I believe in the abundance of the North Cariboo, of its people and its resources.
My family moved here during the great depression of the 1930s and our story has been one of hard work, one step in front of the other, generation and generation, to make this community successively better for the next generation. I have always loved to hear the story of our family moving to the North Cariboo to carve out their new lives.
My family was very proud when I had the opportunity to attend and graduate university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.
This education has provided me with an amazing job, which I have had the great privilege to work at for 14 years, as the manager of the Chamber of Commerce in Quesnel. This job has provided me with leadership opportunities in our community and provincially representing small business and tourism.
I have also had the honour to serve Quesnel as a city councillor for six years. I am 40 years old with no children. Most of my family lives in Cariboo North.
This election campaign is an exciting time for me to get out and talk with people and hear their family’s stories and dreams of what they wish for the future. A vote for “Coralee” means proven leadership at the community and provincial level bringing our rural voice to the table.
I have strong relations with all levels of government which is important to move important projects forward.
I am a fiscal conservative who believes we should be controlling spending and working towards a debt free B.C.
I believe leadership is about making difficult decisions and often having to say no.
In the BC Liberal platform, we are recognizing the critical role rural B.C. plays in generating wealth and economic opportunity for the province and will start revenue sharing discussions with rural resource communities. I believe good paying jobs are the key to our economic success and to our future. I support more opportunities for young people to begin skills and trades training in high school.
I will be a champion for the diversification of our economy and attraction of investment, whether it be supporting our small businesses, agriculture, sunrise forestry opportunities, tourism, or mining and green technology.
A modern knowledge, resource and gateway economy, requires state of the art communication infrastructure. We must address cellular phone coverage and broadband requirements. I am a strong advocate for quality health care and addressing the needs of seniors. Board and committee service includes: City of Quesnel environmental committee chair, and liaison to community policing, fire protection and RCMP; Air-shed Management; Weldwood Public Advisory; North Cariboo Marketing Cooperative; Canadian Academy of Travel and Tourism Industry Advisory; North Cariboo Community Campus Fundraising; North Cariboo Post Secondary Education Council; Spirit of 2010 Olympics; Quesnel Multicultural Institutional Change Group; Youth Employment Certificate Partnership; Billy Barker Days Society; Miss Quesnel Self Development Program; Small Business Roundtable, Junior Achievement BC, Minister’s Council on Tourism, Visitor Centre Task Force (chair), Cariboo Chilcotin Tourism Association; British Columbia Chamber Executives (president); BC Chamber of Commerce; Canadian Chamber of Commerce Executives.