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Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Renee Merrifield Wasylyk and I meet on a brisk Saturday afternoon. She香蕉视频直播檚 at home, so it香蕉视频直播檚 not the power-suit-clad executive with that signature red lipstick who greets me; it香蕉视频直播檚 a relaxed, makeup free, softer version of Renee who pours two glasses of VQA and invites me to her kitchen table.

This is home base for a busy, blended family of eight: Renee, her fiance Carlos, the five (mostly grown) children between them that come and go, and the adorable hound, Winston.

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I let Renee know my intention is not to write an article about her political aspirations, but as we talk and the conversation flows freely, I realize her passion for being a voice and bringing people together at the family, business and political levels is truly who she is at her core. We can香蕉视频直播檛 香蕉视频直播渘ot香蕉视频直播� talk about it.

香蕉视频直播淗onestly, I love it. I don香蕉视频直播檛 love politicking, politics or shenanigans, but I love democracy,香蕉视频直播� she says, leaning forward in her chair. 香蕉视频直播淚 love the conversation, contrary ideas that have to be shared in order to figure out the consensus.香蕉视频直播�

Renee is seeking the Conservative nomination in the federal riding of Kelowna-Lake Country. She doesn香蕉视频直播檛 see herself as a politician; she prefers the word conduit.

香蕉视频直播淚 am simply someone who can get people to the table. I香蕉视频直播檓 not the one doing anything other than putting the pieces together.香蕉视频直播�

Renee has been putting pieces together and asking the big questions since she was a child.

香蕉视频直播淎t eight years old I asked my dad why there were no female presidents and he told me, 香蕉视频直播榟oney, you can be the first female president of the United States of America.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� She chuckles at the memory, adding that this could never be the case as a Canadian citizen; however, the seed was planted.

香蕉视频直播淚f I look back, that was one of the two moments in my life that told me it香蕉视频直播檚 okay to be a change-maker.香蕉视频直播�

The other inspiration came from a Rabbi professor at Concordia University. (Renee holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and a Master of Theology)

香蕉视频直播淗e said, 香蕉视频直播楻enee, God is so big, He is not afraid of your questions, but also don香蕉视频直播檛 be afraid when He asks you to change the world.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Renee has been enacting change, most notably on the Kelowna development scene, since she started Troika Developments in 1998. Based on her degrees and first career job as a Celebrative Arts Ministry Associate at Trinity Baptist Church, development wasn香蕉视频直播檛 the obvious choice. It became a necessary choice as Renee faced the reality of financially supporting a young and growing family.

香蕉视频直播淚 started working for a developer. I negotiated a land assembly. Then I started my own consultation business. It was the school of hard knocks, just learning on the go.香蕉视频直播�

After just two and a half years of consulting on land assemblies, acquisitions, permits and contracts for other developers, Renee was ready to launch Troika 香蕉视频直播� and she most definitely made waves.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I launched, I had three projects. A 56-unit townhome development, a 44-unit apartment block and a mixed-use commercial site that I launched all at once,香蕉视频直播� she says, shaking her head. 香蕉视频直播淚 would never do it like that again, but it really put me on the map. Other developers where like, 香蕉视频直播榃ho is she? Who does she think she is?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Renee says 香蕉视频直播渟he香蕉视频直播� is simply someone who listened to people who knew more than her; someone who accepted help when it was offered and someone who still lives by those principles today.

香蕉视频直播淚 remember being overwhelmed by the kindness. If I was doing it wrong, they香蕉视频直播檇 say, 香蕉视频直播楻enee, you should do it this way.香蕉视频直播� My network became my teachers and I still look at it that way.香蕉视频直播�

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With 21 years in business under her belt and many business accolades, including Entrepreneur of the Year 香蕉视频直播� Pacific Region, Most Influential Business Woman of the Year 香蕉视频直播� BC, and two appearances on Canada香蕉视频直播檚 list of the Top 100 Most Powerful Woman, Renee is ready to step into a new role.

香蕉视频直播淲hen [Conservative Party Leader] Andrew Scheer came and asked me to run, that to me was an invitation to the table. So now I have an invitation to be able to affect change and that香蕉视频直播檚 a pretty powerful invitation. I will also get to bring my community to a greater standing on the national stage. Who wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 want to do that?香蕉视频直播�

As of press time, no date for the Conservative nomination has been set, but Renee is actively talking to the people in her community as if she香蕉视频直播檚 already representing them and loving every minute of it.

香蕉视频直播淪hould I win the nomination, and you don香蕉视频直播檛 do this because you think you香蕉视频直播檙e going to lose香蕉视频直播� she adds, 香蕉视频直播淚 want to make sure the right people are part of the conversation. I香蕉视频直播檓 meeting all these farmers, for example. My mind is blown 香蕉视频直播� they have incredible stories and incredible knowledge. They should be at the table telling their story and allowing me to make it easier to build our economy with their businesses.香蕉视频直播�

Renee香蕉视频直播檚 family supports her decision to pursue the nomination. She smiles from ear to ear when I bring up her children. I wonder aloud what someone who expects so much of herself might expect from her kids.

香蕉视频直播淚 have high expectations for them, but I香蕉视频直播檓 not proud of them when they achieve something. I香蕉视频直播檓 proud of them when they work hard, when they put in effort. I香蕉视频直播檓 proud of them because of what they give to what they care about.香蕉视频直播�

When it comes to pride, Renee香蕉视频直播檚 fiance, Carlos, is brimming with it. The importance of that support is not lost on her.

香蕉视频直播淭hat is sometimes a difficult thing for a man to be, but when you find the man who is happy to be your champion, cheerleader, lover and friend 香蕉视频直播� you hold on to him tightly and you will do the same for him.香蕉视频直播�

Carlos appears as if on cue. Our time is almost up as Renee has another function to attend. As I swallow the last of my wine and feel grateful that I am going home to enjoy a quiet night 香蕉视频直播渋n,香蕉视频直播� Renee seems just as enthusiastic about her night 香蕉视频直播渙ut.香蕉视频直播� An opportunity to meet more people, to listen as they share their stories and 香蕉视频直播� as that cherished Rabbi professor told her all those years ago 香蕉视频直播� to accept a role that may one day 香蕉视频直播渃hange the world.香蕉视频直播