Editor's note: BarrieToday has asked council candidates in neighbouring Springwater and Essa townships to provide a synopsis of why they are running for public office. Municipal elections take place Oct. 24. The following response is from Janette O'Neill-Scott, who is running for council in Springwater Township in Ward 1. For more election coverage, visit our 2022 municipal election page by clicking here, where you can find candidate profiles and other election news.
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My platform is simple: It is our community. I am not seeking simply a vote, but the opportunity to lend my voice to our community’s future alongside the community voice. That begins by listening.
I would like to support our community in staying vibrant and economically viable while helping to manage and contribute toward growth and change where needed.
As a resident who has grown up authentically living as part of our farming community, and now as a parent raising children in our schools, seeing them progress to work at our local businesses, it’s time to give back.
I would like, with community engagement, to ensure our community is sustainable not only for the next four years, but help facilitate conversations that make decisions sustaining us into our next generations.
This can be done by bringing the community into the conversation. The best way for us make strategic decisions is to engage and make community voice the priority. Decide together, the goals for our community growth and our development which contribute to the work from generations before us, rich in so many ways.
With over a decade of public sector experience, the benefit of lived experience as a resident and part of an active agricultural family in the community for generations, my intention to represent the community is done so with the education to support it.
The community has needs that span from our youngest residents needing childcare, to our youth needing supports for their futures and our aging populations access – this means planning for resources not only for today, but to sustain over time.
The economic viability of our community’s business is not determined by one person, but by the collective participants; the goal is to engage all stakeholders to help determine priorities, provide support and means for successes. We need to bring our community into focus and revitalize our engagement.
My interest in this position is simple. I want to promote our community and preserve history that contributes to a sustainable future. This also means sustainable campaign activity. I will not be seeking campaign donations to ask for support and be will be mindful when using resources.
In a time when inflation is rising, many community members have struggled; I would invite those interested to make a charitable donation to our community food bank Elmvale and District Food Bank in Elmvale (elmvaledistrictfoodbank.net) or give support where you can instead.
