October 9th, 2026 Give me five minutes of your time. Tell me what matters to you, what concerns you, and what you want for the future of Wasaga Beach. That conversation means more to me than seeing my name on another election sign. One of the questions I've been asked most frequently during this campaign is, "How come there are so few election signs with your name on them?" The answer is simple: it was a conscious decision. I decided to order no more than 50 signs, and I made

October 9th, 2026 Destination Wasaga, institutional knowledge, and putting residents first At three recent campaign events, several members of the public approached me and said they had heard I was part of the Smith Team. LET ME BE CLEAR: I AM NOT. I don't know where this rumour originated, but the information is incorrect. I am running as an independent candidate for Wasaga Beach Council, with my own priorities, my own views and my own commitment to the residents of this com

October 8th, 2026 There was a time when, if you needed something as basic as a pair of underwear, you had to leave Wasaga Beach to buy it. Look at us now. We have a thriving and increasingly diverse business community — and we should be proud of how far we've come. But here's the question I want to ask: How do we make “Shop Local” mean something 52 weeks a year — not just during the 17 big weekends of summer? Tourism is enormously important to Wasaga Beach. But the majority

October 7th, 2026 So, what does a ward system actually do for you? It gives you a Councillor who lives in your part of Wasaga Beach and has a particular responsibility to understand the issues affecting your neighbourhood. You still have access to the Mayor and at-large Councillors, but you also have a clear local point of contact when you have a question, concern or idea. More access. More accountability. Another door into your municipal government. Okay, Aldona. What's thi

October 6th, 2026 📞 Call a Senior Friendship Circle This idea comes from my late mother. My mother was the secretary/receptionist in a seniors' apartment building. She came up with a wonderfully simple system to help make sure residents were safe and connected. Apartment 1 on each floor would telephone Apartment 2, beginning at 8:00 a.m., and simply ask: “Good morning. Are you okay?” Apartment 2 would call Apartment 3, and so on down the hallway. By 9:00 a.m., my mother had

October 6th, 2026 AI generated graphic poster

October 5th, 2026 My answer is YES — but with a twist. On October 26, Wasaga Beach residents will be asked whether they support moving to a ward system. My answer is YES. But I don't think it has to be an either/or choice between ward Councillors and at-large Councillors. I would like to see both. Here’s why When you have a concern about your neighbourhood, wouldn't it be helpful to know: “Who is the Councillor who represents where I live?” Maybe you live in the west end. May

October 5th, 2026 In Part 1, I asked: Who pays for growth? In Part 2, I talked about the questions I believe a councillor should be asking when new development comes before Council. Now let's look at the numbers. As of May 24, 2026, the Town of Wasaga Beach's current town-wide development charges for residential development are: 🏠 Single or semi-detached: $39,769 🏘️ Rows and other multiples: $32,481 🏢 Apartments: $19,803 There is also an additional Beach Area wastewater de

October 5th, 2026 On October 26, I’m not asking you for a part-time vote. I’m asking for the opportunity to make a full-time commitment to the residents of Wasaga Beach. AI generated graphic poster

October 5th, 2026 Who pays for growth — and are we planning far enough ahead? Wasaga Beach is changing. New residential developments bring opportunities, but they also raise important questions that deserve clear answers. When a development is proposed, I want to know: 🏗️ INFRASTRUCTURE: Will our roads, water and wastewater systems, stormwater management and other municipal services have the capacity to support the additional growth? If upgrades are needed, what are they, an

October 5th, 2026 Wasaga Beach is growing. But as we welcome new homes, new residents and new businesses, we need to ask an important question: How do we manage growth while protecting the small-town beach-town vibe that drew so many of us here in the first place? Residents have legitimate concerns about increased traffic, flooding, stormwater management, environmental protection and preserving our tree canopy and natural spaces. And there's another question I believe is just

October 5th, 2026 My name is Aldona. It is a Lithuanian name, a reminder of my heritage and the generations who came before me. I am proud of that heritage, just as I am proud to be Canadian. During this municipal election campaign, I have received comments suggesting that because I have a foreign-sounding name, my roots aren't here, my family hasn't been here for generations, or I somehow don't belong. My parents' generation, and those that followed, have been in Wasaga Beac

October 3rd, 2026 I'm not waiting until October 26th to prepare for the job! AI generated graphic poster I'm getting ready now for the biggest, most important job interview of my life — the opportunity to serve as your Wasaga Beach Town Councillor. I'm doing my homework, researching the issues, learning the rules, studying the numbers and listening to residents. Because asking for your vote is one thing. Being prepared to earn your trust is another. October 26th is interview

October 2nd, 2026 I am one of the candidates who received approximately 970 pages of documents to review about one week before the scheduled All Candidates meeting. The documents were prepared by "subject matter experts" in their respective fields, so there was a considerable amount of reading, research and preparation required for this meeting. For the record, I have supported the initiatives of the Wasaga Beach Climate Change Action Team (https://wasagabeachclimateaction.co

October 2nd, 2026 I've been researching a wide range of issues affecting Wasaga Beach, and I'm sharing what I learn on my blog at Aldona4WB.ca AI generated graphic I believe residents deserve more than slogans and promises. They deserve facts, figures, research, and honest conversations about the decisions that affect their lives and their tax dollars. I'll tell you what I support, what I don't support, and why. I'll share the information behind my positions, acknowledge wher

October 2nd, 2026 Removing Barriers and Building Connections Simple Solutions: Positive. Practical. Inclusive. Local. Doable. Yesterday, I shared four ideas for creating more opportunities for young people in Wasaga Beach. But opportunities mean little if a child cannot afford to participate, is worrying about their next meal or feels they don't belong. So today, I'd like to share four more ideas for us to explore. 5. Explore Accessible Swimming for Children Swimming is recre

October 1st, 2026 Creating Opportunities Simple Solutions: Positive. Practical. Inclusive. Local. Doable. We hear candidates say, “I want to look after our youth.” And I believe most of us genuinely care about our children and young people. But caring about young people is the starting point, not the solution. Our children and teenagers are growing up in a world shaped by the pandemic, changing education, social media, artificial intelligence and the rising cost of living. Pa

September 30th, 2026 First, much thanks to Gerry & Patrick, our wonderful hosts, and to our moderator, Dave Morrison, all of whom - once again - made the event entertaining, engaging and informative. And to Mike Foley, candidate for Deputy Mayor, who worked behind the scenes to make the arrangements and include all the new candidates. If you're wondering what I had to say this is my prepared speech. I hope you find something of benefit in it. "Good evening. I want to start to

September 30th, 2026 HOW DO WE DECIDE WHAT COMES FIRST? My husband, Vik, reminded me of a Georgian toast that goes something like: “I have the desire to buy a house, but I don't have the means. I have the means to buy a goat, but I don't have the desire. So let's raise a glass in the hope that our desires will always match our means.” I love that toast because there is a lesson in it for municipal government: OUR VISION HAS TO MATCH OUR MEANS. Destination Wasaga is intended t

September 30th, 2026 WHERE DOES THE 61% GO? In Post 3, we learned that 61% of the average Wasaga Beach property-tax bill stays with the Town. For the average 2026 household, that's: $2,493.94 But what does the Town do with its share? LET'S BREAK DOWN THE 61¢ OF YOUR TAX DOLLAR THAT STAYS WITH THE TOWN. The Town's 2026 tax-supported budget is $40,684,870. According to the Town's published 2026 Budget Snapshot: Town function Share Public Works 20.2¢ Police Services — OPP 14.9¢