Tonight we have officially welcomed 4 commissioners representing the parents to our Council of Commissioners. The voice, insight, commitment and dedication to ensuring excellence in education at the LBPSB which parents bring to the table is extraordinary. It was a pleasure to meet the new commissioners, Alaina Charszan, Oumy Dia, Marium Hasanie and to welcome back returning parent commissioner, Kristopher de Forest at our new commissioner training session last Thursday evening. And as is evident among our Council of Commissioners, once you have the bug, in the future, you may one day return as an elected Commissioner. That said, we are all equal at the Council of Commissioners in the work we do. Congratulations and welcome.

Our Committee work has been engaging and very busy this past month as you will hear in our reports from Audit, Communications and Marketing, Executive, Facilities and Security, Human Resources, International, Long Term Planning, Programs and Services and SNAC. The work we do in committee is where Council members and the parent representatives from the PC receive reports, information, ask questions, and discuss issues, so that we have the necessary information to work toward achieving our Vision and Values at the LBPSB and in preparation for resolutions presented at Council meetings. There were also other meetings held recently with the new commissioners (as already mentioned) and with our Director General just over a month ago, in what is called “DG Evaluation”. This important meeting normally takes place on an annual basis to allow the Director General, in our case, with the exceptional Dr. Cindy Finn, to share objectives and goals with the Caucus. Needless to say, but I will, the Council of Commissioners congratulates Dr. Cindy Finn’s performance and without any hesitation looks forward to her achievements, accomplishments and successes in managing the LBPSB into the future.

Thanks to the leadership and initiatives at our schools and centres, who could not be impressed with the number of community engagement activities the students of LBPSB have taken part in recently? It was difficult to miss the publicity of the wide-ranging student events thanks to our awesome Communications and Community team, through television and print media, social media, and, as well, through the schools posting with pride, the work that has been going on behind the scenes, regarding the number of good will initiatives our students have championed or participated in throughout the school board. Bravo, Lester B.

On a personal note, as Chairperson of the LBPSB, I had the honour on November 14th of being present and being a signatory of the Local Agreement Between the Lester B. Pearson School Board and The Pearson Teachers Union, 2015-2020. I would like to acknowledge the important and hard work that has taken place and which lies ahead in the next round of negotiations in reaching agreement on local contract issues.

And on behalf of council, I cannot find enough ways to thank everyone on the ground, the front lines, support staff, daycare educators, custodians, teachers, professionals, administrators, (if I am leaving out anyone, mea culpa) for forging ahead, for taking on the bumps and bruises of viruses and absences and all while cultivating a safe and invigorating learning experience for the students.

I will continue to promote kindness and civility at the LBPSB, so in closing my remarks tonight, I am expressing my gratitude to this amazing community that is the Lester B. Pearson.

Thank you.