyday life. Tourism should support our community. Our success should also be measured by how well Elora works for the people who live here year-round.

I’ll advocate for:

• Designated resident parking in municipal lots, more accessible spaces, and 15-minute spots near everyday services.
• Removing the three-hour parking limit and focusing enforcement on blocked driveways, hydrants, and emergency access.
• Protecting downtown housing and encouraging businesses that serve residents throughout the year.
• Supporting independent businesses through local purchasing where possible and spaces where small businesses can start and stay.
• Measuring tourism’s impacts on municipal services and residents’ quality of life before supporting further visitor growth.
• Direct, transparent recovery of visitor-related costs through tools such as paid visitor parking and event fees.

Residents deserve reliable services and careful stewardship of their tax dollars. I support maintaining our infrastructure, making practical improvements, and understanding what a project will cost to operate and maintain over its lifetime.

I’ll advocate for:

• Preventative maintenance of roads, bridges, water systems, and other municipal assets.
• Tax increases around inflation, with a clear public explanation whenever a larger increase is necessary.
• Deferring the proposed multi-use recreation facility in favour of better use of existing facilities and smaller improvements residents can benefit from sooner.
• Comparing lifetime costs when evaluating infrastructure and major capital projects.
• Consultant work with clear deliverables, transparent costs, and public reporting on what was implemented.

I won’t promise a tax cap that leaves necessary maintenance undone and a larger bill for residents later.

Healthy communities need parks, shade, safe connections, and places where people can spend time together without having to spend money. Environmental responsibility belongs in the everyday decisions we make about streets, housing, and public spaces.

I’ll advocate for:

• A stronger tree protection bylaw and a measurable tree-canopy target with public reporting.
• Green infrastructure, including rain gardens, permeable surfaces, and protected wetlands, to help manage stormwater.
• Connected walking and cycling routes, incorporated into planned road reconstruction wherever practical.
• Well-maintained neighbourhood parks and greenspaces, with accessible, low-cost improvements such as outdoor fitness equipment.
• Township purchase of the Elora Greenspace to secure it as a community asset.
• Protecting groundwater and reducing unnecessary light pollution.