On Oct. 24, voters across Waterloo Region will head to the polls to elect city and regional councillors, mayors and a regional chair.
Residents of Waterloo, the region’s smallest city, will elect councillors in seven wards in addition to a mayor to form city council.
There can be at the least three latest faces in place, as Ward 3 Coun. Angela Vieth, Ward 6 Coun. Jeff Henry and Ward 7 Coun. Tenille Bonoguore have chosen not to hunt re-election.
With Henry out as councilor in Ward 6, there can be a latest face in place for the primary time in over a decade. Voters can have a possibility to make your mind up between Karen Fischer, Mary Lou Roe and Matthew Nicholas Schwarze.
To assist voters ahead of this election, Global News has reached out to all of those running for regional or city council, mayor or regional chair in Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo with available online contact info. Those running for office were emailed a listing of seven questions and in the approaching days, the responses for each candidate who replies can be shared.
What follows are the responses received from those running for councillor in Waterloo, with the candidates being listed in alphabetical order.
Karen Fischer
Q.1 Please give a transient background of yourself including what you do for a living and the way long you might have lived in the world? (For those who are an incumbent, please state how long you might have held the position.)
My name is Karen Fischer and I’m running for Waterloo City Councillor Ward 6. At present I work full-time in a retail store helping people find the precise fireplace for his or her home or business. I actually have a Bachelors degree in English and a Graduate Diploma in Primary Education. I used to be a stay-at-home mom for 16 years, homeschooled for 7 years and have done quite a lot of jobs from fast food and retail to compiling operation and maintenance manuals for air pollution control systems. I grew up in Kitchener, raised our youngsters in Elmira and have lived in Waterloo Ward 6 for 3 1/2 years.
Q.2 Why do you think you might be the precise person for the job?
I’m the precise person to represent Ward 6 because I’m keen about my community, feel strongly about a few of the issues that need addressing throughout the city and I actually have each the abilities and the time to do that job well.
Q.3 What do you’re thinking that is crucial issue facing your ward and the town as an entire?
I feel crucial issue facing Waterloo City Council is reasonably priced housing. I feel the town needs to take a look at the ways it’s contributing to the unaffordability of housing and it must do what it will probably to assist people provide housing for themselves and their families.
Q.4 Looking down the road, what are your long-term goals for the town?
Looking down the road, my long-term goals for the town are stability and security. We are able to talk all about sustainability, inclusivity, accessibility and respect but really, if we achieve this stuff, the result can be stability and security for all of the residents of Waterloo.
Q.5 What’s your platform?
If elected to represent Ward 6, I’ll open dialogue at council level in regards to the city’s contribution to unaffordable housing and seek solutions to do higher. I’ll uphold the enforcement of the property standards bylaw as I feel it is going to contribute to a way of safety and security in our neighbourhoods. I’ll be sure that housing continues to evolve in a way that best serves the people on this community, supporting the event of green space, more inclusivity and more accessibility for all members of this community. I’ll be sure that corporately owned buildings contribute to a way of place and community. I’ll reduce spending where possible, positively contribute to smart spending decisions and mindfully plan for future spending. I can be available to hearken to concerns, ask good questions, gather essential data and do my part to be sure that residents are heard. I’ll uphold and support the values of real care, concern and respect so there’s a way of safety and trust in our city and everybody is taken into account.
Q.6 What do you wish to do in your spare time?
I wish to construct relationships with people including family and friends. This often happens over tea/coffee, a meal at home or in a restaurant, on a tennis court, within the swimming pool, in nature, on the theatre, around a campsite or on a trail. After I’m alone or with the dog, I wish to read, watch a show or nap on the park or on the beach.
Q.7 What’s your favourite thing about living in your city/ward?
My favourite things in regards to the City of Waterloo and where I live are friendly people and exquisite green space.
Mary Lou Roe
Q.1 Please give a transient background of yourself including what you do for a living and the way long you might have lived in the world? (For those who are an incumbent, please state how long you might have held the position.)
I’ve lived within the City of Waterloo’s Ward 6 for 16 years with my husband and sons and grew up within the Region. I’m an entrepreneur and founded my very own business – The Wonderful Women’s Club – where I facilitated gatherings and workshops for girls centered on women’s issues and experiences. I chair local grassroots volunteer committees, including Community Coalition on Refugee and Immigrant Concerns (CCORIC) and World Refugee Day Waterloo Region. I help to guide and organize community events and forums that raise awareness of, and address issues faced by newcomers. I’m also an energetic member of Empire Public School Parent Council.
Q.2 Why do you think you might be the precise person for the job?
