Valerie is ready to bring the voices of Nipissing–Timiskaming to the national stage. She has worked with municipal, provincial, and federal governments, not just to speak out—but to get real results. She has been in the rooms where decisions are made, in the streets where protests are held, and at the tables where policies are shaped. Now, as the NDP candidate for Nipissing–Timiskaming, she is ready to take her decades of experience and turn it into powerful action for the North.

Rooted in Northern Values: A Lifetime of Service

Valerie’s story is a Northern Ontario story. Born and raised in a working-class family, she learned early on that hard work, fairness, and integrity are the foundation of a strong community. She followed in her father’s footsteps, working in rail transportation and breaking barriers as the first woman in Ontario Northland’s transportation office.

She didn’t just work the job—she fought to make it better. As a Union Chair, Vice President, and Women’s Advocate with UNIFOR Rail, she stood up for fair wages, safer workplaces, and stronger protections for women in male-dominated industries. She negotiated with governments, confronted corporate interests, and never backed down from a fight that mattered.

After retiring from Ontario Northland in 2022, Valerie didn’t slow down. She turned her focus to education, public service, and grassroots advocacy, working at the library and as an educator while continuing to push for policy changes that put people first. 
 
Turning Experience into Action: Valerie’s Work with Government

For decades, Valerie has worked alongside municipal councils, provincial governments, and federal agencies to fight for the needs of Northern communities. She understands what policies succeed, what falls short, and where Parliament must do more to support Northern communities. That’s why she’s running—to stop the excuses and deliver real change.

A Trusted Advocate at the Municipal Level 
 
Valerie has worked directly with town councils to ensure that public services remain public and that communities get the funding they need for housing, transit, and local infrastructure. She has helped push for:

Stronger municipal investment in public transit, ensuring that small towns and rural areas have access to reliable transportation.

Environmental protections to stop Northern Ontario from becoming a dumping ground for waste from Southern Ontario.

 
 
A Fierce Fighter at Queen’s Park 
 
At the provincial level, Valerie has gone head-to-head with the Ontario government to defend Northern interests. When the Ontario PC government tried to sell Ontario Northland, she helped lead the “Fight Back” campaign—a powerful, people-driven movement that stopped the privatization plan in its tracks. She didn’t just talk about saving jobs—she helped save them.

She has also been a relentless advocate for passenger rail. When the Ontario Liberal government cut the Northlander train, she worked with NDP MPPs John Vanthof and Gilles Bisson to fight for its return. She testified at transportation committee hearings, mobilized communities, and built partnerships with municipalities and businesses—because she knows that rail service is not just transportation, it’s economic survival for the North. 

And in health & wellness, Valerie has pushed for: 
 
- Expanded mental health services, particularly in remote and Indigenous communities. 

- Fair wages and working conditions for workers, because quality care starts with the people providing it.

Bringing the Fight to Ottawa 
 
At the federal level, Valerie has stood up to decision-makers who ignore Northern Ontario. She has lobbied MPs and MPPs, spoken at Parliament meetings, and demanded action on key issues, including: 

- Public ownership of rail and transportation infrastructure, ensuring that critical services like the  Northlander are restored and expanded.

 
- Indigenous rights and reconciliation, pushing for the full implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and urgent investment in clean water, healthcare, and housing.

 
- Stronger environmental protections, fighting to keep corporate polluters accountable and protect Northern lands and waterways.

Valerie has seen how federal policies often fail Northern communities—and she is determined to be a strong, unapologetic voice in Ottawa to change that.

More Than Politics: A Community Leader Who Gets Things Done

Valerie doesn’t just fight for change in government—she lives it in her community. She has: 
- Helped establish youth sports programs as a board member and ski instructor with the Englehart Nordic Ski Club. 
- Promoted arts and culture as a member of the Englehart Area Artists. 
- Been a dedicated organizer for the NDP, helping to elect progressive leaders who put people before profits.

She knows that real change doesn’t come from empty promises—it comes from action, persistence, and a willingness to stand up for what’s right. 
 
Why Now? Because Northern Ontario Can’t Wait Any Longer.

This is Valerie’s time. She has proven that she can bring people together, challenge government inaction, and win real victories for the North. But the work isn’t done.

Northern Ontario still faces skyrocketing costs of living, healthcare shortages, climate threats, and a lack of federal support for critical infrastructure. The same politicians who ignored these issues for decades aren’t going to fix them now. That’s why Valerie is stepping up—to be the voice Northern Ontario deserves.

She isn’t a career politician. She isn’t in this for personal gain. She is in this because she believes in the North, and she knows what it takes to fight for it.

If we want to restore passenger rail, strengthen healthcare, make life affordable, and ensure a sustainable future for the next generation—we need leaders who will fight with everything they have. Valerie has done that her entire life. Now, she’s ready to do it in Ottawa.

Join her. Let’s take this fight to Parliament and build the future Northern Ontario deserves.