2018 Election

Born, raised and educated in Kanata, Adam Grodinsky is a passionate advocate for public education in Zone 2. Adam has several years of experience in the federalpublic service, working in Book Publishing …Policy and Programs and holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Edinburgh. The focus of his studies was public engagement in policy making and governance. Adam was awarded the Edinburgh Award for Professionalism in Community Engagement by the School of Political and Social Sciences.

Adam's top priority is to fix the disconnect between parents and the Board. That is why he promises to make it easier for parents and students to communicate their issues and concerns by holding regular town hall meetings and by publishing regular updates on board activity. By engaging with concerned residents and keeping them apprised, he hopes to be the best advocate for their ideas and interests.

Adam also promises to:

• advocate for robust public education through better funding and evidence-based policy making

• ensure that our schools are accessible for all students and meet their individual needs

• support extracurricular programming

• review board policy on air conditioning and extreme heat

• investigate solutions to improve the OCDSB's EQAO math scores More

Born in Ottawa, Waleed grew up and was schooled in Kanata. He attended Stephen Leacock Public School, and was among the first students at Katimavik Elementary School in 1981.

After graduating from …Ashbury College in 1991, Following High School, Waleed Qirbi studied at the University of Western Ontario where he completed his B.A. in Honours Political Science in 1995. Following two years of work with CANMEDOR, a Canadian Start-Up company in the Healthcare sector, Waleed continued to the University of Toronto's Joseph L. Rotman School of Management to study in its Full-Time MBA Program in 1997.

During his time at the University of Toronto, Waleed was diagnosed with a tumour that resulted in the permanent loss of most of his sight, but none of his "vision". Following treatment, Waleed returned to complete his M.B.A., and resume his service as a Junior Fellow at Massey College. Waleed was awarded the ProScience Scholarship at the University of Toronto in 2000, and graduated in 2001.

Following his M.B.A., Waleed started VoicePC, a company committed to enhancing the lives of its clients by building the first voice enabled personal computers. In 2004, Waleed returned to Ottawa, and established VoicePC as a leading Canadian company in the field of Speech Recognition Solutions, and continues working directly with clients transitioning to speech recognition.

Waleed currently lives and works in Kanata with his wife, Fatoum. He is an active member of the business community, and serves on the Loan Review Committee of the Ottawa Community Loan Fund, as well as the Loan Review Committee at Invest Ottawa on behalf of Futurpreneur Canada. Waleed continues providing mentoring services to startup companies on a volunteer basis, and loves working with young entrepreneurs as they pursue their dreams. He continues to be an active member of the University of Toronto Alumni Network in Ottawa, and serves as a Representative of the University, and the Rotman School of Management, in Ottawa.

Waleed speaks five languages, and is fluent in English and French. More

Rob is an Ottawa boy, went to Agincourt PS in Zone 5 as a kid, obtained an MA Phil at Carleton, and works today in IT in Bells Corners in Zone 5. Rob is a former two-time OCDSB Trustee, former Chair of …its Board, and of several committees, former rep to the Ottawa Student Transportation Agency (OSTA) and rep to the Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA), though stepped away from the Board in 2014 for personal reasons. He was lead report author for the Trustee-led Special Education Policy Ad Hoc Committee (SEPAHC), aimed at reforming special education delivery services and improving communication and consultation with parents. He had led the effort to start tracking school outcomes by poverty indicators, never before done, so that the Board could better live up to its core mission of creating equity for all - the very point of publicly provided education! He is a fierce advocate of developing meaningful metrics for resource allocation purposes, to start to take student well-being more seriously, and to get away from governance by anecdote. Before initially becoming a Trustee, Rob was a school council chair, then exec member and Chair of the OCDSB's independent Ottawa-Carleton Assembly of School Councils (OCASC), and was OCASC's rep to the OCDSB rewrite of the community consultation policy. Rob has also been an active volunteer Board member of the Social Planning Council of Ottawa (SPCO), aimed at arming marginalized communities with information and providing greater youth employment opportunities. In the past, he has also been a coop daycare president, community association board member, and volunteered other ways including grassroots education advocacy. He and his wife Pat's three OCDSB kids recently have flown the coop, and Rob wants to advocate as Trustee again now for Zone 5 College in the aftermath of the hugely disruptive Western Accommodation Review, and do what can reasonably be done to help heal and tweak, develop lessons learned, and unite the Zone. He also wants to move aggressively at Board to bring in more evidence-based decision-making, less ideology, greater Board harmony, transparency, more focus on community building, and to move more strongly on outcomes for those in poverty, those who are racialized or stigmatized, or subject to other marginalization. Many files seem to have languished in the past four years and much more can be done, even with tight resources. He also looks forward to being a strong advocate for the OCDSB and its communities with respect to the Province on OCDSB autonomy, cutbacks, and unwelcome moves such as the Health and Physical Education curriculum rollback. Please refer to the website for full policy and other details. More

My name is Wendy Hough and I have proudly lived and raised my children in Bay Ward since 2001. My children are entering grades 11 and 12 at Woodroffe High School this fall. I have been actively involved …in this community for more than 17 years.

As a stay-at-home mother, I had the privilege of being very engaged in my children’s early school years; I volunteered in many capacities from Vice-Chair of the Parent Council at Woodroffe Avenue Public School to grant writer, tree planter, book sorter and, my favourite, Head Lice Program Coordinator! It was a wonderful opportunity to work with other parents, teachers and the school leadership team on a variety of projects.

For more than a decade I was an active volunteer with the YMCA-YWCA. I was involved in youth program development and delivery, I instructed innumerable fitness classes, and worked hard as a community Y ambassador and fundraiser to bring a Y presence back to the west end following the unhappy closure and demolition of the Carlingwood facility.

For five years I served as the President of the Britannia Village Community Association. Pivotal projects such as the reconstruction of Britannia Road and the village flood-proofing initiative were undertaken during my years as leader. I worked collaboratively and effectively with the community, City politicians and staff, and other stakeholders such as the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority to give those projects life. Through my affiliation with the Community Association I have had the honour of moderating political debates in the community during the 2006 federal and 2018 provincial elections.

Originally from the Brockville area, I lived in Montreal for 15 years while I pursued my studies at McGill University. I received a Bachelor degree in Psychology, a Masters in Speech Language Pathology and a Doctorate in Communication Sciences and Disorders. I have also completed a Diploma in Fundraising at Algonquin College. My academic specialties are child language development and disorders, early childhood bilingualism, and cultural determinants of caregiver-child communication patterns. I have worked with several indigenous groups in Quebec including the James Bay Cree, Inuit and Mohawk.

My career path reflects my diverse interests and abilities. From my work as a graduate researcher and lecturer at McGill, I moved on to communications and academic administration which eventually led me to my present career as a not-for-profit fundraiser. The bulk of my fundraising work has been in the youth development sector including the YMCA-YWCA, the Air Cadet League of Canada and Scouts Canada. I am now pleased to be working with Spinal Cord Injury Ontario. My personal interest in health and wellness led me to pursue training as a fitness instructor, personal trainer and life coach. More

Dr. Dragos Popa is a former university professor and educational consultant, currently holding a senior-level policy position within the federal government. He is a strong advocate for equity and quality …education for all students in Ottawa schools – through information sharing, community engagement and decisive leadership. The decision to run for elected office was not made lightly. He had to be sure that he can make a positive and meaningful contribution to the schools and communities of Bay Ward, to special education programs across the District (which are so important to so many students and families), and overall to the Board's strategic outcomes of equality, learning and well-being. Biographical highlights: Close personal and professional connections with OCDSB schools and communities throughout Bay Ward. Long-time volunteer and advocate for public schools and programs, in all parts of the city. Served as volunteer for several not-for-profit educational organizations, such as the Association for Bright Children (ABC) of Ontario; Performance and Planning Exchange; Tupper Tots Day Care; and Glebe Parents Day Care. Member of the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, 2017-present. Member of the Advisory Group for the Gifted Program Review, OCDSB, 2017-present. Happily married for the past 19 years; he and his wife are raising two boys (grade 7 and grade 9), both enrolled in the Gifted Program in OCDSB. Public servant in the Government of Canada, having worked with Global Affairs Canada, Statistics Canada, the Canada School of Public Service, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Health Canada, 2003-present. For almost a decade (2006-2014), he taught graduate and post-graduate courses at the University of Ottawa, Carleton University and the Canadian Forces College (Toronto). M.A. degree in European and Eurasian Studies (2003), and Ph.D. degree in Political Science (2008) from Carleton University's prestigious Political Science Department. Studied Journalism and Communications during his undergraduate studies in Romania, Sweden, and Switzerland. Produced numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, commissioned reports, theses, reviews, and other studies – many on educational issues. Unaffiliated with any political party; only interest and priority is to be a strong and effective voice for Bay Ward schools and communities at the School Board. More

