Celebrating All of Canton's 2025 Gems

Welcome to the holidays! It's hard to believe this year is already coming to an end, but Canton is filled with the spirit of the season and has many exciting events, celebrations, and moments of connection that bring our community together on the horizon.

As we look back, I think we can all agree it has been another busy and productive year for our city. I'm deeply grateful for all that we've accomplished together, and even more excited for what's ahead in 2026, as we embark on major gateway projects in Sunnyside and along the North Street corridor. These transformative initiatives will beautifully frame both sides of our historic downtown — recently designated by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs as a Georgia Exceptional Main Street (GEMS) community. This honor, earned by only 22 of Georgia's 536 cities, recognizes Canton's long-term commitment to downtown revitalization, economic vitality, and innovation. Congratulations to everyone whose vision, dedication, and hard work made this possible.

I am profoundly thankful for our dedicated staff, local leaders, and community volunteers who work tirelessly to keep Canton moving forward. Last month, I had the privilege of representing our city and Georgia's District 3 at the Georgia Municipal Association's Board of Directors meeting in Atlanta. My fellow board members, elected officials, and public servants from across the state are always curious about Canton's "secret sauce" or what makes our city so successful. While I often point to our citizen-driven Roadmap for Success, the overarching answer is our people.

It's the spirit of those who live, work, play, and serve here that makes Canton special. Staying focused on our shared vision isn't always easy in these divisive times, but Canton continues to rise above the noise, delivering tangible progress that increases affordability and strengthens our well-being and quality of life.

I hope you'll join me in taking a moment to reflect with gratitude on all that we've built and shared over the past year in Canton, especially those moments where we meet in the middle to enjoy all sides.