Which of these 22 people do you want running Queenstown?

Joseph A. Bisceglia was admitted to the Ontario Bar on March 23, 1973 after successfully completing his legal education at Osgoode Hall Law School.

He was admitted to Osgoode Hall Law School after completing two years of an undergraduate program at the University of Windsor.

He is a certilìed specialist in civil litigation,

Mr. Bisceglia also has alternative dispute resolution/mediation training.

Mr. Bisceglia's areas of practice include civil litigation, personal lnjury, insurance law, torts, criminal law, employment law, labour law, contracts, provincial offences and mediation.

Mr. Bisceglia has a wealth of experience.

He has appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Divisional Court of Ontario, the Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Justice and before various arbitrators, administrative tribunals and administrative boards in relation to labour law, accident benefits and administrative claims. hearings and appeals.

He has extensive trial experience.

Mr. Bisceglia is a member of the Advocates Society and the Canadian Bar Association, and has held a director's position for the Ontario section of the Canadian Bar Association.

Mr, Bisceglia is also a member of the Algoma Dìstrict Law Association and has held a number of positions with the association including president, treasurer and director.

Mr. Bisceglia was a director on the board of the Association of Professional Engineers for the Province of Ontario. He was its fìrst complaints review officer.

For his efforts and contribution he was awarded the Order of the Sons of Martha by the Association of Professional Engineers in I986.

Mr. Bisceglia is the former chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Transit Commission and has been a member of the Sault Ste. Marie District Health Council. a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation and the chairman of the Tourism Committee.

Mr. Bisceglia produced and hosted a cable show entitled Law, Lawyers and Laymen, a program where all aspects of law were díscussed, providing information to the community with respect to such matters as impaired driving, abuse. small claims court, family law issues and criminal law issues.

Kristi Cistaro

My name is Kristi Cistaro and I am the owner of Stork and Bundle at 715 Queen Street East.

This year marks our fifth anniversary as a proud member of the downtown community but my involvement with the downtown started many years ago.

In high school and university, I worked at Boston Motors every summer which is where my love of the downtown began.

My great-grandather started the dealership in 1932 and by the time I started working there it was the commercial anchor of Heritage Square and I an thrilled to now have my business just down the street from where it once stood.

ln 20I3,  I was named the Young Entrepreneur and awarded the Business of the Year as well as the Customer Service Awards from the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of  Commerce.

At Stork and Bundle, our clients come fìrst.

We offer them an experience in my store and they become a part of our community, much like my business is a member of the larger downtown community.

That collaboration is one of our biggest strengths and I think that spirit of collaboration would make me an asset to the board.

My husband and I choose to relocate back to our home town of Sault Ste. Marie in 2007 after a decade or so in Toronto.

This enabled us to be closer to our extended families as well as start our own.

We have two great kids, Sebastian and CeCe and they are the reason we love this community.

lt is a wonderful place to grow up and watch your children grow up.

My university education was in science but my work experience has been more focused on business and communications.

I was a marketing manager for Citibank in Toronto for seven years and I also served as the communications and project manager for the local e-Health Ontario office prior to starting my family.

ln all of the positions l have held over the years, I have learned so much.

I am an entrepreneur at heart.

I know how to make things happen, throw a great event, launch a new venture, write a business plan, negotiate with a bank, build a following and exceed expectations.

I would love to joìn the board.

Luke Dufour

My name is Luke Dufour and I was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie.

After completing my degree in English and history at Algoma University, I lived overseas for two years.

When I came home, I changed career paths to stây and work in Sault Ste. Marie and have been working here for the past five years as a foreman/carpenter for a local construction company.

I am responsible for supervising crews and ensuring that quality work is done on time and on budget.

I want be a part of the Queenstown Association because I believe that the health and quality of our city's downtown is integral to the overall economic and cultural success of Sault Ste. Marie.

I have governance experience and training from my time on the board of directors at the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library whose Centennial Branch is one of the iconic buildìngs of our downtown.

I also sit on the Algoma Fall Festival board where I help with the planning and organizing of community cultural events.

Volunteering at St. Vincent Place for the past two years, I have seen fìrsthand some of the economic and social challenges that those who live in the downtown community are facing.

Every day as a manager of a local small business, l am ensuring effìciency which is essentIal for growing a business in an economically challenged market.

Amongst many younger people ln Sault Ste. Marie, there is a desire to see our downtown become the place that so many of us remember only through the stories of our parents and grandparents.

The downtown ought to be the most prestigious place to have a business and to enjoy culture in our city.

Kyla Faganely

I strongly believe in what the downtown association is all about.

