That's fair. I’m not going to dress it up. What I’d ask you to weigh is why I’m here at all. I didn’t grow up planning to run for council. I moved to Bay Ward, started paying attention to what was happening on my street and the streets around me, and at some point realized I cared enough to do something about it instead of complaining about it. That’s the whole story. I’m not running because I think I’ve earned it. I’m running because nobody else on my block was going to, and the things that need to change aren’t going to change on their own. If voters decide my time here wasn't enough, I’ll respect that. But I’d rather show up and be told no than stay home and wonder.

I'm running because I want to make a difference. That might sound cliché, but it's the truth. When I moved to Bay Ward, I already had the idea of one day becoming a councillor. It brought together everything I've always cared about: helping people, solving problems, advocating, and building stronger communities. Looking back, that desire has been there for a long time. When I was a child, I saw a television advertisement about children in Africa who needed help. I took my allowance, put it in an envelope, and wrote "Africa" on the front because I wanted to do something. It wasn't much, but it was my way of helping. Since then, that same motivation has guided me through long term care volunteering, community service through Kiwanis, my studies in Police Foundations and Social Services, and the work I've done throughout my adult life. No, running for office won't be easy. Things worth doing rarely are. I want to help ensure every resident of Bay Ward has a voice, knows where to go when they need help, and feels that someone is paying attention to their community. That's why I'm running.