Updates
| Student Trustee Debates & Elections (February 29, 2024) |
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On February 29, 2024, Thames Valley District School Board secondary school students Shivani Vimal and Emma Park were elected Student Trustees for the 2024-2025 school year. Their election followed the election of 2024-2025 Indigenous Student Trustee Lorissa Westlake, which took place on February 28. Student Trustees have the same opportunities to participate in meetings and committees with municipally elected Trustees; however, their votes are non-binding. |
| Indigenous Student Trustee Debates & Elections (February 28, 2024) |
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North Middlesex District High School student Lorissa Westlake has been elected as Thames Valley District School Board’s next Indigenous Student Trustee.
Student Trustees have the same opportunities to participate in meetings and committees with municipally elected Trustees; however, their votes are non-binding.
The Indigenous Student Trustee shares in the important responsibility of bringing the perspective of Thames Valley students to the Board table. Additionally, the Indigenous Student Trustee advocates for their First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peers.
First Nation Trustee Carol Antone was present at the election on Wednesday to reaffirm the importance of the role.
"Each Indigenous Student Trustee plays a crucial, leadership role for Thames Valley and in supporting First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students. Thames Valley is grateful to Lorissa for their commitment. I look forward to working with them to strengthen a respectful relationship between the board and the Indigenous students and community," said First Nation Trustee Antone.
In their election speech, Lorissa also spoke to the importance of the position of Indigenous Student Trustee: "This position shows the type of advocacy and work of Indigenous communities in order to be recognized and heard."
In addition, they spoke to the goal of "achieving a welcoming and inclusive environment in schools in Thames Valley".
Lorissa is the eighth Indigenous Student Trustee since Thames Valley introduced the role in 2017-2018. Thames Valley was among the first school boards in Canada to establish this position to be inclusive of Indigenous voices and perspectives.
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Current Student Trustees
As your Student Trustees, we work to empower students by giving you a voice. It is our responsibility to represent the student body at the Board table and help keep you informed of discussions and decisions that affect you.
Giving students the ability to influence learning is integral to everyone's success. We want our schools to be places where students take ownership of their learning and their school environment. In order to accurately represent the Thames Valley District student body we need to hear from you. Share your views, ideas and concerns with us so that decisions can be made with your best interests in mind. Every idea matters.
Shivani Vimal
Shivani Vimal was elected in February 2024 as one of three student trustees for the 2024-2025 school year. She represents Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford counties.
Shivani is a grade 11 student at Lord Dorchester Secondary School. Additionally, she will also be serving as the Vice-Chair Associate of the Public Education Cabinet at OSTA-AECO to continue her advocacy for student voice at the provincial level. Aside from a student trustee, she’s also:
• Student voice representative for Lord Dorchester Secondary school's Student Parliament
• Captain for the FRC robotics team #8789: the Lost Sockets
• Reach for the Top competition team member
• A flute player in the school's band
• A volunteer for organizations such as Playroom Experiment and Period Ontario
Shivani wants to use her passion for culture and curiosity to inspire other students to find joy and strength in diversity. She also wants to encourage change and increase the voice, and reach, of students at the Thames Valley District School Board. Inspired by her work as student senator on Thames Valley’s Student Advisory Council, and as a team lead of the Mental Health and Equity Working Group, Shivani wanted to become a student trustee to help raise student voices and change schools for the better.
As a student trustee, Shivani’s goals are to:
- Reform the Student Advisory Council to better meet the senators’ needs
- Increase student leadership and engagement in schools
- De-stigmatize issues around mental health and well-being
- Create safe spaces for students to voice their concerns and worries
Last, but not least, some fun facts about Shivani:
- She’s working on an individual research paper about Indian culture and society
- She wants to study Law in university and become a human rights attorney
- She’s lived in three countries – India, U.S.A and Canada
- She’s played violin for seven years and flute for six
- She loves to read
Contact Shivani:
shivani.vimal@tvdsb.ca
Lorissa Westlake
Lorissa Westlake was elected as Indigenous Student Trustee in February 2024 for the 2024-2025 school year. She is one of three student trustees for the Thames Valley District School Board and represents students in Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford counties.
Lorissa is a grade 12 student at North Middlesex District High School. Aside from being a student trustee, she’s also:
• An active member within her school’s student council
• A yearbook committee member.
• An active participate in the athletics such as cross country, volleyball, track and field.
She became a student trustee to help diversify and expand education and resources for all Thames Valley students, with a particular focus on Indigenous education.
Lorissa wants to expand education about Indigenous culture and people in two key ways:
- To help all Thames Valley students realize how connected Indigenous people and culture are to the land, and why it matters
- To give students a chance to learn about Indigenous culture and history in a way that’s more than just learning about negative things that have happened. Lorissa’s overall goal is to host a healing walk for all of Thames Valley; to remember what happened to the Indigenous people, so the Board can continue to work toward reconciliation.
After secondary school, Lorissa hopes to pursue a degree in Marine Biology. She’s always had a passion for the ocean and its animals, and the ocean has always given Lorissa a sense of calm and stability. Ensuring that the ocean is a safe environment for them so that can live a healthy life is very important to her.
Contact Lorissa:
l.westlake@tvdsb.ca
Emma Park
Emma Park was elected in February 2024 as one of three student trustees for the 2024-2025 school year. She represents the City of London.
A grade 12 student at London Central Secondary School, Emma is also:
• A grade representative in London Central’s student parliament – where she focuses on marketing school events and gathering feedback on improvement
• Captain of the swim team
• Co-president of Central’s music council
• Active member of the debate team
Emma wanted to become a student trustee after she was inspired by the real, positive changes made by student trustees who came before her. Emma hopes to make a similar impact and be a positive force for the Thames Valley District School Board.
As a student trustee, Emma will focus on three main goals:
- Expanding mental health support and education
- Breaking the stigma around menstruation
- Boosting student-led philanthropy
Outside of school, Emma volunteers as an assistant instructor at her local YMCA. She also founded a volunteer club called Oui Play Sometimes, which brings musicians to retirement and long-term care centres to provide entertainment and connect with the residents.
Emma’s life goals include becoming an architect or urban designer. With a focus on sustainable city designs, she’s passionate about creating environments that are not only functional but also environmentally responsible.
Contact Emma:
emma.park@tvdsb.ca
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