Shirah Davis - Holy Family Elementary

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Hello! 

I am Shirah and I am a nurse by career and a mother of 4 children, 1 in grade 1 and another in kindergarten, the other two are at home with me. With connections a bit all over, Yukon has become home and the sense of beauty and adventure of this land runs strongly through our home as well.

I have been serving the community at Holy Family for the past 4 years and have seen our community go through several changes, challenges, and growths. I've had the opportunity to serve on CEAY and advocate for our school and community with the Minister, the Department of Education, connecting our school with the broader Catholic community through parish representation, and the Episcopal Corporation. The uniqueness that our school provides, for the diversity of all our community, is to center our work, play, and learning on Christ, so that His light permeates our beings and the formation of our children.

It would be my joy to continue serving our community, bringing our parents' voices to the table to highlight lived experiences, so that all that we provide at Holy Family is for the excellence of student success; physically, academically, and spiritually.

Melanie Ell-Phelps - Holy Family Elementary

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I’ve lived in Whitehorse my whole life and am a proud Holy Family graduate, having attended from Kindergarten to Grade 7 alongside my siblings. It feels very special to now return as a parent, with my two young boys beginning their journey here.

My Catholic education has shaped my values of community, compassion, and service, and I’m grateful for the strong sense of connection Holy Family fosters among students and families.

I work in healthcare as an Occupational Therapist and also enjoy coaching children in our community. Through both roles, I’ve seen how important supportive, collaborative environments are for children to thrive.

I’m interested in joining School Council to stay involved and contribute in a thoughtful, practical way. I value teamwork, open communication, and helping families feel connected and supported.

Thank you for considering me.

Sarah Sotil- Holy Family Elementary

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Hi!

I am a Catholic Spanish-Canadian mother of nine children, four of whom are currently students at Holy Family. I am a chemical engineer, but I stepped away from my career many years ago to care for my family. 

My husband and I have been married for 20 years, and we came to Canada over 15 years ago as a missionary family. We have been living in the Yukon for more than seven years.

I am putting my name forward for the school council because, as a mother, I really care about the education and growth of our children, and especially about the transmission of Faith. 

Parents are the primary educators of their children, and it is important that they have a voice in the school and can work closely with administrators, teachers, and the diocese for the benefit of all the children in our school.

Sara Poirier - Holy Family Elementary

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Hi!

My name is Sara and I am proposing my nomination to serve once again as a school council member. I think education is the foundation of the future and school is one of the principal places where children can be aptly nourished and prepared to meet challenges. Pursuing my modest contribution on the council is well in keeping with these values.

As a parent and a Catholic,  I am well motivated to serve in a catholic school. I firmly believe that all council members and school staff can always discuss issues together and express diverging opinions in a respectful manner, always keeping in mind the good of the children. I am all in favour of including every child and every family, including Christian children & Christian families. I greatly appreciate and like to encourage communication, teamwork, organization and collaboration in community activities.

I would be very grateful for your support for a second mandate.

Gina Anderson - Holy Family Elementary

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Hello!

I’m Gina Anderson and I'm a parent/caregiver to 3 children at Holy Family....Cora (Grade 5), Opal (Grade 2) and Maxxton (Kindergarten). I’ve served on the Holy Family School Council for the past six years and would welcome the opportunity to continue for another term.

I find great value in supporting our teachers, administrators, students and families. Over the years, I’ve focused on projects like our Outdoor Classroom and the annual Spelling Bee.

I’m highly organized, I enjoy planning events, and I am comfortable using various digital tools to collaborate on projects, draft documents and stay updated on council communications.

A born and raised Yukoner, I've been active in the community through being a foster parent, coaching with the Whitehorse Glacier Bears Swim Club, and serving in various roles within Riverdale Baptist Church.

I aim to foster a council environment that is amicable and productive. I appreciate that every issue has multiple perspectives and believe in finding balanced solutions that benefit our students. I’d be honored to have your support in continuing this work.

Hannah Harms - Holy Family Elementary

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Hi, my name is Hannah Harms. I have two children at Holy Family Elementary, one in Grade 3 and one in Grade 1. I have attended several council meetings to stay informed and to be available for hands-on help. Over the past two years, I have helped judge the spelling bee, and I enjoy seeing each student come to the gym and give their best effort.

I value being involved in the school community and helping build a strong connection between students and teachers. As a stay-at-home mom, I have the flexibility to step in and help when needed.

I volunteer year-round with Samaritan's Purse through Operation Christmas Child. In this role, I have developed leadership skills, including leading our team in prayer. I have also attended Riverdale Baptist Church for many years, where I have served on leadership boards and helped run the youth group for over 10 years. These experiences have taught me how to work with a wide range of people from different backgrounds.

I especially enjoy hands-on involvement, but I am also comfortable with communication through emails and letter writing.

I would love the opportunity to join the school council and work together as a team, valuing our differences while supporting our students and teachers. Being part of Holy Family provides a unique opportunity to serve and care for others as the hands and feet of Jesus in our school community.

Elizabeth Berg - Holy Family Elementary

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I'm Liz Berg, mom and stepmom to five kids ages 5 to 10 — all of them at Holy Family. I work as an RN at WGH and in various other health roles in our community. I have gotten to be involved at the school through BBQs, driving for field trips, and decorating for the Spelling Bee the last 2 years. I'm also one of the parents who worked the June 2025 letter calling for inclusive, publicly accountable education at our school.

Although my own faith has changed shape over the years, but what I keep returning to is the picture of Jesus walking with those the world had cast aside. I do not believe faith is meant to make children small. I believe it is meant to widen the table, tell the truth, and protect the ones most often forgotten.

Schools are sacred ground, held together by what we ask of them: to keep our kids safe while they grow into who they are. Holy Family already doing this work: trauma-informed care, family voice, and child centered focus, despite so many hurdles in the last few years. I'm running to protect that and grow it. Every child here — Two-Spirit and 2SLGBTQIA+, Indigenous, neurodivergent, every family who calls this school home — deserves to be seen, safe, and known. Without conditions. Without exception. As do the wonderful staff who make this community possible.

Christopher Potvin - St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Secondary

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Greetings!

I’ve lived in Whitehorse for 11 years, and initially worked for the federal government when I arrived. Since that time, I started an engineering consulting firm, which has been operating for more than 6 years.  

I have a doctoral degree in environmental engineering, and believe strongly in the importance of education.  I spend most of my free time with my wife and our daughter.

I volunteer regularly for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Whitehorse. I’m a confirmed catholic, and eager to work hard for the staff and students at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Secondary School.

If elected to this position, I will do my best to help the school remain committed to the spiritual and academic formation of the students.

Katherine Williams - St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Secondary

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I've lived in Yukon with my family for over a decade and am serving  this current term as a council member at St. Francis. 

A mother of five children and an occupational therapist, I am committed to celebrating the dignity and uniqueness of every child as made in the image of God. 

I have a passion for academic excellence and intellectual honesty. I will work to support the school as partner with parents to educate our students for eternity, considering the holistic development of each child in light of our school mission statement. 

If re-elected, I look forward to continuing to help nurture our school identity through the school growth plan, learner outcomes, faithful governance, and hopefully- even a beautiful mural of our patron saint.