Three candidates vying for HSD board position in next week’s by-election

Posted on October 22, 2026 by admin

By Cal Braid
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

 Horizon School Division’s by-election on Oct. 26 will determine the new board member for Ward 3 – Taber/Barnwell. In September, HSD announced the by-election triggered by the resignation of trustee Maxwell Holst, who represented Ward 3. At an Aug. 31 board meeting, Holst submitted his resignation and the board elected to hold an October by-election to fill the vacancy.

 Three candidates have completed the application process and a new trustee will be selected after the close of next Monday’s vote. John Findlay, Chad McClenaghan and Barbara Wilson are on the ballot and were required to have been residents of the local jurisdiction and the ward for six consecutive months immediately preceding nomination day.

 The candidates were also required to submit forms signed by at least five electors who were residents of the division on the date they signed the form. Other citizenship, financing and legal requirements were also part of the nomination package, including a criminal record check.

 Two voting stations at the Horizon School Division office and Barnwell Public Library will be open on Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 After the municipal election of October 2025, two new trustees were voted in to complement a wealth of experience on the HSD board. The current board members and their year of election are as follows: Marie Logan – board chair – 1994; Bruce Francis – board vice-chair – 2001; Jennifer Crowson – trustee – 2010; Blair Lowry – trustee – 2013; Mandy Court – trustee – 2021; LaNae Baker – trustee – 2025; Tyler Lindsay – trustee – 2025.

 HSD serves approximately 3,600 students Kindergarten to Grade 12 in 39 schools, including 19 Hutterite schools and three outreach schools located in Southern Alberta. The school programs operate in nine communities – Barnwell, Enchant, Grassy Lake, Hays, Lomond, Taber, Vauxhall, Warner, and Milk River.