Photo Courtesy Joan Nellis

By Tanner Smith

Grande Prairie Public Schools

GPPSD Trustee Election Candidate Profile: Joan Nellis

Sep 25, 2025 | 11:58 AM

Joan Nellis is one of 12 individuals running for seven Grande Prairie Public School Board Trustee vacancies.

She was asked to provide a candidate bio, or answer four questions in 600 words or less.

1. What has inspired you to run for mayor/council/school trustee in the Oct. 20, 2025, municipal election?

Grande Prairie is home—I was born and raised here, and my roots in this community run deep. I began getting more involved in public education when my daughter started school. Over the years, people encouraged me to consider running for trustee. At first, I hesitated; life was already busy. But the more I learned about our division, the more I felt compelled to get involved.

Serving two terms has only deepened that commitment. I’ve seen firsthand the challenges and opportunities facing our schools, and I want to continue ensuring strong, effective leadership at the table. I believe public education is the best investment we can make in our community—dollar for dollar, it delivers the greatest long-term return. My drive comes from a love of learning, a belief in community, and a desire to see our students succeed.

2. What skills or experience do you have that you feel would make you a good fit for the role?

I bring a combination of business, governance, and community leadership experience. As a business owner, I understand strategic planning, fiscal responsibility, and the need to balance vision with practical decisions.

As a volunteer and trustee, I’ve gained valuable insight into how strong boards function. I know how to ask tough but fair questions, listen with an open mind, and work collaboratively to reach solutions. I’m a strategic thinker who also values evidence-based decision-making, and I am committed to ensuring decisions reflect the best interests of students, staff, and the broader community.

3. What do you feel are the key or main election issues in your community, and what are the issues of priority for you?

A strong public school division starts with being both an excellent place to learn and work. My top priorities are:

• Sustainable funding: Ensuring budgets prioritize frontline services so students and staff have the supports they need.
• Strong staff recruitment and retention: Attracting and keeping the best educators and staff, and investing in their professional growth.
• Accountable leadership: Making decisions based on results, evidence, and what will best serve students—especially important with rising costs and limited resources.

Ultimately, my focus is on maintaining a school division that is future-focused, fiscally responsible, and centered on student success.

4. Where can people learn more about you?

Visit voteNellis.ca or facebook.com/VoteNellis