Governance and political experience

• As the assistant to the Chief of Caldwell First Nation, all administrative work related to council crossed my desk in some fashion, including preparing agendas and minutes, correspondence, and recording and writing Band Council Reports (motions). Being directly involved with the initial planning stages of their reservation, as well as many other major endeavours, including rematriation projects, communication with high-seated members of politics, and being a first-point-of-contact for band members gave me practical experience seeing how decisions move from discussion to motion, documentation and implementation. 

Journalism

• I came by my career in journalism honestly - I've always asked the tough questions, and never stopped till I found answers. My time spent in the field taught me how to properly research issues, listen to different sides of a story and explain complicated information in language ordinary people can understand. I also had the privilege to be able to cover stories from one-end of Chatham-Kent to the other. I know this community inside-and-out. 

Financial service

• Working in financial services gave me first-hand exposure to lending, interest rates, mortgages, household finances and the difficult financial decisions families make when traditional lending options aren't available. I worked in high-interest lending - my clients were mostly struggling families and low-income individuals who had no other options than putting their financial futures in danger.

Community involvement

• Community initiatives I've always been passionate about include fundraising, animal welfare and event organization. I understand strong communities aren't built by municipal government alone—they depend on residents, businesses, volunteers and community organizations working together.

Small business owner

• As a former longtime professional photographer, I understand what it means to earn a living through your own work, serve clients, manage expenses and adapt when circumstances change. 

Lived experience

• I've experienced financial hardship, housing instability and homelessness personally. That doesn't replace professional qualifications - it adds a perspective most political résumés don't have. I've seen systems both from the administrative side, and from the side of the person trying to access them.