Meet the 2025 Catholic Trustee Candidates

Last Updated: October 20, 2025

Meet the 2025 Catholic Trustee Candidates 

In a recorded interview in September, we invited the 2025 Catholic Trustee Election candidates to introduce themselves and share their thoughts on education issues. Each candidate was given the same amount of time, and their responses are unedited. We asked each candidate the same three questions:

  1. Why do you want to be a Trustee for Edmonton Catholic Schools?
  2. What do you see as being the role of a Catholic school Trustee?  What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as an elected official?
  3. What do you see as the major challenges or issues facing publicly funded Catholic education? What do you believe should be done to address the challenges?

The Catholic Trustee Candidate videos are listed below by ward and alphabetical order by last name.

Ward 71

Mona-Lee FEEHAN

Leah FIORILLO


Ward 72

Sandra PALAZZO 

Annette VALSTAR


Ward 73 

Ron FERNANDES

Kara PELECH

Mark SWANSON

Edmonton Elections has accepted Mark Swanson’s formal disclaimer of all rights to the office of Edmonton Catholic School Board Trustee for Ward 73. As his submission was received after the deadline for withdrawal from the 2025 Edmonton election, his name will still appear on the ballot for Ward 73. Notices of his withdrawal will be posted at all voting station locations for Ward 73 and election workers will advise voters of his withdrawal.


Ward 74

Debbie ENGEL 

Berchman PARCON


Ward 75 Acclaimed - Alene Mutala 


Ward 76

Lisa CASTELL TURCHANSKY 

Susan JOHNSON


Ward 77

Santo CHINES

Laura THIBERT 

ECSD Trustees

Trustees play an important role in setting the direction of the Edmonton Catholic School Division. As elected officials, Trustees are accountable to the communities they represent and exercise their leadership through governance. 

For more information about the 2025 Catholic Trustee Election, please visit ecsd.net/elections.

2025 Edmonton Municipal Election

Edmonton's municipal election will be held on Monday, October 20, 2025. Edmontonians will have an opportunity to vote for a mayor, councillors, Catholic and public school trustees.

Visit Edmonton Elections for more details.