Calgary Catholic School District Trustee Linda Wellman will not seek re-election in the municipal election scheduled for October this year, saying she wants to spend more time with her family.
In an announcement at Wednesday’s board of trustees meeting, Wellman said she decided after “incredible” changes to her life, including the death of her husband of more than 49 years.
“I think it’s time for me to spend a little bit more time with my family and a little bit more time for myself and to take care of myself,” she said.
Wellman currently represents Wards 3, 4, 5, 7, 12 and CCSD schools in Airdrie. She has been a trustee since 1989 and has served various roles as a trustee. This includes being the former board of directors vice-chair for the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association, labour board vice-chair for the Alberta School Boards Association and vice-president of the Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association. She was also the board chair during the 1998-1999 and 2014-2015 academic years.
Although she will retire from the board of trustees, Wellman said she will always be involved with her community and Catholic education will always be her passion.
She expressed deep gratitude for her 35-year tenure on the board of trustees, saying the school district and the board of trustees will always have a big impact on her.
“I just really want to thank everybody for the opportunity, and when I say everybody, I’m talking about the broader community, for the opportunity that was given to me to do this job for 35 years,” Wellman said.
“It really is not a job to me. It is a true calling. I’m here because God wanted me to be here. You’re all here because that was the plan God had for us and for you. So with that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I thank you for this opportunity to grow in my own faith. You cannot do this, this work, and not be impacted by all the faithful people that are around you. It’s been an incredible part of my faith journey.”
