Why I'm running for Kingston city council
I'm a nurse, not a career politician. I've spent my life listening to people at their most vulnerable and then going to fight for them in rooms they don't have access to. I became a nurse because I want to help people. Some of the biggest challenges facing our community today though, can only be fixed at the policy table where decisions get made. That's why after over fifteen years working in healthcare and education, I'm running for Kingston City Council.
My approach is simple: listen first, act with evidence, integrity, and never stop working for the district who sent me to City Hall.
More about me:
I'm a registered nurse with a master's degree in public health from Queen's University, and clinical experience in specialties like mental health and primary care (and I recently completed my nurse practitioner degree!). I've spent my career lobbying provincial and federal governments for better access to health care, school and special education supports, and accessibility services. I am a past Chair of the Kingston Chapter of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario and currently serving as a director with community organizations focused on youth care, housing, and health care access in the Kingston area. To me, health care is about more than only doctor visits and blood tests. It’s about the basics people need to live well: good housing, quality education, social supports, safe drinking water, healthy food, and fair job opportunities.
As a clinical educator at Queen's University, I've also spent my career training the next generation of health professionals. My professional advocacy, teaching, and clinical experience means that I will arrive at City Hall already knowing how to navigate the systems that fund and regulate local health and education resources. Furthermore, I'll bring that same hands-on, evidence-based approach to advocating for our district.
Meadowbrook-Strathcona has been my home for over a decade. I'm raising my family here, I walk these streets, use our parks, and my daughter attends school here. This ward is not a stepping stone. I'd be honoured to give back to the community I call home.
What will I do on day one?
Hold a public meeting. No a press release, no photo opportunity, a real meeting where residents can tell me what they need most. Then I'll get to work.