Former Penticton city councillor and MP elect Helena Konanz is seen in a photo from the recent federal election campaign.

Image Credit: X.COM/Helena Konanz

As a former professional tennis player, business owner and mother, Helena Konanz knows how to multi-task.

Multi-tasking is exactly what she’s doing in the days since officially becoming the new Member of Parliament for Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay.

During a phone interview from her new home-away-from-home in Ottawa Monday, Konanz said she and numerous other Conservative Party MP Elects, have travelled to the nation’s capital as they prepare for the official opening of Parliament on May 26.

Konanz said she has only travelled once to Ottawa a couple of years ago, but it was in the middle of a cold winter and she’s much more impressed since arriving there this past weekend.

“I got here on Sunday and have had a little time to check out the city now that spring has arrived and it’s a beautiful city, as so many people have told me,” she said. “It’s an amazing city. It makes you proud to be Canadian. I consider myself really fortunate to be able to work in this great city for at least the next four years.”

She will spend the next several days attending workshops that are made available to first-time Members of Parliament, she said.

“We’re going through some orientation and onboarding that they do for all new MPs,” she said. “I’m going to spend some time looking for a new place to stay once I’m working here full-time. We’re going through getting credentials and the orientation process. I’ll only be here a few days.

“The plan is to come back to Penticton later this week and then I’ll return to Ottawa a few days before Parliament officially opens its first session following the election on May 26.”

Another priority is hiring a staff director and office staff in the next three to four weeks and have her Ottawa office functioning before Parliament returns.

“I’ve spent some time talking to other MPs who have a lot of experience,” she said. “I’m learning the best practices for hiring new people so I will be able to serve my constituents in the best and most efficient way, because customer service is really important to me and a top priority.

“I want to make sure the office is up and running efficiently as soon as we can and that I have the right staff in place to service the entire riding.”

Konanz, 64, who replaces the NDP’s Richard Cannings after 10 years as MP, said her commitment to being active and a former professional athlete is going to help her ease into her new position.

“I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel here, but I’m definitely up for this challenge,” she said.

“I want to make sure I’m available for anyone who needs my services across this riding. This is all really exciting and I’m definitely up for it. Luckily, I’ve always kept a healthy lifestyle and made sure I exercise and eat right and I truly believe I have more energy than a lot of people younger than me. Me and my family are just really excited to start this new chapter in all our lives.”

Once Parliament opens, she will spend much of her time in Ottawa, but will ensure she makes regular visits back to Penticton and the large geographic riding.

— This article was originally published by the Penticton Herald

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