Meet Our Trustees
Lisa Brower
Sherwood Park
Voice Mail: (780) 417-8109
Fax: (780) 417-8181
Send an e-mail to Trustee Lisa Brower via our contact form.
Lisa is currently serving her third term as a Public School Trustee. She believes a strong, publicly funded education system is a cornerstone of our society, and understands the impact our education system has on our community, our families, and our future. As technology and the world around us change quickly, Lisa recognizes that, together with their families, our children expect the education system to prepare them for their futures. She maintains, “our children deserve the very best – a world-class, publicly funded education system.”
Lisa’s background in social work and the time she spent in the classroom as an educational assistant provided her with a wealth of experience and naturally laid the foundation from which her passion for public education began. Since being elected in 2005, she has grown in her knowledge and skills related to trusteeship and governance. Expanding her interests and desiring to serve the broader community, Lisa was elected in June 2010 to serve as a Director on the Alberta School Boards’ Association Board of Directors, representing school boards of Zone 2/3.
She has lived in Sherwood Park since 1995 with her husband LeRoy and their two sons, Ryan and Logan. Lisa enjoys being active outdoors, spending time with her family, cycling, hiking, camping, and backpacking. Believing in public education and advocating for schools and families is a top priority and life passion for Lisa.
W.H. (Skip) Gordon
Strathcona County North of Wye Road
Voice Mail: (780) 417-8105
Fax: (780) 417-8181
Send an e-mail to Trustee Skip Gordon via our contact form.
Skip Gordon has served as the trustee representing Strathcona County residents north of Wye Road since 2001. Before being elected to the Board, he was a social studies teacher in Fort Saskatchewan from 1968 to1998. He has lived in Strathcona County for 30 years along with his wife Lois and two sons, Jeff and Craig. The Gordon family celebrated the marriage of eldest son Jeff in August 2009 and enjoys having him nearby, as he and his wife live in Sherwood Park. Skip enjoys travel and conducting genealogical research in his spare time.
Colleen Lopushinsky, Board Vice-Chair
County of Lamont
Voice Mail: (780) 417-8106
Fax: (780) 417-8181
Send an e-mail to Board Vice-Chair Colleen Lopushinsky via our contact form.
Colleen was born and raised in Lamont County and currently has three daughters attending school in Lamont. She graduated from the Biological Sciences program at NAIT and worked in the Surgical Medical Research Institute at the U of A in diabetes research, where she learned the importance of working as a team toward a common goal. Proud of her Ukrainian heritage, Colleen is Past President of the Lamont Ukrainian Bilingual Association and current President of the Lamont Veselka Ukrainian Dancers. Colleen is actively involved in the school and community groups, and she is passionate about keeping our rural schools and communities strong. As the new trustee for Lamont County Ward, she is she looking forward to working with the Board and facing the new and exciting challenges that lay ahead. Colleen represents EIPS' schools in Andrew, Bruderheim, Lamont, and Mundare.
Pat McLauchlan
Fort Saskatchewan
Voice Mail: (780) 417-8108
Fax: (780) 417-8181
Send an e-mail to Trustee Pat McLauchlan via our contact form.
Pat has served as a trustee representing the Fort Saskatchewan area since 1989 and is also active on various community committees. Pat and her husband, Ian, have three adult children – all of whom graduated from EIPS. They are also extremely proud of their twin grandchildren who attend junior high in EIPS, and two other younger grandchildren who live in northern Alberta. Pat is a former pediatric nurse and 29-year resident of Fort Saskatchewan, who believes our students are our most valuable assets.
Barb McNeill, Board Chair
Sherwood Park
Voice Mail: (780) 417-8101
Fax: (780) 417-8181
Send an e-mail to Board Chair Barb McNeill via our contact form.
Barb McNeill was first elected to the Board in October 2007. Her professional career encompasses 32 years with EIPS, and she has also served as a volunteer with many community organizations. Barb and her husband, Wayne, have lived in Sherwood Park for 38 years. Along with their daughter and son, their family has grown to include a daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and two grandsons. The family has always supported and enjoyed living in Sherwood Park. Barb maintains, "being part of this great community and education system provides many opportunities to fulfill one's goals and achievements." Barb believes it is imperative the roles and responsibilities of trustees encompass the need to be a voice for all stakeholders, particularly students. She advocates that, as elected representatives, we have an ongoing responsibility to provide a strong, solid education for all children in EIPS.
Lynn Patterson
Sherwood Park
Voice Mail: (780) 417-8103
Fax: (780) 417-8181
Send an e-mail to Trustee Lynn Patterson via our contact form.
Lynn Patterson has served as a Public School Trustee in Alberta for over 21 years, 12 of which have been with Elk Island Public Schools. He has been married for 35 years and has four children, all of whom have benefited from public school education.
Lynn has a BSc in Physics, a BPE in Physical Education, and an MA in Educational Administrations and Curriculum. His varied background in teaching and instruction includes teaching high school, and later, as a Canadian Forces Pilot, instructing pilots on both the Tutor and CF5 aircraft.
Lynn enjoys many sports, in particular, both playing and coaching hockey.
Harvey Stadnick
Fort Saskatchewan
Voice Mail: (780) 417-8107
Fax: (780) 417-8181
Send an e-mail to Trustee Harvey Stadnick via our contact form.
Lori Tootoosis-Friesen
Strathcona County South of Wye Road
Voice Mail: (780) 417-8102
Fax: (780) 417-8181
Send an e-mail to Trustee Lori Tootoosis-Friesen via our contact form.
Although Lori is a newcomer to the Board of Trustees, she has over 15 years of experience working with the school system. She has held executive positions with all levels of school councils and the Committee of School Councils, and has experience with volunteering and fundraising in schools. As a member of EIPS' Transportation Committee from 2004 to 2006, Lori contributed to revisions of the Student Transportation rules of conduct.
Lori's strong rural ties stem from growing up on a small farm, attending the University of Alberta in Agriculture, and living in Strathcona County for the past 22 years with her husband and three children. She also brings a keen business sense to the Board, being an owner, partner, and business manager of a commercial millwork firm in Sherwood Park since 1990. The combination of her strong rural background, intimate knowledge of EIPS, and business mindset makes Lori eager to contribute to the Board of Trustees.
Ray Welsh
Western Portion of the County of Minburn No. 27 Ward
Voice Mail: (780) 417-8104
Fax: (780) 417-8181
Send an e-mail to Trustee Ray Welsh via our contact form.
Bringing over 32 years of experience in education as a teacher and administrator in Vegreville, Ray Welsh was elected in October 2007 and acclaimed in 2010 to represent the County of Minburn on Elk Island Public Schools' (EIPS) Board of Trustees. Ray holds a B.Ed as well as an M.Ed in Educational Administration. Ray retired from teaching in EIPS in 2005. He believes public education is the single most important function of any civilized society, and all children should have equal access to the best possible education that will fulfill their individual needs and goals. Ray and his wife Colleen, also a retired teacher, have lived in Vegreville for 37 years. They have two sons, Dean and Sean. Ray is an active community member and loves to travel, hunt, fish, and cook.
