Keep what works. Improve what doesn’t. Plan for what’s next.
New governments often come in promising sweeping changes. That’s not what I’m offering.
I believe the Township has a solid strategic direction, and much of the work already underway should continue. We don’t need to throw out a good plan simply because there is a new Council.
But continuing the plan doesn’t mean accepting everything without question. I will ask the questions, listen to residents, look for efficiencies, and push for improvements where they are needed.
- 01Roads and commutingA stronger voice for 508, 511 and our local roads
- 02Taxes and valueBe realistic. Find efficiencies. Deliver value.
- 03Growth and housingLet’s build a community for families
- 04CalabogiePlan for the community we are becoming
- 05Waterfront and villageCreate the vision before we build it
- 06Short-term rentalsSupport tourism. Protect our neighbourhoods.
- 07Communication and transparencyResidents shouldn’t have to chase their government
- 08Hurds Lake, Springtown and our rural areasEvery part of Ward 1 matters
- 09A community for familiesGrowth needs community
Roads and commuting
A stronger voice for 508, 511 and our local roads
For many Ward 1 residents, Highways 508 and 511 are roads we depend on every day to get to work, school, appointments and home.
I believe Ward 1 needs a strong voice when decisions affecting these roads are being made.
I will:
- Advocate for Ward 1’s transportation priorities at the Township and County levels.
- Hold our Mayor accountable for being a strong voice for our community at the County when it comes to roads such as 508 and 511.
- Push for better advance communication about lane closures, construction and major disruptions whenever information is available.
- Work to improve communication about local road maintenance and rehabilitation.
- Support a transparent approach to prioritizing road repairs based on condition, safety and need.
- Ensure rural roads receive appropriate attention, not just roads within the village.
My commitment
If a road closure affects your ability to get to work, school or home, you deserve to know about it before you leave the driveway.
Taxes and value
Be realistic. Find efficiencies. Deliver value.
The cost of almost everything is increasing, including the cost of running a municipality. Diesel for snowplows and road maintenance, equipment, materials, labour and contracted services all cost more.
I don’t believe it is honest for a candidate to promise that taxes will never increase. Instead, I believe Council has a responsibility to find efficiencies and get the best possible value before asking taxpayers for more.
I will support:
- Reviewing how municipal services are delivered.
- Looking for efficiencies and opportunities to reduce unnecessary costs.
- Maximizing provincial and federal funding opportunities.
- Planning infrastructure investments over the long term.
- Understanding the ongoing operating cost of new projects before approving them.
- Clearly communicating why significant tax increases are necessary.
- Making sure tax increases result in tangible improvements to services and infrastructure.
My commitment
I understand that taxes may have to increase as our costs increase. My responsibility is to make sure we’re getting the most from every tax dollar before asking residents for more.
Growth and housing
Let’s build a community for families
I am pro-growth. I want to see Ward 1 attract new families, businesses and investment. But I want to see the right kind of growth.
Too much housing growth can become focused on seasonal, recreational or retirement properties. I want to see more opportunities for working families to actually live here.
The Township’s strategic plan identifies growth management, attainable housing, economic development, tourism and infrastructure planning as important priorities.
I will support:
- New housing designed for families.
- More attainable housing options.
- A mix of housing types.
- Development that creates permanent residents.
- Businesses and services that support families.
- Infrastructure planning that keeps pace with development.
- Responsible development that respects existing residents and the character of our communities.
My commitment
I want Ward 1 to be a place where a young family can afford to buy a home, raise their kids and build their future.
Calabogie
Plan for the community we are becoming
Calabogie is growing. I don’t want to stop that growth. I want to make sure we are ready for it.
The Township’s strategic planning recognizes the need to plan for growth, infrastructure, housing, tourism, transportation, recreation and community investment.
Growth needs to be planned alongside:
- Roads and traffic.
- Housing.
- Recreation.
- Community services.
- Infrastructure.
- Business development.
- Tourism.
