Executive Director

John Hilton-O'Brien holds a degree in Social Work and a graduate degree in Philosophy, and has taught at university. He has operated businesses and served in various capacities supporting the homeless and people with developmental disabilities. He was a founder and past President of Alberta's Wildrose Party and has worked on many political campaigns. A PCE board director from the organization's founding in 2012, he became Executive Director in March 2021. [email protected]

Staff

Maria Cameron, Executive Assistant, holds an honours degree and a Master's in Economics, completed while raising young children. She has used multiple forms of education to teach her eight children over twenty years, and brings that experience, with her training in economics and grassroots politics, to PCE's work. [email protected]

Board of Directors

Darlene Clarke spent thirteen years on school councils and subcommittees, mostly in executive roles, while raising three children. Elected a trustee of Parkland School Division in 2017, she served a full term advocating for parents' right to direct their children's education. She brings twenty-two years of business management experience in sales, promotion and national retail operations.

Rev. Brian Coldwell is Pastor of New Testament Baptist Church of Edmonton and Chairman of the Independent Baptist Christian Education Society, which operates two accredited K-12 Christian schools in the Edmonton area, Harvest Baptist Academy and Meadows Baptist Academy, and a home education program with students across Alberta. He trained at Victory Baptist Bible College, was ordained in 1985, and has served in Christian ministry and education with his wife Kathy for thirty-five years.

Mark Smith taught for thirty years in the public school system and was MLA for Drayton Valley-Devon from 2015 to 2023. As Education Critic for the Official Opposition, Wildrose and then UCP, he worked to protect parental choice and parental authority in Alberta's schools.

Advisory Council

Donna Trimble worked in community inclusion and employment support for adults living with disabilities before coming home to educate her children. All three attended a mix of public, Catholic and online schools and home education. She served as PCE Executive Director from January 2015 to August 2020 and remains an advisor.