Suzy Burtenshaw brings much experience to the job of leadership. As Chair of the Coldwater Steampunk Festival, Suzy has spotlighted the amazing artists of Severn Township and surrounding area. The spin off has been a great economic boost to the region through tourism which earned her the 2017 Charlie Kelly Award; the first person to bring this award to Simcoe County.
Past accomplishments include being a Director of the Coldwater BIA, Segbay Chamber of Commerce and Muskoka Tourism.
Burtenshaw hails from West Oakville (Bronte), where she grew up in a family grocery business on the shore of Lake Ontario. “I learned Community 101 working beside my grandfather in the produce aisle,” she says. “His life lessons from a simpler time taught me tolerance, tenacity and inclusiveness”. Her family includes three grown daughters and two granddaughters.
“Politics, planning and community revitalization have always been conversation around the family table during the holidays,” says Burtenshaw.
Passionate about what makes good community, Burtenshaw pulls no punches when tackling bureaucracy head on. She asks questions and takes nothing for granted.
For Ward 1 Severn, she sees a future where the tourism hamlets of Port Severn and Severn Falls become sustainable gems to be proud of. Continuity of lifestyle and heritage of Ward 1’s rural communities need protecting as well as farmland and watershed areas. Road maintenance and enforcing speed are two issues that come up in conversation across Ward 1 and need to be addressed.
Burtenshaw’s platform is to bring an effective means of communication between people and council, to initiate community visioning in hamlets, and to be a loud voice if elected on Oct. 22nd, ensuring that all of Ward 1 is properly represented.
Good governance, fiscal responsibility and accountability are critical as we move forward … to a prosperous future in Severn Township.
