Ready to vote? 2026 Ward 6 – Stittsville candidates respond to questions

Our ward challenges are clear, but they aren’t simple. Between my professional and volunteer experience, I have built the right skills and knowledge to best serve Stittsville and to tackle broader city issues.

What I offer is familiarity with the laws and policies that guide city decisions and operations, knowledge of how those decisions are made and how they can be challenged. I read all of the boring fine print, and I listen actively, so residents can be assured that I am paying attention to their concerns.

Additionally, Stittsville has been my home for more than 20 years. I am raising my four sons here. I volunteer here. I am a small business owner here. I am invested in this community and making it the best it can be. With this motivation in  mind, I have thrown myself into a variety of advocacy roles and learning opportunities.

My basement is full of files documenting Stittsville’s development  and documenting our specific challenges, needs, and successes. I joined the Stittsville Village Association in 2010, throwing myself into the transportation and planning and development files, and eventually serving as president for many years. I read legislation and policies, submit comments, and appear at committees to advocate for this community. I even trained as a paralegal to better understand the tribunal process when Council planning decisions were appealed.

2. What skills and experience would you bring to Council? Please provide one example of how you have demonstrated leadership or worked collaboratively.
Aside from a long-held fascination with municipal governance and its ability to shape our day-to-day lives, I have a background in journalism and legislative analysis, and now I work as a paralegal, primarily in landlord and tenant issues. All of those fields require a keen eye for detail, understanding of governance procedures and policies, the ability to communicate clearly and to understand information well, collaboration and professionalism – all skills needed by an effective city councillor.

Additionally, I have held a number of leadership positions on volunteer boards and associations, including the Stittsville Village Association, A. Lorne Cassidy School Council, Goulbourn Museum Board of Directors, the Ottawa Neighbourhood Watch Advisory Committee, and more. I have led a number of projects including large community events with wide-ranging logistical needs such as Canada Day in Stittsville, the Parade of Lights, Arts in the Park, school fairs, and smaller events such as fundraisers, holiday carolling, movie nights, etc. These efforts required collaboration, resourcefulness, and energy. There really is a lot when I look back over the years, and it has all helped me build to where I am and what I can do now.

To highlight one particular example of demonstrated leadership and collaboration, Stittsville’s Canada Day celebration is often plagued by weather woes. On several occasions, it has been necessary to cancel, which is always a tough decision after so much money and energy has been invested, but safety matters and it is the right thing to do. However, one year, a storm rolled in mid-celebration, and it came in fast. Wind mangled canopies and tossed chairs, and lightening struck a tree in the middle of our site. I was able to communicate quickly with volunteers and initiate the emergency plan I had on file. Together, we had the site safely cleared within minutes. I understand that leadership sometimes means making hard decisions.

3. What are the three most important priorities for Ward 6, and which would you address first?
Both in the ward and across the city, addressing transit has to be our first priority because it is a significant problem on its own but also has such a big impact on other issues (roads, affordability, housing,  access to services, etc.). Anyone who has to commute downtown, to Gatineau or other areas of the city knows how frustratingly congested the highway and streets are, especially during rush hour, but transit has been in such a poor state for so long that we really haven’t been able to depend on it as a reliable alternative. That has to change, particularly as we invite more dense development and the years of construction that come with it. Public transit should, sooner rather than later, be our first choice to get around the city, not a dreaded last option.

Unfortunately, “fixing” transit is going to be a multi-faceted evolution rather than just a checklist item to accomplish. That said, from a Stittsville perspective, the part I’d like to tackle  first is ensuring our schedules are realistic and achievable, and that they are followed reliably. That means current information, and taking weather, construction and other delays into account. Second, we need more express routes to and from Stittsville to cut down on long travel time while we figure out what rapid transit options to the west end will look like going forward. The city has already started implementing these goals on limited routes, but that needs to be expanded as quickly as possible.

Responsible money management is also a top issue. Nearly everyone is feeling the impact of higher costs on all fronts. City costs are also rising. It is more important than ever that council is making smart, data-driven decisions, identifying waste, looking at procurement, and ensuring that every tax dollar is being used as efficiently as possible to bring the best services to residents. That is responsible financial stewardship and it’s also the only fair thing to do before asking residents to pay more.

Finally, we need to look at managing our growth and aligning it in a more timely way with enabling infrastructure so we can meet needs of existing and future residents. As infrastructure ages and requires renewal, we either pay or we lose it, but under the current investment regime, we simply can’t afford to pay for everything we need. Past councils have delayed dealing with our aging infrastructure but many of these decisions cannot be delayed again, especially with rapid growth and new needs to support.

4. Many residents feel that roads, transit and community services have not kept pace with Stittsville’s growth. Which infrastructure need would you prioritize, and what specific action would you take during your first year?
As mentioned above, I think transit has to be our top priority, and that includes capital spending on projects like getting a bus station and park and ride to facilitate bus rapid transit and having an adequate bus fleet to maintain service in the west end even if LRT requires bus support.

As per the most recent 10-year transit asset management plan, the total forecasted capital investment need for transit assets is estimated at $14.7 billion, while the planned budget is only $13.7 billion. That’s a one billion dollar shortfall. Meanwhile, developers have been coming in with proposals for additional height or no- or low-parking based on proximity to transit stations that do not exist.

The proposed provincial upload of LRT capital, maintenance and operational costs could drastically alter our transit options for the better. I will support finalization and execution of this upload, specifically including backing construction of a Phase 3 extension to Stittsville.

5. Stittsville will continue to grow. How would you balance the need for additional housing with affordability, green space and wetlands, neighbourhood design, and the community’s historical character? Please identify one specific planning or policy measure you would support.
Balance is the key word here, and I think we need to shift from a mindset of stopping growth to one of shaping growth as best we can. I support continued use of Community Design Plans to help achieve that.

