Brooks Arcand-Paul, also known by his nehiyaw name sîpîysis, is the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-West Henday, succeeding outgoing MLA Jon Carson. He is a member of the Alberta New Democratic Party.[1]

Brooks Arcand-Paul
sîpîysis
MLA for Edmonton-West Henday
Assumed office
May 29, 2023
Preceded byJon Carson
Personal details
BornEdmonton, Alberta
Political partyAlberta New Democratic Party
Alma materUniversity of Ottawa
University of Alberta
OccupationLawyer[1]

Life and career

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Arcand-Paul grew up on the Alexander First Nation located north-west of Edmonton. He is a direct descendent of catchistahwayskum, a nehiyaw leader who adhered to Treaty 6 in 1877 at Fort Edmonton. Arcand-Paul’s traditional name sîpîysis means “little river” in nehiyawewin (Cree).[2]

He graduated from the University of Alberta with an undergraduate degree in sociology and political science. Arcand-Paul later graduated from the University of Ottawa law school in 2016. He articled for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, and was called to both the Ontario and Alberta Bars.[3]

Prior to being elected MLA, Arcand-Paul served as legal counsel for his First Nation. As a lawyer, he practiced in Aboriginal, employment, and commercial law, working for both boutique and large law firms before his work with the Alexander First Nation. In 2014, Arcand-Paul joined the board of directors for the Indigenous Bar Association, a non-profit organization representing First Nations, Inuit, and Métis legal professionals, and served as their vice-president until the 2023 Alberta provincial election.[4] In May 2023, Arcand-Paul was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the riding of Edmonton-West Henday.[5] As of June 21, 2024, he serves as the Official Opposition critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.

Electoral history

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2023 general election

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2023 Alberta general election: Edmonton-West Henday
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Brooks Arcand-Paul 11,495 56.84 +12.76
United Conservative Slava Cravcenko 7,956 39.34 -2.15
Liberal Dan Bildhauer 391 1.93 +0.38
Green Kristina Howard 382 1.89
Total 20,224 99.42
Rejected and declined 118 0.58
Turnout 20,342 57.66
Eligible voters 35,281
New Democratic hold Swing +7.46
Source(s)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Member Brooks Arcand-Paul". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  2. ^ "Brooks Arcand-Paul". Zeta Psi Fraternity. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  3. ^ "Astonishing Young Alumni, Brooks Arcand-Paul, JD '16, selected to attend the GGCLC". uottawa.ca. University of Ottawa. 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  4. ^ "Astonishing Young Alumni, Brooks Arcand-Paul, JD '16, selected to attend the GGCLC". Faculty of Law. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  5. ^ Junker, Anna (May 30, 2023). "Thirteen new MLAs elected to Edmonton and area". Edmonton Journal. Edmonton. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  6. ^ "45 - Edmonton-West Henday". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved June 9, 2023.