As the co-Founder and current lead for Streams Foundation Canada, a thriving nonprofit in Chilliwack; I understand the importance of being present in the community, listening to residents, and working with local organizations to address issues at the grassroots level.

Read about my community initiatives below and visit Streams Foundation Canada for details.

For more than a decade, I have been involved in hands-on community initiatives in Chilliwack.

Through Streams Foundation Canada and other volunteer efforts, I have helped organize and support:

• Library Socials

• Coffee with Seniors

• Downtown and neighbourhood cleanups

• Park and trail cleanups

• Cleanup initiatives around homeless encampments

• Residential large-item pickup initiatives, working alongside the City of Chilliwack

• Emergency food hampers and food-security projects

• Multicultural dinners and cultural events

• Community events and volunteer initiatives

• Accessibility-related initiatives

• Environmental and community-building projects

I have worked alongside residents, volunteers, businesses, organizations and the City of Chilliwack to turn ideas into practical projects.

This experience has given me a firsthand understanding of what works, where systems can be improved and how important collaboration is when addressing local challenges.

I completed residency training in Maxillofacial Surgery, including experience as part of a tertiary-care trauma surgical team working with complex and serious injuries

My healthcare and trauma background has taught me how to make decisions in complex situations, work under pressure, and understand the importance of prevention, early intervention, and coordinated services.

I currently work with School District No. 33, supporting children, youth and families.

Working with children, youth, and families has given me insight into the challenges facing the next generation and the importance of building a community where families can thrive.

I also work with a team of professionals at Pacific Community Resource Society to directly support individuals recovering from substance use.

My experience supporting individuals in recovery has given me firsthand insight into the realities surrounding substance use, barriers to services, and the importance of compassionate, evidence-informed approaches.

Across every role, I have learned that lasting solutions rarely come from one person or one organization. They come from bringing people together, listening to different perspectives, asking difficult questions, and being willing to do the work.

Experience should mean more than a résumé.

Together, these experiences have taught me the importance of prevention, early intervention, evidence-informed decision-making, accountability and working across different systems.