I was born and raised in Owen Sound on the territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation where my father’s family has lived since the late 1800’s. I moved to British Columbia for university but returned to the area in 2015 where I’ve been living, working, volunteering, and having fun ever since. We may have crossed paths at Summerfolk, community events I was MCing, the Roselawn Bowling Club, at the YMCA, or at the Farmer’s Market. You may also know my name through letters to the editor, as a host of Georgian Bay Roots (Summerfolk’s podcast), or through my work with the Men’s Program or Violence Prevention Grey Bruce.

 I moved back to Owen Sound because I love it. It’s home and has everything I need in a city from a thriving arts scene and the sports I love, to natural beauty and a compassionate and connected community. It’s where my friends and family are and where I’m choosing to raise my son. Owen Sound is the community where at least five generations of my family have made their lives, started businesses, volunteered, and raised their children.

In 2022, our community is facing large and complex challenges from affordability, to community safety and well being, and the climate crisis. The world is changing and we have important work to do to meet those challenges in a way that benefits the community as a whole while also ensuring that Owen Sound will be a place where people can live well for generations to come. I believe that challenges are best addressed collectively and with active collaboration. ‘Many hands make light work’ but we can only get more people involved by communicating clearly, creating opportunities to get involved, and making people welcome in the work.

The City of Owen Sound has an essential role to play in helping the community of Owen Sound to meet our challenges. It’s up to City Council to develop a vision, do their research, and propel the projects that will deliver the best possible future for everyone. I want to support that work as a member of council and I’m asking for your vote as I seek a chair at the council table.

You might be wondering what I would bring to the table that will make me a worthy addition to Council.
I bring professional experience in cross sector collaboration and networking from my four years as the Coordinator of Violence Prevention Grey Bruce.
I bring facilitation and communication skills from my ongoing work as a facilitator at and the Supervisor of the Men’s Program Grey Bruce at the Canadian Mental Health Association. Both of those positions have also given me insight into the perspectives and needs of people from many walks of life in our community and a deeper understanding of how our systems and policies can be made to both reduce the suffering of the marginalized and support wellness of the community as a whole. They have also given me practice advocating for positive change with different levels of government.
I bring project management experience from my work with the Georgian Bay Folk Society, Sheatre, Violence Prevention Grey Bruce, and as an entrepreneur and free lancer.
I bring a passion for community building and the democratic process.
And I bring a profound belief that the best decisions result from the best processes and that the best processes are thoughtful, informed, open, engaging, clear, and compassionate.