A voice from the classroom. A voice for our community.

For 25 years, I was an educator in classrooms, working with students and families in both rural and urban schools.

I’m running because I believe the people closest to students need a meaningful voice when decisions are made about them.

I don’t have all the answers.

I know how to listen, ask questions, learn from experts, evidence, and make decisions.

What I Bring

• 21 years teaching in SD73
• Experience in rural and urban schools
• 4 years Special Education & College-Prep teaching experience at Thompson Rivers University 
• Experience as a teacher representative and education leader
• Extensive community committee and advocacy experience
• A background as a small-business owner
• A willingness to listen, learn and change my mind when the evidence tells me I should

About Troylana

A teacher. A mom. A community voice. A lifelong learner.

• I am a retired teacher, wife, mom and longtime Kamloops community member.
• I spent 21 years teaching in SD73, from rural to urban schools.
• I also taught 4 years at Thompson Rivers University, including college preparation, First Steps Program for Young Mothers, and special education programs.
• Teaching has always been about more than academics for me.
• It is about understanding what gets in the way of learning—and finding ways to help.

MY EDUCATION

• I hold a Bachelor of General Studies from Simon Fraser University.
• I completed an Instructor Diploma through NAIT and my Professional Teaching Certificate through SFU’s satellite Indigenous program at Tk’emlúps.
• I also completed Special Education courses through Thompson Rivers University.

BEFORE TEACHING

• My first career was as a hairdresser.
• I began at age 18 and worked in the profession until I was 25, when I began university.
• I owned and operated successful hairdressing businesses in Kamloops and Merritt.
• Those years taught me something I still carry today:
  Listen to people. Build relationships. Solve problems. Show up.

MY COMMUNITY WORK

Retirement did not mean stepping away from my community.

I have served on and participated on many boards, committees and community initiatives, including:

• BC Community Living Association: Executive Committee
• Kamloops-Thompson Teachers Association: Executive Committee
• University of Victoria: CoLab Kamloops Community Report Advisory Committee
• Foundry Kamloops: Family Advisory Committee
• Mustard Seed Liaison Committee
• HotNite in the City: Executive Committee
• Kamloops-Thompson Retired Teachers Association: Executive Committee
• BC Retired Teachers Association: Communications Committee
• Community Action Team: Kamloops Committee
• Sagebrush Community Association: Catchment School Committee
• Kamloops Family History: Program Committee
• Grade 12 Graduation Committees
• KTTA Staff Representative at four SD73 schools

My community work has also brought me alongside families and individuals experiencing mental health challenges, substance use, homelessness, stigma and grief.

These experiences have changed how I listen.

MY FAMILY

• I am married to Bart, a retired Registered Nurse who worked in Interior Health Authority’s Mental Health and Substance Use services.
• We have two sons.
• Levi, 33, is a Registered Nurse at our local Royal Inland Hospital.
• Our son Aaron died in 2021 at the age of 26.
• Losing Aaron changed our family forever.
• It also deepened my understanding of what families experience when they are trying to navigate mental health, substance use, stigma, grief and systems that can be difficult to understand.
• I do not bring his story forward to have all the answers.
• I bring what I have learned from it.

A PERSONAL LENS

• I have lived with hearing loss since birth and have worn hearing aids since I was 24. I was self-conscious about wearing hearing aids and chose not to wear them when I was younger. Eventually, I realized that if I wanted to succeed in college, I needed to hear. That experience taught me about stigma from a very personal place. It has also shaped how I support people with disabilities.
• I try to lead with compassion, curiosity and respect.

WHY I’M RUNNING

• After retiring from teaching in 2021, I took time to grieve, learn, volunteer and continue serving my community. Now I feel ready for another challenge.
• I am running for SD73 School Trustee because I believe the people closest to students need to be heard.
• Teachers, CEAs, students, families and school staff have important things to tell us about what is happening in our schools.
• I want to shine a light on those experiences.
• I will ask questions.
• I will listen.
• I will learn from experts and evidence.
• And I will advocate for students and staff.
• I do not have all the answers.
• I am ready to learn.
• And I am ready to work hard for the students, families and employees of SD73.