Meet Patricia M. Canning
Patricia’s dedication to education is equally evident in her hands-on work with families. At South Mountain School, she shifted PTA meeting times to accommodate working parents and co-created Culture Day to celebrate the community’s diversity. At Columbia High School, she co-led Midnight Madness and secured funding so that every graduating senior could participate in the post-graduation celebration, regardless of ability to pay.
Her professional background mirrors her community work, grounded in results, strategy, and accountability. With decades of experience as a project manager for nonprofits, global firms, and local organizations, including Deloitte Consulting and PMC Solutions Group, Patricia has built a career on delivering outcomes through strategic thinking, fiscal responsibility, and effective resource use. She brings the same discipline and accountability to her public service, ensuring that South Orange’s investments deliver real results for residents.
Beyond her professional and civic leadership, Patricia has a personal passion for wellness and community building. Canning brings decades of experience in community organizing, nonprofit leadership, and corporate sustainability, inspiring these qualities in her husband, Jim, and their two daughters, Jessica and Jillian, both proud CHS alumnae. As an avid triathlete, she founded a local women’s triathlon training group that has helped more than 100 women complete their first race, reflecting her belief in empowerment and collective achievement.
Looking ahead, Patricia’s vision for South Orange is rooted in the same principles that have guided her work for decades: collaboration, sustainability, and accountability. As a council member, she is committed to keeping South Orange safe, welcoming, and connected by working side by side with residents and community leaders. She will protect and expand sustainability initiatives to preserve the environment for future generations. She will also lead with strategic discipline, ensuring that decisions reflect community needs and deliver tangible results.
For Patricia, leadership has always meant listening, engaging, and making space for every voice. With her track record of service and her vision for the future, she is ready to continue building a strong South Orange where everyone belongs.
Patricia M. Canning believes that community is built by listening, connecting, and acting together. For more than 20 years, she has been proud to call South Orange home, earning a reputation as someone who can turn ideas into action. Whether leading initiatives that make the town stronger or inspiring others to join in, Patricia has consistently worked to create a community where everyone belongs.
Her leadership has taken many forms. As a longtime member of the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race, Patricia developed programs such as Talking to Children About Race, helping parents engage in meaningful conversations and strengthening community connections. She founded the MLK Luminary Project to encourage neighbors to reflect on Dr. King’s vision for unity. On the South Orange Environmental Commission, she spearheaded the award-winning S.O. Not Plastic campaign, paving the way for New Jersey’s statewide ban on single-use plastic bags. Through her service on the Achieve Foundation board, she broadened the reach of the Night of 100 Dinners fundraiser and championed inclusivity and accessibility in local schools.