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

That’s right, I’m one of those locals who was born in Canmore. I am a fourth-generation Albertan and Canadian. My family lives locally, and my roots are here in the Bow Valley.

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 through local journalism, before being elected to council in 2021.

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

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

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

But I always ended up back in my hometown. I found myself working in the service industry and considering my next move in 2005. 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 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 also lucky to work with Rob Murray and Mountain FM for the Mountain Insider segments and our Thursday morning live radio shows.

I worked diligently over the years to inform my fellow community members about what was 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, the best decisions are informed ones, and I know how to ask the right questions at the right time.

I am driven by curiosity. That 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, as well as the diverse perspectives that can be found within our community on any given topic.

I have used my time on council to pursue every educational opportunity available to me. I completed the Municipal Elected Leaders Certificate through the University of Alberta’s extended education program. I am a member of the Alberta Municipal Climate Leaders Caucus 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 working 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 leader in my community for another term as a councillor.