Nature and climate

Newson Family Nature Park
Council purchased the 2.6-hectare property at 1413 Balmoral Avenue, creating an important connection with Brooklyn Creek, Macdonald Wood and Mack Laing and adding significant protected green space in the heart of Comox.

 

Climate Action and Risk Plan
Comox completed a combined Climate Action and Risk Plan that links emissions reduction with practical preparation for extreme heat, drought, flooding and other climate impacts.

 

Parks and Trails Master Plan
Council completed Comox’s first Parks and Trails Master Plan, creating a long-term framework for parks, greenways and recreation.

 

Urban forest and biodiversity
The Town completed an Urban Forest Management Strategy, introduced a Tree Protection Bylaw, and continued work on tree planting, habitat restoration and biodiversity. Comox is now recognized as a bee-, bird- and bat-friendly community.

 

Regional parks stewardship
As Vice-Chair of the CVRD Regional Parks and Trails Committee, I helped develop the first regional Parks and Trails Strategic Plan and supported stronger emphasis on stewardship, biodiversity and ecosystem health.

​

Housing and planning

Complete Communities
Comox completed work looking at housing, transportation, infrastructure, land use and access to daily needs together. I supported including neighbourhood nodes as part of this work and in the OCP.

 

Affordable housing advocacy
I voted to remain part of the regional housing service and later brought forward a motion calling for an inventory of Town-owned land and a municipal affordable housing strategy. Council supported the land inventory, which gives us a foundation for future action.

 

Planning for how Comox grows
The new OCP brought significant community participation and important conversations about housing, growth, green space and neighbourhood character. I voted against the final OCP because I believed further work was needed around human-scale design, massing, transition areas and neighbourhood planning.
 

Youth, accessibility and community life

Youth voice and recreation
Council continued to support the Comox Youth Council, added youth recreation programming and explored new youth recreation facilities. I have been a consistent supporter of stronger investment in youth.

 

Accessible recreation and public spaces
The Town strengthened accessibility planning, joined regional accessibility work, improved public spaces and expanded access to recreation through programs such as LEAP.

 

Comox Archives & Museum
As Council representative to the Comox Archives & Museum Society (CAMS), I supported a more ambitious long-term vision and the hiring of the organization’s first Executive Director. The museum has continued to grow as a cultural and community space.

 

Arts, events and gathering spaces
Council supported community events, public gathering spaces, Music in the Park, Nautical Days, the Filberg Festival and other initiatives that contributed to a more lively and welcoming community.

 

A personal highlight

One of my favourite experiences this term was spending time with a senior Human Geography class at Highland Secondary for a wide-ranging Q&A about local government and the issues shaping our community. I loved their questions, curiosity and willingness to dig into complex issues. Creating more opportunities for young people to participate in local democracy is something I would love to continue. 
 

Food security

Farmers’ Market in Comox
The Comox Valley Farmers’ Market came to Village Park as a weekly summer market in 2025 and even won an award for their effort and success. This was an initiative I was especially pleased to help move forward.

 

Food security in planning decisions
As Council’s representative to the Comox Valley Food Policy Council, I brought forward the successful motion to add the Food Policy Council as a referral agency for development proposals, giving food-security considerations a stronger place in municipal planning.
 

Reconciliation

Reconciliation became a formal lens in Council’s Strategic Plan and the Town continued to strengthen its relationship with K’ómoks First Nation. This work is important and is ongoing.