Milton has been our home since 1987. My husband, Jack, and I share our home with our dogs.  We’re surrounded by working farms and even tend a small, backyard apple orchard.  I’ve lived in many international cities over the years yet find Milton a remarkable community, growing in opportunity, diversity and vitality.

Background

My commitment to the community has never wavered even though I no longer sit on council. A business operator for 26 years, I believe in promoting “local”.

With 35 years of community service and leadership experience, I’m passionate about helping people and solving the issues that matter to them.   I dedicated myself to representing the public during my two terms on council and I continue to do so in a number of capacities.

I’ve lead within our community on many Milton and Regional Committees and working groups and have helped win important victories on issues that matter, working with engaged groups of citizens, Town staff and marshaling the support of other Councillors. Important successes include the push to get high-speed internet for our rural neighbourhoods, the effort to get MTO to reconstruct the 401/Guelph Line overpass, the long fight to block the 11th Concession Quarry and spoke up for our local farmers on ROPA 38 issues.

My approach is one of Proactive consultation with the public. I believe it essential to make decisions considering the opinion of the people.  That’s why I have maintained a proactive dialogue with the community at large so I can keep them informed, and understand their needs when I contribute to committees.

  • I’ve learned through experience that to understand a community, you need to work within it, to understand and truly appreciate their needs for daily living as well as their aspirations for the future.

We must understand the hearts and hopes of the people who live here. Then find the right balance, investing for today and tomorrow.  We must start looking “outside the box” to address some of the serious issues facing the community.

My Committee Experience
My current Board and Committee memberships are:

  • Milton Public Library, Board of Directors – 2003 – 2010, reappointed Feb. 2011
  • Bob Rumball Association for the Deaf – Fundraising Committee:  2010 – 12
  • Community Development Halton Board of Directors 2010 -
  • VP Membership, Halton Federal Liberal Association, elected Dec 8, 2011
  • Corporate Challenge fundraising project 2011/12
  • Doors Open Milton (Chair) 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
  • Milton Santa Claus Parade Executive Committee (Recording Secretary) 2009-
  • Milton Seniors’ Activity Centre: member since 2009; working on kitchen crew serving  Wednesday lunches; and
  • Milton Seniors’ Advisory Board – Fund Development, 2010 to 2013.
  • Milton Historical Society Board of Directors, elected president January, 2012 to a 2-yr term
  • Dufferin Quarry Citizens Advisory Panel (CAP); 2009-present
  • Destination Campbellville Community Association (DCCA) (Charter member) 2007- present-although no longer included in any meaningful way.
  • Halton Child Seat Safety Coalition – recording secretary: 2006 – present
  • I attend all FORCE meetings to stop the 11th Concession Quarry.

Past Committees and boards:

  • Halton Multicultural Council, 2003 – 2010.
  • Halton Region Joint Advisory Committee on Waste Management: 2006-2010
  • Community Services Advisory Committee, 1998-2004
  • Heritage Milton: 2006-2010
  • Milton Trails Advisory Committee 2003 – 2010
  • Milton Road Safety Committee (Chair) in hiatus
  • Nassagaweya Broadband Committee – now inactive but access to high speed internet in rural Milton was entirely due to the work of my grassroots group.

Other points of interest

  • I received a certificate for completion of U.K. Skills and Knowledge course: Understanding Placemaking.  A key component of the course is the issue of public consultation – we need to find new ways to engage the public.
  • I have an e-list of over 300 names which I use to regularly advise residents of issues of importance to the community, and invite their input.