Victoria Pearson was our Youth@ the Table (YATT) Board Member this past year. 

Launched in 2019, YATT is Volunteer Alberta’s youth engagement initiative. This program aims to create governance opportunities for young people ages 18 to 30 interested in the nonprofit sector. This is our second year participating. 

Over the years, we’ve hosted many post-secondary students and recent grads who come to us from various provincial and federally funded programs. During their time with our organization, they’ve learned and gained skills while working on projects that help engage and shape the broader community. Many have continued to work with interVivos for years to come after the end of their programs.

We chatted with Victoria virtually to find out more about her and what her interVivos experience meant to her.

What does interVivos mean to you?

interVivos represents connection within Edmonton. It is hard to find an ambitious and future-driven community as a young professional, making interVivos unique.

How did your involvement with interVivos help you build your confidence?

As a member of the interVivos board, I participated fully in board governance and exercised my existing leadership skills. The opportunity to join as a YATT representative allowed me to strengthen my confidence in myself because I learned that my skills were valued. In addition, I felt genuinely listened to and appreciated by the interVivos Board Members. Thank you to everyone for this opportunity! 

How did being a part of interVivos help you build your professional network?

interVivos helped me build my network by enabling my participation in their mentorship program as a protégé. As a young professional, I do not yet have an established professional network to help me find a mentor. interVivos connected me to a fantastic mentor who still guides me with their confidence and insight into common professional challenges faced by women. I am so excited to continue learning from my mentor and growing my network. 

How did volunteering with interVivos support your career goals?

Job searching can be challenging in the best of times, but looking for a job in the middle of a global pandemic made the whole process feel bleak and demoralizing. However, my time with interVivos helped me build my confidence and grow my professional networks. I have been connected with a mentor through the interVivos mentorship program. I have also been associated with the excellent and passionate board members at interVivos, who I look to for guidance and expertise.

Why should post-secondary students and recent grads get involved with interVivos?

I am always encouraging young people to get involved in a cause they believe in. Volunteering is the best way to effect change in your community. interVivos is an excellent organization to get involved with because so many talented people are involved in the organization at all levels. They are passionate about the programming they deliver and are dedicated to improving the professional community in Edmonton. They are also committed to increasing public awareness of important topics like civic engagement and inclusivity. Even though we could only meet virtually this past year, I felt welcomed as soon as I began my time with interVivos.

What is your advice for young people in Edmonton?

My advice for young people in Edmonton is never to forget what you want to improve. There is probably an organization out there working to accomplish just that, and if there isn’t, it’s time it was built! We are not too young or inexperienced to achieve our goals. We just have more time to do so. We have the lived experience, knowledge, and passion for building a more equitable community. 

Are you looking for a unique way to volunteer and give back to the community? Get involved with interVivos!  Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter) or join our mailing list so you don’t miss out on your chance to get connected. You can also email us anytime with your questions.

Help keep interVivos #HereForGood by purchasing a one-of-a-kind interVivos tee here! Your purchase will ensure that our volunteer-run nonprofit can continue to engage Edmontonians during the pandemic and beyond. Each tee is made with care and excitement right here in #YEG by The Print Machine. Proceeds from each shirt will help us build momentum towards our vision of a generation of inspired and informed leaders. Be one of the first ten people to purchase a limited-edition tee and receive a FREE doughnut from our longtime friends, Doughnut Party!

That’s not all. All purchasers will also be entered to win an interVivos experience package, valued at $130! Just e-mail a copy of your receipt to connect@intervivos.ca to claim your prize and be entered to win. This contest runs until June 30, 2021. The interVivos Experience Package includes:

  • a $100 gift card for future interVivos events and programs; and 
  • a Club Doughnut Punch Card (Punch Card entitles the holder to 12 doughnuts in total, one doughnut per visit, and is valued at $29.95). 

Want to bolster other local businesses? So do we! We have some fantastic community partners and we want to keep their businesses going for years to come. We encourage you to check out the other unique local companies that are #HereforGood. You can purchase their shirts here to show your admiration for what they do and encourage them to keep making their outstanding contribution to our city.

We hope to see your shirts in person when it’s safe to connect again. Until then, share your pics with us using the hashtag #HereForGood and tag interVivos! In the meantime, take a peek at some of our Board Members showingtheir love of interVivos with their shirts!