They have helped me on numerous occasions with the properties I own downtown.

ln living in numerous countries in my life, my heart was always in coming back to my hometown in the Sault.

My dream was always to open my fìtness studio downtown as I feel the downtown core should be the heart of all cities.

Which is why l have purchased more buildings downtown in hopes to keep giving back to this area.

Steve Gidding

As a lifelong resident of Sault Ste. Marie, I have taken an active role in a variety of leadership endeavours.

These have included involvement in Community Day activity operations, participation in church committee work, sitting on committees within the Waterfront Condominium, and inclusion and participation in a variety of educational initiatives, in my role as an educator.

I have always taken a positive view of our city and in particular our downtown core.

It was not until moving to this area two years ago that I began to view the neighbourhood through different eyes.

As a resident of the downtown core, I feel I could bring to the association a new view.

ln meeting a variety of visitors, local and out-of-town, I have had the opportunity to have discussions and hear feedback as to the positives and negatives that are encountered in this area.

It has been through my living in and moving through this area that I have begun to develop ideas, building on and expanding on initiatives that have been put into place and proposed by both the city and the association.

lt is by these means that I would be able to provide a positive support and direction to the Downtown (Queenstown) Association.

Ellen Hollingshead

My name is Ellen Hollingshead, a teacher and tax-paying resident of downtown.

I would like to sit on the board of the Downtown Association to be a voice for the growing number of other residents who choose to live, work and shop downtown.

We generally have higher disposable incomes to spend where we live and as such, I am a supporter of "all things" downtown.

This requires a voice that will help to ensure a vibrant place with not only office space but shops, services and restaurants.

One benefìt of living downtown is the ability to walk to all our needs.

However, that means it needs to be safe, clean and inviting to pedestrian traffìc.

I am proposing that we all work together and continue with the downtown community improvement plan.

Peggy Lauzon

I have been an active community advocate and participant since I moved to Northern Ontario in 1985.

I have an MBA in community economic development and teach strategic planning and community engagement at Algoma University.

I also founded and am president of the Aberdeen Group lncorporated which provides accounting and consulting support to entrepreneurs, small business owners and not-for-profìts in the area.

I have operated my business in the downtown core since l998 (Square 2 and Square 4).

I am passionate about this community and especially about the potential for Sault Ste. Marie's downtown.

When I first moved to Northern Ontario, I served on the Havilah lmprovement Board in the unorganized township of Aberdeen, east of Sault Ste. Marie.

ln that capacity, I co-founded the Ophir Volunteer Fire Team.

I have served as treasurer at St Luke's Cathedral and on the advisory boards of the Anishinabek lnformation Technology Centre and the Soup Kitchen health care initiative, among others.

I have provided training in good governance and financial oversight to local boards.

I have come out in support of the Hub Trail, the skateboard park and many more community initiatives.

I am an active organizer and participant in community events and a strong advocate for small business, arts and youth initiatives.

Gail Maich

NO BIOGRAPHY SUBMITTED

Denise Marcil

Denise Marcil, born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, is proud to stand for election as a member of the board of directors for the Sault Ste. Marie Downtown (Queenstown) Association.

Denise attended Algoma University and in 1992 graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in law and justice.

lmmediately thereafter she volunteered as a probation officer and was hired by Burgess & Biron lnvestigations as a private investigator.

At present she has 20 years of experience in loss prevention, security guard, surveillance and integrity shopping services.

To stay abreast on changing laws she completed her honours thesis in law and justice in 20l0 while working fulltime.

As a long-time resident of Sault Ste. Marie she is passionate about improving security and has developed new, exciting and effective ways to perform security services.

Her company has actively worked for the Downtown Association at the Downtown Street Party..

Denise is also a member of two groups, Sault Women in Business and PARO as the founding member of the first circle in Sault Ste. Marie.

As president of Strictly Confidential lnc.

Joe Martella

• Building Owner - Marson Developments 485 Queen Street East
• Business Owner - KKP (Division of Kwik Kopy Printing) 485 Queen Street East.
• Financial Advisor - Manulife Securities, 485 Queen Street East, 2nd floor
• Previous Boards - Soo Curlers Club, 1990 Labatt Brier -treasurer

Heather-Ann Mendes

Heather is a lawyer currently practising with the law firm of O'Neill DeLorenzi Mendes where she started her career 10 years ago.

Heather is a downtown business owner; property owner and resident.

Heather is actively involved in the Sault Ste. Marie community through various legal boards such as the Algoma District Law Association and Legal Aid Ontario Area Committee as well as community boards such as the Art Gallery of Algoma.

