0°Recent Blog Posts - Patricia Grell's Blog
Support for Artists in Residence Program
Dear Friends, Last year, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) cut funding for the Artists in Residence program by 50% in response to the Government of Alberta’s 5% cut to their budget. The Artists in Residence program is the program that brings valuable cultural experiences into Alberta sch...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Dear Friends, Last year, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) cut funding for the Artists in Residence program by 50% in response to the Government of Alberta’s 5% cut to their budget. The Artists in Residence program is the program that brings valuable cultural experiences into Alberta sch...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Apology and a Reflection
I would like to wholeheartedly and unreservedly apologize to our ECSD Legal Counsel Carole Karbonik for the disrespectful remark that I made at our Public Board meeting held March 21st, 2017. Carole is a professional who is following orders, like any other district employee, and she deserves to b...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
I would like to wholeheartedly and unreservedly apologize to our ECSD Legal Counsel Carole Karbonik for the disrespectful remark that I made at our Public Board meeting held March 21st, 2017. Carole is a professional who is following orders, like any other district employee, and she deserves to b...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
CAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFER CATHOLIC PROGRAMMING?
Go the this link for a discussion of EPSB Trustee Michael Janz’s suggestion that public schools offer Catholic alternative programming. I wrote the piece in collaboration with my co-worker at Alberta Counsel Ed Picard. Happy reading!
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Go the this link for a discussion of EPSB Trustee Michael Janz’s suggestion that public schools offer Catholic alternative programming. I wrote the piece in collaboration with my co-worker at Alberta Counsel Ed Picard. Happy reading!
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
March 21, 2017 Public Board Meeting and ACSTA Transparency Motion
I have just learned that the agenda for the Tuesday, March 21, 2017 public board meeting was not posted on the ECSD website on Friday, March 17, 2017 and still is not posted. Usually the practice is for the Board Secretary to post the agenda on the Friday before the Tuesday Board meeting to give...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
I have just learned that the agenda for the Tuesday, March 21, 2017 public board meeting was not posted on the ECSD website on Friday, March 17, 2017 and still is not posted. Usually the practice is for the Board Secretary to post the agenda on the Friday before the Tuesday Board meeting to give...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Motion: ACSTA Consultation Process
I will be bringing forward the following motion to the March 21, 2017 ECSD Public Board Meeting: March 21, 2017 To: Board of Trustees From: Patricia Grell, Trustee Re: ACSTA Consultation Process The Alberta Catholic Schools Trustee Association is an association comprising of democratically electe...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
I will be bringing forward the following motion to the March 21, 2017 ECSD Public Board Meeting: March 21, 2017 To: Board of Trustees From: Patricia Grell, Trustee Re: ACSTA Consultation Process The Alberta Catholic Schools Trustee Association is an association comprising of democratically electe...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Legal Opinion from Don Cranston, QC re: Possible Conflict of Interest
When I first commented at the January 27, 2017 public Board meeting that I thought Trustee Kowalczyk could be in a conflict of interest, I did so after having spoken to the Ethics Commissioner. The Ethics Commissioner told me the previous day that according to the ECSD Bylaw 11 (bylaws0001) Tru...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
When I first commented at the January 27, 2017 public Board meeting that I thought Trustee Kowalczyk could be in a conflict of interest, I did so after having spoken to the Ethics Commissioner. The Ethics Commissioner told me the previous day that according to the ECSD Bylaw 11 (bylaws0001) Tru...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Cooperation is the Foundation of the Future of Catholic Education in Alberta
Recently, Paula Simons wrote in the Edmonton Journal: “It is undoubtedly maddening when Catholic and public boards across Alberta routinely refuse to cooperate on things like school construction or busing. How hard would it be, for people elected to serve children and families, to put turf wars...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Recently, Paula Simons wrote in the Edmonton Journal: “It is undoubtedly maddening when Catholic and public boards across Alberta routinely refuse to cooperate on things like school construction or busing. How hard would it be, for people elected to serve children and families, to put turf wars...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Update: Conflict of Interest
It has come to my attention from several media contacts that they would like to do a story on the conflict of interest issue which I outlined below but they can’t because the Ethics Commissioner won’t verify that I indeed contacted them. I imagine that the EC is doing this to protect ...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
