2025 Election: Meet the Candidates

What positive, student-centered ideas do you have for moving Peace River School Division forward in its vision of student success in the next four years?

I have been working diligently to keep our small rural schools open in Northern Alberta. As the ASBA Zone 1 (Northern Alberta) Chair, we have set up a committee to bring forward pilots and ideas to talk about with our government officials on the importance of helping these schools.

What do you feel are the most important qualities you bring to the role of a school trustee?

I have several years of governance training, leadership training, and policy making. I love being involved with school activities and enjoy the student councils and meetings with our children of various ages.

What other information do you want people to know about you? 

I was quite instrumental in talking to government leaders and the Minister of Education on the need for a new school in Red Earth Creek - and they are now close to starting construction. The approval and design phases are completed. We need strong Trustees in place to ensure our children can attend a school close to home. 

What positive, student-centered ideas do you have for moving Peace River School Division forward in its vision of student success in the next four years?

My goals (just a few starters):

• Support moving the Canadian "National School Food Program" forward and seeing healthy and local food coming into our schools, with enhanced nutrition and food literacy as party of our school food policy.
• Use alternative energy technology as a tool to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in our schools
• Increased community engagement and education of our students through mentorship by local experts
• Increased engagement of teachers in the mentorship of our new teachers. 

What do you feel are the most important qualities you bring to the role of a school trustee?

• Former School Board Trustee with the Francophone School Board for six years
• Elected to Town of Peace River council for a period of three years
• Member of the Peace River NDP association provincially and federally.
• Between 1995-2008: Chairperson of the Recycling Society. During this time the Peace Regional Eco Centre came to fruition.
• 2008, 2009, 2012: Organized Alternative Energy Trade Fairs and Information sessions to bring solar, wind and biomass ideas to the Peace Region.
• 2009: Joined the Peace Energy Cooperative to be a part of the installation at Bear Mountain Wind farm in Dawson Creek.
• 2017-Present: Chairperson of Alberta Food Matters, working with the coalition for Healthy School Food and the National School Food Program as it rolls out.
• 2016-Present: Volunteer Coordinator at the Peace River Soup Kitchen
• Currently working with Peace Energy Cooperative on a Five Megawatt Solar Project near Peace River.

What other information do you want people to know about you? 

I am a retired elementary teacher and I taught for over 30 years in the Peace River School Division. I have been married to my husband, Paul, for 36 years and I have lived in Peace River for 37 years. I have three terrific, bilingual daughters and nine amazing grandchildren, with another one on the way! Ren the dog runs the house with Mojo, his sidekick. 

Favourite quote: Margaret Mead says it very aptly - "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

What positive, student-centered ideas do you have for moving Peace River School Division forward in its vision of student success in the next four years?

Over the years, the Board has been working on new policies and initiatives to help the Board by more involved in our schools and seen in our communities. I think this is the best way to keep students "top of mind" when making decisions at the Board table and I would love to have the opportunity to continue with this work and see it come to fruition. 

What do you feel are the most important qualities you bring to the role of a school trustee?

After serving eight years as a Trustee for PRSD, I have formed great connections with both the Alberta School Boards Association and the Public School Board of Alberta Association, sitting on committees for each organization. As well as the relationships formed with many local and provincial leaders while advocating for public, rural education, is what I believe would make me an asset to the Peace River School Division.

What other information do you want people to know about you? 

I am a proud resident of Peace River and have been involved with the Peace River School Division for over 15 years. Between cooking hot lunch, volunteering for school trips, sitting on School Council for three schools, and the last eight years as a school board trustee. I will continue to be a part of PRSD with four of our five children still attending PRSD schools in Peace River.

What positive, student-centered ideas do you have for moving Peace River School Division forward in its vision of student success in the next four years?

I would like to continue to advocate for a mechanism to allow students and staff to be heard and give them a seat at the table when decisions are being made that affect them.

What do you feel are the most important qualities you bring to the role of a school trustee?

I am a hard working, honest and empathetic person with experience in PRSD's facility and transportation departments.  I have also worked in the classroom and have served on the Board for 2 years.  I have been associated with PRSD since 2009.

What other information do you want people to know about you? 

I have 3 children and 4 grandchildren who have graduated through the public school system in Fairview and I have always supported public education.