FIVE MINUTES WITH YOU MATTERS MORE THAN A SIGN WITH MY NAME
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 another decision: I wouldn't ask people to put one on their lawn. I would wait to be asked.
Why? Because I never want someone I know, or someone I've just met, to feel uncomfortable having to say no. There are all sorts of reasons someone might not want a sign on their property. Perhaps I'm not their preferred candidate. Perhaps they value their privacy. Perhaps they simply don't want an election sign on their lawn. Those are personal choices, and I respect them.
I also thought about what we call visual pollution. Take a look at our main streets when hundreds of election signs appear. I wondered whether adding to that clutter was really necessary.
And then there is the environmental side of things. Yes, the signs can be taken apart and recycled, but they still represent more stuff entering our waste management system. I've been a composter, thrifter and recycler for many years.
Some of that comes from my late mother-in-law, who could take an old wool sweater and turn it into useful socks and mittens. She understood that something didn't have to be new to be useful.
That philosophy has stayed with me.
An election sign can introduce me.
A conversation lets you get to know me.
I know election signs have a purpose. They help voters recognize names and remind people that an election is approaching.
But visibility and trust are two different things.
A sign can tell you who is running. It can't tell you how that person thinks, how carefully they examine an issue, whether they're willing to ask difficult questions, or how they'll approach a decision that affects your tax bill.
Those things take conversation, preparation and accountability.
An election sign doesn't tell you about my past career or that I'm a bit of a research geek who loves to read. It doesn't tell you that I have a very big dog, that I enjoy coming up with creative ideas that don't have to cost a fortune, or that I'm the sort of person who will happily read the fine print on a contract.
It doesn't tell you that I'm not afraid to ask questions, look for answers, or keep digging when something doesn't quite add up.
And it certainly doesn't tell you how I approach local government: by listening to residents, researching the issues, examining the facts, reporting what I've learned, and looking for practical solutions.
I remember a phrase from my political science studies that has stayed with me over the years. It is attributed to French philosopher and diplomat Joseph de Maistre:
« Toute nation a le gouvernement qu'elle mérite. »
“Every nation gets the government it deserves.”
The phrase dates to 1811. I've often thought about what it means for us as voters.
Elections are an opportunity to look beyond names and signs, ask questions, examine the issues and decide what kind of leadership we want for our community.
For me, that means taking the time to get to know the people asking for your vote — how they think, how they approach problems, and what they are prepared to bring to the Council table.
So, instead of asking for a sign, I'm asking for something much more valuable: an invitation.
Invite me to your driveway to meet you and your neighbours. Let's talk about what matters to your little corner of Wasaga Beach.
Invite me to join you on a walk with your dog. I'll bring Gigi along, too!
Invite me to your next coffee meeting with friends.
Ask me what I think about development, and I'll tell you the following: I recognize that Wasaga Beach needs growth, investment and a stronger commercial tax base. I want to see our community thrive. But growth must be accompanied by careful planning.
Are our roads, water and wastewater systems, stormwater management and other essential infrastructure keeping pace? Are we planning for the needs of the people who will live here, not just the buildings going up? And are we being transparent about the costs, the financing and the potential long-term burden on taxpayers?
These are questions I believe we must ask before we make commitments that could affect our community for decades.
I'm not opposed to development. I'm concerned about development that moves faster than our ability to plan, provide infrastructure and pay for it responsibly.
Invite me to the part of your neighbourhood where flooding is a concern. Show me what's happening and tell me how it affects you. I'll share with you the flooding concerns that worry my neighbours and me.
Invite me to the part of the beach that concerns you. Explain what you're seeing, what you value, and what you believe needs attention.
And when you raise a concern with me, I won't promise that I can fix everything. I will promise to take your concern seriously, look into what can reasonably be done, and be honest with you about what I find.
I may not have an immediate answer to every question. But I can listen, investigate, ask questions and work to understand the issue. And I can bring those skills to the Council table.
Don't just take my word for who I am. Have a look for yourself.
Visit Aldona4WB.ca.
Read my blogs, follow my research, examine the questions I'm asking and see how I approach the issues facing Wasaga Beach.
You don't have to agree with every opinion I express. I welcome questions, respectful disagreement and conversations that challenge my thinking. What matters to me is that we examine the facts, consider the consequences and make informed decisions about our community's future.
That's the kind of preparation and approach I intend to bring to the Council table.
I want you to get to know the person behind the name, not just recognize it on a sign.
Because I believe that good municipal government starts with curiosity, informed questions, open conversations and a willingness to listen.
And I'd much rather meet you in your driveway, on your dog walk, over a cup of coffee, or standing beside a puddle in your neighbourhood than simply pass your house on the way to somewhere else.
Let's talk about Wasaga Beach. Our community. Our future. Our "community wallet".
Thanks for listening!
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