Heather grew up in Markham, Ontario and has witnessed the development and growth of the Main Street Markham BIA over the past number of years from a stagnant street into a rejuvenated and thriving street through the BIA and wishes to bring this same dynamic to the Sault Ste. Marie Queenstown BlA.

James Mills

NO BIOGRAPHY SUBMITTED

Anthony Orazietti

I would make an excellent addition to the Queenstown board of directors for many reasons,

First off, I am a Realtor with a great understanding of property values, types and tenant mix.

My expertise in this field would be valuable in assisting with the vacancy rates, and building owner investment in Queenstown.

Secondly, I have a reasonable amount of experience in business finance, particularly in business lending.

I am aware of the requirements of banks when dealing with building purchase, sale, improvements and tenant leasehold improvements.

Most importantly, I have spent six years of my career as the executive director of a not-for-profìt board, in a member-based organization similar to Queenstown.

ln this role I learned a great deal about policy governance, policy creation, the roles and responsibilities of a board and how they interact with the staff and the overall marketing and service delivery of this type of organization.

I believe this experience would be my greatest contribution to the board in this time of change.

I have brought an organization through the process of incorporation, and developed all of the base bylaw, policy and procedures through which it was governed.

Last, and certainly not least, I am a massive fan of the Queenstown area.

I believe that it can be improved and the best way to do that is to have a strong board lobbying any applicable level of government to aid in supporting a well-thought-out thorough plan for revitalization.

Stephanie Pacgnucco

Please accept this letter as my sincere interest in joining the Sault Ste. Marie Queenstown BIA board of directors.

I have been closely watching the recent changes the organization has gone through, and I believe that now, more than ever, is the time for some fresh faces on the board of directors.

lt certainly is an exciting time, and I believe with your new management, there are many successes on the horizon for the Queenstown BlA.

I have attached a very brief bio with this letter; as I understand that is what is required for the current election, however; I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you further and let you know that regardless of this election of directors, I am happy to help in another capacity.

I love to volunteer and I would lìke to shift those efforts towards our downtown.

Our downtown plays an important role in my life, both personally and professionally.

I volunteer for organizations that call the downtown core their home; mainly the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce.

l sit on their board as a director and I believe that this would be a valuable asset to both boards; sharing information in both directions would help to eliminate working at cross purposes while maximizing resources.

Furthermore, I have held a seat on the Strive; Young Professionals Group executive board for the past three years.

ln my role with Strive, I have helped to bring large groups of young professionals to events in the downtown core, advocated on behalf of our membership at a municipal level on issues regarding the downtown, and supported young professionals in their business in the downtown.

I am proud to be a part of two boards that place heavy importance on the vitality of our downtown core, and I know that I can bring this energy and enthusiasm to the Queenstown BIA board of directors.

I spent four years working in the mayor's offìce at the City of Sault Ste. Marie.

This experience allowed me to expand my professional network and build meaningful relationships with municipal staff, political leaders and public officials.

I would like to take this opportunity to be candid with you about my outlook on volunteering on a board of directors.

Although I am significantly younger with fewer experiences than perhaps those who are on your board now, I am aware of the dedication and patience that needs to be exercised when volunteering on a board of directors.

I am a team player and I place the utmost importance on respect and understanding of my colleagues.

ln my short years of volunteering at a governance level, I believe I have acquired the skills necessary to be a respectful, motivated and active board member.

I would be happy to talk with you further about these experiences.

Thank you for your consideration.

Angela Romano

Hello, my name is Angela Romano and I am submitting my name for consideration for the board of directors.

I work for the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation as the tèam leader for the OntarioTravel lnformation Centre ln Sault Ste. Marie.

My career with OTMPC began on a part-time basis in 2000 and I became the team leader in 2007.

Working in tourism for so many years, I have certainly become familiar with what tourists can expect to fìnd in vibrant downtown settings and the types of experiences tourists are looking for.

Through product tours in other cities, I can provide some insight as to what may work and what does not work in attracting people to a city's downtown.

Speaking fìrsthand to visitors to the area, I am greatly familiar with the types of businesses they are looking for and the types of experiences they are seeking.

I am a passionate supporter of our downtown and as an avid walker in the downtown, I frequent many of the wonderful businesses located there and yes, I have witnessed fìrsthand some things that can definitely be improved upon.

I have also volunteered for the Canadian Cancer Society for many years on the Relay For Life committee and I am also an avid supporter of the Alzheimer's Society.

I recently hosted a successful fundraiser where over $2,000 was raised for the local Alzheimer Society for my 40th birthday at one of downtown Sault Ste. Marie's great gems, Loplops.

I am also a proud supporter of the Soo Greyhounds with season's tickets and a regular shopper at local food markets.

These are just a few examples of how community-minded I am.