 

Suppose your closet is complete at the moment, but you still want to assist interVivos. In that case, you can still help us by making a small donation: https://intervivos-mentorship-society-of-alberta.square.site/   

 

 

 

Madison Lorenz is an HR Representative with Connect Logistics Services Inc. She is a University of Alberta grad and interned with interVivos as part of the Community Service Learning (CSL) program before joining the board officially in May 2020. Madison became a part of the executive in fall 2020 when she was elected secretary by her fellow volunteer board members.

We had a virtual chat with Madison to find out why she volunteers her time with us and why post-secondary students and recent grads should get more involved with interVivos.

What does interVivos mean to you?

interVivos is a place where you can put yourself out there and gain knowledge from those around you. interVivos has pushed me out of my comfort zone. I am continually growing and helping my community come together, even during this time of distancing. 

How does your involvement with interVivos help you build your confidence?

interVivos is the first non-profit board that I have been a part of. When I started with the organization, I had limited awareness of how a board operates or what is needed from board members. However, I was eager to gain experience and increase my knowledge. Being on the interVivos board has allowed me to gain the confidence to bring my ideas forward and participate in meaningful dialogue. I am now more confident collaborating with others on the board to execute our programs and events successfully. I have also picked up so many skills that I had little exposure to before joining the board. It is refreshing to do different professional things outside of work. I am now more assertive with sticking my hand up to volunteer to do new tasks at my 9-5 job and as a board member.

How does being a part of interVivos help you build your professional network?

Being on the interVivos board has allowed me to meet diverse people through our events and programs, such as our volunteer mentors. One of my roles for a few of our mentorship programs was the mentor and protégé liaison. I was responsible for communicating with all the program participants, so I networked with diverse community leaders. I have grown my LinkedIn contacts as a result. I have also met many amazing people who sit on our board and feel fortunate to work with a group of hard-working professionals who impact our community even during the pandemic.

How does volunteering with interVivos support your career goals?

As a recent graduate, I am trying to discover as much as I can through hands-on experience, which is why I enjoy being on the interVivos board. interVivos has allowed me to work on different tasks from my paid job, such as social media. There have also been times when I can apply what I have gained from volunteering to my paid work. Being on the board has enhanced my confidence to share my thoughts and ideas, as I mentioned above. This confidence has flowed into my work. I am now leading projects at work, and I look forward to contributing my ideas to any team I am a part of, whereas I was more reserved in the past. 

What is the best advice you have received during your time with interVivos?

To try new things. When I first started at the University of Alberta, I never thought that I would do certain things because they seemed uncomfortable. I never thought that I would join a board, complete a certificate with Community Service Learning or work on campus, but all of those achievements have helped me become who I am today. As a student, you have so many opportunities to get involved with the broader community or campus. Even though it may seem scary or you do not know what you are doing at the start, you will come out the other side with some fantastic memories.

Why should post-secondary students and recent grads get involved with interVivos?

There are many ways students and recent grads can get involved with interVivos, and each way has different benefits. You will receive a lot of great advice and support from our volunteer mentors if you participate in our mentorship programs. The mentors I have had a chance to meet are great! I have not participated as a protégé yet, but I will do it when it is suitable for my career.  If you want to know the perspective of a post-secondary student who participated as a protégé, then check out Nicole Rodriguez’s interview with interVivos. Through our community engagement events, students can become more involved in the Edmonton community and meet others with similar interests. If you join the interVivos board as an intern or board member, you can gain many unique skills and expand your professional circle, as I have. No matter how you choose to get involved with interVivos, you will better yourself.

What is your advice for post-secondary students in Edmonton?

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Many of my best opportunities and learning moments came from putting myself out there and being vulnerable. Also, don’t be scared to speak up. When you are the most junior person in the room, you may think that your opinion doesn’t matter, but in my experience, students and new grads bring a fresh viewpoint to the conversation. You’ll be surprised to learn that many people want to hear what we’ve to say.

Are you a post-secondary student or new graduate who’d like to be more involved with interVivos?  Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter) or join our mailing list, so you don’t miss out on your chance to get connected. You can also email us anytime with your questions.

interVivos recognizes the importance of supporting one another in creating a sense of belonging for all—which is why we strive to create programs and events that can help build this sense in the Edmonton community. 

