Red Tape
This podcast brings together two local realtors for open, honest conversations about the economy, housing, and the issues shaping our communities today. From market concerns and affordability to growth, development, and everyday realities, the discussions reflect what people are actually experiencing on the ground.
As the conversation evolves, the podcast expands beyond real estate. We invite guest speakers from the local community business owners, residents, creatives, and industry voices to share their perspectives, experiences, and concerns. By hearing directly from the people who live and work here, we build a clearer picture of how economic changes are affecting real communities, not just headlines.
This is a space for thoughtful dialogue, diverse opinions, and real conversations about where our communities are headed and how we move forward together.
Red Tape
New Voice, Same Streets - immigrant roots, Langley community, fresh perspective
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Season 2 kicks off with a conversation you won't want to miss. Resha Sabti — engineer, community advocate, and independent candidate for Township of Langley Council — joins hosts Nick and Renesh to talk about her path from immigrant newcomer to political candidate.
In this episode, Resha opens up about growing up in a family of overachievers, finding her voice in community work, and what finally pushed her to enter the political arena. She digs into the realities of running as an independent in Langley, the issues closest to her heart (community centres, schools, infrastructure, and representation), and how she plans to shake things up on council.
Raw, real, and refreshingly direct — this is exactly the kind of conversation Red Tape was built for.
Guest: Resha Sabti, Independent Candidate — Township of Langley Council Produced by: Local Lens Media | locallensmedia.com
Awesome. So welcome to season two, episode one of the Red Tape Podcast. I'm your co-host, Nick Bronian. I'm your other co-host, Rinesh Blay. And today we have an amazing guest for you guys, Resha Subdi, an independent candidate for the Township of Langley Council. She brings a strong blend of academic achievement, professional expertise, and grassroots leadership to the potential role. And Resha, we're very excited to have you on today.
SPEAKER_00Thank you guys. I'm really happy to be here today. Thanks for having me, of course.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, 100%. So tell us a little bit, just to kind of start off and get people kind of to know who you are and what you what you're all about. You know, what's your background? Why have you decided to really join the municipal um politics route?
SPEAKER_00Oof. Do you have to have a couple hours? Yeah.
SPEAKER_02We have whatever we need. Whatever you need. We're here. Whatever you need.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so thank you for having me. My name is Russia, and uh I've been living in Langley for over 15 years. We moved here after we got married. Um, I do have two boys, and um they're 12 years old, twins. And um our family moved here over 25 years ago, and that was a very challenging and interesting experience, I think, as an immigrant, and most of us are. Um it is a very tough experience for families to decide to move cultures, countries, everything. And coming to a country that you don't speak the language, you don't know the culture, um, very hard to find jobs. Um, so my parents really struggled. My dad is an engineer, my mom um uh she is graduated from finance, and they decided to open their own business in Richmond and uh worked really hard to raise us. We are four siblings. Um I we are two engineers, one accountant, and one doctor. So my parents did pretty well.
SPEAKER_01Impressive, yeah. Thank you. Um my parents just made a couple of them, made a realtor, so I mean Oh no, don't say that. I'm just kidding. I'm not disappointed.
SPEAKER_00It's a lot of work, and I think it was them moving here for us. That's really where it is, and uh trying to build a new future for our for their kids. Um, and we had really harsh, strict uh structure of making sure that it's school, it's you know, education and all these things. So that's where I come from. Um so I'm a chemical engineer, or I guess from the chemical and biological engineering at UBC. So I'm an environmental engineer, and I did my master's um just before COVID when I had twins. So I just decided, hmm, let's have a master's as well at the same time. So um so I did uh I do have a Masters of Applied Science from the uh NBK Institute of Mining Mining at UBC, and that was a very interesting experience because my thesis was uh specifically focused on LNG uh industry and uh LNG Canada. So yeah, I think that's a little bit of a summary.
SPEAKER_01And so, and so what made you kind of decide? I mean, first of all, I should back up. I I just wanted the first thing you said that caught my attention was twins. Oh because I have a one-year-old at home and she's running around the house, and I have to baby proof everything, and I'm ripping my hair out, my wife's ripping her hair out, I'm trying to work, it's chaos, so I don't I can't imagine. Like having two under two is one thing, but then having twins, I can't imagine.
SPEAKER_00So our days were really fulfilling. Um, we had a very strict uh our house was labeled as a boot camp, and that is, and I think it's until today, uh, we do have a quite structure, uh quite strict structure. I do credit my husky. Okay. I do have a 14-year-old uh siberian husky. So huskies are well known to be dogs that train their owners rather than the other way around. So I had to train him to make sure that when I have kids and and and coming from coming from different cultures, we don't really have dogs at home. So Skye was my savior, my my my my protector, and really very, very instrumental part of my life. But he gave me a lot of tips on how to deal with very resilient, very stubborn, and that's what a newborn is. Yeah, yeah, you know, doesn't matter what how old they are. I'm serious, these guys, you cannot put so so when the twins came, we just followed the same structure, you know. Um, very strict um and on time. Things are on time, and I learned from from Sky, my husky.
SPEAKER_03Um sorry, I just want to kind of chime in there. I don't know why, but that sounds like it would be a hilarious sitcom.
SPEAKER_00For sure. She was. It was you know, I was very scared because you hear about stories of families that give up their dogs because they have kids, and that's you know, some people are are are doing it for the sake of everybody because you don't want to have issues. So I wanted to make sure that when the kids come, the dog does not feel that he's left out or he's treated um abnormally. So I had a very proactive approach to the situation here. Um, so when the twins came, and you're right, you put twins that are one-year-olds, yeah. They each go and they, you know, like they don't even think. It's easy to see this way. So it was fun, and it's still fun because you know, it only grows. Don't think that one year old is tiring or exhausting. This is like enjoy the state. It's like telling you.
SPEAKER_01Now now we look back on like the newborn phase, we're like, oh, that was like the easiest thing ever. Like now it's like so much harder. So yeah, I can't imagine what's to come. Um, so it seems like you know, you obviously you you have um a busy life, um, an amazing family. Huskies are also not easy to to uh take care of, and you got two of them. Yeah. Um what made you kind of decide to uh go down the municipal politics route and and and and aim to serve your your city?
SPEAKER_03Because it already sounds like you're a really busy person.
SPEAKER_00I am.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I am, and I I think I thrive, I really do thrive on um I thrive on challenge. I'm that kind of person. Um I like to be challenged to be able to get better. Um for the municipal part of things, I've always been interested in politics. Let's just put it there. I didn't grow up in a c in a family that is interested in politics because where I come from, being part of politics, you really don't want to be part of politics because there's really no point. And um there's always um it's just not safe, let's just put it that way. So if you go to my parents and ask them, they'll be like, nope, we don't want them to be in politics. But I've always been interested in politics and moving to Canada, and and what we hear about Canada from the outside, it's the country where you know, equity and uh human rights and all these things, that's the picture that people look at when they look at Canada and North America and all that. Um and that's what we strive for.
SPEAKER_03Are you saying that's where people are you that's where people from the outside of Canada are looking at it?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so when you when you immigrate, right, you're you know, my parents, when they decided to choose where to go, they chose Canada because the picture was and still is um human rights are there, you know, you're valued, you are a part of the community, you are blended and brought in and and supported and and feeling at home, you know, you are Canadian, right?
SPEAKER_01The hard work is rewarded. Exactly.
