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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. SheB次元官网网址檚 at home, so itB次元官网网址檚 not the power-suit-clad executive with that signature red lipstick who greets me; itB次元官网网址檚 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 canB次元官网网址檛 B次元官网网址渘otB次元官网网址� talk about it.

B次元官网网址淗onestly, I love it. I donB次元官网网址檛 love politicking, politics or shenanigans, but I love democracy,B次元官网网址� she says, leaning forward in her chair. B次元官网网址淚 love the conversation, contrary ideas that have to be shared in order to figure out the consensus.B次元官网网址�

Renee is seeking the Conservative nomination in the federal riding of Kelowna-Lake Country. She doesnB次元官网网址檛 see herself as a politician; she prefers the word conduit.

B次元官网网址淚 am simply someone who can get people to the table. IB次元官网网址檓 not the one doing anything other than putting the pieces together.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淎t eight years old I asked my dad why there were no female presidents and he told me, B次元官网网址榟oney, you can be the first female president of the United States of America.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� She chuckles at the memory, adding that this could never be the case as a Canadian citizen; however, the seed was planted.

B次元官网网址淚f I look back, that was one of the two moments in my life that told me itB次元官网网址檚 okay to be a change-maker.B次元官网网址�

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)

B次元官网网址淗e said, B次元官网网址楻enee, God is so big, He is not afraid of your questions, but also donB次元官网网址檛 be afraid when He asks you to change the world.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

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 wasnB次元官网网址檛 the obvious choice. It became a necessary choice as Renee faced the reality of financially supporting a young and growing family.

B次元官网网址淚 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.B次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址� and she most definitely made waves.

B次元官网网址淲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,B次元官网网址� she says, shaking her head. B次元官网网址淚 would never do it like that again, but it really put me on the map. Other developers where like, B次元官网网址榃ho is she? Who does she think she is?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Renee says B次元官网网址渟heB次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淚 remember being overwhelmed by the kindness. If I was doing it wrong, theyB次元官网网址檇 say, B次元官网网址楻enee, you should do it this way.B次元官网网址� My network became my teachers and I still look at it that way.B次元官网网址�

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With 21 years in business under her belt and many business accolades, including Entrepreneur of the Year B次元官网网址� Pacific Region, Most Influential Business Woman of the Year B次元官网网址� BC, and two appearances on CanadaB次元官网网址檚 list of the Top 100 Most Powerful Woman, Renee is ready to step into a new role.

B次元官网网址淲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 thatB次元官网网址檚 a pretty powerful invitation. I will also get to bring my community to a greater standing on the national stage. Who wouldnB次元官网网址檛 want to do that?B次元官网网址�

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 sheB次元官网网址檚 already representing them and loving every minute of it.

B次元官网网址淪hould I win the nomination, and you donB次元官网网址檛 do this because you think youB次元官网网址檙e going to loseB次元官网网址� she adds, B次元官网网址淚 want to make sure the right people are part of the conversation. IB次元官网网址檓 meeting all these farmers, for example. My mind is blown B次元官网网址� 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.B次元官网网址�

ReneeB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淚 have high expectations for them, but IB次元官网网址檓 not proud of them when they achieve something. IB次元官网网址檓 proud of them when they work hard, when they put in effort. IB次元官网网址檓 proud of them because of what they give to what they care about.B次元官网网址�

When it comes to pride, ReneeB次元官网网址檚 fiance, Carlos, is brimming with it. The importance of that support is not lost on her.

B次元官网网址淭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 B次元官网网址� you hold on to him tightly and you will do the same for him.B次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址渋n,B次元官网网址� Renee seems just as enthusiastic about her night B次元官网网址渙ut.B次元官网网址� An opportunity to meet more people, to listen as they share their stories and B次元官网网址� as that cherished Rabbi professor told her all those years ago B次元官网网址� to accept a role that may one day B次元官网网址渃hange the world.B次元官网网址