You might recall Stittsville Main Street had a CDP that called for limited height development along Stittsville Main. It was developed in collaboration with the community, and I was part of a public advisory committee that worked hard to keep Stittsville Main at human scale and to ensure that not every building had to be mixed use (but could be, depending on market conditions). The final result emerged from a lot of give and take. However, friction with the 2024 Provincial Planning Statement meant significant adjustments to the height restrictions.  In spite of this, CDPs remain a useful tool, and while they may not allow us to maintain the community’s historical character, I support using them in areas such as along Hazeldean Road.

Regarding affordability,  I have been monitoring development files in Stittsville for more than a decade and a half and in all that time, I cannot remember a single affordable unit being included in the developer plans. Everything is market rate, and the market is discouraging for anyone trying to buy or even rent a home. Large, multi-unit developments are usually also lacking in family-sized units. Most tend to be two bedrooms or less, which can be difficult for larger families. Councillors need to work with developers to encourage larger and below-market offerings in their plans and proposals, and I support

Green space and proximity to wetlands were factors in what first attracted me to Stittsville. Accessible green space is proven to be beneficial to both physical and mental wellbeing. It is particularly important for the city to protect existing greenspaces and to ensure we maintain green areas that meet a variety of needs and interests in areas of new development.

6. Council decisions are made collectively. How would you work with other councillors when you disagree with a decision or do not receive support for a Ward 6 priority?
Council decisions are not personal, and respect, collaboration and an open mind are key. I will ensure I have strong working relationships with other councillors. I will ask questions and make suggestions with a goal of making the best final decision in each individual circumstance.

In my role as a paralegal, negotiating compromises through settlement, mediation, and other alternative dispute resolution is part of my day-to-day work. I’ve heard mediators, judges and adjudicators say that the best solution is one that meets the most needs but leaves everyone a little unhappy and that’s often the case. I try to keep that in mind outside of work, too, and I think it fits well with the idea of working in concert with other councillors. There is always give and take.

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The key items of my Vision for Stittsville that I hope to accomplish in my first term are delivering on a dedicated bus station for Stittsville to improve transit service, pushing for a Community Design Plan for Hazeldean Road to enable proactive and holistic community planning, and creating a Vision Zero Action Plan to ambitiously push for the infrastructure and policy changes to make our roads safer for all.

2. What skills and experience would you bring to Council? Please provide one example of how you have demonstrated leadership or worked collaboratively.
My background is largely in public policy where I have worked as a federal public servant in various departments including Environment and Climate Change Canada, Service Canada, and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and where I hold both a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management and a Masters of Public Policy and Administration from Carleton University. I also came together with local organisers in our community to co-found West Side Pride, a Pride organisation for Western Ottawa, where collaborating together we’ve organised an annual Pride festival in Stittsville for four years to great success and where I, in my responsibility in leading and managing the festival’s Community Fair, have successfully doubled its size every year in those four years I’ve been involved.

3. What are the three most important priorities for Ward 6, and which would you address first?
In the lead up to the municipal election, I conducted a listening tour where I met with various community groups and community members to discuss their issues and priorities within the community for the upcoming election. From those conversations, I identified transit, community planning, and road safety as the top three issues for our community and, as such, built my campaign and Vision for Stittsville around these priorities. If I had to absolutely choose one priority over the other to start with, I would choose transit as the most common thing I hear at the door is that people want transit to be a viable option for them to get around and I feel this is a particular area that has been really lagging behind the pace of growth in Stittsville.

4. Many residents feel that roads, transit and community services have not kept pace with Stittsville’s growth. Which infrastructure need would you prioritize, and what specific action would you take during your first year?
I would prioritize key transportation infrastructure that is lacking within our community to ensure smooth and reliable movement no matter how you choose to get around. This would include getting a bus station for Stittsville to improve transit, building the sidewalks and cycling infrastructure needed to support and enable active transit, and key road improvements for better vehicle transportation flow. In my first year, I hope to be able push for a reprioritisation of the city budget on infrastructure, initiatives to expand the City’s financial capacity, and oblige developers to contribute and provide more to enable these transportation infrastructure improvements to occur.

5. Stittsville will continue to grow. How would you balance the need for additional housing with affordability, green space and wetlands, neighbourhood design, and the community’s historical character? Please identify one specific planning or policy measure you would support.
I believe we should be making more use of Community Design Plans, specifically one for Hazeldean Road, to help guide growth within areas of our community and to better proactively and holistically plan for the infrastructure, services, and housing we need in our community to keep pace with our growth. In addition, I want the City to develop a Community Benefits Framework, similar to what they have in Toronto, to give the City more power to enforce on developers to deliver on benefits from their developments to affected communities and contribute to funding and building the infrastructure and amenities needed to support the new neighbourhoods they build and ensure they can thrive.

6. Council decisions are made collectively. How would you work with other councillors when you disagree with a decision or do not receive support for a Ward 6 priority?
I would find ways to seek a compromise or to build support for consensus on a decision or on a priority of our community. This would require building productive and amicable relationships with other City Councillors and lobbying, persuading, and advocating on behalf of Stittsville to help achieve what we need at City Council. I am prepared to work with whoever is elected as City Councillor and Mayor in this election to further Stittsville’s interests and meet its needs.

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Those experiences have given me a deep appreciation for what it takes for a community to grow, thrive, and remain a great place to call home. My realistic goals for my first term are to accomplish some tangible results for traffic calming as well as better services for the 11-15 year old demographic.

2. What skills and experience would you bring to Council? Please provide one example of how you have demonstrated leadership or worked collaboratively.
I have a Bachelor of Commerce Degree with a Major in Human Resources from Saint Mary’s University.  This education, combined with my early career in financial services and founding/operating two local businesses gives me a strong perspective on ensuring people are heard and respected while prioritizing responsible budgeting for required services. Working collaboratively was a constant during my time as a Board Member with the Bells Corners Business Improvement Area. Doing what was best for the area needed to come above what may have been best for just my business.

3. What are the three most important priorities for Ward 6, and which would you address first?Affordability – I want to ensure that Stittsville residents receive good value for the municipal services they fund.
Safety – I am committed to making safety a priority  in every Stittsville neighbourhood, with practical solutions for safer streets and communities.
Better Services – I want to ensure that infrastructure and City services keep pace with Stittsville’s growth, including roads, transit, parks, trails, recreation spaces and sports facilities.

