First elected to the BC legislature for the riding of Coquitlam-Burke Mountain in a byelection in 2016, NDP candidate Jodie Wickens is the youngest woman MLA to have have held office in British Columbia. In the 2017 provincial election, she was narrowly defeated by Liberal candidate Joan Isaacs, who received 87 more votes. She presently holds an executive leadership position as Director of Programs and Services for Child and Youth Programs at a large non-profit.

Cathy Cena – Local Journalism Initiative

 For the last four years the riding of Coquitlam - Burke Mountain has been held be NDP candidate Fin Donnelly who recently announced that he will not be seeking reelection this year. Wickens says she has a deep love for her community and the strong support from her family as she campaigns for change. Wickens, a long-time Tri-Cities resident, expressed her passion for making Coquitlam-Burke Mountain an even better place to live. "

I've lived here for years, and it's truly home," Wickens says. "I care deeply about our community, and I'm committed to addressing the issues that matter most to the people who live here."

One of Wickens' main priorities is healthcare. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring accessible, high-quality healthcare for everyone. "Our healthcare system is strained, and we need to invest in services that reduce wait times and provide better support for families.".

Housing affordability is another critical focus of Wickens' campaign. She says that she is very concerned about skyrocketing housing prices and the impact it's having on local families. "People are being priced out of the very communities they’ve helped build. We need affordable housing solutions now.".

Wickens also feels that the rising cost of living is exerting immense pressures on Tri-Cities households. "Families are struggling to make ends meet. We need to address the cost of living through policies that provide relief and fairness for working people,"

With her family backing her every step of the way, Wickens is confident that together, they can bring meaningful change to Coquitlam-Burke Mountain.