ENDORSEMENTS
Kelly McCauley
Edmonton West MP
I am pleased and proud to endorse Debbie Engel for the position of Catholic School Trustee.
I am privileged to know Debbie personally and professionally, and I am continually impressed by her dedication to her work, passion for our community, and professionalism in representing her constituents in Ward 74. With Debbie on the Catholic School Board, I am comfortable knowing that we are represented by someone who always puts students first. Debbie states that her vision is for every student to reach his or her full academic potential, and this goal is evident in Debbie's actions as a trustee of student education.
She has earned the trust of her constituents as an elected Trustee an impressive eight times. The constituents of Ward 74 would be well served re-electing Debbie for a ninth consecutive term.
Kelly McCauley
Marina Correa
Longtime friend of the family
I am so happy to support my dear friend Debbie Engel in her re-election campaign for Catholic School Trustee in Ward 74, because at Edmonton Catholic Schools, Debbie believes that we are family! Pamilya Tayo! 💙
When I first came to Canada from the Philippines, Debbie quickly became a true friend. She drove me to job interviews, helped me buy my first car, and was always there to encourage me. When the day finally came that my husband Joe and our three children could join me in Canada, Debbie and our friend Doug came with me to the airport to welcome them—it was one of the happiest days of my life.
Debbie has a heart for people, and I know she brings that same compassion and dedication to her role as Trustee. I am proud to call her my friend and to support her in this election. 🌟🙏
Kim Street
ECSD Parent
To whom it may concern:
This letter is written in support of Debbie Engel who is seeking reelection in Ward 74 as the Edmonton Catholic School Board Trustee. The only way to explain how important Debbie is to our school board is to tell you our family's story. We have three children all with special needs, including a traumatic brain injury, a severe type one diabetic, and the third with a congenital heart condition. To say it has not been an easy road for us is an understatement. But then throw into the mix the educational journey! Our oldest had settled into his school of Saint Martha Elementary which was huge for us but then our third son was born at 32 weeks, and he was in the NICU, and we were told that he had three holes in his heart and required open heart surgery. At the same time, we were told that the support staff for Connor were about to go on strike and that we needed to come and care for him during the day. This was way too much for us to handle. My husband was working and I was trying to manage going back-and-forth to Grey nuns Hospital on top of having a middle child to care for. I didn’t know what to do, so I contacted Debbie Engel our trustee for Ward 74. I didn’t think she would talk to a stressed out mother but she did. She called the day Keegan was released from one hospital and getting ready to go to Stollery Children’s Hospital. Not only was she loving and willing to listen, she went into action. She contacted our superintendent John Carr and asked what could be done for our family. Next thing I knew they had a plan for my son with the brain injury to continue to go to school without us being there while the strike was happening. One more thing taken off our plates so we could breathe and deal with the other issues we were dealing with at the time.
No matter who you are, or what your struggles are, and you need someone to listen to you - when it comes to your children’s education she has always been there. From her fighting to keep Sister Annata Brockman from going from a kindergarten to grade 9 school to only K to six; she is there to deal with the tough talks and she won’t back down. There are many more stories we can tell you that will support her re-seeking her spot as Edmonton Catholic Trustee. She understands as she too is a mother of two girls and has gone through the process. She has had her highs and lows in the educational world and that is what makes her the best candidate for Ward 74. We need someone who not only lives in the area but who has had children in the system to fight for what our education system requires both today and in the future.
Our family highly recommends Debbie Engel to be reelected towards 74 is Edmonton Catholic School Board Trustee.
Sincerely Kim (and husband Jason) Street
Mary Rasmusens
Former colleague and friend
I first met Debbie Engel in 1986 when we worked together at Canada Safeway. Debbie was stellar in her role as Training and Development Supervisor, where she achieved remarkable success. She was an innovative and hardworking leader who earned both the Outstanding Achievement Award and the President’s Award. Debbie also traveled across Canada and the United States delivering Frontline Leadership training to managers, leaving a lasting impact wherever she went.
Our friendship has continued ever since. After Safeway, I went on to open my own HR business while Debbie dedicated herself to Catholic education as a Trustee. From time to time, I recruited Debbie for part-time HR projects alongside her trusteeship, and every company I placed her with gave her outstanding feedback.
As a Trustee, Debbie has carried the same qualities of leadership, hard work, and care for others into her service on the Catholic School Board. She consistently puts kids first, advocating to ensure they have the resources they need to thrive in their learning. I have proudly supported Debbie’s campaigns from the beginning and will continue to do so, because I believe her experience, track record, energy, and passion are exactly what we need in Alberta’s school boards.
Mary Rasmusens
Judy Buddle
Former ECSD Trustee
As a former Trustee for Edmonton Catholic schools I am pleased to endorse the candidacy of Debbie Engel as Trustee for Ward 74. Debbie and I were elected first time trustees in 1988 and worked together for nine years. She has served in the capacity of Trustee, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Board. Debbie is a strong leader and innovative thinker, and a quintessential relationship builder and a team player. Debbie always kept the students staff and parents at the heart of her work as a trustee. Her excellent relationship with government officials brings to light the voice of Catholic parents and students in Edmonton. Over the last 27 years Debbie has shown pragmatic leadership and authentic Catholic conscience, visionary inspiration, wisdom, integrity and innovation. Debbie helps parents who are the primary teachers of our children to help themselves guiding our students through excellence in Catholic education. Promotion and protection of Catholic education, which is an extension of the Gospels, is her mission and commitment. She is a stellar example of walking the talk, and deriving the best education possible for students. Debbie‘s love and passion for Catholic education continues to thrive. Her experience and wisdom, gained over years of serving education, will benefit all her constituents as well as all of Edmonton Catholic Schools. I highly recommend Debbie Engel for ward 74 Trustee.
