From Hospital Halls to the School Board: Rosey Manhas is an Advocate at Heart

Image

Rosey Manhas laughs when asked if she always knew she’d run for office.

“Politics is not — and you can ask anyone that knows me — really my thing,” she said with a smile. “If someone told me ten years ago I would be in politics I wouldn’t have believed it.”

And yet, despite her initial hesitation, Rosey now finds herself as a newly elected trustee for the Coquitlam School Board. Though the title of “politician” feels new, the work itself: advocating for better support for those who need it most and building a stronger community, is something that Rosey has been doing for years.

For over 26 years, Rosey has worked as a medical radiation technologist at Royal Columbian Hospital. Specializing in interventional radiology, she’s part of a team providing critical procedures, from treating strokes to cardiovascular care. Rosey’s responsibility spans multiple units, including working closely with vascular surgeons in the operating room, assisting cardiologists in the catheterization lab, and collaborating with neurologists and neurosurgeons in interventional radiology. It’s a challenging role, but Rosey finds joy in the collaboration it requires.

“Something about working with a team of people makes me thrive,” Rosey explained.

It was that same spirit that first drew Rosey into volunteering at her son’s school. Initially hesitant due to her demanding work schedule, she became Parental Advisory Council (PAC) Chair at Smiling Creek Elementary after encouragement from the principal.

That decision led Rosey deeper into advocacy. After two years with the PAC, she took on a broader role as Health and Safety Coordinator of the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC), then one year as vice president, before becoming DPAC president. As a part of DPAC, Rosey worked in the school district to amplify parent voices.

“The key factors that have always pushed me are equity, inclusion, and transparency,” Rosey explained. “I want parents to be able to get the information they need without having to search for it.”

The move towards DPAC set the stage for the next chapter in her journey: the school board.

When community members first suggested she run for trustee, Rosey wasn’t sure if it was the right move. But with encouragement from her colleagues and her family, she started to see it less as a leap into politics and more as a natural next step.

Rosey’s husband and family gave her the support she needed to take the plunge when the opportunity arose. And now, as a newly elected trustee, she brings an experienced voice from the frontline of health care to heart of local education.

In Rosey’s eyes, the issues facing education mirror those in health care. Understaffing, limited resources, and stretched-thin services are challenges she understands deeply from her own experience at the hospital.

Rosey is particularly passionate about ensuring that every child receives equitable support and access to quality education. There are several key issues she hopes to address, including advocating for the construction of much-needed schools in her district, as well as tackling staffing shortages in schools.

“In health care, how short staffing affects our patients — it’s the same thing with our kids. If we don’t have staff to support them, they kind of fall through the wayside.”

Her goal as a trustee is clear: ensure every child has access to the resources and support they need, just as she advocates daily for her patients and colleagues at the hospital.

Rosey’s path from hospital halls to school board meetings might not have been planned, but the underlying motivation has always been clear.

“My entire life, all I’ve wanted to do is to serve the public,” Rosey says. “Those are the roles that I’ve taken on since I was a child. I feel that is my purpose.”

Whether or not she considers herself a politician, Rosey Manhas is undoubtedly an advocate at heart, bringing her passion for caring and dedication to serving others into every role she takes on.