The Progressive Conservative nomination fight in the St. Albert riding got one more contender this week, with an announcement from school administrator Sleight Anstruther.
Anstruther is currently the vice-principal at G.H. Primeau in Morinville, but he has held the same position in several St. Albert schools and has been a long time resident of the community.
Anstruther said with two decades under his belt as a school administrator he is now starting to see former students become adults and have children of their own.
He said he wants to make sure they have a bright future.
“There are a lot of opportunities that are going to present themselves and we want to make sure they are a part of that.”
Anstruther said he sees a bright future for the province and he wants to make sure the next generations of Albertans gets to take advantage.
“They are going to be faced with the next boom that is just starting and they have a lot to gain from this.”
He said for the same reason he wants to make sure younger Albertans can take advantage of the economy he also wants to make sure the environment is protected.
“The decisions that we are making right now are going to be in effect for our kids and grandkids and if we don’t take the environment into serious consideration in all our decisions, that is an area our kids and grandkids will have to deal with down the road.”
In addition to his concerns about youths, Anstruther said he is worried about the sandwich generation, people who are now raising kids and helping parents.
“It is a bubble community that a lot of the families are taking care of their parents and they are starting to get into that age, where they need more and more help.”
He said he has heard from countless parents over the years that purposely chose St. Albert and he hopes to be able to work at a provincial level to help the city remain special.
“You want to be part of the whole process with regards to the boom that is coming up and trying to get as many opportunities for our local businesses as you can, because there is going to be a lot of opportunities for them.”
Anstruther said he hopes the profile he has gained through teaching and being involved in community events will help him win the nomination.
Anstruther joins school trustee Jacquie Hansen, businessman Steve Khan, former air force pilot Jeff Wedman and 150th committee volunteer Kent La Rose in the race.
The Wildrose party has nominated former councillor James Burrows, the Alberta Party businessman Tim Osborne and the NDP will be running Nicole Bowes.