SPEAKER_00So thank you. Yeah, should be um, so that's very important to keep that in mind, and so but it's also for me, I've always been that advocate who always support people when they moved here or when they wanted to apply for their masters or how to get into this career or that career. So I've always advocated for people. Even when I was working, uh when I first started working as an engineer, I didn't really feel that was very fulfilling because I've always wanted to support people and have um have their voices heard. So what I've done is really I sat back and I've watched. I knew I will I will end up in politics on some point, you know, an advocacy slash public service. Um I just didn't know it was going to be this soon. And that wasn't planned, the by-election basically. But I've always sat back. I like to be invisible to learn about the culture, and I'll tell you, I've mentioned it before. The way I learned about our culture, about our country, I didn't speak English when I first moved to Canada. So I wouldn't have been able to tell. So it was, I had to work really hard on this, and then the one way to do it was to volunteer. Volunteering was the key for me to learn everything as much as possible because I always and and I I don't mean to to sort of devalue volunteers or anything, but volunteers are supporting, they're not necessarily looked at as a big deal to some extent, you know, like you're not paying them. Um, and and and things happen, they watch everything, they see everything, they learn things, um, sometimes without even instructions. They will just jump in and help. Um, so you see a lot of different things in in in uh when you volunteer, and you will learn a lot. And so you're it's up to you how do you want to use it, right? So that's how I learned a lot about the culture. So going back to the politics question, I think when I decided to jump in last year, it was really because I wanted to have uh people's voices heard, not not only certain group of people or not only um previous politicians coming back, or basically limit limitations. I wanted to have everybody's voice to some extent heard as much as possible.
SPEAKER_03Sorry to cut you off. I was just gonna say it kind of really sounds like it lines up with uh your passion for advocacy.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, exactly, exactly. And and I do know I could uh to some extent find answers. So I I have that ability to search and work with people on different levels. So I wanted to use that and and and serve my my community really.
SPEAKER_01So was there you mentioned that um you didn't think it would be this early that you jumped into the scene. Was there something that went into that timing or I think it was few okay?
SPEAKER_00So let's let's back up for a minute here. It's important to mention that any public servant that's currently or previously served have done massive work to serve the community. So um it doesn't matter how they did it or why they did it or what's the answer, they have put themselves out there to serve the community. Now, for me as a resident, and when we had the by-election, I figured we have some interesting environment of politics within Langley, so why not bring a new voice on on into the picture? And what's better than having someone coming in and during by-election? Because, and let's face it, we know exactly what the structure is in Langley. We do have a team that's that's uh a majority. So having a person that's there does not necessarily go into make the difference in the votes because there is a majority. Now, is that person going to come and bring new perspective or not? That's important to do. So, my my uh goal was to bring somebody when I put myself out there is to basically come in and say, listen, I'm honored to be part of this, and I do come with a with a very different perspective to to everyone on council, and this is going to be a very good opportunity for the community to to learn about this person. Is that person worth worth it for the future or not? And and a one-year term does give that sort of um vibe. You could test it out in the stay. And that would have been a good opportunity um to bring in a new person to the community.
SPEAKER_01Right. Makes sense. Makes sense. So in that um, obviously we have the the election coming up in October. Um, in the previous by-election, um, you ran on um, I believe it was sustainable growth, right? Uh, scooter safety, um, and investing in recreation.
SPEAKER_00Correct.
SPEAKER_01Um, have your sort of platform priorities changed? Have they stayed the same for this upcoming election? Where is that?
SPEAKER_00Um so some of these priorities are still there. Um, the scooter safety one, I'm actually presenting um to council regarding that matter. So I have taken a couple of points already and presented to council to it, even part of recreation. And and that was about um water safety for grade fours and fives in our schools because that was one that was part of the one of the things that I was looking to advocate for. And now um I'm grateful for Township Council that they approved it and it's going to be available for for schools in the township in the community centers that are closer to the schools. It's in the works, so hopefully next year is is even more uh confirmed. You said water safety? Yeah, water safety for children.
SPEAKER_01So do you want to come to the case? Can you can you can you elaborate? Sure.
SPEAKER_00So and the way how I got stumbled on it is last year when my boys were grade five, they did uh water safety training. So you do it for about a week during in schools. Okay. And it doesn't matter which school you are, you're always driving to the swimming pool in the city. When we when our kids started, so we're a French immersion school. So French immersion schools were not offered blessings, so parents had to take time off and drive. So where I live, it's about half an hour one way. So really it's not worth it to go back to work and then come back and pick up because the class is only an hour for one week. So we ended up just staying at this at the swimming pool waiting for our kids, and then if the parents are not available, these kids will not even do that swimming uh training. So I had uh talk to council and I was advised to connect with the with the staff, and I'm very grateful for that because counselors uh were willing to hear me and see where I'm coming from, and designated actually now is going to be funded through the budget for next year. So that program is going for all schools. So, what's going to happen now is the kids will be able to go to the closest community center, which will become more sort of a sustainable approach to some extent because kids can just walk. For example, in Walter Grove, there's multiple schools around uh Walter Grove community center. So all these schools could easily walk, or even parents, if they drive, you're driving five minutes versus half an hour.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, there's good proximity.
SPEAKER_00And then it happens throughout the year. We had to do it during the summer because the swimming pool that we were going to was an outdoor swimming pool. It had to be in May, June, sort of thing. I think was end of May of the pro the program. So now we have a whole year that teachers can look at their schedule and say, okay, well, you know what? I have this week available, I'll I'll do the swimming uh training for the kids.
SPEAKER_03See, I never even thought about that because yeah, like when I was in elementary school, I I grew up in Wally, like I went to Old Yo Road Elementary and we were right beside um North Surrey Rec Center. Right. So it was literally only like a five-minute walk. So we every we got everything in ice skating, swimming.
SPEAKER_00Did you do the swimming as well? I do swimming, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, my dad was uh big on us learning swimming because he lost a family member to drown. He had a family member who drowned, yeah. So he was uh huge when he came here on us right away learning how to swim, and I'm grateful for that.
SPEAKER_00So that's an amazing program because it happens during school hours. So that's even better because Langley School District uh works to provide that program and implements it during uh instruction hours, which is amazing because not every municipality has it. So I know we're lucky in that sense. So what I did was a small nudge of uh putting together school board and the township and asking questions and getting some sort of results to it. So that's that was my role in this. Yeah. Otherwise, the system is there to some extent. The township were more than happy to do it. School board, we're very grateful to have it done that way, and it's helped.
SPEAKER_03See, I think that uh that commute that voice of the community, it's uh something I you don't realize how important a voice like yours is when it comes down to politics. You know, we're thinking of when we think politics, we're usually tying it directly to policymakers immediately, but then also you can tie it right to voices in the community that actually can at least push these little things that are important to the community.
SPEAKER_01And that's what's so important about counselors is being having your ear to the streets and understanding like what are the needs of my constituency as a counselor, right? And so you um have boys in the fifth grade at the time, and you saw this, you saw this uh this need that needed to be addressed, and you immediately made an impact, right? And so that's the key. When when you hold these positions, you have to be able to understand what's happening and what needs addressed.
SPEAKER_00And not only that, it's important to keep in mind, um, even with other things, I'm really grateful that people do see me as someone who can make change. And sometimes on the community groups, you'll see people asking questions, somebody just tagging me on, they'll be like, oh, Russia could be doing that, or something like this. And I'm very I'm genuinely grateful because that's really a big trust. And I think um it's interesting because these types of trusts don't happen just overnight. I mean, I've worked really hard within my school community to bring everybody together. Um, I was very involved in on my school, and I'm still Yeah, no, 100%.
