“My tasks were varied from team management to fund management, loan management, policy and program development, fiscal reporting, community relationship building, partner development, etc.”

Phillips, who came into the post in February 2020, said the biggest challenge of poation came within a few weeks of the start of her tenure, when the pandemic started shutting down economic activity across the globe.

“I would say that without a doubt in face of the largest economic crisis in decades, just a few weeks into my mandate was certainly not anything that I could have predicted,” she said.

“That posed many challenges. It completely has shifted our focus and priorities. Across the world development plans were shelved,” she said. “It was crisis management mode. I’m just really grateful for the dedicated team that got us and our businesses through the crisis.”

Now that things are opening up again, Phillips said she sees a lot of potential for further growth and development in the region.

“I think diversification is important for our area,” she said. “And in my opinion, entrepreneurship has a major role to play in that.”

Phillips went on to list the various support entrepreneurs have access to, such as the Carrefour Jeunesse in Campbell’s Bay, the SADC in Fort Coulonge, and the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce in Shawville.

Phillips signaled out the MRC Pontiac’s signature innovation plan on entrepreneurship has something she hopes contributes to ensuring the Pontiac grows into the future.

“It’s a three-year plan with a $1.3 million budget that has many components tied into it, including an emphasis on introducing the concept of entrepreneurship to our youth at a young age. Our futurepreneurs, if you will.”

Overall, Phillips is proud of the contributions the Department of Economic Development has made to Pontiac during her time as the director.

“We had some big planning accomplishments like the vision 2030 strategic development pan, the signature innovation plan of course, the soon to be adopted vitalization framework for the Pontiac, which is a $5 million framework. We’ve had the installation Accès Entreprise Québec, which is our business support service,” she said.

Phillips also enjoyed the role she played in turning the former Morris Island train bridge into the world’s longest snowmobile bridge. After this she then went on to host the first interprovincial meeting on motorized trail use.

As for parting advice to her successor, Phillips said: “My advice to my successor would be to trust a team to follow their instincts. To be true to themselves, to be open to others opinions and to lead with passion. And I would say just to the Pontiac in general, you know, this is my home. It’s always the home of my family, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I owe a great deal of gratitude to all the Pontiacers who have embraced me and I thank them for the privilege of serving.”

Phillips said she will be moving onto the position of executive director with the Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation which she will begin on June 13.

Register or subscribe to read this content

Thanks for stopping by! This article is available to readers who have created a free account or who subscribe to The Equity.

When you register for free with your email, you get access to a limited number of stories at no cost. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access to everything we publish—and directly support quality local journalism here in the Pontiac.

Register or Subscribe Today!