CBC Information reached out to all of the candidates in Ward 4 (Walkerville), asking the identical questions so voters can study a bit extra about who could also be their subsequent councillor.
Giovanni “John” Abati
Age: I’m 58-years-old.
The place do you reside: Ward 4.
Expertise: Former city/watershed planner, former waste administration worker, energetic and public transportation advocate.
What are the highest points dealing with your ward?
Crime: Break-ins, arson, vandalism (hate crime).
Roads: Rushing, congestion, working crimson lights, situation of roads.
Inexpensive dwelling: Excessive hire, excessive housing costs, climbing utility and meals costs.
Blight: Deserted and run-down properties.
Struggling companies: Metropolis charges and bylaws.
Public areas: Security, extra lighting, extra facilities.
Why are you the best individual for the job?
I’ve lived in Ward 4 for 33 years, solely leaving to additional my training and my profession.
I consider we want a brand new perspective on council. My 40+ years of environmental stewardship expertise and data would make Windsor succeed within the twenty first Century World Inexperienced Financial system.
Prudent municipal spending is an funding in our economic system and can entice companies. I might improve roads, pathways, sewers, and transit on an as wanted foundation. I might accomplice with residents and companies to enhance our parks, neighborhood areas and neighbourhoods.
I perceive the hyperlinks between a affluent economic system and a wholesome surroundings.
I’ve three new industries that I’ll pursue:
- Gentle commuter rail.
- Hemp (oils and materials).
- Provincial tree nursery.
I even have a brand new initiative that can assist our native restaurant sector.
I might permit eating places to put in, sponsor and ID picnic tables in our public areas (waterfront, city parks, neighborhood centres). These will act as out of doors (off-site) eating areas, the place folks obtain take-out deliveries.
I hearken to resident issues and am a neighborhood targeted person who watches council choices carefully.
I’ve appeared earlier than council on quite a few events preventing for social fairness and environmental sustainability.
I’ve appeared to:
- Hold the swimming pools at Adie Knox.
- Hold our hospital(s) the place folks reside now. NOT in a flood-plain surrounded by farm fields and industrial lands.
- Set up reasonably sized eco-passages round Ojibway. NOT $ multi-million legacy initiatives.
I consider in Windsor and our residents. The subsequent 4 years can deliver generational change, if the right individuals are elected.
Edy Haddad
Age: 35.
Occupation: Enterprise growth supervisor.
The place do you reside?: Ward 4.
Expertise:
- Trilingual – English, Arabic, French.
- Enterprise growth supervisor – Peninsula Canada.
- Southwestern chair – Liberal Social gathering of Canada (Ontario).
- B.A. in Communication, Media, and Movie – College of Windsor.
- Governor Normal’s Volunteer of the 12 months Award.
- Founder – Shine Vibrant YQG.
- Director – Group of Half Time College College students – 2018–2021.
- Senator – College of Windsor – 2018–2021.
- Volunteer – 20+ federal and provincial campaigns.
- Chair/founder – Downtown Must Succeed Coalition, 2006–2009.
- Founder – Free the Youngsters, Windsor Ontario chapter, 2000–2004.
What are the highest points dealing with your ward?
Security (automobile break-ins, alleys, homelessness, crime, and vandalism).
Site visitors and roads (lack of four-way stops in residential neighbourhoods, crosswalks in entrance of colleges and parks).
Lack of assist for companies outdoors of the Distillery District and neglect of the remainder of ward.
An excessive amount of crimson tape at metropolis corridor, and lack of significant motion for issues.
Park security – Lack of Lighting, police enforcement, benches, and up maintaining.
Downtown Windsor – Homelessness, blight, shuttered storefronts on Wyandotte and Ouellette.
Why are you the best individual for the job?
Signify a various background, with a youthful spirit, and a talented political acumen.
Spent the final 24 years concerned in politics and neighborhood organizing.
A visionary and transformative mindset that has labored on insurance policies and developed concepts which have modified our neighborhood.
Helped encourage the creation of the College of Windsor Faculty of Arts in Music at our core.
