Life-long resident Kathy Jeffery is hoping voters will let her continue to build on the progress she’s made while at the council table by ticking the box next to her name for councillor come October.
Jeffery was born at the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital and has lived here all her life, excluding the two years she went to Georgian College in Barrie to get her legal secretarial diploma.
Her career has taken her from working as a legal secretary to an audit technician, a staff accountant, an executive assistant and finally as a national account manager for sales, which she retired from two years ago. She currently still owns her 20-year-strong bookkeeping business. Jeffery’s volunteer endeavours in the area are also plentiful, including a leadership position with the Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs of Canada and serving as a former president of Collingwood Minor Hockey.
“Community service has always been a part of my DNA, instilled by both of my parents who were also avid volunteers,” she says.
It was a suggestion from a major municipal figure that set the wheels in motion for her to consider running for council back in the early 2000s.
“It was pointed out to me by former Mayor Terry Geddes that I had the experience to run for council and that I should consider it,” says Jeffery.
“Honestly, when he first asked me, I told him I felt the municipal order of government was broken and I wasn’t sure I could accomplish anything,” she says. “That seemed like a defeatist attitude, so I agreed to run to have a vote and try.”
Jeffery hasn’t looked back, and has fought for years to preserve Collingwood’s character, traditions, and heritage.
Her dream for Collingwood includes a new hospital, a multi-use facility, re-purposing of the grain terminals, fostering the heritage district, preserving history and making Collingwood a leader in culture, entrepreneurship, and tourism.
“In the short term, the town must continue to address its financial health by continuing to reduce its debt and improve to a solid financial position, pursue tools that allow the public to engage in our processes and information more readily and develop a comprehensive communication plan,” says Jeffery.
Jeffery says the biggest challenge facing council is getting facts out to residents so they can form their own opinions based on those facts.
“There has been a significant shift in the availability of media and the town needs to explore opportunities for council to communicate its information efficiently, effectively and timely to the residents,” she says, adding that striving to achieve an inclusive communication plan that takes into account those who do not have electronic access is an important part of that.
Jeffery says that while some might think they have all the answers, her first priority as a councillor would be to lend an ear.
“As a councillor, you do have to weigh in the many perspectives of our diverse residents, so my top priority is to listen,” says Jeffery.
“How fortunate are we to have so many willing people participate in the development of our plans,” she says. “If you make decisions that have the most positive outcome to the objectives of the plans for the greatest majority of people, I believe you are on the right track and are making a difference!”
Jeffery is one of 19 candidates for councillor in the upcoming October municipal election. Voters may choose up to seven candidates on their ballots for councillor.
The Collingwood Chamber of Commerce is hosting a meet-the-candidates event for councillor candidates on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Collingwood Legion. Doors open at 6 p.m. The last event was at capacity and some residents were turned away from the meeting.
The chamber will be posing questions received by members of the public to each of the candidates during the meeting. Click here if you have a question you’d like included.
