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School Board Election Candidates

The Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education encourages all stakeholders (staff, parents, community members) to vote for Separate School Board Trustees in the upcoming municipal election on October 20, 2025.

Medicine Hat Voter Information

What is the role of a trustee?

As locally-elected representatives of the public, individual trustees are accountable to their constituents and responsible for overseeing and directing the school division’s operations over a four year time period.

Catholic school trustees also play an integral role as advocates for Catholic education by ensuring students receive an education permeated by our Catholic faith.

Important things school board trustees do:

  • establish big-picture policy direction and multi-year plans
  • approve budgets (includes spending everything from programs to infrastructure to books and technology etc.)
  • identify the needs and priorities of the school division

Why should you vote?

On October 20, along with electing city councillors, stakeholders will cast a vote for school board trustees.

MHCBE has ten candidates running for five positions on the Board. It is important that all eligible voters participate in the upcoming election to ensure that the needs of our stakeholders (staff/students/parents/community members) are met. 

Get to know our candidates!

Click the names below to learn about each candidate (listed in alphabetical order).

 

I was born and raised in Medicine Hat where I attended MHCBE schools grades 1-12. I obtained my B. Ed and M.Ed through the University of Lethbridge. I began my teaching career with the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education in 1985. I have taught mostly at the elementary grade level both in the classroom and online.
 
I officially retired from a very rewarding career in 2019. However since that point in time I have served as both a substitute teacher for MHCBE and a Reading/ Math Bridging the Gap Intervention teacher at both St. Patrick’s and Mother Teresa Schools. 
 
Although I truly enjoy learning and teaching, I have decided to step away from the classroom setting and to run for a trustee position in order to apply my skills and experience at a more decision making level. I believe my recent time in the classroom has provided insight and is an asset regarding future academic, spiritual and social policy development. 

I have a passion for learning, instilled in and inspired by my mother, who struggled academically and was determined that I not experience the same fate. From an early age I was read to, allowed to build a little “Golden Book” library and enjoyed many memorable trips to the public library.

 
My top three priorities for MHCBE  are to: 
 
A) Be a strong advocate for publicly funded Catholic education through my commitment to offering students a strong academic foundation rooted in faith, values and community. I understand and highly value how our faith guides and permeates all that we do in our classrooms and school community at large. I will continue to nurture and build upon the strong foundation that MHCBE has built.
 
B) Provide transparency and accountability in order to build trust within our school community. I believe families, students and staff deserve to know how decisions are made and how resources are allocated. I am committed to ensuring that all actions taken by the board reflect the best interests of our students and ensure confidence in our schools.  
 
C) Continue to provide Strong and relevant educational paths of learning.   I am committed to providing strong academic programming while also exploring more innovative approaches that prepare students for a rapidly changing world, while meeting their diverse learning needs. 
 
I believe we can retain and attract students by offering high quality, diverse and faith based programming delivered by teachers and staff who nurture with kindness and are guided by Catholic values. We must work toward providing learning environments and educational programs that are going to meet the needs of the future.  In addition we must also explore programming that provides opportunities for diverse learners to experience success academically, spiritually and socially. 

I believe in Catholic Education, I have spent 35 years of my life working for Medicine Hat Catholic. I have had the privilege of teaching in the Medicine Hat Catholic System. I was the principal of St. Francis Xavier School, Mother Teresa School, St. Patrick's School, and St. Mary's School. Finally, I worked as the Deputy Superintendent of Schools. I know the Medicine Hat Catholic system, I know the people who work in the system. I have worked with many parents and students throughout my career. I believe Catholic education makes a difference in young people's lives.  

My wife Denise and I sent our 2 children through the Catholic system. Both our children graduated from Monsignor McCoy High School. Both have used the education they received as a springboard for successful careers. I believe a Catholic education sets students up for success, spiritually, academically, and socially.  
 
My first priority as a Catholic trustee is to ensure the continuation of Catholic education in Alberta. With all the pressures students face in today's society, it is extremely important they receive spiritual guidance. Learning from Jesus Christ, the ultimate teacher, will guide them to be empathetic, kind, spirit filled members of our community. 
 
Secondly, I would work to ensure that students attending Medicine Hat Catholic succeed academically. We need to ensure all our students graduate from high school. Without a high school education, students will struggle to be successful in our society.  It is important that our education system push students to achieve the highest levels possible coming out of high school. To get into universities and tech schools, students have to compete with other students from all over the world. The advantage of a high level academic education will prepare our students in whatever they choose as a career.  
 
Our world is changing, students need to be able to adapt to these changes. As a Catholic trustee, my third priority would be to ensure that students have access to cutting edge technology such as Artificial Intelligence. Medicine Hat Catholic must prepare students to work with, and adapt to, new advancements in our changing world. 
 
Medicine Hat Catholic is a growing school district. We have attracted students by ensuring they are surrounded by teachers who care for them and are invested in their future. We offer unique programs that challenge students. We deliver a faith based education that prepares students for their future. Our new school, Holy Trinity Academy, will be a pillar of Catholic Education. The new school represents an opportunity to allow Medicine Hat Catholic to be innovative, to take Catholic education to a new level in Medicine Hat.  

My name is Bernie Kinch, I am a candidate for Trustee of the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education. I am hoping to receive your support and be RE-ELECTED to a second term.

I strongly believe in Catholic Education. I am an active member of St. Patrick's Parish. I am a retired teacher. I taught for 34 years, 27 of which for the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education. I also served as President of the local chapter of the Alberta Teachers' Association for Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education the last 5 years of my teaching career. I have been a Trustee for the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education for the last 4 years. All of these life experiences have provided me with a wide and varied set skills, practical knowledge, and practice.

I believe in being accountable to the constituents of Medicine Hat Catholic. I believe in being totally transparent and the importance of having an opinion and expressing that opinion in an open public forum.

I can promise as a Trustee to always vote in a manner which I believe in the best interest of the students of the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education. My 3 children and now 3 of my grandchildren are students in this District and I want the best education possible that reflects our beliefs as Catholics.

I thank you for your support and I welcome your questions and will always be approachable and willing to engage in an open and honest dialogue.

  • 12 years as a MHCBE student
  • 34 years teaching junior high and senior high social studies
  • 10+ years as President of Medicine Hat Catholic Teachers
  • Experience dealing with government having had face to face discussions with 3 government of Alberta ministers on multiple occasions (Jim Horsman, David King, Rob Renner) during time as President of Medicine Hat Catholic Teachers
  • Coached 40+ different teams in the school and community including: the first junior high football team in Medicine Hat, boys and girls volleyball, boys and girls basketball, track and field and little league baseball.