Meet the Catholic board trustee candidates
Profiles of candidates for St. Catharines English separate school board trustees
The Standard asked all candidates for English separate school board trustee the same questions. A missing category means the candidate did not answer that question.
WARD 1:
Merritton and Thorold (1 elected) RHIANON BURKHOLDER
Age: 55
Occupation: 31-year employee at Niagara Health, St. Catharines General emergency
Family: Husband Geoff Burkholder. Three children, Carter, Gareth and Emily
Previous political experience: Currently SEIU union rep at Niagara Health. Previ- ous NCDSB trustee. Currently on the NCDSB alliance committee
Community work: Past council chair at Denis Morris; past Thorold library board member; presented an alcohol and drug awareness program to adolescence in schools; past CWL president at Our Lady of Holy Rosary Parish, Thorold.
Top issue: Preserving and protecting Catholic education in Niagara, to ensure our children have a safe and inclusive environment to excel daily.
Why are you running? To be a strong voice for our communities in Thorold, Thorold South, Port Robinson and Merritton. Making sure all students are able to reach their fullest potential.
Why should voters choose you? I am committed, passionate, and willing stand up for the students and families I represent. I am familiar with the NCDSB being a former trustee and having three children raised in the system.
Contact: Phone (cell): 905-3285953 (home): 905-227-1994; email: rhianon.burkholder@gmail.com; Facebook: RhianonforTrustee
PATRICIA (PAT) VERNAL
Occupation: Retired teacher Family: Married to Dan for 52 years, mother of two, grandmother of five, great grandmother of two.
Previous political experience: Have assisted on a number of provincial and municipal election campaigns. Currently vicechair of Niagara Catholic School Board. Have held leadership roles in teacher education and teacher union.
Community work: Was active for many years in the Thorold Figure Skating Club and held several executive positions.
Top issue: Provide for teachers in classrooms with students with resources (human and material).
Why are you running? I want to help provide an educational system that meets a variety of student needs so all can achieve success.
Why should voters choose you? I have varied educational experience, am responsive to input and concerns, am a hard worker, and have the time and drive to devote to the job.
Contact: Phone: 905-227-5806; email: patvrrnal@hotmail.com; website: www.patvernal.com
WARDS 2 to 6:
St. Andrew’s,
St. George’s, St. Patrick’s, Grantham, Port Dalhousie (2 elected)
KATHY BURTNIK
Age: 58
Occupation: Business owner Family: Married 34 years to Mike; five children all graduates of Niagara Catholic (Holy Cross and Saint Francis); grandson, Grade 5 Our Lady of Fatima SC; granddaughter, class of 2034
Previous political experience: 24 con- secutive years trustee, past president of Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association, director of Canadian Catholic Trustee Association, former director First Ontario Credit Union
Community work: Member St. Catharines Rowing Club, former rowing coach, St. Francis, DM, SCRC and Brock, contributor to many not-for-profit organizations
Top issue: To ensure that resources are used in the best interest of student success while holding people accountable to implement fairly and consistently the policies of the board, to enhance the community use of our schools to support our students and the broader community, building positive relationships/partnerships.
Why are you running? I believe in the inherent goodness that Catholic education offers to society. The stories of personal accomplishments of students and staff must outweigh the challenges. I want to continue to serve Catholic supporters in ensuring students have successful academic experiences and opportunities to come to know God’s power of forgiveness and love.
Why should voters choose you? I will continue to respond to issues with an independent voice, focused on what is in the best interest of students and parents, respecting differences of opinion all the while protecting and promoting the distinctiveness of Catholic education. I will continue to make difficult decisions with compassion and understanding of the impact on families.
