Commitments Kept

Moving Chestermere forward covers all the great work that has been done over the past year, but non of the work could have been accomplished without the rebuilding of vital relationships with the people of Chestermere, council, administration, municipal partners, private and public organizations, the province of Alberta, and other partners. Rebuilding the trust with all these partners took time and I am proud to say that this current administration has completely reformed Chestermere's reputation across our beautiful province. 

I have served as mayor along side our current council for just over a year. Every accomplishment that I describe is not just due to my work, but to the hard work and dedication of all members of this administration. As Mayor, it is my privilege to set the agenda and the direction of City Hall as well as the tone of the administration. But the great many accomplishments of the past year don’t just belong to me, they belong to all my colleagues on council, in administration, and in all city departments.

We are just getting started and there is still much to be done. With your support, we can continue to move Chestermere forward and build a city that serves you. 

Chestermere, you told me that our city desperately needed more schools and that we needed to change the way the City approaches new school projects so we never fall behind like this again. I am proud to say that I have delivered those changes and Chestermere is moving forward on multiple school projects and is actively preparing for the future. 

New School Projects: We have four new schools coming to Chestermere!

• The Franco Stud School will be opening in the fall of 2025 
• Construction has begun on a new K-9 Catholic School 
• Funding has been secured for a new K-9 Public school
• Planning funding has been secured for a new public high school 

Building for the Future: We could no longer afford to wait until our schools were at capacity before planning new ones, so I changed the way Council handles school projects. I changed Chestermere’s Municipal Development Plan (MDP) to say that school sites must be in phase 1 of all new developments in Chestermere and that those school sites could not be used as loam piles during community development. Simply put – before the community is finished the school must be built. Additionally, school sites are now a standing item on governance and priority meetings so that Chestermere never falls behind on school projects again. 

Chestermere, you told me that we needed a new rec centre, a pool, and to stay on top of the recreation needs of our City. I am proud to say that under my leadership, the City has addressed those concerns and Chestermere has moved forward on all those recreation items. Chestermere will now have an exciting variety of year round recreational opportunities.

• Purchased Land for the New Rec Centre: Chestermere’s rec centre has served our community for years, but it lacks essential amenities and is not large enough to meet the needs of our growing population. I am proud to say that Chestermere has signed a purchase and sales agreement for a new rec centre that will include a pool.
• Mayor’s Task Force for Recreation: Recreation is a cornerstone of Chestermere and we need to stay on top of the developing needs of residents. I created the Mayor’s task force for recreation to analyze the needs and make recommendations to ensure Chestermere remains a great place to live, work, and play for years to come.
• Purchasing the Land for the Existing Rec Centre: The City of Chestermere finally has an agreement to purchase the existing rec centre land from Rocky View County, we will finally be able to make decisions for our own rec centre.
• Purchasing the Land from the Golf Course: The City of Chestermere has a pending agreement to purchase 127 acres of premium recreation land from the golf course. This will preserve the land for recreation and allow the City of Chestermere to add year round recreational activities on that central piece of recreational land.

Chestermere, you told me you wanted stability and trust back at City Hall. There were a lot of relationships that needed to be rebuilt between other levels of governments, stakeholders, and individuals across our province. I am proud to say that this Council has rehabilitated Chestermere’s reputation and we are moving forward with a strong, functional government.

• Question Period: I brought question period back to regular meetings of council as well as governance and priority meetings so residents with questions, concerns, or ideas had a reliable open channel to council. This has restored trust and transparency with the people of Chestermere.
• 15 Minute Meetings with the Mayor: As promised I created 15 minute meetings with the Mayor which has allowed countless residents to come chat about ideas, concerns, and things they are pleased with in a low stress and uninterrupted environment.
• Community Involvement: This council has been exceedingly involved in community events, cultural celebrations, business openings, and more. I have always been involved in the community and I intent to continue to be as involved moving forward.
• Rebuilding Chestermere’s Reputation: Chestermere’s reputation across Alberta was damaged under the last administration and consequently we were left out of important economic, recreation, stakeholder, and political decisions both regionally and provincially. I am proud to say that this administration has mended those relationships and members of our council were invited to present at the spring session for Alberta Municipalities Conference.

