FVSD has three main priorities: Numeracy, Literacy and Connectivity. Speaking to these priorities – what are your goals for our schools?

My goals for the FVSD is to provide an education for our children that will help them to be contributing members of our communities.

How will you help advance these goals?

As contributing members of a community, we will need all types of individuals. Trades people, business owners, university trained professionals, manual labourers, homemakers, farmers, loggers and the list goes on. It will be the FVSD’s goal to provide an education that will allow all these different individuals the ability to succeed.

What ideas do you have to move education forward in northwestern Alberta over the next four years?

Maintain a stable environment within the schools that provide a safe learning opportunity for our children. To thoughtfully filter through new ideas that get introduced, to make sure that our children are receiving the best possible learning environment.

As a Trustee, what governance issues do you hope to work on during your term?

My hope is that the FVSD will provide our children with the needed stability and secure environment they need to be able to thrive in their education. I strongly believe parent involvement needs to remain a priority.

Tell us a little about yourself – what is your connection to the region?

I am Benjamin Friesen. I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I was born in Bolivia (South America) in 1978 and moved to Mackenzie county when I was 14 months old. I have lived in the FVSD area for the last 40+ years of my life. I am married to Matilda for over 20 years, and we have been richly blessed with 5 amazing children who are currently all in the FVSD school system. I have had the privilege of being on the LCPS parent council for the last four years. Before that I served on SHES parent council for multiple terms. I appreciate the opportunity to be involved in our children’s education, and to be able to hear and convey the concerns of the rest of the parents in our community.