A Seasoned Leader for Ward 8

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I’m not running for Ward 8 because it’s politically convenient.

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I’m running because this is home.

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My family’s roots in this community go back more than sixty years. My grandparents came to Canada from the Netherlands after the Second World War with very little. They settled here believing in something simple: if you worked hard, looked after your family, helped your neighbours, and did the right thing, you could build a good life.

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That belief was passed down to me.

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But growing up, I also learned that hard work doesn’t always mean life is easy.

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My dad and mom worked long hours to give our family a good life, but there were still times when money was tight enough that we had to rely on the food bank.

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I remember those moments.

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There is a certain feeling that comes with watching your parents work as hard as they possibly can and still struggle to keep everything together.

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You don’t forget it.

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And when I talk to families today who are worried about groceries, rent, mortgage payments, taxes, or whether their kids will ever be able to afford a home of their own, those issues aren’t abstract to me.

 

I understand what financial pressure feels like because my family lived it.

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I started working young.

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At ten years old, I had a paper route. Later, I worked at Tim Hortons on Upper James and Rymal, as well as in landscaping and construction, and took on whatever other jobs I could find to help my family with the bills.

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I didn’t think there was anything remarkable about it.

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It was just what you did when your family needed you.

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Those years taught me the value of a dollar. They taught me responsibility. They taught me that dignity comes from being able to stand on your own feet, but also that there are moments in life when good people need a hand.

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Most importantly, they taught me that you show up for people when they need you.

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At 17, I joined the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada.

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Over the years, the military has put me in situations where there was no room for slogans, excuses, or passing responsibility to somebody else.

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During major floods in Montreal and Ottawa, I served alongside Canadians whose homes and communities were devastated. There were long days, little sleep, rising water, and families wondering what they would have left when it was over.

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Our job was simple:

• Show up.

• Do the work.

• Help people.

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During Operation LASER, the Canadian Armed Forces' response to COVID-19, I served during another period when Canadians were facing uncertainty and fear.

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Those experiences changed the way I think about leadership.

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When things go wrong, people don’t need someone searching for the perfect talking point.

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They need someone who stays calm.

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Someone who listens.

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Someone who takes responsibility.

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Someone who gets to work.

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The military also taught me that leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the room. As a Corporal, some of the work I’ve valued most has been helping younger soldiers grow into confident, capable leaders themselves.

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Leadership is not about ego.

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It is about earning trust.

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It is about looking after the people beside you.

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And it is about understanding that when you are given responsibility, the mission and the people who depend on you come before you.

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That is the kind of leadership I want to bring to City Hall.

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Because I hear the frustration in our community.

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People work hard, pay their taxes, raise their families, and try to do the right thing, but too often they feel like the basics are getting harder.

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They worry about crime in their neighbourhoods.​They see homelessness and addiction getting worse and wonder why we aren’t making more progress.​They watch property taxes and everyday costs rise while questioning whether they are getting the services they pay for.​ And more and more people feel like the government has become disconnected from the people it is supposed to serve.

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I understand that frustration.

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I feel it too.

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But I don’t believe our best days are behind us.

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I believe Hamilton can be a place where families feel safe walking through their neighbourhoods.

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• Where taxpayers know their money is being treated with respect.

• Where people struggling with homelessness receive real help paired with real accountability.

• Where young people can imagine building a future here.

• Where businesses can grow.

• And where neighbours once again feel confident that their community is moving in the right direction.

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It happens when leadership gets the basics right, listens to people, sets priorities, and follows through.

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That is why I’m running.

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• Not as a stepping stone.​

• Not because I want a title.​

• And not because I believe I have all the answers.

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I’m running because this community helped shape who I am, and I believe I have a responsibility to give something back.

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My grandparents built a life here.​ My family struggled and persevered here.​ I learned the meaning of service here.​ And I want the next generation to look at Hamilton and believe they can build their future here too.

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For me, public office comes down to the same lesson I learned long before politics entered the picture.

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When your community needs you, you show up.

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I’m ready to show up, listen, work hard, and be accountable for the results.

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I’d be honoured to earn your trust and your support.