Wild Rose School Division is excited to announce that Joelle Vig will represent the Board at the Zone 4 Edwin Parr Award. Joelle completed her education degree at Red Deer Polytechnic through the collaborative program with the University of Alberta.  Joelle is from the Drayton Valley area and both of her practicum placements were in Drayton Valley. She is a vibrant member of the teaching staff at HW Pickup and teaching a grade 8 homeroom.  Joelle shares, "I am honored to be nominated for the Edwin Parr Award, representing Wild Rose School Division. My first year of teaching has been an incredible learning experience, and I am deeply grateful for my students and colleagues who have supported and inspired me along the way. Drayton Valley is home for me; my family, friends, and roots are in this community, and I am happy to be teaching in my hometown. Thank you, Wild Rose School Division, for being a part of my educational journey. I will continue to proudly represent WRSD and give back to the community that has given me so much".”

HW Pickup School Principal, Keri Card-Esau wholeheartedly supports Joelle’s nomination for the Edwin Parr award.  “Ms. Joelle has quickly established herself as a remarkable educator, demonstrating a profound commitment to both the academic and social-emotional growth of her students. Her classroom is a vibrant and supportive environment where every student feels valued and empowered to succeed. She goes above and beyond to create engaging and meaningful learning experiences for her students, and her dedication to their well-being is truly inspiring. Her collaborative spirit and willingness to learn from her colleagues have also made her a valuable asset to our school community."

Daryl Scott, WRSD Board Chair says “I had the opportunity to observe Joelle in action, and her passion for teaching is evident.  We are excited to have Joelle represent us at the Edwin Parr awards, and grateful that she chose Wild Rose School Division to start her career as a teacher.”

A recognition event will be held for all nominees from each division, and a zone winner is selected from those nominees. Zone 4 is made up of eight school divisions: Battle River, Chinook’s Edge, Red Deer Catholic Regional, Red Deer Public, Wetaskiwin Regional, Wild Rose and Wolf Creek School Division. Nominees will be celebrated at a banquet in Innisfail on May 26, where the Zone 4 winner will be announced.

The award is named after Edwin Parr, who served as the Board Chair of the Athabasca school division, and as the president of the Alberta School Trustees’ Association (now the Alberta School Board Association) from 1956 until 1962. When he passed away in 1963, the association established an annual honour in his name the following year.