Cynthia Dunsford was first elected in 2007 as the Member of the Legislature for Stratford-Kinlock.

She is currently sitting on several Legislative Standing Committees: Social Development; Community Affairs and Economic Development; Agriculture, Forestry and Environment. Cynthia is also on the Executive Council Strategic Planning Committee.

She was also appointed as PEI President of L’assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie, an international organization with representatives from the Francophone countries of the world.

In June 2007, shortly after being elected, she established (and is now Chair of) the first Legislative Women’s Caucus on PEI.

Cynthia has a long record of community service. She has served on the board of the Queen Street Commons as a co-founding Director, as well as Vice-President of Squash PEI and committee chair of Tip to Tip for Africa PEI. Most recently, she sat on the National Board of the Townships Project, a micro-lending organization aiding entrepreneurs, primarily women, in the township areas outside East London, South Africa.

She has also served as President of Theatre PEI, and has volunteered with the PEI Conservatory teaching theatre arts to children.  A competitive squash player and cyclist, Cynthia has acted as representative on the International Island Games Association Board. In 2004, at the age of 42, Cynthia was the Cycling PEI Female Mountain Biking Series Champion. As well, she founded BUG PEI (Bike User Group PEI), an advocacy group focused on the environmental and health benefits of cycling. An avid skier, Cynthia was a member of the Canadian Ski Patrol System for 5 years, volunteering at PEI’s Brookvale Provincial Ski Park. As a coach, Cynthia is currently preparing young athletes for the PEI 2011 Canada Games Squash Team.

Cynthia was a founding member of the Environmental Coalition of PEI and worked primarily on public education and awareness campaigns. She was instrumental in bringing the Waste Watch pilot program to her neighbourhood in Stratford, PEI. and continues to be an advocate for cycling. (She is often seen commuting from Stratford to Charlottetown on her bike).

Cynthia’s has made a career as a professional writer, actor and comedian for the past 12 years. During that time she has also worked in marketing and advertising for commercial radio, film and video production,  and various promotional contracts in theatre and events production. Before and during her career in the arts Cynthia she also employed herself as a home renovator, human resource manager, events producer and social entrepreneur.

Cynthia grew up in Moncton, New Brunswick and first came to the Island to attend UPEI in 1980. There, she met Wayne Dunsford and together they raised two wonderful children, Ash and Ian, now 26 and 24 years, respectively. Cynthia has lived in the beautiful and growing district of Stratford-Kinlock for 24 years. Cynthia has many interests and passions, including: photography; technology; art; theatre; nature; music.