Amy Wellings is an active member of the Nepean community and has dedicated herself to giving back through my recent election to the Barrhaven Food Cupboard Board of Directors and even founding a local …club for children and their families focused on spreading kindness throughout our community. Having graduated from both Algonquin College and Carleton University, Amy has built ties in the business community of Ottawa as a Human Resources Professional and Leadership Development Consultant. Her experience working with leaders across a multitude of industries has contributed to her passion for great leadership and the value it brings to a community. Her ability to balance the logical and strategic needs of running a business while managing the ever-tricky people side requiring empathy, compassion and collaboration will be imperative in the role as an advocate for the people of Barrhaven/Merivale-Knoxdale. More

I am running for the position of OCDSB trustee (Community Leader) Ward 8 as I want TO Make A Difference for Kids, families and communities in providing them the opportunity to reach their full potential. …

My family and I relocated to Ottawa in 2012 and we chose to reside in Orleans due to the many advantages Orleans offered. I am a semi retired grandfather who attended the TDSB system and graduated with an honours degree in Business Administration from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute located in Toronto. My interests include family, community activities, sports, politics and current affairs. I believe in the value of continuing education and updating one’s skills and hobbies throughout one’s lifetime.

My wife attended the OCDSB system in Ottawa and graduated with a diploma from Humber College in Advertising Graphic Design. We participated on a daily interactive basis with our children’s education including homework, sports and extra curricular activities while they attended public-schools in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Washington State USA, and Ontario.

My eldest daughter graduated from McGill University as a Registered Nurse and my youngest daughter graduated from University of Ontario in the field of Criminology and they both reside and work in Ottawa. We have one granddaughter aged 4 and one grandson aged 1. Our grand children love learning about new subjects and activities and we enjoy assisting them in their education. I want to increase the probability that our grandchildren’s generation have the best opportunity to reach their full potential and have a great life through promoting a progressive public education system designed to assist them in seeking future meaningful career options.

I have worked for multinational companies in the (Elevator & HVAC industries) for over 25 years across Canada and the USA.

I have General Management experience with P&L responsibility, and consulting career experience, in the commercial, government, institutional and residential marketplaces.

I am skilled at obtaining a consensus solution from a diversified group of companies /people with different interests on a timely basis.

There are several major challenges to overcome in the OCDSB system and you need an experienced manager/parent to represent you in identifying, communicating and ensuring your concerns are reviewed and acted upon by the board.

I look forward to meeting with you and representing you and your family and providing our students and our community a superior progressive public education school.s and I have the More

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read more about me. My name is Travis Croken, and I hope to represent the community, students and teachers of Zone 11 as Trustee with the OCDSB, Public English. …I am a long time resident of Zone 11, first in Courtland Park and now in Riverside Park, where I am involved in the Community Association. I am 38 years old, live with my wife, and two dogs and can often be found volunteering at or attending several of Ottawa's great festivals. Many years ago I was involved in a life-changing accident, which left me with chronic pain, post-concussion syndrome, and walking with a cane. Going through several years of painful therapy and counselling to learn to accept my "new normal" has given me a unique perspective on life.

During my recovery, I had to come to terms with my new limitations and decide whether to give in or find a new sense of meaning and accomplishment. I took on the challenge of moving forward from the accident and began to focus on writing, and creating a new life. Finding success, I started to reach out to my community and volunteer. Now I am following in the footsteps of my grandfather, who served several years as the Trustee for Kensington Elementary School in P.E.I.

