I was born and raised in Garson Manitoba. I graduated high school from Edward Schreyer School in 1995 even though many doubted this would happen due to my natural tendency to sometimes work against the grain to accomplish tasks in my own way. Some call this stubborness, I choose to believe it to be persistent creativity.
I then moved on to the University of Manitoba where I tackled my Bachelor of Arts with a solid plan to enter into the faculty of law. After completing my law entrance exams and a mini-thesis I was placed with the Crown’s Office domestic violence, I decided this was not going to be a fit for me.
It was right around this time that I met Scott. We were married after my third year of university (1998) and had our son Dylan 11 months later (1999). I finished my Bachelor of Arts (1999) and began working with Winnipeg Child and Family Services as a Emergency Shelter Support Worker and with Manitoba Justice as a contract employee. I worked primarily with high risk youth both with Winnipeg Child and Family and with Justice as an ISSP Worker.
In 2000 I ventured into working with adult offenders in Sagkeeng, Manitoba and was accepted into the University of Manitoba Faculty of Social Work. In 2002 I left Winnipeg Child and Family Services and opened a 4 bed Treatment Foster home in Tyndall Manitoba with my Mom, which we kept open until December 2005.
My employment with Manitoba Justice introduced me to the world of our local community resource centers, I began working part time for Mrs. Lucci’s Resource Centre and continued part time with Justice. My work up in Sagkeeng introduced me to the people of Wing’s of Power in Pine Falls Manitoba where I accepted a full time position working with youth at risk (2003). I stayed with Wing’s of Power for one year and then moved full time over to Lac du Bonnet (2004) doing the same job only a little closer to home.
In 2005 it finally came together NETWORK 4 CHANGE a Beausejour Community Program soon to be Community Resource Centre … and here we are today.
Today I am married 11 years, our son Dylan has overcome more obstacles than anyone thought possible and continues to be my greatest teacher. We have added to our home two teenage girls who we foster and who adore our Dylan. We have found a passion for vacationing as a family and try to experience some place new each year. I continued to work towards my Bachelor of Social Work which I finally accomplished officially as of October 2009.
Network 4 Change is going strong thanks to a dedicated board of directors and a committed and gifted team of staff.