I would address affordability first. It is the number one issue I hear from residents.

4. Many residents feel that roads, transit and community services have not kept pace with Stittsville’s growth. Which infrastructure need would you prioritize, and what specific action would you take during your first year?
I would prioritize transit.  Our community and the city as a whole have lost confidence in our transit system. My focus would be to ensure our residents feel that OC Transpo is listening to their concerns and provide timely answers and solutions to those concerns.

5. Stittsville will continue to grow. How would you balance the need for additional housing with affordability, green space and wetlands, neighbourhood design, and the community’s historical character? Please identify one specific planning or policy measure you would support.
I think this comes down to open and effective communication between the residents and City Council.  I would like to see residents meaningfully involved earlier in the planning process, when changes can still be made, rather than feeling that community consultation happens after the major decisions have already been made.

Stittsville should continue to grow, but we should be intentional about where we grow, what we build and what infrastructure and community amenities need to accompany that growth.

My goal is not to preserve Stittsville in time. It is to make sure that 20 years from now, the people who live here—whether they’ve been here for 30 years or just moved here—are proud to call Stittsville home.

6. Council decisions are made collectively. How would you work with other councillors when you disagree with a decision or do not receive support for a Ward 6 priority?
I will always advocate for Stittsville, and I believe I can be a strong advocate while still being respectful and willing to listen.  My career in the financial world, owning and operating a brewery, and my involvement in numerous community initiatives all have one thing in common: the ability to connect with people, respect their views and opinions, and ultimately build relationships.

As a City Councillor, I would take the same approach. If I disagreed with another Councillor, or if a Ward 6 priority didn’t receive the support I was hoping for, I would ask to meet with them to better understand why.

Open, two-way communication can often resolve differences while building stronger long-term relationships and creating a more productive Council.

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My husband and I (with our dog, Leo) chose Stittsville as home, and we look forward to raising a family here. Since May, I’ve knocked on more than 10,000 doors. People tell me the same things: the bus isn’t reliable, the commute keeps getting longer, drivers speed past schools, and taxes go up while services show up years after the houses.
So Stittsville doesn’t have an awareness problem. We have a delivery problem.
A councillor is one vote out of 25, so I won’t promise what one vote can’t do. Here’s what I believe I can get done in my first term:
1. Traffic and transit. Get traffic light timing reviewed at our worst rush-hour intersections. Get OC Transpo to share real numbers on how often our buses show up, and post them publicly, so we can fix reliability using their own data. Answer every traffic complaint within 10 business days.
2. Safe and liveable neighbourhoods. Add proven traffic calming and safer crosswalks near schools. Make it easy to find every recreation program and open spot in one place. Run free workshops, starting with seniors, on avoiding scams, theft and online fraud.
3. Accountability for our taxes. Before the City spends big, it should say what the money will achieve, then report back on whether it did. Unused City land and buildings should be put to work.
4. Healthcare close to home. Cut City red tape so Stittsville is inviting for new doctors’ offices, and push the Province to fund the Kanata-Stittsville health hub on City land already set aside.
On all of it, I’ll bring residents in before decisions are made, not after. Nothing here is flashy. All of it can be checked. That’s the point.

2. What skills and experience would you bring to Council? Please provide one example of how you have demonstrated leadership or worked collaboratively.
City Council manages a multi-billion-dollar budget. A good councillor needs fresh eyes, critical thinking and the leadership to steer projects in the right direction. That means asking the right questions at the right time (When will it be done? What if it goes over budget?) to stop avoidable waste of taxpayers’ money. It takes real experience handling budgets, and the negotiating skill to make a compelling case for Ward 6. It means working with other councillors and bringing them to agreement so good decisions pass. And it means being accountable, so residents can count on you.

Over the past decade, I’ve answered to several boards. I know what it’s like to be the person responsible.
I’ve spent more than 20 years leading teams in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure, and I have bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science. At Ontario Health, I managed critical systems that had to run 24/7 because patients and doctors depended on them. As CEO of a cybersecurity firm, I ran the budget, made payroll, managed people and led negotiations between people who wanted different things.

My example is my time on the board of YWCA Durham, part of one of Canada’s longest-standing organizations supporting women, children and families, including those affected by violence.
A board works a lot like a council table. No one decides alone. We asked hard questions, looked at the risks, and made decisions together about services people in crisis relied on. You don’t win over a table like that by being the loudest. You win it by being prepared, using common sense, and answering every follow-up question until a firm no becomes a yes. That’s what I’d bring to Council: not just a vote, but help steering decisions the right way.

Here in Ottawa, I’ve helped with food drives, Clean the Capital days, community events and mentoring small business owners. Stittsville was built by volunteers like that, and I respect them.
If you can help, you help. If something needs doing, you step up. If you take responsibility, you deliver.

3. What are the three most important priorities for Ward 6, and which would you address first?
From more than 10,000 conversations at the door, three priorities stand out.
1. Traffic and transit. Buses don’t show up reliably, and commutes are too long. Last year, buses on less frequent routes were on time only about seven times out of ten.
Year one: Review traffic light timing at our worst rush-hour intersections. Publish real reliability numbers for Ward 6 bus routes. Answer every traffic complaint within 10 business days.
Long term: Buses that work evenings, weekends and in winter, for seniors, students and families with one car. Better connections to where people work. Clear construction plans, with detours shared before work starts, not the week the equipment shows up.

2. Safe and liveable neighbourhoods. Speeding comes up in almost every home, and school zones lost their speed cameras last year.
Year one: Traffic calming and safer crosswalks near schools. One place to find recreation programs and open spots. Free scam and online-safety workshops, starting with seniors.
Long term: Steady yearly funding for road safety and sidewalks, instead of whatever is left over. This year, money for new road safety projects was cut in half. More visible police patrols. Parks built as new neighbourhoods grow. Enforcement of the tree rules we already have.

