10/13/2025
A resident recently asked on the Legal Rant and Rave what each candidates top 3 priorities are. As some of you may not be able to make it to the Meet The Candidates event this Thursday, I thought I would also share them here:
My priorities in no particular order:
1. Residential Growth
The population of Sturgeon County is currently projected to grow by 30,000 people by 2044. The town has experienced very minimal growth over the past two decades and this is a great opportunity for us to change that. If elected, I would like to prioritize working with developers in order to turn the current land that the town owns that is either being rented out or under utilized (Map here: https://www.legal.ca/public/download/files/134568 ) into more single and two family land use districts.
This could be done, in part, by working with developers and amending certain legislation to make it easier to get building permits and to make it worth the developers time.
This would have to be done with care as we wouldn't want to over develop and lose the small town charm and community that makes Legal so special.
One of the primary benefits of growing our population (within reason) would be the influx of revenue generated from property taxes that could be put towards new parks, walking trails, baseball diamonds, upgrading/maintaining infrastructure, etc. without increasing the tax burden on our current residents.
2. Commercial Growth
Commercial growth starts with making it easier for businesses to set up and succeed here. That means streamlining the business licence process, looking at where policies may create barriers for new businesses, and consider short-term tax incentives to help new businesses get established.
While the Town itself doesn’t promote individual businesses, council can still play a meaningful role in supporting them. That includes working with the Legal & District Chamber of Commerce, helping create opportunities for local businesses to be seen through community events, and using municipal communications to highlight what’s happening in town in a broader way.
It would contribute to the quality of life for our residents (more services), open up more local employment opportunities, and contribute to the overall livliness of mainstreet and the town in general.
Residential Growth and Commercial Growth go hand in hand. The larger our population, the better we're able to support the businesses. The more businesses and services, the more incentives people have to move to Legal.
3. Strengthening and Supporting Volunteerism.
Volunteers are the backbone of every single small town. Without them, none of the fantastic events and activities that happen throughout the year would be able to continue.
If elected, I would prioritize strengthening the town’s relationship with our local volunteer organizations. That starts with meeting directly with these groups to listen, understand their challenges, and identify what they need to recruit, retain, and support volunteers. Whether it’s help with promotion, coordination, training, recognition, or removing barriers, council has a role to play in making volunteerism more sustainable.
I would also like to see the town reinstate volunteer recognition efforts, such as an appreciation event or other meaningful gestures that acknowledge the time and energy people contribute. Small acts of recognition can go a long way in showing volunteers that their work matters and encouraging others to get involved.
While these are the priorities I’m focused on right now, I also want to be a genuine voice for residents. After a week of door knocking and meaningful conversations, I recognize that these priorities may shift based on what people share; their hopes, concerns, and vision for Legal will help shape the direction I take.
I know I haven’t made it to every door yet, and I don’t want my absence to be mistaken for a lack of care or commitment. My work takes me out of town, and a few personal things came up this month that set me back more than I expected.
That said, my commitment to this community is real and if I’m elected, that commitment only grows. I understand there will be a learning curve as a new municipal councillor, and I’m prepared to put in the time, training, and energy required to do the job well. I take that responsibility seriously and I’m ready to show up, learn quickly, and contribute meaningfully.
