Herb Robinson will be Jasper’s next school board trustee.

The retired educator, longstanding community volunteer, minor hockey referee and former president of the Jasper Yellowhead Historical Society was the only candidate to put his name forward in the Jasper Ward of the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division.

“Jasper’s seat was vacant for the entire nomination period,” Robinson said. “I received some calls to step up, and certainly didn’t want us to be unrepresented.”

Robinson, along with incumbent Jackie Mines from the Grande Cache Ward, was acclaimed.

Three other electoral sub-divisions in GYPSD will be contested. The candidates for the Hinton sub-division include Deb Bird, incumbent Shirley Caputo, Penny Dunn, Brodie Friesen, Angie Hewins and George Charles Higgerty. 

The candidates for the Edson sub-division are Tracy Acorn, Brad Becker, Audra Bowman, Sharon Campbell, Kristie Gomuwka, incumbent Jocelyn Pettitt and Shelby Smith. 

Two candidates have thrown their hat in the Lobstick sub-division: incumbent Melodie Bobilek and Keli Setzer.

Voters elect seven trustees in Grande Yellowhead: two each from Hinton and Edson, and one each from Jasper, Grande Cache and Lobstick.

Grande Yellowhead stretches from Jasper, east to Evansburg and north to Grande Cache. The jurisdiction includes 17 schools and five Learning Connection Centres. 

Approximately 5,000 students attend GYPSD schools, and the division employs about 600 staff.

Election Day is October 20. For information on advance voting and special ballot voting visit GYPSD’s website.

Jasper Local staff // info@thejasperlocal.com