3. Accountability for our taxes. Taxes keep going up, and residents want to know what they’re paying for.
Year one: Before any big spending, the City states what it will achieve, then reports back on results. Put unused City land and buildings in Ward 6 to work.
Long term: Real competition for big City contracts, with a public review before they’re renewed. Efficient practical standards for getting value from every major purchase and project.
I’d start with traffic and transit. It affects the most people every day, and our transit levy went up 8 per cent this year for an unreliable service.

4. Many residents feel that roads, transit and community services have not kept pace with Stittsville’s growth. Which infrastructure need would you prioritize, and what specific action would you take during your first year?
Almost every road Stittsville is waiting for is already approved. What’s missing is a date.
My top priority is extending Robert Grant Avenue north from Hazeldean Road to Palladium Drive, giving our community a direct route to the Queensway. The planned Stittsville Main Street extension connects right into it, so it would help ease traffic on Stittsville Main Street. This project is approved, but it’s still five to seven years away. That’s too long to wait without a clear schedule.
In my first year, I’ll do four things.
1. Get a public schedule. I’ll bring a motion asking City staff to publish every step of the Robert Grant extension (design, land, utilities, funding and construction) and report on progress every year. You can’t hold anyone to a date that was never made public.
2. Fight for the money. The first budget of the new council is where projects move up or slip back. I’ll push to protect funding for Robert Grant and the other roads already approved for Ward 6, and work with other councillors, especially in the west end, whose residents use the same roads.
3. Report on every project. I’ll post a plain status update on every Ward 6 road and park project, starting with Carp Road, where construction has already slipped to spring 2027. Residents will see what’s on time, what isn’t and why.
4. No surprises during construction. Before major work starts, residents and businesses should get detour routes, access plans and school bus changes well ahead of time, not the week the equipment arrives.
City staff have also raised the idea of a new infrastructure charge on tax bills, and the next council may have to decide on it. My view is simple: before residents pay another dollar, show them the full ten-year list of projects, with dates and measurable results.
Stittsville doesn’t need another plan. It needs a date, and a councillor who will hold the City to it, not another deadline that quietly slips.

5. Stittsville will continue to grow. How would you balance the need for additional housing with affordability, green space and wetlands, neighbourhood design, and the community’s historical character? Please identify one specific planning or policy measure you would support.
Stittsville will keep growing, and it should. Young families, grown children and seniors all need homes here. But it has to grow the common-sense way.
The real question is whether the park, the road and the bus come with the new houses. Too often, they don’t. The Fernbank area was planned in 2009 with a large park. The houses are built, but design consultations for the park only started this August.
Here’s what I’ll do.
Housing people can afford. City rules now allow up to four units on most lots, so a family can add a unit for a parent or an adult child. I’ll help residents through that process. And every tax increase should show what it buys, because taxes add to the cost of living too.
Protect green space and wetlands. Build on land that’s already approved inside the city’s boundary before opening up new land. Enforce the tree protection rules we already have. Preserve what’s left of our green spaces.
Protect our village character. Stittsville Main Street is the heart of our community. The City approved a plan to improve it in 2022, but it’s being done bit by bit. I’ll push to fund it properly.
The one measure I’ll champion: infrastructure first. We’ve already seen it work here. At 1919 Maple Grove, our current councillor made sure about 460 new apartments wait until the Stittsville Main Street extension is built. But that was one project at a time, and it only holds the builder to account.
I want the City held to account too. When Council approves a big development in Ward 6, it should commit to a date for the road and park that come with it, and report on that date every year.
Growth that comes with its park, its road and its bus is efficient, common-sense planning, delivered on time.

6. Council decisions are made collectively. How would you work with other councillors when you disagree with a decision or do not receive support for a Ward 6 priority?
Council has 25 votes. To get anything done for Ward 6, you need a majority, and speeches don’t get you there. Here’s what does.
Do my homework. I’ll bring every idea with the facts, the cost and the result it will deliver. It’s easy to brush off an opinion. It’s much harder to brush off a solid case.
Find allies. Stittsville isn’t the only place where houses come before roads, parks and buses. Barrhaven, Kanata, Orléans and Riverside South have similar problems. A fix that helps us helps them too, and that’s how a local priority wins a majority. The health hub is a good example. It will serve Kanata and Stittsville, so I’ll work with Kanata’s councillors to push it forward together.
Disagree openly, never personally. If I disagree, I’ll say so on the record and explain why to residents. Then I’ll respect the result. The person I disagree with on Tuesday is someone I’ll work with again on Thursday.
Don’t take the first no as final. If a Ward 6 priority doesn’t get support, I’ll ask what would change the answer: better data, a smaller first step, a different way to pay for it, or a pilot. Then I’ll bring it back at the next budget.
Work with our community. Stittsville’s community groups and volunteers know this ward best. I’ll bring them in early, so we walk into City Hall with a stronger case.
Report back. Whatever happens, residents will hear from me: what was decided, how I voted and what comes next, even when the answer is no.
I’ll walk into City Hall owing nothing to how things have always been done, and answering only to Stittsville. I’ll walk into City Hall owing nothing to how things have always been done, and answering only to Stittsville. I’ll always follow through and deliver results-that’s what I’ve always done.

I’ll be the most compelling voice for Stittsville at City Hall, and I’d be honoured to earn your vote on October 26.

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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MOMS. Stittsville was built by families. And so much of the work that holds those families together is done by moms. The mom getting the kids ready for school. The mom working all day and coming home to another list of things that need fixing. The mom trying to get her children safely across town. The mom wondering when the garbage will finally be collected. The grandmother waiting for the snow to be cleared from her street. Those are the people I want to hear from.

Being a councillor isn’t about becoming somebody. It’s about helping somebody. I promise to listen to the moms of Stittsville.

MY PLAN FOR STITTSVILLE

PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF STITTSVILLE: Stop inappropriate skyscraper development and make sure growth comes with the infrastructure our community needs.

BUILD THE HEALTH HUB: Stittsville needs accessible healthcare infrastructure for families, seniors and everyone in between.

