Why I’m Running & How I’ll Serve

I’m running because I love this city, I know how to listen, and I’m prepared to advocate for what residents tell me they need.

Through my work at the Nelson Community Food Centre, I connect every week with people from across our community and hear firsthand about the challenges they face. This experience has taught me that good decisions begin with listening, especially to people who are often left out of decision-making, and that meaningful solutions must be grounded in the realities of people’s everyday lives.

Listen first

I will approach residents with curiosity, openness, and respect. I will seek out a wide range of perspectives, including those of renters, seniors, young people, working families, people living on low incomes, people with diverse abilities & disabilities, artists, newcomers, local business owners, and others who may face barriers to participating in municipal processes.

Make participation more accessible

People should not need specialized knowledge, abundant free time, or confidence speaking in Council chambers to have their concerns taken seriously. I will support clearer communication, more accessible opportunities for public participation, and community engagement that reaches people where they are.

Advocate with courage and care

Listening matters only if it leads to meaningful representation. If elected, I will bring residents’ concerns to the Council table, ask difficult questions, and advocate clearly for the people & priorities I represent – even when doing so may be uncomfortable.

Bring lived experience to the table

My personal experience with housing insecurity & the barriers created by limited, unreliable public transit – alongside my work in nonprofit governance, community food access, tenant advocacy, and public-facing programs – has shown me how policies and systems shape people’s everyday lives. I will bring that grounded perspective to Council while remaining open, curious, and eager to learn from others.

Work toward practical solutions

I believe in collaboration, but I also believe in action. I will work constructively with residents, City staff, fellow councillors, community organizations, local businesses, & other levels of government to turn community priorities into achievable solutions.

Remain accountable

I will do the work to understand the issues before Council – reading the materials, asking questions, and seeking the information I need to make informed decisions. I will communicate honestly about what the City can do, what requires advocacy or partnership, and where real limitations exist. I’ll explain my decisions, take responsibility for my votes, & stay connected and responsive to the community throughout my term – not only during an election.

I want residents to know they have someone at the Council table who will hear them, take their concerns seriously, and work hard to ensure their voices shape the decisions that affect their lives.