In 2011, the BC government OKed a plan to dump toxic soil uphill from the source of drinking water in Sonia's community of Shawnigan Lake.
She brought her community together to protect their drinking water, and was elected as a Director for the Cowichan Valley Regional District. By 2017, they got the permit revoked.
But Sonia wanted to do more for her community. She decided to run for MLA.