Michelle Stilwell was elected MLA for Parksville-Qualicum on May 14, 2013 and was appointed Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation on February 2, 2015.

Prior to being sworn in as minister, Michelle served as the Government Caucus Chair and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for Seniors. She is also a member of the Cabinet Committee on Secure Tomorrow as well as the Treasury Board.

Prior to being elected to the Legislative Assembly, Michelle was a motivational speaker and community advocate for persons with disabilities and children with special needs. She was also an ambassador for ActNow BC and the Rick Hansen Foundation, and worked on the B.C. government’s 10 by 10 Challenge to increase employment of persons with disabilities.

In 2012, Michelle was presented with the first key to the City of Parksville and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

She is the only Canadian female athlete to be a Paralympic champion in two separate summer sports (basketball and athletics).

Michelle graduated from the University of Calgary in 1999 with a science degree and moved to Oceanside in 2001. Michelle and her husband Mark have been married for 18 years and together home school their son Kai.