Ellen Chambers is running for School Board Trustee for the Lakehead District School Board in Thunder Bay.
Ellen (she/her) has spent her entire career in education, beginning as an elementary teacher and then continuing in the classroom and special education. She was the president of the local Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and an ETFO Provincial Executive Member. She advocated locally, provincially, and nationally for LGBTTQI+ students’ rights and safety. Ellen was on the Project Advisory Panel for the Egale First National Survey on Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia in Canadian Schools. She is co-chair of Diversity Thunder Bay (DTB), chair of DTB Education Committee, volunteer for Birds Canada, and a founding member and past co-chair of Thunder Pride. She is the recipient of the ETFO provincial Humanitarian Award, the ETFO President’s Award, the Thunder Bay Mayor’s Hero Award and the Thunder Pride Visionary Award. Her passion is education and children. Her love is her family and friends (and dogs and nature). She pledges to help whenever she can.
Why are you running for this position?
I am passionate about public education and believe that trustees make a difference through their decisions in the lives and education of children. Trustees are the only elected officials whose sole existence is in regard to children and their education.
What innovative projects would enhance life in your municipality?
In regard to education, I believe that the new strategic plan at Lakehead Public Schools with the Indigenous Learning Framework will take our schools and children to a better place in our commitment to Reconciliation. Anti-racism and anti-discrimination projects will enhance the lives of people in our community.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for your municipality any way you wanted, what would you do with it?
End homelessness.
What do you think are the greatest challenges your municipality faces?
Safety and equity for all.
Other than the official ways of communicating (minutes, municipal notes), how else will you reach out to your constituents to involve them in the decision making process?
Social media.
What is your favourite thing to do in your municipality?
Work on anti-racism.
Why do you think it’s important for women to be represented in civic leadership, including on committees, boards and municipal councils?
Women are 50% and more of the population without our voice how can you say the committee etc. has the voice of the people.
What does a ‘feminist city’ mean to you?
All women are represented and are safe and no longer exploited.
Please identify the most critical policy, project, or initiative in your platform that addresses systemic barriers faced by women in your municipality, and describe why:
I am a school trustee seeking re-election I work to ensure that all children are safe and receive an equitable and the best education we can provide.
