2022 Election
Near North District School Board
Zone 1: North Bay
Number of Available Seats: 4-
Jay ASPIN
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Julie Ann BERTRAMElected
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Chantal PHILLIPSElected
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Zone 2: Callander
Number of Available Seats: 1-
Caren GAGNE
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Zone 3: Powassan
Number of Available Seats: 1-
John ARKWRIGHT
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Zone 4: Parry Sound
Number of Available Seats: 1-
John COCHRANEAbout Me:
I was elected in 2018 as the NNDSB Zone 4 Trustee and I am seeking re-election this fall. The board elected me as vice-chair and I have held that role and the role of chair of both the Audit and Finance …committees since 2018 and I am also chair of the Parry Sound Build Committee.
My commitments during the last election were to implement an early French Immersion program in Parry Sound and to replace the aging and out-of-date Parry Sound High School with a new state of the art school. The French Immersion program was implemented early in my term and the new school build is ongoing.
For the last three years, facing the challenges of COVID, my priorities were and continue to be the safety of our students and staff, a new state of the art Parry Sound School to replace the 100-year-old Nobel Public School and the 70-year-old Parry Sound High School, and continuation of our early French Immersion program. My priority with programming at our new high school includes state-of-the-art trades education.
I am pleased to report as Chair of Audit and Finance, that for the last four years, thanks to our outstanding finance department staff and our Board of Trustees, we have balanced our $168 million dollar annual budget despite the rising costs of living and additional expenditures due to COVID.
I bring to the board my experience for twelve years as chair, governor, and audit chair of Cambrian College; as an Ontario Human Rights Commissioner; as a director on the Federal Economic Development board; and as a director and audit chair of a regional credit union.
I am dedicated to providing quality education for our students by working with our parents, teachers, board staff and the Ministry of Education. My wife, Sandra Ausma, P.Eng., and I live in beautiful Parry Sound.
Continuous education is important as a board member. During my tenure as trustee, I completed the Osgoode Hall Law School at York University Intensive Human Rights Program for School Board Leaders, and I successfully completed the requirements for the College Centre of Board Excellence Certificate of Good Governance.
I will be using Instagram and Facebook to share my platform, priorities and respond to questions received, here are the links to my professional pages:
https://www.facebook.com/PSJohnCochrane
https://www.instagram.com/john.cochrane4nndsb/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-cochrane-603b3562/
A spring article in the Parry Sound North Star also outlines some of the successes for Parry Sound during my tenure:
https://www.thestar.com/local-parry-sound/news/2022/05/17/parry-sound-s-near-north-trustee-seeks-second-term-focus-on-trades.html
Let me know if you have any additional questions. Thanks again for reaching out.
Best regards,
John Cochrane More -
Howard WESLEYElectedAbout Me:
Hi I am Howard Wesley, I have two children one is in grade 11 and the other has just graduated. I moved into the area as a commercial banker but have enjoyed the past 12 years working for two independent …non profits focused on affordable housing with all levels of government.
I have been a volunteer at the schools for many years including parent chair for two elementary schools and a current parent council member at Parry Sound Secondary School. In 2014 I was honoured by the Town of Parry Sound with a citizen of the year award. I have attached a few links below of my work in the community and my Facebook page for more information.
Links of my volunteer history in Parry Sound area
https://www.parrysound.com/news-story/4584574-mission-accomplished-revamped-park-unveiled/
https://www.parrysound.com/news-story/5824761-revamped-booth-street-park-unveiled/
https://www.parrysound.com/news-story/7489398-parry-sound-hub-open-to-community-for-close-to-a-year/?li_source=LI&li_medium=YMBII&li_pl=85&li_tr=YMBII
https://www.parrysound.com/news-story/5256704-meet-parry-sound-s-citizen-of-2014/
Link to my Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/votehowardwesley More
Zone 5: Township of Perry
Number of Available Seats: 1-
Shane HALLAcclaimed