Presenting concepts that may assist reshape our neighborhood, and produce again extra sustained financial prosperity.
One thing you need voters to learn about you:
Based Shine Vibrant YQG – Edy has dedicated to acts of kindness in our neighborhood and not too long ago partnered with the Windsor Public Library, Windsor Parks Division, and Amherstburg Horticultural division and distributed over 150 000 sunflower seeds in assist of Ukraine. We have now Sunflower Gardens known as Pockets Stuffed with Sunshine Planted at Jackson Park, Dieppe Gardens, and Close to the Peace Fountain in Windsor, in addition to parks in Amherstburg and all through Essex Rely. The aim is thru acts of kindness, we will “Let Peace Develop.”
Enjoyable Reality: Edy can also be a poet, and opera singer, who likes to fish, bike, and spend time on the gymnasium.
Gregory Heil
Age: 66 years.
Occupation: Former principal architect, The Heil Partnership, Inc. – Retired.
I’m happy to announce my candidacy. An Outdated Walkerville and Ward 4 resident for 40 years, a retired architect, former chair of the Windsor heritage committee and lengthy a pundit of native affairs. I promise a marketing campaign primarily based on premise of ‘BACK TO BASICS AT CITY HALL’ noting that Windsor residents and companies are among the many highest taxed municipal jurisdictions within the province. Maybe that is why it appears the town is awash in extra income which has allowed the present council to approve a seemingly countless array of pointless capital initiatives including to the taxpayer’s burden. I will probably be a ‘voice of prudence’ on the subsequent council returning focus to important infrastructural capital investments. My additional concern, one other detriment to metropolis taxpayers, is the lengthy uncared for and fractured system of presidency in our broader city and suburban areas. Whereas the remainder of the province had modernized regional buildings of governance launched years in the past, we have been omitted, with the central metropolis surrounded by totally impartial bed room communities. It isn’t truthful that Windsor taxpayers should fund central companies utilized by all, such because the libraries or EC Row Expressway, whereas the suburban jurisdictions completely profit from new fringe growth permitting decrease taxes and enhanced companies for his or her residents. An additional absurdity is the town funding land and infrastructure servicing for the brand new battery plant and mega-hospital, initiatives to the plain profit to the whole area, with little or no participation from these different jurisdictions. We should summons the assistance of the province and have a frank dialog about forming” ‘The Regional Municipality of Windsor-Essex’…not an amalgamation, the town swallowing its neighbours, however a real ‘FEDERATION’ of distinct communities sharing companies, prices and revenues beneath a system of joint governance. I’ll relentlessly promote these overdue ideas for reform throughout my time period on metropolis council.
Matt Marchand
Age: 54.
Occupation: Monetary guide.
The place do you reside?: Ward 4.
Expertise: Mayoral candidate 2018, six years as president and CEO of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, 12 years as coverage assistant within the mayor’s workplace, 25 years Walkerville resident.
What are the highest points dealing with your ward?:
Security (medication, property crimes), want for extra visitors calming, and neighborhood livability (low-cost/family-friendly actions, pilot initiatives for protected bike lanes, connecting neighbourhoods).
Why are you the best individual for the job?:
I’ve a 20-year observe file of confirmed coverage success, working with the best ranges of native authorities and enterprise. Key parts from my 2018 mayoral marketing campaign have been carried out by present metropolis council, such because the auditor common, fixing the Dougall loss of life entice, and eliminating the pedestrian underpass.
I’ve distinctive {qualifications} for metropolis councillor for Ward 4. With my expertise in management positions on this neighborhood mixed with my confirmed coverage success, I’m assured we will proceed the financial cultural renaissance of Walkerville and all of Ward 4, constructing on the work of earlier councillors.
One thing you need voters to learn about you:
I’ve an affinity for the water — the whole lot from scuba diving to triathlons.
Mark McKenzie
Age: 40.
Occupation: Realtor and former long-time radio host on 89X.
The place do you reside?: South Walkerville.
