Mandy Samwell | Brantford City Councillor

COMMUNITY, CONNECTION & COLLABORATION

July 1 to 22, 2025

July started off with a bang. Fireworks lit up the sky as Brantford came together to celebrate Canada Day, and from there, the month has been full of community moments, meaningful conversations, and a lot of showing up.

With Council on summer recess, I’ve been able to spend more time out and about. That means connecting with residents, attending events, supporting local initiatives, and staying grounded in the real work that keeps our city moving forward.

One of the highlights for me was spending four days at the Brantford International Villages Festival. It’s one of the best celebrations of our city’s diversity, and every village offered something unique to experience, music, food, dance, and culture from all around the world. It’s entirely volunteer-run, and that spirit of generosity and pride shone through in every single stop.

Another special experience this month was being part of the Special Olympics Summer Games, which were co-hosted by Brantford, the County of Brant, and Six Nations of the Grand River. I had the chance to attend both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and to help present medals to some truly inspiring athletes.

One moment that will stay with me was standing at the athlete entrance during the Opening Ceremony, where we greeted each athlete with high fives, handshakes, fist bumps, and huge smiles. It was joyful and heartfelt, and you could feel the energy and pride from every athlete walking in. All of our local police services worked together to help make the event welcoming, well-organized, and memorable and truly made the athletes feel like stars from start to finish, so the athletes could focus on competing, connecting, and celebrating.

This month also brought some important conversations and progress on key local issues. I participated in a food security strategy session focused on long-term solutions to hunger, and attended the second meeting of the Safe at Home Advisory Committee, Nova Vita and other community partners working alongside one another to create a safe at home model for Brantford and Brant County.

I joined discussions with the Brant Waterways foundation , where we looked at opportunities to preserve and enhance our river systems in ways that serve both people and the environment. It’s work that looks ahead, and I’m glad to be part of it.

There were lots of opportunities to celebrate as well. The Friends for Kindness Unbirthday Party was a beautiful afternoon that reminded me how important inclusion is, and how powerful it can be when people are celebrated just as they are. It was all about joy, connection, and community and it was impossible to leave without smiling.

I also attended the grand opening of the new lawn bowling green at Walter Gretzky Golf Course a great addition to our community recreation spaces. There was music, cake, and a great turnout. This kind of investment helps keep our city active and connected across all ages.

At 33 Erie Avenue, we celebrated a major milestone with the rooftop-off event, recognizing progress on this new residential development. And I was happy to join the opening of Woodman Park and Greenhouse, a space designed to help build community through shared growing, gathering, and learning.

I also attended a provincial funding announcement at Grand River Community Health Centre. The Ontario government committed $812,600 in funding that will connect up to 2,750 more people in Brantford, Brant, and Norfolk to primary care. On the same day, Brantford General Hospital received $12.5 million in planning dollars for its next phase of redevelopment. It was a big day for local health care, and an encouraging step forward for access and investment.

I also met with the Downtown BIA regarding plans an exciting event that’s coming up soon. I can’t share too much yet, but I’m really looking forward to seeing the community come together again in the heart of our city.

Alongside all of that, I’ve continued meeting with constituents, returning emails and phone calls, and helping residents navigate local issues from housing to traffic to city services and everything in between. My door is always open, and I’m grateful for every conversation.

This is the kind of pace I love. Full, community-centered, and focused on the things that matter most.

If you ever want to connect, reach out anytime. I’m here to help.

Mandy

📞 226-387-9717

📧 mandysamwell@brantford.ca