Lately, I’ve been asking people a simple question: What do you love most about living here?
The answers are always the same. It’s our trail networks. It’s the parks where the kids play after school. It’s walking down Stittsville Main Street, grabbing something at the market, and supporting the local business owners who know us by name. Underneath all of it is the sense of belonging here in Stittsville – that neighbours look out for each other, and that this is a place where you can truly be part of the community.
But almost immediately after talking about what they love, people share their worries. There’s a very real anxiety that we are at risk of losing the exact things that we love most about Stittsville.
Let me be clear: this isn’t about being anti-growth. It’s about being pro-planning.
Right now, our roads, parks, rec facilities, and community services are lagging way behind the sheer speed of development. We want to welcome new neighbours, but we need the infrastructure ready to support them when they arrive.
The City’s Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan explicitly highlights this struggle, noting how desperately Ottawa needs more sports fields and green spaces to maintain our quality of life. Parks offer clear benefits for our physical health, mental wellness, and the social fabric of our community.
We are one of the fastest-growing areas in Ottawa. Families move here for the schools, the natural beauty, access to greenspace, and the community spirit. That’s worth celebrating, but it also comes with a responsibility to protect what matters most.
Families shouldn’t have to wait years for a neighborhood playground in new communities to finally open (Crossway Park in Connections, I’m looking at you!). Parents shouldn’t be forced to drive across the city on a Tuesday night just because swim programs at Cardel Rec are full. Our teens deserve safe, local spots to hang out and stay active, rather than passing time at the Circle K. And we absolutely cannot afford to pave over the trails, woodlots, and the vital Goulbourn Wetland Complex that define the very character of our community.
Like most municipal issues, the solutions aren’t simple. Recent provincial changes have made it harder for cities to secure parkland and funding from developers. Because the rules of the game have shifted, we have to be sharper and more determined than ever to ensure Stittsville remains well served by parks and recreation facilities. Growth should present new opportunities for investment and mean additional park and recreation spaces. Instead, we’re left playing catch up.
If elected, I’m focused on five clear goals:
- Build as we grow: Growth should be accompanied by a clear plan for parks, recreation facilities, and community infrastructure. My focus will be reducing the gap between new development and the delivery of the amenities families rely on.
- Protect our natural footprint: I will fiercely defend our trees, pathways, and critical ecological areas like the Goulbourn Wetland Complex.
- Youth Recreation: Our preteens and teens need modern, dedicated spaces and recreational programming designed specifically for them.
- Invest in gathering spaces: I’ll champion the public spaces, local festivals, community groups, and park amenities that bring us together as neighbours.
- Keep growth funding local: The money and investments generated by growth in Stittsville should be reinvested locally.
We can absolutely welcome new neighbours while protecting what matters most. Growth and community character don’t have to be at war with each other. With the right planning and relentless advocacy, we can achieve both.