Go back

Features



CDs

NNSL Logo .
 Email this articleE-mail this story  Discuss this articleOrder a classified ad Print window Print this page

Catholic school board chair to resign

Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Shannon Gullberg, chair of the Yellowknife Catholic school board, is leaving Yellowknife for Alberta.

"It was a tough decision to make, that's for sure," said Gullberg.

Her husband Edward Gullberg, a lawyer with McLennan Ross, is being transferred to the office in Edmonton, which will move the family to St. Albert, Alberta.

"It's one of those decisions, there's good and there's bad to it," said Gullberg. Working as a contract lawyer, Gullberg said she will continue to work for many of her clients in town, and plans frequent visits to Yellowknife.

"I have wonderful clients, with a long-standing, good relationship," said Gullberg. "It's going to work out well."

Her move, however, means Gullberg will need to step down from her position as chair of the Catholic school board. Gullberg has sat on the board since 2003.

"That's probably going to be the hardest thing to let go of," said Gullberg. "I feel strongly that it's a good, strong board. That board will continue on with the same mandate and the same message."

The school board is currently involved in a court challenge, appealing a ruling by Chief Justice Ted Richard that prevents the Catholic board

from banning non-Catholics members from sitting on it.

The issue came to a head last fall when the board, led by Gullberg, tried to prevent its only non-Catholic member, Amy Hacala, from running for re-election.

Yellowknife Catholic Schools took the territorial government to court but lost.

Vice-chair Larry Purcka said the board will discuss how to replace Gullberg at a committee meeting this week.

"We have to make a decision," said Purcka. "We'll focus first on the farewell, then on the next step."

Since a by-election could cost as much as $50,000, Purcka said his preference would be that the board appoint a new board member to replace Gullberg.

Purcka said the board will likely start advertising in the coming weeks for the position.

Gullberg will also need to be replaced as languages commissioner for the Northwest Territories, although Gullberg said she won't immediately step down from the position.

Legislative assembly clerk Tim Mercer said the assembly will need to appoint the new commissioner.

However, with no assembly likely to take place until next November, Mercer said that Gullberg has agreed to stay on until then, noting there is nothing prohibiting her from keeping the position as there is no requirement for the commissioner to reside in the NWT.

Mercer said they will begin advertising for a new commissioner this month.