SPEAKER_01And and to that kind of that recreation piece, I saw something uh today actually a little bit earlier. Um, it was uh a video from uh Mayor Woodward. Uh I think he must have just released it today, um, regarding he is uh proposing a plan to replace the Willoughby Elementary School there uh with a brand new community center. Um it's gonna have a pool, a couple of gymnasiums. Um it's a it's a massive, you know. Yeah, I think there's even a seniors uh care facility in there that that they're proposing.
SPEAKER_00I think serious seniors activity.
SPEAKER_01Oh, activity center. Okay, yeah, fair enough. Um, and then I believe the plan is to uh relocate the the Willoughby Elementary School, right? So um is that I mean, how do you feel? Is that something you think that is sustainable considering the growth that Langley Township is seeing?
SPEAKER_00Or well, there's multiple things here. Schools. Do we need schools? Absolutely. Do we need community center? Absolutely. This project is a very interesting project to move forward with. Um, it did take multiple partnerships, um, Ministry of Education and Um School Board and the Township. So there is obviously when you're not in the mix, you don't know much of the details. Um however, it's important to keep in mind um that the community center is extremely needed for Willoughby. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So I have a question on that. So rather than relocating the elementary school and converting the current one to a rec center, why not then just build a rec center where they would relocate the elementary school to?
SPEAKER_00I believe the land size is not enough. That's one of the arguments. And the other argument for the community center.
SPEAKER_03For the community center and so they would sorry, sorry, I just wanted to get some clarification. So the land then would be smaller than for the elementary school.
SPEAKER_00It I don't have details to that. I don't I do believe um when the ministry does approve uh schools, they will have to follow certain specs. Yes. So the the school, I would imagine it will be proper size because without having like it will be a newer school, it is paid by uh the township. So and then it's going to be very interesting to move forward. That will be a very interesting example that will set some uh precedent to some extent. Um, do we need schools? Absolutely. Yeah, um, do we need good schools? Yes. Even better. Even more. So I'm hoping there is that partnership comes with that with a lot of um love and care. And that's where where it's stemming from. Love and care for the community to bring the community center. Love and care for the schools, and again, for the community, for the children to have a better school, um, uh, you know, a well-developed school and and and create a better infrastructure for the community there. Because it's quite pressed for sure.
SPEAKER_01Totally. And I think like, you know, from from the outside looking in, and I can be maybe I'm totally ignorant to what's going on, and and if that's the case, fine, but from the outside looking in, it seems like we don't prioritize infrastructure. Infrastructure is built after the fact. It's already been a proactive measure, that's basically what it is. We need a proactive measure.
SPEAKER_00That's a proactive measure. And when I was when I started paying attention to things um and watching around what's being built and what's not, and how long it's taken, and which is I feel that we really had obviously there's an explosion in sort of growth right now in Langley between infrastructure, but that's really needed. We didn't do much for the past maybe ten plus years. There was there was a little bit of slow growth uh and and a mismatch infrastructure in Langley. And which which and what happens in that case, the Willoughby Community Center, if it had been built possibly two, three years ago, I'm sure the cost would have been much less. Right now we're looking at a major increase in cost. So that's a problem as well.
SPEAKER_01And that's huge. See, like, so for me, one of the biggest problems that I see, and we kind of touched on this earlier, one of the biggest problems I see at all levels of government is they're the folks that are making decisions, they don't have their boots on the ground and they are almost, it almost seems, I don't want to say it, but they're out of touch with what is actually needed. And so, I mean, you could have asked either one of us if that community center should have built been built five years ago, we would have said yes, because we know how many people were selling into this area.
SPEAKER_02Right, quickly. So from your experience correctly.
SPEAKER_01Had they taken the time to consult with the people who have the insights, that would be the best way to be proactive in making these decisions that are going to affect the residents of Langley and and everybody else, right?
SPEAKER_00So at that time, for example, they built the tennis center. Yeah. Was it when you kind of look at it, which one was more important? Community center for the whole community or a tennis center that's going to be serving only a fraction? A fraction. Not only a fraction, it actually serves other people outside the community. Yeah. And that's one of the things that actually triggered me searching and digging deep into things.
SPEAKER_01So Yeah. So for so for you, sorry, sorry to cut you off. I know, I know you I I heard you.
SPEAKER_00Um just taking easy guys, okay.
SPEAKER_01So so for you, I mean, I know you're of course you're very well connected in the community. You're you're a part of it each and every single day. You're still active in volunteering, um, you're active with the school. Everything that you do, I know you, I know how well connected you are. How will you, if elected in October, on my birthday, October 17th, shortly, shortly it's coming. Yeah, that's what I'm waiting for. Um, if elected, how what will be your strategy to keep your ears open to what's actually happening so that you can hear the people, hear what they need, see what they need, and and kind of govern your your input.
SPEAKER_00I think I think I'm really very genuinely interested in learning about people in my community. Um, I've asked when I was um, was it last year? I think I said to my community, and I said, listen, if you walk by me or you drive by me, honk, I'll be fine. But there's only two people that do the honking, which is really good. Where I come from, we do honking really well. So um, but what I'm saying is there are things that are really hard for people to do, and that's really just connecting to the community. I'll just I think I don't want to say I force people to open up and become part of the community, but sometimes people are shy. You you want to let them know that it's okay. You can come, you can contribute with the minimal. The way I the biggest thing that I started, I will always be with people, talk to people, I will always listen, and that's one of the biggest things that people need now.
SPEAKER_01Um, big time, I agree.
SPEAKER_00Sometimes it's not just offering a solution, it's just listening and learning from them because I won't be able to answer every question, but will I go and search and try to find an answer? Oh, yeah, I will. And people who know me know very well that I will go above and beyond to make sure that either find an answer, it may not be it's not may not make you happy or make the person happy, but there is somebody responding back to them and letting them know that you know I care about you, and maybe even work with them to find an alternative because that's important too, to realize that our communities do have very valuable voices, does have very uh extensive experiences, and there's nothing wrong of bringing more ideas. So I'd love to connect with people all the time, and people know they can just always either message me or call me. And to be honest, even if I'm sleeping, I'll just get up and and go and help.
SPEAKER_03You could have been a realtor. I know because I'm just sitting here thinking, I'm like, hey, at the whole time, I was just thinking, I'm like, you know, your uh your campaign, like running locally, like from Musile standpoint, it requires a lot of tenacity because at the end of the day, it's not like you have a provincial cat, it's not like you're running behind a provincial election or a federal one, you're running locally, and I don't have connections as call, like my dad is not a politician, my mom is not a politician, my brother, my girlfriend, my boyfriend or girlfriend.
SPEAKER_00No, nothing like that.
SPEAKER_03So I'm like, and uh well, people don't I you know what I don't feel like people have that much of an urgent as much, sorry, of an urge to get up and vote municipally as they would provincially or federally. Right, that's unfortunate. However, I think the message that everyone is also missing is like hearing everything you said was how everyone says, okay, nothing's gonna change, but you actually can change exactly what's within your vicinity, like your community.
SPEAKER_00I mean, having to support the the parents and not having them to drive to drop off their children into a swimming, that's just as simple as that.
SPEAKER_01That's that's case in point right there, right?
SPEAKER_00So just that's that's that's you can make change. You can make a difference, you can change something.
SPEAKER_03Well, you bought a bunch of parents timed back.
SPEAKER_00So it's it's it's very important. And it's important to realize municipal election is very critical. It's your taxes, it's your waters, it's your uh, you know, it's it's basically your the garbage removal, this the snow removal, your community centers, your possible uh sports, your youth care.
SPEAKER_01I got a lot of issues with garbage removal in my house. I gotta tell you.
