What’s something about your job that you don’t think most people would know? 
I think most people don't realize how much work goes on behind the scenes of programs, workshops and events in order to make them run smoothly all across Essex, McGregor, Colchester & Harrow. There is a lot of planning, problem-solving and coordination going on, not only within our recreation team, but also with other departments and outside partners in order to offer high quality programming . From supporting staff and coordinating programs to troubleshooting unexpected situations and making sure everyone has a positive experience, there is a lot of multitasking! 

What is your favourite part about working in local government? 
My favourite part about working in local government is being able to connect with the community and see the direct positive impact we have. I truly enjoy helping create programs and events that help bring everyone together to have fun and make memories together. Being able to be a part of a growing community and witness everyone enjoying an event that you worked hard to put together is a very rewarding experience. 

What made you want to work in local government? 
I have always loved being a part of a group, planning things and interacting with the public. My passion stemmed from my days as a program instructor and camp counselor.

I knew I wanted to continue to give back to the community, work with children and help with planning creative programs and events.

No two days are the same - there is always something new going on!

What’s something about your job that you don’t think most people would know? 
Water treatment, Water Distribution, and Wastewater Treatment is a heavily regulated industry (for good reason). We must adhere to multiple federal and provincial legislations/regulations. O. Reg 170/03 (which is one of many legislative documents) is 66 pages long! We are audited annually by Ministry staff to confirm our adherence.

What is your favourite part about working in local government? 
Having the flexibility to work in an office environment and work out in the field provides a varied and dynamic work environment. 

What made you want to work in local government? 
Honestly, it was kind of luck. I applied for a summer student position in Environmental Services while I was in college. I quickly gained a huge respect for the unsung heroes that are "water operators" and thoroughly enjoyed working in the Water/Wastewater industry. I worked towards obtaining my Water Operator certifications while I was in college, and the rest is history.  

However, my team and I take a lot of pride in delivering clean and reliable drinking water and wastewater services to our communities. 

What’s something about your job that you don’t think most people would know? 
That it affects every aspect of your community, your environment, and your life. Planners are responsible for ensuring you have parks to play in, subdivisions to live in, farmland to grow food on, downtowns to shop in, schools to attend, buildings to work in, and heritage buildings to snap selfies with. Whether your future plans are to build an additional house on your property for your aging parents or adult children, or, to establish a home-based business- these decisions are highly influenced by the policy Planners develop and recommend for your community. 

What is your favourite part about working in local government? 
Knowing that my work and the recommendations and decisions I make have a positive impact on not only one person, but an entire community, and ultimately, the prosperity of the province. Not every decision I make is liked but it is always in line with provincial and community interests.

What made you want to work in local government? 
I was lucky to have landed a summer job in Essex as a heritage student with the Planning department in 2014. My first impression of local government was mixed. I was young and naturally skeptical about certain programs and the layers of approval for certain initiatives, pegging it all to “red tape”. However, through another summer with the Town in 2015, I quickly recognized how important local government, and good planning, is to the survival of a community. When you work in local government, you see firsthand the hard work that all staff members put into their roles for the betterment of your community. Local government is special because without it, community interests and issues are much harder to gage and address.

There is no other government that is as responsive or in tune with the people than local government and being a public servant puts you at the heart of it. 

What’s something about your job that you don’t think most people would know? 
My role is very busy with a major focus on supporting EFRS’s cancer prevention program. Whenever firefighting gear becomes contaminated during a fire, accident, or other incident, I manage the entire cleaning process. This includes taking the gear apart, washing and decontaminating it, inspecting it for damage or wear, notifying the chiefs when repairs are needed, and ensuring it is properly reassembled and returned to the correct firefighter. 

Recently, EFRS expanded its cancer prevention program by adding specialized washer for SCBA equipment, helmets, boots, and other firefighting equipment. This has increased my responsibilities to include cleaning, inspecting, and maintaining these items as well. 

 Along with these duties, I continue to manage station logistics for all three stations. This includes delivering and picking up supplies and equipment, coordinating repairs, and ensuring items are sent to the appropriate service providers when needed. I also assist the Assistant Deputy with the smoke alarm program, fire prevention, and public education. These activities take place weekly and sometimes daily, including community events, inspections, and fire safety education. 

Overall, my workload has grown significantly as EFRS continues to expand its cancer prevention, equipment maintenance, logistics, fire prevention, and public education programs. These responsibilities require considerable time, organization, and attention to detail to ensure firefighters have clean, safe, and serviceable equipment and that the daily needs of all three stations are met. 

What is your favourite part about working in local government? 
My favorite part, by far, is the people I get to interact with every day, from fire administration and our firefighters to, most importantly, the members of our community. I absolutely love the public fire safety education aspect of EFRS. There’s nothing quite like seeing the smiles on kids’ faces when they see the fire trucks, visit our stations, and learn about fire safety. It’s just as rewarding to connect with other members of the community, whether I’m installing smoke alarms in people’s homes or providing safety talks for seniors. This community is a truly special place, and seeing the trust, appreciation, and support people have for our fire department is something I value immensely.    

What made you want to work in local government? 
To be honest, I never really pictured myself working in local government. A friend introduced me to the fire service and encouraged me to visit a fire station to see if it was something I might enjoy. They felt it would be a good fit for me, and after that first visit, I was sold. The camaraderie and friendships I’ve built since then have been incredible. One of the things I value most about the fire service is that the support extends far beyond your own department.

You become part of a much larger family, where firefighters and fire departments stand together, support one another, and share a common purpose. That sense of belonging and connection is truly special.  

