Managing a pair of thriving businesses, completing the restoration of a heritage house and raising a family mean that Shellie Gudgeon has her hands full. But she would be the first one to tell you that it is because of these successes that she can -- and regularly does -- put time back into her community.
Demonstrated commitment to the City began when Gudgeon served as a director of her local neighbourhood association whose members mounted a successful challenge to prevent the installation of a car lot at the end of the Bay Street bridge and fought to retain the mixed-use character of the area.
Shellie has been actively involved in park rehabilitation and restoration of natural systems in Banfield Park. She has participated in conjunction with the City of Victoria in bi-monthly removal of invasive species in the park for the past 5 years.
Turning her eye to regions where she maintains businesses, Gudgeon worked with residents, other business owners and the City of Victoria on the Quadra Revitalization Project, the action plan for the now thriving Quadra Village. Next was downtown Victoria working with the community to support the reemergence of lower Johnson Street as a vital retail and residential centre. Gudgeon's efforts have also included thousands of dollars raised for numerous local charities as well as funds for a school in Africa.
Gudgeon believes that the formula for a vital community is the same one she has used to develop numerous award winning restaurants: Invest in your business and, at the same time, invest in the people who have made it successful.
Now we must continue working together as a community -- village to village, step by step. As an independent candidate for City Council, Gudgeon will work towards bringing this about.
