Five questions with Pickering's new councillor Christine Doody-Hamilton

A Pickering resident who has lived within the metropolis for greater than 30 years, is now making vital selections on the council desk.

Christine Doody-Hamilton is the brand new Ward 2 metropolis councillor, and she or he answered 5 questions from DurhamRegion.com.

She was chosen by council out of 24 candidates on Jan. 13, and has crammed the seat that has sat empty since the dying of Ian Cumming.

Why did you determine to run for council?

Whereas I’ve at all times been civic-minded, I used to be really inspired by my family and friends to “throw my hat within the ring” and apply for the place. They thought that I might be an efficient member of council, due to my technical background, my ease of speaking with individuals, my impartiality, and my need to serve the neighborhood that I’ve known as house for over 30 years.

What are the most important points dealing with Pickering at present and the way do you intend to deal with them?

Pickering is dealing with quite a few vital points in addition to alternatives. For instance, the proposed Metropolis Centre Venture is an formidable redevelopment of our downtown core. The Beachfront Park Revitalization and weed administration in Frenchman’s Bay are problems with significance to each Ward 2 residents in addition to the broader neighborhood. And naturally, this previous week, we noticed how vital our snowplow operators and upkeep workers are. It's troublesome for me to enter specifics on the best way to tackle these, and different problems with significance, since I’m nonetheless studying how town operates, and I’m nonetheless getting acclimatized to my new function.

How will your previous work and volunteer expertise make it easier to on this new path?

My earlier work expertise has given me a strong understanding of engineering, planning, and environmental evaluation, because it pertains to municipalities. My volunteer expertise, significantly with the Durham Environmental Advisory Committee (DEAC), has given me appreciable perception into the environmental points in Durham Area as a complete, and likewise, a deep appreciation of the good work our volunteers do on behalf of our communities.

What do you're keen on most about Pickering?

My favorite place might be the waterfront, adopted carefully by the Seaton Mountaineering Path, however I additionally love all the distinct personalities and charms of the neighbourhoods in Pickering: Rougemount, West Shore, Bay Ridges, Maple Ridge, and Brock Ridge, to call a number of. Pickering could be very various — I like that. And consider it or not, due to my expertise instructing sanitary know-how, I’m a giant fan of the Duffin Creek Wastewater Remedy Plant. I’m hoping to get a tour some day.

Inform us one thing distinctive about your self.

I like the outside. I prefer to stroll metropolis streets, and I prefer to hike woodland trails. In 2017, when my daughter graduated from college, we went to Spain and Scotland on a mother-daughter journey, and we spent three weeks climbing the Camino and the Highlands. It was an extremely exhilarating and inspirational expertise!