There are two seats up for grabs on the Golden Hills School Division board. Notice has been given that, nomination day is September 21 for the seats in Ward 5 (Wheatland West) and Ward #7 (Wheatland East).

Kerry Hebbs vacated her seat in Ward #5 in October of last year, and Trent Sundgaard vacated the seat in Ward #7 in June of this year citing personal reasons and disagreement with the board’s capital plan priorities.
    Board Chair Ron Kenworthy hopes there will be some good candidates step forward for the positions.
    “We would expect to have candidates in these elections,” he said.
    He said the role of a trustee takes a commitment of time and often the board has to deal with controversial issues.
    “Most people connect with the schools locally, and the school board seems distant,” said Kenworthy.
    He says the position has its rewards.
    “You have the ability to help with the education of all the children, rather than just concentrating on one school,” said Kenworthy. “There are very important decisions to be made at the board level.”
    “You can go beyond your own area and influence things more provincially.”
     Potential candidates can contact Kenworthy at 403-823-8802 or vice chair Joyce Bazant at 403-934-3860 if they wish to learn more or have further questions.
    Information packages as well as nomination forms can be accessed at www.ghsd75.ca.
    Nomination papers can be submitted to the Golden Hills School Division office on Monday, September 21 between 10 a.m. and noon. The returning officer is Tahra Sabir, who can be contacted at 403-934-5121, ext. 2024.

    It was an experience of a lifetime for Daniel Green as he competed at WorldSkills 2009.
    Green, of Drumheller, was one of eight Alberta competitors at the international competition in Calgary. He competed in the automotive painting category, and he learned just how competitive a field it was. To the untrained eye, his completed work was impeccable. In the judges hands, he placed 14th out of 16 competitors. He explains that this was indicative of the competition as only a few points separated first from last.
    “They were all really good,” he said of his competitors who came from around the globe to the competition in Calgary from September 1 to September 5.
     Being from Alberta in the year that the games were hosted in Calgary, he said he felt like there may have been more pressure on him going into the contest. It soon dissipated.
    “I was nervous the first day, but then I settled down,” he said.
    The competition tested all his skills as a journeyman. Each participant was given the front clip of a car to complete the task. They had to mix their colours, prime, smooth the contours and do body repair. They then had to paint a design and apply decals.
    “It was testing  painting, prepping, masking, everything,” he said, adding they were graded on their workmanship as well as following procedure.
    Auto body work is his passion, and he excelled up the ranks leading to WorldSkills. It also ends his run at trades competition.
    “You are only allowed to participate at the worlds once, so I let someone else do it,” he said.
    He is thankful for the support of many in the community who supported his appearance at WorldSkills, especially his local employer Peterson Auto Body.
    “They taught me all of what I know today,” he said.

photo courtesy WolrdSkills