April 9, 2010

This morning I filed my nomination papers at the Clerk’s office in Waterloo City Hall, confirming what I have heard described by some colleagues and friends as the worst kept secret in the city.

I have said repeatedly that I expect to do a lot of listening during this campaign, and that started this morning at the annual Leadership Waterloo Region breakfast, where J. Fred Kuntz talked about collaboration and amalgamation. I will have more to say about the arguments he and others have raised in the coming weeks, but I can say that I have yet to hear a specific, compelling reason for amalgamating the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo.

This will be an exciting journey for me personally as I hear from community members about what is going well, what needs work, and what our priorities ought to be. Over the last eleven years, I have participated in numerous discussions on post-secondary education, poverty reduction, inclusion, student housing, diversity, immigration and settlement, mental health, arts and culture, and community collaborations. And each new conversation opens up new ideas and new possibilities.

The role of Council is to listen, and then to act. The most exciting part of this journey will be understanding the perspectives of an even greater number of community members. I hope to gain your insights, your trust, and your vote. And if I gain the honour of representing you on City Council, I look forward to continuing the conversation and to moving our community forward, together.