Development supported by roads, parks and emergency services, along with improved road safety, are among the priorities Heather French is putting forward in her bid to represent Caledon’s Ward 4.
French, a schoolteacher and member of a multigenerational farming family, has lived in Caledon for 50 years, according to a candidate profile published by the Caledon Citizen. She says her campaign centres on accessible representation, essential services and protecting agricultural land.
On growth, French says new development needs to be backed by the infrastructure required to serve it. She also wants the town to protect farmland, groundwater and natural areas as the community expands.
Her stated priorities include infrastructure investment and safety upgrades while limiting the burden on taxpayers. Protecting prime agricultural land and green spaces is another part of her platform.
French identifies road safety as a second major concern for Ward 4. She says addressing it would require working with Town staff and the OPP, with community education and awareness followed by enforcement.
She also argues that residents in Ward 4 should have access to services and economic support despite the ward’s lower population density compared with wards farther south.
Beyond those issues, French says she wants to support local traditions and advocate for amenities that serve young people and families, including youth sports and family spaces.
Keeping contact with residents
French says frequent opportunities to speak with residents would be part of her approach to the councillor’s role. She proposes regular sessions and maintaining contact by phone, email and social media.
Her emphasis is on offering different ways to communicate rather than relying on a single platform. She told the Caledon Citizen that door-knocking and conversations with residents have reinforced the importance of accommodating people who do not use computers.
French says she wants residents to have a councillor who is available, engaged and willing to listen, with communication helping bring their concerns forward.
Farming and community experience
Born and raised in Caledon, French and her husband raised four children in the community and have operated a multigenerational family farm. She says farming and teaching have shaped her understanding of the needs of families, businesses, rural residents and young people.
Her volunteer work has included organizing the Bolton Fall Fair and the Bolton Truck and Tractor Pull. She has also served on the Greenbelt Council and Caledon’s Committee of Adjustment.
French points to those roles as experience with municipal planning, bylaws and the protection of groundwater, green spaces and agricultural uses. She presents her community involvement and business background as the foundation for the representation she hopes to provide in Ward 4.
