About Nellie Kennedy
When were you born?
Between 1966 and 1980 (Generation X)
Tell our readers a bit about your professional life. What do you do for a living? If you're an incumbent candidate, what did you do before you entered politics?
I am a Community Services Disability Worker, working with people with intellectual disabilities. I support about 130 individuals to ensure they are getting the services and support they need to live, go to school, work, or volunteer. I help them find appropriate housing, and ensure they are receiving appropriate healthcare support.
What's the highest level of education you've attained?
Bachelor's degree
How long have you lived in the constituency? If you don't currently live there, what led you to run there instead of where you live?
I have lived in St. James for 13 years.
What is the biggest challenge facing your constituency, and how would you address it?
Our biggest challenge is healthcare, specifically The Grace Hospital. The wait times for everything from the ER to surgical wait times are totally unacceptable. Every day I hear stories from parents who have been waiting 10 hours overnight in the ER with their child, only to have to go to work the next day, or seniors who are in pain and cannot get a hip replacement for years.
If elected, what will be your first priority?
I want to make sure that Assiniboia is a great place to live, work, and raise a family - that means investing in the Grace Hospital and working hard to fix healthcare, tackling affordability, and supporting local childcare organizations.
Who are your role models in politics, and why?
I model myself after Jim Rondeau, the previous MLA - he worked hard for this constituency every day, and always put Assiniboia first. Jack Layton had a unique ability to bring people together and I have always admired the pragmatic approach Gary Doer brought to governing.
Tell us something about yourself that voters might find surprising.
After nearly drowning as a child, I didn't learn to swim until 2 summers ago. After a lifetime of being afraid of the water, I wanted to show my children that any fear can be faced and any challenge can be overcome.