Alethia
O'Hara-Stephenson
For Shelburne Councillor
One Shelburne.
Everything, Connected.Shelburne's next chapter won't be shaped by one issue or one project. It will be shaped by how well we connect the decisions we're making, the people they affect and the future we're building.
That's how Alethia O'Hara-Stephenson already leads.
A town doesn't experience decisions one file at a time.
Housing affects water and wastewater. Growth changes roads, recreation and service demand. Infrastructure decisions affect taxes. Economic development affects the tax base. Decisions made at the County, school board or province can still change daily life in Shelburne.
Good municipal leadership means seeing those connections before a decision is made, not after the consequences arrive.
See the whole picture.
Understand how one decision affects the others.
Think beyond today.
Solve today's problems without creating tomorrow's.
Keep people at the centre.
Remember who our plans, projects and decisions ultimately need to work for.
One Shelburne. Everything, connected.
Decisions about housing, infrastructure, finances, services, schools, roads and recreation don't happen in isolation.
A decision that looks like it belongs in one box can quickly affect several others. New housing can change traffic, water capacity, recreation demand and the tax base. A capital project can create operating costs years after the ribbon is cut.
Explore the connectionsWhy Alethia
The way Alethia works already matches the work ahead.
Her professional life has trained her to see how the pieces fit together and what can happen elsewhere when one piece changes or fails. Her public-governance experience has taught her how decisions move through complex institutions. Her community leadership has kept the people affected by those decisions in view.
She is not asking Shelburne to choose between planning for the future and responding to people now. The job is to do both.
A record you can check.
See Alethia's Record20+ years in financial services, including business continuity and third-party disaster readiness.
Upper Grand District School Board trustee and twice selected Vice-Chair by fellow trustees.
Founder and President of the Dufferin County Canadian Black Association.
Chair of Shelburne's Anti-Black Racism, Racism and Discrimination Task Force, which delivered 34 recommendations to Council.
Recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal and named among 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women.
Selected Shelburne connections
Housing + Infrastructure
Growth is not only about how many homes are approved. It is also about whether water, wastewater, roads and services can keep pace.
Finances + Services
Every new service or facility has both an immediate cost and a long-term operating cost. Good decisions look at both.
Growth + Recreation
As Shelburne grows, recreation demand grows with it. Planning for facilities and programs is part of planning for growth.
Local + Other Governments
Not every decision affecting Shelburne is made at Town Hall. Effective councillors need to understand where authority sits and how to work across those boundaries.
This campaign is about the town we're building and how the decisions we make now fit together.
If you'd like to ask Alethia a question, help with the campaign or put up a lawn sign, we'd love to hear from you.