Achievement
Recognized for community contribution and service.
YRDSB Trustee Candidate Markham Wards 5 & 7
Focused on Students.Accountable to Families.
Practical, transparent leadership for Markham Wards 5 & 7 — built around clear priorities and measurable follow-through.
- Strong foundations
- Safe & respectful schools
- Community involvement
- Voting
- October 16–26, 2026
- Serving
- Markham Wards 5 & 7
Why I’m Running
Accountability isn’t a slogan. It’s a track record.
Every election, the candidates say the same things: "We'll take care of our students," "We'll keep parents involved," and so on. It always sounds good, but nobody holds them accountable to make sure it goes beyond campaign slogans.
Nobody but me. I'm not an "elite" politician, with a rehearsed speech and a list of talking points I cribbed off my campaign managers. I'm a mom who has personally negotiated with teachers about what my kid did and didn't know, and how much the family budget could afford to make up for. I'm a mom who saw other moms do the same.
That's why I'm running. That's why I can be trusted to hold other candidates accountable when it comes to their promises. It's not just something I think ought to happen — it's something I have a track record of doing.
Promises Are Cheap. Here’s What Isn’t.
Anybody can make big campaign promises about supporting students, parents, and educators. The difference is, I recognize those are empty words if nobody holds me accountable for doing what I say I'm going to do.
Which is why I'm not going to come out of the gate listing off a bunch of policy proposals to prove I'll deliver once elected. If I make a claim, I will be held accountable to it in the public eye — that means asking the hard questions myself, and being willing to take the heat for the answers. Every parent has had to do the math and decide for themselves how much is really being asked of their child at school. I'm not asking you to believe a carefully-worded talking point about "student success" — I've been in that parent's shoes, making those same hard calculations.
This isn't a campaign about promises. It's about proving every word.
About Me
I understand our schools from the kitchen table, not a policy binder.
I don't understand our schools from a policy binder. I understand them from the kitchen table, the parent-teacher meetings, the quiet car ride home when you can tell something's wrong before your child says a word, and the moment you do the math on what a "free" education is actually costing your family in tutors and workbooks.
I began working with children from as early as high school, and I never really stopped. As a mother who has raised two children of my own, I've lived the version of this system that doesn't make it into a campaign flyer. I grew up in a large extended family — cousins, elders, generations, languages, and different perspectives and beliefs all under one roof — and that taught me early what it actually takes to build a place where everyone belongs.
After settling in Canada, I did as much as I could to give back — volunteering with nonprofits supporting children, seniors, and newcomers building a life here, then working as a before-and-after-school educator responsible for kids from infancy through the school years. That work put me in the room with teachers, coworkers, and parents, and taught me how differently the same school can feel depending on which family you ask.
Over the years I've heard parents, coworkers, neighbours, and my own children describe what isn't working — and every time, the same thought: someone should bring this to the Board. I stopped waiting for that someone.
I'm not running because I have every answer, and I'm not running on a career built in politics. I'm running because I've spent my life listening to and working beside children and families from every background this region holds — and because that perspective belongs in the room where decisions are made, not just outside it, waiting to be consulted. Whether your family has been in Markham for generations or arrived last year, your children deserve the same shot at feeling safe, supported, and capable of everything they're meant to become.
My Priorities
Four commitments, in plain language, that I’ll be held to.
One Community, Working Together — Not Consulted. Involved.
A strong school system is one where parents, students, educators, and the broader community have a say.
I would like to see more multicultural events, inter-school competitions, and community meetings take place on a regular basis — not just for photo opportunities.
I want to see structures put in place to allow parents, students, teachers, and community members to not only have a say, but to see results from their input.
I don't think all of the answers are in the Board of Education office. In fact, I think many answers lie in the community. My job would be to listen, to empower, and to enable the people of our community to make a difference.
Safe, Respectful, Mentally Healthy Schools
Every child deserves to feel safe and respected in school.
That means strong anti-bullying measures and policies that are consistently enforced for all children, regardless of socio-economic status. That means youth mentorship initiatives and counsellors in every school, so kids can come to someone before issues escalate or when they need help dealing with personal issues.
That means mental health is not an afterthought. Inclusion needs to move from being a buzzword to being a real, tangible experience that children in our school system can feel day to day.
Every child deserves to know that they will be safe, be heard, find their voice, and build a meaningful future. That is the kind of school community I want to work to make a reality — bringing the same passion, empowerment, and outreach I've used in my community work as a volunteer into public service.
Strong Foundations, Real Achievement
Excellence starts in kindergarten.
I want to work to ensure our students' early foundations in literacy and numeracy are strong, and that children are exposed to more opportunities to excel in academics, athletics, the arts, and leadership at a young age. Every child deserves someone to believe in them and give them the opportunity to rise to the occasion.
