Ray grew up in Northwestern Ontario, 4 hours north-west of Thunder Bay, home of the Cree and Ojibway peoples. She has spent close to twenty years working in youth and family shelters as well as dedicating much of her time to community spaces for children and families. She has a passion for universal housing, basic income policies, and seizing the means of production. She moved to Ottawa 3 years ago, after completing her Masters in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership.