Kristopher Wells
Kristopher Wells | |
|---|---|
| Senator for Alberta | |
| Assumed office August 31, 2024 | |
| Nominated by | Justin Trudeau |
| Appointed by | Mary Simon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1970 or 1971 (age 52–53)[1] |
| Political party | non-affiliated |
| Alma mater | University of Alberta |
| Profession | academic |
Kristopher Wells (born 1970 or 1971)[1] is a Canadian academic and politician. He was appointed to the Senate of Canada on August 31, 2024. He was nominated by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments and appointed by Governor General of Canada Mary Simon on the recommendation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.[2]
Education
[edit]Wells has earned three degrees from the University of Alberta, a Bachelor of Education, a Master of Education, and a Doctor of Philosophy.[3]
Career
[edit]Wells was a public school teacher in St. Albert, Alberta. He then worked as diversity consultant for Edmonton Public Schools, where he helped develop the first sexual and gender identity school board policy in Western Canada.[2]
In 2012, he became a professor at MacEwan University and faculty director of the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services at the University of Alberta. In 2018, he was appointed MacEwan University's first Canada Research Chair and was the founding Director of the MacEwan Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity.[2] Wells has served on various committees in Alberta, including the Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities, REACH Edmonton, the Alberta Hate Crimes Committee, the Edmonton Police Chief's Community Advisory Council, and the LGBTQ2+ National Monument Committee.[4] He has been a critic of the Alberta government's plan to require parental consent before children under 16 can change their names or preferred gender pronoun in schools.[4]
Wells is the co-creator of Pride Tape, a campaign that encouraged NHL hockey players to use rainbow patterned hockey tape on their sticks as a way of showing support for LGBTQ rights.[5]
At the time of his appointment to the upper house, Wells was an associate professor at MacEwan University in the Department of Child and Youth Care in the Faculty of Health and Community Studies and the Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth at MacEwan University.[2] His academic work specializes in sexual and gender minority youth, education, and culture. He is the co-editor of the Journal of LGBT Youth.[6]
Senate
[edit]The appointments of Wells and Daryl Fridhandler as Senators for Alberta were criticized by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for ignoring the results of the province's unofficial Senate nominee election. Smith issued a statement saying: "Despite our province's repeated democratic election of senators-in-waiting ready to represent Albertans’ interests, [Prime Minister Trudeau] has chosen to appoint left-wing partisans who will do whatever he and the Liberals order them to."[5]
Honours
[edit]Wells is a recipient of the Alberta Centennial Medal, the Alberta Award for Study of Canadian Human Rights and Multiculturalism, the Alberta Teachers’ Association's Public Education Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Mr. GayCalgary October 2014 Dr. Kristopher Wells". Gay Calgary, pg 54. Gay Calgary Magazine. October 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "St. Albert's Kristopher Wells named to Senate". St. Albert Gazette. August 31, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- ^ "Dr. Kristopher Wells". Prime Minister of Canada. Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- ^ a b Melgar, Alejandro (August 31, 2024). "Smith accuses Trudeau of naming 'left-wing partisan' Albertans to Canadian Senate". CityNews. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Smith accuses Ottawa of ignoring Alberta's interests with Albertan senate picks". CTV News. August 31, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- ^ "Dr. Kristopher Wells". EdCan Network. Canadian Education Association. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
| Authority control databases: Academics |
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