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Relevant Experience 

For those of you I have yet to speak to personally during this campaign I have pulled together this brief summary of some of my previous experiences working with government and community groups.

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Professional and Academic Background

Graduate

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  • Laurier University '08 MBA with concentrations on Management and Organizational Behavior and Marketing 

  • Conestoga College '06 and '84 for Human Resource Management and Nursing

  • CHRP 2006, CHRL 2011 now CHRL (Ret) and RN '85 ongoing

  • McMaster '96 Leadership & Management

  • University of Waterloo '92 BA and Diploma of Gerontology

Previous Senior Management Roles

  • Integrated Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Human Resources for 2 hospitals

  • Executive Director of Healing Centre

  • Director of Operations & Information Management of Community Health Centre

  • Director of Administration of large residential Drug Rehabilitation Centre

  • Also have had funding and start up contracts with 3 Federal and 5 Provincial Ministries through my roles and worked with 5 different unions.

  • In addition, I have held senior leadership roles politically, that have helped to bring about positive changes to communities by raising both the issues to bring about change, but also helping to find solutions.

Local Community Experience (formal and ad hoc)

2008-2022

  • President of the Nine Mile Point Lighthouse Preservation Society 

  • Former Board Member of the Wolfe Island Business Association

  • Former Board Member and Article contributor to the Wolfe Island Historical Society

  • Former Board Member of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario Kingston Chapter

  • Former Board Member of the Gerontological Nurses Association of Ontario Kington Chapter

Community Building

After observing no debates being held in 2014 Provincial Election, I organized and partnered with the General Wolfe Hotel and later The Hotel, to host Provincial Candidate Debates 2018 and 2022 and Federal Candidates Debates 2015, 2019 and 2021, in order to help Islanders questions to be asked and answered by each Candidate

Held community based information sessions in December 2019 after the second season of high water in 3 years and then formed a grassroots based community group: Wolfe Island Simcoe Shores and Homes. Together we researched the issues and responses (or lack of response) by each level of government and then networked with other communities affected by the high water along Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. We put on another information session including info from the Ministry of Environment, Public Health and United Shorelines of Ontario, to help inform residents of what can be done. We engaged the MP’s along the waterways, regardless of party and our local MP Gerretsen offered then to host a meeting in Ottawa instead of us having it on Wolfe Island. This was held March of 2020. After presenting to the assembled MP’s and their representatives, we had 22 commitments to work together on a bipartisan committee, to better start to get a plan together as Fisheries and Oceans does NOT do fresh water bodies and Ontario alone cannot take on this level of responsibility or financial accountability.

Municipal, Provincial, Federal Engagement 

Helping Vulnerable Communities

One of my proudest involvement came after I was asked to help 200 seniors who were faced with eviction from what had been an exemplary mobile home park that had been year round for 28 years and the only home that they had to live in. Together, I drafted the survey to gather the socio-economic data, presented it with a very over filled council chamber to make the point that these people were living in an established and problem free ‘livable community’ and it had been held out as an example just 2 weeks prior at the Upper Tier level of regional government, as a success story. After some organized public and political resistance, a 10 year moratorium was put in place for them. I was happy to help.

Experiences with Government

Politically I have been deeply involved in many legislative processes including by-law instigation to address Smoking in Bars and Restaurants in Waterloo Region, which later became the template for the Ontario Smoke Free Act. Also the Banning of Cosmetic Use of Pesticides in Waterloo Region, as well as at the Federal Committee, and the Ontario Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act. I have also been consulted Federally with the first ever review of the Quarantine Act and provided key recommendations. In addition, I was a presenter at the Walkerton Water Inquiry and my points were carried by CBC and the Globe & Mail. During the first review of what was then called the Nursing Home Act in 1985-86, I provided key recommendations regarding hours of care and air quality (Temperature). In 1982, my comments and letters were read into Hansard in Parliament regarding standing up for Maternity funding and expansion of weeks.

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