My Vision for Stratford

Families, Seniors & Equity-Deserving Populations

Families

As a mom of four, I know how much families rely on the places and spaces around us. Childcare affordability and access are incredibly important, and the City has a role to play in supporting expanded childcare opportunities. But affordability is also about whether families can participate in their community without constantly spending money.

Free swims and skates, the library, EarlyON, splashpads, parks, playgrounds and trails give families opportunities to connect without opening their wallets. How we design our neighbourhoods matters too. See "Community Design" below.

I want Stratford to be a place where families can afford to live and feel connected, where kids know their neighbours and families feel part of something bigger than their own front door.

Seniors

Seniors deserve a community that helps them remain connected, independent and at home (if they choose).

I have heard from seniors who miss having a dedicated place to gather, socialize and participate in activities together (former Kiwanis Community Centre). Their current location out of Burnside Agriplex can feel fragmented, and I would like to see us explore a more connected community hub for older adults (see "Grand Trunk" below).

We also need the infrastructure that allows people to age in place: accessible sidewalks, safe crossings, appropriate housing, transportation and accessible public spaces. That includes recognizing the PSWs, caregivers and family members who make aging at home possible. Supporting them is part of supporting seniors.

Equity-Deserving Populations

Everyone should feel safe, welcome and that they belong in Stratford. Whether someone is living on a lower income, is 2SLGBTQIA+, BIPOC, a newcomer to Canada, or faces other barriers to participation, belonging should not be something they have to earn.

Creating an inclusive community means removing barriers, creating welcoming public spaces, providing affordable ways to participate, and ensuring the people who experience those barriers have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect them.

Grand Trunk

I want to see the Grand Trunk project move forward. I know this is contentious, but I feel strongly that we need to talk about it. There was a Master Plan developed in 2018, and an ad-hoc committee spent two years working on a plan ending in 2025. We have all the ingredients. Let's make the cake!

I care about Grand Trunk because I think Stratford deserves a community hub that brings people together: a library, pool, seniors' space, recreation, childcare and other community services, all in one centrally located place close to transit.

Think about what that means for a family. You don't have to drive to St. Marys or New Hamburg for swimming lessons or an open swim in the winter. Think about a senior who can access programs and services in the same place. Think about a teenager who has somewhere to go and be part of the community.

These things matter because healthy communities aren't just about buildings and services. They're about belonging. When people have places to connect, participate and see one another, we build a stronger social fabric.

I will acknowledge that in the past 6 months, several organizations have pledged money to move forward with this project, and there's Community Partnership Interest Process in progress. This is a good start. We've talked about Grand Trunk for a long time. The next four years need to be about actually building it.

Housing, Homelessness & Affordability

This is a multi-faceted issue.

Housing

First, we need more affordable and social housing. The provincial and federal government have a big role to play here, and we shouldn't forget that they've stepped back from funding local housing for a long time. But locally we still have a role to play, and we can do more through infill, building up, and creating denser, complete communities.

I also think we need to get creative about the housing we already have. We have seniors who are living in homes with more bedrooms than they need, while other people are struggling to find a place to live. Are there ways to safely connect those people through home-sharing?

Homelessness

The City should continue partnering with Stratford Connection Centre and CMHA to work with those experiencing it. They also need to involved those with lived (who now are in stable housing) and living experience (those who are currently unhoused) to navigate moving forward.

We need to invest in the Housing First approach. This approach has been studied worldwide and it is an effective way to get people out of homelessness for good. Once people are housed, then they can focus on other things like their mental health, potential substance use problems, and to find employment. When people are unhoused, they are in generally in survival mode. They are thinking hours ahead, not weeks or months ahead. Their body and brain are under a lot of stress. But when housing is guaranteed through this approach, they can start building their lives.

And finally, we need to work upstream. Why are people becoming homeless in the first place? How can we work with our community partners so children, youth, young adults and families experiencing adversity can overcome barriers with resiliency? By building more affordable housing, supporting people who are unhoused today, and working harder to make sure fewer people become unhoused in the first place is the way forward.

Affordability

While municipal governments cannot control the price of gas, groceries or the housing market, there are practical things we can do to ease the pressure on households.

We can look for efficiencies across City departments to help manage the tax burden, create rent-cap policies, attract more industry and employment to our existing industrial lands to increase our tax base, and invest in community gardens and other initiatives that give residents more opportunities to meet their everyday needs locally.

Healthy Communities & Community Design

Healthy communities are built around the places, spaces and connections that help people participate in everyday life.

Our library, skatepark, pools, parks, playgrounds, trails, splashpads and other community spaces might seem like small pieces of our community, but they are where connection starts. Continuing to invest in this social infrastructure is important, but so is making sure people can actually access it.

As a family, we've spent a lot of time navigating Stratford with strollers, wagons, walking and wheeling. Community design gets at the everyday questions: Can I safely walk or wheel to a community space using connected sidewalks and proper curb cuts? Is there a safe crossing to get to the other side of the road? Can my toddler wash their hands in a public washroom without me having to lift them up?

These details matter. I want us to design/enhance neighbourhoods where people of all ages and abilities can move safely, access the places they need, spend time outdoors, connect with one another and feel part of their community.

Climate & Sustainability

I believe we need to take climate action seriously, while continuing to learn, listen and find practical solutions that work for Stratford.

Stratford already has a Community Climate Action Plan, and we need to continue moving forward on the actions we've committed to. We also need to think creatively about how we grow. We don't make more agricultural land, so protecting it means making better use of the land we already have through infill, building up, and creating denser, complete communities.

There are opportunities to build sustainability into the infrastructure we already have. Green roofs, solar canopies over parking lots (I'm looking at you, Grand Trunk!), energy-efficient buildings and other creative solutions can help us reduce our impact without always requiring more land.

And finally, we need more trees! Trees improve air quality, provide shade, reduce the urban heat-island effect, support biodiversity, add beauty and contribute to our mental wellbeing. I am encouraged that the new Official Plan proposes measuring our urban tree canopy. Let's take that a step further: create microforests throughout the city in order to reduce lawn cutting!

Community Engagement

Meaningful community engagement means bringing the table to where people are, not simply inviting people to the table.

I want Stratford to involve people earlier, when their ideas can genuinely influence decisions. That means using different approaches depending on who we are trying to reach, whether that's workshops, focus groups, interviews, community conversations or meeting people where they already gather. The Countryside Park plan did a great job of this where they went to community events and organizations and heard from people early on. I'm excited to see the park's concept plan!

We also need to close the loop. When residents, businesses and community partners share their time and ideas, they deserve to know what we heard, what changed, and why.

Most importantly, engagement should be about building relationships. Regular, meaningful relationships with community organizations, Indigenous partners, businesses and equity-deserving groups will help the City build trust and make better decisions.