Six candidates have entered the race for the five Powell River Board of Education seats to be filled on general election day (October 15), including Rob Hill, Dale Lawson, Maureen Mason, Jaclyn Miller, Scott Randolph and Kirsten Van’t Schip.
The Peak asked each candidate the following question:
Why should voters choose you to serve as a Powell River Board of Education trustee?
Here is the response from Kirsten Van’t Schip:
I was born and raised in qathet region and am raising my children (ages 6, 7 and 13) here; all attend public schools.
As an interdisciplinary graduate student, I am researching, in part, the relationship between public history and truth and reconciliation, and how our understanding of history informs current and future relationships.
My previous anthropology degree research focused on community research and equity studies. My fieldwork is local. I care deeply for this community’s past, present and future.
I offer a lens of cultural sensitivity and a relationship-centred approach. I have a background in advocacy and anti-racism, and experience developing public education/awareness materials. I bring valuable qualitative research skills and knowledge, like listening and learning from needs represented in lived experience, communicating and addressing underlying themes, and examining issues holistically to ensure the right questions are being asked.
I hope to contribute by ensuring that: all voices may be heard/addressed more particularly, policy and programming may more effectively reflect and meet these diverse needs. As such, strategic and fiscal planning may be more efficiently enacted.
To work with other trustees to represent this region's best interests, strengthen good work that has begun, and move forward in a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect, would be an honour.
Read all Peak election coverage at prpeak.com/2022-civic-election.
