Change has to start somewhere. Responsible neighbours stay aware, informed & involved. Let's lead the change together.
With the municipal election on Monday, October 26th (and on-line voting starting October 13th) I'm asking Ward 1 residents to support my re-election for a 3rd and final term as their Ward 1 City Councillor. I've added the motto above because to bring positive change to the City of Oshawa, meaningful and informed public involvement is critical.
My goal is to make good things happen for the City of Oshawa, its residents, and especially for my Ward 1 constituents.
Thank you for visiting my website.
Under the tab Rosemary's Blog on the navigation bar at the top of this home page, you will find details on some current city projects, meetings, motions and events I've reported on, as well as my views on certain issues. Beside the Blog tab please check out my 2026 Election Platform tab.
I remain committed to raising public awareness of the various city matters and public concerns that arise.
Ensuring constituents are well informed & their voices heard is key to determining City priorities & community needs.
Please know that for this election campaign, the same as my previous two, I will not take any financial contributions to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.
All content is written by me, apologies for any typos, spelling and awkward grammar.
Kindly share your ideas, concerns, and suggestions for civic changes.
Sharing ideas strengthens them! I look forward to listening to individuals interested in our City problems and encourage them to contact me. .
Thank you for visiting my website.
Under the tab Rosemary's Blog on the navigation bar at the top of this home page, you will find details on some current city projects, meetings, motions and events I've reported on, as well as my views on certain issues. Beside the Blog tab please check out my 2026 Election Platform tab.
I remain committed to raising public awareness of the various city matters and public concerns that arise.
Ensuring constituents are well informed & their voices heard is key to determining City priorities & community needs.
Please know that for this election campaign, the same as my previous two, I will not take any financial contributions to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.
All content is written by me, apologies for any typos, spelling and awkward grammar.
Kindly share your ideas, concerns, and suggestions for civic changes.
Sharing ideas strengthens them! I look forward to listening to individuals interested in our City problems and encourage them to contact me. .
A personal note - Soon after my 2nd term re-election, my mother, Sheila McConkey, who lived with us in Oshawa under my care, passed away. I stopped posting on social media during this difficult time. Sheila was a remarkable woman and a hugely important, irreplaceable part of our family and my world. We worked together in business successfully for over two decades. My mother lived a full and courageous life, widowed at the age of 39 years with a family of 8 children to support, she faced many challenges. Knowing her unconditional love for her family, dedication to friends, zest for living and work ethic, she, forever and always will be my inspiration and deeply missed
Like many Oshawa residents, I believe Oshawa's property taxes are too high. Taxes should not be the struggle to pay that they have become. I have attempted and will continue to tackle the City's taxation/spending and traffic issues. Speeding, intrusive driving on roads that are frequently at over-capacity negatively impact our health and safety, the environment, and the economy.
One of my earliest motions approved by Oshawa Council was for an update to the Neighbourhood Traffic Management Guide.
Although Durham Region had installed Community Safety Zones (CSZ) on some Regional roads in the City of Oshawa, during my 1st year on Council the City had only one approved Community Safety Zone on a local City road. Since then I worked to have 5 more CSZs added in Ward One to calm traffic around the schools on Greenhill Ave, Coldstream Dr, Woodstream Ave and in Oshawa's rural Hamlet community, on Raglan Rd and in the Village of Columbus, on Columbus Rd between Thornton Rd. N. and Ritson Rd. N.
One of my earliest motions approved by Oshawa Council was for an update to the Neighbourhood Traffic Management Guide.
Although Durham Region had installed Community Safety Zones (CSZ) on some Regional roads in the City of Oshawa, during my 1st year on Council the City had only one approved Community Safety Zone on a local City road. Since then I worked to have 5 more CSZs added in Ward One to calm traffic around the schools on Greenhill Ave, Coldstream Dr, Woodstream Ave and in Oshawa's rural Hamlet community, on Raglan Rd and in the Village of Columbus, on Columbus Rd between Thornton Rd. N. and Ritson Rd. N.
|
Another early motion I made was for the City to copy Clarington's use of flexible bollards to help with traffic calming. They are now installed on many city streets: in Ward 1 on Coldstream Dr Grandview St and Arborwood Dr. with more planned.
Staff are to report back this fall on my request for two more flexible bollard sites
|
|
City decisions require a clear vision and the policy-makers actively listening to the community. This involves increasing public engagement and being fully transparent.
A lack of openness leads to a lack of trust.
At City Hall I've been fighting for more openness, often moving a motion for Council to go into a Committee of the Whole session, where there are more robust opportunities for deliberation on issues that may be controversial or involve risks to Oshawa taxpayers. Regrettably, it's been a challenge to get Committee of the Whole motions passed.
