Growing up on a farm just outside Somerset, Manitoba, Klausen learned early the values of hard work, community, and connection. With a father who farmed and a mother who taught, and many great teachers along the way, education felt like a natural calling. “I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” she says. “There was never really another profession I considered.”
After graduating from Université de Saint-Boniface with an education degree, she began her teaching journey in Thompson – expecting to stay only a year but finding herself drawn in by the sense of community. “Thompson was full of people from everywhere, all starting fresh. It was a welcoming, close-knit place,” she recalls.
Over the years, Lillian taught primarily French, later transitioning into guidance counseling with the River East Transcona School Division. Her career evolved through opportunities she hadn’t planned for – first as a counselor, then as a secondment to the Department of Education in Assessment, and eventually into union leadership. “I was always happy where I was,” she laughs, “but one opportunity led to another, and suddenly I found myself here.” What began as a reluctant step into a local executive role with ÉFM turned into a journey that brought her to the presidency of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society in 2025.
Now at the helm of MTS, Lillian is energized by her role and the team she’s building alongside Vice-President Joel Swaan. “We balance each other really well,” she says. “Joel is incredibly detail-oriented and knows the structures and procedures inside and out, while I focus more on relationship building and the representing and speaking.” Together, they lead alongside a fresh and motivated Provincial Executive that’s learning and growing together. “We have trust, respect, and great communication,” she says. “Everyone brings something valuable to the table.”
Lillian’s first months as president have been busy but fulfilling. She’s made it a priority to meet teachers face to face across the province, traveling to communities from Brandon and Dauphin to Thompson and The Pas. “It’s important for members and locals to see that we care enough to come to them,” she says. “You can’t really understand a community until you’ve been there, seen their schools, and listened to their experiences.”
Beyond Manitoba, she also represents educators nationally as vice-president of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation. “It’s about sharing ideas and learning from each other,” she says. “Manitoba is doing great work, especially in Indigenous education, and there’s so much potential to collaborate across provinces. If someone else is doing good work on something like climate change, then we can steal some of those ideas, pieces and resources.”
When she’s not leading meetings or visiting schools, Lillian is happiest spending time outdoors with her family. She and her husband recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and are proud parents of two teenage sons.
