Spotlight on Alumni

 WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE AN FMPSD STUDENT?

“I attended Peter Pond School in grade one, followed by Dr. K.A Clark Public School from Grades 1 to 5. Afterwards, I moved to Clearwater Public School for Grades 5 to 8. I attended Prairie Christian Academy in Three Hills from Grade 9 to partway through Grade 12, ultimately returning to graduate from Fort McMurray Composite High School in 1981.”

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?

“I am the MLA for Fort McMurray and the Minister of Energy and Minerals.”

HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

“My experiences at FMPSD prepared me for the real world, opening my eyes to many of the issues facing our community. Education shapes both individuals and communities; how we teach and nurture the next generation directly impacts the vitality of our region. I am grateful for the mentors who recognized my potential and challenged me. Given the right resources and guidance, children are capable of far more than we expect. I take pride in my resilience, overcoming challenges during my school years. This resilience
contributed to my success and these experiences motivated me to advocate for improvements in our education system.”

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

“If given the chance for a do-over, I would be more involved in sports and physical activities, as this would have helped me focus academically. Being more attentive would have helped in my goal to attend a local university, as good grades are extremely important in post-secondary applications."

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE AN FMPSD STUDENT?

“I attended Fort McMurray Public School District from grades 1 through 12. I started at Dr. Clark Elementary School, then moved on to Peter Pond Junior High, and finally graduated from Composite High School in 1989.”

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?

“I am the MLA for Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo and the Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Northern Development.”

HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

“My experience at FMPSD laid the foundation for my career by providing a strong educational background which fostered critical thinking skills, which have been invaluable in my role within the legislature. At Fort McMurray Public School Division, I was fortunate to be supported by exceptional educators. They consistently went the extra mile for me, spending time with me after class to ensure I understood the subject matter. I take pride in the friendships and relationships that I built and grew throughout my education. These connections have enriched my life, allowing me to collaborate, learn and grow with individuals who share common experiences and values.”

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

“If I could go back and do school over again, I would choose to be more involved in extracurricular activities like music and shop class. These experiences would have allowed me to explore different talents and interests while building a more diverse skill set.”

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE AN FMPSD STUDENT?

“Being born and raised in Fort McMurray, I have had the pleasure of attending schools within the Fort McMurray Public School District for my elementary and high school education. I attended Dr. Clark School from Kindergarten to Grade 8 and graduated from Fort McMurray Composite High School in 2018.”

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?

“I am a fifth-grade teacher at Dr. Clark School!”

HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

“Being a student of the Fort McMurray Public School District all my life, I was exposed to amazing teachers and school staff throughout my entire schooling experience, which further inspired me to follow my dream of becoming an educator. I was able to experience my 5-week and 9-week student teaching practicum placements at schools within the FMPSD, one being at Dr. Clark! These experiences were full of amazing memories; this is when I knew I wanted to establish my teaching career within the FMPSD. Becoming a teacher at the elementary school in which you spent so many years is a full-circle moment! Something I am proud of when I look back at my school experience is the sense of community that has been built, alongside the relationships between school staff I have maintained over these many years since being a student to a new employee of the FMPSD.”

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

“I would make a stronger effort to get to know and connect with more people. Positive relationships are something I highly value. I believe being able to network and build connections is key to your growth, learning, and gaining different perspectives. Nonetheless, I would not change my experience with FMPSD, as it has gotten me to the wonderful place I am today!”

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE A FMPSD STUDENT?

“I attended FMPSD starting in 2009 (Grade 3) at Westview School until 2013 (Grade 6). I transferred to Dr. Clark from 2013 (Grade 7) to 2015 (Grade 8). I then did almost a year at Composite High 2015/2016. Due to the wildfire, we had to move, but after a year in Red Deer, we moved back to Fort McMurray, and I returned to Composite High in 2017 and graduated in 2019.”

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?

“My current position is a student co-op term for eight months with Syncrude. My role is Wetlands Research Student, and my field of study is Environmental Science. I work in the Mine Closure Research division for Reclamation projects.”

HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

“FMPSD has done a lot throughout my high school years to help achieve this. First, the school staff are supportive and encourages the students to achieve their best. I had many teachers help me, including Angela Woods, Julia McDougall, Eileen Lucas, and Pollyanna McBain, to name a few. Leadership is what all these mentors taught me while there. I was involved with FMNI SAC as one of the first members, and to see it continue today makes me truly happy. Because of this program, many of us got the opportunity to chat with CAREERS: The next generation, by which I got a six-week term out at Syncrude for a Reclamation Operations position in the Environmental Science Field. This experience was so valuable to me and likely helped in my interview and me getting an offer.”

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

“I would say that I would allow myself more time to do other activities outside of school. Taking the time to learn on the land and be more engaged with the communities around us. Just taking time to relax with my studies a bit would have helped me out so much back then too.”

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE A FMPSD STUDENT?

“I immigrated to Canada in 2007 and attended Westwood High School that same year halfway through grade 9 until graduating grade 12 in 2010.”

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?

“I am a professional actor working in Film, TV, Motion Capture for video games, voice-over and commercial work.”

HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

“FMPSD harnessed my artistic and creative sides. Terri Mort, my drama teacher through High School, was always incredibly encouraging; we put on plays and let our true colours out. I remember booking first lead in the High School musical, i played ‘Hope’ in the show “Urinetown” I still had braces and was learning to be confident, but i remember the feeling i had on that Westwood stage, and it hasn’t left me since… I was born to be a performer, that’s when I am at my happiest, it felt so good to be given the chance to try and succeed. I was also involved in dance classes and sports! The community, through all of these activities, led me to believe I could pursue my passion. I ended up attending Keyano College as a Visual and Performing Arts student and eventually auditioned for The National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal, with the guidance and support from my mentors in Fort McMurray.”

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

“As a now out and proud Queer immigrant Latina, I struggled at times to be my full self. It was not easy to move away from South America, where it’s a different culture, language and season, and fit into a new society in North America. I wish I could go back and tell that young version of me that it’s okay to be exactly who you are, you are worthy and valid, and you don’t need to care so much about what everyone thinks of you. But I am still so proud of that version of me that gave her dreams a chance, and thanks to Fort McMurray, I am now living that very same dream I never thought would be possible. Community is truly everything.”

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE A FMPSD STUDENT?

“I was part of FMPSD for all my schooling from kindergarten until grade 12. I graduated in 2001 from Fort McMurray Composite High School.”

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?

“I am currently a mortgage brokerage owner of Whalen Mortgages, which services not only Fort McMurray but all of Alberta.”

HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

“FMPSD helped prepare me for my post-secondary schooling, in which I went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, which has also helped me within my brokerage role.”

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

“Nothing. All of my wonderful experiences have allowed me to become the person I am.”

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE A FMPSD STUDENT?

“I attended Westwood Community High for grades 9 & 10 (1988, 1989) before moving back to Toronto, Ontario.”

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?

“After a degree in Chemical Engineering and six years in the oil & gas industry, I returned to university to get my B. Ed degree and became a high school Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics teacher. For the past decade, I have worked as an educator and passionate advocate and activist for public education and co-founded the public education advocacy organization Support Our Students Alberta (SOS Alberta). I teach in BC and am a fellow with the Institute for Public Education BC (IPEBC).”

HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

“I’m most proud of the relationships I built that have lasted decades. Although I only lived in Ft McMurray for two years, I made lifelong friends, many of whom I am still in touch with today. Westwood has a great sense of community. I was fortunate to participate in several memorable events representing the school, such as the Arctic Winter Games (for indoor soccer) and the 1988 Olympic Torch Relay. I’m proud of the community in Ft McMurray and immensely proud to have attended a wonderful public school there.”

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

“Westwood Community High was an excellent and memorable experience for me. I firmly believe public education is an important and vital piece of democracy. I learned lifelong skills in and outside the school and would not change a single thing!”

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE A FMPSD STUDENT?

"I’m grateful to have been a part of FMPSD for my Junior and Senior High years. I attended Beacon Hill school in grade 8 and Westwood High School in grades 9-12. My grad year was 2004."

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?

“I’m currently the music instructor at Composite High school, a job that feels like it came full circle!”

HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

“My musical ambitions were encouraged throughout my time at Westwood. I took part in showcases, assemblies, talent shows and battle of the bands - with the different groups I performed with (as an aside, my punk band was named ‘Better Than Clowns’). FMPSD facilitated my musical dreams. More specifically, I was given the opportunity to be mentored by Mr. Michael Eddy, the music teacher at the time. He was encouraging and inspiring.”

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

“Honestly, I would have taken in more from all of my teachers - especially Mr. Eddy. I wasn’t aware at the time of how awesome of a musician he was, and what he was offering his students. It’s funny, he’s a jazz pianist, and later I went to school and majored in jazz guitar. Also, one of his favourite bands was the Beatles; and we now share that in common, too. I wish I could slap my 15-year-old self in the face several times. Other than that, I wish I had paid better attention in my core classes. I had some awesome teachers and did the minimum in some classes. I blame my Sony Discman.”

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE A FMPSD STUDENT?

