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6 Friday, August 11, 2023brooklintowncrier.com involved in the community, very involved in our upbringing. And I knew that it was about working with people. When I discovered the program for medical radia- tion therapists, not a lot of peo- ple were in the profession at that point in time. In my class alone at Princess Margaret, there were six of us. When I completed that, I was living in downtown Toronto and I lived across from Ryerson University and a co-op there. I be- came involved in their co-op and always doing little things, helping different charities or whatever. My first connection to politics here was actually Marcel Brunelle, our councillor, and got to know him. I got to know his wife more so just because I did some census work, she also introduced me to individuals around and when he ran in '97, he asked, "Do you want to come and help?" And I'm like, "Yeah, sure. Love to help." Gives you another opportunity for that next step to be introduced to more community members. And while I was sitting around the ta- ble of his core team, they made a suggestion. "I was a mom of two, and would you consider running for school trustee?" And I was like, actually, you know what, this does interest me, because it's fall- ing in the lines of where I've been involved from school community councils and my involvement at the board at the co-op when I was living in downtown Toronto. This is about how I could be involved for my kids. When did you start thinking about running for mayor? 2018. It was the evening of that election of 2018 that I said next time I'm running for mayor. I've run for other positions for the pro- vincial level. When I was at the school board, and we were going through a lot of the labor strikes at the school board, I did presenta- tions at the Standing Committee at Queens Park, and it's like, I wanna be on that side of the table because it's the impact on edu- cation and healthcare. I believe I can have a very positive impact. Describe your first morning walking through the door as mayor So I woke up that morning and I could not believe that I had won the election and that I was the mayor. And walking in the door was one that was very surreal. And it's like, yeah, I am, I am the mayor. Even now sometimes I just have to say, I'm the mayor. When you're at your desk, shoes off or shoes on? Shoes off. Favorite movie? I have to say I'm a Julia Roberts fan or Morgan Freeman. I love movies with Morgan. So to say that I have a specific one, no, I have more specific actors. Favorite way to relax? I can binge watch TV. Or just sit outside. I find that I tend to when I get home is I sit out on my back deck area and just listen. There's no music playing or anything like that. Listen to the sounds around. Favorite singer or group? Adele. I'm a Chicks fan as well too. Dixie Chicks or Chicks now. Current or last book read? I have a couple going at the same time. I've been reading a lot of stuff on homelessness right now. Unknown talent? Stained glass. It started probably about 10 years ago. Larger piec- es. I have to get my studio back and go and know that I've moved into the house. Stained glass and woodworking. Go-to beverage? Coffee. First thing in the morning, coffee, rest of the day is water. One milk and sugar. Tim's is my go-to. Daily routine? I'm here for 8.30 in the morning, which is not really a difference from what I have done when I worked at the hospital was either 6.30 or 10 o'clock. But I'm here for 8.30, and within my day, we try as much as possible to have gaps for catch-up, but I also do holds in my day for my well-being, also for myself and my partners. What lifestyle change has been the most challenging since be- coming mayor? The first few months were just about everybody wanted to be in here. Everybody wanted to have a meeting with me. That has now started to calm down a little. It's still there some, but not as much as what was happening in the first, I would say, three, four months. What's the funniest thing that's happened to you since being elected? Going to the wrong church. I was supposed to attend the inaugural of a church. One was the kingdom, and the other was kingdom. I arrived and I knew some of the people and I was wel- comed in. And it's like the may- or's here and why am I not being called up to do any greetings. And then I found out an hour later that I was in the wrong church. What have you learned about yourself since being elected mayor? How to work through sit- uations and not take things seri- ously. And that the sky is not fall- ing. The 24 hour rule works. And that approaching a situation with a calmer prevailing head, the out- come becomes a lot easier. And you know what, sometimes it's a no and you're just rationalizing a no. It doesn't make people hap- py, but it's really in the approach of just really looking at problem solving and working through with relationships as well too. What are you able to reflect on from your previous life that has been useful or not useful in this world? If the sky's not falling, just don't take it to heart. I try as much as possible to just do it in the mo- ment to get it done, but I don't expect a response. I respect peo- ple's time. I respect that for staff that I can wait till the morning, too. I've seen some really interesting email responses like from some of the staff over at the region, especially in our social services department. And the disclaimer on the bottom is, and I probably should put this online as well, due to my busy schedule that I am do- ing this email at this moment and this point in time, please respond in your moment and your time. It was a warm summer morn- ing when I headed out on my road bike. Here are my obser- vations. First, a reminder to road users: a bicycle or e-bicycle is clas- sified as a vehicle under the Province of Ontario Highway Traffic Act (HTA) legislation. In other words, the same road rules apply to all users, includ- ing cyclists. Back to my observations. At three traffic light intersec- tions, I was stopped at a red, first in line waiting for green. In all three instances, a vehi- cle stopped behind me with its right turn signal on, then wait- ed for the light to turn green allowing me to proceed be- fore turning right. Thank you to those three drivers who re- ceived a thumbs up for their courtesy and respect for the law. Poor decision Unfortunately though, at an- other intersection, I watched a cyclist traveling in the opposite direction proceed through the intersection as the light turned green and made a poor deci- sion to pass a vehicle on the right-hand side as the vehicle was making a right turn with signal flashing. Thankfully a collision was avoided. As I made my way out of Brooklin across a few north- ern rural roads, I approached a four-way stop and saw a stopped vehicle to my left. I discovered the driver was pre- occupied with their cell phone and totally oblivious to traffic. Across rural roads, I encoun- tered numerous vehicles ap- proaching from behind, some- thing I am constantly checking using my rear-view mirror. Each time, the vehicle either slowed down and moved over to pass. Or, if there was an approaching vehicle in the op- posite lane, waited until it was safe to pass. Once again, a thumbs up as vehicles passed and followed the HTA by pro- viding safe space for a cyclist. Construction warning Back in Brooklin, I cycled across Columbus Road and noticed the pipeline construc- tion project just east of Bald- win St. What caught my eye was the temporary Stop Sign for construction vehicles exit- ing the site. When I took a photo as an ex- ample of best practice exam- ple, three workers come over to ask if there was an issue. "No," I responded, "I just want- ed to say thank you for putting up the sign given the number of cyclists who use this road." Their response? "We talk about cyclists and pedestrians every day and the need for safety." Well done! As I entered my Whitby neigh- bourhood, I met a parent with two children under the age of six out on a family bike ride, all wearing helmets and having a great time, E-mail: info@durhamsafecy- cling.ca Ron Lalonde is Executive Di- rector of Durham Region Cy- cling Coalition Two Pedals - Two Wheels By Ron Lalonde Who's abiding by rules of the road? continued from page 5