About Me
As a mother of two children with disabilities – Julia, age 10, wheelchair user due to a spinal cord injury at 17 months of age, and Tanner, age 5, Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as ADHD and speech delay – I know firsthand why inclusive playgrounds are crucial. For many years, we simply avoided playgrounds because it was too difficult, both physically and emotionally, for our family to visit.
In early 2022, I spearheaded the Julia’s Junction Inclusive Play Space project, endeavouring to build not only a fully accessible, but a truly inclusive playground in my community of West Kelowna. Over the course of 16 months, myself and the team I put together had raised $900,000, and we celebrated the grand opening of Julia’s Junction in Summer 2023.
Successfully raising the required funds, creating a thoughtful inclusive design, partnerships & community awareness, ensuring key communication between all parties and overseeing the project management and construction, gave me a wealth of knowledge and experience and further ignited my passion to create more spaces like Julia’s Junction. I am excited to meet you, and look forward to working with you every step of the way to create inclusive play in your school or community!
From inception to grand opening, I can support you through the entire process. Let ALL the kids play!
Life before our family was touched by spinal cord injury
Prior to having my beautiful children, Julia and Tanner, I focused on my career. My husband and I both held jobs we loved – he was, and still is, in management at RONA and I oversaw the Conference Services department at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort (Marriott). In this role I managed a team of five, worked directly with meeting planners to plan and execute successful events, coordinated with the hotel’s many other departments on a daily basis, and was responsible for the Catering forecast on an ongoing basis. While challenging, I found my career very rewarding and fulfilling.
On Thursday, October 15, 2015, life as I knew it would never be the same again. After Julia’s diagnosis of a blood clot on her spinal cord causing permanent paralysis, I knew immediately I had to step down from my role at the Delta Grand, and focus on my daughter’s health and well-being.
Over these past 9 years, I have used my organizational, financial literacy, customer relations and event planning skills in a much different way. From hosting golf tournament fundraisers to building a $900,000 inclusive playground, I am excited to have re-entered the workforce and look forward to supporting you with your project.
Fundraising & Accomplishments
Julia’s Junction Inclusive Play Space
Successfully championed the creation, fundraising, & construction of Julia’s Junction, West Kelowna’s first fully inclusive play space, raising $900,000 within 16 months.
Golf For Julia Annual Fundraiser
Founder and ongoing host of Golf for Julia, an annual fundraising golf tournament to raise funds for daughter’s spinal cord rehabilitation; est, 2017 with over $200,000 funds raised to date.
Citizen Of The Year Award
2023 Geoffrey Paynter Citizen of the Year Award winner, in recognition of exceptional contribution to community social planning and well-being.
Courage to Come Back Awards
2024 Nominee alongside daughter Julia, recognizing the ability to overcome substantial illness or adversity, “come back to give back” in our community, and inspire others to do the same.
Deryck Thomson
Award2022 winner, in recognition of exceptional contribution to community social planning and well-being, for Julia’s Junction.
Top 40
Under 40As a 2024 Honouree, this annual program recognizes notable leaders in the community who continue to inspire, lead, build, and contribute to the diverse landscape and community both personally and professionally.