SPEAKER_00With with with youth, with youth activities. I mean, we have kids. My boys are turning 12. Uh, there are kids that are, you know, the the the teenagers that are around the community, there isn't much. Like I was trying to find a way to keep like how can you keep them busy, for example? What they end up doing is either do things that are bad, or possibly sitting in a restaurant or you know, McDonald's or whatever other places that they can find. But if we have some sort of a center for them, for example, or some sort of structures, all of this is important, but also important to keep that in mind, to keep in mind that these things happen with consultation. Another point is somebody who's very involved and and and and aware of what's a day-to-day family sort of go through, from taking the kids to school to the you know, making sure that the food is is good, um, having the ability to connect them to the to the amazing environment that we have in Langley, um, this the lessons, what kind of activities you take them to, what's available, what's what's easy to connect, the cost of living that each and every one of us is is going through. Um the utilities that have switch a little bit in the past year because our water now is not part of the billing system that we had before.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, so understanding all that and how we could um have have the relationship from the community on council. My perspective, I guess I'm somebody who's an outsider to some extent to all politicians right now, at least the current running teams. To some extent, I'm an a big outsider. I don't have uh political connections to anybody. Um it was interesting during the time that I was running in the by-election, I think there was guesses going around. So there was the guesses of me being uh part of a slate of or the current uh uh Mayor Woodward slate, for example. Or I was uh some sort of an insert from an N from NDP or something like that. So everybody was making some story, right? The sad part though is that people who made assumptions, they never really took the time to come and talk to me and ask me. And that is something that I would really love to see moving forward because a new person coming on counsel, and I may not answer, may not have answered your question. No, no, you're coming. Yeah, no, but new person coming on counsel definitely needs a lot of support, definitely needs a lot of learning. And I was really hoping, instead of hearing, oh don't do it, we need somebody, um, what was the statement? Hitting the ground running. Or um we need someone who knows what's happening. Why? Why do we really need somebody um necessarily knowing what's happening in council? You're you're actually representing your community, you're being elected to voice your community, and it's almost better to know nothing because that's when you ask the hard questions. It's easier to say, oh I'm sorry, I'm I don't know anything, than actually going in thinking that you know everything or possibly have gone through it. Or I don't mean um to say that everybody knows everything, obviously not, but it's important to have these questions um asked and and be able to uh dig a little bit deeper rather than thinking, oh well, you know, I've been on council for that many years, or I've done it before, or something like that. I think a counselor um can come from any shape and walk of life. Experience comes from different walks of life, really. Um so coming from different backgrounds, uh, work experience, community uh connection and and and understanding of community is very important. Um and then so these the resistance was a little bit disappointing when I was running in the by-election. And the stories that I heard about me were very disappointing because um there was an an intention to try and stop me from winning at all uh or or even moving ahead in in and and using I want to say fake stories to to um sort of ruin my reputation, really, because that's what it's amounted to at the end of the day. I think a counselor, it's important for them, for uh for for the counselor position to to be patient, yeah, right, take their time, um work with things on sort of policy basis rather than other things. Um if you want to criticize a policy or a person bringing a policy, sure, let's do it. I'd like to have that always be the case, but but going to attack people personally and connecting them to one group or the other without actual facts, it's very disappointing. And and and going further with the attacks is not only it's basically what we're going with now, it's either with me or against me. There's nothing in between, which is very, very disappointing because I always try to look at my kids. What do I want them to learn?
SPEAKER_03Like, I just want to kind of like share like a personal note on that part. Like, I just uh I have a three-month-old baby niece, and you know, of course, I want to start a family of my own soon. And I grew up in Wally, and I just think now about my niece growing up, I think about my future family, and I think about how I like the surroundings I grew up in. And I'm glad I like you know, I'm glad I got the experiences. I had very a strong support system with my parents and putting us in the right direction. And uh, but I just think uh I don't I wouldn't want my future niece and my future children to grow up in the same atmosphere that I grew up in. And not saying that it was bad, but there's there's certain there's definitely certain aspects of what was like in my surroundings that I would want them to not have, I guess you can say. And that's why when you were mentioning, you know, bringing a community together, and it's just I feel that uh it's such a strong part of their development because as parents, you can't, you're not gonna be with them 24-7. Where you send them to school is where they're that's gonna be part of their upbringing, where they go play sports and who their team is, that's gonna be part of their upbringing. It's gonna mold them into who they're gonna be in the future. So not saying from a sense of control, but at least putting them in the best atmosphere you could see them growing up in a proper path, hopefully, right?
SPEAKER_01Yes. Um you said a lot of um interesting things. Um I love, I love where you know your strategy is to continue, keep those conversations going with community members, um, stay connected, doing everything that you've already been doing as such a big member of the community already, right? Um you are an independent and and you've mentioned slates. So now there is a a new slate that was uh just announced, Langley Strong. Uh for those who don't know, do you mind explaining what is a slate? How does it work? And where do you think it really, how does it really affect municipal politics? Are slates good for Langley?
SPEAKER_00Lots of questions. Lots of questions. Yeah. So I'm not an expert, let's just put it that way. Um, and the reason why I'm running independent is I would like to represent the community and not having to follow structure in terms of politics. Because if I did, I would have won I would have ended up in provincial or federal part uh politics, for example. But one of the reasons why I'm staying away from that is because I'm not I don't think I can fit well within a party. Um I do like to question things, I do like to push uh the boundaries a little bit. I do like to question status quo, right? Um I do like to look at the systems and see how why are they designed this way and how can we make it better? When I was running in when I ran in the by-election, many people were like, oh, don't run through a slate or don't do a slate. We don't like slates, uh we don't want slates, and now things have changed and they seem to be supporting another slate. So is it a slate is the problem, or is it my slate or your slate that's the problem? So which way are we going? Do we want a slate or not? But when somebody comes to me and say and says, Oh, well, we don't want slates yet, they're supporting a slate. I'm like, to me, it's a little bit hypocritical, right? Um and if me running me running alone does not mean that I will not support somebody or not vote with somebody or not support a project. Me running alone is really me having a peace of mind that I don't have to answer to anyone. That's as simple as that.
SPEAKER_01And I think that's a huge strength in terms of where you are is, you know, from from a from a slate perspective, I can't help but think that it can lead to things like groupthink, for example. So then how are decisions really going to be influenced and made at the end of the day?
SPEAKER_00To be honest, some of the issues that we have are part of issues that happen within slates. Really, right? Um, some of the conflicts are because slate members did not agree. And and and I I don't believe we should think that everybody will agree on everything. Um but why do we put ourselves in that situation?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we're killing the ability to bring a fresh perspective and fresh ideas because it can be shut down, right?
SPEAKER_03Well, it's it uh sometimes two heads is not always better than one in some cases. Um it sounds like obviously the more heads it disrupts progress, I guess you can say. It prevents us from moving ahead in a timely fashion, I guess you can say that. You mean not being on a slate or no, well, it can if you're the way you're explaining a slate, it sounds like they're especially when they have conflict, that's time that you're actually cutting into people's times in a way, like your community's time, because that, say, for example, if it takes them six months to resolve an issue that because there's you're trying to get six people to agree on one thing, we're now six months behind.
