2014 Election Archive

Chris Erl, a born and raised Hamiltonian, has wanted to change the world ever since becoming the Westwood Elementary School Chief Returning Officer in Grade 5. Chris graduated from McMaster University …in 2012 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History, where he specialized in Hamilton's local political history. He returned to McMaster and completed a Master of Arts degree in Work and Society, where he researched the role of organized labour in Hamilton's municipal government, graduating in 2013. He is currently a student in Urban Planning. n August, 2013, Chris was a candidate in the special election to fill the trustee's position left after the tragic passing of Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Trustee Robert Barlow. Over the course of that short, informal campaign, he became more aware of the issues facing the HWDSB and the parents, teachers, students, and communities affected by their decisions. More

I am a candidate for Trustee to the public school board in wards one and two. I am a lifelong resident of Hamilton and reside in ward one with my wife Cristina and my two children Alessandra and Robert. …I attended Central Public, the old Ryerson and Westdale and my children attended Earl Kitchener, the new Ryerson and Westdale. We all succeeded in our pursuits of higher education as a result of the public education we received. I have previously served as a Trustee for ward one on the former Hamilton Public School Board and would have continued had there not been the change to having only one Trustee serve per ward. My ward mate Judith Bishop and I closely matched each other in our views and knowing that she was serving the needs of ward one very well, I declined to run against her. As Judith is now stepping down I have put my name forward for your consideration in hopes that I might, as she did, so well serve the needs of our students and community. I work in the water treatment industry in Ontario and I have owned and operated my own company ATSI since 1997. I have also served and continue to serve on a number of non-profit boards including the Water Environment Association of Ontario, the Ontario Pollution Control Equipment Association and Houselink Community Homes. These experiences have helped me to understand very well the needs of good governance. As a Trustee for ward one I served on the Program Committee and the Operations and Finance Committee. My record of voting and participation on behalf of ward one can be found in the Minutes of the Board. I am very proud of the decisions made while serving as a Trustee particularly on some key votes that made a difference to the programs provided and on the selection of a new Director. Some issues that I would work to address include: Provincial Funding. Funding should also allow for full day daycare and adult education costs. School Closing Policy. I am not confident that current policies allow for a cradle to grave analysis of all costs involved, including the impacts on the environment, when considering building new versus refurbishing existing buildings. The entire closure process requires a thorough review to help ensure the best decisions are made. School Transitions. Declining enrolments within the Board continue to require the closure of schools in order to be efficient and ensure our limited funding is well spent. I do not support a moratorium on the closure of schools but I will work to protect the programs and services that were developed in the schools being closed and try hard to ensure that they are not lost in the transition to the schools those displaced students are sent to. More

As a father, neighbour, veteran, and now a candidate to be your next School Board Trustee, Ed Sculthorpe has always been one to stand and be counted. In his youth he received several awards and accolades …for his leadership and integrity. In 1992 he joined the Canadian Armed Forces as an Electrical Mechanical Engineer in Hamilton and embarked on a 22 year military career. In that time, Sculthorpe became very familiar with the downtown and harbourfront armouries and grew to love the vibrant surrounding neighbourhoods and developing creative arts culture in our core. Sculthorpe was quickly identified as a highly effective instructor and became staff on a diverse range of courses teaching leadership, instructional technique, equipment maintenance and recovery, advanced driving, and occupational safety to name a few. He was a key contributor to the development of a nation-wide training model for the Electrical Mechanical Engineers in the Primary Reserve and also established a highly successful satellite campus for introductory trades training in London, Ontario. Sculthorpe received both Battalion Senate and Commander's Commendations for his contributions. While serving on peacekeeping missions in the Balkans and the Middle East, Sculthorpe dedicated much of his personal time to further contribute to the communities surrounding the camps. As part of a group of volunteer soldiers, Sculthorpe helped re-construct playgrounds and refurbish a fire engine for the Bosnian towns of Kljuc and Drvar. He also helped organize fundraising events for the Children's Cancer Clinic at Afula Hospital in Israel and for the Convent Saint-Paul Dans Les Murs, a Christian Orphanage and Rest Home in Damascus, Syria. Within the camp, Sculthorpe sat on entertainment committees to help plan recreational events for his fellow soldiers, in addition to receiving a Commander's Commendation for his skill as a tradesman. In between missions, Sculthorpe took a hiatus from full-time military life to complete his diploma in Public & Private Investigations at Sheridan College as well as a minor in Creative Photography. He spent the following three years gaining valuable experience as a contracted investigator for insurance and software fraud and licence infringement. He remained part-time with the military, sacrificing most weekends to train and teach. Sculthorpe spent the remaining ten years of his military career teaching new tradesmen, co-ordinating the career progression of almost 300 personnel, and as a unit operations manager. He was selected to participate in Lt. Gov. James Bartleman's book drive, delivering thousands of donated books along the ice roads to remote First-Nations settlements in Northern Ontario. He also oversaw major renovations and fundraising events as President of the senior non-commissioned officer's committee at the home station of the Royal Canadian Regiment. His final post was with an Integrated Personnel Support Unit overseeing the career transition of members with physical and Post-Traumatic Stress related injuries, working with their families and community to create awareness and ensure proper care was achieved. A proud homeowner in Hamilton since 2001, Sculthorpe has also remained committed to his local community. He has participated in many food drives for Good Shepherd Centre, sat on the Ward One Participatory Budgeting Advisory Committee since its inception, and established a steering committee for the soon-to-be Ainslie Wood Community Centre on the site of Prince Philip School. He is an avid musician and is now a practicing Luthier (stringed instrument builder/refurbishment) and small business owner. Sculthorpe is an active member of the Electrical Mechanical Engineering Association, the Royal Canadian Legion and the Hamilton Musicians Guild. More than any of his experiences, Sculthorpe counts his amazing wife and two children as his most significant inspiration. More

