Campaign News

Reducing Homelessness in Pickering

Dignity, prevention and a path to stable housing

Everyone deserves a safe place to call home and to be treated with dignity. This position is grounded in listening to people experiencing homelessness, preventing housing loss and building partnerships that connect people with housing and the supports they need to remain housed.

Over the years, Stacey has purchased and shared meals, taken time to talk with people, asked what they need and helped where she could. She has visited the DARS transitional farmhouse on several occasions and appreciates the care and commitment behind that work. These relationships and conversations inform her understanding, while reminding her that there is always more to learn. Her career has also focused on reducing poverty-related barriers and bringing community partners together to support children, youth and families — experience and a willingness to listen she would bring to the Council table.

What Stacey would work to advance

• Prevent homelessness. Work with partners to improve access to rent assistance, eviction prevention and early support for residents at risk of losing their housing.
• Support pathways to stable homes. Advocate for affordable, transitional and supportive housing, alongside ongoing services tailored to each person’s needs.
• Strengthen wraparound supports. Work to improve connections to outreach, health care, mental health services, addiction treatment, food and practical assistance. A safe home and reliable support must go hand in hand.
• Listen and work alongside community. Seek an opportunity to serve on the City’s Homelessness Subcommittee or join the GAP Committee, and work with frontline organizations and people with lived experience to identify gaps and shape practical solutions.
• Mobilize Regional support and advocate for provincial funding. Work with the Mayor and Regional Councillors to bring Durham Region’s housing, outreach and support services together around Pickering’s needs, and advocate to the Province for sustained funding for prevention, housing and essential support services.

Stacey would push for clear priorities, measurable outcomes and public updates, including progress on preventing housing loss, helping people move into stable housing and connecting them with ongoing support. Community organizations and volunteers need reliable resources and coordinated partnerships to sustain their work.

People experiencing homelessness are members of our community. They deserve compassion, respect and sustained action.

Ward 2 All-Candidates Forum

Watch the full Pickering Ward 2 Local & Regional All-Candidates Forum, where Stacey set out her plan for Ward 2 and answered questions from residents.

Endorsed by Lisa Rankin

Lisa Rankin, Executive Director of Schoolhouse Playcare Centres of Durham, endorses Stacey for City Councillor – Ward 2, pointing to a career devoted to community service and to building environments where children, youth and families can thrive.

Endorsed by Corina Sue

Corina recommends that Pickering residents follow Stacey to learn more about her passion, dedication and commitment to doing what's best for Ward 2.

Endorsed by Newton Vanriel

Newton Vanriel, a longtime Ward 2 resident, author and community leader, endorses Stacey's commitment to strengthening the community and improving life for everyone who calls Ward 2 home.

A Community Endorsement

Hear why a community supporter is voting for Stacey in Ward 2.

A Letter to Ward 2 Residents

Stacey shares why she's running, what Pickering means to her family, and how she hopes to serve Ward 2 with visible, approachable, prepared and accountable leadership. The letter invites neighbours to share their perspectives and explains why her official platform will be released in September after a summer of listening and learning.

Ward 2 Fiscal Accountability Report

City employees deliver essential services. Responsible governance also requires residents and Council to see whether staffing investments, service levels and actual expenses remain aligned throughout the year. This report looks at what Pickering approved for 2026, how permanent staffing has grown during this Council term, and the public reporting gap that makes it hard for residents to track year-to-date results. Stacey proposes a public quarterly workforce dashboard so Ward 2 neighbours can see how their tax dollars are being used.

Listening Must Lead to Action: Rooming Homes in Pickering

After sitting with Ward 2 residents who shared serious concerns about a suspected rooming home near their property, Stacey reviewed Pickering's current zoning by-law and compared it with licensing systems in Ajax, Oshawa, Kitchener and Toronto. The findings reveal a significant accountability gap: Pickering does not appear to require rooming-home operators to register, submit plans, pass coordinated inspections or obtain a licence before renting rooms. This policy note calls for a comprehensive rooming-home approval, licensing and enforcement framework that protects tenants with safe, dignified housing while giving neighbours transparency, notice and a clear complaints process.

Safer E-Scooter Use: A Proposal to Bring Forward

Safe, connected neighbourhoods require thoughtful action. E-scooters offer another way to get around, and riders need to understand the rules and their responsibilities toward everyone sharing our roads and public spaces. If elected as your Ward 2 City Councillor, Stacey would bring forward the motion below, asking City staff to develop an accessible e-scooter safety course and explore a mandatory operator certification program.

The proposal draws on the principle behind Canada's boating safety framework: demonstrating basic safety knowledge before operating. It recommends a phased approach, beginning with shared rental users while staff assess the legal requirements for privately owned scooters, and calls on shared e-scooter companies operating in our community to contribute toward the program's costs, alongside grants and other funding opportunities.

The goal is to protect pedestrians, cyclists, riders, drivers and passengers — including children, older adults and people with varying abilities — while keeping the course accessible and prioritizing free participation. This is an example of the practical work Stacey would bring forward on your behalf; implementation would require Council approval, confirmation of legal authority and a clear funding plan.

Stacey welcomes your thoughts and experiences on safer e-scooter use in Ward 2.

Listening. Responding. Building Lasting Solutions!

Real leadership begins by listening and responding when communities identify a need. From co-creating the Durham District School Board's Poverty Strategy to building partnerships that continue supporting children and families, Stacey has seen how thoughtful planning, collaboration, and community partnerships turn ideas into action. Great communities aren't built by reacting to problems — they're built by listening early, acting thoughtfully, and creating solutions with lasting impact.

Building Trust at City Hall

Trust isn't built through campaign promises. It's built through everyday actions — listening before making decisions, communicating openly, explaining the "why" behind decisions, and being accountable to the people we serve.

Growth Should Strengthen Our Community, Not Strain It

Pickering is growing, and growth is part of our future. The question isn't whether we grow — it's whether we grow well. Strong communities are built through thoughtful planning, meaningful public engagement, and decisions grounded in evidence.

Advancing Access to Affordable Recreation in Durham

One of the things Stacey is most proud of is helping create partnerships that continue making a difference long after the meetings have ended. She was instrumental in co-founding AAARD alongside a former municipal recreation director. Together, they brought municipal recreation leaders and non-profit organizations from across Durham Region to one table with a shared purpose: ensuring that financial barriers don't prevent families from participating in recreation.

Who Does What? A Guide to City Services

A quick-reference guide to which level of government handles what in Pickering — from federal services like immigration and income tax, to provincial services like health care and education, regional services like police and transit, and local City of Pickering services like by-law enforcement, roads, and parks.

Why I'm Running for City Councillor in Pickering

Read the first campaign newsletter from Stacey Lepine-Fisher — sharing her story, values, and vision for Ward 2.