SPEAKER_00Right. And that's that could all actually happen within a council as well. So exactly. So uh there's eight councillors and one mayor. Um and the there there's always that type of sort of there's votes, right? So there will be some sort of agreement or disagreement on things. Um the the the slate situation is is I guess it's a newer setup in in Langley. Um I feel like if we want to keep Langley the town or Langley the you know, farming community, uh it feels like it contradicts with slates a little bit. Slate's more like cities, like actual cities, you know, like Vancouver and I don't know. Uh I just I think what I'm looking for really to stay in that intimate community, right? Um rather than having a sort of a party-like structure, and you know, we have to watch what we say or what we do. And yes, we do have to watch what we say and what we do, but in in different methods, right? Or we have to agree on everything or not. And and and again, you know, monitoring what's happening in Langley, it's it's really interesting because even now with the current slate, they have sometimes um disagreed on on things, and God forbid, because people call it out. They're like, oh, now the slate is having problems. Well, what do we want really? Like I mean, I'm having a problem trying to understand what we want because it do we want slates or not? Do we just not like slates, or is it just particular slate that we don't like? And that's a problem for me. Yeah, um, it doesn't matter who's running and why they're running, like and and who knows who or what? We need to be fully disconnected from the connections because that causes issues. So are we evaluating things or evaluating um the politics because of the policy and the bylaws, or are we doing it because we are against one person or another? And that's a big motivation.
SPEAKER_03I just wanted a little bit more clarity. You said we need to be disconnected from connections, correct. And that's what you mean by that, what you just kind of explained. Okay, right.
SPEAKER_00So you have connections.
SPEAKER_03You have to have and you need to be disconnected from that in order to. Is that what you're saying? You need to move.
SPEAKER_00No, what I'm what I'm trying to say is um I think I lost what I was trying to say.
SPEAKER_03Now that you're sorry, no, I'm just trying to I was just it was just me trying to understand like so I'm more clear on it as well.
SPEAKER_00So I'm not trying to put you on the spot, obviously, in that sense, or trying to think I totally understand that because it was it sounded very powerful.
SPEAKER_03We need to be disconnected from connection.
SPEAKER_00I think what we're what I'm trying to say is um when when we have people agreeing on everything, yeah, it's a problem. Okay, right? And when we have people supporting each other because they have a connection that's supporting another connection that's sort of back in another something, okay. So that's what I mean. That is yes. Um are we supporting a project because it's actually for the benefit of the community, or is it because somebody brought it, or is it because emotion that this person brought or that person brought? And or are we against it and going crazy just because it's a specific person that brought it? Because now every single move that happens makes me wonder is that move was genuine, or is that move because this person brought it to the table? Do you see what I'm saying? Yeah, I mean, as a resident I don't think I want to lose the trust. And that's really one of the reasons why I'm running today. Um I want to keep That trust in the municipal power because in that in that municipal government, because it means a lot. It's the closest to people, closest to our homes. I think we've lost quite a bit of the trust in the higher level of governments, maybe possibly, uh, with all the stories that we're hearing here and there.
SPEAKER_03I wouldn't say maybe.
SPEAKER_00Let's just not get into that.
SPEAKER_03We don't want to get into it, but I'm just gonna throw that out there.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, right, because there are projects that are being canceled, there are projects not moving, schools are overloaded, there's so many issues. I really don't want to have that problem within municipal government as well. If we lose that trust in the closest level of government to our homes, I'll be very worried. I think we all should be very worried. And that's why people really need to vote. Really need to vote. And not only need to vote, they also need to question why this policy is there and and voice their concerns. I mean, the township does listen. Uh this is how I started. The first question I sent, I had an email from the mayor welcoming to their office. That's a big deal, right? Um, and not only that, um, I have to give credit where credit is due. Mayor Woodward did welcome me in his office, explained things to me, and he explained things very basic structure because he wasn't sure what you know, what do I know, how do I know it, and and and where do I need to go. And even on the water safety setup, um it was we were standing all together, and and the director um of recreation was there, and and and I was directed towards him. So there is that ability to welcome people in, and and I felt I was valued, and it's important to keep that in mind, right?
SPEAKER_03Well, I've done a lot of traveling. I've been to parts of Asia, Thailand, everything, and I've been to like small villages. My family's from a small Fiji, right? And my dad, both my parents lived in different villages. And when you like, let's just break it down to that small. You go to a village and they make they don't even have accessible water to their homes. Yet everyone is fed, you know, you never have to worry about kids. Everyone's happy, and it's everyone taking care of each other, and they don't, it's not like they have, you know, big houses, money, nothing. They don't have none of that, they just have each other, and you see the strength in it. They actually have true. I I saw true happiness.
SPEAKER_01Kind of reminds me of like the 90s, like our childhood. Yeah, and things were a little bit more simple back then. They were. Um yeah.
SPEAKER_00It's kind of like you're locking your doors. It's really though bringing the village together. And that was um when I ran for president to my pack, um our our our our slogan was uh building our village together, really. That's what it was. Because, you know, having running a pancake breakfast with 120 parent volunteers that all they they come all day long, that is massive. You know, that that is so our school is what is it? Um I think we have 600 something students, which means roughly about three to four hundred families. So having 120 of these families show up to support and and serve pancakes for their kids, that is a big deal. And people want it. They need something like that. We need I need something like that. You know, I'm sure everybody does, and and it's it's very intimate, right? It's it's you know, it's such a beautiful thing to come together for. So these are just simple examples and and learning from each other and and hearing the stories. It doesn't matter if we agree or disagree, we'll disagree with people, we will disagree with people, but what's important is to respect each other when we disagree. What's important is to come together and say, listen, what's the medical, the middle grounds? How can we support each other? We will need each other. That's just reality. Nobody lives alone. If you want to live alone, I think you can go on an island and even that, I don't know, you can do that.
SPEAKER_01So no, that's a beautiful message. And uh yeah, I'm I'm fully in agreement 100% um with what you're saying. It sounds like, you know, I would hate to see the municipal side of politics turn into this partisan thing where then we lose touch of everything you just said, everything that's important, that intimacy, that feel, that connection with the community. Um, so that's where I think, you know, maybe slates tread lightly.
SPEAKER_00But if you have a project that's for the well-being of the community, everybody will agree on it. You don't really need to be part of slate.
SPEAKER_01That's right.
SPEAKER_00Right. And if you don't agree on it because your community does not it's not fitting well, well then it's it's critical for you to say it. And then being part of Slate, is that gonna be easy to do it? I I question that, yeah, to be honest. And and that's just you know, if you're gonna help me win and you you're gonna fund or support funding, especially if I'm somebody who's not known or or involved or active, there must be a price to pay back. That's just it's unrealistic to think otherwise. Life is not it's very, you know, I think we we are we're smart enough, I hope, you know, to to see that. And it's also important to realize that the community is also smart, to learn and understand and see that. I think we've there's a lot of changes that happened recently that we all have reached a level and said, you know what, I see what's happening. I'm learning and do not take my knowledge or experience or um or brain for granted. You know, you can't devalue the community or the people. It's important to bring them together and value them and uh have that power as a community. It's a big deal.
SPEAKER_01So to that note, um, how does for for those who don't know, how does fundraising work? That is that's a huge one. I mean, how does how does it work?
SPEAKER_00Thank you. That's a very good question. Well, I'll tell you that much. Um, my by-election fundraiser was very tough. Um I think part of it was, and what I've sensed and heard from some people, you know, when I, you know, they'll be getting, they'll be saying, Oh, you know, we love your messaging, you love, we love your support, we would love to support you, but you know, I don't, because obviously when you um donate, the information will be public. They know who donated and how much and all that. Um, so I owe I got a lot of, you know, we would love to support you, but you know, my company doesn't allow donations. The reality is it's a personal donation. Your company does not really control what kind of personal donation you do. That's one thing. And the other thing is I felt there was a lot of worry that if one person sees that you supported me, like you know, maybe you want to donate to me, but you're worried if if Nick finds out we'll cut off your something or get mad at you or something like that.