FIX OUR ROADS: Build a new connection from Stittsville Main Street to Palladium Road. Fix Carp Road. Stop dangerous speeding on Carp Road. Create three dedicated pothole-response teams for Stittsville. Create a dedicated wild-parsnip response team.

BRING TRANSIT WHERE PEOPLE NEED IT: Push for O-Train service to Palladium and better transportation infrastructure for a growing Stittsville.

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS: Support Stittsville’s markets, independent businesses and community entrepreneurs. I’ve been a local business owner myself. I know what it means to put your own money, time and reputation into something.

FIGHT AUTO THEFT: Work with Ottawa Police to ensure appropriate resources are directed toward reducing vehicle theft and protecting residents.

SUPPORT WOMEN AND FAMILIES: Stittsville should be a community where women are respected, families are supported and people who are struggling aren’t forgotten.

GET THE BASICS RIGHT: Being a councillor means making sure the basics work. It means making sure a granny can get her snow cleared. It means making sure snow isn’t simply piled where it creates another problem. It means making sure a working mom’s garbage gets collected on time. It means fixing potholes before they become craters. Government should work in the small moments of people’s lives.

INDEPENDENCE MATTERS

I will accept no developer donations. I will buy my own coffee. I won’t expense coffee to taxpayers. I will give jobs to the best-qualified people, not simply my friends. That’s called meritocracy.

And I am offering something else that politicians don’t usually offer: ONE TERM. I am offering one term of service. Then I’m going back to Pokémon and anime. I don’t want politics to become my identity. I want to serve Stittsville. Then I want to go home.

WHY THIS COMMUNITY MATTERS TO ME
When I was a kid, I used the library chess club. I used the wave pool. I used the soccer facilities. I used the community services that gave kids somewhere to learn, play and grow. Those places helped make me who I am. And that’s what public infrastructure actually does. A library isn’t just a building. A soccer field isn’t just grass. A pool isn’t just water. They are part of how a community raises its children. They help create an educated, healthy and connected Stittsville. That’s worth protecting.

STITTSVILLE IS LOVE. STITTSVILLE IS HOPE. STITTSVILLE IS HOME.

I’m not asking you to elect somebody who wants to become a career politician. I’m asking you to elect someone who will work for Stittsville. Someone who will listen. Someone who will show up. Someone who will fight for the basics. Someone who will put residents before special interests. Someone who will serve for one term and then go back to the life he loves.

Vote Devin Michael Fitzgerald O’Brien. October 26. Stittsville. ONE TERM. ONE COMMUNITY. ONE PROMISE: I WORK FOR YOU.

I talked to the lady with the wetlands group about protecting turtles once. I commit to listening to her advice then making my own descision on a case by case basis.

We need roads but we need to protect our forest paths and parks. Its about balance.

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Those experiences have inspired me to take the next step in serving our community by seeking the opportunity to represent Ward 6 on City Council. My platform is that Stittsville deserves a councillor who is accessible, collaborative, and committed to helping the community thrive as it grows. 

Stittsville is growing rapidly, and with that growth comes important decisions about infrastructure, development, transportation, recreation, and community services. I want to ensure residents have a strong voice in those decisions and that growth is managed responsibly while preserving the qualities that make our community a welcoming place to live, work, and raise a family. Responsible planning today will help us maintain the high quality of life residents expect and deserve.

During my first term, I will focus on realistic and achievable goals. One of my top priorities is improving communication between City Hall and residents. I am committed to being transparent, accessible, and accountable by providing regular community updates, chats and creating more opportunities for meaningful public engagement before major decisions are made. These commitments align with the community-first approach outlined in my platform. 

I will also advocate for ensuring that development charges generated through growth help support the infrastructure needed in Stittsville. As our community continues to expand, residents deserve to see growth-related revenues invested in roads, parks, recreation facilities, and community services that keep pace with development and maintain our quality of life.

Most importantly, I will be a strong advocate for Ward 6. Municipal government is built on collaboration, partnership, and negotiation. My goal is to ask tough questions, work constructively with colleagues and city staff, and represent the interests of residents every day. Success during my first term will be measured by stronger community engagement, improved infrastructure planning, and ensuring Stittsville remains connected, welcoming, and prepared for the future.

2. What skills and experience would you bring to Council? Please provide one example of how you have demonstrated leadership or worked collaboratively.
I would bring a strong combination of community leadership, business experience, volunteer service, and a proven ability to build relationships and bring people together. Throughout my years of serving Stittsville, I have worked with residents, community organizations, schools, faith groups, local businesses, and municipal leaders to address challenges and improve the quality of life in our community. My experience has taught me that effective leadership begins with listening, communicating openly, and finding practical solutions that reflect the needs of residents. 

As a business owner, community advocate, and former Chair of the Stittsville Food Bank, I have developed skills in budgeting, strategic planning, fundraising, collaboration, and problem-solving. These experiences have prepared me to make informed decisions, ask thoughtful questions, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. I understand the importance of balancing growth with the infrastructure and services that residents need and expect. 

One example of my leadership is my work with the Stittsville Food Bank. Serving as Chair required bringing together volunteers, donors, community partners, and local organizations to support vulnerable residents and families. Success depended on collaboration, clear communication, and a shared commitment to helping others. By working closely with community stakeholders, we were able to strengthen support for residents while building partnerships that benefited the broader community. 

Another example is my involvement with the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville, where I worked alongside dedicated volunteers on community projects that improved local amenities and strengthened community connections. These experiences reinforced my belief that lasting results are achieved when people work together toward a common goal. 

If elected, I will bring that same collaborative approach to City Council. I will listen, build consensus, ask tough questions when necessary, and advocate strongly for Stittsville. My goal is to ensure residents feel heard, respected, and represented while helping our community remain welcoming, connected, and prepared for the future.

3. What are the three most important priorities for Ward 6, and which would you address first?
The three most important priorities for Ward 6 are responsible growth and infrastructure, improving transportation and mobility, and ensuring residents have a strong voice in local decision-making. These priorities are closely connected and reflect the concerns I have consistently heard from residents across Stittsville. My platform emphasizes responsible growth, community engagement, and ensuring residents are informed, consulted, and represented in City decisions. 

