For those who don’t know me yet, I moved from Montreal to Ottawa a decade ago with my supportive husband Dr. Tom Eeckelaert where we decided to build a family. I am a mother of three wonderful children (Luna, Lara and Ryan) who go to school in Kanata; and the daughter of senior parents who also live in Kanata.
I am a full-time federal public servant - working as a senior economist/policy advisor; a local small business advocate and founder of the Kanata-Carleton Small Business Network (KCSBN); a community builder and a board director for several local not-for-profit organizations, including the Kanata Food Cupboard and the WOCRC; a co-founder of the Kanata Community Associations Hub; a former Board Director and current volunteer for the Rotary Club; a part-time Professor at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University; and the author of several books.
I have worked on various socio-economic issues ranging from affordable housing, violence against women, seniors’ services, neighborhood safety, youth and mental health, to employment and integration, to name a few. I know first-hand what it means to be a part of the “sandwich” generation, caring for elderly parents and young children, while also working full-time. Nonetheless, these activities have never stopped me from making the time to give back. In 2020, I was honoured with several awards, including the Order of Ottawa acknowledging my dedication to this community.
