ABOUT ME — LET'S WORK BACKWARDS

September 10th, 2026

So, why am I running for Wasaga Beach Town Council?

Perhaps the easiest way to answer that is to work backwards.

Since April, I have had the privilege of serving on the Town of Wasaga Beach Economic Development & Tourism Committee. Being involved in conversations about our community, our economy and our future has, in large part, motivated me to put my name forward for Council.

But that's not where my interest in community, people and decision-making began.

One of the most important decisions of my life was leaving my career to care for my Mother, my Aunt and my Mother-in-Law, with the support of my husband.

Before caregiving, my career had taken me through some very different worlds.

I started out as a legal secretary in a general-practice law firm.

And what an education that was!

I worked on real estate transactions, divorces, motor vehicle accidents, wills and estates, landlord and tenant matters, incorporations—you name it.

But behind every legal file was a person.

A family.

A business.

A problem that needed to be resolved.

That taught me something I've never forgotten: you can have all the paperwork in the world, but ultimately, you're dealing with people.

And then there was another rather interesting chapter.

I worked for one of the companies installing municipal water service here in Wasaga Beach.

I worked in the office, helping with everything from administration to tenders.

But I also worked outside—managing traffic, coordinating deliveries and, when we were short-staffed, even operating a packer.

It was a pretty good lesson in the difference between planning something on paper and seeing what actually happens on the ground.

Later, I became a manager at a Document Processing Centre, where I was responsible for approximately 25 people.

That taught me about managing people, managing conflict and, sometimes, knowing when not to react immediately.

In fact, at my very first team meeting, I told my staff a story about marriage that I'd like to share with you:

Most mornings I wake up, look at my husband and think: "I am such a lucky woman."

Some mornings, for whatever reason—bad sleep, the weather, or absolutely nothing at all—I look at him and think: "What was I thinking when I married this man?"

And some days, without a doubt, my husband feels the same. 😂

Those are the days when it's probably best to be quiet, keep busy and give yourself a little time.

Because whatever seems terribly important in the moment may look quite different after you've had your coffee.

After three decades of marriage, sometimes the wisest thing to say is nothing at all.

And the same applies to difficult conversations at work—or in a community.

Don't point fingers.

Remember that the other person has their own perspective, experiences and reasons for seeing things differently.

The goal isn't always to prove that you're right.

Sometimes the goal is to find a way forward where both sides walk away feeling that the conversation was worthwhile.

So far, neither of us has filed for divorce. I'd call that a successful long-term negotiation. ❤️

And that's where I'll leave you for today.

There's more to the story—including what on earth a Knowledge Management Specialist actually does, what I learned sitting in rooms with some very senior decision-makers, and why speaking Lithuanian turned out to be one of the more useful things my parents ever made me do.

Thanks for listening!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps7nMWONdNs&t=9s