My platform was guided by Town of Golden’s Official Community Plan, as well as my own values and priorities. 

Jump to any section of the platform by clicking the titles below:

1- Local Economy and Jobs

2- Downtown Revitalization and Beautification 

3- Housing and Development

4- Transportation and Mobility

5- Tourism and Recreation

6- Arts and Culture

7- Local Food and Food Security

8- Waste Reduction and Diversion

9- First Nations and Reconciliation

10- Conservation and Environmental Protection

11- Climate Action and Resilience

Housing and Development

Golden is projected to need up to 281 new housing units over the next 5 years to keep up with population growth, according to the Town’s most recent Housing Needs Report (2025). At least a portion of this needs to be designated for rental housing, and/or affordable, non-market and/or co-op housing. 

New housing constructs, specifically mixed-use commercial residential buildings, should be prioritized in the Downtown and residential areas; ideally not out of town so residents don’t have to rely on personal vehicles. Centrally-located housing also helps local businesses in the Downtown area by making them more accessible.  

High-density multi-unit housing constructions result in increased tax revenues and decreased infrastructure costs for the Town, compared to single-detached homes. Infill residential development can also be used as a way to increase housing density in existing residential areas. 

Golden should strive for the highest standards set by the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code; new buildings should be energy-efficient and equipped with heat pumps, which are both an efficient source of heating in winter and a source of air conditioning during the hot summer months. New multi-unit buildings should have access to EV charging.

Transportation and Mobility

Support and encourage sustainable forms of transportation including active transportation, through things like bike lanes, trails and well-maintained sidewalks. 

Explore potential options for public transportation routes connecting the Town of Golden to rural areas in Area A such as Nicholson. Support and assist private enterprises like Kicking Horse Shuttle as a sustainable, low-carbon way of getting to and from the ski hill. Advocate to the province for an intercommunity regional transit system, connecting Golden with communities across the Kootenays, Okanagan, South Coast and Interior. 

Support the use and procurement of electric vehicles, which can save vehicle owners substantially on fuel and maintenance costs, such as through the installation of more EV charging stations. Explore, in collaboration with School District 6, the feasibility of electric school buses; this would save the school district money and ensure our children’s method of transportation doesn’t pollute the air they breathe. Similarly, we should work towards electrifying the Town’s municipal vehicle fleet over time to increase cost savings for the Town. 

Tourism and Recreation

Tourism is now the main economic driver in Golden. The Town of Golden should support the tourism sector as a source of employment and economic growth by supporting groups like Tourism Golden, while at the same time managing any environmental impacts of the industry, and other community concerns. 

Arts and Culture

Arts and culture are an essentially important aspect to any community, especially as a driver of economic growth. Golden is blessed to have such a thriving arts and cultural scene for a small community. The local arts and culture scene is only possible because of the wonderful community of people that make it happen. 

The Town should continue to support groups like Kicking Horse Culture and Golden Co-Op Radio to ensure Golden has a thriving arts and cultural scene for years to come. 

Local Food and Food Security

Golden should strive to increase local food production and food security for its residents through things like community gardens and food forests, by working with and supporting groups like Local Food Matters and Golden Food Bank, as well as supporting local farmers. The Local Food Production Assessment Report by Local Food Matters can be used as a guiding document for this. 

Waste Reduction and Diversion

Golden should work towards decreasing food waste in the community. One way to do this is through supporting the CSRD in implementing an organic waste diversion program, as outlined in the CSRD 2025 Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP). The Town of Golden should also explore ways to reduce plastic pollution in the community, such as by restricting some wasteful single-use plastics. 

First Nations and Reconciliation 

Almost all of British Columbia is unceded territory, meaning it was never signed away by First Nations to the Crown through treaties. Thus, the Town of Golden, like all levels of government, have a moral obligation to work with local First Nations on matters of reconciliation and governance. We should act as partners with the local Ktunaxa and Secwepemc First Nations, as well as Metis communities, in advocating for and implementing the 94 Calls to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report.  

Conservation and Environmental Protection

The Town of Golden must do its part to help the federal government and Province achieve its 30×30 goal- protecting 30% of nature by 2030. The Columbia Wetlands are a jewel for biodiversity and provide invaluable services to the Town and surrounding communities including flood mitigation, water filtration and recreation opportunities. We should steward and protect this natural asset. Sensitive areas along streams and rivers should be protected to minimize erosion and protect fish habitat. 

Seek out opportunities for tree canopies, ecological restoration and green spaces within Town of Golden Downtown Areas, as well as residential areas. This would increase biodiversity, including pollinators and bird habitat; improve people’s mental health; and provide shade and cooler temperatures in the hot summer months. Local initiatives like Wildsight Golden’s Invasive Plant Removal Program should continue to be supported.

Strive for ways to effectively improve Golden’s poor air quality, such as by supporting local initiatives like Wildsight Golden’s Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program. 

Help promote and encourage water conservation in Golden, through policies such as universal water metering for all homes, which help reduce water consumption. 

Climate Action and Resilience

Extreme weather from the impacts of climate change including wildfires, heat domes and floods are a threat to our community and we need to be prepared for these events. Climate change is also raising the cost of everything from food to home insurance. The Dogtooth wildfire in 2024 that destroyed several homes and forced around 100 properties to evacuate was a stark reminder of what the future could unfold in a warming world. 

The Town of Golden needs to support and advocate to higher levels of government for increased funding for climate resilience and adaptation measures including; wildfire mitigation, air filtration systems, air conditioning in public buildings and flood control.

I strongly believe Town of Golden along with other communities in BC should seek financial compensation from the world’s biggest polluters for the rising costs of climate damages, through a class-action lawsuit; similar to how provinces sought compensation from tobacco companies for health care costs. This could be an alternative to having to raise property taxes or make cuts to other services; or relying on provincial or federal grants, which are never guaranteed.

In addition to being prepared for the impacts of climate change, we also need to make sure we are doing our part to reduce climate pollution and planet-warming emissions. A Community Climate Action Plan would identify ways to reduce pollution from the transportation, buildings, electricity and waste sectors; while at the same time helping people save money and increase local energy independence.