A new Chair and Vice-Chair of a Board of Trustees has been appointed by a school division in the city.

After the former Chair and Vice-Chair of the Winnipeg School Division Board of Trustees resigned to take public office, WSD needed to fill the missing positions. On Tuesday, the division announced that for the 2020/2021 school year, two Metis women will be leading the charge.

Betty Edel will be the board's new Chairperson, and Jamie Dumont is being appointed as Vice-Chairperson.

Edel's WSD biography says after graduating from an adult education program, Edel attended the University of Manitoba's social work program. The Chairperson has lived on Alfred Avenue for the past 35 years, and her children attended North End schools.

"Betty believes 'Everybody’s Voice Counts' and wants to improve the quality of education in our schools," WSD says.

The division says Edel has a long history of working in her community at places including End Homelessness Winnipeg, Ma Mawi Chi Itata Centre, Mount Carmel Clinic, and Hope Centre Health Centre. She has also served on the board of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and been involved as a founding member for many other North End initiatives. 

Dumont, the new Vice-Chair, says she grew up in St. Laurent in a loving Metis home. Dumont says on her website that she moved to Winnipeg to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree and now as a family in Winnipeg. She has been on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Health Clinic and the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce. 

WSD says the Board set the "overall directions and policy for the school division" for its 33,000 students and 79 schools.

"Its purpose is to provide a learning environment that fosters the growth of each student’s potential and provide equitable opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and values necessary for meaningful participation in a global and diverse society," the division says in a release.