The Final Countdown: Five Days to Go on The Campaign Trail

WORCA’s ‘Meet the Candidates’ session on October 6 was set up in a roundtable format, and it felt most aligned with what I imagine being on council is all about: meeting with community members and having conversations about our community’s wellbeing. Some people asked questions that were more interview-esque and focused on me personally, while others raised long-term priorities and concerns about Whistler’s near future.

I’m thankful I’d done some door knocking before the event, because repeating my spiel every six minutes and then responding to rapid-fire questions took a lot of steam! By the end, I felt I’d thoroughly rinsed myself of thoughtful responses.

My biggest takeaway was that, no matter how prepared I felt or how thoughtfully I thought I was communicating, I still managed to miss the mark when it came to articulating who I am and what I’m about. For example, to my dismay, two tables came away believing I wasn’t community-minded, when I consider that one of my defining characteristics. Alas, I suppose I haven’t communicated that clearly enough in my messaging.

Since WORCA’s session, I’ve visited different neighbourhoods to knock on doors and speak one-on-one with community members. The overwhelming majority of people have answered their doors with kindness, patience, and curiosity about who I am and why I’m running. The conversations have been eye-opening and rewarding. I can’t think of a better way to get to know your neighbours than to knock on their door, introduce yourself, and ask if they have any questions for you.

On a more personal level, I’ve been moved by the fascination I see in young girls’ eyes as they watch me speak with their parents. I’ve been fortunate to meet some young women who have just turned 18 and are voting for the first time. At other doors, I’ve been greeted by small children who have hugged me goodbye. I knew this campaign would be a journey for me, but I hadn’t realized it could also be an inspiration to the young women I cross paths with along the way.

We’re now five days away from election day, when our community will head to the polls to elect Whistler’s leaders for the next four years. I’ll continue responding thoughtfully to emails from concerned citizens and knocking on doors to introduce myself. I truly believe in the democratic process and feel I’ve brought value to this election cycle. I would be honoured to be elected if people see me as someone who can represent them. If not, I respect the process and am grateful for everything I’ve learned along the way.

Here’s to five more days of balancing campaign work with beautiful fall-day pedals!