Pembina Trails ward 1 trustee byelection set for Oct. 25

The upcoming byelection for the vacant trustee position in Pembina Trails School Division’s Ward 1 will be held on Oct. 25. Nine candidates are in the running.

Janet Belluk, 63, is a retired administrative secretary who worked in Pembina Trails School Division.

“I want to continue to contribute to the public education system. At this time in my life I have knowledge, experience and most of all the time to fully immerse myself in this role,” said Belluk, who lives in Charleswood in Ward 1 in the division.

Belluk said she’s spent her adult life working in schools in a number of capacities, ranging from volunteering to the administrative secretary position in several Pembina Trails schools (early, middle and senior years.)

“My career with Pembina Trails spans over 25 years. I believe my overall understanding of the division and its workings, my first-hand experience of life inside schools and my passion for all of the above qualifies me for this position,” said Belluk, whose three daughters attended Pembina Trails School Divison, two of whom now work in the division.

She highlights priorities including literacy and numeracy, engagement, equity and anti-racism, and allocation of resources, and program expansion to allow more students access to specialized programming.

“Another priority for me is to be involved with the schools and their communities. I want to do things like attend events and PAC meetings, allowing for parents and the community to get to know me, feel comfortable with me and their connection to the board.”

Sharon Esau, 55, spent 22 years working as an educational assistant in Pembina Trails School Division’s Ward 1.

“In that time, I have witnessed areas where I feel I could make a huge difference. I want to be attentive and put our student and staff needs in the forefront,” said Esau, who lives in Charleswood and whose three adult children went to school in the ward.

Esau said she gained valuable experience in more than two decades in her EA role, and having retired in June, she now feels in a position “to dedicate all the time needed for this important position.”

“I believe it’s very important that before decisions are made we get into our schools to experience things first-hand. We need to personally witness what the needs of our students and staff are. We know that every school is different, so we need to be flexible and ready to change as our schools change. It is crucial to approach changing needs with current practices,” she said.

Esau added her priorities include building on numeracy and literacy outcomes and strengthening English as an additional language, providing safe and caring learning environments leading to students feeling secure and comfortable, examining food security, and providing more EA support in the classroom.

Jodi Funk Clements, 43, has been interested in running for the Ward 1 school trustee position for some time, and has a background in human resources and management consultancy.

“I see a lot of similarities with regards to room for improvement in both of those areas,” she said. “And with regards to education, my kids are in school, still. So for us, it’s very (close) to our lives on a regular basis.”

Funk Clements is part of the parent council at her kids’ school, and said she has seen a few challenges when it comes to how leadership and administration supports its students.

She hopes to bring her conflict resolution skills to the table, as a lot of her career has been spent mediating and negotiating through tough situations, she said, adding that she’s aware of the short time she would have before the civic election next year, and hopes to recognize which emergent challenges she’d be able to tackle with the resources available, as well as develop a strategic plan.

Brook Jones, 47, is a multimedia journalist living in Fort Garry in Ward 2.

One of his motivations to run for trustee is to give back to the education system that he has so much affection and gratitude for.

“I appreciate the education I received, including my time as an athlete with University of Manitoba Bisons. I’m so grateful for the all the extra time the teachers and coaches put in, and now I want to give back the school system and the community as a whole,” he added, noting he’s a lifelong resident living in the Pembina Trails School Division — he attended École Viscount Alexander, General Byng School and Vincet Massey Collegiate.

Teamwork is at the heart of Jones’ philosophy, and he competed in cross-country and track for the VMC Trojans, and served as athletic representative on student council in Grade 12. He was also a youth delegate on the 1996 Canadian Olympic Team in Atlanta.

Jones is currently a freelance photographer for the Free Press, and he is serves as the president of the Manitoba Sportswriters & Sportscasters Association is also on his resumé.

He said strong elements of his skill set that qualify him for the role include his education, community involvement, and worker experience.

Pamela Gareau, 48, has been a member of the board at Roblin Park Community Centre for several years, and says that she wants to bring a sense of community back to the Charleswood-Tuxedo area.

“As an Indigenous woman, I understand how important it is that every student feels seen, supported and valued for who they are,” Gareau said. “I think our schools should reflect the diversity and strength of our community, and I wanted to make sure that every voice has a place at the table.”

Gareau works at the University of Manitoba, where she administers student funding programs “that involve complex policies, accountability and fairness in decision making.” She has also worked as an assistant controller at True North Sports and Entertainment and obtained a legal assistant diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

She said that one of her biggest goals is “to bring the parents back to the board table” and foster an environment “where parents feel welcome, teachers feel supported, and students feel like they truly belong,” especially as young people continue to require mental health support, Gareau said.

Samantha Pope, 36, a Shaftesbury High School alumnus, has always lived in the ward and now continues to work within it as a teacher and guidance counsellor. She also has a young son who has just started Kindergarten in the division.

“I want to give back and help ensure that all students have their own responsive experiences in school like I did,” Pope said. “I’m running because I care about public education, and I believe in the importance of listening to families in the community, supporting staff and keeping schools welcome and safe for every student.”

Pope sits at 12 years of experience in her current position and holds a bachelor of science with a major in mathematics, a master’s degree in education, and a school counsellor certificate. She also volunteers on the board for the Charleswood Youth Soccer Association, working with “over 450 families a year,” as well as manages sports teams at the school where she works, working with a budget of over $100,000.

“These roles have taught me financial responsibility, strategic decision making, teamwork and how to balance different perspectives while keeping the focus on what’s best for students,” she said.

Tim Rogalsky, 57, is an assistant professor of mathematics at the Canadian Mennonite University, as well as an applied AI researcher, and says that “a strong future depends on our students, which depends on strong schools.”

Rogalsky has been teaching for 25 years and has experience in program development and policy work. He currently sits on the board of the Mennonite Community Orchestra, as well.

“Promoting AI literacy and responsible use of these tools is something unique that I think I bring to the table,” he added.

Rogalsky said his number-one priority would be to “make sure that every student feels safe and respected and supported and empowered to be their best self,” adding that he believes in “partnership instead of polarization.”

“I’d advocate for AI literacy and responsible technology use, which includes ongoing training for staff and students … we need to prepare our students for a world where these tools are everywhere,” he said. “Environmental sustainability is a priority for me, and so is financial stewardship.”

Matthew Berven and Susan McCrae were reached out to, but were not able to respond before press time.