Expertise: In 2021, I based the South Walkerville Residents Affiliation. After the inaugural assembly, I noticed that much more wanted to be achieved, and the one option to obtain these objectives was to do it from inside metropolis corridor. I’m skilled in serving the neighborhood, having spent 16+ years as a public determine and native advocate for Windsor.
What are the highest points dealing with your ward?
Deliberate closure of Met Hospital, rushing on residential streets, crime/theft in neighbourhoods, taxes, and upgrades to native parks and playgrounds.
Why are you the best individual for the job?
I am a lifelong resident of Ward 4 and know the actual points that have an effect on the residents of Walkerville and South Walkerville. I consider in secure neighbourhoods with walkable/bikeable streets, clear parks, and shut facilities. Being a realtor, I do know firsthand about inexpensive housing and the influence it is having on our neighborhood in addition to the ins and outs of metropolis corridor, metropolis planning and bylaws. I am not a lifelong politician seeking to transfer up the political ladder. I simply need to give again to the neighborhood that has given me a lot over the previous 40 years.
One thing you need voters to learn about you:
I’ve assisted in elevating over 1,000,000 {dollars} for native charities and revel in serving to the neighborhood and other people in want. I have been a bunch with the native Easter Seals Telethon since 2016 and at present sit on the board of administrators for Easter Seals Windsor-Essex. As a father of an eight-year-old son, I consider we have to do no matter we will to make this metropolis one of the best it may be for our youngsters and the subsequent generations to come back.
Jake Rondot
Age: 45.
Occupation: Publishing – managing director, Human Kinetics Canada.
The place do you reside?: Walkerville.
Expertise:
A passionate, skilled, neighborhood builder, father, coach, and volunteer.
- Chair of the Walkerville BIA (Enterprise Enchancment Space) for 10 years, on the board of administrators for 17 years. Led the redevelopment of each Jubilee park and the Walkerville streetscape.
- 8 years on the UWindsor Alumni Affiliation board of administrators. Committees: finance, strategic planning, neighborhood engagement, senate, sports activities corridor of fame.
- 4 years on the Metropolis of Windsor growth and heritage standing committee, reviewing rezoning and by-law variance purposes.
- 18 years main a nationwide enterprise, Human Kinetics Canada. From growing main accounts and partnerships reminiscent of Amazon, Indigo, Costco, canfitpro, and extra, to supporting tons of of grassroots organizations and native companies in each province.
What are the highest points dealing with your ward?
- Site visitors calming – notably addressing velocity, college zones, and pedestrian and bicycle owner security.
- Property security and safety and techniques to fight crime.
- Inexpensive housing – enhancing blended density neighbourhoods that align with the prevailing character of the neighborhood.
- Park upkeep and funding – notably Memorial Park.
- Native enterprise assist – together with BIA strengthening and supporting business hall growth.
- Financial stability – welcoming long run, secure, and fulfilling careers.
Why are you the best individual for the job?
- With years main the Walkerville BIA and sitting on the planning committee, I’ve the expertise and relationships at metropolis corridor to navigate the processes wanted to ship on the wants my Ward 4 constituents are figuring out.
- I’ve the imaginative and prescient for a secure, affluent, various, and inexpensive metropolis and ward, having led or contributed to strategic planning and imaginative and prescient constructing in Walkerville, on the College of Windsor, inside numerous company entities, and on the planning committee desk.
- 18 years main a nationwide enterprise, and in numerous different management roles in each for revenue and not-for-profit, I’ve in depth and detail-focused fiscal administration expertise.
One thing you need voters to learn about you:
- Awarded the 2018 United Method/Centraide Windsor Star Civic Beautification Award for main the Walkerville BIA in redevelopment efforts together with a brand new streetscape and Jubilee park enhancement.
Kristen Siapas
Age: 38.
Occupation: Advertising and marketing coordinator for College Gamers on the College of Windsor.
The place do you reside?: Ward 4.
