Jason Stockfish | [email protected]
An upcoming nomination vote will determine the candidate that represents the Alberta NDP in the West Yellowhead riding in the next provincial election.
Those who wish to vote must become NDP party members before Nov. 24.
Party members can cast a mail-in ballot if they sign up with the party before the Nov. 21 deadline.
Members who are unable to vote in-person can request a mail-in ballot by sending an email to Chris Mattock at [email protected]
In-person voting will be available on Dec. 7 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce in Edson.
Alternatively, those who have signed up for Alberta NDP party membership can also cast a ballot on Dec. 8 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the library in Hinton.
The winner will be determined that evening after the ballots are counted.
The two candidates running for the nomination, Lavone Olson and Fred Kreiner, both have ties to Jasper.
These are their bios in their own words.
Lavone Olson
Alberta's people deserve a government that works for everyone. We need a government that can stabilize our health care and educational systems.
My name is Lavone Olson and I am running to be the New Democratic candidate for West Yellowhead.
I am a daughter of an outfitter, born in Jasper and raised in Brule. I have been a resident of West Yellowhead most of my life.
I am a person of Metis heritage. I鈥檓 a member of the Metis Nation of Alberta and a member of the Mountain Metis Association of Grande Cache, where many of my people still live.
I am married to my husband Wald Olson. We have two beautiful children and four wonderful grandchildren.
We owned and operated a successful back country horse/fishing lodge in Tonquin Valley in Jasper National Park for 25 years.
I drove a school bus for many years for the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division and I am presently a Teacher's Assistant.
I was a Municipal Councillor for Yellowhead County for 10 years and thoroughly enjoyed this experience and serving people.
During this time, I was the first president for the Athabasca Watershed Council and served on the AWC board for many years. These Watershed and Advisory Councils were created under the Water for Life policy to protect our water sources.
I believe that Rachel Notley is the best choice for a leader in this province. She is a person of strength and integrity. I agree with her passion to put families first and I know she鈥檚 deeply committed to fighting for our education and health care systems.
If I were elected as the MLA for West Yellowhead, in government or opposition, I would be a strong and proud voice for the people of West Yellowhead.
Fred Freiner
Hello,
I am a prospective candidate for the Alberta NDP in West Yellowhead. Here is a quick bio of who I am and why I feel I am the best candidate for the NDP in West Yellowhead.
Raised in Whitecourt Alberta, I was actively involved in all minor sports; hockey, hockey refereeing, school sports and was class valedictorian at Hilltop High in 1978.
My dad, former Mayor Helmut Kreiner, ran several businesses in Whitecourt and was very involved in the community as well.
As a teen, I proudly worked in the family businesses and supported dad鈥檚 work in the community. My mom, Gertraud Kreiner, served as a School Trustee, both in Lac St-Anne and Whitecourt, was on the Family and Community Support Services board and volunteered with the United Church. The Chamber of Commerce honored both my parents as Citizens of the Year. My parents' deep-rooted value in community is something that my wife and I have passed on to our own four children.
After graduating from university with a Bachelor of Education Degree, I taught school in Edson for 11 years, serving as both principal and vice-principal.
As a long-time hockey referee, I was quickly recruited to volunteer with minor hockey as well as refereeing ringette and slo-pitch.
Our family moved near Edmonton for a few years to allow me to complete a master鈥檚 degree in education. During that time, I served two terms as a school trustee in the North Central Francophone Education Region and was president of the provincial Francophone School Trustees Association of Alberta for two years. I also worked for the Alberta Teachers鈥� Association for six years. In these roles, I was able to keep a very close eye on many issues in Alberta Education.
I have skied in Jasper since 1966, so when the vice-principalship at Jasper Jr. Sr. High School came open in 2011, my wife and I moved to Jasper and have lived there ever since.
West Yellowhead has been my home for most of my life and it is where my four children were all born.
I am keen to be the candidate for the NDP in this riding to bring forward a Better Future for all Albertans.
Only NDP members that reside in the riding can vote in this nomination. Voting is available to all people who are members prior to 5 p.m. on Nov. 24.
To join up, please visit:
For more information on the NDP platform, visit:
To contact me, send an email to [email protected]
