Education
Red Deer Polytechnic Board introduces new President
President begins role at pivotal time for institution
Red Deer Polytechnic’s Board of Governors is pleased to announce that Mr. Stuart Cullum has been appointed as the institution’s 12th President. Stuart Cullum will begin his role starting on August 2, 2022.
With a proven record as a collaborative and innovative post-secondary leader, Cullum was selected by the Board to guide Red Deer Polytechnic on its path forward as a polytechnic institution, serving learners, industry and communities with a growing breadth of credentials and programs that meet central Alberta’s needs.
“We are thrilled to welcome Stuart as our next President,” says Guy Pelletier, Chair of the institution’s Board of Governors. “His enthusiasm and experience will help position Red Deer Polytechnic as a leader in the post-secondary sector and his passion for central Alberta, coupled by his vision for polytechnic education, will serve both our region and our province very well in the years to come.”
Mr. Cullum’s appointment as President comes after the Polytechnic’s Board of Governors embarked on an extensive national search and careful consideration of many outstanding candidates during the past months.
With a passion for life-long learning, Mr. Cullum is driven to contribute toward academic excellence and student success. He is pleased to begin his new role in August 2022, leading the institution as it will begin its second full year as a polytechnic institution.
“Red Deer Polytechnic is on an exciting trajectory and is well-positioned to lead in this province,” says Stuart Cullum. “I am excited to join at this critical time and I look forward to working with all of its dedicated employees and students, as well as with industry and community to build upon the great work taking place in Red Deer and central Alberta.”
Stuart Cullum joins Red Deer Polytechnic from Olds College where he has served for six years, from 2016 – 2022, including the past five years as President. Under his leadership, Olds College has achieved a bold vision that has led to unprecedented success on a national scale. This includes a 12 per cent increase in enrolment, more than $23 Million in applied research funding, a doubling of international enrolment and the development of key action plans including the College’s first Indigenous Relationship Building Strategy and Action Plan. He has been instrumental in establishing the Olds College Smart Farm, a leading hub for innovation, training and applied research that has attracted more than 100
partners globally and more than $40 Million in investment.
Prior to Olds College, Cullum served in executive positions at Lethbridge College, Northlands, NAIT, AVAC, and WestLink Innovation Network. As a former teacher, he taught high school in Three Hills, Alberta, prior to pursuing an opportunity to work for the University of Alberta in their Industry Liaison Office, which began his post-secondary career.
Mr. Cullum currently serves as Chair of the Post-Secondary International Network (PIN) and Campus Alberta Central, a joint long-term partnership between Olds College and Red Deer Polytechnic. He has held numerous professional board and advisory appointments across Canada, including with Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) and THRIVE Canada Accelerator.
Stuart Cullum holds a Bachelor of Arts (History) and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Lethbridge, as well as a Master of Business Administration (Technology Transfer Specialization) from the University of Alberta. He is an Accredited Professional Director (ICD.D) and has completed the Executive Program with Singularity University and the Institute for Educational Management Program at Harvard in Boston.
Stuart Cullum was born and raised in central Alberta. He currently lives in rural central Alberta with his partner Carrie. His two adult children attend post-secondary in Alberta, including a son who currently attends Red Deer Polytechnic in the Visual Arts program.
From the Frontier Centre for Public Policy
One Manitoba school division is proving phonics works
If students don’t learn how to read in school, not much else that happens there is going to matter.
This might be a harsh way of putting it, but it’s the truth. Being unable to read makes it nearly impossible to function in society. Reading is foundational to everything, even mathematics.
That’s why Canadians across the country should be paying attention to what’s happening in Manitoba’s Evergreen School Division. Located in the Interlake region, including communities like Gimli, Arborg and Winnipeg Beach, Evergreen has completely overhauled its approach to reading instruction—and the early results are promising.
Instead of continuing with costly and ineffective methods like Reading Recovery and balanced literacy, Evergreen has adopted a structured literacy approach, putting phonics back at the centre of reading instruction.
Direct and explicit phonics instruction teaches students how to sound out the letters in words. Rather than guessing words from pictures or context, children are taught to decode the language itself. It’s simple, evidence-based, and long overdue.
In just one year, Evergreen schools saw measurable gains. A research firm evaluating the program found that five per cent more kindergarten to Grade 6 students were reading at grade level than the previous year. For a single year of change, that’s a significant improvement.
This should not be surprising. The science behind phonics instruction has been clear for decades. In the 1960s, Dr. Jeanne Chall, director of the Harvard Reading Laboratory, conducted extensive research into reading methods and concluded that systematic phonics instruction produces the strongest results.
Today, this evidence-based method is often referred to as the “science of reading” because the evidence overwhelmingly supports its effectiveness. While debates continue in many areas of education, this one is largely settled. Students need to be explicitly taught how to read using phonics—and the earlier, the better.
Yet Evergreen stands nearly alone. Manitoba’s Department of Education does not mandate phonics in its public schools. In fact, it largely avoids taking a stance on the issue at all. This silence is a disservice to students—and it’s a missed opportunity for genuine reform.
At the recent Manitoba School Boards Association convention, Evergreen trustees succeeded in passing an emergency motion calling on the association to lobby education faculties to ensure that new teachers are trained in systematic phonics instruction. It’s a critical first step—and one that should be replicated in every province.
