BRACEBRIDGE LIBRARY BOARD MEMBER PLANS TO WRITE NEW CHAPTER AS DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
BRACEBRIDGE — If COVID-19 has been a chilling page-turner, Tatiana Sutherland wants the post-pandemic chapter to be about families and recovery.
Which is why the Bracebridge mom and small business manager wants a seat at Muskoka’s district council come the Oct. 24 municipal elections.
Sutherland says she knows the pandemic has taken its toll on the small business community and has presented specific challenges for parents who have juggled both work and raising children in a climate wrought with uncertainty.
“My family has fought hard during the pandemic to keep income coming in while managing a toddler, helping elderly parents, and coping with the struggles of managing a small business during really tough times,” she says in a release.
“It made me increasingly certain we need to work together to continue to make Bracebridge, and all of Muskoka, a thriving, supportive and affordable place for families to live and grow.
“Muskoka is such a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family,” adds Sutherland, who manages a local website development and marketing firm.
“It’s important that we have representation at both district and town council by someone who can speak personally to issues impacting families with young kids. And I want to be that voice.”
Sutherland, who sits on the Bracebridge Public Library board — and at 40 is one of its youngest members — wants to step up to council and hopes that getting involved in local politics will encourage engagement from younger families and busy parents on issues that impact them every day.
“I offer a unique perspective as a working mom, of which there are few on town and district council.”
Sutherland says she wants to see more representation for parents of school-aged children and mid-career working mothers at the local government table.
For her, “affordable housing, access to child care and good-paying jobs for families to thrive and survive in our community” are just the start of her priorities.
She says she’s attracting attention of others who feel the same.
“I support Tatiana and look forward to her working to finding solutions to issues many of us are dealing with every day,” says Kasandra Bois, owner of Muskoka Boutique. “It’s also important to have women and parents of young children better represented in local decision-making.”
Sutherland, who will be registering as a candidate in May, looks forward to discussing what’s important to residents and getting their feedback over the coming months.
