Robin spent decades developing and running Kootenay businesses, doing the homework on hard files, and bringing people together to get results. Cranbrook is home. She raised her family here. All seven of her grandchildren live here today.
That is the skin in the game.
Business and Entrepreneurship
More than 30 years building and running Kootenay businesses — jobs, property, payroll, financing, regulations, taxes and markets that change whether you are ready or not.
- Muddy Moose Enterprises | 2007–2025 Developed and managed a multi-million-dollar commercial and residential property at the Balfour Ferry Landing, including an 11,000-square-foot beachfront mix of hospitality, commercial, accommodation and residential uses.
- Dock ’n’ Duck Pub & Grill | 2007–2025 Built and ran the Balfour Ferry Landing restaurant for nearly 18 years. Multiple Kootenay Business Best of Business awards. Named one of the Top 10 Business People in the Kootenays in 2014.
- Nomad Motel, Cranbrook | 1995–2006 Owned and operated the 35-unit motel, most units with full kitchen suites. City of Cranbrook Beautification Award.
- Kootenay Cone Company | 1992–2001 Founded this Kootenay Based value-added forest-products company that sold natural products across North America and the Pacific Rim. At its peak, about 45 people on the payroll, plus numerous Canadian and international industry awards.
Robin knows first-hand business in our community can create value here, create jobs here - and sell to the world.
Marketing, Communications and Business Development
Decades of marketing and business-development work: helping Cranbrook firms grow, leading national campaigns, running a 21-person sales and marketing team, and advising businesses and organizations across Canada.
Senior roles included Marketing Manager for Burger King’s largest Canadian franchise operator, National Field Marketing Manager with Hayhurst Communications, and Director of Marketing for Canada’s largest wedding manufacturer and importer.
In Cranbrook, Robin created and headed Adeas, the in-house advertising agency at the Kootenay Advertiser (Koocanusa Publications), building advertising and marketing strategies for local companies and community initiatives.
As a consultant and educator she developed business and communications strategies and lectured at international trade shows. Clients included the Federal Business Development Bank, Community Futures, KFC International and Cranbrook Regional Hospital, among others.
For Robin, a good idea is only as good as your ability to turn it into results.
Community, Industry and Volunteer Leadership
More than 40 years on boards and organizing work from Cranbrook community groups to national industry tables. Robin’s habit is the same: bring people together, make the case, get results.
In Balfour she served with the Balfour & District Business and Historic Association and organized Choose Balfour, mobilizing residents and businesses during the fight over the Kootenay Lake ferry landing. The broader community effort helped land more than $100 million in ferry, terminal and related infrastructure.
Her Cranbrook involvement goes back to the 1990s, including the Chamber of Commerce Advertising Committee and Little League Baseball. She served on the Canadian Craft & Hobby Association Board, worked with the S.S. Moyie National Historic Site, organized university lecture programs, and volunteered for decades in education, business, community advocacy and public policy.
It started early. At Grant MacEwan she was elected to the Board of Governors and served as the Provincial Chair for Post Secondary Student Leaders. That work earned leadership awards, including provincial recognition for Service to the People of Alberta.
The organizations change. Robin does not: get involved, understand the issue, bring people together and make it happen.
Education and Research
Advertising and Public Relations. Philosophy. Psychology. Neuroscience.
Robin graduated with honours and distinction in her undergraduate work (BASc) and earned an MSc in Neuroscience with a 4.0 GPA - that’s a whole lot of training on the importance of evidence, challenging assumptions and following the facts.
At the University of Lethbridge she conducted behavioural neuroscience research, taught and assisted in courses, and presented at scientific conferences. She received two Province of Alberta Graduate Scholarships and an NSERC postgraduate doctoral scholarship, which she declined after completing her master’s.
Earlier: a diploma in Advertising & Public Relations from Grant MacEwan got her started in marketing and communications.
An unusual combination. Yes, but a useful one. Robin understands people. Asks good questions. Does the research. Changes her mind when the evidence says she should. And sticks with it for results.
Public Policy, Governance and Advocacy
Robin knows who does what, who to call, and how to get a local file in front of the people who can move it. She firmly believes partisan politics do not
Her governance experience started more than 40 years ago as an elected member of Grant MacEwan’s Board of Governors. Later advocacy and policy work with the provincial and National Liberal Women’s Commissions led to an invitation to run federally. She was the Liberal candidate for Kootenay–Columbia in 2019 and 2021.
Today she is BC Policy Chair for the Women’s Liberal Commission: listen, identify the issue, build the case, then advocate - take it to the people who can act.
Those years are not a Party label for City Hall. They are how the system works, and relationships already in place when Cranbrook needs funding, a partner, an answer — or someone willing to make noise on its behalf. When the answer sits somewhere else, Robin will work with the Province, Ottawa, the Ktunaxa Nation, Columbia Basin Trust, neighbouring communities, business, or whoever else can help get it done.
A Cranbrook pothole does not care whether you are Conservative, Liberal, NDP or none of the above. Neither should the person trying to get it fixed.
What Robin brings to Council
Business, science, community service and public policy taught Robin the same thing: do the homework, bring the right people together, and get to work.
She raised her family in Cranbrook. All seven of her grandchildren live here. Cranbrook’s future is personal.
HEAD. Does the homework. HANDS. Makes it happen. HEART. Remembers why.
She would be honoured to earn your vote.
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