A Downtown That Works for People
Downtown Oshawa should be a place where people live, work, and spend time, not just somewhere people pass through for an event.
Right now, too often we treat revitalization like it’s about one-off moments. A festival. A game night. A big event. Those things matter, but they do not build a thriving downtown on their own.
We are not going to one-event our way into a strong downtown.
Real revitalization comes from getting the fundamentals right and understanding how deeply connected these issues are.
Safety, local businesses, housing, and community well-being are not separate conversations. They are the same conversation.
If we want local businesses to succeed, we need foot traffic, which means more people living and working downtown.
If we want people to live downtown, they need to feel safe and supported.
If we want safer streets, we need to address housing, mental health, and addiction with real solutions, not blame.
What I Will Do
I will start by listening and continuing to listen.
During this campaign, I am meeting with downtown business owners, non-profit providers, residents, and frontline workers. That does not stop after the election. It needs to be an ongoing part of how the City operates.
The people doing the work on the ground every day are the clearest indicator of what is working and what is not. They should not be brought in after decisions are made. They should be part of shaping them.
As a councillor, I will:
Advocate for regular, structured engagement with downtown businesses and community organizations, not one-off consultations.
Push for stronger collaboration with non-profit housing and service providers, recognizing them as experts, not obstacles.
Support practical steps that make it easier for small businesses to open, operate, and stay in Oshawa.
We Already Pay the Cost. The Question Is: What Kind of Community Do We Want to Be?
Homelessness, mental health challenges, and addiction already cost our communities money. We pay through emergency rooms, policing, courts, shelters, encampment responses, and other public services. The question is not whether taxpayers bear a cost. The question is how we choose to spend those dollars and what outcomes we want to achieve.
The people behind these challenges are not one group, nor are they simply people who do not want to work. Many people experiencing homelessness are employed or have recently been employed. Others are veterans. Many are living with mental health challenges, addictions, traumatic brain injuries, disabilities, or the lasting effects of trauma.
It can be tempting to tell ourselves that people experiencing homelessness are fundamentally different from us. If we believe that, it becomes easier to look away and easier to support punishment over solutions. But the reality is far more human.
There is an old expression: there but for the grace of God go I. Whether one is religious or not, the message remains true. A workplace injury, a mental health crisis, military service, family breakdown, or a series of difficult circumstances can change the course of a life. Most of us are closer to hardship than we would like to admit.
Compassion and public safety are not competing values. Strong communities require both. If we are going to spend public dollars either way, why wouldn't we invest in approaches that are more effective, more humane, and more likely to help people become healthy, housed, and connected to their communities?
For readers interested in the research and statistics behind these issues, I have compiled a summary of the data and sources that informed my thinking.
A Downtown People Want to Be In
We also need to be honest about the physical condition of parts of our downtown.
If we want people to spend time downtown, it has to feel cared for.
Too many properties are not being maintained in a way that reflects the kind of city we want to be. That affects how people experience downtown just as much as anything else.
This is not about blaming vulnerable people. It is about expectations.
The City has tools, through property standards, bylaws, and enforcement, to ensure that buildings are safe, maintained, and contribute positively to the community. We need to use those tools consistently and fairly.
At the same time, we should be supporting improvements that make downtown more welcoming, including public spaces, streetscapes, and opportunities for art and culture that reflect Oshawa’s identity.
Building a Real Community
A strong downtown is not built overnight. It is built by creating a community where people actually live their lives, where they can walk to a coffee shop, run a business, meet their neighbours, and feel like they belong.
That means:
More people living downtown, including a mix of market, affordable, and supportive housing.
Businesses that can thrive because there is a steady, local customer base.
Public spaces that feel safe, active, and cared for.
That is the kind of downtown Oshawa can be.
And getting there means doing the work across all of these areas, together.
For readers interested in the research and data that inform this approach, including local homelessness statistics, employment, mental health, addiction, veterans, and traumatic brain injuries, please visit my Facts & Sources: Homelessness, Mental Health, and Community Safety page.