Before the Ballot- with Ward 15 Councillor Candidate Colleen Stewart

Welcome to Before the Ballot with Ward 15 Councillor Candidate Colleen Stewart.

What motivated you to run for council, and why do you believe now is the right time for new leadership in your ward?

Parents who served with me on a Catholic School Council in Hamilton for four years encouraged me to run. They saw my passionate engagement as Chair of their Council, the connections I have quickly made through my church in Waterdown, and my willingness and ability to be an influential voice for them. After thinking and praying, I believe this is the right time. I have spent fourteen years building and operating a communications consulting business, teaching storytelling to everyone from the CEO to the mid-level employee at Fortune 500 companies in all sorts of industries. I am a strong communicator and quick learner. Most importantly though, I love this Ward. When I moved here, I fell in love with the physical beauty: hiking trails, farm stands, winding country roads, and charming villages. I also fell in love with the sound of children playing outside. I happily pay any child who rings my bell and offers to shovel my driveway or asks me if I want some lemonade. This Ward is a treasure. I also see it crumbling at the edges. If you drive north from Waterdown to Puslinch Township Road, the crumbling is literal on the roads. But our Ward is crumbling in other ways. I hear my neighbours express concerns about rising crime, abandoned public spaces, growth with no infrastructure, taxes without services, and potholes. These are all things that concern me as well. City Councillor won't be a retirement plan or a stepping stone if our residents see fit to elect me. It will be my full time job. One I will work at with the same passion, energy, and care for people that I have brought to all of my work.

Every ward has its own unique challenges. What do you believe are the top three issues facing residents in your ward today, and how would you address them?

With humility, I will say that I am in a listening and learning phase right now. Announcing a firm platform today would imply that I know it all now. That is not the case. Not seeing where my high taxes are going bothers me. The potholes bother me. The stories about crime bother me. The promised but never-completed playgrounds bother me. I don't like driving past abandoned gas stations and construction sites that litter our landscape. I don't like hearing that taxes are going back up in 2027. I hear the same from my neighbours. Ward 15 faces unique challenges because most of the population sits in the bottom sliver of our Ward, Waterdown, and that is where most of the growth is happening as well. How do we balance Waterdown needs with those of our rural neighbours who face an ever-growing list of taxes without also seeing where those dollars are going in their communities? Right now I see that as a challenge for this Ward. Getting the City's attention and then making sure the investment makes sense to both sets of residents.

Municipal government often requires balancing competing interests and difficult budget decisions. How would you approach making tough decisions at City Hall?

At my core, I have a moral compass. Every human being possesses inherent dignity and must be treated accordingly. I believe that strong communities depend on strong families. If you live in a place that attracts couples with children because they think, wow, this would be a great place to raise our kids or this is a terrific place for our teenagers to finish out their high school years, then I would say you live in a great place. You probably have safe streets, safe neighbourhoods, beautiful spaces, and great services. We have a lot of that right now. But, like I said, it's crumbling at the edges. As City Councillor, I will vote for motions that preserve and enhance communities that support families and, by extension, everyone who lives here. Discernment will come from consultation with residents and will be anchored by my core beliefs. I have worked with enough big corporations to know that not everyone is going to be happy with every decision I make. However, my goal will be to make sure they feel heard and understood and that they understand my motivations for making those decisions.

What experience, skills, or perspective do you bring that distinguishes you from other candidates seeking the same council seat?

First, life experience. I raised two boys in small towns and cities. I understand the challenges families face when trying to get to work, get home, get dinner on the table, and find some time to have fun with their children. I understand the financial pressures that go along with those challenges. Second, my career. As a consultant, I would walk into a boardroom with the job of getting everyone in the room, people with strong personalities and often with slightly different motives and needs, on the same page. My strength was facilitation. Listening, remembering, connecting dots, and, finally, crafting a communication strategy that would bring about the best outcome for the organization. My strength was also an ability to influence. The ability to communicate an idea as a story that connects, inspires, and moves everyone in that boardroom to get on the same page. I think a good Councillor loves the people she serves. She listens, she remembers, she connects dots and, finally, she pursues what will be best for the community. And I also think a good Councillor knows how to influence her fellow Councillors. Being able to talk about Ward 15 in ways that connect, inspire, and move people.

What is the best way for voters to contact you and/or learn more about you? 

Right now, voters can find me on Facebook and Instagram. In the next day or two, my website (www.colleenstewart.ca) will also be up and running. My team and I are at the organizing stage and I am busy setting up times to talk to as many people in Ward 15 as I can. Give us a few days and we'll be all set up. And then, I look forward to hearing from as many of my voters as I can! My final call to my voters is, vote. Regardless of who you vote for, vote. Municipal decisions affect your commute to work, your pocket book, whether or not you can get your kids into swimming lessons, and how easy it is for you to find places to relax and have some fun as a family. The municipal election matters. October 26th. Vote.

Colleen Stewart
City Council Ward 15 Candidate
(905) 512 8511
Facebook | Instagram

Thank-you Colleen for engaging with Hamiltonians on The Hamiltonian!