Thank you!

My sincere thanks to the residents of Wellington County Ward 6 for their support. It is an honour to represent you at the County level for another term. 

Further thanks to all the community groups and volunteers who organized All-Candidates events. Providing numerous opportunities for our community to engage with their candidates supports our democratic process. 

A special thank you to our many campaign volunteers who helped with social media, knocking on doors and putting up signs. A campaign is never a solo experience and I could not have done it without all of your support.

I am excited about serving our community for the next four years.

Working For You Through County Council

Over the past 4 years I have lead or supported these Council accomplishments:	These actions and decisions have made this impact:
Lowest back-to-back tax increases in a generation	Kept our cost of living low and more manageable
Introduced the Green Bin program, which diverted 2842 tonnes of organic waste from the landfill in 2021	This program resulted in a reduction of nearly 3000 tonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide (eCO2). In 2021, the County’s residential waste diversion rate reached 50%. Saves tax dollars.
Supported the implementation of Community Safety Zones including one in each Elora and Fergus	Reduce aggressive driving and made our streets safer
Instrumental in having single use plastic water bottles removed from the Chamber	Council now has reusable bottles
Supported continued funding for Green Legacy (the largest Municipal Tree Planting program in North America) and the Rural Water Quality Program.	– The County has now planted 3 million trees – Reforestation is one of the best ways to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and counteract global warming
As a member of the Information Heritage and Seniors committee (which oversees our world class library system, our museum lands and Wellington Terrace) I actively supported providing land for two important community projects: 1) two acres for the Indigenous-led Gathering Circle Project and 2) two acres for the future Wellington Hospice	– Wellington County is a place for everyone – We are on the path to having a hospice that will serve the needs of all our rural communities
Supported $ 1 million in pandemic loans for small business	Small businesses are the heart of our communities and needed access to funds
Supported the expanded leaf and yard waste services	Diverted over 1700 tonnes of material from landfill
Expanded infrastructure on County Road 18 connecting Elora and Fergus, with future plans to support safer cycling and walking along that route	More active transportation options between Elora and Fergus which is good for business and mental health
Advocated the removal of a potential bridge at County Rd. 29 from the Transportation Master Plan	Support local efforts to recognize the social and historical impact of the Pierpoint heritage area
Accepted into the first cohort of The Federation of Canadian Municipalities Climate Leadership for Elected Officials course	Practical leadership to help guide County and community GHG emission reduction including ensuring that “climate stewardship” was added to the County’s first-ever Strategic Plan.
Supported the County’s new curbside collection contract that replaced traditional diesel-powered vehicles with compressed natural gas (CNG).	Each CNG vehicle will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 15% (or 14 metric tonnes per year), producing 50% less nitrous oxide emissions and virtually zero particulate emissions. The County’s capital forecast now includes electric pick up trucks in 2024 as well as an expanded network of EV charging stations.
Expanded green bins, leaf and yard waste collections	Diverting green waste from landfill adds at least an additional 5 years of capacity to the County’s landfill site (saving infrastructure dollars)

Working For You As A Community Leader

Over the past 20 years, I have been an active community leader and change maker. My many community leadership experiences include:

Co-founded the CW Community Dinner Project (founded in 2017 in collaboration with colleague Chef Chris Jess)

Organized The Hate Has No Home Here sign campaign (in collaboration with Curt Hammond)

Facilitated The Every Child Matters memorial after the unearthing of Indigenous children in Kamloops, BC

Supported youth organizers for the Spring 2022 Youth 4 Justice event

Founded Renegade Rainbows (as a joyous way to kick off Pride month)

Organized the event that brought Maude Barlow from the Council of Canadians to a community meeting at the CW Sportsplex to support Save Our Water as we built momentum to protect the Middlebrook well

Sit on the Board of the Guelph-Wellington-Dufferin United Way

Member of the Ontario College of Nurses nominating committee

Co-organizer of Centre Wellington Black Lives Matter march

Former Chair of Finance committee at the Ontario College of Teachers

A longtime supporter of Save Our Water

Former FEDS soccer coach and sat on the executive of Elora Cooperative Preschool

Teacher coordinator for international historical trips (including Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Brazil, Peru, and Iceland)

Secondary school teacher since 1995 (at Centre Wellington District High School since 2000). Ten years as a department head.

Recipient of the James Forster Provincial Human Rights award from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation

About Diane

Click here to learn more about Diane and her long-term commitment to our community.