Integrity is the foundation of any effective leadership, and throughout my time as mayor of Chestermere, I made it a central focus of my administration. Leadership isn’t just about making decisions; it’s about demonstrating consistency between words and actions. It is about living out values that resonate with the community and making choices that reflect the moral fiber of the people you serve. As a leader, I had a responsibility to be honest, transparent, and to always act with the highest standards of ethical conduct, even when faced with challenging decisions.
Leading with integrity means building trust through your actions, not just words. It means doing the right thing even when it is inconvenient, unpopular, or difficult. One of my primary goals was to ensure that every decision I made reflected the core values of honesty and fairness. Whether it was a large infrastructure project or a small city policy change, I consistently asked myself, “How does this decision benefit the people of Chestermere?” If the answer wasn’t clear or the decision would negatively impact residents, I made sure to pause and reassess.
In my administration, integrity wasn’t just a buzzword or slogan; it was a standard to which every member of my team was held accountable. I firmly believe that leadership begins with personal responsibility. If I expected the city staff to be transparent and work with honesty, I needed to model that behavior every single day. This created a culture of accountability in Chestermere, where integrity became an integral part of the city’s operations.
One area where I worked particularly hard to lead with integrity was in budgeting and financial decisions. I knew that the residents of Chestermere placed their trust in me to ensure their tax dollars were spent wisely. To maintain that trust, I was always transparent about how funds were allocated and used. I made it a point to publicly communicate the city’s financial status, even when there were difficult decisions to be made, such as budget cuts or changes in taxation. Instead of hiding behind bureaucratic jargon or avoiding tough conversations, I provided clear and open communication to the public.
At the same time, leading with integrity meant being accountable for mistakes. During my tenure, I didn’t shy away from acknowledging when things went wrong. Transparency is about owning up to mistakes, learning from them, and sharing with the public the steps being taken to address the issue. For instance, during a particularly complex city project, there were delays and unforeseen costs. I publicly addressed the problem, outlined the reasons for the setbacks, and made a commitment to improving our planning process for future projects. Being upfront about difficulties, rather than concealing them, fostered trust and demonstrated that my administration was committed to transparency.
Integrity also meant treating every individual with respect. I recognized that leadership is not about authority; it’s about service. Throughout my time in office, I made sure to be accessible to residents. I attended community events, listened to concerns, and welcomed open dialogue. I wanted people to know that their voices mattered—that every resident, whether they were a business owner or a young family, had the right to be heard. In doing so, I aimed to foster an environment where collaboration and mutual respect were at the forefront of decision-making.
The consequences of leadership without integrity can be severe. When leaders fail to live up to their values, they risk alienating the very people they are supposed to serve. Public trust is a delicate thing, and once it is damaged, it can take years to rebuild. That’s why I took great care to ensure that integrity was reflected in everything I did, from the way I interacted with residents to the decisions I made behind closed doors. Trust is earned, and it’s maintained through consistent action, open communication, and a steadfast commitment to doing the right thing.
As I reflect on my time as mayor, I am proud of the culture of integrity we built in Chestermere. It was a privilege to lead with honesty, fairness, and transparency. The lessons I learned about integrity and leadership have shaped my approach to every challenge I face and have reinforced my belief that true leadership is about putting others before oneself and leading with unwavering moral clarity.