OUR PRIORITIES
Getting Back
to Basics
Focused on what matters most.
We are delivering a vision for a Kitchener that works for everyone. By prioritizing essential services, community safety, and transparent leadership, Shawn Bradshaw is committed to building a stronger foundation for our neighborhoods.
Months 6 to 12: We will put our prevention strategy into action while starting deep, personalized work with residents in existing camps.
The Final Year: We will transition our unhoused neighbors into newly expanded housing and recovery programs, safely restoring our parks and public spaces for everyone to enjoy.
PHASE OUT tent cities
My 2 Year Plan to
End Our Encampments
Walk around our region, and it is clear that something is broken. The tent cities and encampments in our parks and neighborhoods aren't a solution for anyone. They aren't safe for the people living in them, and they aren't sustainable for our community. I believe we can do better. My promise to you is that we will safely and completely phase out encampments in our region within two years. This isn't about clearing people away or ignoring the problem. It is about a heartfelt, deliberate plan to meet people where they are at, listen to their stories, and work together to build a real path forward.
Meet People Where They Are: We will send out dedicated teams of outreach and social workers to connect directly with the people living in these spaces. Together, we will figure out their next steps and give them the hands-on support they need to make progress.
Together, by Getting Back to Basics, we can restore safety to our neighbourhoods, dignity to our most vulnerable, and build a region where no one is left living in a tent.
Stop New Encampments Before They Start: We will work closely with local police services to make sure no new tent cities are formed. By keeping new encampments from growing, we can focus 100% of our energy and care on helping the people who are already out there right now.
Build the Spaces That Heal: Moving out of a tent only works if there is a safe place to go. We will build strong partnerships with our provincial and federal governments to expand local detox, rehab, and treatment facilities, alongside dignified transitional housing.
The 24 Month Roadmap: We will get our local teams (outreach, healthcare, and police) around the same table and lock in the upper-level funding needed for treatment facilities, restoring our parks and public spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Months 6 to 12: We will put our prevention strategy into action while starting deep, personalized work with residents in existing camps.
The Final Year: We will transition our unhoused neighbors into newly expanded housing and recovery programs, safely restoring our parks and public spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Together, by Getting Back to Basics, we can restore safety to our neighbourhoods, dignity to our most vulnerable, and build a region where no one is left living in a tent.
ENhance pathways For Stronger Connections
Optimal Streets & Sidewalks.
Our roads, sidewalks, and pathways are the arteries of our community. They connect us to our neighbours, keep our kids safe on their way to school, and allow us to enjoy everything Kitchener has to offer. Right now, navigating Ward 3 is harder and more frustrating than it should be.
Here is my commitment to you to make our streets and pathways safer, smoother, and more reliable:
Keeping You Moving Safely All Winter – Implement municipal sidewalk snow clearing so our community remains accessible, walkable, and safe for everyone, especially seniors, parents with strollers, and neighbours with mobility challenges.
Putting Safety First in Our Neighborhoods – Tackle speeding and traffic safety concerns, with safer intersections, school zones, and pedestrian crossings, plus better sidewalk, pathway, and trail connections so you can walk, bike, and roll with confidence.
Fixing Our Roads with Real Accountability – Launch a Ward 3 Road Condition Audit in the first year to proactively assess and repair streets before they become hazards, instead of waiting for complaints.
Transparent Scheduling – Publish contractor and crew schedules in ward newsletters so you always know when your street is scheduled to be fixed and are updated about any changes or delays.
RESPONSIBLE TAXATION
Your tax dollars.
Real results.
A community thrives when its residents and local shop owners aren't stretched to their absolute limits. I believe a city's budget should be a reflection of its care for its people. That is why I am committed to sensible financial management and a zero-tolerance approach to wasteful spending. My Getting Back To Basics goal is simple: ensure that every dollar invested directly improves your quality of life, while protecting the financial health and future of our Ward 3 families.
Review spending and find efficiencies
Focus on core services, not political extras
Improve transparency and accountability
Deliver real value for taxpayers
SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES
Our local businesses are the heartbeat of Kitchener.
When our neighbourhood shops, cafes, and creators succeed, our entire community thrives. For years, you have poured your heart into our city. It is time City Hall showed you that same loyalty. I will advocate for common-sense changes that protect our local business owners, cut through frustrating red tape and unnecessary fees, and keep your hard-earned money right here in our community.
Here is how a Getting Back To Basics approach will stand behind our local small businesses and workers:
Put our community first by updating city bylaws to prioritize local and Canadian businesses for city contracts.
Cut the red tape that holds back family businesses, speeding up permit approvals, grand openings, and licensing.
Provide clear guidance and real support to help new entrepreneurs easily navigate city systems.
Bring good jobs home by encouraging investments that create meaningful local employment.
Protect our main streets with balanced commercial development that meets the real needs of our residents.
A SAFER KITCHENER, TOGETHER
Every resident deserves to feel completely safe in their own city.
You should feel safe waiting for the bus, safe going to work, safe walking home at night, and safe watching your children play in our local parks. Over recent years, that sense of confidence has been slowly eroded. If elected to city council, Shawn will work closely with Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) and community partners to deliver a clear, actionable safety plan for our neighbourhoods.
Safer, more secure neighbourhoods
Stronger frontline policing presence
Faster, more reliable emergency services response times
Direct action against extortion and hate crimes
delivering YOUTH ACTIVITIES
Empowering the Next Generation
A community is only as strong as the opportunities it provides for its youth. We must create environments where every young person in Ward 3 feels safe, inspired, and connected to their neighborhood’s future. My plan focuses on tangible improvements to recreational access and community support systems.
Safe spaces for youth recreation: We will revitalize our local parks and designated hangouts to ensure children have secure, modern areas to play and socialize.
Expanded after-school programming: We will partner with local organizations to provide diverse, affordable activities that keep students engaged and learning after the bell rings.
Enhanced community center security and accessibility: We will upgrade our centers to be more inclusive and better monitored, ensuring every family feels welcome and safe using our facilities.
Direct mentorship and local skill-building goals: We will launch initiatives that connect Ward 3 youth with local professionals to foster career development and life skills.
WHAT 'BACK TO BASICS' MEANS
Less politics.
More progress.
Back to Basics means focusing on the core responsibilities of local government — listening to residents, spending wisely, delivering essential services, and strengthening neighbourhoods. It’s practical, common-sense leadership for a stronger Ward 3.
HAVE A PRIORITY YOU WANT SHAWN TO HEAR ABOUT?
This campaign is about you.
Share your ideas, concerns, or priorities for Ward 3. Let’s work together to get back to basics.