Dear Carstairs,
Hello my name is Rose, thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself. I deliver to our community a broad & diverse skillset, willingness to learn anything, and collaborative team-centred approach. In the past I have held several positions – ranging from working hands-on in the trades as a cook & Red Seal baker, a commercial property manager, a small business owner, and a full-time baking instructor at SAIT in the School of Hospitality & Tourism department in the Baking & Pastry Arts program – teaching approximately 120 students per year, over the span of four years. A memorable project at SAIT includes the SAIT 100th Birthday Cake, a 14-tier 7-foot high 640lb cake made with the help of over 70 volunteers & participants.
Currently I work in the field of human services - providing support to parents and families moving through the post-partum period for the nonprofit organization Families Matter Society, which serves as one of the Family Resource Network (FRN) for the NE and SE quadrants of Calgary. Here I work part-time as a perinatal mental health peer supporter and client intake worker.
In my spare time, I discover myself giving back to the community through volunteering, advocating for wellness at the individual and community level. As co-founder of the nonprofit organization Plants for a Purpose Canada, I helped with several fundraising projects; examples include the Courage to Summit men’s wellness initiative, helping our team raise $11,121 for men’s mental health, and fundraising for the pet advocacy centre, Parachutes for Pets, or Hollow Bone Healing Lodge through our Plant Cuttings for a Cause fundraiser.
As the volunteer Secretary Director for the Carstairs & District Historical Society (commonly referred to as the Carstairs Heritage Centre or Carstairs Museum), and volunteer of the Carstairs & District Agricultural Society, I’ve helped people connect by applying my skills in marketing, communications, website and social media development in both organizations.
I am grateful to be a long-term resident of the beautiful & vibrant community of Carstairs. In 2025 I developed Carstairs Connects, a social media page highlighting the events and efforts of our beautiful community, now garnering over 7000 views per month & serving as a resource to help inform residents.
Personally, I enjoy technical reading, spreadsheets, gardening and love a good pun. I was born in Calgary, lived on a rural acreage in Delacour for my youth, lived in Kelowna & Calgary as an adult, and moved to Carstairs in 2013. I am now in my 40s, and am a mother of two incredible children, who remind me every day that they are the future.
You might see us around town at various events, please say hi – I’d love to get to know you. You might see me at the Carstairs Museum, at events like Beef and Barley Days or Aggie Days, or visiting places like the Carstairs Nature Space or Carstairs Community Garden. Occasionally I help with the Friends of Carstairs Library Society.
Thank you for considering me for this public service position. As a paid position, I see this as a job and duty which requires diligent decision making and financial acumen. I am grateful for this opportunity to ‘stand on the shoulders of giants’ – I recognize the efforts which came before me and hope to carry that same light and vision forward.
Serving others and helping to expand our community has been an incredible gift. I see the value of learning to become an informal steward of both the land & community and hope to encourage this for future generations. Through this process I have discovered my function: to help our community – and others – blossom.
I enjoy reading bylaws & legislation, examining government structure, and applying procedures in team meetings to achieve smooth group decision making. Residents may vote for six (6) councillors, and one mayor. I am running for a councillor position, and kindly asking for your vote.
The duties of municipal officials vary according to their role. Town council consists of the following officials, as outlined by the Municipal Government Act (MGA):
Chief Elected Official, such as mayor
Councillors
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), whom may delegate designated officers
"Under the MGA, councillors have the duty to:
consider the welfare and interests of the municipality as a whole and, to bring to council's attention anything that would promote the welfare or interests of the municipality
participate generally in developing and evaluating the policies and programs of the municipality
participate in council meetings and council committee meetings and meetings of other bodies they are appointed to by the council
obtain information about the operation or administration of the municipality from the chief administrative officer
keep in confidence matters discussed in private at a council meeting until discussed at a meeting held in public
perform any other duty or function imposed on councillors by this or any other enactment or by the council."
Click here to learn more about the roles of each official, and how their responsibilities differ on the official Alberta government website: https://www.alberta.ca/roles-and-responsibilities-of-municipal-officials
Are you registered to vote? You may register at the polling station, or ahead of time online. Click here to check if you are already registered to vote, or register: https://www.voterlink.ab.ca/
The 2025 Carstairs municipal election will be held on Monday October 20th from 10am to 8pm at the Carstairs Community Hall, 1100 Lackner Way. Here is the Town of Carstairs website with official election details: https://carstairs.ca/p/2025-municipal-election
Advance voting will be on Wednesday October 8th from 1pm to 7pm at the Carstairs Community Hall, 1100 Lackner Way: Here is the Town Carstairs website with official election details: https://carstairs.ca/p/2025-municipal-election
See the offcial Town of Carstairs election page: https://carstairs.ca/p/2025-municipal-election
The Carstairs Chamber of Commerce is holding a event for the public to meet the candidates and hear them speak. Candidates will be answering selected questions submitted ahead of time by the public. Doors open to the public on Tuesday October 7th at 6:30pm, and the event begins at 7pm. Deadline to submit your question is October 3rd, 2025.
Learn about the Carstairs Candidate's Open Forum and submit your question on the Carstairs Chamber official website: https://carstairschamber.org/Carstairs+2025+Municipal+Election+Open+Forum/CustomCtg?pA=F9B5FD824FC53F56FD176AC0AB1EF18C
Please note Carstairs residents will have the opportunity to vote for their school board trustees in conjunction with the municipal election. Carstairs is designated under "Ward 9" of the school district. Specific voting times may differ, see the Chinook's Edge official website here: https://www.cesd73.ca/board/october-20-2025-board-of-trustees-election-page