Editor's note: OrilliaMatters has asked council candidates in neighbouring Oro-Medonte, Ramara and Severn townships to provide a synopsis of why they are running in the Oct. 24 municipal election. The following was submitted by Geraldine Taylor-Cook, who is running as a candidate in Ward 2 of Severn Township. For more election coverage — including candidate profiles and other election news — visit our 2022 municipal election page by clicking here.
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My name is Geraldine Taylor-Cook and I would like to represent you as councillor for Ward 2 of Severn Township. Born and raised here, I moved to Whitby to marry, raise my sons and manage my business. Yet the road to Mom's house in Coldwater was well travelled and my roots always stayed firmly grounded in this community. I returned once I retired.
Our beautiful little village of Coldwater is on the verge of a building and population boom. Where fields and farms once dotted our rural landscape, houses and subdivisions are popping up.
Although we may like the idea of living in a little secluded corner of the world where things stay the same, that's not reality. Growth is good for our merchants, tradespeople and residents if managed properly.
Everyone, politicians and residents alike will need to pull together over the coming years to ensure that we get it right. You will need transparency, trust and open sharing of information. I’d like to serve as your conduit between the people of Ward 2 and Severn Township Council.
Upgrading existing infrastructure will be as necessary as controls affixed to spending. Traffic flow will increase and we urgently require methods to slow the speeds. We must keep a stern eye on our fresh water supply. As AWARE Simcoe stated, water in some Simcoe townships contain pristine groundwater – the purest water known to science, and is the gold standard for water worldwide, a national and global treasure. We must protect it to ensure future growth of our communities.
I have a BA enhanced by extensive business management and contractual knowledge. With a business partner, I founded and ran an international consulting and financial resource management company based in Whitby. Through extensive travel, I built skills in communication, negotiation and cultural sensitivities.
I believe that in order to get the best from the community you live in, one must be involved and give back. living in Whitby my community involvement included:
- Instrumental in the establishment of the Whitby BIA;
- Several years on the Board of The Festival of Trees, a fundraiser for Hospice;
- Worked closely with CLOCA (Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority) on a shoreline conservation program on Lake Ontario;
- Volunteering at the Library
I ask that you cast your vote for me and in return I will be open, honest and transparent. Please contact me: 705-686-3032 or by email: gtaylorc[email protected].
