"Self Respect Is all you Need" Assembly at Downsview SS

Recently I had a great evening at Downsview Secondary School. The students put on a performance and unveiled a mural on the theme "Self Respect is all you Need." Accompanying me were Trustee Soo Wong, Executive Superintendent Donna Quan, Superintendent Jeff Hainbuch, and Kathleen White-Williams. The program was driven by the nursing students from Humber Health Sciences and supported from Downsview SS Principal Maria Palermo.

Here is a selection of my remarks:

This program is truly important. It not only gives young Canadians a foundation in life skills it gives everyone of us the example of what becoming a great citizen is all about.

This is the parachute that many grade nines need. And this soft landing will contribute to a more successful journey through high school.

I have sat on over 40 suspension and expulsion hearings at the board. Many of these cases are sad and dark. And I wonder here today how many of these kids we could have reached with the great work of Trustee Soo Wong and her team of nurses.

Students often have a difficult time making the transition to high school and face some challenging issues. This initiative aims to build student self-confidence, foster relationships, and enhance a smooth transition into high school.

Our great responsibility as educators is that when students enter high school they have the personal attributes and support systems to succeed and feel good about themselves.

Today we salute nursing students and their teachers who are working with students to make Downsview Secondary School a healthier and safer place. This comes about because of the way we approach defeat; respect diversity of opinion; and knowing when to turn the other cheek.

Fifteen years from now many of the students in this building will be in the workforce – putting concepts into practice; creating wealth; building better communities.

I wish all students and their educators here much success. You can take comfort in the belief that self respect and self esteem are essential ingredients to fruitful years in high school and a becoming a great member of society.

Faywood PS inspires with character building

My address to the parents, students and staff at Faywood PS on December 15, 2008.

Thank you Principal Trajkovski for this exciting invitation.


Good evening parents, students, friends. I also offer a special thanks to Ms. Uribe and Ms. Mandelbaum for putting this celebration together.

I have heard about the Toronto Police-Values Influences Peers program and it truly is remarkable. It not only gives young Canadians a foundation in life skills it gives everyone of us the example of what being a model citizen is all about.

Tonight is the celebration of an idea. A reaffirmation that character building is essential for student success and being a contributing part of our community.


When the world looks at Canada they see us as an example. At the Toronto District School Board we look to the students who fill this room tonight with a sense of pride.

Our great responsibility as educators is that when students leave our schools they take with them the understanding that the value of time in school is not only measured by a grade point average but by the strength of their heart.

Because the strength of our heart leads us to make smart choices.

And smart choices lead to restraint and restraint leads to civility. And civility leads to tolerance.

I don’t normally quote hockey players, but it was Wayne Gretzky who once said, “You can’t score from the penalty box.” And in the real world getting out in 2 minutes is just not going to happen.

It is pride that brings communities together; but it is hubris that tears us apart.

The world is just a healthier and safer because of the way we approach defeat; respect diversity of opinion; and knowing when to turn the other cheek.

Parents: students who attend this school and participated in this program will make smart choices and that you need not have a hand on a telephone waiting for a call from a son or daughter in trouble.

I conclude by once again congratulating students and their teachers and Toronto police services who helped with this program. There is a reason why I have lived in this area for over 20 years. It’s because of students like you.

To all who are here this evening, I want to wish you a safe and happy holiday season and New Year and I look forward to connecting with you in 2009.

The new inspiration of the Art Gallery of Ontario

On Educators' Night, I had the opportunity to tour the newly renovated Art Gallery of Ontario. I was thoroughly impressed with the vision of architect Frank Gehry and the composition of the various galleries. It is a great achievement. I have a lose connection with Mr. Gehry. Mr. Gehry and my father were in the same graduating class of cadets just as the Second World War was ending. As a reminder, the AGO is free on Wednesday evenings and from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM Tuesday to Friday for high school students.

Standing with India in memory of victims in Mumbai

Recently, I shared a few words with former BC premier and current Member of Parliament Ujjal Dosanjh at the Standing together with India rally on December 7, 2008. The event was held in memory of the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.

Our Ward Forum is a Great Success

Over 40 people attended our Ward 5 Forum on November 24, 2008. The event took place at W.L. Mackenzie C.I. and the keynote speaker was TDSB Director of Education Gerry Connelly. Director Connelly's address was entitled New Thinking in Student Success. My speech was based on the 45 suspension and explusion appeals hearings that I have sat on. Entitled Suspensions and Expulsions: Musings of a Trustee, provided important and insightful information on the trustee deliberation process. Susan Wakutz, Business Development Office, TDSB spoke about new strategies in school fundraising. I would like to thank the following Mackenzie students for helping out: Haley Durkey, Cressan Genus, Bineh Kalra, Davy Li, Mike Lu, Abi Rao, Anu Sivarajah and Wajeeh Syed. I also want to thank Superintendents Gen Ling Chang and Annie Appleby for attending. And thanks to all educations for making York Centre a great place to live and learn.

Meeting Taylor Lindsay-Noel, Mom, and Jason Colero, Toronto Argonauts, at Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

On a sunny afternoon, my constituency assistant Dave Horowitz met up with Taylor Lindsay-Noel, a gymnast and student at Northview Secondary School, who is in rehabilitation at Bloorview, her mother Rowena and Jason Colero, manager of community relations for the Toronto Argonauts on Tuesday, December 2, 2008. It warms the heart to see Taylor working hard with the professional staff at Bloorview to recover from her serious injuries, and the community support given to her thus far.

Jason presented Taylor with a signed football and a book from the Toronto Argonauts. He is standing to the left of Taylor in each of the photos. His generous support is appreciated by all of us. Thank you Jason!

The talented arts students at Northview SS hosted a fundraiser for Taylor called "Arts a la Carte" to a large audience on Thursday, December 4, 2008 in the evening. They performed a selection of traditional and new-age dance routines to the sounds of jazz, R & B, and break-dancing music, while treating us to a display of their visual arts creations. Entertaining and humourous, indeed! A thumbs up to the students who participated.

Regards,

James