Committed to Fort Saskatchewan's Future
Allan Wesley grew up in Edmonton's inner city before my parents moved to the lovely suburb of Fort Saskatchewan. He is a University of Alberta alumni - three times over - with a B.Com (Finance), B.Sc (Actuarial Science) and a M.A. (Economics). No, Allan didn't get those degrees all at once. After completing his B.Com, he worked here and there before meeting his wife, Joy. Together Allan and Joy started many businesses - some successful, others not so much. Later, they sold those businesses and went back to University.
Whilst at University of Alberta, one of Allan's professors suggested that he teach statistics labs at MacEwan Unversity. To be honest, he thought she was crazy. At that time, Allan had never thought about teaching. After some prodding (thanks Giseon Ho), he went over to MacEwan to meet with the Math/Statistics Department Chair, David McLaughlin. David was Allan's kind of crazy, so he agreed to his first teaching opportunity (5 sections of Statistics 151 labs). From the very first minute teaching, Allan knew he had found his calling and has loved teaching ever since.
As much as Allan enjoyed teaching, he accepted an opportunity to work on business tax policy within the Department of Finance in Ottawa (2006 - 07). In that role he helped coordinate ministerial briefing notes and the business income tax portion of the federal budget. Working within a team, Allan helped calculate the "optimal" corporate tax rate. After implementation of this rate, this rate Canada's business tax competitiveness was better than the United States and most of the G20 (largest 20 economies in the world). Allan greatly expanded his public policy knowledge while with the Finance Department.
Allan Wesley currently teaches Math, Statistics, and Finance at the School of Business at MacEwan University. Earning the Distinguished Teaching Award, MacEwan University's highest teaching accolade, was the high point of Allan's teaching career. Even more humbling, over 25 MacEwan students and alumni signed his nomination (during COVID!!).
Allan’s leadership foundation was laid during his time in the Canadian Forces Reserves, where he completed an intensive 13-week leadership training program in Chilliwack. Though his service was brief (about 2 years), the experience had a lasting impact, shaping his approach to discipline, teamwork, and responsibility. He later built on those skills as a small business owner, where he continued to develop his leadership abilities while gaining firsthand insight into the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. Allan has held several leadership roles at MacEwan University, the most significant being his tenure as Chair of the Programs and Curriculum Committee. In this role, Allan led the development of a comprehensive, program-wide curriculum designed to ensure that all business students graduate with a strong, versatile foundation of knowledge applicable across various fields.
Curriculum development is a nuanced and impactful responsibility. Every decision affects students, instructors, and faculty workloads. Allan approached this challenge with diplomacy and a focus on consensus building, always striving to balance diverse perspectives while keeping student success at the forefront. His ability to bring people together and guide them toward a shared goal mirrors the collaborative nature of City Council, where differing viewpoints must be harmonized to serve the best interests of the community.
Beyond academia, Allan has found some of his most fulfilling experiences through volunteer work in Fort Saskatchewan. He has proudly served as:
Chair of the Heartland Air Monitoring Partnership
Treasurer of the Fort Saskatchewan Nourishment Centre (formerly the Food Bank)
Chair of the Fort Saskatchewan Policing Committee
In each of these roles, Allan has had the privilege of working alongside some of Fort Saskatchewan’s most dedicated and inspiring volunteers. Whether it’s monitoring air quality, addressing food insecurity, or enhancing public safety, Allan has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to community service. He is continually inspired by the passion and dedication of those he works with—individuals who give their time and energy to make Fort Saskatchewan a stronger, more compassionate place to live.
Attending MacEwan Convocation with my wife Joy. Great seeing proud family members watch their kids receive their degrees and diplomas.