Kinahan and Cote seeking votes for Holy Spirit’s Ward 1

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Trevor Busch
Sunny South News
editor@tabertimes.com

Two challengers are vying for the role of representing Coaldale on the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division board of trustees in the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 20.

Frances Cote and Kevin Kinahan are on the ballot for Ward 1, while another major battle is underway in Ward 2 to represent Lethbridge with six candidates Tricia Doherty, Linda Ellefsen, Roisin Gibb, Carmen Mombourquette, Bob Spitzig, and Shawna Vervoloet facing off for five positions.

Cheralan O’Donnell (Ward 3, Picture Butte), Blake Dolan (Ward 4, Pincher Creek) and Thomas Machacek (Ward 5, Taber and Bow Island) were all acclaimed in their positions.

The News canvassed the positions of the two challengers for the Ward 1 trustee role.

What made you want to throw your hat in the ring for Ward 1?

“After 35 years as a teacher and administrator in the Catholic School Division, I have decided to run as trustee in Coaldale in order to put my school experience to use at the board level,” said Kinahan. “I am passionate about Catholic education and about rural education and will be a strong voice for all rural schools in the Holy Spirit Division. I have been an administrator in five different schools and during this time have worked on many division committees as well as on the ATA , Teacher Welfare Committee and provincial committees both for the division and for ATA. I understand well the need for a positive relationship between the board and teachers.”

“I first ran for this position 12 years ago as a parent of children in our school division,” said Cote. “My children attended St. Joseph School, and they went on to graduate from CCH. I continue to use the perspective that every student in our division deserves the best faith-based education our division can provide.”

What are the main issues facing Coaldale education, in your opinion, and how would you address them?

“Our education system needs to meet the learning needs of all students,” said Cote. “By continuing to ensure regular conversations with our local MLA’s we can achieve adequate funding in the schools.”

“The issues facing education in Coaldale are similar to education in Alberta as a whole – funding!” stated Kinahan. “Not only are the class sizes in Coaldale growing but the complexity of the classes is increasing as well, specifically in Coaldale where we see an increase in English Language Learners. Rural education in other smaller schools in the district have issues of having to combine classes such as a Gr. 3/4/5 combined class due to small numbers. It is a difficult balance to fund all schools appropriately. I will be a strong voice for rural, Catholic education.”