Duane and Nadine Rolheiser and Family          

This is our family.  My wife and I are closest to the camera.  Three of our children are being held by Nadine’s mom and two of her sisters.  Our fourth child, a boy, was born on September 5 of this year.

My Background

I grew up in small town Saskatchewan and moved to Red Deer in 1992 to work as a TV news reporter.  I’ve been a member of St. Mary’s Parish ever since.   After helping the CBC open a news bureau here in 2005, I started my own business, 24-7videotours.com, a video production and online marketing company.  More importantly, Nadine and I are celebrating ten years of marriage this September.  Our two oldest children attend Maryview School.

I was elected to the Board of Trustees in the 2008 by-election.  Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote back in 2008 when there was just one trustee position on the line.

So… Who Should You Vote For?

I didn’t join the school board because I was frustrated or angry, quite the opposite.  I joined out of my appreciation for our system and my belief that people who love it should do their best to protect it and to enhance it. 

After two years with the Board of Trustees I have two statements to make.  First, I really am fortunate to be part of this division.  Catholic Education here is blessed with a dedicated team of professionals.   Our kids are safe on their way to and from school, our buildings are maintained at an incredibly high standard, we have hundreds of truly professional teachers and educational assistants living out their critical role, and our administrators always strive for excellence.  Finally, the Trustees I work with have made the faithful education of our children an important part of their lives.  Second, the future of Catholic Education is incredible.  Lived out, our faith is capable of changing the world.  St. Seraphim said the transfiguration of one soul can lead to the salvation of thousands more.  It’s exciting to think of the potential our children learning and loving together. 

If you asked me what I would like to accomplish as a trustee, I would say we have extremely talented people ensuring our academic standards are high and constantly improving.  I offer my support to these people, but I will concentrate my efforts to ensure the environment our children learn in will always move closer to that described by our late Pope John Paul II.  In defining education Pope John Paul II said,

“To be educated is to be more fitted for life; to have a greater capacity for appreciating what life is, what it has to offer, and what the person has to offer in return to the wider society of man.  Thus, if we would apply our modern educational skills and resources to this philosophy, we might succeed in offering something of lasting value to our pupils and students, an antidote to often immediate prospects of frustration and boredom, not to mention the uncertainty of the long-term future…”

I believe Red Deer Catholic is always moving toward a system Pope John Paul II would be impressed with.  Here are three important examples.  One: every single classroom in Red Deer Catholic has a “smart board” and our teachers use them.  They are committed to using technology responsibly to enhance the learning experiences of our children.  Two: professional development for teachers is being enhanced all over the province.  We’ve already noticed our children are benefiting from the latest and the best educational direction so we’ve moved boldly to enhance “PD” in our division.  Three: each classroom in Red Deer Catholic has a “faith corner”.  This provides a permanent focal point and reminder of Pope John Paul II’s statement above.  We are building an outstanding program of faith development including leadership at board office, relationships with our parishes, the commitment of caring Christian staff, and the hiring of two new youth ministers.  Visitors tell us our schools feel different, they feel good.

The Future

If elected, I will be a trustee you can count on to promote the success of our children.  I will advocate for appropriate funding.  I will advocate for our staff, for the tools and personal development they need to teach in the 21^st century.  I will always remember every student counts, because my children are in the system, and because just one person can change thousands of lives.   I will look for ways to build our family of believers, especially through the participation of the strong families who send their children to Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools.  Thank you for your consideration.  God bless Catholic education.  We need it.  You can contact me at 403.342.5858 or at rolheisers@shaw.ca.

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