In 1983, Julia and her husband purchased their first home in Mission.  In 1985 and 1988, they had their two sons, who also reside in Mission with their wives and children.

Julia has an Accounting and Financial Management Diploma from B.C.I.T.; a Bachelor of Accounting Sciences from the University of Calgary and was a Certified General Accountant until she retired in 2010.

Julia enjoyed volunteering for the Mission 2014 B.C. Winter Games as the Budget Chair and is a founding Director of the Stave Falls Community Association.  In 2016 the Association engaged with the Mission Public School Board to successfully advocate for the re-opening of Stave Falls Elementary School.  In 2018 Julia was elected to the Mission Public School Board of Trustees for a four-year term. In the fall of 2024, she joined the Board of the Mission Community Foundation.