NIPIGON—With the deadline for candidates to throw their name into the running for various Municipal and School Board roles, Suzanne Kukko is ready to take on the challenge that the role of being the Mayor of Nipigon would bring.
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Kukko has held many leadership roles in the past, including that of Nipigon’s economic development officer (EDO) for six years, having accepted that position in 2014.
During her stay as EDO, she facilitated several environmental initiatives such as a recycle depot, and spearheaded their annual community clean-up initiative in partnership with local elementary schools.
Her background reflects her ability to bring any project that she takes on to fruition by successfully attaining the funding needed by various community and government agencies. Among those projects is a senior apartment complex, waterfront development projects, and the one she claims to be most proud of is the Edge Arts Studio and Gallery.
Shortly after her husband Dorrie accepted an OPP Constable position in Schreiber in 2006, they relocated to Northern Ontario and chose Nipigon as their new home. Mother of two children, Jack and Sasha, she has managed her children’s hockey teams for the past six years.
Kukko has participated in many committees within her community including Economic Development, Trails Development, Community Capacity, Nipigon Ice Fest, Land of the Nipigon Waterways Association, and Top of Lake Superior Chamber of Commerce. Most recently as Chair of the Nipigon Fall Fishing Festival, since 2019, and with the help of her committee, she helped plan this community event, set to go for Sept. 2-Sept. 5, 2022.
Kukko shared her reasons for making this decision to run for Nipigon’s mayor and what she views as priorities for her community.
"I've always been community oriented, always been a volunteer doing things for the good of the community, so I think the natural movement for me forward is to do something a little bit bigger and something that can have more impact on our community and on our region as well. That's just the natural thing for me, what else can I do, to help our community, to help our town."
Kukko believes that what she describes as, “her ear to the ground”, and has been going door-to-door to get a sense of what the community sees as priorities. She spoke about her leadership skills and how having a position on council is an important role and that with her experience and ability to listen to her community concerns, that with her strong problem-solving skills, that she can help the community move forward.
She hopes to use this knowledge to work together with her community and develop a strategic plan. “I have been going door-to-door and it’s been great to talk to everybody and to know what the issues are because, what a 70-year-old sees as an issue will be different from what a 10-year-old would see. Everyone has different perspectives about their needs and issues,” explained Kukko. Her goal is to use this knowledge to put together a strategic plan as a road map to where she sees the community wants to go in the future.
When asked to identify what she sees as challenges and priorities for the community, Kukko quickly identifies those she sees as important and key ones. "One of my key priorities is to consult the community and to put together a strategic plan that will give us a road map to where we want to be. So how do we get there?" stated Kukko.
Kukko identified the need for the community to put forth more investment in their youth and in doctor attraction and retention. "Within this plan, I'm hoping to see more investment in our youth. I'd like to see more action towards doctor attraction and retention, that's a huge issue here," explained Kukko.
Housing is a huge issue that she sees needs to be addressed for the community of Nipigon. Her vision is one that sees more housing opportunities not just for those moving into a new house but particularly for those in need of "low income housing", and housing for seniors. Kukko spoke about the lack of appropriate housing for seniors and how she wants to focus on keeping their seniors in town in the community where they want to be.
"Just like every other Northshore community and every other community in Canada, housing is an issue. We have half an old school that currently houses seven senior apartments. I'd like to see the other half developed, then we can keep our seniors in their community," said Kukko.
During the conversation, Kukko spoke about the health care crisis across the country, and although she feels that she doesn't have all the answers, that it is important to take baby steps. In particular, she sees the need to look at the individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in health, those wanting to go to school to become a doctor, or a nurse and to identify what they want in order to stay in Nipigon. The key issue again that she sees is housing for these future medical professionals.
"We need to figure out what these future doctors and nurses want. How can we get them to stay here? This all comes down to housing and with providing more for the youth, because it has to be a place where people want to raise their families," said Kukko.
Finding the answers to the health crisis is a problem Kukko sees as one that must be solved as a group, working together as a community and as a council and that it isn't just a Nipigon problem, and that the solution requires that key partners work together. "We all have to come together and have think tank, to figure this out because it is a crisis and it is bad," stated Kukko.
As this candid interview came to a conclusion, Kukko proudly spoke about her two children, Jack and Sasha, and how ultimately she wants to be a role model for them both. In particular, she wants to be a role model for her daughter Sasha, 13. "I want to show her that she can be a mom, that she can work, and still make a difference and to reach for the stars. I'm showing her how to do that," stated Kukko.
On Oct. 24, 2022, Suzanne Kukko hopes to make history and become the first female mayor of Nipigon, Ont.
