Westwind School Division Board of Trustees Raymond candidates

Posted on October 2, 2025 by admin

By Heather Cameron
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The race for a spot on the Westwind School Division Board of Trustees is heating up.

Four of the trustees were acclaimed.

Elections for two positions for Ward 5 (Raymond) include the following candidates: Jim Ralph, Rod Wendorff, and Tobi Lyons 

When asked why they wanted to get involved in this particular political arena and what the focus of their campaign would be, the candidates had this to say:

“As a homeschooling parent rooted in Raymond’s community, I’ve not just read or heard of the value of parent engagement—I’ve lived parent engagement and seen the results of it! I’ve been blessed as a parent by the teaching and administrative staff of Westwind. I’m excited to give back to it, to help it continue to serve and grow, supporting Westwind’s locally created innovative programs while addressing present and future needs as part of a team. My campaign rests on three pillars: parental engagement (supporting parents as key guides in their children’s educational journey, because parent engagement = student success), local decision-making (honoring our unique culture and values), and financial stewardship (promoting efficient use of funds for student success, guided by a family-first mindset and money in the classroom).” – Tobi Lyons

When asked what issues within the school division they saw as needing attention, the candidates had this to say:

“Leveraging my strength in policy and procedures, I can support efforts within Westwind’s public school system, which delivers both traditional and alternative education programs. I understand the varied pathways to education and am committed to supporting a pluralistic education system in Alberta while promoting our public system, perhaps a unique perspective I bring. My proactive understanding of educational trends, teacher training, and parental engagement can contribute to student success. I support reducing teacher administrative loads by involving parents in professional development, enhancing engagement while allowing teachers to focus on subject expertise. As a forward-thinking steward, I can advocate for directing Alberta Education funds to classrooms and sustaining local decision-making, preparing students for employability amid provincial trends.” – Tobi Lyons

The candidates also spoke briefly about what their approach to service would be if elected:

“If elected, I hope to contribute to board efforts by supporting transparency and accountability, encouraging more participation on and by school councils, promoting local decision-making to reflect our values(such as continued support and development of programs like Westwind’s homeschool and alternate options), and exploring financial policies that prioritize classroom resources, like potentially reallocating from non-essential costs to innovative programs that benefit students. I’m excited and grateful to continue serving my community, advocating for parents and all stakeholders. Strong educational systems benefit us all, and this election offers a chance to shape that future together.” – Tobi Lyons

Jim Ralph and Rod Wendorff were unavailable for comment at the time of this interview.

Voters in Ward 5 can cast ballots at advance voting on Saturday, October 11 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Raymond Town Office, or on election day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Raymond Seniors Centre. 

All voters must be on the Permanent Electors Registry and bring one piece of ID with name and address, and details are available via Elections Alberta and the Town of Raymond website. 

To register to vote and confirm voter information, visit voterlink.ab.ca and people may also register by phone at 780-427-7191 or toll-free at 310-0000 then 780-427-7191, or by email at info@elections.ab.ca.