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MEET SANDRA 

 
WORKING FOR OUR FUTURE
WHILE RESPECTING OUR PAST

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MY BACKGROUND

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I was born and raised in Niagara, and my father grew up on Niagara­-on-­the-­Lake's Line 2, where my grandparents farmed.

 

I attended Brock University, specializing in geography and urban planning. After graduation I moved away from Niagara to work in management and consultancy for scientific organizations in various fields. I worked in government departments such as Natural Resources Canada and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, in the University of Victoria's Faculty of Science, and for the Canadian Institute of Surveying and Mapping/Geomatics. Then, I became an independent geomatics consultant, experiencing the challenges of developing, growing and maintaining my own private sector business.

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My daughter, Kelly, is a lawyer in the human rights field and my son-in-law, Christian, is a manager in international development sector. My step-daughter Claire and her husband Lawrence, along with step-son Neil and his wife Sonya, live in Victoria BC.

COUNCIL ACHIEVEMENTS DURING MY FIRST TERM

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Council achievements are collaborative, and the Council, Town staff, and the community at large are all involved in reaching them. However, each Councillor brings special interests and strengths to certain issues, thereby strengthening the deliberations of Council as a whole.

 

I was appointed Town Councillor in 2020, following the resignation of a sitting Councillor. During the two following years I was most involved with:

 

Environment:

  • Instrumental in developing the “Climate Change Adaptation Plan”

  • Fostered increasing the tree canopy

  • and promoted effective stormwater management regulations

 

   In St. Davids:

  • Argued against the proposed traffic roundabout at York Rd and Four Mile Creek Road

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   In the dock area of Old Town: 

  • Promoted for an effective solution to flooding,  parking and vehicle flow

 

Healthcare Infrastructure:

  • Motioned for the return of the Nurse Practitioner from the Niagara Health System for a walk-in clinic

 

Sustainable Tourism:

  • Strong proponent for, and advocated for the Municipal Accommodations Tax

 

Sustainable development: 

  • Advocated for responsible development plans taking into account environmental concerns and our heritage​

 

In other areas:

  • As a member of the Audit and Finance committee, I advocated for a fiscally responsible budget during COVID-19 to ensure that the municipality continued to operate effectively

  • Advocated and fostered changes to policy to make Town Council Committees more gender representative

 

Serving the Town:

Town Committees – member:

   • Agricultural Committee

   • Audit and Finance Committee

   • Community Wellness

   • Environmental Advisory Committee

   • Town Representative for  Music Niagara

 

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ACHIEVEMENTS PRIOR TO BECOMING COUNCILLOR

  • Fought to maintain our health infrastructure, specifically, to save the Niagara-on-the-Lake hospital; 

  • Awarded the Niagara-on-the-Lake volunteer recognition award for contributing to the protection of the environment, 

  • Advocated for an urban tree by-law on behalf of the Niagara Region Conservancy

  • Advocated to preserve agricultural lands and help our local farmers;

  • Fought the proposed reduction of polling stations for St. David and Queenston, which I considered anti-democratic

  • Member of Niagara Region’s Smarter Niagara Steering Committee, which advised on enhancing and protecting  the built and natural environment in the Region.

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