About Emily
Emily was elected to Kings County Council on October 15th, 2016. She was sworn in and nominated Deputy Mayor on November 1st, 2016, and then re-elected by her colleagues as Deputy Mayor in November of 2018. She and her husband Cassian live in Rockland with their three children under six. They are involved with the agriculture industry growing apples and peaches on Lutz Family Farm while raising their busy kids and being active participants in the community. Emily was raised on the farm with her three younger siblings, where she developed strong roots in the valley, a down-to-earth personality, a commitment to volunteerism, and a solid work ethic.
Education
Awarding the Player of the Game Award at the 2016 Women's CIS Soccer Championships at Acadia
Emily attended Central Kings Rural High School in Cambridge, and earned a Political Science degree from St. Thomas University in Fredericton. During her undergrad, she attended Harvard twice for the Harvard National Model United Nations Competition, and in 2011 went to Singapore to compete internationally at World MUN. This is where her love of debate and political life began.
In 2019 Emily completed her master's degree at Acadia University in Social and Political Thought. Her thesis focuses on the relationship between capitalism and municipal land-use planning, with a focus on the communities of New Minas and Wolfville. Her extensive research in these areas makes her knowledgeable about land-use planning and community design, and has informed much of her work in the area of development and planning. She is especially excited to apply this knowledge as part of the New Minas Secondary Plan working group, of which she is a member as a Councillor.
In 2019 Emily completed her master's degree at Acadia University in Social and Political Thought. Her thesis focuses on the relationship between capitalism and municipal land-use planning, with a focus on the communities of New Minas and Wolfville. Her extensive research in these areas makes her knowledgeable about land-use planning and community design, and has informed much of her work in the area of development and planning. She is especially excited to apply this knowledge as part of the New Minas Secondary Plan working group, of which she is a member as a Councillor.
Council and Community Experience
Emily takes her role as Councillor very seriously, grateful every day to have the privilege of serving her community and the people of Kings County. She remains an active volunteer in her community while committed to her Council duties. She has volunteered on the parent executive of the Berwick and District Nursery School in the roles of Secretary and Building and Grounds Maintenance, taking care to ensure that both the organization and the flowerbeds thrive. She also serves on the board of the Grand View Manor, where she is part of a skilled team guiding the governance of the organization and advocating for a new facility to replace the aging building. It is her belief that without healthy supports for our youngest citizens and our wisest elders a community cannot thrive.
Emily also volunteers on a committee supporting doctor recruitment with the local MLA and several other engaged municipal councillors. They have secured funding and hired someone to act as a Community Navigator, ensuring new residents and doctors in our community feel welcomed and supported. She is also on the board of Engage Nova Scotia, where she has helped to bring the Quality of Life initiative to life and supports the organization's goal of a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient Nova Scotia.
Below is a list of the various committees Emily has served on.
Emily also volunteers on a committee supporting doctor recruitment with the local MLA and several other engaged municipal councillors. They have secured funding and hired someone to act as a Community Navigator, ensuring new residents and doctors in our community feel welcomed and supported. She is also on the board of Engage Nova Scotia, where she has helped to bring the Quality of Life initiative to life and supports the organization's goal of a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient Nova Scotia.
Below is a list of the various committees Emily has served on.
Volunteer Appointments
Kings County Doctor Recruitment and Retention (2018-present)
Engage NS Board Member (2017 - present)
Stage Prophets Theatre Company (2019 - present)
Grand View Manor Continuing Care Community (Secretary, 2016 - present)
Finance and Audit Committee, Grand View Manor (2019 - present)
Quality and Risk Management Committee, Grand View Manor (2019-present)
Western Kings Memorial Health Society Planning and Development Committee (2017 - present)
Berwick and District Nursery School Parent Executive (2018-2020)
Municipal Appointments
Vice President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (current)
New Minas Secondary Planning Advisory Working Group (2020)
Lake Monitoring Technical Advisory Committee (Chair, 2016 - present)
Diversity Kings County (Chair 2016 - Spring 2020, current member)
Budget and Finance Committee (Vice-Chair, 2016 - present)
Fire Services Advisory Committee (2017 - present)
Valley Regional Enterprise Network Liaison Oversight Committee (2018 - present)
Landscape of Grand Pre Incorporated UNESCO Site (2018 - present)
NSFM-DTIR Joint Roads Committee (2019-present)
Municipal Indicators Committee, Financial Condition Index Sub Committee (NSFM Representative, 2018 - present)
Joint Police Service and Community Advisory Committee (NSFM Representative, 2017 - present)
Past Appointments
Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Board Member, Rural Representative (2017 - 2019)
Parental Accommodations Committee, recommending provincial legislation change (Chair, 2017-2018)
Kentville Joint Fire Service Agreement (2016-2017)
