Kate Paddon for LaSalle Town Council

10/12/2026

Meet Me Monday: Thanksgiving Edition! 🦃

Happy Thanksgiving! Today, I'm feeling especially thankful for my family, my friends, and the wonderful community I get to call home. There's a lot to be grateful for, and living in LaSalle is certainly high on that list.

And since it's Thanksgiving Monday, I thought I'd share a few random things you might not know about me:

🏃‍♀️ I've completed two half marathons. (And am fairly confident there's one more in my future!)

🏕️ I love being outdoors, but camping? Not so much. I like my fresh air with a side of indoor plumbing and a real mattress.

🕷️ Spiders and I have agreed to stay out of each other's way. There have been some close calls lately!

🥪 And possibly the most important Thanksgiving fact: my favourite part might be the sandwich you can make the next day. Fresh bakery bread, the slightest amount of butter possible, cranberry sauce, turkey and some of Mom's stuffing. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Your turn! In the spirit of Thanksgiving, what's your favourite Thanksgiving leftover?

10/10/2026

A little history, a little nature, and even a Pirate Bridge!

I was SO excited to be invited by the Architectural Conservancy Ontario – Windsor/Essex Branch to share my thoughts on heritage preservation in LaSalle!

Their questions gave me a wonderful opportunity to talk about some of the things that make our town special, from the future of Benoit House to protecting our natural spaces and even one of my favourite little LaSalle landmarks.

Because heritage isn't just about preserving the past. It's also about the places, stories and memories we're creating for future generations.

A huge thank you to the Architectural Conservancy Ontario – Windsor/Essex Branch for including me in this conversation and for the work they do to celebrate and protect our region's heritage!

I'd love for you to have a read! And tell me, what's a place in LaSalle you'd love to see preserved for future generations?

👉 Read my full responses here:

Heritage Platform – Kate Paddon – Candidate for LaSalle Town Council Leave a Comment / Municipal Election / By [email protected] This post is the thirty-third in a series in which we reached out to municipal candidates to ask their heritage platform. Responses will be posted in the order...

10/09/2026

Can We Afford to Own It, Not Just Build It? 🏗️

When we talk about a new Town facility or major infrastructure project, the construction price is usually the number that gets the most attention.

But that’s only part of the cost.

Once something is built, taxpayers are also responsible for operating it, maintaining it and eventually replacing it.

LaSalle’s Asset Management Policy says decisions should consider the full lifecycle cost of our assets, not just the upfront price.

For me, fiscal responsibility means asking two questions before committing to a major project:
1. Can we afford to build it
2 Can we afford to own it for the long term?

What financial information would you want to see before Council approves a major new facility or project?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. 👇

10/09/2026

🌿 Big things are happening for Ojibway National Urban Park!

Nothing makes me happier than seeing a room full of people excited about protecting our natural spaces! Tonight's Parks Canada information session at the Ojibway Nature Centre was standing room only, and for good reason!

I had a fantastic conversation with Parks Canada staff about the opportunities to extend the park into LaSalle and connect even more of our beautiful natural areas. So much potential right in our own backyard!

Protecting biodiversity, restoring habitats, connecting communities with nature, and working alongside First Nations as partners in stewardship. There's a lot to be excited about with this project!

A big thank you to Parks Canada, Friends of Ojibway Prairie and all the partners helping move this incredible vision forward. 🌳

10/06/2026

Getting around LaSalle should be safe, whether you're driving, walking, or cycling.

I'll support practical improvements that help reduce speeding in neighbourhoods, improve traffic flow during busy times, and make our streets safer for everyone.

The best solutions come from listening to the people who use our roads every day.

Where would you like to see improvements?

10/05/2026

One thing you should know about me: I really do love flowers, gardens and getting outside.

