Board of Trustees
Trustees may be contacted through the School Division Office at 403.528.6701
Catherine Wilson
Chair
Catherine grew up in Medicine Hat, and proudly calls our community home. She built her educational foundation as a student at Central Park, Connaught, Alexandra and Medicine Hat High School; continuing her post secondary studies at Medicine Hat College. The years she spent in public school had a profound impact on her life and years later her three children Reigh-Ann, Emily, and Josh spent their formative years in the Medicine Hat Public School system. Catherine values the leadership positions she has held and is excited about the next opportunity to serve local community organizations. Catherine has always been inspired to participate in her kids’ education, volunteering for many years, and in different roles, on parent council and co-coordinating spirit day lunch programs. Catherine quickly became aware of the power of the parent voice and felt compelled to do more. Catherine credits her father Dr. Roy Wilson for broadening her perspective of educational issues, beyond the classroom to the school, division and provincial levels, and ultimately energizing her fascination to serve the community as a trustee. In February 2013, Catherine was elected to the Medicine Hat Public Board of Education following in her father’s footsteps who had served on the board for 32 years. She has served as Vice Chair of the board since 2017. In that role she is extending her passion for education, ensuring that all children have access to the best education with equal opportunities and the right tools to become fulfilled, successful community citizens. Catherine is grateful for the privilege to provide leadership to our community as a trustee on the Medicine Hat Public Board of Education. She believes that learning is a life long journey and proudly shares that passion through her commitment to the students, families, staff and teachers in our division.
Pat Grisonich
Vice Chair
Pat was born and raised in Medicine Hat. He attended Medicine Hat College for 2 years before transferring to the University of Calgary, graduating with a B.Ed. in 1985. Nowadays, he is retired and his children completed high school in Medicine Hat. Pat began a career in education teaching grade 6 before moving on to become a junior high counselor. From there, he became a vice-principal: a role he held in several schools before becoming the principal of Crescent Heights High School. As a teacher and administrator, he has always felt that building relationships is of paramount importance. It is through relationships that schools, teams, programs, and ultimately staff and student's flourish. As a Trustee he wishes to be a familiar and friendly presence in the schools and a proud supporter of education in the Medicine Hat Public School Division. He appreciates the support from staff at central office as well as in the schools, and looks forward to working with all stakeholders throughout his four year term.
Gwendoline Dirk
Trustee
Raised on a family farm in Liebenthal, Saskatchewan, Gwendoline gained the values of hard work, collaboration, empathy, integrity, honesty, and a commitment to communities of varied backgrounds. Education has been the cornerstone of Gwendoline’s career. She began her over 3-decade teaching journey with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Victoria in 1986. Gwendoline continued her professional growth by obtaining a Master of Education in curriculum and assessment from the University of Lethbridge in 2020. As a public school educator, she taught from grades 2 through 12. Additionally, Gwendoline taught at Medicine Hat College for 13 years, reflecting her versatility and commitment to meeting diverse learning needs. She has consistently worked to create environments where students thrive, educators feel supported, and communities are actively engaged, all grounded in her firm belief that strong public education is vital for a prosperous and equitable society. Always eager to learn, Gwendoline continues to enroll in new courses, describing herself as an avid lifelong learner who views learning as both a privilege and a responsibility. After she retired from teaching in 2020, Gwendoline became an active community volunteer with various organizations such as Saamis Immigration, the Medicine Hat Rotary Club and other organizations. She also gained governance experience serving as a commissioner and vice-chair with the Medicine Hat Police Commission and serving as a director on the Alberta Association of Police Governance. Guided by her belief in the transformative power of education, Gwendoline continues to support students as a trustee, championing inclusive and high-quality public education.