My name is Laura Soucy, and I am proud to say that I am running for Port Moody Council as part of the Port Moody Voice team in the next municipal election.

I am so honoured to put my name forward to represent this community as it’s been so much a part of my life. My parents moved to Port Moody with my younger sister and me when I was four years old. Soon after, my brother was born. Port Moody was a very different city then—smaller, quieter, and far less developed than it is today.

My childhood is filled with memories that still shape me: long days spent outside with friends who, all these years later, are still part of my life.

We rode our bikes and explored the ravines and surrounding nature. Summers were spent at Westhill Pool, and we frequently took the bus down to Rocky Point Park. As we got older, we gathered on what is now Heritage Mountain for bonfires or to spend our days watching the speed racing at the Westwood Race Track.

The friendships we built back then have lasted. Many of us still share those memories and take pride in saying we’re from Port Moody. We formed a close and lasting bond with everyone knowing each other.

After graduating from high school and spending time at Simon Fraser University, life took me to the East Coast for a couple of years. I lived in Saint John, New Brunswick—a historic port city on the Bay of Fundy with a strong sense of place and community, rich in heritage homes and Canadian history, and supported by a thriving business community.

Living there gave me valuable perspective—I’ve experienced life on both coasts of Canada. The Pacific and the Atlantic.

When I returned to British Columbia, I chose to make my home in Port Moody. This is where I feel grounded, where I feel safe, and where I belong. And it’s where I chose to raise my son and I want him and all current and future residents to continue to experience that same sense of community and belonging that makes this place so special.

Port Moody is changing—but too often, growth is not guided by the voices and needs of the people who live here. Port Moody Voice wants to change this! We know that our community will benefit from having community input and ensuring all residents are included in the decision-making process.

Local decisions determine who gets to live here: how we grow, and how public resources are utilized. I will work to ensure those decisions are made openly, responsibly, and with a clear understanding of their impact.

Port Moody is at a turning point: Housing affordability, infrastructure pressures, and shifting provincial direction require leadership that is practical, grounded, and ready to make clear decisions in the public interest.

Housing diversity is key! It promotes social equality and inclusion. This creates a city where people from all backgrounds and different economic back grounds can co-exist. This fosters community cohesion, where residents from various backgrounds interact and contribute to our neighbourhoods, creating a vibrant and sustainable community which we are currently lacking. Our city is fragmented by region as well as economics.

With over 23 years of experience in community housing, governance, and community safety, I understand how policy decisions play out in real life—and the cost of getting them wrong. I have lived the realities of community housing, spending years working and volunteering in governance roles where accountability, transparency, and sound decision-making are expected. I will bring that same focus to Council: ask better questions, make informed decisions, and ensure growth is aligned with real community need.

If you want a council that is focused, accountable, and grounded in the realities facing our community, I ask for your support. The Port Moody Voice team is committed to delivering!