In Fall 2020, we launched our very first mentorship program to showcase Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) volunteer mentors. There are unique challenges and opportunities associated with being a BIPOC professional in Edmonton. One of our Fall 2020 Mentors, Keenan Pascal, recently shared about his own challenges in an Edmonton Journal article, “A lot of times you’re like the only Black guy in the room in a lot of these professional circles. It’s just (the) reality. In the beginning, you’re a little shyer, you’re a little, like, ‘Nobody looks like me,’ they don’t have the same background to connect. It kind of forced me to quickly evolve in terms of having to be more outgoing. I can’t sit in the back and be the quiet Black guy. You’ve got to put your hand up and get noticed.” 

interVivos endeavours to create a safe space for our participants to share these experiences. For our BIPOC program, we recognized that some of our mentors and protégés may wish to discuss the challenges of being BIPOC or may simply want to learn more about these experiences. We welcomed this critical dialogue and even created a unique BIPOC Resources List for our program participants to help them get more informed, find additional support, or connect with other community organizations engaging in these critical conversations. 

One volunteer mentor shared about the safe space that interVivos created: “Really impressed with how this process rolled out and the thought and intention behind it. It is great to see the board, already a very diverse group of young women, driven to take diversity and inclusion training to ensure the program addresses any potential power mishap. I’ve personally been in networking and mentorship events/programs where mentors grossly abused their position given the stage and power dynamics that were intentionally set up to be highly imbalanced. Not once did I feel uncomfortable, and I did feel everyone was valued and appreciated, whether they are mentors or protéges”.

At interVivos, we desire to put the utmost care and attention into our programs and events to empower the next generation of leaders. We continue to do this by engaging with the community, participating in training, and sharing our resources with Edmontonians like you.  If you have ideas for other resources to include or have something you’d like to teach us, please send an email to mentorship@intervivos.ca. We would love to connect with you! 

Are you interested in participating in a future mentorship program? Sign up for our mailing list and never miss an update! 

The COVID-19 virus caused everyone to change how they communicate with each other. For interVivos, it changed the way we “meet” as a board and how we run our programs, like modifying our in-person mentorship program into a virtual one

At the pandemic’s onset, interVivos evaluated if we could continue our programming through a public health emergency. We wanted to dialogue with the community-at-large in a safe and engaging way.

interVivos was fortunate enough to facilitate two mentorship program launches via Zoom in 2020. We were able to connect 23 protégés with 23 mentors in our community. In early 2021, we chatted with a Fall 2020 protégé and mentor to hear their thoughts about interVivos and the program launch.

Our protégé perspective comes from Bonnie Chiu. She graduated from the University of Alberta in 2019 with a Degree in Human Ecology and is currently working in healthcare philanthropy. She first heard about interVivos through our posts on LinkedIn and eventually decided to sign up as a protégé for the Fall 2020 Program— her very first experience with interVivos. “I wanted to expand my social and professional network. I find that those opportunities, especially now [due to the pandemic], can be more difficult to come by.” 

We asked her to share more about her experience with the mentorship program launch. “It was a very positive experience for me. I felt there was great communication from interVivos leading up to the event, on event day, and afterwards. It is tough to run a virtual event, but everything was well-planned and running very smoothly.  I enjoyed connecting with everyone— it was the most social interaction I’ve had in months beyond my usual circle.”

Bonnie loved that the event showcased the unique talents and people in Edmonton. “I walked away with a lot of great advice from the 13 mentors during the speed rotations. There were so many takeaways just in that one night!  I’m looking forward to staying involved with interVivos and whatever they plan in the future when they can run more events programs.”

Renée Williams, Vice President Customer Experience at the Fort Edmonton Management Company, was a first-time mentor for our Fall 2020 Program. She heard about interVivos through her friend, Mary Bailey of The Tomato, who was a Summer 2020 mentor. Renée decided to join as a mentor for our first program focused on highlighting Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour (or BIPOC) volunteer mentors because she would have loved to have had a mentor who looked like her during her career journey. 

“I have been very successful in the communications and tourism industry, but I often feel like I did it on my own. As the only Black woman in a senior leadership position in the tourism industry across the province, I am a rarity in this field. Mentorship programs like these are important. I want my son to see himself in a career because representation is an opportunity that I did not have. I want to give him every opportunity to succeed, and these programs can help make that happen for people like him.” 