It’s a travesty that the most effective reading method isn’t even taught in many teacher education programs. If new teachers aren’t trained in phonics, they’ll struggle to teach their students how to read—and the cycle of failure will continue.
Imagine what could happen if every province implemented structured literacy from the start of Grade 1. Students would become strong readers earlier, be better equipped for all other subjects, and experience greater success throughout school. Early literacy is a foundation for lifelong learning.
Evergreen School Division deserves credit for following the evidence and prioritizing real results over educational trends. But it shouldn’t be alone in this.
If provinces across Canada want to raise literacy rates and give every child a fair shot at academic success, they need to follow Evergreen’s lead—and they need to do it now.
All students deserve to learn how to read.
Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher and a senior fellow at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.
Alberta’s government is helping students discover their skills and interests today, to help them find careers for tomorrow.
If passed, Budget 2025 will provide more than $100 million over three years for school boards to grow career education programs, including funding for more collegiate and dual-credit programs across Alberta.
“We are working to set students up for success by strengthening job-focused education. This money is helping schools partner with businesses, universities and colleges to create programs that will help students hit the ground running after they graduate.”
Career education helps students gain credits towards graduation while earning hands-on experience in fields like the trades, computer programming, health care, agriculture, culinary arts and more. These career education programs support a strong economy by helping students learn the skills they need to get in-demand jobs.
Collegiate schools
Collegiate schools work with businesses, universities and colleges to offer classes that give students pathways to education and careers in the job of their choice. There are 12 collegiate schools in Alberta, offering many different types of programming for grades 7-12, including aviation, graphic design, trades and more.
If passed, Budget 2025 provides more than $21 million to school boards to help fund special classrooms like carpentry workshops, film and media rooms, science laboratories, heavy equipment simulators and aircraft hangars. Another $6 million is being invested to support the start-up costs for new collegiate schools.
Dual-credit programs
Budget 2025, if passed, also provides $4.6 million in 2025/26 to start new or improve existing dual-credit programs. In partnership with universities and colleges, dual-credit programs give students a head start on rewarding careers by allowing them to earn high-school and post-secondary credits at the same time. Of the $4.6 million, $550,000 is being provided by Alberta Seniors, Community and Social Services for new and improved dual-credit health care aide programs.
“Health care aides play a critical role in ensuring Albertans receive the continuing care services they need to maintain their health, independence and quality of life. Our investments into career pathways for health care aides will provide opportunities for young Albertans to develop the skills they need to build a rewarding career in Alberta’s continuing care workforce.”
Another $1.4 million is being invested to support students participating in off-campus career education programs through CAREERS. This non-profit connects students to jobs in high-demand fields, such as the trades, technology, health, forestry and agriculture.
“Investments in collegiate and dual-credit programming are significant for Calgary Catholic as they further strengthen our collegiate and dual-credit programming. This programming will open opportunities for our students and help them to realize their full potential.”
“Before Fusion Collegiate, I felt lost and wasn’t really sure what to do after high school. Thanks to its career-focused learning and the opportunities through Fusion and The Educational Partnership Foundation, I’m now working as a first-year apprentice plumber with Mr. Rooter. The hands-on trades training, high school credits, safety certifications, and real-world skills I picked up completely changed my life. I’m excited about where my career is headed and really thankful for the support that helped me get here.”
Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta communities with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.
Quick facts
- If passed, Budget 2025 invests $102.4 million over three years to provide sustainable, predictable career education funding, and to increase access to career education for Alberta students.
- This includes $8.4 million over 2026-27 and 2027-28 to raise awareness among students and families of career education programs and pathways available to Alberta students.
- Career education in Alberta includes career and technology courses, Career and Life Management (CALM), dual-credit courses, collegiate schools, apprenticeships and off-campus education programming.
- Since 2013, more than 95,000 high school students participated in at least one dual–credit course.
- In spring 2025, Alberta Education will engage with education partners on best practices to bring more career education opportunities to students.
- Since 2022, education partners and almost 5,000 Albertans have provided their feedback on career education and workforce needs.
Related information
The High Cost Of Continued Western Canadian Alienation
DOGE discovered $330M in Small Business loans awarded to children under 11
17-year-old died after taking COVID shot, but Ontario judge denies his family’s liability claim
Cover up of a Department of Energy Study Might Be The Biggest Stain On Biden Admin’s Legacy
-
Alberta2 days agoOwner sells gas for 80 cents per litre to show Albertans how low prices ‘could’ be
-
International2 days agoTrump’s ‘Golden Dome’ defense shield must be built now, Lt. Gen. warns
-
2025 Federal Election1 day agoMORE OF THE SAME: Mark Carney Admits He Will Not Repeal the Liberal’s Bill C-69 – The ‘No Pipelines’ Bill
-
Break The Needle1 day agoWhy psychedelic therapy is stuck in the waiting room
-
Automotive1 day agoTrump Must Act to Halt the Tesla Terror Campaign
-
2025 Federal Election1 day agoThree cheers for Poilievre’s alcohol tax cut
-
Alberta1 day agoEnergy sector will fuel Alberta economy and Canada’s exports for many years to come
-
2025 Federal Election1 day ago‘Coordinated and Alarming’: Allegations of Chinese Voter Suppression in 2021 Race That Flipped Toronto Riding to Liberals and Paul Chiang