All Candidates

School Board Trustee Candidates

York Catholic District School Board

Elizabeth Crowe

Ensure that parents and students are informed and engaged as we transition to a JK-6 elementary school structure in Stouffville and a 7-12 high school model
Advocate for a late-start time for St. Katharine Drexel CHS as well as an Advanced Placement program and several Specialist High Skills Majors
Advocate for field refurbishment at St. Brendan CES and repaving of the play area at St. Brigid CES
Lobby YRT for school specials for the new high school, improve school traffic safety, and lobby for more special education and transportation funding
Develop improves school-parish relationships

Al Itwar

Bullet Point News has contacted Al Itwar multiple times but has not received any response. We invite Al Itwar to provide information on his platform.

York Region District School Board

Luther Brown

Ensure effective school district leadership and governance
Provide leadership to make sure schools are safe places for students to learn, grow, and develop
Promote academic excellence with a focus on meeting the academic and social needs of students, including students with special needs
Create a safe, inclusive schooling environment
Inspire public confidence and trust in the YRDSB through community relations

Bridget Kilgallon

Stand for Students First and engage with parents to discover what’s important to them
Ensure educational transparency to preserve the parents’ right to know what’s being taught and the environment it’s taught in
Empower parents to speak up if they have any issues with the school environment
Prioritize student’s learning recovery and socialization adjustment after COVID restriction isolation
Measure the politicization of the school environment to keep school as a “neutral educator”

Asim Sayed

Invest more in mental health programs.
Fund proposals for special needs programs and services
Emphasize financial literacy, computer skills, and technological advances in our curriculum
Ensure quality education focused on global competencies
Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion as integral values of our education system and essential building blocks of our society.

Mary Sled-Lucas

Ensure schools are places where children are challenged to learn and taught how to think
Develop strategies to help students recover from missed learning opportunities due to distance learning challenges that took place during the pandemic
Re-examine ideologies that have shaped policies and influenced curriculum that is harmful to kids, destructive to families, creating division between groups of people, destroying relationships, and putting an unnecessary burden on teachers
Address teacher concerns about the increase in violence and rude behaviour in the classroom
Keep parents and constituents aware of what is going on at the board level and allow them to provide input about policies and procedures

Elizabeth Terrell

Will volunteer for Budget Chair to help balance the budget (YRDSB will have a structural deficit for the foreseeable future)
Advocate for better funding from the province
Review staff dress code parameters
Continue to work on the Multi-Year Strategic Plan and serve on a variety of committees
Will volunteer for OPSBA to help at the provincial level

Melanie Wright

Continue to build a strong school community through open communication and leadership
Examine the lack of funding at schools which is affecting student achievement and well-being
Build strong relationships with other trustees to increase funding for schools
Promote inclusive environments
Remove mandatory online learning as this can have a negative effect on students

Conseil Scolaire Viamonde (French public)

Nicolas Bigaignon

Bullet Point News has tried contacting Nicolas Bigaignon multiple times without success. We invite Nicolas Bigaignon to provide information on his platform.

Hanane Jaouich

Bullet Point News has tried contacting Hanane Jaouich multiple times without success. We invite Hanane Jaouich to provide information on her platform.

Stefania Sigurdson Forbes

Bullet Point News contacted Stefania Sigurdson Forbes multiple times but has not received any response. We invite Stefania Sigurdson Forbes to provide information on her platform.

Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir (French separate)

Donald Blais (acclaimed)

Bullet Point News has tried contacting Donald Blais multiple times without success. We invite Donald Blais to provide information on his platform.

Councillor Candidates | Ward 1

Michael Cleverdon

Bullet Point News has contacted Michael Cleverdon multiple times without success. We invite Michael Cleverdon to provide information on his platform.

Juliette Deonarain

Bullet Point News has contacted Juliette Deonarain multiple times without success. We invite Juliette Deonarain to provide information on her platform.

