2014 Election Archive

Jeffery is a local resident with 2 small children about to enter the TCDSB system in Ward 1. Jeffery has a number of different items he would like to focus on during his tenure as Trustee for Ward 1: Better, …smarter accountability for Tax Payers, Improve on Math Programs and Education, Improve Trustee communication with parents and residents, Our Trustees need to be more responsive!, Focus on Safety for both Junior and High Schools, Inspire Extra Curricular involvement for both Students and Teachers. Platform - Safety & Communication: Extra-Curricular Activities are key to improving community safety, I want students learning leadership skills and team skills, We need students busy and focused on positive activities, to avoid issues. Math & Science: Math is key for success in the real world and the high tech world, Will create new math programs and technology programs with industry. Saving Taxpayers’ Dollars: As a Chartered Professional Accountant & CEO I have the business knowledge, To ensure smart spending for the classroom and on technology, for kids careers, Will use my finance background to protect the taxpayer's hard earned dollars. Jeffery is an accomplished business owner, who currently has his CPA and CMA designation as well as many years of experience as a business owner. Jeffery has also donated a tremendous amount of his time by volunteering as Cub Leader and serving as the Chair of the Etobicoke Safety Council. For more information or to connect with Jeffery Directly, please visit his website at http://www.jefferyzajac.ca/. Email him at Vote@JefferyZajac.ca More

Trustee Andrachuk has been involved in Catholic education for more than 25 years. Both her children attended St. Gregory’s Catholic Elementary School where she volunteered on the CPTA then the CSAC to …improve the school facilities and provide resources for all students. Both are graduates of TCDSB schools and have successfully completed their University studies. She was first elected as a member of the Board of Trustees in 2003 and is completing her third term of office. Ann represented the Board for three as Chair from 2010 - 2013. She has served as a dedicated trustee representative on the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) for most of her 11 year tenure. Other positions she held include chair and vice-chair to the Administrative and Corporate Services Committee, chair of the Human Resources and Religious Affairs Committee and vice-chair of the Trustee Services and By-Laws Committee. She has been a member on Expulsion hearings, on search committees for the Director of Education, Associate Director and Superintendents. She represents the Board of Trustees at numerous internal and external events and committees and has established positive relationships with the various levels of government, always focusing on student success and improvement of facilities. Recently she was appointed to the City of Toronto School Boards Task Force and was elected as one of two Vice Chairs. The Task Force was established to deal with the specific goal of identifying key issues for collaboration and determining the best means to build information sharing and co-operation between the City of Toronto and the four publicly funded School Boards. Her career has been in administration, event planning, and sales. She is also an entrepreneur with a design firm specializing in home staging. Ann started her public service as a community activist spearheading and representing hundreds of local residents to successfully stop the expansion of a local roadway, working with city staff and community representatives to develop a mutually satisfactory solution. Ann and her family have been members of St. Gregory’s Parish in Etobicoke for 30 years. She is a 22 year member on the Catholic Women's League and has served as their Treasurer, President, and Historian. She organized many CWL fundraising events to provide funds for various charitable organizations. She served as Chair of the Parish 50th Anniversary celebration and World Youth Day 2002 – Parish Host Family Coordinator. Ann presently serves as a Lector in the parish. She brings this passion of service to her position as Trustee. Ann represents the TCDSB in Central Etobicoke, Ward 2, city wards 3, 5 & 6. More

I am running to support Catholic education in Toronto. I believe that Catholic values help students to develop holistically and create a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. I attended Ward 5 Catholic …elementary and secondary schools as did our four children. I am committed to engaging with parents/parent councils, student groups, & community members. I see myself as a leader in Catholic Education, one who is fiscally responsible and accountable, a leader who will advocate for preserving and promoting publicly funded Catholic education for our children. I think I am an excellent candidate because of my experience as a parent, my leadership experience in board work, and my track record of advocating for school improvements and achieving them through collaborating with parents, the board staff, trustees, and local politicians. I tweet most days about the trustee campaign. I would continue to tweet as a trustee because this keeps people aware of the commitment & energy of Catholics in Ontario. Follow me: @JMacdon6 Thanks Jody Macdonald More

My name is Frank D'Amico CD, I am the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) Trustee for Ward 6. I was first elected in 2010 and served in many roles within the TCDSB. I was the first ever Vice …Chair of the newly formed Student Achievement Committee, but my passion is with Special Education because my little brother has Down Syndrome. I was appointed to the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) in 2010 for a 4 year term. I'm a member of the Angel Foundation for Learning (AFL) where they serve over 30,000 nutritious meals each day, distribute bursaries and awards and serve the neediest of our students. I'm also a member of the Canadian National Exhibition Association (CNEA). The CNEA employs over 5000 students each summer and supplies free admit one passes for our students each year. This year I've taken on a couple of new challenges, The Safe Schools Committee, a large portfolio where I'm actively involved with parents, teachers, senior staff and Police Joint Task Forces, and I recently received a lockdown training Certificate. My other challenging role is with the Ontario Catholic School Trustee Association (OCSTA) where I represent the Toronto Trustees at a Provincial level. I'm very active in my own community where I serve as an Usher in my parish, St. Clare Church, I'm a 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, a Regular Member of the Royal Canadian Legion, branch number 31, Treasurer of Police Community Partnership 13 Division, and I sit on the Community Safety Task Force which reports directly to the Toronto Police Service Board. I'm presently employed as a Canadian Soldier where I've been proudly serving my Country for over 16 years. In that time, among other awards, I've earned my Canadian Decoration, 1 Brigade Commander's Commendation, 2 Land Force Central Area Commander's Commendations and most recently the Queen Elizabeth the II Diamond Jubilee Medal. More

