After serving a single term as a trustee in School District 70, Jane Jones is passing the torch to her daughter, Connie Watts.
Both are members of the Tseshaht First Nation in the Alberni Valley, and both ran in the 2018 municipal election for seats on the school board.
Watts finished with 2,908 votes to earn a seat along with incumbents Larry Ransom, Pam Craig, John Bennie and Rosemarie Buchanan, as well as new trustees Christine Washington and Sandra Leslie (who earned the west coast seat). Jones finished with 1,930 votes.
B次元官网网址淚 feel super duper,B次元官网网址� Jones said, smiling as she and her daughter sat in the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) boardroom waiting for results from last two polling stations.
B次元官网网址淪he thinks I planned it, but really I didnB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� she said, smiling at her daughter.
Watts laughed. B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址橪etB次元官网网址檚 run together,B次元官网网址� she said. Now that IB次元官网网址檓 in sheB次元官网网址檚 like B次元官网网址榥ow I can retire.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Watts said she is ready to take on this new role.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 excited. I think thereB次元官网网址檚 lots of change that needs to happen. I think itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a fantastic new board of trusteesB次元官网网址攇ood people to work with. There are things for the kids to do, things for the teachers to do and things to make better environments,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing. ItB次元官网网址檚 exciting.B次元官网网址�
Some of JonesB次元官网网址檚 former colleagues said they will miss her voice on the board of education.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a shame that weB次元官网网址檙e going to be losing Jane Jones,B次元官网网址� said incumbent trustee Larry Ransom, who was re-elected to the board. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 like to stay in touch and keep her voice alive.B次元官网网址�
Jones was the first Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations representative on the board when she was elected in 2014.
B次元官网网址淎s a First Nations woman, I know that access and inclusion are vital for all students. All students deserve to have a safe and accepting learn environment,B次元官网网址� Jones wrote in her 2018 election profile.
Jones had said if elected, she would B次元官网网址渨ork towards better solutions around special needs and First Nations language and cultural curriculum. We need to utilize resources that are being developed in these areas and implement them, B次元官网网址� she added, B次元官网网址渇or example holistic approaches in learning and the Truth and Reconciliation recommendations.B次元官网网址�
Having WattsB次元官网网址攁lso TseshahtB次元官网网址攐n the board is important, Ransom said, because it will mean a strong Indigenous voice will continue to be heard.
Maintaining a Nuu-chah-nulth voice on the board B次元官网网址渋s extremely important,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hen Jane came on board she brought a voice from that community and weB次元官网网址檝e been able to build our relationships even stronger than we already have.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking forward to working with Connie and with her community. ItB次元官网网址檚 wonderful that they are still a part of our group.B次元官网网址�
Watts is well known both in the Alberni Valley as well as further abroad. She is an artist renowned for her public artwork, from a sculpture in front of the BC Hydro building and in downtown Parksville to a memorial piece honouring residential school survivors near the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council building, and countless paintings and other media in public and private galleries around the world.
Watts has two university degrees and some learning from the school of hard knocks: after suffering from a double skull fracture, she lost her ability to read and write, and had to re-learn things that she once took for granted.
B次元官网网址淲hen I was recovering, I turn to education. I earned my second degree in Fine Arts from Emily Carr University. This journey has instilled a deep compassion and understanding for the variety of teaching methods need to reach all students,B次元官网网址� she said.
In her election profile, she also said her culture and heritage help guide her.
B次元官网网址淚 was raised with our First NationsB次元官网网址� values and ways: where great love, support and help surrounded you, so you can reach your true potential,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚 will work to build respect through information and open communication. I want to ensure the voices of teachers, parents and students are heard in the development and implementation of the growing and changing curriculum.B次元官网网址�
