ELAINE MCMURRAY

A daughter, sister, niece, aunt, mother, grandmother and nun. I've lived in Kelowna since 2017 and although I am retired from active employment, I currently volunteer my time in the community for up to 40 hours each week. Some of my volunteer activities include:

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• Society of St. Vincent de Paul, President at local level, secretary at central BC level, secretary: National level Social Justice Committee, member of multiple committees including Safe, Secure and Affordable Housing for all: a Human Right; Guaranteed basic Income project, Indigenous Sharing Circle. Developing new housing at Ozanam House, a men’ recovery program

• Invincible Housing: Special Project fully donor funded to provide rent supplements once per year per family to PREVENT homelessness

• LECoH (Lived Experience Circle on Homelessness) a foundational pillar of the Journey Home Strategy, founding member, secretary, member of multiple sub committees,

• Disruptive leadership program steering committee

• Strata Council Secretary

• Kelowna Raging Grannies: sing and speak for justice

• Various roles in my faith community

 

In my professional career I worked as a chemist, nurse, social worker, nun, and an advocate.

 

I am passionate about finding an opportunity for all people to be productive members of society without stigma or barriers. This requires a basic, living income and a safe and secure place to call home. I strongly believe that we can build a safe community which includes the required opportunities that will allow those struggling with life challenges to move forward. I am also an advocate for creating a safe community for our most treasured and valued seniors. 

 

I live each day as a challenge. One of the most significant challenges of my lifetime was walking the second half of the traditional Camino in Spain in 2017 (that’s 322 kilometers!)