SPEAKER_02Because it's public.
SPEAKER_00So I felt a lot of this. So, and then obviously people will possibly donate for brand names, meaning, you know, um, previous politicians or something like that. So it's going to be very tough. I know that. I've been told that it's gonna be very hard for me to get anywhere with fundraising or even get to make it to council. My my by-election uh campaign, I did a lot of things myself. So I'm very hands-on in a lot of things. I got support of an amazing person and who did my graphics and and the the posters and stuff. Um but it wasn't easy, yeah. It was extremely hard. And um yeah, it I know it will be challenging. All that I can say is I'm hoping people will see why I'm running and will be willing and and and going above and beyond and and trying to support me because I represent a new perspective on counsel. I also represent the you know, the mother, the the the the parent, the the business owner, um, the school graduate, the you know, a parent with community involvement. Um at some point I was a renter and now I'm I'm a homeowner. So there's all these things that are important to keep in mind and and that I come with. Uh I've worked in in uh I've worked with Battered Women's Support Services. So I've seen that side of some life um that some people go through. It's it's it's it's it's humbling, let's just put it that way. Um so I do come with strong qualifications that I know I can bring voices out. Um at the same time, I'm very true to my commitment and very genuine as of why I'm doing this. I'm not I'm not doing it for you know to have a job because working 24-7, which is going to be the case if if you if I do end up being on council.
SPEAKER_02Which you do anyways, alright.
SPEAKER_00Um, but that's going to be the case, right? So there is no salary that's gonna sort of me going towards to try and get it because I want that salary, for example. I'm doing it for the genuine um service of it, and I'm hoping that people see that a hundred percent.
SPEAKER_01So you have a really diverse background. As you just as you just explained, how how does being a mother influence your approach?
SPEAKER_00Well, I think uh you know, mothers we tend to do a lot of things a lot all together at the same time.
SPEAKER_01Wear many hats. So, I mean, I'll give you an example. My wife reminds me every day.
SPEAKER_00So I mean exactly. It's embedded. Right? So I mean, it we can so women I think I would like to say that women do have a structure in our brain that we can multitask, adding to that taking care of life, children, dogs, and husbands, which are a lot harder than taking care of kids, let's just put it that way.
SPEAKER_03Sounds like you've uh got everything the hard way, that's for sure. And I think that adds on to your strengths. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Thank you. I appreciate it. So I'll give you an example for today, for example. I I had to walk my two dogs in the morning, and I usually walk one because he's 14 and I have to run the other. So there's different uh which is good because it's kind of my exercise. Went to the office, I had office day today and came back. I had um actually today I ran them after I came to the from the office. So I walked my my senior, went to the office and came back and ran my other two. So I do have um my friend Husky as well, yeah, which we sort of I I take him for runs part-time. So, anyways, and then I had a meeting at work, and then at the same time I cooked, which is for kids, uh, because I knew I was coming here tonight. And uh I did the grocery shopping. So there was just so many things that I did today that I can't even remember what I did to some extent, but that's natural, you know, like it comes in natural ways. I've I've heard comments about, oh, well, you know, how can we have a mother on on council?
SPEAKER_01You know, I as if that's a bad thing, you mean? Oh, okay. What?
SPEAKER_00That was oh that was used as a as a sort of a negative thing. We don't need because I wouldn't pay attention.
SPEAKER_03My mind doesn't go there when I think my mind wouldn't go there either, yeah.
SPEAKER_00I have that from a couple people, I think. I had twins, I was pregnant with twins, and I found out I was getting into no, I got into masters on the same day that I found out I was having twins. So I gave birth, I finished my master's during that time. Um, it was COVID. So there's all these things to have organization into my life. And I really thrive on chaos, I think.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's why, yeah. It makes a function.
SPEAKER_01That's such a silly thing. I mean, to be, I mean, almost I guess criticized for being a mother. I mean, how could uh how could a father be prime minister? Is it the same thing? Like it makes no sense.
SPEAKER_00Apparently you guys can do it, but no, that's that's really silly.
SPEAKER_03No sense whatsoever. Like it's a bad mind. Yeah, yeah. I wonder what role mentioned that.
SPEAKER_01That's honestly a strength and and and your ability to multitask. Um I think it's uh I can't do that. And again, you can ask my wife, like I have to do one thing at a time. And if you bug me, I'm gonna get mad and I'm gonna get frustrated and all hell's gonna break loose. So I can't do that, right? But the ability to multitask is is uh huge, right?
SPEAKER_00So it's it's a huge, and I and I I'll be honest, I've I've seen myself to be part of uh public servant for a very long time. So when I I I'm very proactive at how I plan things. Um, so when I for you know, when I had the boys, I spent probably about 10 years of our life focused quite a bit on that. I was working part-time on and off. I was doing my masters while raising the boys, but my goal was to create a structure for them that will be successful. So when I work and when I leave the house, there is some sort of landing for them, right? Um, I do have a good support system. My husband is amazing, um, even though he's I think he's the hardest thing to take care of in my because you can train your kids, you can train the dog, you can, you know, you know, husbands are hard. You know, I'm serious. I agree. I know. I get it. And and he's an amazing person. He's taking care of his mom. And um, his mom has ALS. So we have a major encounter with the health system through that. But still, like I I know he always likes the food ready, you know. Uh, doesn't matter if I'm working or not. Um, he always likes things. So we sort of traded things. He does certain stuff, I do others, which is extremely fine. Um but that's how it works, really. I mean, he was really one of my biggest supporters. I mean, he he donated it quite a bit to my campaign. You know, the the allowed amount, let's just put it that way. Of course. But, you know, he's he's a big supporter. He he knows my abilities and and he trusts me and he knows that I can do it. Um sometimes you just ask me, it's like, why are you doing this? Um you know, it's a lot of work. And he knows that I'm genuine and I and I will care about it. It's like my just personal life, you know. And my answer is always, it's for your kids. That's what I always say to him. It's really for our kids. Um, it's not only just about me.
SPEAKER_03You're very passionate about this.
SPEAKER_00Thank you. I appreciate it. I'm I'm I'm very it's very important for me that people can see that because hopefully that's going to be one of the biggest uh motivators for people to vote for me in the future or in in October, really.
SPEAKER_01No, I think your motivations are absolutely genuine, and um I you can see it through through how you how you speak, right? It's it's huge. Um going back to kind of the the fundraising. Um I think there's a from what I hear from people a lot of the time, and I think this is the case federally, provincially, municipally, um, people are always concerned about who how did you raise money? Who gave you money? Right, who are your donors? What favors do you owe? Really, that's what they're thinking about, right? Um fundraising is hard, of course, especially, you know, um, when you're just kind of starting in this. How do you kind of manage that, do you think, in terms of keeping your, you know, of course you have to go out and fundraise and do all that? How do you manage that?
SPEAKER_00I had a question. So I asked a few people that said, okay, will you donate to my campaign? Somebody was like, Oh, well, you may you may not really want my name on your list because they'll be like, they'll be wondering why you're with me. I'm like, well, listen, people can't say whatever. Right? What's important is this. What type of person are you as a candidate? What's your ethics? What's your ethical commitments? Right. Um I believe that donors that will donate to my campaign will know exactly they that I don't owe them, owe them any favor. What I do owe them is to listen to them as voters and um serve the community ethically and genuinely, and do the best that works for our community. And that's what I hope that they won't want from me. Right. Um, that's the biggest thing. And I don't think there is anything more valuable than making sure that the person that serves your community is someone who will stand up for you even if you donate it to my campaign. That's just how it's gonna be like, right? So I'm hoping that I'm not really scaring people.