It’s time for fresh and progressive ideas at the TCDSB. Falling test scores have reached crisis level and we need immediate action to reverse the trend. Only 53 per cent of grade six students are meeting …the minimum provincial standard in math. It’s a multi-year trend and not enough is being done to support students. Many TCDSB schools are doing an amazing job at teaching math. I will make sure that success is replicated across the board by examining best practices and sharing ideas with teachers and parents. I am a tireless advocate for Catholic education, student achievement and parental involvement. Before deciding to run for trustee I was an executive member of the Toronto Catholic Parent Involvement Committee I am also the past chair for both CSAC (parent council) and the safe schools committee at my children’s school. I have spent countless volunteer hours over the past eight years speaking out about student achievement and parental rights. It’s time for change and new ideas. On October 27 be sure to ask for a Catholic Ballot. For more information www.electkevinmorrison.com More

Nancy Crawford was elected Catholic School Trustee for Ward 12 in Toronto in the 2010 municipal election and has been a dynamic contributor to the Board ever since. Experienced, skilled and passionate, …Nancy is a strong advocate for publicly funded Catholic Education. Having grown up in Vancouver, where her parents paid tuition for her to attend a Catholic school, she appreciates the value of public funding. Nancy champions the needs of students and parents in Ward 12. She also seeks to keep the best interests of all students in mind as she determines how to vote on each item before the Board of Trustees. Nancy attends school events and Masses and supports parents, teachers and administrators with her presence and prayers, and her advocacy in the Boardroom. She has worked to strengthen relationships between Trustees and staff and between schools and Parishes. She works for continuous improvement in Board policies and practices, especially those that engage community members and stakeholders. Nancy is presently the Vice Chair of the Board and has chaired the Governance Framework Standing Committee, vice chaired the Executive Search committee to hire a Director of Education, has been the Trustee representative to the Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (CPIC) and to the Nurturing our Catholic Community Committee and a member of the Budget Committee. Nancy continues to learn, she participated in the first offering of the Catholic School Governance course which was especially designed for Catholic School Trustees and offered by the University of St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto and the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association. She is also a part-time student at St. Michael’s, working on a Master’s Degree in Religious Education. Nancy’s professional background is in education and career counselling. She has a Master’s degree in Adult Education and Counselling from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. She worked for thirty years for the City of Toronto in Human Resources, in career counselling and adult learning and development for civic employees. Nancy is blessed in her marriage to Paul and with five children and five grandchildren. Nancy was active in her children’s school communities and served on both elementary and secondary Catholic School Advisory Committees. Nancy is an active member of St. Brigid’s Parish and serves as Chair of the Liturgy Committee, coordinator of the Eucharistic Ministers, member of the Parish Council and facilitator of Liturgy of the Word with Children. Nancy and Paul facilitate the Baptism preparation program for parents and Godparents. Nancy is an active Catholic and dedicates time to her own faith development and prayer. More

Jo-Ann has been fortunate to be a part of both Catholic schools and churches in diverse neighbourhoods across Toronto. And the honour and privilege of being the trustee for Ward 9 for the last 4 years …www.jo-anndavis.ca, and Chair for the last year. For details on initiatives and committees please see www.votejo-anndavis.ca. She attended elementary school off Roncesvalles at St. Vincent de Paul, and high school at St. Joseph College School across from Queen’s Park. Jo-Ann took her B.A. at St Michael’s College, University of Toronto. After St. Mike’s, she earned a Master’s in Chinese Government & Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London (UK), and was a Ph.D. candidate in Government at the London School of Economics (LSE). Her studies included six months as a guest researcher at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. When she returned to Canada, she had the honour of heading St. Clement’s Youth Ministry leading up to the awe-inspiring Toronto World Youth Day celebrations in 2002. Now, she is a parishioner at both St. Basil’s and Holy Rosary churches, where she is a lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. Professionally, she is a Senior Associate at Leman Group – the firm delivers big one-time strategic change initiatives, including merger and acquisition integrations, corporate turnarounds, and organizational transformations, for clients across many industries in both the private and public sectors. On a volunteer basis, she is President of the [rescue_highlight color=”blue”]Canadian International Council, Toronto chapter [/rescue_highlight]a non-partisan, nationwide research council established 80 years ago to strengthen Canada’s foreign policy with branches providing forums for informed discussion, analysis and debate. She’s on the Board of Directors of HelpAge Canada, Canada’s only organization dedicated exclusively to helping older people at risk locally and globally. And co-creator of Unlock Democracy Canada – a new national campaign focused on democratic renewal and proportional government, to strengthen Canada’s democracy. More

Since 1978, it has been my privilege to serve Catholic School ratepayers of Ward 10. With your support, I will continue to work hard as your Catholic School Trustee.