Accomplishments
Serving on City Council is about turning good ideas into meaningful results for the community. Over the years, I’ve been proud to champion initiatives of my own while also working collaboratively with my Council colleagues, City staff, community partners and other orders of government to move important priorities forward. The accomplishments highlighted below are just some of the ways I’ve worked to make a positive difference for Coquitlam and the people who call it home.
Brought forward a motion to Council that resulted in publicly accessible automated external defibrillator stands (AEDs) being installed throughout Coquitlam. AEDs are life-saving devices that deliver an electric shock to restart the heart during sudden cardiac arrest. When used quickly, they drastically increase survival chances, making them a crucial tool in public spaces alongside immediate CPR.
Successfully had an anti-idling bylaw established, approved and implemented in Coquitlam.
Spearheaded motions to the Union of BC Municipalities calling for:
• A change to improve safety with respect to motorists around active fire scenes
• Reforming the issue of local government elected-official remuneration
Both were endorsed by the delegates.
Successfully advanced a motion to the Province calling for a ridesharing framework to allow ridesharing.
Walked the talk and earned my Class 4 driver’s license and followed all steps to become a rideshare driver so when the Province finally allowed it, I was able to drive. I drove as an Uber driver on the very first day it was permitted in Metro Vancouver and remained a driver for many years.
I was appointed to the Metro Vancouver’s Governance Committee by the Board chair and have been working to strengthen the Regional District’s governance through enhanced transparency, accountability, integrity, and oversight.
Championed bringing Coquitlam’s official Canada 150 Mosaic Mural to the community - a permanent, large-scale public art installation created with hundreds of tiles individually painted by local residents.
Working together with my Council colleagues, we’ve delivered many important accomplishments that have made Coquitlam an even better place to live, work and play.
• Housing Affordability Strategy resulting in thousands of new rental homes, including below-market and non-market housing.
• Innovative partnerships that delivered the YMCA, new recreation amenities, seniors housing, and much more.
• Successful advocacy for a Mobile Integrated Crisis Response (MICR) team, pairing a police officer with a healthcare professional to respond to mental health crises.
• Major investments in recreation, including Maillardville Community Centre, Town Centre Park Community Centre, the YMCA, SouthWest Park Blitz, the renewed Mundy Park Pool, Burke Mountain Athletic Park, the Town Centre Park Performance Plaza, expanded tennis, pickleball, turf and ice facilities - with Burke Mountain and Fraser Mills community centres on the way.
• Practical climate action, including the adoption of the Climate Adaptation Plan, Environmental Sustainability Plan, and Urban Forest Management Strategy.
• Award-winning municipal leadership, earning recognition nine times as a BC Top Employer, Greenest Employer, and for Safety Excellence, among many other honours.
• A vibrant community calendar with outstanding festivals, concerts and events, including Lights at Lafarge, FIFA World Cup watch parties, and countless cultural celebrations.
Improved neighbourhood “No Exit” signage to clarify that pedestrians and people using active transportation can continue through connecting pathways.
In 2021 I ran every metre of every street in Coquitlam and the rest of the Tri-Cities. While running the streets in our beautiful city, I saw improvements that needed to be made with respect to pedestrian safety, signage, illegal dumping etc. and I had all of the issues addressed. I also fell in love with Coquitlam all over again!