Photo Courtesy Ainsley Miller

By Tanner Smith

Grande Prairie Public Schools

GPPSD Trustee Election Candidate Profile: Ainsley Miller

Oct 1, 2025 | 12:27 PM

Ainsley Miller 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?

I raised my family here and I love Grande Prairie, we have had so many opportunities. I know how to work hard and I see the responsibilities in balancing the teachers needs, the families needs, governance of an entire district and at the heart of it, a whole lot of people who want what is best for children, their education, their futures, their growth and the lives they can have. I want to be a part of that and bring my best to the table to help. I am not a politician, and trying to express that I want to be a part of the more and better for the school district, that’s what I want to bring forward. I see the Board of seven GPPSD Trustees and there’s a place for me to bring those opportunities to more families, to be a part of the check and balance on getting it right.

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

I’ve made Grande Prairie my home because it’s a great place to work, volunteer, and raise a family. I believe education is at the heart of how every child and their family succeeds. Through my work and many years of volunteering here, I have experience in long-term planning, budgets, working with many partners, collaboration and being accountable. I see the value of everyone pitching in and working hard to support opportunities for kids and families. I’ve spent years volunteering with Canadian Parents for French, the Grande Prairie Stompede and other community events, giving me a deep connection to the people and families who make our city great. I’ve sat on many Boards and Committees, I know governance, and I have done the hands-on work showing when help is needed.

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

Large class sizes, needing more supports to educators and children, curriculum, classroom complexities, provincial policies, there’s plenty of issues to talk about. Having well resourced classrooms for both retaining staff and supporting children– we all know that funding is an issue everywhere and we feel it in our own homes so the allocation of provincial funds into our schools is important. We want more, more funding, allocated where it is needed, more supports to classrooms, staff and schools.

There’s this extremism in how we speak to each other and this greater division in opinions that seemed quieter before, we could still talk and explain our perspective, know that a good person felt differently and be able to respect them for it. I feel that some issues become political and loud, without that conversation being reasonable, it has become angry and fierce. We can do better in showing our kids how to navigate issues that are important, to speak up, and work towards better, being part of the solution instead of yelling louder. I want to be a part of listening to the perspectives and finding the balance to do what we can, while working towards better.

4. Where can people learn more about you?

I have a facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AinsleyMillerforPublicSchoolTrustee and am trying to feed information there, but I am also walking neighbourhoods every day to ask families what’s important to them, answer what a trustee does and why they should care. I am totally open to a conversation after work, send an email and let’s talk. ainsley.grandeprairie@gmail.com