Penny Cote was first elected as the Sproat Lake Electoral Area Director on the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) in 2005 after years of volunteering with the Sproat Lake Community Association on community safety and water quality issues.

Penny  has represented the electoral area of Sproat Lake on the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District consecutively for the past 16 years. Historically in that time the ACRD Board of Directors welcomed the addition of four treaty First Nations to the Board. In this role, she has gained considerable knowledge on local government operations and the challenges facing rural and remote communities.

Her learned perspective and attributes have supported community partnerships to address her communities’ unique needs. Serving as co-chair on the Alberni-Clayoquot Health Network, Penny is committed to the health and wellbeing of her community and continually advocates for improved health services with senior levels of government. Penny also owns a heritage commercial, residential property in Port Alberni and partners with her husband in their construction company.