My election priorities are:

1: Safe Streets. Creating safe neighborhoods through targeted crime reduction in the downtown core and other high crime zones is imperative. As is securing addiction services and integrating mental health and social services to help our most vulnerable. 

2: Housing. To succeed in housing a sustainable community we need to recreate our zoning and building permit process and accept gentle densification, mixed housing, and other progressive alternatives such as cooperative housing solutions. My goal is to help create affordable housing for all citizens, especially seniors and the unsheltered who are able to resettle away from harmful influences of the street.

3: Economic Prosperity & Livability. There’s enormous economic potential in education, health care, government, and service sectors. Planning for the expansion of our hospital and healthcare campus, investment in our parks and waterfront walkways, and recreational amenities are critical. We definitely need to attract private equity to develop our health and wellness facilities and build a robust tourism sector. Additionally, to support the Port Authority as they continue to work on the container port.

Taxes and spending. My spending priorities are community safety, health & wellness, housing affordability and economic development. Nanaimo’s taxation framework needs re-examination. Taxpayers and particularly fixed income individuals should not shoulder so many of the necessary costs of future growth.

Why should people vote for me? I am an experienced senior leader, planner and negotiator. I believe in an open and transparent government that consults with the residents on high cost decisions that affect the livability of Nanaimo. Over the past 10 years I have honed my skills as a negotiator representing Kwumut Lelum to achieve the funding and legal mandate from the provincial and federal governments to provide services to their member nations. I believe that this is a unique skill set that will benefit Nanaimo in future negotiations for provincially funded services such as mental health, addictions and housing. I am innovative, resourceful and enjoy turning ideas into action. Those who know me professionally say that I have a way of bringing the right people together to get things done and I look forward to harnessing that talent to create change in Nanaimo. 

My passion is providing service to my community and that can be seen throughout my 30 year career in human services, as a Director of Kidsport, a volunteer hockey coach with Nanaimo Minor Hockey and as the founder & president of Salish Storm Hockey- an association founded on the spirit of Reconciliation that makes hockey accessible to Indigenous children & youth. I would like to see Nanaimo become the recreation, culture and sports capital of BC by developing strong relationships with Snuneymuxw First Nation, community sport organizations and the arts and entertainment industry.