Contact: Email: kburtnik@cogeco.ca; phone: 905-935-5564
SHONNA STEFURAK DALY
Age: 46
Occupation: Homemaker/ volunteer
Family: Tim husband, children Sierra, Brooklyn, Parker
Previous political experience: None
Community work: Niagara Health System, Community Care food warehouse, Fresh Air Fund, St. John Ambulance, Niagara Catholic District School Board
Top issue: Class size; supporting a safe school environment; declining enrolment and school closures; bullying; curriculum; budget
Why are you running? To represent all stakeholders that have a vested interest in Catholic education and to continue to support student achievement and parent involvement.
Why should voters choose you? For 16 years I have been a dedicated voice for parents/ guardians within St. Catharines as chair of several committees within Niagara Catholic and Catholic school councils and the parent involvement committee. I will continue to be an advocate for all. I have been investing back into the community and enhancing the quality of education for others and enriching parent engagement for over 16 years.
Contact: Email: shonnadaly@me.com; website: www.shonnadaly.ca; Facebook: shonnadaly
JEREMY ANTHONY HARB
Age: 43
Occupation: Management, Vintage Hotels
Family: Married 17 years and the father to four wonderful kids, two boys and two girls; my youngest whom is five and my eldest who is 15
Previous political experience: None
Community work: Knights of Columbus, Saint Francis High School council, Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
Top issue: Declining enrolment and student performance in the STEM disciplines and teaching the trades, remaining competitive and providing an educational experience that produces confident and strong students and leaders both academically, athletically and spiritually. Having facilities that are current, relevant and well kept through physical upgrades and enhancements — I would support the HVAC upgrades of schools to include A/C. Attracting the best and most qualified faculty through fair compensation and offering of positive work environment and employment experience. Performance in core STEMrelated courses, in particular math, have fallen. Teaching our students important life skills like financial literacy and ensuring that they have the exposure to the increased opportunities in skilled trades.
Why are you running? It is my desire for children in Niagara to have the best experience possible within the NCDSB, especially during their formative years, that has inspired me to run for trustee. Being part of the NCDSB, both as a student and as a parent, almost my entire life, I have seen first hand what we do good and what we can do better at. Supporting our children with proper resources and well kept facilities will not only enhance their ability to achieve and learn, but also allow the NCDSB to remain competitive to attract students to Catholic education.
Why should voters choose you? Three words define who I am as an individual: Faith — Family — Integrity. I believe that we need to nurture an educational environment that will create leaders who can become beacons of our Catholic faith. I believe in transparency and accountability and this too would define my work ethic and current success in my career. My success as a trustee would allow me to give back to an organization that has given me a lot growing up and that will continue to give future generations.
Contact: jeremyaharb@gmail.com
LARRY HUIBERS
Age: 57
Occupation: Executive director at Hamilton Housing Help Centre
Family: Married to Ann, our daughter Jenna is studying math at University of Waterloo
Previous political experience: No formal experience, I’m keen to keep capital “P” politics out of the role of trustee.
Community work: Currently board chair at The Raft, the youth homeless shelter and homelessness prevention agency in Niagara. Previous chair and board member of the John Howard Society of Niagara and Niagara Regional Science Fair. Currently co-chair of the Hamilton Housing and Homelessness Planning Group. Sit on the St. Catharines mayor’s advisory committee on rental housing, also the Halton Regional Housing Leadership Group and the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council.
Top issue: Ensuring Catholic values are aligned with students needs as the guiding principle for board decisions and directives. The current misalignment of resource allocation needs to be addressed by an informed board of trustees.
Why are you running? I have seen an erosion of support and guidance to students and staff. As an advocate for marginalized
people, I see value in committing to excellence in education. The educational experience of students becomes the blueprint for their future, we owe it to them to make it as rich and fulfilling as possible.
Why should voters choose you? I have 35 years of social justice experience and am able to weave a long history of Catholic education and values into a faith based system.
I have governance experience to understand the duties and limitations that the role a trustee must balance.
Contact: Phone: 289-969-5797; email: larry@larryhuibers4trustee.ca; website: larryhuibers4trustee.ca; Facebook: larryhuibers4trustee
DANA CAROLINE BAYLEY
Did not respond.