Heather Garbutt was raised in Sudbury and left to pursue a degree in Fisheries Biology from the University of Guelph. She also completed a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. She is a career public servant with the last 15 years being spent with the Ministry of Transportation in North Bay in the Environmental Section. The foundation of her work at the MTO is in Environmental Assessment, which is a defined process for informed planning and decision making. Toward ensuring more positive and inclusive work spaces, she is trained and registered as a Positive Space Champion and will soon be a Positive Space Trainer. She is a married mom of 2 kids (11 and 9) and in her spare time, she plays the violin in the North Bay Symphony Orchestra. Heather is running for School Board Trustee for Near North District School Board.
Read moreTanya Vrebosch
Tanya Vrebosch is a 37 years old mother of two beautiful children: Danielle (Dani) who is 7 months and Sydney, who is almost 6 years old. She raises them with her better half, Dan Nogueira. Her parents are Bill and Gisele Vrebosch. Her father is the current Mayor of East Ferris and retired music teacher and her mother is retired from working at Gravelle's Meat Market. She was born in Corbeil and has lived in North Bay since she was 18. She has always had strong roots in the city, graduating from St. Joseph Scollard Hall and then Canadore College after that. Her experience ranges from tourism to economic development to social services. Her most recent experience involves working for 9.5 years at LIPI, the local poverty office and currently as a Case Manager for Ontario Works. She is an active volunteer with the North Bay Santa Fund and LIPI and have been a Royal Canadian Legion member for over 15 years. Tanya is running for re-election to council in North Bay.
Read moreAshley Nurmela
Ashley Nurmela is an Indigenous woman from Lake Helen, and a proud wife and mother of four beautiful children. She attended Confederation College in the Native and Child Family Services Program as an adult learner, where she was on the honour roll, received the Board of Governors Award, and the Succi OASA Student Leadership award. She works at both the grassroots and administrative levels, developing and coordinating such programs as the Stand Up Speak Up Campaign, and most recently as the FNMI Liaison for the Lakehead District School Board. Ashley is running for city councillor of the McKellar ward in Thunder Bay, ON.
Read moreKim Ducharme
As a community member for over 30 years, Kim Ducharme has been engaged in her community in a variety of activities, roles and commitments. She has served in several family/children’s social service agencies, both in direct service and management. She has extensive experience serving on various Boards, as well as significant volunteer and advocacy work. She graduated from both a community college and university program in Child and Youth Care, and is grateful for the experience in both learning pathways. She presently serves as a professor at her local community college in the Child and Youth Care program. Her career direction definitely fine-tuned her skills in realistic and no-nonsense decision making, conflict management, crisis intervention, organization as well as the ability to do ten things all at the same time. Kim is running running for councillor-at-large in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
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