Five questions with Darlana Robertson, candidate for Brockville council in the 2026 municipal election

Editor’s note: To help voters to be better informed, Brockvilleist will be asking the same five questions of all council candidates in advance of the municipal election, which will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Questions were sent to all candidates on Sept. 4, 2026. We will publish their responses as we receive them. Below are the responses from candidate Darlana Robertson. You can view a full roundup of all our Brockville municipal coverage here.

1. Tell us a little bit about your professional background, including any prior municipal or other political participation, as well as about you, personally. What made you want to run for council?

Our family first arrived here in Brockville in July 2022 after leaving the big city in search of a quieter life. I grew up in Alberta where my family moved frequently before finally settling in Red Deer – a small city between Calgary and Edmonton.

During high school, I founded a weekly column targeting issues affecting teenagers in our community. Over the course of my high school career, I progressed to writing feature articles as well. After graduating from the University of Calgary in 2014, I spent several years in both banking and journalism. During that time, I served as the executive director of finance for the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) – Western Canada Region, spent some time curating and distributing the IABC Calgary chapter’s monthly newsletter, as well as serving as the base administrator for an oil and gas research and development laboratory in Calgary’s south end. When my children were born, I stepped back from professional life to devote more time to them during their formative years.

The decision to run for council is not one I took lightly. I have always had a passion for causes that I believe are important, and have spent the past 20 years watching from the sidelines while decisions are made that affect the everyday life of my family – everyone’s family – that I had very little influence over. Now that my children are older, I would like a seat at the table. I have big ideas, and love to find creative, pragmatic solutions to everyday problems, which I believe would be a valuable skill set for a municipal councillor.

2. How would you describe your personal political ideology and/or affiliation?

My political affiliations generally lean right of centre, but I consider myself a proud progressive. I do not believe that those two beliefs are unable to coexist. Fiscal responsibility, sound policy that benefits the community and an eye on the future are what are most important. I believe in funding for education, social programs, community support and utilizing the tools at council’s disposal to empower the growth and development of our town, while supporting those who already call Brockville home.

3. What are the three most common issues voters bring up to you as you campaign?

Affordability, accessibility, and amenities are the issues most often raised by voters when I mention a bid for city council. Families, blue collar workers, young professionals and newcomers to our community often struggle to find their footing here. Reviewing zoning bylaws, incentivizing building mixed use residential structures and removing barriers to entry for prospective entrepreneurs will go a long way to addressing some of the affordability challenges many of our residents face.

Accessibility affects everyone in our community. Seniors and those with limited mobility deserve to have the ability to move uninhibited to every corner of the city in the form of abundant, well-maintained sidewalk and pathway infrastructure. Walkability infrastructure benefits everyone who lives here by encouraging a healthy lifestyle, and the ability to access services no matter where they live and work.

When compared with other communities of similar size, Brockville offers a mix of amenities. Our lack of city-owned recreation facilities, and an absence of indoor space for members of the community to meet has resulted in increased isolation for many of our residents. While we offer an abundance of opportunity for residents and tourists alike to enjoy their time outdoors here, there is relatively little to do in inclement weather, or during the colder months for those who prefer to stay inside. A focus on cultivating third spaces where members of the community can gather together will facilitate a sense of connection – both to other residents, and the city as a whole. More amenities will encourage investment into our community, and enable families to grow here as well.

4. What three issues are most pressing/important to address locally in your opinion?

Fortunately, I share many of the same concerns as the residents I have spoken with. I think a focus on those three areas – affordability, accessibility, and amenities – will have the most tangible benefit to our community. Research shows that investment into education and community programming results in a reduced crime rate, increased graduation rates, fewer teenage pregnancies, an overall reduction in the number of individuals who succumb to addiction and many other net benefits to the community.

However, I would like to also focus on a fourth “A” word: accountability. We all contribute to our municipal taxes, and so we should know how those taxes are spent. Elected officials should be held accountable for their decisions, and their success measured based on actions. I hope that, if chosen to serve the citizens of Brockville as a member of city council, they will hold me to the same standard. We must assess where our money is being spent, and determine whether those funds would be better used elsewhere.

5. What do you feel sets you apart from other candidates?

I support and encourage all of my fellow candidate hopefuls. I believe that each of us brings a unique lifetime of experiences, values, and perspectives to the table. As to what sets me apart, I believe my passionate tenacity and unwavering convictions will encourage accountability and pragmatism from City Hall. This is my home now. This is the only home my daughter remembers. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work for this community to make it the best possible place for myself, my family and everyone else who lives here.

So let’s look forward to the future of what Brockville can be, while holding close what has made our community special for generations.