FAQ's
Why are you running for Kelowna City Council?
My husband and I raised our daughter here, and she just finished her third year at Emily Carr University of Arts + Design. Kelowna is the community we are proud to call home. I want to help ensure it remains a safe, affordable and vibrant city where our daughter and her generation can build their careers, raise their families and enjoy an exceptional quality of life.
I am also a person who believes deeply in service to my community. For the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of serving this community as a locally elected School Trustee with Central Okanagan Public Schools. The voters have placed their trust in me through four elections, and I have always considered that trust both an honour and a responsibility.
During those years, I have worked to ensure our children from K-12 have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed, that they learn in safe, clean, accessible and inclusive environments, and that we plan responsibly for the future of a growing community.
After four terms as a Trustee, I was encouraged to consider bringing that experience to Kelowna City Council. The more I considered it, the more I recognized just how transferable my experience is.
A Board of Education is, in many respects, similar to a City Council, and the role of a School Trustee has many similarities to that of a City Councillor. Both are locally elected by the public. Both are responsible for governing large public organizations, establishing strategic priorities, overseeing significant public budgets, approving policies and capital investments, responding to growth, listening to residents and making difficult decisions about how limited public resources should be allocated.
Central Okanagan Public Schools serves approximately 25,600 students, employs approximately 4,500 people, operates about 50 schools and manages an annual budget of approximately $400 million. During my 15 years as an elected School Trustee, I have held significant leadership roles, including serving as Board Chair and Vice Chair, and have chaired every Board committee numerous times. I currently serve as Chair of the Finance and Planning Committee and I have previously chaired Finance and Audit, Planning and Facilities, Policy, Education and Student Services, Executive Staff Management, and General Affairs. These roles have provided me with extensive hands-on experience in public governance, financial oversight, strategic and capital planning, policy development, and making complex decisions on behalf of the communities we serve.
I understand the responsibilities that come with elected public governance: reading hundreds of pages of reports and supporting documents, understanding budgets, questioning assumptions, listening to staff and the public, participating in public consultations, considering competing priorities and then making decisions publicly and being accountable for those decisions.
There is also a significant part of being an elected representative that people may not always see. Beyond Board and committee meetings, I have spent 15 years attending community events, school visits, openings, celebrations, public consultations, partner meetings and government announcements throughout our community. City Councillors similarly represent the City at community events, business openings, public meetings and civic celebrations.
I also bring a UBC education with a major in Economics and approximately 30 years of business-to-business sales experience. For 15 of those years, I served as Regional Sales Manager for a locally owned and operated hotel chain, travelling throughout the region promoting our hotels and encouraging business and leisure travel to Kelowna. That experience gave me a strong understanding of tourism, economic development, customer service, relationship building, negotiation and the importance of a healthy local economy.
I believe Kelowna is at an important juncture in its growth. We are facing significant decisions about housing and affordability, taxation, infrastructure, transportation, public safety, homelessness and how we manage growth while protecting the quality of life that makes people want to call Kelowna home.
I am not starting from scratch when it comes to public governance. I have 15 years of tested experience making difficult decisions, managing competing priorities, overseeing public dollars, planning for growth and being accountable to the people who elected me.
I am running for Kelowna City Council because I am ready to take that experience to the other side of the local governance table and put it to work for the entire community.
For 15 years, I have worked to help make our community a better place for our children.
Now I want to help make sure Kelowna remains a community where they can afford to stay, build their futures and one day raise families of their own.
What do you believe are the three most important issues facing Kelowna over the next four years?
For each: the issue, the specific actions you would take, and how City Council can actually influence the outcome
Livability
Livability is one of Kelowna’s biggest challenges as our city grows. Housing, property taxes, utilities and everyday costs are putting pressure on residents and businesses. Livability also means access to parks, recreation, transportation and amenities that contribute to our quality of life.
I would bring strong financial scrutiny to City budgets and major spending decisions—seeking efficiencies, partnerships and senior-government funding, while considering the long-term costs of capital projects. I would also support a diverse supply of housing for people at different ages, incomes and stages of life.
As a 15-year School Trustee and Chair of Finance & Planning, I recently helped guide our Board from a projected $4.2 million shortfall to a balanced budget.
Council can influence livability through responsible spending, incentivizing housing choices and investments in the services and amenities that make Kelowna a great place to live.
Responsible Growth
Kelowna is growing, and we need to ensure infrastructure and services keep pace. Growth should strengthen our community without compromising quality of life.
I would support thoughtful planning that considers transportation, roads, utilities, recreation, parks, emergency services and other infrastructure alongside new development. I would also advocate for stronger coordination between the City, School District and other levels of government so major projects are planned with their cumulative impacts in mind.
My 15 years as a School Trustee have included extensive experience in long-term planning, facilities, capital projects and managing growth in one of B.C.’s fastest-growing school districts.
Council directly influences growth through the Official Community Plan, zoning, development approvals, infrastructure investment and long-term capital planning. We need to plan ahead rather than continually play catch-up.
Public Safety
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home, neighbourhood, business & public spaces. Residents are concerned about crime, homelessness, mental health & addictions and the impact these challenges are having in Kelowna.
I would support appropriate resources for police, fire, bylaw and community safety while advocating for coordinated action with senior governments on housing, mental health, addictions and homelessness. We need both compassion for people in crisis and accountability for behaviour that harms others.
As a School Trustee, protecting safe, caring and inclusive environments has been a fundamental responsibility, requiring collaboration, policy, prevention and difficult decisions. I would be a strong advocate to senior levels of government.
Council influences public safety through resources budgeted for policing, fire, bylaw and other community initiatives.
What experience, skills, and community involvement do you bring to the role?
For 15 years, I have served as a locally elected School Trustee, including as Board Chair, Vice Chair and Chair of every Board committee numerous times. I currently Chair of the Finance & Planning committee and recently helped guide our Board from a projected $4.2 million shortfall to a balanced budget.
My experience includes governance, policy review, strategic and capital planning, public consultation, labour relations and bargaining, and hiring two Superintendents. As Board Chair, I helped lead our most recent Superintendent recruitment, including final negotiations.
I served 12 years on the BCSTA Thompson-Okanagan Branch Executive and as BCPSEA Board Representative and Bargaining Liaison. I have written advocacy motions passed by our Board and supported by all 60 BC Boards of Education.
Beyond the boardroom, I visit schools, participate in Student Learning Conversations and engage with students, families, staff and community partners. As a cancer survivor, I also volunteer my time and share my story at the annual student-led Relay for Life, encouraging students who this year raised $105,000 to support those that are affected by cancer.
With a UBC Economics education and 30 years in business-to-business sales, I bring proven financial, governance, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
How will you approach council decisions when priorities compete for limited resources?
When priorities compete for limited resources, I will approach decisions the same way I have throughout 15 years as a School Trustee: come prepared, understand the financial realities, listen to the people affected, ask difficult questions and consider both the immediate need and the long-term impact.
As Chair of Finance & Planning, I have made difficult decisions involving operating budgets, capital projects, facilities & competing needs across a growing school district.
At Council, I would ask: Is this a need or a want? What evidence supports it? What are the long-term operating and maintenance costs? Are there efficiencies, partnerships, grants or senior-government funding available? What happens if we delay it, and what other priorities are affected if we proceed?
Responsible governance means setting priorities based on need, evidence, affordability and the greatest benefit to the community.
I also believe good decisions require listening to different perspectives. My experience in public consultation, strategic and capital planning, bargaining and governance has taught me how to work toward consensus while being prepared to make difficult decisions and remain accountable for them.
How do you work with people who see an issue differently than you?
I have spent much of my professional and elected life working with people who have different values, perspectives and life experiences than I do. I believe you can disagree with someone while still respecting them, listening to them and working productively together.
During my 15 years as a School Trustee, our Board has not always agreed, and at times has been divided on significant issues. I have always tried to understand why each Trustee holds their position, ask questions, listen carefully and find common ground. We may not change each other’s minds, but understanding different perspectives can lead to better discussions and better decisions.
My 30 years in business-to-business sales reinforced the importance of building relationships, understanding different needs and finding solutions.
I would bring that same approach to City Council: listen genuinely, consider the facts, debate respectfully and work toward solutions. Once a decision is made, I understand the responsibility of a governing body to move forward professionally. I am able to disagree respectfully and still work together in the best interests of the community.
What else should voters know about you?
Voters should know that I believe advocacy is an important part of good governance – and I have a strong record of advocating and achieving results.
Throughout my 15 years as a School Trustee, I have made a point of meeting directly with the Ministry of Education and Child Care at BCSTA AGMs and Academies to ensure our District’s priorities remain top of mind. I have also brought forward numerous advocacy motions that were supported by our Board and subsequently adopted by school boards across B.C. through BCSTA.
One example was my motion calling on the Province to increase the Annual Facilities Grant to address deferred maintenance, improve accessibility and safety, enhance learning environments and extend the life of public facilities. Following that advocacy, our District received increased funding.
The motion that I put forward and was unanimously carried by our Board and at the BCSTA AGM is:
“That the BCSTA advocate to the Ministry of Finance to increase the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s Annual Facilities Grant so school districts may address the accumulating costs of deferred maintenance in order to improve accessibility, ensure student safety, enhance learning environments, extend facility lifespan, and support long-term fiscal responsibility.”
Effective advocacy takes preparation, persistence, relationships and the ability to build support. If elected, I will bring that same approach to City Hall—advocating with other levels of government to ensure Kelowna receives the funding and support our growing community needs.