Chestermere, when I first ran for Mayor you highlighted several major infrastructure issues and told me that the city needed to plan better for the future. I am proud to say that a new Municipal Development Plan (MDP) will be approved in Fall 2025 moving Chestermere forward with essential infrastructure projects and planning for the future of Chestermere.

• Twinning of Chestermere Blvd / 17 Ave: I am thrilled to announce that this essential infrastructure project is officially underway. We will begin the twinning of 17 ave between Calgary and Chestermere in 2026 and the funding for this project will be front ended by developers. That means getting you essential road upgrades without putting all the costs on taxpayers.
• Repaving Rainbow Road North: Rainbow Road North was a danger to drivers and vehicles. You asked me to fix that road and I am happy to say that the road is being repaved and will be reopened by the end of 2025. 
• Transit: Chestermere has been asking for reliable transit between Calgary and Chestermere as well as local transit around the City so our seniors and youth can get around, well I am happy to say that Council approved a transit feasibility study in July and we will be looking to find a way to provide affordable and reliable transportation in and around Chestermere.
• School Safety: To protect our children, I have had raised crosswalks installed at each of our schools and I am working with our schools to identify ways we could improve safety during pick up and drop off.
• Commercial Development: Multiple commercial developments are underway in Chestermere bringing new jobs, new services, stimulating the local economy. You won’t have to go to Calgary, you’ll have everything you need right here in Chestermere.

Chestermere, something that you brought up frequently during the campaign is how many services we lack. Many of you mentioned having to drive to Calgary just to buy light bulbs because we lack essential businesses like hardware stores. I heard you, and I have re-opened communication channels between government and our economic development experts. 

• Re-established the Economic Development Advisory Committee: This committee focuses on attracting, developing, and retaining business in Chestermere and delivers its recommendations directly to council. The results of this committee has been outstanding and already Chestermere has seen the benefits listening to economic development advisors.
• Council and the Chamber of Commerce: To address the disconnect between the Chamber and City Hall, I have mandated that a member of Council must sit on the Chamber board and report back to council each month. Because of this, Chestermere is making more business and economic growth friendly decisions and supporting the needs of our small businesses.
• Municipal Development Plan: We are building a strong new Municipal Development Plan that will map out the future of Chestermere ensuring that we balance population growth with commercial growth.

Chestermere, you told me that you wanted reliable services without constant tax increases. I am proud to say that in one short year I have made improvements in education, recreation, infrastructure, economic development, and more WITHOUT raising your taxes. That is the fiscally responsible approach to government that you voted for. 

• Kept the Mill Rate at 3.25%: The mill rate is what the City uses to calculate how much of your property taxes go to the municipal government. I am proud to say that Chestermere has NOT increased the mill rate and will continue at a rate of 3.25% one of the lowest mill rates in the province. That means you are getting more services without an increase in your taxes.
• Transparency on Taxes and the Increase: The increase in your property tax is due to the increased value of your home and the provincial education tax. I supported the decision of Council to not use Chestermere’s restricted surplus to cover the change in taxes because that would mean robbing future Chestermere to cover the costs of current Chestermere and that is not a financially responsible decision. If you have any questions on this issue, please reach out.

Chestermere, you told me you wanted to see renewed support for our not-for-profit community. I am proud to say that I took that commitment seriously and have changed the way Chestermere supports our residents and our not-for-profits.

• Mayor’s Task Force for Not-for-Profits: As promised I created the Mayor’s task force for not-for-profits that has helped our not-for-profits connect with community members in need, secure more funding, and establish new programs in Chestermere.
• Grant Applications: The City of Chestermere has revamped its application process for funding and program support to help the most vulnerable members of our community. We have a streamlined process to apply for community grants, united way assistance, and family and community support services.