ON BECOMING A PUBLIC SERVANT

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what public service truly means today.

And I think many of you have an opinion about what it means to be a public servant, and the changes we’ve seen through the last couple of decades: some good, some bad.

There was a time when being a politician was considered an “honourable profession” of public service, in the same way that teachers, firefighters and doctors, for example, were – and are -considered respected positions held by people willing to help other people.

Being a politician meant having a great sense of community duty. It meant stepping up to protect, build, and serve our neighbours. It was an honourable position because it required a spirit of understanding, the willingness to listen, and the ability to compromise.

The job was 24/7 and not a 9 to 5, punch in and punch out commitment.

It was a difficult profession because:  You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

Today, we often see a very different picture of politics at every level. Politics is frequently treated as a bloodsport.

In my opinion, the only people hurt by this are the voters and taxpayers. We see behaviour that stalls progress, development and open and frank discussions about everything from policing to infrastructure to recreational activities for the very young and the seniors in our community. It ends up costing us money that we simply can’t afford to waste.

Somewhere along the way, the mutual respect we naturally give to the educators who shape our children’s futures, or the first responders who keep our neighborhoods safe, got stripped away from public office.

Collaborative leaders can still have independent voices, but it’s important to be able to have difficult conversations and compromise – in the best interests of the people that put us in a position of trust.

To be completely frank with you, this toxicity is what held me back from filing my nomination papers.  

When I started my career as a legal secretary, I was assigned to work for the oldest lawyer in the firm, and in my eyes, he was ancient. My job included bringing him lots of tea during the day, but also, I had to sit in on meetings and take notes. Notes about trying to resolve sticking points in a marriage breakdown, or the minutiae of a real estate transaction going sideways because interest rates were escalating. Notes that I had to type up and read back to Mr. W while he drank a fresh, hot cup of tea.

I learned two things from Mr. W that have served me well during the following years.

The first is patience. If someone has a story to tell, my job is to sit and listen and pay attention.

The second is that for any issue to be resolved successfully, each side has to walk away feeling a little pain.

I am, for the most part, a pragmatic problem-solver. I am not interested in having discussions that start with “Well, that Council did that thing…”.

That was then.

This is now.

Our local firefighters don't stand in front of a burning building and argue about politics before pulling out the hose. Our teachers don’t abandon a struggling student based on how their parents’ vote. They see a need, and they do their job with dignity.

I believe we can bring that exact same standard back to Wasaga Beach.

We can advocate firmly for our town's future while remaining friendly and respectful to one another. Governance shouldn't be a game to be won; it is a duty to be fulfilled.

My goal is to work for our community, and to focus on constructive solutions, open communication, and real public service.

Let’s leave the bloodsport behind and focus on what matters: taking care of Wasaga Beach.

August 21st, 2026