What I Stand For
FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
A strong public education system serves every student, school and staff member — not just the few. I believe in informed decision-making that reflects the complex realities of the classroom, school infrastructure, resources at hand and the diversity of our communities.
EVERYONE BELONGS
As a teacher I've dedicated my life to building spaces where all religions, abilities, heritages and identities are valued. I'll bring that same commitment as your trustee when making decisions that impact our schools.
Arts & Community ADVOCACY
Arts foster self-expression and mindfulness, crucial in a time of rising isolation and mental health concerns. I will champion programs that enrich our students' lives and strengthen public school connections with their local communities.
Who I Am
Teacher
I've been there. With nearly a decade of front-line experience in K-12 education, I have experienced firsthand the daily struggles faced by staff, education assistants, students and teachers in our schools. The ever increasing class size, lack of building space, insufficient provincial funding, 1hr+ bus rides and nearly $1 billion in deferred maintenance challenges.
I've dedicated my career to building inclusive classrooms where every student can thrive, and I believe in informed decision-making that reflects both front-line classroom experiences and our community's diverse needs. I'll bring that same commitment to being your trustee — despite the challenges we face, because every student and staff member deserves a quality education experience, not just the privileged few.
Social Entrepreneur
Outside the classroom, I'm deeply engaged in my community and creative practice. I'm bilingual and serve as Vice President for the La société touristique Centralta, which promotes tourism and produces books celebrating Albertan heritage.
My governance experience includes current volunteer director roles on two condominium non-profit boards, actively managing $1.1 million in annual infrastructure budgets (and problems!), developing bylaws, solving owner disputes and governing staff across 4 buildings -- ensuring essentials are provided for 400+ residents.
I have founded my own company, colettebachand.art, offering affordable summer art instruction to students of all ages, built partnerships with 3+ local businesses and in the spare time that exists: I love making affordable, joyful cat-themed art that is wonderful to share and sure to spark a smile.
Community & Arts Advocate
I am a Ward D resident, living in the neighbourhood of Strathcona; who understands the vital role arts play in enhancing student/staff well-being, mental health and the importance of connecting communities with our schools.
Through my own contributions to mural mosaics and supporting community art projects, I've witnessed how public art transforms shared spaces and unites people. As a Teacher I've integrated local theatre & arts into my classroom or extracurricular school activities and seen the positive impact on student learning and well-being.
From my advocacy, I've successfully written and secured Edmonton Arts Council and Heritage Council grants supporting muralists in Old Strathcona and co-authored multiple Alberta Heritage books highlighting the history and creativity that shape our landscape.
I believe the arts nurture self-expression, mindfulness, and a sense of belonging, essential components for enriching students' educational experiences and strengthen the bonds our schools have with our communities; helping to ensure that parents value and support public education.
Priorities
Lower Class Sizes
Our students deserve classrooms where teachers can provide individualized attention and support. Yet class sizes continue to grow, straining our education system and limiting opportunities for meaningful learning. EPSB expects 4,492 more students in 2025–26, 118,059 will be funded under the AEM model, while nearly 123,360 will be enrolled. Our teachers and staff are stretched thin while trying to meet complex student needs inside bursting classrooms.
- Advocate for provincial funding that reflects actual enrollment growth and classroom realities
- Prioritize building capacity and new schools to reduce overcrowding across EPSB
- Support adequate staffing levels including teachers, education assistants and support workers
School Infrastructure & Modernization
Our schools face nearly $1 billion in deferred maintenance challenges. From century-old historic buildings to modern facilities, every school deserves safe, well-maintained spaces that support quality education and serve as community hubs.
- Advocate for new school construction to address rapid population growth and overcrowding
- Prioritize modernization of aging school facilities across EPSB
- Work with the province, city and developers to accelerate school building timelines
- Push for funding to address the $1 billion deferred maintenance backlog
- Support schools as community hubs that serve families and neighborhoods
Fight for Public Education
A strong public education system serves every student — not just the privileged few. I believe in the fundamental right of every child to a high-quality public education and will stand firm to ensure our public schools remain accountable to the communities they serve through elected trustees.