We spoke to Renée about her first-time experience with interVivos. “The launch was very well thought out and thorough. Everything was organized and easy to understand. I was impressed with the mentors at interVivos. Many of my former colleagues have been involved with interVivos in the past. There were also many mentors participating in the program that I was interested in connecting with in the future!” 

Renée was also impressed with the talent she saw in the protégé pool at the event. “There were so many protégés with diverse interests like government, politics, or simply looking to make a career shift. I learned little nuggets from each person I met. The world will be set up for great success if mentors and protégés are interested in making things better by reaching out, connecting, and asking questions.” 

Thank you to all of the fantastic mentors and protégés who have been involved with interVivos for the past 15 years! We are delighted to share the many unique talents and perspectives that our community has to offer. 

interVivos is always looking for protégés and mentors from all backgrounds for our future programs. You can follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter) or join our mailing list, so you don’t miss out on your opportunity to get more involved with our organization.

At interVivos, our mission is to cultivate leadership and impact our community through dialogue, engagement, mentorship programs, and events. Community partnerships play a crucial role in making this happen. 

Last year, Park Power joined interVivos as the Presenting Sponsor for our Fall 2020 Mentorship Program. They are a friendly local business that provides electricity, natural gas, and internet services to Albertans and that also believes in building our community through community involvement.      

Before our Fall Program Launch, we spoke with the owner and founder of Park Power, Kris Kasawski, to learn more about him. 

Kris is a family man, entrepreneur, and community builder. He first got involved with interVivos as a mentor in the Spring 2016 Mentorship Program. We asked him to share more about his experience as one of our mentors. “I enjoyed the speed rotation format. It was a fun experience because it forced you to dig into it with the protégé and get a rank of each other.”

He sees the importance of mentors. “[Mentors] can help you evaluate what you’re doing. They can share their successes, mistakes, how they’ve grown, and pass the knowledge onto their protégés. Life is a long game. Protégés can get advice from those who have lived through longer.”

For our Fall 2020 Program, we chose to showcase Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (or BIPOC) mentors and share the impressive work they do right here in Edmonton. 

Kris was thrilled to help highlight these diverse leaders in the Edmonton community. He understands the importance of connecting mentors and protégés with different backgrounds. “Everyone has their own implicit biases and environments. These matches can help challenge these barriers and biases. We can build more community capacity and increase inclusiveness.”  

Kris is a loyal supporter of interVivos ever since getting involved as a mentor. He has attended many of our community engagement events and has even spoken at some of our events, including this Program Launch! 

We are so grateful that he believes in the work of interVivos. Thank you, Kris Kasawski and Park Power, for your sponsorship of our Fall 2020 Mentorship Program. We look forward to many more opportunities to partner with community leaders like you to impact the city of Edmonton! 

To find out about how you can support us, please email connect@intervivos.ca.

interVivos and our community rely on the local businesses at the heart of them. 2021 has been a tumultuous year for Edmonton businesses with the impacts of COVID-19. These small businesses need our support more than ever as they have had to pivot. 

Local businesses provide character and individuality to a community. They benefit their local communities in many concrete, quantifiable ways. Specifically, if you spend $100 at a local business, roughly $68 stays within the local economy.

Here are some easy ways you can support local:

  • Buy gift cards for friends, family, or your own use in the spring
  • Write a positive online review
  • Engage with their social media posts
  • Post about them on your Instagram story or TikTok

During the Fall 2020 mentorship program launch, participants shared their favourite local business names. Check out the list below. You might discover a new gem in your backyard that you can support during the holiday season and beyond.

We have also included our remarkable Fall 2020 program sponsors in this list. The interVivos board has even added their picks.

Retail

Restaurants and Cafes

Other Amazing Businesses

Want to explore more? Check out the local loves of our Fall 2021 participants here.

Check out our blog post from Fall 2021 that featured some fantastic local businesses shared by other mentorship participants. 

Are you a local business wanting to connect with mentors and protégés? We accept support in ways such as venue space, audiovisual equipment, live streaming capabilities, catering, and event prizes such as gift cards. Please reach out to connect@intervivos.ca  to tell us more about how you can help!

