The first four months

We are four months into the next four years of this term of council. It has been a busy time for the Ward 21 team.

In the first few months I’ve tried to meet with every community association, not-for-profit and registered charity that has reached out so I can understand the challenges they are facing. As I wrote in a previous Manotick Messenger article, most of the community activities in our villages are run by volunteer groups and associations.

These activities and events are a major part of the charm of living in small rural villages, and so it is my goal to help them as much as possible. Afterall, these are community events, run by community volunteers for the benefit of the community.

I’ve also been able to host a weekly drop-in day on Thursday at the old Rideau Township Townhall in North Gower for residents to stop by and raise concerns that they have. The level of interest from residents has been fantastic.

One of the best comments I have heard from numerous residents is how easy it is to speak with either myself or a member of my team. I’m fortunate to have a great team around me who believe in helping residents through their city challenges.

My number one goal is to be as accessible as possible. Meeting with residents at my office or at their homes is the best part of this job. I also believe that being able to get out and see the issues firsthand is the basic role of a City Councillor. Being where the rubber hits the road (or perhaps where our tires meet a pothole) to face the everyday issues that impact us and our families is why I ran for public office.

So here is my request to you:

If you have a problem with a city service, are looking for planning or development support, have an issue with one of our roads, need help accessing a city program or would like me to attend one of your meetings or events, my team and I are only an email or phone call away.

One thing you will see me doing is getting out and door knocking during the summer months. I find this is the best way to be accessible and to hear about your issues firsthand. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues that matter most to you.

If you need help, my team and I are here for you. Phone or email us: 613-580-2491 or ward21@ottawa.ca