215 videos
3 videos
8 videos
195 videos
53 videos
58 videos
4 videos
12 videos
1 videos
55 videos
44 videos
601 videosWhat should the future of education look like in Pembina Trails?
On this episode of Winnipeg Votes 2026 on U Multicultural Channel, host Graham McDonald sits down with Samantha Pope, candidate for trustee in Pembina Trails School Division Ward 1.
A teacher, guidance counsellor, parent, and current trustee elected in a 2025 by-election, Pope discusses the challenges facing one of Winnipeg’s fastest-growing school divisions. From overcrowded schools and the pressure on French immersion programs to graduation rates, literacy initiatives, mental health supports, AI in classrooms, and school funding, she outlines the priorities she believes should guide decision-making in the years ahead.
Pope also explains why she supported the division’s latest budget, which included funding for additional teachers and educational assistants, while calling for improvements to Manitoba’s school funding model. She shares concerns about capacity pressures in growing neighbourhoods such as RidgeWood West and argues that long-term planning must happen before schools reach their limits.
The conversation also explores student well-being, parental involvement, mathematics education, equity policies, and the role of school trustees in representing community voices.
If education, taxes, school growth, and student success matter to your family, this is a discussion worth watching before heading to the polls.
00:00 Why Are Homeowners Paying School Taxes in Two Divisions?
01:21 “I’m Just Getting Started” Why Samantha Pope Wants a Full Term
02:05 Catching Students Before They Slip Through the Cracks
03:00 The 9.61% Tax Increase: Why She Supported the Budget
04:21 Is Manitoba’s School Funding Model Broken?
06:16 Capacity Crisis: Pembina Trails Running Out of Space
07:19 Who Gets Priority When Schools Are Full?
08:08 Early Reading Screenings and Helping Struggling Students
10:33 AI in the Classroom: Opportunity or Concern?
11:41 Gender Identity, Parent Involvement, and Student Rights
Disclaimer: As part of U Multicultural’s 2026 Winnipeg Municipal Election Coverage, candidates were invited to share messages with our audience. The views expressed in this article are the candidate’s own, and this article does not constitute an endorsement by U Multicultural.