Experiences That Shape My Leadership

I've had the privilege of serving our community in a few different ways. I’ve been a volunteer, small business owner, District of Sechelt councillor, and Chair of the Sunshine Coast Regional District.

Every one of those opportunities has reinforced something I've come to believe: the best decisions aren't made by one person. They come from listening, asking good questions, and working together.

Whether I'm at the council table or chatting with someone over coffee, I'm always trying to understand different perspectives before making a decision.

Municipal Leadership

Serving on Council and the SCRD Board has given me the opportunity to work on some important issues, from housing and infrastructure to water security and regional collaboration with the Town of Gibsons and the shíshálh Nation.

Have we solved everything? No, absolutely not.

But I think we've made meaningful progress on so many things, and I've learned over and over again that respectful relationships and regular conversations can accomplish far more than confrontation and division ever will. 

Community Experience

Long before I was elected, I believed in giving back to the community that gave me so much. I grew up in a single-parent household, where my mother volunteered to help people navigate systems that too often let them down, from WorkSafe and EI to welfare and disability support.

I've spent much of my life volunteering with Scouts Canada, including leading one of British Columbia's largest annual Scouting events. Since 2016, I've helped organize Sechelt's Canada Day Parade and was proud to spend four years on the Board and as a member of the Executive of the Sechelt Downtown Business Association, including a period of time as Interim President during a time of transition.

During my first term on Council, we faced the Covid-19 pandemic and learned how to adapt in ways few imagined possible. But despite all the challenges and our personal differences, working for the betterment of our community was what kept us going.

Those experiences reinforced my belief that communities are strongest when people come together, share their experiences, and find common ground.

Responsible Financial Management

I believe taxpayers expect us to spend their money carefully, and for us to hear them suggest ways we can do it better.

Sometimes the answer is finding community partnerships that reduce costs, like the Cliff Gilker bridges partnership between the SCRD and the Sunshine Coast Community Forest that saved the project over $600,000. 

Sometimes it's asking whether there's a better way of doing something, even as small as putting a metal roof on a community hall instead of shingles. 

Maybe it’s questioning if we’re better off taking on a downloaded responsibility ourselves, or working with our Provincial and Federal partners to advocate for increased resources for our community.

We always have an opportunity and a responsibility to ask those questions and more.