Since her election as Councillor in the former City of Ottawa in 1994, Elisabeth Arnold has worked diligently to represent residents of Somerset Ward at the municipal level.

Elisabeth is committed to safeguarding and improving the quality of life for Centretown residents, and to managing the city's growth responsibly. She sits on the Transportation and Transit Committee, where she actively supports and promotes alternative modes of transportation and public transit. On the Planning Committee, Elisabeth works to ensure appropriate and sustainable development. Elisabeth is also a member of the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee, which oversees public nursing homes, public health, childcare, recreation and culture, arts programs, social services and housing.

In addition, Elisabeth sits as a member of the board on the following external boards and commissions:

Elisabeth was elected this year to the Board of Directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and chairs that organization's Steering Committee on Responsible Pest Management.

Elisabeth was born in Ottawa in 1959 and attended Lisgar Collegiate. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Geography at Simon Fraser University and a Master's in Urban Planning at Queen's University, where she was a student representative to the Canadian Institute of Planners. From 1979 to 1984, she represented Canada internationally as a member of Canada's National Canoe Team.

She has been involved in the community on both a professional and voluntary basis. From 1986 to 1988 she was the Coordinator of Housing Help, a storefront program that provides information and assistance on housing-related issues. Elisabeth was also a founding board member of the Ottawa Vietnamese Non-Profit Residence Corporation.

Elisabeth worked from 1989 to 1992 as Coordinator of the Community Development Program at the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre. Her work there was wide-ranging, from helping to set up bursary funds for young artists, to organizing coalitions, to working on issues facing new Canadians such as housing, language, and health. After leaving this position, Elisabeth continued her involvement in community health and social action, both as a volunteer and as a self-employed consultant.

Elisabeth has served as vice-chair for the founding board of the Women's Action Centre Against Violence and chaired the Safety Audit Committee. She has also worked with committees studying the housing needs of women and youth in Ottawa.