Andra’s childhood and formative years are deeply rooted in the Valley as she grew up in Wilmer and Invermere. She moved away in 2002 to pursue post-secondary studies and then started her career in nonprofit Communications work in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver before deciding to move back to the East Kootenays in 2014. Now residing in Kimberley with her family, Andra works full time for the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) as the Regional Program Manager and has the ideal job of working and supporting staff up and down the valley from Golden to Creston.  Andra is passionate about community building, the arts and travel, and she is interested in creating and sustaining spaces where community members can meet, share and synergize. Andra has an undergrad in Public Relations/Communications from Mount Royal University, and a Master of Arts degree in Community Development from UVIC.