Darrien McWatters
Operations Manager, Time Family of Wines Ltd.
OC Program of Study: General Arts, 1994–1996
Managing production, planning and distribution for award-winning Time Family of Wines, Darrien has been working in the BC wine industry for over 25 years. Along with her sister, she was voted 2022’s Top 10 Most Inspiring People in Wine by Wine Industry Network. An advocate for the 2SLGBTQAI+ community, Darrien has raised funds for organizations such as Etcetera Youth Kelowna, where those, and allies of those, ages 11 to 18 who are 2SLGBTQIA+ or questioning their gender can connect with supportive peers; RADAR Youth Penticton, which provides a safe, positive and social space for youth of all identities ages 12 to 18; and Friends of Dorothy Langley Youth Hub, an inclusive and safe space on the Lower Mainland for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth ages 12 to 24. Selected to participate in Hockey Canada's Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Task Force and BC Hockey’s EDI working group, Darrien is highly active in BC Hockey, winning Summerland Minor hockey Coach of the Year (2012–13) and Penticton Minor Hockey Most Dedicated Official (2023). A former volunteer firefighter in Summerland (1998–2021), Darrien hopes to reach as many people as possible by sharing her personal story of discovery and transitioning from male to female as a transgender person. She sponsors the Summerland Secondary School and Pen-High Secondary "Team Trans Okanagan" bursary, an annual $500 award given to a graduating student who self-identifies as part of, or is a strong ally of, the 2SLGBTQAI+ community.
Highest level of education
Second year university
Describe your career experience and history
BC Wine Industry 1997 to present: production management and planning, as well as distribution management.
Describe your volunteerism and/or impact in your community
Very Active in BC Hockey, from coaching to officiating. Past member of South Okanagan Similkameen Pride Society, Kelowna Pride Society, and currently on the board with Advocacy-Canada. Volunteer Firefighter in Summerland 1998-2021.
Achievement, honours or special recognitions you’ve received
Summerland Minor hockey Coach of the Year 2012-13; Penticton Minor Hockey Most Dedicated Official 2023; Selected to BC Hockey Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Workgroup; Top 10 Most Inspiring People in Wine 2022 along with my sister.
Describe your personal achievements (family life, pastimes, etc.)
After struggles with relationships and internal identity struggles, I opened up to myself and discovered to be transgender. In 2018, I came out as transgender and began transitioning to my authentic self.
Arts University Studies
What does it mean to study Arts? It means to study the world – to understand critical issues facing the world yesterday and today: the environment, politics, race, class, poverty, gender and inequality. The world is your classroom, and what you learn matters. To study Arts is to think and feel, to know and change, to understand and take action.
OC Alumni Association
The Okanagan College Alumni Association (OCAA) is a non-profit organization that celebrates alumni by creating connections and opportunities. Founded in 1988, the OCAA aims to connect alumni with each other and with the College, while supporting the College's mission statement of transforming lives and communities.