I’m running as a concerned parent and citizen and without the backing of any political party. I went to Hess St. & John A. Macdonald schools, lived in Hamilton since '85 and in Ward 3 for over a combined …decade. Like you, I have had enough of the arrogance and mindless decisions of our trustees – so I decided to do something to change the Board. I’m fighting for a seat on the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board to stand up for some principles I believe you and I share: We both know that public schools must respect parents’ voices and honour their values. Like you, I believe that our schools belong to the parents, taxpayers and students of Hamilton, not to teacher unions or bureaucrats in Toronto. believe it’s critical that the school board must value local, neighbourhood schools, and oppose planned “Mega Schools” – and it will take a change on the board to make this happen. I hope I can earn your trust and support on Election Day, October 27th. Together, let’s Change the Board. More

I am a third generation Hamiltonian on both sides of my family. Other than a few years of showing horses and country living as a young child, Hamilton has been my only home. I grew up on the east mountain, …but I have been a home-owner in Ward 3 for nearly 8 years now, and a resident of the lower city for the majority of my adult life. Although I did not grow up in our neighbourhood, I was influenced in so many ways by Wards 3 and 4 as a child. My mother and father grew up in the east end, and both of their parents eventually set up roots in the area that surrounds the old Centre Mall as well. I played on streets and swung on swings a stones throw from Dofasco, and the oddly comforting smell of manufactured steel to this day, reminds me of my roots. Four generations of my family have known employment in our north end steel factories, and now a fourth generation of my family is being educated in our local schools. My grandfather, who will turn 99 in May, lied to fight for the country that he was proud to call his own. Our battles may look different then the ones that took his friends too young but where they are similar, is in the need to stand up for what we believe in. I believe in community. Schools and education, are at the very heart of our neighbourhoods. Our children's futures is that battle worth fighting for at all risk, and at all cost. If we wanted Trustees that were employees of and carried forward the voices of the Board, they would be hired by Board management. Somewhere along the way, they have forgotten who their employers are. More

My family has a history of being involved in the education of children. My great grandfather, William P Miles, sold the land needed to expand the U.S.S. No 6 Glandford & Barton School in 1952. The original …school was built in 1875 and was one of the first schools built on the Hamilton Mountain. My grandfather, Stanley W. Miles, was a school trustee for many years. I would like to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps by serving as a Trustee in Hamilton. Background: I am a born and raised Hamiltonian and have spent all of my 54 years living in East Hamilton Mountain. I have a great deal of experience with today’s youth as I have worked with at –risk youth for 20 years. Currently, I work for Kinark Child & Family Services as a Child and Youth Worker. I work in a treatment facility with youth who are in conflict with the law. These youth have complex psychological and psychosocial disorders. My role is to assist them in achieving their treatment goals by providing them with a safe environment to explore alternative coping methods to effectively manage their emotions and impulses. Also, I am the co-founder and co-director of Fort Rev Boot Camp. This is a wildness camp which has successfully mentored kids for 22 years. Hamilton’s youth has always been important to me. For 10 years I worked in Barton High School and McNab High School as a councillor with Campus Life. Working with students guiding them through many issues. Also, I was an assistant coach for Water Polo at Barton High School. More

Dawn Danko is the married mother of two children currently enrolled in the HWDSB. Dawn Danko lives in Ward 7 - Hamilton Central Mountain. Dawn holds a Master's Degree in Education and is currently a Professor …of Medical Radiation Sciences at the college level and a small business owner. Dawn Danko would like to bring her experience in education, leadership and business to public education in Hamilton. More

I grew up in the east end of the City of Hamilton where I attended school and lived with my mother, father and younger sister. I come from a family of steel and trade workers. From my father, grandfather, …uncles and now my husband, we have always been part of Hamilton's steel and trade industry. My husband and I bought our home here on the central mountain back in 2007 and along with our two children, we are happy to call it home. I have always had a love of helping people and working with conflict resolution. While helping co-facilitate a course in 'Empowering Yourself' in high school I decided that I wanted to become a counselor. I went on to study in the field of addictions and mental health and in 2005 I received my Addictions Worker Diploma with honours. I went on to work with children and youth and spent most of my career working front line in group homes with at- risk youth and young offenders who were in the care of child protection agencies. Between paper work and providing care for the youth, my biggest role and joy was being a positive role model, teaching and providing guidance. I have also worked with children in both local elementary schools and recreational settings. A few years ago I went to trade school to learn carpentry and home renovation. I have a love of education and learning and my family calls me the "permanent student" as I can be found at home in my spare time reading and writing about philosophy, politics, psychology and society. Being a parent of children in both elementary and middle school I understand the problems parents are faced with when it comes to educational programming in the 21st century, budget cuts and wanting more for our children. I would love to see my children and all students graduate from school with numerous skills and hands on experience. Using my experience and knowledge, I want to work with the HWDSB to help make the next great inventors, innovators, artists, writers, tradesmen/women and brilliant minds of tomorrow. If elected I intend to use my background and experience working with children, youth and families to serve my community and be their voice, providing only the best representation while being the link between families and the Board. More

As trustee I bring almost 15 years of experience working within our schools and understand the needs of youth and parents. As a member of Parent Council in my children's schools, both elementary & secondary, …I served at Co-chair for the past 8 years and as a member of HWDSB Parent Involvement Committee for 4 years. In 2009 I launched Healthy Community – Healthy Youth in 2009, partnering with schools, parents, students, businesses, service groups, youth organizations, churches and local government. My vision is a community in which all youth are supported through positive developmental relationships enabling every child to reach their full potential. More