SPEAKER_02Scaring off.
SPEAKER_00But what I'm you know what I'm saying? Like that's that's what's important because when you're the the thing is about for municipal campaigns is that you don't get tax receipts.
SPEAKER_01You don't get that's interesting.
SPEAKER_00Exactly, right?
SPEAKER_01So this is I didn't know that.
SPEAKER_00This is very, I feel it's very limiting because you don't get tax receipts. There's no specific incentives other than hope you're hoping to have your camp your candidate win and and and serve the general public uh with with with with ethical um approaches, right? But yeah, you really and sometimes I feel if you're going to choose between putting the food on the table or donating, which one are you gonna choose? Right? Um which is a little bit disappointing because now it's going to leave it in the hands of people who are fully able to afford sparing money, right? And how does that work to some extent? So it's an interesting concept. And limiting lay it out. Exactly, right? So I mean, with tax receipt, it does bring a little bit more return to your money, sort of, mind you, not much, but it's still something.
SPEAKER_03At least you're able to offer some value back.
SPEAKER_00A little bit, right?
SPEAKER_03A little bit, not just saying, you know, yeah.
SPEAKER_00So it's I feel it's it's quite disappointing because provincial and federal get some sort of tax receipts and incentives, yet the municipal does not. So why is it this way? I feel it's very limiting and I feel it's very unfair, really.
SPEAKER_01Um maybe it'll change. I mean, it seems like we're gonna we're heading towards a a party platform here in the municipal level, right? So maybe you'll get tax receipts. Well, definitely, yeah.
SPEAKER_00I must admit, this is going to be one of my uh goals to advocate for, uh, is to be able to just I mean, what's the difference between municipal government and provincial? I understand that one is bigger, but why this is more preferred than this? Uh municipal government control quite a bit of our day-to-day lives, a lot more than provincial and a lot. Totally. Definitely a lot more than federal. Maybe provincial does control hospitals and schools, right? But the municipal, it's massive in our lives. It's it's a day-to-day. You're you're dealing with your municipalities at all the times. When you try to dig out a tree that you don't like, or not you don't like, like there's an issue with an in in your home, or you're trying to build, update your basement, or these are regular um interactions with your municipal government. Your your garbage pickup, your um water bills, um, you know, and I can sit down and and listen your swimming lessons for your kids, you know, like this is all your municipal government.
SPEAKER_03So a lot of people don't know that. They actually it just it's just so integrated with our day-to-day that they don't actually realize there's somebody behind the scenes like yourself that would be pulling those strings that are actually making sure all these things are running efficiently. One day, if you go out and you put your garbage out and you see it's not picked up and then it just keeps piling up, it's like, okay, then that's when or your snow removal or your roads when you're driving now, you know, like uh until it stops.
SPEAKER_00Right? Until until somebody's running it. Right. So and the and the growth into your um housing developments, the roads and all these things. So it's massive.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's it's super important on a day-to-day basis, without a doubt. Um, I wanted to ask you as well. So in in BC, there's no term limit for how long a counselor can serve. Right. Um, our current council is eight counselors, one mayor. Um, there are multiple counselors who have served multiple terms. Um, and of course, you know, we kind of alluded to it earlier, experience is always, you know, extremely important. But is there a point, do you think, where the longer you're there or more experience leads to more stagnation? Or um what's your take?
SPEAKER_00So what I what I think is what I would like to see is perhaps term limits just to bring freshers fresh ideas. Doesn't mean there's stagnation or not, or but I just feel that there's a little bit of comfort. You know, there is maybe it's important to know that there's fresh voices that are coming. Uh people that are changing to bring more ideas or different perspective. That's one thing. Um the other thing is important to also mentor, right? Somebody like me who's very passionate to serve the community, having that mentorship from counselors. I know I I'll I'll I'll I'll say it when I when I start when I ran, um, when I started running like in the by-election, it was a little bit disappointing that nobody said, listen, you know, you'll need this, do that, don't do this, or you know, this is a mistake that I made, um, and I learned from it. You know, I do that for my volunteering activities, let alone a government position, right? Why don't we do that? Like, why don't we look at that? Why do we try to block, why do we tell each other, oh no, don't do it? Or um, you know, we need someone who is experienced in politics or somebody who who's been counselor before. Why? What does that bring to the table other than possibly being experienced in the system? And I'll tell you from my by-election experience, if the goal was to bring somebody who's experienced, and we do have the counselor came back who is an experienced counselor, I don't know. I don't really I don't know if I see that importance because the system's changed. The the new team brought new ideas and new structures. So really that becomes a little bit um irrelevant because I hear them often saying, Oh, well, did that happen, or what's this happening, or what's the procedure, what's the process? So you know, until today, with some of them being on council for so long, there are still questions about procedure, which is absolutely fine, but that means hitting the ground running is not really a reality, it's more of a marketing stuff.
SPEAKER_01What does that mean, hitting the ground running? I don't know.
SPEAKER_00Apparently, well, hitting the ground running, I think to be honest, I had to search it. Let's just put it that way. I'm not from, you know, there are things things I don't necessarily relate to just because I'm, you know, I wasn't born here, right? Um so my understanding was that term used to be used in wartime to make sure that you know you get experienced team members that will know and and and have no delays in the in the attacking process. But do we is that really what it is? I mean, you know, um run as a counselor, I'm hoping that you're not going for war, right? Yeah, we're we're going to build the community.
SPEAKER_01So no, I feel like um it's definitely what's the word I'm looking for? I think look, it's politics at the end of the day. There's egos involved. Um, history has shown us at the federal level, at the provincial level, you don't necessarily need uh a wide breadth of experience to serve and serve your community well and serve your constituency well. So for that to be a thing, I don't think um in all in all reality, it it really plays a major role. I think if you're fresh and you're new to the scene, like you say, you bring fresh and new perspectives and ideas. Right. And so it's politics, right? Yeah, that's the name of the city.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I'm hoping that I will I will not be a politician, but I will be a public servant. So that's uh that's uh that's my goal. Um because that's what I want to be. That's why I'm running. I'm not running to become a politician. Yeah, I'm running to be to serve my community, fairly.
SPEAKER_01So I did want to touch on, sorry, did you uh want to jump in on it? No, no, you're good. I did I did want to touch on um committees and kind of the role that that they play um at the municipal level. Do you have any kind of insights in terms of it?
SPEAKER_00A lot of information about that because uh my what I'm imagining is um once you're on in committees, I mean they there are advisory committees. I and I tried to get on um some of the advisory committees, and to be honest, I was joking with one uh with the staff and said um it was easier to get into masters than getting on council committees because I've been applying probably for the past I want to say two, three years or so to get on on a committee, but I never I never made it. Um, which is absolutely fine. I'm sure there are fantastic people on there. Um but um I don't really know the structure. I've I've noticed that some of them are returning members, and again, talking about terms, right? Um are we bringing you fresh ideas? Are we bringing you fresh people? Are we is it because somebody spoke to somebody and then got onto committee? You know what I'm saying? And again, I'm not downsizing the power or the value of the committee, but I feel like it would be good to see the full information. What's the term of front fronts of these committees? What are the qualifications? Usually committees have terms, you know, committee members, when they sit on committees, there are terms for these uh members on the committee. So I'm not sure if that's even something, or do people just stay there? I have no idea, to be honest.
SPEAKER_01That'd be interesting if there was a term.
