Meet Rebecca Stewart: Your voice for Ward 7
Learn about Rebecca, her commitment to the community, and her vision for the future of Ward 7.
Why I'm running for Ward 7
My name is Rebecca Stewart, and Ward 7 isn’t just the place I’m running to represent. It’s where I live, work, where I am raising my family, and built a life.
I’m a partner, mom, stepmom, and grandma, and like a lot of families, my connection to this community has grown through everyday life here. Schools, sports, local businesses, community events, trails, neighbours, and the people you get to know simply because you keep showing up in the same places.
My involvement in the community became much deeper as my stepson approached adulthood. Our family was looking for meaningful, local opportunities for him, and we quickly realized there simply weren’t enough. I could have accepted that, but instead, I decided to try to build what was missing. That decision eventually became Inclusions Developmental Services.
That experience has taught me more than I ever expected. I’ve worked alongside families, staff, businesses, community organizations and local leaders. I’ve had to solve problems when the answer wasn’t obvious, stretch limited resources, ask for help, advocate when something wasn’t working, and most importantly, listen to the people directly affected by the decisions being made.
That experience is a big part of why I decided to run for Ward 7 Councillor.
I love living here. There is a lot about this community worth protecting, but there are also things we need to get right as Ward 7 changes. Our roads, infrastructure, services, schools, parks and community spaces need to keep pace with the people who already call this community home and the families putting down roots here.
I’m not running because I think I have all the answers. I’m running because I’m willing to do the work, ask difficult questions, listen to different perspectives and speak up when something doesn’t make sense.
Most of all, I want Ward 7 to have a councillor who stays connected to the people who live here and remembers who they are sitting at that council table to represent.
Key improvements for Ward 7
Ward 7 should not be expected to absorb more development while our infrastructure struggles to keep up. If elected, I will push for infrastructure-first planning. That means real solutions for traffic, clear answers about the capacity and future of our wastewater treatment plant, and ensuring roads and essential services can support development before decisions are made, not years afterward.
Infrastructure is also about the things residents rely on every day. We need schools where families actually live, roads that are properly maintained, timely snow plowing, regular roadside grass and brush cutting, safe and connected sidewalks, and municipal services that keep pace with the number of people using them. Council may not be responsible for every one of these services, including building schools, but that does not mean staying silent. I will advocate and collaborate with the appropriate agencies, school boards and the province to make sure these needs are part of the conversation from the beginning.
Affordable housing must mean more than simply building more houses. We need realistic options for young people, families, seniors, and adults with disabilities who want to remain in this community. Developers must also be held accountable for the parks, trails, green spaces, and gathering places promised in their plans. These are not extras.
Engaging residents in Ward 7
The role of a councillor is not to decide what residents should want. It is to understand what the people living in Ward 7 need and bring those priorities to the council table.
That starts with keeping residents informed before decisions are made. I will provide regular, plain-language updates about what council is considering, why it matters and how people can have their say. I will also remain accessible by phone, email and social media while continuing to knock on doors, attend local events and have conversations throughout the community.
It is important to hear more than the loudest voices. Residents who may not attend council meetings still need to have their experiences and concerns be a part of the conversation.
Residents will not always agree with one another, and they will not always agree with me. My responsibility will be to listen to different perspectives, ask questions, understand the facts and make decisions based on what will best serve Ward 7 as a whole.
The most helpful thing residents can do is stay involved, raise concerns early and share their ideas and experiences. In return, I will follow up, communicate clearly and explain the reasoning behind my decisions.