Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Suzanne achieved her B.F.A. at York University. After traveling extensively in east Asia for several months, she and her husband settled in Ottawa, where Suzanne worked as a producer/writer/director for a production company that she eventually bought and successfully operated for three years. In 2006, her husband Dorrie accepted an OPP Constable position in Schreiber. Suzanne sold her company and they relocated to Northern Ontario, choosing Nipigon as their new home.
Suzanne began work at the Nipigon EarlyON as a program assistant in 2007, establishing a successful children’s dance program that same year. In June of 2014, she accepted the position of Economic Development Officer with the Township of Nipigon.
During her six years as EDO, Suzanne obtained over $4 million in funding for a variety of projects, including the Paddle to the Sea Splash Pad, Bell St. Seniors Apartments, Trails Development, and Waterfront Development (Bridgeview Lookout, Lagoon Platforms). She initiated and facilitated the Nipigon River Brook Trout Festival, and the Bear Cave youth entrepreneurship initiative. One of the accomplishments she is most proud of is the establishment of the Edge Arts Studio and Gallery. Suzanne was also the driving force behind bringing CBC’s Still Standing to Nipigon.
As EDO, Suzanne pushed for and facilitated several environmental initiatives. She established and chaired a Green Team committee, developed a sustainable low-cost recycling depot, increased the usage of the battery recycling program, and coordinated an annual community clean-up initiative in partnership with the elementary schools.
As EDO, she was active on several committees including Economic Development, Trails Development, Community Capacity, Hike for Health, Northshore Network, Nipigon Ice Fest, Land of the Nipigon Waterways Association, and Top of Lake Superior Chamber of Commerce.
In addition, Suzanne completed years one and two of the EDAC (Economic Development Association of Canada) course through the University of Waterloo. Her first-year paper was published in the university’s Ec Dev journal.
Although Suzanne is an involved and proud mom of Jack and Sasha, she is also passionate about the community she calls home. She has been Chair of the Nipigon Fall Fishing Festival Committee since 2019 and has served as Secretary for Elks Minor Hockey since 2018. She has also managed her children’s hockey teams for the past six years and counting.
In 2020, Suzanne accepted a position with Superior Country as the Lake Superior North Shore Tourism Coordinator, working with partners such as Parks Canada, Destination Northern Ontario, Superior North CFDC and FedNor, to develop tourism product with the goal of establishing the north shore of Lake Superior as a travel destination.
Suzanne looks forward to using her unique experience and strong leadership abilities to play a key role in moving Nipigon forward.
