Cathy was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario but spent her summers in Carmanville, Newfoundland at her family’s summer home. She holds three university degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature, a Masters of Science in Education and a Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology. Cathy is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers, is a Registered Psychotherapist and a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. As an educator, Cathy spent a number of years as a high school English teacher in Scarborough, but moved to Kanata in 1994 and continued to teach English at Sir Guy Carleton SS, Sir Robert Borden SS, A.Y. Jackson SS and West Carleton SS. Cathy is also a therapist in Almonte a few evenings a week.
Having four children encouraged Cathy to become involved in school councils, becoming Chair of the Kanata Inter-School Council that connected all of Kanata’s school councils. In 2006, Cathy ran for OCDSB School Board Trustee, serving for six years and becoming OCDSB Chair in 2011. Since 2016, Cathy has been a member of the Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre Board, the CHEO Board, the Ronald McDonald House Board, and Chair of the Ontario Center of Excellence for Children and Youth Mental Health Strategic Advisory Committee. She has served on the Ottawa Community Foundation’s Grants Committee, the Caldwell Family Centre Board, and the Ottawa Fusion Volleyball Board.
As your current City Councillor, Cathy is Chair of the City’s Audit Committee and has been a member of the City’s Planning Committee, Transit Committee, Light Rail Sub-Committee, Finance and Corporate Services Committee, Environment and Climate Change Committee, and the Service Review Working Group. Cathy also was appointed to the Ottawa Police Services Board, the Hydro Ottawa Board and Invest Ottawa. Cathy also sits on the Kanata North Business Association and the Kanata Central Business Improvement Area Boards.
Like all of the current 24 city councillors, Cathy was Deputy Mayor for a six-month term.
In her spare time, Cathy plays the piano and the guitar, and plays French Horn in the Concert Band of Kanata.
