Responsible development in Collingwood is at the forefront of Yvonne Hamlin’s mind as she’s running for the mayor’s chair.
Hamlin is one of three candidates for mayor in the October municipal election.
Currently sitting as a councillor, Hamlin said she thinks the most important part of a mayor’s job is listening to the community and representing that voice.
“The province and the county have mandated that our population will double (through the municipal comprehensive review),” said Hamlin. “I don’t want a sprawling, suburban community that is just row on row of new houses.”
“I hope for a sustainable, green and pedestrian and cycle-friendly community,” she said. “I don’t see myself as mayor as a figurehead. I hope I will be a team-builder and someone who will delegate more authority to council members across the community.”
Hamlin moved to Collingwood with her husband after years of visiting the area to ski, but eventually fell in love with it.
For more than 25 years, Hamlin practised municipal and planning law in Toronto and chaired the Canadian Property Tax Association. She also has taken on leadership roles with several charities and non-profit organizations such as the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts and served as chair of both the board of the Purple Hills Arts & Heritage Society and the Public Art Committee in Thornbury.
Since being elected to a council seat in 2018, she served as chair of the development and operations services standing committee, on the board of the Institute of Southern Georgian Bay and as a council representative on the Affordable Housing Task Force in Collingwood.
Hamlin also served as vice chair of the Joint Municipal Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee. The committee was successful in January of getting the Ministry of Health to declare Collingwood as an area of high physician need.
“Now, we can attract family doctors. That was a huge thing for our community,” said Hamlin.
When Hamlin reflects on the 2018-22 council accomplishments of which she’s most proud, she points to securing the private $500,000 donation for new trees in Collingwood.
“I think that’s a big one,” she said.
She also notes the work council has done on their review of the Official Plan, which has taken multiple years. The first draft of the plan is currently in the public consultation stage with a second draft expected to come before council at some point in the fall.
With hindsight being 20/20, Hamlin said her one regret from this term is that she wishes she would have pushed the leadership at the council table harder during her term.
“I would have pushed (them) to engage in more team-building exercises with council so there would be greater respect among council members and an understanding of their backgrounds and issues they feel strongly about,” she said.
When asked what sets her apart from other candidates, Hamlin points to her background as a lawyer specializing in a municipal field.
“Collingwood’s going through a lot of change, and part of that is large developers from the GTA (greater Toronto area) now coming to Collingwood,” she said. “I understand the issues, and I also have the expertise, because of that background as well as sitting on council for the past four years, to fight for Collingwood.”
“I want to make sure development respects our existing neighbourhoods.”
Having a sustainable community is also a main driver for Hamlin.
“From every viewpoint, but including having housing that’s affordable for people who work here,” she said, noting there are many things the community wants, regardless of how long people have lived in town.
“I think it’s important that the community representatives listen to everybody. We try and do our best for everyone. I’m hoping we can see eye-to-eye whether we’ve been here for generations or are relatively new,” said Hamlin. “There are certain things that unite our community, like making sure we have a more livable community, and making sure development respects community.”
Right off the bat, Hamlin says her priorities are affordability, and missing infrastructure.
“I think what I’d do first is start working on my plan to get housing built that’s affordable for the people who work here,” said Hamlin. “Over the next four years, I think we need to pay attention to the small things in town, like making sure our roads are in good shape, the lines on the street are always clearly painted and that our main street sparkles.”
“It’s part of making sure we’re showing our best face to the world,” she said.
Hamlin said these are just a few of the things she feels may have fallen to the back burner while the town has dealt with bigger issues such as their COVID-19 response.
“I believe it’s been a tragedy that we haven’t had a multi-use recreation complex built here. Practically every community of our size has one,” she said. “It’s time for us. Whether you moved here yesterday or you’re living in your grandparent’s home, there are certain things that we need and want.”
On the issue of affordability, Hamlin also pledges to be vocal at the County of Simcoe council table as Collingwood’s mayor.
“We have a lot of people who aren’t housed adequately in Collingwood. Council, I believe, should be focusing on those who are employed here and can’t find housing because of the cost, but we also have a segment who are earning less than we’re targeting. That is the county’s responsibility,” she said.
“We need more help from the county. I’ll be very adamant about that,” she added.
Hamlin is running against current Collingwood acting deputy mayor Mariane McLeod and former councillor Norm Sandberg for mayor. Watch CollingwoodToday for profiles of McLeod and Sandberg.
Election day is Oct. 24, but advanced voting begins Oct. 8.
This year, Collingwood residents will have the option to vote online anytime between Oct. 8 at 10 a.m. and Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. There will also be paper ballot voting available at the Collingwood Public Library on Saturdays and Wednesdays in October leading up to and including voting day on Oct. 24.
