Alberta
First year teacher from Aspen Heights Elementary up for provincial award
Building relationships key to successful first year Teacher Tosha Sim
Tosha, a first year teacher at Aspen Heights Elementary, has been named Red Deer Public’s nominee for the prestigious Edwin Parr Teacher Award.
Each year the Alberta School Boards Association honours six outstanding first-year teachers with the Edwin Parr Teacher Award. School boards may nominate any first-year Kindergarten to Grade 12 teacher who has taught in an Alberta school jurisdiction which is a member of the ASBA.
Rob Moltzahn, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources for Red Deer Public, said Tosha was chosen as this year’s nominee because she is a reflective and creative teacher whose students are enthusiastically engaged in the classroom.
“Red Deer Public has fantastic teachers from our first years to our veterans, allowing students to benefit from this wealth and depth of knowledge,” he said. “Tosha is clearly passionate about teaching. Her interaction and connection with students was remarkable to see. Tosha took care of the needs of all students in her class without missing a beat.”
For Tosha, she said the nomination took her by surprise.
“The special part was that my principal, Bill Kwasny, said in his whole career that he’s never nominated a first year teacher before. It was really cool,” she said.
Tosha has had a lifelong dream of becoming a teacher, and remembers Career Days in elementary school where she would dress up as a teacher.
“I truly love everything about being a teacher. There isn’t a day where I don’t want to get up and come to work,” said Tosha, who currently teaches a Grade 4/5 combined class. “It’s incredible to be part of each of my students’ lives at this time in their life and help mold them into the beautiful people they will be. It’s amazing – I can’t imagine not teaching.”
Growing up, relationships with teachers were an integral part of Tosha’s school years, and played a significant role in her decision to pursue teaching as a career.
“I can name off every single teacher in my life, and there are some that have been so special,” she said. “Being taught by phenomenal teachers has given me a solid platform as I begin my career and I’m very grateful for that.”
Since being in her classroom since last fall, Tosha said seeing her students learn and grow has been extremely fulfilling.
“It’s been amazing to see where they are now compared to where they were in the fall. Their growth in learning has been incredible to see.”
Last July, Tosha taught at Reading College, a program of the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools, which helps Grade 2 students who are struggling readers become readers of potential. It was an experience she will never forget, and will always be grateful for.
“I will sing Reading College’s praises for my whole life,” she said. “It was an incredible experience. I think the biggest part was learning how to build those relationships in those four weeks – it really helped me in my classroom now. And helping kids develop a love of reading will play a part in the rest of my career as well!”
Bill Kwasny, Principal at Aspen Heights Elementary School, said Tosha has been an excellent addition to Aspen Heights Elementary.
“She has built a classroom that is caring, inclusive and safe,” he said. “Her students know that she cares deeply for them and she respects and values their differences.Her students have celebrated her nomination and feel pride that they are responsible, in part, for her success. Tosha’s passion for teaching is apparent for the time you first step foot in her classroom. It is a pleasure having the opportunity to work with Tosha.”
Sat Parhar has been appointed as the first chief of the Independent Agency Police Service, marking the next step toward a new municipal policing option.
The appointment of a new chief for the Independent Agency Police Service (IAPS) marks the next step in giving municipalities a new option for local policing and builds on the work already underway for the agency to assume the police-like duties currently carried out by the Alberta Sheriffs. The IAPS will empower municipalities to adopt strategies that effectively respond to their specific safety concerns, enhancing public safety across the province.
Chief Parhar brings more than 25 years of policing experience, including senior roles with the Calgary Police Service, most recently as deputy chief. His frontline policing experience and deep understanding of Alberta’s complex and diverse public safety landscape positions him to lead the agency as it takes shape and begins its work as a new municipal policing option, keeping communities safe.
Once operational, the agency will strengthen Alberta’s existing policing model and complement the province’s current police services, which includes the RCMP, Indigenous policing services and municipal police. It will help fill gaps and ensure law enforcement resources are deployed efficiently to meet Alberta’s evolving public safety needs and improve law enforcement response times, particularly in rural communities.
“Appointing Chief Sat Parhar is a key milestone in Alberta’s plan to give municipalities a real choice in how their communities are kept safe. This is about building a modern police service that reflects the priorities of Albertans, strengthens local decision-making, and ensures every corner of our province, especially rural areas, can count on responsive, effective law enforcement. With his decades of experience and deep understanding of Alberta’s policing landscape, he is the right leader to bring this vision to life.”
“This appointment signifies a significant step forward in our efforts to establish a more robust, community-focused policing model that is better equipped to meet the unique needs of our local residents. Under Chief Parhar’s visionary leadership, we are confident that we will develop a modern, efficient police service that not only enhances public safety but also aligns closely with the priorities and values of Albertans. His experience and commitment are vital in shaping an IAPS that is responsive, transparent, and dedicated to fostering trust and collaboration within the community, ultimately ensuring a safer and more connected society for all.”
Chief Parhar’s immediate priorities will be to hire an executive team and commence organizational planning such as developing key recruitment, training and other operational policies. Chief Parhar’s appointment is the first step of many to establishing the IAPS.
“It’s an honour to take on this role and help shape a modern police service built for Alberta. My focus from day one will be on setting high standards for professionalism, building strong relationships with our partners and ensuring this service reflects the needs and priorities of the communities we serve.”
The Independent Agency Police Service was formally created through regulation following the passing of Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2024. The agency will operate as an independent Crown corporation, and will be renamed the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service, with its head office located in Calgary. The IAPS will be operationally independent from the provincial government with civilian oversight, consistent with all police services in Alberta.
“When it comes to policing, municipalities like ours deserve a choice – especially when the current system leaves us disadvantaged simply because of our size. We look forward to learning more about what that alternative will look like once an Alberta police agency is fully established and the options are clear. For us, this is about fairness, sustainability, and ensuring municipalities have access to policing solutions that reflect both their needs and their realities.”
Quick facts
- The regulation establishes the IAPS Provincial Corporation and its governance structure including board of directors, board of director powers, financial responsibilities and accountabilities.
Related news
- Expanding municipal police service options (April 7, 2024)
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