Currently, I am a writer, citizen-scientist, mentor, and participate with several charities to help people around the globe. My charitable work, as well as my volunteer work, has offered me exposure to cultures and traditions from across the world. I understand cultural differences and see the need for greater understanding in our schools. When we account for and celebrate our differences and strengths, we grow as a society. When these values become everyday practice, across all the school boards, our children become united and unstoppable.

My passion for Ottawa and my community involvement allows me to be a great role model. I approach everything in my life with tenacity and refuse to be cowed by barriers. Learning to live with an acquired disability means that faced with an obstacle I do everything I must to find another way. It is this ethic and passion that I wish to use to carry your voice to the Board of Education. I will stand firm and fight to give all our children every opportunity to succeed in life. More

About My platform for school board:

The City of Ottawa’s population is on the rise, therefore new services are needed for citizens in new neighborhoods; these services include:

-Building …new school to reduce pressure from the current overcrowded classrooms;

-Mobilizing financial support for after-school program and mentorship centres across the city as well as for special need students;

-In particular, my strategy is to help navigate away from old mindsets (i.e., lack of effective listening to students) and cultivate new ones, notably the involvement and engagement of students, parents and community leaders in matters related to students’ wellbeing and education.

-Additionally, students would be consulted for their input from the initial stages of policy design and development, up until the implementation phase. I firmly believe that student creativity and positive mindset will help foster the desired changes in the school system.

Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders who deserve the opportunity to exchange ideas with today’s outgoing leaders. As such, these students should be in the driver's seat, not passenger seats, in matters impacting their future.

Justin (aka Hǖstin) W. Laku, Sr. is an educator and resident of the City of Ottawa. Like many who have been driven from their homeland by war or other conflict, Justin was a refugee three times. First, he became a refugee in Uganda, then in Egypt and finally in Canada. Justin is a founding member of the African Diaspora Association of Canada (ADAC). He is also a co-founder of Friends of Sudan. These two organizations are both community-based groups that work in Canada to support their members to settle and to integrate into their respective communities.

Currently, Justin is pursuing doctoral studies in “Federalism, Decentralization and Conflict Resolution.” He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Federalism, Decentralization, and Conflict Resolution from Fribourg University in Switzerland, a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Public Ethics with emphasis on International Development and Politics of Foreign Aid in Africa from Ottawa and Saint-Paul Universities, is a graduate of the Young African Leaders Program at the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin Germany and a graduate of the Caux Scholars Program in Switzerland. Justin also has certificates in Community Leadership, and Public Speaking from Ottawa Leadership and Christopher Leadership Course in Ottawa.

Additionally, Justin helped establish an internship program at uOttawa and provided visibility to ADAC on campuses of Ottawa, Carleton and St. Paul Universities. The aim of internship is to provide mentorship support on campus to students of African descent.

Nationally, Justin is a mentor for students of African descent at Jakubonbit Centre in the Nation’s Capital. The mentorship program is designed to help students with their academic and school assignments, research papers, and employment search. Moreover, Jakubonbit Centre offers Introduction to African History and mentorship sessions. African history is open to all.

Justin is a recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Keepers Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Medal for Humanitarianism.

Hǖstin speaks English, French, Arabic and German and reads and writes Greek and Hebrew. Hǖstin is a football referee and a member of the JB Football League in Ottawa More

Rawlson King is running for Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Trustee in Zone 12, Innes/Beacon Hill–Cyrville on an optimistic platform that focuses on meaningful public input and consultation, curriculum …innovation, and greater capital investment in school facilities. He has been the volunteer President of the Overbrook Community Association over the past four years, where he successfully advocated for a city-led youth strategy and a response plan to serious crime. During his tenure, the organization successfully raised $42,000 to hold a highly-acclaimed community musical that promoted social inclusion, while celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary. He is also a volunteer Board member and Treasurer at the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, a $1.6 million health and social services facility that serves Ottawa's east-end. Educated in Ottawa, Rawlson holds both a Bachelor of Journalism (with concentration in Legal Studies), and a M.A. in Communication from Carleton University. Recognized for his volunteer work, Rawlson won a 2018 United Way Ottawa Community Builder of the Year Award, conferred during National Volunteer Week. More