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Donica LeBlanc
Donica LeBlanc is a School Board Trustee for the Lakehead District School Board in Thunder Bay.
In our ongoing effort to spotlight the experiences of women in municipal politics, we reached out to those elected in the 2022 municipal elections in Northern Ontario. We asked these newly elected councillors and trustees to share their insights and reflections on the transition from candidate to council. Here are their candid and firsthand accounts of the challenges, surprises, and lessons learned along the way.
Donica LeBlanc is a School Board Trustee for the Lakehead District School Board in Thunder Bay.
What initially inspired or motivated you to run for council, and how did you envision your role before being elected?
As a retired educator, education remains a passion as it is the most important way to improve lives. I wanted to become a trustee to see things from another perspective and be a voice for the community.
How did your expectations or perceptions change once you took office?
Not a lot. [It] was a learning curve in relation to understanding the role of the trustee and the politics of running meetings and how each meeting has a specific purpose. My role continuously reminds me I am here for the children.
Were there any surprises or unexpected aspects of the role?
I love being invited to events and the schools. I learn so much and appreciate the hard work of staff to make life better for students. The trustee relationships surprised me. A great group of people!
What were the biggest challenges you faced when transitioning from a candidate to an elected official?
Learning the role. Completing the online training was onerous. Wading through the material, building relationships with the trustees (some have been there a while, others were new), and then running for Vice-Chair!
What do you wish people knew about running for office, based on your own experience?
Running for office — [be] in the public eye, listen to people, [and] make people aware of what a trustee does. There is some paperwork and accounting, but it is not difficult when running for a trustee position.
What were the significant milestones or accomplishments you achieved during your tenure?
Learning the role, building relationships with great people, [and] being part of OPSBA and its fantastic PD.
On the flip side, what were the challenges you faced during your first year, and how did you navigate or address them?
Some challenging issues or situations to resolve. Getting through the training and then trying to implement it.
Were there specific instances or experiences that significantly impacted your approach to governance or leadership?
Marion Thompson's training on Governance and the Good Governance Guide were crucial in learning about the role. Learning to run a proper meeting and being part of committees.
What valuable lessons have you learned or insights gained that you'd like to share with others considering a similar path in politics?
Be fair, have an open mind, and be prepared to work with people who may have very opposing opinions to your own. Learn to navigate that while simultaneously being a collective voice.
What do you wish people knew about working as a politician, based on your experience?
You have to be a people person; you have to be comfortable with conflict, and sometimes work [with] the people to make things happen.
Where can people find you?
These profiles are part of our ongoing series featuring women councillors and trustees elected through the ElectNOW initiative. Surveys were sent to all woman councillors and trustees who participated in the 2022 ElectNOW series. While some answers have been edited for clarity and spelling, the responses provided are the candidates' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of PoliticsNOW. If you are a woman councillor, mayor, or trustee residing in Northern Ontario and would like to be featured in this series, please fill out our survey.
Donica LeBlanc
Before retiring, Donica worked in education for 33 years in various roles; teacher, Vice Principal, Principal, Supervising Principal, and Special Education Officer. Her first years were spent working in outlying communities; the remainder were with Lakehead Public Schools. The experience in outlying communities supported her in developing an understanding of the educational needs of the Indigenous People. She has been part of many committees, for example, the Early Childhood Education Committee at Confederation College, a member of the Board Of Directors at Communities Together for Children and the Lakehead University Achievement Program Committee. She has two children who went through the Lakehead Public School System and Lakehead University and are now contributing to the healthcare workforce in Thunder Bay. Donica believes that with her diverse background in Education, she can be a strong voice for the community.
Donica LeBlanc is running for School Board Trustee for the Lakehead District School Board in Thunder Bay.
Before retiring, Donica (she/her) worked in education for 33 years in various roles; teacher, Vice Principal, Principal, Supervising Principal, and Special Education Officer. Her first years were spent working in outlying communities; the remainder were with Lakehead Public Schools. The experience in outlying communities supported her in developing an understanding of the educational needs of the Indigenous People. She has been part of many committees, for example, the Early Childhood Education Committee at Confederation College, a member of the Board Of Directors at Communities Together for Children and the Lakehead University Achievement Program Committee. She has two children who went through the Lakehead Public School System and Lakehead University and are now contributing to the healthcare workforce in Thunder Bay. Donica believes that with her diverse background in Education, she can be a strong voice for the community.
Why are you running for this position?
I am running for this position so that I can work with the community to be a positive voice for education.
What innovative projects would enhance life in your municipality?
Creating a forum for a diverse group of youth to co-create a plan for the future of our municipality. Identify the issues based on evidence, develop a plan and create actionable goals with an implementation plan. By involving the youth, you are building ownership and hope in the future and in our beautiful city.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for your municipality any way you wanted, what would you do with it?
This would take more than a million, but I would begin the plan mentioned in the last question and start the process to create more facilities to support drug addiction and mental health in our municipality. I would work with the other municipalities to co-facilitate such a plan.
What do you think are the greatest challenges your municipality faces?
Our community desperately requires services to support mental health and drug addiction. We need to work together as a community to educate constituents on these topics and also drug prevention programs for the youth and their families. We could be a hub for the region by providing a facility that supports more mental health options.
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?
People of all ages are using technology to communicate and so I have tried to stay as techno-savvy as possible in order to keep up with the times! I would communicate through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. I would also make sure constituents have various means to contact me so that I am accessible to support the community and those who may not be comfortable using technology or have access to technology. Holding Town Hall meetings in person or by zoom could also be a viable means of communication.
What is your favourite thing to do in your municipality?
I love hiking and Thunder Bay and the outlying areas have some of the most amazing places to hike!
Why do you think it’s important for women to be represented in civic leadership, including on committees, boards and municipal councils?
It is important for women to be presented on the School Board so there is a balance of gender representation. By having women as board members, we demonstrate that women have a voice in education and we act as role models for staff and students.
What does a ‘feminist city’ mean to you?
A 'feminist city' is a city where women are equally represented in all roles and get equal pay for equal work. Also, where womans' voices are heard and respected.
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:
Teaching is historically a women-dominated profession and so I feel there are a few important initiatives here. One initiative: ensuring committees and negotiations have a strong female representation. Another initiative: considering the female voice in the schools. Are female youth represented on school council, in sports and clubs etc.? It would be interesting to do some evidence-based research in schools so that we can analyze the statistics to see how well we are doing in this area as a school board and develop next steps.