Thunder Bay election: Shelby Ch'ng takes Northwood

Up North4:26New face on Thunder Bay council offers a youthful, female perspective

Shelby Ch'ng is the only political newcomer to be elected to Thunder Bay city council.

Shelby Ch'ng says being the only fresh face on Thunder Bay's new city council is "kind of intimidating" but she's thrilled to have the opportunity.

The 32-year-old entrepreneur beat Northwood ward incumbent Mark Bentz in Monday's election to become the city's only new ward councillor. Four of the five at-large candidates were also re-elected. Frank Pullia, who won the fifth at-large spot, has sat on council before.

"I'm a little scared, to be honest," Ch'ngsaid Tuesday when asked how she was feeling about being the only political newbie at the council table.

But Ch'ng said the incumbents are "people I've watched for awhile" and some offered her advice she feels helped her campaign.

'Now I don't have to leave'

Current River councillor "Andrew Foulds told me to hit every door three times," she said. Westfort councillor "Joe Virdiramosaid, 'dont' take money from anyone, do it on your own so you don't owe anyone anything'."

She said Rebecca Johnson and Frank Pullia also offered words of wisdom "so there's some mentorship going on."

Ch'ng'selection platform focused on the gaps she saw in the old council.

"I made it clear from the start: a lack of female representation on council, a lack of younger people on council and a lack of business-owners on council and there's so many people in Thunder Bay, and in Northwood particularly, that relate to that."

Ch'ng'selectionincreasesthe number of women on council to three.

When the results came in on election night, Ch'ngsaid she was "shocked" she won and she was expecting to place second or third.

"I'm so happy to have the opportunity," she said. "Now I don't have to leave."