I’ve lived in Brighton for over 40 years, growing up in the area. My parents both emigrated from Holland to Canada when they were Children. After World War 2 ended, their parents decided it was time to start over in a new Country. Both their families landed in the Grimsby area which is where they met. They moved to Brighton in 1980. They were apple growers and owned Brighton Garden Centre. They took time to be involved in the community, participated in the Farmers Market, Applefest and their Church.
I learned early on how to work hard, how to run a business and what a good apple tastes like!
In the late 80’s, I attended Loyalist College, then worked in the newspaper industry for a few years. After having two children, my focus changed, being a Mom was important to me and I wanted a career that was flexible. I decided to get further education and subsequently started working as a part time bookkeeper during my children’s early years then later as a financial administrator.
In 2014, I decided to run for Council in the Municipality of Brighton. I always took interest in local politics. I loved the community of Brighton but they seemed to be facing some challenges. There was tension on Council and difficult decisions being made as the small municipality was growing at a fast pace. My children were grown, my career was going well and I decided it was time to take on the challenge. This was a big stretch for me personally. I’m an introvert, I don’t like being the center of attention, I prefer to stand on the sidelines and observe. But I believed that I had something to offer.
In 2018, I was urged by many community members to run for Deputy Mayor. I hesitated. I loved being on Council and being so involved in the community but to be honest, Deputy Mayor seemed like a stretch. After much thought, I decided once again to take on the challenge. And I’ve very much enjoyed the process, again there is much to learn. Most importantly it’s to keep the focus on what matters. Maintaining what we have, planning for the future & making sure Brighton continues to be a great place to be!
To learn more about her journey and impact on the community, listen to the link below.
