Cari Penner has registered for the fall election for councilor in the City of Steinbach.
Cari Penner, President of enVision Community Living Steinbach, has registered for the fall election for councilor in the City of Steinbach. Penner, a homemaker, community volunteer and caregiver, kicks off her campaign today. “I welcome this opportunity to serve in my community. I grew up here, raised a family and have always tried to give back to this city. I believe I have a lot to contribute to the city-building process and my character and values are reflective of the people who live, work and play here.
A lifetime of community involvement has helped me become a team player and a solution-oriented person.”
President of enVision Community Living since 2006 and a board member for 8 years, Penner says the organization has seen significant growth. During her tenure, with a budget of $4.9 million and a staff group of 147 in 2002, enVision grew to its present $11.3 million budget and now employs 330 people. “It has been challenging to grow enVision Community Living to accommodate the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. New infrastructure, financial resources and appropriate organizational structures reflect that growth.” Penner identifies this experience as something that will prove valuable if she is elected to city council.
Recently, Penner served as chair of the Steinbach Community Development Corporation, a group of citizens appointed to act on the city’s behalf to foster industrial development within the city. The committee sought ways to support the city in advertising and provision of land for industrial growth.
She clearly stated that crime reduction in our city would be one of her top priorities in the coming years if elected to city council. As chair of the Community Development Corporation, Penner forwarded the concept of crime prevention through design. “Let’s make Steinbach safer.” declared Penner. “Now is the time for us to guide our growth so that we can establish the safest possible city for the future. I have seen how other prosperous cities plan for a safe city and respond to present crime trends; there are innovative ways we can address crime and crime prevention.”
Penner points to her past two terms as a city councilor during 1992-1998 as giving her useful background for the position at city hall.
