From School Drop-Off to the Council Table: 9 Common Questions I Am Hearing

I bring the perspective of a mom, a resident of St. Davids and someone who looks at decisions through the lens of how they affect families and residents in all five villages. I ask questions, look at the facts and think about the long-term impact on our community. I believe Council needs voices that understand the day-to-day realities of raising a family, using our parks and recreation spaces, getting around our villages and planning for the future.

There is so much to consider around major projects and I wanted to ensure the Region pause and look at the bigger picture and assess all impacts before moving ahead. I moved a motion at Council asking Niagara Region to place the proposed St. David’s roundabout on temporary hold. I felt it was important for the Master Plan to be completed before moving any further ahead with the roundabout. I believe it’s important that safety, traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, parking for businesses and the long-term needs of St. Davids all be considered together and as a council we are doing that. St. Davids is growing and changing. Major transportation decisions should fit the village we want to build for the next generation — not just solve one intersection today. In a very recent update, the Lord Mayor put out a statement announcing the Region has advised the Town that the project has been deferred through its capital budget planning process, allowing higher-priority infrastructure investments to advance in the near term while work on the broader St. Davids improvements continue, including important enhancements to pedestrian infrastructure. This is something I will continue advocating for.

For me, being a voice for families and children means making sure our kids are part of the conversation when we plan for the future of NOTL. Over the past four years, I have advocated with both school boards about high school options, spoken up for safer school drop-offs, sidewalks and better connections for kids walking and biking, and worked with local youth organizations including soccer, hockey, lacrosse, softball, skating and sailing. I supported priority registration for NOTL families, the Youth Discretionary Grant and programs through the Library, including EarlyON, literacy and youth programming. I also brought forward budget items that directly support kids in our villages, including soccer nets at Sparky’s Park, improvements to the playground at Memorial Park, swings in Virgil and a diving board at the Niagara Pool. Aquatics has also been a big part of that work. I supported Swim-to-Survive, lessons, AquaFit, the Electrifying Eels and a lifeguard bursary. The strong use of our pools shows there is real demand for aquatics, and I want to keep working toward a sustainable new aquatics facility and community centre in St Davids, while planning responsibly for the costs.

This decision, like all decisions at council, was made with careful thought and consideration and with the future of NOTL at its core.

For background, Parliament Oak School closed in 2015. The Town did not own the property and while it has been through different development proposals since then, the property has sat vacant.

A previous owner had proposed a residential development for the site, including apartments, single-family homes, semi-detached homes and a parkette. That proposal did not move forward.

The application for 325 King St. was submitted in 2023. That application was for a hotel, with a restaurant, spa and conference space.

Before making any decisions and to ensure the opportunity for public opinion, there was a public meeting and residents had the opportunity to speak about the proposal.

Council consulted Town planning staff who recommended approval.

Council voted on the Official Plan and zoning changes in June 2024. I voted in favour of the proposal.

As a building with historical significance, it was important that we ensure key pieces of its history be preserved. The plans for 325 King St. include preserving the Parliament bas-relief panel, oak tree marker, “Parliament Oak School” lettering, portions of the 1948 façade, the mature red oak, landscaping and trees, the Underground Railroad art installation, the 1948 time capsule, and salvaged school materials including brick, slate chalkboards and hardware.

Tourism is an important part of NOTL. The Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) means visitors staying in hotels pay a tax that can be used to support tourism and community priorities. That means tourism can contribute to the community, not just property taxpayers.

For me, that is an important part of the balance when we look at a project like 325 King Street. My vote was for the Official Plan and zoning changes for this specific property, following the Town’s planning process and staff recommendation. The rules are specific to this property, and the site plan and technical reviews are still ongoing.

Our heritage is one of the reasons people love NOTL, and I also believe our kids should know the history of the place they call home. One example from my term is my support for the NOTL Museum and its future. The Town committed $1 million toward the Museum’s expansion, and I supported using Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) funds toward the project. Tourism brings people to NOTL, and I believe some of that investment should also benefit the community that welcomes them. The Museum protects our history, supports tourism and provides real value to residents, including school field trips, curator camps and other youth programs made possible through its programming. For me, it’s about looking at the big picture, protecting our heritage, supporting tourism and making sure our residents benefit too. I will continue supporting the Museum, heritage preservation and programs that bring NOTL’s history to life for our kids.

When I first ran for Council, one of my biggest reasons was to make sure St. Davids and our other villages had a strong voice when it came to the budget.

A Town budget is always a balancing act. There are only so many dollars, and there are always more projects and needs than we can do at once. My job has been to make sure the needs of all five villages are part of that conversation.

That includes:

• Roads and infrastructure
• Stormwater
• Sidewalks and safe connections
• Parks and recreation
• Pools
• Libraries
• Community facilities
• Youth programs
• Services in all five villages

When I first came to Council, I heard from residents about things like stormwater ponds that needed attention, sidewalks that were missing and the need for more recreation and community spaces outside Old Town.

I’ve continued to bring those needs forward, while also recognizing that Old Town has important needs too. The goal is not to take from one village to give to another. It is to make sure the whole Town is getting its fair share of attention and investment.

The 2026 budget continues to include infrastructure, stormwater, parks and recreation investments across the municipality, including projects in St. Davids, Virgil, Queenston, Glendale and Old Town.

I’m proud that I came to Council wanting all five villages at the table — and that is still how I approach the budget today.

NOTL is going to change. We have young families who want to put down roots, seniors who want to stay in the community they call home, and people who grew up here who want to be able to stay here. We have businesses that need places to operate and infrastructure that has to keep up.

Growth should not mean losing what makes this place special. For me, responsible development means looking at the whole picture — roads, water, wastewater, traffic, agriculture, heritage, parks, schools, walking and biking, and what a project means for our community 10, 20 or 30 years from now.

The new Official Plan gives NOTL a long-term framework for managing that change. My job is to look at each proposal carefully and make sure the right questions are being asked.

Integrity is part of the job and something very important to me. Before taking office, every councillor must make a Declaration of Office under the Municipal Act. It is a commitment to follow the rules and carry out the responsibilities of the job honestly. I take great pride in this commitment.

During my term on Council, I have never declared a conflict of interest and I have never been taken to the Integrity Commissioner.

I take that responsibility seriously and believe residents deserve open, honest and accountable local government.

Experience matters because there is a lot more to Council than voting at a meeting.

Over the past four years, I have learned how Town budgets work, how decisions move through committees and Council, how planning and development applications are reviewed, and how taxpayer dollars are spent.

I have also served on the Public Library Board and the NOTL Hydro Board. I have worked through real issues involving recreation, pools, infrastructure, development , heritage, youth and community services.

I come to Council meetings prepared. I read the reports, ask questions, listen to residents and make decisions based on the information in front of me. I try to be steady, practical and hardworking — especially when the decisions are difficult.

Change is important, but it should be thoughtful and it should not come at the expense of taxpayers. After four years, I know how the Town works, I know what questions to ask, and I know how to balance what our community needs with what we can responsibly afford.

I’m proud of the work I’ve done over the past four years, and I’m ready to keep building on it. I’m asking residents for the opportunity to continue that work for another term.