Judy Buddle
Kristin Robb
BEd., U of A, Teacher, former ECSD student
Since I began my education in the Catholic system in kindergarten, Mrs. Engel has always been present to encourage me and help me overcome any obstacles I faced. When she became school trustee she helped me and my sister solve problems we are having at school by using tools available to us. She has been a constant presence in my church and in my neighborhood. It was easy to get a hold of her and she was very attentive to my individual problems. I encourage all of you were able to vote to reelect Mrs. Engel so she may continue helping students like my sister and I and their educational journeys. Thanks for listening!
Kristin Robb
Dr. Megan Clare Engel
School Of Engineering And Applied Sciences Harvard University
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Calgary
My mother Debbie Engel is running for reelection to the position of Catholic school trustee representing Ward 74 on October 20th. I urge you to demonstrate your support both of the democratic process and of an incumbent who has demonstrated excellence in leadership on our behalf and vote for Debbie Engel for Catholic School Trustee. My mother has been on the board for 27 consecutive years serving for the majority either as board chair or vice chair. She has worked tirelessly to open 27 schools. She has worked hard to find innovative strategies to modernize existing schools (Archbishop MacDonald, construction of the field house at St. FX and more). She serves as a compassionate voice for every child and every person for that matter who believes in Catholic education and our right to it.
She devotes her life to infusing her faith into service of the school district making her trusteeship her full-time job. She is absolutely the most qualified and experienced person for the position. She has demonstrated nothing but unparalleled leadership in phenomenal aptitude for over two decades, not to mention her love and passion for serving others. There have been some turbulent years for Edmonton Catholic Schools, most recently of course, with Covid-19. But these trials allowed my mother to demonstrate a resilience and ability to resolve conflict and come to the table to negotiate with people with a variety of ideologies. Her enduring passion and mission to bring Christ into our schools in the face of skepticism and criticism of publicly funded Catholic education has enabled ECSD to navigate an ever-changing social political and economic climate.
The most important thing we can do as Catholics is advocate love, show mercy, and live out our Catholic values with conviction. Debbie Engel has never compromised her foundation of faith not showing anything but an unwavering commitment to loving each and every child that walks through the door of the Catholic school.
I want my own children to benefit from this kind of love and humble leadership and I am therefore trying earnestly to encourage as many people as I can to vote for Debbie Engel. Alongside her marriage and family, Catholic education Trusteeship is my mom's true vocation.
Megan Engel
Kathie and Greg Eberhart
Sister and brother in law
We have always known Debbie to be a hardworking, passionate, and driven person who succeeds at whatever she puts her heart into—and she has truly put her heart into trusteeship. From the very beginning, we have wholeheartedly supported Debbie and continue to stand with her today.
Over the years, we have worked on Debbie’s campaigns and witnessed her dedication firsthand. She does not shy away from the difficult discussions when faced with challenging Board decisions. At every step, her guiding principle has been what is best for children.
Debbie is deeply responsive to parents—she listens, empathizes, and acts. She will do whatever she can to support families, and when circumstances in the classroom fall short of what students deserve, she feels that deeply. In those moments, she doesn’t give up; instead, she lobbies tirelessly for the needs of her community.
We are proud to endorse Debbie for re-election as Catholic School Trustee. Her passion, persistence, and faith in the mission of Catholic education make her an outstanding representative for families and students.
Kathie and Greg Eberhart
Andrea Klotz
Long serving corporate secretary to the Board of Trustees
As Corporate Secretary for Edmonton Catholic Schools, I worked with Debbie Engel from 1998 when she was first elected until I retired in 2020. I continue to support Debbie, who has served Edmonton Catholic Schools Board of Trustees for 27 years with integrity and a strong belief in publicly-funded Education for Public and Catholic Schools. Debbie has strong leadership skills that contributed to her success as the Board Chair 11 times throughout the past 27 years. She has served on many important committees, including negotiations with employee groups.
Debbie is highly respected in her community and in her role as trustee. Debbie has a clear understanding of governance and is a quintessential relationship builder. She has worked with elected officials from the Municipal, Provincial and Federal governments of the day to promote and protect publicly-funded Catholic education. At the same time, she has worked diligently with school councils and school parishes in her ward.
This election has become a platform where children and adults are being judged. To that I say Debbie has a strong sense of justice, and believes God is a loving God, not a punishing God.
The most admirable quality that Debbie has is her love of students from all walks of life, never judging their ethnicity, gender, mental health, academic abilities or personal circumstances. As Pope Francis urged all of us to do, Debbie believes in welcoming, accompanying, integrating and advocating for those who have been marginalized and ostracized.
Debbie is one of ten children, a wife, mother, grandmother and good friend.
I strongly urge you to vote for Debbie Engel as Trustee in Ward 74 on October 20, 2025.
Andrea Klotz