Meet Ward 1 candidate Sandra Hollingsworth

SooToday asked each of the candidates to submit a bio to introduce themselves to the voters. Meet Ward 1 candidate Sandra Hollingsworth:

The goal: building a safe, liveable, and interactive city for seniors, families, and young people. I believe in our community and very proud of where we live.

Raised here, for 25 years focused on business, charitable work and medicine. Lived in Toronto, Vancouver and Annapolis where I’ve learned about other cultures and sustainable ideas that I have applied here to enhance the quality of life. Experience; Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (Strategy), College of Family Physicians of Canada (Manager Charity), Annapolis Tourism Bureau, active in the family business Soo Mill and Lumber.

Elected February 2, 2016, in a short period implemented new ideas. I believe it is the responsibility of each councillor to bring ideas to the “table” and make them happen. I:
    •    Initiated 100 Women Who Care Sault Ste. Marie, raising over $150,000 for local grassroot charities
    •    Drafted resolution to re-structure the finance committee impacting city’s budget process
    •    Approximately 75 per cent of adults with developmental disabilities have no safe housing. Worked with Mike Nadeau, Executive Director Social Services,  new  units initiated, as a pilot project
    •    With the downtown association, launched the Michigan marketing campaign,  introduced the “Sault Ste. Marie Heritage Walking Tour” as a free activity for families

The backbone to our local economy is small businesses, so build on our strengths for economic growth.  The future involves stopping the “out migration” of our youth,  invest into infrastructure creating a vibrant community, offer more mental heath support, use our post secondary institutions to help find solutions to the labour shortages, eliminate city hall barriers  that will help local businesses to grow, and importantly embrace the ideas of residents. This is our community, we are all in this together. Learn more at sandrahollingsworth.com