My first priority would be ensuring that growth is matched with the infrastructure our community needs. Stittsville continues to grow rapidly, and residents want to see roads, parks, recreation facilities, community services, and other essential infrastructure keep pace with development. Growth should enhance our quality of life, not strain existing services. I will advocate for planning decisions that are responsible, sustainable, and focused on the long-term needs of our community. I will also work to ensure that development charges generated through growth help support the infrastructure investments needed in Stittsville. 

My second priority is transportation and mobility. Residents regularly raise concerns about traffic congestion, road capacity, pedestrian safety, cycling connections, and public transit. As our community expands, we must ensure people can move safely and efficiently throughout the ward. This means advocating for transportation improvements that meet the needs of families, seniors, students, commuters, and local businesses.

My third priority is strengthening communication and resident engagement. One of the most important responsibilities of a councillor is ensuring residents feel heard and represented. I am committed to being accessible, transparent, and accountable. My platform includes regular community chats, weekly updates, and additional opportunities for residents to participate in decision-making before major planning and development decisions are made. 

While all three priorities are important, infrastructure must come first because it affects nearly every aspect of daily life in Stittsville. By ensuring that growth is properly planned and supported, we can address transportation challenges, maintain essential services, protect our quality of life, and build a community that remains welcoming, connected, and prepared for the future. 

4. Many residents feel that roads, transit and community services have not kept pace with Stittsville’s growth. Which infrastructure need would you prioritize, and what specific action would you take during your first year?
Great question! I’ve identified more than 30 pending planning applications at the city for Ward 6, which will bring over 11,000 new Stittsville residents into our community shortly.

Against that rapid housing growth, there are only 9 key roads we rely on to get in, out, and through Stittsville: Carp, Robert Grant, Hazeldean, West Ridge, Fernbank, Palladium, Huntmar, Abbott, and Main Street. We also depend on Terry Fox Drive, even though it sits outside our official Ward 6 boundaries. Where is our whole-of-Stittsville infrastructure design to support this massive influx? Many of these secondary roads are severely congested right now and were never engineered to carry this level of commuter traffic.

Job #1 in my first year is to mandate city planners to take a comprehensive, ward-wide view of our local transit master plan. I will immediately collaborate with Ottawa Police Services to collect concrete traffic data, allowing us to identify our most incident-prone intersections. This safety review will specifically prioritize our most vulnerable residents, including children walking to school, active seniors, and neighbors with unique accessibility needs. We need data-driven evidence to clarify and justify our spending priorities.

Crucially, we must execute this network assessment immediately, well before major Carp Road construction begins in the spring. This proactive planning will ensure we have viable, safe, and efficient alternate routes firmly established before further roadwork disrupts our daily commutes.

Concurrently, we must focus on vital missing links. Main Street remains incomplete, as does the critical Robert Grant connection. Prioritizing and completing these major thoroughfares will instantly improve traffic flow, community safety, and overall accessibility for everyone.

We will also implement immediate, simpler fixes. This includes enacting one-side parking restrictions in heavily stressed residential zones like Cope Road. Furthermore, I will ensure commercial truck traffic has clearly communicated time and day restrictions on Main Street. By ensuring our growth is responsibly planned and supported, we can ease gridlock, protect our quality of life, and build a connected Stittsville prepared for the future.

5. Stittsville will continue to grow. How would you balance the need for additional housing with affordability, green space and wetlands, neighbourhood design, and the community’s historical character? Please identify one specific planning or policy measure you would support.
Stittsville will continue to grow, and the challenge is not whether growth happens, but how we manage it. I believe we can support additional housing while protecting the green spaces, wetlands, character, and quality of life that make Stittsville such a desirable community. Growth must be planned carefully, with the needs of both current and future residents in mind.

Housing affordability is a significant issue for young families, seniors looking to downsize, and residents entering the housing market for the first time. I support a mix of housing options, including family homes, townhomes, and appropriately located higher-density housing. A balanced approach will help ensure that people at different stages of life can continue to live in our community. At the same time, new development must be supported by adequate infrastructure, including roads, recreation facilities, parks, schools, transit, and community services.

Protecting green space and environmentally sensitive areas must remain a priority. Stittsville’s natural environment, including its wetlands and open spaces, contributes to our community’s identity and quality of life. These areas should be protected through responsible planning and evidence-based environmental reviews. Once these assets are lost, they cannot easily be replaced.

Neighbourhood design is equally important. New developments should be integrated into the existing community, creating walkable, connected neighbourhoods with access to parks, trails, local businesses, and community gathering spaces. Good planning creates communities where people can live, work, and play without sacrificing the character that residents value.

One specific planning measure I would support is requiring comprehensive community infrastructure assessments before major new developments are approved. These assessments would evaluate whether transportation networks, recreation facilities, parks, stormwater systems, and other essential services can support planned growth. If gaps are identified, there should be a clear plan for how and when the necessary infrastructure will be delivered.

I also believe that Stittsville’s historical character should be reflected in future planning decisions. As we welcome new residents and new housing, we must preserve the heritage, sense of community, and small-town spirit that make Stittsville unique.

The best growth is balanced growth: welcoming new residents while protecting the environment, preserving community character, and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with development.

6. Council decisions are made collectively. How would you work with other councillors when you disagree with a decision or do not receive support for a Ward 6 priority?
Council decisions are made collectively, and successful councillors understand that achieving results requires collaboration, relationship-building, and respectful dialogue. While I will always advocate strongly for the residents of Ward 6, I also recognize that no councillor can accomplish priorities alone. Building support requires listening to different perspectives, finding common ground, and demonstrating how a proposal benefits not only Stittsville but the broader City of Ottawa.

When I disagree with a decision, I will approach the discussion respectfully and constructively. I believe it is important to ask thoughtful questions, review the available evidence, and ensure residents’ concerns are clearly represented. Healthy debate is an important part of good governance, but it should always remain respectful and focused on finding solutions. People can disagree on an issue while still working effectively together.

