Nickela is listening & ready to act

Defending & Strengthening Public Education in Alberta

Whether or not we see eye to eye on every issue, I believe every constituent deserves to be heard and supported. If you come to me with a concern or a need, I will show up, listen, and work to help. Good representation isn’t about agreeing on everything; it’s about serving everyone.

That’s why I proudly share my position statements openly. You deserve to know where I stand, not because I expect everyone to agree with me on every issue, but because transparency and integrity matter. Clear positions show how I make decisions and help you hold me accountable, while I stay committed to serving every resident, whether we agree or not.

Role of a school board trustee

Trustees are the public’s voice in education. We set policies for our division, oversee budgets, and advocate to the provincial government to ensure students and staff have what they need to succeed. Trustees defend public education from political interference, protect student well-being, and keep decisions focused on learning - not ideology.

State of public education

Alberta’s public schools face chronic underfunding and rapid enrolment growth. Public education is the cornerstone of an equitable society. It empowers every child, regardless of background, to thrive in a complex world. Education is a constitutional responsibility of the provincial government. The federal government must ensure Indigenous students have equitable access to education, and municipalities play a vital role through planning, transit, and community amenities. As trustee, I will defend public education from cuts and privatization, and keep decision-making focused on students.

Supporting teachers & education workers

Teachers and education workers deserve fair compensation, respect, and safe workplaces. Their working conditions are our students’ learning conditions. Strong unions ensure frontline voices are heard in decisions about classrooms, staffing, and resources.
As trustee, I will advocate for conditions that retain, respect, and empower the staff who make schools thrive.

Public dollars for public education

Public education must be funded by the government, not by parents' wallets. Not all school communities have the same capacity to fundraise to fill basic gaps; this amplifies inequalities. Public dollars must stay in public schools. Funding charter and private schools undermines our shared system, diverts resources away from students who need them most, and creates further divides. Every dollar should strengthen public schools - the one system built to serve all children.

I will fight for transparent, predictable funding that ensures every school has the resources it needs. That means protecting and strengthening programs of choice within the public system, for example, language learning, cultural programs, arts, science and technology, sports, and advanced academics. Every student should have real opportunities to thrive within a strong, well-funded public system.

Gender identity & inclusion

Schools must be safe and welcoming for all students, including trans and gender-diverse youth. I will oppose harmful provincial mandates and keep our division as inclusive as legally possible.

Sports: Fairness means inclusion, not exclusion.
Privacy and pronouns: When students share their names or pronouns, it’s an act of trust. Forced disclosure can put kids at risk.
Open dialogue: Respectful, age-appropriate discussion of gender and identity helps every student feel they belong.

Inclusion first: supporting students with complex needs

Inclusion means more than placing students in classrooms. It’s about meaningful participation, belonging, and the right supports at the right time. Students with complex needs deserve individualized resources, mental health services, trauma-informed care, and staff trained in de-escalation and positive behaviour supports. Seclusion rooms, an outdated and harmful approach, undermine trust and safety. I will advocate for evidence-based strategies that help every student succeed without isolation or harm.

Police in schools

Safety comes from strong relationships, not surveillance. Police programs disproportionately affect marginalized students and can erode trust. Resources should be directed to counsellors, social workers, restorative practices, and culturally responsive supports that truly meet students’ needs.

Truth & reconciliation in education

Public education must lead in fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Reconciliation is an ongoing responsibility, not a checkbox.

I will ensure Indigenous perspectives are embedded across all subject areas.

Call #62: Make curriculum on residential schools, Treaties, and Indigenous peoples’ histories and contributions mandatory, accurate, and age-appropriate.
Call #63: Build intercultural understanding through authentic collaboration with Indigenous communities and training for educators.

Newcomers & English as an additional language learners

Diversity is a strength. Newcomer and EAL students bring rich cultural and linguistic assets, but many face barriers such as interrupted schooling or trauma. Every child, regardless of immigration status, has the right to attend school. I will ensure schools have the staffing, training, and resources to welcome every student and help them succeed.

The new K–6 curriculum

The new K–6 curriculum is overloaded, developmentally inappropriate, and too narrow in scope. It requires a full review to reflect Alberta’s diversity, strengthen critical thinking, and give teachers the resources they need to deliver it well. I will push for meaningful consultation and curriculum revisions.

School libraries & book bans

School libraries should be places where students explore ideas, develop critical thinking skills, and discover a love of reading. They are places of curiosity, belonging, discovery, and safety; not battlegrounds for political agendas. Unfortunately, "new library standards” are being used as a back door to ban books, limiting students’ access to diverse voices and essential learning resources.

Censorship undermines education. When pre-emptive decisions affect what students shouldn't read, we rob them of the chance to learn, question, and grow. Strong school libraries need qualified librarians and library technicians who understand how to select materials that are age-appropriate, inclusive, and educationally sound. As trustee, I will:

Advocate for school library policies that protect students’ access to a wide range of perspectives.
Push for funding to restore trained librarians in every school, rather than leaving book choices to politics or convenience.
Ensure that decisions about library collections are based on professional expertise, not ideology.