Betsy Gross says she can bring two vital things to city council: a vast array of experience and an open mind.
“I have no agenda. I have no pet project and I have no conflict of interest,” says Gross, 77. “But I have 40 years of experience working on city committees and volunteering for various groups.”
Gross, one of five candidates in Ward 3, says the city’s future looks bright.
“I feel Orillia is on the cusp of a very exciting four years. I think we need people on council that have been involved in the city for enough time so they have access to information needed to make decisions,” said Gross.
She said many people she encounters while canvassing Ward 3 neighbourhoods are concerned about plans to potentially sell the Orillia Power Distribution Corporation to Hydro One.
“Hydro is such a sore thing. For a lot of senior citizens, hydro is their biggest bill and they are afraid, if this deal went through, eventually, their hydro would go up,” she said.
Gross said she has “full confidence” in the Orillia Power board that endorsed the sale. However, she has “no trust in Hydro One” and does not have confidence they will fulfil their promises. “I have talked to five municipalities who have done similar deals and they are all sorry they did it,” said Gross.
She said most citizens want the next term of council to shift the focus away from big projects. “Depending on their age, the pool and recreation centre have nothing to do with them,” she said. “Most care about day-to-day living, taxes, roads, snow removal ... the cost of big projects scare them.”
Gross, a successful entrepreneur who most recently worked for financial consultant Edward Jones, said she wants fewer closed meetings and vows to keep debate at city hall civil.
“I will be going in with an open mind,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to say I’m going to go in and do this and do that … I will listen, first.”
With that in mind, she would like to see a small budget created so councillors can better communicate with constituents. “I want to have ward meetings and ensure residents are updated.”
But, overarching all that, she says is a passion for Orillia that is backed up by four decades of volunteerism.
She founded both the Orillia Big Sisters Association and the Orillia Business Women’s Association and served as president of both. She has volunteered at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital since 2010 and has organized the Business Leader of the Year event since 2014.
Gross has also had leadership roles with the Orillia and District Chamber of Commerce, organized a trade show, helped lead the Children’s Safety Village initiative and has been chair of the Commemorative Awards Committee since 2013 while also serving on the Order of Orillia committee.
The former sports columnist for several local papers has also coached baseball, hockey and lacrosse and earned the Queen’s 125th Anniversary Medal and was runner-up for Simcoe County Woman of the Year.
Her desire to help others in the community was borne from tragedy. She vividly remembers when Hurricane Hazel went through her Etobicoke neighbourhood, killing eight people from her neighbourhood.
In 1965, when her kids were one and two, they survived a pre-Christmas house fire. In 1971, the family boat sank in Lake Couchiching.
“When you go through things, you become grateful to be alive and you realize material things don’t matter; people matter,” said Gross. “We’re here for one purpose and one purpose only: to make life better for yourself and for other people. I’ve tried to do that.”
Editor's Note: OrilliaMatters is profiling all candidates in Orillia's municipal election. They are being published daily, by ward, in alphabetical order. The mayoralty candidates will also be profiled.
