About Me

I was first elected as a Trustee with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB)

in 2000. In addition to my role as Trustee, I continue to work part-time as a Staff Nurse

with the Diabetes Team at Michael Garron Hospital. I bring more than 50 years of

nursing experience and over 25 years of dedicated service as a school trustee.

Throughout my tenure with the TCDSB, I have served on every Board committee as

both a member and a chair. My areas of particular interest include special education,

strong governance, cultural diversity, and the preservation of our Catholic faith and

heritage.

My passion for education began while my children were attending elementary and

secondary school. Serving on school councils, volunteering at sporting events, and

participating in school activities gave me firsthand experience with the importance of

parental involvement. Those experiences inspired me to seek election as a school

trustee so I could advocate for students, families, and Catholic education at the board

level.

Before becoming a trustee, I developed my leadership skills during ten years as Local

President of the Ontario Nurses’ Association, representing registered nurses in

collective bargaining and workplace advocacy. Standing up for the rights of professional

women and ensuring their voices were heard was both rewarding and life-changing, and

it strengthened my commitment to public service.

Community involvement has always been an important part of my life. I was proud to

found Kateri Kids Child Care Centre, which continues to thrive more than 30 years later.

Working alongside a dedicated group of parents, we identified the community’s need for

quality child care, successfully secured funding, hired staff, and established a centre

that continues to serve families today.

My commitment to education also extends to healthcare. As an advocate for improved

diabetes education, I was given the opportunity to design DECNET, an educational

program that has become the model for diabetes education across the Province of

Ontario. This remains one of my proudest professional accomplishments.

My husband and I raised seven sons in North York and are now blessed with twelve

grandchildren. I grew up in The Beaches, attended Corpus Christi Catholic School and

parish, and graduated from Notre Dame Secondary School. In June 1969, I graduated

from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing and began my nursing career at the then Toronto

East General Hospital later that year.

Today, my grandchildren range in age from 2 to 39 years old. Being actively involved in

their lives keeps me connected to the realities that students, parents, and teachers face

every day. This perspective is invaluable in my role as a Trustee and helps me better

understand the evolving needs of our school communities.

I look forward to the opportunity to continue serving as your Trustee.