Page 18 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 91

18 Issue #91 August 2020 www.sportsenergynews.com

Casey Leger goes 1 -1 with our Local members of council

Interview with Interview with

Carilyne Hébert Stephanie Jaworski

irst elected in October of 2014 and re-elected in 2018, Cornwall City councilor tephanie Jaworski was first elected to office in 2018. “I was very active
FCarilyne Hebert was born in Alexandria and moved to Cornwall with her Sin my community’s successful effort to stop the proposed closure of our
family when she was 10 years old. “I suppose you can say my interest in politics local high school, Char-Lan DHS,” says Jaworski. “I felt very strongly that
began in high school when I was elected to our student council. I also took the municipalities could play a stronger role in advocating for the importance
time to learn about the different parties we have provincially and federally,” says of local schools, as they are key to the vibrancy and sustainability of our
Hebert.
communities.”
The councilor is currently the Executive Director of a small non-profit A McGill University graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering in mining,
organization called the Social Development Council of Cornwall and Area. Jaworski wants her constituents to know that she’s a family woman
Working in the non-profit sector for most of her adult life, Hebert knew that with three beautiful children who are all involved in hockey, soccer, and
getting elected would be her best opportunity to have a bigger, longer lasting
impact on her community. “My first job in the nonprofit sector was working at horseback riding. Additionally, she is a passionate rural school advocate,
a food bank. I loved that job; however, I wanted to be part of the system that and she continues to champion school boards and the township working
could reduce poverty, increase people’s quality of life, and decrease the number together to benefit the community. “I am an active participant on both the
of people that needed to depend on food banks and soup kitchens,” she says. Williamstown Public School and Char-Lan District High School councils
and a member of the Upper Canada District Parent Involvement Committee,”
Hebert graduated from St-Lawrence College in 2011 with a Diploma in she says. “I am also South Glengarry’s representative to the Community
Business. “I’ve always been interested in the background work of non-profits,”
she explains. “This is why I did not pursue an education as a social worker.” Schools Alliance, a province-wide municipal advocacy group.”
When it comes to the rewarding aspects of local politics, she says
There is much Hebert would like to accomplish on behalf of her constituents,
but environmental impact and climate change are two of her top priorities. As that seeing changes implemented that have a marked positive impact on
such, she would like to see a reduction in the amount of waste produced in the residents’ lives and learning about so many different areas that impact
city. “Cornwall has grown and progressed so much in the last few decades. Still, the township top the list. “I also really enjoy exchanging with my fellow
there is much more growing left to do. We have moved on this issue since our last councilors, and the township staff, and learning from their experience and
election in 2018 but it needs a lot more work. On April 1, 2019 we introduced a perspectives,” she says.
garbage bag limit. I recall growing up in Alexandria with a two-bag limit. We are Like many who serve the public, she wishes there were more time in
behind the times. Six bags is still far too much. I would love to see that reduced the day to tackle the important issues facing the community. “I do find it
to two bags before the end of my term,” explains Hebert about the current 6-bag challenging to balance the needs and expectations of different constituents;
limit on garbage in the city.
however, fortunately, there is usually common ground to be found,”
“Food waste is also a big issue,” notes Hebert. “In Canada alone we create 6 Jaworski says. “When I ran for this position, I committed to work hard,
million tons of food waste a year, which is equivalent to the weight of 1 million be accessible, be prepared, be fiscally responsible, and make informed
full grown elephants. We can do our part here in Cornwall. Preliminary work has decisions.”
begun on the possibility of municipal composting. I know it’s a lot of work to get
started, so I would hope we have a shovel-ready plan before the end of this term.” Jaworski lists three major areas she’d like to focus on: transparency and
accountability, economic development, and improved services and customer
For Hebert, the most rewarding and the most challenging aspects of holding
office are flipsides of the same coin. “It’s rewarding when someone tells me they service experience for residents. “I am happy to say that the township has
feel represented in their city because I sit on council, whether this is because of really improved its communication during this term of council,” she says.
my age, my gender, or my progressive ideas,” she says. “I wanted to advocate to use technology to increase transparency and this
has been a silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic in that it has helped
“I first ran for council at 25 yrs. old and was elected at 26. I have been the usher in the live broadcasting of our council meetings, making it much
youngest elected both times I ran. Then, and still now, we are only 3 women
of eleven councilors. Unfortunately, women and young people shy away from easier for our residents to follow the decisions that are being made.”
running for elected office, often because they don’t feel represented or have not In addition to a career with Imperial Oil, Jaworski and her husband, Ron
been asked,” states Hebert, who encourages others to be that person that puts the Brennan own and operate Old 4th Hop Yard, a certified organic hop yard in
bug in a woman’s ear and tells her she has exactly what it takes to represent her Williamstown.
community.

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