Kasey Taylor Etreni is running for Councillor At Large in Thunder Bay.
Kasey Taylor Etreni (she/her) is a lifelong Thunder Bay resident and current Councillor At Large who served on City Council from 2022 to 2026. She has more than 35 years of experience as a radiation therapist working in research and has authored a course for the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists. Her contributions to education have been recognized through awards including the Ken Turnbull Award and the Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Sciences' 90th Anniversary Diamond Award in 2025. Kasey has volunteered in her community since she was 17, particularly in children's sports, and helped bring Camp Quality to Thunder Bay in 2001. She currently volunteers with Our Kids Count, the Salvation Army's Journey to Life program, Grace Place's Out of the Cold program, and Camp Quality. During her term on Council, she has served on 13 committees and four boards, including the Police Services Board, District Social Services Board, District Health Unit Board, and Age Friendly Board. Kasey is seeking another term with an emphasis on evidence-based decision-making, implementing existing strategic plans, and measuring municipal results.
Why are you running for this position?
I am running for re-election because there is important work underway, and I want to see it through. I have been part of developing strategic plans, building relationships and establishing measures to track progress. Now I want to see those plans put into action and deliver results for our community. I believe in listening, asking questions, making evidence-based decisions and working with others to find practical solutions. There is more work to do, and I want to continue bringing my experience, commitment and voice to the Council table.
What do you love most about your community?
What I love most about Thunder Bay is its people and the strong sense of community. Having lived here my entire life, I've seen how people come together, support their neighbours and step up when help is needed. I love that we have the beauty of Lake Superior and nature right at our doorstep, along with the connections that come from living in a community where people know one another. We have our challenges, but there are so many people and organizations working every day to make Thunder Bay a better place. That's what makes me proud to call this community home.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your municipality right now?
I believe one of the biggest challenges facing Thunder Bay is addressing growing community needs while managing the financial pressures on our municipality. Housing and homelessness, community safety, infrastructure and the cost of delivering services all require attention, but we cannot do everything at once or solve every issue on our own. We need to make evidence-based decisions, use our resources wisely and work with community partners and other levels of government to address issues that fall beyond the City's responsibility. We also need to follow through on the plans already developed and measure whether they are making a difference. It's about setting priorities, being accountable and getting the best results possible for our residents.
If elected, what is one thing you would like to accomplish during your term?
thing I want to accomplish is to see the strategic plans already developed for our community put into action, with progress measured through the key performance indicators that have been established. I want to see what is working, where we need to make adjustments and whether we are achieving the results we set out to achieve. Developing a plan is an important first step, but following through and being accountable for results is what matters. I want to help move that work forward in a practical and measurable way.
What is one thing you would like to see your municipality do differently?
I would like to see a stronger focus on reporting progress and results to the public. We develop plans, set priorities and establish performance measures, but residents also need to know what is being accomplished, what challenges we are facing and where adjustments are needed. Clear, regular reporting helps build trust and allows us to see whether our decisions are making a difference. It's not just about making plans; it's about following through and being accountable for the results.
What does good local government look like to you?
Good local government listens to residents and considers their concerns, but decisions also need to be based on evidence, professional advice, research and the financial implications for the municipality. We should look at what has worked in other communities, learn from their successes and challenges, and consider whether those approaches could work here. It means asking questions, looking at the facts, weighing the options and making informed decisions that are practical, affordable and in the best interests of Thunder Bay. Good governance also means being open about decisions, explaining the reasons behind them and measuring results to see if we are achieving what we set out to do.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for your municipality any way you wanted, what would you do with it?
I would want to invest the $1 million where it could make a measurable difference for our community. I would look at the City's identified priorities and work with community partners to determine where this funding could have the greatest impact. That could mean supporting affordable housing, addressing homelessness, or improving community safety. I would also consider whether the funding could be used to leverage additional provincial or federal dollars. Before committing the money, I would look at the evidence, the long-term costs and how we would measure success. The goal would be to make a thoughtful investment that delivers real results for Thunder Bay, rather than a short-term fix without a plan for what comes next.
How do you approach working with people who disagree with you?
I believe you can disagree with someone and still work respectfully together. When I disagree with someone, I start by listening and trying to understand their perspective. I ask questions, look at the evidence and consider whether there is something I may not have thought of. My healthcare career taught me the importance of teamwork, communication and being open to different perspectives. I don't believe any one person has all the answers. We may not always agree, but I believe we can have respectful conversations, find common ground where possible and make decisions based on what is best for our community, rather than personal differences.
What does having more women in local leadership change?
Having more women in local leadership means bringing more experiences and perspectives to the table. Our backgrounds and life experiences influence the questions we ask, the issues we notice and how we approach solutions. I think it’s important that the people making decisions reflect the community they serve and that different voices are heard. Good leadership isn’t about gender alone. It’s about experience, listening, asking questions and working together. Having more women in leadership helps broaden the conversation and brings more perspectives into the decisions that affect our community.
What is something about you that you would like voters to know that they might not learn from your campaign platform?
I started volunteering at age 17 as a coach for girls’ softball, and I’ve continued volunteering with various organizations ever since, taking on different roles and levels of responsibility along the way. Being involved in our community has always been important to me, long before I became a councillor.
Volunteering has given me the opportunity to work with different people, learn from others and contribute in ways that matter. It’s a commitment I’ve carried with me throughout my life.
Outside of Council, I’m a wife, a mom to two grown children and a dog owner. Thunder Bay has been home my entire life, and I’m proud to be part of this community.
Where can people find you?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamKasey
Website: https://kaseyetreni.ca/
