2018 Election

I am running for the re-election for School Board Trustee with the Upper Canada District School Board in Ward 1 which consists of Mississippi Mills/Carleton Place/Beckwith. I am a retired school principal …with 33 years of experience in the school system. I believe in the importance of educating our youth.

The responsibility of a trustee is to work with the Board, parents, guardians, and community to provide a safe and accepting environment, where all students are provided with the tools and the opportunity to learn those life skills which will prepare them for future success in the area of their choice. Our schools should provide an environment that challenges our students to be the best they can be in an atmosphere that fosters fairness, openness, and honesty.

It is important that we put resources into our mathematics program that will allow our students to meet the provincial standards in EQAO testing. We also must bring more physical activity into our schools to improve the physical fitness of our youth.

I have the time and the energy required to fulfill this demanding and important position. I would be extremely honoured to serve the residents of this ward, again, as their school board representative. More

Carole Dufort is a bilingual and national award-winning educator and administrator who has spent a lifetime working in Public Education; including as Vice-Principal of Arklan Community Public School and …as Principal of Caldwell Street Public School. She is a published author who has led two schools to high performing status. Carole is known for her proven track record of bringing people together for a common goal, for her keen understanding of moving policy into action and for her willingness to work alongside the people she is advocating for. Carole is excited to be running in Ward 1: Beckwith, Carleton Place and Mississippi Mills because she wants to give back to the parents and communities who supported her throughout her career. More

Sharon Holzscherer moved to Carleton Place with her husband and four children nearly 25 years ago. She has been in the field of education longer than that. In 1999 she founded Mississippi School in Carleton …Place, where she taught and was principal for 16 years. Since then she has been an educational consultant both locally and in Ottawa, helping individuals and schools achieve the best education possible. She is the author of "Patterns of Disorder", a book of theories about learning disorders wrapped in a conspiracy novel. Her Masters in Education from the University of Ottawa focused on the role and value of bureaucracy in education, the strengths and challenges.

Sharon believes in a strong public education system which is relevant to the communities served. In her experiences as an entrepreneur and problem solver she has become proficient at finding solutions where resources are limited. More

I have happily and proudly lived in Brockville since 1980.

I am a retired professional (chemical) engineer. I worked at the DuPont/INVISTA plant near Maitland, ON for almost 30 years where I served …various roles from process engineering, to major project leadership teams and technical personnel management.

As a registered professional engineer, I was on the local Thousand Islands Chapter Executive Committee of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) for 14 years – 4 years as chair. Much of my time on the committee was spent as "Education Outreach Director".

My engineering and PEO work has taken me through many roles and experiences that I strongly feel would contribute to quality decisions and related communications from the School Board.

I am married, and we have successfully raised two wonderful daughters of whom we are very proud. Our eldest daughter has been a teacher in this school board for 10 years. I also have several other relatives and friends who are teachers in ours and other school boards. I have always valued and had the greatest respect for our Canadian educational system, recognizing that it supports and moulds the essence of what we are as citizens.

For the last 3 years, I have volunteered at several of the schools in our area, mainly supporting the elementary music programs.

After an education-based discussion several years ago, my daughter (the teacher) commented "Dad, you would make a great trustee!". When I realised that 2018 would be an election year, I chose to attend the school board meetings starting in September 2017. I attended 18 of the 20 board meetings this year. I took many notes at the meetings, specifically highlighting topics that I felt that I could or would like to contribute to. By Christmas, I decided that I would like to join the Board. Accordingly, I eagerly submitted my trustee nomination papers on the day that nominations opened on May 1.

My focus as trustee would be the well-being and success of our students and employees.

For more information and updates, please check out and "Like" my Facebook page at:

www.facebook.com/MLaBonteTrustee

Please vote for me between October 15th and the 22nd.

Thank you ! More

John is running for Trustee because he believes we need more money in Schools and for School Support Staff than for School Boards. He is running because he is a dedicated neighbour and believes his ideas …can make the UCDSB better. He is running because he is a proud grandparent, and cannot believe that school closures in local communities, which are a part of their fabric, are in any way beneficial to those local residents. Most of all, he is running because he believes our students are our future, and they need more support.

John's past experience as a public servant, especially his tenure as Reeve starting in 2003, make him an ideal candidate for raising the important issues and fighting for the Community. Most of all, it is his passion for public school education, displayed in his many public appearances, that make him a uniquely qualified individual to be your Trustee.

John's stance on important issues is clear and can be seen on his Website. He is most happy when he has the chance to discuss these important issues with his Community, and as such he hopes to hear your thoughts on his ideas. More