Planning Advisory Committee (Vice-Chair, 2016-2018)
Other
Your Decision "What's it Like to be an Elected Official" Panelist (August 2020)
Equal Voice Nova Scotia "Getting to the Gate" Panelist (June 2020)
Municipal Panelist at NSNDP Annual Convention (June 2018)
"Politics and Parenthood" Panelist at Acadia University (January 2018)
Participated in Stepping Up: Truth and Reconciliation for Non-Indigenous People (October 2017)
Delivered Commencement Address at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, NB (September 2017)
"Women in Government" Panelist at Ross Creek Centre for the Arts (August 2017)
Kings County Doctor Recruitment and Retention (2018-present)
Engage NS Board Member (2017 - present)
Stage Prophets Theatre Company (2019 - present)
Grand View Manor Continuing Care Community (Secretary, 2016 - present)
Finance and Audit Committee, Grand View Manor (2019 - present)
Quality and Risk Management Committee, Grand View Manor (2019-present)
Western Kings Memorial Health Society Planning and Development Committee (2017 - present)
Berwick and District Nursery School Parent Executive (2018-2020)
Municipal Appointments
Vice President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (current)
New Minas Secondary Planning Advisory Working Group (2020)
Lake Monitoring Technical Advisory Committee (Chair, 2016 - present)
Diversity Kings County (Chair 2016 - Spring 2020, current member)
Budget and Finance Committee (Vice-Chair, 2016 - present)
Fire Services Advisory Committee (2017 - present)
Valley Regional Enterprise Network Liaison Oversight Committee (2018 - present)
Landscape of Grand Pre Incorporated UNESCO Site (2018 - present)
NSFM-DTIR Joint Roads Committee (2019-present)
Municipal Indicators Committee, Financial Condition Index Sub Committee (NSFM Representative, 2018 - present)
Joint Police Service and Community Advisory Committee (NSFM Representative, 2017 - present)
Past Appointments
Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Board Member, Rural Representative (2017 - 2019)
Parental Accommodations Committee, recommending provincial legislation change (Chair, 2017-2018)
Kentville Joint Fire Service Agreement (2016-2017)
Planning Advisory Committee (Vice-Chair, 2016-2018)
Other
Your Decision "What's it Like to be an Elected Official" Panelist (August 2020)
Equal Voice Nova Scotia "Getting to the Gate" Panelist (June 2020)
Municipal Panelist at NSNDP Annual Convention (June 2018)
"Politics and Parenthood" Panelist at Acadia University (January 2018)
Participated in Stepping Up: Truth and Reconciliation for Non-Indigenous People (October 2017)
Delivered Commencement Address at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, NB (September 2017)
"Women in Government" Panelist at Ross Creek Centre for the Arts (August 2017)
Work History
Between her undergraduate and master's degree, Emily was selected to participate in the Nova Scotia Municipal Internship Program . The program was designed to produce quality leadership candidates for high-level municipal administration positions. Emily worked in Cumberland County where her interests in renewable energy and citizen engagement were aligned with those of the County. She spent over a month in each department, from Planning to Finance, to Solid Waste, and especially enjoyed her time in the Research and Policy Department. She participated on several strategic planning committees including Climate Change and Citizen Engagement, and was involved alongside the Chief Administrative Officer on numerous AMA (Association of Municipal Administrators) and UNSM (Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities) committees. She played a key role in implementing the Pugwash and Area Master Plan, as well as hiring a committee to co-author the "Cumberland County Citizen Engagement and Public Relations Strategic Plan" . This position was invaluable to Emily's life experience and gave her an in-depth look at the workings of municipal government. It also helped her explore what it takes to be not only a municipal employee and CAO, but a councillor as well.
Along with this internship, Emily has worked as a communications specialist, sales representative, researcher, tutor, counsellor, dance teacher, actor, server, baker, demolitionist (you'll have to ask her about it), bartender, barista and receptionist. She always pitches in on the family farm when needed. Emily is not afraid to get her hands dirty or to jump in with both feet when an exciting opportunity arises.
Along with this internship, Emily has worked as a communications specialist, sales representative, researcher, tutor, counsellor, dance teacher, actor, server, baker, demolitionist (you'll have to ask her about it), bartender, barista and receptionist. She always pitches in on the family farm when needed. Emily is not afraid to get her hands dirty or to jump in with both feet when an exciting opportunity arises.
Other Activites
Emily performing as "Honey" in Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" in April, 2016 at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville.
You may recognize Emily's face from a local community theatre. She has performed with Stage Prophets, CentreStage, Fezziwig, Women of Wolfville, The Lighthouse Theatre Company, and is a founding member of the Wolfville Theatre Company. She also taught dance at Cadance Dance Academy, a leading local dance school. Emily is a member of South Berwick Women's Institute and enjoys many activities hosted by the South Berwick Community Club.
Emily loves to make the most of the beautiful trails and parks in the County and enjoys camping, fishing, spending time with her family, gardening, and preserving jams and jellies.
Emily loves to make the most of the beautiful trails and parks in the County and enjoys camping, fishing, spending time with her family, gardening, and preserving jams and jellies.