Climate Change, Heat, Fires, & the Environment
Green Space
I will advocate for the protection and expansion of accessible green spaces, parks, and natural areas while ensuring that green space is proactively incorporated into future City planning and development projects. I believe green spaces are essential to building healthy, connected communities and should be prioritized as Kanata South continues to grow.
Housing & Homelessness
Affordability
I will support affordable housing initiatives and partnerships with provincial and federal governments while advocating for the inclusion of affordable housing units in new developments and future City planning projects.
I will advocate for progress on City commitments that support complete communities, where housing, transit, parks, services, and everyday amenities are accessible closer to home, including projects that advance the development of 15-minute communities.
Homelessness
I will work with local community partners and frontline workers to identify and advance municipal solutions to homelessness, including supporting shelter diversion initiatives. I will also support affordable housing initiatives and partnerships with provincial and federal governments while advocating for the acquisition, maintenance, and development of affordable housing units.
Local Government, Planning, & Democracy
Good Governance
I have led a listening-first campaign, where my priorities were shaped by what I heard from residents. I will bring this same approach to City Hall, prioritizing the needs and experiences of residents, encouraging meaningful community engagement, and ensuring decisions are evidence-informed, transparent, and accountable. I will focus on responsive leadership, clear communication, and following through on commitments to ensure municipal government works for the people it serves.
Public Engagement
I will take a proactive, inclusive, and listening-first approach to public engagement that ensures residents have meaningful opportunities to shape decisions affecting their community. This includes holding regular office hours in Kanata South, bringing engagement into community spaces, connecting directly with residents, and creating opportunities for diverse voices to be heard. I will prioritize ongoing communication, transparency, and follow-through so residents understand how their input informs decisions, what actions are being taken, and what challenges remain.
Youth Engagement
I plan to establish an intergenerational advisory committee that provides youth with meaningful opportunities to share their experiences, perspectives, and priorities while working alongside residents of other generations to help inform municipal decisions.
Public Safety & Policing
Non-Police-Based Public Safety
I will support non-police-based approaches to public safety that prioritize prevention, accessible infrastructure, and community wellbeing. This includes advocating for improved signage, street markings, traffic calming, safer intersections, and the maintenance of roads, sidewalks, and pathways. I will also work with residents, community organizations, and frontline service providers to identify safety concerns and develop practical, evidence-informed solutions that respond to community needs.
Police Funding
I will support evidence-informed decisions on police funding that prioritize community safety, accountability, and the effective use of public resources. I believe funding decisions should reflect the needs of our communities, consider opportunities for prevention and collaboration with community-based services, and ensure residents receive effective and responsive public safety services.
Public Spaces & Services
Fitness & Sports Facilities
As outlined in my first commitment, this means creating opportunities and investing in spaces that bring people together, including accessible parks, recreation facilities, libraries, community programming, and opportunities for social connection.
Green Space
I will advocate for the protection and expansion of accessible green spaces, parks, and natural areas while ensuring that green space is proactively incorporated into future City planning and development projects. I believe green spaces are essential to building healthy, connected communities and should be prioritized as Kanata South continues to grow.
Transit & Getting Around
Transit Projects
I will take a two-pronged approach to improving public transit by addressing immediate community needs while advocating for a long-term vision that prioritizes reliability, accessibility, and accountability. This includes increasing bus fleet capacity, improving service frequency and connections within communities and to rapid transit, strengthening Para Transpo services, and exploring reduced fares for youth and older adults. I will advocate for evidence-informed transit investments that reflect how residents travel for work, school, and everyday activities, ensuring public transit better serves the needs of Kanata South.
Biographie
Megan Strazds-Esenbergs is an award-winning researcher, policy analyst, and federal public servant with 10 years of research and policy experience working with community organizations, researchers, stakeholders, and government to advance policies that improve community health and well-being. She works at Employment and Social Development Canada, specializing in disability inclusion and accessibility policy. Megan holds an Honours degree in Psychology from the University of Waterloo and two master’s degrees in Community Psychology and Applied Politics from Wilfrid Laurier University. Some notable achievements include two Assistant Deputy Minister awards for policy and program design, along with a nomination for a Governor General's research award.
Megan lives in Bridlewood with her husband and their two teenage children. Since moving to Kanata South, she and her family have been actively involved in local recreation, volunteering, and community activities. Her personal and professional experiences have shaped her commitment to public service and her belief that strong communities are built through meaningful engagement, inclusive decision-making, and leadership grounded in integrity, empathy, and accountability.
As a candidate for City Council in Kanata South, Megan has taken a listening-first approach, engaging directly with residents to understand their experiences, concerns, and priorities before developing her policy commitments. Her priorities focus on improving municipal responsiveness and accountability, addressing traffic and road safety, and strengthening public transit. Megan has taken a leave of absence from her federal public service position to pursue her campaign, which has been primarily self-funded. If elected, serving as City Councillor will be her full-time position. She is committed to keeping residents involved, making evidence-informed decisions, following through on commitments, and putting people before politics.