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Renee Merrifield Wasylyk and I meet on a brisk Saturday afternoon. She害羞草研究所檚 at home, so it害羞草研究所檚 not the power-suit-clad executive with that signature red lipstick who greets me; it害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檛 害羞草研究所渘ot害羞草研究所� talk about it.

害羞草研究所淗onestly, I love it. I don害羞草研究所檛 love politicking, politics or shenanigans, but I love democracy,害羞草研究所� she says, leaning forward in her chair. 害羞草研究所淚 love the conversation, contrary ideas that have to be shared in order to figure out the consensus.害羞草研究所�

Renee is seeking the Conservative nomination in the federal riding of Kelowna-Lake Country. She doesn害羞草研究所檛 see herself as a politician; she prefers the word conduit.

害羞草研究所淚 am simply someone who can get people to the table. I害羞草研究所檓 not the one doing anything other than putting the pieces together.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淎t eight years old I asked my dad why there were no female presidents and he told me, 害羞草研究所榟oney, you can be the first female president of the United States of America.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 She chuckles at the memory, adding that this could never be the case as a Canadian citizen; however, the seed was planted.

害羞草研究所淚f I look back, that was one of the two moments in my life that told me it害羞草研究所檚 okay to be a change-maker.害羞草研究所�

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)

害羞草研究所淗e said, 害羞草研究所楻enee, God is so big, He is not afraid of your questions, but also don害羞草研究所檛 be afraid when He asks you to change the world.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

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害羞草研究所檛 the obvious choice. It became a necessary choice as Renee faced the reality of financially supporting a young and growing family.

害羞草研究所淚 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.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所� and she most definitely made waves.

害羞草研究所淲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,害羞草研究所� she says, shaking her head. 害羞草研究所淚 would never do it like that again, but it really put me on the map. Other developers where like, 害羞草研究所榃ho is she? Who does she think she is?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Renee says 害羞草研究所渟he害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚 remember being overwhelmed by the kindness. If I was doing it wrong, they害羞草研究所檇 say, 害羞草研究所楻enee, you should do it this way.害羞草研究所� My network became my teachers and I still look at it that way.害羞草研究所�

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With 21 years in business under her belt and many business accolades, including Entrepreneur of the Year 害羞草研究所� Pacific Region, Most Influential Business Woman of the Year 害羞草研究所� BC, and two appearances on Canada害羞草研究所檚 list of the Top 100 Most Powerful Woman, Renee is ready to step into a new role.

害羞草研究所淲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害羞草研究所檚 a pretty powerful invitation. I will also get to bring my community to a greater standing on the national stage. Who wouldn害羞草研究所檛 want to do that?害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 already representing them and loving every minute of it.

害羞草研究所淪hould I win the nomination, and you don害羞草研究所檛 do this because you think you害羞草研究所檙e going to lose害羞草研究所� she adds, 害羞草研究所淚 want to make sure the right people are part of the conversation. I害羞草研究所檓 meeting all these farmers, for example. My mind is blown 害羞草研究所� 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.害羞草研究所�

Renee害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚 have high expectations for them, but I害羞草研究所檓 not proud of them when they achieve something. I害羞草研究所檓 proud of them when they work hard, when they put in effort. I害羞草研究所檓 proud of them because of what they give to what they care about.害羞草研究所�

When it comes to pride, Renee害羞草研究所檚 fiance, Carlos, is brimming with it. The importance of that support is not lost on her.

害羞草研究所淭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 害羞草研究所� you hold on to him tightly and you will do the same for him.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所渋n,害羞草研究所� Renee seems just as enthusiastic about her night 害羞草研究所渙ut.害羞草研究所� An opportunity to meet more people, to listen as they share their stories and 害羞草研究所� as that cherished Rabbi professor told her all those years ago 害羞草研究所� to accept a role that may one day 害羞草研究所渃hange the world.害羞草研究所