About Catherine

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Meet Catherine

Catherine McNabb is a fourth-generation Niagaran who was born, raised and educated in St. Catharines.

A graduate of Brock University, Catherine purchased her first home in Ward 2 in 1993 before embarking on an international career spanning more than three decades.

She has worked across the public and private sectors, leading complex projects and organizations in 12 countries. Her career has required her to manage substantial budgets, negotiate between competing interests, build partnerships and bring diverse groups of people together around common objectives.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from the National University of Singapore and has worked in senior leadership roles across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Her international career has given Catherine the opportunity to experience cities and communities undergoing profound change. She has witnessed what works, what does not, and how thoughtful leadership, long-term planning and collaboration can transform communities.

But St. Catharines remained home.

Today, Catherine wants to apply the experience she has gained around the world to the community where her own story began.

“Global experience has broadened my perspective. Local roots determine where I want to make a difference. “

Experience That Delivers

Leadership Is More Than a Title

Over more than 30 years, I have learned that leadership means accepting responsibility for outcomes.

My professional experience has involved:

  • Leading complex public and private sector initiatives
  • Managing significant budgets and financial responsibilities
  • Working with governments, businesses and community stakeholders
  • Negotiating across different interests and perspectives
  • Building partnerships in multicultural environments
  • Developing strategies and turning them into measurable results
  • Serving in board and governance roles
  • Supporting initiatives involving children, youth and people with disabilities
  • Working on sustainability and environmental initiatives internationally

These experiences do not give me all the answers to the challenges facing St. Catharines.

They have taught me how to ask the right questions, listen to different perspectives, make difficult decisions and remain accountable for the results.

WHY I AM RUNNING

A city that works for the people who live here

My priorities start with a simple question:

Will this decision make St. Catharines a better place to live?

Residents deserve to know that their tax dollars are being used responsibly.

With an MBA from the National University of Singapore and decades of experience managing major budgets and organizations, I understand the importance of financial discipline, accountability, transparency and measurable results.

At City Hall, I will ask the difficult questions, examine priorities carefully and advocate for spending that delivers genuine value to residents.

Every tax dollar should have a purpose. Every major expenditure should be accountable.

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home, on their street and in their community.

We need to address crime and neighbourhood safety while recognizing that the unhoused, addiction and mental-health challenges cannot be solved through enforcement alone.

I support practical, compassionate and evidence-based solutions developed in partnership with police, social agencies, healthcare providers, community organizations and other levels of government.

Compassion and community safety are not competing objectives. We need both.

Downtown St. Catharines should be a place where people want to live, work, shop, dine, invest and spend time.

We need to continue revitalizing the downtown core, encourage responsible redevelopment of brownfield and underused sites, prioritizing the former General Motors site, support local businesses and create welcoming public spaces.

A thriving downtown strengthens the entire city.

St. Catharines has long been known as the Garden City. That identity should mean something.

I will advocate for protecting green spaces, strengthening our urban tree canopy, improving neighbourhood environments and incorporating sustainability into responsible long-term planning.

Environmental responsibility does not have to come at the expense of economic development. Good planning can achieve both.

A strong city takes care of people throughout their lives.

That means ensuring seniors can remain active and connected to their communities, supporting families and young people, improving access to neighbourhood services and addressing food insecurity and social isolation.

My board and governance experience with organizations supporting children with disabilities and youth development has reinforced my belief that strong communities are built by creating opportunities for everyone to participate.

Empower the Future with Your Voice!

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