We often hear about community wellbeing or economic priorities. Nanaimo needs leadership that brings those together.

I’m a practical, experienced leader who believes we can support a strong economy while building a more affordable, safer, livable city with good jobs and a high quality of life.

I grew up here, raised to try to make a difference. I built a career solving problems in business, government, education, and nonprofits. When life threw curveballs — maybe you relate — I got a first-hand understanding of housing affordability, caregiving, work, health care and rising costs.

That experience shapes my practical, long-term approach to working for real results. I’m here to bring us together for a Nanaimo that feels like home and doesn’t cost the earth.

ABOUT ANDRÉA

Experience you can count on

Responsible decision-maker, experienced in managing budgets, turning around complex projects — and bringing down costs

Hands-on cross-industry leader, business owner, Executive MBA, and university educator.

Community advocate, grounded in lived and professional experience with accessibility, inclusion, and community health

Hard worker with deep roots, a big heart and ready, willing hands

A Nanaimo that feels like home

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Connected to Community

I know and love Nanaimo. I volunteer, go to events, take part in community consultations, and connect with the business community. See below.

Volunteering for Nanaimo Hospital Foundation

At Nanaimo Chamber, bright and early...or just early

Business After Business at Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce

With interim CEO of Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce Liette Masse - Nanaimo Red Heart Breakfast for Volunteer Nanaimo

At the Night Market, rain or shine, to support local businesses and community

One of the first to try Nanaimo's new e-scooters

Volunteering at the Silly Boats for Child Development Centre with Trustee Chantelle Morvay

House of Commons award from Joyce Murray, then President of the Treasury Board of Canada

Sharing the development history of Loudon Park & Wellington at Save Loudon Park

Save Loudon Park turned into a community engagement process that involved collaboration and co-operation among multiple community groups.

On the search for the best Nanaimo bar with my visiting friend from the East Coast

MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

BEGINNINGS

A strong Nanaimo begins with expanding opportunity. I’m a grounded leader with hands-on and strategic experence with building the economy, jobs, business and prosperity.
BELONGING

I bring lifelong connection to working for community, inclusion, neighbourhoods, quality of life and helping people feel at home.
BALANCE

I stand for a track record of thoughtful growth, affordability, economic opportunities and practical decision making.

On Sundays, I think about what’s next, what’s happened and how to do better. I’m deeply rooted here in Nanaimo. My family came here in the 1870s to work in the mines and grow food for miners and…when they were lucky, sometimes even themselves. Farming didn’t work but a tradition of community service did.

My family raised me to serve here. I went to Fairview, Mount Benson, Wellington and VIU. I was in Harewood and WPVL softball, Guiding, theatre, Wellington Community Association and I volunteered — a lot. I finished my degree at SFU, while volunteering and working my own way through. I launched a career in the then-new tech sector, started my own business, and completed an MBA with top marks. I kept finding my way back into community work, entrepreneurship support and teaching for SFU and UBC. When life didn’t quite go as planned, I found myself advocating in education, health care and social services…and doing all I could to change things for my family and others and to keep doors from slamming in their faces. When COVID happened, I got on the phone and launched the first entrepreneurial resiliency program to get business owners through the pandemic.

I brought all I had learned — and my own kids — back here to Nanaimo to serve. I have been helping local families and businesses access supports, collaborating with multiple groups to keep Loudon Park for everyone, listening in community governance spaces and working for change. I didn’t just pop up out of nowhere and I’m looking to make Council my full-time job.

I’m part of 150 years of hard-working, level-headed Nanaimo people putting this community first and I’m here to serve. Nanaimo, my name is Andréa Coutu and I’d like to be your candidate for City Council.

My original announcement, posted on a Sunday…

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