Biography

Believing in a community means commitment and involvement in its evolution. As a resident of Kitchissippi since the 80's and with family roots here since the 1850s, I am familiar with the issues facing my neighbours and our local businesses. But as Kitchissippi grows and changes, the infrastructure has not kept pace. I believe that we can and must do better.

Working as your councillor will give me a better opportunity to participate in community conversations, champion concerns and issues at City Hall, and ensure they are integrated with city-wide programs. Working as a councillor will give me the opportunity to engage people living in the Ward and participate in the community's conversations. Together we will make a difference in creating a great place to live.

I believe it is a priority to:

• Create a cohesive vision for Ottawa that will result in a world-class city
• Develop an economic action plan for the city that will encourage business, increase investment and create jobs.
• Invest in the generation that will inherit our city. I'd like to see more opportunities for youth to be involved in community planning and decisions by creating a youth councillor program similar to the student trustee program in place at the school boards.

I graduated from the University of Ottawa in Business Administration and have a certification in Internet Marketing from UBC.  I was in various management positions at Bell Canada, a senior manager at The Bank of Nova Scotia, and a Director at Nortel and at Aastra Telecom. I currently work for wireless technology leader, Novotech Technologies. With my strong business background, I have developed the skills needed to bring different groups to the table and negotiate effectively.

After teaching children for a year in Ethiopia in 2002, I returned to Canada with a different perspective of the importance of community. I volunteered as a Global Educator for the CHF (formerly Canadian Hunger Foundation), fostered animals for the Humane Society, and am involved in projects to promote the GCTC. I am a member of Citizens for Safe Cycling and Heritage Ottawa as well as an associate member of the NAC. I am on the board of a local non-profit writing organization, Capital Crime Writers, and the former chair of the steering committee for the Bloody Words Mystery Writer's conference held in Ottawa in 2009. I’ve been a proud supporter, and continue to contribute to the Food Bank, the Ottawa Hospital, and the United Way as well as many local businesses and artists.

I am proud of what I have accomplished for my community as a regular citizen, but it is time to focus my career and skills where I can make a bigger difference. The issues and concerns of those living in the community are of paramount importance to our overall quality of life.

If you are looking for fresh ideas; if you are looking for change — I hope to earn your support in 2010.