VOTE CHANGE TODAY OCTOBER 24

I was born and raised in downtown Hamilton;

I live in Ward 2.

I am a Cathedral High School Alumni,

A mother of two boys.

A friend once asked me why I decided to move forward with my Ward 2 Candidacy, to which I replied, why not?

Why not get involved?

How can I inspire changes in our city if I never join the conversation?

Empowering change is created by participating.

It is also created by actively working for solutions.

Our community faces challenges that we cannot ignore.

My family and I have seen the effects of homelessness and the encampments firsthand.

In 2020 during the pandemic, my partner Michael and I began cooking and delivering meals, clothing, and essential goods every weekend to those in need and also understanding the complexities of what people were facing. In addition, we worked alongside our community and friends to support people struggling when services and resources were unavailable.

During that time, we spoke to many of the people we assisted to learn their stories. Their stories included problems associated with addiction, family abuse and mental health issues. However, many of these individuals were also people moving through struggles and challenges met with misfortune. I have always believed that leadership leads on the ground with those that have lived in experience to understand better what solutions will be the most effective.

Consequently, to the pain and suffering of our community during Covid19, my family experienced a tragedy. In 2021, my sister-in-law passed away from mental health and addiction issues. I see her in every one of these faces on the streets, brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers, and they need us to work to provide them with support and solutions. This is one of many factors that motivated me to work towards solutions for supportive housing for homelessness with wrap-around supports.

Unfortunately, adequate support housing is a long and tedious process that can leave individuals without proper assistance for years. Transitional, short-term support housing solutions are needed immediately. Working with groups such as ‘HATS’ Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters can provide an effective short-term support response as we work on our long-term building goals. I have engaged in discussions with the HATS Organization to understand their solutions that will mindfully serve everyone in our community. HATS understands the safety needs of people and neighbourhoods and the support needed for the homeless community. They require a temporary location that will serve as a short-term housing support solution, one that can provide proper shelter, staff to monitor and assist and an alternative to the encampments.

Everyone has the right to a place to call home and opportunities for financial betterment. The viability of these two differing ideas is at cross purposes. We can make our city a model of prosperity while increasing the rights to affordable housing. Many friends and colleagues have expressed their struggles regarding entering the housing market or access to affordable housing.

I have reached out to connect with a group named Kindred Works. They act as the development and asset manager for United Property Resource Corporation, founded two years ago by the United Church of Canada to help ensure its church properties continue to serve the common good. By transforming and repurposing United Church properties, they can continue to meet community needs, such as affordable housing.

There are many vacant churches in Ward 2 and throughout the City of Hamilton. This is an innovative way of solving the housing crisis. Kindred Works is a sustainable and inclusive company aiming to spend at least 80 percent of its project costs with local labour. Kindred Works is already working on these affordable housing projects in other cities and is very open to Hamilton. These projects can begin immediately and can bring immediate housing solutions to Hamilton if all of our Council team and constituents work together.

I have an extensive and proven business background that provides a crucial skill set for action met with urgency, fiscal responsibility and progressive, immediate solutions. As a small business owner, you know the detriments of any business if you do not work and create immediate solutions; your business survival counts on it. This is the work mentality and work ethic we need to cultivate at City Hall; we can no longer table critical issues to a later date; we need action now; all of us will and are significantly impacted by this. Therefore, we must operate our city council and solutions with a degree of urgency.

We can become an empowered community by pooling our resources together. Our community will grow when we no longer act as singular Wards. Instead, we all work to benefit and balance the needs of our community equally. We need to act now for the well-being of our people, small businesses and environment. If we want change, it happens through what we cultivate in our language, our actions, and what we are willing to commit to for change.

Council was always meant as a short-term position to serve and then allow new people the opportunity to continue growing our city. Momentum continues through the enthusiasm and progressive solutions we allow new council members to bring.

I will be a leader taking action for progressive, creative, proactive solutions.

I promise to lead with integrity and character.

EMPOWERING CHANGE begins now; let’s do it TOGETHER

We invite you to participate on our team to empower change within our city.