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In an Aug. 9 Facebook post, Tara Stainforth, Councillor for District 4 – Cedar Park Heights, announced that she will not be running for re-election in November’s municipal election.

Stainforth will have served two terms as a Pointe-Claire city councillor and launched the JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee. In her two mandates, she chaired the Accessibility Committee and the Youth Advisory Board, while also acting as an advocate for the environment, infrastructure, and cultural vibrancy of the city.

“Serving this community has been an honour and a privilege,” posted Stainforth. “I have loved the work, embraced the challenges of running a municipality, and cherished the opportunity to collaborate with the many talented and dedicated staff members who make our city run. My respect for their professionalism and commitment has only grown over the years.”

Juggling her job as councillor with a full-time career and a young family posed many challenges for Stainforth, but her dedication to the community earned the respect of her colleagues and constituents. Her knowledge, her desire to provide quality services to citizens, and her willingness to listen provided her constituents with a strong voice on council for eight years.

Citing persistent conflict and indecision in her current term, Stainforth, discouraged by the lack of meaningful progress, is stepping away from politics, telling her Facebook followers, "I must prioritize my mental and physical health, and that of my family. [...] This was not an easy decision, as I rarely walk away from something unfinished.”

Conveying her hopes for her replacement to be “someone who is conscientious, community-focused, and dedicated to serving with integrity,” Stainforth expressed her love for Pointe-Claire and her continued commitment to the city and resuming her life as a resident, teacher, and mother.