RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

One of the most important responsibilities of a mayor is building relationships. Relationships with developers who are prepared to invest.

Relationships with entertainment partners who can bring concerts, festivals and major events to our
community. Relationships with businesses that create jobs. And just as importantly, relationships with the Province of Ontario, ministers, deputy ministers, CEOs, and community leaders who decide where investments are made.

Those relationships don’t happen by accident. They take time. They take trust. They require showing up, listening, and demonstrating that Wasaga Beach is a community worth believing in.

People often ask me why these relationships matter so much.
They matter because when I call Premier Doug Ford, he takes my call. And when his office needs to speak with Wasaga Beach, they know they can call me. That isn’t about politics—it’s about trust, mutual respect, and having a relationship that allows our community’s voice to be heard at the highest levels of government.

The same is true with ministers, CEOs, developers and investors who respect or values and live up to our standards and expectations. Every meeting is an opportunity to tell the Wasaga Beach story. Every conversation is an opportunity to change perceptions, create excitement, and encourage someone to invest their time, their money and their
confidence in our future.

When this council came together three and a half years ago, we inherited damaged relationships. Too many bridges had been burned, and Wasaga Beach had earned a reputation for conflict instead of collaboration.

At the same time, our town had become the subject of negative headlines. People across Ontario weren’t talking about our incredible shoreline, our families, or our potential. They were talking about embarrassing stories like people defecating on our beach.

We made a conscious decision to change that narrative.

Instead of fighting with our partners, we invited them to the table. Instead of dwelling on yesterday’s problems, we focused on tomorrow’s opportunities. We rebuilt relationships with the Province, investors, tourism leaders, and organizations that wanted to help Wasaga Beach succeed.

The result is something we’re all proud of.

Destination Wasaga has become a reality. We’ve attracted significant public and private investment. We’ve brought new energy, new confidence, and new opportunities to our community. Those achievements didn’t happen because of luck—they happened because relationships were rebuilt, trust was restored, and people once again believed
in Wasaga Beach.

People invest in communities they believe in. They invest in leaders they trust. And when governments, businesses, and community partners know they have a council that works with them instead of against them, remarkable things can happen.

That’s the leadership I believe in. That’s the leadership this council has demonstrated.
And that’s exactly how I intend to continue building an even stronger Wasaga Beach.