Protecting Public Parks & Land in Lakeshore

In 2025, the Municipality of Lakeshore issued an Expression of Interest to redevelop publicly-owned Oakwood Park. After residents learned about it through social media and gathered more than 2,200 signatures, council voted 7–1 on November 18, 2025 to withdraw the plan, with councillors apologizing for insufficient transparency.

What happened with Oakwood Park?

The Municipality, in partnership with Lakeshore Horizon, sought expressions of interest to develop parkland at Oakwood Park for housing and commercial use. Public backlash was swift, a community information meeting was derailed, and council ultimately voted to withdraw the EOI.

Why did residents object?

Residents said they learned about the plan through a Facebook post rather than official notification, argued the park was actively used, and raised concerns about transparency. A resident-led petition gathered more than 2,200 signatures.

What is changing?

Following the reversal, the Municipality indicated an updated Municipal Land Policy to protect parkland would be brought forward — a direct response to the transparency concerns residents raised.

Where Sam Sinjari stands

Sam's Community Assets Guarantee sets transparent, enforceable rules — with real resident notice — before any public land or park is ever put on the table, so residents never have to organize a petition just to be heard.

Source: AM800 CKLW — “Lakeshore council votes to end EOI on Oakwood Park following public outcry,” November 18, 2025; Municipality of Lakeshore.

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