Julie Nobert-DeMarchi has called Timmins home for most of her life. It's where she grew up, made lifelong friendships and chose, again and again, to get involved.
She is a daughter, partner, mom of three and very proud grandma of four. She's been a foster parent and caregiver, a volunteer, team manager, commanding officer, community advocate and nonprofit leader — and usually the person who has a hard time standing by when she sees something that needs to be done.
Timmins is where she has built her career, raised her family and spent much of her life volunteering and working alongside others in the community. Those experiences — professional, volunteer and personal — all shape how she approaches leadership.
They have taught Julie that leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about listening, doing the homework, asking difficult questions, working with others and making informed decisions — and then being accountable for what comes next.
At her core, Julie believes in kindness, integrity, fairness and showing up for others. She believes leadership means knowing her values, being guided by her ethics and remaining true to both while being open to listening, learning and challenging her own thinking.
That belief has shaped both her personal life and more than 25 years of professional and community leadership.
Julie's experience has been built over decades and in many different settings — from grassroots community organizations and volunteer roles to executive leadership, complex community systems and national organizations.
Executive leadership, governance, financial and human resource management, organizational development, government relations, advocacy and communications — leading organizations, teams and complex community work.
More than 25 years in the violence-against-women and social-services sector have given Julie extensive experience with gender-based violence, poverty, homelessness and housing instability, mental health and addictions, anti-human trafficking and the systems individuals and families rely upon.
From helping build Fierté Timmins Pride from the ground up to serving four years as President of Fierté Canada Pride, Julie has experience building and leading organizations, working with governments and bringing different communities and perspectives together.
Julie has been volunteering since her school years. From sports and cadets to committees, coalitions, festivals, fundraising, advocacy and community organizations, getting involved has never been something Julie does for recognition — it's simply part of who she is.
Volunteering has been part of Julie's life since she was in school. Over the years, that involvement has taken many forms — youth and adult sports, eight years as Commanding Officer of a local Navy League Cadet Corps, health and community coalitions, festivals and event planning, fundraising, advocacy and political committees, as well as local, provincial and national women's and Pride organizations.
Her professional life has also brought her to numerous committees, coalitions and collaborative tables, working alongside governments, Indigenous partners, community organizations and other sectors on complex community issues. Each of those experiences has given her a different perspective on Timmins, the individuals who live here and the systems that shape our community.
Kindness has always mattered to Julie. She believes in supporting others when things are difficult, reminding individuals of their worth and helping create spaces where individuals know they belong.
But Julie doesn't see community involvement as a one-way act of service. The individuals she has met, worked alongside, supported and learned from over the years have shaped her too. They have challenged her thinking, broadened her perspective and deepened her understanding of the community she calls home.
Those experiences have also taught Julie that compassion and good decision-making aren't opposites. Strong communities need empathy and an understanding of the realities individuals face, but they also need responsible decisions that consider resources, sustainability, economic realities and long-term consequences.
For Julie, good leadership requires both.
Julie knows Council will face decisions where there isn't always a simple or perfect answer. Different perspectives will need to be considered, competing priorities will need to be balanced and limited resources will need to be used responsibly.
She will bring compassion, practicality, preparation and judgment to the Council table — informed by decades of leadership, a deep understanding of social and community issues, and an appreciation for financial and economic realities.
Julie believes good decisions begin with good information. When something raises a concern or doesn't seem right, her first instinct is to ask questions and find out more before reaching a conclusion. Years of working across community organizations, governments, committees and collaborative tables have taught her how to navigate systems, identify the right sources and seek out the current information she needs.
She believes decisions should be grounded in facts and evidence, informed by expertise and science, and strengthened by listening to the individuals and communities affected by them. Being open-minded also means being willing to learn and challenge her own assumptions when credible information gives her reason to do so.
Her approach is simple:
Listen with an open mind.
Ground yourself in the facts.
Follow the evidence.
Respect expertise and science.
Consider lived experience.
Be willing to challenge assumptions.
Then exercise judgment.
For Julie, leadership doesn't end when a decision is made. It means following through, paying attention to what happens next and being accountable for the results.
She will remain true to her values and ethics while continuing to listen, learn and challenge her own thinking.
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Leadership • Collaboration • Accountability • Community
249-496-6766 • @connectwithjulie • julie@connectwithjulie.ca
Authorized by Julie Nobert-DeMarchi, Candidate for Timmins City Council, Ward 5.