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Chinook's Edge School Division is welcoming 51 new school teachers for the upcoming school year. Photo/Chinook's Edge School Division
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Chinook's Edge School Division is welcoming 51 new school teachers for the upcoming school year.

"The group includes teachers who are new to the profession, teachers who are new to Chinook’s Edge, and teachers who joined Chinook’s Edge partway through the 2024-25 school year," shared the school division.

That’s up from 48 new teachers hired for the 2024–25 school year, and 38 who joined at the start of 2023–24.

Superintendent Ryan Sawula says the increase came because of teacher retirements at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

"We are thrilled to welcome our new teachers to Chinook's Edge. We eagerly anticipate the positive contributions they will make to our culture and our shared dedication to student success. All educators are crucial in achieving this goal. We extend our sincere gratitude for their care and continued efforts on behalf of our students and school communities. We know these new members of the Chinook’s Edge team will contribute their unique skills and passions to this collective effort.”

Chris Adamson is the division’s new Associate Superintendent of Learning Services, shared that teacher orientation was filled with excitement and energy as our new teachers joined the division.

"It was inspiring to see their enthusiasm, and I’m proud of the structure and support our team provided to help them feel welcomed and prepared. I look forward to seeing these educators grow in their practice and the positive impact they will bring to our students and communities.”

According to Chinook's Edge, Cole Weststrate is an Innisfail High School graduate who is pleased to be starting his teaching career at Hugh Sutherland School in Carstairs as a Grade 7 math teacher.

"I am looking forward to making relationships with the students. I want to be a support to them and hope to play a foundational role in their growth and success. I hope one day, they’ll look back and remember what they did in Mr. Weststrate’s class.”

A University of Calgary graduate, Weststrate was inspired to pursue teaching after watching his mother, Dawn Weststrate, who retired in June 2025 following many years with Chinook’s Edge.

“When we were out in the community, and students and families would come to talk with her, I could see what a difference she had made. It is exciting to be following in her footsteps, but also nerve-racking because I have big shoes to fill. I am excited to forge my path and make a difference for the students in Carstairs."

The school division has 12 schools in neighbouring communities, including Olds, Mountain View County, Didsbury and Carstairs. Chinook's Edge has a total of 11,000 students across 40 Central Alberta schools.

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