Tell us a little about yourself and your connection to Golden: I have lived in Golden for a large part of the past 8 years. Like many others, what I love about Golden is its outdoor recreation activities, arts and cultural scene and strong sense of community. I grew up in Ontario, where I went to university; I have an MA in Sustainability Studies and a BA in Environmental Studies.
I have worked for Wildsight Golden as the Invasive Plant Program Coordinator, Electric Vehicle Car Share Coordinator and Air Quality Coordinator. I’ve volunteered with a number of different groups in town: I was on Wildsight Golden’s Board of Directors from 2022-2024; I have a podcast on Golden Co-Op Radio; I was a volunteer with Kicking Horse Culture during this year’s Emberfest events and Pageant; and this past winter I was a volunteer Nordic ski coach at Dawn Mountain Nordic Center.
I have also worked as a ski instructor, volunteer ski patrol and sea kayak guide; and I’m a certified Divemaster. In 2021, I moved the Town of Golden to pass a motion to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050, joining over a dozen Kootenay communities that made commitments at the time. In 2023, I successfully applied for a grant from Columbia Basin Trust to finish installing solar panels on Golden Secondary School; since then, they’ve been generating electricity and resulting in cost savings on energy bills for the school district.
Why have you decided to run for Golden Town Council? I’m running because I think what I have to offer is a unique skill set and background that stands out from all the other candidates. I want to use my education and experience towards something positive. I believe it would be an asset to have someone like me on Council; if I’m not at the table, then you don’t have that perspective.
One thing I would really like to see happen is a Community Climate Action Plan so we can start to work on and implement policies to reduce our emissions. It’s important to be prepared for the impacts of climate change: wildfires, flooding, heat domes; but we also need to ensure we are doing our part when it comes to fighting climate change.
There are numerous and diverse benefits to doing this; by supporting and investing in things we often perceive as climate solutions- such as heat pumps, solar panels, energy efficiency, public transit, electric vehicles, active transportation, composting and local food, we can: 1) help people who are struggling amidst an affordability crisis save money on their grocery/energy/fuel bills; 2) reduce pollution in our community so people can live healthier lives 3) create good local jobs in trades and attract new businesses to the Town; and 4) reduce our reliance on utility companies and become more energy independent.
