Deron Bilous has made people and their common challenges the basis of his politics and his life. A respected educator and mentor, Deron’s dedication to his students and community makes him a trusted advocate for a wide range of social justice issues, from equal access to education to affordable housing.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Deron’s belief in pursuing your goals through hard work was passed on from his grandparents, (when they journeyed from Ukraine and Austria to build a life in Canada) and later, his parents. Growing up he learned it was important to treat people how he would like to be treated. This led to a passion for fairness, equality and justice, which served him well as a volunteer with Canada World Youth.

Deron’s belief that everyone, regardless of background or status, deserves an opportunity to pursue a quality education, motivated him to pursue a degree from the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. For the past five years, he has been teaching English and Social Studies, and mentoring students at Edmonton’s Inner City High School. His commitment to the idea of equal education and his unwavering support of his students has paid off, as many of Deron’s former students have gone from the classroom to become accomplished members of the community themselves.

It’s these basic ideas of supporting potential and giving back to one’s community that Deron brings from the classroom to politics. In fact, it’s one of the reasons he joined Alberta’s only socially progressive political party, the Alberta NDP.

With the conviction that people engage in politics when they feel change is truly possible, Deron and his dedicated team have knocked on more than 9,000 doors in Beverly-Clareview. As he continues to connect with constituents, Deron is even more confident that Alberta is ready for politics based on our shared values of broad prosperity, equal opportunity, and a vibrant community for all.