Why we're really proud of Leslie Fields

OFFICIAL WRITE-UP FROM INFLUENTIAL WOMEN AWARDS

********************* Leslie Fields - Public Sector

In her role as community leader, Leslie Fields, reeve of Assiginack Township on Manitoulin Island, has been described as confident, competent and co-operative: a results-oriented person who sees beyond the perspective of most individuals.

These traits have helped her collaborate with the community to overcome obstacles when faced with difficult challenges.

One of Fields' most challenging experiences was finding a physician, a growing problem in northern rural communities.

Their doctor, under a community-sponsored contract, left at the end of the summer.

It was hoped they could convince the province to provide funding for a recent nurse practitioner graduate at the medical clinic to stay until they could obtain a new doctor.

Unfortunately, the province did not fund the position so her community decided to support the nurse practitioner with their own tax dollars to keep the clinic open until a permanent physician was found.

It was a huge challenge for the community because it has no industrial or manufacturing tax base.

But they made it work. "I'm so proud of the fact that a small community with limited resources could do some of their own problem solving," says Fields.

Another initiative Fields has championed is the implementation of broadband technology to several communities on eastern Manitoulin Island through the deployment of Digital Subscriber Line services.

Many sectors of the economy have reaped the benefits of this technology, such as education and health care.

In addition to the many community events she is involved in, Fields also makes time to support children with a program called Sleeping Children Around the World.

She travels to developing countries to deliver bed kits for children to make their life a little bit more comfortable.

The program is completely volunteer-based.

"It makes a difference in the children's lives, and often it is the first real significant gift they've received from someone else."

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