Get to know your 2018 to 2022 council: Councillor Lisa Osanic
Editor’s note: With the new Kingston City Council beginning its term of office on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, we thought it would be a great time to catch up with the new and newly-re-elected members of council so that we could share a bit more about the 13 people who’ll be sitting around the horseshoe for the next four years. Using the classic Kingstonist model, ‘Six questions with…,’ we present Kingston City Council 2018-2022 councillor profiles.
First elected in 2006, Lisa Osanic has spent a dozen years representing the Collins-Bayridge District on Kingston City Council.
Born in Toronto, Osanic ended up in Kingston in 1994, after following her then-boyfriend who was moving here for work. She’s remained in Kingston ever since, and now lives with her husband and two teenage kids, along with four cats. Osanic also has a horse, which she keeps in Westbrook.
Osanic has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo, as well as a Master’s of Business and Administration from Queen’s University. On Tuesday, Dec. 4, Osanic will begin her fourth term as a councillor.
What made you want to get involved in municipal politics?
Too many trees were being taken down in 2005.
What other work, if any, do you do? (Or what did you do before becoming a councillor?)
I work at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care at the OHIP building downtown
What is the number one issue you want to address during this term of council?
Locally at the district level, I need to make progress on roads and traffic. Across the city, I would like the city to form a partnership with a vet to set up a high volume, low cost/spay neuter clinic for Eastern Ontario.
Will you vote in favour of moving forward with a ranked ballot in 2022?
It looks promising. It could make a difference. The provincial and federal levels use ranked ballots to elect their party leader.
In your mind, what is special about the district you represent?
Besides the fantastic people who live in Collins-Bayridge, there are so many beautiful homes with gorgeous gardens and landscaping. I try to memorize all of the gardening ideas I see when canvassing. I also think that the majority of the residents in this district own dogs!
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
Stand up paddle-boarding if hot, but not too windy, garden if hot and windy (the wind chases mosquitoes away), and ride my horse if not too hot in the summer or not too cold in the winter!