Vanessa is registered with the British Columbia Teacher Regulation Branch of the Ministry of Education and the British Columbia Teacher’s Federation and is a certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) facilitator with the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Vanessa brings a unique combination of professional expertise, lived experience, and heartfelt passion to her work with individuals, organizations, and communities.
After nearly a decade in the financial sector, Vanessa transitioned into education, where she has spent the past 19 years teaching, supporting adult learners, and serving as Professional Development Coordinator for School District 47 (qathet). She also works as a consultant for businesses and organizations, helping them strengthen organizational well-being and workplace culture at a systemic level.
Vanessa co-founded The VK Wellness Initiative, a mental health and wellness clinic that brings together counselling, massage therapy, mindfulness-based programs, and more under one roof. Her vision for VK Wellness was shaped by her own journey-growing up, she experienced trauma that left a lasting impact. That experience inspired a lifelong commitment to creating safe spaces where people feel seen, supported, and reminded of their worth.
She holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Yorkville University, a Bachelor of Commerce in International Business from the University of Victoria, and a Bachelor of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Her career and studies have taken her across Canada and abroad to the USA, UK, China, and Malaysia, deepening her perspective on education, culture, and well-being.
When she’s not facilitating, teaching, or consulting, Vanessa finds joy in time outdoors with her husband and two energetic boys. Hiking the Sunshine Coast Trail, scuba diving, and beachcombing for sea glass are just some of the ways she recharges in nature.
At the heart of everything she does is one simple truth: people matter. Vanessa’s greatest hope is that her work-through VK Wellness, education, and organizational consulting-creates meaningful change that allows others to thrive, both personally and collectively.
Contact Vanessa here: vanessa@vkwellness.ca
