Born and raised in Canmore,
I’ve seen this town change.

I am proud to call Canmore my hometown. I am truly privileged to have been born and raised here. While we face challenges as a community, we also have much to be grateful for. I ran for Town Council in 2021 because I love my community and think it is a place worth fighting for.

I have come to embrace change as a constant in life. The community I call home and this province have undergone significant changes over the years. I have also changed and grown professionally and personally while working to build community, whether that was during my 15-year career as a local journalist or during my first term as a councillor.

I grew up the oldest child in a single-parent family. We lived in subsidized housing and were supported by the social safety net for such situations. I remember living in Woodlands and being one of the first families to move into the new social housing from the 1988 Winter Olympic athletes’ village. That was the last time Canmore (and the valley) saw increased subsidized housing units for families.

I was the first person in my family to attend and graduate from university. In 2001, after graduating from Canmore Collegiate High School, I received a Bachelor of Arts (with honours) in sociology from Queen’s University.

Like many Canmore kids, I decided to travel the world for a while. I lived in Dublin for a year and also did a stint on a cruise ship in the Bahamas.

But I always ended up back in my hometown. In 2005, I found myself working in the service industry and considering my next move. That led to journalism school at Mount Royal, a job at the Canmore Leader, and then the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

I left for a year (July 2012-May 2013) and went to Whistler to work at a weekly community newspaper. It was an enjoyable experience to learn how another resort town manages itself. I returned a few weeks before the 2013 floods, and that event was a defining point in my life and career. I found myself even more committed to serving my community through journalism.

From 2013 to 2021, I was lucky to work with Rob Murray and Mountain FM for the Mountain Insider segments and our Thursday morning live radio shows.

Over the years, I have worked diligently to inform my fellow community members about what is happening in this town and valley. That includes the business of the town council and other municipal boards and committees, as well as the provincial government and its departments that most affect our valley and the federal government.

As a result, I was elected with a firsthand understanding of the legislation, processes, players, and issues. As a former journalist, I know that the best decisions are informed ones, and I know how to ask the right questions at the right time.

I am driven by curiosity, which is why a career in journalism appealed to me. As an elected official, I utilize my curiosity to learn as much as possible about an issue and the diverse perspectives that can be found within our community on any given topic. I have learned that leadership isn’t about proving you are right and the other side is wrong; it is about creating a space where all perspectives are welcomed and solutions are the priority.

I have used my time on council to pursue every educational opportunity. I completed the Municipal Elected Leaders Certificate through the University of Alberta’s extended education program. I am an Alberta Municipal Climate Leaders Caucus member and currently sit on the Alberta Municipalities Governance Committee. Through ABMunis and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, I have attended countless online webinars and each organization’s annual convention. I have established strong relationships with the business community, local non-profits, and other regional councils.

I am asking for your support in the upcoming election campaign. I want to continue this vital work as a councillor for a second term and be a leader in my community.