Because I care deeply about my community. Everyone desires to belong, feel visible, and accepted – by family, friends, and of their community. For many individuals, belonging to the community feels out of reach attributable to ethnicity, age, ability, gender identity, lack of adequate housing, employment, mental health issues, and more. When people don’t feel they belong or are visible, they don’t engage fully locally, utilize services, contribute, and thrive.
I’m keen about belonging and can be the purpose of connection between residents of Ward 6 and the town. I’ll listen, be responsive, and hold space for his or her concerns. I’ll provide a security net for individuals who feel alone and produce their must the town, in order that they not feel isolated and marginalized.
Q.3 What do you’re thinking that is crucial issue facing your ward and the town as an entire?
Inexpensive housing: Right away, the City of Waterloo is facing a housing crisis. Many residents struggle to secure protected, reasonably priced places to live that meet their needs – whether or not they are singles, students, seniors, or families. I’m committed to supporting reasonably priced housing initiatives and methods that help make housing attainable for all city residents along the housing spectrum.
Q.4 Looking down the road, what are your long-term goals for the town?
- A greater sense of belonging and community in my ward and the town.
- Tangible, reasonably priced housing options for residents.
- A sustainable, healthy, and climate-resilient city.
Q.5 What’s your platform?
Inexpensive housing: Everyone needs stable, protected, reasonably priced housing for themselves and their families to participate more fully locally and thrive.
Community constructing: Residents must feel accepted, included, and belong locally. That they’re visible and have equal access to work, services, green spaces, and opportunities.
Climate motion: We’d like to proceed to maneuver forward with responsible climate motion so we are able to adapt and construct resilience inside our city and our world.
Q.6 What do you wish to do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I volunteer with local people groups, read, garden, bake, and revel in walking the neighbourhood with my dog.
Q.7 What’s your favourite thing about living in your city/ward?
My favourite thing about living in Ward 6 and the town is the vibrancy and wealthy diversity of individuals, their stories, contributions, and experiences. It’s a reasonably great ward and city to live in!
Matthew Nicholas Schwarze
Q.1 Please give a transient background of yourself including what you do for a living and the way long you might have lived in the world? (For those who are an incumbent, please state how long you might have held the position.)
I’m Matthew Schwarze, a local people leader that has made Waterloo his home together with his partner. I moved to Waterloo in 2018 and quickly fell in love with the town—I’m now running to represent Ward 6 on City Council and proceed pushing Waterloo forward on housing affordability, energetic transit, sustainability, and more.
Q.2 Why do you think you might be the precise person for the job?
Especially with the numerous turnover on council this yr, I need to make sure that Waterloo keeps moving in the precise direction to make Waterloo the very best city it will probably be.
I do know I’m just a little younger than your average candidate for city council, but I feel that I actually have the precise mixture of experience, care, and the willingness to hearken to represent the residents of Ward 6 while bringing latest and fresh ideas to the table. I hope to be each a resource for older residents searching for a caring and diligent councillor and an inspiration for young people to take a greater interest within the local politics which have a big impact on their lives.
I’ve spent my time in Waterloo dedicated to public service and constructing an understanding of the complex organizations and governance structures that make a city like Waterloo possible.
- Plenty of that learning has come through my time because the Vice-President, Operations and Finance on the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association where I managed a $9-million budget and $20 million in programs and services, including the medical health insurance for 20,000 students.
- I’m serving as a member of the University of Waterloo Board of Governors and as a resource member of the Waterloo Economic Development Advisory Committee.
- This yr, I also attended the Town & Gown Association of Ontario’s “The Road Ahead” conference, where we specifically examined municipal policy issues and solutions in cities with high student populations.
Taking advantage of this role will take excitement and drive, a willingness to hearken to all residents, and a commitment to all the time searching for ways to enhance what the City is already doing. I bring experience in representing people, in working collaboratively to search out solutions, and leading changes at complex organizations.
Q.3 What do you’re thinking that is crucial issue facing your ward and the town as an entire?
Crucial issue facing Waterloo residents is the affordability and quality of housing. Like much of the country, the associated fee of shopping for or renting a house has soared, and with high rates of interest, a growing cost of living, and increased uncertainty, the town must take motion on improving the most important expense that almost all people have.