I’m a Butterflyway Ranger with the David Suzuki Foundation, helping create spaces where butterflies, bees and other pollinators can thrive. I’m also a newer member of the LaSalle Horticultural Society and have loved learning more about the work they do to make our community a little more beautiful. 🌱

I believe small actions can make a big difference. A few native plants, a pollinator garden or even letting part of your yard get a little less “perfect” can help support the nature around us.

And, admittedly, I’m always happy to have another excuse to buy a plant.

🌸 What’s your favourite flower or plant to grow?

P.S. Please don’t judge my own gardens too harshly right now. Campaigning has definitely been winning the battle for my free time… and the weeds know it. 😂

10/02/2026

How Do We Grow Without Losing What Makes LaSalle, LaSalle? 🌳🏘️

LaSalle is growing, and our new Strategic Plan recognizes the need for more diverse housing and continued economic development.

At the same time, it commits to preserving naturalized areas, strengthening our connection with parks and greenspaces, and protecting the character and quality of life residents value.

I don't think those goals have to compete.

Responsible growth means planning for where and how we grow, while making sure roads, infrastructure, parks, trails and services keep pace and the things that make LaSalle a great place to live aren't lost along the way.

So this Friday, I want to hear from you:

As LaSalle continues to grow, what is most important for us to protect or preserve?

Our green spaces? Small-town feel? Established neighbourhoods? Trails? Access to the waterfront? Something else?

And where do you think we have opportunities to grow and improve?

Let me know. 👇

09/30/2026

🧡 Every Child Matters.

On Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honour the children who were taken from their families and communities, the Survivors who came home, and those who never did.

Reconciliation requires more than wearing orange. It asks us to listen to Indigenous voices, learn the truth of our shared history, and carry that learning forward.

For anyone looking to begin or continue that learning, books can be a powerful place to start:

📚 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act — Bob Joseph
📚 In My Own Moccasins — Helen Knott
📚 Unreconciled — Jesse Wente

I know there are many more Indigenous authors and stories we should be listening to. If there’s a book by an Indigenous author that has taught you something, challenged you, or stayed with you, please share it below. I’d love to add to my own reading list.

There are also some excellent opportunities to listen and learn directly from Indigenous voices:

💻 The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation offers free Truth and Reconciliation Week educational resources, including public Lunch & Learn sessions and learning materials.

📻 The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund’s A DAY TO LISTEN is another opportunity to hear Indigenous perspectives, stories and experiences.

And we shouldn’t overlook the knowledge and voices within our own community. When local Indigenous people and organizations choose to share their stories, teachings and perspectives, we have an opportunity to listen, learn and build stronger relationships close to home.

Today especially, may we make space to listen.

And tomorrow, may we keep learning and turn that learning into action. 🧡

09/29/2026

What a great night!

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to the Candidate Meet & Greet at the LaSalle Landing Event Centre last night.

The turnout was amazing, and the conversations were even better! I was so busy chatting with fellow LaSallians that I completely forgot to take photos. 😂 Apparently, this morning’s leftover buttons and flowers are the photographic evidence that I was there!

I really appreciated the opportunity to hear what’s on your minds, answer questions, and talk about the future of our community.

A big thank you as well to Town staff for doing such a fantastic job organizing, setting up and running the event. There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to make an evening like this happen, and it showed.

And if you didn’t get a chance to ask me your question last night, or couldn’t make it out, please reach out. I’m always happy to chat. 💙

Thank you, LaSalle, for such a great evening!

09/28/2026

It’s Meet Me Monday ... and today, we can actually meet in person! 👋

We’ve been getting to know each other here every Monday, but tonight I’d love the chance to chat face-to-face.

If you have a question, an idea for LaSalle, or just want to stop by and say hello, come see me at the Candidate Meet & Greet tonight!

📍 Event Centre at LaSalle Landing, 970 Front Road
🕕 6–8 PM

Whether you’ve been following the campaign for a while or are just starting to learn about the candidates, I’d love to hear what matters most to you and your family.

No speeches. No pressure. Just good conversations with neighbours.

Hope to see you tonight! 💙