2023 BRITISH COLUMBIA AMBASSADOR CANDIDATES
ARIELLE FINDLATER
WEST KELOWNA
Meet Arielle Findlater a sixteen-year-old student currently attending Kelowna Secondary School. Growing up, Arielle was known for her wide range of interests and natural talents. She has always been open-minded and confident, which has helped her excel in presentation and public speaking. She is enrolled in the French immersion program and will graduate with a Double-Dogwood. In her free time, she loves volunteering! As a type one diabetic, she has helped out with many T1D summer camps bringing a sense of family to newly diagnosed kids. She has been a JDRF Youth Ambassador since 2013, and was recognized as a 2018 National Philanthropy Day honoree for her achievements on Parliament Hill with the Kids for a Cure campaign. After graduation, Arielle hopes to become an endocrinologist, she will attend post secondary education to obtain an undergraduate degree in biochemistry, then a medical degree. She believes that a career in endocrinology will allow her to create a sense of community specifically between Type one diabetics. Overall, Arielle is a highly ambitious young woman and believes that this program will bring her closer to her goals. She hopes that it will help with applications, grow her sense of community, and allow her to make new friends!
HAILEY MURRAY
QUESNEL
Hailey Murray is 19 years old, and currently attending Pharmacy Technician online via Stenberg College. She also works part time as a Pharmacy Assistant at the Extra-Foods Pharmacy in Quesnel. Due to her love of travel, after graduation she is hoping to work as a Relief Technician, and later get a job in a hospital pharmacy. Outside of work Hailey tries to keep active and during the winter she curls at least once a week. She has also recently gotten in to archery and occasionally competes in 3-D shoots, where she has won a few medals. Speaking of shooting, Hailey also enjoys photography and takes every chance she can to snap some photos of her dogs; she has also done a few couple shoots. She also likes to sew and crochet fun little projects. Hailey is passionate about helping people however she can, and in fact, she grows out her hair so that every few years she can cut it off and donate it to wigs for children. Hailey chose to be apart of the British Columbia Ambassador program because she wants to help empower young adults to be more confident in themselves and their passions!
ADIBA CHOWDHURY
WHITE ROCK
Adiba is a second-year student at the University of British Columbia, hoping to major in neuroscience. By combining their love for the sciences, medicine, and passion for helping people, they hope to become a psychiatrist and create an outreach program in their community to aid youth of colour and those belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community that are experiencing mental health struggles. They want to be a part of the fight to end the stigma around mental health while raising awareness and continuing to advocate for societal acceptance of people who identify as LGBTQIA+. With their name meaning 'Authoress', Adiba developed a strong passion for classical and modern literature, and they are also planning on publishing short stories and poetry. They want to continue to pursue a form of creative writing so that they can always have a means of creative expression. This also extended to photography, the arts, foods, and digital content creation. By following a career path that enables them to help those in need within their community, Adiba welcomes the opportunity of joining the British Columbia Ambassador Program with the hopes of making a difference and helping beyond their community of White Rock while providing representation to those youth who need it.
AIKUM TAKHER
OSOYOOS
Aikum would like to start by sending a huge thank you to her sponsor, P & G Takher Vineyard, for their support throughout her candidacy. Aikum is 21 years old and in her second year at Thompson Rivers University. She plans to complete her Bachelor’s degree in science, majoring in biology, then pursue the MCAT with excellence, earn a medical degree and eventually become a highly qualified pediatrician. She works alongside her parents in their vineyards, works part time at Winners and Homesense, and volunteers at the South Okanagan General Hospital for work experience. In her spare time she enjoys reading, baking, going to the gym, playing basketball, traveling, listening to music, outdoor adventures, modeling, shooting, and spending time with her family and friends. Her greatest passion is volunteering. Aikum is a social media ambassador for Khalsa Aid in the Okanagan. Volunteerism will always be a big part of her life as she plans to continue inspiring and helping others through community service. She joined the British Columbia Ambassador Program to expand her volunteer opportunities, meet new people, develop her public speaking skills and have an unforgettable experience as a candidate!
CASSIDY JEAN
KAMLOOPS
Cassidy has completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at Thompson Rivers University and is currently pursuing a certificate to teach English abroad. She is applying for her Masters degree, and is most interested in English or History. Cassidy would love to travel and teach English in
other countries, but her ultimate goal is to become a full-time novelist. She loves reading and writing, but she’s not fond of ‘rithmatic. She loves to learn; everything from languages to cooking to playing the ukelele. She volunteers at her church, her local pregnancy care centre, and
as an assistant coach for her former high school’s badminton team. Since the COVID-19 she and her dad have gotten into beekeeping, which has been a blast! She’s learned a lot about these little
pollinators, and there’s nothing sweeter than backyard honey. Cassidy decided to join the British Columbia Ambassador Program because she wanted to get more involved with her local ambassador program, learn more about the province she calls home, and have the chance to be a role model to the next generation of Ambassadors. She has enjoyed getting to know her fellow candidates and wishes them all the best in their future endeavors.
PIPER CAHOON
VERNON
Piper currently attends Okanagan College, working towards a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and plans to work in childcare upon completion of their schooling. While attending school, Piper works
part-time and during breaks from school, works full-time in childcare. When not in school or working, Piper enjoys writing, spending time with friends, and exploring the outdoors. Before becoming involved with the local ambassador program, they were very shy and reserved. Since then they have grown and come out of their shell. Piper hopes to continue this growth through the British Columbia Ambassador program, as well as continue to meet wonderful people from around the province. A fun fact about Piper is that they hope to one day publish a book.
BROOKLYN KRUK
COWICHAN LAKE
Brooklyn is going into her fifth year of the Bachelor of Education Program at Vancouver Island University’s Cowichan Campus. With her degree, Brooklyn’s goal is to become a secondary teacher. Specifically she would like to teach English and Social Studies, as they would allow her to draw from the knowledge she gained while obtaining her Criminology Diploma. Throughout university, she has maintained a full time summer job working for the Town of Lake Cowichan as a summer student at Lakeview Park Campground. Being born and raised in Lake Cowichan has led to her enjoyment of camping, swimming, tubing, and exploring the outdoors. Brooklyn loves music, reading, listening to podcasts, and learning new things. After being a member of the Cowichan Lake Ambassador Team in 2017, she began volunteering with the program. She remains a committed volunteer and finds great joy and fulfillment through her involvement. Brooklyn joined the British Columbia Ambassador Program to further her leadership and communication skills, as well as strengthen ties with her community. Brooklyn has always admired the British Columbia Ambassadors and is excited to have the opportunity to participate in the program.