Here to listen. Here to build community.
Why vote for Nikki?
I hold lived experience that deserves more representation on Kitchener city council:
I hold a Master’s degree in Social Justice and Community Engagement from Wilfrid Laurier University.
I had my political start volunteering extensively for former Green MP and Green leadership candidate Mike Morrice in 2019 and 2021, and later volunteered in his constituency office.
I also have an earlier PhD in mathematics from the University of Waterloo, and worked for several years in math education, challenging systemic barriers against mathematics achievement. This gives me experience thinking about complex ideas and distilling them into forms the general public can understand.
I am a proud parent to a 3-year-old, and in my early 30s, much younger than everyone on the outgoing council.
I have spent much of the last 11 years navigating Waterloo Region by cycling and public transit, and do not own a car.
I have spent time as both a renter and a property owner since moving to Kitchener 9 years ago, and am currently a renter.
I belong to the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Did you know that no openly queer person has ever been elected to any level of government in Waterloo Region? It’s time to change that.
Local Issues
I have knocked on approximately 8,000 doors across Ward 7 so far, on the way to my goal of all 10,500 doors in Ward 7 by the October 26th election. Here is what I’ve learned from our conversations:
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Ward 7 is home to two neighbourhoods: Forest Heights and Highland West.
The Forest Heights Community Association stopped being affiliated with the City of Kitchener back in 2023, resulting in the hand-off of all programming at the Forest Heights Community Centre to the city. The circumstances behind this handoff seem unclear.
Meanwhile, Highland West residents have been looking for an active community association to participate in.
I would encourage the revitalization of the Forest Heights Association and the Boardwalk (Highland West) neighbourhood association.
Along with this, I would work towards more neighbourhood-level events to bring people together.
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Some parents of young children struggle to find nearby playground equipment built for their kids. I would advocate for better availability of such equipment.
Monarch Woods is in need of more upgrades and repairs. Suggestions include: putting more Molok garbage units at more of the park entrances, repairing fencing and boardwalks, and clearing away downed trees, branches, and other hazards where they pose risks to trail users.
Adding hydration stations to more city-owned parks, for both humans and pets.
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Despite recent traffic calming measures, residents on several city roads tell me more needs to be done.
Stoke Drive residents would like something to be done, as there are currently no traffic calming measures on the road. A similar situation applies on Royal Orchard Drive and Driftwood Drive, which is often used as a shortcut for people to cut through the Forest Heights neighbourhood. There are some speed bumps on Driftwood, but not enough to slow traffic all along the road.
Folks living on Westforest Trail down the road from St. Dominic Savio Catholic School say that the flex signs installed are not helping. More traffic calming measures are needed to slow down cars during school hours, when many kids cross the road. Residents on Eastforest Trail, just across Victoria Street, say the same thing: the flex signs are not slowing down traffic.
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Overnight train whistling at the Glasgow Street grade crossing near the Boardwalk is disturbing sleep for people living nearby. I am trying to bring this issue to council before October’s election.
Folks living along the “greenbelt trail” running parallel to Highway 7/8 in Forest Heights have safety concerns, including break-ins that have happened along the trail.
My other priorities
Aside from what I’m hearing from Ward 7 neighbours, here are other my other priorities, informed by my values and lived experience:
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I want to be in constant communication with you, as your elected representative.
I would aim to hold monthly townhall meetings, where you get a chance to hear about the work I’m doing on council and give me feedback.
I would continue knocking on your doors every summer, even after being elected.
You deserve to have input into my priorities and where city money gets spent!
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Kitchener is one of two Ontario municipalities that owns its natural gas utility. I want to leverage that to transition the city away from natural gas and onto electric heating systems wherever feasible.
As an avid cyclist, I want to improve the city’s cycling infrastructure. I want you to feel safe and comfortable choosing to bike to work or the coffee shop, or biking to school with your kids.
I want to build on the work the city is already doing to fund community gardens, to improve access to healthy, affordable food. I would like the city to maintain a directory of available gardens, with clear instructions on how to start one if one is not available nearby.
Continuing the city’s recent push (in their 2051 plan) for missing middle housing. Gentle densification of existing neighbourhoods helps us build the housing supply without having to build out more city infrastructure, like roads and utility lines.
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Informed by my social justice background, I realize that many different groups have been systemically marginalized by organizations that hold power, such as city governments.
I would commit to taking steps to see the City of Kitchener hire staff who properly reflect the diversity of the city we live in: racialized folks, folks with disabilities, folks from the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
I would also take steps to ensure I receive feedback from all lived experiences, by hosting my monthly townhall meetings in partnership with various groups like cultural organizations and advocacy organizations.
Support the Campaign
If my message and vision resonates with you, I would appreciate your support!