SooToday asked each of the candidates to submit a bio to introduce themselves to voters. Meet Ward 1 candidate Derek Pearce:
I was born and raised in Sault Ste Marie, I grew up inside the city for most of my life moving around a lot and even out to Trout Lake for a few years.
Throughout my childhood, I have always been fascinated about how cities work and are managed. I began studying them at a young age and also started to develop an interest in city simulator video games.
I attended Alex Muir Public School and then Alexander Henry for high school. In 2009 I attended Sault College for upgrading before leaving the Sault in 2011 for North Bay and then I moved to Huntsville in 2012.
In 2014 I returned home and after watching the last elections happen I immediately got more interested in politics. I joined the Sault Ste. Marie Association of Ratepayers where I expanded my knowledge of the municipal act and our local government.
In 2018 I joined the St. Mary's River Marine Heritage Center board and have been active in a local organization I created Project Sault Ste. Marie which is modeling the entire city in 3D.