Registration for Protégés is now open

interVivos is launching its Fall 2020 Mentorship Program on December 1, 2020. This Edmonton program will showcase Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) volunteer mentors. Ambitious professionals from all backgrounds are invited to take part as protégés in the ever-popular mentorship program.

Since 2006, interVivos has connected over 600 high caliber mentors and protégés through its mentorship programs. Mentors are highly sought after and come from a variety of backgrounds, careers, and perspectives. They are volunteers who are looking to give back to their community by sharing their ideas and experiences to assist protégés in their career journey. The Fall 2020 Mentorship Program is an opportunity for BIPOC mentors to empower the next generation of Edmonton’s BIPOC leaders.

“It is important to take proactive and purposeful action to ensure that different voices are heard, included, and supported across the spectrum of roles,” says Jason Syviaxy, former interVivos mentor and Fall  2020 launch event emcee. “If we fail to challenge the system, we perpetuate the norm, which means that we wait for change to catch up rather than embracing and meeting it.”

interVivos mentorship programs are offered twice per year and typically begin with an in-person launch event. Propelled by the virtual Summer 2020 mentorship launch’s success, interVivos will launch the Fall Program over Zoom. Mentors and protégés will connect through Zoom “breakout rooms” for group engagement activities, one-on-one speed rotations, and networking opportunities.

After the launch, mentors and protégés are matched up based on their preferences. The matches will work together over six months to learn from each other, collaborate, and reach professional goals. The program runs from January to June 2021, and matches are required to meet at least three times, either virtually or in-person, with appropriate COVID-19 measures in place.

The following are the confirmed mentors for the Fall 2020 mentorship program:

You can register to be a protégé by visiting:  https://intervivosfall2020.eventbrite.ca

Read the FAQs about our Fall 2020 Mentorship program.


Program Sponsors

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor: Park Power.

Thank you to our program sponsors: Incite, VSM Photo, Coffee Ring Studio, E & J Watch and Jewellery Repair West Edmonton Mall, Soni Dasmohapatra, JGR Communications, Leaders International, Anne McLellan, Doughnut Party, RSM Canada, and Altitude Investments.

Register to be a protégé by visiting: https://intervivosfall2020.eventbrite.ca/

Why is interVivos organizing a mentorship program focused exclusively on BIPOC mentors?

The interVivos board is thrilled to highlight many amazing Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) volunteer mentors in the Edmonton community.  We recognize the importance of diversity and support one another in creating a sense of belonging for all. interVivos is fiercely non-partisan, but diversity has always been one of our values. 

BIPOC citizens are generally underrepresented in leadership positions, leaving a gap in diversity and workforce perspectives. If fewer people mentor BIPOC people, fewer BIPOC people will rise to leadership positions. The program is an opportunity for BIPOC mentors with varied careers, backgrounds, and perspectives to empower the next generation of BIPOC leaders.

Who can register to be a protégé in this program?

Protégés from all backgrounds are welcome to register. We have always encouraged our protégés to pick a mentor who looks different from them and/or has a different professional background from them.  

Do I have to live in Edmonton to participate in the program?

Yes. interVivos is an Edmonton-based nonprofit, and our mentorship programs are focused on supporting our community. Although the program will launch virtually due to COVID-19, we are hopeful that it will be safe for mentors and protégés to meet in person in early 2021 for their match meetings.

What kind of support does interVivos provide to protégés? 

interVivos is creating a safe space for all participants to share their experiences. We use an open-door policy to build trust and a supportive environment. The interVivos board has completed diversity and inclusion training to ensure the program is impactful and serves all participants well. We have several tools and resources available for protégés to prepare for the launch and throughout the program.

What will the BIPOC mentors get out of the program?

Our mentors are volunteers who are looking to give back to their community. Mentors will share their ideas and experiences as a BIPOC leader in Edmonton to assist you in your career journey. 

What will protégés work on during the program?

We understand that some of the protégés in this program may wish to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities associated with being a BIPOC professional in Edmonton. We welcome this, but our mentorship programs offer protégés so much more.

Protégés leave our mentorship programs with enhanced confidence and leadership skills. Others work towards concrete goals that they have set out for themselves, such as creating a business plan or a website.  To find out about the experiences of past protégés in other programs, check out our blog posts featuring Stephen and his mentor Nafisa and Giselle and her mentor Ken.

