Melissa Harrigan

Meet Melissa

Rooted In West Kent

I was born and raised in Tilbury and am proud to call South-West Kent home. As one of the three “Sharpe sisters” raised by Greg and Shelley Sharpe, I grew up in Tilbury learning the value of community, hard work, and looking out for your neighbours. I attended St. Joseph School in Tilbury, and then UCC for high school. I spent many summers lifeguarding at the Tilbury Pool alongside my now husband, Kris, while studying for my degrees in English and Political Science.

When Kris and I began raising our family, we knew we needed to come home. We wanted to raise our children in a place where they could thrive, where neighbours know one another, and where there is a genuine sense of community. So, in 2012, we returned to Chatham-Kent and settled along the Thames River between Prairie Siding and Jeannette’s Creek. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to serve on a number of community boards and committees, including the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario and the Tilbury District Family Health Team.

In 2018, Kris and I took over the Tilbury Storm Soccer Association and transformed it into a non-profit organization that now provides recreation and community connections for nearly 500 local youth every spring. Together with a dedicated group of parent volunteers who now serve on the board, we’ve helped grow the organization into something that brings families together and creates opportunities for children to build confidence, friendships, and lifelong memories. For me, recreation is about much more than sport, it’s about strengthening our community. 2018 is also the year that I was first elected to represent my community on CK Council, and I have been privileged to serve in this capacity for two terms of council

Kris and I have been married for 17 years, and together we are raising our three children: Jack, Liam, and Ruby.

Professionally, I have a Master’s degree in Political Science at York University, where I focused my research on local government and public policy, and a number of certificates in healthcare leadership, policy innovation, and change management. I’ve spent my career in healthcare leadership, bringing organizations together, securing funding, and improving access to services that make a real difference in people’s lives. My work has included physician recruitment, system transformation, and building partnerships that have increased access to primary care and strengthened local healthcare. Today, I have the privilege of being the CEO of CMHA Lambton Kent.