Hugo Kroon

Bullet Point News has contacted Hugo Kroon multiple times without success. We invite Hugo Kroon to provide information on his platform.

Councillor Candidates | Ward 2

George Karpouzis

Responsible stewardship of the Ward’s finances
Create safer roads and communities with less crime
Increase town services for Ward 2, such as fire services
Curb irresponsible development to protect the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine
Remain accessible to constituents

Maurice Smith

Bullet Point News has contacted Maurice Smith multiple times without success. We invite Maurice Smith to provide information on his platform.

Councillor Candidates | Ward 3

Keith Acton

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Mike Humphreys

Focus on issues such as road safety, the environment, and taxes
Develop commercial/industrial lands to get the tax base in line
Keep residents informed on council issue and progress
Oversee projects to their full completion
Maintain a positive working atmosphere within council

Councillor Candidates | Ward 4

Keith Singer

Bullet Point News has contacted Keith Singer multiple times without success. We invite Keith Singer to provide information on his platform.

Rick Upton

We are waiting for Rick Upton to complete our questionnaire.

Brad Valentini

We are waiting for Brad Valentini to complete our questionnaire.

Daniel Zeraldo

Reduce future property tax and rate increases
Ensure appropriate urban planning and zoning processes are followed and resist development projects on the Greenbelt
Push for more affordable, accessible housing for individuals and families in need
Promote council accountability, ensure transparency, and regularly engage with Ward 4 constituents
Collaborate with residents and York Regional Police to create a safer community

Councillor Candidates | Ward 5

Richard Bartley

Bullet Point News has contacted Richard Bartley multiple times without success. We invite Richard Bartley to provide information on his platform.

Laura Cusack

Develop a streamlined and transparent plan and strategy for sustained and responsible growth
Ensure that the new builders coming to town provide adequate funding for parkland
Retain natural features such as ponds and forests
Improve our recreational facilities
Ensure newcomers and marginalized residents can access the resources and services they need

Councillor Candidates | Ward 6

Angel Freedman

Bullet Point News has contacted Angel Freedman multiple times without success. We invite Angel Freedman to provide information on her platform.

Rob Hargrave

Bullet Point News has contacted Rob Hargrave multiple times without success. We invite Rob Hargrave to provide information on his platform.

Sue Sherban

Improve neighbourhood road safety with speed cameras, pedestrian crosswalks, and radar speed signs
Controlled development through affordable housing, protecting heritage homes, and preventing development on protected lands
Improved environmental stewardship by protecting the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine, increasing the tree planting budget, and adopting green technology
Attract new investments
Create good paying local jobs to offset residential tax rates and investing in a vibrant Main Street

Mayoral Candidates

Sher Ahmad

Focus on addressing rapid residential growth
Increase funding for youth recreational facilities
Construct a volunteer-run greenhouse to support the local food bank
Improve services for the elderly
Attract industry and business to grow the commercial tax base

Justin Altmann

Protect the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges from the current council’s Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZO)
Ensure connectivity, broadband, and high-speed internet for various areas of town where accessibility remains an issue
Create more access to recreation and initiate a joint venture entertainment facility for all ages
Review the Town’s land sale and acquisition practices
Improve local transportation to serve all residents

Mark Carroll

Prioritize affordable housing, strategic urban planning, and better access to public transit
Job creation
Clean industry development, environmental protection, and local policies that help mitigate climate change
Development of the Main Street corridor, protection of heritage distracts, and traffic calming to improve safety
Increase emergency services to keep up pace with growth

Anand Date

Diversification of the tax base combined with sustainable growth
Bring order and efficiency to the position of mayor and council
Increase the safety, wealth, and prosperity for all in Whitchurch-Stouffville
Attract larger and more diverse businesses to Stouffville in the
areas of medical, education, and technology
Create a Town Economic Strategy Committee to look at 2 – 4-year plans
for economic growth strategies

Iain Lovatt

We are waiting for Iain Lovatt to complete our questionnaire.