Throughout my time at City Hall, I have been a strong and consistent advocate for greater investment in our community. That advocacy has always gone beyond the basics of roads and sidewalks. While core transportation infrastructure matters, building a truly livable community also means investing in the spaces where people gather, play, relax, and connect with nature.
Modern, functional parks and greenspaces play a vital role in quality of life. They support physical health, mental well-being, and social connection for residents of all ages. As an established and mature community, it is impossible not to look at the parks being built in newer neighbourhoods and want the same modern play structures, splash pads, fitness equipment, and welcoming public spaces closer to home. I have consistently pushed for these kinds of investments so that long established neighbourhoods are not left behind and continue to evolve alongside the rest of the city. We have already seen meaningful progress, with nearly all of our splash pads now modernized and new park features being added year after year across the community. These upgrades have made our parks more inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable for residents of all ages. At the same time, there is still more work ahead, and I remain committed to fighting for these investments so that every corner of our neighbourhood benefits from safe, modern, and vibrant public spaces.
Parks are more than just playing equipment though, where our community truly excels is in its tree canopy. While our neighbourhoods may be older, that has also meant decades of growth and the development of strong, established trees and urban forests. This natural infrastructure provides shade, improves air quality, supports biodiversity, and makes our streets and parks more enjoyable places to be. At the same time, recent severe storms have shown how vulnerable even healthy tree canopies can be, and how important it is to plan not just for maintenance but for long term growth and resilience.
That is why I have worked closely with Forestry staff to protect, expand, and strengthen tree coverage throughout our community. Through this work, thousands of new trees have been planted in parks, along streets, and in natural areas. I have also made community involvement a priority by organizing multiple neighbourhood tree planting days. In 2025 and 2026 alone, residents came together at major planting events to plant more than 2,000 trees, strengthening our urban forest for future generations.
This ongoing commitment to parks, greenspaces, and trees reflects my belief that a healthy, welcoming community is built not only with concrete and asphalt, but with green spaces that make everyday life better for the people who call it home.
