I Am Committed To Protecting Wilmot's Farmland.
Protecting Wilmot's farmland is not an election topic, nor has it been part of my job.
Someone recently suggested that maybe I wasn't as committed to protecting Wilmot's farmland because they didn't see me at the two large Fight for Farmland rallies. (I was at one of the rallies and helped to collect email addresses for one of the organizers)
That is a fair concern for someone who does not know me.
Protecting farmland isn't something I discovered over the last 2-3 years as 770 acres became threatened by the Region.
I've been working to protect farmland since 2020.
For two years (2020-2021), I served as Chair of the Food System Roundtable of Waterloo Region, and that experience changed the way I think about food and farmland.
You quickly realize that farmland isn't just about the farmer who owns it. It is part of a much bigger system. Food security, groundwater, climate, our local economy, development, aggregate extraction and the long-term health of our communities are all connected.
Over the next few years I was on the board or organizing team for several groups and not-for-profits including 50 by 30 WR, Citizens for Safe Ground Water, Wilmot Horticultural Society, Nith Valley EcoBoosters and Gravel Watch Ontario.
I have researched issues, helped organize residents, shared information, worked alongside people with expertise I didn't have, and delegated to municipal and Regional councils.
I have taken these concerns directly to councils across Waterloo Region. In May 2021, I delegated to Waterloo City Council representing the Food System Roundtable during the TransformWR discussions. I also spoke to Wilmot Council in June 2021 and Regional Council later that month about our food system, climate and the future of local food production. In July 2021, I delegated twice at the same Woolwich Council meeting—with the Food System Roundtable and National Farmers Union about a proposed gravel pit and the loss of prime agricultural land, and with 50by30WR about the broader land-use and climate impacts.
In September 2021, I was back at Wilmot Council, this time representing Nith Valley Eco Boosters and 50 by 30 WR, raising concerns about a proposed Baden subdivision, permanent greenspace and whether the development aligned with the sustainability commitments Wilmot had made. In 2022, I delegated to Wilmot Council in support of a moratorium on new gravel-pit applications.
I have spent years fighting to protect our farmland, feeling like my voice did not matter.
I didn't do this because it was my job. I wasn't an elected official expected to attend meetings or host community events. I did it because I genuinely cared about our farmland, our water and the future of Wilmot.
As Mayor, I want to take that experience and put it to work for Wilmot.
By electing me, you are electing someone who will work with the community and experts to identify threats early, create policies to add protection, and ensure the community is informed when issues arise.
Sources:
https://www.nfu.ca/publications/union-farmer-quarterly-spring-2021/ & Presentation "Sustainable Food Systems: Risks from Aggregate Extraction with Anne Ehrlich, A. Chiang, Pat De Luca, Stephanie De Grandis Steph Goertz, Linda Lukasick and Sarah Bakker.."
https://nvecoboosters.com/index.php/our-videos/ "Community Webinar on Growth Plan for Waterloo Region....It includes the full presentations of our speakers, Kevin Thomason and Stephanie Goertz,"
Side note:
In 2022, my focus was redirected to starting a community-led group (now a not-for-profit) that absorbed my life (60-hour weeks, 7 days a week... for two years, but now it is much more manageable). I had to pause helping other groups, but over the past 4 years I have been following and communicating frequently with the teams to stay up to date and provide support. I am excited to get back into working with residents and teams to actively protect our farmland
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