On council, I’ll push to modernize our zoning regulations to construct “missing middle” reasonably priced housing, support non-profit housing developments to expand and protect reasonably priced and high-quality rental housing stock, and reevaluate existing requirements that add unnecessary costs to development so everyone can discover a place to live. We must always proceed to judge enabling moderate intensification in some areas of Waterloo, resembling townhouses and low-rise buildings with multiple bedrooms that provide latest families with entry-level housing where kids can walk to high school and oldsters construct wealth. Within the core, we’d like to proceed the trail set by the present Council and permit for larger developments with a combination of sizes to create room for people to enter the market and begin putting down roots. We also need to contemplate what upstream social supports are needed by residents experiencing homelessness to interrupt the cycle of homelessness, resembling mental health care, transitionary housing, and skills training.
That’s a part of what Waterloo must do to deal with reasonably priced housing—you may read more about what I feel must be done at vote.matthewschwarze.ca.
Q.4 Looking down the road, what are your long-term goals for the town?
Long-term I see Waterloo as a world-class small city that’s willing to innovate and incorporate latest ideas from other cities to make for a livable, human-scale city that fosters inclusivity, sustainability, and community. Behind that mission statement are concrete plans that need constant commitment, resembling the TransformWR climate motion strategy that sets long-term goals out to 2030 and 2050, a whole energetic transit network that makes it protected and cozy to get around town for everybody, and plenty of other visions and plans across our community. My goal for Waterloo is as a city that follows through on the plans and goals it sets with dedication and care to make sure we do things well and spend money on ourselves and our future.
Q.5 What’s your platform?
My platform is split into three pillars: Inexpensive & High-Quality Housing, a Robust Lively Transit Network, and Climate Motion and Sustainability.
The most important priority that I’m hearing from residents is the housing affordability crisis. I feel Waterloo to modernize its zoning regulations to allow a diversity of “missing middle” reasonably priced housing that can support young families, low-income residents, and others with diverse housing needs not currently served. We also should spend money on non-profit housing that may construct and protect reasonably priced housing stock, and will proceed to permit for much-needed intensification along our urban nodes and corridors. Waterloo should evaluate how it will probably higher support tenants’ rights and be sure that student residents even have reasonably priced, protected housing.
To construct a strong active-transit network, Waterloo must proceed to expand protected bike lanes to roads without them to enhance access to protected cycling. Waterloo’s modernized zoning regulations should allow for some mixed-use developments that allow for walkable “15-minute” communities which are aspirationally outlined in the town’s Official Plan. Moreover, Waterloo should explore where latest multi-use trails could possibly be installed to facilitate cross-city walking and cycling, in addition to to popular destinations outside the town. We also must be sure that our energetic transit network is accessible to everyone, and that the marginalized groups that depend on it are capable of fully make the most of it.
Finally, to change into more sustainable, Waterloo must concentrate on the intermediary milestones within the TransformWR plan to be sure that we meet our climate motion goals long-term—this includes the above support for energetic transit networks, walkable communities, and more. Waterloo must also expand electric automobile chargers and other infrastructure that give residents opportunities to be sustainable where it suits their lifestyle. Similarly, Waterloo should evaluate changes to city regulations to provide residents more control over their naturalized lawns to empower personal decisions to support sustainability. Waterloo must also have a look at programs in other cities, resembling Kitchener’s Urban Forest Strategy, for inspiration. Importantly, as a thread through all of those initiatives, Waterloo must be sure that marginalized groups are equitably included in our shift to a more sustainable future.
There are a few other issues that I’ve heard from residents as being priorities for them outside of what I’ve listed—these include a trial of backyard fires, interest in city services around snow removal, and the way the town can support residents in acquiring heat pumps and solar panels—these are all issues that I’m eager about supporting as grassroots concerns of residents.
Those are the foremost milestones of my priorities—you may visit my website vote.matthewschwarze.ca to read much more details about how I feel those goals will be achieved, why I feel they’re essential, and news articles and other links that break down the context behind the problems I’ve presented.
Q.6 What do you wish to do in your spare time?
I’m an avid biker, each recreationally and to get around the town. I like to spend weekend afternoons on Iron Horse Trail! I also enjoy attending local events, resembling the community bike rides this summer and the recent busker festival uptown. I’m a music fan as well—Joel Plaskett from Nova Scotia is a favorite artist of mine.
Q.7 What’s your favourite thing about living in your city/ward?
I’m endlessly thankful to the engaged residents, community groups, entrepreneurs, and native leaders which have built all of the facets of our city that I get to enjoy today. I’m specifically thankful for Iron Horse Trail, the ION LRT, the human-scale walkability of Uptown, the co-op that I live at, and the numerous other nooks and crannies of Waterloo. We’re lucky to have the various crowd that has built our progressive and caring culture, and I hope to be a component of constructing Waterloo even higher for the folks that come after me.
Global News has also reached out to Jonathan Cassels but has not received a response as of publication. This copy can be updated as further answers arrive.