Will I find a job at the end of the program?

Our mentorship programs are not a platform to ask mentors for a job. This upcoming program is no different. Protégés should pursue this mentorship program if they are looking to elevate their career, change career paths, develop a specific goal, or solve a personal or professional challenge (for example, imposter syndrome). A mentor’s role is to listen, guide, provide constructive feedback, and help you achieve actionable outcomes within the program’s six-month duration. 

Why is there a cost to the mentorship program?

We are a volunteer-run nonprofit. Protégés pay a small fee to keep our operating expenses low and our programs affordable for all Edmontonians. For each program, interVivos uses a portion of revenue to offer no-cost protégé spots to diverse community organizations.  

Typically, interVivos charges our protégés $80 to participate in a mentorship program. We are hardly in a typical time, and the virtual mentorship program’s price reflects the economic reality. interVivos is proud to provide protégé spots on a sliding scale of either $50, $60, or $70 to allow you to pay what you can for a protégé spot. 

How does a virtual mentorship launch work?

We had our first virtual mentorship launch this past summer on Zoom. Mentors and protégés could connect by utilizing the “breakout rooms” feature in Zoom for the speed rotations and networking. 

How does interVivos recruit the protégés?

interVivos protégé spots sell out quickly and the program often has a waiting list.  

All interVivos protégés self-select to be a part of the program. Many hear about the program through social media, our mailing list, our board members, and past mentors and protégés. Some are even repeating protégés who want to work on different goals with another mentor.

How does the organization select the mentors?

Our volunteer mentors are referred to us by former mentors, former protégés, board members, the interVivos Advisors, sponsors, and volunteers. We select mentors for each program to ensure that we have mentors representing diverse professional backgrounds, genders, ages, and racial backgrounds.

Some mentors have reached out to interVivos directly and asked if they can participate. We do some informal screening to ensure that protégés get the best mentors available in the community.

We are also excited to have some former protégés become mentors over the years. And some mentors ask to mentor again! If you know of any potential mentors for future programs, please email mentorship@intervivos.ca at any time.

Will mentors and protégés be able to meet in person during the 6-month program?

interVivos advises that all mentors and protégés follow Alberta Health Service guidelines and City of Edmonton bylaws (check their websites often for the most up to date information). During the program, matches must meet at least three times. This may be done virtually or in-person with Covid-19 protocols in place (physical distancing, mask use, etc.). 


Read more about The Importance of Mentors who are Black, Indigenous, People of Colour.  

Register to be a protégé by visiting: https://intervivosfall2020.eventbrite.ca/

interVivos is pleased to welcome two youth interns. The interns joined the board at our September 2020 bi-monthly board meeting as voting board members until March 2021.

We are a placement organization with Volunteer Alberta’s Youth at the Table program and the University of Alberta’s Non-Profit Board Student Internship Program. The youth will be joining our organization to get first-hand experience of how boards work. They will participate in meetings, learn basic non-profit governance, and will each work on a small project connected to our strategic plan.

interVivos has hosted youth board members for several years. We are delighted that one of the previous youth, Madison Lorenz, has been a board member since May 2020 and will be mentoring our youth this year.

Our vision is a generation of inspired and informed leaders. Initiatives such as this support that vision and work to support youth as they transition from their studies to careers. COVID-19 has impacted many people in the community, but in particular youth dealing with so much uncertainty. Our board interns will be participating in the upcoming Fall 2020 mentorship program to build broader connections during this disconnected time. Their mentors will also help them work on their professional goals.

Meet our interns:

Khadija Memon is our Non-Profit Board intern, and she is currently in her third year of an Arts degree in Psychology and Economics. She volunteers with the Peer Support Centre and works as an English Language Facilitator. Originally from Pakistan, she is passionate about diversity and community engagement. 

 

 

 

 

Victoria Pearson is our Youth at the Table intern and graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science specializing in psychology, with a research certificate. She works as a part-time legal assistant and explored launching a Parenting Support Service with a law firm. When Victoria was in school, she started regularly volunteering with her NDP constituency association, which turned into running the association as President.  She then revived the NDP campus club to get more youth involved in politics and established a lasting board framework that allowed the club to continue, even though there is high membership turnover in a school club.