Candidate Name: Caryn Colman
Position Sought: Mayor
Email: caryncolman4mayor@gmail.com
Phone: 647-850-6085
Bio:
- Lifelong artist and nature enthusiast committed to environmental stewardship and climate action.
- Owner of a wilderness tourism lodge in Temagami, Ontario, for 25 years.
- Successfully fought the Adams Mine-Toronto dump project.
- Veteran of the Toronto advertising industry with the marketing expertise to diversify Meaford’s economy.
- Third generation Canadian with deep family roots in Meaford.
- Dedicated to giving back to the community, and guiding Council to make the best use of tax dollars to make us safer from climate change.
Explain your primary reasons for your decision to seek election to Meaford council:
- I’m running for mayor for our children, because they deserve a government dedicated to fighting our climate change emergency with workable solutions for our community, NOW.
- I’m running for mayor to protect Meaford’s most valuable capital asset – Georgian Bay. That’s why I’m against TC Energy’s pumped storage project. Without Georgian Bay, Meaford is nothing!
- I’m running for mayor to expose what TC Energy hides, like the overland transmission lines that will expropriate farms, and disrupt the Niagara Escarpment Plan and UNESCO Biosphere reserve.
- I’m running for mayor so I can bring green electricity solutions to Meaford, and all the jobs that come along with them.
In your view, what should be the top priorities for the council that is elected on October 26?
- Immediately revoke Meaford’s “willing host” status because support was given under pressure, was premature, and not unanimously approved by Council
- Resolve that townships, municipalities and NGOs around Georgian Bay have a constitutional right to object to the Ontario Pumped Storage project.
- Fast-track Meaford’s Climate Action plan, now buried in paperwork process, and establish by-laws that incentivize developers to meet strong greenhouse-gas-reduction goals.
- Establish an aggressive marketing campaign to encourage green businesses, skilled labour, and industry to locate/relocate in Meaford.
- Don’t reinvent the wheel. Learn from local municipalities, such as the Township of Halton Hills that have successfully funded and implemented net-zero infrastructure, and identify approaches that could be adapted for Meaford.
- Commit to new green recreational spaces that track population growth.
Explain the role of Mayor as you understand it.
- Provide decisive leadership to Council and staff by setting clear, measurable goals that address Meaford’s immediate needs and prepare the community for the escalating impacts of climate change.
- Ensure the actions of the Mayor, Council, and staff reflect the community’s ethical standards and comply with the Municipal Act.
- Make climate action a core consideration in municipal decision-making, budgeting, infrastructure planning, and long-term growth.
- Encourage responsible innovation, creativity, and informed risk-taking to develop initiatives that protect Meaford’s residents, environment, economy, and future generations.
- Communicate progress, challenges, timelines, and costs transparently and regularly to taxpayers.
- Build public understanding of the urgency of climate action and the value of investing in a resilient, sustainable future for Meaford.
