Meet the Candidates: Mary Jane Blackmore

As part of an ongoing series, Media49 is inviting candidates running in the upcoming Creston South Rural School Board election to share, in their own words, why they are running. The following letter was submitted by Mary Jane Blackmore

Mary Jane Blackmore

10/10/20262 min read

It has been an honour to represent my community for the past four years as an elected Trustee for Kootenay Lake School District for Creston South Rural Area.

Relationship building with Lower Kootenay Band:

In these four years, it has been a rewarding experience to be part of the process towards reparations, relationship building and reconciliation with the community and leadership of Lower Kootenay Band, the people of Yaqan Nukiy and the Kootenay Lake School district with the creation of Indigenous Education Councils through the province and First Nations leadership.

Representation for Creston:
Four years ago, I heard from community that many were not feeling represented by a governance board and administration that many felt was disconnected and didn’t understand the nuance of our valley and culture. Personally, I can assure that between Trustee Gribbin and myself, we have pushed the conversation of becoming our own district as far as possible.
At this point, there are 60 districts in the province, some are larger and more variable than our own, and there is no political will to set a precedent for separating them further. Our focus became how to ensure Creston is better represented and that the district has a presence in Creston.
Currently, two of our monthly board meetings are now held in Creston in October and June. One Director of Instruction position is now based out of Creston. Conversations around fiscal responsibility and equity for student resources, transportation, and supports are an integral part of board and staff planning and conversations.

Two unions in every classroom:
Since the beginning of my teaching career, I have pondered the unintended effect of having two unions in every classroom. The culture of the classroom is a primary factor in student wellbeing and worker satisfaction. I will continue to advocate for governance systems that support team building and cohesion in our schools and reduce feelings of hierarchy.

Parent advocacy:
Public education has three pillars. One is provincial governance and leadership which includes elected trustees, one is teachers and support staff, the other is parents and families. All three of these pillars have strong legislation to protect their role and importance, but only two of them have secure funds and systems to ensure their effectiveness. I will continue to advocate for better supports and secure funds to ensure parent and family voice will be elevated in public education.

Safe, welcome and included:
The Creston Valley is a unique place to live and work. The cultural diversity of our valley is one of the things that make it a wonderful and delicious place to live. With all we enjoy comes unique challenges for folks of different cultural backgrounds to be able to feel welcome to gather and safe in our public spaces, including public schools.

I’d like to offer this consideration to our community more broadly. I hear an ask from religious families that we acknowledge our public schools as a place of work. They’ve asked, “If it isn’t acceptable for a work place, why would it be acceptable for public school?” Through my lived experience, I understand the limitations of these kinds of cultural barriers. Each of our families has different values around appropriateness of dress, behaviour and language. What is considered normal behaviour, dress and language in some families, prevents others from feeling welcome and included in the space and activity. We all have different rights of passage, values and culture. I support a definition of inclusion and cultural safety that includes a willingness to understand the barriers religious people face when accessing public education and public spaces more broadly. I will continue to work to raise awareness to ensure our schools are safe, welcoming and inclusive of all the diversity of our valley.

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