Her Story

Cheryl is the daughter of Michael Fort and Josephine Ritch.  Cheryl has been a Northern Ontario girl all her life.  She moved to Hornepayne in Grade 6 and has called Hornepayne home ever since. She did live in Thunder Bay for Grade 11 and in Auden, Ontario for three years.

Cheryl married Greg Dane and they have three beautiful children together.  The children are all grown, the youngest just starting university this year in Ottawa.  Their son, Eric Dane is employed at the local Northern Credit Union and their daughter, Melissa is finishing her Masters at Carleton University in Linguistics.  Greg and Cheryl were together 20 years and decided to part ways but have a very caring relationship today.

Cheryl graduated high school with honours carried on with post secondary education through Distance Education first at the University of Windsor and currently at Athabasca University.  Cheryl has taken two years of commerce and two years of general studies, focussing on communication.  Currently she is enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce Degree program.

Cheryl has worked as a waitress, cook, housekeeping staff, stay at home mom, secretary and bookkeeper.  Currently, Cheryl is employed with Canadian National Railway as a Locomotive Engineer.  She is in her 14th year with the railway.

Cheryl is an avid volunteer and has been volunteering consistently for the past 22 years.   She has served on a variety of committees and boards.  She is most proud of her accomplishments with the Santa Claus Christmas Party, the Library Board and her time on committees of council.  “It is only working within a goal oriented and empowering environment do real accomplishments happen, both in outcomes and for the participants.” Cheryl Fort

Cheryl has sat on council for the past two years and has been an active participant.   Cheryl was elected to be the next Mayor of Hornepayne.  She is the first female and first Indigenous Mayor for the community.  Cheyrl is also the second Indigeneous Mayor to be elected in Ontario. Cheryl has an extraordinary appetite for community building and is always hunting down new information and best practices in this regard.  Cheryl is committed to being transparent and accountable. She has written regularly in the local paper, has an active Facebook page with video, a presence on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Cheryl is passionate about seeing people succeed and be the best that they can be.  She believes that success is an unlimited quantity and it is there for the taking, people just need to believe that they CAN.  Cheryl is a servant-leader and a strong advocate for empowering people to their fullest potential.