I also think it's important for families to have realistic expectations for student achievement. There is often an unspoken assumption that if families pay for private education, academic results will follow — and if they don't, that resources are being wasted. We need to re-evaluate those expectations.
Empowering Girls and Women Through Education
When you educate a woman, you educate a family, which educates a community, which educates a country.
Empowerment of women and girls through education is personal to me — I've witnessed, through my volunteer work with immigrant and refugee women and children, the resilience of women who come to this country and build new lives for themselves and their children. Every girl deserves the opportunity to grow up in a society that nurtures and supports her.
Female empowerment in education starts long before women are adults — it starts in our school system. That means encouraging girls to stand up for themselves and their education, participate in class, take on leadership roles, pursue math and science, play sports, get involved in technology and other traditionally male-dominated fields, and realize their full potential. Girls need to be encouraged both to participate and to lead.
I want girls to know they can grow up to be scientists, teachers, CEOs, Olympians, engineers, artists, community leaders, mothers — whatever they choose to pursue. This empowerment needs to extend beyond women, because when one person succeeds, it makes room for everyone to succeed — one educated child, one family, one community at a time.
My Commitment
Every priority ties back to one thing: every child gets a real shot.
All of my priorities are linked together by one underlying theme: a commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to be safe, feel empowered, build confidence in their own strengths, and be able to build a meaningful future for themselves.
I want to bring the passion, empowerment, and outreach I've used in my community work as a volunteer into my public service — because our schools are where our children learn who they are, what they're capable of, and the kind of world they want to be part of.
Wards 5 & 7
Serving the schools our families already know.
Not sure which ward you're in? Check at electionsmarkham.ca.
Elementary schools
- Armadale PS
- Black Walnut PS
- Boxwood PS
- Cedarwood PS
- Coppard Glen PS
- Cornell Village PS
- David Suzuki PS
- Ellen Fairclough PS
- Greensborough PS
- Legacy PS
- Little Rouge PS
- Markham Gateway PS
- Mount Joy PS
- Parkland PS
- Rouge Park PS
- Sam Chapman PS
Secondary schools
- Bill Hogarth SS
- Middlefield CI
A Life of Service
Connected to children, education, and community — long before this campaign.
For me, volunteering has never been about a title. It has always been about people.
My connection with children, education, and community began long before I moved to Canada.
Achievement
Organized community event at the Cathedral Village Arts Festival in 2024.
Achievement
Supporting volunteers and event operations at the Markham Village Music Festival.
India and the United Kingdom
Before coming to Canada, I worked as a teacher and tutor in India, where I had the opportunity to work with children, support their learning, and watch their confidence grow. Later, while living in the United Kingdom, I continued to stay connected with schools by volunteering in a school library and as a lunchtime supervisor.
These experiences taught me that education is about much more than academics. Children need encouragement, patience, guidance, and, above all, adults who genuinely care about their well-being.
Regina Open Door, Regina, Saskatchewan
When I moved to Canada, my commitment to serving people continued. In Regina, I became actively involved with nonprofit organizations and community events, meeting and supporting people from many different cultures, generations, and walks of life.
At Regina Open Door, I supported English language services and helped teach English to adult newcomers, primarily between the ages of 20 and 50. For many of the people I worked with, learning English wasn't simply about learning another language — it was about communicating confidently, navigating everyday life, finding opportunities, connecting with their communities, and feeling a greater sense of independence.
Regina Immigrant Women Centre
I worked with immigrant and refugee women and children, helping organize and support a three-week summer camp — assisting children with activities, helping create a safe and structured environment, and supporting the program's day-to-day operations.
Run Regina Marathon
As a Course Marshal, I helped ensure participant safety, guided participants along the course, and encouraged them along the way. Run Regina is a not-for-profit dedicated to engaging the community in running and walking experiences that promote individual wellbeing and community pride.
Cathedral Village Arts Festival, Regina
I worked directly with members of the public, answered questions, and helped create a welcoming experience for visitors. I was later selected as volunteer coordinator, where I coordinated schedules, communicated important information, and supported volunteers throughout the festival — learning that leadership is not about giving instructions, but about bringing people together, listening, and helping everyone succeed.
Markham, Ontario
My journey of service didn't stop when I moved from Regina to Markham. Most recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer at my daughter's school during a field trip — a small moment, but one of the moments where community is built, when parents, teachers, and volunteers come together to give children positive experiences.
I have also volunteered at the Markham Music Festival, supporting festival preparation, organizing vendor locations, and helping with volunteer and event operations.
Shirdi Saibaba Temple
At present, I volunteer at the Shirdi Saibaba Temple, where I welcome visitors of all ages, assist with community events, help distribute food, and work alongside other volunteers to serve the community.
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