Bio
My journey to this campaign has been marked with courage, with tenacity and a deep appreciation of the talents and wisdom of the people who have helped me along the way. It begins with my happy childhood in the little village of Armagh a Quebec agricultural community in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Yes. Armagh is an Irish name but, as you know, we Canadians are a mixed lot!
Like the Irish-sounding town in Quebec, I have always done the unexpected. I was the kid who won at science fairs—I loved science and technology. The challenge—how to take it further? The answer: join the Armed Forces officer training program.
Et voila, I was able to attend École Polytechnique in Montréal, where I obtained my degree in civil engineering. I joined the Canadian Forces as one of the first woman officers in the Army Military Engineers. This work quickly took me to amazing cities and places across Canada where I immersed myself in Canada’s people, nature, museums and food.
My most vivid memories are those of the true North, the floating icebergs and the similarity of concerns of Canadians on issues like agriculture, fairness and transparency. I have had many opportunities to travel internationally in Europe and the US, and was honoured to work on a humanitarian mission to support Afghans leaving their refugee camps in Pakistan in 1990.
After reaching the rank of lieutenant-colonel and after 21 years of service, I joined the ranks of the public service to work in Foreign Affairs, the Canadian Forces Housing Agency, Public Works and Government Services Canada, and Infrastructure Canada where I held senior management positions. I left in 2005 to join the private sector, where I now work as a facility program manager.
MY GREEN ROOTS
I have been an ardent supporter of social, economic and environmental equity throughout my life. I have been a Green Party of Canada member since 2006.You may remember that I introduced David Chernushenko before his speech at the 2006 leadership convention in Ottawa.
I co-chaired the Green Party of Ontario campaign in 2007 and proudly ran as a Green Party candidate for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell in the 2008 federal election – a first for my riding. During that campaign and since, I have actively engaged in developing policies urging better governance and transparency. Shortly after the election, I co-founded the "Group of 4" policy development team.
As my Electoral District Association’s communications manager, I have spoken for the Green Party nationally to French language media and when Elizabeth May has been unavailable. During the 2008 federal election I served as the GPC’s Francophone media contact in Eastern Ontario.
Most recently I helped organize and now co-chair the Ottawa Regional Greens Group, which brings together representatives from ridings across Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.
I have been encouraged by the clear desire of Canadians to positively do more, be more and accomplish more. And I am here to help make that happen. I am not content to “wait and see” and be disappointed once again.
So, you have a Green Party candidate who can speak French and English with equal ease, who has travelled across this country and around the world; who has managed projects worth millions of dollars here and abroad; who can fire a gun and blow up a bridge; but who values building bridges between people above all, and who would rather inspire than fire any day.
I have walked in the halls of power and dealt with the most senior levels of government, with our allies, NATO and the United Nations. I have seen the corrupting effects of power and I will work against this wherever I find it.
In these matters I will be a tireless adversary. However this will not distract me from my objectives or my vision for a green, strong and equitable Canada. Ask me about this when you meet me. And be prepared for questions, not just answers. I am very interested in meeting you and hearing what you value most.
MY VISION
For Canada to take its place with pride as a leader in equity, sustainability and good government.
