Tonya has worked as a healthcare assistant at Menno Hospital for almost 30 years. She has been actively involved in occupational health and safety, Health and Wellness Committees, and as an HEU Shop Steward at her workplace for most of those years. She always advocates for a safe and healthy workplace, partnering with management to bring safety huddles around civility, conflict resolution and a respectful workplace.

She has taken many education sessions through the union, SafeCare BC or Surge Learning to expand her knowledge and communication skills. Tonya believes in sharing her stories and experiences to make an impact whenever the opportunity presents itself and has done so at the SafeCare BC Strategic Planning Session in 2021 when she talked about being a Front-Line Worker during the pandemic and recorded her first podcast episode with Checking In last month. She is also on the Front-Line Workers Communication group and the 2022 Hearts and Hands organizing committee with SafeCare BC. Her passion is
providing resident and family-centred care.