What’s something about your job most people wouldn’t know? 
Much of our work begins before construction starts. We help residents and businesses understand the requirements and work through questions about their projects. That early guidance can make the process easier, prevent costly problems and help people move forward with confidence. 

What’s something about your job that you don’t think most people would know?  
One thing many people don't realize is that the Planning Department works within very strict, legislated timelines under the Planning Act. Attention to detail and effective time management are critical, as even a one-day delay can have serious legal consequences and impact development projects. 

What is your favourite part about working in local government?  
What I enjoy most about working in local government is being able to contribute to the community that has played such an important role in my life.

I strive to provide the highest level of service to residents and value the opportunities to learn, take on new challenges, and further develop personally and professionally. 

What made you want to work in local government?  
I was drawn to local government because it offers job stability and a healthy work-life balance while providing the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the community I serve. 

What’s something about your job that you don’t think most people would know?
A lot of the work we do happens behind the scenes. People might see a new business open or a development get built, but they don’t always see the months or even years of work that go into making it happen. There’s a lot of relationship-building, research, negotiations and connecting businesses with the right resources and opportunities.

What is your favourite part about working in local government?
For me, it’s being able to see the impact of our work in the communities we serve. Whether it’s seeing how much our work has enabled our downtown cores to be transformed or getting news that we received a grant we applied for, you can see how those efforts directly contributed to our community. You get to work with residents, businesses, community organizations and different levels of government, and every project brings a different challenge. It’s rewarding to be part of work that helps shape the future of our community.

What made you want to work in local government?
Economic development was a natural fit because it combines strategy and relationship building, but I’ve also really enjoyed the broader strategic side of the work, looking at community needs, exploring new opportunities, and helping develop plans for the future.

Local government gave me the opportunity to take those ideas and turn them into projects that have made a real difference.

What’s something about your job that you don’t think most people would know? 
Something most people may not realize about my job is how involved I am in shaping the Town’s budget. Throughout the process I support internal departments as they develop their budgets, analyze financial impacts and trends, and help evaluate new budget requests. Additionally, I create opportunities for public engagement, ensuring the results and community feedback are incorporated into the process. I also prepare the budget document and presentation, continually looking for ways to improve how the information is communicated. From internal budget kick-off all the way to council deliberations and publishing the adopted budget document, I am apart of the Town’s budget process from start to finish. 

 What is your favourite part about working in local government? 
My favourite part about working in local government is the opportunity to take on challenging problems and help find solutions that make a meaningful difference in the community. I enjoy working through complex issues, collaborating with others, and seeing how the work we do translates into real, tangible impacts on the lives of residents. 

What made you want to work in local government? 
I started working for the Town as a student, and that opportunity has grown into a career I’m passionate about. As I gained experience and progressed into my current role as Assistant Manager, I came to appreciate the important role local government plays in residents’ everyday lives.

Having grown up in the community I now serve, it is rewarding to know that my work contributes to making the Town a great place to live, work and play! 

What’s something about your job that you don’t think most people would know?
The range of work we do. What we maintain & repair. We oversee all storm drains & catch basins in both Essex & Harrow, as well all roadside ditches through out the municipality. We also take care of maintaining all Town owned roads from gravel to tar and chip to asphalt. We oversee and install all Town signage and all Town owned trees. Mother nature plays a big part in our day-to-day operations from storm cleanup to winter maintenance. Our phones ring at all hours, day or night, weekends and Holidays. 

What is your favourite part about working in local government?
Being part of all the changes. Both Town Centres have gone through significant changes in just the last few years. Our rural roads are going from gravel to tar and chip. The equipment upgrades as well. I also work with some great individuals. 

What made you want to work in local government?
The opportunity presented itself and I was lucky enough to get the job. I was already a volunteer firefighter with The Harrow & Colchester South Fire Dept. and working for the town I grew up in, seemed (is) great. It has been a great experience to see Council over the years moving the whole community forward. The amalgamation in 1999 has given me the chance to work in both Essex & Harrow as well as former Colchester North & South townships.

I am looking forward to seeing what the next 30 years brings.

What’s something about your job that you don’t think most people would know?
People may not realize that Human Resources does more than provide administrative support. We advise and collaborate with leadership, drawing on legal frameworks and best practices. Our role often includes both making decisions and communicating them.

Since working in a municipality, I’ve learned that our work is guided by more than the ESA and company policies—a distinction that may not apply in other industries. The Municipal Act and municipal by-laws establish a binding legal framework that standardizes employment rules; promotes fairness; and clearly defines the responsibilities of staff and administrative officials.

What is your favourite part about working in local government?
One of my favourite parts of working in local government is contributing to and supporting the community I call home, and I value the public-sector focus on people-first policies.

What made you want to work in local government?

Working for the Town of Essex allows me to contribute to the common good of our community. 

I can represent and serve the public behind the scenes with integrity, guided by the principles of good governance. Working in the Town also offers job security, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to work close to home.

What’s something about your job that you don’t think most people would know?
There is so much logistical planning, risk management and detailed data that goes into making an election happen. It takes months to get ready for one Election Day! From site set-up, technology, helping voters, managing staff and counting the votes, I wear many hats in this role.

What is your favourite part about working in local government?
For me, working in local government is about service. I feel that I am showing how much I care about people through the democratic and administrative processes that make local government work. I am also surrounded by amazing colleagues that work very hard to ensure that the community is served well.

What made you want to work in local government?
I have worked at all levels of government as well as corporate and non-profit roles and the Town is a great place to work. Local government is where the heart of the community beats, there’s a rhythm to the daily pace.

We have such rich resources and history here; it makes me proud to be able to represent the Town in my role.