If I do not initially receive support for a Ward 6 priority, I will not simply move on. I will continue working to build understanding and seek opportunities to advance the issue through collaboration. Often, successful outcomes require ongoing conversations, adjustments to proposals, and partnerships with other councillors, community organizations, residents, and city staff. Patience and persistence are essential when working within a municipal government.

My experience as a community leader, volunteer, and business owner has taught me that lasting results come from bringing people together around shared goals. Whether working with volunteers at the Stittsville Food Bank, community organizations, local businesses, or residents, I have learned that listening and relationship-building are often the keys to success. Those same skills are important on City Council.

At the same time, I will remain a strong advocate for Ward 6. If a decision is not in the best interests of Stittsville, I will explain my position openly and ensure residents understand how and why I reached my conclusion. My commitment is to be collaborative without losing sight of the responsibility to represent the people who elected me.

Ultimately, my approach will be simple: listen respectfully, build partnerships, advocate firmly, and keep working until we find practical solutions that benefit both Ward 6 and the city as a whole.

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2. What skills and experience would you bring to Council? Please provide one example of how you have demonstrated leadership or worked collaboratively.
I bring hands on experience in community development, consensus building, and turning resident concerns into actionable plans. For years, I served as Vice President, Development for the Bridlewood Community Association, where I helped manage local issues on a broader level. That work was appreciated and welcomed by community members. In that role, I coordinated with residents, developers, and City staff to balance growth with neighborhood quality of life, demonstrating collaborative leadership that delivered practical results.

3. What are the three most important priorities for Ward 6, and which would you address first?
My top priorities are traffic safety and flow on key corridors, transit reliability and connectivity, and infrastructure that keeps pace with growth, all supported by trust and responsiveness at City Hall. I would address traffic first because safe and predictable travel underpins everything else, from getting kids to school to seniors reaching appointments and workers reaching jobs.

In my first year, I will also learn how City planning, budgeting, and approvals work. I will form a volunteer Community Advisory Team drawn from local experts in planning, development, construction, and maintenance. We will launch 360 degree value engineering reviews to examine plans from all angles and produce evidence based recommendations. Based on those reports, I will move Council to fast track design and funding for priority transit, road, and broader infrastructure improvements.

4. Many residents feel that roads, transit and community services have not kept pace with Stittsville’s growth. Which infrastructure need would you prioritize, and what specific action would you take during your first year?
I would prioritize a two tier transit system for Ward 6 with frequent local routes feeding into high capacity express links, paired with targeted road and intersection upgrades on Hazeldean, Main Street, and Carp Road. The City has discussed widening Carp Road starting next year, but that schedule has been postponed. When work does proceed, sections of Carp Road will be closed, so my first year will focus on planning safer detours, traffic management, and transit continuity to keep our community moving and safe.

5. Stittsville will continue to grow. How would you balance the need for additional housing with affordability, green space and wetlands, neighbourhood design, and the community’s historical character? Please identify one specific planning or policy measure you would support.
Growth must be infrastructure led. I support a policy measure requiring phased occupancy approvals tied to verified completion of road, transit, and active transport improvements. This ensures new homes are built without overloading existing streets, protects green space and wetlands through stricter site planning, and preserves neighbourhood character by aligning density with serviced capacity.

6. Council decisions are made collectively. How would you work with other councillors when you disagree with a decision or do not receive support for a Ward 6 priority?
I would build coalitions by showing data, sharing resident stories, and finding trade-offs that advance shared goals. If a Ward 6 priority lacks support, I would seek amendments, pilot projects, or budget line items that move us forward incrementally, while keeping residents informed and engaged so their voices strengthen our case at Council.

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As a mom to five daughters and a community volunteer, I want neighbours to feel connected and supported, with reliable transit, safe streets, and healthcare and social supports closer to home.

That takes investment in roads, transit, recreation and community facilities, alongside maintaining the infrastructure we already have. I will work with other Councillors and our provincial and federal representatives to secure investment from all three levels of government. We need to plan for future needs before they become urgent, while making responsible decisions with public funds. 

In my first term, I want to see construction move forward on the Carp Road widening project and apply lessons from its delays to other transportation projects. I will work with staff to improve planning processes so design, land acquisition and utility coordination are completed ahead of construction funding.

I want more dependable bus service, with fewer missed trips and delays. I will push for route-by-route reporting, work with OC Transpo to address recurring problems, and report back on whether service is improving. I will also push for accurate real-time travel updates so residents can adjust their plans as needed. Only through service improvements and transparency can we begin to rebuild trust. 

I will work with City staff, healthcare providers and provincial partners to move the planned west-end health hub through the approvals process. At the same time, I will work with community organizations to expand social service programs in existing local spaces, so residents can access more support closer to home.

I will continue bringing neighbours together through local events and activities, and help carry on Councillor-led events like the Stittsville Volunteer Awards, Canada Day flag raising, Pride flag raising, and the Multicultural Festival. I will also host annual town halls with senior City staff so residents can discuss priorities, ask questions and better understand the plans and decisions affecting our community.

2. What skills and experience would you bring to Council? Please provide one example of how you have demonstrated leadership or worked collaboratively.
My career began in social work, working in shelters for women and children fleeing violence. Supporting people through difficult circumstances taught me to listen carefully, stay calm under pressure and understand what someone needs before trying to find a solution. That experience still shapes how I approach my work.

I saw an opportunity to build on that frontline experience and make a difference on a broader scale by helping improve the policies and services people rely on. That’s what drew me to municipal government. I’ve since worked in both the Stittsville and College Ward Councillors’ offices, and in City operations, including temporary traffic calming and program and project management supporting Traffic Services. In each role, I’ve brought that same focus on people and how we can better serve them.

I’m familiar with the City’s legislative processes, having been responsible for drafting reports, memos and inquiry responses. I understand the work that goes into bringing a recommendation forward and securing approvals. I’ve learned to ask what might be missing, what a proposal will cost and what staff need to put it into practice. My social work background also reminds me to consider who might be left out or affected differently by a decision.

