Sault Ste. Marie – Local businesswoman and community developer, Peggy Lauzon, has launched her bid to be the NDP candidate for the electoral district of Sault Ste. Marie in the upcoming federal election, expected in the fall.
“I hear your stories on a daily basis,” said Lauzon, “through my work with small businesses and not-for-profits across Algoma and as an active member of the community. There are so many inspiring people making a difference in the Sault, but at the same time, more and more people are falling behind.”
Peggy Lauzon is the founder and president of The Aberdeen Group, which provides accounting and consulting services to other small businesses and not-for-profits across Algoma. As a volunteer, she has been actively involved with the Soup Kitchen Health Centre Advisory Committee, the Sault Ste. Marie Family YMCA, St Luke’s Cathedral and the Anishinabek Information Technology Centre, among many other groups. Lauzon also teaches community engagement and strategic planning at Algoma University and works closely with young people to help support their change-making efforts.
“The people of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma are hard-working, resilient and very entrepreneurial. We know how to create our own opportunities because we’ve had to. We know how to work together to achieve great things,” Lauzon explained, “but we’re not getting the support we need from our government to meet the challenges that are ahead of us. Northerners are at the table, but the federal government is either missing in action or playing games when it comes to the crucial issues that will define our future, like infrastructure development, climate change, fairness for First Nations, and providing meaningful opportunities for young people and for the entrepreneurs who are working hard to build a strong, sustainable economy in the North.”
New Democrats will gather from across the Sault and neighboring region for their nomination meeting on June 16th to elect their candidate for the upcoming federal election. The vote will take place 7 p.m. at the Delta Waterfront Hotel in the Brule Room. To vote, Individuals must join the NDP by May 17th, 30 days prior to the meeting. Prospective members can join easily online at www.ndp.ca.
The electoral district of Sault Ste. Marie runs approximately from Garden River First Nation in the east to Montreal River Harbour in the north. Party members must reside within the boundaries of the electoral district of Sault Ste. Marie in order to vote in the nomination contest. The boundaries for the district have changed slightly from the 2011 election, and no longer include areas of eastern Algoma from Echo Bay to Bruce Mines.
“The people of Sault Ste. Marie want the best possible future for ourselves and for our community’s children and grandchildren. We don’t think it’s up to someone else’s granddaughter to address the very real and urgent issues in front of us today. We are not afraid to work hard, but we need to have our voices heard and we need our fair share of the resources. Family, friends and clients know me to be a strong leader, a good listener and an effective advocate. I have accomplished a lot for the Sault while raising my two daughters as a single mom. Now that they are both attending university, I am ready to step into a larger role, and am grateful for their support and encouragement.”
About Peggy Lauzon
Peggy Lauzon is a small business owner, mom, and active community member in Sault Ste. Marie.
Peggy has made her home in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma for the last 30 years, where she used her previous experience working with entrepreneurs as a springboard to start her own small business. This has grown to become The Aberdeen Group which provides accounting and consulting services to other small businesses and not-for-profits across Algoma. In this capacity, Peggy has worked with hundreds of organizations and individuals over the years, helping them to be more successful and more sustainable.
Peggy has been actively involved with the Soup Kitchen Health Centre Advisory Committee, and has volunteered with Thinking Rock Community Arts, Sault Theatre Workshop, Phoenix Rising Women’s Centre, and the Sault Ste. Marie Family YMCA. She has served as Treasurer for St Luke’s Cathedral and as an advisory board member for the Anishinabek Information Technology Centre. She has also been a board member and instructor with the Taoist Tai Chi Society as well as a member of the Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Corps.
She has lived both in the city of Sault Ste. Marie and the rural area east of the Sault. She was a founding member of the Ophir Volunteer Fire Team, among other rural initiatives.
She is a strong supporter of arts, social justice and environmental initiatives in this community, and has supported campaigns for the Hub Trail, the Sault Ste. Marie Skatepark and the Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains.
Through the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Sault Ste. Marie, Peggy was a 2010 Women’s Week honoree in recognition of her work helping women entrepreneurs achieve greater economic security.
Peggy also teaches community engagement and strategic planning at Algoma University and works closely with young people in this community to help support their change-making efforts.
Peggy grew her business while raising her two young daughters as a single mom and earning her MBA in Community Economic Development. There have been many obstacles along the way and these have taught her not only how to persevere, but have also deepened her understanding of the challenges many in this community face on a daily basis.
Peggy grew up in a family with strong values. She is the proud daughter of Al and Cathie Lauzon, who many in the Sault remember for their activism and unwavering commitment to social justice.
Above all, she is the proud mom of Jasmine and Lexie.
