Why I am running to be the next Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
Trustee for Ward 8.

I  am optimistic about the students of today. They have the potential to be skilled and prepared for the new opportunities of the 21st Century labour market. Despite the many opportunities, there are currently worker shortages in many areas including in the medical fields, the technology and trades sectors, that is expected to continue for years to come. We need the proper programs, and the right strategies in place to help our students realize their dreams and full potentials. More people should be connected with the right opportunities through long-term education planning, access to technology and trades, partnerships with businesses, and investment in retraining.

Students should be empowered to take charge of their career goals. We need to train a workforce that has the necessary skills, but also that enriches human intelligence and many of the other skills that make us unique. That is not always obtained in a class or textbooks, but through opportunities to interact with our community and the world.

We need to ensure our schools are a safe environment for young people to learn and offer programs that engage the energy and talent of our students. Current labour shortages are only going to get worse if not addressed from early in school. Learning has to be tailored to teach the necessary skills that wil open doors to various experiences and post-secondary options.

Some of the existing shortages in the labour force are the inevitable culmination of a seismic demographic shift decades in the making. Many of these have not been properly planned for and we are suffering the consequences of that lack of foresight, and preparation. We now need to focus, and plan better for the future needs of our society.

Our youth have the ability to bridge those gaps, if given the proper tools to do so. It is our job to look to the future, and prepare our young people for rewarding careers, lifelong learning that will enable them to thrive, thereby benefitting our community. That's why I am running to be the next Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Trustee for Ward 8.