Maria Hampvent, the current vice chair of the Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Organization (SCREDO), is seeking election as a school board trustee in the upcoming local government elections.
“The old board is handing over the reins to us in a time of success, and so I would want to just focus on maintaining,” said Hampvent, referring to the expected large turnover of trustees this election. She said she decided to run after speaking with former chair Betty Baxter. “I got really curious about her role as a school trustee,” Hampvent said. She said she was also motivated by her experience with School District No. 46 (SD46).
Hampvent, who has four children who are either in or have graduated from SD46 schools, has volunteered for four parent advisory councils (PACs), including the District PAC. Last year she helped organize a White Hatter Internet safety awareness event at Elphinstone Secondary and said technological and financial literary are both priorities.
As part of her Masters in Sustainable Community Development and Values-Based Leadershp from Royal Roads University, she taught financial literacy at Pender Harbour Secondary. She said she wants to build financial literacy into the strategic plan, which is up for revision this year. “I want it to be in the strategic plan, that financial literacy is something we’re being held accountable to,” said Hampvent.
In terms of central issues she expects to tackle if elected to the board, Hampvent identified overcrowding as an emerging challenge, citing West Sechelt Elementary as an example of a school where enrolment is outpacing its facilities. She also said she sees entrepreneurship and mindfulness as “other areas for growth and future development.”
Hampvent, who lives in Roberts Creek, plans to run in the Central Coast trustee electoral area, which includes the District of Sechelt, and which will have three representatives at the board. This will be the first election with the new electoral areas, which were redrawn in February 2018.
“My son goes to Chat and we rent an office in Sechelt and so I feel like that is more of where I spend my time,” said Hampvent of her decision to run outside of her electoral area. Election rules to do not require nominees to live in the area where they run.