SPEAKER_00It would, it would, it would make sense, right? It totally makes sense. It's important to um rotate. Yeah, because if you don't rotate and bring in new people, it's going to be the same people all the time. And what happens is that these people will take ownership, which means that committee is mine now because I've been sitting on it for 10 years, I've been serving this committee for so long, and I've done all the work and I've you know, I've I've I've taken time of my life, and that's what happens, right? And then it becomes something hard to let go of. It's important to do terms to to say, you know, um, I'm okay, I can let go of this. And and I actually had I I did um demonstrate that in in my again my school pack was I was a president last year and or the year before, and then I decided to not run for president. And that was really me saying you don't have to be president every year. Because I've suffered and and so many packs actually suffer from the problem of having five or six people that always or stay there for the seven years of their kids in the school and nobody is allowed inside anymore. Which becomes very hard to very, very static and very problematic eventually, right? Because there's a lot of time being invested, and and everything is done on a system. You don't have to explain anything to anyone, right? You don't bring anybody new into the group.
SPEAKER_03So And I feel like you've done a really good job today, like I explaining um, like because I I didn't know like the levels of municipal government a lot, like how it actually is structured. And as somebody who votes religiously on provincial, federal, I'll be honest, I've never got up and voted municipally because I just never saw the need. Like, I guess the message is not out there enough. And yeah, like it's it's good that we're talking about this without doubting. You've definitely touched on the difference you've made.
SPEAKER_00I hope people realize how important this is.
SPEAKER_03And like there'll be a lot of people that connect really, like, especially young families that have these issues but just don't have that voice. They can I definitely feel like you've done a good job at conveying that message to have that voice through you, without a doubt.
SPEAKER_00So thank you.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I 100% agree. Yeah, yeah. I think just kind of as we wrap up, I I wanted to um kind of ask uh have a little segment here where we ask five more fun questions, more wider questions.
SPEAKER_00All right, so that previous was not as fun. That's I mean what it is.
SPEAKER_01Maybe fun wasn't the word. I mean your asking was good. Yeah, you know, just uh, you know, like something to uh to to let people get to know a little bit more about you on a personal level. So five fun ones. Um they're fun to me. I don't know. Maybe they're not fun to anybody else, but let's see. What's your go-to coffee order?
SPEAKER_00Coffee? Um, I make my coffee at home, but I go to usually Cortado and in Walt Grove. Um it's my go-to place when I um not making my coffee at home.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Or longing for their strawberry lemonade, which is amazing. So um and I think that feel of me walking into that cafe, and and uh and really we have a lot of amazing uh local cafes, but it's nice to see the people that we sort of are neighbors, right? Um and that's the feel that I really long to. If it was in Willoughby or Walnut Grove or Fort Langley or uh Brookswood or or really around, we know each other, like on on a personal level, like on a nice level, right? On that connection. So I'm really hoping to keep that. And that only can stay if we sort of bring more people from the community that we see every day, that we interact with, that we run with, that we sort of have our dogs fight with each other. That's just really the day-to-day life. Our kids disagree with each other and cause a major issue, which a year later it's like, why happened? So why did we fight last year and you were okay today?
SPEAKER_01So that's awesome.
SPEAKER_00But these are little things.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, Cortado is my go-to for espresso.
SPEAKER_00Oh, really? Okay.
SPEAKER_01That's it. Whenever I need an espresso, cortado is a spot. Yeah, I love cortisol. Four meetings, yeah, everything. I'll stop it on that. Um, what do you like to do to unwind at the end of a long, busy, crazy day?
SPEAKER_00Um to be honest, my uh mental comfort is with my dogs. Okay, um, and they know, they really know when that when I need that to happen. So huskies are are very independent. I I call myself a husky because I'm very independent. So huskies are very independent. They don't really come ask for a petting, they're just too proud of themselves. They, you know, you go to them and be like, oh, you're so cute, they'll just walk away. That's where a husky is.
SPEAKER_01Like they literally scream too, which is hilarious.
SPEAKER_00They can't scream, but they howl quite a bit, right? Um so they and they argue. I have to argue with my huskies all the time.
SPEAKER_02So they're the best.
SPEAKER_00So they come and sit beside me when they know that I'm really stressed, and I know they know. Sky is actually a certified therapy dog for St. John's Ambulance, and we used to do, and I and I'm still actually part of the team. We mostly went to care homes, care home facilities. Uh, we do hospitals and schools. Um uh sometimes did uh reading in the library with kids. So I've done a lot with him. So he's really connected to me that way. He's the husky that is a real husky. He sits outside most of the time. But when I'm stressed, he's sitting beside me, which really tells me that I need to forget everything and just focus on trying to calm down or something like that, right? That's really cool. Um, my boys are amazing too. I don't want them to hear this, and my husband too, so of course that way.
SPEAKER_02But we're talking about unwinding, so no comments there. That's awesome.
SPEAKER_01No, that's really cool. Favorite spot to eat in language. There you go, Wendell's. That's a go-to.
SPEAKER_00Is um always my go-to. I always sit there. The good thing is that I can take my dogs and kids and everybody, all the chaos, and people will still be happy and and they will come and say hello.
SPEAKER_01So let's just put it that way. Wendell's is a good time for sure. Um, what Netflix show are you currently watching or morning to start?
SPEAKER_00I don't watch Netflix. No, no, I don't want to.
SPEAKER_01Prime Disney Plus, any finish.
SPEAKER_00I that the show that I go to, I I'm I'm I'm big on crime stuff quite a bit. I I really enjoy that. I I enjoy the um Law and Orders all the time. Um, but my favorite show, which I always go back to is Friends. So I'm Friends, I grew up with friends. Um, my kids love friends. Yeah. Um our time together in the evening before they go to sleep. They come to me like, oh, can you watch Friends? I mean, I know there's some things that are sometimes a little bit adult stuff, but oh well, you know, these kids know everything by now.
SPEAKER_01So Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um so yeah, friends, it's uh basically our go-to.
SPEAKER_01That's your go-to. Okay. And then uh what it what's one thing? This is a good one. This is an interesting one. What's one thing your kids would say about you that voters might not know? Would voters know?
SPEAKER_00Um I think I'm okay. So maybe voters will know. Um I think um I wanna say maybe what is one thing that my boys will say that voters may not know about me.
SPEAKER_01It's kind of tough to think about in our spot.
SPEAKER_00Hmm. I like jewelry. Okay, okay. Sometimes I I I do care quite a bit about um using local artists. Um and I have a very dear friend of mine where I go to and she designs my earrings. So I'm yeah, so she's um she's an amazing um designer, and you know, I just tell her the colors and she'll just do it. But I you know that could be something. I really like it. Yeah, she does amazing work, yeah. She's uh an indigenous artist, and I I just love it. Um and I'm very proud of her because she does amazing stuff.
SPEAKER_01So that's fantastic. That's fantastic. Well, um, it was amazing having you on. Thank you. I appreciate it. Fascinating conversation. Um, I think you provided a a great deal of insight into into what you stand for, who you are, and what you're looking forward to doing. And you know, we uh we wish you the best of luck and thank you in the upcoming election. Thank you.
SPEAKER_00And I'm really hoping that people will if they're not sure about something, just come and ask me. I am available very much, um, and I'm always here, and I would love to have the conversation. And uh, let me tell you one thing. I'll be more than happy to correct anything I say or do, and I'll be proud to actually come out and say, Well, I made a mistake. So it's important to um stand for that and be able to um welcome everybody, basically. Thank you.
SPEAKER_01Thank you so much.