"I went to Westview Elementary School from Pre-School to Grade 8 and Westwood Community High School from Grades 9 to 12. I graduated from Westwood in 2006."

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?

“Currently, I am a Partner at Stringam LLP, a mid-size Regional Law firm with approximately 45 lawyers with offices in Alberta and Saskatchewan. In addition to my legal practice, I currently sit on the Board of Directors of the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce. I have previously been a Director of the Wood Buffalo Community Foundation and have sat as a Governor on the University of Alberta’s Board of Governors.”

HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

“What I remember most about my experiences as a student within the FMPSD school system are the excellent teachers who truly cared about helping their students succeed; the amazing opportunities available to me and my classmates that allowed us to follow our passions in a wide variety of fields ranging from the arts, sports and/or technology; as well as a diverse student body which allowed us to meet and befriend students from all walks of life and all parts of the world.”

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

“If I could go back in time, I would tell younger Sangram to take more time to cherish his time at FMPSD and to appreciate the exceptional education and extra-curricular opportunities that were provided. When I went to University, I quickly came to appreciate how exceptionally well my teachers had trained me to succeed in post-secondary studies. Additionally, the extra-curricular opportunities that were available to me were not available to students in many other jurisdictions.”

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE A FMPSD STUDENT?

Brendan attended FMPSD from Birchwood School (presently known as Frank Spragins School) from kindergarten until grade 2, Thickwood Heights School from grades 3-8 and would graduate from Westwood High School in 2005.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?

“I am a full-time puppeteer and puppet builder, and I own and operate Puppet Stuff Canada, a creative fabrication studio that services the film, television and theatre industries. Most recently, I built and performed puppets with the Jim Henson Company for Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (season 1 currently streaming on Apple TV +, season 2 currently in production).”

HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

“I was fortunate to have the teachers I did and all the excellent extracurricular FMPSD opportunities. Experiences like those after-school programs (theatre productions, improv, art club, film club) gave me the skills to come out into the world, explore entrepreneurship, and forge my own career. For instance, being on the improv team, sure, we learned a lot of improv games, but what I also acquired from that experience was teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills that I STILL use in my daily life. The daily curriculum gave us the knowledge base we needed. Still, extracurricular was a safe space where I learned to take risks, and taking risks is exactly how I’ve created a pretty exciting career for myself.”

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

“Maybe I could have been less of a troublemaker, but those were my formative years, haha…I hope all the teachers and staff who were there know how much I appreciate their support and patience during my time at FMPSD. I’m forever grateful for my wonderful school experience growing up!”

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE A FMPSD STUDENT?

Chelsi attended FMPSD from Kindergarten to Grade 12. She spent time at Ecole Dickinsfield, Beacon Hill School, and graduated from Fort McMurray Composite High School in 2011.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?

Chelsi is currently a Teacher and Indigenous Liaison at Beacon Hill Public School. She is a Director on the Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo Board of Directors and is completing her Masters of Education in Educational Research from the University of Calgary. In 2020 she was a recipient of the YMM Magazine Top 50 Under 50 Award and the FMPSD Edwin Parr Award. Her research "Place on Fire: A Curriculum of Resiliency" was published in the Canadian Journal for New Scholars in Education in 2021.

HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

"FMPSD prepared me for my current role by facilitating meaningful experiential learning opportunities both as a student and when completing my teaching degree, making me feel connected to community through extra-curriculars and opportunities to develop leadership, and by continuing to support me professionally as I entered into the Education sector as a career choice.  The experiences in sport in my high-school years were particularly formative and were a significant part of my growth and sense of self as a teenager."

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

"I honestly feel really proud about the work I put into my educational career. I love the life I have now, and am confident that much of the ground work laid in my formative years can be attributed to my success now. I don't look back and think on anything that I really would have wanted to change. I loved my experiences and am thankful for where they brought me - though maybe I would have tried to be more relaxed about grades haha."

WHAT SCHOOLS DID YOU ATTEND WHILE A FMPSD STUDENT?

"I attended Greely Road Public School from kindergarten until grade 8 and grade 9-12 at Composite High School."

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OCCUPATION?

"I'm currently a PhD student in Software Engineering and Intelligent Systems at the University of Alberta and an Associate Research Intern with Huawei Technology Canada’s Edmonton Research Centre."

HOW DID FMPSD PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

"I would accredit Amgad Rushdy, who was the Principal of Greely Road School for some of the years I was there, as well as Joyce and Carolyn Dozeman for their support and inspiration when I was in [Composite] High School. Specifically, I thank Carolyn for spotting my latent talents and setting me on the right path towards an Engineering Degree."

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

"I would’ve sought work experience earlier in life."