I was born and raised in Cochrane, where the Bow River meets Jumping Pound Creek. Some of my earliest memories are of small-town life; learning to ride my bike and skinning my knees on the red shale pathways, exploring the riverbanks, and feeling that sense of community and small-town puttering that gave Cochrane its charm. Born in 2002, I grew up here, went to school here, served on the Mayor’s Youth Council and the St. Timothy Council, and graduated in 2020 as valedictorian.

I grew up in a big family with five siblings and two self-employed parents who taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and pitching in. At 13, I discovered a passion for baking and started Mikayla’s Cakery. What began in my kitchen grew into a small business when our community shared my cakes on local Facebook pages. Cochrane didn’t just support me- it adopted me. That encouragement gave me the confidence to grow, to pay my way through school, and to experience the realities of being a young entrepreneur. I’ve seen how hard it can be for local businesses to get established, from high costs to limited storefront options, and I know how important it is that we make Cochrane a place where small businesses can succeed.

Today, I’m in my fourth year at Mount Royal University’s Bissett School of Business, studying finance and political science. I also serve as an executive with the Campus Conservative Association of Calgary, Canada’s largest campus conservative movement, and have extensive volunteer experience that’s shown me how to listen, lead, and serve with accountability. At 23, I bring a fresh perspective to council and a strong awareness of the need for fiscal responsibility- we need to fund what works, stop what doesn’t, and make sure taxpayers see tangible results.

Cochrane is at a crossroads. My priorities reflect both my roots and Cochrane’s future: supporting local businesses with fair taxes and practical programs, tying growth to real infrastructure; both building new projects and upgrading what we already have- while holding developers accountable, protecting greenspace and our river valley, and exploring practical transit and mobility options. This community raised me, and running for council is my way of giving back- because Cochrane deserves someone who will listen and deliver results!