Alison Redford will be Alberta’s first female premier.
Her political party, the Alberta Progressive Conservatives, voted her in as their leader on Sunday.
She replaces Ed Stelmach, who had stepped down. He was the leader of Alberta’s Progressive Conservative party, and the premier of the province.
By replacing Stelmach, Redford will not only be the party’s leader but the province’s premier as well – at least until the next provincial election (likely in 2012) when the public will help to choose who the premier will be.
Until she is sworn in as premier, her title is Premier-Designate.
Redford had a rollercoaster of a week, ending on what is likely one of the best days of her life – after having had one of the most difficult days; her mother passed away suddenly last Tuesday.
Many Albertans said they were impressed with Redford’s strength and courage, as the day after that very difficult event, she participated in a leadership debate on TV.
On Sunday Redford made a speech accepting her new position. She thanked her supporters and said she was thinking of her mother, who had helped her to become so successful.
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
By Jonathan Tilly
Writing/Discussion Prompt
Alison Redman displayed a lot of courage and strength in the final week of her campaign. What other types of characteristics do you think a leader should have? Why do you think so?
Reading Prompt
“What questions do you ask yourself that help you monitor your reading? (OME, Reading 4.1)”
Primary
Identify, initially with some support and direction, what strategies they found most helpful before, during, and after reading and how they can use these and other strategies to improve as readers (OME, Reading: 4.1).
Junior
Identify the strategies they found most helpful before, during, and after reading
and explain, in conversation with the teacher and/or peers or in a reader’s
notebook, how they can use these and other strategies to improve as readers (OME, Reading: 4.1).
Intermediate
Identify a range of strategies they found helpful before, during, and after reading and explain, in conversation with the teacher and/or peers or in a reader’s notebook, how they can use these and other strategies to improve as readers (OME, Reading: 4.1).
Grammar Feature: Metaphor
A metaphor is a type of figure of speech (when a writer uses words in ways that are different than their normal use). Specifically, metaphors are words that describe things from the world around us used to tell about things that are harder to describe–like how things feel or look.
For example, in today’s story, the metaphor of a rollercoaster is used to describe how “up and down” Redford’s week was. By doing this, the reader can apply what they know about real life rollercoasters to their understanding of how emotional Redman’s week must have been.
What do you think these metaphors mean?
1. Ants in his pants
2. Pie in the sky
3. Keep your head above water
4. Heart of gold
5. All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree (Einstein).
