Forty-one-year old single mother Corisa Bell is hoping her seven years as a Maple Ridge city councillor and two consecutive terms as president of the Lower Mainland Local Government Association will give her a path to the mayor’s office in Maple Ridge.

The Lower Mainland LGA represents 2.4 million people and 33 local governments over three regional districts.

She was also President representative on the board of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

These experiences were the “ideal incubator to view issues from a higher perch,” Corisa said.  “It was an incredible learning experience chairing an organization dealing with 33 mayors, their councillors and their issues.”

Corisa, who describes herself as “just an ordinary person, a regular Mom who makes school lunches”, has always said, “I’m not a politician, I’m a person in politics.”

After partnering in a successful e-commerce software development company, Corisa devoted her time to raising her two daughters, became a full-time student at UFV and spent 20 years volunteering in the community.

In recent years, she became a contributing author in the collaborative Women of Worth series that twice made the Amazon best sellers list.

It was her work on the fight against the controversial HST that first brought her public recognition.  She caught the attention of former BC Premier Bill Vander Zalm who led the public fight against the unpopular Harmonized Sales Tax and quickly moved Corisa to the provincial level on the fight.

Next election, local participants in the HST campaign persuaded her to run for city council.  No one was more surprised than Corisa when she won in 2011.  Three years later, when she sought re-election, she topped the polls.

“Near the middle of my second term, I knew I just wasn’t myself.  I’d always been a strong, resilient person. 

Ultimately, I was diagnosed with a cardio-vascular condition that negatively impacted a multitude of body systems. Recovery was slow and when I returned to council, specifically to vote ‘no’ on the Burnett Modular Housing issue because I knew the supports they needed would not be there, it was against doctor’s orders.

 In 2018, I chose not to run again, enabling me to recover fully and allowing me to spend important years with my teenage daughter.

Looking at where our city is at these days, it’s critical for me to return to city hall.  I am pleased to reassure everyone I’m back at 100 per cent, in good health and raring to go.”

After council, Corisa set up Corisa Bell Management Inc., a consulting firm to help citizens and businesses navigate government red tape. She also took on selective contracts, including working with seniors and serving as a housing outreach worker with Fraser River Indigenous Society. She headed a local United Way campaign, worked in City development and spent two years as a director, then Vice President, with Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Chamber of Commerce. Today she is involved with several charities and societies and serves on the board of Camp Choice BC, Christmas Haven and the Community Foundation of Canada Healthy Community Initiatives grant allocating committee.

“As a young person, I had fallen through the cracks.  Because of this experience, I have a passion for being there for people. When I see a wrong, I’m driven to right it. And I see a lot wrong with how this council has performed. “

"I see zero progress on the things that matter, I see councillors being muzzled and too much taking place behind closed doors.  This lack of communication and respect for taxpaying citizens has shown me it’s time to step back into public governance and return council to the people.

We’ve waited far too long to deliver things other cities have enjoyed for years. I have the right experience, the right qualifications, and a proven track record of taking action with a YES attitude...always while backing the people.”