Sunshine Coast School District trustee candidate feature

Do you live within the District you are hoping to represent?

Do you have a website or Facebook page where people can get more information about you and what is it?

My name is Samantha Haines.  I am running for School Trustee of Area 1 – Halfmoon Bay to Egmont.  I am a mother of 2 boys, aged 4 and 7.  I have lived on the Sunshine Coast for the past 10 years, 7 of those years have been in Pender Harbour.  I work here, I live here, my kids go to school here and I love it here.

I live in Roberts Creek. I am running for School Board Trustee in Trustee Electoral Area 3 Lower (which includes the Town of Gibsons, Area D,E,F). I am running in the Area in which I live.

I’ve lived in Roberts Creek for 28 years. All of our four children were born here on the Sunshine Coast. Their education prompted me to be involved in the school system for 20 years. They have now given us some wonderful grandchildren who are living on the Sunshine Coast and they have prompted me to, once again, to get involved in the school system.

In the early 1980s a friend of mine, who was a SD 46 Trustee, encouraged me to be a candidate for trustee. I couldn’t possibly at the time, with kids in preschool, elementary school, music lessons, sports, and while running a family daycare. I told her maybe I would when I was retired. That time is now. If elected I will do my best for the education of all children on the Sunshine Coast. Fully funding the district to give all children the services, programs and  support they need will be the challenge. I will work at this diligently.

My experience working for the education of children includes:

President of Parent Participation Preschool (Jack and Jill 1980s) Maggie McDonough (1990s)

President of Canadian Parents For French (1990s)

PAC (1990s)

Presentations to the School Board to introduce a French Immersion Program on the Sunshine Coast (1980s)

Presentations to the School Board to expand French Immersion Programs in 100 Mile House (1990s)

Presentations to the Community Safety Committee to improve traffic safety  for the school. (New intersection built 2000).

Campaign for high school expansion 100 Mile House. (Approved 2001)

Coordinator for Supported Childcare (100 Mile House)

Community School Board member     (100 Mile House)

University College of the Cariboo Administration Assistant (100 Mile House)

I don’t have a website or Facebook page but I encourage anyone on the Sunshine Coast who has questions to write to me at [email protected] or call me at             604 886-5730.

Describe yourself and your experience.

I was on the PAC executive almost from the get-go.  I lobbied for computers in the school, crossing guards, and for a safer intersection when government funding was being cut drastically. I have helped fundraise, and have been an avid volunteer throughout the years. I attended meetings regarding the new elementary school (despite my youngest moving up to the high school before its completion) in order to make sure the parent viewpoint and concerns were being met. I decided to become a school trustee to ensure that parents and students would always have a voice at the district level.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      How can we govern an organization focused on students if we don’t listen to what they have to say?

What prompted you to run in your School District?

As the only incumbent running, I feel I have a lot of knowledge and experience to bring to the table.  Listed below are the positions I have held over the last four years, and the major Conferences/Education workshops I have attended.

• Vice-Chair, SD46 Board of Education (2017-current)
• Chair, Education Committee (2017-current)
• PAC Liaison; GES, LES, alternate CGES, alternate ESS (ongoing/current)
• BCSTA Provincial Council Member (2016-current)
• BCSTA Professional Learning Committee Member (2017-current)
• BCSTA South Coast Branch Secretary (2015-2017)
• Healthy Schools Committee Member (2017-current)
• Transportation Advisory Committee Member (2015-2017)
• Community Celebrations Committee Member/Partners In Learning (annually)
• Aboriginal Education Advisory Circle, alternate (2018)

•        BCSTA Academy (annually, 2014-2017)
• BCSTA AGM (annually, 2015-2018)
• Columbia Institute High Ground Conference (annually, 2016-2018)
• CSBA & Nation Congress Trustee Gathering (2017)
• BCSTA Provincial Council (quarterly, 2016-2018)
• Learning Forward Conference (2016)
• TedxWestVancouverEd Conference (annually, 2015-2016)
• Mindfulness Workshop (2016)

Do you live within the District you are hoping to represent?

Yes, I live in Gibsons Proper.  Area 3 now includes all of the “Lower” Coast.

Do you have a website or Facebook page where people can get more information about you and what is it?

Yes,

Facebook:   www.facebook.com/Pammila4trustee/

Twitter:   @PzNQz

Voters are also welcome to e-mail me at:  [email protected]

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The following candidates have not responded to our request for information:

Darren Inkster – (Upper)
Stacia Leech – (Lower)