It has come to my attention from several media contacts that they would like to do a story on the conflict of interest issue which I outlined below but they can’t because the Ethics Commissioner won’t verify that I indeed contacted them. I imagine that the EC is doing this to protect ...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Conflict of Interest in Vote on Motion to Renew Superintendent’s $424,000 Contract
An important note: My readers need to know that I am in no way accusing Trustee Kowalczyk or his wife of any wrong doing — on Friday, Jan. 27th he followed the advice of ECSD’s internal legal counsel which he trusted and which he should be able to trust. In the afternoon of Thursday, ...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
An important note: My readers need to know that I am in no way accusing Trustee Kowalczyk or his wife of any wrong doing — on Friday, Jan. 27th he followed the advice of ECSD’s internal legal counsel which he trusted and which he should be able to trust. In the afternoon of Thursday, ...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Motion: Reduction in Municipal Voting Age from 18 to 16
At the May 31, 2016 public Board meeting I brought forward a motion to recommend that the Government of Alberta amend the Local Authorities Election Act to reduce the municipal voting age from 18 to 16. The following was my introduction to the motion: “By the age of 16 young people can liv...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
At the May 31, 2016 public Board meeting I brought forward a motion to recommend that the Government of Alberta amend the Local Authorities Election Act to reduce the municipal voting age from 18 to 16. The following was my introduction to the motion: “By the age of 16 young people can liv...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Two Sides to a Story
Today Principal Hugh MacDonald was featured on the front page of the Edmonton Journal stating that he had been bullied by 2 trustees. I believe that some facts were missing from the article which I am compelled to share with the public here. First of all, the public needs to be aware that ECSD h...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Today Principal Hugh MacDonald was featured on the front page of the Edmonton Journal stating that he had been bullied by 2 trustees. I believe that some facts were missing from the article which I am compelled to share with the public here. First of all, the public needs to be aware that ECSD h...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
Letter to the Editor (WCR): The Joy of Love
I recently read a wonderful Editorial in the May 16, 2016 edition of the Western Catholic Reporter. Here is my response to Mr. Argan’s editorial which I sent him today: Dear Mr. Argan, I wanted to write to you to express my deep gratitude for your editorial in the WCR May 16, 2016 “Pope F...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
I recently read a wonderful Editorial in the May 16, 2016 edition of the Western Catholic Reporter. Here is my response to Mr. Argan’s editorial which I sent him today: Dear Mr. Argan, I wanted to write to you to express my deep gratitude for your editorial in the WCR May 16, 2016 “Pope F...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
A Call for the Reversal of Cuts to Artists in Residence Program
ECSD trustees unanimously passed a motion at their April 26,2016 public board meeting aimed at getting the Alberta Foundation for the Arts to put back the money it recently moved from programs for schools to other arts areas. The ECSD Board has now joined the Calgary Board of Education, Fo...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
ECSD trustees unanimously passed a motion at their April 26,2016 public board meeting aimed at getting the Alberta Foundation for the Arts to put back the money it recently moved from programs for schools to other arts areas. The ECSD Board has now joined the Calgary Board of Education, Fo...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
A Response to Recent Comments
I have been pondering over the last few months how I would respond to recent comments made on my blog to the stand I have taken in regards to pastoral care for LGBTQ students in our Catholic schools. I came across an article last week published in the National Catholic Reporter which expresses w...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
I have been pondering over the last few months how I would respond to recent comments made on my blog to the stand I have taken in regards to pastoral care for LGBTQ students in our Catholic schools. I came across an article last week published in the National Catholic Reporter which expresses w...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
ECSD Public Board Meeting Comments re: Commitment to Inclusive Communities in Edmonton Catholic Schools Governance Policy #14
First Round Comments I would have liked to support the amendments to GP #14 because they greatly improve the current version of this policy. This latter version of GP #14 adds a very important quote from the Second Vatican Council document Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope) which states that the Chu...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
First Round Comments I would have liked to support the amendments to GP #14 because they greatly improve the current version of this policy. This latter version of GP #14 adds a very important quote from the Second Vatican Council document Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope) which states that the Chu...
Published at Patricia Grell's Blog