- Advocate that public tax dollars go to public education, not private schools
- Push for public schools to always be built first in new communities, before other options, by being at the table when communities are being planned
- Champion and expand the diverse specialized programming options within EPSB, so parents will not need to look outside the public school system.
- Foster stronger connections between each school and the local community it serves, helping ensure residents and their children will value public education indefinitely.
Equitable Funding for All Students
Every student deserves the resources they need to succeed, regardless of their background or learning needs. Yet Alberta's per-student funding is 16% below the national average — the lowest in Canada for four consecutive years. Adequate funding is essential to support the diverse students in our classrooms and ensure no child is left behind.
- Urge increases in base funding to match enrollment, inflation, and the national average
- Advocate for robust support for diverse learning needs and abilities
- Support resources that reflect the complex realities of today's classrooms
- Push for funding tied to adult to child ratios currently legislated for children 4 years and older in daycare programs, to be similarliy applied for kindergarten in our Elementary schools.
Student & Staff Wellness
Mental health and well-being are foundational to learning and teaching. In a time of rising isolation and mental health concerns, we must prioritize comprehensive support systems for both students and staff. I am committed to continuing and expanding EPSB's mental health strategic priorities to ensure every student and staff member has access to the support they need.
- Continue building on EPSB's mental health strategic plan initiatives
- Support expanded access to mental health services and wraparound supports
- Champion arts and community programs that foster self-expression and mindfulness and strengthen school connection to their neighbourhoods.
- Advocate for adequate resources to address complex student and staff wellness needs
Celebrate Our Diversity
I've dedicated my life to building spaces where all religions, abilities, heritages and identities are valued. Every student and staff member deserves to feel they belong in our schools, regardless of their faith, income, abilities, identity, socio-economic background or immigration status. Every student belongs, no caveats.
- Support respect and inclusion for all students and staff, people should be able to see themselves reflected in our schools.
- Champion Anti-Racism, Equity, and Truth and Reconciliation initiatives in our schools. Push back on homophobia and transphobia within the division.
- Advocate for changes to discriminatory legislation that harms students and staff.
- Foster inclusive environments where every person feels valued, heard and safe. Education cannot happen unless students feel safe.
Put Classroom Experience on our School Board.
Vote Colette Bachand on Oct 20th.
Endorsements from Educators
Trusted voices supporting public education
“As a retired teacher with over 30 years in the classroom, I can say without hesitation that Colette Bachand represents exactly what our school board needs right now — someone who understands firsthand what happens in our classrooms. Her experience as a teacher gives her an authentic perspective on the challenges facing students and staff alike. I trust that she'll bring both empathy and practical solutions to the table.”
“Having known Colette as a student, colleague, and fellow teacher, I've seen her commitment to education from every angle. She approaches teaching — and now leadership — with humility, creativity, and deep respect for others. Colette's ability to listen first and act thoughtfully makes her an exceptional candidate for trustee.”
“Colette Bachand has the kind of grounded, compassionate leadership that only comes from years of working directly with students. She knows the strain that overcrowded classrooms and underfunded supports place on teachers. Educators like myself recognize her as one of our own — a professional who values public education and will fight to preserve it for generations to come.”
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Sign Up to VolunteerWard D Boundaries
Spanning both sides of the North Saskatchewan River, Ward D encompasses 35 diverse communities from Abbottsfield and Gold Bar in the east to Windsor Park and Delton in the west. Our ward's educational landscape includes everything from planned replacement facilities and modern schools to cherished century-old historic buildings and available surplus sites.
Ward D proudly serves 22 schools that offer rich and varied programming tailored to meet every student's unique needs. Our schools provide language immersion programs, arts-centered education, specialized science curricula, flexible online learning options, targeted strategies and connections programs, and prestigious International Baccalaureate pathways — ensuring all students from diverse backgrounds can thrive.
Ward D contains the cultural heart of Edmonton, nearly all art galleries, theatres and common festival sites in Edmonton: Whyte Ave, 124 St, French Quarter, Downtown, Expo Grounds, Alberta Ave, and nearby schools all reside within Ward D!