Betsy Gross – Orillia Ward 3
I am the founder, honorary Big Sister and past president of Orillia Big Sisters and Orillia Business Women’s Association and served as a director of the chamber of commerce for three years.
I was a sports writer (Sports Fan Fare & The Games People Play) and columnist “Orillia My Town” for eight years. I was executive assistant of the OSMH Foundation and have been a volunteer at OSMH for eight years. I was a member of the Order of Orillia Committee (three years) and have served as chair of Orillia Commemorative Awards Committee (five years).
I started and operated three successful businesses and managed Manpower Temporary Services (four years) putting hundreds of people to work, many of which resulted in full time employment.
Working with Orillia Big Sisters allowed me spend time with young girls and match them with role models to try to make their lives better by example and exposure to a different situation than their own. Watching them grow in confidence was very gratifying. We had an annual fashion show that brought tears to my eyes as the shy, retiring young girls found the ability to interact in social situations.
Working with OBWA and the chamber allowed me to help small business to find their way with networking and resources available to make them succeed. OBWA just celebrated their 30th anniversary and still welcome newcomers and business women to meet mentors and feel at home in their new city. I have served on many city committees and enjoyed celebrating the many hard working volunteers that make Orillia the award winning community that it is.
As a full-time member of council, I look forward to continuing that commitment to the city that I love by working on issues involving youth, opiod abuse, homelessness and senior citizen issues. Transit, infrastructure, downtown and waterfront improvements are key interests, as we all developing more government jobs at the HRC property.