About me,
From humble beginnings, my family immigrated to Canada from Portugal in the 1950s and 1960s. My parents married in 1984 and soon after I was the first born in a family of five. I grew up in east London and attended St. Bernadette elementary and John Paul 2 secondary.
As a child from an entrepreneurial family, I was front row to business discussions around the dinner table growing up. I worked for both my parents in my early career and saw first-hand that pursuing your goals must be done with perseverance and dedication to achieve dreams and success.
I am an alumnus of Fanshawe College and the University of Western Ontario. I hold an Ontario College Certificate from Fanshawe, and Bachelor of Science (BSc), Honours Specialization in Biology, and Bachelor of Arts (BA), Honours Specialization in Political Science degrees from the University of Western Ontario. Furthermore, I am a graduate of the University of York, UK, where I obtained a Distinguished Master of Arts (MA) in International Political Economy.
In 2015, I began a career in the corporate world and enhanced my skills operating in a fast paced environment. In mid-October 2020, I was let go from my job. Like many others, I lost my job early in the pandemic and was left with no job market, piling bills and fear of the future. I was fortunate because I had the opportunities available to find my way out. I hustled, started a small business with Claire, temporarily rented my home for short term stays and was able to navigate my way through the gig economy and pay the bills during the pandemic.
As a resident of Ward 13, I am passionate about dedicating my role to the people, the growing communities, and local businesses within the ward. I am committed to working towards London’s goals for housing affordability, reducing and preventing homelessness, improving transit, protecting our environment, enhancing mobility, and creating an accessible, diverse, and welcoming London. I work for the residents of the ward and the city to ensure we have an affordable, sustainable, and connected London that is inclusive and diverse, with energetic neighbourhoods, thriving local businesses, and community-oriented initiatives.