One example of collaboration is my work as Temporary Traffic Calming Coordinator. I worked with Councillors, residents, community associations and City staff across multiple wards to address speeding concerns and move projects from planning to installation. That meant listening to residents, working through technical and operational constraints, coordinating approvals and keeping people informed. I also contributed to the Traffic Calming Service Review.

This work required bringing people with different expectations together and finding solutions staff could deliver. It also meant monitoring budgets, timelines, and outcomes, rather than considering the job done once a decision was made.

I would bring that same approach to Council, combining an understanding of residents’ needs with the experience to navigate City Hall, ask informed questions and follow through.

3. What are the three most important priorities for Ward 6, and which would you address first?
I will push to move Carp Road, Robert Grant Avenue and the Stittsville Main Street extension forward, while prioritizing maintenance of the roads and sidewalks we already have. That means getting design, land acquisition and utility coordination done earlier, so projects are ready when construction funding becomes available. I will work with other councillors and our provincial and federal representatives to secure investment from all three levels of government.

Reliable transit and safer streets.
Residents need to know their bus will show up and get them where they need to go. I will push for fewer missed trips, more dependable schedules and accurate real-time updates when service is disrupted. I will also prioritize safer school zones, permanent traffic calming on streets with persistent speeding concerns, and better walking and cycling connections.

Recreation, healthcare and community supports closer to home.
I will work with City staff and community organizations to expand local recreation and social service programs, make better use of existing facilities and pursue more access to school gyms. I will work to move the west-end health hub through City approvals and push for planning and investment in future recreation facilities. I will also continue supporting local events and activities that bring neighbours together.

I will start with transit reliability.
Residents need dependable service now, while we work on longer-term infrastructure. My first step will be to meet with OC Transpo to review missed trips, recurring delays and the concerns residents are raising. I will push for route-by-route reporting and a clear plan to address those problems, then keep residents informed about whether service is improving.

That work will happen alongside advancing Carp Road and our other infrastructure priorities.

4. Many residents feel that roads, transit and community services have not kept pace with Stittsville’s growth. Which infrastructure need would you prioritize, and what specific action would you take during your first year?
Among our many infrastructure needs, I will prioritize the Carp Road widening. This project has been on the books for over a decade but construction has now been pushed to spring 2027 to finalize property acquisition agreements. 

During my first year, I will request an independent review by the City’s Auditor General to understand why the project has faced these delays and what needs to change. I would ask to review the existing planning process, and how risks to the project schedule are managed. I will push for recommendations, outlining clear responsibilities and timelines. 

That review should happen alongside efforts to get construction back on track. Within my first 100 days, I will meet with the project team, real estate staff, and legal services to review outstanding requirements and push for clear timelines. My first-year goal is to see the work underway, with greater communication to nearby business owners who will be impacted by construction. 

I will use the findings from the review to push for improvements to how we plan and deliver other transportation projects, including Robert Grant Avenue and the Stittsville Main Street extension. We need to start design, land acquisition and utility coordination early enough that projects can move into construction when funding becomes available. 

We need to understand what went wrong to contribute to delays on the Carp Road widening project, so that we apply what we learn to the projects that follow.

5. Stittsville will continue to grow. How would you balance the need for additional housing with affordability, green space and wetlands, neighbourhood design, and the community’s historical character? Please identify one specific planning or policy measure you would support.
I want my daughters to have the option of building their lives in Stittsville, and longtime residents to be able to stay here as their needs change. We need more housing, but we also need neighbourhoods where people can get around safely, access services and enjoy green space.

I support a range of housing types and options that people with different incomes can afford, whether they’re renting, buying their first home or downsizing. I will also support partnerships with non-profit housing providers and the use of suitable City-owned land to create more affordable housing.

I support more housing along Hazeldean Road, alongside investment in our roads, transit, realistic parking allowances, and safe walking and cycling connections. I will push for infrastructure planning to happen earlier and involve residents while there is still an opportunity to shape proposals.

I will oppose development on wetlands and advocate for protecting the Goulbourn Wetland Complex. I will advocate for preserving existing trees and replacing those lost to development. I will also insist on proper care for newly planted trees so they survive and grow. 

On Stittsville Main Street, I will advocate to uphold the vision and design principles of the Community Design Plan, protecting our heritage while making room for new housing and local businesses. I will also push for the investment needed to carry out the Public Realm Plan, including wider sidewalks, safer crossings, cycling connections and tree planting. I want Main Street to be a place where people can walk safely, support local businesses and spend time together.

One specific policy change I will push for is stronger park-delivery requirements so that neighbours moving into new subdivisions aren’t left years waiting for playgrounds. Parks are where neighbours meet, and give children important places to play. I will push to tie installation timelines to subdivision agreements, with clear deadlines for park delivery. I will push to have parks ready earlier as new neighbourhoods grow.

6. Council decisions are made collectively. How would you work with other councillors when you disagree with a decision or do not receive support for a Ward 6 priority?
I’ve already built relationships with many councillors through my work in two Councillors’ offices and City operations. I’ve worked with them and their staff on community concerns, and I know how much gets worked out through conversations before an issue ever reaches a Council meeting.

There needs to be collaboration and some give and take. I can’t expect colleagues to take the time to understand Stittsville’s needs without doing the same for their communities. I will look for opportunities to work together, particularly with neighbouring councillors on transportation and the pressures that come with growth. I also recognize that my decisions will affect residents across Ottawa, not just in Ward 6.

If a Stittsville priority doesn’t get support, I’ll talk with colleagues to understand what’s holding them back. It might mean phasing the work, finding another funding source or doing more work with staff to make the case. I’m willing to adjust my approach and consider other solutions without losing sight of what our community needs.

There will be times when I disagree with a decision, and I won’t be afraid to speak up and say so. I’ll explain my position and my vote to residents, but I won’t let that disagreement damage a working relationship. We still have to be able to work together and continue to represent our communities to the best of our ability.

Residents need someone who will stand up for Stittsville and keep working to earn support for our priorities. I bring experience doing that work and relationships I can build on.

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