- Emergency services.
- Public spaces.
My commitment
We shouldn’t be reacting to Calabogie’s growth five years after it happens. We should be planning for it today.
Waterfront and village
Create the vision before we build it
Calabogie’s waterfront is one of our greatest community assets.
The Village and Waterfront Master Plan is an important opportunity to establish a long-term vision for Calabogie. It should answer a simple question: what do we want Calabogie to look like 10, 20 and 30 years from now?
I believe that plan should consider:
- Public access.
- Recreation.
- Parking.
- Traffic.
- Housing.
- Business opportunities.
- Tourism.
- Environmental considerations.
- Infrastructure capacity.
- The character of the village.
- Long-term costs to taxpayers.
My commitment
Let’s decide what we want Calabogie to become before individual developments decide it for us.
Short-term rentals
Support tourism. Protect our neighbourhoods.
Tourism is important to Calabogie, and short-term rentals can contribute to the local economy. The Township’s strategic plan identifies the need to regulate short-term accommodations while supporting tourism and economic development.
I support responsible short-term rentals, but there needs to be a balance between tourism and the quality of life of permanent residents.
I would support reasonable rules around:
- Noise.
- Parking.
- Occupancy.
- Property standards.
- Emergency contacts.
- Complaint handling.
- Consistent enforcement.
My commitment
We can welcome visitors without turning residential neighbourhoods into unmanaged commercial accommodations.
Communication and transparency
Residents shouldn’t have to chase their government
One of the areas where I believe we can do better is communication. The Township’s strategic plan identifies open communication and engagement as a priority, including exploring improved ways to communicate with residents. I agree with that direction.
Residents should receive information about the things that affect them before they become problems.
That includes:
- Road closures.
- Construction.
- Development applications.
- Major Township projects.
- Tax increases.
- Infrastructure spending.
- Changes to services.
- Major Council decisions.
My commitment
You may not always agree with a Council decision, but you should never have to wonder why it was made.
Hurds Lake, Springtown and our rural areas
Every part of Ward 1 matters
Ward 1 isn’t just Calabogie. Hurds Lake, Springtown and the surrounding rural areas are an important part of our community.
The Township’s strategic priorities include infrastructure, connectivity, emergency preparedness, recreation and effective community engagement.
I will make sure rural residents are part of the conversation when decisions are made about:
- Roads.
- Development.
- Property taxes.
- Emergency services.
- Recreation.
- Broadband and cellular connectivity.
- Waste services.
- Planning and land use.
- Township investments.
My commitment
Whether you live in the heart of Calabogie, around Hurds Lake, in Springtown or on a rural road somewhere in between, you deserve the same attention from your Councillor.
A community for families
Growth needs community
If we want families to move to Ward 1, we need more than houses. We need a community where people want to stay.
The Township’s strategic plan identifies affordable recreation and partnerships with community groups as priorities. I support that direction.
I will support:
- Youth and family recreation.
- Community events.
- Trails and outdoor recreation.
- Local organizations.
- Family-oriented businesses.
- Partnerships that expand recreation and wellness opportunities.
My commitment
Building a community for families means investing in more than infrastructure. It means creating opportunities for people to connect, participate and belong.
My commitment to Ward 1
I am not running to promise sweeping changes. I’m running to provide steady, responsible leadership.
I believe in the direction we’re taking, but I also believe elected representatives have a responsibility to ask questions, listen to residents and make improvements when they are needed.
- Growth
- New families, housing, businesses and opportunities.
- Infrastructure
- Roads and services that keep pace with our growth.
- Value
- Responsible spending and efficiencies for taxpayers.
- Communication
- Clear, timely information about decisions that affect our lives.
- Representation
- A strong voice for Calabogie, Hurds Lake, Springtown and the surrounding area.
I am not running to tear down what has already been accomplished. I’m running to build on it. Let’s continue the good work, address the things that need improvement, and plan responsibly for the growth that’s coming.