I've also been fighting for the City to address the unacceptable infrastructure deficit in Ward One, especially concerning road conditions with missing traffic lights, without proper bus stops, sidewalks, and street lighting, where the safety of drivers and pedestrians is at risk. As I've said before, the public's concerns are my concerns, among those that weigh heavily on me are concerns for public safety. Too many see what I see, accidents waiting to happen on Conlin Rd, Harmony Rd. and Ritson Rd where there is heavy traffic and many pedestrians, but no sidewalks. Further concerns needing attention: clearer feedback on by-law enforcement, parking issues, litter clean up, and closer tracking of the City's Capital and Operating budgets with more measurable affordable outcomes!
I've had been attempting to promote more accessible new housing in Oshawa. This effort involves advocating builders/developers build at least 2% of their new homes accessible Tthe current Ontario Building Code requires 15% of new apartment building units to be accessible, but has no requirement for builders to provide any inventory of accessible houses, even with just 2 accessible features — a level or built-in ramp entrance into the home and washroom door entry and turn radius wide enough for mobility devices. I say these are 2 basic features because adding a chair lift, or grab bars etc. can be accessible add-ons done at any later time.
A lack of openness leads to a lack of trust.
At City Hall I've been fighting for more openness, often moving a motion for Council to go into a Committee of the Whole session, where there are more robust opportunities for deliberation on issues that may be controversial or involve risks to Oshawa taxpayers. Regrettably, it's been a challenge to get Committee of the Whole motions passed.
I've also been fighting for the City to address the unacceptable infrastructure deficit in Ward One, especially concerning road conditions with missing traffic lights, without proper bus stops, sidewalks, and street lighting, where the safety of drivers and pedestrians is at risk. As I've said before, the public's concerns are my concerns, among those that weigh heavily on me are concerns for public safety. Too many see what I see, accidents waiting to happen on Conlin Rd, Harmony Rd. and Ritson Rd where there is heavy traffic and many pedestrians, but no sidewalks. Further concerns needing attention: clearer feedback on by-law enforcement, parking issues, litter clean up, and closer tracking of the City's Capital and Operating budgets with more measurable affordable outcomes!
I've had been attempting to promote more accessible new housing in Oshawa. This effort involves advocating builders/developers build at least 2% of their new homes accessible Tthe current Ontario Building Code requires 15% of new apartment building units to be accessible, but has no requirement for builders to provide any inventory of accessible houses, even with just 2 accessible features — a level or built-in ramp entrance into the home and washroom door entry and turn radius wide enough for mobility devices. I say these are 2 basic features because adding a chair lift, or grab bars etc. can be accessible add-ons done at any later time.
As the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee (OAAC) Council Member I have been determined to work at increasing accessibility in Oshawa. I was pleased to help raise awareness of the OAAC with a logo design competition. This dedicated City volunteer committee now flies a wonderful City accessibility flag during NationalAccessibility Week
Thanks for reading this far. Please click on the navigation bar for my 2026 Election Platform tab, for leadership strategies to move past old status-quo politics and push for a transparent new path to a responsible, caring Oshawa future.
Please share your concerns/suggestions by email to [email protected] or phone or text at 905-718-0900
Please share your concerns/suggestions by email to [email protected] or phone or text at 905-718-0900
I have been passionate in caring about our community in general and Ward 1 in particular.
About me before being elected:
- In 2012, I was awarded the Queen's Diamond-Jubilee medal for community service.
- I operated my own brokerage for many years, I have insights into how property taxes, official plans & land-use policies impact communities.
- I have lived both a rural and urban life, which is helpful ensuring City Hall is responsive to Ward 1's specific issues and gives balanced support to both the urban growth areas and vital farm operations.
- As an activist I organized public meetings, a sign campaign and a bus rally to Queen's Park in 2010 to lobby the Province for the extension of Hwy 407E beyond Simcoe Street RESULT: 407E phase 1 extended 7 more kilometres east to Harmony Road .
- Made numerous delegations to Region Council and organized public rallies to ensure that public safety at the dangerous Ritson-Winchester intersection was made a priority. RESULT: Road reconstruction and traffic lights installed at Ritson and Winchester
- Made presentations pressing both the City and Region to web-stream their meetings, allowing working, vacationing or housebound residents to stay informed. RESULT: Meetings are now web-streamed and archived
- Organized the ‘Council on a Diet’ fundraiser involving politicians from across the Region with proceeds to Feed the Need in Durham. RESULT: $10,000 raised for Feed the Need food bank charity
- In 2012 launched and ran an essay/speech competition ‘Local Look Back’ engaging both school boards and municipal councils to bring students into local Council Chambers to present their essays and learn more about their community’s past and local governance. RESULT: Enthusiastic youth engagement
- Requested to have Committee of Adjustment meeting agendas and minutes made public on the city website. RESULT: C of A agendas and minutes are now online
- Requested to have a record of past Oshawa Mayors on the City web page. RESULT: Historical record of past Mayors is now documented on City website
