One Year Later, What Matters Hasn’t Changed

It’s hard to believe it has been a year.

On October 20, 2025, the votes were counted in our municipal election.

I didn’t win a seat on Council, but a year later, I realize how much I gained just by putting my name forward.

Running for office gave me the opportunity to knock on doors, listen to people and hear firsthand what mattered to them.

And despite everything that has changed in the world since then, I don’t think the fundamentals have changed very much at all.

People want to be able to afford their lives.

They want to feel safe in their homes and neighbourhoods.

And they want to feel connected to the community they call home.

Affordability. Safety. Community.

Those were the concerns I heard on doorsteps throughout Ward 2, and I believe they matter just as much today.

One of the biggest things I learned from running is that public service isn’t about winning a seat. It’s about listening to people, understanding what matters to them and being willing to make a difference.

There are many ways to serve your community.

You can volunteer. Join a board. Help a neighbour. Support a local organization. Speak up about something that matters. Give your time when someone needs it.

None of those things require a title.

Over the past year, I’ve continued to volunteer, learn and meet people throughout our community. I appreciate those opportunities even more today because of what I learned during the campaign.

Would I have liked a different result a year ago?

Of course.

But I don’t look back at October 20 and think about what I lost.

I think about what I gained.

The conversations. The friendships. The lessons. And the people who challenged me to think differently.

Most of all, I learned that making a difference doesn’t begin or end at the ballot box.

It begins by caring enough to get involved.

One year later, it’s still important to listen, to learn and to find ways to give back.

And to keep doing what we can to make the community we’re fortunate to call home a little better.