Environmental Protection, Local Knowledge and the Right to Be Heard
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.com/) and have followed its work closely, as have many other residents. I've met with a couple of its members, and I will continue to learn.
I believe that people who live here are often best positioned to identify where they see problems and bring forward information and resources that may help us make better decisions about development and environmental protection.
We are not a community of hicks who are uneducated or unwilling to care for the environment in which we live. We have knowledgeable, thoughtful residents who care about the future of Wasaga Beach.
It is also important to distinguish between environmental organizations because they do not necessarily share the same positions.
The Escarpment Alliance Corridor (EAC), which organized the All-Candidates event, is a separate organization from the Wasaga Beach Climate Change Action Team. The EAC has publicly stated its opposition to transferring Beach Area 1 and 2 lands back to the Town. The EAC prioritizes retaining provincial park protections, while the Town's stated approach is to pursue revitalization and tourism under municipal ownership, with commitments to public access and environmental protection.
The important question for residents is this: How will those environmental protections be secured and enforced over the long term?
That is a question worth asking, regardless of who owns the land.
What I've observed over 35 years
I've watched the Wasaga Beach Provincial Park manage the beachfront for the past 35 years around Beach Area 6.
This morning, as I walked the dog, I noticed garbage that had been lying around for the entire week.
Normally, I would have picked it up during one of our daily walks. This week, however, I decided to observe how long it would take before the garbage was removed.
And this morning, I picked it up myself.
That experience made me think about an important question: how do we ensure consistent, year-round maintenance and environmental stewardship of our public spaces?
The provincial park has a seasonal operating schedule, while the Town operates throughout the year. The Town also has the opportunity to draw on municipal staff, local expertise and community knowledge to help address environmental concerns.
I believe we should explore how that capacity could be used to protect and maintain our beachfront, not simply assume that one level of government will always do a better job than another.
I believe Wasaga Beach has residents with environmental expertise, young people studying environmental science and climate change who may welcome opportunities to work locally, and qualified arborists who can help determine which trees can be preserved and which may need to be removed because of disease or other risks.
We have resources in our own community. We should make use of them.
And I am not the only person who cares enough to pick up garbage.
There is another couple I have watched, usually on Monday mornings, walking with a plastic bag and wearing gloves as they collect litter.
These are small, everyday acts of environmental stewardship. They may not make headlines, but they make a difference.
We have more in common than we think
I personally know of no one who would say, "I like leaving garbage on the beach," or "I wish we didn't have to protect the birds," or "Let's build wall-to-wall condos across the beachfront."
Of course, residents have different opinions about development, density, tourism and how best to protect our natural environment.
But I've lived here long enough to know that many people care deeply about these issues.
We only have to look at social media to see residents asking questions and expressing concerns about protecting the beachfront, keeping Beach Area 2 available as a park for residents to enjoy throughout the year, managing density and traffic, addressing flooding, and preserving our natural environment.
I believe in the people of Wasaga Beach. We have residents who care deeply about our environment, people with professional expertise, young people studying environmental science and climate change, and local residents who are willing to roll up their sleeves and make a difference.
We have people who understand trees, wildlife, water and the challenges of responsible development.
We may not always agree on the best solutions, and there is always more to learn. But I believe we have the knowledge, the commitment and the ability to work together to find practical ways forward.
We don't have to agree on everything to share a common goal: protecting the natural environment and preserving what makes Wasaga Beach a wonderful place to live.
Environmental stewardship shouldn't depend on your income
If you have the financial means, it is often easier to make certain environmentally friendly choices.
You can afford an electric vehicle, install a charging station at home, invest in solar panels, or purchase a property and build a home that preserves the existing tree canopy.
For an average working person, those options may be financially out of reach. But that does not mean they care any less about the environment.
Environmental stewardship isn't about how much money you have or how many expensive green choices you can afford. It is about the everyday decisions we make, how we care for our surroundings, and how we work together to protect the natural environment in our community.
You don't have to be wealthy to make a difference.
We can pick up litter. We can care for our trees. We can reduce waste, respect wildlife, keep our neighbourhoods clean and encourage others to do the same.
And we can ask our elected officials to make informed decisions that protect the environment for future generations.
Small actions matter. So do the bigger decisions that shape our community. We need both.
Residents deserve to be heard
Yes, we need residents to sign petitions, attend Council meetings, write letters and send emails when they have concerns about development.
It is heartbreaking to think that almost 3,000 residents signed a petition expressing concerns about a west-end development, yet Council ultimately approved the development.
Residents may not always get the outcome they want. But they should have meaningful opportunities to be heard, to understand the decisions being made, and to see how their concerns have been considered.
That means electing a Council that recognizes the importance of public participation.
It means scheduling some Council meetings in the evening so people who work or volunteer during the day have a reasonable opportunity to attend.
It means opening the doors of the RecPlex or the Library and holding Town Hall meetings on important community issues.
It means making it easier for residents to speak before Council, without unnecessary barriers that discourage participation.
And it means bringing back the 15-minute open-mic sessions at Council meetings, so residents have an opportunity to raise concerns and share ideas.
From what I've seen, residents do come prepared. They bring speeches, background information, documentation, research and thoughtful questions. They take time out of their lives because they care about their community.
That deserves respect.
As a candidate for Council, I believe our job is not simply to make decisions on behalf of residents. It is to create opportunities for residents to participate meaningfully in those decisions.
Environmental protection and public participation go hand in hand. When residents can share what they know, ask questions and challenge assumptions, we have more opportunities to identify problems and find practical solutions.
Wasaga Beach belongs to all of us. Protecting our environment, respecting our residents and planning responsibly for our future should go hand in hand.
Thanks for listening!
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