About

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I was born in Vancouver, but always felt like I really was an Island girl at heart once I’d had the opportunity to live on a beautiful waterfront acreage in Sooke when I was young. The next few decades saw me traveling and living in a variety of places including Central America, Calgary, and Toronto until I was inspired to return here five years ago.

During my time away, I spent almost 25 years employed in different financial institutions working in Securities, Mutual Funds, RRSPs, and Investment Banking. I also worked in several retail bank branches as the Administration Manager, then Credit Manager and finally as Branch Manager in Burlington, Ontario. My final stint in Toronto was as the Lead, Employee Programs which included managing the national employee training program for one of the largest banks in Canada.

In 2002, a series of life-changing events prompted me to finally leave the banking industry and take some time to reflect on my life and explore other interests. I found myself on the top of a mountain in the Laurentians taking my yoga teacher training which led to opening a yoga studio and bed and breakfast in Washago, a small town north of Toronto. Living on a 100 acre farm also inspired me to start a children’s yoga summer camp which I ran for four years.

In 2006, when it was finally time for me to return to Vancouver Island, along with my daughter Devann, we stumbled upon a pristine little float house in Maple Bay and have felt right at home on the water ever since.

I pursued another one of my dreams and became a freelance writer working for several magazines including Canadian Health and Lifestyle in Toronto, writing an environment column, Senior Living, in Victoria, and More Living, in Nanaimo as well as various online publications.

Later in 2007, a friend noticed an online job advertisement for a position working at a non-profit in Duncan. And on a whim, I wandered into the small, dark, unassuming office of Cowichan Green Community in downtown Duncan and was immediately hired to coordinate a small project.

By September 2008, I became the Executive Director and have been working diligently there ever since.

My strengths throughout my whole career can be summarized into a few short phrases:

  • I’m someone who is extremely dedicated and stops at nothing to effect positive change
  • I’m someone who believes in empowering others and standing back to watch them soar
  • I’m someone who is thrilled with a challenge and works best under pressure
  • I’m someone who is open-minded and always willing to look at all sides
  • I’m someone who people trust, I’m approachable, and I’m always learning.

I was known in the banking industry as someone who was able to delve into a department or branch and implement new processes, streamline systems, reenergize staff and clients, and also turn around sometimes a bleak financial picture into a more positive bottom line.

The same has held true during my tenure at Cowichan Green Community. I have taken a small non-profit which employed one person in 2007, into a vibrant, engaged, strong, viable organization that has created employment opportunities for almost 40 people in the last 4 years.

The future looks bright for Cowichan Green Community under the strong leadership of not only me but a very engaged board of directors and a very committed staff. And it’s that same dedication, commitment, hard work, vision, and passion that will also be brought into the City of Duncan’s chambers when I’m successfully elected as a council member this November.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:

2009-Current       Downtown Duncan Business Assoc:   Director, Board
2009-Current        Cowichan Valley Regional District:   Director, Environment Commission
2007-Current       Cowichan Food Security Coalition:   Chair
2002-2006            Washago Community Center:   Director, Fundraising, Events
2000-2002            Regent Christmas Dinner:   Volunteer Server
1999-2002              John Innes Community Centre:   Director, Finance, Youth /Teen
1997-1998              Out of the Cold:    Volunteer, Breakfast Program
1996-1998              Markham, ON:   Community Garden Coordinator
1994-1995              Kin Village Community Centre:   Director, Youth and Teen, Newsletter Editor
1992-1995              Cansem Institute:   Director, Programs, Seminar Co-ordinator,

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS:

  • United Way Public Policy Institute, Vancouver
  • Writing for Magazines I and II, George Brown College, Toronto
  • Creative Writing I and II, George Brown College, Toronto
  • Editing for Magazines I and II, George Brown College, Toronto
  • Teaching English as a Second Language Certification, Toronto
  • Banking Certifications: Managing Change, Supervisory Skills, Creating Satisfied Customers, Busines, Administration, Communication, Basic Accounting, Canadian Securities Course, Mutual Funds, and several Credit and Lending Courses, various other Supervisory and Time Management Courses, Toronto
  • Insight I, II, III, Cansem Institute, Toronto
  • Fitness Certifications – Lifeguard, Red Cross and National Lifesaving Society Swimming Instructor, Water Art Instructor, Yoga & Pilates Instructor
  • Current First Aid Certification
  • Reiki Certification, level I, II and III

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:

  • 2010 BC Hydro Sustainability Award – Winner
  • 2010 BC Healthy Living Alliance Community Award – Winner
  • 2010 Bosch’s Canadian Eco-Leader Award – Honorable Mention
  • 2010 Woman of the Earth Award, Yves Roche – Nominee
  • 2001 Local Food Award, City of Toronto, Children’s Snack Program – Winner