What is it about Wendy?
Wendy is a lifelong Comox Valley resident committed to creating a vibrant community for all citizens, where all voices are heard.
She is seeking re-election to provide continuity in leadership into the future, on the important decisions and infrastructure projects on the horizon.
She has been with her husband Joe since 1984. Together they have four sons and seven grandchildren. In her ‘downtime’ she revels in the outdoors – camping, kayaking, swimming, and cycling on her ebike. She also enjoys reading and creative pursuits such as art, theatre, writing, and cooking. She has recently re-discovered gardening, and growing food – her food garden is very productive!
Any time with her grandchildren brings her tremendous joy. They range in age from nine to nineteen. Wendy is always cognizant of the future she’ll be leaving to them and considers them in decision-making, whether that’s around housing, the environment, or ensuring youth voices are heard. Her 30-year career working with youth has kept her ‘young in spirit’, and provides insight into the unique challenges and perspectives of young people.
Wendy has a varied work history including commercial fishing, print media, service industries, and social services. She recently retired from her counselling and group facilitation positions working with youth and families. Increasingly, local governments face added pressures of social issues. Wendy’s long career in social services has provided her with the knowledge, skills, and experience to think critically about and respond to the complexities of social problems the city faces.
In 1999 she founded the Comox Valley Girls Group, providing support and empowerment opportunities for preteens to young adults. In this capacity she developed a leadership training model, with dozens of young women completing the training. She has also contributed to national research and best practices in this field. She is a champion of gender equity in leadership.
She has held union leadership positions, is a past United Way and Boys and Girls Club board member, and Red Cross fundraising coordinator. She is an active supporter of the arts community, and has been involved in numerous community theatre productions as a producer, on stage, and backstage.
Wendy is a proud supporter of the recently completed Kus-kus-sum project, conservation and stewardship groups, the Cumberland Community Forest Society, Downtown Courtenay merchants, the arts community, local businesses, and food producers. She is a strong ally to the queer community and those marginalized, and is a supporter of Indigenous rights.
