The new school board trustee for the QEII ward of Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools ñ which includes Olds and Innisfail -- has been acclaimed.
Sharla Heistad was the only candidate to file nomination papers last Monday (Sept. 18). She will take over for the departing Diane MacKay after the election in October.
She sees the new role as a progression of volunteering she has done in schools during her three daughters' education. Two have graduated from secondary school already, while the third is still in the Catholic system.
"Running for trustee just kind of felt like a natural progression; the kids have gotten older and I've gotten more experience career-wise," she said. "I've always been active in their schooling, and being a parent, and I knew that Diane MacKay, the current trustee, was going to be stepping down."
Heistad works for the Alberta government, and has lived in Innisfail with her husband and family for 19 years. She said she grew up in Olds, so she's familiar with the other town that's part of her new ward.
She has long been a part of grassroots Catholic education in Innisfail, recalling participating in the group of families that originally helped start a Catholic school here.
"I recall it being a small hallway in the John Wilson elementary, and now it's grown and we also have the Catholic school in Olds," she said.
One of her goals as a trustee is to be a positive voice for not only parents, but the children and the school as a whole.
"I feel that I have some talents and abilities that I can represent the area and the district, and hopefully make some wise decisions and work well collaboratively with the school board and with the community," she said.
While being acclaimed has taken away the stress of having to run a campaign, Heistad is still prepared for the steep learning curve that comes with taking office.
"You still feel that ëOh my goodness,' you're taking on a whole new role, and it's going to be a huge learning curve," she said. "I'm glad that it's a four-year position because it seems like that time goes by so quickly,"