I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to help shape our downtown for the better and make it a place that we can all be proud of, a place that we want to show off to friends, family and visitors; and of course, frequent ourselves.

Andrew Ross

As the general manager of enterprise services for the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation, Andrew has been responsible for cultivating and developing new small businesses within Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma District on behalf of the provincial government, and works on an ongoing basis with entrepreneurs to support, develop and grow their business ideas.

His role within the SSMEDC reflects the importance small business has in the development and growth of the local economy and he takes great interest in being able to support and grow opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business alike, while also acting as a facilitator between clients, the SSMEDC and city staff.

Born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, and having attended Sir James Dunn as well as Algoma University, Andrew continues to look for opportunities to participate on boards and committees that can help continue to grow his community.

As such, he is currently a member of the Sault Community Career Centre board, as well as the Algoma Workforce lnvestment CorporatÌon board.

Joining the Queenstown BIA board would offer another opportunity for him to be able to work directly with a strong small business group and offer his services, knowledge and expertise in support and growth of the downtown core.

Ashleigh Sauve

Ashleigh opened Shabby Motley in October 20l3 - a fibre arts shop and café, in Square 4.

Since opening, Ashleigh has found great value in the promotions and events organized by the Downtown Association.

ln April 2015, Ashleigh and her husband Nathan Broad purchased the building (356 Queen Street).

Prior to opening, Ashleigh worked in the community development not-for-profìt section including contracts with NORDIK lnstitute, researching youth entrepreneurship and participation in the economy.

She was the executive director of the Community Quality Research lnstitute; an organization that researched quality of life indicators in Sault Ste. Marie.

She sat on the Algoma University Students Union board as vice-president for three years.

Ashleigh is familiar with board governance, and taught Robert's Rules of Order to incoming boards for several years.

Ashleigh has two natural resource diplomas from Sault College and studied political science at Algoma University.

Paul Scornaienchi

Other than a short stint of five years in Ottawa studying architecture, my life and career have been here in our community of Sault Ste. Marie.

I extend my skills as a registered interior designer when seated as a board representative.

I open my ears and eyes to ensure there is a clear understanding of the task at hand before recommending solutions that best represent the entire membership, our partners and our community.

My personal opinions do not cloud the issue.

My  passion is for a healthy downtown (commerce and community enjoyment) and my commitment is to build a foundation of trust and respect amongst all members with communication, education and membership involvement.

Our measuring stick is a busy/populated downtown at all hours of the day and evening who are enjoying the businesses and environment for a better urban lifestyle.

I am a believer in governance (the legal process of a healthy board and its membership), streetscape (the importance of downtown branding and maintaining its culture), events (that promote all sectors of the downtown membership businesses and agencies).

The following are point-form items for consideration in voting for me as your representative on the board of directors with the Sault Ste. Marie Queenstown  BIA.

• 53 years old - knowledgable about our city trends with diversity, politics, funding, education, business, industry, and in relation to other communities.
• owner/principal of ergo office plus (22 years). Corporate, healthcare, hospitality, retail design. Design drawings and construction to suit client needs, individual work styles and corporate goals to foster an efficient ergonomic environment that is more comfortable, productive and cost effective.
• associate member of the Sault Ste. Marie Queenstown BIA. My owned building is not on Queen Street East but I understand how ìmportant it is to support our downtown and the public enjoying it.
• current member of the board with the Downtown Association since December, 2014. Am part of the "new board" creating change to suit the membership needs via organized committees and re-aligned budgets.
• committee chair with the downtown association "streetscape" committee, creating a branding foundation that represents all downtown membership sectors (heritage, business, government, public, visitors).
• member with the Chamber of Commerce and the business development and education committee. To ensure a healthy business community with empowering the membership with knowledge and opportunities.
• registered interior designer and Ontario Building Code certified. Have designed many Queen Street East front facades and second-floor apartments conforming to the downtown community improvement plan.

Carrie Suriano

NO BIOGRAPHY SUBMITTED

Marian Theriault

My name is Marian Theriault and I own and operate lthaka Ladies Active clothing store in Heritage Square, Downtown.

I was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie and literally grew up in Queenstown working in the family business, the Duke Of Windsor Sports Shop.

As of two years ago, I also live downtown.

I love Sault Ste. Marie and I am very compassionate when it comes to our downtown.

I have been on the executive with the Downtown Association for seven years now, four years as treasurer, the last three years as vice-chair and currently interim chair.

I would love to continue being on the board, working hard on the association's behalf to make our downtown a thriving place to work, live, shop and play.

I ask for your support and vote.

Thanks so much.

GraceTridico

NO BIOGRAPHY SUBMITTED

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