Expertise: Chair of the GECDSB guardian involvement committee (GECPIC), Windsor-Essex Theatre Alliance, college naming committee member, advertising and marketing coordinator for College Gamers, stage supervisor and promotions for St. Clair Faculty Musical Theatre program, small enterprise proprietor (Variety Productions), present producer for the Enterprise Excellence Awards in addition to different company occasions and fundraisers, Easter Seals telethon producer, neighborhood TV producer for YourTV Arts Applications, host of the TV program Behind the Scenes, board member and volunteer with a number of arts organizations.
What are the highest points dealing with your ward?
Inexpensive housing, constructing density with out sacrificing neighbourhood id, neighborhood security, visitors calming, energetic transportation.
Why are you the best individual for the job?
My distinctive background provides me a perspective that we want on the desk when it is time to make choices that can influence households throughout the ward and throughout the town. We have to hear from younger folks and households. My focus is on communication, collaboration, and session. I consider that councillors should work collectively and collaborate to construct the absolute best metropolis, that communication with residents is important, and that the town can present higher service to its residents when there was significant and equitable session with the neighborhood. Ward 4 represents the good range of our neighborhood, with residents of all completely different cultural, racial and socio-economic backgrounds. We have now to fulfill folks the place they’re, and our choices have to replicate the distinctive wants of our residents.
One thing you need voters to learn about you:
I have been concerned on this neighborhood for a very long time as an advocate for households within the training system and for the humanities neighborhood. I’ve an lively, formidable perspective that is backed up with arduous work and willpower. In my function as chair of the guardian involvement committee for the general public college board, I’ve advocated for the wants of fogeys and households throughout our area, and now could be the time to deliver that voice to the municipal desk. I like my neighborhood and my household, and I am excited to deliver optimism and power to the desk as Ward 4’s subsequent metropolis councillor.
Patrick Sutherland
Age: 57 years previous.
Occupation: IT buyer guide/skilled wedding ceremony disc jockey/neighborhood activist.
The place do you reside? Cataraqui Road.
Expertise: My expertise varies from public chatting with fundraisers for various causes to chamber of commerce committees to sports activities match convener to IT gross sales and session. I operated the phone system and visited voters at their residences for NDP candidate Gemma Gray-Corridor final provincial election. I ran within the 2000 municipal election for the workplace of Catholic college board trustee.
For my part the highest points dealing with Ward 4 are the homeless, the urinating and defecating of the homeless on enterprise property primarily alongside Wyandotte, the presence of drug traffickers in addition to gun possession and knife possession by far too many residents strolling our streets. The situations during which Ward 4 mother and father try to boost their kids in is completely unacceptable.
The way forward for Met Hospital property in addition to the lanes for cyclists are points many are involved about.
Why are you the best individual for the job?
I’m sturdy sufficient and courageous sufficient to sort out the robust points that nobody else even talks about. This isn’t a time for complacency or cowardice or eloquent rhetoric. That is the time for aggressive motion that may change the course Ward 4 goes in.
If I’m elected I’ll co-found three very important organizations. Firstly, F. A. D. D. which stands for Fathers Towards Drug Sellers. We have now let drug traffickers run freely. It is time to supply them gainful employment doing one thing else. Secondly, the A-Crew which is able to include social staff, health-care professionals, habit specialists and different volunteers who will help the homeless neighborhood into detox administration and substance abuse packages in addition to psychiatric care after which discover them houses. Thirdly, Addicted To Life which will probably be a assist group open to anybody with emotional or addictive behaviours who want wholesome train and leisure actions as alternate options to detrimental self harmful habits.
What voters in Ward 4 have to learn about me is that I studied social work and psychology in college. I labored with the developmentally challenged for seven years and all through my life I’ve housed 17 homeless personally. I’ve raised funds for the homeless. I persistently feed or fabric these in want. I’ve introduced a number of folks with substance abuse issues to the hospital or addictions packages.
I’ve been an entrepreneur for a few years and have palms on enterprise expertise.
I’m a father and a grandfather.
I would like my grandchildren and your grandchildren to reside in a gun free knife free drug trafficking free and homeless free Ward 4. Be part of me on this endeavour. We will do that collectively!
