[2] Weeks before graduating from River East Collegiate, she broke her neck from a fall at the age of 17 and became an incomplete quadriplegic, with limited hand and wrist functions.

[8] Although unable to compete at the national level, Stilwell continued to play basketball locally where she was spotted by coach Peter Lawless, who convinced her to try for wheelchair racing.

[19] With incumbent BC Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly for Parksville-Qualicum Ron Cantelon declining to seek re-election, Stilwell was acclaimed as the party's candidate for the riding in the 2013 provincial election.

[24] Stilwell was re-elected in 2017 and retained her post in Premier Christy Clark's cabinet,[25] until the Liberal minority government's defeat in a non-confidence motion.

After the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP) formed government in July 2017, Stilwell served on the Official Opposition bench as critic for Tourism, Arts and Culture for the remainder of the 41st Parliament.

[26] After losing her seat in the 2020 election to BC NDP candidate Adam Walker,[27] Stilwell joined CVM Medical as director of COVID-19 rapid testing in 2021.