Like many of us in this community, I've watched housing become unaffordable for my kids and my friends' kids. I've seen my commute to work get longer as more and more vehicles crowd insufficient roads and driver frustration increases. Like you, my bank account is shrinking from the high cost of groceries and getting around. It's frustrating that city council's decisions are not making our lives any easier and that's why I intend to run for city council. I want to help make better decisions about housing, transportation, food security, fire protection and more, informed by a feminist perspective.

I work in an academic library, I’m an officer in my union, an executive member of Fraser Valley Labour Council, volunteer with political organizations provincially and federally, and have lived in Chilliwack for 25 years. As a former community journalist, I gained experience reporting on civic councils in various communities. I have volunteered for local organizations including:

• Downtown Chilliwack Community Market

• Chilliwack Citizens for Change

• Provincial & federal political elections

• Fraser Valley Labour Council

• Shaw Cable, co-hosting a news commentary show

• Chilliwack Academy of Music

• Chilliwack School of Performing Arts

• Fraser Valley Philharmonic Society

• Harrison Festival of the Arts

• Chilliwack Centre for Excellence Paddling Club

• Youth soccer & my children's schools when they were young

For 20-plus years I was a single parent, struggling with food security, housing and coping in a system designed to work against families like mine. I've been hungry and I've been homeless twice--though not on the street. I don't want other families going through that. 

I have two grown sons, and in 2018 I married my husband Randy Lamont. I stay healthy hiking on our local trails and Randy and I enjoy snowshoeing, camping and ballroom dancing (okay, Randy doesn't really enjoy snowshoeing).

Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is the way forward. I recently completed the Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building program at UFV.