Jennifer O'Connell, Pickering's newest and youngest Councillor, is well on her way to putting sustainable visions of community growth into action. Ideas of implementing realistic development and devising a strategy to sustain Pickering's growing population have helped this 24 year old University of Toronto Political Science graduate earn a position in municipal politics her first time around.

Jennifer's interest in politics first sparked while working as a junior Legal Assistant for a Bankruptcy and Insolvency Law Firm. Jennifer also volunteered at a highly successful labour law firm, where she determined her desire to give a voice to those in need. In the past, she was also involved in a co-op program with the Durham Regional Police Services, Forensic Identification Unit. Through all of her work with these organizations, Jennifer started to get involved with the needs of the community she grew up in, realizing she could help make a difference by offering an unbiased and fresh outlook to a community whose rich diversity was underrepresented on Council.

Jennifer currently sits on several committees. She is the Chair of the Waterfront Committee and Vice-Chair of the Sustainable Pickering Committee. She is also a member of the Site-Plan, Civic Awards, Library Board, Audit, and Rouge Park Alliance Committees. Jennifer is passionate about banning the use of cosmetic pesticides in Pickering, as well as promoting a safer community. She is working with existing, and putting together new Neighbourhood watch programs. As Jennifer works with the residents, she attends to their specific needs, taking into consideration, not only her own concerns and objectives, but those of everyone interested in working together towards improving the community one step at a time.

Her objective has always involved investing not only in the current residents, but developing a plan to ensure a sustainable infrastructure for future generations, making Pickering the ideal city to grow up and raise families in, prospering for years to come.