SOFA

An Evening with Education Minister Dave Hancock – January 25th, 2011

by on Jan.25, 2011, under Call to Action, Future of Education, Letter's involving the Minister of Education., Updates

You are invited to attend a public meeting with Minister of Education Dave Hancock on Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 at 7 p.m. at Central Memorial High School Theatre, located at 5111 – 21st Street S.W. in Calgary.  

This event is co-sponsored by the Calgary Board of Education and the Save Our Fine Arts  (SOFA) Committee.   It is also endorsed by the Calgary Catholic School District, Candian Rockies School Division (Bow Valley) and the Palliser School District (Lethbridge).

Following opening comments from Naomi Johnson (Chief Superintendent of the CBE), the Minister of Education will deliver a presentation on the Inspiring Education Steering Report and the Inspiring Action Strategy.  He will also address how fine arts programming will be represented in the new curriculum.  

There will also be a panel discussion on the topic of fine arts education.  We can confirm the following people will be participating:  Hon. Dave Hancock (Minister of Education),  Malcolm Edwards (Music Education Professor, University of Calgary), Jane Rogerson (CBE Area Director), Dr. Andra McGinn (Superintendent of Instructional Services, Calgary Catholic School District), Fay Kerwood (former Principal of the CBE Monterey Park Elementary School in Calgary, 2006 Canadian Outstanding Principal Award Winner, 2006 Global Television Woman of Vision Award Winner), and Sam Gregory (Grade 12 honors student at Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School in Calgary, one of the original founders of SOFA).  If you have a question you would like to ask a question of one of our panelists, please CLICK HERE. 

Who should attend?  Parents, students, and teachers from Public, Catholic and Charter school systems; musicians; performers; artists; business leaders; politicians; and the media.   Anyone who is concerned about fine arts education and wants to see it maintained and enhanced.

Come meet the following people who have confirmed their attendance as of the date of this posting:

  • Alberta Government:   Honourable Dave Hancock (Minister of Education), Honourable Lindsay Blackett (Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, MLA for Calgary-Northwest), Honourable Cindy Ady (Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, MLA for Calgary-Shaw),  Ellen Hambrook (Assistant Deputy Minister, Education Program Standards and Assessment, Alberta Education, Edmonton), Teresa Woo-Paw (MLA, Calgary-Mackay), Kent Hehr (MLA, Calgary- Buffalo), Harry Chase (MLA, Calgary-Varsity), Dave Taylor (MLA, Calgary-Currie), Kyle Fawcett (MLA, Calgary-North Hill), Wayne Cao (MLA, Calgary-Fort, Deputy Speaker & Chairman of Committees), Art Johnston (MLA, Calgary-Hays),  Joan Engel (Acting Curriculum Director, Arts, Communications and Citizenship Branch, Alberta Education, Edmonton), Spence Nichol (Executive Assistant to Minister of Education, Edmonton), Christine Bouchard (Team Member, Curriculum Standards and Process Redesign Project, Alberta Education, Edmonton).
  • Calgary Board of Education:   Naomi Johnson (CBE Chief Superintendent), Cathy Faber (CBE Superintendent, Learning Innovation), Jane Rogerson (CBE Area 5 Director), Pat Cochrane (CBE Chair, Trustee for Wards 8 & 9), Pamela King (CBE Trustee, Wards 5 & 10), George Lane (CBE Trustee, Wards 6 & 7), Sheila Taylor (CBE Trustee, Wards 11 & 13), & Carol Bazinet (CBE Trustee, Wards 12 & 14), Ronna Mosher (Director, Curriculum Design and Assessment), Leslie Yeates (Specialist, Fine and Performing Arts).
  • Calgary Catholic School District:  Dr. Andra McGinn (Superintendent of Instructional Services), Mike Ross (Director of Secondary Education), and Holly Schile (Consultant of Fine Arts),  Serafino Scarpino (Chair, Trustee Wards 1 & 2), Mary Martin (Vice Chair, Trustee Wards 13 & 14), Linda Wellman (Trustee, Wards 3 & 5), Marg Belcourt (Trustee, Wards 4 & 7),  Lois Burke Gaffney (Trustee, Wards 6 & 8), Rosemarie Goerlitz (Trustee, Wards 9 & 10), Cathie Williams (Trustee, Wards 11 & 12).
  • Canadian Rockies School Division (Bow Valley):  Trustees Esme Comfort, Carol Picard, and Arlene Rheaume.
  • Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils (CAPSC):  Eryn Kelly (Co-President), Leslie Newton (Co-President)
  • Alberta Teacher’s Association:  J.C. Couture (Executive Staff Officer)
  • Fine Arts Industry:  Paul Brandt (singer, songwriter, Top 10 Recording Artist) via video presentation, Murray Ord (Motion Picture and Television Executive Producer, Actor, SOFA Executive Member), Dr. Haley Simons (author, educator, recording artist, founder of Creative Alberta, and one of Canada’s most accomplished pianists).
  • Others: Ken Chapman (lawyer, author, blogger, and considered by Venture Magazine as one of Alberta’s Most Influential People),  Vera Goodman (teacher, best selling author) 

For more information:

  • CLICK HERE - for a map showing the location of Central Memorial High School
  • CLICK HERE - for a 1-page fact sheet addressing “Who is SOFA?”
  • CLICK HERE  - for a copy of the above poster

For more information, check out the Calgary Board of Education’s website at  http://www.cbe.ab.ca/ under “What’s New”.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about the future of education in our province.


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    ………………..Potential changes to fine arts programs in Albertas public schools have some parents and students worried..Alberta Education is reviewing its arts curriculum and asking for feedback online from parents..A short document posted online emphasizes the importance of an arts education but parent Lyle Bennett said details of what programs such as band and drama might look like in the future are missing.. Thats where I think a lot of the concern and consternation comes from parents and teachers and community people that are involved in the arts he said..Alberta Education spokesperson Erica McDonald said there are few details in the document because the curriculum hasnt been devised yet. Parents and students have until the end of next January to make comments and suggestions on the document through Alberta Educations website..Hoping to gather together others who shared his concerns Bennett started a group called Save Our Fine Arts. at the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour on Fairmont Drive in the southeast.. Just trying to make sure that our voices are heard so that our children will have as good an opportunity if not a better opportunity than they do now for an arts education he said..At Doctor E.P.

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