Candidate Gwendoline Dirk is joined by a number of supporters Tuesday at her downtown Medicine Hat campaign office.--NEWS PHOTO SAMANTHA JOHNSON
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Hatter Gwendoline Dirk is one of three candidates vying for the Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA seat in the Nov. 8 byelection.
From a rural community in Saskatchewan, Dirk moved to the city in 1992 when she accepted a teaching position at Crescent Heights High School. She remained with the school for a number of years before becoming an instructor of adult development at Medicine Hat College. But in 2020, she lost her job as a result of funding cuts to post-secondary institutions.
“I found myself in a position where I could think about what I wanted to do (as a next step),” Dirk told the News. “And, really, all I wanted to do was serve the community.”
After 33 years of teaching, Dirk was well acquainted with the community and had already been involved in a variety of local groups and organizations. Following her departure from the field of education, she dedicated her time to volunteering with such organizations like Medicine Hat’s Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, Saamis Immigration and the NDP’s local constituency association – which Dirk credits with propelling her into the realm of politics.
“This was never on my list of things that I wanted to do,” said Dirk. “(But) I found that when I became involved with (the constituency association), I started becoming really interested in what was going on in Alberta’s political arena. And (the more I learned), the more concerned I became about the policies of the UCP, and the more I really wanted to do something.”
While Dirk is new to the political arena, she has experience in electoral campaigns as she ran for Medicine Hat Public School Division board trustee in the 2021 municipal election.
For the MLA byelection, much of Dirk’s platform focuses on investment in public ministries, like health care and education, and collaboration with constituents, both city-based and rural.
“I’m very afraid of what is happening in the medical profession,” said Dirk. “Canadians have always been so proud of the fact that we had a really strong, robust public health-care system. And that’s something I really would like to be part of protecting.”
If elected, Dirk plans to advocate for financial investments in the health-care system, as well as implementation of science-based, expert-informed policy.
The theme of investing carries over into the field of education, which Dirk describes as being “close to her heart.” Dirk has publicly spoken of the NDP’s intent to increase funding for both the K-12 and post-secondary education systems, as well as to re-address UCP-implemented curriculum, which she feels prioritizes memorization over critical thinking.
Another of Dirk’s hopes is to address the rising cost of living through policy and budgeting changes.
“I think people now are struggling to make ends meet, to pay their bills. It just seems like if you’re not part of the group of people who would be categorized as to have, you’re being left behind.”
Dirk expresses confidence in the NDP’s economic vision and says she is committed to bringing it to life in the Brooks-Medicine Hat region.
“Regular Albertans are the people I’m fighting for,” said Dirk.
