Get angry. Then get active.
June 16, 2026
Mayoral Campaign Diary: Part III
I get it. You’re angry and feeling unheard. I’m feeling it too, which says a lot because I’m on city council and should be able to do something about it. As a municipal elected official, so much has changed over the last few years that is out of my control and has impacted my ability to get things done and have impact.
And I’m not alone. I’m hearing from colleagues across the region they feel neutered. Our neighbours next door in Waterloo Region no longer get to elect their Regional Chair. They will get a Ford-appointed puppet who has the power to override local decision making. The slippery slope of democracy is shifting bit by bit.
This is one of the reasons I’m running for mayor. As my campaign team grows and we feel the momentum building, anger is turning to action. Frustration is turning into focus. Complacency is turning into commitment.
Do you remember the first time you fought for, or volunteered for, something you believe in? How did it make you feel? I remember attending the first Speed River Clean Up in the early 1980s when I was in high school. We pulled a truckload of garbage out of the river that day. It felt great! It sparked something. Instead of being angry about all the garbage people were throwing in our rivers, I chose action. I was not powerless.
I feel like this election is one of those pivotal moments. It’s so easy to blame Ford. Mock Trump. Comment on social media. Target immigrants, or the poor, or the marginalized. It doesn’t solve anything. We are not powerless.
Action is where it’s at. Running for office is action. Volunteering on a campaign is action. Donating or taking a lawn sign is action. Getting informed is action. Correcting someone who is misinformed is action. Casting a ballot on October 26 is action.
Choose action.