Bonnie Cleland grew up in Kamloops and holds a BSc in Biology and Psychology. Her personal and professional path has taken her around the world, from great white shark research in South Africa and environmental work in Australia to a national leadership role with AIESEC in Nicaragua and environmental education in Canada.

Today, Bonnie works primarily as a dance teacher, choreographer and movement coach with children and adults in Kamloops. She teaches tap, jazz, musical theatre, acrobatics and swing dance, and co-founded Lindy in the Loops. Her coaching experience also includes diving, gymnastics, trampoline, self-defense and judo.

Bonnie has spent much of her life working in roles that involve teaching, coaching, leadership and bringing together people with very different backgrounds and perspectives. She values curiosity, fairness and lifelong learning, and is particularly interested in understanding how systems work, asking good questions and finding creative solutions to complicated problems.

After growing up in Kamloops and then living and working internationally, Bonnie returned home and is now raising her young son here. She first ran for Kamloops City Council in 2022 and is running again in 2026 because she wants to contribute her energy, experience and problem-solving approach to the community she has chosen to call home.